RU2213513C2 - Brush with bristle holder and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: production of brushes. SUBSTANCE: brush has bristle holder forming handle. Bristle holder has contrasting color portions provided with, for example, reproducible information. Bristle holder is manufactured from plastic, which is filled on at least said portions with pigments absorbing laser radiation, the effect of absorption being expressed by changing of color. Information is hygienically and reliably applied to bristle holder by means of laser radiation. According to other version, bristle holder has surface part composed of two plastic layers having different laser radiation absorption coefficient, with upper layer being light permeable or semi-permeable and having smaller absorption coefficient, while lower layer being characterized in changing color. Melting or evaporation of predetermined portions from upper layer results in revealing of lower layer and making information thereon visible due to color contrast. Method for manufacture of brush with bristle holder, as well as commercial unit comprising toothbrush, and package are also described. Method allows resistant information or finish of any kind to be applied to brush. EFFECT: increased efficiency and improved quality of information or finish applied to brush. 15 cl, 6 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to brushes comprising a bristle holder on which bristles are fixed, which is provided with a handle and has color-contrasting portions. The invention also relates to methods for making such brushes.

 The brushes that serve for hygienic purposes (dental, massage, etc.) experience a wide variety of loads during use. Firstly, they are constantly affected by moisture, water, etc. Moreover, depending on the type of brush, they are chemically and / or mechanically exposed to detergents, soaps, toothpastes along with oils, paints, etc. Finally, the pen experiences pressure and friction from the user's hands. Toothbrushes are especially susceptible to such effects, but this also applies to other hygienic and technical brushes.

 If the holder of the bristles forming the handle of such a brush should be provided with color-contrasting sections that carry a decorative information function, then so far this has been carried out as follows. This may be a film having color-contrasting portions, i.e. The information is printed as an overprint (US Pat. No. 4,589,159).

 However, such films are easily peeled off, as a result of which the decorative element or information is lost. Therefore, in practice, such a solution is not applicable.

 Such areas can also be applied with decals to pre-made recesses in the holder. Although in this case the information is stored longer, after a while the picture is also peeled off, and the information content is already lost when the information disappears from the unsticked areas.

 Deformable films or layers (German application 4207755) applied to the holder and overprinted overprints in the font suffer from the same disadvantages.

 Two-component injection molding is also known, when the handle is made of one plastic and the inscription is made of another plastic of a different color, which is carried out by injection molding in two stages.

 This process is expensive due to the high cost of equipment. Changing decorative or information elements forces you to store several expensive forms or inserts, and their replacement takes a lot of time. In addition, this method is applicable only in the case of decorative elements with a relatively large surface or information with roughly defined lines. It is not applicable for filigree contours and signs, and also when the surface on which the information is applied is too small.

 The objective of the invention is to provide the possibility of applying to brushes for various purposes persistent information or decoration of any kind and to create a method of manufacturing such brushes.

 According to a first embodiment of the invention, this problem is solved in that the plastic material of the bristle holder is filled with a pigment absorbing the laser cure and reacting to it with a color change at least in the color-contrasting regions, and that said regions are applied to the holder by laser radiation.

 According to the second embodiment, the problem is solved in that the holder, at least in the surface part, is made of two laminated plastics with different absorption coefficients of laser radiation, the upper layer with a lower absorption coefficient is transparent or translucent, and the lower layer has a higher absorption coefficient and that color-contrasting areas are applied by laser radiation to the lower layer, which reacts with a color change.

 The implementation of the design of the holder of the bristles in accordance with the two indicated variants according to the invention allows to apply information by laser radiation, which is regulated in accordance with the contours of the optically contrasting areas, preferably using a computer. In the first embodiment, laser-absorbing pigments react with a color change in irradiated areas. In the second embodiment, laser radiation is absorbed at the boundary between two layers of plastic, where the desired color change occurs, which becomes visible due to the transparent or translucent top layer. The plastic material of the upper layer can also undergo molecular rearrangement due to reflection at the interface, which allows for even greater image contrast. The color-contrasting areas obtained in this way are not afraid of chemical or mechanical influences that occur during brush operation. They are stored permanently and are not separated from the holder. Color-contrasting areas can have a small surface, filigree shape, which is impossible when using known methods.

 The color-contrasting areas can be of various types and carry information of various contents, for example, instructions according to which various types of brushes are sorted and packaged in mass production. In this case, the information can be used by color or image recognition equipment to automate the transportation and packaging process.

 The information may also contain the characteristics of the brush necessary for the user or all possible directions for use. For example, brushes intended to be used exclusively in industry for certain purposes in accordance with the sanitary standards, which until now have been marked with various paints, can now be distinguished by indelible inscriptions. In this regard, mention may be made of hospital brushes, which must have different markings for use in the kitchen, for operating and therapeutic purposes, or in wards.

 The advantages of the brushes according to the invention are most evident in the case of toothbrushes. The latter are subject to particularly stringent hygiene requirements, since they are used in the oral cavity and therefore undergo additional exposure. This is especially true for children's toothbrushes, the head of which, along with all these effects, is also subjected to involuntary or undesirable chewing movements. So far, only a trademark, manufacturer’s name, etc., have been placed on toothbrushes, and such data could only be placed on a pen that does not enter the oral cavity.

 In the case of toothbrushes, the present invention allows information to be placed both on the handle and on the head, since the information is not damaged or erased by the above actions. So, on the handle and / or head of the toothbrush you can put important information for the user, for example, on the stiffness of the brush (hard, medium, soft). You can specify an expiration date up to which impeccable dental care is guaranteed, along with warnings. The latter is important because for modern dental care, the design and materials of toothbrushes are selected in accordance with different requirements, and a brush designed for certain conditions can damage teeth and gums in other cases.

 Until now, all the information needed to use a toothbrush has been placed only on the packaging. After removing the brush from the package, information was lost, so when re-purchasing or re-ordering, the user did not know which brush he had used before. The present invention avoids this serious disadvantage.

 In the same way, you can apply information for sorting and packaging, which provides automatic sorting and packaging of various toothbrushes or completing the range in mass production.

 All these advantages are obtained in the same way in the third embodiment of the invention, in which the bristle holder, at least in the surface part, consists of two layers of laminate of different colors, and the coating layer is removed by laser radiation, which is accompanied by the formation of color-contrasting areas. The removal of the coating layer occurs by melting and vaporizing the plastic material forming it, as a result of which a plastic material of a different color is exposed under the coating layer.

 The information is preferably applied to well-visible surfaces of the handle, for example, in the case of a toothbrush, on the lower surface opposite the bristles and / or on the upper part of the handle where there are no bristles. In the case of information about stiffness, it can be applied to the brush head, which until now has been impossible for both technical and hygienic reasons.

 The invention also relates to a commodity unit consisting of a brush, for example a toothbrush, of the construction described above and a package that has color-contrast portions into which the brush is placed and which is at least partially made of plastic. According to the invention, in the case of such a commodity unit, the packaging is at least partially made of plastic that absorbs laser radiation and reacts to it by a color change, or is coated with such material, and color-contrasting areas are applied to it by laser radiation.

 This type of packaging is usually made in the form of a shell, and a transparent shell is applied to the cardboard base, and the last one contains the necessary information and, if possible, decorative elements. In the case of a commodity unit in accordance with the invention, information or decorative elements are applied to the packaging in the same manner as to the brush. The information on the brush may at least partially match the information on the package.

 The same information on the packaging and the toothbrush can, in particular, play a decisive role when re-purchasing or ordering, so that the consumer, after removing the toothbrush from the packaging, can be sure that the next time he will receive exactly the same. In the mass production of toothbrushes with an adjacent packaging line, laser equipment for inscribing on brushes and packages can be controlled by appropriate, and if desired, partially identical programs.

 The invention also relates to methods for the production of brushes of the above construction, in which the holder of the bristles is obtained by injection molding, for example injection molding, and the bristles are inserted into the molten plastic during molding or then into the finished holder.

 Obtaining toothbrushes by injection molding has now reached such a degree of perfection that the production line can produce several thousand pieces per hour. With existing methods, the application of color-contrasting areas on such brushes is impossible or fraught with deterioration in quality and reduced productivity. The application of overprinted films is incompatible with the reliability of the brushes at the exit of the casting machine, as well as the gluing of decals. When obtaining color marking by two-stage injection molding, not to mention the high cost, the production cycle is delayed, and the quality of the products deteriorates during the intermediate reforming.

 In the method according to the invention, the bristle holder is obtained by injection molding from plastic filled with laser absorbing pigments, which respond to irradiation with a color change, and after the plastic has cured, the color-contrast areas are treated with an appropriately controlled laser irradiation until the color changes.

 Laser processing can be performed at high speed, so that the productivity of the production line is determined solely by the operating cycle of the casting machine. Despite the achieved high performance, it is possible to obtain color-contrast areas of any desired accuracy and shape, while they are easily recognized.

 In a second embodiment of the invention, the holder is obtained by casting at least two layers, the body being first molded from plastic filled with laser absorbing pigments that respond to it with a color change, after which at least the upper layer is transparent or translucent plastic with a lower absorption coefficient of laser radiation, and during subsequent curing of the plastic, the color-contrasting sections of the upper layer are treated with an appropriate image Ohm adjustable laser irradiation until the color of the pigments inside the body.

 According to a third embodiment of the invention, the holder is molded in at least two layers, first the body is molded from plastic, then, at least in the color-contrasting areas, a coating layer of a different color of plastic is obtained by casting, and after curing, the color-contrasting areas of the upper layer are treated with an appropriately adjustable laser irradiation until the plastic of the coating layer is at least substantially removed by melting and evaporation in such a way that the material of a different color becomes vitsya visible.

 All of the above process variants are preferably carried out in such a way that, in serial production, the brushes, after forming and curing the plastic, enter the laser processing section with at least one laser apparatus, where they are positioned and treated with color-contrast sections with at least one suitably adjustable with a laser beam.

 If the color-contrasting areas occupy a large area or are scattered on the surface of the holder, it is quite possible to process them simultaneously with several laser devices.

 The methods according to the invention are particularly effective if the laser beam is controlled by a computer program in accordance with the nature of the color-contrasting areas; it is advisable to store several programs in the computer for color-contrasting areas of various configurations, and if you wish, conduct selective polling of programs during the continuous production of brushes.

 Thus, in the process of continuous production, it is possible to vary the applied information or decorative elements, for example, sorting criteria for the subsequent packaging line, or combine brushes with different characteristics into sets that can be packaged as sets on the packaging line. When the packaging line is equipped with laser equipment, the commodity units described above can be obtained in accordance with the invention, the same or partially identical information on the brush and packaging can be stored in the computer memory of the laser devices of the production and packaging lines.

Further, embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail on the example of a toothbrush with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a view opposite to the bristles of the lower part of the toothbrush;
FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in another embodiment of a toothbrush;
figure 3 is a view of the back side of the head of the toothbrush;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the toothbrush of FIG. 3 in a first embodiment with partial enlargement;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the toothbrush of FIG. 3 in a second embodiment with partial enlargement;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the toothbrush of FIG. 3 in a third embodiment with partial enlargement.

 The toothbrush of FIG. 1 and 2 contains a handle 1 and a head 2 connected by a narrow neck 3. Handle 1 and neck 3 are made of plastic. The bristles 4 are attached to the head 2.

 The handle 1, and if desired also the head 2 and the neck 3 are made of plastic filled with pigments that react to laser irradiation with a color change. Using an appropriately adjustable laser, it is possible to apply color-contrasting areas in the form of indelible information 5, which fully meets hygiene requirements, on the handle 1 or head 2, namely, on their reverse side.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this information 5 contains a warning about the need to replace this brush after the specified period of use, indicated by the corresponding indication on the bristles.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 2, information 5 is applied in the form of instructions for use. The toothbrush is specifically designed to remove dark plaque due to the special design of the bristles, which works in combination with the appropriate grade of toothpaste. Such a brush should not be used to brush teeth that do not suffer from plaque.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 3, information is applied to the back of the head 2 and indicates the degree of stiffness of the bristles, and the handle carries information about the manufacturer.

 The toothbrushes of FIGS. 1-3 may be made in accordance with three embodiments of the invention. Figure 4 presents the first option when the holder of the bristles, consisting of a handle 1, a head 2 and a neck 3, is obtained by injection molding from a plastic filled with pigments. These pigments respond to laser radiation by changing the color to a lighter or darker side (positive or negative). In the enlarged fragment of FIG. 4, the points at which color changes occur are indicated by 6.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the bristle holder, consisting of a handle 1, a head 2 and a neck 3, is made two-layer. It contains a base 7, which provides the necessary mechanical properties, and an injection-coated coating layer 8. The base 7 is made of plastic with a relatively high absorption coefficient of laser radiation, and the coating layer 8 has a low absorption coefficient and is transparent or at least translucent . The absorbing properties of the plastic base 7 can be provided by the selection of appropriate pigments. After laser irradiation, the pigments react with a color change, which is indicated by 9 in FIG. 5. These colors can contrast to the lighter or darker side and are clearly visible through a transparent or translucent coating layer 8.

 In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the bristle holder also comprises a base 7 and a coating layer 8. The housing 7 obtained by injection molding is made of plastic of a different color than the coating layer 8. When the coating layer is laser irradiated, the rays are reflected back from the interface into the upper layer, and the plastic of which the coating layer 8 is made is melted and vaporized at the points where the laser beams are reflected. These points are indicated by 10 in FIG. 6. Thus, at these points, the base material 7, having a different color, is exposed and thereby provides the necessary information in the form of positive or negative regarding the color of the plastics of the housing 7 of the coating layer 8.

Claims (15)

 1. A brush with a handle-forming bristle holder to which the bristles are attached and which has color-contrast sections, characterized in that the plastic material of the holder (1, 2, 3) of the bristles, at least in the color-contrast areas, is filled with pigments that absorb laser radiation and color change responsive to it, and said portions are made on the bristle holder using laser radiation.  2. A brush with a handle-forming bristle holder, to which the bristles are attached and which has color-contrast sections, characterized in that the holder (1, 2, 3) of the bristles, at least in the color-contrast areas, is made of at least two layered plastics with different absorption coefficients of laser radiation, the upper layer with a low absorption coefficient being transparent or translucent, and the lower layer having a higher absorption coefficient, and color-contrast regions are formed in the lower layer, which reactively to laser light color change.  3. A brush with a handle-forming bristle holder, to which the bristles are attached and which has color-contrast sections, characterized in that the holder (1, 2, 3) of the bristles, at least in the color-contrast areas, is made of at least two layered plastics of various colors, and color-contrasting areas are exposed by removing the upper layer using laser beams.  4. The brush according to one of claims 1 to 3, in particular, a toothbrush in which the holder of the bristles comprises a handle (1) and a head (2) to which the bristles (4) are attached, characterized in that the color-contrasting sections are made on handle (1) and / or head (2).  5. The brush according to claim 4, characterized in that the color-contrasting sections are made on the lower side facing the bristles (4) and / or on the upper side of the handle (1) facing away from the bristles.  6. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the color-contrasting sections carry information.  7. Brush according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the color-contrasting areas form decorative elements.  8. A commodity unit consisting of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, according to one of paragraphs. 1-7 and designed to accommodate the brush packaging, with color-contrasting areas, at least partially made of plastic, characterized in that the packaging is at least partially made of plastic that absorbs laser radiation and reacts to it with a color change, and color-contrast sections are applied by laser radiation.  9. The commodity unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the color-contrasting areas on the brush are at least partially identical to the color-contrasting areas on the package.  10. A method of manufacturing brushes according to one of claims 1 and 4-7, in which the holder of the bristles is obtained by injection molding, in particular injection molding, and the bristles are attached to the holder during or after molding by embedding in plastic, characterized in that the holder of the bristles is molded from plastic filled with pigments that absorb laser radiation and respond to it with a color change, and after curing the plastic, the color-contrasting areas are obtained by treatment with appropriately adjustable laser beams until the color changes.  11. A method of manufacturing brushes according to one of paragraphs.2 and 4-7, in which the holder of the bristles is obtained by injection molding, in particular injection molding, and the bristles are attached to the holder during or after molding by embedding in plastic, characterized in that the holder of the bristles is cast at least in two layers; first, the base is molded from plastic filled with pigments that absorb laser radiation and respond to it with a color change, then a coating layer is applied from the transparent or uprozrachnogo plastic with a lower coefficient of absorption of laser radiation, and after plastic solidification tsvetokontrastnye portions obtained by treating appropriately controlled laser beams until the color change of pigments in the base.  12. A method of manufacturing brushes according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the holder of the bristles is obtained by injection molding, in particular injection molding, and the bristles are attached to the holder during or after molding by embedding in plastic, characterized in that the holder of bristles cast at least two-layer, and first the base is made of plastic, then, at least in the contrast areas, a coating layer of a different color is applied by molding, and after curing, the contrast areas of the coating layer are treated in the appropriate way with adjustable laser beams, at least until the partial removal of the upper layer by melting and evaporation so that the plastic base having a different color becomes visible.  13. The method according to one of paragraphs.10-12, characterized in that the brushes, made in large quantities per unit time, after molding and hardening of the plastic are fed to a laser processing section equipped with at least one laser device, placed there and process the color-contrasting areas using at least one appropriately adjustable laser beam.  14. The method according to item 13, wherein the laser beam is controlled using a computer programmed in accordance with the picture of color-contrasting areas.  15. The method according to 14, characterized in that the computer stores several programs for color-contrasting areas of various configurations, and programs can be selectively interrogated during the continuous production of brushes.

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