JP2003275125A - Fiber agglomerate, and ear cleaner and cosmetic applicator using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fiber agglomerate to be easily and efficiently manufactured, and an ear cleaner and a cosmetic applicator using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The fiber agglomerate 1 is formed as a prescribed shape (such as nearly a spherical shape, a pencil-shape, and a cylindrical shape) with fibers planted on the surface of a shaft body 2 by the thermal fusion. In the case of the ear cleaner, fibers are planted on one end 2a off the shaft body 2 by the thermal fusion to form a nearly spherical fiber agglomerate 1. In the case of the cosmetic applicator, fibers are planted on one end 2a of the shaft body 2 by the thermal fusion to form a nearly pencil-shaped fiber agglomerate 1 (a bristle part). The fiber agglomerate 1 can be also used as s writing utensil or a cleaning tool. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fiber agglomerate in which a large number of fibers are planted on the surface of a shaft, an ear cleaning tool and a cosmetic applicator using the fiber agglomerate.

[Prior art]

[0002] Generally, an ear cleaning tool is provided with a substantially spherical bristle agglomerate called a so-called Bonten, which is a bundle of a large number of bristles of waterfowl or the like attached to one end of a shaft. This bonten is usually manufactured by tying and fixing villi of a waterfowl or the like to one end of a shaft with a thread. However, since such a work is mainly a manual work, there is a problem that it is complicated and requires a lot of time and skill.

[0003]

The present invention has been completed in view of the above problems, and a fiber agglomerate such as a bonten which can be easily and efficiently manufactured, and an ear using the same. An object is to provide a cleaning tool and a cosmetic applicator.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventor has found that when the fibers are planted on the surface of the shaft by heat fusion, the spherical shape as described above is used. It is possible to easily produce fiber aggregates of any shape such as, and therefore, if the technology for producing this fiber aggregate is used, it can be used for various purposes such as ear cleaning tool bontens, cosmetic applicators, etc. The present invention has been completed by discovering a new fact that a fiber agglomerate can be manufactured efficiently at low cost.

That is, the fiber agglomerate of the present invention is characterized in that the fibers are planted on the surface of the shaft body by heat fusion to form a predetermined shape. Here, the shape of the fiber agglomerate is not particularly limited, and an arbitrary shape such as a substantially spherical shape, a substantially pen shape (generally conical shape), or a substantially columnar shape can be manufactured. The abbreviation does not mean that these shapes are geometrically strict, but that it is sufficient that the shapes can be recognized as approximately spherical shapes. Further, the term “planted” means a state in which one end of the fiber is fixed to the surface of the shaft body.

Further, the ear cleaning tool of the present invention is characterized in that fibers are planted by heat fusion at one end of the shaft body to form a substantially spherical fiber aggregate. The cosmetic applicator of the present invention is
The fibers are planted at one end of the shaft body by heat fusion to form a substantially spherical or brush-shaped fiber agglomerate.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows a fiber aggregate according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the fiber agglomerate 1 has a substantially spherical shape, and is attached to one end 2 a of the shaft body 2 by heat fusion.

The fibers constituting the fiber agglomerate 1 may be any of synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers, semi-synthetic fibers and natural fibers, but it is preferable to use heat-meltable synthetic fibers.
However, even if the fibers used do not have heat-melting properties, it is sufficient that the shaft body 2 itself has heat-melting properties.

Examples of the synthetic fibers include polyolefin fibers (polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, fibers made of copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene, fibers made of copolymers of the above olefins and other components). , Acrylic fiber, polyvinyl chloride fiber, polyvinyl alcohol fiber, elastomer fiber (polyurethane fiber, etc.), polyester fiber, polyamide fiber, etc. can be used. Among these, it is preferable to use a polyolefin fiber having heat melting property, and it is particularly preferable to use a stretchable polyolefin fiber.

Regenerated fibers include viscose rayon and cupra, semi-synthetic fibers include acetate and triacetate, and natural fibers include cotton, silk, wool and other animal hairs.

The fibers used may be so-called straight fibers or crimped fibers. Also, fibers that have been bulked or fluffed can be used. What kind of fiber is used depends on the application of the fiber agglomerate 1. For example, in the case of a substantially spherical fiber agglomerate 1 as shown in FIG. Are preferred, and the fibers may have crimps. As a result, the spherical fiber agglomerate 1 having elasticity and volume is obtained.

As the shaft body 2, for example, a wood shaft, a bamboo shaft, a metal shaft, a plastic shaft, a paper shaft or the like can be used. Shaft 2
The thickness, especially the thickness of the end portion is not particularly limited, and the outer diameter is 1 to
If it is about 10 mm, it can be used.

Next, a method for producing a fiber agglomerate using heat-fusible fibers will be described with reference to FIG. First, the heat-meltable fiber used as the raw material is a long fiber bundle 3 (sliver).
Used in the form of. The amount of fibers of the fiber bundle 3 can be appropriately selected according to the size (diameter, etc.) of the fiber aggregate to be formed, and is not particularly limited.

The end of the fiber bundle 3 is converged into a small size by the diaphragm member 4. As the diaphragm member 4, for example, a ring, a cylindrical body, or the like can be used, and the tip of the fiber bundle 3 is inserted through a small-diameter through hole in the diaphragm member 4. The diameter of the through hole is not particularly limited because it varies depending on the thickness or the amount of fibers of the fiber bundle used, but it is preferably at least larger than the outer diameter of the end portion 2a of the shaft body 2, and specifically, the end portion 2a. The outer diameter is preferably 0.5 to 5 mm, more preferably 1 to 3 mm.

The tip surface 3a of the fiber bundle 3 is heated and melted while the tip of the fiber bundle 3 is small and convergent.
A burner, a nichrome wire heater, an infrared heater, or the like can be used for heating. The tip surface 3a of the fiber bundle 3 is heated and melted by the heat of the burner or heater.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b),
While the tip surface 3a of the fiber bundle 3 is melted, the shaft 2
Is inserted so as to be pushed into the inside of the fiber bundle 1 from the tip surface 2a, and the tip of the fiber is fused to the surface of the shaft body 2. After the fused portion is solidified by cooling, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the fiber bundle 1 is pulled out forward from the through hole by a predetermined length, and then the fiber bundle 1 is placed on the cutter 5 as shown in FIG. 2 (d). And cut it to an appropriate length. As a result, the surface of the shaft body 2 (that is, the tip end surface 2a of the shaft body 2 and the entire peripheral surface of the insertion portion into the fiber bundle 1).
A fiber agglomerate 1 in which each fiber is densely planted is obtained (Fig. 2 (e)).

The insertion length of the shaft body 2 into the fiber bundle 4 can be appropriately determined, but is usually 10 mm or less. The lower limit of the insertion length is not particularly limited, and for example, the end surface 2a of the shaft body 2 may be brought into contact with the tip end surface 3a of the melted fiber bundle 3. In this case, the tip surface 2 of the shaft body 2
Fibers are planted only in a.

As the cutter 5, for example, scissors, knife, etc. may be mentioned, but an automatic cutting device equipped with a rotary blade or the like may be adopted. The cutting length of the fiber bundle 1 by the cutter 5 can be appropriately determined usually within the range of 5 to 40 mm, and the size of the fiber aggregate 1 is determined by this length.

The steps of FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (e) can be repeatedly and continuously performed. Thereby, it becomes possible to mass-produce the fiber agglomerates 1. The obtained fiber agglomerate 1 may be subjected to heat treatment, if necessary, or so-called trimming for cutting the surface of the fiber agglomerate 1 to adjust the shape.

FIG. 2 shows a method for producing a fiber agglomerate using heat-fusible fibers, but using fibers having no heat-meltability and a plastic shaft having heat-meltability. The fiber agglomerate 1 can be obtained by melting the tip portion of the shaft body and implanting fibers on the surface thereof. The fiber agglomerate 1 shown in FIG. 1 is preferably used as a bonten for an ear cleaning tool or the like. At the other end of the shaft body 2 provided with the fiber agglomerate 1, a spoon-shaped ear scraping portion or the like is usually provided.

The fiber agglomerate 1 shown in FIG. 1 can also be used as a cosmetic applicator. In particular, it is suitable for application in a state where a relatively wide face of the face is blurred, such as a blusher or a shadow of powdery cosmetics. Furthermore, when straight fibers that are relatively rigid are used, a brush-like fiber agglomerate 6 as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. This fiber agglomerate 6 can also be used as a cosmetic applicator. Further, it is also possible to make a taper-shaped fiber agglomerate, and such a brush-shaped fiber agglomerate can also be used as a cosmetic applicator. Since the cosmetic applicator of the present invention can be efficiently manufactured by the method shown in FIG. 2, it can be used as an inexpensive disposable cosmetic applicator.

The fiber agglomerate of the present invention is not limited to the application as an ear cleaning tool and a cosmetic applicator. For example, a cleaning tool using the fiber agglomerate as a brush, a brush type brush tip, and the like. It can also be applied to writing instruments and the like.

[0023]

The fiber agglomerate of the present invention, the ear cleaning tool and the cosmetic applicator using the fiber agglomerate have the effect that they can be manufactured easily and efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a fiber agglomerate of the present invention.

2 (a) to (e) are schematic views showing an example of a method for producing a fiber agglomerate of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a cosmetic applicator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 fiber agglomerates Biaxial body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A fiber is planted on the surface of a shaft body by heat fusion,
A fiber agglomerate characterized by forming a predetermined shape. 2. A fiber is planted at one end of the shaft body by heat fusion,
An ear cleaning tool characterized in that it forms a substantially spherical fiber aggregate. 3. A fiber is planted at one end of the shaft body by heat fusion,
A cosmetic applicator characterized by forming a fiber aggregate having a substantially spherical shape or a substantially brush shape.