Rotary Shaving Unit Lubricating Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shaving units with rotary cutters face issues of rapid lubricant exhaustion and ineffectiveness in reducing skin friction, as the lubricant is shaved off by the static cutting blade before it can effectively reach the skin, leading to discomfort and skin irritation.
Innovation Solution
A shaving unit with a rotating drum and a lubricating arrangement that applies a continuous lubricating film directly to the moving counter cutting edge, which is then applied to the skin, using a liquid reservoir and a feed mechanism to ensure the lubricant is fresh during the cutting process, reducing friction and skin irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricant is placed on the drum surface that is used for cutting, then lubrication is provided to the cutting elements, but the lubricant is rapidly shaved off by the static cutting blade and becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the lubrication function from the cutting function by using two distinct surfaces: a first drum surface for cutting and a second drum surface for lubrication. This segmentation prevents the lubricant from being shaved off during cutting while still providing effective lubrication to the cutting elements through the rotating drum's contact with the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating drum acts as an intermediary that transfers lubricant from the lubrication surface to the skin. The drum picks up lubricant on its second surface and delivers it to the skin during rotation, providing continuous lubrication without the lubricant being removed by the cutting blade.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lubricant is applied to the drum, then lubrication is provided, but the static blade shaves off the lubricant before it can reach the skin, causing skin discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies lubricant to the skin in advance through the rotating drum before the cutting blade contacts the skin. The drum delivers lubricant to the skin surface during its rotation, ensuring the skin is lubricated and protected before the cutting action occurs, thereby preventing skin irritation and discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying lubricant directly to the skin or to the cutting blade, the invention inverts the approach by applying lubricant to a separate surface on the rotating drum that contacts the skin. This reversed approach ensures lubricant delivery without interference from the cutting blade.
3Quantity of substance
If a backfill solution is used to supply lubricant from the reservoir to the lubricating elements, then lubricant supply is maintained, but the system becomes more complicated and lubricant is still shaved off
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating drum itself serves as the lubrication delivery mechanism, eliminating the need for separate backfill solutions or complex pumping systems. The drum's rotation naturally picks up lubricant from its surface and delivers it to the skin, providing self-service lubrication without additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention discards the complex backfill solution approach and recovers the simplicity of direct lubricant application through the rotating drum. The system uses the drum's motion and surface area to naturally transfer lubricant, eliminating the need for additional lubricant supply mechanisms.
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 effectively maintains a fresh lubricating film on the counter cutting edge until it contacts the skin, reducing friction and skin irritation, while also simplifying the lubricant supply system and minimizing the need for excess lubricant application.
Implementation Method 1
a feed mechanism including a lubricating element arranged adjacent to the drum in a position such as to engage the at least one counter cutting edge during rotation of the drum about the longitudinal axis for providing a lubricating film to the at least one counter cutting edge
Data Source
AI summary
A shaving unit (16) is disclosed comprising a housing (12), a guard (20) stationary relative to the housing (12), a cutting edge (22) arranged at a distance from the guard (20) and stationary relative to the housing, a hair-entry opening bounded by the guard and the cutting edge, and a drum (24) arranged within the housing, the drum (24) being configured to be driven rotatingly about a longitudinal axis thereof. A plurality of counter cutting edges (28) is arranged on the drum (24), wherein the counter cutting edges (28) cooperate with the cutting edge (22) during rotation of the drum (24) about the longitudinal axis (26) for shearing or cutting hairs when the shaving unit (16) is moved over a skin (30). The shaving unit (16) further comprises a lubricating arrangement (36) with a liquid reservoir (38) filled with a lubricant and with a feed mechanism (41) for supplying the lubricant from the liquid reservoir (38) to at least one of the counter cutting edges (28) for providing a lubricating film (42) thereto. The feed mechanism (41) comprises a lubricating element (39) arranged adjacent to the drum (24) in a position such as to engage the at least one counter cutting edge (28) during rotation of the drum (24) about the longitudinal axis (26).