Method and apparatus for making articles having bristles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for making elongated articles are disclosed. One method includes feeding at least one base string along an axis, wrapping at least one monofilament around the axis to produce a number of monofilament wraps per length of base string which are transported by the base string, bonding the wraps to the base string with ultrasonic energy, and cutting the wraps at a point downstream of where the wraps are bonded to the base string. The result is an article having two rows of monofilament segments connected to the base string.

1 . An apparatus for making an elongated article comprising: 
 means for feeding at least one base string along an axis;    means for wrapping at least one monofilament around the axis to produce a number of monofilament wraps per length of base string which are transported by string;    means for bonding the wraps to the base string; and    means for cutting the wraps at a point downstream of where the wraps are bond to the base string to thereby form an article having two rows of monofilament segments connected to the base string.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for making an elongated article comprising: 
 means for feeding a base string along a first support;    means for wrapping at least one monofilament around a second support to form a plurality of loops,    means for feeding the loops transversely over the at least one base string; means for pressing the loops into contact with the base string, whereby the loops are transported by and with the at least one base string; and means for bonding the wraps to the base string to form an article having two rows of monofilament loops connected to the base string.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for making an elongated article comprising: 
 means for feeding at least one base string along an axis,    means for wrapping at least one monofilament around the axis and over the at least one base string to produce a number of monofilament wraps which are transported    by the at least one base string, means for feeding at least one locking string into contact with the at least one base strings, whereby the monofilament wraps are disposed between the base strings and the locking strings;    means for pressing the at least one base string, into frictional engagement with the at least one locking string to thereby capture the monofilament wraps therebetween, and    means for cutting the wraps to thereby form at least one elongated article having two rows of monofilament segments connected between the base string and the locking string.