FR3052645B1 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HAIR CLASPING APPARATUS AND HAIRING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SUCH A METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a winding device of a hair styling device (1) for looping the hair which comprises a mandrel (7) and a winder (9) configured to wind a lock of hair around the mandrel during its rotation in a predetermined direction, the winder being rotated by a motor (12) whose operation is controlled by a control member (19). The method comprises a step of rotation of the reel in a predetermined direction triggered during activation of the control member, a step of stopping the rotation of the retracted reel as soon as the control member is no longer enabled. The method comprises a last step of rotation in the opposite direction of the reel triggered successively at the step of stopping the reel, the reel being rotated to reach a predetermined stop position.

Description

B1724

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HAIR CLASPING APPARATUS AND HAIRING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH SUCH A METHOD

The present invention relates to a hair styling device for hair curling which comprises a device for winding a lock of hair around a mandrel in order to perform said looping. The invention is particularly directed to a driving method which makes it possible to detect possible hair jams during the winding of the lock of hair around the mandrel and to act accordingly on the winding device, and on means electronic devices implementing said control method.

State of the art

Such hair styling devices for hair curling are known to those skilled in the art, the patent application EP2893832A1 describing a particular embodiment, by way of example.

According to the patent application EP2893832A1, the hairdressing apparatus comprises a fixed mandrel and a winding device for winding a lock of hair around the mandrel. The winding device comprises a winder and a reversible rotation system of the winder. The configuration of the winder, initially arranged in a starting position, makes it possible to grasp the lock of hair and then to wind it around the mandrel under the effect of the rotation of the winder, following the start of the winding device. . The reel stops in its starting position after the wick is wound, after a number of rotations of said reel, and once the winding device stopped by the user. The hairdressing apparatus comprises electronic control means which measure the rate of rotation of a motor driving the winder. When this rotation rate does not reach a determined threshold, this indicates that an unacceptable load is applied to the winder, representative of a possible hair jam on the hair styling apparatus. The electronic control means then reverse the direction of rotation of the motor until the retractor reaches its starting position, in order to release the lock of hair and allow its removal.

It is also known other hairdressing devices for the hair looping whose electronic control means measure a defined number of rotations of the winder, for example by using a magnet placed on the winder and a magnetic field sensor placed on the body of the hairdressing apparatus. These electronic control means are furthermore configured to detect when the consumed power or the duration of rotation exceeds a threshold before the retractor succeeds in making a complete revolution, that is to say before the magnetic field sensor detects the passage of the magnet again. Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to implement electronic control means simplified in view of the existing prior art, and independent of the variations in operation of hairdressing appliances of the same type. Indeed, the power consumed is dependent on the adjustments and is therefore not identical between all hairdressing appliances of the same type. As a result, the difference between the nominal measurement of power consumed and the value of the consumption threshold varies between hairdressing appliances of the same type. Similarly, each motor has a rotation speed tolerance, which implies a variation of the gap between the measurement of the time between two passes of the magnet and the threshold of duration between hairdressing appliances of the same type. . For this purpose, the invention implements a method for controlling a winding device of a hair styling device for looping the hair which comprises a mandrel and a winder configured to wind a lock of hair around the mandrel when of its rotation in a predetermined direction. This predetermined direction of rotation may be clockwise or counterclockwise, and may possibly be set by the user on certain loopback devices. This reel is rotated by a motor whose operation is controlled by a control member. In addition, the method comprises: - a step of rotation of the reel in a predetermined direction triggered during activation of the control member, - a step of stopping the rotation of the reel triggered as soon as the control member is no longer activated, - a step of rotation in the opposite direction of the reel triggered successively at the step of stopping the rotation of the reel, the reel being rotated to reach a predetermined stopping position.

In an alternative embodiment, a step of counting a reference unit is triggered when starting the rotation of the winder,

In another variant embodiment, the stop step is also activated as soon as the reference unit reaches a predefined threshold value (T).

In another variant embodiment, the stopping step is also activated as soon as at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled: said retractor reaches a reference position while the reference unit has reached or exceeded , a first threshold value (T, P) predefined, - the reference unit reaches a second threshold value (T + Ts, P + Ps) predefined, greater than the first threshold value (T, P).

In one implementation of the method according to the invention, it comprises, prior to the step of rotation of the reel triggered by the activation of the control member, an initialization step in which the winder is brought into a predetermined starting position, if it does not already occupy this position. This predetermined starting position allows the introduction of the lock of hair in the hairdressing appliance and the seizure of this lock of hair by the winder, for its winding around the mandrel.

In one implementation of the method according to the invention, the reference unit is the time t. In this case, the first threshold value T is greater than 3 seconds and, preferably, is of the order of 4 seconds. In addition, the second threshold value T + Ts is between T + 0.3 seconds and T + 1 second. However, variants of reference units can be envisaged. By way of example, according to a first variant, this reference unit is the electrical consumption p of the motor, in this case a first consumption threshold value P and a second consumption threshold value P + Ps are set. According to a second variant, this reference unit is the number of turns n performed by the winder, in which case a first threshold value N is preferably chosen, preferably greater than six turns.

In a preferred implementation of the method according to the invention, the stop position of the winder corresponds to the predetermined starting position, which makes it possible to be directly in the starting position for the placement of the lock of hair in the hairdressing apparatus, without requiring the realization of an initialization step.

In a preferred implementation of the method according to the invention, it comprises a step of heat treatment of the lock of hair for a time (TC) which succeeds the engine stop occurred when the value is reached. predefined threshold, that is to say in normal conditions of closure of the lock of hair.

In an implementation of the method according to the invention, the heating of the mandrel is activated during the heat treatment step.

The present invention also relates to a hair styling device for wrapping the hair, which comprises a winding device comprising a mandrel and a winder configured to wind a lock of hair around the mandrel during its rotation in a predetermined direction which can be the direction hourly or counterclockwise. This reel is rotated by a motor whose operation is controlled by a control member. In addition, the hairdressing apparatus comprises electronic control means and means for counting a reference unit, said hairdressing apparatus being configured to implement the control method of the invention. The hairdressing apparatus also includes a mandrel heating system.

In an implementation of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention, it comprises means for adjusting a first threshold value of the reference unit. This makes it possible to adjust the hair styling apparatus to the length of the hair to be curled.

In an implementation of the hairdressing apparatus according to the invention, it comprises a system for limiting the maximum torque that can be transmitted to the winder. This avoids exerting too much tension on the hair in the event of a jam. Preferably, the hairdressing apparatus comprises a warning system configured to alert the user when the torque transmitted to the retractor exceeds a predefined threshold value. Preferably, the warning system is a mechanical clutch that produces a noise when the torque transmitted by the clutch reaches the threshold value.

Brief description of the figures

The characteristics of the present invention are highlighted on reading the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of a hair styling device for looping the hair, this description being based on the following figures: FIGS. 3 to 3 illustrate three views of the hairstyling device for looping, according to different angles of view, Figure 4 illustrates an example of a flowchart explaining the operating principle of the hairstyling apparatus.

detailed description

In the remainder of the description, the term "apparatus" is used to define the hair styling device for hair curling.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2 and a handling handle 3. A part of the housing 2 and of the handling handle 3 is not shown to allow visualization of the internal components of the apparatus 1. The housing 2 comprises a slot 4 allowing the introduction of a lock of hair (not shown) in a winding chamber 5 defined inside the housing 2, wherein is made the looping of said wick. This slot 4 preferably comprises a "V" shape which extends along the length of the casing 2. The casing 2 also comprises, on the side of its front lateral face 2a, an extraction aperture 6 by which is demoulded or removed. the lock of hair after its closure. The apparatus 1 comprises a mandrel 7 which has a bottom end 7a, illustrated in FIG. 1, enabling it to be assembled with the housing 2. This mandrel 7 also comprises a free end 7b which is positioned near the extraction opening 6 in the winding chamber 5, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The mandrel 7 extends longitudinally inside the winding chamber 5.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a reel 9 which is hollow and has a form of revolution. The winder 9 is positioned coaxially around the mandrel 7. This winder 9 has a first longitudinal end 9a which is secured to a toothed wheel 10. This gear 10 meshes with a worm 11 which is rotated by a motor 12, which drives the rotation of the winder 9. The direction of rotation of the motor 12 is reversible, which allows to reverse the direction of rotation of the winder 9. The motor 12, the gear wheel 10 and the worm 11 constitute a preferred mode of design of rotation drive means 13 of the winder 9, other variants remaining possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the winder 9 preferably has a conical shape which expands in the direction of the free end 7b of the mandrel 7. The winder 9 comprises a notch 14, or cutout, which extends over its surface of revolution and which opens on the free edge 15 at the second longitudinal end 9b of said winder 9.

This notch 14 preferably comprises a trapezoidal shape, other forms remaining conceivable, for example a more or less cylindrical or oval shape. Similarly, the winder 9 may have a cylindrical surface of revolution rather than conical. Two hooks 16a, 16b are arranged vis-a-vis in the extension of the free edge 15, at the two ends 14a, 14b of the notch 14. In the starting position of the apparatus 1, at the beginning of the looping operation, the notch 14 is positioned in the extension of the slot 4, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, which allows to introduce the portion of the lock of hair located near the scalp, in this notch 14. The rotational drive of the reel 9 then allows one of the two hooks 16a, 16b, in the direction of rotation of the motor 12, to grasp the wick to start its winding.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a finger 17 consisting of a rigid piece which is fixed at the contour 6a of the extraction opening 6. This finger 17 has several functions. Firstly, the finger 17 makes it possible to immobilize the wick in rotation during its winding so as to prevent the wick from rotating around the mandrel 7. In addition, this finger 17 ensures the release of the curly lock without damaging it . The finger 17 is oriented more or less perpendicularly to the mandrel 7, with a slight spacing relative to the free end 7b of said mandrel 7. During the driving in rotation of the winder 9, it carries the lock of hair which remains locked on one of the two blocking lateral faces 18a, 18b of said finger 17, forcing it to wind around the mandrel 7. The direction of the loops produced thus depends on the direction of rotation of the winder 9. however, could only provide one direction of loopback.

The housing 2 of the apparatus 1 is manipulated by the handling handle 3, its side face 2a, which has the extraction opening 6, being positioned against the scalp during the looping operation. The arrangement of the handling handle 3 in the extension of the slot 4, facilitates the handling of the apparatus 1. However, it is possible to provide alternative arrangements of the handling handle vis-à-vis the housing 2, without depart from the scope of the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises control means and electronic means that make it possible to manage, in particular, the operation of the motor 12 driving the retractor 9, taking into account any hair jams that may occur during the looping operation of the lock of hair . These means also make it possible to manage a heating system (not shown) which is integrated in the mandrel 7 to heat the loop of hair wrapped around said mandrel 7, before demolding. The apparatus 1 comprises a control member 19 which triggers a slat switch 20 connected to an electronic box 21, during its depression. The motor 12 is also connected to this electronic box 21. The apparatus also comprises a magnet 22 which is arranged on the winder 9 and which rotates with the latter, as well as a magnetic field sensor 23 fixed on the housing 2 of said 1. When the magnet 22 is positioned facing the magnetic field sensor 23, the latter transmits information to the control unit 21, this information indicating the position of the winder 9 which preferably corresponds to the starting position in which the notch 14 is located in alignment with the slot 4, to allow the introduction of the lock of hair in the reel 9. In the case where the reel 9 is not positioned initially in the aforementioned starting position, the control unit 21 is configured to perform an automatic registration in said starting position, for example during the ignition of the apparatus 1 or at the first time. The magnet 22 and the magnetic field sensor 23 also enable the control unit 21 to count the number of revolutions made by the retractor 9 since the initial start of the motor 12.

Figure 4 explains the principle of control of the apparatus 1 during the loopback operation. At the beginning of the looping operation, after any repositioning of the reel 9 in its starting position, as mentioned above, the lock of hair is positioned inside the slot 4 and then guided naturally into the notch 14 of the winder 9 in the starting position. The user then presses the control member 19, which initiates a loopback cycle. The control unit 21 then turns the motor 12 and has a reference unit which is preferably the time t. For this, the electronic unit 21 comprises for example a memory card (not shown) incorporating a counting function from the first startup of the motor 12 and a reset counting function at the end of the cycle.

Any release of the control member 19, whatever the circumstances and the instant t, automatically reverses the direction of rotation of the motor 12, after a possible brief stopping time thereof, so as to bring back the reel 9 in its starting position and thus give slack to the lock of hair, especially in case of hair jam. The electronic unit 21 stops the motor 12 once the magnetic field sensor 23 is activated, which corresponds to a return to the start position allowing the release of the lock of hair in case of jamming.

Conversely, as long as the control member 19 remains depressed, the rotation of the motor 12 and the counting of a reference unit time t continue until reaching a first threshold value T of time (t = T), or even beyond this first threshold value T of time, but without exceeding a second threshold value T + Ts of time (t = T + Ts). During the time interval between the first and the second time threshold value (T <t <T + Ts), the activation of the magnetic field sensor 23 by the magnet 22 is representative of the starting position and of the realization of a defined number of turns of the winder 9, according to which the wrap of the lock of hair is normally completed, which automatically causes the motor 12 to stop in the starting position of the winder 9 and the activation of the heating system (not shown) of the mandrel 7, by the electronic box 21. The heating of the mandrel 7, and therefore the hair wrapped around the mandrel 7, then continues for a time TC which is between eight and fifteen seconds (8s <TC <15s), preferably twelve seconds (TC = 12s), unless the user releases the control member 19 before the end of the heating time TC. This step of heating the mandrel 7 corresponds to a step of heat treatment of the lock of hair during which the heat emitted by the mandrel 7 is transmitted to the hair to allow a durable shaping of the latter. If this heating time TC is reached, the heating system is stopped and a sound or light signal is transmitted to the user, preferably at least one beep, to warn him that the heating time of the lock of hair is enough to get a nice shaping. It can also be envisaged that several short beeps are emitted at regular intervals of time, for example every two seconds, to indicate to the user the progress of the heating time (te) of the lock of curly hair, in this case the Device 1 emits a prolonged beep or a succession of short beeps once the heating time has been finalized (tc = TC). As soon as the user then releases the control member 19, the control unit 21 activates the motor 12 in the opposite direction until it returns to the alignment position of the magnetic field sensor 23 and the magnet 22 (the position of start) and possibly cut the heating system of the mandrel if it is not already stopped (in case the control member 19 is released before the end of the heating time TC).

On the contrary, when the activation of the magnetic field sensor 23 by the magnet 22 has not occurred while the count has reached the second threshold value T + Ts of time, this is representative of a hair jam. . The control unit 21 instantaneously stops the motor 12 which remains in this position as long as the user holds down the control member 19. Once the control member 19 is released, the control unit 21 reverses the direction of rotation of the motor 12 to return to the start position, before stopping the engine 12 and ending the cycle.

In normal use mode of the apparatus 1, without hair clogging, the control unit 21 is configured to rotate the motor 12 until the entire lock of hair is wrapped around the mandrel 7 by the The first threshold value T of time is thus conditioned by the diameter of the mandrel 7 around which the lock of hair is wound, by the speed of rotation of the winder 9, and by the average length of the lock. hair to wrap. These aforementioned speed and diameter parameters are thus chosen so as to allow complete winding around the mandrel 7 of a lock of hair of an average length of the order of 30 to 35 cm, in a first threshold value. T greater than three seconds (T = 3s), preferably of the order of four seconds (T = 4s). Preferably, the lock of hair of average length above will be completely wound around the mandrel 7 after six turns of the winder 9, that is to say six passages of the magnet 22 in front of the magnetic field sensor 23 Moreover, the time parameter Ts is set to a value of between 0.3 and 1 second, so that the second threshold value T + Ts of time is between T + 0.3 seconds and T + 1 second. . This means that the sixth passage of the magnet 22 in front of the magnetic field sensor 23 intervenes between the time interval T and T + Ts, for example between 4 seconds and 4.3 seconds under normal conditions of use, without jam. Other reference units may be used instead of time t. In particular, it is possible to count the minimum power consumed by the motor 12 during its rotation. In this case, a first threshold value P of consumed power and a second threshold value P + Ps of consumed power are determined, the control of the apparatus 1 by the control unit 21 taking place in exactly the same manner as for the reference unit time t, as mentioned above.

One can also consider counting the number of turns n performed by the winder 9, that is to say the number of passes made by the magnet 22 in front of the magnetic field sensor 23. We then set a first value of N threshold turns which is preferably greater than six turns (N = 6 tr), so as to ensure the winding of the entire lock of hair around the mandrel 7, with an average length of the hair of the order of 30 to 35 cm. In addition, the second threshold value of revolutions is not necessary, or is identical to the first threshold value N of revolutions. Indeed, in the event of a jam before reaching the first threshold value N of turns, the user will eventually notice it after a more or less important lapse of time, for example from 4 to 5 seconds which is the normal period after which the lock of hair should have been wrapped around the mandrel 7, even after feeling a stretch of hair. In this case, the user eventually naturally releases the control member 19, which stops the motor 12 and reverses its direction of rotation until it returns to the starting position of the winder 9.

It is also possible to envisage a simplified version of the apparatus 1 according to which the motor 12 for driving the winder 9 stops rotating as soon as a threshold value T of predefined time is reached, for example a time of four seconds (T = 4s), in this case all the lock of hair is properly buckled, or as soon as the control member 19 is released if it occurs before the preset threshold value T is reached, which corresponds to the case of a lock of the lock of hair detected by the user. In any case, following the release of the control member 19, the direction of rotation of the motor 12 is reversed to return the reel 9 to a predetermined stopping position. The apparatus 1 may comprise one or two adjustment buttons (not shown) which are connected to the control unit 21, which is then configured to modify the first time threshold value T, the first power consumption threshold value P or the first threshold value N of revolutions, as the case may be, as a function of the action exerted on the adjustment button or buttons, in order to better adapt said first threshold value to the average length of the user's hair. One can also consider a knob (not shown) of the heating time (TC) of the mandrel 7 at the end of looping operation of the lock of hair. The apparatus 1 may also comprise a mechanical clutch (not shown) arranged at the worm 11 and the toothed wheel 10, this mechanical clutch for disengaging the worm 11 of the toothed wheel 10 to neutralize the rotation of the reel 9 beyond a certain torque. This mechanical clutch can also allow the teeth of the toothed wheel 10 to jump from the worm 11 beyond a certain torque; to restore a sound to warn the user of a hair jam. Other characteristics are possible on the apparatus 1, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the heating system of the mandrel can be constantly activated, the heating step of the mandrel after stopping the motor described in the previous embodiments being then replaced by a processing step thermal lock of hair corresponding to a waiting time during which the heat of the mandrel is transmitted to the lock of hair. At the end of this waiting time, a sound or light signal is transmitted to the user, preferably at least one beep, to warn him that the heating time of the lock of hair is enough to get a good bet in shape.

Claims (17)

A method of controlling a winding device of a hair styling apparatus (1) for looping the hair which comprises a mandrel (7) and a winder (9) configured to wind a lock of hair around the mandrel when its rotation in a predetermined direction, the winder being rotated by a motor (12) whose operation is controlled by a control member (19), characterized in that it comprises: a step of rotation of the reel in a predetermined direction triggered during the activation of the control member, a step of stopping the rotation of the reel triggered as soon as the control member is no longer activated, - a step of rotation in opposite direction of the retractor tripped successively at any step of stopping the rotation of the retractor related to the stop of the activation of the control member, the retractor being rotated to reach a position Pre-shutdown erminée, 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a step of counting a reference unit (t, p, n) is triggered when starting the rotation of the winder. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of stopping the rotation is activated as soon as the reference unit reaches a predefined threshold value (T, P, IM). 4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the stopping step is activated as soon as at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled; o said winder reaches a reference position while the reference unit has reached or exceeded a first threshold value (T, P) predefined, o the reference unit reaches a second threshold value (T + Ts, P + Ps), greater than the first threshold value (T, P), 5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the reference unit is the time (t). 6. Method according to claim 5 attached to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the threshold value (T) is greater than 3 seconds and preferably is of the order of 4 seconds. 7. Method according to claim 6 attached to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the second threshold value (T + Ts) is between T + 0.3 seconds and T + 1 second. 8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the reference unit is the power consumption (p) of the motor (12). 9. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the reference unit is the number of turns (n) performed by the winder (9). 10. The method of claim 9 attached to claim 3, wherein the first threshold value (N) is greater than or equal to six turns. 11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, prior to the step of rotation of the reel (9) triggered by the activation of the control member (19), a step in which the winder is brought into a predetermined starting position, if it does not already occupy this position. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the stop position corresponds to the starting position. 13. Method according to one of claims 3 to 12, which comprises a heat treatment step of the lock of hair for a time (TC) which succeeds the engine stop occurred when reaching the threshold value. . Hair styling apparatus (1) comprising a winding device comprising a mandrel (7) and a winder (9) configured to wind a lock of hair around the mandrel during its rotation in a predetermined direction, the reel being rotated by a motor (12) whose operation is controlled by a control member (19), said hairstyling apparatus comprising electronic control means (21), characterized in that it comprises means for counting a reference unit (t, p, n) and in that it implements the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 13. Hair styling apparatus (1) according to claim 14, which comprises means for adjusting a first threshold value (T, P, N) of the reference unit (t, p, n). 18. Apparatus (1) for hairdressing according to one of claims 14 or 15, which comprises a system for limiting the maximum torque that can be transmitted to the reel (9). Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 18, which comprises a warning system configured to alert the user when the torque transmitted to the retractor (9) exceeds a predefined threshold value. 18. Hairdressing apparatus (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the warning system is a mechanical clutch which produces a noise when the torque transmitted by the clutch reaches the threshold value. 19. Apparatus (1) for hairdressing according to one of claims 14 to 18, which comprises a heating system of the mandrel (7).