Hair Styling Winder Control Method for Jamming Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair curling appliances face challenges in detecting hair jamming due to variations in power consumption and rotation speed, making it difficult to implement a universal and efficient control method.

Innovation Solution

A control method that systematically reverses the winder's direction as soon as the control member is released, eliminating the need for torque or power sensors, and allowing the winder to return to a predetermined stop position, thereby simplifying electronic control means and preventing hair jamming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic control means measure power consumption or rotation speed to detect hair jamming, then hair jamming detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for sensors and threshold calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair jamming detection capabilityVSAvoidelectronic control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the jamming detection capability from complex sensor-based systems and implements it through a simple counter that tracks the number of rotations. By removing the need for power sensors, speed sensors, and complex threshold calibration systems, the invention achieves reliable jamming detection while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The counter system serves itself by automatically detecting jamming conditions through rotation counting without requiring external sensors or complex electronic control. The system uses its own operational parameters (rotation count) to detect abnormalities, eliminating the need for separate detection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If power consumption threshold is used to detect hair jamming, then detection accuracy is improved, but adaptability decreases because threshold values vary between appliances of the same type

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejamming detection accuracyVSAvoiduniversal applicability across appliances
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal jamming detection mechanism that works across all appliances of the same type by using a rotation counter instead of appliance-specific power thresholds. The counter-based approach is adaptable to different motors and power systems, making the solution universally applicable while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the detection parameter from power consumption (which varies between appliances) to rotation count (which is consistent across appliances). This parameter transformation enables universal applicability while preserving the ability to accurately detect jamming conditions through the predefined rotation threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If magnetic field sensor and magnet system is used to count rotations, then rotation measurement is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation counting accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system components
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of rotation detection from complex magnetic sensor systems and implements it through a simple rotation counter. By removing magnets, magnetic field sensors, and associated electronic circuitry, the invention achieves accurate rotation counting while significantly reducing the number of components and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3471574B1Method for controlling a hair styling appliance for curling hair, and hair styling appliance equipped with such a method
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 SEB SA
  • EP3471574B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3471574B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3471574B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a winding device of a hair styling appliance (1) for curling hair, which comprises a mandrel (7) and a winder (9) configured to wind a lock of hair about the mandrel as it rotates in a predetermined direction, the winder being driven in rotation by a motor (12), the operation of which is controlled by a control member (19). The method comprises a step of rotating the winder in a predetermined direction, said rotation being triggered when the control member is activated, a step of stopping the triggered rotation of the winder as soon as the control member is no longer activated. The method comprises a final step of rotating the winder in the opposite direction, said rotation being triggered after the step of stopping the winder, the winder being driven in rotation until a predetermined stopping position is reached.