Pivotable Pan Cleaning Device for Razor Heads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning devices for electric shaving apparatuses take a long time for drying due to excess liquid remaining on the cutting means, leading to inefficient cleaning and increased cleaning liquid consumption.

Innovation Solution

The cleaning device employs a pivotable pan with an oscillating motion to enhance liquid flow through the shaving head during cleaning and a mechanism to drain excess liquid during drying, utilizing flexible tubes and an electro-mechanical actuating device to facilitate improved cleaning and faster drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the cleaning device uses a conventional stationary pan design, then the structure is simple, but the drying time is long due to excess liquid remaining on the cutting means

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying timeVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pan is made pivotable instead of stationary, allowing it to change position dynamically. During cleaning, the pan remains in a first position with the cutting means immersed in liquid. During drying, the pan pivots to a second position where excess liquid drains away from the cutting means, significantly reducing drying time without requiring complex additional drying mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own cleaning liquid and pan structure to facilitate drying. By pivoting the pan, the cleaning liquid itself serves to drain away from the cutting means, eliminating the need for separate drying agents or complex drying systems. The pan's own movement enables the drying function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the pan is made pivotable to improve cleaning and drying, then the cleaning efficiency increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pan is made pivotable instead of stationary, allowing it to change position dynamically. During cleaning, the pan remains in a first position with the cutting means immersed in liquid. During drying, the pan pivots to a second position where excess liquid drains away from the cutting means, significantly reducing drying time without requiring complex additional drying mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivotable pan serves multiple functions: it holds cleaning liquid, immerses the cutting means for cleaning, and facilitates drying by enabling liquid drainage. This single dynamic structure replaces what would otherwise require separate cleaning and drying systems, improving efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity

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

3Reliability

If excess cleaning liquid remains on the cutting means, then the cleaning is thorough, but the drying time increases and liquid consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning thoroughnessVSAvoidcleaning liquid consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pan is made pivotable instead of stationary, allowing it to change position dynamically. During cleaning, the pan remains in a first position with the cutting means immersed in liquid. During drying, the pan pivots to a second position where excess liquid drains away from the cutting means, significantly reducing drying time without requiring complex additional drying mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic action by alternating between cleaning phase (pan in first position with liquid) and drying phase (pan pivoted to second position for drainage). This periodic positioning allows thorough cleaning followed by efficient draining, reducing overall liquid consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This approach results in a more thorough cleaning process and significantly reduces drying time, minimizing the amount of cleaning liquid needed and extending its useful life.

Implementation Method 1

the inertia of the liquid, the liquid is set into a back and forth movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

the air in the process flowing not only around but also through the cutting means via inlets. In this way the cutting means is dried quickly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

an electro-mechanical actuating device (18) for oscillating the pan (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromechanical conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP2543274B1Electrically operated cleaning device for razor
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP2543274B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2543274B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2543274B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrically operated cleaning device for cleaning an electrically operated hair removal apparatus (21), which comprises a drive means (62) configured in a housing (61) and a cutting or epilation means (26), which can be driven by the drive means and is arranged on a head end (25) of said housing (61). For cleaning purposes, the cutting or epilation means (26) can be introduced into a pan which can be filled with a cleaning liquid (29) on the one hand, and which can have the cleaning liquid (29) flowing therethrough on the other hand. According to a first invention, the receptacle is formed directly by the pan (3), wherein the pan (3) is pivotably mounted on the cleaning device (2) via a rotational axis (4), wherein an alternating torque acts on the pan (3) for pivoting the same. According to a second invention, the receptacle (22) is formed by a separate component, the receptacle being mounted on the cleaning device (2) pivotably about a rotational axis (4). With the aid of the inventions, it is possible to achieve improved and more thorough cleaning of cutting or epilation means (26) of a hair removal apparatus (21) that are immersed in the pan (3) on the one hand, and the hair removal apparatus (21), which is moved into an oblique position during the drying process, can dry more quickly on the other hand because the liquid present in the cutting and epilation means (26) can drain off to one side.