Brush and brush manufacturing device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a brush (1) which is provided with a bristle carrier (2) and a bristle stuffing (3) made of bristle filaments (4), the bristle carrier (2) is provided with at least one containing groove (5), and the bristle filaments (4) are fixed in the containing groove through the ends (6) of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments (4). The receiving recess (5) is completely or partially filled with a filament material of the fastening-side end (6), said filament material being melted in order to fasten the bristle filaments (4). The utility model further relates to a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing the brush. When a person using the brush disclosed by the utility model utilizes the end part of the use side of the brush, such as the cleaning action in the oral cavity, the user does not feel large interference on the brush head.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present utility model relates to a brush, in particular a toothbrush, which has a bristle carrier and a bristle fill fixed to the bristle carrier. The present utility model also relates to a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing such a brush. Background Art

[0002] For the use of, in particular, a toothbrush, it may be advantageous if the bristle carrier of the toothbrush, in particular the brush head, is designed to be as compact as possible. Compared with a larger brush head, a person using a toothbrush generally feels more comfortable with a compact brush head in the oral cavity.

[0003] For example, when the brush head has the smallest possible lateral protrusion from the bristle fill and, in addition, has the smallest possible volume compared to the volume of the bristle fill, the brush head can be felt to be compact. It is desirable that the total volume occupied by the bristle fill and the brush head is mainly composed of the volume of the bristle fill and thus of the volume of the brush components effective for cleaning. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Therefore, in this regard, it is desirable that the edge distance between the bristle fill and the periphery of the bristle carrier (in particular the brush head) is also as small as possible. Therefore, an object of the present utility model is to provide a brush, in particular a toothbrush, the brush head of which is as compact as possible, and a person using the brush does not feel a large interference with the brush head when performing a cleaning action with the end of the brush on the use side, for example, in the oral cavity.

[0005] However, even for other brushes, it may be advantageous for their use performance to design the bristle carrier to be compact, for example, by a small edge distance of the bristle fill from the periphery of the bristle carrier.

[0006] In addition, environmental protection and the possibility of recycling the brush also play an increasingly important role for the brush. In this regard, it is desirable to provide a brush that can be recycled more easily. The economic production of the brush is also important.

[0007] Therefore, the task of the present utility model is to provide a brush with improved use performance and manufacturing performance, a method for manufacturing such a brush, and a corresponding brush manufacturing device.

[0008] To solve this task, a brush with the following described features for brushing is first proposed. Thus, to solve this task, in particular, a brush such as a toothbrush having a bristle carrier and a bristle filling composed of bristle filaments is proposed, wherein the bristle carrier has at least one receiving groove in which the bristle filaments are fixed at the ends of their fixed sides, and the receiving groove is completely or partially filled with the filament material melted for fixing the bristle filaments at the ends of the fixed sides. In particular, when the brush is configured as a toothbrush, the bristle carrier on which the bristle filling composed of bristle filaments is fixed can be the brush head.

[0009] By the melted filament material at the ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments completely or at least partially filling the receiving groove in the bristle carrier, the bristle carrier can have a relatively thin profile before the bristle filaments are fixed in the receiving groove. In this way, a brush is provided in which the bristle carrier has as compact a profile as possible and can have only a relatively small marginal oversize with respect to the bristle filling on the bristle carrier.

[0010] In the case where the receiving groove is partially filled, it can be advantageous if the receiving groove is mostly filled with the melted filament material.

[0011] When the receiving groove is completely filled with the melted filament material at the ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments, a particularly stable and at the same time compact bristle carrier is created.

[0012] In the brush according to the present utility model, the bristle filaments can be fixed to the bristle carrier by the interaction between the filament material and the material of the bristle carrier. In the brush according to the present utility model, separate fixing devices such as anchors that require a certain minimum material thickness of the bristle carrier for fixing the bristle filaments can be dispensed with.

[0013] In an embodiment of the brush, it is provided that the bristle carrier has its minimum material thickness in the region of the receiving groove before the bristle filaments are fixed. In particular, the bristle carrier can have its minimum material thickness measurable in the direction of the normal of the receiving groove in the region of the receiving groove before the bristle filaments are fixed. To minimize the volume of the bristle carrier, the receiving groove in the bristle carrier can be formed in a region where there is initially as little material as possible. Therefore, this region may initially form a mechanically weak part of the brush. However, by filling the receiving groove with the melted filament material, after the bristle filaments are fixed, this weak part on the completed brush is compensated for.

[0014] Therefore, the bristle carrier can be strengthened and in particular perfected by the melted material. Thus, the melted filament material becomes part of the bristle carrier after it solidifies within the receiving groove. This enables the desired slender and compact profile of the bristle carrier.

[0015] At least one reinforcing rib may be formed within the receiving groove. The reinforcing rib may extend within and / or through the receiving groove of the bristle carrier. Here, the at least one reinforcing rib may be at a certain distance from the edge of the bristle carrier or may be connected to the edge of the bristle carrier. Before the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier, the at least one reinforcing rib may increase the mechanical stability of the bristle carrier. This may simplify the handling of the bristle carrier during the manufacture of the brush.

[0016] The melted filament material at the end of the fixing side of the bristle filaments may form a carrier plate that fills the receiving groove after the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier. It is possible that after the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier, the surface of the carrier plate is flush with the brush surface of the brush, in particular the bristle carrier, adjacent to the receiving groove and the bristle stuffing. In this way, a step-free transition is created between the front side of the carrier plate made of melted filament material on which the bristle filaments are arranged and the brush surface surrounding the closed receiving groove and the bristle stuffing. This step-free transition can resist dirt accumulation and related infection of the brush by germs. This is particularly important for toothbrushes.

[0017] For the manufacture of the brush, it may be advantageous if the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are made of materials compatible with material locking connection or of the same material suitable for material locking connection at least in the region of the receiving groove. In this way, a reliable and load-bearing material locking connection can be created between the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier of the brush, and separate fixing devices for the bristle filaments, such as anchors, for example, can be dispensed with.

[0018] Especially when the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are made of the same material, a so-called single-material brush can be provided, which can be recycled particularly simply. Such a brush does not have to be disassembled into its different components during recycling.

[0019] The bristle filaments fixed in the receiving groove and the bristle carrier can form a materially homogeneous integral unit. The bristle filaments and the bristle carrier can be connected to each other in a material-locking manner. In this way, separate devices for fixing the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier can be dispensed with. This can simplify the manufacture and recycling of such a brush.

[0020] The bristle filaments and the bristle carrier - at least in the region of the receiving groove - may be made of plastic, for example of biodegradable plastic, in particular of polyamide, preferably of PA10.10 or PA12. Especially when the bristle carrier and the bristle filaments are made of biodegradable plastic, a brush that is particularly environmentally friendly and can be recycled particularly simply is provided.

[0021] The bristle carrier may have an edge defining a receiving groove. This edge may form the boundary of the receiving groove and guide the end of the molten filament material of the fixed side of the bristle filaments when the bristle filaments are connected to the bristle carrier, such that the receiving groove is reliably completely filled when the bristle filaments are connected to the bristle carrier.

[0022] When at least one recess is formed in the edge and is filled completely or partially with the molten filament material, preferably flush with an adjacent edge section, the bristle packing can be fixed to the bristle carrier with a particularly small edge distance from the periphery, i.e., the peripheral surface, of the bristle carrier at least in the region of the at least one groove.

[0023] Especially in the case of a toothbrush, as small an edge distance as possible is advantageous for using the toothbrush. Due to the small edge distance, the contact between the bristle carrier and the gums of the person using the toothbrush can be minimized. Since the bristle packing has a small edge distance from the periphery of the bristle carrier, the toothbrush can have a compact shape. Using such a brush is generally felt to be more comfortable than using a brush with a bristle carrier, especially a brush head, having a larger volume.

[0024] To solve this task, a method for manufacturing such a brush is also proposed, which brush has the means and features described below for the method for manufacturing a brush.

[0025] In this method, according to the present invention, the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments is heated to connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier, and when the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier, the receiving groove is completely or partially filled with the molten filament material of the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments.

[0026] If the receiving groove is completely filled with the molten filament material, a particularly stable and compact bristle carrier is created. If the receiving groove is partially filled, it may be advantageous for the stability of the bristle carrier that the receiving groove is mostly filled with the molten filament material.

[0027] Here, the bristle filaments can be connected to the bristle carrier in a material-locking manner in the receiving groove. The bristle carrier can be completed and strengthened by filling the receiving groove by fixing the bristle filaments in the receiving groove.

[0028] In one embodiment of this method, it is provided that the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are heated in the region of the receiving groove.

[0029] When the bristle filaments are fixed in the receiving grooves, the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier can be connected to each other in a material-locking manner. For this purpose, it is sufficient to heat the end of the fixing side of the bristle filaments in the region of the receiving grooves to a higher temperature than the bristle carrier. Preferably, the end of the fixing side of the bristle filaments is heated to the temperature at which the end of the fixing side of the bristle filaments melts. Here, the ends of the fixing sides of the bristle bundles can be joined into at least one carrier plate.

[0030] The bristle carrier does not necessarily have to be heated to a relatively high temperature. Instead, it is sufficient to heat the bristle carrier to the temperature at which it softens but does not melt. This can be sufficient to reliably connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier in the region of the receiving grooves. When the bristle carrier is heated less strongly than the bristle filaments, the bristle carrier can cool down more quickly. This can result in a shorter process time in the manufacture of the brush and improve the economy of the method.

[0031] If the brush, in particular the bristle carrier, has edges that laterally delimit the receiving grooves and there is at least one recess in the edges, the recess can be completely or partially filled with the filament material of the fixing side ends, preferably flush with the adjacent edge sections. Thus, the bristle stuffing can be at the smallest possible edge distance from the circumference of the bristle carrier and can additionally form a circumferential edge without dislocations. A circumferential edge without dislocations can be advantageous for the operation of the brush, especially when the brush is configured as a toothbrush, and can also resist dust attachment and brush infection with germs.

[0032] The bristle carrier can be inserted into a mold for fixing the bristle filaments in the receiving grooves. The mold can have a mold wall that at least partially laterally surrounds the receiving grooves of the bristle carrier. The mold can surround the bristle carrier in such a way that the edges that laterally delimit the receiving grooves of the bristle carrier in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension direction of the bristle filaments on the brush are supported laterally. Thus, the mold can help to guide the molten filament material of the bristle filaments in such a way when the bristle filaments are connected to the bristle carrier that the receiving grooves are reliably completely or partially filled when the bristle filaments are connected to the bristle carrier and the molten filament material can be prevented from discharging laterally.

[0033] After the receiving grooves are filled with the filament material of the fixing side ends, the bristle carrier can be cooled. This can be achieved, for example, by heat conduction via a cooling device, which will be explained in more detail below, of the mold and / or the brush manufacturing device.

[0034] To solve this task, a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush as described above is also proposed, which brush manufacturing device has the means and features described below for such a brush manufacturing device. Here, the brush manufacturing device can be set up to carry out the method for manufacturing a brush according to the present utility model.

[0035] In particular, in a brush manufacturing device for solving the above-mentioned task, it is thus proposed that the brush manufacturing device has a heating device which includes two heating surfaces, wherein the first heating surface of the two heating surfaces is arranged for heating the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments and the second heating surface is arranged for heating the bristle carrier in the region of its receiving groove.

[0036] The heating surfaces can be arranged to emit thermal radiation so as to heat the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier without contact.

[0037] Preferably, the heating device is arranged to heat the heating surfaces to different temperatures. The heating device can be arranged to heat the first heating surface to a temperature sufficient to melt the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments.

[0038] Furthermore, it is possible that the two heating surfaces are arranged on a common heating element, in particular on different sides of the heating element, for example on opposite sides of the heating element.

[0039] Before connecting the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier, the heating element can be arranged in the intermediate space between the ready bristle filaments and the bristle carrier so as to heat the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier. By heating the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments, it can be melted. After heating the bristle filaments on one side and the bristle carrier on the other side, the heating element can be removed and the bristle filaments can be inserted with their ends of the fixed side into the receiving grooves of the bristle carrier. Here, the receiving grooves can be completely or partially filled with the melted filament material of the ends of the fixed side of the bristle filaments to perfect and strengthen the bristle carrier and fix the bristle filaments on the bristle carrier.

[0040] The heating device can be arranged to adjust the temperatures of the two heating surfaces. For adjusting the temperature, the heating device can have a corresponding control unit. For detecting the temperature of at least one of the two heating surfaces and for adjusting the temperature, the heating device can have at least one temperature sensor. Preferably, each heating surface of the heating device is provided with at least one temperature sensor. This is conducive to adjusting the temperature of the heating surfaces as precisely as possible when implementing the method on the brush manufacturing device.

[0041] The brush manufacturing device can also have a mold for receiving and supporting the bristle carrier. The bristle carrier can be inserted into the mold to connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier. When the bristle carrier is heated in the region of its receiving groove by the heating device of the brush manufacturing device, the bristle carrier can already be arranged in this mold.

[0042] As already explained above in connection with the method for manufacturing a brush, the mold can advantageously distribute the molten filament material at the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments in a targeted manner within the receiving grooves. Thus, the mold can contribute to reliably filling completely or partially the receiving grooves in the bristle carrier when fixing the bristle filaments.

[0043] The brush manufacturing device can also have a shaping device for shaping the bristle pack of the brush to be manufactured. By means of the shaping device, the ends of the bristle filaments of the bristle pack of the brush to be manufactured, in particular the cleaning side, can be placed in a desired shape, i.e., a desired profile can be imparted to the bristle pack on its cleaning side.

[0044] The profile of the bristle pack can be achieved by different protruding lengths of the individual bristle filaments of the bristle pack on the front side of the bristle carrier. The shaping device can be arranged to produce different protruding lengths of the bristle filaments by axially moving the bristle filaments in a direction oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the individual bristle filaments.

[0045] In one embodiment of the shaping device, the shaping device can have: a shaping tool for shaping the cleaning side of the bristle pack; and / or a cooperating shaping tool for shaping the fixed side of the bristle pack and / or for supporting the bristle filaments during shaping.

[0046] Here, the shaping tool and the cooperating shaping tool can have coordinated profiles. The shaping tool acting on the cleaning side of the bristle pack can have the reverse profile of the profile to be manufactured of the bristle pack. By means of the cooperating shaping tool, the ends of the fixed side of the bristle pack can be correspondingly supported and / or shaped before fixing the bristle pack to the bristle carrier.

[0047] Here, the cooperating shaping tool can have the same profile as the bristle pack after shaping. The above-mentioned axial movement of the individual bristle filaments for manufacturing the shaped bristle pack can be carried out under the combined action of the shaping tool and the cooperating shaping tool.

[0048] The possibly existing different protruding amounts of the ends of the fixed side of the bristle filaments on the fixed side of the bristle pack after shaping can be levelled when melting the ends of the fixed side of the bristle filaments.

[0049] The bristle manufacturing device can have a filament holder configured to hold, in particular to clamp and hold, the bristle filaments of the bristle pack. For example, the filament holder can be used when shaping the bristle pack before fixing it to the bristle carrier, but the filament holder can also be used to hold a possibly already shaped bristle pack when heating and melting the ends of the bristle filaments on the fixing side. When fixing the bristle filaments in the receiving groove of the bristle carrier, the filament holder can still hold the bristle filaments of the bristle pack and only release the bristle filaments after the bristle filaments have been successfully fixed to the bristle carrier. In order to clamp and hold the bristle filaments, the filament holder can have a releasable clamping device.

[0050] The filament holder can have a hole pattern for receiving holes of the bristle bundles made of bristle filaments, and this hole pattern corresponds to the bundle arrangement of the bristle bundles in the bristle pack. In this way, the bristle filaments can be provided by the filament holder in the arrangement in which they are intended to be fixed to the bristle carrier and in the bristle pack of the brush to be manufactured. The receiving holes are preferably configured as through-holes. In this way, the bristle filaments and bristle bundles located in the receiving holes can be pushed out of the receiving holes in an axial movement along their longitudinal axes, for example in order to press the ends of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments into the receiving grooves of the bristle carrier and connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier.

[0051] For example, the filament holder can be configured as a box and / or can be transportable between the various stations of the bristle manufacturing device.

[0052] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the bristle manufacturing device has a cooling device for cooling the bristle carrier, in particular after the bristle filaments have been successfully fixed to the bristle carrier. With the aid of the cooling device, the cooling of the bristle carrier can be accelerated and thus the process time in the manufacture of the brush can be reduced.

[0053] The bristle manufacturing device can also have a magazine for receiving a reserve of loose bristle filaments. Downstream of the magazine, the bristle manufacturing device can include a beam splitting device configured to pick out bristle bundles from the reserve of loose bristle filaments contained in the magazine and provide them for composing the bristle pack.

[0054] The bristle manufacturing device can also have a beam shaping unit configured to transform the bristle bundles picked out from the bristle material magazine into the target shape desired for manufacturing the brush.

[0055] The bristle bundles can be transferred from the beam shaping unit to the previously mentioned filament holder. The bristle bundles can then be held relative to one another in the filament holder in the arrangement in which these bristle bundles will also later be located in the bristle pack of the brush to be manufactured.

[0056] The forming tool and / or the mating forming tool can each be configured as a forming plate. Additionally, the forming tool can be arranged to move the bristle filaments prepared in the filament holder, after melting the ends on their fixed side, with their fixed-side ends into the receiving grooves of the prepared bristle carrier. Advantageously in this regard, the forming tool can be movably supported for carrying out this movement.

[0057] For a toothbrush, the bristle filling, especially in the region where the bristle filling is arranged adjacent to the edge of the bristle carrier that defines the receiving groove, can have a distance from the periphery of the bristle carrier that can be measured transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bristle filaments, for example, in the range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. For a large brush, this distance can be, for example, 1 mm to 6 mm. For a small brush, this distance can be, for example, 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0058] For a toothbrush, the melted filament material, such as the above-mentioned carrier plate, can have a distance from the periphery of the bristle carrier that can be measured transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bristle filaments, in the region defined by the edge of the bristle carrier, in the range of 0.3 mm to 2 mm. For a large brush, this distance can be, for example, 0.8 mm to 4 mm. For a small brush, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 0.7 mm.

[0059] For a toothbrush, in the region of the receiving groove, in the region of the bristle carrier that surrounds the receiving groove, the melted filament material, especially the above-mentioned carrier plate, can have a distance from the periphery of the bristle carrier that can be measured transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bristle filaments, in the range of 0 mm to 2 mm. For a large brush, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 4 mm. For a small brush, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 1 mm.

[0060] For a toothbrush, after the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier, the bristle carrier can, for example, have a material thickness in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm. For a large brush, the bristle carrier can, for example, have a material thickness in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm. For a small brush, the bristle carrier can, for example, have a material thickness in the range of 0.7 mm to 2 mm.

[0061] For a toothbrush, before the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier, the receiving groove can, for example, have a material thickness between 1 mm and 4 mm, 1.5 mm to 6 mm for a large brush, and, for example, 0.4 mm to 1.5 mm for a small brush.

[0062] A large brush in the sense of the foregoing embodiments can be, for example, a wash brush. A small brush can be, for example, a brush for applying a swab. Description of the Drawings

[0063] The present utility model will be explained in more detail below based on embodiments. The present utility model is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. Further embodiments of the present utility model are obtained by combining the features of individual claims and / or by combining the features of individual or multiple of the shown embodiments. In the figures:

[0064] Figures 1 to 4 Show different views of a brush configured as a toothbrush, in which it can be seen that: the bristle carrier of the brush has a receiving groove for receiving the end of the bristle filaments of the bristle filling of the brush, and the receiving groove is filled with melted filament material after the bristle filaments are fixed to the bristle carrier.

[0065] Figure 5 Show Figures 1 to 4 A perspective view of the shown bristle filling of the brush after the end of the bristle filaments on the fixing side has melted.

[0066] Figures 6 to 9 Show different views of a comparable brush of another embodiment, in which the receiving groove for receiving the bristle filling of the brush is penetrated by a structure formed by reinforcing ribs.

[0067] Figure 10 Show Figures 6 to 9 A perspective view of the shown bristle filling of the brush after the end of the bristle filaments on the fixing side has melted.

[0068] Figure 11 Show a schematic view of components of a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing the brush shown in the previous figures, and

[0069] Figures 12 to 14 Show other components of the brush manufacturing device for illustrating a method for manufacturing at least part of the brush shown in Figures 1 to 10 . Detailed description of specific embodiments

[0070] In the following description of different embodiments of the present utility model, elements that are identical in function, even if they have different shapes, are given the same reference numerals.

[0071] Figures 1 - 5 And Figures 6 - 10 Show at least a plurality of components of a brush configured as a toothbrush, each of which is generally labeled 1. Unless otherwise specified, the following description refers to the two embodiments of the brush 1 shown in the figures.

[0072] The brush 1 has a bristle carrier 2, i.e., a brush head, and a bristle filling 3 composed of bristle filaments 4 is fixed to the bristle carrier.

[0073] For example, Figure 1 And Figure 6Schematic illustration: The brush 1 has receiving grooves 5 on its bristle carrier 2. The bristle filaments 4 are fixed at their ends 6 of the fixed side in the receiving grooves 5. The receiving grooves 5 on the finished brush 1 are completely or preferably mostly filled by the filament material of the ends 6 of the fixed side that has melted for fixing the bristle filaments 4. The bristle carrier 2, i.e., the brush head, is connected to the handle 8 of the brush 1 via the neck section 7 of the brush 1. For example, Figure 1 and Figure 4 show that: The bristle carrier 2 has its minimum material thickness that can be measured in the normal direction of the receiving groove 5 in the area of the receiving groove 5 before the bristle filaments 4 are fixed. In the adjacent areas, the bristle carrier 2 is configured to be significantly thicker. For example, Figure 4 and Figure 9 show this, and in these figures, the material thickness E in the area of the receiving groove 5 and the material thickness D in the adjacent section of the bristle carrier 2 are illustrated by dimensioning.

[0074] After the bristle filaments 4 are fixed on the bristle carrier 2, the bristle carrier 2 is strengthened in the area of its filled receiving groove 5 by the melted filament material of the bristle filaments 4.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 - 10 of the brush 1, reinforcing ribs 9 are formed within the receiving groove 5. Although the material thickness E of the bristle carrier 2 is relatively small, these reinforcing ribs impart good stability to the bristle carrier 2 in the area of the receiving groove 5. This can simplify the operation of the bristle carrier 2 during the manufacture of the brush 1.

[0076] Due to the presence of the reinforcing ribs 9 within the receiving groove 5, the receiving groove 5 is segmented. The arrangement of the reinforcing ribs 9 produces a pattern of a plurality of individual receiving seats, and these receiving seats correspond to the cross-sectional shape and arrangement of the bristle bundles 11 formed by the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3 in terms of shape and arrangement.

[0077] Figure 5 and Figure 10 Schematic illustration, correspondingly shown that the melted filament material of the bristle pack 3 at least forms a carrier plate 11, and this carrier plate fills the receiving groove 5 of the corresponding brush 1 after the bristle filaments 4 are fixed on the bristle carrier 2.

[0078] The bristle filaments 4 or the bristle bundles 10 formed by the bristle filaments 4 can be interconnected by the carrier plate 11. This is especially the case in Figure 5 the shown carrier plate 11.

[0079] In Figure 10 the shown bristle pack 3, the bristle filaments 4 within the bristle bundle 10 are connected by the carrier plate 11. Therefore, each of the total eight bristle bundles 10 has a carrier plate 11.

[0080] The carrier plate 11 fills the receiving groove 5 in such a way that the surface 12 of the carrier plate 11 is flush with the brush surface 13 of the brush 1 adjacent to the receiving groove 5 and the bristle pack 3. Similarly, Figure 10 the plurality of carrier plates 11 of the bristle pack 3 shown are also filled in Figures 6 to 9 the part of the receiving groove 5 of the bristle carrier 2 segmented by the reinforcing ribs 9 as shown therein. There, the surface 12 of the carrier plate 11 is flush with the brush surface 13 of the brush 1 surrounding the receiving groove 5.

[0081] The bristle filaments 4 of the brush 1, the bristle carrier 2, as well as the neck section 7 and the handle 8 are made of the same material, which also allows a material-locking connection between the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2.

[0082] Therefore, the brush 1 shown in the figure is a so-called single-material brush. Since biodegradable plastics, such as polyamides, namely preferably PA10.10 or PA12, are used as the material for the bristle carrier 2, the neck section 7 and the handle 8 of the brush 1, as well as the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3, the brush 1 is particularly environmentally friendly and easy to recycle.

[0083] The bristle filaments 4 fixed in the receiving groove 5 and the bristle carrier 2 form a materially homogeneous integral unit after their connection and are materially locked to each other.

[0084] The bristle carrier 2 has an edge 14 that laterally delimits the receiving groove 5. The edge 14 serves to guide the molten filament material when the bristle filaments 4 are connected to the bristle carrier 2 in such a way that the receiving groove 5 is completely or preferably mostly filled with the molten filament material of the fixed-side end 6 of the bristle filaments 4.

[0085] Correspondingly, a plurality of recesses 15 are formed in the edge 14, which are preferably filled flush with the adjacent edge sections by the molten filament material of the fixed-side end 6 of the bristle filaments 4. For example Figure 3 this is illustrated by the figure, which shows a top view of the bristle carrier 2 configured as the brush head of a brush 1.

[0086] It can be seen from this figure that the recesses 15 in the edge 14 are almost completely filled with the molten filament material of the fixed-side end 6 of the bristle filaments 4.

[0087] Figure 3 and Figure 8 show that on the finished toothbrush, the bristle pack 3 can have a distance A of 0.5 mm to 3 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 in the region where the bristle pack 3 is arranged adjacent to the edge 14 delimiting the receiving groove 5 of the bristle carrier 2. In this case, the distance A also defines the distance of the bristle bundle 10 from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2.

[0088] Figure 3 and Figure 8 It is also shown that the molten filament material and thus the carrier plate 11 can have a distance B of, for example, 0.3 mm to 2 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 at the location where they are surrounded by the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2. In this case, the distance B also defines the edge thickness of the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2, which edge defines the receiving groove 5 and abuts against the carrier plate 11.

[0089] Furthermore, Figure 3 and Figure 8 it is shown that the molten filament material and thus the carrier plate 11 can have a distance C of, for example, 0 mm to 2 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 in the region of the recess 15 within the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2 that surrounds the receiving groove 5. Thus, the molten filament material forming the carrier plate 11 can extend all the way outwards in the region of the recess 15 within the edge 14, fill the recess 15 and be flush with the adjacent edge section.

[0090] Figure 4 and Figure 9 it is shown that the bristle carrier 2 can have a material thickness D of 2 mm to 6 mm on the edge side and after the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 6. Here, the material thickness D defines the head thickness of the bristle carrier.

[0091] Furthermore, Figure 4 and Figure 9 it is shown that the material thickness E in the region of the receiving groove 5 can be, for example, 1 mm to 4 mm for the toothbrush before the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 2. The difference between the dimensions D and E defines the height of the edge 14 above the receiving groove 5.

[0092] Figures 11 - 14 Illustrated is a method for manufacturing a brush 1 as shown at least partially in Figures 1 - 9 . Figure 12 It is shown that: First, the end 6 of the fixing side of the bristle filament 4 is heated to connect the bristle filament 4 to the ready bristle carrier 2, and the receiving groove 5 is completely or preferably mostly filled by the molten filament material of the end 6 of the fixing side of the bristle filament 4 when the bristle filament 4 is fixed to the bristle carrier 2. Figure 12 It is also shown that here not only the end 6 of the fixing side of the bristle filament 4 but also the bristle carrier 2 in the region of its receiving groove 5 is heated without contact by thermal radiation.

[0093] Here, the end 6 of the bristle filament 4 on the fixed side is heated to a temperature higher than that of the bristle carrier 2 in the region of its receiving groove 5. When the end 6 of the bristle filament 4 on the fixed side is heated to the extent of melting, the temperature to which the bristle carrier 2 is heated in the region of its receiving groove 5 is selected to be lower, such that the bristle carrier 2 does not melt in the region of the receiving groove 5. After it is fixed to the bristle carrier 2, the bristle filament 4 and the bristle carrier 2 are connected to each other by material locking and form the previously mentioned unit of a homogeneous overall material.

[0094] When the bristle filament 4 is fixed to the bristle carrier 2, the recess 15 present in the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2 that laterally delimits the receiving groove 5 is preferably filled flush with the adjacent edge section by the filament material of the end 6 of the bristle filament 4 on the fixed side.

[0095] The bristle carrier 2 is inserted into a mold 16 to fix the bristle filament 4 in the receiving groove 5. The mold 16 has a mold wall 17 that laterally surrounds the receiving groove 5 of the bristle carrier 2 such that the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2 that laterally delimits the receiving groove 5 is laterally supported.

[0096] According to Figure 13 , after the end 6 of the bristle filament 4 on the fixed side and the bristle carrier 2 are heated, the bristle carrier 2 is inserted into the mold 16. The bristle carrier 2 is inserted using a lifting device 36 of a brush manufacturing device 18 that will be described in more detail below.

[0097] After the receiving groove 5 is filled with the filament material of the end 6 of the bristle filament 4, the bristle carrier 2 is cooled via the mold 16.

[0098] To carry out this method, a brush manufacturing device labeled overall with 18 is used. The brush manufacturing device 18 has a heating device 19. The heating device 19 includes two heating surfaces 20 and 21. The first heating surface 20 of these two heating surfaces is arranged for heating the end 6 of the bristle filament 4 on the fixed side and the second heating surface 21 is arranged for heating the bristle carrier in the region of its receiving groove 5. The heating surfaces 20 and 21 output heat to the bristle filament 4 and the bristle carrier 2 respectively via thermal radiation here.

[0099] The heating device 19 is arranged to heat the two heating surfaces 20 and 21 and, via these two heating surfaces, to heat the end 6 of the bristle filament on the fixed side and the bristle carrier 2 in the region of its receiving groove 5 to different temperatures. Here, the heating surface 20 can be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the end 6 of the bristle filament 3 on the fixed side by thermal radiation.

[0100] The two heating surfaces 20 and 21 are arranged on a common heating element 22 and are arranged here on different sides, i.e., sides facing away from each other, of the heating element 22.

[0101] In this way, the heating element 22 can be positioned in its position as shown in Figure 12 between the ready-to-use bristle carrier 2 and the ready-to-use bristle filaments 4, so as to heat the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filaments 4 via the heating surface 20 and heat the bristle carrier 2 via the heating surface 21.

[0102] The heating device 19 is arranged for independently adjusting the temperatures of the two heating surfaces 20 and 21. For detecting and adjusting the temperatures of the two heating surfaces 20 and 21, the heating device 19 respectively includes at least one temperature sensor 23 for each of the heating surfaces 20 and 21.

[0103] With the aid of the temperature sensors 23, the temperatures of the heating surfaces 20 and 21 can be detected and thus the temperatures of the two heating surfaces 20 and 21 can be adjusted to a target temperature. For temperature adjustment of the heating surfaces 20 and 21, the heating device 19 is equipped with a corresponding control unit 24. The control unit 24 is connected to the temperature sensors 23 and can match the temperatures of the heating surfaces 20 and 21 according to the detected deviations of the respective actual temperatures of the heating surfaces 20, 21 from the target temperature.

[0104] The aforementioned mold 16 mentioned above is part of the brush manufacturing device 18. The mold 16 is used for receiving and supporting the bristle carrier 2 when fixing the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2. The bristle carrier 2 is lowered into the mold 16 by means of the lifting device 36 of the brush manufacturing device 18 so as to fix the bristle filaments 4 in the receiving groove after heating the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2.

[0105] The brush manufacturing device 18 further includes a shaping device 25. The shaping device 25 is as Figure 11 shown and partly as Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown. The shaping device 25 is used for shaping the bristle filling 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0106] The shaping device 25 has: a shaping tool 26 for shaping the cleaning side 27 of the bristle filling 3; and a cooperating shaping tool 28 for supporting and shaping the fixed side 29 of the bristle filling 3.

[0107] For example, the working mode of the shaping device 25 is determined by Figure 11It can be seen that, accordingly, the shaping tool 26 is moved such that its shaped convex forming surface abuts against the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3. Thereby, the bristle filaments 4 are axially displaced about their longitudinal axes according to the shape of the shaping tool 26. By means of the mating shaping tool 28 which abuts against the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3 and whose surface has a concave-shaped contour corresponding to the target contour of the bristle pack 3 on its cleaning side 27, the bristle filaments 4 are supported and shaped.

[0108] When melting the ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side to fix the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1 to be manufactured, the different protrusion amounts of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3 are levelled out.

[0109] Figure 11 It is shown that the brush manufacturing device 18 also has a filament holder 30 with a clamping device 39 for clamping and holding the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3. The filament holder 30 is configured as a cassette and can be moved from one station of the brush manufacturing device 18 to another station and can hold the bristle filaments 4 when shaping the bristle pack 3 as well as when heating the ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side on the heating device 19. The filament holder 30 has a hole pattern 37 of receiving holes 38 for the bristle bundles 10 made of the bristle filaments 4, which hole pattern corresponds to the bundle arrangement of the bristle bundles 10 in the bristle pack 3.

[0110] The filament holder 30 is also used when pressing the ends 6 of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments 4 into the receiving grooves 5 of the ready bristle carrier 2. However, here, its clamping device 39 is open. In this way, the bristle filaments 4 can be pressed into the receiving grooves 5 with their ends 6 of the fixed sides by means of the shaping tool 26 which axially loads the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side 27 of the bristle pack 3. Herein, the bristle filaments 4 are guided by the filament holder 30 and its through receiving holes 38.

[0111] In order to cool the bristle carrier 2 after the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 2, the brush manufacturing device 18 also has a cooling device 31. The cooling device 31 is arranged to cool the bristle carrier 2 arranged in the mold 16.

[0112] According to Figure 11 , the brush manufacturing device 18 also has a magazine 32 in which a reserve of loose bristle filaments 33 is arranged.

[0113] By means of a dividing device 34 of the brush manufacturing device 18, bristle bundles 10 can be divided from the reserve of loose bristle filaments 33 in the magazine 32. By means of a bundle shaping unit 35, the bristle bundles 10 can be placed in their desired target shape in the bristle pack 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0114] Transfer the bristle tuft 10 from the tuft forming unit 35 to the filament holder 30 and fix it in the receiving hole 38 configured as a through hole by means of the clamping device 39.

[0115] Figure 14 Show how the completed brush 1 is lifted out of the mold 16 by means of the lifting device 36 after the bristle carrier 2 has cooled. Now, the bristle stuffing 3 is connected to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1.

[0116] The present utility model relates to an improvement in the technical field of brush manufacturing, and furthermore relates to a brush 1 having a bristle carrier 2 with a receiving groove 5, which is completely or partially filled with molten filament material from the end 6 on the fixing side of the bristle filaments 4 of the brush 1 to be manufactured when the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 2.

[0117] List of reference numerals

[0118] 1 Brush

[0119] 2 Bristle carrier, brush head

[0120] 3 Bristle stuffing

[0121] 4 Bristle filaments

[0122] 5 Receiving groove

[0123] 6 End on the fixing side of the bristle filaments

[0124] 7 Neck section

[0125] 8 Handle

[0126] 9 Reinforcing rib

[0127] 10 Bristle tuft

[0128] 11 Carrier plate

[0129] 12 Surface of the carrier plate

[0130] 13 Brush surface

[0131] 14 Edge

[0132] 15 Groove in the edge

[0133] 16 Mold

[0134] 17 Mold wall

[0135] 18 Brush manufacturing device

[0136] 19 Heating device

[0137] 20 Heating surface for the end on the fixing side of the bristle filaments

[0138] 21 Heating surface for the bristle carrier

[0139] 22 Heating element

[0140] 23 Temperature sensor

[0141] 24 Control unit

[0142] 25 Molding device

[0143] 26 Molding tool

[0144] 27 Cleaning side

[0145] 28 Matching molding tool

[0146] 29 Fixed side

[0147] 30 Filament holder

[0148] 31 Cooling device

[0149] 32 Hopper

[0150] 33 Reserve of loose bristle filaments

[0151] 34 Dividing device

[0152] 35 Bunch forming unit

[0153] 36 Lifting device

[0154] 37 Hole pattern of the filament holder

[0155] 38 Receiving holes in the filament holder

[0156] 39 Clamping device of the filament holder.

Claims

1. Brush, the brush (1) having a bristle carrier (2) and a bristle filling (3) made of bristle filaments (4), characterized in that, The bristle carrier (2) has at least one receiving groove (5) in which the bristle filaments (4) are fixed with the ends (6) of their fixed sides, and the receiving groove (5) is completely or partially filled with the filament material of the ends (6) of the fixed sides that has been melted for fixing the bristle filaments (4).

2. The brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bristle carrier (2) has its minimum material thickness in the region of the receiving groove (5) before the bristle filaments (4) are fixed, and / or the bristle carrier (2) is strengthened by the melted filament material.

3. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one reinforcing rib (9) is formed within the receiving groove (5).

4. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The melted filament material forms a carrier plate (11) that fills the receiving groove (5) and / or the surface (12) of the carrier plate is flush with the brush surface (13) of the brush (1) that is adjacent to the receiving groove (5) and the bristle filling (3).

5. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) are made of materials that are compatible with material-locking connections or of the same material suitable for material-locking connections, at least in the region of the receiving groove (5), and / or the bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) fixed in the receiving groove (5) form a unit with a homogeneous material and / or are interconnected in a material-locking manner.

6. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) are made of plastic, at least in the region of the receiving groove (5).

7. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bristle carrier (2) has an edge (14) that defines the receiving groove (5) transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bristle filaments (4).

8. The brush according to claim 7, wherein At least one recess (15) is formed in the edge (14), and the recess is completely or partially filled with the melted filament material.

9. The brush according to claim 8, wherein The recess (15) is completely or partially filled with the melted filament material in such a way that the adjacent edge segments are flush.

10. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The brush (1) is a toothbrush.

11. The brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bristle carrier (2) is a brush head.

12. The brush according to claim 2, wherein The bristle carrier (2) has its minimum material thickness measurable in the direction of the normal of the receiving groove (5) in the region of the receiving groove (5) before the bristle filaments (4) are fixed.

13. The brush according to claim 4, characterized in that, The surface (12) of the carrier plate (11) is flush with the brush surface (13) of the bristle carrier (2) that is adjacent to the receiving groove (5) and the bristle filling (3).

14. The brush according to claim 6, characterized in that, The plastic is a biodegradable plastic.

15. The brush according to claim 14, characterized in that, The plastic is a polyamide.

16. The brush according to claim 15, characterized in that, The plastic is PA10.10 or PA12.

17. A brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) has a heating device (19) that includes two heating surfaces. The first heating surface (20) of the two heating surfaces is arranged to heat the ends (6) of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments (4), and the second heating surface (21) is arranged to heat the bristle carrier in the region of the receiving groove (5) of the bristle carrier (2).

18. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that, The heating device (19) is arranged to heat the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21) to different temperatures.

19. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, The heating device (19) is arranged to heat the first heating surface (20) to a temperature sufficient to melt the ends (6) of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments (4), and / or the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21) are arranged on a common heating element (22).

20. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein The first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21) are arranged on different sides of the heating element (22).

21. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein, The first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21) are arranged on opposite sides of the heating element (22).

22. The brush manufacturing device according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The heating device (19) is configured to control the temperatures of the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21).

23. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that, The heating device (19) is configured to independently control the temperatures of the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21).

24. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that, The heating device (19) includes a control unit (24) and at least one temperature sensor (23) for detecting and controlling the temperature of at least one of the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21).

25. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, Each of the first heating surface (20) and the second heating surface (21) is provided with at least one temperature sensor (23).

26. The brush manufacturing device according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) has a mold (16) for receiving and supporting the bristle carrier (2).

27. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) has a shaping device (25) for shaping the bristle pack (3) of the brush (1) to be manufactured.

28. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) includes: a shaping tool (26) for shaping the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3); and / or a cooperating shaping tool (28) for shaping the fixing side (29) of the bristle pack (3) and / or for supporting the bristle filaments (4) when shaping the bristle pack (3).

29. The brush manufacturing device according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) includes a filament holder (30) for holding the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle pack (3), and / or the brush manufacturing device (18) has a cooling device (31) for cooling the bristle carrier (2).

30. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) includes a filament holder (30) for clamping and holding the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle pack (3).

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