Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward blades having serrations, and methods for forming the serrations. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, laser light is scanned across a surface of a knife blade in which the laser light is intersected with an edge thereof. The laser light is used to serrate the edge of the knife blade by generating heat in the knife blade while the laser light is scanned, melting portions of the knife blade at serration regions at the edge, and removing the melted portions. This approach may be carried out without registering an accurate location of the knife edge, and while also melting portions of the knife blade away from the edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a brush head for a toothbrush head in which the bristle tufts that are already fixed to a bristle support of the brush head are cut at the free ends thereof such that a desired tuft end contour is generated. According to the invention, at least one bristle tuft is bent away at least in parts and held in a bent-away position while the tuft end contour of this at least one and/or of another bristle tuft is cut.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toothbrush filament trimmer includes providing a cutter and a counter knife each comprised of hot-working steel, wherein the cutter and the counter knife include at least a recess suitable to carry a coating to form a cutting edge; depositing a first material onto the at least one recess of the cutter and/or the counter knife to form a first layer; depositing a second material onto each first layer to form a second layer, wherein at least a carbide of at least one element of the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and/or the seventh group of the periodic table is used as the second material; and sharpening the coating comprising the first layer and the second layer applied to the at least one recess of the cutter and/or to the at least one recess of the counter knife, wherein a cutting edge is formed.

Abstract: A brush includes a brush head which comprises a brush support, and a plurality of brushing members integrally provided on the brush support, wherein the brushing members and the brush support are integrally formed together by heat treatment.

Abstract: In order to apply mascara and comb they eyelashes, the invention proposes carrying out a selective, clean and adaptable cutting of the bristles twisted along a core by selecting some of the bristles located, along the wire, in angular sectors of adjustable amplitude and by continuously cutting the bristles thus selected at a predetermined height. The implementing guiding module has a guiding inlet head (69a) and a cylindrical tube body (69c), the head being for bristles remain curved. The cutting (70) and guiding (45) groove formed by an end piece with a conical outline extended by a hollow tube having a central channel (31) of the same diameter, cutting (70) and guiding (45) grooves being formed in the channel.

Abstract: A method for making toothbrushes includes the steps of, providing a toothbrush, and providing an end-rounder secured to a support. The support is substantially fixed against movement. The toothbrush is moved towards the end-rounder such that free ends of bristles secured to a head of the toothbrush are rounded by the end-rounder.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing brushes, whereby bundles of fibers (12) are provided in a brush body (13), whereby this method also comprises a step whereby the far ends (2) of the fibers (3) are subjected to a processing by bringing them into contact with a processing equipment (5), characterized in that, during the aforesaid step, the fibers (3) and the processing equipment (5) are mutually put into contact whereas the fibers (3) are being held loosely together.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a toothbrush with needle-shaped bristles. The method includes the step of setting needle-shaped bristles, partially tapered by being immersed in a chemical, in a head part of a toothbrush body. The method further includes the step of grinding the needle-shape bristles using a drum grinder having protrusions such that end points of the bristles range from 0.01 to 0.03 mm in thickness and tapered portions of the bristles range from 3.5 to 8 mm in length. A toothbrush, in which needle-shaped bristles having end points of 0.03 to 0.05 mm in thickness and tapered portions of 3.5 to 10 mm in length are set, can be manufactured using the method of the present invention. In the present invention, because a manufacturing process is simplified, the required production time and the proportion of defective bristles are markedly reduced.

Abstract: In order to apply mascara and comb they eyelashes, the invention proposes carrying out a selective, clean and adaptable cutting of the bristles twisted along a core by selecting some of the bristles located, along the wire, in angular sectors of adjustable amplitude and by continuously cutting the bristles thus selected at a predetermined height. The implementing guiding module has a guiding inlet head (69a) and a cylindrical tube body (69c), the head being for bristles remain curved. The cutting (70) and guiding (45) groove formed by an end piece with a conical outline extended by a hollow tube having a central channel (31) of the same diameter, cutting (70) and guiding (45) grooves being formed in the channel.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing brushes whereby brush bodies are provided with brush fibers and these brush fibers are then cut off by means of a device comprising at least a rotating cutting knife and a counter knife, wherein the brush fibers are cut off by making the cutting knife as well as the counter knife carry out a rotational movement, mainly along one and the same axis of rotation.

Abstract: A brush for applying a substance to keratinous fibers may include a twisted core defining turns and bristles extending from the twisted core. The bristles may be clamped between the turns of the twisted core, and the bristles may include at least two deformed bristles clamped between two adjacent turns of the twisted core. Each of the at least two deformed bristles may have a length wherein at at least one point along the length each of the at least two deformed bristles includes either removal of material at the at least one point, stretching of material at the at least one point, or flattening at the at least one point. Each of the at least two deformed bristles may extend outward from the at least one point in a non-radial manner with respect to the twisted core.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing brushes, whereby bundles of fibers (12) are provided in a brush body (13), whereby this method also comprises a step whereby the far ends (2) of the fibers (3) are subjected to a processing by bringing them into contact with a processing equipment (5), characterized in that, during the aforesaid step, the fibers (3) and the processing equipment (5) are mutually put into contact whereas the fibers (3) are being held loosely together.

Abstract: During processing of bristles, at least some bristles of a bristle stock are split, along at least part of their length, into several separate partial cross-sections or fingers under the action of mechanical forces. For simplified manufacture of bristles with defined fingers independent of their relative disposition, the mechanical forces are applied from different directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bristles preferably using a blunt, blade-free tool, e.g. a striking tool.

Abstract: A method for making toothbrushes includes the steps of, providing a toothbrush, and providing an end-rounder secured to a support. The support is substantially fixed against movement The toothbrush is moved towards the end-rounder such that free ends of bristles secured to a head of the toothbrush are rounded by the end-rounder.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for end rounding filaments for use on brushes. The devices include an air driven planetary gear system rotating a sanding wheel through a varied elliptical path that attacks the filaments from all sides.

Abstract: A multi-stage injection molding method for the brush body is proposed in the first injection stage of which sealing of the bores of the bottom plate of the injection molding tool, including the tips of the cords of bristles that protrude into the mold interior is performed, and with the opening of the injection molding tool, a zone of rigidly fastened cords of bristles is created between the brush body, fastened in the intermediate plate, and the bottom plate, so that the cords of bristles can subsequently be served in the open without a counterpart blade, using a severing knife that swings back and forth, without the need for remachining the cut faces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing brushes, in particular toothbrushes, by way of injection molding, wherein a brush body is formed in a mold cavity, bristle filaments are connected to the brush body for forming bristles, and at least one flexible element extending substantially in parallel with the bristle filaments is preferably formed by injection onto the brush body. It is the object of the present invention to improve the above-mentioned method such that contouring and/or finishing of the bristle filaments can be carried out without any impairment by the flexible cleaning elements. According to the invention said object is achieved in that the useful ends of the brush are finished, the at least one flexible cleaning element being removed from the operative area of the finishing tool during said finishing operation.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for tufting oral brushes. The methods include inserting free ends of continuous strands of filaments into blind openings in a moldbar, at least some of the blind openings having different depths and/or extending at different angles.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for end rounding filaments for use on brushes. The devices include an air driven planetary gear system rotating a sanding wheel through a varied elliptical path that attacks the filaments from all sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for processing bristle filaments, in particular toothbrushes, with an abrasive surface. In order to improve, in particular, the processing of contoured brushes, the abrasive surface is formed according to the present invention on at least one tooth flank of at least one tooth which is provided on a rotating circumferential surface and circulates in the rotational direction. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the bristle filaments are moved in a first direction substantially in parallel to at least one tooth flank comprising the abrasive surface, and in a second direction substantially at a right angle to the first direction, over the ridge of the at least one tooth.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing brushes whereby brush bodies are provided with brush fibers and these brush fibers are then cut off by means of a device comprising at least a rotating cutting knife and a counter knife, wherein the brush fibers are cut off by making the cutting knife as well as the counter knife carry out a rotational movement, mainly along one and the same axis of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for end-rounding bristles in a brush having different heights. The apparatus includes pins disposed in pre-determined locations such that they will contact selected bristles in a brush abutting the apparatus when the pins travel a two-dimensional path. The height of the pins is adjusted according to the heights of the selected bristles.

Abstract: Methods and machines are disclosed to attach tufts of individual bristles to a toothbrush with a resiliently flexible head, wherein the flexible head may be segmented with joints connecting adjacent segments or it may be angled or curved or combinations thereof, and to then trim such tufts of individual bristles to a desired length--or lengths in the case of brushes with multi-level tufts--and to then round the free ends of the individual bristles in each such tuft. The disclosed method and apparatus require only the modification of conventional toothbrush tufting machines having tuft insertion tools that travel in a defined direction and the modification of conventional trimming machines and methods.

Abstract: A brush making machine with a mold for injection molding of brush bodies is disclosed. The mold includes a stationary mold part, a movable mold part and a pair of complementary mold parts fitting into a recess of the movable mold part. The complementary mold parts have tuft insertion holes. While one of the complementary mold parts fills the recess of the movable mold part and a brush body is injection molded with tufts of bristles embedded in the molding material, the other complementary mold part is in front of a tuft feeder for introducing tufts of bristles into the tuft insertion holes. The tuft feeder includes a plurality of tuft picking and transfer tubes which are movable to pick out tufts of bristles from a bristle container and to transfer each of these tufts to a position adjacent one of the tuft insertion holes. Plunger members penetrate into respective tubes to push out the tufts of bristles contained therein and to force them into and through the tuft insertion holes.

Abstract: This invention refers to a device for selective separation of toothbrush bristles that allows the toothbrush bristles to be cut into different lengths and profiles in different selected areas. According to this invention, the device ;for selective separation of toothbrush bristles comprises a base with fixation means for a toothbrush having bristles, and a support assembled over the base, wherein the support comprises a pair of simetrically pivoting stems over a first geometric plane, the support being displaceable over a portion of the base along a geometric axle that is parallel to the first geometric plane, from a resting position to a position of contact between the stems and the bristles and a cam means cooperating with the respective portions of the stems, during at least part of the displacement of the support over the base, in order to cause the symmetrically pivoting movement of the stems.

Abstract: A device for rounding the ends of plastic bristles on rotationally symmetrical circular brushes has a tool in the form of a rotationally symmetrical hollow body with an abrasive inner surface, which has an inner contour with an at least zonally smaller cross-section than the circular brush corresponding to the outer contour of the latter and between the circular brush and the tool there is a relative rotary movement and a reversible relative axial movement.

Abstract: A device for rounding the ends of the fibres of brushes (1), in particular fibres which are made of synthetic material, contains a first support (5) which can be moved in a direction in relation to a brush (1); a second support (4) which is mounted, rotatable around an axis (10) which is at right angles to this direction, on the first support (5); a first drive assembly (15) to rotate this second support (4); a grinding surface (3) which is mounted in a moveable manner on the second support (4) and against which the fibres are provided; and a second drive arrangement (12) to move this grinding surface (3). The grinding surface (3) is at least part of the jacket of a cylinder (2) whose axis (11) is directed crosswise to the axis (10) around which the second support (4) rotates in relation to the first support (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bristle finishing fork for isolating bristles affixed to a toothbrush head within a bristle finishing region comprising two elongated prongs having tips spaced at a distance "A" defining the width of the bristle swath to be isolated, wherein starting at said tip, the distance between the prongs increases to a distance "B" defining the sidewall of the bristle finishing region.

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: 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: The method disclosed envisages embodiment of a solid back carrying tufts of bristles or fibers etc which is provided, at least along the stretches near its outermost ends, with a series of sloping lands having an angle of inclination that is progressively less accentuated the nearer a single land is located to the middle section of the surface on which it is formed. Each land is provided with a corresponding hole whose axis is disposed normal or substantially normal to the land, whilst the remaining part of the surface is provided with uniformly-distributed holes the axes of which are either normal or marginally inclined relative to the surface itself. At least one tuft is set into each hole in such a way that the projecting tips of the bristles or fibers lie within a common plane.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of brushes particularly tooth-brushes, comprising a bristle-carrying head and possibly a handle in synthetic material fixed to the head.According to this invention, the piles are positioned in a mold by causing them to cross entirely the mold and to project outside of two opposite parts of the mold, the latter having an inner volume or capacity corresponding to at least one brush head and possibly one handle for such a head, a synthetic liquid or pasty synthetic material, such as a prepolymer or a synthetic resin, being then injected into the mold so as to cause the piles to be embedded into said synthetic material and to be surrounded by synthetic material having the shape of at least one head and possibly of at least one handle integral with said head(s).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for treating the top ends of flexible cords or filaments. It comprises holding means for holding articles having flexible cords, delivery means for delivering said holding means in a predetermined direction, cylindrical grinding means disposed at a position adjacent to a delivery passage for delivering said holding means, and means for rotating said cylindrical grinding means around its own axis and around an axis at right angles to its own axis. By virtue of the feature that the cylindrical grinding means is rotated around its central axis and around the axis rectangularly crossing the central axis, the top ends of flexible cords, such as bristles of toothbrushes, can be polished and ground from all the directions and very smooth and round outer ends can be obtained at high efficiency and high rate.