Marking/printing applicator and/or cleaning elements

Abstract

A cleaning device, in particular a toothbrush, with a handle body consisting of a handle part, a head part and a neck part connecting the handle part to the head part. The head part has applied to it one or more applicator and/or cleaning elements, which form a bristle area which has at least one outer side and/or an upper side. At least one of the applicator and/or cleaning elements on the at least one outer side and/or an upper side of the bristle area and/or the handle body is/are marked or printed with a marking/color medium.

1 . A cleaning device, in particular a toothbrush, with a handle body consisting of a handle part, a head part and a neck part connecting the handle part to the head part, wherein the head part has applied to it one or more applicator and/or cleaning elements, which form a bristle area which has at least one outer side and/or an upper side, wherein at least one of the applicator and/or cleaning elements on the at least one outer side and/or an upper side of the bristle area and/or the handle body is/are marked/printed with a marking/color medium. 
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the applicator and/or cleaning elements marked/printed with the marking/color medium are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, a thermoplastic polyamide elastomer, a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer, or a thermoplastic polyester elastomer, a polyamide, a polybutylene terephthalate and/or a silicone. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the marked/printed applicator and/or cleaning elements and/or the handle body is/are marked/printed with an indicator or an indicator color. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the marking/color medium is applied to the applicator and/or cleaning elements and/or the handle body with a layer thickness of 0.001 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably of 0.001 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the packing density of the applicator and/or cleaning elements, in particular the bristles, is from 12 per mm 2  to 25 per mm 2 , preferably from 16 per mm 2  to 20 per mm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein marking/printing resolution is from 20 dpi to 3000 dpi, preferably from 150 dpi to 1500 dpi. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in the case of a bristle area with at least one outer side and an upper side, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the outer side of the bristle area and at least one cleaning and applicator element on the upper side of the bristle area are marked/printed. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein individual applicator and/or cleaning elements or larger surface areas over a number of applicator and/or cleaning elements are marked/printed around a corner, i.e. over the upper edge, so that a continuous marking/printing continuing from the outer side to the upper side of at least individual applicator and/or cleaning elements is obtained. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in the case of a bristle area with at least a front side, a longitudinal side and an upper side, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the front side of the bristle area, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the longitudinal side of the bristle area and at least one cleaning and/or applicator element on the upper side of the bristle area are marked/printed. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the marking/printing within an applicator and/or cleaning element is adapted such that the marking/printing at least partially follows the contour of the applicator and/or cleaning elements, preferably in order to leave behind a different marking/printing, depending on the viewing angle. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle body has a curvature which, seen in cross section, is provided over an angle α of up to 180° with a contiguous printing. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle body has a curvature with a radius (R) of 2 mm to 15 mm, preferably of 4 mm to 8 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein flock fiber elements are applied on the handle body, preferably also in the region of the applicator and/or cleaning elements. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the flock fiber elements comprise conventional, extruded bristles with a length of 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably about 0.2 to 2 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A method for marking/printing a cleaning device, in particular a toothbrush, with a handle body consisting of a handle part, a head part and a neck part connecting the handle part to the head part, wherein the head part has applied to it one or more applicator and/or cleaning elements, which form a bristle area which has at least one outer side and/or an upper side, with the steps of:
 (a) feeding the cleaning device with the handle body and also the applicator and/or cleaning elements to a marking/printing means, preferably a printhead, by means of a transporting device;   (b) marking/printing at least one of the applicator and/or cleaning elements on the at least one outer side and/or an upper side of the bristle area and/or the handle body with a marking/color medium.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the marking/printing means is an inkjet, laser or pad printhead. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the marking/printing means is arranged movably and/or rotationally movably along at least one axis, preferably two axes, still more preferably three axes, with respect to the cleaning device. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transporting device has mounting means, with which the cleaning device can be swiveled and/or rotated with respect to the marking/printing means. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein, in the case of a bristle area with at least one outer side and an upper side, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the outer side of the bristle area and at least one cleaning and/or applicator element on the upper side of the bristle area are marked/printed. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein, in the case of a bristle area with at least one front side, a longitudinal side and an upper side, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the front side of the bristle area, at least one applicator and/or cleaning element on the longitudinal side of the bristle area and at least one cleaning and/or applicator element on the upper side of the bristle area are marked/printed. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the marking/printing means has 5 to 500 nozzles, preferably 10 to 100 nozzles. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the marking/printing speed is from 2 m/min to 100 m/min, preferably from 5 m/min to 60 m/min. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a physical and/or chemical processing of the applicator and/or cleaning elements, in particular in the case of extruded bristles, is carried out before the marking/printing. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a physical and/or chemical processing of the applicator and/or cleaning elements, in particular in the case of extruded bristles, is carried out after the marking/printing, but wherein the marked/printed part is not processed, or only in such a way that it is not harmed. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a handle body with a curved surface of from 400-2000 mm 2 , preferably 500-1800 mm 2 , particularly preferably 600-1400 mm 2 , can be printed. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein, for printing curved surfaces, the pad printhead has a curved form, adapted to the surface to be printed. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the pad printhead is deformed during printing in such a way that the applied print on the handle body has the correct appearance. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein flock fiber elements can also be printed with the marking/printing means. 
     
     
         29 . An arrangement for marking/printing a bristle area and/or a handle body of a cleaning device having a marking/printing means, preferably an inkjet, laser or pad printhead, with a marking/printing area within which a marking/printing of the bristle area with a color medium is performed and also with a mounting device by means of which the cleaning device is held and positioned with respect to the marking/printing means and which is preferably arranged on a transporting device. 
     
     
         30 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the marking/printing means is arranged movably and/or rotationally movably along at least one axis, preferably two axes, still more preferably three axes, with respect to the cleaning device. 
     
     
         31 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein, by means of the mounting means, the cleaning device can be swiveled and/or rotated with respect to the marking/printing means.