TW201717804A - Apparatus for producing bristle fields for brushes, range of apparatuses of this type, and method for producing apparatuses of this type - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for producing bristle fields for brushes, in particular toothbrushes, has a transport apparatus (2) for transporting bristle bundles through at least one hollow line (3) of the transport apparatus (2) by means of a gas or air flow into perforations (4) of a provided bundle holding plate (5). Furthermore, the transport apparatus (2) also comprises a guide element (6), in the interior of which at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) is configured, through which bristle bundles can be fed to the perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5). Here, the guide element (6) and the at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are produced by means of a generative manufacturing process. In order to produce the apparatus (1) according to the invention, it is provided that first of all the guide element (6) and the at least one continuous guide channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are produced by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular are printed by means of a 3D printing process, and subsequently are installed at a fastening interface (7) of the apparatus (1).

Description

Device for manufacturing a bristle region for a brush, a series of structures of the device, and a method for manufacturing the device

The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing a bristle region for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, having a delivery device for bristles by entering a gas or air stream in a perforation of a bundle of retaining plates The bundle is conveyed through at least one hollow line of the delivery device.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a series of structures for the manufacture of a device for brushing, in particular a bristle region of a toothbrush, comprising at least two devices of this type, and relating to a method for producing a device of the type initially defined.

Devices of the type initially mentioned are previously known to practice in different embodiments. In the condition of the devices, the tufts of bristles are conveyed through the hollow wire into the bundle holding plate. The tufts of bristles, also known as tows, are then, for example, fused with a thermoplastic carrier and/or encapsulated by a plastic material to form a brush head. Here, individual tufts of bristles generally have a round cross section. However, in the case of toothbrushes, more complex bristle region geometries are also required today, in which case at least individual tufts of hair have a non-circular cross section that may be, for example, rectangular or triangular. In order to be able to feed the tufts in a cross-sectional geometry different from the circular shape, for example using what is called a geometric hose Known for hollow wire systems, such hollow wires are typically used in an oval shape. However, these geometric hoses have the disadvantage that they are only usable in a limited number of simple cross-sectional geometries and are otherwise relatively complex and expensive in terms of manufacturing and acquisition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device, a series of structures and a method for manufacturing a device or series of structures of the type mentioned at the outset, which permits a simpler, less expensive and more variable series of devices and structures of this type. Manufacturing and design.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device as claimed in claim 1. According to the invention, there is provided a device for making a bristle region for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, having a delivery device for passing a gas or air stream into a perforation of a bundle of retaining plates The tuft of bristles is conveyed through at least one hollow line of the conveying device, the conveying device comprising a guiding element mounted at a fastening interface between one of the discharge ends of the at least one hollow line and the bundle of holding plates, and In the guiding element, at least one continuous guiding channel is configured, which may be connected to the discharge end of the at least one hollow line by an inlet end and by a hole leading to one of the holding plates Opened at an outlet end, the perforation is provided for assembly purposes, and the guiding element and the at least one continuous guiding channel are manufactured by a productive manufacturing process.

The use of a productive manufacturing process for the manufacture of the guiding element and the at least one continuous guiding channel makes it possible to manufacture efficiently and inexpensively with very different routes and very different cross-sectional geometries of the guiding channels. The guiding element, the tuft of bristles can be fed to the bundle holding plate via the at least one continuous guiding channel. The complex geometry of the at least one guide channel in the interior of the guiding element can also be manufactured by means of a production process which is less complex and therefore less expensive than conventional manufacturing processes, such as casting or injection. Forming, where complex molds and/or cores Generally it is needed. In addition, the flexibility increases relative to the cross-sectional geometry of the at least one guide channel in the interior of the guiding element, since very different geometries can be relatively simple to manufacture by a productive manufacturing process, and are produced The manufacturing process is not subject to limitations regarding the geometry of the workpiece, as may be the case in conventional manufacturing processes such as casting or injection molding techniques.

The guiding element can be a suction block manufactured by a productive manufacturing process. The at least one guiding channel in the interior of the guiding element may have an inner wall closed on the circumferential side, with the result that the bristle bundle can be reliably vacuum-connected via at least one hollow connected to the guiding element and the at least one guiding channel The line transfer, in particular the suction, is applied to the guiding element configured as a suction block.

The at least one guiding channel can advantageously be a guiding channel which is configured in the material of the guiding element during the manufacture of the guiding element by the production process and preferably extends over its entire length in the guiding element. In this way, the at least one guiding channel of the guiding element and the guiding element can thus be produced in a single manufacturing step.

The guiding manufacturing element and the at least one guiding channel can be obtained by a 3D printing process.

A commonly used 3D printing process is, for example, a product called a powder bed process, a free space process, or a liquid material process.

Selective laser melting, selective laser sintering, selective thermal sintering, adhesive spraying or electron beam melting can be used as a powder bed process for making the guiding elements of the apparatus according to the present invention and the at least one guiding channel.

Fusion deposition modeling, laminate modeling, overlay welding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contouring, cold gas spraying, or electron beam melting are known in free-space processes.

Stereolithography, digital light processing or liquid composite molding can be used as a liquid material process to produce the guiding element and the at least one guiding channel.

Here, the guiding element can consist of plastic, ceramic material or metal.

In the case of feeding a tuft of bristles having different cross-sectional geometries, it may be advantageous for the inner contour of the at least one hollow line to have a profile change towards the beam profile, which is desirable in the bristle region in the course of the discharge end of the hollow line The bundle of bristles delivered here is transported from the hollow line to the guiding channel of the guiding element.

It goes without saying that it is also possible for the inner contour of the at least one guiding channel in the guiding element to have a profile change towards the beam profile, which is required in the brushing region in the course from its inlet end to its outlet end. of.

In such embodiments of the device according to the invention, the contouring of the bristle bundles can occur during transport in the hollow line and/or in the guiding channel. Therefore, additional means for reshaping the delivered bundle of bristles fed to the bundle holding plate and additional space requirements for this type of device are not necessary.

In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, its guiding elements are beneficial for a specific range from the possibility associated with the use of a productive manufacturing process, assuming that the guiding elements have two or three or more At least one guide channel of the inlet end and the inlet channel section, the inlet channel sections being combined to form an outlet channel section and open into the outlet end of the at least one guide channel. In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is possible to feed the tufts of bristles transported to the guiding elements via two or three or more hollow wires into a perforation of the bundle holding plate.

In order to make it possible to reliably connect the at least one hollow line of the conveying device to the at least one guiding channel of the guiding element, it can be assumed that the insertion for receiving the at least one hollow line The opening is disposed adjacent to the inlet end of the at least one guiding channel in the guiding element, and the discharge end of the at least one hollow line can be inserted into the insertion opening and the inside of the at least one guiding channel Preferably, the diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the at least one hollow line in order to enable a non-destructive and uninterrupted transition of the bristle bundles conveyed through the hollow line into the guiding channel of the guiding element.

It may be particularly advantageous for the inlet ramp to be configured at an inlet opening at the inlet end of the at least one guide channel, the inlet ramp facilitating entry of the supplied bristle bundle from the hollow line connected to the at least one guide channel via the inlet opening In the inlet end of the guiding channel.

The at least one hollow line can have a round or circular cross section, in particular at its discharge end. However, the use of hollow wires having a wavy cross section, in particular a polygonal cross section, is also possible. The inlet opening of the at least one guiding channel and/or the at least one inlet channel section of the at least one guiding channel (for example the inlet opening already mentioned above) may preferably have a corresponding (ie adaptation) a cross section of the cross section of the hollow wire. This assists in the almost non-destructive or even non-destructive transition of the delivered bristle bundle from the hollow line to the guiding channel of the guiding element, to which the guiding channel is connected.

The at least one hollow wire may be a hose, preferably made of a flexible material or a tubular connector, preferably made of plastic or metal, in particular steel or stainless steel. Flexible hoses are used as hollow wires, especially hoses of this type made of plastic, which aid in the structurally simple and inexpensive construction of the device.

A hollow wire comprising a tubular connector, in particular made of a metal such as steel or stainless steel, is used during transport by a bundle of gas or air streams as compared to a hollow wire made of plastic having an equivalent or lower wall thickness. Can withstand high operating pressures. Due to the lower material thickness of this type of hollow wire, its outer diameter can therefore have a smaller size, with the result that the hollow wire can be on the end side This is configured closer, and the guiding elements to which the discharge ends of the hollow wires are connected in the case where a plurality of hollow wires are used can be arranged closer to each other. In particular, if a large number of hollow wires are used, this reduces the required size of the guiding elements.

In order to facilitate the transition of the bristle bundles conveyed by the guiding elements into the perforations of the bundle holding plates, it can be assumed that the perforations of the bundle holding plates for receiving the bristle bundles reshaped in the hollow lines and/or the guiding channels are according to the desired bundle The contour is contoured in each case. The bristle bundles conveyed via the at least one guide channel can be fed to the bundle holding plate in a particularly simple manner if the edge of the perforation of the bundle holding plate facing the guide element in the assembled position of the bundle holding plate is chamfered.

Regarding the bundle holding plate, it is mentioned that it may be a cassette for inserting into a mold for injection molding, a small carrier or a material called a sealing plate. A small carrier or sealing plate of this type is a bundle of retaining plates that can be inserted into the head of a brush, particularly a toothbrush, and that can be attached to the brush.

In order to fasten the connection of the at least one hollow wire, in particular during the operation of the device according to the invention, to the guiding element, and in order to avoid the release of the connection between the at least one guiding channel and the at least one hollow line, the device It may be advantageous to have a holder for the at least one hollow wire of the delivery device. The holder can be disposed on the guiding element by at least one support element. The holder can be configured to have a retaining plate for the retention opening of the at least one hollow wire, the number and geometry of the retaining openings being designed according to the number and geometry of the hollow wires to be retained.

The device can have a bristle supply and a removal device for removing individual tufts from the bristle supply. Additionally, a transfer device for conveying the removed tuft of bristles to the delivery device can be provided on the device according to the present invention.

A particularly efficient assembly of the bundle of retaining bristles of the bundle of bristles is possible if the conveying device has a plurality of hollow threads in accordance with the number of perforations of the bundle. Guide element has a symbol It is also advantageous to have a plurality of outlet ends of the number of perforations of the number of perforations of the holding plate, in particular a plurality of guiding channels corresponding to the number of perforations of the bundle holding plates. In this way, it is possible to assemble all the perforation of the bundle holding plate by means of the device according to the invention simultaneously with the tufts of bristles which are conveyed via the hollow line and the guide channel of the guide element.

The object of the above definition is also achieved by a series of structures for the manufacture of a device for the bristle region of a brush, as claimed in claim 16. In order to achieve the object, a series of structures for the manufacture of a device for a brush, in particular a brush region of a toothbrush, comprising at least two devices according to one of claims 1 to 15 of the at least two devices The guiding element has a different configuration with respect to its design, in particular with regard to the number of its guiding channels and/or its guiding channel and/or its cross-sectional geometry of the guiding channel, on which the guiding element is mounted The snap interfaces of the at least two devices using the locations have an equivalent configuration with respect to each other.

In the case of a series of structures of this type which are similar in terms of the design of the device according to the invention, the manufacturing technique is attributed to the production of the guide channel for the production of the guide element and the guide channel therefor. The advantages in the use of the manufacturing process can be fully utilized.

Since devices of this type are generally only manufactured in very low quantities, it has heretofore been extremely complicated and expensive to provide guiding elements with different designs. In the case of manufacturing processes which have heretofore been used for the manufacture of guiding elements, such as injection molding or metal casting techniques, it has always been necessary to first manufacture relatively expensive molds, with the result that the guiding channels have different designs with different designs. The provision of guiding elements has generally been extremely expensive and complicated. This disadvantage can be attributed to the fact that the use of the production process during the manufacture of the guiding element is largely avoided by the series of structures according to the invention, since the custom manufacturing of the guiding element only needs to be possible, for example, by customary CAD. The corresponding print data obtained by the program. The construction and manufacture of complex molds for making different guiding elements can be avoided.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-defined object, a method for manufacturing a device according to one of the claims 1 to 15 is proposed, in which the guiding element of the device is first assumed It is manufactured by a productive manufacturing process, in particular by a 3D printing process, and then mounted at the fastening interface of the device.

1‧‧‧ device

2‧‧‧Conveyor

3‧‧‧Hollow line

4‧‧‧Perforation

5‧‧‧ bunch of holding plates

6‧‧‧Guide elements

7‧‧‧Deduction interface

8‧‧‧ discharge end

9‧‧‧ bracket

10‧‧‧ Guide channel

10a‧‧‧ Guide channel

10b‧‧‧ Guide channel

10c‧‧‧ Guide channel

10d‧‧‧ Guide channel

11‧‧‧ entrance end

12‧‧‧export end

13‧‧‧ suction block

14‧‧‧ inner wall

15‧‧‧Entry channel section

16‧‧‧Exit channel section

17‧‧‧Insert opening

18‧‧‧ Entrance opening

19‧‧‧ Entrance slope

20‧‧‧Retainer

21‧‧‧Support connectors

22‧‧‧ holding opening

In the following text, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail using the drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention for making a bristle region, the device having a conveying device comprising a total of nine hollow wires having different cross-sectional geometries and guiding elements configured as suction blocks, and having different in the interior of the guiding channels, which are shown using visible dashed lines A total of six perforated bundle retaining plates of cross-sectional geometry are disposed upstream of the outlet end of the guide channel for the guide elements assembled with the tufts of arms, and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. A perspective view of the guiding element shown in Figures 1 and 2 and configured as a suction block, wherein a plurality of guiding channels are in the interior of the guiding element, Figure 4 shows four in the interior of the guiding element The guiding element according to the invention of the individual guiding channels, the first of the four guiding channels undergoes a contour change from a round to a hexagon, and the second guiding channel undergoes a contour change from a round to a rectangle , The third guide passage subjected to the contour changes from the square of the square, and the fourth feeding passages feeding subjected to 90 ° twisted to a rectangular profile from a rectangular Variations, Figure 5 shows a perspective illustration of yet another guiding element according to the invention having a combination of two guiding channels for one outlet end, and Figure 6 shows an outlet opening or an outlet end of the guiding channel A further view of the guiding element according to the invention in combination of three inlet channel sections.

Figures 1 and 2 show a device (indicated generally by 1) for making a bristle region for a brush, in particular a toothbrush. The device 1 has a transport device 2 for transporting a tuft of bristles (not shown) through a hollow line 3 of the transport device 2 by a flow of gas or air entering the perforations 4 of the bundle retaining plate 5 (Fig. 1 And shown in Figure 2). A bundle holding plate 5 of this type is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and can be placed on the device 1 for assembly with a tuft of bristles.

The conveying device 2 comprises a guiding element 6 which is mounted at a fastening interface 7 between the discharge end 8 of the hollow wire 3 and the bundle holding plate 5. The snap interface 7 can be configured on the device 1, such as the stand 9 of the device 1.

At least one continuous guiding channel 10 is arranged in the guiding element 6, which is connected by the inlet end 11 to the discharge end 8 of the hollow line 3 of the conveying device in the use position and is held by the bundle The outlet end 12 in the perforation 4 of the panel is open and the perforations 4 are provided for assembly purposes. In this way, the tufts of bristles that are transported through the hollow line 3 of the delivery device 2 by means of a gas or air stream can be fed to the provided bundle by means of the guiding element 6 and at least one of the guiding channels 10 configured therein. The perforations 4 of the plate 5, and thus the desired bristle area, can be made.

It is assumed in accordance with the invention that the guiding element 6 and the at least one continuous guiding channel 10 are manufactured by a productive manufacturing process. Here, the guiding element 6 and at least one continuous guiding channel 10 can be constructed layer by layer by a manufacturing process that can also be referred to as a 3D printing process. Although the layer configuration of the guiding element 6 and the at least one continuous guiding channel 10 can also occur in the direction in which the bristle bundle passes in the later direction of the at least one guiding channel 10 or in parallel to this direction, the following has been confirmed to be It is particularly advantageous to construct the guiding element 6 and the at least one continuous guiding channel 10 layer by layer and to carry out a precise transverse direction with respect to the later transfer or conveying direction of the bristle bundles to be conveyed through the at least one guiding channel 10 . The construction. In this way, the particularly complex cross-sectional geometry of the at least one continuous guide channel 10 can also be realized in the interior of the guide element 6 .

All of the guiding elements 6 shown in Figures 1 to 6 are configured as suction blocks 13 manufactured by a productive manufacturing process. The vacuum can then be applied to the outlet end 12 of the guide channel 10 of the suction block 13 shown in the figures, which vacuum can cause or at least assist the tuft of bristles to be transported through the hollow line 3 and guide of the delivery device 2 by gas or air flow. Lead channel 10.

It can be seen on the basis of the guide channels 10 which are shown in dashed lines and which extend in the interior of the individual guiding elements 6, each of the guiding channels 10 having an inner wall 14 which is closed on the circumferential side. All of the guide channels 10 are guided by the material-based configuration of the guiding element 6 by the production process during the manufacture of the individual guiding elements 6 and in the guiding element 6 for the entire length thereof. aisle.

What is referred to as a 3D printing process can be used as a productive manufacturing process by which the guiding element 6 and the guiding channel 10 can be manufactured or obtained. Depending on the material to be treated and the application, a powder bed process, a free space process or a liquid material process can be used to productively manufacture the guiding element 6 and at least one guiding channel 10 disposed therein.

For example, selective laser melting, selective laser sintering, selective thermal sintering, adhesive spraying, or electron beam melting is referred to as a powder bed process.

For example, fusion deposition modeling, laminate modeling, overlay welding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contouring processes, cold gas spraying, or electron beam melting are referred to as free space processes.

For example, stereolithography, digital light processing, or liquid composite molding is referred to as a liquid material process.

Here, all productive manufacturing processes are distinguished by the fact that the manufacture of the guiding element 6 and the at least one guiding channel 10 takes place directly on the basis of, for example, a computer internal data model, which is chemically and/or The physical process is from a non-formable material such as a liquid, a powder or the like, or a neutral shaped material, that is, for example, a strip shape or a wire shaped material. The particular feature of the productive manufacturing process is here that it is the primary forming process by which the guiding element 6 according to the invention and the guiding channel 10 provided therein can be manufactured without the special requirements required for this purpose. Molds depict the desired guiding elements 6 and representative geometries of the guide channels 10 disposed therein, as in this case, for example, in casting molds used during casting manufacture.

The guiding element 6 shown in the figures may consist of plastic, ceramic material or preferably of metal, depending on the requirements.

As can be seen in all of the guide channels 10 shown in the figures, the inner contour of the guide channel 10 has or undergoes a profile change towards the beam profile, which is in the course of the inlet end 11 to the outlet end 12 of the self-guide channel 10 The desired area in the bristle area.

The guiding element 6 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a total of nine guiding channels 10 with different guiding channel cross sections. Here, seven of the nine guiding channels 10 have a circular guiding channel cross section at least in the region of their inlet end 11 and two intermediate guiding channels 10 It has a square or rectangular cross section in the region of its inlet end 11.

It is apparent here that the guide channel 10 has the same cross section in the region of its inlet end 11 as the hollow line 3 connected to the guide channel 10. This makes it possible for the bristle bundles from the hollow line 3 to enter the guide channel 10 with almost no damage or even a non-destructive transition.

The guiding element 6 shown in Figure 4 has four guiding channels 10 which undergo a contour change from the circular inlet cross section to the hexagonal outlet cross section. The second guiding channel, indicated by 10b, undergoes a change from a circular cross section towards a rectangular cross section in terms of its inner contour from its inlet end 11 to its outlet end 12. The third guide channel, indicated by 10c, undergoes a cross-sectional change from its inlet end 11 to its outlet end 12 from a slightly larger square cross-section to a smaller square cross-section, with the result that the bundle of bristles is transported through During the guiding channel 10, it is also compacted at the same time. The fourth guiding channel 10d of the guiding element 6 undergoes a change from a rectangular inlet cross section to a rectangular outlet cross section in terms of its inner contour from its inlet end 11 to its outlet end 12, the outlet cross section and the inlet cross section It is twisted by 90° compared to the other.

As can be seen in all of the guide channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d shown in the figures, the cross-sectional area is reduced in size from the inlet end 11 of the respective guide channel to the outlet end 12, and the result is transported through The tufts of the guiding channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d are compacted during their transport.

The guiding elements 6 shown in Figures 5 and 6 are distinguished by the fact that the guiding channels 10 arranged in the guiding elements 6 have two and three inlet ends 11, respectively, and are combined A corresponding number of inlet channel sections 15 of one outlet channel section 16 are formed and open into the outlet end 12 of the guide channel 10. According to an exemplary embodiment of the guiding element 6 shown in Figure 5, the two inlet ends 11 of the guiding channel 10 have a round inlet cross section here. Guide channel 10 The outlet cross section of the outlet end 12 to which the two inlet passage sections 15 are open has an oval configuration.

In the case of the guiding element 6 according to Fig. 6, three guiding channels 10 and an inlet channel section 15 are provided, the inlet end 11 of which has a circular inlet cross section in each case. The three inlet passage sections 15 are combined to form one outlet passage section 16 and ultimately open into the triangular outlet cross section at the outlet end 12 or outlet passage section 16 of the guide passage 10.

In the case of all the guiding elements 6 shown in the figures, the plug-in opening 17 having a gap for connection and for receiving the respective hollow wires 3 is arranged adjacent to the inlet end 11 of the guiding channel 10. The discharge end 8 of the hollow wire 3 can be inserted into the plug-in openings 17 to securely mount the hollow wire 3 on the guiding element 6. Here, the inner diameter of the guide passage 10 corresponds to the inner diameter of the hollow wire 3.

The figures clearly show that the inner cross section of the guide channel 10 adjacent to the respective discharge end 8 of the respective hollow line 3 also corresponds to the inner cross section of the discharge of the respective hollow line 3. In order to facilitate the transition of the tufts of bristles from the respective discharge ends 8 into the respective guide channels 10, an inlet ramp 19 is provided at the inlet opening 18 at the inlet end 11 of each of the guide channels 10.

It is assumed in all of the hollow wires 3 and the guide channels 10 connected to each other that the inlet opening 18 of each of the guide channels 10 and the inlet channel section 15 of the respective individual guide channels 10 have a cross section corresponding to the hollow line 3. The cross section, in particular in the region of its discharge end 8.

Here, depending on the requirements, the hollow wire 3 has a round or circular cross section or a wavy cross section at its discharge end 8 , in particular a polygonal cross section.

Depending on the application, the hollow wire 3 can be configured as a hose preferably composed of a flexible material. In particular, the pressure-resistant hollow wire 3 can be configured as a tubular connection, which consists, for example, of plastic or metal, in particular steel or stainless steel.

In order to facilitate the transition of the bristle bundles from the outlet end 12 of the guiding channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d into the perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5, the perforations 4 are provided for assembly purposes, the bundle holding plates/plates 5 The edge of the perforation 4 facing the guiding element 6 is chamfered.

In addition, the perforations 4 for receiving the bundle of holding bundles 5 of the bristle bundles in one of the hollow lines 3 or in one of the guiding channels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are according to the desired contour The contour is trimmed in each case. Thus, the configuration and cross-sectional geometry of the perforations 4 of the bundle retaining plate 5 depict the later bristle regions.

Depending on the application, the bundle holding plate 5 can be configured as a cassette for insertion into a mold of an injection molding die, a small carrier or an object called a sealing plate. The small carrier or sealing plate is a bundle holding plate 5 of the type that can be embedded in the head of the brush, in particular the toothbrush, and which can be attached to the brush there.

1 and 2 show a device having a holder 20 for the hollow wire 3 of the delivery device 2. The holder 20 is configured by the four support connectors 21 on the guiding element 6 and fastened to the latter.

The holder 20 is configured to have a holding plate for the holding opening 22 of the hollow wire 3, the number and geometry of which are designed according to the number and geometry of the hollow wires 3 to be held.

Not shown in the figures: The device 1 may have a brush supply and a removal device for removing individual tufts from the bristle supply. In addition, the device 1 can also have a conveying device for conveying the removed tufts of bristles to the conveying device 2, so that it is possible to feed the tufts of bristles to the perforations of the provided bundle holding plates 5 by means of the conveying device 2. 4.

At least the guiding elements 6 shown in Figures 1 to 3 have a plurality of outlet ends 12 corresponding to the number of perforations 4 of the bundle holding plates 5 to be assembled, having outlet openings for the guiding channels 10, As a result, all the perforations 4 present in the bundle holding plate 5 shown in Figures 1 and 2 can be assembled simultaneously with the tufts of bristles by means of the device 1 according to the invention.

In addition, the exemplary embodiment of the guiding element 6 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 also has a plurality of guiding channels 10 corresponding to the number of perforations 4 of the beam holding plate 5 to be assembled.

In addition, a compactor plate (not shown) having a portion for receiving the perforations of the tufts of bristles may be disposed downstream of the bundle retaining plate 5. Here, the cross-section of the perforations is smaller in each case than the cross-section of the tufts of bristles delivered to the respective perforations, and also smaller than the cross-section of the respective perforations 4 of the bundle of retaining plates 5 upstream of the compactor plate. Furthermore, the device according to the invention may also have a transfer device for transferring the tufts of bristles from the bundle holding plate 5 to the downstream compactor plate.

The device 1 according to the invention can form a series of structures for the manufacture of a device for a brush, in particular a bristle region of a toothbrush, comprising at least two devices 1 of the type described above. In the case of this type of construction, it is assumed that the guide elements 6 of at least two devices 1 are designed in relation to their design, in particular with regard to the number of guide channels 10 and/or the course of the guide channels 10 and/or the cross section of the guide channels 10 . The geometry has a different configuration, and the fastening interface 7 of the at least two devices 1 on which the guiding element 6 is mounted in the use position has an equivalent configuration with respect to each other.

This makes it possible to mount the different guiding elements 6 shown in Figures 3 to 6 on the device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and thus perform a rapid changeover of the device 1 according to the invention.

In this context, the advantages of the productive manufacturing process can be fully utilized, since the guiding element 6 which can be manufactured by conventional processes only in difficulty or only at high cost can now also be used in a relatively simple manner and at a low level. Complexity is made with complex geometries and especially with complex internal geometries, even without the expensive manufacture of special molds.

In the case of the manufacture of the device 1 according to the invention, it is assumed that the individual guiding elements 6 of the device 1 are first produced in an embodiment by a productive manufacturing process, in particular by a 3D printing process, and It is then mounted at the fastening interface 7 of the device 1.

As already described above, the layer-by-layer configuration of the guiding element 6 can take place here, in the case of, for example, a later transfer of at least one guiding channel 10 of the guiding element 6 relative to the tuft of bristles in a 3D printing. Or the conveying direction occurs laterally. In this way, the extremely complex cross-sectional geometry and cross-sectional geometry of the individual guide channels 10 in the interior of the guiding element 6 can also be achieved relatively simply in a single manufacturing step.

The device 1 for producing a bristle region for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, has a guiding element 6 for conveying a tuft of bristles by means of a gas or air stream entering the perforation 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 provided, At least one continuous guide channel 10 is arranged in the interior of the guide element 6 via which the tuft of bristles can be fed to the perforations 4 of the bundle holding plate 5 . Here, the guiding element 6 and the at least one continuous guiding channel 10 are manufactured by a productive manufacturing process. In order to manufacture the device 1 according to the invention, it is assumed that the guiding element 6 and at least one successive guiding channel 10 provided therein are first manufactured by a productive manufacturing process and subsequently mounted at the fastening interface 7 of the device 1.

1‧‧‧ device

2‧‧‧Conveyor

3‧‧‧Hollow line

4‧‧‧Perforation

5‧‧‧ bunch of holding plates

6‧‧‧Guide elements

7‧‧‧Deduction interface

8‧‧‧ discharge end

9‧‧‧ bracket

10‧‧‧ Guide channel

11‧‧‧ entrance end

12‧‧‧export end

13‧‧‧ suction block

14‧‧‧ inner wall

15‧‧‧Entry channel section

16‧‧‧Exit channel section

17‧‧‧Insert opening

18‧‧‧ Entrance opening

19‧‧‧ Entrance slope

20‧‧‧Retainer

21‧‧‧Support connectors

22‧‧‧ holding opening

Claims (17)

A device (1) for producing a bristle region for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, having a transport device (2) for perforation by entering a bundle of retaining plates (5) a gas or air stream to transport the bundle of bristles through at least one hollow line (3) of the delivery device (2), the delivery device (2) comprising a discharge mounted to one of the at least one hollow line (3) One of the fastening interfaces (7) between the end (8) and the bundle of retaining plates (5) guides the element (6), and in the guiding element (6), at least one continuous guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) configured to be connected to the discharge end (8) of the at least one hollow line (3) by an inlet end (11) and by way of Opened by an outlet end (12) in one of the perforations (4) of the bundle retaining plate (5), the perforation (4) being provided for assembly purposes, the guiding element (6) and the at least one continuous guide The lead passages (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) are manufactured by a productive manufacturing process. The device (1) of claim 1 is characterized in that the guiding element (6) is a suction block (13) manufactured by a productive manufacturing process, and/or in the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) having one of the inner walls (14) closed on the circumferential side, and/or in which the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) is The lead element (6) is configured by the material of the guiding element (6) during manufacture of a productive manufacturing process and preferably extends a guiding channel of its entire length within the guiding element (6) (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d). The device (1) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guiding element (6) and the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) can obtain the productivity The manufacturing process is a 3D printing process, especially a powder bed process such as selective laser melting, selective laser sintering, selective thermal sintering, adhesive spraying or electron beam melting, and/or a free space. Inter-process, such as fusion deposition modeling, laminate modeling, overlay welding, cladding, wax deposition modeling, contouring, cold gas spraying or electron beam melting, and/or a liquid material process, such as stereo lithography, Digital light treatment or liquid composite molding. The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guiding element (6) consists of plastic, a ceramic material or a metal. The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner contour of one of the at least one hollow line (3) has a contour change toward a contour which is as far as the hollow line (3) in the route of the discharge end (8) in the bristle region, and/or in the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c of the guiding element (6), An inner contour of 10d) has a profile change towards a beam profile, which is desired in the bristle region in the course from its inlet end (11) to its outlet end (12), and/or in the guide The lead element (6) has two or three or more guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) with different guiding channel cross sections. The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guiding element (6) has two or three or more inlet ends (11) and an inlet channel section ( 15) at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d), the inlet channel segments (15) being combined to form an outlet channel segment (16) and open to the at least one guiding channel One of the outlet ends (12) (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d). The device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plug-in opening (17) for receiving one of the at least one hollow line (3) is opposite to the at least one guiding channel (10) The inlet end (11) of the 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) is disposed adjacent to the guiding element (6), and the discharge end (8) of the at least one hollow line (3) can be inserted or In the plug-in opening (17), An inner diameter and/or an inner cross section of the at least one guiding passage (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) adjacent to the discharge end (8) of the respective hollow line (3) is preferably The ground corresponds to an inner diameter and/or a discharge inner cross section of the at least one hollow line (3). The device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an inlet bevel (19) is configured on the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) An inlet opening (18) at the inlet end (11). The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one hollow line (3) has a circular or circular cross section or a undulation, in particular at its discharge end (8). a cross section, in particular a polygonal cross section, the inlet opening (18) of the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and/or the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, One of the at least one inlet passage section (15) of 10c, 10d) preferably has a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the hollow line (3). The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one hollow wire (3) is a hose, preferably made of a flexible material or a tubular connection. The piece is preferably made of plastic or metal, in particular steel or stainless steel. The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is intended to be received in a hollow line (3) and/or in the at least one guiding channel (10, 10a, 10b, 10c) And the perforations (4) of the bundle of retaining plates (5) of one of the bristle bundles in 10d) are contoured in each case according to the desired beam profile, and/or in the bundle of retaining plates (5) The edges of the perforations (4) facing the guiding element (6) are chamfered. A device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is intended to be embedded in an injection that can be inserted into a head of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, and connectable to the brush A mold of a forming mold and/or a cassette in a small carrier or a sealing plate is provided as a bundle holding plate (5). The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the device (1) has a holder for the at least one hollow line (3) of the conveying device (2) (20) The holder (20) is arranged, in particular, on the guiding element (6) by means of at least one support connection (21). The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the device (1) has a bristle supply member and a removal device for removing individual bristle bundles from the bristle supply member And/or a transfer device for conveying the removed tufts of bristles to the delivery device (2). The device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the conveying device (2) has a plurality of hollow wires (3) corresponding to the number of perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5) (3) And/or if the guiding element (6) has a plurality of outlets of the number of guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) that conform to the number of perforations (4) of the bundle of holding plates (5) The end (12), in particular, has a plurality of guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) which correspond to the number of perforations (4) of the bundle holding plate (5). A series of structures for the manufacture of a device (1) for a brush, in particular a brush region of a toothbrush, comprising at least two devices (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, the at least two devices (1) of the guiding elements (6) with respect to their design, in particular with regard to the number of guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and/or the guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b) , 10c, 10d) and/or the cross-sectional geometries of the guiding channels (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) have different configurations, and the guiding elements (6) are mounted thereon The fastening interfaces (7) of the at least two devices (1) of the use position have an equivalent configuration with respect to each other. A method for manufacturing a device (1) according to one of the items 1 to 15 of the patent application, wherein the guiding element (6) of the device (1) is first manufactured by a productive manufacturing process, in particular Printed by a 3D printing process and then mounted at one of the fastening interfaces (7) of the device (1).