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CN1615094A - 牙刷组件的热气焊接 - Google Patents

牙刷组件的热气焊接 Download PDF

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CN1615094A
CN1615094A CNA028271351A CN02827135A CN1615094A CN 1615094 A CN1615094 A CN 1615094A CN A028271351 A CNA028271351 A CN A028271351A CN 02827135 A CN02827135 A CN 02827135A CN 1615094 A CN1615094 A CN 1615094A
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toothbrush
hot gas
prefabricated
welding method
components
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B·M·拉塞尔
R·A·格林
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Colgate Palmolive Co
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Colgate Palmolive Co
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    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/10—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
    • B29C65/103—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined direct heating both surfaces to be joined
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D3/00—Preparing, i.e. Manufacturing brush bodies
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
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    • B29C65/10—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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    • B29C66/126—Tenon and mortise joints
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    • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
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    • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
    • B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
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    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
    • B29C66/83221—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
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    • B29C66/0012—Joining in special atmospheres characterised by the type of environment
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/03—After-treatments in the joint area
    • B29C66/032—Mechanical after-treatments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
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Abstract

一种消费者可接受的包含预制组件的牙刷及其形成方法，其中通过将热气施加到每一个组件的端部上，直到每个端部表面熔化，并且将所述熔化端部一起放置在具有要被焊接的牙刷部分的所希望形状的模具中，从而将组件焊接在一起。

Description

牙刷组件的热气焊接
【技术领域】
本发明涉及一种牙刷，尤其涉及一种牙刷及其制造方法，其中包括头部、颈部和/或手柄的预制牙刷组件使用热气来加热焊接在一起，以形成具有消费者可接受美学效果的高强度连接的牙刷体。
【背景技术】
传统牙刷体包含作为手柄的通常延伸的杆部，它可以具有连接到头部上的直的或弯曲的颈部，其中头部典型地具有一平面，其上固定有多束刷毛。这样的牙刷体通常是由热塑材料制造的，在一注模工艺的步骤中，热塑材料加热到熔化状态并且在压力下注入到牙刷体的钢模中。在塑料固化之后，打开模具并拿出完全成型的牙刷体准备安装刷毛。这样由一种材料形成的传统牙刷体不能提供所希望的、使用不同材料制造的具有头部、颈部、手柄和其他部分的牙刷体的不同着色和可能的物理特性范围。例如，经常希望具有更刚性的手柄来控制牙刷的操作，而连接到较小刚性的、即更柔性的头部或颈部上，其在刷牙期间将屈服变形，从而使得由使用者使用过渡的刷牙压力而对牙龈造成的伤害趋于减小。
在刷牙期间，当由牙刷头部、颈部、手柄和其他部分的多个预制组件装配牙刷时，其所形成的连接部位将承受垂直于牙刷纵向轴线的巨大扭矩，其称为“脱落力”。该脱落力是由使用者相对牙齿使用牙刷头部并用手抓住手柄的相对反作用力而造成的。这些反作用力由杠杆原理而放大，其放大是由相对连接部位沿着牙刷的延伸长度而施加力的远近而确定的，其中实验证明了它们的影响。对制造具有相对这样脱落力的足够抗脱落强度的连接部位，其在先改进是形成抗脱落连接，它包括在连接部位之间使用机械连接。但是，这样的机械连接不能提供传统模制中美学效果的可能性、牙刷的整体性、特别是整洁光滑的表面、没有消费者可感知的扭曲或缺陷，例如飞边。
美国专利2445657号公开了具有固定于刚性手柄上的、例如硫化橡胶弹性材料的头部的牙刷体。该牙刷体是以多步骤工艺制造的，其中头部和手柄分开制造，而后焊接在一起。这样的焊接或通常用胶焊接需要其表面预处理，而胶需要间隔一段时间来固定，这样设置在大量生产的经济上有不利影响。此外，虽然焊接形式可以具有可接受的美学效果，但它将不能提供足够的抗脱落力，以经受消费者长期使用。
美国专利6066282号公开了一种制造牙刷的方法，其中手柄模制在从预制牙刷头部延伸出来的销、双头螺栓或其他连接部件上。该制造工艺不能提供足够的抗脱落连接，这是由于熔化手柄材料流动到预制头部的冷连接部件上，不能充分地焊接冷连接部件，以在它们之间形成足够强的焊接。
美国专利6220673号公开了使用激光来焊接预制牙刷头部和手柄组件的方法，其中特定波长的激光束穿透一个对于特定激光波长是透明的热塑组件，并由第二组件或在两个组件之间的第三种材料吸收使其加热和熔化，以将这两个组件焊接在一起。为了便于这样的连接，要被连接的材料必须具有类似的熔化温度和流动特性，或材料熔化和流动的较低熔化率，以防止产生过分加热到适当熔化的、材料在其间用于建立高强度焊接的较高熔化温度。因此，在现有技术中公知的，要能焊接材料必须具有相当靠近的熔化流动率，其差别不能大于2到4g/10min。如上所述，即使使用具有类似熔化流动率的材料，而由一个组件的加热来焊接到第二个上所形成的连接，也不能提供以形成高强度连接的材料充分流动和混合，从而经受住牙刷长期每天使用所受到的平均脱落力。
由TWI，Ltd.，of Cambridge，England CBI 6A1出版发行的TheSeptember/October 2001 TWI Connect Magazine，Issue 114中在4-5页上公开了使用热气作为焊接介质进行焊接热塑组件的可选择技术。热气焊接工艺典型地包含，由V形或T形连接结构排列的工件进行连接而形成接缝，而热气熔化相同聚合物类型的接缝和消耗填充杆两者。焊接是这样形成的，通过熔化和熔合相邻工件并且填充材料以形成接缝，该接缝包含扭曲、飞边和消费者在牙刷中不能接受的其他缺陷。此外，这种方法虽然比所公开的激光方法包含更经济的设备，但是其依赖于操作者的技术因而较慢并且质量经常变化。而且到此时已知的，当使用热空气作为加热气体进行焊接时，例如聚丙烯的某些热塑材料将氧化并且结构上将变弱。
在现有技术上存在有经济地提供具有预制头部、颈部和/或手柄组件和其他部件的牙刷装置的需求，其中牙刷制造成具有可接受抗脱落强度的连接部以及消费者可接受的美学效果，即没有任何老化、扭曲、缺陷、飞边或不对准。
【发明内容】
本发明包含一种美学效果上可接受的牙刷以及制造它的经济方法，所述牙刷是由焊接在一起的至少两个预制组件形成的，该组件包括头部、颈部、手柄及其组合中的至少一部分；其中，所述组件通过焊接而焊接在一起，该焊接的抗脱落强度令人吃惊地比相同组件使用相应激光焊接的抗脱落强度大40到100％。所述牙刷的制造方法包含的步骤是：(1)使用热气加热所述两个或多个预制牙刷组件的端部的至少一部分，直到所述端部的整个表面熔化；(2)在具有所述牙刷要连接的部段的所希望形状的模具中将所述端部连接一起；并且(3)冷却所述连接端部以完成所希望的焊接。热气优选的是空气、二氧化碳、氮气、氖气和氩气以及它们的混合物，更优选的是空气。
当本发明要被连接的预制牙刷组件的材料具有显著不同的熔化流动率时，优选的是，由不同的加热气体源以不同的温度和空气流率加热每一个相应端部的材料。对每一个相应组件使用这种不同的加热条件使得可以在从大约2秒到10秒的每个牙刷的商业上可接受的时间间隔内有助于它们有效地连接，即使在组件具有熔化流动率差别大于5g/10min、以及高达到100g/10min或差别更大时也是如此。此外，在这样的商业上可接受的时间间隔内，对可氧化的聚丙烯热塑材料施加热空气不能显著地削弱这样的热塑材料。
【附图说明】
下面将结合附图并参照其详细的说明，以进一步理解本发明的特性。
图1是实施本发明方法的第一个实施例组件的透视图，其中示出了要连接在一起的预制头部组件10和预制手柄组件12，通过使每个组件各自的端部14、16处在由两个独立的加热气体源18、20喷出热气下，并且将这两个端部一起放在包含上部22和下部24的夹具中。
图2是实施本发明方法的组件的透视图，其中示出了与预制手柄组件12紧密配合的预制头部组件10，紧密配合的组件由包含上部22和下部24的夹具紧密地围绕着。其中以偏离预制组件10、12的形式示出了，在它们紧密配合在一起之前用于加热端部的加热气体源18、20，从而使得预制组件10、12紧密配合，并且由所述夹具紧密地围绕着。
图3是预制牙刷组件的透视图，其包含预制头部组件10和预制手柄组件12，它们分别具有要被焊接在一起的端部14、16。
图3A是图3中端部14、16的放大视图，其中端部14、16是倾斜的，当它们连接在一起时以形成嵌入连接。
图3B是图3A中倾斜端部的第二和可选择的实施例，其中一端部16具有其上材料形成的凸起，而另一端14具有其内形成的凹槽、孔或凹陷，其相应于另一端16上的凸起。相应的凸起和凹槽通过增加表面区域而提供机械互锁连接来提高其强度。
图3C是图3B中倾斜端部的第三个可选择的实施例，其中两个端部14、16每一个均具有其上材料形成的中心凸起，以提供位于热源上的更大材料表面区域从而更快地熔化，这样有更多的材料流动和混合，从而更快地形成高强度连接。此外，通过使凸起位于在要被连接的部件的工作表面的中心位置，当凸起材料熔化和流动、并且部件在连接步骤中压在一起以及由夹具约束时，这些材料将充满连接部位，并且与所希望的连接形状相一致。
【具体实施方式】
参照图1，其中示出了实施本发明方法的第一个实施例组件的透视图，其中预制牙刷头部组件10和预制牙刷手柄组件12通过使用由独立的加热气体源18、20提供的热气，而加热它们各自的端部14、16，在所述端部14、16的变软点逐渐扩大到它们的整个表面之后，直到各自的端部14、16熔化，这样当它们设置在一起，并且由具有要被连接牙刷的所希望部件形状的夹具22、24紧密地围绕着时，从而将它们连接在一起，即模制成形。图2示出了端部14、16在夹具中的定位，从而当它们流动和焊接在一起时，连接处将没有任何老化、扭曲、缺陷、飞边或不对准。而在该实施本发明方法的第一个实施例中，示出了要连接到牙刷手柄组件上的牙刷头部组件，牙刷的两个或更多预制组件或部分可以彼此相互连接，这包括例如将预制头部组件连接到预制颈部组件上、以及连接到预制手柄组件上。
如果要被连接的预制热塑牙刷组件具有类似的物理和化学特性，即熔化流动率差别在4g/10min或更小，单一的加热气体源可以用于提供所需的热气，以熔化其端部来将它们粘结在一起。然而，如果预制牙刷组件不具有类似的物理和化学特性，即熔化流动率差别在5g/10min或更大，应使用两个或多个独立的加热气体源来提供所需不同温度的热气，以熔化每一个特殊的组件材料。在本发明中使用独立的加热气体源，将使得具有显著不同材料流动率的预制头部、颈部、手柄和/或其它部分组件彼此具有美学效果地焊接在一起。
如上述状态，本发明所提供连接处的热气焊接的抗脱落强度，惊奇地大于由激光焊接而制成的相同材料焊接的抗脱落强度的40％到100％。这种在焊接抗脱落强度上的改进是由连接到中颈上的聚丙烯头部与聚丙烯牙刷手柄、由激光焊接的组件与由本热气焊接的组件的对比压力测试而确定的。测试焊接抗脱落强度使用类似于AmericanSociety for Testing and Materials(ASTM)中的Testing MethodD4812-99的测试方法，此外，每一个被测试牙刷的头部包围在具有平压力面的2英寸(5.08cm)夹具中，其压力面在牙刷头部的中间位置由挤压锤发出的至少100英寸磅(in-lbs)(11.30焦耳)的力进行挤压，而在头部于牙刷颈部焊接到手柄的下面，牙刷手柄从挤压锤压力点夹紧2.5英寸(6.35cm)。用于测量焊接切断力的优选压力测试仪是由Willow Grove，Penn.19090的Tinius Olsen Testing MachineCompany，Inc.制造的型号92T的摆动压力测试仪。对于激光连接由压力测试仪记录的平均切断力大约为10.8英寸磅(1.22焦耳)，其显著地低于消费者长期使用所需要的15英寸磅(1.69焦耳)的可接受切断力或抗脱落强度。在对比中，对于由本发明方法形成的热气连接的平均切断力超过18英寸磅(2.03焦耳)，而到达平均高于20英寸磅(2.26焦耳)，大部分样品展示出的切断力在22英寸磅(2.49焦耳)到24英寸磅(2.71)的范围内，显著地超过了消费者长期使用所需要的可接受强度。
在本发明的方法中，预制颈部和/或头部组件或其它部分可以由热塑弹性体(TPE)、热塑烯烃(TPO)、软热塑聚烯烃(例如聚丁烯)、或例如乙烯醋酸乙烯酯共聚物(EVA)或乙丙橡胶(EPR)的其他热塑材料制成，以降低刷动压力和相应口腔软组织的磨损。可接受的TPE材料包括苯乙烯乙烯/丁烯苯乙烯(SEBS)类型的苯乙烯嵌段共聚物，例如苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯、苯乙烯-异戊二烯苯乙烯和相关的共聚物，以及热塑聚氨酯(TPU)或热塑硫化酯(TPV)，其由聚丙烯和EPDM(乙烯丙烯二单体)的混合物组成，它们可以利用美国专利第5393796号中所述的Santoprene(商标)或Vyram(商标)，另一种TPV由聚丙烯和天然橡胶的混合物组成，Santoprene和Vyram两者都是由AdvancedElastomer systerms LP，Akron，Ohio 44311销售的弹性体。另一个苯乙烯嵌段共聚物、而且优选的TPE是由GLS Corp.，Cary，Illinois60013销售的Dynaflex G6713(商标)。基本清楚地看出，可以使用某种TPE或TPUS或乙烯醋酸乙烯酯(EVA)。这些和其他适当的弹性体典型地具有从3到80的肖氏硬度，而优选地为从10到40的肖氏硬度。
可选择地，在本发明的方法中，预制头部、颈部和/或手柄组件可以由各种低柔性的热塑材料和其混合物制成，包括聚丙烯和聚酯材料，例如聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯或共聚酯，例如PCTA聚酯或SAN或纤维质塑料，例如醋酸纤维素丙酸酯(CAP)。优选的、具有高压强度和硬度的很好组合的、以增加刷毛保持力的聚丙烯嵌段共聚物预制头部组件，可以使用的是具有37g/10min熔化流动率的Stamylan P，它可以由DSM Petrochemicals，6130 AA Sittard，The Netherlands得到。该优选的聚丙烯嵌段共聚物头部组件可以连接到任何标准牙刷规格聚丙烯材料的预制手柄上，优选地选用具有大约4g/10min的熔化流动率的低成本聚丙烯均聚物，例如Huntsman Polypropylene P4G3Z-039，它可以由Huntsman Corporation，Longview Texas 75603得到。
本发明特别优选的实施例是包含预制相对刚性的头部10和手柄12的牙刷，其在颈部上具有柔性的弹性体组件，该组件柔性地将所述头部10连接到所述手柄12上。在颈部上的弹性体组件可以由本发明的方法焊接到头部10和手柄12上，或者它可以首先在模制步骤中模制成型，随后在其中模制头部10或手柄12，而另一个组件通过本发明的方法连接到其上。
如图3所示，使用本发明方法来连接在一起的预制组件的端部14、16优选地提供有彼此互补的斜面或角度(如图3所示的角度α和β)，即提供嵌入连接，从而增加了要连接的表面区域以实现高强度连接。此外，如图3B所示，优选地一端部16的倾斜表面上包含在其中间的凸起部分，即其上材料形成的凸起28，而另一端14的表面上是相应的凹槽26，凹槽26优选地由1-2mm直径和2mm深度的孔形成，从而将进一步增大要被连接的表面区域以形成更高强度的连接。如图3C所示，在更优选的实施例中，两端部14、16的倾斜表面都包含其上材料形成的凸起28，从而当端部14、16在一起进行焊接、并且由夹具或模具22、24紧密地围绕着时，所形成的焊接出奇地好，即没有任何扭曲、缺陷、飞边或不对准。
在本发明的方法中，从至少一个加热气体源18、20出来的热气施加到预制牙刷组件的热塑端部以使其焊接，其温度大约在从200摄氏度到450摄氏度的范围内，优选地在大约300摄氏度到400摄氏度的范围内，直到在其上首先出现液体的迹象，即要被焊接的热塑表面开始熔化。热气从加热气体源18、20以大约从2到30m/sec的流率、优选地以5到20m/sec的流率、而更优选地以7到15m/sec的流率，从具有大约2到10mm直径或更大尺寸的、优选地为2到6mm直径的圆形或优选为椭圆形喷嘴流出。预制牙刷组件的端部位于在与加热气体源相距2到10mm的位置，优选的在相距3到5mm的位置。热气温度、流率、热气口的尺寸和与要被加热到其焊接温度的热塑组件的位置各项的组合，对于获得商业上可接受的、大约从1到4秒的、将工件温度升高到焊接成型所希望温度的次数是重要的。当优选地使用例如空气、二氧化碳、氮气、氖气和氩气以及它们的混合物的各种热气时，由于经济的原因，空气是最优选的热气。特别优选的加热气体源18、20在商业上可以从Leister Process Technologies Riedstrasse CH-6060 SarnenSwitzerland得到，其为具由固定吹风机的商品名为Hot Jets S(商标)或Labor S(商标)的焊接工具，其中Labor S(商标)的焊接工具可以结合外部加强的高压吹风机一起使用。加热气体源18、20喷嘴优选地为椭圆结构的，其具有大约3到10mm的较大直径，优选地具有大约5mm的较大直径。
在本发明中，预制牙刷组件机械地夹持在其位置上，而其要被连接的各自端部加热到焊接成型的适当温度，即以熔化每一端部到其全部表面完全由薄液体膜覆盖状态的足够温度，而每个上的材料将流动并且与其要焊接的另一个上的材料相混合。在部件端部14、16达到适当的焊接温度之后，加热源将移开并且端部14、16快速地、即在一秒的时间段内通过机械装置移动到一起。当端部14、16移动到一起时，同时它们包围在夹具或模具22、24中，夹具或模具紧密地围绕著连接部位，并且具有牙刷所希望的全部连接部位的内部形状。端部14、16和模具22、24的部分优选地使用至少4巴、更优选地使用至少6巴的压力压在一起，直到形成所希望的连接，并且充分地冷却以允许模具部件22、24分离开，而没有分离其连接部，这大约有1到4秒的时间，从而用于加热各自端部、将所述端部压在一起和将它们一起保持在模具中的总共时间段是大约2到10秒的时间，而优选地大约2到8秒的时间。
在本发明中的夹具或模具22、24包围住两个热塑端部14、16，被连接的部位以上述状态提供模制，其中熔化的连接部与消费者可接受的连接形式相一致。用于定位和再定位热塑端部14、16部位的这样模具和简单机构，可以由许多机械商店和模具提供商处获得，他们包括Machines Boucherie N.V，Izegem，Belgium和/或AntonZahoransky Gmbh & Company，Todtnau Germany和/或Foboha Gmbh，Haslach，Germany。

Claims (25)

1.一种由预制组件制造的具有可接受的美学效果的牙刷，其包括：
由至少两个预制牙刷组件形成的牙刷，该预制牙刷组件焊接在一起，以形成具有可接受的抗脱落强度的牙刷；所述预制牙刷组件从至少由一头部、一颈部和一手柄中的一部分、以及它们的组合所构成的一组中选择。
2.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，所述焊接具有承受至少15英寸磅(1.69焦耳)的脱落力的断裂强度。
3.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，所述焊接具有承受至少18英寸磅(2.03焦耳)的脱落力的断裂强度。
4.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，所述焊接具有承受至少20英寸磅(2.26焦耳)的脱落力的断裂强度。
5.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，所述组件中的所述至少一个是弹性体。
6.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，通过使用热气加热一头部和一手柄中的每一个相应组件而焊接该头部和该手柄。
7.如权利要求1所述的牙刷，其特征在于，三个预制组件或其部件焊接在一起以形成所述牙刷。
8.如权利要求7所述的牙刷，其特征在于，至少一个所述的预制组件是弹性体。
9.一种由预制组件制造的具有可接受的美学效果的牙刷，其包括：
由至少两个预制牙刷组件形成的牙刷，该预制牙刷组件焊接在一起以形成牙刷；所述预制牙刷组件从至少由一头部、一颈部和一手柄中的一部分、以及它们的组合所构成的一组中选择，其中所述组件是由具有熔化焊接率差别大于5g/10min的不同热塑材料制成的。
10.如权利要求9所述的牙刷，其特征在于，至少一个所述的组件是弹性体。
11.一种焊接预制热塑牙刷组件以形成牙刷的方法，该方法包括：
(a)使用热气加热两个或多个预制牙刷组件的端部，直到每一个所述端部的至少一部分熔化，该组件从至少由一头部、一颈部和一手柄中的一部分、或它们的组合所构成的一组中选择；
(b)在具有所述牙刷的相应部分的所希望形状的模具中将所述端部连接一起；
(c)冷却所述连接端部以完成所希望的焊接。
12.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，热气是由单一源施加到要被连接的每一个组件的端部上的。
13.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，热气从不同的热气源施加到要被连接的每一个组件的端部上。
14.如权利要求13所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，预制牙刷组件是由熔化流动率差别为至少5g/10min的材料制成的。
15.如权利要求11、12、13和14所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，热气是从由空气、二氧化碳、氮气、氖气和氩气以及它们的混合物构成的一组中选择的。
16.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述牙刷头部和/或颈部组件可以是热塑弹性体材料的，该材料是从由苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯、苯乙烯-异戊二烯苯乙烯、热塑聚氨酯和热塑硫化酯材料构成的一组中选择的。
17.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，焊接组件焊接成具有能承受至少18英寸磅(2.03焦耳)脱落力的断裂强度。
18.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，当所述要被焊接的牙刷组件的所述端部彼此焊接时，它们倾斜成便于形成嵌入连接的形式。
19.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，要被焊接的牙刷组件的一个端部在其中心具有其上材料形成的凸起，而所述第二组件的端部具有其内形成的孔。
20.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述热气以200摄氏度到450摄氏度的温度施加到所述牙刷组件的端部上。
21.如权利要求20所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述温度为300摄氏度到400摄氏度。
22.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述热气从所述加热气体源流出，其以2到30m/sec的流率施加到所述要被焊接到一起的组件的端部上。
23.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述热气从位于与所述端部距离2到10mm处的所述至少一个加热气体源流出，并施加到所述要被焊接到一起的组件的端部上。
24.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，所述热气从具有2到10mm较大直径的椭圆喷嘴的所述至少一个加热气体源流出，并施加到所述要被焊接到一起的组件的端部上。
25.如权利要求11所述的热气焊接方法，其特征在于，要被焊接组件的端部在所述模具内使用至少4巴的力压在一起，其中模具使用至少4巴的力压紧所述端部。
CNA028271351A 2001-11-14 2002-11-13 牙刷组件的热气焊接 Pending CN1615094A (zh)

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EP (1) EP1446034A2 (zh)
CN (1) CN1615094A (zh)
AR (1) AR037367A1 (zh)
AU (1) AU2002352692A1 (zh)
GT (1) GT200200230A (zh)
PA (1) PA8557801A1 (zh)
PE (1) PE20030578A1 (zh)
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TW200722006A (en) * 2005-07-27 2007-06-16 Colgate Palmolive Co Oral care implement comprising an elastomeric polypropylene-ethylene copolymer
US9210995B2 (en) * 2012-09-25 2015-12-15 O'nano Oral Solutions, Inc. Toothbrush
US10925384B2 (en) * 2018-04-16 2021-02-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
DE102020132142A1 (de) * 2020-12-03 2022-06-09 M + C Schiffer Gmbh Reinigungsgerät für die Mundhygiene und Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Reinigungsgeräts für die Mundhygiene

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US759490A (en) * 1902-12-08 1904-05-10 Florence Mfg Company Tooth-brush.
US1327807A (en) * 1918-10-26 1920-01-13 Paul B Burleigh Toothbrush
US2445657A (en) * 1945-05-08 1948-07-20 Paul G Bennett Toothbrush
DD98236A1 (zh) * 1972-03-10 1973-06-12
JPS5938093B2 (ja) * 1976-01-23 1984-09-13 アイシン精機株式会社 中空体形状をした熱可塑性樹脂部材の熱風溶着方法とその装置
US4898760A (en) 1987-11-17 1990-02-06 Amesbury Industries, Inc. Process and apparatus for extruding a low density elastomeric thermoplastic foam
US5242301A (en) * 1991-03-14 1993-09-07 Hickey Catherine L All purpose device for dental hygiene with dental implants
EP0557537A1 (en) * 1991-11-28 1993-09-01 GENERAL TRADING & CO. Plastics welding
US5499421A (en) * 1993-06-15 1996-03-19 Brice; Michael F. Twin-headed toothbrush
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US6620291B1 (en) * 1998-12-16 2003-09-16 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Apparatus for tying rolls of fabric
US6220673B1 (en) * 1999-07-12 2001-04-24 Colgate-Palmolive Company Laser joining toothbrush heads to handles

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GT200200230A (es) 2006-03-07
US20030088931A1 (en) 2003-05-15
AR037367A1 (es) 2004-11-03
UY27536A1 (es) 2003-06-30
TW200303179A (en) 2003-09-01
PA8557801A1 (es) 2003-11-12
WO2003041533A3 (en) 2003-07-10
EP1446034A2 (en) 2004-08-18
AU2002352692A1 (en) 2003-05-26
PE20030578A1 (es) 2003-07-08
WO2003041533A2 (en) 2003-05-22

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