Abstract: A rotary brush assembly, suitable for use in a vacuum cleaner, is disclosed. The assembly includes a generally cylindrical brush roller body carrying an array of helical rows of bristle tufts. In one embodiment, bristle tufts near a midplane normal to the roller body axis and equidistant between its ends are substantially normal to the roller body axis. Other bristle tufts are angled away from the midplane in an amount which is an increasing function of their distance from the midplane. Bristle stiffness is an increasing function of the degree of tuft angulation.In another embodiment, the roller body defines helical grooves in its outer surface, and two brush strip substrate portions bearing the bristle tufts are inserted end to end in each groove. Adjacent brush strip ends define structure for interlocking the brush strips for inhibiting longitudinal separation of the brush strips, which would otherwise tend to result from brush rotation.

Abstract: A conveyor or rotary index drum transport system for brush blanks. The system utilizes a series of lightweight blank receiving work holders sequentially indexed through a series of stations with selected stations incorporating means for shifting the work holder to an operative position outward of the indexing or transporting means. The transport conveyor or drum also travels through stationary loading and unloading stations.