A brush head (10) and a method for manufacturing a welded tuft assembly (20) for a brush head (10). The method includes inserting a bristle tuft (21) into an opening (51) in a retention element (52). A proximal end of the bristle tuft (23) and a proximal side (53) of the retention element are laser welded to at least partially melt the bristle tuft and at least a portion of the proximal side of the retention element together to create a merged proximal end head portion (26) that holds the welded tuft assembly together.

A brush head (10) and a method for manufacturing a welded tuft assembly (20) for a brush head (10). The method includes inserting a bristle tuft (21) into an opening (51) in a retention element (52). A proximal end of the bristle tuft (23) and a proximal side (53) of the retention element are laser welded to at least partially melt the bristle tuft and at least a portion of the proximal side of the retention element together to create a merged proximal end head portion (26) that holds the welded tuft assembly together.

A brush head (100) and a method of making a tuft spike (20) and a brush head with a plurality of tuft spikes. The brush head includes a matrix (30) having a plurality of receptacles (32) formed therein. A plurality of tuft spikes are each formed of a plurality of bristle strands (22) arranged in a tuft (21) having a free end (25) and a proximal end (23) inserted in a spike body (24). Each tuft spike is disposed in one of the receptacles of the matrix. A brush head neck (40) has a distal platen (42) that is connected to and at least partially encompassed in the matrix.

A method (500) for manufacturing a brush head (10). The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of bristle tuft retention elements (52), and inserting a bristle tuft (21) into each of the bristle tuft retention elements; using a heat reflection device (200) to evenly apply heat to at least partially melt the bristle tuft proximal end and, optionally, the retention element, create proximal end head portion (26) to retain the bristle tuft in the retention element.

A brush head (10) and a method for manufacturing a brush head. The method includes forming a plurality of retention elements (52) each having an opening (51) therethrough. The retention elements (52) are positioned into corresponding recesses of a plate. A bristle tuft (21) is inserted into each of the openings of the retention elements. A proximal end (23) of each bristle tuft is bonded to the corresponding proximal side of the retention element to form a merged proximal end head portion (26) that secures the bristle tufts and the corresponding retention elements together as a plurality of merged tuft assemblies (20). A neck (40) of the brush head is positioned in relation to the merged tuft assemblies. A platen (42) of the neck and the merged tuft assemblies is at least partially encompassed in a matrix (30).

To improve the brush-making field, a tuft-picking device (4) is provided, which includes the tuft picker (8) that is movable in relation to the material box (2) of the brush-making machine (1) and, on its front side (11), which in the operating position faces the bristle supply (3) held in the material box (2), includes at least one tuft-picking notch (12). The tuft-picking notch (12) has two opposing knife edges (14, 15), which delimit the notch opening (13) of the tuft-picking notch (12) and are oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the tuft picker (8). Another part of the tuft-picking device (4) is the counter piece (9), which is provided with the separating edge (17) facing the tuft picker (8). In order to allow bristle filaments (16) to be removed from the bristle supply (4) as gently as possible, at least one of the two knife edges (14, 15) and/or the separating edge (17) is rounded.

To improve the brush-making field, a tuft-picking device (4) is provided, which includes the tuft picker (8) that is movable in relation to the material box (2) of the brush-making machine (1) and, on its front side (11), which in the operating position faces the bristle supply (3) held in the material box (2), includes at least one tuft-picking notch (12). The tuft-picking notch (12) has two opposing knife edges (14, 15), which delimit the notch opening (13) of the tuft-picking notch (12) and are oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the tuft picker (8). Another part of the tuft-picking device (4) is the counter piece (9), which is provided with the separating edge (17) facing the tuft picker (8). In order to allow bristle filaments (16) to be removed from the bristle supply (4) as gently as possible, at least one of the two knife edges (14, 15) and/or the separating edge (17) is rounded.

A cell of a brush making device for making at least a part of a toothbrush, having a pin unit having at least one pin, a pin holding sub-unit and a pin guiding sub-unit, the pin having a first section having a first end and a second section having a second end, the first section having a holding structure, and at least one spring section arranged between the first section and the second section, the pin holding sub-unit having a holding structure that is engaged with the holding structure of the pin for fixedly holding the pin, the pin holding sub-unit and the pin guiding sub-unit being arranged for being movable along a first direction towards and away from each other, and the pin guiding sub-unit having a channel for guiding at least a portion of the second section of the pin, the channel being inclined against the first direction.

A cell of a brush making device for making at least a part of a toothbrush, having a pin unit having at least one pin, a pin holding sub-unit and a pin guiding sub-unit, the pin having a first section having a first end and a second section having a second end, the first section having a holding structure, and at least one spring section arranged between the first section and the second section, the pin holding sub-unit having a holding structure that is engaged with the holding structure of the pin for fixedly holding the pin, the pin holding sub-unit and the pin guiding sub-unit being arranged for being movable along a first direction towards and away from each other, and the pin guiding sub-unit having a channel for guiding at least a portion of the second section of the pin, the channel being inclined against the first direction.

An oral care implement that includes a handle (120) and a head (100) with a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface. In one embodiment the plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft (130) that is formed by a wall of bristles. The tooth cleaning elements may also include first and/or second sets of peripheral tooth cleaning elements located adjacent to opposing lateral edges of the head. The peripheral tooth cleaning elements may include elastomeric sleeve portions (144, 154) and bristle tuft portions (145, 155). The elastomeric sleeve portions may be formed as a part of an integrally formed elastomeric component (170).