Shear Foil Lower Cutter Geometry for Dense Blade Shaving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric shaver cutter systems face limitations in increasing cutting efficiency and durability due to the narrow width and rigidity of the lower cutter blades, which leads to bending stresses and potential cracking, limiting the number of cutting actions per unit time.

Innovation Solution

A lower cutter design with a dense arrangement of blades, each spaced 0.80 to 0.95mm apart, and a U-shaped cross-section with curved end sections, allowing for high cutting efficiency and sufficient strength and rigidity, reducing bending stresses by increasing the height of the end portions and maintaining a large contact area with the upper cutter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of blades on the lower cutter is increased to achieve more cutting actions per unit time, then cutting efficiency is improved, but the blades become narrower and less rigid, leading to bending stresses and potential cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of cutting actions per unit timeVSAvoidblade rigidity and resistance to bending stresses
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The lower cutter is divided into multiple individual blades instead of a single continuous cutting edge. This segmentation allows each blade to be optimized independently - narrow enough to allow close spacing for high cutting efficiency, yet structurally complete enough to maintain adequate rigidity and resist bending stresses during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade design incorporates varying local properties: the cutting edges are sharp and narrow for effective hair cutting, while the blade bases and root sections have increased thickness and structural reinforcement to provide the necessary rigidity and resist bending stresses, creating a gradient of structural quality along the blade length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the gap between neighboring blades is reduced to increase blade density, then cutting efficiency is improved, but the blade width must be reduced, compromising blade strength and rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade density and cutting efficiencyVSAvoidblade width and structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The blade structure utilizes the third dimension (blade thickness perpendicular to the cutting edge) to compensate for reduced blade width. By increasing blade thickness at critical locations such as the base and root sections, the design maintains adequate structural integrity and rigidity even when blade width is reduced to achieve closer spacing and higher blade density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the lower cutter reciprocates at higher speed to increase cutting actions, then productivity is improved, but the resonant frequency of the spring system limits the maximum achievable frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting actions per time unitVSAvoidreciprocating frequency limited by resonant frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The design changes the structural parameters of the cutter system, particularly the blade density and distribution pattern, to optimize cutting efficiency at achievable reciprocating frequencies. By increasing blade density through segmentation and optimal spacing, the system achieves higher productivity without requiring excessive reciprocating speed that would encounter resonant frequency limitations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4670932A1Electric shaver and shear foil cutter system thereof
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BRAUN GMBH
  • EP4670932A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4670932A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4670932A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a shear-foil-type cutter system for an electric shaver, said cutter system including an upper cutter having at least one field of perforations and a lower cutter pressed against said upper cutter having a particular dense blade geometry of the lower cutter and large overlap angle with the upper cutter,