Molding device for molding bristle stuffing for brush and brush manufacturing device for manufacturing brush

Abstract

The utility model relates to a forming device for forming bristle stuffing for a brush. The forming device is arranged to be used for forming a cleaning side (27) of the bristle stuffing by enabling bristle filaments (4) of the bristle stuffing (3) to move in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the bristle filaments (4). The utility model further relates to a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing the brush. By means of the forming device and the brush manufacturing device, it is possible to reduce or even avoid the expenditure and problems during the manufacturing of a brush using a formed bristle stuffing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a forming device for forming a filler for bristles of a brush, especially a toothbrush. The utility model also relates to a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush, especially a toothbrush. Background Art

[0002] The use characteristics and cleaning effect of a brush, especially a toothbrush, are mainly affected by the shape of its bristle filler. Here, the profile on the cleaning side of the bristle filler has a particular influence on the use characteristics and cleaning effect of the brush.

[0003] It is precisely in the field of toothbrushes that different profiles are already known from practice. In order to form the bristle filler of a toothbrush, for example, it has become common to cut the free ends of the bristle filaments of the bristle filler and thus produce a defined profile on the cleaning side of the bristle filler. The cutting waste generated here may contaminate the brush manufacturing device and lead to quality problems during the production of the brush. To avoid these problems, for example, the cutting waste generated during forming is removed by means of a suction device or the forming is carried out in a specially provided and shielded production area. This is associated with a certain amount of effort. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] The object of the utility model is to provide a forming device and a brush manufacturing device, by means of which the effort and problems during the manufacture of a brush using a formed bristle filler can be reduced or even avoided.

[0005] To solve the above object, firstly, a forming device for forming a bristle filler for a brush is proposed, and the forming device has the following characteristics described below for the forming device. Therefore, to solve the above object, in particular, a forming device is proposed, which is configured to form the cleaning side of the bristle filler by axially moving the bristle filaments of the bristle filler about their longitudinal axes. The forming of the bristle filler can be carried out before the bristle filler is fixed to the bristle carrier of the brush to be manufactured.

[0006] In this way, the bristle filler can be formed on its cleaning side without specifically shortening each bristle filament to a defined length. By axially moving the bristle filaments about their longitudinal axes, a profile is generated, and thus no cutting waste that may contaminate the brush manufacturing device and thus cause problems during the manufacture of the brush is generated when using the forming device according to the utility model. Therefore, by means of the forming device according to the utility model, the costly removal of cutting waste can be effectively avoided.

[0007] Here, the following profile can be understood as the profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack, in which not all free ends of the bristle elements located on the cleaning side of the bristle pack are arranged in a common plane, in particular oriented at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the bristle filaments.

[0008] Advantageously in this regard, the shaping device is arranged to axially displace the bristle filaments of the bristle pack by different distances.

[0009] In one embodiment of the shaping device, it is provided that the shaping device has a shaping tool and / or a cooperating shaping tool for axially displacing the bristle filaments. The shaping tool and / or the cooperating shaping tool can act on the bristle filaments, preferably from opposite sides, in order to axially displace the bristle filaments to produce a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack.

[0010] In order to produce complex profiles, it can be expedient that the shaping tool and / or the cooperating shaping tool are arranged to axially displace the bristle filaments of the bristle pack by different distances. The different axial displacement of the bristle filaments during shaping of the bristle pack can be achieved by the shaping of the shaping surface of the shaping tool and / or the cooperating shaping surface of the cooperating shaping tool, which shaping surfaces can act on the bristle filaments during shaping.

[0011] Preferably, the shaping device has a shaping tool and a corresponding cooperating shaping tool. The shaping tool and the cooperating shaping tool can act on opposite sides of the bristle pack here and interactively cause the bristle filaments to move axially from an initial position into a target position. By the interactive action of the shaping tool and the cooperating shaping tool of the shaping device, the bristle filaments of the bristle pack can be precisely axially displaced to produce a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack, without having to shorten the bristle filaments of the bristle pack and without generating cutting waste.

[0012] The shaping tool can be arranged to axially load the bristle filaments on the cleaning side of the bristle pack. The cooperating shaping tool can be arranged to axially load the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments on the fixed side of the bristle pack and / or to support the bristle filaments at the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments during shaping of the bristle pack.

[0013] The shaping tool can have a shaping surface, preferably a closed shaping surface. This shaping surface can have a profile that corresponds to the inverse profile of the profile to be produced on the cleaning side of the bristle pack. If the shaping surface is closed, it is possible to avoid individual bristle filaments passing through the shaping surface of the shaping tool and inadvertently not being caught by the shaping tool.

[0014] The mating forming tool may have a mating forming surface, preferably a closed mating forming surface. The mating forming surface of the mating forming tool may here have a contour that corresponds to the inverse contour of the forming surface of the forming tool. The contour of the mating forming surface may also correspond to the contour to be produced on the cleaning side of the bristle stuffing of the brush to be manufactured.

[0015] In order to enable the bristle filaments to move axially to produce a contour, it is advantageous if the forming tool and / or the mating forming tool are movably supported in order to carry out the forming movement. It is also possible to hold the forming tool and / or the mating forming tool in a fixed position and to move the bristle stuffing relative to the forming tool and / or the mating forming tool during the forming movement in order to produce a contour on the cleaning side of the bristle stuffing.

[0016] The forming device may have a drive device for the forming movement of the forming tool and / or the mating forming tool and / or the bristle stuffing, in particular of the filament holder, which will be explained in more detail below, of the forming device.

[0017] The forming device may have a filament holder for holding, in particular clamping and holding, the bristle filaments of the bristle stuffing during the forming of the bristle stuffing. The bristle filaments of the bristle stuffing may first be held by the filament holder in an unformed relative position relative to one another. Here, all the bristle filaments may have the same length and / or the same protrusion on the filament holder. The filament holder may feed the bristle filaments of the bristle stuffing to the forming tool and / or the mating forming tool for forming and hold and / or guide the bristle filaments during the forming.

[0018] It is also possible for the filament holder to move with the bristle filaments of the bristle stuffing during the forming movement in order to produce a contour on the cleaning side of the bristle stuffing.

[0019] Advantageously, the filament holder has a hole pattern including a certain number and arrangement of receiving holes, which corresponds to the number and arrangement of the bristle bundles of the bristle stuffing of the brush to be manufactured.

[0020] The filament holder can thus already hold all the bristle filaments of the bristle stuffing to be formed in a bundle arrangement that corresponds to the bundle arrangement of the bristle stuffing of the finished brush.

[0021] The filament retainer may have a releasable clamping device for the bristle filaments arranged in the receiving holes, in particular for the bristle bundles arranged in the receiving holes. Before shaping the bristle pack on its cleaning side, the filament retainer can hold the bristle filaments positioned in the receiving holes by means of the clamping device. In order to actually shape the bristle pack, the clamping device can sometimes be released. In this way, the bristle filaments are preferably axially displaced differently in the filament retainer to create a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack. If the bristle filaments have been axially displaced and a profile has been created, the clamping device can be reactivated in order to prepare the then shaped bristle pack for further processing, in particular for connecting the bristle pack to the bristle carrier of the brush to be manufactured.

[0022] Advantageous for the previously described function of the filament retainer is that the receiving holes are configured as through-holes. In this way, the bristle filaments can be moved into their individual target positions by axial displacement within the filament retainer and thus create a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack.

[0023] The shaping device also has a flattening device for flattening the mating profile created on the fixed side of the bristle pack. By axially displacing the bristle filaments to create a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack, the bristle filaments can have different protrusion amounts on the cleaning side of the bristle pack.

[0024] On the fixed side, the bristle pack can then have a mating profile that corresponds to the inverse profile of the profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack. In order to flatten the different protrusion amounts and the resulting mating profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack, a flattening device is used, which balances the different protrusion amounts of the bristle filaments on the fixed side. In order to flatten the mating profile on the fixed side of the bristle pack, the flattening device can have a heating device that is arranged to melt the ends of the bristle filaments on the fixed side of the bristle pack. By melting the ends on the fixed side, the mating profile on the fixed side of the bristle pack can be flattened, the bristle filaments of the individual bristle bundles and / or the bristle bundles of the bristle pack can be connected to one another and finally the bristle pack can be connected to the ready-made bristle carrier. This can be done by means of a preferably material-locking connection between the melted ends of the bristle filaments of the bristle pack and the ready-made bristle carrier.

[0025] The heating device of the flattening device can be the heating device of the brush manufacturing device, which will be described in more detail below and which is also used to connect the shaped bristle pack to the ready-made bristle carrier.

[0026] To solve the above-mentioned task, a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is also proposed, which has the means and features described below for the brush manufacturing device. In particular, a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is thus proposed, which has a bristle carrier and a bristle filling made of bristle filaments, wherein the brush manufacturing device has a shaping device according to the present invention.

[0027] To solve the above-mentioned task, a method for shaping a bristle filling from bristle filaments for a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is also proposed, which has the means and features described below for the method for shaping the bristle filling.

[0028] Therefore, to solve the above-mentioned task, it is particularly proposed in the method for shaping the bristle filling that the bristle filaments of the bristle filling are axially moved from an initial position to a target position about their longitudinal axes by means of a shaping device, in particular such a shaping device according to the present invention, in order to produce a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle filling. The target positions of the individual bristle filaments can here be different from one another in the axial direction. Preferably, a shaping tool and / or a co-shaping tool of the shaping device is used here.

[0029] This method can be part of a method for manufacturing a brush, in particular a toothbrush.

[0030] When implementing this method, the bristle filaments of the bristle filling can here be axially moved relative to one another and / or axially moved by different distances in order to shape the bristle filling on the cleaning side.

[0031] By means of the co-shaping tool, the bristle filling can be supported and / or co-shaped when it is shaped on its cleaning side. In this way, the bristle filling is moved from an unshaped initial position to a shaped target position by the interaction of the shaping tool and the co-shaping tool mentioned above, in which target position the bristle filling has the desired profile on its cleaning side.

[0032] The shaping tool and / or the co-shaping tool can here move relative to the bristle filling during the shaping movement. However, it is also possible for the bristle filling to move relative to the shaping tool and / or relative to the co-shaping tool in order to shape the cleaning side of the bristle filling. Here, the bristle filling can be held by the above-mentioned filament holder of the shaping device and the bristle filling can be moved relative to the shaping tool and / or the co-shaping tool during the shaping movement.

[0033] It is possible to flatten the mating profile generated on the fixed side of the bristle pack during forming on the cleaning side. This can be achieved, for example, by melting the ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments. Flattening the mating profile generated by axially moving the bristle filaments during forming the bristle pack can simplify the precise connection of the bristle pack to the bristle carrier of the brush to be manufactured. When flattening the mating profile, the bristle filaments are shortened at the fixed side by melting the ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments, so that the ends of the fixed side are arranged in a common fixed plane, preferably oriented at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the bristle filaments of the bristle pack and / or to the longitudinal axis of the bristle carrier of the toothbrush - to which the bristle pack is fixed in the use position - after flattening the mating profile. By moving axially beforehand, the bristle filaments of the bristle pack then have different lengths, thus generating a profile on the cleaning side of the bristle pack.

[0034] After forming, the bristle filaments of the formed bristle pack can be connected to the bristle carrier of the brush by means of heat. Thus, the method for forming a bristle pack from bristle filaments can be part of the method for manufacturing a brush.

[0035] Therefore, to solve the above - mentioned task, a method for manufacturing a brush, in particular a toothbrush, is also proposed, in which a bristle pack is formed from bristle filaments according to the claimed method for forming a bristle pack from bristle filaments and then the bristle filaments of the formed bristle pack are connected to the bristle carrier of the brush by means of heat. Description of the Drawings

[0036] The present invention will be explained in more detail below based on embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. Further embodiments of the present invention are obtained by combining the features of individual claims and / or by combining the features of individual or multiple shown embodiments. In the figures:

[0037] 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 ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments of the bristle pack of the brush, and this receiving groove is filled with melted filament material after the bristle filaments are fixed on the bristle carrier,

[0038] Figure 5 show Figures 1 to 4 a perspective view of the shown bristle pack of the brush after melting the ends of the fixed sides of its bristle filaments,

[0039] Figures 6 to 9 show different views of a comparable brush of another embodiment, in which the receiving groove for receiving the bristle pack is penetrated by a structure formed by reinforcing ribs,

[0040] Figure 10 showFigures 6 to 9 Perspective view of the bristle filling of the brush shown after melting of the ends on the fixing side of its bristle filaments,

[0041] Figure 11 Schematic view showing a forming device of a brush manufacturing machine for manufacturing the brush shown in the previous figures, and

[0042] Figures 12 to 14 Showing other components of the brush manufacturing device for illustrating a method for manufacturing a brush at least partially shown in Figures 1 to 10 the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Figures 1 - 5 and Figures 6 - 10 showing at least a plurality of components of the brush configured as a toothbrush, each integrally labeled 1. Unless otherwise specified, the following description refers to the two embodiments of the brush 1 shown in the figures.

[0044] 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.

[0045] The bristle filling 3 of the brush 1 is formed by a forming device 25 of a brush manufacturing machine 18. The forming device 25 is arranged to form the bristle filling 3 of the brush 1 by axially moving the bristle filaments 4 about their longitudinal axes on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle filling 3 before fixing the bristle filling 3 to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush to be manufactured.

[0046] To form the bristle filling 3, the forming device 25 has a forming tool 26 and a cooperating forming tool 28, which are arranged to axially move the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle filling 3 before they are fixed to the bristle carrier 2.

[0047] The forming tool 26 axially loads the bristle filaments 4 on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle filling 3. The cooperating forming tool 28 axially loads the end 6 of the fixing side of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixing side 29 of the bristle filling 3 and supports the bristle filaments 4 at the end 6 of their fixing side when forming the bristle filling 3.

[0048] The forming tool 26 has a closed forming surface 39, which is the counter-profile of the profile 42 to be produced on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle filling 3 and is convexly formed.

[0049] The cooperating forming tool 28 has a closed cooperating forming surface 40, the profile of which is the counter-profile of the profile of the forming surface 39 of the forming tool 26 and corresponds to the profile 42 to be produced on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle filling 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured and is concavely formed.

[0050] According to Figure 11 , the forming tool 26 and the mating forming tool 28 are movably supported so as to perform a forming movement. The forming movements of the forming tool 26 and the mating forming tool 28 are illustrated by arrows respectively mating with the forming tool 26 and the mating forming tool 28 in Figure 11 . To perform the forming movements of the forming tool 26 and the mating forming tool 28, the forming device 25 has a drive device 44.

[0051] For example, Figure 1 and Figure 6 illustrate: The brush 1 has a receiving groove 5 in its bristle carrier 2. On the completed brush 1, the bristle filaments 4 of the formed bristle filling 3 are fixed in the receiving groove 5 with their end portions 6 on the fixed side. The receiving groove 5 on the completed brush 1 is filled with the filament material melted for fixing the bristle filaments 4 at the end portion 6 on the fixed side. 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 measurable in the normal direction of the receiving groove 5 in the region of the receiving groove 5 before the bristle filaments 4 are fixed. In the adjacent regions, 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 region of the receiving groove 5 and the material thickness D in the adjacent section of the bristle carrier 2 are illustrated by dimensioning.

[0052] After the bristle filaments 4 are fixed on the bristle carrier 2, the bristle carrier 2 is strengthened by the melted filament material of the bristle filaments 4 in the region of its filled receiving groove 5.

[0053] In the embodiment of the brush 1 shown in Figures 6 - 10 , 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 region of the receiving groove 5. This can simplify the operation of the bristle carrier 2 during the manufacture of the brush 1.

[0054] Due to the reinforcing ribs 9 present 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 in shape and arrangement to the cross-sectional shape and arrangement of the bristle bundles 11 formed by the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle filling 3.

[0055] Figure 5 and Figure 10Illustrative, the molten filament material of the shown bristle filling 3 at least forms a carrier plate 11 which, after the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 2, fills the receiving groove 5 of the respective brush 1.

[0056] 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 Figure 5 in the shown carrier plate 11.

[0057] In Figure 10 the shown bristle filling 3, the bristle filaments 4 within the bristle bundles 10 are connected by the carrier plate 11. Thus, each of the total eight bristle bundles 10 has a carrier plate 11.

[0058] The carrier plate 11 fills the receiving groove 5 such 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 filling 3. Similarly, Figure 10 the plurality of carrier plates 11 of the shown bristle filling 3 also fill the part of the receiving groove 5 of the bristle carrier 2 segmented by the reinforcing ribs 9 as shown in Figures 6 to 9 . 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] Thus, the brush 1 shown in the figure is a so-called single-material brush. Since a biodegradable plastic, such as polyamide, namely preferably PA10.10 or PA12, is 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 filling 3, the brush 1 is particularly environmentally friendly and easy to recycle.

[0061] The bristle filaments 4 fixed in the receiving groove 5 and the bristle carrier 2 form a materially homogeneous integral unit and are materially locked to each other after their connection.

[0062] 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 such that the receiving groove 5 is filled with the molten filament material of the fixed-side end 6 of the bristle filaments 4.

[0063] Accordingly, 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 3This is illustrated by a top view of a bristle carrier 2 forming the head of a brush 1.

[0064] As can be seen from this figure, the recess 15 in the edge 14 is almost completely filled with the molten filament material of the ends 6 of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments 4.

[0065] Figure 3 and Figure 8 It is shown that on the finished toothbrush the bristle pack 3 can be at a distance A of, for example, 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 defining the receiving groove 5 of the bristle carrier 2. In this case, the distance A also defines the distance of the bristle tuft 10 from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2.

[0066] Figure 3 and Figure 8 It is also shown that the molten filament material and thus the carrier plate 11 can be at a distance B of, for example, 0.3 mm to 2 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 at the place 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 defines the receiving groove 5 and abuts on the carrier plate 11.

[0067] Furthermore, Figure 3 and Figure 8 It is shown that the molten filament material and thus the carrier plate 11 can be at 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 surrounding the receiving groove 5. Thus, the molten filament material forming the carrier plate 11 can extend outwards up to the region of the recess 15 within the edge 14, fill the recess 15 and be flush with the adjacent edge section.

[0068] 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.

[0069] Furthermore, Figure 4 and Figure 9 It is shown that before the bristle filaments 4 are fixed to the bristle carrier 2, the material thickness E in the region of the receiving groove 5 can be, for example, 1 mm to 4 mm for the toothbrush. The difference between the dimensions D and E defines the height of the edge 14 above the receiving groove 5.

[0070] Figures 11 - 14 An illustration shows a method for manufacturing a brush 1 as at least partly shown in Figures 1 - 9 is shown. Figure 12It is shown that: First, the end 6 of the fixed 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 filled by the melted filament material of the end 6 of the fixed 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 fixed 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 means of thermal radiation.

[0071] Here, the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filament 4 is heated to a higher temperature than the bristle carrier 2 in the region of its receiving groove 5. When the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filament 4 is heated to its melting point, the temperature to which the bristle carrier 2 is heated in the region of its receiving groove 5 is selected to be lower so 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 in a material-locking manner and form the previously mentioned unit with a homogeneous material.

[0072] 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 fixed side of the bristle filament 4.

[0073] The bristle carrier 2 is inserted into the 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.

[0074] According to Figure 13 , after the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filament 4 and the bristle carrier 2 are heated, the bristle carrier 2 is inserted into the mold 16. The bristle carrier 2 is inserted by means of the lifting device 36 of the brush manufacturing device 18, which will be described in more detail below.

[0075] After the receiving groove 5 is filled with the filament material of the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filament 4, the bristle carrier 2 is cooled via the mold 16.

[0076] To manufacture the brush 1, a brush manufacturing device marked as a whole 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 to heat the end 6 of the fixed side of the bristle filament 4 and the second heating surface 21 is arranged to heat the bristle carrier 2 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.

[0077] The heating device 19 is configured to heat the two heating surfaces 20 and 21 and, via these two heating surfaces, heat the ends 6 of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier 2 to different temperatures in the region of its receiving groove 5. Here, the heating surface 20 can be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the ends 6 of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments 3 by thermal radiation.

[0078] The two heating surfaces 20 and 21 are arranged on a common heating element 22 and are arranged here on different sides of the heating element 22, i.e., on sides facing away from each other.

[0079] In this way, the heating element 22 can be positioned in the position shown in Figure 12 between the ready bristle carrier 2 and the ready bristle filaments 4 so as to heat the ends 6 of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments 4 via the heating surface 20 and heat the bristle carrier 2 via the heating surface 21.

[0080] The heating device 19 is configured to independently adjust 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 includes at least one temperature sensor 23 for each of the heating surfaces 20 and 21.

[0081] With 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.

[0082] The aforementioned mold 16 mentioned above is part of the brush manufacturing device 18. The mold 16 is used to receive and support 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 in order to fix the bristle filaments 4 in the receiving groove after heating the ends 6 of the fixing sides of the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2.

[0083] The brush manufacturing device 18 also includes the shaping device 25 described above. The shaping device 25 is as Figure 11 shown and partly as Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown. The shaping device 25 is used to shape the bristle filling 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0084] As mentioned above, the shaping device 25 has: a shaping tool 26 for shaping the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3; and a mating shaping tool 28 for supporting and shaping the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3. When shaping the bristle pack 3, a contour 42 is produced on its cleaning side 27, which contour should optimize the use characteristics and cleaning action of the brush 1.

[0085] For example, the operation of the shaping device 25 is determined by Figure 11 as can be seen. Accordingly, the shaping tool 26 is moved so that its convex-shaped, closed shaping surface 39 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, the likewise closed mating shaping surface 40 of which has a contour corresponding to the target contour on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3 and thus to the contour 42 to be produced and which is concave-shaped, the bristle filaments 4 are supported.

[0086] The different protrusion amounts of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3 produce a mating contour 43 on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3. The mating contour 43 is levelled when melting the ends 6 of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments 4 in order to fix the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1 to be produced. For this purpose, the levelling device 41 of the shaping device 25 is used here. The levelling device 41 uses here the heating device 19 already mentioned of the brush manufacturing device 18 in order to level the mating contour 43 by melting the ends of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments 4.

[0087] Figure 11 It is shown that the brush manufacturing device 18 also has a filament holder 30 with a clamping device 45 for clamping and holding the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3. The filament holder 30 is at least sometimes also part of the shaping device 25 and is furthermore designed as a cassette and can be moved from one station of the brush manufacturing device 18 to another station. The filament holder 30 can hold the bristle filaments 4 when shaping the bristle pack 3 as well as when heating the ends 6 of the fixed sides of the bristle filaments 4 on the heating device 19 in order to level the mating contour on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3. The filament holder 30 has a hole pattern 37 of receiving holes 38 for the bristle bundles 10 made of bristle filaments 4, which hole pattern corresponds to the bundle arrangement of the bristle bundles 10 in the bristle pack 3 of the brush 1 to be produced.

[0088] The filament holder 30 includes a releasable clamping device 45 for the bristle bundles 10 arranged in its receiving holes 38 made of bristle filaments 4. Figure 11 The filament holder 30 together with the bristle pack 3 to be shaped between the shaping tool 26 and the mating shaping tool 28 is shown.

[0089] During the shaping of the bristle pack 3, the clamping device 45 of the filament retainer 30 is opened so that the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle tuft 10 can be axially moved into the receiving bore 38 configured as a through-hole of the filament retainer 30 for the shaping of the bristle pack 3. If the shaping of the bristle pack 3 is completed, the clamping device 45 can be activated again to fix the moved bristle filaments 4 in the receiving bore 38 of the filament retainer 30.

[0090] The filament retainer 30 is also used when pressing the end 6 on the fixing side of the bristle filaments 4 into the receiving groove 5 of the ready-made bristle carrier 2. However, here, its clamping device 45 is open. In this way, the bristle filaments 4 can be pressed with their end 6 on the fixing side into the receiving groove 5 by means of a shaping tool 26 that axially loads the bristle filaments 4 on the fixing side 27 of the bristle pack 3. Here, the bristle filaments 4 are guided by the filament retainer 30 and its through-going receiving bore 38.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] With the aid of a dividing device 34 of the brush manufacturing device 18, bristle tufts 10 can be divided from the reserve of loose bristle filaments 33 in the magazine 32. With the aid of a tuft shaping unit 35, the bristle tufts 10 can be placed in their desired target shape in the bristle pack 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0094] The bristle tuft 10 is transferred from the tuft shaping unit 35 to the filament retainer 30 and fixed in the receiving bore 38 configured as a through-hole by means of the clamping device 45.

[0095] Figure 14 It shows how the completed brush 1 is lifted out of the mold 16 by means of a lifting device 36 after the bristle carrier 2 has been cooled. Now, the shaped bristle pack 3 is connected to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1.

[0096] The shaping device 25 is suitable for carrying out the method described below for shaping a bristle pack 3 from bristle filaments 4 for the brush 1 to be manufactured. This method can be part of the method for manufacturing the brush 1.

[0097] Here, with the aid of the shaping device 25, the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3 are axially moved from an initial position to a target position about their longitudinal axis to produce a profile 42 on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3.

[0098] Here, the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3 are moved relative to one another along the axial direction and furthermore partly at different axial distances. For this purpose, the bristle filaments 4 are axially loaded on the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3 by means of the forming tool 26 of the forming device 25, and the bristle filaments are supported and furthermore co-formed on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3 by means of the co-forming tool 28 of the forming device 25.

[0099] According to Figure 11 , the forming tool 26 and the co-forming tool 28 are moved relative to the bristle pack 3 and the filament holder 30 in a forming movement by means of a drive device 44. In an alternative embodiment of the method, it is possible to move the bristle pack 3, for example together with the filament holder 30, relative to the forming tool 26 and / or the co-forming tool 28.

[0100] Before connecting the bristle pack 3 to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1 to be manufactured, the co-profile 43 generated on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3 during the forming of the cleaning side 27 is levelled by melting the ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side. Levelling the co-profile 43 generated on the fixed side 29 is carried out by means of the heating device 19 of the brush manufacturing device 18, which heating device is at least sometimes also part of the levelling device 41 of the forming device 25.

[0101] After forming, the bristle filaments 4 can be connected to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1 by means of heat. The method for forming the bristle pack 3 from the bristle filaments 4 is part of the method for manufacturing the brush 1. A method step of this method for manufacturing the brush 1 provides that the bristle filaments 4 of the previously formed bristle pack 3 are connected to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1 by means of heat. In order to connect the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2, the heat of the heating device 19 of the brush manufacturing device 18 can be used here. Previously, the heating device 19 has been used to melt the ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the fixed side in order to level the co-profile 43 generated on the fixed side 29 of the bristle pack 3. Then the melted ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 can be brought into contact with the bristle carrier 2, which is also heated by the heating device 19, in order to connect the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2.

[0102] The present invention furthermore relates to a forming device 25 for forming a bristle pack 3 for a brush 1, wherein the forming device 25 is arranged to form the cleaning side 27 of the bristle pack 3 by axially moving the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle pack 3 about its longitudinal axis.

[0103] List of reference numerals

[0104] 1 Brush

[0105] 2 Bristle carrier, brush head

[0106] 3 Bristle stuffing

[0107] 4 Bristle filaments

[0108] 5 Receiving groove

[0109] 6 End of the fixed side of the bristle filaments

[0110] 7 Neck section

[0111] 8 Handle

[0112] 9 Reinforcing rib

[0113] 10 Bristle bundle

[0114] 11 Carrier plate

[0115] 12 Surface of the carrier plate

[0116] 13 Brush surface

[0117] 14 Edge

[0118] 15 Recess in the edge

[0119] 16 Mold

[0120] 17 Mold wall

[0121] 18 Brush manufacturing device

[0122] 19 Heating device

[0123] 20 Heating surface for the end of the fixed side of the bristle filaments

[0124] 21 Heating surface for the bristle carrier

[0125] 22 Heating element

[0126] 23 Temperature sensor

[0127] 24 Control unit

[0128] 25 Molding device

[0129] 26 Molding tool

[0130] 27 Cleaning side

[0131] 28 Complementary molding tool

[0132] 29 Fixed side

[0133] 30 Filament retainer

[0134] 31 Cooling device

[0135] 32 Hopper

[0136] 33 Reserve of loose bristle filaments

[0137] 34 Dividing device

[0138] 35 Beam forming unit

[0139] 36 Lifting device

[0140] 37 Hole pattern of the filament retainer

[0141] 38 Receiving holes in the filament retainer

[0142] 39 Forming surface

[0143] 40 mating forming surface

[0144] 41 Flattening device

[0145] 42 Profile

[0146] 43 mating profile

[0147] 44 Driving device

[0148] 45 Clamping device.

Claims

1. A forming device for forming a brush-shaped bristle filler, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) is arranged to shape the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3) by axially moving the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle pack (3) about their longitudinal axes.

2. The shaping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) has a shaping tool (26) and / or a cooperating shaping tool (28) for axially moving the bristle filaments (4), and / or the shaping device (25) is arranged to axially move the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle pack (3) by different distances.

3. The molding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The shaping tool (26) is arranged to axially load the bristle filaments (4) on the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3), and / or the cooperating shaping tool (28) is arranged to axially load the end (6) of the fixed side of the bristle filaments (4) on the fixed side (29) of the bristle pack (3) and / or to support the bristle filaments (4) on the end (6) of the fixed side of the bristle filaments (4) when shaping the bristle pack (3).

4. The molding device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) is arranged by means of its shaping tool (26) and / or its cooperating shaping tool (28) to axially move the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle pack (3) by different distances.

5. The molding device according to claim 4, characterized in that The shaping tool (26) is arranged to axially load the bristle filaments (4) on the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3), and / or the cooperating shaping tool (28) is arranged to axially load the end (6) of the fixed side of the bristle filaments (4) on the fixed side (29) of the bristle pack (3) and / or to support the bristle filaments (4) on the end (6) of the fixed side of the bristle filaments (4) when shaping the bristle pack (3).

6. The molding device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping tool (26) has a shaping surface (39) which has the counter-profile of the profile (42) to be produced on the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3) of the brush (1) to be manufactured.

7. The molding device according to claim 6, wherein The shaping surface (39) is closed.

8. The molding device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The cooperating shaping tool (28) has a cooperating shaping surface (40) the profile of which is the counter-profile of the profile of the shaping surface (39) of the shaping tool (26) and / or the profile of which corresponds to the profile (42) to be produced on the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3) of the brush (1) to be manufactured.

9. The molding device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cooperating shaping surface (40) is closed.

10. The molding device according to claim 6, wherein, The cooperating shaping tool (28) has a cooperating shaping surface (40) the profile of which is the counter-profile of the profile of the shaping surface (39) of the shaping tool (26) and / or the profile of which corresponds to the profile (42) to be produced on the cleaning side (27) of the bristle pack (3) of the brush (1) to be manufactured.

11. The molding device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping tool (26) and / or the cooperating shaping tool (28) are movably supported in order to carry out the shaping movement.

12. The molding device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) has a drive device (44) for the shaping movement of the shaping tool (26) and / or the cooperating shaping tool (28) and / or the filament holder (30) of the shaping device (25).

13. The molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) has a filament holder (30) for holding the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle charge (3) during shaping of the bristle charge (3).

14. The molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) has a filament holder (30) for clamping and holding the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle charge (3) during shaping of the bristle charge (3).

15. The molding device according to claim 13, wherein, The filament holder (30) has a hole pattern (37) including a certain number and arrangement of receiving holes (38), which corresponds to the number and arrangement of the bristle bundles (10) of the bristle charge (3) of the brush (1) to be manufactured.

16. The shaping device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The filament holder (30) has a releasable clamping device (45) for the bristle filaments (4) arranged in the receiving holes (38).

17. The molding device according to claim 16, characterized in that, The clamping device (45) is for the bristle bundles (10) arranged in the receiving holes (38).

18. The shaping device according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that, The receiving holes (38) are configured as through holes.

19. The shaping device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The shaping device (25) has a flattening device (41) for flattening the mating profile (4) generated on the fixed side (29) of the bristle charge (3).

20. The shaping device according to claim 19, characterized in that The flattening device (41) has a heating device (19) for melting the ends (6) of the bristle filaments (4) on the fixed side of the bristle charge (3).

21. A brush manufacturing device for manufacturing a brush, the brush (1) having a bristle carrier (2) and a bristle filling (3) made of bristle filaments (4), characterized in that, The brush manufacturing device (18) has a shaping device (25) according to one of claims 1 to 20.

22. The brush manufacturing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, The brush (1) is a toothbrush.

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