Method and apparatus for processing toothbrushes

• US 20060021917A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Reinking, Rex E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,863,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/580
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 3/065 of the belt or chain type A46D3/067 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of processing toothbrushes includes supplying a plurality of toothbrushes with tufts of bristles attached to heads of the toothbrushes. Similar portions of each of the toothbrushes differ in color from each other. A color of the portion of each of the toothbrushes is determined. The toothbrushes are reorganized according to the determined color.

Claims

1. A method of processing toothbrushes, comprising the steps of:

supplying a plurality of toothbrushes with tufts of bristles attached to heads of the toothbrushes, similar portions of each of the toothbrushes differing in color from each other;

determining a color of the portion of each of the toothbrushes; and

reorganizing the toothbrushes according to the determined color.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying step supplies the toothbrushes in single file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reorganizing step removes a lead toothbrush from the single file of toothbrushes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reorganizing step places the removed toothbrush in a buffer designated for the determined color of the removed toothbrush.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the reorganizing step takes the removed toothbrush from its buffer and puts the removed toothbrush back into the supply of toothbrushes downstream from where it was first removed from the single file of toothbrushes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reorganizing step removes a toothbrush from the supply of toothbrushes and places the removed toothbrush in a buffer designated for the determined color of the removed toothbrush.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reorganizing step takes the removed toothbrush from its buffer and puts the removed toothbrush back into the supply of toothbrushes in a different location from where it was removed from the supply of toothbrushes.

19. A toothbrush made according to the method of claim 1.

8. An apparatus for processing toothbrushes, comprising:

a removal element for removing a toothbrush from a supply of toothbrushes;

a color sensor for determining a color of a portion of the removed toothbrush; and

a first buffer for receiving from the removal element the removed toothbrush and other toothbrushes having the same colored toothbrush portion as the removed toothbrush.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the removal element removes the toothbrush from a single file supply of toothbrushes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the removed toothbrush was a lead toothbrush in the single file of toothbrushes.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a return element for returning the removed toothbrush from its buffer and back into the supply of toothbrushes downstream from where it was first removed from the single file of toothbrushes.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a return element for returning the removed toothbrush from its buffer and back into the supply of toothbrushes in a different location from where it was removed from the supply of toothbrushes.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second buffer for receiving from the removal element toothbrushes having a portion colored differently from the toothbrushes placed in the first buffer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the return element returns toothbrushes from the second buffer to the supply of toothbrushes.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a third buffer for receiving from the removal element toothbrushes having a portion colored differently from the toothbrushes placed in the first and second buffers.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the return element returns toothbrushes from the third buffer to the supply of toothbrushes.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a fourth buffer for receiving from the removal element toothbrushes having a portion colored differently from the toothbrushes placed in the first, second and third buffers.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the return element returns toothbrushes from the fourth buffer to the supply of toothbrushes.