Method for producing brushes and brush manufacturing machine

Abstract

A method for producing brushes (10) provides that bristle bundles (31) are pushed between several intermediate magazines (22, 24) and then profiled in a second intermediate magazine (24) by profiled pins and profiled sliding surfaces (64). Furthermore, a brush manufacturing machine is proposed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing brushes and a brush manufacturing machine.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a method and a brush manufacturing machine for producing anchorless toothbrushes with preferably very large bristle bundles that are profiled in their free end.

[0003] The bristles of such bristle bundles are usually either rounded or chemically or mechanically sharpened, which complicates their processing and handling. Anchorless brushes, especially toothbrushes, are manufactured, for example, by inserting the bristle bundles through openings in a bristle carrier, which later becomes part of the brush, with the rear end of the bristle bundles protruding from the back of the bristle carrier.

[0004] Heat (for example, radiation, heated air, or contact heating) melts the back ends of the bristle bundles. A stamp presses the molten plastic mass together, creating a layer or plate through which all the bristles are connected. This bristle carrier, equipped with the bristle bundles, can then be overmolded on the back or, if it is designed as a plate, can be inserted into a handle or embedded into it by molding a handle onto it. This handle then naturally also comprises part of the future brush head.

[0005] Another method for anchorless brush production, known from DE 10 2017 122 876 A1, involves applying heat to the rear end of a bristle bundle so that the bristles fuse together and form a common thickened portion. The bristle bundles formed with the rear thickened portion are then inserted into blind holes in the bristle carrier. Subsequently, pressure is applied from the front of the bristle carrier in the area of ​​the end face of the bristle carrier to the hole edge running around the blind hole opening, and if necessary, additional heat is applied, narrowing the area of ​​the hole edge to a smaller cross-section so that this cross-section at the edge of the hole is smaller than the cross-section of the thickened portion. This mechanically fixes the thickened portion and the bristle bundle in the blind hole.

[0006] In contrast to this prior art, DE 40 27 108 A1 proposes creating holes in the bristle carrier by means of hot pins that penetrate the plastic of the bristle carrier. The thickened ends of the bundles are then pressed into the still-hot plastic mass to displace the hot mass, which is supposed to rise in the hole. However, the hole is sealed at the front so that the rising mass fills the cavity at the front and thus seals the entire space to the front.

[0007] The trend, especially with toothbrushes, is toward ever larger bristle bundles, meaning bristle bundles with a large number of bristles. These bristle bundles also have a very pronounced profile at the front. Some bundles even have a cross-section diameter of 2.5 to 5 mm. The cross-sectional shapes of the bundles used are arbitrary: from circular, oval, square, rectangular, arched, to star-shaped and the like, any cross-sectional shape is available on the market and will be realized in the future. The profiling of the bundles at the front end also varies. Hemispherical shapes, crenellated shapes, jagged shapes, and the like are manufactured.

[0008] Such large bristle bundles cannot be fixed with an anchor in the bristle carrier, but must be fixed anchorless, for example using the methods mentioned above.

[0009] Profiling is particularly problematic with pointed bristles, and this problem increases with the number of bristles per bristle bundle. Profiling is usually achieved by moving the bristle bundles through openings in a magazine by a slider or compressed air. They then protrude from the front of the magazine and are moved or pressed against a stop. This stop is not flat, but has a stop surface in the area of ​​the front ends of the bundle that complements the desired profile. The bristles therefore move relative to one another in the bristle bundle until they hit the profiled stop surface. The rear end of the bristle bundle protruding from the magazine is then melted, for example, or cut off first, and then the just deflected end is melted.

[0010] If the end of the bristle is very sharply pointed, this pointed end is very soft and can easily bend when subjected to axial force, i.e., when it is pressed against the stop surface. This then risks the pointed end bending slightly, which then allows the bristle to shift too far. Ultimately, this means that the bristle ends do not end on, for example, the hemispherical surface of the bristle bundle, but rather individual bristles protrude from the desired profiled surface and protrude beyond it.

[0011] A further problem arises from the fact that the bristles used in the brush industry are becoming increasingly thinner. Bristle diameters of 0.07 mm are no longer uncommon, but this reduces the inherent stiffness of the bristles and thus increases the difficulty of producing profiled bristle bundles with these bristles.

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing brushes and a brush manufacturing machine by means of which brushes with profiled bundle ends of high quality can be produced, in which large quantities of bristles and thin bristles can also be used for the bristle bundles.

[0013] The invention provides a method for producing brushes, characterized by the following steps: a) Inserting bristle bundles into adjacently arranged through openings of a first intermediate magazine, b) Moving the bristle bundles from the through-openings into receiving openings of a second intermediate magazine positioned next to the first intermediate magazine, whereby the rear ends of the bristle bundles in the direction of insertion remain in the first intermediate magazine, whereas the front ends of the bristle bundles in the direction of insertion are seated in the receiving openings, c) moving the first and second intermediate magazines relative to each other so that the rear ends come out of the first intermediate magazine, d) Displacing at least one bundle of bristles in one of the receiving openings of the second intermediate magazine by means of a pin which is received in the receiving opening and can be displaced along the same, has a profiled end face and engages the front end of the bundle of bristles, and a sliding surface which engages the rear end of the bundle of bristles and is shaped complementarily to the end face of the pin for profiling the rear end of the bundle of bristles, e) cutting off the section of the bristle bundle protruding from the second intermediate magazine, f) Moving the bundle of bristles into a hole in a third intermediate magazine, with the rear, trimmed end of the bundle of bristles protruding from the hole, and g) Fusion of the ends of the bristles of the bristle bundle at the rear, trimmed end.

[0014] In the method according to the invention, the bristle bundles in the second intermediate magazine are displaced by a pin with a profiled end face that is received in the receiving opening provided there and can be displaced along the receiving opening. This means that the fine ends of the bristle bundles do not protrude from the intermediate magazine, but are still received in the receiving opening and thus laterally stabilized by the wall of the receiving opening when they contact the profiled end face pin. A sliding surface then engages the rear end of the bristle bundle, which has a geometry complementary to the end face of the pin. The bristle bundle is thus positioned at both ends between complementarily shaped contact surfaces.

[0015] Optionally, the bristle bundle, when inserted into the second intermediate magazine, can also be moved back and forth between the pin and the sliding surface to move the individual bristles relative to one another. However, as mentioned, this is only an option. The method according to the invention can also be used particularly successfully when oversized bristle bundles are to be profiled. For this purpose, the second intermediate magazine has at least one enlarged receiving opening, which is assigned to several through-openings in the first intermediate magazine and which has a larger cross-section than the assigned through-openings.The bristle bundles from the associated through openings are pushed into the enlarged receiving opening or openings, if multiple enlarged receiving openings are provided in the second intermediate magazine, so that during the displacement in step b), bristle bundles from the first intermediate magazine are combined into a larger bristle bundle in the at least one enlarged receiving opening. In this case, the intermediate magazines therefore have an additional function, namely to produce enlarged bristle bundles.

[0016] An intermediate plate with a collecting channel can be provided between the first and second magazines for inserting the bristle bundles into the enlarged receiving opening. This collecting channel is open to the first intermediate magazine at several associated through openings, and this collecting channel runs from the second intermediate magazine to the enlarged receiving opening in such a way that the bristle bundles are brought together in the collecting channel and guided into the enlarged receiving opening. In the simplest case, this collecting channel is therefore a conical opening. However, this cone does not have to run symmetrically around a central axis that runs perpendicular to the end faces of the intermediate plate; the cone can also run at an angle to this.

[0017] As already mentioned, the second intermediate magazine can contain several enlarged receiving openings. Several through-openings in the first magazine are then assigned to each of these enlarged receiving openings. These receiving openings are filled with the assigned bristle bundles from the first intermediate magazine.

[0018] The third intermediate magazine can be set into vibration after step f) and before step g), at least in one, preferably in at least two, and more preferably in three spatial directions. This simplifies and optimizes the mobility of the bristles among themselves, reduces the tension between neighboring bristles in the bristle bundle, and allows the bristles to align themselves with one another. These vibrations can be generated by shaking or tapping, but also by high-frequency excitation. This alignment of the bristles among themselves is due to the fact that individual bristles are somewhat caught in the bristle bundle due to friction and can spring back due to the vibrations to take up their desired position. This means that only a slight pressure force needs to be exerted on the bristles for the final alignment.

[0019] The third intermediate magazine can contain a bristle carrier which will form part of the brush. This bristle carrier is inserted into the third intermediate magazine before the bristle bundles are inserted into the third intermediate magazine. The bristle carrier has an opening adapted to the cross-section of the bristle bundle, through which the bristle bundle is pushed into the corresponding hole in the third intermediate magazine. The bristle carrier is therefore located in front of the hole in the third intermediate magazine. The rear, trimmed end protrudes freely from the opening and can be melted there. The bristle carrier is usually a small plate which is later attached to the brush head. The hole in the third intermediate magazine, into which the bristle bundle penetrates, stabilizes the position of the bristle bundle once the bristle carrier has reached a minimum thickness.

[0020] An alternative to this manufacturing process involves fusing the ends of the bristles of a bristle bundle to form a thickened portion, and then pushing the enlarged bristle bundle, thickened portion first, into a blind hole in a bristle carrier forming part of the brush. A hole edge running around the blind hole opening on one end face of the bristle carrier is reshaped by applying pressure and, if necessary, additional heat, preferably without melting the bristle carrier, thereby reducing the cross-section of the blind hole at the edge to a cross-section smaller than that of the thickened portion.

[0021] The hole in the third intermediate magazine can, in particular, be a blind hole with a hole base that complements the profile of the front end of the bristle bundle inserted into the blind hole. This means that the profile previously created in the second intermediate magazine at the front end of the bristle bundle is stabilized in the third intermediate magazine. The bristles cannot lose their mutual alignment in the third intermediate magazine.

[0022] Such a perforated base can be manufactured, for example, by inserting a profiled pin into a through hole. This pin then has the profiled end face. This type of manufacturing is significantly simpler than profiling the perforated base, for example, using spark erosion.

[0023] For example, when the bristle bundles from the intermediate magazine are inserted into a blind hole in the bristle carrier with the thickened portion facing forward, the bottom of the blind hole is formed by a pin or plunger, which can then be moved relative to the third intermediate magazine to, as mentioned, push the bristle bundle out of the third intermediate magazine. Such a plunger should also have a profiled end face.

[0024] The hole for the bristle bundle in the third intermediate magazine does not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the end face of the third intermediate magazine, but can be positioned at an angle to the bristle bundle's insertion direction. Several holes can also be positioned in the third intermediate magazine, running at an angle to each other and to the bristle bundle's insertion direction. This then results in brushes with bristle bundles running at an angle to each other.

[0025] After the bristle bundles are cut off at the rear end, they can be pushed into the third intermediate magazine by a slider with a planar front. No profiling of the slider is then required, simplifying its production.

[0026] In step b), the bristle bundles can be pushed through the through-openings into the receiving openings in the second intermediate magazine by sliders. For this purpose, the front ends of the bristle bundle(s) are not pushed all the way to the end of the assigned receiving opening, but end at a distance from the ends of the receiving opening.

[0027] In step c), the sliders remain in contact with their bristle bundles. The first intermediate magazine is moved away from the bristle bundles until the first intermediate magazine has left the bristle bundles. Because the sliders remain in contact with the bristle bundle while the first intermediate magazine is pulled away from the bristle bundles, no bristles remain stuck in the through-holes of the first intermediate magazine, and at the same time, the bristles are positioned very precisely relative to each other. The position of the bristle bundles in the second intermediate magazine also remains constant. This increases the quality of the produced bristle bundles.

[0028] Since multiple bristle bundles from the first magazine are combined into a larger bristle bundle in the second intermediate magazine, the still individualized or separated rear ends of the multiple bristle bundles can then unite when the first intermediate magazine is removed. In the second intermediate magazine, the bristle bundles had already combined to form the larger bristle bundle at the front end. This means that after the first intermediate magazine is removed, the individual bundles and their bristles spring into their final target shape, and tensions within the bristles of the bundles can be relieved. After this step, the profiling process can be carried out largely tension-free.

[0029] The object, as described above, is also achieved by a brush manufacturing machine for carrying out the method according to the invention, comprising a first, a second arranged adjacent to the first, and a third arranged adjacent to the second intermediate magazine, wherein the first intermediate magazine has a plurality of parallel through-openings, the second intermediate magazine has one or more receiving openings, and the third intermediate magazine has a hole aligned with one or each of the plurality of receiving openings in the second magazine, a plurality of slides which have a displacement path such that they push bristle bundles from the parallel through-openings into the one or more receiving openings until the front ends of the bristle bundles in the insertion direction enter the associated receiving opening without completely leaving the parallel through-openings,a drive for displacing the first intermediate magazine after the bristle bundles have been pushed into the at least one receiving opening away from the second intermediate magazine, one or, in the case of several receiving openings, a reciprocating pin with a profiled end face for each receiving opening, which can be pushed into the associated receiving opening towards the front end of the bristle bundle located therein in the insertion direction, a reciprocating support part with a slide surface shaped complementary to the end face of the pin, wherein the bristle bundle is moved back and forth between the slide surface located outside the second intermediate magazine and the end face, a cutting device for severing the section of the enlarged bristle bundle protruding from the second intermediate magazine, at least one slider for displacing the bristle bundle into the hole in the third intermediate magazine,and a melting device adjacent to the third magazine for fusing the ends of the bristles of the enlarged bristle bundle at the rear, trimmed end of the bristles.

[0030] The above-mentioned advantages explained for the method also arise in the brush manufacturing machine according to the invention.

[0031] If several bristle bundles in the first intermediate magazine are to be combined to form an enlarged bristle bundle in the second intermediate magazine, the brush manufacturing machine according to the invention preferably has several through openings in the first intermediate magazine which, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the through openings, overlap with a receiving opening which is enlarged relative to the through openings.

[0032] Multiple enlarged receiving openings can also be provided in the second intermediate magazine. This means that there are multiple through-holes in the first intermediate magazine, each of which is assigned to an enlarged receiving opening in the second intermediate magazine. In the third intermediate magazine, there is then a hole for each (enlarged) receiving opening.

[0033] Conversely, however, it is not necessary for only enlarged receiving openings to be provided in the second intermediate magazine. Alternatively or additionally, at least one non-enlarged receiving opening can be present in the second intermediate magazine, which is assigned to a singular through-opening in the first intermediate magazine. A hole in the third intermediate magazine is then also not enlarged in cross-section, so that a bristle bundle, in the sense of a singular bristle bundle, is moved between the through-opening in the first and then the assigned hole in the third intermediate magazine. With the brush manufacturing machine according to the invention, it is possible both to process small bristle bundles and to combine bristle bundles into large bundles and to anchor all these different sizes of bristle bundles in the same brush.

[0034] According to a further variant, an intermediate plate is provided between the first and second intermediate magazines, with a collecting channel that is open to the first intermediate magazine at several associated receiving openings and extends to the second intermediate magazine at the enlarged receiving opening, so that the bristle bundles are gathered in the collecting channel and pushed into the enlarged receiving opening. The intermediate plate enables easier insertion and gathering of the bristle bundles into the associated receiving openings.

[0035] A vibration device on the third intermediate magazine can set it in motion to keep the bristles movable relative to each other and to align them.

[0036] As already mentioned, the hole in the third intermediate magazine can be a blind hole with a profiled perforated base. This perforated base can either be an integral part of the rest of the intermediate magazine or a pin with a profiled end that is inserted into the hole, sealing it off, and permanently attached to the rest of the intermediate magazine. Alternatively, this pin can be designed to be movable relative to the rest of the intermediate magazine to push the bristle bundle out of the intermediate magazine.

[0037] The third intermediate magazine can also contain a holder for a bristle carrier forming part of the brush, whereby the intermediate magazine not only serves as a carrier for this holder, but also ensures positioning and holding of the bristle bundles due to the hole(s) in the third intermediate magazine.

[0038] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings: - Fig. 1 a toothbrush produced by the method according to the invention in the region of the head, - Fig. 2 a schematic longitudinal sectional view through a brush manufacturing machine according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention in a first method step, - Fig. 3 the brush manufacturing machine in a subsequent process step, - Fig. 4 the brush manufacturing machine in a further subsequent step, - Fig. 5 the brush manufacturing machine in yet another subsequent step, - Fig. 6 the brush manufacturing machine before profiling the bristle bundles, - Fig. 7 the brush manufacturing machine during profiling, - Fig. 8 the brush manufacturing machine cutting off the rear ends of the bristle bundles, - Fig. 9 the trimmed and profiled bristle bundles in the second intermediate magazine, - Fig. 10 the brush manufacturing machine before inserting the brush bundles into the third intermediate magazine, - Fig. 11 the brush manufacturing machine inserting the bristle bundles into the third intermediate magazine, - Fig. 12 the third intermediate magazine with inserted bristle bundles, - Fig. 13 the third intermediate magazine with a vibration device, - Fig. 14 the brush manufacturing machine just before melting the rear ends of the bristle bundles, - Fig. 15 a bristle carrier of a toothbrush produced according to the invention before being fitted with bristle bundles, and - Fig. 16 a sectional view through the brush manufacturing machine according to the invention during the forming of the hole edge.

[0039] In Fig. 1 shows a brush 10 in the form of a toothbrush, with a brush head 12, which also forms a brush holder to which bundles of bristles 14, 16 are attached. As in Fig. 1, the bristle bundles 14 are significantly larger than the bristle bundles 16, i.e. they comprise significantly more bristles than the bristle bundles 16.

[0040] The bristle bundles 14, 16 are furthermore profiled at their respective free, front end 18, here as an example hemispherical or dome-shaped.

[0041] The bristles used here are particularly pointed, which means that the free ends of the bristles are mechanically or chemically treated to become pointed.

[0042] The thickness of the individual bristles can be very small, for example only 0.07 mm, although this is not to be understood as a limitation.

[0043] In the following, a brush manufacturing machine 20 is shown schematically Fig. 2 is explained and illustrated, with which the brush 10 is manufactured.

[0044] The brush manufacturing device comprises a first intermediate magazine 22, a second intermediate magazine 24 arranged laterally therebeside and an intermediate plate 26 arranged between the intermediate magazines 22, 24, as well as a third intermediate magazine 28 which adjoins the second intermediate magazine 24 on the side opposite the first intermediate magazine 22 with the intermediate plate 26 interposed.

[0045] The first intermediate magazine 22 comprises numerous parallel, juxtaposed through-openings 30 into which individual bristle bundles 31 are introduced, for example via sliders or via compressed air or vacuum.

[0046] These through-openings are preferably, and this is not to be understood as limiting, all the same in cross-section, and the bristle bundles 31 can also have the same number of bristles.

[0047] The second intermediate magazine 24 has receiving openings 32, 34 in the area of ​​the through openings 30, wherein the receiving openings 32 have a significantly enlarged cross-section compared to the through openings 30, whereas the Fig. 2 uppermost through-opening 30 has the same cross-section or substantially the same cross-section as a receiving opening 34 opposite and aligned with it (the uppermost in Fig. 2 shown receiving opening).

[0048] The enlarged receiving openings 32 are each assigned a plurality of through openings 30 so that they can be filled with the bristle bundles 31 from a plurality of through openings to form an enlarged bristle bundle 14.

[0049] In order to implement the process of shifting the bristle bundles 31 into the enlarged receiving openings 32, which will be explained below, as simple as possible, an intermediate plate 26 is optionally provided between the first and second intermediate magazines 22, 24. This intermediate plate comprises, for each enlarged receiving opening, an approximately funnel-shaped collecting channel 36, which ends towards the second intermediate magazine 24 with a cross-section and in a position that corresponds to the cross-section and position of the associated enlarged receiving opening 32. The opposite end of each collecting channel 36 has a cross-section and a position such that the end encloses those through-openings 30 from which the bristle bundles 31 are to be guided out and pushed into the associated enlarged receiving opening 32.

[0050] Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the through-openings 30, several through-openings thus overlap with an associated receiving opening 32 in cross-section. However, if the collecting channel 36 runs at a very steep angle, it may be that a through-opening 30, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the through-opening 30, is located outside the cross-section of the associated receiving opening 32, so that the collecting channel 36 must ensure a significantly greater transverse displacement of the corresponding bristle bundle 31.

[0051] However, in the second intermediate magazine 24 there are also one or more receiving openings 34 which are not enlarged compared to the through opening 30 which is opposite it, for example for the formation of the bristle bundles 16. The intermediate plate 26 has a corresponding opening 40 which is also aligned with the receiving opening 34 and the corresponding through opening 30 which is aligned therewith and has the same cross section.

[0052] For each through-opening 30 there is a slide 42, which is only minimally smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the associated through-opening 30. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the sliders 42 can also be coupled. A drive 44 for the sliders 42 ensures that all bristle bundles 31 are pushed axially in an insertion direction V, which is simultaneously the longitudinal direction of the through-openings 30, through the associated through-opening 30, the collecting channels 36 or the opening 40 into the receiving openings 32, 34, with the front ends first. During this displacement, of course, as shown in Fig. 3, the intermediate plate 26 is in end-to-end contact with the first intermediate magazine 22, and the second intermediate magazine 24 is in end-to-end contact with the intermediate plate 26. This end-to-end contact is always present when bristle bundles are transported to an adjacent part. These elements can be moved relative to one another by drives or a common drive, as explained below.

[0053] Fig. 3 shows the displaced position in which the slides 42 are retracted so deeply into the through-openings 30 that, although the front ends of the bristle bundles 31 are already deeply inserted into the second intermediate magazine 24, their rear ends are still accommodated in the through-openings 30 in the first intermediate magazine 22. However, the front ends are still removed from the end face of the second intermediate magazine 24 facing the third intermediate magazine 28.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows the final position of the sliders 42.

[0055] In a subsequent process step, with the slides 42 and the second intermediate magazine 24 stationary, the first intermediate magazine 22 and the intermediate plate 26 are pushed away from the second intermediate magazine 24, which is done via a drive 45.

[0056] The sliders 42 prevent the bristle bundles from being carried along during this displacement in the opposite direction to the insertion direction V, ie they hold the bristle bundles 31 in position.

[0057] In Fig. 5 it can be seen that the rear ends 58 of the bristle bundles 31 have left the first intermediate magazine 22. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the intermediate plate 26 is held in position after a certain displacement and the first intermediate magazine 22 is pushed further.

[0058] Due to this intermediate position of the intermediate plate 26 in Fig. 5 at a distance from the first and second intermediate magazines 22, 24, it is achieved that the already released rear ends 58 of the bristle bundles 31 are held together somewhat longer when the rear ends 58 leave the through openings 30 and spring toward each other. This snapping movement of the bristle ends thus occurs in a more controlled manner when the intermediate plate 26 still holds the bristle bundles 31 in a central section than if the intermediate plate 26 were still in constant contact with the second intermediate magazine 24 during the movement of the first intermediate magazine 22 away from the second intermediate magazine 24.

[0059] The intermediate plate 26 is then moved again in the insertion direction V to the second intermediate magazine 24 until it contacts it (see Fig. 6).

[0060] After the front ends 46 of the bristle bundles 31 remain positioned in the receiving openings 34 at a distance from the front end of the receiving openings 32, 34, a pin 50 having a profiled front side 52 can be inserted into each receiving opening 32, 34 from the front side of the second intermediate magazine 24 facing away from the first intermediate magazine 22. The profile shape corresponds to the final, i.e., desired, shape of the front end 46 of each bristle bundle 31.

[0061] The pins 50 can be moved back and forth in the insertion direction V by a common drive 54. They are coupled via a connecting web 56.

[0062] The rear ends 58 of the bristle bundles 31 are contacted by a contact part 60, which is also moved back and forth in the insertion direction V via a drive 62.

[0063] The system part has a sliding surface 64 in the area of ​​the rear ends, which is complementary to the profile of the end faces 52.

[0064] Fig. Figure 7 shows the position in which profiling takes place and in which the pins 50 contact the front ends 46 on the front side and profile them, while simultaneously contacting the rear ends 58 by the sliding surfaces 64. This prevents individual bristles from becoming detached from the aligned, profiled assembly in the insertion direction V.

[0065] The bristle bundles 31 are then optionally moved back and forth several times in the insertion direction V and against the insertion direction V by the pins 50 and the sliding surfaces 64, which can improve the profiling compared to only a singular pressing movement of the pins 50.

[0066] Subsequently, the intermediate plate 26 is moved away from the second intermediate magazine 24 counter to the insertion direction V while maintaining contact between the front ends 46 and the rear ends 58 with the profiled end faces 52 and the sliding surfaces 64, whereby the intermediate plate 26 continues to stabilize the rear ends 58.

[0067] A cutting device 68 then moves past the end wall of the second intermediate magazine 24 facing the first intermediate magazine 22 in order to cut off the rear ends 58.

[0068] Fig. 9 then shows the bristle bundles 31 still sitting in the respective receiving openings 32, 34, which are still profiled at the front end 46 as desired.

[0069] Subsequently, a slider 70 with pin-like extensions 72, which have flat end faces, is pushed in the insertion direction V into the receiving openings 32, 34 in order to push the bristle bundles 31 through the receiving openings 32, 34 into a third intermediate magazine 28 which is then moved towards it.

[0070] This intermediate magazine 28 has holes 74 which can accommodate the enlarged bristle bundles 31 and the individual bristle bundles 31.

[0071] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, these holes may be oriented differently than the receiving openings 32, 34, i.e., slightly slanted. In any case, their entrances are aligned with the exits of the receiving openings 32, 34 so that the bristle bundles can be inserted into them.

[0072] The holes 74 are blind holes with a hole bottom 76 which is profiled complementarily to the front ends 46.

[0073] Optionally, the holes 74 can be through holes during manufacture, which then receive their hole bottom 76 by inserted pins with a profiled front side.

[0074] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, a stepped recess is provided on the end face facing the second intermediate magazine in the third intermediate magazine 28, in front of the beginning of the holes 74, which recess forms a receptacle 78 for a plate-shaped bristle carrier 80. The plate-shaped bristle carrier 80 is subsequently inserted into this receptacle 78. The openings 81 in the bristle carrier 80 are designed to fit the holes 74 and the receiving openings 32, 34 in terms of their dimensions and, if applicable, also their orientation.

[0075] After the third intermediate magazine 28 has been moved against the front of the second intermediate magazine 24, all the bristle bundles 31 are pushed completely into the third intermediate magazine 28 and the holes 74 therein by the slider 70.

[0076] Fig. Figure 12 then shows the resulting state. The bristle bundles 31 protrude slightly with their deflected rear ends 82 relative to the bristle carrier 80.

[0077] By means of a vibration device 84 acting on the third intermediate magazine 28, the third intermediate magazine 28 is set into vibration at least in one plane, preferably in two or even three planes, so that the individual bristles can once again align themselves against one another and move axially until the bristle ends perfectly assume the profile on the hole base 76.

[0078] Finally, according to Fig. 14 by means of a melting device 86, which is moved relative to the third intermediate magazine 28, the temperature of the projecting, deflected rear ends 82 is increased, so that the material melts and, after pressing on a possibly heated stamp, a continuous plastic film is produced.

[0079] This connects all bristles to each other and to the bristle carrier 80. The resulting unit is then removed from the intermediate magazine 28.

[0080] The variant according to the previous figures showed a bristle carrier 80 in the form of a plate, which is then attached to a brush body or the brush body is produced on the bristle carrier 80 by overmolding.

[0081] In Fig. However, Figure 15 shows a bristle carrier 80, which already forms the brush head, including the neck and handle, and which is then inserted into the intermediate magazine 28. After insertion and rearward fusing of the deflected rear ends 82, this area is overmolded or covered again.

[0082] Another variant for making the brush is in Fig. 16. The hole base 76 is formed by a pin 90, also called an adjusting pin, which is movable in the through hole in the intermediate magazine 28 and is also profiled on the front side as previously mentioned. In this embodiment, the bristle carrier 80 is not positioned in the intermediate magazine 28, but outside. The bristle carrier 80 has, according to Fig. 16 a blind hole 102.

[0083] This variant is similar to Fig. 14, each rear, deflected end 82 is melted with heat from the melting device 86. However, not all of the bristle bundles 31 are connected to one another by a stamp, by dipping this stamp into the melt at the rear ends. Rather, only the rear ends of the bristles of a bristle bundle 31 are melted together to then create a thickened portion 100.

[0084] With this thickening first, the bristle bundle 31 is then pushed into the corresponding blind hole 102 in the bristle carrier 80 via the pin 90. The intermediate magazine 28 then presses against the hole edge 104 on the front side around the blind hole opening of the bristle carrier 80. A counterplate 106 absorbs the pressure at the opposite end of the bristle carrier 80. This pressure thus reduces the cross-section of the blind hole at the hole edge 104 to a cross-section that is smaller than that of the thickening 100, resulting in a mechanical attachment of the bristle bundle 31.

[0085] Optionally, the hole edge 104 can also be heated, for example by the third intermediate magazine 28 having a heater in the area of ​​the contact surface.

[0086] However, the applied heat should not lead to the melting of the bristle carrier 80.

[0087] Finally, the intermediate magazine 28 is moved away and the bristle carrier is equipped with bristle bundles 31.

Claims

[1] Method for producing brushes (10), characterized by following steps: a) introducing bristle bundles (31) into adjacently arranged through openings (30) of a first intermediate magazine (22), b) Moving the bristle bundles (31) from the through-openings (30) into receiving openings (32, 34) of a second intermediate magazine (24) positioned next to the first intermediate magazine (22), wherein the rear ends (58) of the bristle bundles (31) in the insertion direction (V) still remain in the first intermediate magazine (22), whereas the front ends (46) of the bristle bundles (31) in the insertion direction (V) are seated in the receiving openings (32, 34), c) moving the first and second intermediate magazines (22, 24) away from each other so that the rear ends (58) come out of the first intermediate magazine (22), d) Displacing at least one bundle of bristles (31) in one of the receiving openings (32, 34) of the second intermediate magazine (24) by means of a pin (50) which is received in the receiving opening (32, 34) and is displaceable along the same, has a profiled end face and engages the front end (46) of the bundle of bristles (31), and a sliding surface (64) which engages the rear end (58) of the bundle of bristles (31) and is shaped complementarily to the end face (52) of the pin (50), for profiling the first end (46) of the bundle of bristles (31), e) cutting off the section of the bristle bundle (31) protruding from the second intermediate magazine (24), f) moving the bristle bundle (31) into a hole (74) in a third intermediate magazine (28), the rear, trimmed end (82) of the bristle bundle (31) protruding from the hole (74), and g) fusing the ends of the bristles of the bristle bundle (31) together at the rear, trimmed end (82). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by in that the second intermediate magazine (24) has at least one enlarged receiving opening (34) to which a plurality of through-openings (30) are assigned and which has a larger cross-section than that of the assigned through-openings (30), wherein the bristle bundles (31) are pushed from the assigned through-openings (30) into the at least one enlarged receiving opening (34), so that during the pushing in step b) bristle bundles (31) of the first intermediate magazine (22) are combined to form a larger bristle bundle (31) in the at least one enlarged receiving opening (34). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized bythat an intermediate plate (26) with a collecting channel (36) is provided between the first intermediate magazine (22) and the second intermediate magazine (24) when the bristle bundles (31) are pushed into the enlarged receiving opening (34), which collecting channel is open towards the first intermediate magazine (22) at several associated through openings (30) and runs towards the second intermediate magazine (24) to the enlarged receiving opening (34), so that the bristle bundles (31) are brought together in the collecting channel (36) and guided into the enlarged receiving opening (34). [4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that in the second intermediate magazine (24) there are several enlarged receiving openings (34) which are filled with associated, several bristle bundles (31) from the first intermediate magazine (22). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the third intermediate magazine (28) is set into vibration after step f) and before step g), in at least one, preferably in at least two, preferably in three spatial directions, and that bristles of the bristle bundle (31) are moved relative to one another by the vibration. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that a bristle carrier (80) forming part of the brush (10) is accommodated in the third intermediate magazine (28) before the bristle bundle (31) is pushed in, which bristle carrier has an opening (81) adapted to the cross-section of the bristle bundle (31), through which the bristle bundle (31) is pushed into the associated hole (74), the rear, trimmed end (82) protruding freely from the opening (81) and being melted there. [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the ends of the bristles are fused to form a thickening (100) and the enlarged bristle bundle (31) with the thickening (100) first is pushed into a blind hole (102) of a bristle carrier (80) forming part of the brush (10) and a hole edge (104) running around the blind hole mouth on an end face of the bristle carrier (80) is reshaped by applying pressure and optionally additional heat, preferably without melting the bristle carrier (80), and the cross section of the blind hole (102) at the hole edge (104) is reduced to a cross section smaller than that of the thickening (100). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hole (74) in the third intermediate magazine (28) has a blind hole with a hole base (76) which has a profile complementary to the profile of the first end (46) of the bristle bundle (31) inserted into it. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the hole (74) for the bristle bundle (31) in the third intermediate magazine (28) is located obliquely to the insertion direction (V) of the bristle bundle (31), in particular that a plurality of bristle bundles (31) which are optionally arranged obliquely to one another and obliquely to the insertion direction (V) of the bristle bundle (31) are received in holes (74) in the third intermediate magazine (28). [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the bundle of bristles (31) is moved into the third intermediate magazine (28) after being cut off at the rear end (58) by a slider (70) having a flat front side. [11] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that in step b) the bristle bundles (31) are pushed into the receiving opening (32, 34) in the second intermediate magazine (24) by sliders (42) entering the through openings (30), and in the process remain with their front end in the through opening (30) at a distance from the opposite end faces of the second intermediate magazine (24), wherein in step c) the sliders (42) remain in contact with their bristle bundles (31) and the first intermediate magazine (22) is moved away from the bristle bundles (31) until the first intermediate magazine (22) has left the bristle bundles (31). [12] Brush manufacturing machine for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, with • a first, a second arranged adjacent to the first and a third arranged adjacent to the second intermediate magazine (28), • wherein the first intermediate magazine (22) has a plurality of parallel through-openings (30), the second intermediate magazine (24) has one or more receiving openings (32, 34), and • the third intermediate magazine (28) has a hole (74) aligned with one or each of the plurality of receiving openings (32, 34), • several sliders (42) which have a displacement path such that they push bristle bundles (31) from the parallel through-openings into the one or more receiving openings (32, 34) until the front ends of the bristle bundles (31) in the insertion direction (V) enter the associated receiving opening (32, 34) without completely leaving the parallel through-openings (30), • a drive (45) for moving the first intermediate magazine (22) after the bristle bundles (31) have been pushed into the at least one receiving opening (32, 34) away from the second intermediate magazine (24), • one or, in the case of several receiving openings (32, 34), for each receiving opening (32, 34) a back-and-forth displaceable, end-face profiled pin (50) which can be inserted into the associated receiving opening (32, 34) to the front end (46) of the bristle bundle (31) located therein in the insertion direction (V), • a reciprocating bearing part with a sliding surface (64) shaped complementarily to the end face (52) of the pin (50), wherein the bristle bundle (31) is moved back and forth between the sliding surface (64) located outside the second intermediate magazine (24) and the end face (52), • a cutting device (68) for cutting off the section of the bristle bundle (31) protruding from the second intermediate magazine (24), • at least one slider (70) for moving the bristle bundle (31) into the hole in the third intermediate magazine (28), and • a melting device (86) adjacent to the third intermediate magazine (28) for melting the ends of the bristles of the bristle bundle (31) at the rear, trimmed end (82) of the bristles. [13] Brush manufacturing machine according to claim 12, characterized by that, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the through-openings (30) in the first intermediate magazine (22), a plurality of through-openings (30) overlap with a receiving opening (34) which is enlarged relative to the through-openings (30). [14] Brush manufacturing machine according to claim 13, characterized bythat in the second intermediate magazine (24) there are a plurality of receiving openings (34) which are enlarged compared to the associated through openings (30), and in the third intermediate magazine (28) there is a hole (74) for each enlarged receiving opening (32, 34) and / or in the second intermediate magazine (24) there is at least one non-enlarged receiving opening (32) which is associated with a singular through opening (30) in the first intermediate magazine (22), as well as a hole (74) in the third intermediate magazine, so that only one bundle of bristles (31) is moved between the through opening (30) in the first intermediate magazine (22) and the associated hole (74) of the third intermediate magazine (28). [15] Brush manufacturing machine according to claim 13 or 14, characterized bythat an intermediate plate (26) is provided between the first and second intermediate magazines (22, 24), with a collecting channel (36) which is open towards the first intermediate magazine (22) at a plurality of associated receiving openings (34) and runs towards the second intermediate magazine (24) to the enlarged receiving opening (34), so that the bristle bundles (31) are brought together in the collecting channel (36) and guided into the enlarged receiving opening (34). [16] Brush manufacturing machine according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by a vibration device (84) on the third intermediate magazine (28), which causes the third intermediate magazine (28) to vibrate in at least one, two, preferably three spatial directions. [17] Brush manufacturing machine according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized by that the hole (74) in the third intermediate magazine (28) has a blind hole with a hole base (76) which has a profile. [18] Brush manufacturing machine according to claim 17, characterized by that the hole base (76) is formed by a movable pin (90) with a profiled end face, which is inserted into the hole (74). [19] Brush manufacturing machine according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized by that in the third intermediate magazine (28) there is a receptacle (78) for a bristle carrier (80) forming part of the brush (10).

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