BRUSH, METHOD FOR MAKING BRUSHS AND BRUSH MAKING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a brush, in particular a toothbrush, with a bristle carrier and a bristle arrangement attached to the bristle carrier, a method for manufacturing such a brush, and a brush manufacturing device for manufacturing brushes of this type.

[0002] Patent application US 2019 200 744 A1 discloses an oral care device comprising tooth cleaning elements and an elastomeric soft tissue cleaner. The oral care device has a handle and a head coupled to the handle, an elastomeric soft tissue cleaner with a plurality of protrusions extending from a rear surface of the head, and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a front surface of the head. The protrusions of the elastomeric soft tissue cleaner together form a convex longitudinal side profile and include at least one convex transverse top profile. The multiple tooth cleaning elements together form a concave longitudinal side profile and include at least one concave transverse surface profile.

[0003] The publications WO 2018 177 594 A1 and DE 198 53 030 A1 each disclose a method for manufacturing bristle products, in which a bristle carrier made of thermoplastic material with receptacles for the bristles is produced, the bristles are inserted into the receptacles with their attachment-side ends, and are fastened to the bristle carrier by applying mechanical forces. The previously known method is characterized in that, after the bristles have been inserted into the receptacles, pressure is applied to the surface of the bristle carrier containing the receptacles in such a way that the bristle carrier is compressed, reducing its height, and the mass of the bristle carrier is displaced laterally around the attachment-side ends of the bristles, narrowing the receptacles.

[0004] The publication DE 34 03 341 A1 discloses a method for connecting bristles to a bristle carrier, each made of thermoplastic material, by melting the bristles at one end and the bristle carrier at its bristle-receiving side, then bringing the bristles and bristle carrier together and, if necessary, holding them in this position until the melt solidifies.

[0005] For the use of a toothbrush in particular, it can be advantageous if the bristle holder, especially the brush head, is as compact as possible. A compact brush head is generally perceived as more comfortable in the oral cavity by the user than larger brush heads.

[0006] A brush head can be considered compact, for example, if it has minimal lateral overhang relative to the bristles and also a minimal volume relative to the volume of the bristles. Ideally, the total volume occupied by the bristles and the brush head should consist predominantly of the bristles themselves, and thus of the cleaning components of the brush.

[0007] In this context, it is therefore desirable to have the smallest possible distance between the bristles and the circumferential edge of the bristle carrier, particularly the brush head. One objective of the invention is thus to provide a brush, especially a toothbrush, with a brush head that is as compact as possible and which, when performing cleaning movements, is perceived as minimally bothersome by the person using the brush, for example, in the oral cavity.

[0008] However, even with other brushes, it can be advantageous for their performance characteristics to make the bristle holder more compact, for example, by ensuring small distances between the bristles and the outer edge of the bristle holder. Furthermore, environmental protection and the possibility of recycling brushes are playing an increasingly important role. In this context, it is desirable to provide brushes that are relatively easy to recycle. The cost-effective manufacturing of brushes is also significant.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a brush with improved performance and manufacturing properties, as well as a method for manufacturing such a brush and a corresponding brush manufacturing device.

[0010] To solve this problem, a brush with the features of independent claim 1, which relates to a brush, is first proposed. Thus, to solve the problem, a brush, for example a toothbrush, is proposed, comprising a bristle carrier and a bristle arrangement made of bristle filaments, wherein the bristle carrier has at least one receiving recess in which the bristle filaments are attached with their attachment-side ends, and wherein the receiving recess is wholly or partially filled with filament material melted onto the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments. Particularly when the brush is designed as a toothbrush, the bristle carrier to which the bristle arrangement made of bristle filaments is attached can be a brush head of the brush.

[0011] Because the molten filament material at the attachment ends of the bristle filaments completely or at least partially fills the receiving recess in the bristle carrier, the bristle carrier can have a comparatively delicate shape before the bristle filaments are attached in the receiving recess. In this way, a brush is provided whose bristle carrier has the most compact shape possible and exhibits only a comparatively small excess at the edges relative to the bristle area on the bristle carrier.

[0012] If the receiving cavity is only partially filled, it can be advantageous if the receiving cavity is predominantly filled with the melted filament material.

[0013] A particularly stable and compact bristle carrier is created when the receiving recess is completely filled by the melted filament material of the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments.

[0014] In the brush according to the invention, the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle carrier by an interaction between the filament material and the material of the bristle carrier. Separate fastening means, such as anchors, which require a certain minimum material thickness of the bristle carrier to attach the bristle filaments, are therefore unnecessary in the brush according to the invention.

[0015] In one embodiment of the brush, the bristle carrier has its minimum material thickness in the area of ​​the receiving recess before the bristle filaments are attached. Specifically, the bristle carrier can have its minimum measurable material thickness in the area of ​​the receiving recess before the bristle filaments are attached. Thus, the receiving recess in the bristle carrier can represent an area with minimal material initially, in order to minimize the volume of the bristle carrier. This area can therefore initially represent a mechanical weak point of the brush. However, this weak point is compensated for in the finished brush after the bristle filaments are attached by filling the receiving recess with the molten filament material.

[0016] This allows the bristle carrier to be reinforced and, in particular, completed by the molten material. The molten filament material thus becomes part of the bristle carrier after solidifying within the receiving recess. This enables the desired delicate and compact design of the bristle carrier.

[0017] At least one stiffening rib can be formed within the receiving recess. The stiffening rib can extend within the receiving recess and / or through the receiving recess of the bristle carrier. The at least one stiffening rib can be positioned at a certain distance from the edge of the bristle carrier or be connected to the edge of the bristle carrier. The at least one stiffening rib can increase the mechanical stability of the bristle carrier before the bristle filaments are attached to it. This can simplify handling the bristle carrier during brush manufacturing.

[0018] The molten filament material at the attachment ends of the bristle filaments forms a carrier plate that fills the receiving recess after the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle holder. It is possible that, after the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle holder, a surface of the carrier plate is flush with a brush surface adjacent to the receiving recess and the bristle pack. This creates a seamless transition between the front surface of the carrier plate made of molten filament material, where the bristle filaments are arranged, and a brush surface surrounding the closed receiving recess and the bristle pack. Such a seamless transition can counteract the accumulation of dirt and the associated bacterial growth on the brush. This is particularly important for toothbrushes.

[0019] For the manufacture of the brush, the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier, at least in the area of ​​the receiving recess, consist, according to the invention, of materials compatible for a metallurgical bond or of the same material suitable for a metallurgical bond. In this way, a reliable and durable metallurgical bond can be created between the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier of the brush, eliminating the need for separate fastening means for the bristle filaments, such as anchors.

[0020] Especially when the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are made of the same material, a so-called single-material brush can be produced, which is particularly easy to recycle. Such a brush does not need to be disassembled into its different components during recycling.

[0021] The bristle filaments and the bristle carrier, which are fixed in the receiving recess, can form a materially homogeneous, monolithic unit. According to the invention, the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are bonded together by a material interlock. In this way, separate means for attaching the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier can be dispensed with. This can simplify both the manufacture and the recycling of such brushes.

[0022] The bristle filaments and the bristle carrier – at least in the area of ​​the receiving recess – can be made of plastic, for example, biodegradable plastic, in particular polyamide, preferably PA 10.10 or PA 12. Especially when the bristle carrier and the bristle filaments are made of biodegradable plastic, a brush is provided that is particularly environmentally friendly and can be recycled very easily.

[0023] The bristle carrier can have a rim that defines the receiving recess. This rim can define the boundary of the receiving recess and guide the molten filament material from the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments during the connection of the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier in such a way that complete filling of the receiving recess is reliably achieved during the connection of the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier.

[0024] If at least one recess is formed in the edge, which is wholly or partially filled by the molten filament material, preferably flush with adjacent edge sections, the bristles can be attached to the bristle carrier with a particularly small edge distance to a circumference, i.e., a circumferential surface, of the bristle carrier, at least in the area of ​​this at least one recess. Especially with toothbrushes, the smallest possible edge distance is advantageous for use. Contact between the bristle carrier and the gums of a person using the toothbrush can be minimized by the small edge distance. The brush can have a compact shape due to the small edge distance of the bristles to the circumference of the bristle carrier. Using such a brush is generally perceived as more pleasant than using a brush with a bristle carrier, especially a brush head, that has a larger volume.

[0025] To solve this problem, a method for manufacturing such a brush is also proposed, which includes the means and features of independent claim 9, which relates to a method for manufacturing a brush. According to the invention, the method provides that the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments are heated to connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier, and that the receiving recess is completely or partially filled by the filament material of the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments that is melted during this process when the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle carrier.

[0026] A particularly stable and compact bristle carrier is created when the receiving recess is completely filled with the molten filament material. If the receiving recess is only partially filled, it can be advantageous for the stability of the bristle carrier if the receiving recess is predominantly filled with the molten filament material.

[0027] The bristle filaments can be bonded to the bristle carrier within the receiving recess. The bristle carrier can be completed and reinforced by filling the receiving recess with the bristle filaments.

[0028] In one embodiment of the method, it is provided that the fastening-side ends of the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier are heated in the area of ​​the receiving recess.

[0029] The bristle filaments and the bristle carrier can be bonded together during the fastening of the bristle filaments in the receiving recess. For this purpose, it may suffice if the fastening-side ends of the bristle filaments are heated to a higher temperature than the bristle carrier in the area of ​​the receiving recess. Preferably, the fastening-side ends of the bristle filaments are heated to a temperature at which they melt. In this process, the fastening-side ends of the bristle bundles can fuse to form at least one carrier plate.

[0030] The bristle carrier does not necessarily need to be heated to a comparably high temperature. Rather, it may be sufficient to heat the bristle carrier to a temperature at which it softens but does not melt. This can be enough for a reliable bond between the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier in the area of ​​the receiving recess. If the bristle carrier is heated less than the bristle filaments, it can cool down more quickly. This can lead to a shorter processing time for the brush and increase the efficiency of the process.

[0031] If the brush, particularly the bristle holder, has a rim that laterally defines the receiving recess, and this rim contains at least one recess, this recess can be completely or partially filled by the filament material of the attachment ends, preferably flush with adjacent rim sections. This allows the bristles to occupy the smallest possible distance from the circumference of the bristle holder and also creates a seamless perimeter. A seamless perimeter can facilitate handling of the brush, especially if it is designed as a toothbrush, and also counteract the adhesion of dirt and bacterial growth on the brush.

[0032] The bristle carrier can be inserted into a mold to secure the bristle filaments in the receiving recess. The mold can have a mold wall that surrounds the receiving recess of the bristle carrier, at least partially, laterally. The mold can surround the bristle carrier in such a way that an edge of the bristle carrier, which borders the receiving recess transversely to a longitudinal direction of the bristle filaments on the brush, is laterally supported. The mold can thus help to guide the molten filament material of the bristle filaments during the bonding of the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier in such a way that the receiving recess is reliably filled completely or partially during the bonding process, and lateral leakage of the molten filament material is prevented.

[0033] The bristle carrier can be cooled after the receiving recess has been filled by the filament material at the attachment ends. This can be achieved, for example, by heat conduction via the mold and / or a cooling device of a brush manufacturing apparatus, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0034] To solve the problem, a brush-making apparatus for producing brushes as previously described is also proposed, which has the means and features of independent claim 15, which is directed to such a brush-making apparatus. The brush-making apparatus is configured to carry out the method for producing a brush according to one of the claims directed to such a method.

[0035] According to the invention, the brush manufacturing device is thus proposed to solve the problem by having a heating device comprising two heating surfaces, of which a first heating surface is provided for heating fastening-side ends of bristle filaments and a second heating surface for heating a bristle carrier in an area of ​​its receiving recess.

[0036] The heating surfaces can be designed to emit heat radiation in order to heat the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier without contact.

[0037] Preferably, the heating device is configured to heat the heating surfaces to different temperatures. The heating device can be configured to heat the first heating surface to a temperature sufficient to melt the fastening ends of bristle filaments.

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

[0039] Before attaching the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier, the heating element can be placed in a space between the prepared bristle filaments and the carrier to warm both. Heating the attachment ends of the bristle filaments causes them to melt. After heating both the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier, the heating element can be removed, and the bristle filaments can be inserted into the receiving recess of the bristle carrier with their attachment ends. The receiving recess can then be completely or partially filled with the melted filament material from the attachment ends of the bristle filaments to complete and reinforce the bristle carrier and secure the bristle filaments to it.

[0040] The heating device can be configured to regulate the temperatures of the two heating surfaces. For temperature regulation, the heating device can include a corresponding control unit. To detect the temperature of at least one of the two heating surfaces and to regulate the temperature, the heating device can include at least one temperature sensor. Preferably, each heating surface of the heating device is assigned at least one temperature sensor. This facilitates the most precise possible temperature control of the heating surfaces when carrying out the process on the brush manufacturing device.

[0041] The brush-making device may further comprise a mold for receiving and supporting the bristle carrier. The bristle carrier can be inserted into this mold to connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier. The bristle carrier can already be positioned in this mold when the area of ​​its receiving recess is heated by the heating device of the brush-making device.

[0042] As previously explained in connection with the brush manufacturing process, the shape can promote a targeted distribution of the molten filament material from the attachment ends of the bristle filaments within the receiving recess. The shape can thus help ensure that the receiving recess in the bristle holder is reliably filled completely or partially during the attachment of the bristle filaments.

[0043] The brush manufacturing device can further include a profiling device for profiling the bristles of a brush being manufactured. With the aid of the profiling device, it is possible, in particular, to shape the cleaning-side ends of the bristle filaments of the brush being manufactured, thus giving the bristles a desired contour on their cleaning side.

[0044] The contour of the bristle arrangement can be achieved by varying the overhang lengths of the individual bristle filaments on the front of the bristle carrier. The profiling device can be configured to generate these varying overhang lengths by axially displacing the bristle filaments along their longitudinal axis.

[0045] In one embodiment of the profiling device, it may include a profiling tool for profiling a cleaning side of the bristle trim and / or a counter-profiling tool for profiling a fastening side of the bristle trim and / or for supporting the bristle filaments during profiling.

[0046] The profiling tool and the counter-profiling tool can have coordinated contours. The profiling tool, which engages a cleaning side of the bristle assembly, can have a negative contour of the bristle assembly's desired contour. Using the counter-profiling tool, the attachment-side ends of the bristle assembly can be supported and / or profiled accordingly before the bristle assembly is attached to the bristle holder.

[0047] The counter-profiling tool can have the same contour as the bristle arrangement after profiling. The previously described axial displacement of the individual bristle filaments for producing the profiled bristle arrangement can be achieved through the interaction of the profiling tool and the counter-profiling tool.

[0048] Different protrusions of the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments on the attachment side of the bristle trimming, which may be present after profiling, can be equalized by melting the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments.

[0049] The brush manufacturing device can include a filament holder designed to hold, in particular by clamping, the bristle filaments of the bristle assembly. The filament holder can be used, for example, during the profiling of the bristle assembly before it is attached to the bristle carrier, or to hold the already profiled bristle assembly while the attachment ends of the bristle filaments are heated and melted. Even when the bristle filaments are being attached to the receiving recess of the bristle carrier, the filament holder can continue to hold the bristle filaments and only release them after they have been successfully attached to the bristle carrier. For clamping the bristle filaments, the filament holder can have a releasable clamping mechanism.

[0050] The filament holder can have a pattern of receiving holes for bristle bundles made of bristle filaments, corresponding to a bundle arrangement of bristle bundles in the bristle arrangement. In this way, the bristle filaments can be held by the filament holder in their arrangement intended for attachment to the bristle carrier and in the bristle arrangement of the brush to be manufactured. Preferably, the receiving holes are designed as through holes. This allows the bristle filaments and bristle bundles located in the receiving holes to be pushed out of the receiving holes in an axial movement with respect to their longitudinal axes, for example, to press the attachment-side ends of the bristle filaments into the receiving recess of a bristle carrier and connect the bristle filaments to the bristle carrier.

[0051] The filament holder can, for example, be designed as a cassette and / or be transportable between individual stations of the brush manufacturing device.

[0052] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the brush manufacturing device includes a cooling device for cooling the bristle carriers, particularly after the bristle filaments have been successfully attached to the bristle carrier. The cooling device can accelerate the cooling of the bristle carriers and thus reduce the process time in brush manufacturing.

[0053] The brush manufacturing device may also include a magazine for holding a supply of loose bristle filaments.

[0054] Downstream of the magazine, the brush manufacturing device may include a bundle compartment device which is designed to extract bristle bundles from the supply of loose bristle filaments contained in the magazine and to provide them for the assembly of a bristle pack.

[0055] The brush manufacturing device may further include a bundle forming unit which is designed to transform the bristle bundles taken from the bristle magazine into a target shape desired for the manufacture of the brushes.

[0056] From the bundle forming unit, the bristle bundles can be transferred to the previously mentioned filament holder. In the filament holder, the bristle bundles can then be held in an arrangement relative to each other that they will later have in the bristle configuration of the brush being manufactured.

[0057] The profiling tool and / or the counter-profiling tool can each be designed as profile plates. The profiling tool can also be configured to move the bristle filaments, held in the filament holder, into the receiving recess of a bristle carrier after their attachment ends have been melted. In this context, it can be advantageous if the profiling tool is movably mounted to perform this movement.

[0058] In toothbrushes, the bristles, particularly in an area where they are adjacent to an edge of the bristle holder that defines the toothing recess, may have a distance, measurable perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the bristle filaments, from the circumference of the bristle holder of, for example, 0.5 mm to 3 mm. For large brushes, this distance may be, for example, 1 mm to 6 mm. For small brushes, this distance may be, for example, 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0059] In toothbrushes, the molten filament material, such as the previously mentioned carrier plate, can have a distance of 0.3 mm to 2 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier in an area bounded by an edge of the bristle holder. This distance is measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the bristle filaments. For large brushes, this distance can be, for example, 0.8 mm to 4 mm. For small brushes, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 0.7 mm.

[0060] In the area of ​​a recess in the rim of the bristle carrier surrounding the receiving depression, the molten filament material, particularly the aforementioned carrier plate, can have a distance of 0 mm to 2 mm perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the bristle filaments from the circumference of the bristle carrier in toothbrushes. For large brushes, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 4 mm. For small brushes, this distance can be, for example, 0 mm to 1 mm.

[0061] After the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle holder, the bristle holder can have a material thickness of 2 mm to 6 mm for toothbrushes, for example. For large brushes, the bristle holder can have a material thickness of 3 mm to 10 mm, for example. For small brushes, the bristle holder can have a material thickness of 0.7 mm to 2 mm.

[0062] The receiving recess can have a material thickness of between 1 mm and 4 mm for toothbrushes, for example, 1.5 mm to 6 mm for large brushes and 0.4 mm to 1.5 mm for small brushes, before the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle carrier.

[0063] Large brushes, as described above, could be, for example, handwashing brushes. Small brushes could, for example, be brushes used for taking a swab.

[0064] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Further exemplary embodiments of the invention result from combining the features of individual claims and / or from combining the features of one or more of the illustrated exemplary embodiments. The figures show: Figures 1 to 4 show different views of a brush designed as a toothbrush, showing that a bristle carrier of the brush has a receiving recess for receiving the attachment-side ends of bristle filaments of a bristle arrangement of the brush, which is filled with melted filament material after the bristle filaments are attached to the bristle carrier. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the bristle arrangement of the bristles in the Figures 1 to 4The brush shown after melting the fastening-side ends of its bristle filaments, Figures 6 to 9 different views of another embodiment of a comparable brush, the receiving recess for receiving a bristle arrangement is penetrated by a structure of stiffening ribs, Figure 10 a perspective view of the bristle arrangement of the Figures 6 to 9 The brush shown after melting the fastening-side ends of its bristle filaments, Figure 11 a schematic representation of parts of a brush-making apparatus for producing the brushes shown in the previous figures, and Figures 12 to 14 further parts of the brush-making apparatus to illustrate a method for producing the brushes shown in the Figures 1 to 10 Brushes shown at least in part.

[0065] In the following description of different embodiments of the invention, elements that are identical in function are given identical reference numerals even if they differ in shape.

[0066] The Figures 1-5 Figures 6-10 show at least parts of a brush, designated as a whole by 1, which is designed as a toothbrush. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the following descriptions refer to both embodiments of brush 1 shown in the figures.

[0067] The brush 1 has a bristle carrier 2, namely a brush head, to which a bristle arrangement 3 made of bristle filaments 4 is attached.

[0068] For example, the Figure 1 and 6To illustrate that the brush 1 has a receiving recess 5 on its bristle carrier 2. Bristle filaments 4 are attached to the receiving recess 5 with their fastening ends 6. The receiving recess 5 is completely or preferably predominantly filled with filament material melted onto the fastening ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the finished brush 1. The bristle carrier 2, namely the brush head, is connected to a handle 8 of the brush 1 via a neck section 7 of the brush 1. For example, the Figure 1 and 4 The data show that the bristle carrier 2 has its smallest measurable material thickness in the area of ​​the receiving recess 5 before the bristle filaments 4 are attached. In adjacent areas, the bristle carrier 2 is significantly thicker. This is shown, for example, by the Figures 4 and 9, in which the material thickness E in the area of ​​the receiving recess 5 and the material thickness D in adjacent sections of the bristle carrier 2 are illustrated by a dimension.

[0069] The bristle carrier 2 is reinforced by the melted filament material of the bristle filaments 4 after the bristle filaments 4 have been attached to the bristle carrier 2 in the area of ​​its filled receiving recess 5.

[0070] In the Figures 6-10 In the illustrated embodiment of a brush 1, stiffening ribs 9 are formed within the receiving recess 5, which give the bristle carrier 2 good stability despite its comparatively small material thickness E in the area of ​​the receiving recess 5. This can simplify the handling of the bristle carrier 2 during the manufacture of the brush 1.

[0071] The stiffening ribs 9 within the receiving recess 5 segment the receiving recess 5. The arrangement of the stiffening ribs 9 creates a pattern of individual recesses which, in terms of shape and arrangement, correspond to the cross-sectional shape and arrangement of bristle bundles 11 of the bristle covering 3, which consist of the bristle filaments 4.

[0072] The Figures 5 and 10 illustrate that the melted filament material of the respective bristle arrangement 3 forms at least one carrier plate 11 which fills the receiving recess 5 of the respective brush 1 after the bristle filaments 4 have been attached to the bristle carrier 2.

[0073] The carrier plate 11 allows the bristle filaments 4, or the bristle bundles 10 formed from the bristle filaments 4, to be interconnected. This is particularly relevant in the case of the Figure 5 The case is shown in the carrier plate 11.

[0074] At the in Figure 10 In the bristle arrangement 3 shown, the bristle filaments 4 within a bristle bundle 10 are connected by a carrier plate 11. Each of the eight bristle bundles 10 thus has a carrier plate 11.

[0075] The carrier plate 11 fills the receiving recess 5 in such a way that a surface 12 of the carrier plate 11 is flush with a brush surface 13 of the brush 1 adjacent to the receiving recess 5 and the bristle arrangement 3. The multiple carrier plates 11 of the assembly also fill the receiving recess 5 in a similar manner. Figure 10 The bristle arrangement shown 3 includes the parts of the receiving recess 5 segmented by the stiffening ribs 9 in the Figures 6 to 9 The bristle carrier 2 shown is also shown. There, too, surfaces 12 of the carrier plates 11 are flush with a brush surface 13 of the brush 1 surrounding the receiving recess 5.

[0076] The bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2, as well as the neck section 7 and the handle 8 of the brush 1, are made of the same material, which also allows a material-bonded connection between the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2.

[0077] The brushes 1 shown in the figures are therefore so-called single-material brushes. Since a biodegradable plastic, for example polyamide, preferably PA 10.10 or PA 12, is used as the material for the manufacture of the bristle carrier 2, the neck section 7 and the handle 8 as well as the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle arrangement 3 of the brush 1, the brush 1 is particularly environmentally friendly and can be easily recycled.

[0078] The bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2, which are attached in the receiving recess 5, form a materially homogeneous, monolithic unit after their connection and are materially bonded to each other.

[0079] The bristle carrier 2 has a rim 14 that laterally delimits the receiving recess 5. The rim 14 serves to guide the molten filament material during the connection of the bristle filaments 4 with the bristle carrier 2 in such a way that the receiving recess 5 is completely or preferably predominantly filled with the molten filament material of the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4.

[0080] In the rim 14, several recesses 15 are formed, which are preferably filled flush with adjacent rim sections by the molten filament material of the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4. This is illustrated, for example, by Figure 3 , which shows a top view of the bristle carrier 2 designed as a brush head of one brush 1.

[0081] This illustration shows that the recesses 15 in the edge 14 are almost completely filled with the melted filament material of the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4.

[0082] Figures 3 and 8 show that the bristle arrangement 3 on the finished toothbrush, in an area where the bristle arrangement 3 is adjacent to the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2, which defines the receiving recess 5, can, for example, have a distance A of 0.5 mm to 3 mm from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2. In this case, the distance A also defines the distance of the bristle bundles 10 from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2.

[0083] Figures 3 and 8The figures also show that the molten filament material, and thus the carrier plate 11, can have a distance B to the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 of, for example, 0.3 mm to 2 mm where it is 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 limits the receiving recess 5 and abuts the carrier plate 11.

[0084] Figures 3 and 8Furthermore, it is shown that the molten filament material, and thus the carrier plate 11, can have a distance C from the circumference of the bristle carrier 2 of, for example, 0 mm to 2 mm in the area of ​​a recess 15 in a rim 14 surrounding the receiving recess 5 of the bristle carrier 2. The molten filament material forming the carrier plate 11 can therefore extend completely to the outside in the area of ​​a recess 15 in the rim 14, filling the recess 15 and forming a flush finish with adjacent rim sections.

[0085] Figures 4 and 9 The study shows that the bristle carrier 2 can have a material thickness D of 2 mm to 6 mm at its edge and after the bristle filaments 4 have been attached to the bristle carrier 6. The material thickness D defines the head thickness of the bristle carrier.

[0086] Figures 4 and 9Furthermore, it shows that the material thickness E in the area of ​​the receiving recess 5 before the bristle filaments 4 are attached to the bristle carrier 2 can be, for example, 1 mm to 4 mm in toothbrushes. The difference between the dimensions D and E then defines the height of the rim 14 above the receiving recess 5.

[0087] The Figures 11-14 illustrate a process for manufacturing a brush 1, as used in the Figures 1-9 at least partially depicted. Figure 12 This shows that first the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 are heated to connect the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2, and the receiving recess 5 is completely or preferably predominantly filled by the filament material of the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 that is melted during the process of attaching the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2. Figure 12further shows that not only the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4, but also the bristle carrier 2 in the area of ​​its receiving recess 5 is heated without contact by means of thermal radiation.

[0088] The attachment ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 are heated to a higher temperature than the bristle carrier 2 in the area of ​​its receiving recess 5. While the attachment ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 are heated to the point of melting, the temperature to which the bristle carrier 2 is heated in the area of ​​its receiving recess 5 is chosen to be lower, so that the bristle carrier 2 does not melt in the area of ​​the receiving recess 5. After being attached to the bristle carrier 2, the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2 are bonded together and form the previously mentioned homogeneous, monolithic unit.

[0089] The recesses 15 in the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2, which laterally limits the receiving recess 5, are preferably filled flush with adjacent edge sections by the filament material of the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 when attaching the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2.

[0090] The bristle carrier 2 is inserted into a mold 16 to secure the bristle filaments 4 in the receiving recess 5. The mold 16 has a mold wall 17 that laterally surrounds the receiving recess 5 of the bristle carrier 2 in such a way that the edge 14 of the bristle carrier 2, which laterally limits the receiving recess 5, is laterally supported.

[0091] The bristle carrier 2 is according to Figure 13The bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2 are inserted into the mold 16 after the fastening ends 6 have been heated. The bristle carrier 2 is inserted using a lifting device 36 of a brush manufacturing device 18, which will be described in more detail below.

[0092] After the receiving recess 5 is filled by the filament material of the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4, the bristle carrier 2 is cooled via the mold 16.

[0093] To carry out the process, a brush manufacturing device designated as 18 is used. The brush manufacturing device 18 has a heating device 19. The heating device 19 comprises two heating surfaces 20 and 21, of which a first heating surface 20 is provided for heating the attachment-side ends 6 of bristle filaments 4 and a second heating surface 21 for heating a bristle carrier 2 in a region of its receiving recess 5. The heating surfaces 20 and 21 transfer the heat to the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2, respectively, by means of thermal radiation.

[0094] The heating device 19 is designed to heat the two heating surfaces 20 and 21, and via these the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments and the bristle carrier 2 in the area of ​​its receiving recess 5, to different temperatures. The heating surface 20 can be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 3 by means of thermal radiation.

[0095] The two heating surfaces 20 and 21 are arranged on a common heating element 22 and are located on different sides of the heating element 22, namely on opposite sides.

[0096] In this way it is possible to place the heating element 22 in its Figure 12to position the bristle carrier 2 and bristle filaments 4 in the position shown, in order to heat the fastening-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 via the heating surface 20 and the bristle carrier 2 via the heating surface 21.

[0097] The heating device 19 is designed for independent control of the temperatures of the two heating surfaces 20 and 21. For the purpose of detecting and controlling 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.

[0098] The temperature sensors 23 enable the temperature of the heating surfaces 20 and 21 to be measured, thus allowing the temperature of both surfaces to be controlled to a target temperature. To control the temperature 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 adjust the temperature of the heating surfaces 20 and 21 based on the deviation of the actual temperature from the target temperature of the heating surfaces 20 and 21, as detected by the temperature sensors 23.

[0099] The previously mentioned form 16 is part of the brush manufacturing device 18. The form 16 serves to receive and support the bristle carrier 2 during the attachment of the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2. To attach the bristle filaments 4 in the receiving recess, the bristle carrier 2 is lowered into the form 16 by the lifting device 36 of the brush manufacturing device 18 after heating the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 and the bristle carrier 2.

[0100] The brush manufacturing device 18 also includes a profiling device 25. The profiling device 25 is in Figure 11 as well as in parts in the Figures 12 and 13 shown. The profiling device 25 is used to profile the bristle arrangement 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0101] The profiling device 25 has a profiling tool 26 for profiling a cleaning side 27 of the bristle assembly 3 and a counter-profiling tool 28 for supporting and profiling a fastening side 29 of the bristle assembly 3.

[0102] The functionality of the profiling device 25 is described, for example, from Figure 11 As can be seen, the profiling tool 26, with its shaping, convex surface, is moved against the cleaning side 27 of the bristle assembly 3. This causes the bristle filaments 4 to be axially displaced with respect to their longitudinal axis according to the shape of the profiling tool 26. The counter-profiling tool 28, which is positioned against the mounting side 29 of the bristle assembly 3 and whose surface has a contour corresponding to the target contour of the bristle assembly 3 on its cleaning side 27 and is concave in shape, supports and shapes the bristle filaments 4.

[0103] The different protrusion of the bristle filaments 4 on the attachment side 29 of the bristle arrangement 3 is equalized when the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 are melted to attach the bristle filaments 4 to the bristle carrier 2 of a brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0104] Figure 11Figure 18 shows that the brush manufacturing device 18 also has a filament holder 30 with a clamping device 39 for clamping the bristle filaments 4 of the bristle assembly 3. The filament holder 30 is designed as a cassette and can be moved from station to station of the brush manufacturing device 18 and holds the bristle filaments 4 both during the profiling of the bristle assembly 3 and during the heating of the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 on the heating device 19. The filament holder 30 has a hole pattern 37 of receiving holes 38 for bristle bundles 10 made of bristle filaments 4, which corresponds to a bundle arrangement of bristle bundles 10 in the bristle assembly 3.

[0105] The filament holder 30 is also used when pressing the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 into the receiving recess 5 of a bristle carrier 2. However, its clamp 39 is open in this case. This allows the bristle filaments 4 to be pressed into the receiving recess 5 with their attachment-side ends 6 into the receiving recess 5 using the profiling tool 26, which axially applies pressure to the bristle filaments 4 at the attachment side 27 of the bristle assembly 3. The bristle filaments 4 are guided by the filament holder 30 and its through-holes 38.

[0106] To cool the bristle carrier 2 after the bristle filaments 4 have been attached to the bristle carrier 2, the brush manufacturing device 18 also includes a cooling device 31. The cooling device 31 is designed to cool the bristle carrier 2 arranged in the mold 16.

[0107] According to Figure 11The brush manufacturing device 18 also has a magazine 32 in which a supply of loose bristle filaments 33 is arranged.

[0108] Using a dividing device 34 of the brush manufacturing device 18, bristle bundles 10 can be separated from the supply of loose bristle filaments 33 in the magazine 32. Using a bundle forming unit 35, the bristle bundles 10 can be formed into their desired target shape in the bristle arrangement 3 of the brush 1 to be manufactured.

[0109] From the bundle forming unit 35, the bristle bundles 10 are transferred to the filament holder 30 and fixed in the receiving holes 38, which are designed as through holes, by means of the clamping device 39.

[0110] Fig 14 Figure 1 shows how the finished brush 1, after the bristle carrier 2 has cooled, is lifted out of the mold 16 using the lifting device 36. The bristle assembly 3 is now connected to the bristle carrier 2 of the brush 1.

[0111] The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of brush manufacturing and relates, among other things, to a brush 1 which has a bristle carrier 2 with a receiving recess 5 which, when bristle filaments 4 are attached to the bristle carrier 2, is completely or partially filled by melted filament material from the attachment-side ends 6 of the bristle filaments 4 of the brush 1 to be manufactured. Reference symbol list

[0112] 1 Brush 2 Bristle carrier, brush head 3 Bristle arrangement 4 Bristle filaments 5 Receptacle 6 Mounting-side ends of 4 7 Neck section 8 Handle 9 Stiffening rib 10 Bristle bundle 11 Carrier plate 12 Surface of 11 13 Brush surface 14 Edge 15 Recess in 15 16 Mold 17 Mold wall 18 Brush manufacturing device 19 Heating device 20 Heating surface for 6 21 Heating surface for 2 22 Heating element 23 Temperature sensor 24 Control unit 25 Profiling device 26 Profiling tool 27 Cleaning side 28 Counter-profiling tool 29 Mounting side 30 Filament holder 31 Cooling device 32 Magazine 33 Supply of loose bristle filaments 34 Dividing device 35 Bundle forming unit 36 Lifting device 37 Hole pattern of 30 38 Receiving hole in 30 39 Clamping of 30

Claims

1. Brush (1), in particular a toothbrush, having a bristle carrier (2), in particular a brush head, and a bristle trim (3) made of bristle filaments (4), wherein the bristle carrier (2) has at least one receiving recess (5) in which the bristle filaments (4) are fastened with their fastening-side ends (6), wherein, for fastening the bristle filaments (4), molten filament material of the fastening-side ends (6) forms a carrier plate (11) and fills the receiving recess (5) completely or partially, wherein the bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) consist, at least in the area of the receiving recess (5), of materials compatible for a materially bonded connection or of the same material suitable for a materially bonded connection, and wherein the bristle filaments (4) fastened in the receiving recess (5) and the bristle carrier (2) are connected to each other in a materially bonded manner.

2. Brush (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the bristle carrier (2) has its smallest material thickness, in particular measurable in the direction of a normal to the receiving recess (5), in the area of the receiving recess (5) before the bristle filaments (4) are fastened, and / or wherein the bristle carrier (2) is reinforced by the molten filament material.

3. Brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one stiffening rib (9) is formed within the receiving recess (5).

4. Brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface (12) of the carrier plate (11) is flush with a brush surface (13) of the brush (1), in particular of the bristle carrier (2), adjacent to the receiving recess (5) and the bristle trim (3).

5. Brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristle filaments (4) fixed in the receiving recess (5) and the bristle carrier (2) form a materially homogeneous, monolithic unit.

6. Brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) are made of plastic, in particular biodegradable plastic, for example polyamide, preferably PA 10.10 or PA 12, at least in the area of the receiving recess (5).

7. Brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristle carrier (2) has an edge (14) delimiting the receiving recess (5) transversely to a longitudinal extension of the bristle filaments (4).

8. Brush (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one recess (15) is formed in the edge (14), which is completely or partially filled by the molten filament material, preferably flush with adjacent edge sections.

9. Method for manufacturing a brush (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening-side ends (6) of the bristle filaments (4) are heated to connect the bristle filaments (4) to the bristle carrier (2) and the receiving recess (5) is filled completely or partially by filament material molten during this process from the fastening-side ends (6) when fastening the bristle filaments (4) to the bristle carrier (2), characterized in that the bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) are connected to each other in a materially bonded manner.

10. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the fastening-side ends (6) of the bristle filaments (4) and the bristle carrier (2) are heated in the area of the receiving recess (5).

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening-side ends (6) of the bristle filaments (4) are heated to a higher temperature than the bristle carrier (2) in the area of the receiving recess (5).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one recess (15) present in an edge (14) laterally delimiting the receiving recess (5) is filled by the filament material of the fastening-side ends (6), preferably flush with adjacent edge sections.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristle carrier (2) is inserted into a mold (16) for fastening the bristle filaments (4) in the receiving recess (5), said mold having a mold wall (17) which surrounds the receiving recess (5) of the bristle carrier (2) at least in sections laterally, in particular in such a way that an edge (14) of the bristle carrier (2) which laterally bounds the receiving recess (5) is laterally supported.

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristle carrier (2) is cooled after filling the receiving recess (5) with the molten filament material of the fastening-side ends (6), in particular via the mold (16).

15. Brush manufacturing device (18) for manufacturing brushes (1) according to one of the preceding claims in accordance with the method according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the brush manufacturing device (18) has a heating device (19) comprising two heating surfaces (20, 21), of which a first heating surface (20) is provided for heating fastening-side ends (6) of bristle filaments (4) and a second heating surface (21) is provided for heating a bristle carrier (2) in a region of its receiving recess (5).

16. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to the preceding claim, wherein the heating device (19) is designed to heat the heating surfaces (20, 21) to different temperatures, preferably wherein the heating device (19) is designed to heat the first heating surface (20) to a temperature sufficient to melt the fastening-side ends (6) of the bristle filaments (4), and / or wherein the two heating surfaces (20, 21) are arranged on a common heating element (22), in particular on different sides, preferably on sides of the heating element (22) facing away from each other.

17. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating device (19) is designed for preferably independent control of the temperatures of the two heating surfaces (20, 21), in particular wherein the heating device (19) has a control unit (24) and at least one temperature sensor (23) for detecting and controlling the temperature of at least one of the two heating surfaces (20, 21), preferably wherein at least one temperature sensor (23) is assigned to each heating surface (20, 21).

18. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush manufacturing device (18) comprises a mold (16) for receiving and supporting the bristle carrier (2).

19. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush manufacturing device (18) has a profiling device (25) for profiling a bristle trim (3) of a brush (1) to be manufactured.

20. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiling device (25) comprises a profiling tool (26) for profiling a cleaning side (27) of the bristle trim (3) and / or a counter-profiling tool (28) for profiling a fastening side (29) of the bristle trim (3) and / or for supporting the bristle filaments (4) during the profiling of the bristle trim (3).

21. Brush manufacturing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush manufacturing device (18) has a filament holder (30) for holding, in particular clamping, the bristle filaments (4) of the bristle trim (3), and / or wherein the brush manufacturing device (18) has a cooling device (31) for cooling the bristle carrier (2).