Automated process for fabricating oral care implements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11351706-B2
Application number	US-201616346293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2016
Priority date	Nov 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A system comprises a fully automated fabrication cell (20) for forming overmolded oral care implements. The cell (20) includes a cluster of process stations (21) including injection molding machines operable to first form oral care implement preforms and then overmold the preforms with an overlay to create fully formed oral care implement bodies. In one example, the overlay may be a flexible elastomeric or rubber material while the preform may comprise a more rigid plastic material. Transfer of the preforms and bodies between the process stations (21) is fully automated and performed by a computer-operated robot (40) having a jointed articulated arm. A grasping tool (60) disposed on an end of the arm (42) releasably engages and transports a plurality of preforms and/or bodies simultaneously. The tool provides two different methods for engaging and holding the toothbrush skeletons/bodies. A programmable controller (130) automatically controls the robotic arm (42)'s operation and movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral care implement fabrication system comprising: a duster of process stations arranged around a central area therebetween; a robot having an articulated robotic arm located in the central area between the process stations, the robotic arm being segmented and having a plurality of rotational joints, the robotic arm being operable to access each of the process stations; a grasping tool disposed on a distal end of the robotic arm, the grasping tool configured to releasably engage and transport a plurality of oral care implement bodies between the process stations; a programmable controller operably coupled to the robot, the controller controlling movement, orientation, and position of the robotic arm; a first one of the process stations being a first injection molding machine operable to form oral care implement skeletons from a first material comprising plastic; a second one of the process stations being a second injection molding machine which overmolds a second material onto the first material to form oral care implement overmolded bodies; and a third one of the process stations being a cooling machine which cools the skeletons from the first injection molding machine prior to overmolding the second material; wherein the robotic arm is operable to transfer skeletons from the first injection molding machine to the cooling machine, retrieve cooled skeletons from the cooling machine, and transfer the cooled skeletons to the second injection molding machine for overmolding; wherein a fourth one of the process stations is a third injection molding machine which overmolds the second material onto the first material to form an oral care implement overmolded body, wherein the robotic arm is operable to retrieve cooled skeletons from the cooling machine and transfer the cooled skeletons to the third injection molding machine for overmolding; and wherein the grasping tool and the third injection molding machine are configured to remove overmolded skeletons and transfer cooled skeletons simultaneously.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first injection molding machine is a horizontal injection molding machine and the second injection molding machine is a vertical injection molding machine.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling machine further comprises:
an upper conveyor and a lower conveyors arranged in vertically stacked relationship;
an elevator disposed at opposing ends of the upper and lower conveyors; and
a tray movable along a length of the upper and lower conveyors, and including a plurality of slots for holding the skeletons;
wherein the elevators are each operable to engage and transfer the tray between the upper and lower conveyors.

4. The system according to claim 3 , further comprising an alignment machine disposed proximately to the lower conveyor, the alignment machine operable to receive a first set of cooled skeletons from the cooling machine, align ends of the skeletons, and adjust spacing between the skeletons to match mold cavity spacing in the second injection molding machine.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the alignment machine comprises a plurality of slots configured for holding the skeletons.

6. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the cooling machine further comprises an automated carriage positioned over the lower conveyor and linearly movable beyond an edge of the lower conveyor, the carriage including a plurality of vertically movable clamping members operable to retrieve cooled skeletons from the tray on the lower conveyor and deposit the cooled skeletons on the alignment device.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Wang Peng
• Xia Shiyong
• Xie Tao

Classifications

• B29C45/1618

  using an auxiliary treatment station, e.g. for cooling or ejecting (B29C45/1628 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C2045/1621

  the transfer means operating independently from the injection mould cavity, i.e. during injection the transfer means are completely outside the mould cavity · CPC title

• B29C45/0084

  General arrangement or lay-out of plants (B29C45/1468 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25J11/005

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title

• A46D3/00

  Preparing, {i.e. Manufacturing} brush bodies · CPC title