Hair-cutting apparatus with segmented cut-hair-blocking element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair-cutting apparatuses face challenges in optimizing hair debris collection, leading to cut hair spreading into the grooming environment, as they struggle to effectively prevent cut hair from flying off during the cutting process.
Innovation Solution
A hair-cutting apparatus with a cut-hair-blocking element featuring a combination of shield and barrier members, where shield members are stiff to prevent cut hair from flying off and barrier members are flexible to allow uncut hair to enter the cutting zone, optimizing hair collection by reducing hair scatter through a carefully designed geometry and material selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a boundary wall is extended close to the cutting arrangement to prevent cut hair from flying off, then hair debris collection is improved, but the amount of cut hair spreading into the grooming environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary wall is segmented into a stationary portion and a movable portion that can cooperate with the hair to be cut. The cut-hair-blocking element is divided into multiple cut-hair-blocking members (shield members and barrier members) arranged in rows, creating interspaces that selectively allow uncut hair through while blocking cut hair
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier members are designed to be flexible and movable, allowing them to deform under the force of uncut hair to permit passage, while remaining sufficiently stiff to block cut hair. The movable portion of the boundary wall can adjust its position to optimize the balance between allowing hair through and preventing cut hair escape
2Productivity
If the cut-hair-blocking element is positioned close to the cutting arrangement to counter-act flying off cut hair, then hair collection efficiency is improved, but the difficulty of preventing cut hair from passing through increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the cut-hair-blocking element have different properties: shield members provide rigid blocking with small interspaces to prevent cut hair passage, while barrier members provide flexible regions that deform to allow uncut hair through. This local differentiation of properties solves the contradiction between blocking cut hair and allowing uncut hair passage
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier members are designed with specific flexibility parameters that allow them to undergo sufficient deformation under uncut hair force while maintaining stiffness to block cut hair. The interspace dimensions are optimized to be sufficiently small to prevent cut hair passage while allowing uncut hair through
3Ease of operation
If barrier members are made flexible to allow uncut hair to pass through, then hair entry to cutting zone is improved, but the ability to prevent cut hair from flying off deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cut-hair-blocking element incorporates both shield members (rigid) and barrier members (flexible) in specific arrangements. The barrier members are positioned to deform and allow uncut hair through while the shield members and their small interspaces prevent cut hair from passing through to the outside environment
Solution Approach 2:
The cut-hair-blocking element combines different types of members (shield members and barrier members) with different mechanical properties in a composite structure. This composite approach allows the element to simultaneously exhibit rigid blocking characteristics and flexible hair-guiding characteristics
4Object-affected harmful factors
If shield members are made stiff to prevent cut hair from flying off, then hair debris blocking is improved, but the ability to allow uncut hair to pass through deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cut-hair-blocking element is segmented into shield members and barrier members with distinct functions. Shield members provide rigid structural support and blocking capability with small interspaces, while barrier members provide flexible pathways for uncut hair to enter the cutting zone
Solution Approach 2:
Different members within the cut-hair-blocking element have different local properties: shield members are stiff for blocking cut hair, while barrier members are flexible for allowing uncut hair passage. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between blocking and allowing passage
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 solution significantly enhances hair collection efficiency by preventing cut hair from escaping while allowing uncut hair to enter the cutting zone, improving airflow speed and increasing the effectiveness of vacuum systems in capturing hair debris, thus reducing hair scatter in the environment.
Implementation Method 1
the barrier members (28b) are sufficiently flexible such that the barrier members (28b) undergo sufficiently large deformation under a force caused by the hair to be cut for allowing the hair to be cut to pass through the barrier members (28b) to enter the cutting zone; and wherein the barrier members (28b) are sufficiently stiff such that the barrier members (28b) undergo no or little deformation under a force caused by the cut hair for preventing the cut hair from flying off
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
In order to improve hair debris collection, it is proposed to position a cut-hair-blocking element 18 with a partitioned barrier/shield 28 in front of a cutting arrangement 12 of a hair-cutting apparatus 10. Examples of the partitioned barrier/shield include e.g. a rigid comb shield 28a with spacings between teeth, a rigid comb barrier 28b with flexible material between teeth, and a fully flexible barrier. The partitioned barrier/shield allows hair to be cut to enter a cutting zone 20, but prevents cut hair from flying off.