Rotary Shaver Inner Blade Assembly Component Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity and increased cost of manufacturing rotary electric shavers due to the large number of components in existing designs, which complicates the structure and processing methods, leading to higher component and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A rotary electric shaver configuration with a reduced number of components, featuring an inner blade assembly composed of three main parts: an inner blade, a movable inner blade, and an inner blade base, where the small blades are arranged in multiple rows and are vertically movable, allowing for deeper shaving with a dual track structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a rotary electric shaver uses a conventional inner blade assembly with multiple separate components (cutting members, hair pulling members, coupling members, cover plates), then the shaving function is achieved, but the number of components increases, processing steps become complicated, and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the inner blade, movable inner blade, and coupling member into a single integrated inner blade assembly. This merging of previously separate components reduces the total number of parts, simplifies the structure, and lowers manufacturing complexity while maintaining the shaving and hair-pulling functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated inner blade assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: the inner blade performs cutting, the movable inner blade performs hair pulling, and the coupling member provides structural support and connection. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single assembled unit rather than requiring separate dedicated components for each function

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

2Device complexity

If a rotary electric shaver uses a conventional inner blade assembly with multiple separate components, then the shaving function is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated and processing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidprocessing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the inner blade, movable inner blade, and coupling member into one integrated assembly, thereby simplifying the overall structure. This reduction in structural complexity directly decreases the number of assembly steps and processing operations required during manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a rotary electric shaver has small blades in multiple tracks, then deep shaving capability is improved, but the number of components and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving depthVSAvoidcomponent configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple small blades arranged in different tracks (dual track configuration) within a single inner blade assembly. This allows the shaver to achieve deep shaving capability through multiple blade tracks while maintaining a simplified component structure, as all blades are part of one integrated unit rather than separate assemblies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3162518B1Rotary electric shaver
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 MAXELL IZUMI CO LTD
  • EP3162518B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3162518B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3162518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A rotary electric shaver (1) includes an outer blade (22) whose upper surface (22a) functions as annular shaving surfaces having multiple hair inlets (23) formed therein, and an inner blade (40) that has a small blade (42) which rotates while coming into sliding contact with a lower surface (22b) of the outer blade (22). The small blade (42) is formed so that an inner blade base plate (41) is partially erected, and is disposed in at least two rows on a circumference close to an outer periphery and on a circumference close to an inner periphery. There is provided a movable inner blade (50) that has a movable small blade (52) which is vertically movable along a front end surface (42b) in a rotation direction of the small blade (42), with respect to the predetermined small blade (42).