Profiling Device, Brush Manufacturing Device, Method for Profiling a Set of Bristles and Method for Manufacturing a Brush

This application is a 371 National Phase of PCT/EP2023/054531, filed Feb. 23, 2023, which claims priority from European Patent Application No. 22174318.0, filed May 19, 2022, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

The invention relates to a profiling device for profiling a set of bristles on a brush, in particular for a toothbrush. The invention also relates to a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing brushes, in particular toothbrushes, as well as a method for profiling a set of bristles made of bristle filaments of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, and a method for manufacturing a brush of this kind.

The functional properties and cleaning action of a brush, in particular a toothbrush, are crucially influenced by the configuration of its set of bristles. The profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles has a particular effect on the functional properties and cleaning action of the brush in this case.

A wide variety of profiles are known from the prior art in the field of toothbrushes. For example, in order to profile the set of bristles, it has become traditional to trim the free ends of the bristle filaments of the set of bristles and thereby create a specific profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles. However, the cutting waste generated during this process can contaminate the brush manufacturing device and lead to quality issues during brush production. In order to avoid these problems, the cutting waste produced during profiling is removed by means of suction devices, for example, or, however, the profiling is carried out in production areas specially designated and shielded for this purpose. This involves some effort.

The object of the invention is to provide a profiling device, a brush manufacturing device, a method for profiling a set of bristles made of bristle filaments, and a method for manufacturing a brush, which can reduce or even eliminate the effort and problems associated with manufacturing brushes with profiled set of bristles.

To achieve the object, a profiling device for profiling a set of bristles for a brush is initially proposed, which device has the features of the independent claim directed at a profiling device. Hence, in particular, in order to achieve the object, a profiling device is proposed that is set up to profile a cleaning side of the set of bristles by axially displacing the bristle filaments of the set of bristles along their longitudinal axes. In this case, the profiling of the set of bristles can take place before the set of bristles is attached to a bristle carrier of a brush being manufactured.

In this way, the set of bristles can be profiled on its cleaning side without the need to selectively trim the individual bristle filaments to a given length. The fact that the profile is created by axially displacing the bristle filaments along their longitudinal axes means that no cutting waste is produced when using the profiling device according to the invention, which could lead to contamination of the brush manufacturing machine and therefore to associated problems during the manufacture of brushes. A time-consuming removal of cutting waste can thereby be effectively avoided with the profiling device according to the invention.

In this case, a profile on the cleaning side of a set of bristles can be understood to mean a profile in which not all of the free ends of the bristle elements located on the cleaning side of the set of bristles are arranged in a common plane, particularly one aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the bristle filaments.

In this context, it may be advantageous for the profiling device to be set up to axially displace the bristle filaments of the set of bristles to different degrees.

In one embodiment of the profiling device, it is provided that the profiling device comprises a profiling tool and/or a counter-profiling tool for the axial displacement of the bristle filaments. The profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool can engage the bristle filaments, preferably from sides opposite one another, in order to cause the axial displacement of the bristle filaments to create the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles.

For the manufacture of complex profiles, it may be useful if the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool is/are set up to axially displace the bristle filaments of the set of bristles to different degrees. The differing axial displacement of bristle filaments during the profiling of the set of bristles can be achieved by the design of a profiling surface on the profiling tool and/or a counter-profiling surface on the counter-profiling tool, which can engage the bristle filaments during profiling.

The profiling device preferably comprises a profiling tool and a corresponding counter-profiling tool. The profiling tool and the counter-profiling tool can engage on opposite sides of the set of bristles in this case and work together to effect the axial displacement of the bristle filaments from an initial position to a target position. The interaction of the profiling tool and the counter-profiling tool of the profiling device allows for precise axial displacement of the bristle filaments in the set of bristles to create the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles without having to shorten the bristle filaments in the process and produce cutting waste.

The profiling tool can be set up for axial engagement of the bristle filaments on the cleaning side of the set of bristles. The counter-profiling tool can be set up for axial engagement of the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments on an attachment side of the set of bristles and/or for supporting the bristle filaments at the attachment-side ends during the profiling of the set of bristles.

The profiling tool may have a preferably closed profiling surface. The profiling surface may have a profile that corresponds to a negative profile of the profile to be produced on the cleaning side of the set of bristles. If the profiling surface is closed, it can prevent individual bristle filaments from passing through the profiling surface of the profiling tool and accidentally not being engaged by the profiling tool.

The counter-profiling tool may have a preferably closed counter-profiling surface. The counter-profiling surface of the counter-profiling tool may have a profile that corresponds to a negative profile of the profiling surface of the profiling tool. The profile of the counter-profiling surface can also match the profile to be created on the cleaning side of the set of bristles of the brush being manufactured.

To be able to axially displace the bristle filaments to produce the profile, it is advantageous if the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool is/are movably mounted to perform a profiling movement. It is also possible to keep the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool stationary and move the set of bristles in a profiling movement relative to the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool to produce the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles.

The profiling device may comprise a drive for the profiling movement of the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool and/or the set of bristles, particularly of a filament holder of the profiling device, which is explained in greater detail below.

The profiling device may have a filament holder for holding the bristle filaments of the set of bristles during the profiling of the set of bristles, particularly by clamping. The bristle filaments of the set of bristles may be initially held in a non-profiled relative position to one another by the filament holder. In this case, all bristle filaments may have the same length and/or the same protrusion from the filament holder. The filament holder can present the bristle filaments of the set of bristles to the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool and hold and/or guide the bristle filaments during profiling.

It is also possible to move the filament holder with the bristle filaments of the set of bristles in a profiling movement to produce the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles.

It is advantageous if the filament holder has a hole pattern with a number and arrangement of receiving holes that correspond to the number and arrangement of bristle bundles in the set of bristles of the brush being manufactured.

The filament holder can therefore already hold all the bristle filaments of the set of bristles to be profiled in a bundle arrangement that corresponds to the bundle arrangement of the set of bristles in the finished brush.

The filament holder may have a releasable clamp for bristle filaments arranged in the receiving holes, in particular for bristle bundles arranged in the receiving holes. Before profiling the set of bristles on its cleaning side, the filament holder can hold the bristle filaments positioned in the receiving holes with the help of the clamp. For the actual profiling of the set of bristles, the clamp can be temporarily released. This makes it possible for the bristle filaments preferably to be axially displaced to varying extents in the filament holder, in order to produce the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles. Once the axial displacement of the bristle filaments has taken place and the profile has been produced, the clamp can be reactivated, in order to hold the then profiled set of bristles ready for further processing, in particular for connecting the set of bristles to a bristle carrier of the brush being manufactured.

It is advantageous for the previously explained function of the filament holder if the receiving holes are designed as through holes. In this way, it is possible to shift the bristle filaments within the filament holder axially into their respective individual target positions, thereby producing the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles.

The profiling device may further comprise an equalization device for equalizing a counter-profile produced on an attachment side of the set of bristles. Due to the axial displacement of the bristle filaments to produce the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles, the bristle filaments on the attachment side of the set of bristles may have different protrusions.

On the attachment side, the set of bristles may then have a counter-profile corresponding to the negative profile of the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles. The equalization device is used to equalize these different protrusions and the resulting counter-profile on the attachment side of the set of bristles, which equalization device levels these different protrusions of the bristle filaments on the attachment side. In order to equalize the counter-profile on the attachment side of the set of bristles, the equalization device may comprise a heating device that is designed to melt the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments of the set of bristles. By melting the attachment-side ends, the counter-profile on the attachment side of the set of bristles can be leveled, the bristle filaments of individual bristle bundles and/or the bristle bundles of the set of bristles can be connected to one another and, ultimately, the set of bristles can be connected to a bristle carrier that has been provided. This can then be done by means of a preferably substance-bonded connection between the melted, attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments of the set of bristles and a bristle carrier that has been provided.

The heating device of the equalization device may be a heating device of a brush manufacturing device described in greater detail below, which is also used to connect the profiled set of bristles to a bristle carrier that has been provided.

To achieve the object, a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing brushes, in particular toothbrushes, is proposed, which comprises the means and features of the independent claim directed at a brush manufacturing device. In particular, a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing brushes, in particular toothbrushes, with a bristle carrier and a set of bristles made of bristle filaments is therefore proposed, wherein the brush manufacturing device comprises a profiling device according to any one of the claims directed at a device of this kind.

To achieve the object, a method for profiling a set of bristles made of bristle filaments for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is proposed, which comprises the means and features of the independent claim directed at a method for profiling a set of bristles.

To achieve the object, it is therefore particularly proposed in the method for profiling a set of bristles that the bristle filaments of the set of bristles are axially displaced relative to their longitudinal axes using a profiling device, in particular a profiling device according to any one of the claims directed at a profiling device, from an initial position to a target position to create a profile on a cleaning side of the set of bristles. The target positions of the bristle filaments may differ from one another in the axial direction in this case. A profiling tool and/or a counter-profiling tool of the profiling device is/are preferably used in this case.

The method may be part of a method for manufacturing brushes, in particular toothbrushes.

During the implementation of the method for profiling the set of bristles on the cleaning side, the bristle filaments of the set of bristles may be axially displaced relative to on another and/or to varying extents.

The set of bristles may be supported and/or counter-profiled on its attachment side using a counter-profiling tool during profiling. In this way, the set of bristles is moved from a non-profiled initial position to the profiled target position, in which the set of bristles has the desired profile on its cleaning side, by means of the interaction of the previously mentioned profiling tool with the counter-profiling tool.

The profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool can be moved relative to the set of bristles in a profiling movement in this case. However, it is also possible for the set of bristles to be moved relative to the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool to profile the cleaning side of the set of bristles. In this case, the set of bristles can be held with the previously mentioned filament holder of the profiling device and moved in a profiling movement towards the profiling tool and/or the counter-profiling tool.

A counter-profile produced on the attachment side of the set of bristles during the profiling of the cleaning side can be levelled. This can be done, for example, by melting the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments. Levelling the counter-profile produced during the profiling of the set of bristles by axially displacing the bristle filaments can simplify the precise connection of the set of bristles to a bristle carrier of the brush being manufactured. During the levelling of the counter-profile, the bristle filaments are shortened on the attachment side by melting their attachment-side ends, so that following the levelling of the counter-profile, the attachment-side ends are arranged in a common attachment plane, preferably aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bristle filaments of the set of bristles and/or to a longitudinal axis of a bristle carrier of the toothbrush to which the set of bristles is attached in the usage position. Due to the previous axial displacement, the bristle filaments of the set of bristles will subsequently have different lengths, thereby creating the profile on the cleaning side of the set of bristles.

After profiling, the bristle filaments of the profiled set of bristles can be connected to a bristle carrier of a brush by means of heat. The method for profiling a set of bristles made of bristle filaments can therefore be part of a process for manufacturing a brush.

To achieve the object, a method for manufacturing a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is therefore proposed, in which a set of bristles made of bristle filaments is profiled according to the claimed method for profiling a set of bristles made of bristle filaments, and subsequently, the bristle filaments of the profiled set of bristles are connected to a bristle carrier of a brush by means of heat.

each show at least parts of a brush designated as a whole as, which is designed as a toothbrush. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the following descriptions relate to both embodiments of the brushshown in the figures.

The brushcomprises a bristle carrier, specifically a brush head, to which a set of bristlesmade of bristle filamentsis attached.

The set of bristlesof the brushis profiled using a profiling deviceof a brush manufacturing machine. The profiling deviceis set up to profile the set of bristlesof a brushbeing manufactured before the set of bristlesis attached to the bristle carrierof the brush, by axially displacing the bristle filamentsrelative to their longitudinal axes on the cleaning sideof the set of bristles.

In order to profile the set of bristles, the profiling devicecomprises a profiling tooland a counter-profiling tool, which are set up to axially displace the bristle filamentsof the set of bristlesbefore they are attached to the bristle carrier.

The profiling toolengages the bristle filamentson the cleaning sideof the set of bristlesaxially. The counter-profiling toolengages the attachment-side endsof the bristle filamentson an attachment sideof the set of bristlesaxially and supports the bristle filamentsat their attachment-side endsduring the profiling of the set of bristles.

The profiling toolhas a closed profiling surface, which is convex in shape and represents a negative profile of a profileto be produced on the cleaning sideof the set of bristles.

The counter-profiling toolhas a closed counter-profiling surface, the profile of which corresponds to a negative profile of the profile of the profiling surfaceof the profiling tooland the profile of which is concave in shape and matches the profileto be produced on the cleaning sideof the set of bristlesof the brushbeing manufactured.

The profiling tooland the counter-profiling toolare movably mounted, as shown in, to perform a profiling movement. The profiling movement of the profiling tooland the counter-profiling toolis illustrated inby arrows associated with the profiling tooland the counter-profiling toolin each case. The profiling devicehas a driveto execute the profiling movement of the profiling tooland the counter-profiling tool.

For example,illustrate that the brushhas a receiving recesson its bristle carrier. In the receiving recess, the bristle filamentsof the profiled set of bristlesare attached to the finished brushat their attachment-side ends. The receiving recessis filled with filament material melted from the attachment-side endsto secure the bristle filamentsto the finished brush. The bristle carrier, specifically the brush head, is connected to a handleof the brushvia a neck section. For example,show that the bristle carrier, prior to the attachment of the bristle filaments, has its thinnest material thickness in the region of the receiving recess, which is measurable in the direction perpendicular to the receiving recess. In adjacent regions, the bristle carrieris substantially thicker. This is shown, for example, in, in which the material thickness E in the region of the receiving recessand the material thickness D in adjacent sections of the bristle carrierare illustrated by dimensions.

The bristle carrieris reinforced in the region of its filled receiving recessby the melted filament material of the bristle filamentsafter the bristle filamentshave been attached to the bristle carrier.

In the exemplary embodiment of a brushshown in, stiffening ribsare formed within the receiving recess, which provide the bristle carrierwith good stability despite its relatively thin material thickness E in the region of the receiving recess. This can simplify the handling of the bristle carrierduring the manufacture of the brush.

The receiving recessis segmented by the stiffening ribspresent within the receiving recess. The arrangement of the stiffening ribsproduces a pattern made up of individual receptacles that correspond in shape and arrangement to a cross-sectional shape and arrangement of bristle bundlesof the set of bristles, which consist of the bristle filaments.

illustrate that the melted filament material of the set of bristlesshown in each case forms at least one carrier plate, which fills the receiving recessof the respective brushafter the bristle filamentshave been attached to the bristle carrier.

The bristle filamentsor the bristle bundlesformed from the bristle filamentscan be connected to one another by the carrier plate. This is particularly the case with the carrier plateshown in.