Patent Publication Number: US-7905237-B2

Title: Hair braiding machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hair braiding machine, and more particularly to a hair braiding machine, which makes it possible to mechanically braid hair in a short period of time and to stably braid hair regardless of the state of hair. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, in order to braid hair, people have no alternative but to manually do so one by one. As such, it takes much time and effort to braid hair. 
     Thus, an apparatus for braiding hair by machine rather than by hand is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2001-0076807. 
     However, this hair braiding apparatus has several problems from the viewpoint of usage. First, due to a complicated structure, the cost of production is high. In particular, since the apparatus employs a cam driving system, there is a limitation to a speed. Thus, it still takes much time to braid hair. 
     Further, the apparatus has no separate mechanism for clamping hairs, and thus adjusts a speed of feeding the hairs depending on only friction between a rubber tube and the hairs. For this reason, when the rubber tube is used, it is inconvenient to properly select one of the rubber tubes according to hair&#39;s diameter and number. 
     Furthermore, although the proper rubber tube is selected in order to braid the hair into several sections, three parts, i.e. a root part, an intermediate part and an end part, of each section of the hair are different from each other in the number of hairs. Especially, in the case of long hair, short hairs are mostly intervened between long hairs. Thus, as the hair is braided down, the number of hairs is gradually reduced, so that a frictional force between the hair and the rubber tube is decreased. As a result, some hairs easily escape from the rubber tube, and thus it is difficult to perfectly braid the hair to the end. 
     In addition, a hair fixture is designed to be able to adjust its length like an antenna, so that it gets the hairs into tangles therein when operated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hair braiding machine, which makes it possible to mechanically braid hair in a short period of time, to adjust a hair braiding speed during operation as needed, and to conveniently and stably braid hair regardless of the state of hair. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a hair braiding machine, which comprises: a housing, which includes a motor mounted therein, a controller controlling a driving force of the motor, and orbital holes formed at an upper end thereof and having two circles having an identical diameter are open in a partly overlapping form; a pair of stationary rotors, which is installed at centers of the circles of each orbital hole such that orbital tracks are defined between the orbital hole and the stationary rotors, is rotated in opposite directions by driving of the motor, and has a plurality of insertion recesses along an outer circumference thereof at regular intervals; a plurality of movable rotors, which is inserted into the insertion recesses of the stationary rotors along the orbital tracks, makes a circular motion along the orbital tracks by means of a rotating force of the stationary rotors, and includes a fastener at an upper portion thereof to and from which a hair holding unit holding hairs to be braided is coupled and decoupled; and a guide, which is installed at intersections of the circles of the upper orbital hole, changes a path of each movable rotor reaching one of the intersections in a diagonal direction by one of the stationary rotors, and guides the movable rotor, the path of which is changed, to make a circular motion by means of the other stationary rotor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a machine body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view illustrating a stationary rotor and a movable rotor according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a guide according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the configuration of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the configuration of a hair holding arm according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hair holding arm of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate operation of the coupler of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the grasper of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate operation of the grasper of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIGS. 12A through 12E  are operation diagrams illustrating motion of the movable rotors step by step according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in greater detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     A hair braiding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a machine body  100 , and a hair holding unit  200  separated from the machine body  100 . The hair holding unit  200  is detachably installed on the machine body  100 . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a machine body,  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 . Referring to these figures, the machine body  100  includes a hollow housing  10 , in which a motor  11 , a drive source, is mounted. 
     The housing  11  is provided with a grip  12 , at a lower portion thereof, which a plurality of waveforms are continuously formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. The grip  12  enables a user to easily grasp the housing  10  when used. 
     The housing  10  is provided with orbital holes  13  at an upper end thereof. 
     Each orbital hole  13  has a structure in which two circles having the same diameter partly overlap with each other. Thus, each orbital hole  13  has two intersections P 1  and P 2  at which the two circles intersect. 
     These orbital holes  13  are preferably formed up and down in pairs with movable rotors  30  in between so as to be able to more firmly support the movable rotors  30 . 
     A pair of stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b , which is rotated by a driving force of the motor  11 , is installed at centers of the circles of each orbital hole  13 . 
     In order to transmit the driving force of the motor  11  to the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b , the motor  11  is coupled with a reduction gear train  25 , which reduces the driving force of the motor  11 . 
     The reduction gear train  25  cooperates with a terminal gear serving as a driving gear  26   a . The driving gear  26   a  is engaged with a driven gear  26   b  having the same size of the driving gear  26   a.    
     The driving and driven gears  26   a  and  26   b , which are engaged with each other, are coupled with respective rotating shafts  27   a  and  27   b , which are disposed in parallel in a vertical direction. The rotating shafts  27   a  and  27   b  are coupled to lower ends of the respective stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b.    
     Thus, the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b  coupled to the rotating shafts  27   a  and  27   b  rotate at the same rotation speed in opposite directions. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed view illustrating the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b . Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b  is designed so that a pair of parallel rotating plates  21  is coupled with a shaft  22 , and that a reinforcement plate  23  is installed on the shaft  22  below the upper rotating plate  21 , so that an insertion space is defined between the upper rotating plate  21  and the reinforcement plate  23 . 
     Each rotating plate  21  includes semi-circular insertion recesses  24  along the circumference thereof at regular intervals. The movable rotors  30  are inserted into the insertion recesses  24 . 
     Here, three insertion recesses  24  are formed in each rotating plate  21  at an angle of 120°. Two of the insertion recesses  24  face each other on an imaginary line connecting the centers of the opposite rotating plates  21 , thereby forming a circular shape. 
     All the rotating plates  21  have the same diameter, which is smaller than each circle of the orbital hole  13 . 
     Thus, a predetermined spacing is defined between the outer circumference of each rotating plate  21  and the inner circumference of each orbital hole  13 , so that two orbital tracks T 1  and T 2 , along which the movable rotors  30  can move, are formed on opposite sides of the intersections P 1  and P 2 . 
     The movable rotors  30  make a circular motion along the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  by means of the rotating force of the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b.    
     The movable rotors  30  are three in number, and are preferably installed at positions where the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  are divided into three equal parts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each movable rotor  30  includes a supporting plate  32 , which is installed on a central shaft  31  having a predetermined length, is inserted between an insertion space between each movable rotor  30  and each orbital hole  13 , and is supportably installed on the orbital track T 1  or T 2 . 
     Further, each movable rotor  30  includes a protruding fastener  33 , to which the hair holding unit  200  is detachably installed, at an upper end thereof. The fastener  33  includes a groove  34 . 
     The central shafts  31  of the movable rotors  30  are inserted into the insertion recess  24  of the rotating plates  20 , and thus the movable rotors  30  make a circular motion along the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  by means of the rotating force of the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b.    
     At this time, the movable rotors  30  make a “figure-of-eight” motion, because motion paths thereof are changed by a guide  40  when reaching the intersections P 1  and P 2  of the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2 . 
     To this end, the guide  40  includes a pair of swing plates  41  and a swing lever  42  connected to lower sides of the swing plates  41 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the guide  40 . The swing plates  41  are pivotably hinged to the upper end of the housing  10  at the intersections P 1  and P 2  of the upper orbital hole  13 , and include lever pins  43  protruding downwards at lower ends thereof. 
     The swing plates  41  protrude toward the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  so as to be able to contact the movable rotors  30  at the intersections P 1  and P 2 . 
     The swing lever  42  includes pin holes  44  into which the lever pins  43  of the swing plates  41  are inserted at opposite ends thereof, and is installed so as to be able to move around its center in leftward and rightward directions. 
     This guide  40  is designed so that the first swing plate  41  is pushed to rotate the swing lever  42  by one of the movable rotors  30  reaching the first intersection P 1  while making a circular motion by means of the rotating force of the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a , and that the second swing plate  41  is rotated in a direction opposite the first swing plate  41  at the second intersection P 2 . 
     Thus, the movable rotor  30 , which passes through the first intersection P 1  while pushing the first swing plate  41 , is subjected to a change in the path of the circular motion due to the second swing plate  41 , which has been rotated in the opposite direction to block the path of the circular motion. Then, the movable rotor  30  is inserted into the insertion recess  24  of the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b , and continues the circular motion in the opposite direction by means of the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b.    
     In other words, the guide  40  guides the movable rotor  30 , which is in circular motion in one direction by means of the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a , to the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b , thereby enabling the movable rotor  30  to make the circular motion in the other direction. Accordingly, the guide  40  functions to move the movable rotor  30  in the “figure-of-eight” shape. 
       FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram illustrating a controller  50 . The machine body  100  is preferably equipped with the controller  50  for controlling the driving force of the motor  11  as the driving source. The controller  50  is adapted so that the user can control the speed at which the hair is braided by adjusting magnitude of power applied to the motor. 
     To this end, the controller  50  comprises a power supply  51  and a plurality of power supply circuits  52  electrically connecting the power supply  51  and the motor  11 . The power supply circuits  52  are connected with different resistors R and a switchboard  53 . 
     The switchboard  53  includes a plurality of pairs of contacts S 1  and S 2 , which are connected with or disconnected from each other, are connected to the power supply circuits  52 , and are arranged in parallel at regular intervals, and an operation switch  54 , to which the first contacts S 1  are connected. 
     The operation switch  54  is pivotably hinged to the inside of the housing  10  at one end thereof when pressed. The first contacts S 1  are arranged in parallel on an inner surface of the operation switch  54  in a vertical direction. 
     At this time, the first contacts S 1  are disposed so that their lengths are gradually reduced from the uppermost contact to the lowermost contact. The resistors R of the power supply circuits  52  are connected to the respective second contacts S 2  in a manner such that their resistance values are gradually reduced from the uppermost resistor R 1  to the lowermost resistor R 3  in proportion to the lengths of the first contacts S 1 . 
     As a rotation angle of the pressed operation switch  54  increases, the first contacts S 1  are sequentially brought into contact with the second contacts starting with the uppermost contact. Thus, the magnitude of the power applied to the motor  11  is gradually increased, and thereby the driving force of the motor  11  is gradually increased. 
     Although the embodiment has been described that three pairs of contacts S 1  and S 2  are arranged to control the speed of the motor  11  in three steps, it will be apparent that the speed control steps of the motor  11  can be changed by increasing or decreasing the number of the paired contacts S 1  and S 2 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates configuration of the hair holding unit  200  that is detachably installed on the machine body  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the hair holding unit  200  comprises a hair holder  60  into which the hairs are inserted, a hair holding arm  70  in which the hairs are held and retained, and a grasper  80  which grasps the hairs. 
     The hair holder  60  includes a ring  61 , in which the hairs to be braided are held, at the first end of a rod  62 , and a grip  63  grasped by the user at a second end of the rod  62 . 
     This hair holder  60  makes use of a wire having high elasticity. Preferably, the grip  63  is injection-molded so as to make free bending possible or is formed in a nearly cylindrical shape by closely winding the wire. 
     The ring  61  is preferably formed by winding the wire in a circular or elliptical shape such that the hairs do not easily come out after they are held. To this end, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the ring  61  is formed by winding the wire either one turn or one turn and a quarter. 
     The hair holding arm  70  has the shape of a hollow cylinder having a predetermined length, and includes a socket  70   a  for connection with the grasper  80  at an upper end thereof, and a holder slit  71  which is elongately cut out in a longitudinal direction such that the hair holder  60  can come in and out. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hair holding arm  70 . The hair holding arm  70  includes the socket  70   a  into which the grasper  80  is inserted at the upper end thereof, and a guide wall  72  partitioning the interior thereof in a longitudinal direction. 
     The socket  70   a  is curved in an outward direction when viewed in cross section, and has a protruding round step  70   b  at an upper end thereof. 
     The guide wall  72  includes an inclined wall  72   a  inclined from a lower end of the socket  70   a  in a downward direction, a left-hand wall  72   b  extending from the inclined wall  72   a  in a direct downward direction, and a right-hand wall  72   c  bent at a lower end of the left-hand wall  72   b  and then extending to the proximity of the inclined wall  72   a  parallel to the left-hand wall, and thus partitions the interior of the hair holding arm  70  into three equal parts. 
     This guide wall  72  serves to easily hold and retain long hairs in the hair holding arm  70  having a relatively short length when the long hair is to be braided. 
     In other words, the hair holder  60  introduced into the holder slit  71  with the hairs held moves up and down along a reciprocating path defined by the guide wall  72 , so that the hairs are held along the reciprocating path. 
     The holder slit  71  has expansion holes  72  at upper and lower ends thereof, which communicate with the holder slit  71  and have the same shape. 
     The expansion holes  72  function to allow the hair holder  60  to more easily move up and down by expanding the relatively narrow holder slit  71  when the hair holder  60  is reciprocated in the holder slit  71 . 
     The hair holding arm  70  is provided with a coupler  74  at a lower end thereof which couples and decouples the hair holding arm  70  to and from each movable rotor  30  of the machine body  100 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are cross-sectional views illustrating the coupler  74 . The coupler  74  includes at least one seat (not shown) recessed inward at the lower end of the hair holding arm  70 . The fastener  33  of each movable rotor  30  is inserted into the seat. 
     A pair of coupling buttons  76  is rotatably installed on the opposite sides of the seat. 
     Each coupling button  76  has a pressing part  77  protruding outward from an upper portion thereof, and a locking part  78  protruding inward from a lower portion thereof. A spring  79  is installed between the pressing parts  77 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the pressing parts  77  of this coupler  74  are pressed to compress the spring  79 , and thereby the coupling buttons  76  are rotated to become open. Then, the hair holding arm  70  moves down to the fastener  33  of the movable rotor  30 . Subsequently, when the pressing parts  77  are in an unpressed state, the coupling buttons  76  return to their original positions by means of recovery force of the compressed spring  79 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9B , the locking parts  78  of the coupling buttons  76  are inserted into the groove  34  of the fastener  33 , so that the hair holding arm  70  is coupled to the movable rotor  30 . 
     The grasper  80  is coupled to and communicates with the upper end of the hair holding arm  70 . 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the grasper  80 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the grasper  80  serves to grasp the hairs held in the hair holding arm  70  so as to prevent the hairs from escaping, and includes an elastic tube  82  in a hollow casing  81 . 
     The casing  81  and the elastic tube  82  are open at upper and lower ends thereof such that the hairs can be guided through the upper ends thereof into the hair holding arm  70  that communicates therewith through the lower ends thereof. 
     The elastic tube  82  is preferably formed of material such as rubber or silicon, which has softness, a high friction coefficient, and a predetermined elastic force. 
     The casing  81  is provided with cutout recesses  83  having an approximately rectangular shape in an outer circumference thereof in a diametrical direction. A pair of fingers  84  is pivotably coupled to hinge shafts of the casing  81  at longitudinal middle portions of the cutout recesses  83  so as to face each other. 
     The pair of fingers  84  is connected to each other with springs  85  interposed between lower ends thereof, and includes pressing knobs  86  protruding inward from upper ends thereof. 
     Here, each spring  85  preferably has such elastic strength that the hairs can be grasped and that the hairs held in the hair holding arm  70  can slowly come out when braided by the operation of the machine body  100 . 
     Each finger  84  has an inclined outer surface  84   a  so as to be symmetrical with respect to each hinge shaft. Preferably, the inclined outer surface  84   a  has an approximately V shape in whole. 
     A slider  87  is installed on the outer circumference of the casing  81 , to which the pair of fingers  84  is pivotably coupled in a diametrical direction as described above, so as to be able to slide up and down. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are cross-sectional views illustrating operation of the slider  87 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the outer surface of each finger  84  contacting an inner circumference of the slider  87  has the V shape. Thus, when the slider  87  moves downward, the lower portions of the fingers  84  are pressed and pivoted by the slider  87 . 
     As the fingers  84  are pressed and pivoted by the slider  87 , the springs  85  installed on the lower ends of the fingers  84  are compressed, and simultaneously the pressing knobs  86  protruding inward from the upper ends of the fingers  84  move away from each other. This operation causes the elastic tube  82  to be in an opened state. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11B , when the lowered slider  87  moves upward, the force applied to the fingers  84  is released. 
     As the pressing of the slider  84  is released, the compressed springs  85  are recovered by the elastic force thereof, and thus the fingers  84  are pivoted in the inward directions. Thereby, the pressing knobs  86  of the upper ends of the fingers  84  are pressed so as to compress the elastic tube  82 . 
     In this manner, the pressing knobs  86  compress the elastic tube  82  by the elastic force of the springs  85 , so that the hairs introduced into the elastic tube  82  are grasped to some extent so as to be prevented from escaping by the elastic force of the springs  85  and the frictional force of the elastic tube  82 . 
     Meanwhile, the casing  81  has a plug  88  protruding from the lower end thereof. The plug  88  is inserted into the socket  70   a  of the hair holding arm  70 , and thus couples the grasper  80  to the hair holding arm  70 . 
     The plug  88  has the shape of an approximate hemisphere whose upper portion has a smaller cross section, and is formed so that a lower end thereof has a greater diameter than the round step  70   b  of the hair holding arm  70 , and includes a plurality of slots  88   a , which is cut out in a vertical direction, in an outer circumference thereof. 
     When inserted, the plug  88  is compressed by the round step  70   b  of the socket  70   a . At this time, the slots  88   a  are pressed, and thus the diameter of the plug  88  is reduced in whole. Thereby, the plug  88  is received in the curved portion of the socket  70   a . After inserted, the diameter of the plug  88  is increased, and thus is prevented from escaping from the socket  70   a.    
     As the plug  88  is coupled in this way, the grasper  80  can be pivoted as a predetermined angle with respect to the hair holding arm  70  on all sides (i.e. in all directions). The grasper  80  is inclined toward the roots of the hairs at a predetermined angle during braiding the hair, so that the hair can be more neatly braided from beginning to end. 
     Since the hair holding units  200  configured as described above are coupled to and decoupled from the respective movable rotors  30 , the number of hair holding units  200  is preferably three. 
     The operation and usage of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described below. 
     First, the user moves the slider  87  of the grasper  80  in a downward direction such that the upper end of the grasper  80  is open. 
     Then, the user holds the grip  63  of the hair holder  60  to guide the hair holder  60  into the hair holding arm  70  through the upper expansion hole  73  of the hair holding arm  70 . 
     At this time, the hair holder  60  is guided until the ring  61  of the first end thereof is exposed to the outside of the upper end of the grasper  80  through the elastic tube  82  of the grasper  80  communicating with the hair holding arm  70 . 
     In this state, the user roughly divides the hairs to be braided into three equal parts, thereby making three bundles of hairs. Then, each hair bundle is inserted into the ring  61  of the hair holder  60  exposed to the outside of the upper end of the grasper  80 . 
     The user guides the hair holder  60 , into which the hair bundle is inserted, along the inner guide wall  72  through the holder slit  71  such that the hair bundle inserted into the ring  61  is wound in the hair holding arm  70 . 
     In this manner, when the hair bundle to be braided is completely held in the hair holding arm  70 , the user moves the slider  87  of the grasper  80  in an upward direction. 
     When the slider  87  is raised, the pressing knobs  86  of the fingers  84  presses the elastic tube  82 , through which the hair bundle passes, by means of the elastic force of the springs  85 , as described above. Thus, the hair bundle held and retained in the hair holding arm  70  is prevented from escaping due to the elastic force. 
     After the hair bundle held and retained, the hair holder  60  is separated from the hair bundle inserted into the ring  61 , and then is withdrawn from the hair holding arm  70  to the outside. 
     This process is repeated three times, so that three bundles of hairs are held in three hair holding units  200 . 
     Afterwards, the hair holding units  200  are coupled to the upper ends of the respective movable rotors  30  of the machine body  100 . 
     In this state, when the operation switch  54  of the controller  50  is pressed, the power of the power supply  51  is supplied to the motor  11 , and thus the motor  11  is driven. 
     At this time, the driving force of the motor  11  is gradually increased as described above. In detail, when the operation switch  54  is pressed, the upper contact of the switchboard  53  is connected first. Thus, the power supply circuit having the highest resistance R 1  is connected, so that the motor  11  is driven at a low speed. As the operation switch  54  is further pressed to increase its pivoting angle, the power supply circuit having the gradually decreasing resistance is connected, so that the driving force of the motor  11  is gradually increased. 
     The driving force of the motor  11  is reduced by the reduction gear train  25 , and then is transmitted to the rotating shafts  27   a  and  27   b . The pair of stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b  coupled to the upper ends of the respective rotating shafts  27   a  and  27   b  are rotated in opposite directions. For example, the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, while the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b  is rotated in a clockwise direction. 
     As the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b  are rotated, the three movable rotors  30  installed on the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2 , particularly inserted into the insertion recesses  24  of the stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b , initiate circular motion along the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  at the same time. 
     The circular motion path of each movable rotor  30  is changed at the intersections P 1  and P 2  by the guide  40 , so that the movable rotors  30  move in the opposite directions while crossing the circles of the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  (i.e. “figure-of-eight” type motion). 
       FIGS. 12A through 12E  are operation diagrams illustrating motion of the movable rotors  30  step by step. The motion of the movable rotors  30  will be described below in detail with reference to these figures. 
     The three movable rotors  30  initiate circular motion at the respective positions where the whole of the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  is approximately divided into three equal parts (see  FIG. 12A ). 
     The first movable rotor  30   a  nearest the intersection P 1  makes a circular motion in a counterclockwise direction by the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a , and then pushes the first swing plate  41  at the intersection P 1  in a rightward direction. Simultaneously, the second swing plate  41  is pushed in a leftward direction by the swing lever  42  (see  FIG. 12B ). 
     The first movable rotor  30   a , which has past through the first swing plate  41 , continues to move in the counterclockwise direction, and then reaches the position of a central line L of connecting the centers of the opposite stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b . At this time, as described above, the insertion recess  24  of the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b  rotating in a clockwise direction also reaches the position of the central line L at the same time. Thus, the first movable rotor  30   a  is positioned in a circle, which is defined when the insertion recesses  24  of the opposite stationary rotors  20   a  and  20   b  meet each other (see  FIG. 12C ). 
     As soon as the first movable rotor  30   a  passes through the central line L, the path of the circular motion of the first movable rotor  30   a  is interrupted by the second swing plate  41 , which has already been rotated in a leftward direction. Thereby, the first movable rotor  30   a  moves out of the insertion recess  24  of the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a , and moves toward the insertion recess  24  of the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b . Thus, the first movable rotor  30   a  makes a circular motion in a clockwise direction by the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b  (see  FIG. 12D ). 
     Further, after the path of the first movable rotor  30   a  is changed, the second movable rotor  30   b  adjacent to the intersection P 1  continues the circular motion by means of the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b , and thus reaches the intersection P 1 . 
     At this time, the second movable rotor  30   b  pushes the first swing plate  41 , which has already been rotated in the rightward direction, in a leftward direction, and simultaneously the second swing plate  41  is pushed in a rightward direction (see  FIG. 12E ). 
     It will be understood that the second movable rotor  30   b  is subjected to a change in path like the first movable rotor  30   a , and then makes a counterclockwise circular motion by means of the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a.    
     Further, the last movable rotor  30   c  passes through the intersections P 1  and P 2  in the same fashion as the first and second movable rotors  30   a  and  30   b , so that it is subjected to a change in path, and continues the circular motion from the counterclockwise direction to the clockwise direction. 
     In this manner, the three movable rotors  30   a ,  30   b  and  30   c  independently make a “figure-of-eight” motion along the orbital tracks T 1  and T 2  while the paths of the circular motion thereof are changed by the guide  40 . 
     In particular, on the basis of the intersections P 1  and P 2 , the movable rotors pass through the intersections in a manner such that the motion paths thereof are changed from the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a  to the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b , and then from the right-hand stationary rotor  20   b  to the left-hand stationary rotor  20   a , namely from left to right once, and then from right to left. 
     The respective movable rotors  30   a ,  30   b  and  30   c  moving as described above is coupled with the hair holding units  200 . 
     Thus, the hair holding units  200  cross each other during movement, so that the hairs held in the hair holding units  200  are braided. 
     Meanwhile, the hair braiding speed can be controlled by the operation switch  54 . When the hairs are nearly braided to the end, the operation switch  54  is weakly pressed to reduce the braiding speed. Thereby, the hairs can be completely braided to the end. 
     As is apparent from the above description, the hair braiding machine according to the present invention can braid the hair in a short period of time. Particularly, the hair braiding machine grasps the hair using the elastic force of the springs and the frictional force of the elastic tube, so that it can stably braid the hair to the end regardless of length, diameter, volume, etc. of the hair, and thus provide the convenience and stability when used. 
     Further, the hair braiding machine can control the magnitude of the power applied to the motor can be controlled, so that it can adjust the hair braiding speed as needed during operation. 
     In addition, the hair braiding machine simplifies elements for mechanical driving, so that it can reduce noise occurring when driven, and remarkably reduce the cost of production, i.e. be produced at a low cost. 
     Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.