BE1024474B1 - Printing plate unit for a brush-making device and brush-making device - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing plate unit for a brush production device for thermally pressing at least one bristle in an anchoring opening (12) of a bristle carrier (10) comprises a heatable printing plate (100) and a funnel plate (102) provided on the back, between which an insulating layer (108) is mounted. The pressure plate (100) is electrically heated. In addition, a brush manufacturing apparatus having such a printing plate unit is described.

Description

(30) Priority information:

(73) Owner:

BOUCHERIE Bart Gerard 8870, IZEGEM Belgium (72) Inventor:

BOUCHERIE Bart Gerard 8870 IZEGEM Belgium (54) printing plate unit for a brush manufacturing device and brush manufacturing device (57) a printing plate unit for a

Brush manufacturing device for the thermal pressing of at least one bristle in an anchoring opening (12) of a bristle carrier (10) comprises a heatable pressure plate (100) and a funnel plate (102) provided on the back, between which an insulating layer (108) is attached. The pressure plate (100) is heated electrically. In addition, one

Brush manufacturing device described with such a pressure plate unit.

BELGIAN INVENTION PATENT

FÖD Wirtschaft, K.M.B., Mittelstand & publication number: 1024474 Energy filing number: BE2017 / 5201

Office of Intellectual Property Boarding. Classification: A46D 3/04

Date of issue: 24/04/2018

The Minister for Enterprise

Due to the Paris Treaty of March 20, 1883 for the protection of industrial property;

Introduced under the Act of March 28, 1984 on Inventive Patents, Article 22, for applications prior to September 22, 2014;

Based on Title I “Invention Patents” of Book XI of the Economic Code, Article XI.24, introduced for applications from September 22, 2014;

Based on the royal decree of December 2, 1986 on the registration, granting and maintenance of patents for invention, Article 28;

Based on the protocol, taken on 27/03/2017 at the Intellectual Property Office.

Considering that for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Economic Code, in accordance with Article XI.19, Section 4, second paragraph, of the Economic Code, if the patent application is the subject of a search report in which a lack of unity of invention within the meaning of paragraph 1 is mentioned, and if the applicant does not limit his application and does not file a divisional application in accordance with the search report, the granted patent will be limited to the claims for which the search report was created.

DECIDES:

Article 1. - An invention patent is granted to:

BOUCHERIE Bart Gerard, Ambachtenstraat 84, 8870 IZEGEM Belgium;

represented by :

DE CLERCQ Ann, Ed. Gevaertdreef 10a, 9830, ST MARTENS LATEM;

VANHALST Koen Victor Rachel, Ed. Gevaertdreef 10a, 9830, ST MARTENS LATEM;

GOESAERT Hans, Ed. Gevaertdreef 10a, 9830, ST MARTENS LATEM;

LESTHAEGHE David, Ed. Gevaertdreef 10a, 9830, ST MARTENS LATEM;

for a period of 20 years, subject to the payment of the annual patent fees mentioned in Article XI.48, Section 1 of the Economic Code, for: printing plate unit for a brush manufacturing device and brush manufacturing device.

INVENTOR:

BOUCHERIE Bart Gerard, Ambachtenstraat 84.8870, IZEGEM;

PRIORITIES) :

SEPARATION:

Partial application of the previous application: Date of filing of the previous application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without any prior examination of the patentability of the invention, without guaranteeing the merit of the invention or the accuracy of its description, and at the own risk of the patent applicant (s).

Brussels, 24/04/2018, in special representation:

BE2017 / 5201

Printing plate unit for a brush manufacturing device and brush manufacturing device

The invention relates to a printing plate unit for a brush manufacturing device and a brush manufacturing device itself.

In the manufacture of brushes, in particular toothbrushes, but also household brushes, two methods have become established in practice, namely the attachment of the bristle tufts by means of an anchor (metal plate or wire loop) or without anchors. According to one option, the anchorless method provides that the bristle holder has openings through which the tufts of bristles are inserted. The bristle tufts then protrude from the openings with their rear end and are heated on the back of the bristle carrier. The thermoplastic material of the bristles melts with it, as a result of which the bristles merge into one another and there is a thickening by means of which it is impossible to pull out the individual bristles to the front. This back is then covered, in particular overmolded.

However, the invention relates to another, new type of anchorless attachment of bristles in the bristle carrier. This new type of attachment is described in DE 10 2016 107 759 A. Blind holes, which represent anchoring openings, are produced in the bristle carrier during injection molding. The bristle or tufts of bristles have a thickened end with which they are inserted into the associated anchoring openings. Subsequently, with the application of temperature and pressure, at least the edge of the bristle carrier is deformed around the anchoring opening, so that a circumferential bead which migrates into the anchoring opening is formed, which extends to the bristle or the bristle tufts and anchors them. Due to the thickened fastening end, the bristles can no longer be pulled out. The special feature of this method is that the front of the bristle carrier is only brought to a temperature which is below the melting temperature of the bristle material and / or the bristle carrier material, in particular at most 85% in ° C. of the respective melting temperature of the bristle and / or bristle carrier material is. The tool part practices one

BE2017 / 5201

Compressive force on the heated bristle holder and deforms the correspondingly heated bristle holder.

The bristle holder on the front is heated by the tool part, which is heated. If, as in the preferred variant, the front of the tool part contacts the front of the bristle holder for a few seconds, the temperature of the front of the tool part also corresponds to the temperature on the front of the bristle holder, so that the temperatures correspond. This means that the front of the tool part is brought to a temperature which is below the melting temperature of the bristle material and / or the bristle carrier material, in particular at most 85% in ° C. of the respective melting temperature of the bristle and / or bristle carrier material.

The change in distance occurs through a relative movement of the tool part to the holding part, i.e. the tool part can be moved, for this purpose the holding part stands still, or vice versa, or the tool part and holding part both move. The tool part comprises a pressure plate which is heated and which contacts the front of the bristle carrier. Opposite the pressure plate, the holding part is in the form of a counter plate. A receptacle for the bristle carrier is formed between the two plates, which are movable relative to one another. There are openings for the bristles or tufts of bristles in the pressure plate. The bristles remain in the receiving openings during the heating of the bristle carrier. The pressure plate is then moved relative to the bristle carrier, so that the bristles are pulled out of the passage openings.

The term “bristle carrier” is to be understood as the part of the finished brush which carries the bristle or the bristle tufts. The bristle holder can be the entire brush body, in the case of a toothbrush it can be the one-piece injection molded part consisting of a handle, neck and head, or even just a prefabricated component of the later brush body. In the latter case, the bristle carrier is usually a thin plate made of thermoplastic material, which is provided with one or more openings for filling with one or more bristles or tufts of bristles.

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If one speaks of “at least one bristle” in the following, this means that both a single bristle that is seated in a receiving opening and an anchoring opening, bristles of a single bristle tuft that are seated in a receiving opening and an anchoring opening, as well as several bristle tufts, that are seated in their receiving openings and anchoring openings.

The narrowed "neck" of the anchoring opening near the mouth formed by the deformation, i.e. the deformed edge of the anchoring opening engaging behind the thickened fastening end can, for example, have an axial extent (in the context of the invention always means in the direction from the front to the rear or from the rear to the front) of 0.5-1.3 mm, in particular Have 0.6-0.9 mm.

In all embodiments, the thermoplastic is preferably made of polyester, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), preferably BR003, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC),

Polyamide (PA), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) selected existing group. Both homopolymers and copolymers with the thermoplastic materials mentioned can be used.

The predetermined temperature is preferably in a range between 30 ° C. and 150 ° C., particularly preferably between 60 ° C. and 140 ° C., in particular between 90 and 130 ° C. or 100 and 115 ° C.

The invention provides in particular for the use of polypropylene, of which some groups have a glass transition temperature of less than 300 ° K and other glass transition temperatures of more than 300 ° K, as the bristle carrier material.

Other preferred bristle carrier materials are PET, PBT, PA, ABS, SAN and PC. These bristle carrier materials all have glass transition temperatures of over 300 ° K.

Among other things, the invention provides that the melting temperature of the plastic of the bristle carrier is below the melting temperature of the bristle or

Bristles lies. This also applies to brushes in which the bristle carrier material is the same as the bristle material, for example polypropylene and PA.

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The plastics used in the present invention are, for example, copolyesters, in particular Eastar ™ BR003 (with a melting temperature range of 230 to 280 ° C.), polypropylenes, in particular a homopolymer such as PPH5042 with a melting temperature of

165 ° C, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyvinyl acetate or polyethylene. If so

Materials have a glass transition temperature above the ambient temperature, here 300 ° K, should energy be introduced into the bristle holder via the tool part. This is also advantageous for materials whose glass transition temperature is below the ambient temperature. More advantageous

In this way, bristle carrier materials are heated to the following temperatures in the method according to the invention and by the device according to the invention which will be explained below:

Bristle carrier material Melting temperature [° C] Glass transition temperature [° C] Process temperature [° C] Polypropylene 160 ° -170 ° -10 ° - 0 ° <136 ° PET 260 ° 70 ° <120 ° PBT 220 ° 47 ° <95 ° PA 200 ° - 260 ° 50 - 60 ° <98 ° SECTION 220 ° - 250 ° 95 ° <150 ° PC 220 ° - 230 ° 148 ° <210 ° SAN 200 ° 108 ° <165 °

The invention provides in particular for PET to heat the front of the bristle carrier in a range from 75-95 ° C., in particular 80-90 ° C. and for PP from 115 to 125 ° C., in particular 110-120 ° C.

In particular, PP with a melt flow index (MFI) of 6-35, preferably 10-15 is used.

Another significant difference from the prior art is the pressure exerted, which is considerably higher than that in the previously proposed

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Method. This is because the tool part applies a pressure of at least 200 bar, in particular at least 400 bar, to the bristle carrier.

When carrying out this special anchorless fastening method, it is important that the free ends of the thin bristles protruding from the bristle holder retain their original shape. In particular with tufts of bristles, the bristles should all be parallel to one another and evenly aligned. Under no circumstances should the bristles fan out at the free end of a tuft of bristles. For this reason, an attempt is made to keep the so-called hold time in which the heated pressure plate presses on the bristle carrier as short as possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a pressure plate unit for a brush production device and a brush production device with such a pressure plate unit, which ensures an even better quality of the bristles.

This object is achieved by a printing plate unit according to claim 1.

The printing plate unit according to the invention for a

Brush production device for the thermal pressing of at least one bristle in an anchoring opening of a bristle carrier, the brush production device between the pressure plate unit and a counter plate having a receptacle for the bristle carrier and the pressure plate unit and the counter plate being able to be moved towards and away from one another, comprises a heatable pressure plate with a the opposite front side as well as an opposite rear side and at least one receiving opening for the at least one bristle and a funnel plate provided on the rear side of the pressure plate, which has an aligned insertion opening for the at least one bristle with the at least one receiving opening and between the pressure plate and the funnel plate a device for reducing the temperature of the funnel plate is provided.

According to the invention, the bristles are thermally protected from their thickened fastening end by the channel in which they remain during the

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Applying pressure and temperature to the bristle holder are kept cool. There is no thermal impairment.

The pressure plate is preferably equipped with an electrical heating device, in particular it has recesses for receiving electrical heating cartridges.

The device for reducing the temperature can have insulation and / or active cooling, so that the heat from the pressure plate cannot or only to a small extent be transferred to the funnel plate. Active cooling means it is cooling fluid, e.g. B. compressed air, which is pumped through a corresponding channel.

The insulation can be carried out by means of a thermal insulating layer between the pressure plate and the funnel plate, for example by means of a separate, prefabricated, sheet-like part. Such a separate part can be based on a paper substrate, similar to seals in internal combustion engines.

The corresponding part has a thickness of only a few tenths of a millimeter, for example 0.3-0.4 mm.

Another additional possibility for insulation is that an air gap is provided between the pressure plate and the funnel plate.

This air gap can be formed by a spacer between the pressure plate 20 and the funnel plate, which is realized by a separate part. An example of this is that the spacer is replaced by the thermal

Insulating layer is formed, which was previously mentioned.

The active cooling can be formed, for example, via a cooling channel in the funnel plate through which cooling fluid flows.

This cooling channel can be a groove which is open on the end face of the funnel plate facing the pressure plate and which is closed, for example, by the insulating layer. Such an open groove is easy to manufacture. The optionally provided insulating layer, which complements the groove to form a channel with a closed cross-section, has a dual function.

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A plurality of passage openings for bristles of a plurality of bristle carriers are preferably formed in the pressure plate and are then processed simultaneously.

On the back of the pressure plate, several funnel plates, each associated with a bristle carrier, can be provided. These individual funnel plates can then be aligned well with the passage openings in the pressure plate or can be replaced individually.

On the front of the pressure plate, several depressions, each associated with a bristle holder, can be formed for receiving prefabricated bristle holders. These bristle carriers are thus not only positively received at the front, but also at the transition edge to the side surface in the depression of the pressure plate, so that a high-quality surface can be ensured in this area after the shaping.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a brush production device for the thermal pressing of at least one bristle in an anchoring opening of a bristle carrier. The brush manufacturing device according to the invention comprises the one according to the invention

Pressure plate unit and a counter plate opposite the pressure plate, which forms a receptacle for the bristle carrier between itself and the pressure plate.

The pressure plate unit and the counter plate can be moved toward and away from one another relative to one another. The pressure plate can be heated in order to be able to heat a front side of the bristle carrier. Under the influence of temperature and pressure temperature, the bristle carrier is compressed on the front side between the pressure plate and the counterplate, so that the wall defining the anchoring opening at the transition to the front side is pressed in and narrowed in order to fix the at least one bristle in the anchoring opening.

The temperature to which the pressure plate itself and the front of the bristle carrier are brought is in the aforementioned ranges. Corresponding controls are provided as well as at least one temperature sensor on the pressure plate, which ensures that the specified temperature is maintained. The pressure plate and the funnel plate have such a thickness that the free end of the at least one bristle, which is inserted into the passage opening, ends in the funnel plate during the pressing process.

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The pressure plate unit can form a magazine which is filled beforehand and which passes through several stations, for example a station in which the bristles of a tuft of bristles are thermally connected to one another in order to produce the thickened fastening end. This magazine then moves through several stations until it is in an anchoring station, in which the tufts of bristles are then pushed into the anchoring opening of the bristle holder.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and from the following drawings, to which

Reference is made. The drawings show:

1a to 1g show different successive steps for producing a brush in a perspective top view and a perspective bottom view, which also shows the brush production device according to the invention,

2 shows an enlarged view of the perspective bottom view of the anchoring station in FIG. 1e,

3 shows a cross-sectional view through the anchoring station shown in FIGS. 1e and 1f before the magazine and bristle carrier are moved towards one another,

FIG. 4 shows a corresponding view of the station according to FIG. 3 when the magazine and the bristle carrier are first contacted,

FIGS. 5 and 5A show a corresponding view of the anchoring station according to FIG. 3 after the end of the infeed movement and after the end of the exposure time, immediately before the station is moved apart and opened,

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through an alternative assembly station,

7 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a printing plate unit according to the invention,

8 shows a perspective top view of the printing plate unit according to FIG. 6, and

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the printing plate unit from FIG. 6.

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1 shows a device for producing brushes, for example toothbrushes. Such a toothbrush is known to have a brush head with tufts of bristles projecting from the front, a neck and a handle. These three sections can merge into one another, they form the so-called brush body. The brush head can either be plugged directly, or it can be made in two parts, with a platelet-like bristle carrier, which has pre-made blind hole-like anchoring openings after injection molding, this platelet-like bristle carrier being subsequently brought together with the rest of the head, either by welding, gluing or by Encapsulation. An alternative to this is that the brush head is made in one piece so that it forms the bristle holder itself.

Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, the brush head at the same time forms the bristle carrier 10. In this illustration, the bristle carrier 10 is at the same time the brush body, because it includes the style, neck and head of the brush. The bristle carrier 10 is a prefabricated, injection-molded part. FIG. 2 shows that the bristle carrier 10 has numerous prefabricated anchoring openings 12, which are produced during injection molding, are inserted into the bristle tufts and anchored therein. However, the following description can be transferred and read identically to plate-like bristle carriers 10.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises several stations, namely an assembly station 14, which is shown in Figures 1a and 1b, a melting station 16, which is shown in Figure 1c, and an anchoring station 18 for the bristle tufts, which in Figures 1e and 1f is shown. All stations can be designed on and around an indexing table that cycles from one station to the next.

All stations are traversed by a magazine 20, also called a tool part, which transports tufts of bristles through the individual stations.

Although a magazine 20 is shown in FIG. 1 with receiving openings for a brush that will be described in more detail later, in practice the magazines 20 are preferably so large that a plurality of adjacent groups of receiving openings for several brushes are formed in the magazine 20. It

BE2017 / 5201 can also have several rows of groups of receiving openings for several brushes.

The magazine 20 is a printing plate unit as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. The magazine 20 can have an upper, flat front 22 according to FIG. 1. As an alternative to this, the magazine 20, which is essentially plate-shaped, has on its flat front side 22 a depression 200 with a bottom 202 (see FIG. 7) in order to form part of a cavity for receiving the bristle carrier 10.

Since the magazine 20 runs through several stations and is subsequently used for the production of further brushes, a magazine circulation operation is present in the device, with numerous identically designed magazines 20 being successively cycled through the individual stations. The magazine 20 is thus a means of transport for tufts of bristles 24 through the device.

Alternatively, the magazine can be stationary and the individual stations are clocked around the magazine, for example on a carousel.

Several fixed magazines can be processed simultaneously, more precisely the tufts of bristles arranged in the magazines.

The magazine 20 has numerous receiving openings 26 which have a hole pattern which corresponds to the hole pattern of the bristle carrier 10.

Each bristle tuft 24 consists of a plurality of bristles which are separated from a supply of bristles and, as shown in FIG. 1a, are pushed into the magazine 20, for example via pins, as will be explained later. The individual tufts of bristles 24 can be transported in via pipes with compressed air or vacuum.

The bristles are made of a thermoplastic material, in particular PA,

PBT, polyester, copolyester or polypropylene, but they can also consist of elastomers. It is also possible to use coextruded bristles, for example with a core made of PA with an elastomer coating.

It is also not absolutely necessary that only bristle tufts 24 are inserted and embedded in the anchoring opening, but only a singular, prefabricated bristle in the form of, for example, an elastomeric cleaning element with a thickened end in it

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Anchoring opening can be used and fixed in accordance with the aforementioned method and described below. Such cleaning elements are injection molded or foamed separately and are softer than the bristle carrier 10.

The bristle tufts 24 have opposite ends and, with their rear ends 28, called fastening ends, protrude somewhat from the magazine 20, that is to say they protrude somewhat from the front side 22. This is shown in Figure 1b.

The magazine 20, which is completely equipped with the bristle tufts 24, is transported laterally into the melting station 16, as shown in FIG. 1c. In this station there is a heating device 30, which can be, for example, a plate heater or a hot air heater. The rear ends 28 of the bristle tufts 24 are heated without contact, so that the individual bristles exceed their melting temperature and the bristles of a tuft flow together to form a thickened fastening end. The bristles of a tuft of bristles 24 are thus connected to one another in one piece.

The thickening 32 of a tufts of bristles 24 does not merge into adjacent thickenings of the adjacent tufts of bristles 24, but remains spherical or lenticular thickenings. Also, preferably no stamp is pressed against the thickening or the still liquid material of the melted bristle ends.

A plurality of bristle tufts 24 can be anchored in the same bristle carrier 10, at least one bristle tuft 24 consisting of bristles made of a different material with a different melting temperature than the bristles of at least one other bristle tuft 24.

In the melting station 16 or on the way to the subsequent anchoring station 18 or in the anchoring station 18, the thickenings 32 can optionally be active, e.g. cold air stream 214 (see FIG. 1d) brought in by a fan.

The magazine 20 transports the tufts of bristles 24 further into the subsequent anchoring station 18, where the tufts of bristles 24 are locked in the anchoring openings 12 of the bristle carrier 10 only in the absence of anchors.

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The anchoring station 18 comprises at least one counter plate 34 (preferably a plurality of counter plates) which has a recess 38 on its end face 36 (see FIG. 2) opposite the front side 22 (several recesses in the case of a plurality of bristle carriers 10 to be accommodated), which complementary to the corresponding shape of the bristle carrier 10 is formed so that it lies flat with its back on the counterplate. A receptacle for the bristle bristle carrier 10 is formed between the counter plate 34 and the magazine 20.

The counterplate 34 itself has a flat end face 36, but the bristle carrier 10 protrudes slightly from it, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to protrude into the recess 200 in the magazine 20 which is complementary to the region of the front side of the bristle carrier 10.

The magazine 20 can be heated, for example either by a plate heater supplied from the outside, which is moved laterally to the magazine 20 in the anchoring station 18 and, since the magazine 20 is made of metal, can heat it up quickly.

Alternatively, a heater, in particular an electrical resistance heater 39, is shown in the magazine 20, which is shown in FIG. The heating coils are indicated symbolically, they are close to the front 22 or, in the case of a depression 200, close to the bottom 202 of the depression 200, which represents part of the front 22. In particular, prefabricated electrical heating cartridges are integrated in the magazine, as will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

Electrical connection contacts 41, for example sliding contacts on a side surface of the magazine 20, make it possible to electrically couple the magazine 20 when the magazine 20 is being driven into the anchoring station 18 in order to activate the heater 39. Of course, it is also conceivable that the front side 22 including the bottom 202 of the recess 200 itself represents an electrical resistance heating layer, so that the front side is heated here directly.

If the magazine 20 is stationary, the electrical connection for the heater can be implemented very easily; it can be permanent.

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The heater 39 ensures that the entire front side 22, which comes into contact with the bristle carrier 10, is preferably heated, that is to say also the sections between the thickenings 32.

The temperature to which the front side 22 is brought (in the area of contact with the bristle carrier 10) is below the melting temperature of the bristle and / or bristle carrier material, preferably both materials. In particular, it is at most 85% calculated in ° C of the respective melting temperature of these materials. For example, if both materials have a melting temperature of 100 ° C, the temperature of the finally heated magazine 20 on the front 22 is at most 85 ° C.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the anchoring station 18 in FIG. 1e before the magazine 20 and the bristle carrier 10 are moved towards one another.

The thickening 32 has such a dimension, seen in the longitudinal direction A (also referred to as the axial direction or infeed direction), that it is smaller than the corresponding cross section of the anchoring opening 12, so that it also, without touching the inside edge of the anchoring opening 12, the inside 40 of the anchoring opening called limiting wall, abut or contact the inside 40, can be inserted into the anchoring opening 12.

The permanent, i.e. during the entire operation, the magazine 20 heated to the desired temperature and / or the counterplate 34 are moved towards one another, in the present case only the counterplate 34 with the bristle carrier 10 is moved, so that the thickened portion 32 first reaches the anchoring opening 12 before the front side 22 contacts the flat end face and front side 42 of the bristle carrier 10 facing it.

A base plate 44 (see FIG. 3), on which all of the bristle tufts 24 rest with their front, front, free ends and which forms a support, can serve to support the bristle tufts 24 at their front ends.

FIG. 4 shows that the front side 22 contacts the front side 42 of the bristle holder 10 and thus heats up the bristle holder 10 on the entire contact surface between the two parts.

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The bristle carrier 10 is made of thermoplastic material, in particular of the plastics already mentioned above, such as polypropylene, ABS, PA, PBT, PET or PC.

However, the movement of the counter plate 34 does not remain in the position of the first contact, which is shown in FIG. 4, because the counter plate 34 and the magazine 20 exert a pressure on the bristle carrier 10 of at least 200 bar, preferably at least 400 bar Bristle carrier 10 exercised. This pressure is applied from the first contact between the bristle carrier 10 and the magazine 20 and remains the same over the contact time (contact time).

This pressure is maintained with simultaneous heating of the bristle carrier 10 over an exposure time of at least 4 seconds, in particular at least 5 seconds and a maximum of 15 seconds, in particular a maximum of 10 seconds.

The device is moved in particular on a block, ie the counterplate 34 contacts the portion of the front side 22 outside the recess 200 outside the cavity formed by the recess 38 and the recess 200 with an end face 36. No gap is provided in this contact area material could penetrate from the cavity, rather the cavity is sealed by an annular contact area.

The base plate 44 is preferably removed before the start of the holding time or even before the exposure time, as is symbolically represented by the arrow Y in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the example mentioned, the entire flat front, at least where there is contact with the magazine 20 on the front 42 of the bristle carrier 10, is heated. If the magazine 20 has a depression 200, it is sufficient and it is advantageous if the heater is only fitted in the area of the bottom 202 of the depression 200.

The temperature to which the bristle carrier is heated in the area of the front 42 during the exposure time is below the melting temperature of the bristle and / or bristle carrier material, in particular at or lower than 85% of the respective melting temperature, calculated in ° C. This corresponds to this

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Temperature of the aforementioned maximum operating temperature of the magazine 20 in the area of the front 22 or the bottom 202.

As an alternative to this, at least the edge 50 of the anchoring opening 12 can be heated in the region of the front side 42, which forms the region of the wall of the anchoring opening 12 that adjoins the opening to the front side 42.

With extremely high pressure, e.g. is over 600 bar, it would be possible to heat the bristle carrier 10 in the region of the front side 42, at least in the region of the edge 50, only to a temperature which is above a limit temperature which is 60% in ° C., in particular 80% in ° C is the glass transition temperature of the bristle carrier material if the bristle carrier material has a glass transition temperature of greater than or equal to 300 ° K. However, this limit temperature is preferably at or slightly above the glass transition temperature. In the case of a bristle carrier material with a glass transition temperature of less than 300 ° K, the heating temperature is a maximum of 50% above the glass transition temperature in ° K.

A further variant provides that the heating of at least the edge 50 of the front 42, in particular the entire contact surface of the bristle carrier 10 in the region of the front 42, is heated to a temperature which is at least 30 ° C. above the ambient temperature, in particular before the inside 40 is heated in the interior of the anchoring opening 12 above the ambient temperature by the magazine 20.

As can be seen in the figures, the magazine 20 has no extensions or the like with which it would protrude into the anchoring opening 12.

When the bristle carrier material is applied with pressure and temperature, the bristle carrier 10 is optionally even deformed over the entire area in the region of the front side 42. The material wants to dodge and thus moves into the anchoring openings 12 in the area of the mouth and constricts it.

By applying heat and pressure, the entire thickness D and thus the maximum thickness of the bristle carrier 10 can optionally be permanently reduced in the region of the mouth of the anchoring opening 12 towards the front 42. A kind of bulge or constriction is created, which engages behind the thickened fastening end in the pull-out direction and thus secures the bristle tuft 24.

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FIG. 5A shows the space for accommodating the thickening 32, which is formed by the anchoring opening 12 and is delimited to the outside by the narrowed edge 218, just as the thickening 32 is shown exaggerated in relation to the diameter D1.

The wall of the anchoring opening 12 is not deformed over a depth Z (see FIG. 5A) of at least 0.8 mm, starting from the bottom 208 and / or the thickening 32 and also the bristles do not jam in this area.

The depth T of the anchoring opening after the manufacture of the brush is a maximum of 4 mm, in particular a maximum of 2.7 mm.

All anchoring openings 12 are blind holes, so that the bristle carrier 10 does not have to be covered on the back, since no parts of the bristle tufts are visible or protrude on this side.

It should be emphasized in general, this does not only refer to the illustrated embodiments that the bristle carrier 10 should not be brought close to its melting temperature, but rather far from it to the glass transition temperature. In particular, the heating temperature and thus also the temperature on the magazine 20 in the region of the front side 22 and the bristle carrier 10 should not be higher than 15% above the glass transition temperature of the bristle carrier material and / or the bristle material.

When using PET, according to a preferred variant of the invention, the front side 42 is heated to a temperature of 75-95 ° C., in particular 80-90 ° C. during the shaping, and to a temperature of 105-125 ° C., in particular 110-120, in the case of PP ° C. The PP is selected in particular so that it has a melt flow index (MFI) of 6-35, preferably 10-15 in the initial state.

One embodiment of the invention provides that the front side 22 and thus the bristle carrier 10 are heated to a temperature of at most 140 ° C., in particular at most 130 ° C., preferably in the range from 100 to 115 ° C. In particular, polypropylene, PET, ABS, copolyester and SAN are used as materials for the bristle carrier.

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The rear side 206 of the bristle carrier 10 and the area extending from the rear side 206 to at least the bottom 208 of the anchoring openings 12 (preferably even further towards the front side 42) should not be deformed. In order to shift the temperature limit above which a deformation due to the applied pressure would take place as close as possible to the front side 42 of the bristle carrier 10, the counter plate 34 can be provided with active cooling.

After the predetermined exposure time, the counter plate 34 and magazine 20 are moved apart again, so that the bristle tufts 24 are pulled out of their receiving openings 26.

In order to precisely control the corresponding movements and temperatures, the device has a control 51, by means of which not only the heating temperature but also the pressure applied and the movement sequences are controlled.

The magazine 20 can be loaded either directly via a bristle separator, as in FIG. 1a, or via another variant, which is shown in FIG. Here a cassette 60 with numerous receiving openings is first filled with tufts of bristles. The isolated tufts of bristles can then also be stored via this cassette 60 until they are finally pressed directly into the magazine 20, for example via movable pins 62.

The pressure plate unit (magazine 20) is shown schematically in FIG. 6, which is then reproduced in more detail in FIGS. 7 to 9. The pressure plate unit comprises a pressure plate 100, the end face 22 of which contacts the front side 42 of the bristle carrier 10 and which is heated. On the back, a so-called funnel plate 102 borders on and is connected to the pressure plate 100.

The receiving openings 26 in the pressure plate 100 are aligned with one or more insertion openings 66 in the funnel plate 102, which, as can be seen from FIGS. 7 to 9, can optionally also expand towards the rear.

This is optional.

As can be seen on the left in FIG. 6, the insertion openings 66 can also complement one another towards the pressure plate 10, so that several tufts of bristles

BE2017 / 5201 can be combined into a common, larger bristle tuft and transported into the corresponding receiving opening 26.

The pressure plate unit is explained in more detail in FIGS. 7 to 9, it being expressly pointed out that the embodiment shown is only exemplary. Close to the recess 200, there are symbolically illustrated electrical heating cartridges 104 which can be inserted into the front openings of the pressure plate 100 and which are automatically electrically contacted on the outside via sliding contacts when the pressure plate unit equipped with bristles and bristle holders is inserted into the anchoring station.

In order to prevent the bristles from being thermally damaged away from their thickened fastening end while the pressure plate 100 is being brought to a higher temperature, a device for reducing the temperature of the funnel plate 102 is provided between the pressure plate 100 and the plurality of funnel plates 102 here.

In the embodiment shown, each bristle carrier 10 has its own funnel plate 102.

In the present case, the device for reducing the temperature is implemented by insulation as well as by active cooling, alternatively only one of these two options is conceivable.

Between the back of the pressure plate 100 and the opposite end face 106 of each funnel plate 102 there is a thermal insulation layer 108 in the form of a separate, prefabricated sheet-like part which is clamped between the pressure plate 100 and the respective funnel plate 102.

The individual insulating layers 108 are only 0.3 to 0.4 mm thick and consist of a paper substrate.

Because the end face of the funnel plates 102, which lie opposite the back of the pressure plate 100, is flat, as is the back of the pressure plate 100, the insulating layer 108 ensures a minimal air gap between the back of the pressure plate 100 and the funnel plate 102 the better positioning of the insulating layer 108 a minimal (smaller

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0.3 mm), there is a recess in the funnel plate 102 which is adapted to the outer contour of the insulating layer 108.

The insulating layer 108 is angular and ring-shaped, with a central opening in the region of the receiving openings 26 of a bristle carrier.

In addition, a cooling channel 110 is also provided for thermal decoupling, which is formed by a groove in the funnel plate 102 that is open to the end face 106. The cooling channel 110 extends from an inlet opening 112 on one end face to an outlet opening 114 on the opposite, likewise short end face of each funnel plate 102. Between the inlet opening

112 and the outlet opening 114, the cooling channel 110 branches out, on the one hand to run in a meandering manner through the funnel plate 102 and on the other hand around a central section in which the insertion openings 66 are formed.

In the present case, cool compressed air is provided as the cooling fluid.

When the printing plate unit is moved into the anchoring station, a cooling air connection is coupled to the inlet openings 112 and compressed air is pushed through the cooling channels 110.

The cooling channels 110 are sealed and closed by the assigned insulating layers 108 to the pressure plate 100. When deforming the

The individual bristles are still bristle carriers in the region of their free ends in the insertion openings 66 of the funnel plate 102.

Preferably, about two thirds of the length of the bristles, measured from the thickening 32, are in the insulated part of the pressure plate unit, that is to say two thirds of the length of the bristles is in the direction away from the rear of the pressure plate 100

Funnel plate 102 or even protrudes from the funnel plate 102.

This reduces the thermal stress on the bristles. The bristles used in particular have a thickness of <0.15 mm.

BE2017 / 5201

Claims (14)

Claims 1. Pressure plate unit for a brush production device for the thermal pressing of at least one bristle in an anchoring opening (12) of a bristle carrier (10), the brush production device having a receptacle for the bristle carrier (10) between the pressure plate unit and a counter plate (34) and the pressure plate unit and the counter plate (34) can be moved towards and away from one another, the pressure plate unit having a heatable pressure plate (100) with a front side opposite the counter plate (34) and an opposite rear side and at least one receiving opening (26) for the at least one bristle, and has a funnel plate (102) provided on the back of the pressure plate (100), which has an aligned insertion opening (66) for the at least one bristle with the at least one receiving opening, and one between the pressure plate (100) and the funnel plate (102) Facility for Reduction of the temperature of the funnel plate (102) is provided. 2. Printing plate unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing plate (100) is equipped with an electrical heating device, in particular has recesses for receiving electrical heating cartridges (104). 3. Printing plate unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device for reducing the temperature has an insulation and / or active cooling. 4. Printing plate unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the device for reducing the temperature has a thermal insulating layer (-1-06108) between the printing plate (100) and the funnel plate (102). 5. Printing plate unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the thermal insulating layer (4 & 6108) is a separate, prefabricated, sheet-like part, in particular a paper substrate. 6. Printing plate unit according to one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the device for reducing the temperature of the BE2017 / 5201 Funnel plate (102) comprises an air gap between the pressure plate (100) and the funnel plate (102). 7. Pressure plate unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the air gap is formed by a spacer between the pressure plate (100) and the funnel plate (102), in particular that the spacer is a thermal insulating layer (9-66108). 8. Pressure plate unit according to one of claims 3-7, characterized in that in the funnel plate (102) a cooling channel (110) is formed for the flow of cooling fluid. 9. Pressure plate unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the cooling channel is an open groove on the end face (106) facing the pressure plate (100), the groove being closed in particular by the insulating layer (466108). 10. Printing plate unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one insertion opening (66) widens to the side of the funnel plate (102) which faces away from the printing plate (100). 11. Printing plate unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that receiving openings (26) for bristles of a plurality of bristle carriers (10) are formed in the printing plate (100) and on the back of the printing plate (100) a plurality of funnel plates each assigned to a bristle carrier (10) ( 102) are provided. 12. Printing plate unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the front side of the printing plate (100) a plurality of recesses (200), each associated with a bristle carrier (10), for receiving prefabricated bristle carriers (10) are formed. 13. Brush production device for thermally pressing at least one bristle in an anchoring opening (12) of a bristle carrier (10), with a pressure plate unit according to one of the preceding claims and a counter plate (34) opposite the pressure plate (100), wherein the pressure plate unit and counter plate (34) can be moved towards and away from one another relative to one another and form a receptacle for the bristle carrier (10) between them, the pressure plate (100) being heatable and one BE2017 / 5201 Front of the bristle carrier (10) can heat, wherein the bristle carrier (10) between the pressure plate (100) and the counter plate (34) can be compressed under the action of pressure and temperature on the front of the bristle carrier (10), so that the anchoring opening (12) defining wall on 5 transition to the front is pressed in and narrowed. 14. Brush manufacturing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the pressure plate (100) and the funnel plate (102) have such a thickness that the free end of the at least one bristle, which is inserted into the insertion opening (66), during the pressing process in the Funnel plate (102) 10 ends. BE2017 / 5201