A tuft-picking device for a brush-making machine includes a container for holding loose filaments with circumferences having at least one recess; and a tuft picker having a working surface having a notch. The notch has a depth, a width, and an opening. A contour of the working surface is movable during a working stroke past an open side of the container so that the opening passes the loose filaments. First and second projections reduce the opening versus an inner width. The first projection's top is located in the working surface of the tuft picker and the second projection's top is located off-site the working surface and inside the notch. The second projection passes the open side of the filament container last during a working stroke. A distance from the top of the second projection to the working surface is from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, and an angle between the working surface and a line of reflection symmetry crossing the top of the second projection is from 0 to 45.

A tuft-picking device for a brush-making machine includes a container for holding loose filaments with circumferences having at least one recess; and a tuft picker having a working surface having a notch. The notch has a depth, a width, and an opening. A contour of the working surface is movable during a working stroke past an open side of the container so that the opening passes the loose filaments. First and second projections reduce the opening versus an inner width. The first projection's top is located in the working surface of the tuft picker and the second projection's top is located off-site the working surface and inside the notch. The second projection passes the open side of the filament container last during a working stroke. A distance from the top of the second projection to the working surface is from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, and an angle between the working surface and a line of reflection symmetry crossing the top of the second projection is from 0 to 45.

An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.

An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.

An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.

An end-rounding device comprises a movable body comprising an abrasive surface; a gearing for transferring a movement from a motor to the movable body; a providing unit for providing a plurality of bristle filament ends to the abrasive surface, wherein the providing unit comprises a clamping unit for clamping a bunch of filaments, wherein the bunch comprises a multiple of filaments of a bristle tuft; wherein the abrasive surface has a diameter from 80 mm to 300 mm and comprises a concave curvature oriented in the direction of the clamping unit; and wherein the clamping unit is movably spaced from the abrasive surface at a distance. A method of smoothening bristle filament ends utilizes the end-rounding device.

A head for an oral care implement comprises at least one tooth cleaning element of a first type and at least one tooth cleaning element of a second type. The at least one tooth cleaning element of the first type has a length extension along a longitudinal axis being about 1 mm to about 2 mm longer than the length extension of the at least one tooth cleaning element of the second type along its longitudinal axis. The at least one tooth cleaning element of the first type is a tuft of a first type comprising a plurality of filaments. Each filament has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four projections and four channels, the projections and channels being arranged in an alternating manner. The at least one tuft of the first type has a packing factor within a range from about 40% to about 55%, preferably from about 45% to about 50%.

A filament for an oral care implement has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four projections and four channels. The projections and channels are arranged in an alternating manner. Each channel has a concave curvature formed by neighboring and converging projections. The concave curvature has a radius, and each projection is end-rounded thereby forming a curvature. The curvature has a diameter, and the ratio of the diameter of the curvature of the projection to the radius of the curvature of the channel is from about 0.2 to about 1.5.

A filament for an oral care implement has a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-shaped cross-sectional area has four projections and four channels. The projections and channels are arranged in an alternating manner. Each channel has a concave curvature formed by neighboring and converging projections. The concave curvature has a radius, and each projection is end-rounded thereby forming a curvature. The curvature has a diameter, and the ratio of the diameter of the curvature of the projection to the radius of the curvature of the channel is from about 0.2 to about 1.5.

A method and an apparatus for producing bristle fields for brushes. The bristles are filled into a hole of a mold form by a feed line having an upstream end with an inlet valve and a downstream end with an outlet valve. The method includes steps of forming a bundle of bristles; applying a predefined gas pressure above atmospheric pressure in the feed line the inlet and outlet valves; inserting the bundle into the feed line at an insertion station between the inlet and outlet valves; and maintaining the predefined pressure between said valves; draining off a first volume of gas from the feed line via the outlet valve while feeding a second volume of gas into the feed line via the inlet valve, thereby moving the bundle of bristles in the feed line towards the mold form, wherein the pressure in the feed line upstream and downstream of the bundle of bristles is kept above atmospheric pressure.