ELECTRIC HAIR CUTTING MACHINE

MACHINE ELECTRIQUE POUR COUPER LES CHEVEUX

English Abstract

For 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), the sliding block (11) is held in position
by a retainer (13) on one end (14) of the reversing lever (10). In order to
achieve optimized handling and a smooth-running mechanical system,
which enables a minimized drive, it is proposed that the cutting plane (16)
form 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) be designed in the form of a cylinder (19) that extends
in the direction (15) indicated or in the form of a ball (20).

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur une machine électrique pour couper les cheveux (1) qui présente une partie de préhension (2), un axe longitudinal (17) de la partie de préhension (2), un entraînement (3), une lame de coupe fixe (4), une lame de coupe (5) qui est alignée en parallèle avec la lame de coupe fixe (4) et qui la rejoint dans un plan de coupe (16) et qui peut être déplacée en va-et-vient, ainsi qu'un engrenage (6) qui transfère un mouvement de rotation d'un arbre d'entraînement (7) à la lame de coupe mobile (5), l'arbre d'entraînement (7) ayant un dispositif d'inversion, de préférence un excentrique (8), afin de convertir le mouvement de rotation en un mouvement linéaire de va-et-vient, avec un levier d'inversion (10), qui peut être amené à pivoter autour d'un axe de palier (9), le levier d'inversion (10) reliant le dispositif d'inversion à la lame de coupe mobile (5), ainsi qu'à un bloc coulissant (11) sur une broche (12) de l'excentrique (8), le bloc coulissant (11) étant maintenu en position par un élément de retenue (13) sur une extrémité (14) du levier d'inversion (10). Afin d'obtenir une manipulation optimisée et un système mécanique à fonctionnement régulier qui permettent de réduire lentraînement à un minimum, il est proposé que le plan de coupe (16) forme un angle (18) allant de 10 à 70 degrés, ou de préférence de 20 à 30 degrés, avec l'axe longitudinal (17) de la partie de préhension (2), et que le bloc coulissant (11) soit conçu sous la forme d'un cylindre (19) qui s'étend dans la direction (15) indiquée ou sous la forme d'une bille (20).

Claims

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THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FOR WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
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 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
reversing
device, 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 the direction (15) that is vertical with respect to the
drive shaft
(7), wherein the cutting plane (16) forms an angle (18) of from 10 to 70
degrees with the
longitudinal axis (17) of the gripping piece (2), and the sliding block (11)
is designed in
the form of a cylinder (19) that extends in the direction (15) that is
vertical with respect to
the drive shaft (7), wherein the sliding block (11) is held in the retainer
(13) via positive
engagement (23) on a curved surface (25) of the sliding block (11), the
sliding block (11)
can be slid along the pin (12), and the sliding block (11) designed as the
cylinder (19) has
at least one flat spot (21) that is transverse with respect to center axis
(22) of the pin (12).
2. The hair cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the reversing
device is an
eccentric (8).
3. The hair cutting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutting
plane (16) forms
an angle (18) of from 20 to 30 degrees.

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4. The hair cutting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
an additional flat
spot (21) is provided that is parallel with respect to the center axis (22) of
the pin (12).

Description

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ELECTRIC HAIR CUTTING MACHINE
The subject matter of the invention relates to the salon industry and an
electric hair cutting
machine therein.
FIELD OF INVENTION
Electric hair cutting machines are sufficiently well-known. They are used to
cut scalp hair and
are an alternative to cutting hair using scissors.
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.
DE 103 38 401 Al 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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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

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the subject matter of DE 103 38 401 Al has a relatively imprecisely
functioning reversing device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided 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).
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.
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

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2a
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.
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

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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.
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.
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;

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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.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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
5 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.
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.
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.

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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.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be 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."

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Reference numerals
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

Representative Drawing