Patent Publication Number: US-2006004383-A1

Title: Depilating apparatus with a depilating tape

Description:
The invention relates to a depilating apparatus with a housing, which housing is provided and designed to accommodate a supply of a depilating tape, which depilating tape can be pulled away from the supply and can then be applied to the skin of a person, and which depilating tape, after application to the skin of a person, adheres to the skin along an application length, and with application means for applying the depilating tape to the skin of a person, and with an opening in the housing, which opening is provided and designed for passing the depilating tape through to the skin of a person, and with determination means for determining the application length along which the depilating tape adheres to the skin of a person.  
      A depilating apparatus of the generic type cited in the first paragraph above is known from patent document EP 0 738 482 B1. The known apparatus is equipped with a rectangular and largely cuboidal housing, which, on a side running transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the housing, has an opening for passing through the heated depilating tape to the skin of a person, and which is equipped with a chassis that can be adjusted in the housing in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the housing, on which chassis a supply reel for the depilating tape and a wind-up reel for the depilating tape are rotatably mounted and on which chassis, in addition, a block-shaped heating device is arranged, with the aid of which the depilating tape can be heated and which simultaneously forms the application means for applying the heated depilating tape to the skin of a person and the determination means for determining the length of the application length. With the aid of the chassis, the heating device used as the application means and determination means can be brought into the area of the opening in the housing, as a result of which, with the aid of the heating device, which is equipped with a press-on surface for pressing the heated depilating tape onto the skin of a person, a section of the depilating tape essentially corresponding to the size of the press-on surface can be pressed onto the skin of a person and, in this manner, can be brought into an adhesive connection with the skin of a person. The depilating tape that has been brought into an active connection with the skin of a person, having previously been heated with the aid of the heating device, wherein the depilating wax provided on the depilating tape has been heated so that the depilating wax has softened and therefore was able to enclose hair, cools during the adhesion to the skin of a person, wherein a cooling of the depilating wax occurs, with the result that a retention of the enclosed hair on the depilating tape takes place with the aid of the depilating wax. Once cooling is sufficient, the depilating tape, including the hair retained on the depilating tape with the aid of the depilating wax, is pulled away from the skin of the person as quickly as possible, i.e. with a jerking movement, as a result of which the removal of the retained hair from the skin of the person occurs.  
      In the known apparatus, the design of the press-on surface of the heating device used as the application means and determination means determines the length of the application length along which the depilating tape adheres to the skin of a person. By virtue of the fact that the heating device simultaneously forms the determination means for determining the length of the application length, along which application length the depilating tape adheres to the skin of a person, and that the heating device has a press-on surface that is of a fixed specification in terms of its size, the situation exists in the case of the known depilating apparatus that only one single length of the application length can be realized. This results in the known depilating apparatus having to be brought into an active connection multiple times in succession with adjacent skin areas of the skin of a person in order to depilate larger skin areas, wherein, on each removal procedure of the cooled depilating tape from the skin of a person, a sensation of pain occurs, which is unpleasant and disadvantageous for the person using the known depilating apparatus. This also gives rise to relatively long depilating procedures.  
      It is an object of the invention to prevent the above-mentioned disadvantageous situation and to realize an improved depilating apparatus.  
      To achieve the above-mentioned object, features in accordance with the invention are provided in a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, so that a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention may be characterized in the manner stated below, namely:  
      A depilating apparatus with a housing, which housing is designed to accommodate a supply of a depilating tape, which depilating tape can be pulled away from the supply and can then be applied to the skin of a person, and which depilating tape, after application to the skin of a person, adheres to the skin along an application length, and with application means for applying the depilating tape to the skin of a person, and with an opening in the housing, which opening is provided and designed for passing the depilating tape through to the skin of a person, and with determination means for determining the application length along which the depilating tape adheres to the skin of a person, wherein the determination means are designed to determine different application lengths as desired.  
      Through the provision of the features in accordance with the invention, the opportunity is created, in a simple manner and with only a small additional outlay, for a multiplicity of different application lengths to be realized with a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, rather than just one single application length, so that each section of skin to be depilated of a particular length can be depilated with one single depilating procedure, wherein the application length is selected by the particular user to correspond with the length of the section of skin to be depilated. This gives rise to the great advantage that a section of skin to be depilated of a relatively great length no longer has to be depilated with multiple successive depilating procedures, but can be depilated with one single depilating procedure, which gives rise to the advantage that the user experiences a sensation of pain only during this one depilating procedure, wherein this sensation of pain, which occurs when removing the depilating tape adhering to the skin of the user over a relatively long application length, advantageously is not higher than when removing a depilating tape adhering to the skin of the user along only a relatively short application length because-as has been established in test investigations-the sensation of pain perceived by a person is independent of the application length. In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, the further advantage is achieved that a total depilating procedure, e.g. the depilation of a leg, can be undertaken considerably more quickly than is possible with a known depilating apparatus. A further advantage with a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention consists in the fact that, by virtue of the application of the depilating tape to the skin of a person along relatively long application lengths, a relatively long enclosure time for enclosing hair with the depilating wax on the depilating tape can be achieved in many cases, which is advantageous in respect of good depilating results.  
      In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, the determination means for determining different application lengths as desired may be in the form of, for instance, two application rollers provided at a distance from each other, with which two application rollers the application length can be determined, wherein means for changing the distance between the two application rollers are provided so that, by changing the distance between the two application rollers, the application length can be changed by the user of an apparatus of this kind if so desired. In respect of an especially simple design, it has proved advantageous, however, if the features as claimed in claim  2  are also provided in a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention. An especially simple, operationally reliable design can be achieved in this manner. A design of this kind has proved extremely advantageous in respect of the simplest possible operation. In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, the control button may take the form of a push button, wherein, with the push button in its first position as accomplished by pushing it, the blocking means assumes the release position, and wherein, with the push button in its second position as accomplished by not pushing it, the blocking means assumes the blocking position. It is, however, also extremely advantageous if the control button takes the form of a sliding button that can be slid between two positions, which sliding button is held in each of its two positions by a latching means. In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, a design may also be realized, however, in which the blocking means can be controlled with the aid of the application means in that, through the pressing of the application means onto the skin, the blocking means is shifted into its release position.  
      In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, it has further proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  3  are provided. In this manner, an especially simple, readily performed application of the depilating tape to the skin of a person is ensured. The application means may, however, also be realized in the form of a hoop or spatula or multiple adjacent coaxial disks.  
      In a depilating apparatus as described in the paragraph above, it has proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the measures as claimed in claim  4  are provided. As a result, a detachment of the used depilating tape is also enabled with the aid of the depilating apparatus itself, which is advantageous in respect of simple handling. It should be mentioned, however, that the detachment of used depilating tape may also be undertaken with a cutting device that is separate from the depilating apparatus, for instance with a pair of scissors or a blade.  
      In a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention, it has further proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  5  are provided. This is an advantage in respect of a simple introduction of a depilating tape into the depilating apparatus. Furthermore, this is advantageous in respect of a satisfactory operating mode of the blocking means. Instead of a supply reel, however, a supply of depilating tape may also be provided in the form of a stack formed by zigzag folding of the depilating tape in a depilating apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
      In a depilating apparatus as described in the paragraph above, it has proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  6  are provided. As a result, a design is obtained in which a detachment of used depilating tape after each depilating procedure is unnecessary, which is advantageous in respect of simple handling.  
      In a depilating apparatus as described in the paragraph above, it has proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  7  are provided. With a design of this kind, it is advantageously achieved that the pull-off force and the pull-off speed with which a depilating tape is pulled away from the skin of a person are determined by the motor torque and therefore constant pull-off conditions are ensured in virtually all operational situations.  
      In a depilating apparatus as described in the paragraph above, it has proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  8  are provided. With a design of this kind, it is advantageously achieved that the flux of force between the motor and the wind-up reel can be interrupted so that the wind-up reel can be caused to rotate independently of the motor, and that therefore, when the depilating tape is applied to the skin of a person, the used depilating tape can be pulled off the wind-up reel again, which advantageously results in a saving in depilating tape.  
      In a depilating apparatus as described in the paragraph above, it has proved extremely advantageous if, in addition, the features as claimed in claim  9  are provided. With a design of this kind, it is advantageously achieved that the interruption of the drive connection is enabled in an extremely reliable and simple manner.  
      The above-mentioned aspects and further aspects of the invention are explained below. 
    
    
      The invention will be further described with reference to examples of embodiments shown in the drawings, to which, however, the invention is not restricted.  
       FIG. 1  shows, in schematic form, in a section along line I-I in  FIG. 2 , a depilating apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment example of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows, in schematic form, in a section along line II-II in  FIG. 1 , the depilating apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  shows, in schematic form, in a section along line III-III in  FIG. 4 , a depilating apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment example of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows, in schematic form, in a section along line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 , the depilating apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 3 . 
    
    
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a depilating apparatus  1 , which is a so-called wax depilating apparatus, and with which hair can be removed from the skin of a person using wax.  
      Depilating apparatus  1  is equipped with a housing  2 , which is held in one hand when operating the depilating apparatus  1 . Housing  2  is equipped with a front wall  3 , angled in two places, a rear wall  4 , a first sidewall  5 , a second sidewall  6  and a top wall  7 . In a bottom area  8  of housing  2 , depilating apparatus  1  is provided with an opening  9 , the purpose of which will be discussed in greater detail below. Housing  2  is designed to accommodate a supply  10  of a depilating tape  11 .  
      In depilating apparatus  1 , the supply  10  of depilating tape  11  is wound to form a supply spool  10 , wound onto a supply reel  12 , so that the supply spool  10  forms the supply  10 . When the entire supply  10  of a supply reel  12  has been used up, the empty supply reel  12  is removed from the housing  2  and a new supply reel  12  with a full supply spool  10  is inserted into the housing  2 . Depilating tape  11  has a front side  13  and a rear side  14 . On the front side  13 , the depilating tape  11  is equipped with a wax layer, which cannot be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Depilating tape  11  can be pulled away from the supply spool  10  and can then be heated and then applied to the skin of a person. After being applied to the skin of a person, depilating tape  11  adheres to the skin of a person along an application length L, which is shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . Depilating tape  11  can subsequently be pulled away from the skin of a person, wherein, during this pulling away, hair is removed from the skin of a person by pulling or tearing the hair out.  
      The supply reel  12  is equipped with a hub  15 , which is rotatably mounted with the aid of sidewalls  5  and  6 , and a first reel flange  16  and a second reel flange  17 , which two reel flanges  16  and  17  are connected to hub  15  with rotational resistance. Supply reel  12  is further equipped with a reel toothed-wheel  18 , connected to the second reel flange coaxially and with rotational resistance, and an endless-belt wheel  19 , connected to the reel toothed-wheel  18  coaxially and with rotational resistance, around which an endless belt  20  is arranged.  
      A protection-tape wind-up reel  21  can be driven in rotation, in a manner that is not described in greater detail, with the aid of the endless belt  20 . A protection tape  22 , indicated with a dotted line in  FIG. 1 , can be wound onto protection-tape wind-up reel  21 . With depilating tape  11  wound onto supply spool  10 , protection tape  22  is provided for the purpose of covering the wax layer adjoining the front side  13  of depilating tape  11 , and, when depilating tape  11  is pulled away from the supply spool  10 , can be separated from the wax layer and wound onto the protection-tape wind-up reel  21 .  
      In its housing  2 , depilating apparatus  1  contains a heating device  25 . Heating device  25  is equipped with heating means  26 , which is shown schematically, and a heating panel  27 , which can be heated up with the aid of heating means  26 , along which heating panel  27  the depilating tape  11  is arranged, so that the depilating tape  11 , pulled away from the supply spool  10  and passing heating device  25 , can be heated with the aid of heating panel  27  in order to heat the wax layer adjoining the depilating tape  11  on its front side  13 . To supply the heating means  26  with electrical power, a supply circuit  28 , which is indicated schematically and is conductively connected to heating means  26 , is provided in housing  2 .  
      In depilating apparatus  1 , heating device  25  is mounted so as to adjustable. To this end, a support  30 , mounted to swivel around axle  29 , is provided for heating device  25 . Axle  29  is mounted in the two sidewalls  5  and  6 . Support  30  is essentially U-shaped and is equipped with two support arms  31  and  32  and a support web  33  connecting the two support arms  31  and  32  to each other. A holding arm  34  is connected in one piece to carrier web  33 . Further connected to carrier web  33  is heating panel  27 . Heating means  26  is retained between holding arm  34  and heating panel  27 . Protruding from holding arm  34  is a control lug  35 , the function of which will be described in greater detail below. Protruding from heating panel  27  in the area of the free end  36  of heating panel  27  is a control arm  37 , to which is connected one end of a tension spring  38 , the other end of which is connected to the rear wall  4  of housing  2 .  
      With the aid of heating device  25 , the depilating tape  11 , pulled away from the supply  10 , i.e. from the supply spool  10 , can be heated in sections. By heating in this way, the wax layer adjoining depilating tape  11  is softened, so the wax layer assumes a consistency such that the heated wax can enclose hair on the skin of a person.  
      Depilating apparatus  1  is further equipped with application means  40  for applying the heated depilating tape  11  to the skin of a person. The application means  40  in the present case takes the form of an application roller  40 . The depilating tape  11  is arranged around the application roller  40  in a direction leading from front wall  3  to rear wall  4  of housing  2 , which is opposite to the direction of the forward motion of depilating apparatus  1  when depilating apparatus  1  is in operation. The direction of forward motion of depilating apparatus  1  when depilating apparatus  1  is in operation is indicated in  FIG. 1  with an arrow  41 . Application roller  40  is arranged in the area of opening  9  of housing  2  and is rotatably mounted on axle  29 . Opening  9  is thereby provided and designed so that the heated depilating tape  11  can be passed through to the skin of a person.  
      Interacting with application roller  40 , with depilating tape  11  inserted in between, is a press-on roller  42 , which press-on roller  42  ensures that the depilating tape  11  presses gently against application roller  40 . Press-on roller  42  also ensures that, following detachment of a used depilating tape  11 , the section of depilating tape  11  that has already passed application roller  40  and press-on roller  42  cannot, in an undesired manner, enter the interior of housing  2  of depilating apparatus  1 .  
      Depilating apparatus  1  is further equipped with a cutting device  43 , which is arranged adjacent to application roller  40  and which is provided for cutting off depilating tape  11  in an area of depilating tape  11 , which area of depilating tape  11  has already passed application roller  40 . Cutting device  43  comprises a cutting tool  44 , which is provided and designed for cutting off a used depilating tape  11 . After a used depilating tape  11  has been cut off, a short piece of depilating tape  11  is located in the area of application roller  40  outside of housing  2  of depilating apparatus  1 .  
      At the start of the depilating procedure, application roller  40 , with the short piece of depilating tape  11  inserted in between, is placed on the skin of a person. Subsequently, depilating apparatus  1 , and consequently application roller  40  also, is moved over the skin of the person in the direction of arrow  41 , as a result of which depilating tape  11  is pulled away from supply reel  12  and heated with the aid of heating device  25 , and as a result of which the heated depilating tape  11  is applied to the skin of a person so that, following such an application of depilating tape  11  to the skin of a person, i.e. when depilating apparatus  1  is no longer moved forward in the direction of arrow  41 , depilating tape  11  adheres to the skin of a person along a length of application length L as determined in this case.  
      Provided in depilating apparatus  1  are determination means  45 , which are provided and designed for determining the application length L along which depilating tape  11  adheres to the skin of a person. The design of the determination means  45  is hereby advantageously undertaken in such a way that the determination means  45  are designed to determine different application lengths L as desired.  
      In depilating apparatus  1 , determination means  45  is equipped with a hand-operated control button  46  and with blocking means  47  which interacts with control button  46  on the one hand and with the supply  10 , i.e. the supply spool  10 , on the other. Control button  46  is designed as a sliding button  46 , which can be shifted between a first position shown in  FIG. 1  and a second position not shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein control button  46  can be moved in the direction of an arrow  48 , from its first position shown in  FIG. 1  into its second position. Control button  46  is equipped with a button head  49  and a button slider  50 . Provided on button slider  50  is a control link  51 , which is provided and designed to interact with control lug  35  of support  30 . As already mentioned, control button  46  interacts with blocking means  47 . This takes place via control link  51  and control lug  35  and support  30  for heating device  25  and heating panel  27  and control arm  37  and via a control connection  52 , indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  only schematically with a broken line, which control connection  52  interacts directly with blocking means  47 . In the present case, blocking means  47  is essentially formed by an L-shaped, swivel-mounted blocking lever  47 . The control connection  52  acts on a first end  53  of blocking lever  47 . With its second end  54 , blocking lever  47  interacts with the toothing of reel toothed-wheel  18 . The design hereby is such that, with control button  46  in its first position as shown in  FIG. 1 , blocking lever  47  assumes a release position that enables a pulling away of depilating tape  11  from supply spool  10 , and that, with control button  46  in its second position, not shown in  FIG. 1 , blocking lever  47  assumes a blocking position blocking any pulling away of depilating tape  11  from supply coil  10 .  
      When depilating apparatus  1  is not in use, control button  46  of determination means  45  is in its second position, which is not shown in  FIG. 1 . Control link  51  hereby releases the control lug  35  of support  30 , so that tension spring  38  retains support  30  in a home position not shown in  FIG. 1 , in which heating panel  27  is essentially shifted out of the transport path of depilating tape  11 . It is further ensured, via control arm  37  and control connection  52 , that blocking lever  47  assumes its blocking position, blocking any pulling away of depilating tape  11  from supply spool  10 . It is further ensured, with the aid of control button  46 , that supply circuit  28  is switched off and therefore no supply of power to heating means  26  takes place.  
      When a user of depilating apparatus  1  wishes to put depilating apparatus  1  into operation, i.e. wishes to undertake a depilating procedure, the user takes depilating apparatus  1  in his/her hand and pushes control button  46  of determination means  45  counter to the direction of arrow  48  into its first position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, supply circuit  28  is switched on with the aid of control button  46 , so that heating means  26  is supplied with power and, as a result, heating panel  27  is heated. Through the moving of control button  46  into its first position, control lug  35  is also actuated via control link  51 , which results in support  30  for heating device  25  being swiveled counter to the force of tension spring  38  into the position shown in  FIG. 1 . As a result, heating panel  27  comes into active connection with depilating tape  11 , so that good heating of depilating tape  11  takes place. Via control arm  37  and control connection  52 , blocking lever  47  is also swiveled so that blocking lever  47  subsequently assumes its release position, allowing depilating tape  11  to be pulled off from supply spool  12 . If the user now places depilating apparatus  1  with application roller  40  on his/her skin or on the skin of another person, with the short piece of depilating tape  11  located in the area of application roller  40  outside of housing  2  inserted in between, and subsequently moves depilating apparatus  1  forward along the skin in the direction of arrow  41 , wherein application roller  40  presses depilating tape  11  against the skin, this results in the depilating tape  11 , which has been heated with the aid of heating device  25 , being applied to the skin with the aid of application roller  40 . This application takes place as long as determined with the aid of determination means  45  of depilating apparatus  1 , which means, in other words, that this application takes place as long as control button  46  of determination means  45  remains in its first position. When the desired application length L has been reached, the user of depilating apparatus  1  moves control button  46  of determination means  45  in the direction of arrow  48  from the first position of control button  46 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , into its second position, which is not shown in  FIG. 1 . This has the result that control link  51  releases control lug  35 , and therefore support  30  is swiveled, with the force of tension spring  38 , out of its operational position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , into its home position, which is not shown, as a result of which blocking lever  47  is swiveled, via control arm  37  and control connection  52  of blocking lever  47 , into its blocking position, in which blocking position the blocking lever  47  blocks any pulling away of depilating tape  11  from supply spool  10 . The electrical supply of heating means  26  of heating device  25  is also terminated. Therefore, no more depilating tape  11  can be heated, and neither can any more depilating tape  11  be applied to the skin.  
      During the application of the heated depilating tape  11  to the skin of a person, the softened wax encloses the hair present in the area of the skin. The depilating tape  11  applied to the skin subsequently cools. Following cooling of depilating tape  11 , the depilating tape  11  previously applied to the skin along application length L is torn away from the skin by the user of depilating apparatus  1  with the aid of depilating apparatus  1 , which is possible because supply spool  10  is secured against rotation with the aid of blocking lever  47 . Following the tearing away or rapid pulling off of used depilating tape  11  from the skin, the user of depilating apparatus  1  operates cutting device  43 , as a result of which the used depilating tape  11  is detached. Depilating apparatus  1  is then available for the next depilating procedure.  
      With regard to depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it should also be mentioned that, in a modification to this depilating apparatus  1 , application roller  40  and, if applicable, press-on roller  42 , may also be of a heatable design in order that depilating tape  11  can be subjected to an additional heating process immediately before the application to the skin of a person.  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a further depilating apparatus  1 . The depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4  is, in part, of a similar design to the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for which reason only the features that differ from depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2  will be described in detail below.  
      In depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , control button  46  of determination means  45  is provided in the area of second sidewall  6 . Control button  46  hereby interacts directly with blocking lever  47  in a manner not described in greater detail. Control button  46  is shown in  FIG. 4  in its second position, in which blocking lever  47  assumes its blocking position, blocking any pulling away of depilating tape  11  from supply reel  10 . Control button  46  can be shifted, counter to the direction of arrow  48 , out of its second position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , into its first position, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein, with control button  46  located in its first position, blocking lever  47  assumes its release position, enabling a pulling-away of depilating tape  11  from supply spool  10 . In the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , supply circuit  28  for heating means  26  of heating device  25  can also be switched on and off with the aid of control button  46 . Heating device  25  is mounted in housing  2  so as to be stationary in the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
      In depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , press-on roller  42  is arranged opposite heating panel  27  of heating device  25 .  
      One important difference concerning the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4  as compared with the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2  consists in the fact that, in the case of the depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a wind-up reel  60  is provided in addition to supply reel  12 . Wind-up reel  60  is provided and designed for winding up depilating tape  11  that was previously adhering to the skin of a person. Wind-up reel  60  is equipped with a hub  61  and a first reel flange  62  and a second reel flange  63 . Connected to second reel flange  63  coaxially and with rotational resistance is a reel toothed-wheel  64 . Rotatably mounted on a sleeve-shaped extension  65  of reel toothed-wheel  64  is a drive toothed-wheel  66 . Provided between drive toothed-wheel  66  and reel toothed-wheel  64  is a single-direction coupling not shown in  FIG. 4 . With the aid of the single-direction coupling, a transmission of force or torque can be undertaken if drive toothed-wheel  66  is operated in accordance with the arrow  67  represented by a solid line in  FIG. 3 . If, conversely, drive toothed-wheel  66  is operated in accordance with the arrow  68  represented by a broken line in  FIG. 3 , no force or torque transmission takes place from drive toothed-wheel  66  to reel toothed-wheel  64  or, as a result, to wind-up reel  60 .  
      Depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4  is equipped with a motor  69  accommodated in housing  2 . Motor  69  is equipped with a motor shaft  70 , on which a first toothed wheel  71  sits with rotational resistance. Engaging in first toothed wheel  71  is a second toothed wheel  72  which is rotatably mounted with the aid of an axle  73  protruding from second sidewall  6 . Second toothed wheel  72  engages with drive toothed-wheel  66 . A drive connection  74 , comprising the motor shaft  70  and the first toothed wheel  71  and the second toothed wheel  72  and the drive toothed-wheel  66  and the (not shown) single-direction coupling and the reel toothed-wheel  64 , is thereby provided between motor  69  and wind-up reel  60 . In this manner, wind-up reel  60  can be rotatably operated with the aid of motor  69  to wind up depilating tape  11  which was previously adhering to the skin of a person. The drive connection  74  between motor  69  and wind-up reel  60  can hereby be interrupted using the single-direction coupling between drive toothed-wheel  66  and reel toothed-wheel  64 . To interrupt drive connection  74 , means suitable for the purpose are provided, in this case constituting the hand-operated control button  46 , through actuation of which drive means  74  can be interrupted. With the aid of control button  46 , motor  69  can be switched on if control button  46  is moved from its first position, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 , in the direction of arrow  48  into its second position as shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein motor  69  is then operated to drive wind-up reel  60 . If, conversely, control button  46  is moved from its second position as shown in  FIG. 4  counter to the direction of arrow  48  into its first position, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 , and remains in its first position, motor  69  is switched off and, using the braking effect of motor  69 , first toothed wheel  71  and second toothed wheel  72  and drive toothed-wheel  66  are secured against rotation, wherein, however, by virtue of the effect of the single-direction coupling provided between drive toothed-wheel  66  and reel toothed-wheel  64 , reel toothed-wheel  64  can be operated in the direction of arrow  68  by pulling off the depilating tape  11  that was previously already wound onto wind-up reel  60 , which means, in other words, that a depilating tape  11  that has already been wound onto wind-up reel  60  can again be unwound from wind-up reel  60 .  
      In order to undertake a depilating procedure with depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , control button  46  is moved out of its second position as shown in  FIG. 4  counter to the direction of arrow  48  into its first position, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 , as a result of which blocking lever  47  is swiveled into its release position, releasing supply reel  12 , and heating device  25  is supplied with power and motor  69  remains switched off. Application roller  40  is then placed on the skin of a person in the area of point A as shown in  FIG. 3 . Depilating apparatus  1  is then moved forward along the skin in the direction of arrow  41 , wherein depilating tape  11 , which has been heated with the aid of heating device  25 , is applied to the skin with the aid of application roller  40 . Simultaneously, depilating tape  11  that had already been applied to the skin, a section of which is designated  11 U in  FIG. 3 , is again unwound from wind-up reel  60  in accordance with arrow  68 . As soon as depilating tape  11  has been applied to the skin over application length L for the desired length, the forward movement of depilating apparatus  1  along arrow  41  is terminated. Control button  46  is then moved in the direction of arrow  48  from its first position, which is not shown in  FIG. 4 , into its second position as shown in  FIG. 4 , as a result of which blocking lever  47  is swiveled into its blocking position, thereby blocking supply reel  12 , and heating device  25  is no longer supplied with power, and motor  69  is switched on. This causes wind-up reel  60  to be operated suddenly and at a relatively high speed, which results in the depilating tape  11  previously applied to the skin being pulled away from the skin of a person with a jerking movement, thereby pulling hair out of the skin of a person.  
      With depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 and 2  and in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the important advantage is obtained that different lengths of application length L can be realized as desired. In depilating apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in particular, the further important advantage is obtained that the pulling-off of the depilating tape  11  applied to the skin of a person takes place, at least for the greater part, at an acute pull-off angle which exists between the depilating tape  11  applied to the skin and the section of depilating tape  11 U running from the skin to wind-up reel  60 . A sharp pull-off angle of this kind is a positive parameter in respect of achieving good depilating results, i.e. good hair removal results.  
      The depilating apparatus  1  described above uses so-called hot-wax tapes, which have to be heated before being applied to the skin. The measures in accordance with the invention could, however, also be introduced in depilating appliances for so-called cold-wax tape, which cold-wax tape does not have to be heated, so this kind of depilating apparatus can operate without the need for a heating device.  
      The depilating apparatus  1  described above uses reels with flanges and with a reel hub with a circular cross-section. However, reels without flanges and with different hub cross-sections, e.g. with an elliptical or polygonal cross-section, may also be used.