The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 17, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2000
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;
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;
Gillett Canada Company, Halifax, CA;
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.