ES2301909T3 - APPARATUS FOR HAIR CARE WITH IONIZATION DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The ionisation electrode (12) is integrally formed from a wire (15) in the electric cable (13) connectable to the high voltage source. The wire is insulated and has a sharp end (18) for generating a concentrated magnetic field. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) Hair dryer, preferably a hand-held one, containing the hair care device and provided with a metallic mesh in the hot air outlet in the dryer casing; (B) Hot air curlers with the hair care device; and (C) Hair brush with the hair care device, whose high voltage source is battery-powered.

Description

Apparatus for hair care with ionization device

The invention relates to an apparatus for hair care according to the preamble of claim 1, in Particularly a hair dryer.

When brushing, combing or drying hairs, these are statically charged or electrified, which leads to effects unwanted Through this electrification, the hair becomes more It is difficult to treat. In addition, the hair attracts dust particles and It gets dirty quickly.

From document DE-U 80 18 566 is known for example a hair dryer with a ionization device, with which these negative effects are avoided. In particular, by the ionization device integrated in the hair dryer loads are neutralized electric. The ionization device comprises a circuit of high voltage formed by a pulse generator circuit, which feeds an ionization electrode that is in an area end of a hot air duct.

Document DE 29 19 598 describes two forms of realization of a hair dryer with a device ionization

The first embodiment refers to a hand hair dryer This comprises an air channel with a electric heating resistance. Inside a handle is housed a generator with a piezo converter, which It is attached to an electrical conductor cable. For the other end, the wire ends in a metal electrode. Electrode Metallic has a needle-shaped tip. The tip is arranged obliquely in the air channel, the cable being guided on the outside of the air channel. It is not described what the tip is made of or how the metal electrode is attached to the cable. In any case it describes that the electrode is die cut from sheet metal fine.

In a somewhat more precise way the metallic electrode in relation to the second embodiment, which refers to a foot dryer. Inside the dryer foot are four electrodes under a resistor Electric heating and a fan. The four electrodes are arranged radially with respect to the air flow and are die cut from thin sheet. The electrodes are joined between yes through a ring, which has been obtained together with them from a piece. The ring is attached to a cable guided outside the dryer standing. On the other end of the cable is a pedal in the The generator is integrated. Such a solution with Several radial electrodes need a high voltage source relatively powerful and is useless for handheld devices. The defined tips of thin sheet electrodes provide in the Tip a well-defined ion field.

Another publication, namely JP 2000 323 296 A describes an ionization device in which the end of a cable forms a needle-shaped electrode. He ionization device consists of a high voltage source with a piezoelectric generator and an electrode within a layer of empty. The high voltage source is outside a chamber of emptiness. Between the high voltage source and the cable there is a high ohmic resistance resistor. On the one hand, in dryers hair is unwanted the arrangement of an additional resistor of high ohmic resistance in the high voltage circuit, and by on the other hand this device is intended for downloading a film that is in a vacuum layer.

Document DE 31 00 338 A1 describes also a hair dryer with an ionization device With an electrode. As a source of high voltage serves a waterfall of High voltage relatively powerful. It comprises two resistors of additional protection connected in series. A high source so powerful tension is however relatively expensive and is disadvantageous for security reasons. The way it is Shaped electrode is not described in more detail.

From US 5,612,849 it is known another hair dryer, in which even two are used high voltage generators High voltage generators They comprise a cascade circuit. In the air outlet zone of the hair dryer two carbon electrodes are placed approximately cylindrical, separated from each other, to achieve a ionization of the air stream. Each electrode is equipped with a junction line, which is attached respectively to a generator to respectively a protective resistance. Too relatively powerful generators are planned here.

From US 5,612,849 it is known a hair dryer with a lower high voltage source power. The source is formed by a piezogenerator. An electrode needle-shaped oriented in the direction of the air flow It is integrated in a protective grid and is connected to a cable of union, which leads to the high voltage source. The tip in the electrode makes high field strength possible, high amount of ions and with it a good efficiency of the device ionization It is disadvantageous however that a piezogenerator that does not allow continuous ionization.

US 6,191,930 describes a hair dryer hair with an ionization device consisting of a generator high voltage, a separate electrode with a tip and a line of Union. The output voltage must have a value greater than 6 kV, preferably 7 kV. The open circuit voltage is not Apparently. The electrode and the line are arranged approximately centered on an air channel. Tip indicates towards an air outlet opening. In the passage between the electrode and the junction line produces an edge. Electrode It must be fastened, for example, with a sheet. It has been shown without However, this solution requires a powerful voltage source and that this provision is not optimal for that.

From document FR 2 766 338 A en known an accessory for a hair dryer. The device must serve to neutralize the electrostatic charge of hairs and comprises an electrode.

The invention is based on the task of improving a hair care device with a device ionization easily integrated into the device according to the preamble of claim 1 such that the efficiency of the device ionization is increased even more. In particular it must be it is possible that a minor high voltage source may be used dimensions and with a continuous ionization voltage.

This task is solved through the resource of that the ionization electrode is formed from one piece from of the electric conductor.

The invention is based on the discovery surprising that a junction zone between the high voltage cable  and the electrode produces a clear reduction in the amount of ions. Through welding zones, rivet joints and other areas of junction between the cable and the electrode occur namely losses Incalculable, which require a larger font size high tension. Through the fact that the electrode can arrive without interruption - that is, without intermediate parts or joining means - a the high voltage source is optimized in a simple way the emission of ions. Borders, steps or similar, that occur in the passage from a separate metal electrode to the junction cable, they are avoided by the measure according to the invention. In such edges may arise and field intensities that according to the electrode arrangement are not usable but mean a considerable untapped field.

You can completely dispense with resistance additional external protection, connected in series, for the protection of people, through the use of a high source Relatively weak voltage. As such a source has a relatively high internal resistance, it is sufficient that the resistors integrated in the generator meet standards of protection. Such a high voltage source is also more economical

The electrode is so effective that it can be used even a high voltage source that allows an effect of continuous ionization, with small dimensions and a low weight of the high voltage source A preferred high voltage source is a transformer, which is fed for example by the side of the net.

Such an electrode conformation is also very Easy to accommodate in a hair dryer. In addition, the device according to the invention it can be easily integrated into devices existing.

When the electrode of a piece is not conformed additional clamping parts are necessary. With the invention They require less parts and results in an assembly effort Minor. Through this the electrode can be placed so relatively free inside or in the dryer housing of hair.

There is no capacitive load per pieces of surrounding fasteners or other materials. Through the fact that no additional clamping parts are necessary for the electrode, parallel capacities or impedances are eliminated, which occur by the clamping parts and / or insulators for the electrode. further this eliminates edges or for example punching edges of the clamping parts, which are produced during their manufacture. These cutting edges according to the state of the art are not in the direction of air flow and worsen efficiency, also because they generate unused electrical fields.

In a separate electrode, manufactured from a sheet or supported by a clamping plate, a capacity Parallel Cp is relatively large. This is proportional to one effective surface. While in the solution according to the invention the effective surface is very small and has a value of for example 16 mm2, such an arrangement according to the prior art can have an area of for example 148 mm2. The latter is composed, for example, of a surface of a wire of for example 16 mm2, a surface of a sheet of 100 mm2 and a surface of a tip of for example 32 mm2, that is to say an area approximately 10 times larger and with it a capacity approximately 10 times greater. A parallel resistance Rp is inversely proportional to the surface. Correspondingly this resistance is approximately only 1/10 compared to the state of the technique.

The solution according to the invention makes possible a defined ion emission with a small effective surface or respectively with a high parallel impedance.

A small parallel impedance is very disadvantageous, because together with the internal resistance of the source High voltage forms a voltage conductor. This has as consequence that a high voltage drop occurs in the internal resistance of the high voltage source, which is not Usable for an ionization. The usable voltage in the electrode is, by shaping electrodes according to the invention, practically the open circuit voltage of the high voltage source Open circuit voltages below only 6 kV are possible with high efficiency and resistance internal high of for example 10 megaohms. The low voltage makes Possible the use of an economic transformer.

In addition, a zone check is deleted. of contact between the cable and the electrode.

In an advantageous improvement of the device according to the invention it is provided that the pointed area of the ionization electrode is formed by machining, preferably cut, of the electric conductor. In the driver area by cut example produce edges, which have sharp edge areas and pointed. In these areas a high field strength is formed, so that a high ion emission takes place.

A pointed area is produced simply when the driver is cut obliquely. The tip thus formed It can be manufactured simply and favors ion emission.

Another improvement in the emission behavior of the electrode is had when the cable is a twisted cable with wires twisted and / or is a multi-wire cable, which form several pointed areas. This increases the useful amount of Ions economically. The individual ends of the threads braided can be located next to each other and / or one after other.

According to another advantageous improvement of the invention is intended for the ionization electrode to run in the direction of an air channel. Through this orientation no there are hardly any parallel capacities and resistances, which lead to parallel currents, which reduce an attainable voltage and decrease the current available for ionization. This Decrease in current generates a worsening of the effect of ionization device

A good ionization effect occurs when the ionization electrode is disposed near an opening of air vent. Ions can be ejected like this easily and are available for neutralization in the current expelled

The ionization device works in a way particularly effective when the electrode is arranged in position approximately centered in the air channel. There exists a favorable volumetric flow rate.

Easy fixation of the ionization electrode is achieved through the recourse that it is arranged in a heated area of the air duct, particularly when the cable is guided through a heating support plate and is fixed there. With this, an ion emitting point is located so Simple in the air stream. Cable fixing can occur in an isolated area of the cable with an element of clamping, preferably with a screwed clamp on the support plate.

The invention can be used not only in a hair dryer, but also in other care appliances hair, for example in curlers or curling tongs, in which no heated air stream should be produced. A heating can also occur by convection, for example in gas operated curling tongs or in straighteners. The invention can be used in hair shapers, brushes hair with a transformer supply with tension of battery, foot dryers or other devices for the care of hair. It is also imaginable a job an apparatus of air conditioning, air humidifiers, facilities air conditioning and the like.

Other advantageous improvements of the invention are cited in the dependent claims.

With the help of the description of the figures, explain in more detail an embodiment of an apparatus for the care of hair according to the invention, the invention as well as other advantages of it.

They show:

Figure 1 a schematic representation of a hair dryer with an ionization device according to the invention,

figure 2 a scale representation increased from an air outlet zone of the hair dryer, in the one that exists an electrode,

Figure 3 a representation of plates of heating support with the electrode, viewed from the side frontal,

Figure 4 a representation of electrode,

Figures 5-9 variants of electrode,

Figure 10 a representation of a zone of electrode cut,

Figure 11 a wiring diagram of the ionization device, in which a large horizontal arrow represents the total air flow and a small arrow the flow of effective ions, and

figure 12 another wiring diagram of the ionization device with a parallel capacity and a parallel resistance, in which additionally a inefficient ion flow (upward facing arrow).

In the figures, the same pieces are always equipped with the same reference numbers.

Figure 1 shows a hair dryer 1, which It is made as a handheld device. This one preferably has a Synthetic material housing 2 and a handle 3. Housing 2 It is shaped approximately in tubular form and is equipped with an air inlet side 4 and an air outlet side or respectively an air outlet opening 5 for example opposite. Components 2 are integrated into housing known as a fan not represented, one or more heating elements and the ionization device. At air outlet side can be fixed a protection grid 7 u Other protection cover. Protection grid preferably it is not made of synthetic material but of metal, since a grid of synthetic material is more prone to load electrically and to disturbing electric fields. The accommodation 2  it forms an air channel 8, within which a current of hot air for drying the hairs.

The ionization device comprises a electrode 12 with an electrode tip.

The ionization device also includes a high voltage source 11 - in particular a transformer - for the formation of a preferably negative high voltage of preferably at least 2 kV and less than 6 kV, in particular of less than 5 kV (respectively measured with the gigaohm of the device of measurement at the electrode tip). In particular, a tension Measurement of approximately 2.6 to 3.8 kV at the electrode tip it is very advantageous, in that the measuring device has a resistance of 1 gigaohm. The transformer module is powered preferably with network frequency. Preferably, the tension in open circuit it is located below 7 kV.

It is also fundamentally possible a generator high voltage, comprising a cascade circuit, an element piezoelectric or other generation element. The tension, which is designated here already as high voltage, it is however at least 1000 V. Preferably negative ions are used for discharge of the hairs.

The internal resistance of the high source voltage is relatively high and in particular it has a value of approximately 5 to 20 megaohms, particularly 10 megaohms, so that a current of short circuit of at most approximately 1.4 mA (for example of 7 kV / 5 megaohms), preferably approximately 0.3 to 0.4 mA (for example 3 kV / 10 megaohms). This current is not dangerous for people, so that even in case of Direct contact with electrode 12 there is no danger.

The generator can also be integrated in the handle 3 in a cavity on the upper side of the housing, by above or outside the heated air stream or in other place. It is preferably housed, however, in an area not heated.

Electrode 12 for ion emission is directly connected to the high voltage source through a cable 13, in particular a high voltage cable. At electrode 12, It forms an electric field due to high voltage. In an area in tip 18 there is an increase in the electric field, that is a increased field strength.

The high voltage source 11 can be connected as necessary through a switch 13. The shape of the voltage is provided by impulses or as continuous voltage or alternates, for example as a sinusoidal voltage with 50 Hz.

The cable 13 comprises at least one insulator electric 14 and at least one electric conductor 15, which is bare at one free end, preferably 5 to 15 are naked mm

According to the invention, the electrode of ionization 12 is made of a piece from the conductor electric 15, as illustrated in figure 2 or respectively the Figure 4. The bare free end of the cable is therefore the own electrode 12. Electrode 12 is held directly and preferably only by cable 13.

Cable 13 is fixed exactly centered to slightly eccentric with respect to the axis of the channel air. At most, electrode 12 is approximately 10 apart up to 15 mm from the shaft. Essentially it remains centered. The wire 13 is arranged axially with respect to the air flow and leave this orientation only near handle 3, as the Figures 1 and 2.

In particular, the cable 13 is fixed in a guide and / or fixing element, preferably made of material electrical insulator. Preferably, the cable 13 is fixed to a support of heating elements, in particular to one of several support plates 6, in particular of a micanite cross or of another micanite arrangement, preferably with two or respectively four or three or respectively six plates 6, as shows figure 3. The heating element holder supports one or more heating elements, which consist preferably of heating wire 10 in the form rolled, as shown in figure 3. Cable 13 is located within the heating arrangement. The six for example plates 6 are preferably arranged star-shaped in around the longitudinal axis.

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The cable 13 is also fixed through the minus a fastener 16, which is arranged near the electrode 12 and in the insulated conductor zone. Preferably there is a second fastener 16, which is arranged without however closer to the handle 3.

The plates 6 are lowered near the electrode 12 and thereby form a free space 17 near the electrode, in that electrode 12 is freely located in this free space 17. The tip of electrode 12 is supported on the micanite cross or in another arrangement of micanite. Between the tip of the electrode and the support plates 6 or other support element there is a distance at least 5 mm, preferably at least 10 mm. The elements heating and housing 2 form a tube of heating.

To get a better ion emission, the conductor 15 is cut obliquely, so that a tip 18 of preferably about 20 ° to 60 °, preferably about 30º to 45º. The conductor 15 can be cut obliquely also several times from several sides, so that the tip 18 is located in the center of the driver. Preferably, the tip cut is arranged in an air ejection zone of the dryer of hair 1 and is integrated in particular in the channel of heating.

The conductor diameter of electrode 12 has a value, when naked, preferably about 0.8 to 2 mm

The conductor 15 or respectively the electrode 12 may comprise a single thread, as shown in Figure 5 or may consist of a twisted with several threads, as illustrated in figure 6. It can also be used, for the formation of electrode 12, a multi-wire cable with several insulated conductors or even a twisted multi-wire cable (see figures 6-9).

The end of the conductor can be open in fan radially outward, as shown in figure 7 or by example be cut obliquely and folded in one direction preferred, as shown in Figure 8. The individual ends of thread, preferably of a braid, are then located one after another and next to each other. It is advantageous that there are several areas in tip 18a, 18b, 18c, etc. Preferably, the tips are oriented essentially in the direction of action towards the hair, or be in the air outlet of the hair dryer, and are arranged in the zone of expulsion.

They are particularly advantageous edges 21, which they occur when cutting, as illustrated in figure 10. These form their other areas in pointed 21a, 21b, etc., that is, a multiplicity of ionization tips and sharp edges and increase through it the effect of electrode 12.

It is particularly advantageous that not only the electrode tip 18, but all electrode 12 are free and / or that the tip indicates directly towards the air outlet, as explains with the help of figures 11 and 12. The internal resistance Ri of the high voltage source has hardly any influence on the voltage in the electrode emission zone 12. The voltage Uah corresponds approximately to the voltage Uaw, as the Figure 11. As Figure 12 shows, by an arrangement inconvenient electrodes occur on the contrary parallel impedances or respectively Cp capacities and parallel Rp resistors, which reduce Uaw voltage by division of tension and thereby worsen the ionization action. This effect it is particularly noticeable in case of high internal resistance of the Ri generator and also depends on the shape of the voltage. In case of impulses of steep slope or in case of high frequencies, the Cp capacity acts as a short circuit, which is not possible No emission of ions in the air stream.

But also electrical junction areas and Additional mechanics between electrode and cable can create additional parallel impedances, which are avoided by conformation of a piece of the electrode.

Through this advantageous provision of little electrical capacity and by means of the electrode provided here you can a low power generator with low voltage and / or with less current

It is also possible that the tip is formed by ultrasonic welding or by erosion by sparks. The end of the conductor, that is the electrode, can be formed by crushing, drawing or from a break zone controlled, so that field strength points are produced high.

Claims (22)

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1. Apparatus for hair care with an ionization device for the generation of an air ionization, with a high voltage source (11), a cable (13) that can be attached to the high voltage source (11) , which comprises an insulated electrical conductor (15), in which an ionization electrode (12) is arranged at a free end of the conductor (15) for the formation of an electric field and comprises a pointed area (18), for that a high field strength is produced, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) with the pointed area (18) is made of a piece from the electric conductor (15). 2. Hair care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pointed area (18) of the ionization electrode (12) is formed by machining, in particular by cutting the electrical conductor (15). 3. Hair care apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the pointed area (18) is formed by an oblique cut of a conductor end at the free end of the conductor (15). 4. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pointed area (18) is formed by at least one edge (21), in particular of an oblique cut. 5. Hair care apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the oblique cut occurs at an angle of 30 ° to 70 °, preferably about 45 ° to 60 ° with respect to the direction of the conductor and / or occurs in such a way that a tip of preferably about 20 ° to 60 ° is formed, preferably about 30 ° to 45 °. 6. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are several pointed areas (18). 7. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable (13) is a braided cable with braided wires and / or a multi-wire cable, which forms several pointed areas (18a-c). 8. Hair care apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the ends of the braiding and or of the strands are separated from each other. 9. Hair care apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the ends of the braiding and of the threads are fanned outwards. 10. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is arranged in an air channel (8) for the generation of an ionized air current. 11. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) runs in the direction of the air channel (8). 12. Hair care apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is arranged essentially approximately centered in the air channel (8). 13. Hair care apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is arranged in a heated or heated area of the air channel (8). 14. Hair care apparatus according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the cable (13) is guided at least partially into the air channel (8), preferably approximately centered in the air channel (8) ). 15. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is freely positioned, in particular without additional fasteners. 16. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is disposed near an air outlet opening (5). 17. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable (13) is fixed by at least one heating support plate (6), in particular a micanite arrangement, and in particular by at least a fastener (16). 18. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionization electrode (12) is integrated in a heating channel, preferably in a heating tube. 19. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high voltage source (13) has an open circuit voltage of 2 kV to 7 kV, in which its internal resistance has a value of preferably 5- 20 megaohms, in particular 10 megaohms.

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20. Hair care apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high voltage source (13) is a transformer on the basis of induction. 21. Hot air curling tongs with an ionization arrangement according to one of the claims precedents 22. Hair brush with an arrangement of ionization according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the High voltage source is battery powered.