Bristle sub-assemblies having parallel pairs of bristles; and methods
US6351868B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1761
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for forming bristle sub-assemblies includes a vertically oriented slot, which is formed by two endless belts. A wheel disposed above the slot pushes a bristle string into the slot. The bristle string has a plurality of bristles connected to a base string in two rows. The bristle rows can be horizontally oriented, so that all of the bristles are co-planar in a horizontal plane, or they can be angularly oriented with the base string at the vertex of the angle. When the bristles are pushed into the slot, they bend to adopt a new, substantially parallel orientation. An ultrasonic heater heats the bent bristles to re-set the thermoplastic material from which the bristles are made so that after cooling, the parallel orientation is maintained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.