EP2152114B1 - Hairdressing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hair styling device or hair shaping, more particularly to the type curling iron or curling hair having a housing connected to at least one rotary heating body to perform the shaping of the hair by heat .

Most hair shaping devices, such as curling or curling irons, comprise a handle that supports a heating mandrel and a spring-loaded pressure clip for bringing the hair into contact with the mandrel, particularly by passing an opening position allowing the insertion of the hair to a closed position for bringing it into contact with the heating mandrel. The transition from the open position to the closing position is done manually by pressing an opening lever of the pressure clamp. In use, the mandrel is heated and the end of a lock of hair is caught between the pressure clamp and the mandrel. The manual rotation of the curling iron makes it possible to wrap the rest of the wick around the mandrel. The heat changes the texture of the hair and allows them to take the shape of the mandrel, forming a loop. The loop is then unwound to get out of the mandrel. Among the difficulties encountered when using such a device is that of winding a wick around the mandrel. In fact, apart from the difficult hand winding which, moreover, tends to entangle the power cable, it has also been found that poor contact between the wick and the mandrel does not form a loop. sustainable.

The document US 4,829,156 proposes a more uniform and more comfortable winding solution of a lock of hair around a heating mandrel by proposing a rotation drive by an electric motor of the mandrel. In operation, the end of a strand of hair is pinched by opening a tongue pivotally mounted around a hinge of the mandrel, then, by actuating a switch, the mandrel starts to rotate, allowing the automatic winding of the bit on the mandrel. The problem often encountered with such a device is that it requires a significant processing time, which also increases with the thickness of the winding, because the energy is transmitted to the hair only from the inside of the winding, therefore from the heating mandrel.

The document US 2006/0237418 describes an apparatus similar to the previous one, but wherein the clip that holds the wick before winding can be heated. This document has the same disadvantages as the previous one, the wound wick being heated only from the inside, in contact with the mandrel and the clamp, the winding being around the clamp when in the closed position on the mandrel.

A solution has been proposed in the document DE 195 27,111 which describes a curling iron having a central cylindrical body around which is wrapped a lock of hair, the apparatus being completed by two pivoting jaws arranged on either side of the mandrel. The central body communicates at one of its ends with a housing blowing hot air to the inside of the body from where it is distributed towards the hair by air outlet orifices made along its length. In operation, the hair is manually wrapped around the central body provided with hair retention pins. At the end of the winding, it closes the jaws on the central body, then it controls the circulation of hot air inside it. The hair is thus dried with a supply of hot air from inside the mandrel, the air being then returned by the lateral jaws towards the hair. Allowing, of course, to reduce the drying time of a wick wrapped around the central body, this apparatus finds its limits, on the one hand, because of the difficulty and the nonuniformity of the winding of the hair done manually around the body central with jaws apart impeding more the operation, and, secondly, due to the low calorie intake brought by the flow of hot air, calorie intake which is even lower on the outer part of the winding where it arrives by ricochet being returned by the inner wall of the lateral jaws. It is also noted that, due to the lack of contact between the wick to be treated and the peripheral jaws, the heat transfer is very bad.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the abovementioned drawbacks and to propose a hairdressing device that makes it possible to effectively wrap a strand of hair and, at the same time, to provide it with the energy necessary for the proper treatment, in a rapid manner and effective.

Another object of the invention is a hair styling device capable of improving the heat transfer with a lock of hair to be treated.

Another object of the invention is a hairdressing device capable of ensuring good ergonomics and comfortable use, while being reliable in operation. Another object of the invention is a hairdressing device of simplified structure, compact and can be industrialized for a low cost.

These objects are achieved with a hairdressing apparatus having the features of claim 1.

The hairdressing apparatus of the invention comprises firstly a heating and motorized winding body, able to automatically wind a lock of hair from one end thereof to the hairline. The end of the wick is fixed to the winding body by a gripping clamp, the rotation of the winding body around its longitudinal axis for performing the automatic winding of the wick on the outer winding surface thereof. Thus, such automatic winding already reduces the winding time and make the operation easy for the user, the wick can thus quickly cover the outer surface of the winding body. Moreover, by using an effective gripping means and by adapting the rotational speed of the motor to the dimensions of the winding body, or even to the type of hair to be treated, an effective winding is obtained for optimum and uniform tensioning of the hair. the wick rolled up.

According to the invention, the outer surface of the winding body cooperates with the inner surface of at least one heating plate vis-à-vis mounted movable relative to the winding body to exert pressure on the lock of hair when its winding or when it is already wound on it. This pressure exerted by a heating plate coming to be applied to the winding body makes it possible to heat the outer part of the wound wick, in addition to the heating of its inner part made by the heating winding body. Preferably, the inner surface of the heating plate has a length comparable to that of the outer surface of the winding body (or even at least half of it) in order to be able to uniformly treat long locks of hair.

Indeed, it has been found during laboratory tests that the determining factors for a well-formed and durable winding are: the good winding tension, the quality of the energy transfer, which depends mainly on the quality of the winding. contact of the wick with the heating element, and also the energy transmitted to the hair.

The apparatus of the invention therefore comprises a gripping pliers distinct from the pressure heating plate. This already allows to grasp the wick by its end and to wrap around the cylindrical body to put it in tension. Thus, by bringing calories to a wick properly tensioned by keeping it well in contact with two heating parts taking it in sandwich, we get a well-formed loop, which keeps its shape well in time, and this in a fast, efficient and effortless way.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises two heating plates arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the winding body.

With such an arrangement of central winding body and external heating plates, it is possible to bring energy to the wick at different locations of the winding, which allows, for the same temperature, to reduce the treatment time of the wick. In an advantageous variant of the invention, the median plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the winding body contains the longitudinal axes of the two heating plates.

Advantageously, the inner surface of the heating plates has a concave shape.

Such a recessed shape makes it possible to better adapt to a wick wound on a rotating central body, the contact with the wound hair can then be performed on several contact lines, or even on a contact surface. With hot plates exerting a constant pressure force on both sides of the winding body, over the useful length of winding thereof, it is possible to transmit a constant energy supply in all areas of the treated lock.

Preferably, the winding body has a shape of revolution and, as seen in the same cross section of the apparatus, the radius of curvature of the heating plate is equal to or greater than that of the winding body.

A radius of the heating plate equal to that of the winding body allows the heating plate to marry well the periphery of the winding body, an upper radius allowing it to adapt to wicks of significant thickness.

Advantageously, each heating plate comprises an electric heating element and means for regulating its temperature.

This allows each plate to be controlled individually by control means of the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for controlling the temperature of the heating element of the winding body and means for controlling the temperature of the heating elements of the heating plates.

This makes it possible to independently control the temperature of the winding body and that of the heating plates, for greater flexibility and adaptability to different processing operations (loop style, with or without liquid supply, etc.), as well as to different types of hair.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the heating plates are mounted with the possibility of radial displacement in a fixed frame mounted on the main body of the apparatus.

In a first variant of the invention, the heating plates are pivotally mounted around the joints belonging to the main body of the apparatus, preferably under the pressure of a spring. This has the advantage of easier introduction of the wick on the winding body, but the disadvantage of having to manipulate the plates manually either in opening or in closing.

However, it is preferred to mount the heating plates on a frame which is fixedly mounted relative to the main body of the apparatus, the plates being however movable radially towards the winding body by a suitable pressure means which can be a means elastic (spring, deformable element, etc.) or by magnetic means or using the pressure of a fluid sent by a pump, etc. We then equip each plate heating a chamfer facilitating the introduction of hair between it and the free end of the winding body. This solution has the advantage of being able to exert a constant and uniform pressure over the entire length of the wick rolled, while exempting the user from the obligation to maintain manual contact.

Preferably, said heating plates are mounted floating using suspension means with respect to said frame.

By floating mounting of a heating plate relative to the fixed frame, it includes a mounting with play and possibility of movement in at least one direction when the heating plate is subjected to a force. Such a floating assembly leaves one or more degrees of freedom to the heating plate. Such a floating mounting of the heating plate can be achieved for example by linking it with at least one hinge type pivot or ball-type to its support, which allows a rotational movement along one or more axes or with a joint of sliding type allowing a translation.

Such a device is easy and intuitive to use, thus allows treatment to be performed without effort, with greater freedom for the person using it, the system being able to absorb the variability of the thickness of the lock of hair introduced between a floating heating plate and a fixed winding body. This solution therefore makes it possible to fully transmit the calories to the lock of hair while adapting to its thickness which may vary over the length of the winding body.

Moreover, this heating plate solution normally maintained in contact with the winding body by the winding means makes it possible to smooth the wick beforehand as it is wound on the winding body. This ensures a better appearance and better strength of the loop thus formed.

Advantageously, the suspension means of each plate comprise at least one less a pair of magnets vis-à-vis mounted in phase with each other.

It would have been possible, of course, to use elastic suspension means, for example with springs. However, the magnetic suspension means are preferred, which allows the part subjected to displacement by the magnetic field to adapt very strictly to the least thickness of lock of hair to be inserted between the heating and support parts. in vis-à-vis. This adaptation is done without the slightest mechanical loss due to friction, blockages, manufacturing tolerances of the components (the geometrical defects of construction being caught up by this floating assembly with magnets), etc.

When using a pair of magnets mounted in phase, the magnetic field closes inside the housing of the device, without influencing the treatment area coming into contact with the hair. In addition, the magnets thus arranged are away from the treatment surfaces, so less subject to temperature, which improves their service life.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises means for adjusting the distance between a heating plate and its support.

This makes it possible to vary the clearance between the processing means in order to adapt it to different thicknesses of winding, due in particular to variations in the lengths of the hair.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises means for adjusting the force of the suspension means.

This makes it possible to better adapt the pressure applied to the lock of hair by the heating plate according to the type of hair (fine, thick, fragile, kinky, etc.).

Preferably, the winding body has a conical shape from a base connecting it to the main body to an opposite end, the radius of the base being greater than that of the end.

Such a conically shaped winding body allows easy unwinding of the wick at the end of the treatment. Moreover, such a conical shape of the outer surface of the winding body allows a more uniform winding of the wick, because, during rotation, the wick tends to follow the axial component of the applied force and therefore to better spread over the length of the winding body.

Advantageously, the winding body is rotated by a geared motor at a speed of between 5 and 30 rpm.

It has been found, in laboratory tests, that this speed range makes it possible to produce most types of loops of different diameters, while ensuring that the hair is properly tensioned during winding. By way of example, the diameters of the winding body are between 10 and 40 mm.

Preferably, the apparatus of the invention comprises means for limiting the engine torque.

This makes it possible to prevent excessive tension being applied to the hair, either at the end of the winding or when a problem has occurred during winding.

Advantageously, said means for limiting the torque comprise a microprocessor adapted to monitor the current absorbed by the geared motor and cut off the power supply thereof if a threshold is exceeded.

This represents a simple and reliable solution in operation, fits well in a compact and lightweight device, while avoiding the use of a clutch more bulky.

Preferably, the apparatus of the invention comprises means for controlling the direction of rotation of the winding body.

By operating these control means at the beginning of operation, the direction of rotation and thus the direction of winding of the hair are chosen in order to obtain either an outer loop or an inner loop. By changing the direction of rotation of the motor at the end of the treatment, it controls the unwinding of the previously formed loop.

Advantageously, the winding body comprises, inside, a heating element mounted fixed to the main body of the apparatus and, outside, a tube rotatably mounted around the longitudinal axis of the winding body.

This solution makes it possible to have a rotating heating coil body, while avoiding the use of rotating contacts, for a simpler and more robust solution, the winding body thus being able to better withstand the pressure forces of the heating plates.

Preferably, the outer surface of the winding body and the inner one of the heating plates is polished or covered with a low friction coating layer.

Such polished surfaces guarantee a good sliding of the hair during the winding and also during the demolding of the wick. The surfaces can be made by mechanical polishing or electropolishing. The coating used may be PTFE, a ceramic layer, chromium plating, anodizing, etc.

• la figure 1 est une vue latérale de l'appareil selon un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention comportant deux plaques chauffantes représentées en position de travail;
• la figure 2a est une vue de côté de l'appareil de la figure 1, l'une des plaques chauffantes étant représentée en position de travail, et l'autre en position de repos ; la figure 2b est une vue en coupe longitudinale réalisée avec le plan A-A de la figure 2a ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée de l'appareil de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4a est une vue en perspective d'un appareil réalisé selon une variante de l'invention, les plaques chauffantes étant représentées en position écartée et la figure 4b est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de la figure 4a, les plaques chauffantes étant fermées sur le corps d'enroulement.

The invention will be better understood with the study of the embodiments taken in no way limiting and illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention having two heating plates shown in working position;
• the figure 2a is a side view of the device from the figure 1 , one of the hotplates being shown in working position, and the other in the rest position; the figure 2b is a longitudinal sectional view taken with the plane AA of the figure 2a ;
• the figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device from the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4a is a perspective view of an apparatus made according to a variant of the invention, the heating plates being shown in a remote position and the figure 4b is a perspective view of the device from the figure 4a , the heating plates being closed on the winding body.

The hairdressing apparatus shown in the accompanying figures is a curling iron having a main body 1 whose rear portion forms a gripping means or handle 2 and the front portion comprises the means for shaping the hair. The hair shaping means comprise a heating winding body 3 driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis by an electric motor controlled by a button 8. The winding body 3 has an outer winding surface 5 a lock of hair from its tip which is held on the winding body by a clip 7.

According to the invention, the winding body 3 cooperates with at least one heating plate vis-à-vis movable to allow the insertion of a lock of hair between the two during its automatic winding by the winding body 3 from an end held by the clamp 7, and also to maintain the sandwich to achieve its shaping. In the examples shown in the figures, two heating plates 9, 10 are mounted on either side of the winding body 3, in a manner that is displaceable with respect to the latter so as to allow insertion and winding of the wick. around the winding body 3, the wick then coming into simultaneous contact with the outer surface 5 of the winding body 3 and with the internal surfaces 11, 12 of the heating plates 9, 10.

With reference to Figures 2a and 2b , the upper hotplate 9 is shown in its working position where it is spaced apart by a distance 14 corresponding to the thickness of the wick (not shown in the drawings) being inserted between the outer surface 5 of the body of winding 3 and the inner surface 11 of the heating plate 9. The lower heating plate 10 is shown, in the rest or unsolicited position, that is to say before a lock of hair has been introduced. between its inner surface 12 and the outer surface 5 of the winding body 3.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, each heating plate 9, 10 is mounted floating by means of suspension 15 in a frame 17 connected to or fixed to the handle 2 of the main body 1 of the apparatus. In the example shown in the figures, the frame 17 is formed in the front part of two shells 18, 19 symmetrical, their rear portion forming the handle 2. The shells 18, 19 are held together using for example assembly means having screws 20 and nuts 21 ( fig.3 ). The frame 17 as seen in longitudinal section, has a generally U-shaped shape, comprising two parallel arms 22 and 23 arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the winding body 3.

Each arm 22, 23 has a U-shaped cross section floating on a hot plate 9,10. In the example illustrated in the figures, the floating installation of the heating plates 9, 10 in the frame 17 is made using a magnetic field with several pairs of permanent magnets mounted in phase. Thus, the upper arm 22 of the frame 17 comprises two permanent magnets 24 fixedly mounted in cavities formed on the inner face of the arm 22. The magnets 24 have a cylindrical shape and they are arranged so that their axis is contained in the median plane of the arm 22. The magnets 24 are oriented with their north pole outwards. The upper heating plate 9 associated with the arm 22 comprises two permanent magnets 25 fixedly mounted in cavities formed on the upper face of its body 26. The magnets 25 have the same shape and the same dimensions as the magnets 24 facing each other. opposite and are also arranged so that their axis is contained in the median plane of the body 26 of the plate 9. The magnets 24 are oriented with their north pole outwards, facing the magnets 25. In the same way, the lower arm 23 of the frame 17 comprises two permanent magnets 24 fixedly mounted in cavities formed on the inner face of the arm 23, the magnets 24 cylindrical being arranged with their axis contained in the median plane of the arm 23 and oriented with their north pole outwards. The heating plate 10 associated with the arm 23 comprises two permanent magnets 25 fixedly mounted in cavities formed on the upper face of its body 27, magnets which have the same shape and the same dimensions as the magnets 24 and are also provided with so that their axis is contained in the median plane of the heating plate 10 and being oriented with their north pole outwardly. The magnets thus form magnetic suspension means for each heating plate 9, 10 relative to the frame 17.

The pressing forces exerted by the heating plates of the invention on the wick wound around the central winding body are preferably between 30g and 200g per plate. During tests carried out in the laboratory, it has been found that these efforts make it possible to guarantee sufficient contact to effect a good heat transfer towards the treated wick, while limiting the effort required to demold the wick.

In a variant, it is contemplated to adjust these efforts according to hair characteristics, their initial temperature and that of the target, etc. For this purpose, it is possible, for example, to make the magnets 24 integral with screws that could then be moved in threaded housings of the arms 22, 23 to vary their spacing relative to the magnets 25 facing each other.

Each heating plate 9, 10 comprises, inside a body 26, 27, an electric heating element 30, preferably a CTP type element and a temperature sensor 31, for example a CTN. The front or front portion of the body 26, 27 comprises a chamfer 28, 29 for introducing the hair inside the device.

The winding body 3 comprises an electric heating element 33, preferably of the CTP type and an associated temperature sensor, for example of the CTN type (not shown). The heating element 33 is fixedly mounted with respect to the main body 1 of the apparatus and receives the energy via conductors connected to those of the general supply cables of the apparatus which arrive in the handle 2.

As best seen in the figure 3 , where the clip 7 of the figure 1 at the near end of the handle of the winding body 3 has been removed for the sake of clarity, the winding body 3 has an outer tube 35 rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The outer tube 35 comprises a rounded pointed plug 34 forming the front end of closure of the tube 35. The tube 35 also has a toothed rear end 36 which meshes with the internal toothing of a ring 37. The ring 37 receives the rotational movement of a pinion 38 and a wheel 39 integral with the output shaft of a geared motor assembly 40 comprising a motor 41.

The outer tube 35 has a cylindrical shape or, preferably slightly conical outside, the angle of inclination of its generatrix being comprised, for example, between 0 ° (cylindrical body) and 3 °, its inner surface being cylindrical and having a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the heating element 33.

The geared motor assembly 40 and a microprocessor electronic card 43 and all the electrical connections are contained in the handle 2 to better balance the masses within the device.

In the examples shown in the figures, the internal surfaces of the heating plates 9, 10 have radii of curvature homothetic to those of the winding body. Their body 26, 27, as well as the outer tube 35 of the winding body 3 are made of a material having good thermal conductivity properties, for example aluminum, copper, stainless steel, etc. The inner surfaces 11,12 of the plates 9,10 and the outer surface 5 of the winding body 3 are polished or covered with a coating having a reduced coefficient of friction in order to be able to guarantee a good sliding of the hair hangs during the winding or during the demolding of the wick shaped by the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises means for controlling the temperature of the heating plates, for example in a range between 160 ° C and 220 ° C, each plate can be temperature controlled independently. The heating temperature of the winding body 3 can also be regulated in a range of 140 ° C to 220 ° C. This makes it possible to adapt the power of the apparatus as a function of the load applied which is a function of the mass of the wick, its initial temperature, the target temperature, the tension stresses involved in the heat transfer between the various layers, the physical characteristics of the materials of the heating parts, as well as those of the hair to be treated.

In operation, the user begins by turning on the device which then controls the heating of the winding body 3 and the heating plates 9,10 to the temperature possibly set before the user. A warning light can warn that the heating phase is over. The user then grasps a strand of hair and introduces the tip thereof by one of the chamfers 28, 29 by sliding it to the clip 7 which lifts to catch the wick and returns to its position by its elasticity. Once the tip of the wick attached to the winding body 3, the user actuates the rocker button 8, for example by pressing on its upper part and controls the start of the motor 41 in the clockwise direction. The winding body 3 rotates and the wick is rolled up to its root. When the wick is completely wound, the control means of the device automatically stop the power supply of the motor. The user then waits a few moments, the time of good warming of the wick, then it actuates the button 8 by pressing on the lower part thereof which prints a rotational movement in the opposite direction of the engine 41 which causes the wick to begin to unfold and can be extracted by simply sliding along the winding body 3.

In the variant embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, as shown in FIGS. Figures 4a and 4b , the heating plates 9, 10 are mounted floating as previously described with respect to their respective support arms 22, 23, but where each arm is pivotally mounted at the end of the handle 2, preferably under the pressure of a spring ( not shown in the drawings). Thus, the upper arm 22 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 45 and the lower arm 23 is pivotally mounted relative to a pivot axis 46, the axes 45, 46 being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis "a" of the winding body 3 of cylindrical shape. The gripping clamp 7 is arranged in this embodiment at the front end of the winding body 3. A button 4 allows the adjustment of the speed of rotation of the winding body 3 and a button 6 the adjustment of its temperature, the apparatus being energized by the cord 47.

In operation, the user hooks the end of the wick with the clamp 7 and controls the rotation of the winding body 3 with the button 8, by previously choosing the direction of winding (in the direction indicated by arrows on the Fig. 4a ). The winding body 3 rotates and winds the wick. When the wick is fully wound, the user presses the arms 22,23 to close the device and bring it to the position shown in FIG. figure 4b the heating plates 9, 10 thus achieve the shaping of the wick from the outside, while the winding body 3 carries out the shaping from the inside. Once formatting is complete, a light and sound indicating it, the user releases the pressure on the arms 22,23 which open automatically by being pushed by their respective springs.

In a variant not shown in the drawings, the heating plates 9, 10 are mounted by means of springs with respect to their arms 22, 23.

Other variants and embodiments of the invention may be envisaged without departing from the scope of its claims.

Claims (18)

1. Hairstyling appliance comprising: a gripping means (2), a body (3) for winding a lock of hair around the longitudinal axis thereof, the winding body containing an electric heating element and comprising an external hair-winding surface (5) extending along substantially the entire length thereof, a clip (7) for hooking the lock of hair onto the winding body (3) and an electric motor for driving the winding body in rotation around the longitudinal axis thereof, characterised in that it comprises at least one heating plate (9, 10) disposed facing the external surface (5) of the winding body (3), said heating plate (9, 10) being movably mounted with respect to the winding body so as to exert pressure on the lock of hair and being separate from said hook clip (7).
2. Appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two heating plates (9, 10) disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the winding body (3).
3. Appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the internal surface (11, 12) of the heating plates (9, 10) has a concave shape.
4. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the winding body (3) has a shape generated by rotation and that, in the same cross-section of the appliance, the radius of curvature of the heating plate (9, 10) is equal to or larger than that of the winding body (3).
5. Appliance according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that each heating plate (9, 10) comprises an electric heating element and means for regulating the temperature thereof.
6. Appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that it comprises means for controlling the temperature of the heating element of the winding body and means for controlling the temperature of the heating elements of the heating plates.
7. Appliance according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the heating plates are mounted with the option of radial movement in a frame mounted fixed on the main body (1) of the appliance.
8. Appliance according to claim 7, characterised in that said heating plates are mounted floating by using the suspension means with respect to said frame.
9. Appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the means for suspending each plate comprise at least one pair of opposing magnets mounted in phase with each other.
10. Appliance according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that it comprises means for adjusting the distance between a heating plate and the support thereof.
11. Appliance according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that it comprises means for adjusting the force of the suspension means.
12. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the winding body has a conic shape from a base connecting it to the main body (1) of the appliance towards an opposite end, the radius of the base being greater than that of the end.
13. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the winding body is driven in rotation by a geared motor at a speed between 5 and 30 rpm.
14. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means for limiting the torque of the motor.
15. Appliance according to claim 14, characterised in that said means for limiting the torque comprise a microprocessor capable of monitoring the current absorbed by the geared motor and of cutting off the power supply thereof if a threshold limit is exceeded.
16. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means for controlling the direction of rotation of the winding body.
17. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the winding body comprises, inside, a heating element fixed to the main body (1) of the appliance and, outside, a tube mounted rotating around the longitudinal axis of the winding body.
18. Appliance according to one of claims 2 to 17, characterised in that the outer surface of the winding body and that inside the heating plates is polished or covered with a low friction coefficient coating layer.

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