Apparatus and method for producing brushware by injection molding

A magazine for conveying bristle bundles along a brush making apparatus comprising:

• a mold face;
• a mold cavity portion disposed in the mold face having the shape of part of a head of a brush;
• a back side;
• a clamping plate disposed between the mold face and the back side;
• and
• a plurality of channels extending through the magazine into the mold cavity for holding bristle bundles in a configuration corresponding to the desired arrangement of a set of bristle bundles in the brush.

A method for processing bristles for a brush, comprising:

• holding the bristles in bundles in a magazine;
• adjusting the relative height of at least a portion of the bristle bundles with respect to each other;
• trimming non-use ends of at least a portion of the bristle bundles to produce a level plane;
• heating the non-use ends of the bristle bundles to melt the ends of the bristles;
• and
• end-rounding use ends of the bristle bundles.

An apparatus for injection molding a plastic article having at least two components, comprising:

• at least a first and a second injection molding machine, wherein
• each injection molding machine comprises at least a first injection unit, and
• the apparatus can be operated in either a first mode or a second mode, wherein:
• the first mode comprises:
• injection molding a first component of the plastic article at the first injection unit on the first injection molding machine;
• and
• injection molding a second component of the plastic article at the first injection unit on the second injection molding machine, and
• the second mode comprises:
• injection molding a first component of the plastic article at the first injection unit on the first injection molding machine or the second injection molding machine;
• and
• injection molding a second component of the plastic article at a second injection unit on the injection molding machine whereat the first component was injected.

An apparatus for producing a brush by injection molding, comprising:

• at least one station whereat bristle bundles are fed into channels in a magazine;
• at least one station whereat the relative heights of the bristle bundles in the magazine are adjusted;
• at least one station whereat the non-use ends of the bristle bundles are trimmed in a level plane;
• at least one station whereat the non-use ends of the bristle bundles are fused;
• at least one station whereat the use ends of the bristle bundles are end-rounded;
• at least a first injection unit;
• and
• a conveyor which transports the magazine to the different stations,
• wherein at least a portion of the magazine forms part of a mold cavity in the first injection unit.