Automated Hair Cutting System with Sensor Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated hair cutting systems are difficult to use and limit the variety of hairstyles possible, often requiring extensive training and resulting in uncomfortable, expensive, and noisy devices that can damage hair due to continuous operation and physical contact with the head.

Innovation Solution

An automated hair cutting system featuring a hair cutting device with engagable blades and a positioning structure that determines its position relative to a reference point, allowing for precise cutting without continuous operation and minimizing hair damage, using sensors and electronic computing devices for guidance and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If continuous operation of cutter heads is used, then hair cutting efficiency is improved, but noise level and wear on moving parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair cutting efficiencyVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutter head operates intermittently rather than continuously, activating only when hair is detected between the comb teeth and cutter blade. This periodic operation reduces noise levels and wear on moving parts while maintaining cutting efficiency by concentrating cutting action only when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If mechanical guides are used to position the cutter head, then positioning is simplified, but hair may be smashed down making it harder to access and cut properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning simplicityVSAvoidhair damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning structure with sensors serves as an intermediary between the cutter head and the head, detecting the position of the head and guiding the cutter head without direct mechanical contact. This eliminates hair smashing while maintaining accurate positioning through non-contact sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If rigid helmet with multiple cutter heads is used, then automated cutting capability is improved, but device becomes bulky and uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated cutting capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The automated cutting system is segmented into a stationary positioning structure and a handheld cutter head, eliminating the need for a bulky rigid helmet. The positioning structure remains fixed while the cutter head is lightweight and manually operable, distributing the system's mass and improving comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If vacuum stretcher tube is used to control hair length, then automated length control is improved, but device becomes expensive and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair length controlVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum stretcher tube mechanism is replaced with a simpler mechanical guide structure combined with electronic sensors for length control. The positioning structure uses sensors to detect head position and control cutter activation, eliminating complex vacuum mechanisms while maintaining precise length control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2780137B1Automated hair cutting system and method of operation thereof

Publication Date: 2021.05.05 KRENIK MATTHEW W

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

An automated hair cutting system and method of operation thereof. One embodiment of the automated hair cutting system includes: (1) a hair cutting device configured to engage a cutting mechanism to cut the hair on a subject and (2) a positioning structure operable to interact with the hair cutting device to determine a position of the hair cutting device relative to a reference point.