Device for filament end-rounding and a method for end-rounding toothbrush filaments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096478-B2
Application number	US-201916401097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2019
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end-rounding device ( 10 ) comprising:
a movable body ( 12 B) comprising an abrasive surface ( 13 ) and having an axis of rotation;
a gearing ( 14 ) structured and configured to transfer a rotational movement from a motor ( 15 ) to the movable body ( 12 B);
a providing unit ( 17 ) structured and configured to provide a plurality of bristle filament ends ( 22 ) to the abrasive surface ( 13 ), wherein the providing unit ( 17 ) comprises a clamping unit ( 16 ) structured and configured to clamp a bunch ( 23 ) of filaments ( 20 ) having a length axis, wherein the bunch ( 23 ) comprises a plurality of filaments ( 20 ) of a bristle tuft;
wherein the abrasive surface ( 13 ) has a diameter (D 1 ) from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit ( 16 ) and wherein the clamping unit ( 16 ) is movably spaced from the abrasive surface ( 13 ) at a distance (D 2 ) so that the axis of rotation of the movable body is substantially parallel to the length axis of the bunch of filaments.

2. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature comprises a circular curvature having a curvature radius of from about 400 mm to about 700 mm.

3. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature is selected from a circular curvature having a curvature radius of from about 450 mm to about 650 mm.

4. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature is selected from a circular curvature having a curvature radius of from about 500 mm to about 600 mm.

5. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature is selected from the group consisting of a circular curvature, an elliptic curvature, an irregular curvature, and any combination thereof.

6. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface ( 13 ) has a diameter (D 1 ) from about 150 mm to about 250 mm.

7. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface ( 13 ) has a diameter (D 1 ) from about 180 mm to about 220 mm.

8. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface ( 13 ) has a diameter (D 1 ) from about 190 mm to about 210 mm.

9. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface ( 13 ) has a diameter (D 1 ) about 200 mm.

10. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the distance (D 2 ) between the clamping unit ( 16 ) and the abrasive surface ( 13 ) is from about 40 mm to about 100 mm.

11. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the distance (D 2 ) between the clamping unit ( 16 ) and the abrasive surface ( 13 ) is from about 50 mm to about 90 mm.

12. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the distance (D 2 ) between the clamping unit ( 16 ) and the abrasive surface ( 13 ) is about 70 mm.

13. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according claim 1 , wherein the end-rounding device ( 10 ) further comprises a cutting unit ( 30 ) structured and configured to cut bristle filaments ( 20 ) of a predefined length (L) from the filament bunch ( 23 ).

14. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping unit ( 16 ) comprises a clamping ring.

15. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature comprises a circular curvature having a curvature radius of from about 450 mm to about 650 mm.

16. The end-rounding device ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the concave curvature comprises a circular curvature having a curvature radius of from about 500 mm to about 600 mm.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Vankov Michael

Classifications

• A46D9/02 Primary

  Cutting; Trimming · CPC title

• A46B9/04

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title

• A46D1/05

  Splitting; Pointing · CPC title

• A46D9/00

  Machines for finishing brushes {(A46D1/00 and A46D3/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A46D1/0284 Primary

  Bristles having rounded ends · CPC title