Brush Making Pin With Spring Section For Inclined Tufts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current brush making technologies face difficulties in manufacturing brushes with inclined cleaning elements, limiting design freedom and increasing engineering burden.

Innovation Solution

A brush making device cell with a pin unit that features a spring section allowing bending, enabling the pin to move between retracted and extended positions, and having a pin holding and guiding sub-unit for relative movement, facilitating the creation of brushes with inclined tufts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rigid pins are used in brush making devices, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to create inclined cleaning elements is limited and engineering burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to create inclined cleaning elementsVSAvoidengineering burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is transformed from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure with a spring section that allows bending. This enables the pin to adapt to inclined positions and create inclined cleaning elements, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pin's physical properties are changed by introducing a spring section with different material properties (elasticity) compared to the rigid sections. This parameter change allows the pin to bend and form inclined tufting holes while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If rigid pins are used to define tufting holes, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but design freedom for inclined tufts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign freedom for inclined tuftsVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The spring section enables the pin to dynamically adjust its position and angle during the molding process, allowing creation of inclined tufting holes without complex manufacturing procedures. The pin naturally bends to the required inclination and returns to its original position after use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring section provides self-adjusting capability, where the pin automatically bends to the correct inclination angle based on the forces applied during operation, eliminating the need for precise pre-positioning or complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If pins are made flexible with spring sections, then the ability to move and define inclined features is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to move and define inclined featuresVSAvoidpin structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is divided into distinct functional segments: rigid sections for structural support and connection, and a spring section for flexible movement. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall design manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Only the specific section of the pin that requires flexibility (the spring section) is made with different material properties, while the connection and support sections remain rigid. This local application of flexibility minimizes overall structural complexity while achieving the required functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the manufacturing of brushes with inclined cleaning elements, enhancing design flexibility and reducing engineering complexity by allowing the pin to define inclined tufting holes and move cleaning elements effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a spring section (130) extending between the first section (110) and the second section (120)... allowing bending of the pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3782510B1Cell of a brush making device
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP3782510B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3782510B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3782510B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present disclosure is concerned with a cell of a brush making device for making at least a part of a brush, in particular a part of a toothbrush, having a pin unit having at least one pin, a pin holding sub-unit and a pin guiding sub-unit, the pin having a first section having a first end and a second section having a second end, the first section having a holding structure, and at least one spring section arranged between the first section and the second section, the pin holding sub-unit having a holding structure that is engaged with the holding structure of the pin for fixedly holding the pin, the pin holding sub-unit and the pin guiding sub-unit being arranged for being movable along a first direction towards and away from each other, and the pin guiding sub-unit having a channel for guiding at least a portion of the second section of the pin, the channel being inclined against the first direction.