Gillette Canada Inc

Dermot T Freeman

Larry J Oliphant

Patrick J Hanley

Sean G Gilligan

Jeffrey S Meessmann

Gerald S Szczech

John A Kaminski

Adrian Hart

Jeffrey S Messmann

A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss brush comprising alternating portions of thread sections which do not stretch significantly under tension and brush sections which stretch under slight tension, includes the step of coating at least the thread sections of a reverse twisted high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. The thread sections of the yarn are thereafter heated to vaporize solvent therefrom while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1N. In the humidifier assembly, having a housing which defines a humidifier zone, the brush sections of the yarn are exposed to a mixture of steam and gas, the steam and gas mixture having a temperature of from 130.degree. C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v), while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero until the brush sections of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn. Finally the brush sections of the yarn are heated to remove solvent therefrom while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero to form a floss brush product. As the yarn passes through the humidifier zone, the tension on the yarn is controlled to take account of changes in its length.

Floss yarn bulking assembly and method

A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss brush comprising alternating portions of thread sections which do not stretch significantly under tension and brush sections which stretch under slight tension, includes the step of coating at least the thread sections of a reverse twisted high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. The thread sections of the yarn are thereafter heated to vaporize solvent therefrom while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1N. In the humidifier assembly, having a housing which defines a humidifier zone, the brush sections of the yarn are exposed to a mixture of steam and gas, the steam and gas mixture having a temperature of from 130.degree. C. and a water vapor content of 65%(v/v), while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero until the brush sections of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn. Finally the brush sections of the yarn are heated to remove solvent therefrom while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero to form a floss brush product. As the yarn passes through the humidifier zone, the tension on the yarn is controlled to take account of changes in its length.

A continuous process for manufacturing a continuous floss brush comprises steps of first applying a polymer solution at a repeated preselected distance interval to a continuous length of floss yarn under tension and solidifying the polymer while the floss yarn is under tension to produce a continuous floss product of yarn sections which stretch under slight tension separated by thread sections which do not significantly stretch under tension. The floss yarn is treated to expand the yarn sections to form brush sections. The passage of a predetermined number of segments comprising thread and brush portions is determined while the continuous floss brush is under substantially zero tension using a optical detector. Finally, a length of the continuous floss segments containing the predetermined number of segments comprising thread and brush portions is cut for packaging. Preferably, a dye marker is applied to at least a portion of the thread portion, whereby the accuracy of the optical detection of the thread portions of the continuous floss brush is increased. The yarn is a nylon yarn, and the yarn sections are expanded by treatment with heat and water vapor when under zero tension to yield a product with a highly expanded brush portion which is stretched under slight tension. The floss brush product comprises a continuous length of floss having segments comprising alternating portions of yarn sections which stretch under slight tension separated by thread sections which do not significantly stretch under tension, at least a portion of each thread section being preferably marked with a dye.

Dental floss manufacturing process and product

A dental floss brush made from a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn comprising at least two thread sections having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 min. The thread sections are separated by a floss brush section integral therewith having a diameter of from up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of from 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05N. The brush floss has a breaking strength of at least 5N. The floss brush section can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax alone or in combination with a flavoring oil, silicone oil lubricant or mixtures thereof. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. Then the solvent is selectively vaporized from thread portions of the yarn while preventing significant vaporization of solvent from brush portions of the yarn, while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1N. The brush portions of the yarn are steam treated while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero until the brush portions of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn. Residual solvent is then removed from the brush portions of the yarn while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero.

Thin floss brush

A dental floss brush made from a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn comprising at least two thread sections having diameters, in their relaxed state, of at least 2.5 mm. The thread sections are separated by a floss brush section integral therewith having a diameter of from up to 4 mm in its relaxed state and a diameter of from 1.7 to 3.0 mm under a tension of 0.05 N. The brush floss has a breaking strength of at least 5 N. The floss brush section can be coated with a low melting wax composition, optimally a polyethylene glycol ester of beeswax alone or in combination with a flavoring oil, silicone oil lubricant or mixtures thereof. This product is made by coating a reverse twisted, high tenacity nylon yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane and mixtures thereof. Then the solvent is selectively vaporized from thread portions of the yarn while preventing significant vaporization of solvent from brush portions of the yarn, while the yarn is maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 1 N. The brush portions of the yarn are steam treated while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero until the brush portions of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn. Residual solvent is then removed from the brush portions of the yarn while the yarn is under a tension of approximately zero.

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Killiney, Ireland

Dermot T Freeman