Inventors:
Wendell M. Hottmann - Cottage Grove WI, US
Alan F. Kubinski - Rockford IL, US
Victor McConnell - Rockford IL, US
Keith Miller - Marine on the St. Croix MN, US
Rex E. Reinking - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Bernd Stein - Schmitten, DE
Assignee:
Gillett Canada Company - Halifax
International Classification:
A46D003/08
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for automated brush assembly are disclosed. A method of end-rounding bristle ends with an abrasive surface in random orbital motion relative to bristle tufts held in a movable gripper is described. A novel tuft carrier adapted to hold a plurality of bristle tufts in an arrangement suitable for direct mechanical insertion into the tuft chambers of a brush mold is also described. The tuft carrier has a plurality of tuft insertion cavities and a plurality of movable clamps, each clamp adapted to at least partially occlude one of the cavities when closed. Individual bristle tufts, having a fused end and a rounded or non-rounded bristle end, are transferred from a movable gripper to the tuft carrier by direct mechanical insertion. In addition, an apparatus for direct mechanical insertion of bristle tufts from a tuft carrier into the tuft chambers of a brush mold is described.