Abstract: An injection molding machine for the manufacture of injection molded items, especially toothbrush bodies or toothbrushes, wherein the injection molding machine includes a mold-containing injection die (1) and an injection unit (2), especially with a screw-piston extruder or a similar material transport system. Distribution or transport channels lead from the injection unit (2) forming a distribution channel arrangement (4) to the individual mold cavities (5). One or more feeds (10) are located on the distribution channels and/or the mold cavities for at least one additive, for instance, a liquid color.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for executing profiling trimming cuts in the bristle fields of toothbrushes. In order to process the fibers separately in different regions of the bristle field, and particularly to shorten them by means of a straight cutter or a level grinding disk, the fibers in the bristle field regions that are not to be contacted by the processing tool, are held at a distance from the processing plane of a processing tool by means of a lateral deflection of the free fiber ends in the longitudinal direction of the respective bristle field region. If the process is employed in several steps, in which respective fibers from various bristle field regions are to be processed, almost any desired profile cross-section can be created in the bristle field, not only in the longitudinal direction but in the transverse direction as well. Processing at each processing stage can thereby be accomplished with straight processing tools, for example with straight cutters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making thermoplastic brushes includes a first unit for injection molding an anchoring plate having through openings for tufts of bristles. The apparatus further includes an arrangement for inserting the tufts in the openings so that an end portion of each tuft is adjacent a first side of the anchoring plate and a major portion of each tuft projects beyond the opposite second side of the anchoring plate. A heating plate is provided to form welds between the end portions of the tufts and the anchoring plate, and between the individual bristles of the tufts. This seals the through openings at the first side of the anchoring plate. The apparatus additionally includes a second unit for injection molding a covering member over the first side of the anchoring plate. To make a brush, the anchoring plate is injection molded using the first unit and the tufts are welded to the anchoring plate.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for executing profiling trimming cuts in the bristle fields of toothbrushes. In order to process the fibers separately in different regions of the bristle field, and particularly to shorten them by means of a straight cutter or a level grinding disk, the fibers in the bristle field regions that are not to be contacted by the processing tool, are held at a distance from the processing plane of a processing tool by means of a lateral deflection of the free fiber ends in the longitudinal direction of the respective bristle field region. If the process is employed in several steps, in which respective fibers from various bristle field regions are to be processed, almost any desired profile cross-section can be created in the bristle field, not only in the longitudinal direction but in the transverse direction as well. Processing at each processing stage can thereby be accomplished with straight processing tools, for example with straight cutters.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used in the production of brushes for the preparation of completely processed bristle bundles. Bristle strand material (4) is thereby conveyed with the aid of a feed mechanism (5) to a grinding device (6) where its free ends are processed into what will become the ultimate useful ends. By this processing, the free length of the bristle strand ends, and thus their ability to deflect laterally during grinding as well, can be exactly adjusted to this work procedure. This processing can be adapted to differing bristle material, or even adapted to differences in the desired rounding off results. The actual length of the final bristle bundles does not play a role in this, since the cutting of the bristle bundles to length does not take place until a following work step.

Abstract: Supplies of loose bristles which are confined in cardboard boxes are removed stepwise in the form of batches by a vertically movable combined separating and withdrawing tool which can enter a box from above or from below and can be used to deliver successively formed batches of loose bristles to a vehicle for transport to the magazine of a brush making or other bristle processing machine or additionally serves as a vehicle for transport of successive batches to one and the same machine or to two or more discrete processing machines. A holding device is provided to prevent the partially depleted supply of bristles in a box from collapsing as a result of removal of one or more batches of bristles, and an aligning device is provided to align the bristles in the box in regions where successive batches are separated from the supply of bristles.

Abstract: The magazine of a brush making machine receives batches of parallel bristles from an opening station where the batches are relieved of their envelopes. The upper end of the envelope for a batch which is delivered to the opening station in upright position is engaged by a clamping device, and the batch is thereupon lifted so that its upper end becomes exposed and is ready to be engaged by a tongs which lifts the batch to thus complete its separation from the envelope prior to transfer into the magazine.

Abstract: The magazine of a brush making machine receives batches of parallel bristles from an opening station where the batches are relieved of their envelopes. The upper end of the envelope for a batch which is delivered to the opening station in upright position is engaged by a clamping device, and the batch is thereupon lifted so that its upper end becomes exposed and is ready to be engaged by a tongs which lifts the batch to thus complete its separation from the envelope prior to transfer into the magazine.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing and manipulating bundles of partially wrapped batches of bristles in a brush making machine has a single plate-like support or two or more stationary or mobile supports for temporary storage of bundles. The support or supports can admit bundles into the range of a singularizing device which delivers discrete bundles to an opening station where the bundles are relieved of their wrappers prior to introduction of the thus exposed batches of bristles into the magazine or magazines of the brush making machine. Mobile supports can constitute pallets which are transported by a conveyor into the range of a chute serving to advance bundles from successive loaded pallets into the range of the singularizing device. The apparatus can store a supply of bundled bristles which suffices to satisfy the requirements of the machine during an entire shift. The supports can be stored side by side or one above the other, depending upon the availability of space in the brush making plant.

Abstract: The outlet of a magazine for a supply of parallel bristles in a bursh making machine is adjacent to an oscillatable element which transfers compacted tufts of bristles to an inserting tool. The supply of bristles in the magazine is compacted by one or more reciprocable tamping members which compact the bristles during movement toward the outlet. Fresh bristles can be admitted in unconfined condition or in the form of bundles containing batches of parallel bristles confined in tubular envelopes. The envelopes are opened and removed not later than in the magazine and the released bristles are immediately compacted by one of the tamping members which urges the bristles against the other tamping member which continues to compress the remnant of the supply. The other tamping member is withdrawn and moved backwards prior to reintroduction into the magazine above the freshly admitted batch. The tamping members can bypass each other in the magazine.