[0001] The subject matter of the invention relates to the salon industry and an electric
hair cutting machine therein.
[0002] Electric hair cutting machines are sufficiently well-known. They are used to cut
scalp hair and are an alternative to cutting hair using scissors.
[0003] US 5,959,878 discloses a cutting machine for lawn-mowing whose drive technology could be used
in a hairdressing salon if it were adapted to the requirements in the salon industry
with respect to its dimensions and cutting accuracy. This electric cutting machine
is equipped with a gripping piece, which has a longitudinal axis, as well as a drive,
a fixed clipper blade, a clipper blade that is aligned parallel to and adjoins the
fixed clipper blade and can be moved back and forth on a cutting plane, as well as
gearing, which transfers a rotational movement of a drive shaft to the movable clipper
blade. The drive shaft has a reversing device that has an eccentric in order to convert
the rotational movement into a linear back-and-forth movement. A reversing lever,
which can be swiveled around a bearing axle, connects the reversing device to the
movable clipper blade. A disk, in the form of a sliding block, is attached to a pin
on the eccentric, wherein the sliding block is held in position by a retainer on the
end of the reversing lever, and the retainer is designed, in a direction that is vertical
with respect to the drive shaft, such that the sliding block executes an up-and-down
movement in this direction.
[0004] DE 103 38 401 A1 discloses a hair cutting machine from the hair salon industry, wherein the cutting
plane forms an angle between 10 and 70 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the gripping
piece. This angle enables easy handling and function.
[0005] The known prior art has the disadvantage that there is no particularly location-specific
and smooth-operating reversing device for an electric hair cutting machine that is
also easy to handle. Thus, the subject matter of
US 5,958,878 requires a relatively high amount of drive capacity and the subject matter of
DE 103 38 401 A1 has a relatively imprecisely functioning reversing device.
[0006] The object was to further develop the subject matter of the preamble of Claim 1 in
a manner such that the disadvantage mentioned is eliminated.
[0007] The object is achieved in that the cutting plane forms an angle of from 10 to 70
degrees with the longitudinal axis of the gripping piece and that the sliding block
is constructed in the form of a cylinder that extends in a direction that is vertical
with respect to the drive shaft or is constructed in the form of a ball.
[0008] The proposed hair cutting machine has the advantage that it has an advantageous angle,
because said angle is between 10 and 70 degrees. It is preferable if said angle is
between 20 and 30 degrees, with between 20 and 25 degrees being particularly preferred,
such that this angle enables a haircut that essentially corresponds to hair that is
cut with scissors and that this is accomplished with ergonomically advantageous handling
and function that is suitable for the application. The drive capacity, meaning the
size of the drive, and optionally the usage time of a battery are minimized, because
the reversing device transfers the forces to be transferred precisely and beneficially
and thus the forces are transferred in a manner that is low-wearing. Thus, the design
of the sliding block as a cylinder or as a ball is suitable for ensuring a secure
and low-wearing transfer of force. The sliding block can have a drill hole, in a well-known
design, in which the pin is inserted, and whereby the sliding block is connected to
the pin in a rotating manner.
[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the suggested innovation are described in Claims 2 through
8.
[0010] If the sliding block is designed as a cylinder having at least one flat spot (A2),
this results in multiple advantages. On one hand, a recess provided in the external
surface of the cylinder, which is wearing along the entire length of the cylinder,
serves to define a location-specific reference, which can be used to calculate relative
movements. On the other hand, non-flattened surface areas of the cylinder are used
for location-specific transfer of force. A flat spot that is transverse with respect
to the center axis of the pin (A3) has the advantage that it does not change any surface
area of the cylinder that is important for the transfer of movement. The same thing
applies to a flat spot that is parallel with respect to the center axis of the pin
(A4). A particularly precise production of the sliding block is possible and the transfer
of force is optimized when there is a flat spot that is transverse with respect to
the center axis as well as a flat spot that is parallel with respect to the center
axis (A5). The flat spots are taken into consideration when the sliding block is held
in an end of the reversing lever, and they do not interfere with the swivel movement
of the reversing lever if, according to A6, the sliding block is held in the retainer
via positive engagement on the curved surface of the sliding block, and the sliding
block can be slid along the pin.
[0011] In principle, the sliding block can be held stationary in the retainer and can be
slid along the pin. Alternatively, the technical embodiment can also be designed such
that the sliding block is movable in the retainer in the direction of the extension
of the reversing lever and that the sliding block is mounted on the pin (12) in a
manner that is stationary.
This embodiment is suitable for both a sliding block in the form of a ball as well
as a sliding block in the form of a cylinder. In this embodiment, no flat spot is
provided parallel to a wall of the retainer if, according to A8, the retainer has
two walls that are parallel with respect to one another that extend in the direction
of the reversing lever and that adjoin the sliding block on opposing sides with play
between the sliding block and the walls. The play is at its maximum when the reversing
lever is in the center, i.e. when it is aligned straight out. Furthermore, if the
play is zero when the reversing lever is swiveled to the maximum on the left and the
right, this results in the maximally precise transfer of the drive to the movable
clipper blade.
[0012] The proposed hair cutting machine is described in more detail in the following using
figures showing two exemplary embodiments. The following is shown:
- Figure 1
- shows a vertical section of a hair cutting machine with a sharp angle between both
of its clipper blades as well as a longitudinal axis of a gripping piece;
- Figure 2
- shows a horizontal section of the subject matter of Figure 1;
- Figure 3
- shows a perspective representation with components that are separated from one another,
a drive, an eccentric that can be placed on a drive shaft, a cylindrical sliding block,
with flat spots, that can be attached to a pin of the eccentric, and a reversing lever
with a retainer to hold the sliding block;
- Figure 4
- is a view from above showing the subject matter of Figure 3, but in an assembled state
in a first rotational condition of the eccentric;
- Figure 5
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 4, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees;
- Figure 6
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 5, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees;
- Figure 7
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 6, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees;
- Figure 8
- shows a perspective representation with components that are separated from one another,
a drive, an eccentric that can be placed on a drive shaft, a spherical sliding block,
with flat spots, that can be attached to a pin of the eccentric, and a reversing lever
with a retainer to hold the sliding block;
- Figure 9
- is a view from above showing the subject matter of Figure 8, but in an assembled state
in a first rotational condition of the eccentric;
- Figure 10
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 9, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees;
- Figure 11
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 10, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees; and
- Figure 12
- is a view from above of the subject matter of Figure 11, but with the eccentric rotated
an additional 90 degrees.
[0013] With an electric hair cutting machine 1 having a gripping piece 2, a longitudinal
axis 17 of the gripping piece 2, a drive 3, a fixed clipper blade 4, a clipper blade
5 that is aligned parallel to the fixed clipper blade 4 and that adjoins it in a cutting
plane 16 and that can be moved back and forth, gearing 6 transfers a rotational movement
of a drive shaft 7 to the movable clipper blade 5 (Figures 1 and 2). The drive shaft
7 has an eccentric 8 as a reversing device (Figure 3) in order to convert the rotational
movement into a linear back-and-forth movement (Figures 4 through 7). A reversing
lever 10, which can be swiveled around a bearing axle 9, connects the reversing device
to the movable clipper blade 5. A sliding block 11 is provided on a pin 12 of the
eccentric 8, wherein the sliding block 11 is held in position by a retainer 13 on
one end 14 of the reversing lever 10. The retainer 13 is designed in a direction 15
that is vertical with respect to the drive shaft 7 such that the sliding block 11
executes an up-and-down movement in this direction 15. The cutting plane 16 forms
an angle 18 of 23 degrees with the longitudinal axis 17 of the gripping piece 2. The
sliding block 11 is designed in the form of a cylinder 19 that extends vertically
upwards in the indicated direction 15. The gripping piece 2 is designed to hold a
battery, wherein the hair cutting machine 1 is designed to charge the battery at a
charging station.
[0014] The sliding block 11 has two flat spots 21 that are transverse with respect to the
center axis 22 of the pin 12, on opposing sides of the sliding block 11 (Figure 3).
In addition, a flat spot 21 is provided which is parallel with respect to the center
axis 22. As an alternative to this, a flat spot 21 that is parallel with respect to
the center axis 22 could be designed on each of the two opposing sides of the sliding
block 11. The sliding block of 11 is held in the retainer 13 via positive engagement
23 on the curved surface 25. The sliding block 11 has a drill hole 26 in which the
pin 12 is inserted so that the sliding block 11 can be slid along the pin 12.
[0015] With the exemplary embodiment according to Figures 8 through 12, the sliding block
11 is designed in the form of a ball 20. Said ball 20 can be moved in the retainer
13 in the direction of the extension of the reversing lever, because the sliding block
11 is mounted on the pin 12 in a stationary manner. The retainer 13 has two walls
24, which are parallel with respect to one another and which extend in the direction
of the reversing lever 10, and which adjoin the sliding block 11 on opposing sides
with play between the sliding block 11 and the walls 24.
[0016] As an alternative to both of the examples, the cylindrical sliding block 11 of the
first example could also be attached to the pin 12 in a stationary manner and be held
in a retainer 13 with parallel walls, and the spherical sliding block 11 of the second
example could be held in a sliding manner on the pin 12 and limited by the retainer
13 via positive engagement.
Reference numerals
[0017]
- 1
- Hair cutting machine
- 2
- Gripping piece
- 3
- Drive
- 4
- Clipper blade, fixed
- 5
- Clipper blade, moveable
- 6
- Gearing
- 7
- Drive shaft
- 8
- Eccentric
- 9
- Bearing axle
- 10
- Reversing lever
- 11
- Sliding block
- 12
- Pin
- 13
- Retainer
- 14
- End
- 15
- Direction
- 16
- Cutting plane
- 17
- Longitudinal axis
- 18
- Angle
- 19
- Cylinder
- 20
- Ball
- 21
- Flat spot
- 22
- Center axis of the pin
- 23
- Positive engagement
- 24
- Wall
- 25
- Surface
- 26
- Drill hole
[0018] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to he understood as being strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified,
each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40
mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
1. An electric hair cutting machine (1) having a gripping piece (2), a longitudinal axis
(17) of the gripping piece (2), a drive (3), a fixed clipper blade (4), a clipper
blade (5) that is aligned parallel to the fixed clipper blade (4) and that adjoins
it in a cutting plane (16) and that can be moved back and forth, as well as gearing
(6) that transfers a rotational movement of a drive shaft (7) to the movable clipper
blade (5), wherein the drive shaft (7) has a reversing device, preferably an eccentric
(8), in order to convert the rotational movement into a linear back-and-forth movement,
with a reversing lever (10), which can be swiveled around a bearing axle (9), wherein
the reversing lever (10) connects the reversing device to the movable clipper blade
(5), as well as with a sliding block (11) on a pin (12) of the eccentric (8), wherein
the sliding block (11) is held in position by a retainer (13) on one end (14) of the
reversing lever (10), and the retainer (13) is designed in a direction (15) that is
vertical with respect to the drive shaft (7) such that the sliding block (11) executes
an up-and-down movement in this direction (15), characterized in that the cutting plane (16) forms an angle (18) of from 10 to 70 degrees, or preferably
of from 20 to 30 degrees, with the longitudinal axis (17) of the gripping piece (2),
and that the sliding block (11) is designed in the form of a cylinder (19) that extends
in the direction (15) indicated or is designed in the form of a ball (20).
2. The hair cutting machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sliding block (11) is designed as a cylinder (19) having at least one flat spot
(21).
3. The hair cutting machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that a flat spot (21) is provided that is transverse with respect to the center axis (22)
of the pin (12).
4. The hair cutting machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that a flat spot (21) is provided that is parallel with respect to the center axis (22)
of the pin (12).
5. The hair cutting machine according to Claim 3 and Claim 4, characterized in that a flat spot (21) that is transverse with respect to the center axis (22) as well
as a flat spot (21) that is parallel with respect to the center axis (22) is provided.
6. The hair cutting machine according to any of Claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the sliding block (11) is held in the retainer (13) via positive engagement (23)
on the curved surface (25) and that the sliding block (11) can be slid along the pin
(12).
7. The hair cutting machine according to any of Claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the sliding block (11) can be moved in the retainer (13) in the direction of the
extension of the reversing lever (10) and that the sliding block (11) is mounted in
a fixed position on the pin (12).
8. The hair cutting machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that the retainer (13) has two walls (24), which are parallel with respect to one another
and which extend in the direction of the reversing lever (10), and which adjoin the
sliding block (11) on opposing sides with play between the sliding block (11) and
the walls (24).