Automated process and apparatus for substantially simultaneously forming multiple articles having different properties
AssigneeGillette Canada Inc.
InventorsMark Edward McConnell, Michael Frank Fryauf, Declan Connolly, Gerald S. Szczech
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for manufacturing toothbrushes is provided that includes a molding unit for substantially simultaneously molding toothbrush bodies, an element that removes toothbrush bodies from the molding unit, a tufter for securing tufts of bristles to toothbrush bodies to form toothbrushes, and a transport for automatically moving toothbrush bodies from the removal element to the tufter. A process for forming toothbrushes is also disclosed.
Claims37
An apparatus for manufacturing toothbrushes comprising:
- (a) a molding unit for substantially simultaneously molding toothbrush bodies;
- (b) an element that removes toothbrush bodies from said molding unit;
- (c) a tufter for securing tufts of bristles to toothbrush bodies to form toothbrushes;
- and
- (d) a transport for automatically moving toothbrush bodies from said removal element to said tufter, wherein said transport comprises an element that selects toothbrush bodies having different properties, and wherein said transport automatically moves the selected toothbrush bodies to said tufter.
A process for forming toothbrushes having different properties, said process comprising:
- substantially simultaneously forming toothbrush bodies having different properties in one mold;
- automatically transporting said toothbrush bodies to a tufter;
- and
- securing tufts of bristles to said toothbrush bodies to form toothbrushes having different properties.
An apparatus for manufacturing articles having different properties, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a molding unit for substantially simultaneously molding articles having different properties;
- (b) an element that removes the articles from mold cavities of said molding unit;
- (c) a packaging machine for automatically packaging the articles;
- and
- (d) a transport for automatically moving the articles from said removal element to said packaging machine.
A process for forming articles having different properties from a mold comprising cavities defining substantially similar articles, said process comprising:
- substantially simultaneously forming articles having different properties in the mold;
- automatically transporting said articles to a packaging machine;
- and
- packaging said articles to form packaged articles having different properties.
An apparatus for manufacturing an article, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a molding unit for molding an article, said molding unit comprising
- (i) a first cavity defining an article,
- (ii) a first injection unit in fluid communication with said first cavity, and
- (iii) a second injection unit also in fluid communication with said first cavity;
- (b) an element that removes the article from said molding unit;
- (c) a packaging machine for automatically packaging the article;
- and
- (d) a transport for automatically moving the article from said removal element to said packaging machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.