Brush comprising a mechanical fixing system of tufts of fibers without the use of metal elements and related method for the production of brushes, brooms or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to a brush comprising a system for mechanically fixing tufts of fibers that does not requires metal elements. The present invention also refers to a method for the production of brushes by means of the fixing system. According to the inventions, the brush ( 10 ) comprises a support body ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of holes ( 2 ) or cavities, and a plurality of tufts of fibers ( 3 ), each tuft being constituted by a plurality of fibers substantially U-folded in their central portion, in which said tufts of fibers ( 3 ) are fixed to said support body ( 1 ) through a mechanical fixing system of tufts of fibers ( 3 ) according to which, in each of said holes ( 2 ) is inserted the U-folded end of one of said tufts of fibers ( 3 ) and an insert ( 4 ), presenting a shape partially complementary to that of the hole ( 2 ), said insert ( 4 ) being coupled to the support body ( 1 ) by means of a forced coupling; wherein said fixing system is implemented by a punching machine ( 15 ) to which said insert ( 4 ) is fed in the form of a continuous chain ( 6 ) or a continuous profile ( 7 ) which separates said inserts ( 4 ) from each other when they are inserted into said holes ( 2 ); said insert ( 4 ), said support body ( 1 ) and said tufts of fibers ( 3 ) being made of equal or different materials but compatible with each other for being recycled together.

1 . A brush comprising a support body comprising a plurality of holes or cavities, and a plurality of tufts of fibers, each tuft being constituted by a plurality of fibers substantially U-folded in their central portion, in which said tufts of fibers are fixed to said support body through a mechanical fixing system of tufts of fibers according to which, in each of said holes is inserted the U-folded end of one of said tufts of fibers and an insert, presenting a shape partially complementary to that of the hole, said insert being coupled to the support body by means of a forced coupling;
 wherein said fixing system is implemented by a punching machine to which said insert is fed in the form of a continuous chain or a continuous profile which separates said inserts from each other when they are inserted into said holes;   said insert, said support body and said tufts of fibers being made of equal or different materials but compatible with each other for being recycled together.   
     
     
         2 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein said equal or different materials compatible with each other for being recycled together consist of plastic materials. 
     
     
         3 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert is coupled to said hole by friction through a dimensional interference. 
     
     
         4 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert has a lobed section and said hole has a circular section. 
     
     
         5 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert is coupled to said hole by interlocking. 
     
     
         6 . The brush according to  claim 5 , wherein said support body presents locking elements in correspondence with said hole suitable for blocking said insert in said hole once inserted. 
     
     
         7 . The brush according to  claim 6 , wherein said locking elements are protrusions, small teeth or other similar protruding elements bulging towards the inside of said hole and said insert has a flared or rounded shape towards its end to be inserted in said hole. 
     
     
         8 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein said insert and/or said hole are deformed plastically upon insertion of said insert into said hole to improve its tightness. 
     
     
         9 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein said holes or cavities are blind or open, or partially open. 
     
     
         10 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein a size of said insert is increased so as to constitute two tufts of fibers clearly separated, therefore effectively two tufts of the brush or broom, making them with a single stroke of the punching machine, thus doubling its productivity. 
     
     
         11 . The brush according to  claim 1  suitable for the production of hairbrushes, brushes for domestic use, toothbrushes, or brooms. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing the brush according to  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of:
 injection molding a support body having a plurality of holes;   automatically transferring the support bodies just printed to a punching machine to which a continuous chain or continuous profile of inserts is also fed;   by means of said punching machine inserting a tuft of fibers and an insert in each of said holes of said support body, separating a single insert.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said step of inserting a tuft and an insert in each of said holes takes place substantially without interruption after the injection molding step. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, between said molding step and said insert insertion step, parking and/or labeling steps of said support bodies. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising, following said insertion step, parking, finishing and packaging steps.