Flexible strip brush, flexible belt brush, and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A flexible strip brush element is constructed from multiple monofilaments arranged in a parallel fashion and attached at one end to a flexible base. The monofilaments are attached to the base by intermingling material from the base with material from the monofilaments. The free ends of the monofilaments collectively form a bristle end zone. A plurality of flexible strip brush elements may be bonded side-by-side so the free ends of the monofilaments form a common bristle end zone. to The bonded flexible strip brush elements may take the form of a linear section or may be fashioned into an endless loop or jointless spiral.

1 . A flexible belt brush comprising:
 a flexible strip brush element including a base having a width and a bristle attachment region, the flexible strip brush element terminating at an end tapered at an angle relative to the width of the flexible strip brush element, the flexible strip brush element being wound into a plurality of adjacent bonded coils; and   a plurality of monofilaments secured to the bristle attachment region.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of adjacent bonded coils includes a sidewall bonded to a sidewall of another of the plurality of adjacent bonded coils. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of monofilaments includes a proximal end secured to the bristle attachment region and a distal end included in a bristle end zone. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible belt brush has a circumference, a first side, and a second side separated from the first side by a width of the flexible belt brush and substantially parallel to the first side about the circumference of the flexible belt brush. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of adjacent bonded coils includes a bottom region bonded to a bottom region of another of the plurality of adjacent bonded coils. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom region comprises a laminated carrier strip. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein the end is tapered over a length approximately equal to the width of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of flexible strip brush elements, each including:
 a base having a bristle attachment region defined in a top of the base; 
 a plurality of monofilaments, each having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 the proximal ends of each of the plurality of monofilaments being secured to the bristle attachment region; and 
 the distal ends of each of the plurality of monofilaments collectively to forming a bristle end zone; 
   the plurality of flexible strip brush elements bonded and forming a collective strip brush element terminating at an end tapered at an angle relative to a width of the collective strip brush element.   
     
     
         9 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible belt brush has a circumference, and the end of the collective strip brush element is tapered over a length approximately equal to the circumference of the flexible belt brush. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible belt brush of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of monofilaments form a bristle end zone configured as a pneumatic seal. 
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a flexible strip brush, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible strip brush element including:
 a base having a width, a bristle attachment region, and an end tapered at an angle relative to the width of the base; and 
 a plurality of monofilaments secured to the bristle attachment region; and 
   wrapping the flexible strip brush element around a mandrel, forming a plurality of adjacent coils.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising bonding adjacent pairs of the plurality of adjacent coils. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible strip brush includes a circumference, a first side, and a second side separated from the first side by a width of the flexible strip brush, and the method further comprises forming the first side substantially parallel to the second side about the circumference of the flexible belt brush. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein bonding the adjacent pairs of the plurality of adjacent coils comprises bonding a side of each of the adjacent pairs of the plurality of adjacent coils to a side of another of the plurality of adjacent coils. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a transport mechanism including a wheel; and   a flexible belt brush disposed on the wheel, the flexible belt brush including:
 a flexible strip brush element including a base having a width and a bristle attachment region, the flexible strip brush element terminating at an end tapered at an angle relative to the width of the flexible strip brush element, the flexible strip brush element being wound into a plurality of adjacent bonded coils; and 
 a plurality of monofilaments secured to the bristle attachment region. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible belt brush forms a jointless spiral. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a conveyor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of monofilaments form a bristle end zone configured as a drive face for the transport of objects. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , comprising a plot planting apparatus.