Abstract: A clamping device for restraining filament tufts in a bristle cluster includes fixed and movable clamping plates. The clamping plates have apertures that are aligned in the unloaded position and that are offset relative to each other in the loaded position. The movable clamping plates can be displaced relative to the fixed clamping plates, and each movable clamping plate secures a specific portion of the bristle cluster.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a brush 6 including of inserting bristles 2 into a bristles insertion hole 55, and thereafter implanting the bristles in a resin base plate. Further, each individual sleeve 60 is prepared in correspondence to cross sectional shapes and cross sectional areas in the bristles insertion hole 55, the bristles 2 are introduced to the sleeves 60, and each of the bristle 2 in the sleeves 60 is inserted to the corresponding bristles insertion holes 55 by an extrusion pin 71.

Abstract: A method of exerting a uniform force on bristle bundles in a clamp. Holes in a locking plate in a clamp are adjusted such that when the clamp is engaged, a specific force is exerted on the bristle bundles. The adjustment allows the holes to be displaced by different amounts for a given displacement of the locking plate.

Abstract: A system for assembling and shaping semi-finished products (4) consisting of circular brushes comprises a bristle-insertion station (ST2) in which, substantially: a) there is provided a folded circular ring nut (107), which extends axially along its own axis (7x), and has a conical front profiled section (7ap), a central cylindrical portion (7a), a rear circumferential side (7dp) and a central axial hole (7b), fitted onto a ring nut-holder unit (43-39-38) with a conical front head (43); b) a ring (2) is disposed slightly spaced axially in front of the said ring nut (107) and coaxially (2x-7x) relative to the said folded ring nut (107); and c) a plurality of bristles (61) is inserted in a circumferentially distributed manner, by being made to pass between the inner circumference of the said ring (2) and the outer circumference of the said head (43), and thus on the outer circumference of the said ring nut (107), until a specific length (98a) of bristles (61) is obtained, disposed downstream from the said ring

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

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: An elongated pile sub-assembly having a support beam for attachment to a plurality of yarn bundles. Each of the yarn bundles attached to the beam have a pile end and a root end for anchoring the elongated pile sub-assembly. The root ends can also entangle its loose fibers for added anchoring support of the elongated pile sub-assembly. A guide assembly is used to form a rooted tuftstring article such as a brush or flooring article therefrom. The elongated pile sub-assembly may be used alone to make a brush or a pile or bristle surface structure such as a floor covering, a wall covering or an automotive component, or may be arranged with other elongated pile articles and attached to a backing substrate, as when used to make up a pile or bristle surface structure. A brush or pile surface structure may be fabricated from an elongated pile sub-assembly alone, or from the pile sub-assembly together with a brush body member or a backing substrate.

Abstract: In order to manufacture brushes, in particular toothbrushes, bundles (3) of bristles, enclosed at first by a covering (2) or the like, are first cut open in a bristle magazine (4), so that the covering (2) can be removed. The covering is cut through at two points that are spaced apart from one another, in particular situated opposite one another, and the resulting two parts (2a and 2b) of the covering (2) are removed from the bristle magazine towards two opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing brushes. The bristle bundles are loaded into a magazine which includes part of a cavity for an injection mold. The magazine is mated with the remainder of the injection mold and the brush handle injection molded around the bristles. The bristles may be profiled, trimmed, end-rounded, fused, or otherwise processed before the handle is injection molded. In addition, the handle of the brush may be formed in two injection molding steps of two different materials. An apparatus is taught which enables the brush to be produced, optionally ornamented, and packaged on a single machine.

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: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a brush. In accordance with said method, a strand of a single filament or of a bundle of filaments is unwound from a spool and moved past a cutting means in which a predetermined length piece of the strand is cut off. Subsequently, said length piece is connected to a bristle carrier. In order to increase the productivity, the present invention suggests that, when the strand or rather the length piece has been cut to length, it should be transported by means of an airflow. The risk that a filament kinks during transport of the strand can be excluded in this way. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises, in a manner known per se, at least one spool keeping a strand of a single filament or of a filament bundle ready for use.

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: A method and apparatus for feeding bristle bundle material into a magazine. The magazine is used in the production of brushes in which not all the bristle bundles extend in the same direction from the face of the brush. The feed apparatus for guiding the bristle bundle material from a supply to the magazine includes a number of transition plates having channels machined at an oblique angle to the surface of the plate. The plates each guide the bristle bundle material through a small angle; the assembled plates can guide the material through a large total angle so that the angle at which the bristle bundles enter the magazine is the same as the angle the bristles will have with respect to the brush.

Abstract: A gripper includes a) a first element that includes a plurality of male components; and b) a second element that includes a plurality of female components dimensioned to receive the male components. The first element and the second element are moveable from an open position to a closed position and the male components engage the female components when the elements are in a closed position. The individual male components and the individual female components are capable of maintaining a plurality of bristles in fixed relation to each other when the elements are in a closed position.

Abstract: An article of manufacture has elongated members connected to a base string. The articles can be used as bristle subassembly, carpet subassembly, and a variety of other products. Articles are made by wrapping a strand around a mandrel to form a plurality of wraps, and then base strings are bonded to the wraps. After cutting the wraps along one side of the base strings, a plurality of subassemblies are formed. These are fed to a second mandrel, which carries wraps formed by a second strand. The base strings of the subassemblies are then bonded to the wraps of the second mandrel. After cutting along the base strings, a plurality of modified subassemblies are formed with two rows of elongated members formed from the two sets of wraps. The apparatus for forming the subassemblies can include a conditioning device to further enhance the connection of the elongated members to the base strings, and also to smooth the ends of the elongated members where they were cut.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing brushes, especially toothbrushes, which comprise a brush body and at least one bristle bundle composed of a plurality of oriented bristle filaments, said method comprising the steps of introducing said bristle bundle into a channel, which is formed on a moulding tool component, partially melting said bristle bundle at its fixing-side end so as to form an enlargement, closing the moulding tool and filling it with a flowable material. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the method according to the generic clause is further developed in that at least a weakened length area of the bristle filaments, which is created when the bristle bundle is partially melted, is completely surrounded by the enlargement. According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is suggested that hot gas should be used for forming the enlargement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making elongated articles are disclosed. One method includes feeding at least one base string along an axis, wrapping at least one monofilament around the axis to produce a number of monofilament wraps per length of base string which are transported by the base string, bonding the wraps to the base string with ultrasonic energy, and cutting the wraps at a point downstream of where the wraps are bonded to the base string. The result is an article having two rows of monofilament segments connected to the base string.

Abstract: A cleaning device and method of manufacture comprising (1) a cleaning tape element comprising a plurality of individual filaments such as bristles or fibers, the plurality of individual filaments each having (i) a cleaning tip disposed at a first end of the filament, and (ii) a second end, and (iii) means for maintaining the plurality of individual filaments in at least one, single filament-wide row, thereby forming a tape and (2) a base portion, the plurality of individual filaments coupled to the base portion adjacent their respective base ends.

Abstract: A device for supplying fibers to a filling instrument of a brush manufacturing machine which contains a fiber cartridge with at least two fiber supply ducts. The device is provided with a drawer with loading spaces which are used to move the fibers coming from the fiber cartridge to a bundle remover and work in conjunction with the filling instrument. Between each fiber supply duct in association with the fiber cartridge and the drawer, the device is provided with a loading device which makes is possible for certain loading spaces to work exclusively with certain fiber supply ducts.

Abstract: Apparatus for rounding the ends of brush fibers made of thermoplastic material includes a system for moving a smooth treatment surface relative to brush fiber ends at a relative speed and for a selected time to cause the brush fiber ends to be heated to their plastic deformation temperature to cause the brush fiber ends to become rounded. The treatment surface includes at least a portion which has substantially no abrasion, grinding or impacting properties relative to the brush fibers but only substantially friction heating properties relative to the fibers. A method for rounding brush fiber ends is described using the described apparatus.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing brush bodies, more particularly brush bodies (1) made of synthetic material, which are provided with at least one insert (2), and wherein in the insert (2) is firstly covered by injection on one side in a die (5) and subsequently on the other side also in a die.

Abstract: Method for processing brushes, whereby the brush fibres (2) of these brushes (1) are divided in clearly separated fields and are subsequently treated separately per field. The brush fibres (2) are divided in separate fields by subsequently displacing a number of the brush fibres (2) by bending them by means of one or more displacement elements (5A to 5I), by retaining at least part of the displaced brush fibres (2) in bent condition by means of one or more auxiliary elements (6A-6B-6C), and by redrawing the displacement elements (5A to 5I).

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 toothbrush finishing machine and method are provided for producing toothbrushes with profiled, or contoured, patterns of bristle tufts. The bristles are selectively trimmed to different lengths using successively a plurality of different rotating cutting devices which each have a substantially cylindrical cutting surface with an axial gap therein. The axial gap of each preceding cutting device is wider than the corresponding axial gap of a succeeding axial device. Each rotating cutting device is followed by a rounding device provided for rounding the free end of the bristles. Each rounding device has deflecting members to selectively deflect bristles other than those trimmed in the preceding trimming step, so that the trimmed bristles have their ends projecting beyond the deflected bristles. The projecting bristle ends are engaged by the rounding device to be rounded.

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 method for configuring the use ends of the bristles of at least one bristle bundle in the fabrication of bristle products, including cutting the bristle bundle to a predetermined dimension and inserting it into the channel in a carrier, and bringing the use ends into a contact with a surface of a configuration plate having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the use ends of the bristles of the bristle bundle, under gas pressure acting on bristle ends which are opposite to use ends.

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: An apparatus for producing bristle bundles has a shaft-like magazine for cut-to-length bristles and at least one tubular bundle gripper, which can be introduced into the magazine and separates a bristle bundle from the bristle supply and which is internally widened from the opening over a short axial length in a continuous curve and then has over most of its axial length an axially parallel wall, accompanied by the formation of a larger internal cross-section than the said opening. The magazine has a vibrating bottom, which "fluidizes" the bristles and vibrating wall portion pushing flush the said bristles.

Abstract: Brushes such as toothbrushes are recycled in an apparatus having an inner, steam chamber and a brush restraining holder mounted over an outlet from the steam chamber. The brush holder has a mold cavity communicating with the steam chamber outlet and having an opening for allowing at least partial insertion of the bristle part of a toothbrush to be recycled into the cavity. The cavity has a cross-sectional periphery of shape and dimensions substantially matching the cross-sectional periphery of the bristle part of a brush to be recycled.

Abstract: Brushes such as toothbrushes are recycled in an apparatus having a mold chamber of shape and dimensions substantially matching that of the bristle part of the brush when new and unused. The mold chamber is mounted over a steam orifice of a steam chamber. The steam chamber has a heater for heating water in the chamber to produce steam. Steam entering the mold chamber softens the bristles into a moldable condition, after which the supply of steam is turned off and the bristles are allowed to cool in the mold chamber for a sufficient time for them to harden into a configuration substantially matching that of the mold chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are new brush constructions having at least one receptable formed into a brush piece. The receptacles receive integrally formed bristle clusters which each have a plurality of bristles or tines. The receptacles include a central cavity preferably surrounded by deflection flutes. The flutes receive the tines and force them together and into upstanding orientations. The central cavity extends below the flutes to provide a stabilizer receptacle which receives a stabilizer portion of the bristle cluster core. The bristle clusters are comprised of a plurality of tines which are connected at a central juncture and extend outwardly when the bristle cluster is in the relaxed uninstalled condition. The invention further discloses an apparatus and method for making the brushes by simultaneously ejecting the bristle clusters from a mold and into the receptacles in the brush piece.

Abstract: A device for cutting bristles of tooth brushes to different lengths in different selected areas of a tuft pattern comprises a support for holding the brush head, at least one shield associated with a selected area of the tuft pattern and movable between a rest position distant from the head and the bristle tips and an active position close to the head; the shield is provided with ramp means for engaging the tips of the bristles in the selected area and for imparting a radial component of movement to the engaged bristle tips to bend the corresponding bristles in directions away from the bristles outside the selected area upon movement of said shield from its rest position to its active position.

Abstract: A machine for making brushes, in particular tooth brushes, comprising two mold members having complementary cavities to define a molding chamber for injection molding a brush body, is further provided with a carrier member mounting at least two plate members provided with tuft-receiving throughholes and a molding surface. The carrier displaces alternatively the plate members between a mold closing position and a tuft loading position in front of a tuft loader and a heating plate.

Abstract: A brush head for cleaning and massaging the teeth and gums is disclosed having a bundle of fibers welded together to form a bottom plate. The bottom plate has formed structures produced by partially melting one end of the fiber bundle while pressing the bundle into a shaped recess in a heated tool. The shaped structures allow interlocking of the brush head with mating structures in a driving devise.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a brush-type seal comprising wrapping a filament over two spaced elongated mandrels in parallel arrangement to form a filament packing, then securing the filament packing at its ends onto the two mandrels, thereafter dividing the filament packing in a median plane between the mandrels to produce two brushes which are then bent into the desired brush shape. The bristles can be formed at an inclination in their mountings by supporting the mandrels on the base beams of a parallelogram linkage which can be displaced and controlled by cam disks so that the length of winding of the filament remains constant.

Abstract: An arrangement for automatically feeding fibres to the cassette of a brush-making machine, the arrangement including a bundle magazine for storing cylindrical bundles of wrapped fibres, a bundle chamber for sequentially receiving the wrapped fibre bundles wherein a knife disposed within the chamber serves to cut through each bundle wrapper, a mechanism for completely removing each cut wrapper from the loose fibres, a pair of tongs for gripping the loose fibres and maintaining them in a parallel disposition, and a conveyor for moving the gripped fibres to the fibre cassette of the brush-making machine.

Abstract: A brush manufacturing machine comprising a brush body carrier for holding a brush body by its opposite ends, the carrier including two clamping components disposed in line with each other for engaging the opposite ends of the brush body, the clamping components being carried on rotatable pins that move the components towards and away from each other and rotate the brush body.

Abstract: A process for inserting points (38) in a mandrel (36) and a machine for performing this process. A working head (40) simultaneously ensures the insertion of a point and the making of a perforation (112) in the mandrel by means of a punch (94). The perforation is made in the same longitudinal row as the inserted point and towards the front with respect to the latter, in such a way that it is subsequently possible to guide a point following a rotation of one or more turns of the mandrel. The invention is applicable to the production of members or bodies of revolution made from three-dimensional material.

Abstract: A method for continuously making a brush-like material includes winding an adhering filament onto the outer surface of a flexible tubular member. The strands of wound filament and the tubular member are severed about the length of the tubular member to form a planar strip with filament segments adhering and extending across the width arranged in a spaced manner about the length of the planar strip. A portion of the planar strip is removed to expose the ends of the filament segments. The strips holding the filament segments are gathered and stacked in side by side relationship. The strips of filament segments and the exposed tips of segmented filament are immersed in a liquid anchoring material which is cured to secure the filament segments therein. The remaining strips of the tubular member are removed to form a finished strip of brush-like material.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming brush contacts from spools of wire and holders for angular ended wire segments cut from said wires, has a wire feeding means for feeding spools thereof independently of each other, a cutting device for cutting segments from the wires and feeding the segments to a common collection point where the segments are loaded into the holders provided, and a crimping device for crimping the holder to retain the wires therein without causing flaring of the exposed ends. A checking station is provided to determine whether each brush contact contains the requisite number of wire segments and ejection means to eject defective contacts. The completed contacts are collected in such a manner as to prevent damage thereto.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of brushes having a bristle collecting station, a melting station, a welding station and at least one bristle bunch holder. The bristle bunch holder consists of a plate having hollow bristle holding sleeves thereon and comprising movement devices, with which the bristle bunch holder is successively aligned with the stations. A discharge station is provided in which ejector means are, during advancement of the bristle bunch holder, pushed through the bristle holding sleeves.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for orientating workpieces, more especially brush bodies, of the type that is formed by a feeding box for workpieces; a transport device which conveys the workpieces one by one opposite to a detecting device and an orienter which place all detected workpieces in the same position, in order to finally feed them into a magazine or processing machine. The detecting and orientating devices are formed by a support which is located opposite to a transport device consisting of a drum and fixed to the side wall of the device, to which support, radially movable in relation to the aforesaid transport drum, is fixed a bridge which, on one side of the transport drum and in the path of the workpieces. A stop is provided on the other side of the transport drum, and coaxially with a first stop.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for manufacturing a body of fibers for use in a brush as well as the brush so produced. This process comprises inserting a plurality of fibers into an opening of a plate, separating the fibers into a plurality of fiber bunches or curtains, applying an adhesive to the end of the fibers which is at the base of the plate, and removing the body of fibers from the plate, such that the body of fibers contains at least one parallel space or passage between the curtains of fibers. The body of fibers is then inserted into a brush handle. This brush may be used to apply coating liquids such as paints and varnishes.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of brushes having at least one brush head mounting structure for brush heads. The mounting structure is pivotal about two axes and furthermore is longitudinally movable. The machine comprises a bristle bunch holder for holding bristle bunches and movement devices for guiding the bristle bunch to a brush head. Between the bunch holder and the brush head there is arranged at least two heating elements with contact heating surfaces thereon. The heating elements are provided on a movable heating-element carrier which can be moved between an engaging position, in which one heating surface is adjacent to the brush head and the other adjacent to the bunch holder, and a rest position, which lies outside of the range of movement of the bristle bunch holder.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for and a method of making a brush wherein bristle tufts are bound to a brush core by a helically wound notched strip of a suitable material such as metal spaced radially of the core, the roots of the bristle tufts passing through the notches in the strip. The strip has longitudinally spaced formations integral therewith for spacing the strip radially of the brush core, thereby avoiding the use of a further, separate strip for that purpose.The bristle binding strip is notched as it is fed toward means for feeding bristles to the notched strip to form bristle tufts, and the bristle tufts and binding strip are fed to the brush core to be wound thereon, such notching also forming strip spacing tabs.

Abstract: A scrubbing-brush is manufactured by the following process. First, a number of nets formed of fibers connected with one another are secured. The bundle is bundled at an intermediate portion thereof by a bundling member. Then, the bundle is cut at opposite sides of the bundling member. The thus cut bundle is then heated to cause memory deformation of the fibers, thus completing a scrubbing-brush. The thus finished scrubbing-brush has a number of fibers having respective ends formed with smooth convex bristle surfaces.

Abstract: Pipe cleaners comprising a plurality of short pieces of threads as active elements are formed in machines arranged in pairs. Threads are wound in helices around two rigid wires, which are advanced adjacent and parallel to each other and each belong to a different one of the machines of the pair. The turns of the helices are severed between the wires in such a way that two pieces of thread are formed of each turn. Half of the thread pieces are secured to each wire by approaching one additional wire to each of the firstmentioned wires and twisting the wires pairwise for clamping the thread pieces between the wires of each pair and for forming two pipe cleaner strings, which are subsequently cut into individual pipe cleaners.The common parts of the machines of a pair comprise thread bobbins, thread winding means, thread severing means and means for guiding the thread helices forming wires.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a wound rope or cord bound brush. The method and apparatus of the invention makes it possible to vary the angle at which the brush bristles project from the surface of the brush core (a) in either direction tangentially of the brush core with respect to a longitudinal axial plane thereof, and/or (b) the angle of the bristles longitudinally of the brush with respect to transverse planes through the axis of the brush.

Abstract: Brush where in bristle tufts are bound to a brush core by a helically wound notched strip of a suitable material such as metal spaced radially of the core, the roots of the bristle tufts passing through the notches in the strip. The strip has longitudinally spaced formations integral therewith for spacing the strip radially of the brush core, thereby avoiding the use of a further, separate strip for that purpose.The invention also includes a machine for and a method of making the above brush. The bristle binding strip is notched as it is fed toward means for feeding bristles to the notched strip to form bristle tufts, and the bristle tufts and binding strip are fed to the brush core to be wound thereon, such notching also forming strip spacing tabs.

Abstract: The illustrative apparatus employs a bristle-feeding or picker wheel positioned with its axis generally normal to the axis of the brush core and so that the rim of one part of the wheel is disposed in a plane generally tangential to the cord being wound on the brush core in the portion thereof first entering upon or engaging the brush core, another portion of the wheel feeding bristles continuously between such entering cord portion and the last laid complete convolution of cord on the core. The bristle binding cord or cords are fed to the bristle applying zone over an idle guide roller which is mounted for free rotation on a rope guide plate indpendent of the picker wheel. Such guide plate and the guide roller mounted thereon are adjustable toward and away from the vertical longitudinal plane containing the axis of the brush core in either direction from coincidence of the axis with such vertical longitudinal plane.