EP3169191B1 - Method of attaching bristle bundles consisting of bristle filaments to a carrier plate - Google Patents

Description

The invention is used in a method for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular for toothbrushes, in which bristle filaments are removed from a material box containing a supply of bristle filaments and combined into bristle bundles, then transported by means of a gas or air flow through a bundle receiving device and transport device comprising hollow lines connected thereto passed through and then introduced into perforations of a bundle retaining plate.

The invention relates to a method for fastening bristle bundles consisting of bristle filaments to a carrier plate with a plurality of perforations passing through the carrier plate, into which bristle bundles consisting of bristle filaments can be inserted and can be fastened to the carrier plate without anchors, according to claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a brush, in particular a toothbrush, with a handle and a brush head, wherein the brush head has a small carrier plate holder and a small carrier plate fitted with bundles of bristles fastened therein, according to claim 14.

The method described above can be used on a device for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a material box containing a supply of bristle filaments and with at least one removal device for removing individual bristle bundles from the bristle supply and with a transport device having hollow lines, through which hollow lines the bristle bundles can be transported by means of a gas or air stream in perforations of a bundle-retaining plate.

Methods described above, carrier plates, brushes and devices for producing bristle arrays are known in various forms.

From the pamphlet EP 1 110 479 A1 For example, a carrier plate of the type defined above is already known, in which a heated stamp with a large number of conical or pyramidal stamps is pressed into the back of the carrier plate to fasten the bundles of bristles inserted into the perforations. As a result, the mass of the carrier plate is softened and laterally displaced into the spaces between the tufts of bristles. This creates a tight bond between the material of the bristles and the carrier. However, in this previously known method, the back of the carrier plate is covered by indentations produced by the projections of the stamp.

From the pamphlet DE 198 18 553 C2 a method for producing a toothbrush made of plastic is already known. In this case, holding ends of bristles are pushed through holes in a holding plate or a toothbrush body in such a way that they protrude somewhat. The holding ends of the bristles are fused to each other and/or to the holding plate or brush body. Before or after the fusing, oligodynamic material can be applied to the holding ends of the bristles, in particular in liquid form, at least in regions, but expediently over the entire surface, which is either incorporated into the melt during fusing or, when applied after fusing, by diffusion or capillary action in the plastic of the bristles penetrates. When using the toothbrush and as a result of the resulting moistening, the oligodynamic material is distributed over the entire length of the bristles and can have an antibacterial and germicidal effect until it is completely washed out during the period of use.

The pamphlet EP 2 215 923 A1 describes a process for the production of anchorless brushes, in which bundles of bristles are introduced into perforations in a carrier plate and fused together. The ends of the individual fibers that protrude on the back are heated until they melt.

From the pamphlet DE 10 2016 011 671 A1 a method for fusing the axial ends of bundled fibers of thermoplastic resin is previously known by bringing the fiber ends into contact with a heated surface. The method is characterized in that a film of heat-resistant material with non-stick properties is placed between the fiber ends and the opposite surface of a heated die.

From the pamphlet U.S. 2011 109 149 A1 a method for the production of anchor-free toothbrushes with bristles is already known, in which a tuft of bristles is introduced into a receiving opening of a tool of a bristling machine. A pin guided in the receiving aperture acts to align the bristles of the bundle of bristles at the pin-facing end of the bristles, bristles being chemically tapered at one end and having a pointed portion and a cylindrical portion adjoining the portion and a blunt end has.

From the pamphlet U.S. 7,930,792 B2 An oral care implement is previously known that includes a head platform having a plurality of surfaces from which bristles extend. The oral care implement may have a pair of opposed bristle surfaces and the bristles may extend in opposite directions from the surfaces. The oral care device can be formed by a first support plate with tufts of bristles anchorlessly attached thereto on a first surface of the attaching a head platform and attaching a second support plate having tufts of bristles anchorlessly attached thereto to the second face of the head platform.

From the pamphlet DE 197 38 256 A1 a method for producing bristle arrays for brushes is already known, with tufts of plastic bristles being inserted into perforations in a holding plate and the ends remote from their subsequent free working ends being fused together and thereby fixed to the holding plate. This method is characterized in that projections with undercuts are formed on the upper side of the holding plate facing away from the free working ends of the bristles, that the bristles are then inserted into these perforations with a projection protruding into the area of the undercuts, that the bristles in the area of the Undercuts are heated in such a way that a melt and/or plastic mass of the plastic of the bristles that completely or partially fills the undercuts is formed, and that the mass of the plastic of the bristles that then solidifies forms a form fit between the bristles or tufts of bristles and the undercuts of the holding plate becomes.

In the methods and devices for producing bristle fields known from the prior art, when bristle bundles consisting of individual bristle filaments are fed by means of a gas or air stream through a transport device, problems can arise when feeding the bristle filaments to the sections or stations downstream of the transport device device come.

For example, it can happen that individual bristle filaments or entire bristle bundles get stuck in the transport device and do not reach their destination. Especially when if the bristle filaments are particularly fine bristle filaments, reliable feeding of the bristle filaments through the transport device can be particularly difficult.

Even with the carrier plates and brushes known from the prior art and defined at the outset, which are equipped with such carrier plates, the attachment of bristle bundles without anchors, which are fed to the carrier plates according to a method mentioned at the outset and on a device mentioned at the outset, can also cause problems to lead.

The previously known carrier plates and toothbrushes, which are equipped with such carrier plates, require, for example, bristle filaments combined in bristle bundles Introducing perforations of the carrier plate and overmolding the ends of the individual bristle bundles positioned in the perforations with a material in order to define the bristle bundles in the perforations. Furthermore, it is known to combine the bristle filaments in tufts and fuse them together before they are conveyed into the small carrier plate to be equipped with the bristle tufts.

As soon as the fused ends of the bristle bundles are introduced into the carrier plate, their introduced into the perforations of the carrier plate and fused ends are then overmoulded to attach the bristle bundles to the bundle-retaining plate.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a carrier plate and a brush, in particular a toothbrush, as defined above, which allow more efficient and simpler production of bristle fields and thus more efficient and simpler production of brushes, in particular toothbrushes.

For a better understanding of the invention, the technical field of the production of bristle fields and brushes will be described in more detail below using a particularly advantageous embodiment of a method for the production of bristle fields, which may be of independent inventive quality:
In the method defined at the outset, for the more efficient and simpler production of bristle arrays and thus for the more efficient and simpler production of brushes, in particular toothbrushes, it is provided that the bristle bundles forming bristle filaments are electrostatically discharged during their transport through the transport device to the bundle-retaining plate.

Especially when feeding so-called chemically sharpened bristle filaments, which are characterized by their particularly fine filament thicknesses, the methods known from the prior art can repeatedly lead to blockages in the transport device, which, as has been found, result in electrostatic charging of the the bristle bundles forming bristle filaments are justified, come. Due to the frictional effects acting on the bristle filaments of the bristle bundles during their transport through the transport device, whether due to the gas or air flow or due to the material of the hollow lines through which the bristle bundles are transported, the bristle bundles and those contained in the bristle bundles can move Bristle filament charge electrostatically, so that they stick to the elements of the transport device, in particular to the hollow lines of the transport device, and cannot be guided reliably through the transport device. In addition, there is even the danger that the bristle filaments will become so electrostatically charged during transport through the transport device that they will clog the transport device and thus, at best, a reduced passage of the bristle filaments to the bundle-retaining plate is possible.

These disadvantages can be avoided by the electrostatic discharge of the bristle filaments during their transport. Finally, a method can be provided with which particularly fine bristle filaments, namely those that are chemically sharpened, particularly efficiently using a Gas or air flow are fed to a bundle retaining plate for further processing.

For the reliable discharge of the bristle bundles, it can be particularly expedient if the bristle filaments forming the bristle bundles are electrostatically discharged during their transport through the bundle receiving device of the transport device and/or during their transport through hollow lines of the transport device to the bundle holding plate.

In particular, when the bristle filaments are electrostatically discharged during their transport through the bundle receiving device, electrostatic charging of the bristle filaments can already be avoided at the beginning of their transport through the transport device.

An alternative or additional electrostatic discharge of the bristle filaments during their transport through the hollow lines of the transport device to the bundle holding plate can prevent the bristle filaments from becoming statically charged due to friction on the insides of the hollow lines and then blocking the hollow lines.

A particularly simple but no less reliable electrostatic discharge of the bristle filaments is possible if the bristle filaments forming the bristle bundles are grounded during their transport through the transport device, in particular during their transport through the bundle receiving device and/or through the hollow lines, to the bundle holding plate for electrostatic discharge .

For this purpose, the bundles of bristles can during their transport through the transport device, in particular during their transport through the bundle receiving device and/or through the ducts, to the bundle holding plate for electrostatic discharge, past and brought into contact with at least one electrical contact or grounding contact arranged on the transport device. It should be pointed out that this at least one electrical contact or grounding contact can be provided, for example, in the bundle receiving device and/or also in the ducts.

In this way, a particularly simple but reliable electrostatic discharge of the bristle filaments forming the bristle bundles can be achieved. At this point it should be pointed out that the electrostatic discharge of the bristle filaments forming the bristle bundles during their transport through the transport device not only allows electrostatic charges adhering to the bristle filaments to be discharged, but also an electrostatic charging of the bristle filaments, in particular due to friction that occurs during transport of the bristle filaments forming the bristle bundles occur through the transport device, can be avoided.

In one embodiment of the method, it can be provided that the bristle bundles from the bundle-retaining plate are introduced directly into perforations in a small carrier plate. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method, however, provision can be made for the bundles of bristles to be introduced into perforations in a small carrier plate through tapering funnel channels of a funnel plate, in particular with the aid of a compressor stamp. This can make sense, since the degree of compaction of the bristle bundles required for high-quality assembly of carrier plates can only be achieved with great effort using a gas or air stream alone leaves. By first pushing the bristle bundles to be fed through the funnel channels of the funnel plate, the desired degree of compression can be achieved in a relatively simple manner, particularly when using a compression stamp.

In order to be able to fasten the bristle bundles in the small carrier plate without anchoring, it can be provided that material projections protruding from the back of the small carrier plate facing away from the bristle bundles are heated in a welding station and thereby melted, with a melt of the melted material projections for connecting the bristle bundles to the small carrier plate in a fastening plane of the bristle bundles is pressed in, so that the melt can flow in between bristle bundle ends protruding in particular from the rear side of the carrier plate and/or between filament ends of the bristle bundles and can then solidify. It is thus possible to attach the bristle bundles to the carrier plate in a form-fitting and/or non-positive manner, since the melt can, as it were, dig into the ends of the bristle bundles by being pressed into the bundle-fixing plane.

In this way, a particularly simple method for fastening bristle bundles without anchors in a small carrier plate can be created.

The material projections can expediently be: heated on the small carrier plate by means of at least one melting stamp, melted and pressed into a fastening plane of the bristle bundles to fasten the bristle bundles to the small carrier plate.

The advantages of the method described can be utilized in particular when bristle bundles made of chemically sharpened bristle filaments are fed to the bundle-retaining plate. These bristle filaments, also known as chemical tapered filaments - CTF's, are characterized by their particularly finely tapered filament ends, which are free when in use fine bristle filaments more difficult and therefore uneconomical.

In a further embodiment of the method, it can be provided that the bristle filaments are fed to a transfer station in filament pucks held together by means of a particularly flexible and/or airtight casing. The filament pucks fed to the transfer station can then be sucked in by means of at least one suction gripper assigned to the transfer station, with the at least one suction gripper contacting the filament pucks with a suction plate on their free upper side and sucking them in, as a result of which the, in particular flexible and/or air-impermeable, sheathing is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the Bristle filaments and is sucked inwards in the direction of a perpendicular to the upper side of the filament puck aligned longitudinal center axis and can thereby place stabilizing around the bristle filaments of the filament puck sucked. After being sucked in, the filament puck can be transferred to a stripping station downstream of the transfer station by means of the at least one suction gripper. In this de-sheathing station, the sheathing of the filament puck can be opened and removed, after which the bristle filaments freed from the sheathing, preferably automatically, can be supplied to one or the already mentioned material box.

At this point it should be pointed out that the filament pucks are made of chemically sharpened bristle filaments with a flexible and/or airtight casing, for example in DE 10 2013 003 249 , which deals with a manufacturing process of such filament pucks, are described above.

The way in which the stripping station described above works is described, for example, in the German patent application DE 10 2014 109 320 described.

It can be advantageous if the filament pucks are provided with a spin finish with an antistatic additive for CFTs, which can additionally reduce the tendency of the bristle filaments to become statically charged during transport.

In an advantageous development of the method described above, it can also be provided that the filament pucks of the transfer station, in particular the at least one suction gripper of the transfer station, are fed to a feed station on at least one support, preferably designed as a conveyor belt.

This can further improve the efficiency and the degree of automation of the method described above.

The method can also be simplified for a person entrusted with carrying out the method if the filament pucks are kept ready and available individually and/or in their delivery containers at the feed station, in particular on the at least one support, preferably designed as a conveyor belt Demand, preferably manually, in particular directly from the delivery containers, are pushed onto the at least one edition, but in particular transversely to the conveying direction of the at least one edition. It is thus possible for the person entrusted with carrying out the method to place a certain number of filament pucks or a certain number of delivery containers with filament pucks on the support of the feed station designed as a conveyor belt and, if necessary, i.e. if they are already on the support of the feed station applied filament pucks were used up by the downstream stations of the device, can be pushed up. Depending on the number of filament pucks placed on the support and depending on the process time, i.e. the time that the downstream stations need to process a filament puck, the person entrusted with carrying out the process can have enough time to carry out other tasks and only in certain Approach the feed station at regular intervals to add more filament pucks so that the otherwise automated manufacturing process can continue uninterrupted.

The object is achieved in that the carrier plate has a plurality of material projections on its rear side facing away from the bristle bundles inserted into the perforations.

A carrier plate of this type enables bristle bundles to be fastened easily in the carrier plate without anchors, without the bristle bundles to be fastened in the carrier plate must be welded together before being fed into the carrier plate. The disclosed carrier plate thus supports the implementation of the method described above in a particularly advantageous manner.

In one embodiment of the carrier plate, it can be provided that the bristle bundles that can be inserted or have been inserted into the perforations consist of sharpened bristle filaments, in particular chemically sharpened bristle filaments. At least after they have been attached to the carrier plate, these bristle bundles can then form a bristle field made up of sharpened bristle filaments, in particular chemically sharpened bristle filaments.

In another embodiment of the carrier plate, it can be provided that some of the bristle bundles that can be introduced into the perforations consist of pointed bristle filaments, in particular chemically sharpened bristle filaments, and another part of the bristle bundles that can be introduced or introduced into the perforations consist of conventional bristle filaments. Conventional bristle filaments are understood to mean those bristle filaments which have a substantially constant or constant cross-section over at least a large part of their length or over their entire length. The bristle bundles made of pointed bristle filaments and the bristle bundles made of conventional bristle filaments can form a mixed bristle field at least after they have been attached to the carrier plate.

The bristle filaments can consist of polyamide and/or polyester. However, it is preferred that conventional bristle filaments, in particular those with a constant cross-section, are made of polyamide and pointed bristle filaments, in particular chemically sharpened bristle filaments made of polyester, in particular polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

Polyester has the property that it absorbs little or no water at all. Especially when chemically sharpening the bristle filaments, lye can be used, which then has to be removed in a washing process. It may be necessary to dry the washed bristle filaments for further processing. The use of polyester as the material for the chemically sharpened bristle filaments and the fact that polyester absorbs water only to a small extent or not at all can facilitate and accelerate a drying process of the washed bristle filaments. In this way, the drying process can be carried out on an industrially useful scale.

It can be expedient if the bristle bundles are positively and/or non-positively connected to the carrier plate after the material projections have been melted and the melted material projections pressed into the plane of attachment of the bundle. In this way, a reliable attachment of the bristle bundles in or on the carrier plate, which can withstand the required pull-out forces, can be made possible.

It can be expedient here if the material projections are in the form of nubs, in which case the material projections can protrude transversely from the rear side of the small carrier plate. In this context, transverse means that the material projections can protrude from the back of the carrier plate essentially as a continuation of the bristle bundles inserted into the carrier plate. A longitudinal central axis is expediently the material projections can be aligned at right angles to the back of the carrier plate.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the material projections are distributed, in particular uniformly, around or between the perforations of the carrier plate. This can promote an even distribution of the melt, particularly after the melt has been pressed into the bundle attachment plane, on the back of the small carrier plate and between the ends of the bristle bundles and in particular between individual bristle filaments of the bristle bundles, and thus contribute to reliable attachment of the bristle bundles in the small carrier plate.

In order to be able to produce bristle arrays with different bristle bundle cross sections, it can be expedient if the perforations on the carrier plate have different cross sections. For example, the perforations can have a round and/or oval and/or circular and/or a polygonal cross section. The combination of perforations with different cross-sections is of course possible. Furthermore, it can be provided that the perforations are in the form of oblong perforations.

The disclosed carrier plate can be produced particularly easily if the material projections are integrally connected to the carrier plate and/or if the material projections consist of the same material as the carrier plate, in particular a meltable plastic, preferably thermoplastic. The material from which the material projections are made can have a lower or a higher melting point than the material from which the bristle filaments and/or the bristle bundles are made. A typical material from which the carrier plate and/or the material projections can exist on the back of the carrier plate, the plastic is polypropylene. A typical material from which the bristle bundles or the bristle filaments can be made is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

It is advantageous if the material projections taper towards their free end, in particular taper conically. If the material projections have a tapering shape, the melting of these material projections when the welding die is pressed in is made significantly easier.

According to the invention, the carrier plate has, on its rear side facing away from the bristle bundles, a preferably endless and closed boundary protruding from the rear of the carrier plate, in particular at right angles. This boundary surrounds the perforations and the material projections and includes the back of the carrier plate. The rear delimitation of the carrier plate can prevent the melt of the melted material projections from spilling out laterally when the welding stamp is pressed in and also contribute to reliable guidance of the melted material projections when the melt is pressed into the bundle attachment plane of the carrier plate.

The melt can be prevented from escaping laterally in a particularly reliable manner if the delimitation of the small carrier plate is at least half as high as the material projections arranged on the rear side of the small carrier plate. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the carrier plate, however, this limit can be higher, in particular twice as high, as the material projections on the rear side of the carrier plate. This is how you can prevent yourself in a particularly reliable way allow the melt of the melted material projections to be pressed out laterally when the melt is pressed into the plane of the bundle attachment of the carrier plate, in particular by means of a melting punch.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the disclosed carrier plate, it can be provided that on its rear side facing away from the bristle bundles, at least after the bristle bundles have been introduced into the perforations and/or after the material projections have been melted and pressed in, a cover can be sprayed on or is sprayed on, in particular in an in-mold process having. This cover can cover the melted material projections located on the back of the carrier plate, together with the bristle bundle ends. In addition, the cover can help to securely fix the bundle of bristles in their position of use and to give the rear side of the small carrier plate a flat surface, which can facilitate attachment of the small carrier plate to a brush, in particular a toothbrush.

In the case of the brush defined at the outset, the object is achieved by the features of patent claim 13 .

It can be particularly advantageous if the carrier plate is clipped into the carrier plate receptacle. In addition or in addition to this, the carrier plate can be glued into the carrier plate receptacle and/or welded, in particular by means of an ultrasonic welding process. In this way, the carrier plate can be reliably fixed to the brush.

A further possibility of connecting the small carrier plate to the brush can consist in fastening the small carrier plate to the brush, in particular to the small carrier plate receptacle of the brush, by means of an in-mold process.

The carrier plate can be processed, in particular using the method described above, on the device defined at the outset for producing bristle arrays for brushes, in particular for toothbrushes. This device is possibly of independent inventive quality and is particularly characterized in that the transport device is electrically grounded in order to discharge electrostatic charges adhering to the bristle filaments and/or bristle bundles to be transported.

In order to feed the transport device with the aid of the at least one removal device, with which individual bristle bundles can be removed from the bristle supply with bristle filaments, it can be expedient if the transport device has at least one bundle receiving device to which the ends of the hollow lines on the material box side are connected. Advantageously, the at least one bundle receiving device and/or the hollow lines can be electrically grounded in order to dissipate electrostatic charges from the bristle filaments to be transported or from the bristle bundles or electrostatic charging of the bristle filaments and/or bristle bundles to be transported during their transport through the transport device to avoid.

For an effective discharge of electrostatic charges, it can be advantageous if the at least one bundle receiving device and/or at least one of the hollow lines has at least one electrically grounded contact or grounding contact which touches the bristle bundles and/or bristle filaments contained in the bristle bundles at least temporarily during their transport through the bundle receiving device and/or through the at least one hollow line. In particular, the bundle receiving device and/or at least one of the hollow lines and/or the contact or grounding contact can be connected to ground via at least one electrical conductor, in particular via an electrically grounded stand of the device.

In one embodiment of the device, it can also be provided that at least one hollow line has an electrically grounded inner lateral surface made of an electrically conductive material, in particular made of metal, preferably made of steel, stainless steel or copper, as an electrically grounded contact or grounding contact, which the bristle bundles and/or or contact bristle filaments contained therein during their transport.

Advantageously, the hollow lines of the device can be designed as hoses made of a flexible material and/or as Bowden cable jackets and/or as pipe connections made of an electrically conductive material, in particular metal, preferably steel, stainless steel or copper. However, the use of hollow lines, each consisting of a Bowden cable jacket, is preferred because it is particularly cost-effective and well suited for dissipating electrostatic charges.

A particularly efficient supply of bristle bundles to a bundle-retaining plate kept ready on the device is possible if the transport device has one of the number of perforations the number of hollow lines corresponding to the bundle-retaining plate.

It can be advantageous, in particular with regard to the implementation of the method described above, if the bundle-retaining plate is designed as a transport plate that can be transferred to a further processing device, in particular to a welding station. In another embodiment of the invention, the bundle holding plate can also have at least one carrier plate holder for a carrier plate, in particular for a carrier plate according to one of claims 1 to 12, on a side facing away from the transport device in the receiving position.

It should be pointed out that the bundle-retaining plate can also be a partial brush body or an injection-molded insert, which can be further processed in downstream stations of the device after it has been equipped with bristle bundles.

In a development of the device of particular importance, it can be provided that the hollow lines of the transport device each open into a guide channel of a guide element. This guide element can also be referred to as a feed block. The guide channels of the guide element or of the feed block are each designed as through-openings. It should be noted that the distances between the guide channels on the discharge side can be smaller than the distances on the supply side. It can be particularly advantageous if outlet openings of the feed channels are arranged according to an arrangement of perforations in the bundle-retaining plate to be equipped with bristle bundles and/or opening into these perforations. In this way, after the bristle bundles have been fed through the transport device subsequent assembly of the bundle retaining plate can be carried out particularly efficiently.

The feed channels of the guide element or the guide block thus function as a kind of funnel with which the bundles of bristles to be fed can be introduced into the bundle-retaining plate while they are being transported.

In order to be able to introduce the bristle bundles with a desired degree of compaction into perforations of a small carrier plate kept ready on the device, it can be expedient if the device has a between the bundle holding plate and a small carrier plate to be equipped with bristle bundles, preferably one according to one of claims 1 to 12, Funnel plate with funnel channels, in particular tapering in the conveying direction of the bristle bundles. Through these funnel channels, the bristle bundles from the bundle holding plate, in which they are held ready in arrangement and alignment to the carrier plate to be equipped, can then be introduced into perforations of a carrier plate held ready on the funnel plate, preferably in a carrier plate holder of the funnel plate. It is advantageous if inlet openings of the funnel channels correspond in number and arrangement to outlet openings of the perforations in the bundle retaining plate and outlet openings of the funnel channels correspond in number and arrangement to the perforations in the carrier plate. It is also advantageous if the outlet openings of the funnel channels open into perforations in a carrier plate held ready on the funnel plate, so that the bristle bundles from the bundle-retaining plate can be introduced through the funnel plate into the carrier plate to be equipped as easily as possible.

In order to be able to bring the bristle bundles fed to the bundle-retaining plate by means of the transport device reliably and with the desired degree of compaction through the funnel plate into the perforations of a small carrier plate held ready on the funnel plate, the device can have a compacting station with at least one compacting stamp with a number and arrangement corresponding to the perforations of the Have bundle retaining plate and/or with the funnel channels of the funnel plate and/or the perforations of the carrier plate matching compressor fingers. With the aid of these compactor fingers, the bristle bundles introduced, in particular in the funnel plate and/or in the bundle-retaining plate, can be introduced into the perforations of the carrier plate kept ready on the device, in particular on the funnel plate and/or on the bundle-retaining plate.

In this way, the bristle filaments combined in bristle bundles can be fed with a low degree of compression required for transport through the transport device by means of a gas or air stream and then mechanically introduced into the perforations of the prepared carrier plate with the aid of the compression stamp and at the same time compressed to the required higher degree of compression . Particularly with higher degrees of compaction, the mechanical compaction of the bristle bundles, to which the funnel channels of the funnel plate described above can also contribute, represents a particularly simple way of compacting and introducing the bristle bundles into the carrier plate provided.

In particular for carrying out the method already described above, it can be advantageous if the device has a transport gripper and a welding station. Thereby can the transport gripper can preferably be designed as a turntable with at least one transport receptacle for a funnel plate and/or bundle-retaining plate equipped with bristle bundles and/or with at least one small carrier plate. It should be pointed out that the bundle-retaining plate, which can then also take on the function of a transport plate, can be transported by means of the transport gripper to a welding station or in particular form-fitting and/or force-fitting, can be connected to the at least one small carrier plate.

Furthermore, it is possible that the at least one funnel plate can also be transported between stations of the device by means of the transport gripper.

It can be advantageous if the welding station for connecting the bristle bundles to the at least one small carrier plate has at least one welding die, with which the bristle bundles can be connected to the at least one small carrier plate. If the carrier plate to be processed is a carrier plate according to one of claims 1 to 12, it is possible that the at least one welding die is used to melt the material projections of the carrier plate and to press the melted material projections into a bundle attachment plane of the respective carrier plate. The at least one welding die can contact a rear side of the carrier plate in the welding position.

In one embodiment of the invention, this at least one welding die can be heated to a temperature of approximately 500°C be heated to weld the bristle bundles with the respective carrier plate.

At this point it should be pointed out once again that the use of a carrier plate according to the method according to one of claims 1 to 12 with the device described above can simplify the production of bristle fields to a particular extent, especially if the method also described above is used.

The advantages that can result from the device for the production of bristle fields can be particularly great if the bristle filaments used are chemically tapered bristle filaments, so-called chemical tapered filaments - CTF's, since these particularly fine bristle filaments are particularly of a Static charge can be affected during their transport by means of a gas or air flow through the transport device, so that a supply of such chemically sharpened bristle filaments was previously only possible with disproportionate effort.

It can be expedient if the device has a de-sheathing station upstream of the material box for de-sheathing bristle filaments combined in filament pucks by means of a sheath. The stripping station can have at least one cutting device with at least one cutting tool for opening the covering of the filament pucks and at least one gripping device for removing the opened covering. Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the sheathing station is connected in terms of conveyor technology to the material box downstream from it in order to feed the stripped bristle filaments to the material box. For this purpose, the stripping station in one embodiment of The device has at least one gripper and/or at least one slide, with which the stripped bristle filaments can be fed to the material box, preferably automatically.

In order to be able to feed the bristle filaments to the material box in an automated manner, the material box can have at least one conveying path, in particular connected in terms of conveying technology to a stripping station, for example to the previously mentioned dismantling station. In this at least one conveying path, the bristle filaments oriented in the vertical direction can be arranged between two side rails, with the conveying path preferably opening into a removal area of the removal device.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the bristle filaments into the at least one conveying section, the at least one conveying section can have an insertion region in which the distance between the side strips delimiting the at least one conveying section decreases in the conveying direction.

In addition, the device can have a transfer station with at least one suction gripper for transferring bristle filaments combined into filament pucks by means of a sheath to a stripping station, for example the previously mentioned stripping station. In this way, automated feeding of the filament pucks to the stripping station is possible.

A suction pad, for example the one already mentioned above, of one, for example the one already mentioned above, can have a suction plate, preferably covered with a bristle filament dense fabric, in particular with a dutch fabric, with which at least one Filament puck can be sucked in via its front side facing away from a support and free of a casing.

The suction and the subsequent handling of the at least one filament puck using the at least one suction gripper of the transfer station can be facilitated if a casing holding a filament puck together radially surrounds the bristle filaments combined in the filament puck in the position of use, so that a front upper side of the filament puck is free of casing.

The casing can expediently be designed as an endless band, ie as a banderole, as a tube section slipped over the bristle filaments combined in the form of a puck, or as a slipped sleeve. A height of the casing can advantageously correspond to a length of the bristle filaments of the filament puck.

The suction of the filament pucks surrounded by the casing using a suction gripper, for example the one already mentioned above, can be facilitated if the casing of the filament pucks consists of a flexible and/or airtight material. A material suitable for the sheathing that is both flexible and impermeable to air is, for example, polyethylene, preferably PE-LD.

Furthermore, the device can have a feed station which is connected to a transfer station, for example to the transfer station already mentioned above, and which comprises at least one support, in particular designed as a conveyor belt. The filament pucks can be fed to the transfer station and/or the at least one suction gripper transfer station on this at least one support. In order to reliably remove the individual filament pucks from to be able to remove it from the support, for example with the help of the suction gripper, it can be expedient if the filament pucks are kept at a distance on the at least one support of the feed station, preferably designed as a conveyor belt. In order to keep the filament pucks at a distance on the support, this can preferably have a plurality of receiving recesses spaced apart from one another, in particular in the conveying direction, into which individual filament pucks can be inserted and in which the filament pucks can be safely transported further.

If the feed station has, on at least one of its long sides, in particular on one of the long sides of the at least one support, at least one stationary storage area adjoining the at least one support for individual pre-aligned filament pucks and/or for delivery containers at least partially filled with filament pucks, it is possible to Support, in particular on the support spaced apart and formed receiving recesses of the support to be equipped with filament pucks as quickly and efficiently as required. For this purpose, the filament pucks can either be removed from the adjacent storage area or placed directly on the support from the delivery containers provided, which can also be stored on the adjacent storage area, as soon as there is space again for the transfer station and/or the filament pucks to be fed to the at least one suction gripper of the transfer station is.

It should be pointed out that the storage surface can be designed in particular in the form of a board and/or strip and can expediently extend over at least part of the length of the support, but is stationary relative to the support. It goes without saying that the device can also have more than just one bundle-retaining plate and/or funnel plate. In the case of a device having, for example, four bundle-retaining plates and four funnel plates assigned to these bundle-retaining plates, which can preferably be arranged on transport receptacles of one or the previously mentioned transport gripper, this can work particularly efficiently.

Fig.1:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Borstenfeldern für Bürsten, insbesondere Zahnbürsten, mit drei parallele Förderbänder umfassenden Zuführstation mit einer Mehrzahl an aufgelegten Filamentpucks, mit einer Übergabestation mit einem Sauggreifer, mit einer sich an einen Materialkasten anschließenden Entmantelungsstation, mit einer Transportvorrichtung, die eine Mehrzahl von Hohlleitungen aufweist, durch die aus dem Materialkasten entnommene Borstenbündel zu einer Bündelhalteplatte transportierbar sind, sowie mit der Transportvorrichtung nachgelagerten Bearbeitungsstationen, die über einen als Drehtisch ausgebildeten Transportgreifer mit der Transportvorrichtung verbunden sind;

Fig.2:

die in Fig. 1 mit dem Kreis K gekennzeichnete Einzelheit, die die mit einem Tressengewebe bezogene Ansaugplatte des Sauggreifers in Ansaugstellung oberhalb eines auf der als Förderband ausgebildeten Auflage bereitgehaltenen Filamentpucks zeigt;

Fig.3:

eine perspektivische Rückansicht eines Trägerplättchens (nicht beansprucht), an dessen Rückseite fünf von Lochungen umgebene Materialvorsprünge aus aufschmelzbarem Material und an einer Vorderseite des Trägerplättchens zehn in das Trägerplättchen einzubringende Borstenbündel zu erkennen sind;

Fig. 4:

das in Fig. 3 dargestellte Trägerplättchen mit in die Lochungen des Trägerplättchens eingeführten Borstenbündeln;

Fig. 5:

das in den Figuren 3 und 4 dargestellte Trägerplättchen, wobei zu erkennen ist, dass die rückseitigen Materialvorsprünge aufgeschmolzen und zur Befestigung der in die Lochungen eingebrachten Borstenbündel in die Befestigungsebene des Trägerplättchens eingepresst sind;

Fig. 6:

eine perspektivische Rückansicht eines weiteren Trägerplättchens (nicht beansprucht), an dessen Rückseite fünf von Lochungen umgebene Materialvorsprünge aus aufschmelzbarem Material und an einer Vorderseite des Trägerplättchens zehn in das Trägerplättchen einzubringende Borstenbündel zu erkennen sind, wobei die inneren acht der insgesamt zehn Borstenbündel solche aus chemisch angespitzten Borstenfilamenten sind;

Fig. 7:

das in Fig. 6 dargestellte Trägerplättchen mit in die Lochungen des Trägerplättchens eingeführten Borstenbündeln;

Fig. 8:

das in den Figuren 6 und 7 dargestellte Trägerplättchen, wobei zu erkennen ist, dass die rückseitigen Materialvorsprünge aufgeschmolzen und zur Befestigung der in die Lochungen eingebrachten Borstenbündel in die Befestigungsebene des Trägerplättchens eingepresst sind, wobei die Borstenbündel gemeinsam ein Borstenmischfeld aus Borstenbündeln mit herkömmlichen Borstenfilamenten und aus Bürstenbündeln mit chemisch angespitzten Borstenfilamenten bilden;

Fig. 9:

das in den Figuren 6 bis 8 dargestellte Trägerplättchen mit einem rückseitig aufgespritzten Deckel;

Fig. 10:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Zahnbürste mit dem in den Figuren 6 bis 9 dargestellten Trägerplättchen in einer Trägerplättchenaufnahme an dem Bürstenkopf der Zahnbürste, sowie

Fig. 11:

die in Figur 10 mit dem Kreis E gekennzeichnete Einzelheit, die einen Teil des Borstenmischfeldes an dem Trägerplättchen zeigt, das durch Borstenbündeln aus herkömmlichen Borstenfilamenten und durch Borstenbündel aus chemisch angespitzten Borstenfilamenten gebildet ist.

Furthermore, each of the at least one bundle holding plate and/or the at least one funnel plate of the device can have at least one, in particular two, three or four, carrier plate holder(s) for receiving one carrier plate to be equipped with bristle bundles, in particular one according to one of Claims 1 to 12. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a partially highly schematized representation:

Fig.1:

a perspective view of a device for the production of bristle areas for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a feed station comprising three parallel conveyor belts with a plurality of filament pucks placed on them, with a transfer station with a suction gripper, with a stripping station connected to a material box, with a transport device, the one Having a plurality of hollow lines through which bundles of bristles removed from the material box can be transported to a bundle-retaining plate, as well as processing stations downstream of the transport device are connected to the transport device via a transport gripper designed as a turntable;

Fig.2:

in the 1 detail marked with the circle K, which shows the suction plate of the suction gripper covered with a dutch fabric in the suction position above a filament puck held ready on the support designed as a conveyor belt;

Fig.3:

a perspective rear view of a carrier plate (not claimed), on the rear of which five material projections surrounded by perforations made of meltable material and on a front side of the carrier plate ten bundles of bristles to be introduced into the carrier plate can be seen;

Figure 4:

this in 3 illustrated carrier plates with introduced into the holes of the carrier plate bundles of bristles;

Figure 5:

that in the Figures 3 and 4 shown carrier plate, wherein it can be seen that the rear material projections are melted and pressed into the fastening plane of the carrier plate to fasten the bundles of bristles introduced into the perforations;

Figure 6:

a perspective rear view of another carrier plate (not claimed), on the rear of which five material projections surrounded by perforations made of meltable material and on a front side of the carrier plate ten bundles of bristles to be introduced into the carrier plate can be seen, the inner eight of the ten bundles of bristles are chemically sharpened bristle filaments;

Figure 7:

this in 6 illustrated carrier plates with introduced into the holes of the carrier plate bundles of bristles;

Figure 8:

that in the Figures 6 and 7 shown carrier plates, wherein it can be seen that the rear material projections are melted and pressed into the fastening plane of the carrier plate to fasten the bristle bundles introduced into the perforations, the bristle bundles together forming a bristle mixed field of bristle bundles with conventional bristle filaments and brush bundles with chemically sharpened bristle filaments;

Figure 9:

that in the Figures 6 to 8 shown carrier plates with a back sprayed cover;

Figure 10:

a perspective view of a toothbrush according to the invention with the in Figures 6 to 9 carrier plates shown in a carrier plate holder on the brush head of the toothbrush, and

Figure 11:

in the figure 10 detail marked with the circle E showing part of the mixed bristle field on the carrier plate, which is formed by bristle bundles of conventional bristle filaments and by bristle bundles of chemically sharpened bristle filaments.

A device, generally designated 1, for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular for toothbrushes, has according to FIG 1 a material box 3 containing a supply of bristle filaments 2 and at least one removal device 4 for removing individual bristle bundles 5 from the material box 3 .

According to 1 the device 1 also has a transport device 6, which is provided with a total of three times three visible hollow lines 7 and one in 1 concealed shown hollow line, so a total of ten hollow lines 7, through which hollow lines 7 the bristle bundles 5 can be transported by means of a gas or air flow in perforations 8 of a bundle-retaining plate 9, is equipped.

In order to dissipate electrostatic charges adhering to the bristle filaments 2 and/or bristle bundles 5 to be transported, the transport device 6 is electrically grounded.

In an embodiment of the device 1 not shown in the figures, the transport device 6 has at least one bundle receiving device to which ends 10 of the hollow lines 7 on the material box side are connected, the at least one bundle receiving device being electrically grounded in this exemplary embodiment of the device 1.

At the in 1 illustrated embodiment of the device 1 ends the material box-side ends 10 of the hollow lines 7 above the removal device 4 of the material box 3. A bundle receiving device is not provided in this embodiment of the device 1.

How based on 1 can also be seen, the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6 are electrically grounded.

For electrical grounding, the hollow lines 7 have at least one electrical contact or grounding contact 11, which the bristle bundles 5 and/or the bristle filaments 2 contained in the bristle bundles 5 touch at least temporarily during their transport through the hollow lines 7, with the hollow lines 7 and the hollow lines in particular 7 associated grounding contacts 11 is grounded via an electrical conductor 12 or connected to earth.

In an exemplary embodiment of the device 1 not shown in the figures, this at least one electrical conductor 12 is connected to ground via an electrically grounded stand of the device 1 .

1 shows that at least one of the hollow lines 7 has, as an electrically grounded contact or grounding contact 11, an electrically grounded inner lateral surface made of an electrically conductive material, in particular made of metal, preferably made of steel, stainless steel or copper, which the bristle bundles 5 and/or the bristle filaments 2 contact during their transport. This electrically grounded inner lateral surface consists of the in 1 illustrated embodiment of the device 1 from a metal coil 13, which at the top of the in Fig.1 illustrated hollow lines 7 is shown freed from its plastic coating.

While the hollow lines 7 in other embodiments as hoses made of a flexible material or as pipe connections made of an electrically conductive material, in particular made of metal, preferably made of steel, stainless steel or Copper, are formed, the hollow lines 7 are made in the in 1 illustrated embodiment of the device 1 from Bowden cable jackets 14, which have the already mentioned electrically conductive metal coil 13 as a grounding contact 11 in their interior.

During their transport through the hollow lines 7, the bristle filaments 2 or the bristle bundles 5 then come into contact with this electrically conductive metal coil 13 of the Bowden cable jackets 14, so that the bristle filaments 2 or the bristle bundles 5 adhering electrical charges can be reliably dissipated.

In the 1 The transport device 6 shown has a number of hollow lines 7 corresponding to the number of holes 8 in the bundle-retaining plate 9 into which the bristle bundles 5 are to be introduced. The bundle holding plate 9 is also designed as a transport plate that can be transferred to a further processing device, in particular to the welding station 15 . It thus assumes a double function.

In an exemplary embodiment of the device 1 not shown in the figures, the bundle-retaining plate 9 is equipped with at least one carrier plate holder for a carrier plate 17 on a side facing away from the transport device 6 in the receiving position, so that at least one carrier plate 17 is kept ready on the bundle-retaining plate 9 for filling with bristle bundles 5 can.

The hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6 each open into a guide channel 18 of a guide element 19, which can also be referred to as a feed block. These guide channels 18 are each formed as through openings, where the distances between the guide channels 18 on the discharge side are smaller than the distances on the supply side.

Furthermore, outlet openings 20 of the guide channels 18 are arranged in accordance with an arrangement of holes 8 in the bundle-retaining plate 9 to be equipped with bristle bundles 5 and opening into these holes 9 .

1 FIG. 1 also shows that the device 1 has a total of four bundle-retaining plates 9 . In addition, a funnel plate 21 is assigned to each of the four bundle-retaining plates 9 . This funnel plate 21 can be arranged in each case between the bundle-retaining plate 9 assigned to it and at least one small carrier plate 17 to be fitted with bundles of bristles 5 .

For this purpose, each of the funnel plates 21 can be moved back and forth in the vertical direction between two linear guides 22 in order to arrange the funnel plate n 21 in the desired position between the respective bundle holding plate 9 and the at least one small carrier plate 17 to be fitted with bristle bundles 5.

Each of the funnel plates 21 has funnel channels 23 that taper in the conveying direction of the bristle bundles 5, through which funnel channels 23 bristle bundles 5 from the respective bundle-retaining plate 9 can be inserted into perforations 24 of a carrier plate 17 held ready on the funnel plate 21 in a respective small carrier plate holder 25 of the funnel plate 21. The number and arrangement of the inlet openings 26 of the funnel channels 23 correspond to the outlet openings of the perforations 8 in the bundle retaining plate 9, while the number and arrangement of the outlet openings 27 of the funnel channels 23 correspond to the perforations 24 of the at least one carrier plate 10 and in these perforations 24 of the carrier plates 17 held ready on the funnel plate 21 open out.

1 shows that four carrier plate holders 25 for receiving carrier plates 17 are formed on each of the four funnel plates 21 .

The device 1 has a compressor plunger 28 for each of the small carrier plates 16 held ready on the respective bundle holding plate 9 or on the respective funnel plate 21 . The total of four compressor stamps 28 are in 1 29 and provided with a number and arrangement of the perforations 8 of the bundle holding plate 9 and the funnel channels 23 of the funnel plate 21 and the perforations 24 of the carrier plate 17 matching compressor fingers, not shown in the figures.

With these compactor fingers, the bundles of bristles 5 placed in the bundle holding plate 9 or in the hopper plates 21 can be introduced reliably and with a desired degree of compaction into perforations 24 of the carrier plates 17 provided on the device 1, in the present case on the hopper plate 21.

The total of four bundle holding plates 9 and the four funnel plates 21 associated with them are arranged on four arms 30 of a transport gripper 31, which are pivotably mounted about a common axis and which transport gripper 31 is designed as a turntable.

Furthermore, the device 1 has a welding station 15 to which the bundle-retaining plate 9 and the funnel plate 21 by means of the transport gripper 31 can be passed. At the free ends of the arms 30 of the transport gripper 31, a transport receptacle 33 is formed for each of the four pairs, each consisting of a bundle holding plate 9 and a funnel plate 21. In the welding station 15, the bristle bundles 5 can be positively and/or non-positively connected to the carrier plates 17.

In the welding station 15, a welding die 32 is provided for each of the carrier plates 16 arranged on the funnel plate 21 in the carrier plate holder 25, with which the bristle bundles 5 can be connected to the respective carrier plate 17. The bristle filaments 2 that can be processed with the device 1 are so-called chemical tapered filaments, ie chemically tapered bristle filaments or CTFs, with ordinary bristle filaments also being able to be processed on the device.

The device 1 has a de-sheathing station 34 upstream of the material box 3 , which is used for de-sheathing bristle filaments 2 combined in filament pucks 36 by means of a sheath 35 . The stripping station 34 at the in 1 device shown has a total of three cutting devices 37, each with two cutting tools 38, here with cutting blades, for opening the casing 35 of the filament pucks 36 are equipped.

The filament pucks 36 shown in the figures are provided with a spin finish with an antistatic additive for CFTs, which can reduce the tendency of the bristle filaments 2 to become statically charged during transport.

In an exemplary embodiment of the device 1 not shown in the figures, the stripping station 34 also has at least one gripping device for removing the opened sheaths 35 .

According to 1 the stripping station 34 is conveyed to the material box 3 downstream of it. This can have a gripper, not shown in the figures, or a slide, with which the stripped bristle filaments 2 can be fed to the material box 3, preferably automatically.

the inside 1 The material box 3 shown has a total of three conveying sections 39 connected to the stripping station 34 in terms of conveying technology, in which the bristle filaments 2 oriented in the vertical direction are arranged between two side strips 40 in each case.

It should be noted at this point that in 1 illustrated embodiment of the device 1, the stripping station 34 are integrated in a particularly advantageous manner in the three conveyor sections 39 of the material box 3.

1 shows that the three conveyor sections 39 open into a removal area 41 of the total of three removal devices 4 . Furthermore, the conveyor sections 39 can each have an insertion area, not shown in the figures, in which the distance between the side strips 40 delimiting the respective conveyor section 39 decreases in the conveying direction of the filament pucks 36 or the bristle filaments 2 freed from the respective sheathing 35.

Upstream of the de-sheathing station 34 , the device 1 has a transfer station 42 with a suction gripper 43 for transferring bristle filaments 2 combined into filament pucks 36 by means of a sheath 35 to the de-sheathing station 34 .

According to 1 the suction gripper 43 is arranged on a holder 56, which in turn is slidably mounted on a rail system 57. With the aid of this holder 56, the suction gripper 43 can then be displaced both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction in order to transfer individual filament pucks 36 from the transfer station 42 to the stripping station 34.

As, in particular, based on those marked with a K and in 2 enlarged detail, the suction gripper 43 of the transfer station 42 has a suction plate 45 covered with a filament-tight fabric, in the present case with a dutch fabric 44, with which at least one filament puck 36 is connected via its non-sheathed upper side or end face 46 facing away from a support is suckable.

The dutch fabric 44, with which the suction plate 45 of the suction gripper 43 is covered, prevents the bristle filaments 2 from being sucked out of the respective filament puck 36 that has been sucked in and thereby being lost for further processing.

At this point it should be pointed out that the device 1 according to FIG 1 has a suction device 16 which is arranged on the other side of the bundle holding plate 9 held ready on the transport device 6 and which generates the gas or air flow necessary for the transport of the bristle bundles 5 through the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6 .

Like the suction gripper 43, the suction cup 16 is also covered with a filament-dense fabric, in the present case with a dutch fabric 44, so that suction of bristle filaments 2 of individual bristle bundles 5 that have been sucked into the bundle-retaining plate 9 can be prevented.

from the inside 2 shown enlarged and in 1 It is also clear from the detail marked K that the sheathing 35 holding a filament puck 36 together and also referred to as the puck cover radially surrounds the bristle filaments 2 combined in the respective filament puck 36 on the longitudinal side in the position of use, so that a front upper side 46 of the filament puck 36 is free of sheathing. Thus, the casing 35 or the puck cover is designed as an endless band or as a tube section or as a sleeve that surrounds the respective filament puck 36 laterally. When considering the in 1 It is clear from the filament pucks 36 shown that a height of the respective casing 35 or the puck cover corresponds approximately to a length of the bristle filaments 2 of the filament puck 36 .

The casing 35 or the puck cover of the filament pucks 36 consists of a flexible and, in the present case, also airtight material. The material in the figures 1 and 2 The sheathing shown in FIG. 35 is a polyethylene material which is particularly suitable for use as a puck cover or sheathing 35 due to its properties.

Furthermore, the device 1 has a feed station 47 connected to the transfer station 42 . This feed station 47 comprises three supports, each designed as a conveyor belt 48, on which the filament pucks 36 of the transfer station 42 and that of the transfer station 42 associated suction pads 43 can be supplied.

The filament pucks 36 are kept at a distance on these three supports, each designed as a conveyor belt 48 .

For this purpose, all three supports designed as conveyor belts 48 have a plurality of receiving depressions 49 spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction, each of which serves to receive a filament puck 36 .

According to 1 the feed station 47 is equipped on at least one of its longitudinal sides 50 with at least one stationary storage surface 51 adjoining the three supports designed as conveyor belts 48 . Individual filament pucks 36 or delivery containers 52 that are at least partially filled with filament pucks 36 can be kept ready on this at least one stationary storage surface 51 .

This makes it possible to rapidly equip empty receiving recesses 49 on the three supports designed as conveyor belts 48 with new filament pucks 36 .

The shelf 51 is there, as from 1 is designed in the form of a board or strip and extends over the entire length of the supports of the feed station 47, which are designed as conveyor belts 48.

The Figures 3 to 5 show an embodiment of a carrier plate 17. It should be pointed out at this point that in 1 with the device 1 processed carrier plate 17 of the same type as in the Figures 3 to 5 carrier plates 17 shown are.

Another, very similar embodiment of a carrier plate 17 is in the: Figures 6 to 9 shown. This carrier plate 17 differs from that of the Figures 3 to 5 characterized in that it has a mixed bristle field 58, which comprises on the one hand bristle bundles 5 made of conventional bristle filaments 2 and on the other hand bristle bundles 5a made of chemically sharpened bristle filaments 2a.

According to the Figures 3 to 5 the carrier plate 17 has a plurality, here a total of ten, of perforations 24 passing through the carrier plate 17, into which bristle bundles 5 consisting of bristle filaments 2 can be inserted and can be fastened to the carrier plate 17 without anchors.

In an exemplary embodiment of the carrier plate 17 not shown in the figures, the bristle bundles that can be inserted or have been inserted into the perforations consist of tapered bristle filaments, in particular chemically tapered bristle filaments 2a—so-called CTFs (chemical tapered filaments). At least after they have been attached to the carrier plate, they form a bristle field of pointed bristle filaments 2a on the carrier plate 17 .

At the in the Figures 6 to 9 In the exemplary embodiment of the carrier plate 17 shown, it can be seen that part of the bristle bundles that can be inserted or have been inserted into the perforations 24, which are designated 5a, consist of tapered bristle filaments 2a, in particular chemically tapered bristle filaments 2a, so-called CTFs (chemical tapered filaments), and a other part of the bristle bundles that can be introduced or introduced into the perforations 24, which are denoted here by 5, consist of conventional bristle filaments 2, ie bristle filaments 2, which have a constant cross-section over their length. The bristle bundles 5a made of pointed bristle filaments 2a and the bristle bundles 5 made of conventional bristle filaments 2 form the mixed bristle field 58 at least after they have been attached to the carrier plate 17.

The bristle filaments 2 and 2a consist of polyamide and/or polyester, depending on the application and requirements. The conventional bristle filaments 2, in particular those with a cross section that remains constant over their length, are preferably made of polyamide, while pointed bristle filaments 2a are made of polyester. Polyester absorbs little or no water, which simplifies the drying process of the bristle filaments after they have been chemically sharpened and only makes it possible on an industrially sensible scale.

On its rear side 53 facing away from the bristle bundles 5 introduced into the perforations 24 , the carrier plate 17 has a plurality, a total of five, of material projections 54 . These material projections 54 can be melted and pressed into a bundle attachment plane for attachment of the bristle bundles 5 to the carrier plate 17 .

While the bristle bundles 5 at the in 3 situation shown are still in front of the carrier plates 17, they are in the 4 situation shown already introduced into the holes 24 of the carrier plate 17. At the in figure 5 In the situation shown, the material projections 54 on the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17 have already been melted and pressed into the bundle attachment plane for fastening the bristle bundles 5 to the carrier plate 17 .

After the material projections 54 have been melted and the melted material projections 54 pressed into the bundle attachment plane, the bristle bundles 5 are positively and/or non-positively connected to the carrier plate 17 .

According to the Figures 3 and 4 the material projections 54 are designed as nubs, the material projections 54 protruding transversely from the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 10 .

According to the Figures 3 to 5 the material projections 54 are arranged evenly distributed between the perforations 24 of the carrier plate 17 .

At the in the Figures 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 In the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the carrier plate 17, the perforations 24 of the carrier plate 17 each have a circular cross section.

However, it should be pointed out that in embodiments of the carrier plate 17 it is also provided that the perforations 24 have different cross sections, i.e. for example a round and/or oval and/or circular and/or a polygonal cross section or are also designed as elongated perforations , in order to create bristle fields with differently formed bristle bundles.

The Figures 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 show that the material projections 54 are connected in one piece to the carrier plate 17, the material projections 54 being made of the same material as the carrier plate 17, in particular of fusible plastic, preferably of thermoplastic material. The material from which the bristle filaments 2, 2a and/or the bundles of bristles 5, 5a have a lower melting point than the material from which the material projections 54 are made. However, an embodiment is preferred in which the material from which the material projections 54 are made has a lower melting point than the material from which the bristle filaments 2, 2a and/or the bristle bundles 5, 5a are made.

The Figures 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 also make clear that the carrier plate 17 has on its rear side 53 facing away from the bristle bundles 5, 5a an endless and closed boundary 55 protruding at right angles from the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17, which surrounds the perforations 24 and the material projections 54 and the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17 includes. The boundary 55 of the carrier plate 17 is at least half as high as the material projections 54 arranged on the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17.

In an exemplary embodiment of the carrier plate 17 that is not shown in the figures, this boundary 55 is higher than the material projections 54 on the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17.

At the in the Figures 6 to 9 In the exemplary embodiment of the small carrier plate 17 illustrated, it is provided that it has a cover 59 on its rear side 53 facing away from the bristle bundles 5, 5a, at least after the bristle bundles 5 have been introduced into the perforations 24 and/or after the material projections 54 have been melted and pressed in. This cover 59 is in figure 9 shown and can be sprayed on in an in-mold process, for example.

In the position of use can in the Figures 3 to 5 and also that in the Figures 6 to 9 illustrated carrier plate 17 on a brush 60, in particular on a toothbrush, with a handle 61 and a brush head 62, which has a carrier plate receptacle 63, for example by clipping and/or gluing or, in particular by means of an ultrasonic welding process, by welding to the brush 60 or . be.

Such a brush 60 is in figure 10 shown.

In another exemplary embodiment of the brush 60, provision is made for the carrier plate 17 to be attached to the brush 60, in particular to the carrier plate receptacle 63 of the brush 60, by means of an in-mold process.

figure 11 shows a part of the mixed bristle field 58 of the carrier plate 17 fastened to the brush 60 in an enlarged representation. Four bristle bundles 5a made of pointed bristle filaments 2a and the bristle bundles 5 arranged next to them made of conventional bristle filaments 2 are clearly visible Figures 6 to 11 illustrated carrier plate 17 consists of eight inner bristle bundles 5a and four outer bristle bundles 5 surrounding the eight inner bristle bundles 5a.

After the description of the device 1 and the carrier plate 17 according to the invention, which can be processed on the device 1, there now follows a detailed description of the method used on the device 1 for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular for toothbrushes.

The bristle filaments 2, 2a are removed from the material box 3 containing a supply of bristle filaments 2, 2a and combined into bristle bundles 5, 5a. Thereafter, the bristle bundles 5, 5a are guided through the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6 by means of a gas or air flow and then introduced into the perforations 8 of the bundle-retaining plate 9.

According to 1 the device 1 has the suction device 16, which is arranged beyond the bundle holding plate 9 provided on the transport device 6 and generates the gas or air flow necessary for the transport of the bristle bundles 5, 5a through the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6.

Like the suction gripper 43, the suction cup 16 is also covered with a filament-dense fabric, in the present case with a dutch fabric 44, so that suction of individual bristle bundles 5, 5a sucked into the bundle-retaining plate 9 bristle filaments 2, 2a can be prevented.

In order to be able to avoid sticking of the bristle filaments 2, 2a or the bristle bundles 5, 5a during their transport through the transport device 6 to elements of the transport device 6 to the bundle holding plate 9, the bristle bundles 5, 5a forming bristle filaments 2, 2a during their transport electrostatically discharged by the transport device 6 to the bundle holding plate 9.

In this way it can be prevented that the bristle bundles 5, 5a or the bristle filaments 2, 2a become statically charged due to the frictional forces acting on them during their transport through the transport device 6 and thus remain attached to the elements of the transport device 6.

The bristle filaments 2, 2a that form the bristle bundles 5, 5a are 1 device 1 shown electrostatically discharged during its transport through the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6 to the bundle-retaining plate 9.

For electrostatic discharge, the bristle filaments 2, 2a forming the bristle bundles 5, 5a are grounded during their transport through the transport device 6, more precisely during their transport through the hollow lines 7 of the transport device 6, to the bundle-holding plate 9 for electrostatic discharge.

During their transport through the transport device 6, the bristle filaments 2, 2a forming the bristle bundles 5, 5a are guided past an electrical contact arranged on the transport device 6, which is embodied here as a grounding contact 11, for electrostatic discharge and connected to this in touched. The grounding contact 11 with which the bristle filaments 2, 2a forming the bristle bundles 5, 5a are brought into contact during their transport through the transport device 6 is in FIG 1 device 1 shown is provided in the ducts 7 and arranged there.

At the in 1 Device 1 shown are the hollow lines 7 Bowden cable jackets 14. In the uppermost of the in 1 The hollow lines 7 illustrated have removed part of an outer plastic sheathing of the hollow line 7 designed as a Bowden cable jacket 14, so that an inner metal helix 13 of the Bowden cable jacket 14 is visible. This metal coil 13 acts as a ground contact 11, with the through this as a Bowden cable sheath 14 trained hollow lines 7 transported bristle bundles 5, 5a and the bristle bundles 5, 5a forming bristle filaments 2, 2a come into contact and can be discharged.

In the 1 The metal coil 13 shown is connected to the electrical conductor 12, which is designed to discharge electrostatic charges into the ground.

At this point it should be noted that all 1 shown hollow lines 7 of the device 1 as Bowden cable jackets 14, each with an inner metal coil 13 as a grounding contact 11, which extends over the entire length of the individual hollow lines 7 are formed. Each of the 1 shown hollow lines 7 is grounded via the electrical conductor 12 or connected to the earth to discharge electrostatic charges.

In one embodiment of the method it is provided that the bristle bundles 5, 5a from the bundle-retaining plate 9 are introduced directly through the tapering funnel channels 23 of the funnel plate 21 into perforations 24 of a carrier plate 17 that is kept ready.

In the procedure based on the in 1 device 1 shown is used, the bristle bundles 5, 5a are introduced with the aid of the compressor plunger 28 through the tapering funnel channels 23 of the funnel plate 21 into the perforations 24 of the total of four small carrier plates 17 held ready on the funnel plate 21.

This takes place in the compressor station designated 29 in 1 shown device 1.

Subsequently, the material projections 54 protruding from the rear side 53 of the carrier plate 17 facing away from the bristle bundles 5 are heated in the welding station 15 and thereby melted, with a melt of the melted material projections 54 for connecting the bristle bundles 5, 5a to the respective carrier plate 17 in a fastening plane of the Bristle bundle 5, 5a is pressed in, so that the melt flows in between the rear side 53 of the respective carrier plate 17 protruding bristle bundle ends and between bristle filament ends of the bristle bundle 5, 5a and then solidifies.

The material projections 54 on the carrier plate 17 are heated by means of the welding stamp 32, melted and pressed into a fastening plane of the bristle bundles 5, 5a to fasten the bristle bundles 5, 5a on the carrier plate 17.

Depending on requirements, the bristle bundles fed to the bundle-retaining plate 9 can be bristle bundles 5 made from conventional bristle filaments 2 and/or bristle bundles 5a made from chemically sharpened bristle filaments 2a—so-called CTFs or chemical tapered filaments.

The bristle filaments 2 , 2a are fed to the transfer station 42 in filament pucks 36 held together by means of a flexible and airtight casing 35 . The filament pucks 36 fed to the transfer station 42 are then sucked in by means of a suction gripper 43 assigned to the transfer station 42, the suction gripper 43 contacting the filament pucks 36 with its suction plate 45 on their free upper side or end face 46 and sucking them in.

What is special about this is that the flexible and airtight casing 35, which was previously also referred to as the puck cover, is sucked in transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bristle filaments 2, 2a and inwards in the direction of a longitudinal central axis oriented at right angles to the top side 46 of the respective filament puck 36 and itself thereby stabilizing around the bristle filaments 2, 2a of the filament puck 36 that has been sucked in.

After the suction gripper 43 has sucked in one of the filament pucks 36 , the filament puck 36 is transferred to the stripping station 34 by means of the suction gripper 43 .

The filament pucks 36 fed to the transfer station 42 in the figures are, at least if they consist of chemically sharpened bristle filaments 2a, as already mentioned above, provided with a spin finish with an antistatic additive for CFT's, which reduces the tendency of the bristle filaments 2, 2a to spread during their transport charge statically by the transport device 6 is reduced.

According to 1 the suction gripper 43 is arranged on a holder 56, which in turn is slidably mounted on a rail system 57. With the aid of this holder 56, the suction gripper 43 can then be displaced both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction in order to transfer individual filament pucks 36 from the transfer station 42 to the stripping station 34.

In the de-sheathing station 34, the sheathing 35 of the filament pucks 36 is opened and removed, and the bristle filaments 2, 2a freed from the sheathing 35 are automatically fed to the material box 3.

Upstream of the transfer station 42, the device 1 has the feed station 47, by means of which the filament pucks 36 of the transfer station 42 and the suction gripper 43 of the transfer station are fed to the feed station 47 on a total of three supports designed as conveyor belts 48 in the present case.

At the feed station 47, the filament pucks 36 are fed individually or, as in 1 shown, kept ready in their delivery containers 52 and, if necessary, preferably manually, pushed directly out of the delivery containers 52 onto the three supports designed as conveyor belts 48, in particular transversely to the conveying direction of the three conveyor belts 48.

The method for producing bristle fields for brushes and the device 1, the carrier plate 17 and the brush 60 equipped with such a carrier plate 17 make it possible to simplify the production of bristle fields for brushes, among other things, in that the means of a gas or air flow through the transport device 6 to the bundle-retaining plate 9 transported bristle bundles 5, 5a are electrostatically discharged during their transport through the transport device 6, so that they can be transported through the transport device 6 more easily, and in that they reduce the effort involved in the anchorless attachment of bristle bundles 5, 5a in a small carrier plate 17, since the small carrier plate 17 has material projections 54 on the back, which are melted and then pressed into a bundle attachment plane, in order to positively and/or force-fit bristle bundles 5, 5a introduced into the perforations 24 of the small carrier plate 17 with the small carrier plate 17 in a simple manner way to connect.

Claims (15)

1. Method for fastening bristle bundles (5, 5a) which are composed of bristle filaments (2) to a carrier pad (17) having a plurality of perforations (24) which penetrate the carrier pad (17), wherein the bristle bundles (5, 5a) are inserted into the perforations (24) and fastened without anchoring on the carrier pad (17), wherein the carrier pad (17) on the rear side (53) thereof which faces away from the bristle bundles (5, 5a) has a delimitation (55) which projects from the rear side (53) of the carrier pad (17) and surrounds the perforations (24) and the material protrusions (54) and comprises the rear side (53) of the carrier pad (17), characterized in that the carrier pad (17) on the rear side (53) thereof which faces away from the bristle bundles (5) that are guided into the perforations (24) has a plurality of material protrusions (54), wherein the material protrusions (54) are fused and for fastening the bristle bundles (5, 5a) without anchoring on the carrier pad (17) are pressed into a bundle fastening plane.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bristle bundles (5, 5a) that are introduced into the perforations (24) are composed of tapered bristle filaments (2) and, after fastening said bristle bundles (5, 5a) to the carrier pad (17), form a bristle arrangement of tapered bristle filaments (2a), or in that part of the bristle bundles (5, 5a) that are introduced into the perforations (24) are composed of tapered bristle filaments (2a) and another part of the bristle bundles (5, 5a) that are introduced into the perforations (24) are composed of conventional bristle filaments (2), specifically of bristle filaments (2) having a cross section which is consistent over the length thereof, wherein the bristle bundles (5a) of tapered bristle filaments (2a) and the bristle bundles (5) of conventional bristle filaments (2), after fastening said bristle bundles (5, 5a) to the carrier pad (17), form a mixed bristle arrangement (58).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristle filaments (2, 2a) are composed of polyamide and/or of polyester.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that conventional bristle filaments (2), specifically those with a cross section which is consistent over the length thereof, are composed of polyamide, and tapered bristle filaments (2a) are composed of polyester.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bristle bundles (5), after fusing the material protrusions (54) and pressing the fused material protrusions (54) into the bundle fastening plane, are connected in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner to the carrier pad (17).
6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the material protrusions (54) are configured as pimples, wherein the material protrusions (54) project transversely from the rear side of the carrier pad (17), and/or in that the material protrusions (54) are disposed so as to be distributed about the perforations (24).
7. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the perforations (24) have a round and/or oval and/or circular and/or a polygonal cross section, and/or in that the perforations (24) are configured as elongate perforations.
8. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the material protrusions (54) are integrally connected to the carrier pad (17), and/or in that the material protrusions (54) are composed of the same material as the carrier pad (17) .
9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the material of which the material protrusions (54) are composed has a lower melting point than the material of which the bristle filaments (2, 2a) and/or the bristle bundles (5, 5a) are composed.
10. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the material of which the bristle filaments (2, 2a) and/or the bristle bundles (5, 5a) are composed has a lower melting point than the material of which the material protrusions (54) are composed.
11. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the material protrusions (54) narrow, or narrow in a conical manner, towards the free end thereof.
12. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the delimitation (55) is endless and closed, and/or projects perpendicularly from the rear side (53) of the carrier pad (17), and/or in that the delimitation (55) of the carrier pad (17) is at least half the height of the material protrusions (54) which are disposed on the rear side (53) of the carrier pad (17).
13. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the carrier pad (17) on the rear side (53) thereof which faces away from the bristle bundles (5, 5a), at least after the introduction of the bristle bundles (5, 5a) into the perforations (24) and/or after the fusing and press-fitting of the material protrusions (54), is provided with a cover (59).
14. Brush (60), in particular toothbrush, having a handle (61) and a brush head (62), wherein the brush head (62) has a carrier-pad receptacle (63) and a carrier pad (17) which is fastened therein and populated with bristle bundles (5, 5a), characterized in that the bristle bundles (5, 5a) are fastened without anchoring on the carrier pad (17), according to the method according to one of Claims 1 to 13.
15. Brush (60) according to Claim 14, characterized in that the carrier pad (17) is clip-fitted and/or adhesively bonded into the carrier-pad receptacle (63) and/or welded therein, and/or is fastened to the brush (60) by means of an in-mould process.

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