KR20030032040A - Method for producing bristle products - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of producing a brush product, a desired bristle is prepared by mounting the bristles 3 bonded to the respective bristles 3 or groups 9 of the plastic material in a predetermined arrangement on the support 2. forming bristle stock, and at least some of the bristles of a given arrangement or mounted bristles are provided in a contactless, desirable regular structure using laser radiation. The present invention also creates structures in a reproducible manner on top of the outer and bristle to support cleaning by suggesting non-contact cutting of the free ends of the bristles via laser radiation.

Description

Method for producing bristle products

Brush products usually consist of some regular bristles and bristles forming the same bristle have smooth envelopes with free bristles arranged in flat, continuous or discontinuous curved envelopes. While the shells of the bristles have a primarily wiping effect, the bristles have the main purpose of cleaning, polishing or polishing through mechanical action on the surface. Multiple bristles are effective and must be provided within the bristle primarily to substantially secure planar cleaning. Only the envelopes of the outer bristles of the bristles when brushing are practically effective, and the inner bristles support the bristles between them and have the additional function of retaining the media required for the brushing effect in the narrow capillaries between the coating medium or bristles. Just supply

For example, many attempts have been made to include bristle flanks in the cleaning, polishing or polishing process resulting from brushing by structuring the outer bristles of bristles through mechanical material wear after manufacture of the brush product (US Pat. No. 5,678,275). This approach does not provide satisfactory results. In particular, because the bristles are deflected due to their resilience, which depends on the position in the bristle and the distance from the mounting point on the support, certain locally located and geometrically shaped structures cannot be produced.

The Applicant has also proposed to structure the extruded short fibers used to produce bristles through laser treatment of a monofilament envelope (WO 99/66111). The short fibers are then joined into strands and the bristles of the strand are cut to the desired length. Since the short fibers are axially displaced relative to one another when joined in strands, a locally defined structure for the bound bristles of the bristles cannot be produced. Also, rather coarsely structured bristles cause problems in existing classification into groups such as, for example, bundles. This causes a large variation in the number of bristles in the bundle. This method also does not facilitate the arrangement of the bristles structured in the outer region of the bristle with the most effective bristles. The inner bristles arranged and structured are less effective and even useless compared to those in the outer region. Thus, unnecessary excess material may be constructed and possibly weakened by short fiber treatment. In addition, the production process is delayed by laser treatment in the production of short fibers.

It is known to some extent that planar bristle surfaces (surface surfaces of free bristle bristles) do not facilitate sufficient cleaning in many applications, especially toothbrushes. Such bristle bristles cannot adequately follow the irregular bends of the tooth. Interdental spaces remain untreated enough. For this reason, toothbrushes with significantly different bristles "terrains" have been proposed. The topography is usually created through mechanical wear of the plastic material accompanying the bristle ends, such as for example, cutting of the bristles (US Pat. No. 2,227,126, German Patent No. 198 32 436, European Patent No. 0 736 270). Therefore, the required mechanical polishing or cutting treatment is required. Only limited variations are possible. The mutual axial displacement of the bristles (European Patent No. 0 346 646) prior to mounting the bristles on the support led to better results and could theoretically produce any "terrain". This method requires an additional processing step before mounting the bristles on the support. In addition, the topographic bristles must be held in place and connected to the bristle supports.

The present invention forms a desired bristle stock by mounting the bristles joined into respective bristles or groups in a predetermined arrangement on a support, and processing at least some shells of the bristles to accommodate the structure. It relates to a method of producing a brush product.

The invention also forms the desired bristle stock by mounting the bristles joined in respective bristles or groups in a predetermined arrangement on the support, wherein the free ends of at least some of the bristles are short. It is about how to produce a brush product.

1-6 show side views of the toothbrush heads with other structures in the bristles.

7 and 8 show side views of toothbrush heads with structures in the bristle shell and bristle topography.

9-11 show top views of the toothbrush heads with other linear topography.

12-14 show perspective views of toothbrush heads with other structures or “terrains”.

15-17 show top views of bristle of interchangeable toothbrush heads for powered toothbrushes with different “terrains”.

18 shows a diagram of another embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 13 and 14.

19-21 show views of variations of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, respectively.

22-24 show views of each structured bristles.

25 shows a perspective view of a round bristle.

It is a fundamental object of the present invention to propose a method for producing a brush product which is capable of structuring bristle envelopes in any reproducible manner before or after mounting the bristles on a bristle support. The bristle ends must be shortened to form any desired and reproducible bristle envelope.

The first part of the object of the present invention is achieved in that at least some of the bristles are structured using laser radiation without contact in a predetermined arrangement or in the mounted bristles.

Previously (German Patent No. 198 29 943), the finished bristle was displayed using laser radiation as an indication of wear. The bristle material itself is not removed, so it does not matter.

Modern laser technology enables accurate localization of the laser radiation action and the concentration of effects on the smallest surfaces, such as points or lines. It can furthermore be adapted to the materials to be processed, allowing precise adjustment of the depth depending on the material. Thus, the use of the laser energy in the present invention preferably allows the creation of limited and regular structures of geometric arrangement with respect to the shell of the bristles of the bristle, where the mechanical effect of the structures is also accurate in the depth of the laser radiation. Can be influenced through control. Since this method is carried out in a non-contact manner, reproducible structures can be produced irrespective of the elasticity of the bristles. This is particularly the case with plastic bristles, but the invention is not limited to this material. Laser technology also enables control of the type and arrangement of structures in close applications. These structures improve the capacity for cleaning or application media that can be transferred and rinsed without complexity due to the smooth surfaces of the structures.

These structures also increase the polishing effect of toothbrushes and bodybrushes, as well as the polishing effect of the structured corners of industrial brushes in which bristles contain abrasives.

The method of the present invention can be used to form bristle “topography” through contactless cutting of the free ends of bristles using laser spinning.

This method according to the invention allows the creation of the finest structures on the bristle array or bristle surface, for example micropoints or linear recesses, so that the envelope has some desired shape steps when brushing. Provide additional scratching or scratching effects.

In a preferred embodiment, the laser source roundly controls the free ends of the bristles through thermal loading due to laser treatment. While evaporation or vaporization of the plastic material by the introduced laser energy generally produces a structure, it has been surprisingly found that the bristle tip is advantageously rounded like a dome even when the bristles are cut from the free bristles. The reason is that due to the production of short fibers, the molecules of the bristle with linear orientation can be rearranged in a disordered and entangled state due to thermal loading at the point of action of laser radiation.

The laser source is also designed such that the bristle shells are molded through the removal of the material following thermal decomposition of the plastic material, depending on the respective material, preferably the plastic material. Evaporation and vaporization processes also result in material removal. This has the advantage that the structures do not wear out over all mechanical treatments. Wear causes loss of material in the use of brush products, especially hygiene brushes such as toothbrushes, which can cause problems. In the case of application brushes, such abrasion can result in the inclusion of materials that cause irregularities in the application layer. During mechanical treatment, residues of the removed material will always remain on the bristles, which will require continuous cleaning processes without guarantee of 100% success. The method of the present invention also avoids the need for such cleaning.

According to another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the bristles are structured through foaming of the plastic material. Practical experiments have shown that the bubbles of plastic material by laser treatment form an uneven bristle envelope. This foaming can be controlled through fillers, laser induction and the like.

It is known that two or more component brushes consist of a core and an outer sheath. Those with different colors in the core and shell are used, in particular, for indication of wear. Initially, only one color of bristles shows the degree of wear by showing different colors as the wear of the bristles increases. One embodiment of the present invention provides that, in a brush article with such bristles, the skin is structured only by laser radiation. This enables the structuring of the sheath to the core through local removal of the sheath material.

In order to prevent adverse changes in properties defined by the bristle cross section and the selected plastic material as a result of the subsequent structuring, the present invention provides that the shell structure of the bristles extends to less than 10% of the bristle cross section. The depth and local arrangement of the structures in the bristle can be selected such that the static characteristics of each bristle and the entire bristle are maintained to a desired degree.

During the generation of "terrains", the free ends of the bristles can be shortened substantially in a linear pattern. This linear pattern can be adapted to the directions of movement perpendicular to the individual sole product in order to obtain optimal effects on the "terrain".

The free ends of the adjacent bristles can also be shortened, thereby forming a stepped skin surface.

The free ends of each group of bristles can be shortened by laser radiation. The free ends of the bristles in each bristle group may be shortened, for example to form a non-planar envelope with conical ends of the bundles.

As mentioned above, the method of the present invention can be performed on the prepared bristle array or on the mounted bristles. In this case, only the sheath of the bristles arranged on the outside can be structured. Alternatively or additionally, the inner bristles can also be exposed through the separation and side deflection of the bristles (German Patent No. 198 32 436, EP 0 763 270) to enable the construction of their shells. Let's do it.

Although laser spinning can be used for the controlled structuring of a plurality of plastic materials that can be used for bristles, it may be advantageous to provide easier and more precise control of the structuring using bristles with fillers that absorb laser radiation. have. Fillers may be provided, for example, only in certain cross-sectional areas of the bristles close to the envelope surface, or in bristles having a cross section that outlines the outer contour areas. This leads to a particularly intensive mechanical action, especially when brushing in connection with the structuring of the invention in the region of the polygonal corners of the polygonal cross sections.

Finally, the structure produced during the laser treatment can be visualized through simultaneous coloring of the plastic material. Alternatively or additionally, the structures produced during laser processing may be visualized through the fillers contained in the plastic material of the bristles whose color changes with laser radiation.

The invention is described below with respect to some embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 12, the head 2 of the toothbrush 1 shown in part in the drawing forms a support for the bristles 3, all individually mounted, standing up on the support 2. (4) consists of a relatively dense bristle package defining a narrow narrow capillary in the middle. In the embodiment of Figure 1, structures 5 in the form of parallel lines are formed through the removal of material from the bristle shell using laser radiation. The structuring according to FIG. 1 gives a particularly good effect on the so-called red-white cleaning method.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, which also illustrates the bristle 4 of the individually standing bristles 3, wavy structures 5 are provided via narrower laser radiation than those of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 structures 5 in the outer bristles of bristle 4 are provided in the form of oblique hatching, and in the embodiment of FIG. 4 in the form of cross hatching. 2 to 4 are suitable for any dental cleaning method.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 shows structures 5 in the form of circular planar recesses on the outer bristles, and FIG. 6 shows the structures 5 of circular lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the bristles 3 of the bristle 4 have different lengths, ie, the fronts by making them longer in the area of the anterior end of the bristle 2 than in the rest of the bristle. It will form a "terrain" with one step in the region. In a form similar to that in FIG. 1, the structures 5 are provided in the shell of the outer bristles only in this anterior region.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the bristles 4 have the ends of some bristles 3 in one plane, and the tips of the bristles of the other parts are subdivided into respective groups 6 to the bristle support 2. Have a "terrain" that lies in a higher plane in comparison. In this embodiment, only the protruding bristles of the group 6 have linear structures.

9 to 11 show a plan view of the toothbrush head 2 with the bristles 4, respectively, showing the free ends of the bristles 3. The outer contour of the bristle bundle 4 approximately follows the outline of the toothbrush head 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the bristles are shortened only along the polygonal concentric lines 7 in the region of the anterior end of the bristles via laser radiation. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the bristles 3 are shortened in a regular crosshatch pattern, and in the embodiment according to FIG. 11 along the lines 9.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the toothbrush head 2, wherein the sheath of the outer bristles has a structure 5 of parallel lines. The bristles are also shortened in the area of the front end of the head, which is crosshatched.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the bristle bundle 4 consists of groups 9 of bristles formed like circular bundles. The front region of the bristle head 2 has groups 10 and 11, where the free bristle ends are cut into different lengths using laser radiation so that the free ends of the groups 10 and 11 are pointed at different cones. Have ends. It is also possible to structure the envelope of the bristles arranged on the conical surface.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the bristles 1 again consist of groups 9 of bristles which are in the form of cylindrical bundles, each standing group of bristles 12 being arranged in the front region of the bristles. In this embodiment, only the bristles 3 of this group 12 have linear structures 5 extending parallel to each other.

15 to 17 show a plan view of the bristle 4 of the brushes with round heads, in particular used for powered toothbrushes. According to FIG. 15 the bristles 3 are shortened along the concentric circles 13, and in the embodiment according to FIG. 16 the bristles 3 are shortened to create a helical terrain. In the embodiment according to FIG. 17, the bristles are cut in the form of a radial (15). 16 and 17 increase the action of free bristles, especially when the bristle head is rotated about its central axis.

FIG. 18 shows a toothbrush head 2 similar to that of FIGS. 13 and 14, wherein the bristles 4 comprise groups 9 of bristles formed like circular bundles and a bristle group 12 disposed at the front end. . The front bristle group 12 consists of individual bristle strips arranged like stars, where each piece has parallel structures 5 arranged substantially perpendicular to the bristle axis.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 19 to 21, the individual structures 5 formed on the skin of the outer bristles of the bristle 4 by laser radiation are irregular, but regularly arranged along the entire side of the bristle. Distribution.

The sheaths of individually standing bristles, in particular the sheaths of larger diameter, may be constructed in the same form as described above with regard to the whole bristle group or groups of bristles. In the embodiment of FIG. 22, the shell of the bristle 3 has inclined structures 5 and the embodiment of FIG. 23 has a zigzag line structure 5. The bristles 3 may be structured crosswise as shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 25 shows a circular brush having a cylindrical carrier 1 which can be, for example, a hairbrush, an industrial brush, or the like. The radially arranged cylindrical bristle groups 16 are mounted on the support and their free ends have parallel structures 5.

Claims (18)

By mounting the bristles 3 joined to the respective bristles 3 or groups 9 in a predetermined arrangement on the support 2, a desired bristle stock is formed, and at least the bristles The sheath of some bristles produces a brush product that is structured through a process characterized in that at least some of the bristles 3 of the bristles 4 mounted or in a predetermined arrangement are structured in a non-contact manner using laser radiation. Way. The method of claim 1 wherein the bristles have a regular structure. The desired bristles are formed by mounting the bristles joined in respective bristles or groups in a predetermined arrangement on a support, and at least some of the free ends of the bristles in the predetermined arrangement or mounted bristles 3 A method for producing a brush product, which is cut through the treatment according to claim 1, characterized in that the free ends of the cut) are cut in a non-contact manner using laser radiation. 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the free ends of the bristles (3) are rounded through heat load by laser treatment. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shell of the bristles is contoured or the free ends of the bristles are shortened through material wear due to thermal decomposition of the plastic material. 6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shell of the bristles is structured through foaming of the plastic material. 7. 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the two component bristles having at least one core and the shell surrounding it, only the shell is structured by laser radiation. . 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the skin is structured to the core through local removal of the skin material. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure of the bristle shell extends to a depth of approximately 10% of the bristle section. 10. The bristles (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged substantially along the lines (7,8,9,13,14,15) of the surface of the predetermined arrangement or of the mounted bristles. Shortening the free ends of the method. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stepped envelope (6) of the bristle ends is formed by shortening the free ends of the adjacent bristles (3). 12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free ends of the respective groups (6) of the bristles (3) are shortened. 13. The non-planar skin surface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free ends of the bristles 3 of each group 10, 11 of the bristles 3 are shortened to form a non-planar skin surface. Way. 14. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein only the sheaths of the outer bristles of the predetermined arrangement or of the mounted bristles are structured. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the bristles arranged inside a predetermined array or mounted bristles are exposed by separating and laterally deflecting the bristles so that the shell of these bristles is structured. . 16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that bristles (3) with fillers that absorb laser radiation are used to produce the brush product. 17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure (5) produced during the laser treatment is visualized through coloring of the plastic material. 17. Material according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure (5) produced during the laser treatment is visualized through fillers in the plastic material of the bristles (3) that change color by laser radiation. .