EP3379972A1

EP3379972A1 - Device for producing sets of bristles for brushes, series of devices of this type and method for producing devices of this type

Info

Publication number: EP3379972A1
Application number: EP16763198.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ingo Kumpf; Saverio Pastore
Original assignee: Zahoransky AG
Current assignee: Zahoransky AG
Priority date: 2015-11-23
Filing date: 2016-09-07
Publication date: 2018-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-07
Also published as: KR20180088391A; CN108289544B; WO2017088940A1; JP2018534067A; CN108289544A; TWI682737B; TW201717804A; DE102015015030A1; EP3379972B1

Abstract

A device (1) for producing sets of bristles for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, comprises a transport device (2) for transporting bristle bundles through at least one hollow line (3) of the transport device (2) by means of a gas or air stream into perforations (4) of an bundle-retaining plate (5) that is held ready. In addition, the transport device (2) also comprises a guide element (6), inside which at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) is formed, via which bristle bundles can be fed to the perforations (4) of the bundle-retaining plate (5). The guide element (6) and the at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are produced by means of an additive production method. In order to produce the device (1) according to the invention, first the guide element (6) and the at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are produced by means of an additive production method, in particular printed by means of a 3D printing method, and then installed on a fastening interface (7) of the device (1).

Description

Apparatus for producing bristle fields for brushes, series of such devices and method for producing such devices

The invention relates to a device for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a transport device for transporting bristle bundles through at least one hollow line of the transport device by means of a gas or air flow in perforations of a bundle holding plate.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a series of devices for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, comprising at least two such devices and a method for producing a device of the type defined in the introduction.

Devices of the type mentioned above are already known in practice in different embodiments. In these devices, bristle bundles are transported via hollow conduits into a bundle holding plate. The bristle bundles, also referred to as filament bundles, are subsequently fused, for example, to a thermoplastic carrier plate and / or encapsulated with plastic material to form a brush head. The individual bristle bundles usually have a round cross section. With toothbrushes, however, more complex bristle field geometries are also desired today, in which at least individual bundles of bristles have a non-circular cross section, which may be, for example, rectangular or triangular. To bristle bundles with one of a circular shape For example, it is known to use so-called geometry hoses as hollow pipes, which are usually used in an oval shape. However, these geometry hoses have the disadvantage that they are available only in a limited number of simple cross-sectional geometries and are also relatively complex and expensive to manufacture and purchase.

The object of the invention is to provide a device, a series and a method for producing a device or series of the type mentioned, which allow a simpler, cheaper and more varied production and design of such devices and series. According to the invention, this object is achieved with a device according to claim 1. According to the invention a Vor-direction for the production of bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a transport device for transporting bristle bundles through at least one hollow conduit of the transport device by means of a gas or air flow in perforations of Bündelhalteplatte-, wherein the

Transport device comprises a guide member that is installed at a mounting interface between a discharge end of the at least one hollow conduit and the bundle holding plate and in which at least one continuous guide channel is formed, which is connectable or connected with an inlet end to the discharge end of the at least one hollow conduit and having an outlet end into a perforation of a bundle holding plate kept ready for assembly, the guide element and the at least one continuous guide channel being produced by means of a generative production method. The use of a generative manufacturing method for producing the guide element and the at least one continuous guide channel, bundle holding plates are fed through the bristle bundles, allows efficient and cost-effective production of guide elements with guide channels of different gradients and different cross-sectional geometries. Even complex geometries of the at least one guide channel in the interior of the guide element can by means of a generative manufacturing process compared to conventional

Manufacturing processes, such as casting or injection molding, which usually consuming molds and / or cores are needed, with less effort and thus made cheaper. In addition, the flexibility increases with respect to the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one guide channel in the interior of the

Guide element, since with a generative manufacturing process a variety of geometries can be produced comparatively easily and generative manufacturing processes are not subject to the restrictions on workpiece geometry, as in conventional

Manufacturing processes such as casting or injection molding techniques may be the case.

The guide element can be a suction block produced by means of an additive manufacturing process. The at least one guide channel in the interior of the guide element can have a circumferentially closed inner wall, so that the bristle bundles can be reliably conveyed, in particular sucked, by means of a negative pressure applied to the guide block by the at least one hollow line connected to the guide element and the at least one guide channel. Advantageously, the at least one guide channel is a guide channel formed in the production of the guide element by means of a generative manufacturing process in the material of the guide element and, preferably over its entire length, extending within the guide element. In this way, therefore, the guide element and the at least one guide channel of the guide element can be produced in a single manufacturing step.

The generative manufacturing method, by means of which the guide element and the at least one guide channel are available, may be a 3D printing method.

As a 3D printing process, for example, so-called powder bed process, free space method or

Liquid material method familiar. As a powder bed method, selective laser melting, selective laser sintering, selective heat sintering, binder jetting or electron beam melting can be used for producing the guide element and the at least one guide channel of the device according to the invention.

The free space methods include fused deposition modeling, laminated object modeling, build-up welding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contour crafting, cold gas spraying or also electron beam melting.

As a liquid material method, stereolithography, digital light processing or liquid composite molding may be used to form the guide element and the at least one Produce guide channel.

In this case, the guide element made of plastic, made of a ceramic material or metal.

For the supply of bristle bundles with different cross-sectional geometry, it may be expedient if an inner contour of the at least one hollow line in the course up to the discharge end of the hollow conduit, at which the transported bristle bundle is transferred from the hollow conduit to the guide channel of the guide element, a contour change towards a Borstenfeld desired bundle contour.

Of course, it is also possible that an inner contour of the at least one guide channel in the guide element in the course of its inlet end to its outlet end has a contour change towards a bundle contour desired in the bristle field. In these embodiments of the device according to the invention, the contouring of the bristle bundle during transport in the hollow conduit and / or in the guide channel can take place. Thus, no additional devices for forming the transported and the bundle plate supplied bristle bundles and no additional space required with such devices required.

In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the guide element of which benefits in particular from the possibilities associated with the use of generative manufacturing processes, it is provided that the guide element at least one guide channel with two or three or more inlet ends and a Having inlet channel sections which combine to form an outlet channel section and open into an outlet end of the at least one guide channel. In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, the supply of bristle bundles transported via two or three or more hollow conduits to the guide element becomes possible in a perforation of the bundle holding plate.

In order to reliably connect the at least one hollow conduit of the transport device to the at least one guide channel of the guide element, it can be provided that an insertion opening for receiving the at least one hollow conduit is formed in the guide element adjacent to the inlet end of the at least one guide channel, into which the discharge end the at least one hollow line can be inserted or plugged in, preferably an inner diameter of the at least one guide channel can correspond to an inner diameter of the at least one hollow line in order to enable a disruption-free and uninterrupted transition through the hollow line transported bristle bundles in the guide channel of the guide element.

It can be particularly expedient if an entry phase is formed at an inlet opening at the inlet end of the at least one guide channel, which facilitates entry of supplied bristle bundles from the hollow line connected to the at least one guide channel through the inlet opening into the inlet end of the guide channel.

The at least one hollow conduit can have a round or circular cross-section, in particular at its delivery end. The use of hollow pipes with a contoured Cross-section, in particular a polygonal cross-section, but is also possible. Preferably, one, for example, the previously mentioned, inlet opening of the at least one guide channel and / or at least one Eintri tskanalabschnitt of at least one guide channel have a corresponding to the cross section of the hollow line, so matching cross-section. This can promote a low-interference or even interference-free transition of transported bristle bundles from the hollow line into the guide channel of the guide element connected to the hollow line.

The at least one hollow conduit may be a hose, preferably of flexible material, or else a pipe connection, preferably of plastic or metal, in particular of steel or stainless steel. The use of flexible hoses as hollow pipes, in particular those made of plastic, can favor a structurally simple and inexpensive construction of the device. The use of hollow pipes of pipe joints, in particular of metal, such as steel or stainless steel, can withstand a higher operating pressure during bundle transport by means of a gas or air flow compared to hollow pipes made of plastic with the same or lower wall thickness. Due to a lower material thickness of such hollow conduits, their outer diameter can thus be dimensioned to be smaller, so that the hollow conduits are arranged closer to one another at the ends and the guide element to which the discharge ends of the hollow conduits are connected when using a plurality of hollow conduits can be arranged closer to one another. In particular, when using many hollow lines, this can reduce the required size of the guide element. In order to facilitate the transition of the bristle bundles transported through the guide element into the perforations of the bundle holding plate, it can be provided that the perforations of the bundle holding plate for receiving a bristle bundle formed in a hollow conduit and / or the guide channel are contoured in each case according to the desired bundle contour. The bundles of bristles transported by the at least one guide channel can be supplied particularly easily to the bundle holding plate when the guide element is in

Population position of the bundle holding plate facing edges of the perforations of the bundle holding plate are chamfered.

With regard to the bundle-holding plate, it should be mentioned that this can be a cassette for insertion into a mold of an injection-molding tool, a carrier plate or a so-called seal plate. Such a carrier plate or a seal plate is a bundle holding plate, which can be inserted into a head of a brush, in particular a toothbrush and connected to the brush.

In order to secure a connection of the at least one hollow conduit to the guide element, in particular during operation of the device according to the invention and to avoid loosening the connection between the at least one guide channel and the at least one hollow conduit, it may be expedient if the device has a holder for the at least a hollow conduit of the transport device has. This holder can be arranged on the guide element by means of at least one support element. The holder may be formed as a holding plate with holding openings for the at least one hollow conduit, which in terms of their number and geometry of the number and geometry to be held Hollow pipes are designed accordingly.

The device may comprise a bristle supply and a removal device for removing individual bristle bundles from the bristle supply. In addition, one can

Transfer device for transferring removed bristle bundles to be provided on the transport device to the device according to the invention. A particularly efficient assembly of the bundle holding plate with supplied bundles of bristles is possible if the transport device has a number of hollow lines matching the number of perforations of the bundle plate. It may also be expedient if the guide element has a number of outlet ends of guide channels which coincide with the number of perforations of the bundle-holding plate, in particular a number of guide channels matching the number of perforations of the bundle-holding plate. In this way it is possible to equip all perforations of the bundle holding plate by means of the device according to the invention simultaneously with transported through the hollow tubes and the guide channels of the guide element bristle bundles. The above-defined object is also achieved with a series of devices for producing bristle fields for brushes according to claim 16. To solve the problem, a series of devices for producing bristle pads for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, comprising at least two devices according to one of claims 1 to 15 is thus proposed, wherein the guide elements of the at least two devices with regard to their design, in particular with regard to the number of their guide channels and / or the Course of their leadership channels and / or the

Cross-sectional geometry of their guide channels are formed differently, while mounting interfaces of the at least two devices on which the guide elements are installed in the use position, are formed identical to each other.

In such a series of similar but different in the form of their guide elements inventive devices, the manufacturing advantages that are fully exploited with the use of a generative manufacturing process for the production of the guide elements and therein guide channels.

Since usually such devices are made in very small numbers, it has been very complex and expensive to offer differently designed guide elements. In the production methods used to date for the production of guide elements, such as injection molding or metal casting techniques, the production of expensive tools has always been necessary so that the provision of differently shaped guide elements with differently shaped guide channels was usually very expensive and expensive. With the series according to the invention, this disadvantage can be largely avoided by the use of generative production methods in the production of the guide elements, since a tailor-made production of a guide element requires only corresponding print data, which can be obtained, for example, by means of conventional CAD programs. The construction and production of elaborate tools for producing the different guide elements can be avoided. To solve the object defined above, a method for producing a device according to one of claims 1 to 15 is also proposed according to claim 17, wherein it is provided to first produce the guide element of the device by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular by means of a 3D printing process to print , and then to install at a mounting interface of the device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawing. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention for producing bristle fields with a transport device comprising a total of nine hollow conduits with different cross-sectional geometries and a guide element designed as a suction block, in the interior of which guide channels are shown in dashed lines wherein, prior to an exit end of the guide channels of the guide element, a bundle holding plate with a total of six perforations of different cross-sectional geometries is kept ready for mounting with bundles of bristles,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

3 shows a perspective view of the guide element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and designed as an intake block with a plurality of guide channels in the interior of the guide element, 4 shows an inventive guide element with four individual guide channels in the interior of the guide element, wherein a first of the four guide channels a contour change from around to hexagonal, a second guide channel a contour change from round to rectangular, a third guide channel a contour change from square to square and a fourth Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another guide element according to the invention with a merger of two guide channels on an outlet end as well as a change in the contour from rectangular to rectangular with a 90 ° -screw

6 shows a further view of a guide element according to the invention with a combination of three inlet channel sections on an outlet opening or an outlet end of a guide channel.

Figures 1 and 2 show a generally designated 1 device for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes. The device 1 has a transport device 2 for transporting bristle bundles, not illustrated in the figures, through hollow tubes 3 of the transport device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of a gas or air flow in perforations 4 of a bundle holding plate 5. Such a bundle holding plate 5 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and can be held ready on the device 1 for loading with bristle bundles. The transport device 2 comprises a guide element 6, which is installed at a mounting interface 7 between a discharge end 8 of the hollow conduits 3 and the bundle holding plate 5. The attachment interface 7 can be attached to the device 1, For example, on a stand 9 of the device 1, be formed.

In the guide element 6 at least one continuous guide channel 10 is formed, which is connected to an inlet end 11 with the discharge end 8 of a hollow conduit 3 of the transport device in the use position and opens with an outlet end 12 in a hole 4 of a hold-ready for bundle holding plate 5. In this way, transported through the hollow tubes 3 of the transport device 2 by means of a gas or air stream bristle bundles using the guide member 6 and the at least one guide channel 10 formed therein the perforations 4 of the held bundle holding plate 5 and thus a desired bristle field can be produced.

According to the invention, it is provided that the guide element 6 and the at least one continuous guide channel 10 are produced by means of a generative manufacturing method. In this case, the guide element 6 and the at least one continuous

Guide channel 10 by means of a generative

Manufacturing process, which can also be referred to as a 3D printing process, are built in layers. Although the layer structure of the guide element 6 and of the at least one continuous guide channel 10 can also take place in or parallel to the later conveying direction of the bristle bundles through the at least one guide channel 10, the guide element 6 and the at least one continuous guide channel 10 have proved particularly favorable layer by layer and that build transversely to the later conveying or transport direction of the at least one guide channel 10 to be transported bristle bundles. In this way, namely even very complex cross-sectional geometries of at least realize a continuous guide channel 10 in the interior of the guide element 6.

All guide elements 6 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are designed as suction blocks 13 produced by means of a generative manufacturing method. At the outlet ends 12 of the guide channels 10 of the suction blocks 13 shown in the figures, a negative pressure can then be applied, which can bring about a transport of the bristle bundles by means of a gas or air flow through the hollow conduits 3 and the guide channels 10 of the transport device 2 or at least favor.

On the basis of the guide channels 10 shown in dashed lines and extending inside the individual guide elements 6, it can be seen that each of the guide channels 10 has a circumferentially closed inner wall 14. All guide channels 10 are formed in the production of the respective guide member 6 in the same manufacturing step by means of a generative manufacturing process in the material of the guide member 6 guide channels extending over its entire length within the guide member 6.

As generative manufacturing methods by means of which the guide elements 6 and the guide channels 10 can be produced or obtained, so-called SD printing methods can be used. Depending on the material to be processed and the application, powder bed processes, free space processes or even liquid material processes can be used to generate the guide element 6 and the at least one guide channel 10 provided therein generatively.

As a powder bed process, for example, selective Laser melting, selective laser sintering, selective heat sintering, binder jetting or electron beam melting known. As a free space method, for example, fused deposition modeling, laminated object modeling, build-up welding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contour crafting, cold gas spraying or electron beam melting known. As a liquid material method, for example

Stereolithography, digital light processing or liquid composite molding known.

All generative manufacturing processes are characterized in that from informal material, such as liquids, powders or the like, or formneutralem material, so for example, ribbon or wire-shaped material, by chemical and / or physical processes, a production of the guide element 6 and the at least one guide channel 10 takes place directly on the basis of, for example, computer-internal data models. The special feature of the generative manufacturing process is that they are forming processes with which the guide elements 6 according to the invention and the guide channels 10 provided therein can be produced without requiring special tools which would require the respective geometry of the desired guide elements 6 and form the guide channels formed therein 10, as is the case for example with molds used in the casting production.

The guide elements 6 shown in the figures can be made of plastic, of a ceramic material or preferably of metal as needed. In all of the guide channels 10 shown in the figures, it can be seen that the inner contours of the guide channels 10 in the course of the inlet ends 11 to the outlet ends 12 of the guide channels 10 have a contour change toward a desired bundle contour in the bristle field or experienced.

The guide element 6 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has a total of nine guide channels 10 with different guide channel cross sections. Seven of the nine guide channels 10 have at least in the region of their inlet end 11 a circular guide channel cross section, while the two middle guide channels 10 have a square or a rectangular cross section in the region of its inlet end 11.

It is noticeable that the guide channels 10 in the region of its inlet end 11 have the same cross-section, as the hollow conduits 3, which are connected to the guide channels 10. This allows a low-interference or even interference-free transition of the bristle bundles from the hollow conduits 3 into the guide channels 10.

The guide element 6 shown in FIG. 4 has four guide channels 10, wherein a first guide channel 10a undergoes a contour change from a round inlet cross section to a hexagonal outlet cross section. A second guide channel designated 10b undergoes a change in its inner contour from its inlet end 11 to its outlet end 12 from a round cross section to a rectangular cross section. The third guide channel, labeled 10c, undergoes a cross-sectional change from its entrance end 11 to its exit end 12 from one slightly larger square cross section on a smaller square cross section, so that here the bristle bundles are also compressed during transport through the guide channel 10 at the same time. The fourth guide channel 10d of this guide element 6 experiences a change in its inner contour from its inlet end 11 to its outlet end 12 from a rectangular inlet cross section to a rectangular outlet cross section, wherein the outlet cross section is additionally rotated by 90 ° in comparison to the inlet cross section.

In all of the guide channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d shown in the figures, it can be seen that the cross-sectional area of the inlet end 11 to the outlet end 12 of the respective guide channel decreases, so that through the guide channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d transported bristle bundles are compressed during their transport.

The guide elements 6 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 are distinguished by the fact that the guide channels 10 formed in these guide elements 6 have two or three inlet ends 11 and a corresponding number of inlet channel sections 15 which combine to form an outlet channel section 16 and into an outlet end 12 of the guide channel 10 open. According to the embodiment of the guide element 6, which is shown in Figure 5, here have the two inlet ends 11 of the guide channels 10 has a round inlet cross-section. The outlet cross-section of the outlet end 12, into which the two inlet channel sections 15 of the guide channels 10 open, is oval.

In the guide element 6 according to FIG. 6, three guide channels 10 or inlet channel sections 15 are provided provided, the inlet ends 11 each have a circular inlet cross-section. The three

Inlet channel sections 15 merge to form an outlet channel section 16 and finally open into a triangular outlet cross section at the outlet end 12 of the guide channel 10 or the outlet channel section 16.

In all the guide elements 6 shown in the figures, adjacent to the entry ends 11 of the guide channels 10, insertion openings 17 are provided with free positions for connection and for receiving the respective hollow conduits 3. In these insertion openings 17, the discharge ends 8 of the hollow conduits 3 can be inserted in order to securely fix the hollow conduits 3 to the guide element 6. In this case, the inner diameters of the guide channels 10 correspond to the inner diameters of the hollow conduits 3.

The figures clearly show that the inlet cross-sections of the guide channels 10 which are adjacent to the respective delivery end 8 of the respective hollow conduit 3 also correspond to a delivery internal cross-section of the corresponding hollow conduit 3. In order to facilitate the transition of the bristle bundles from the respective discharge end 8 into the respective guide channel 10, an entry chamfer 19 is formed at an inlet opening 18 at the entry end 11 of each guide channel 10.

Provided in all interconnected hollow conduits 3 and guide channels 10, that the inlet opening 18 of each guide channel 10 and partly also an inlet channel section 15 of the respective guide channel 10 a to the cross section of the hollow conduit 3, in particular in Has region of its discharge end 8, corresponding cross-section.

The hollow pipes 3 have at their discharge end 8, as needed, a round or circular cross section or even a contoured cross section, in particular a polygonal cross section.

Depending on the application, the hollow tubes 3 may be formed as tubes, which preferably consist of a flexible material. Particularly pressure-resistant hollow conduits 3 may be formed as pipe connections, which consist for example of plastic or metal, in particular of steel or stainless steel.

In order to facilitate a transition of the bristle bundles from the outlet ends 12 of the guide channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d into the perforations 4 of a bundle holding plate 5 kept ready for assembly, edges of the perforations 4 facing the guide element 6 are the bundle holding plate (s) 5 chamfered.

In addition, the perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 for receiving a bristle bundle formed in one of the hollow conduits 3 or in one of the guide channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are respectively contoured according to the desired bundle contour. Thus, the arrangement and the cross-sectional geometry of the perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 form the later bristle field. The bundle holding plate 5 may be formed depending on Anwendungsfal 1 as a cassette for insertion into a mold of an injection mold, as a carrier plate or as a so-called seal plate. Carrier plates or seal plates are those Bundle holding plates 5, which are in a head of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, inserted and connectable there with the brush. FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the device has a holder 20 for the hollow lines 3 of the transport device 2. The holder 20 is arranged by means of four support connections 21 on the guide member 6 and secured thereto. The holder 20 is designed as a holding plate with holding openings 22 for the hollow lines 3, wherein the holding openings 22 are designed according to their number and geometry of the number and geometry of the hollow lines to be held 3.

The figures do not show that the device 1 can have a bristle supply and a removal device for removing individual bristle bundles from the bristle supply. In addition, the device 1 can also be a transfer device for transferring removed bristle bundles to the

Transport device 2 have to be able to perform the bristle bundles by means of the transport device 2, the perforations 4 a held bundle holding plate 5. At least the guide element 6 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a number of outlet ends 12 with outlet openings of guide channels 10 corresponding to the number of perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5, so that all the bundle holding plate 5 shown in FIGS Holes 4 can be equipped simultaneously with bristle bundles using the device 1 according to the invention. The exemplary embodiment of the guide element 6 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 also has a number of guide channels 10 matching the number of perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 to be loaded.

The bundle holding plate 5 may also be arranged downstream of a compressor plate, not shown in the figures, which in turn has perforations for receiving bristle bundles. Their cross sections are in each case smaller than the cross section of the bristle bundle transferred to the respective perforation and also smaller than the cross section of the corresponding perforation 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 located upstream of the compactor plate. In addition, the device according to the invention can also be a transfer device for passing the bristle bundles from the bundle holding plate 5 have on a downstream compressor plate.

The devices 1 according to the invention can form a series of devices for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, comprising at least two devices 1 of the type described above. In such a series, it is provided that the guide elements 6 of the at least two devices 1 with respect to their design, in particular with regard to the number of their guide channels 10 and / or the course of their guide channels 10 and / or the cross-sectional geometry of their guide channels 10, are formed differently, while mounting interfaces 7 of the at least two devices 1, on which the guide elements 6 are installed in the position of use, are formed identical to one another.

This makes it possible for the different guide elements 6 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 to be used in the FIGS To install 1 and 2 shown device 1 and so make a quick conversion of the device 1 according to the invention. In this context, the advantages of the generative manufacturing process can be fully exploited, since the conventional or difficult to produce with high cost guide elements 6 now even with complex geometry and especially with complex internal geometry even without the costly preparation of special tools comparatively easy and can be produced with little effort.

It is provided in the manufacture of the device 1 according to the invention that the respective guide member 6 of the device 1 is first prepared by means of a generative manufacturing process in one embodiment, printed in particular by means of a 3D printing process, and then installed on the mounting interface 7 of the device 1.

As already stated above, a layered structure of the guide element 6, as is the case, for example, in 3D printing, can take place transversely to the later conveying or transport direction of the bristle bundles through the at least one guide channel 10 of the guide element 6. In this way, even very complex cross-sectional geometries and cross-sectional geometrical profiles of the individual guide channels 10 in the interior of the guide element 6 can be realized comparatively easily in a single production step.

The device 1 for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, has the Transport device 2 for transporting bundles of bristles by means of a gas or air flow in perforations 4 of the holding bundle holding plate 5, a guide element 6, in the interior of at least one continuous guide channel 10 is formed, can be supplied through the bristle bundles the holes 4 of the bundle holding plate 5. In this case, the guide element 6 and the at least one continuous guide channel 10 are produced by means of a generative manufacturing process. To produce the device 1 according to the invention, it is provided that the guide element 6 and the at least one continuous guide channel 10 provided therein are first produced by means of a generative manufacturing method and then installed on the mounting interface 7 of the device 1.

/ List of Reference Signs

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

2 transport device

3 hollow pipe

4 holes

5 bundle holding plate

6 guide element

7 mounting interface

8 dispensing end of 3

9 stands

10 guide channel

10a guide channel

10b guide channel

10c guide channel

lOd guide channel

11 entry end

12 exit end

13 intake block

14 inner wall of 10

15 inlet passage section

16 outlet channel section

17 insertion opening

18 entrance opening

19 entry phase

20 holders

21 support connection

22 holding openings

/ Claims

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a transport device (2) for transporting bristle bundles through at least one hollow conduit (3) of the transport device (2) by means of a gas or air flow in perforations (4) one A bundle holding plate (5), said transporting device (2) comprising a guide member (6) installed at a fixing interface (7) between a discharge end (8) of said at least one hollow conduit (3) and said bundle holding plate (5) and in which a continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) is formed, which is connectable or connected with an inlet end (11) to the discharge end (8) of the at least one hollow conduit (3) and with an outlet end (12) into one Perforation (4) of a bundle holding plate (5) kept ready for assembly, wherein the guide element (6) and the at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) communicate els of a generative manufacturing process are made.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element (6) is a produced by a generative manufacturing process suction block (13) and / or that the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd) a Having circumferentially closed inner wall (14) and / or that the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lod) formed in the manufacture of the guide element (6) by means of a generative manufacturing process in the material of the guide element (6) and, preferably over its entire length, within the guide element (6) extending guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the generative manufacturing method, by means of which the guide element (6) and the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lod) are available, a 3D printing process is, in particular a powder bed process, for example, selective laser melting, selective

Laser sintering, selective heat sintering, binder jetting or electron beam melting, and / or a free-space method, eg fused deposition modeling, laminated object modeling, cladding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contour crafting, cold gas spraying or electron beam melting, and / or a liquid material method, for example stereolithography, digital light processing or liquid composite molding.

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide element (6) consists of plastic, of a ceramic material or of metal.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an inner contour of the at least one hollow line (3) in the course up to the discharge end (8) of the hollow line (3) a contour change towards a desired bundle in the bristle field Contour and / or that an inner contour of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lod) in the guide element (6) in the course of its inlet end (11) to its outlet end (12) a contour change towards one in the Borstenfeld desired bundle - contour and / or that the guide element (6) has two or three or more guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lod) with different guide channel cross-sections.

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide element (6) at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) with two or three or more inlet ends (11) and inlet channel sections ( 15) which: combine to form an exit channel section (16) and open into an exit end (12) of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d).

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the guide element (6) adjacent to the inlet end (11) of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) has an insertion opening (17 ) is formed for receiving the at least one hollow conduit (3) into which the discharge end (8) of the at least one hollow conduit (3) can be inserted or inserted, preferably wherein an inner diameter and / or a discharge end (8) of the respective hollow conduit (3 ) adjacent inlet inner cross-section of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) corresponds to an inner diameter and / or Abgabeinnenquerschnitt the at least one hollow conduit (3).

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at an inlet opening (18) at the inlet end (11) of the at least one guide channel (10, 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d) an entrance chamfer (19) is trained.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one hollow conduit (3), in particular at its discharge end (8), has a round or circular cross section or a contoured cross section, in particular a polygonal cross section, preferably wherein the one or the inlet opening (18) of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and / or at least one inlet channel section (15) of the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) has a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the hollow line (3).

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one hollow conduit (3) a hose, preferably made of a flexible material, or a pipe connection, preferably made of plastic or metal, in particular steel or stainless steel, is.

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate

(5) for receiving a in a hollow conduit (3) and / or in the at least one guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lod) reshaped bristle bundles are each contoured according to the desired bundle contour and / or that the guide element

(6) facing edges of the perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5) are touched.

12. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that as a bundle holding plate (5) a cassette for insertion into a mold of an injection mold and / or a carrier plate or a seal plate, which in a head of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, can be inserted and connected to the brush, is provided.

13. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the device (1) has a holder (20) for the at least one hollow conduit (3) of the transport device (2), in particular wherein the holder (20). by means of at least one support connection (21) on the guide element (6) is arranged.

14. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the device (1) has a bristle supply and a removal device for removing individual bristle bundles from the bristle supply and / or a transfer device for transferring removed bristle bundles to the transport device (2). having.

15. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the transport device (2) with the number of perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5) matching number of hollow conduits (3) and / or if the guide element (6) one with the number; the perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5) corresponding number of

Exit ends (12) of guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d), in particular a number corresponding to the number of perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5)

Guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd).

16. A series of devices (1) for producing brush burners for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, comprising at least two devices (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the guide elements (6) of the at least two devices (1) with regard to their design, in particular with regard to the number of their guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and / or the course of their guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and / or the cross-sectional geometry of their guide channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c , lOd), are formed differently, while mounting interfaces (7) of the at least two devices (1) on which the guide elements (6) are installed in the position of use, are formed identical to each other.

17. A method for producing a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the guide element (6) of the device (1) initially produced by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular by means of a 3D printing process printed, and then to a mounting interface ( 7) of the device (1) is installed.

/ Summary