Sequential Hair Roller Heating Apparatus with Turn Tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hair setting assemblies for curlers are wasteful in energy and steam usage, pose a risk of burns and electrical shock due to condensation, and lack efficient roller handling.
Innovation Solution
A sequential hair roller heating apparatus without a lid, featuring a turn tray with roller detection fingers and a steam stage area, allowing individual roller heating and automatic rotation for efficient steam application, ensuring safe and controlled operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a lid is used to cover the rollers to retain heat, then heat retention is improved, but condensation accumulates on the lid inner surface creating burn and shock hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lid component entirely from the hair setting assembly. By extracting the lid that caused condensation accumulation, the design eliminates the harmful effect while maintaining heat retention through alternative means such as the enclosed housing structure and controlled steam delivery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of condensation into a benefit by implementing a controlled steam delivery system. The steam is delivered directly to the rollers in a controlled manner, and the housing structure is designed to manage condensation internally, preventing it from becoming a hazard while still achieving heat retention.
2Ease of operation
If all rollers are constantly subjected to steam and heat, then readiness for application is improved, but energy and steam usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating process into segments, heating rollers individually rather than all rollers simultaneously. The turn tray rotates to bring one roller at a time to the steam delivery position, allowing selective heating and reducing overall energy and steam consumption while maintaining roller readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the rotating turn tray that cycles rollers through the heating position and removal position. Rollers are heated periodically rather than continuously, with the turn tray rotating to position rollers for steam delivery and then moving them away, creating a rhythmic heating cycle that conserves energy.
3Temperature
If a lid is used to cover the rollers, then heat retention is improved, but condensed water may spill onto hands and rollers causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lid component that causes condensation to accumulate and potentially spill. By extracting this harmful component, the design eliminates the burn hazard while maintaining heat retention through the housing structure and controlled steam delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary steam delivery system that delivers steam directly to the rollers without requiring a lid. The controlled steam delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary, providing necessary heat and steam while preventing condensation from accumulating in a way that creates burn hazards.
4Temperature
If condensed water collects on the lid inner surface, then heat retention is improved, but water can drip into electrical components creating shock hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lid that allows condensed water to collect and potentially drip into electrical components. By extracting this component, the design eliminates the shock hazard while maintaining heat retention through alternative structural means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of condensation into a benefit by designing a housing structure that manages condensation internally. The controlled steam delivery system and housing design ensure that condensation is contained and managed in a way that prevents it from reaching electrical components, transforming a potential hazard into a manageable internal process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus efficiently heats hair rollers one at a time, reducing energy waste and eliminating burn and shock hazards by controlling steam application and eliminating the need for a lid, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a steam stage area including a steam outlet for dispensing steam
Implementation Method 2
a roller detection finger associated with each roller receptacle and being configured for movement from a radial outward position to a radial inward position upon positioning of a hair roller within the roller receptacle
Implementation Method 3
a motor operatively coupled to the turn tray and configured to rotate the turn tray about the longitudinal axis to selectively position a select roller receptacle adjacent the steam outlet
Implementation Method 4
The roller detection switch is configured to stop rotational movement of the turn tray to maintain the select roller receptacle in the steam stage area
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for sequentially and individually heating hair rollers incorporates a turn tray having a plurality of receptacles. The turn tray rotates, and if a roller is disposed in the receptacle, the turn tray will stop at a steam stage area where the roller is subjected to heat and steam. After a predetermined of time selected by the operator, e.g., when the hair roller is sufficiently treated with heat and steam, the roller is removed and applied to a length of hair of the operator. The turn tray will then automatically rotate to place the next successive roller within the steam stage area.