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US 2002/0056941 A1Published application
Method and device for producing brushes
AssigneeM+C Schiffer GmbH
InventorErwin Buchholz
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AssigneeM+C Schiffer GmbH
InventorErwin Buchholz
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a method of producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which comprise a brush body and at least one bristle bundle composed of a plurality of oriented bristle filaments, said method comprising the steps of introducing said bristle bundle into a channel, which is formed on a moulding tool component, partially melting said bristle bundle at its fixing-side end so as to form an enlargement, closing the moulding tool and filling it with a flowable material. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the method according to the generic clause is further developed in that at least a weakened length area of the bristle filaments, which is created when the bristle bundle is partially melted, is completely surrounded by the enlargement. According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is suggested that hot gas should be used for forming the enlargement. The device for producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which is suggested for executing the method in accordance with the present invention, comprises a moulding tool component which is a constituent part of a moulding tool and which is provided with at least one cannel for holding a bristle bundle, and a mould filling means which communicates with the moulding tool component as well as a heating means which is associated with the moulding tool component and used for partially melting one end of the bristle bundle. In order to achieve short processing times when forming an enlargement, said device is, in accordance with the present invention, characterized in that the heating means comprises at least one hot-gas nozzle which is directed towards the moulding tool component.
A method of producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which comprise a brush body and at least one bristle bundle composed of a plurality of oriented bristle filaments, wherein said bristle bundle is introduced in a channel, which is formed on a moulding tool component, and partially melted at its fixing-side end so as to form an enlargement, the moulding tool is closed and filled with a flowable material, characterized in that at least a weakened length area of the bristle filaments, which is created when the bristle bundle is partially melted, is completely surrounded by the enlargement.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hot gas is an inert gas.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle bundle has the hot gas applied thereto by means of a hot-gas supplying nozzle whose effective diameter corresponds to 2 to 20 times, preferably 5 to 10 times, the diameter of the bundle.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in cases in which the moulding tool is provided with a plurality of bristle bundles, each individual bristle bundle of a bristle area has applied thereto hot gas.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing-side end of the bristle bundle is arranged in spaced relationship with the moulding tool component and that the enlargement is formed without there being any distance to the channel.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the melt forming the enlargement is brought into contact with the moulding tool component.
A method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the enlargement has been formed, the bristle bundle is axially displaced in the channel so that the finished enlargement is arranged at a larger distance from the outlet opening of the channel.
A device for producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, comprising a moulding tool component which is a constituent part of a moulding tool and which is provided with at least one channel for holding a bristle bundle, a mould filling means communicating with the moulding tool component and a heating means associated with the moulding tool component and used for partially melting one end of the bristle bundle, characterized in that the heating device (14, 16) comprises at least one hot-gas nozzle (16) which is directed towards the moulding tool component (24).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.