JP6903002B2 - Bristles for brushes and brushes using them - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a brush bristle material suitable for various brushes including a toothbrush and a brush using the same.

Conventionally, a technique of using a synthetic fiber monofilament as a hair material for a brush is widely known. A brush using such a bristles for a brush, for example, a toothbrush, has an excellent balance of a tooth cleaning effect by the bristles, a soft touch that does not damage the object to be cleaned, and a massage effect such as plaque. Furthermore, it is desired to have excellent scraping performance of dirt and plaque at the time of cleaning with hair tips.

However, it may be difficult to meet such a requirement if the brush bristles are formed of a single material monofilament up to the bristles. That is, in the case of a monofilament made of a single material up to the tip of the bristles, if the bristles for the brush are made thicker, the brush becomes stronger and the cleaning effect on the flat surface of the teeth and the massage effect such as gums are enhanced. However, on the contrary, the cleaning effect between the teeth is reduced, it is difficult to obtain excellent scraping performance of dirt and plaque due to the tips of the hair, the touch feeling to the gums becomes too strong, and the gums are damaged. It may be easier.

In addition, in the case of a monofilament made of a single material up to the tip of the bristles, the cleaning effect between the teeth can be enhanced by simply thinning the bristles for the brush, but the waist of the bristles for the brush becomes weaker over the entire length. , The massage effect of gums, etc. may be reduced, and the durability of the hair material itself may be reduced.

Cleaning and cleaning brushes in other fields have roughly the same problems.

Therefore, in order to obtain a hair tip that has an excellent cleaning effect, for example, excellent hair advanced entry into the cervical region, a high effect of scraping plaque, and further improved durability of the hair tip, a patent has been granted. Document 1 has a structure in which two types of resin layers are alternately laminated in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the hair material, and one resin layer protrudes from the tip of the other resin layer at the tip of the hair material. As a result, a hair material for a toothbrush in which a plurality of slits are formed between one resin layer is disclosed.

However, in the toothbrush hair material disclosed in Patent Document 1, since two types of resin layers are alternately laminated over the entire cross section of the hair material, the resin layers may be used depending on the brush usage period. Peeling may occur and the elasticity of the hair material may be insufficient. Therefore, considering the performance required for use, it cannot always be said that the durability is sufficiently high.

In addition, in order to achieve both an excellent cleaning effect and the property of not easily damaging the object to be cleaned, Kaijima composite fiber is used as the hair material for the brush, and at the root of the hair tip of the hair material when used for the brush. Has been proposed as a hair material for brushes, which has a composite fiber structure in which sea-island components are integrated, and has a structure in which a large number of islands are exposed and separated at the tip (Patent Document 2). In addition, a hair material for brushes has also been proposed in which the island portion of the sea-island composite fiber has an irregular cross-sectional shape to improve the performance of scraping dirt by the hair tips (Patent Document 3). By using such a bristle material for brushes, it is possible to achieve a good balance between an excellent cleaning effect and the feature of not easily damaging the object to be cleaned, and to obtain a soft tactile sensation due to the thin island fibers at the exposed tip. Further, by making the cross-sectional shape of the exposed island portion a deformed cross-sectional shape, it is possible to improve the dirt scraping performance.

However, the brush bristle material proposed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 still has the following problems. That is, since the islands are distributed over substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the sea-island composite fiber used as the hair material for the brush, and the islands are exposed at the tip of the hair material, they are actually When used for toothbrushes, etc., when an external force is applied to the exposed islands due to friction, etc., the sea part that supports the exposed islands at the base of the hair material may tear depending on the magnitude of the external force, making it durable. The problem remains that there is a risk of inadequate sex.

By the way, apart from the above-mentioned problems related to the conventional brush hair material, recently, a technique for producing a sea-island composite fiber capable of forming the distribution state of the islands and the cross-sectional shape of the islands into various forms has been proposed. (For example, Patent Document 4). According to this proposed technology, it is possible to virtually freely design the size and arrangement of islands with respect to the sea, cross-sectional shape, arrangement density, etc. in the sea-island composite fiber, and it is possible to meet various demands in various fields. When it becomes possible, there are great expectations.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-253107 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-99604 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-21808 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-174215

Therefore, the subject of the present invention focuses on the excellent features and remaining problems of the brush bristle material as described in the conventional patent documents 1 to 3, and is described in the recently proposed patent document 4. Focusing mainly on the manufacturing technology of Kaijima composite fiber, which allows the island to be designed virtually freely, it has excellent characteristics such as a soft touch that does not damage the object to be cleaned and the ability to scrape dirt. It is an object of the present invention to provide a brush bristle material having both cleanability and excellent durability, and a brush using the same.

In order to solve the above problems, the hair material for brushes according to the present invention is for brushes in which islands at one end or both ends in the longitudinal direction of a sea-island composite fiber made of two or more kinds of resins having different chemical dissolution rates are exposed. The hair material is formed in a flat shape in which the cross section of the island portion of the sea-island composite fiber has a larger major diameter than the minor diameter, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion forming the outer peripheral surface of the sea-island composite fiber is formed. It is composed of only the sea portion, and the ratio Ts / Dis of the minor diameter Dis of the island portion and the thickness Ts of the sea portion of the outer peripheral surface forming portion in the cross section of the sea island composite fiber is 1.2 or more. It consists of features. This ratio Ts / Dis is preferably 1.5 or more, and more preferably 2.0 or more.

In such a brush hair material according to the present invention, one end or both ends in the longitudinal direction of the Kaijima composite fiber (as described later, when the brush hair material is used for a brush, one end of the hair material is the tip of the hair. (There are cases where both ends are bristles) and the islands are exposed to the brush bristles structure, so that the bristles are in direct contact with the object to be cleaned. Only the thin islands of the composite fiber exposed at the tip are formed, and the islands are supported by the sea part of the composite fiber at the root. It is configured so that excellent cleanability is exhibited even for small parts that are difficult to clean, such as between teeth, and it is the exposed island part that has a weak waist that comes into contact with the object to be cleaned. Is not easily damaged and gives a soft touch. Since these islands, especially the exposed islands, are formed in a flat shape in which the major axis is larger than the minor axis in cross section, the elasticity required for scraping dirt can be easily provided. The flat tip has a spatula-like function, and an excellent dirt scraping effect, particularly an excellent dirt scraping effect, can be exhibited. Then, the outer peripheral surface forming portion forming the outer peripheral surface of the sea island composite fiber is composed of only the sea portion, and in the cross section of the sea island composite fiber, the minor axis Dis of the flat-shaped island portion immediately adjacent to the outer peripheral surface forming portion. By setting the ratio Ts / Dis of the outer peripheral surface forming portion to the thickness Ts of the sea portion to 1.2 or more, the flat-shaped island portion in the immediate vicinity of the outer peripheral surface forming portion is the exposed island portion in which it is exposed. At the root and its vicinity (the part on the composite fiber side), it will be covered with the sea part of a predetermined thickness or more, and when an external force is applied to the exposed island part, the exposed island part will be supported by the external force. The sea area is prevented from tearing, and the durability of the brush bristle material is greatly improved. In other words, the flat islands of the sea-island composite fiber are unevenly distributed in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber at a portion closer to the central portion other than the outer peripheral surface forming portion formed by the sea portion having the predetermined thickness or more. As a result, the unevenly distributed islands are exposed at the tip of the hair material, so that the exposed islands have characteristics such as a soft touch that does not damage the object to be cleaned, and are also dirty. While taking advantage of the fact that an excellent cleaning effect including scraping performance can be obtained, excellent durability is realized by the outer peripheral surface forming portion made of a sea portion having a predetermined thickness or more.

In the hair material for brushes according to the present invention, the major axis / minor axis ratio of the flat island portion is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 3 or more, and further preferably 5 or more. When the major axis / minor axis ratio of the island portion is 2 or more, the function of scraping dirt due to the spatula shape is improved, and the cleanability including the scraping performance of the dirt is further improved.

Further, in the brush hair material according to the present invention, the exposed length of the island portion exposed at one end or both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sea-island composite fiber is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm. , More preferably in the range of 1 to 5 mm. If the exposed length of the island portion is shorter than 0.5 mm, it is difficult to obtain excellent cleanability for fine parts such as between teeth due to the exposed island portion, and it is also difficult to obtain a good soft touch feeling. If the exposed length of the island is longer than 10 mm, the exposed island, which has a relatively weak waist, may become too long, and the exposed island may be deformed too much, and the cleaning effect of the exposed island (for example, scraping off dirt). Effect) and the massage effect of toothpaste etc. may be insufficient.

Further, in the hair material for a brush according to the present invention, the minor axis Dis of the flat island portion is preferably in the range of 10 to 300 μm, more preferably in the range of 20 to 100 μm. If the minor axis Dis of this flat-shaped island is less than 10 μm, the waist of the exposed island becomes too weak, and the strength of the waist required for the effect of scraping dirt due to the spatula-like shape of the exposed island becomes. It may be difficult to obtain. D. If the minor axis Dis of the flat island part is larger than 300 μm, the waist of the exposed island part becomes too strong, and it becomes difficult to obtain excellent cleanability for fine parts such as between teeth, and it is soft. It may be difficult to obtain a tactile sensation. Regarding the minor axis Dis of this flat island portion, not all the island portions need to have the same minor diameter.

The number of flat-shaped islands in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber is preferably 3 or more, more preferably 5 or more, and further preferably 7 or more. However, it is also possible to set the number of islands having this flat shape to 2. By setting the number of flat islands to 3 or more, the effect of scraping off dirt by the exposed islands can be surely exhibited, the cleanability is surely improved, and cosmetics and the like can be used. Even when the performance to hold is required, it becomes easy to exhibit those performances.

Further, in the hair material for a brush according to the present invention, the diameter of the sea-island composite fiber is preferably in the range of 50 to 1,000 μm, more preferably in the range of 80 to 500 μm. If the diameter of the Kaijima composite fiber is less than 50 μm, the waist of the Kaijima composite fiber portion itself when used for a brush becomes too weak, and the cleaning effect may be reduced depending on the application. If the diameter of the Kaijima composite fiber exceeds 1,000 μm, the Kaijima composite fiber part itself becomes too stiff when used for a brush, and depending on the shape of the exposed island part at the tip, the root of the exposed island part. The sea-island composite fiber portion in the portion may be strongly pressed against the object to be cleaned, which may easily damage the object to be cleaned.

Further, in the hair material for brushes according to the present invention, the resin type constituting the sea-island composite fiber is not particularly limited as long as it is composed of two or more kinds of resins having different chemical dissolution rates, and for example, the sea portion of the sea-island composite fiber. Can be exemplified by a form in which is made of a polyester resin and the island part is made of a resin having a slower drug dissolution rate than the polyester resin. More specifically, a form in which the sea part is made of polybutylene terephthalate and an island part is made of nylon (registered trademark), and a form in which the sea part is made of polyethylene terephthalate and the island part is made of polybutylene terephthalate can be exemplified.

Further, in the brush bristle material according to the present invention, the cross-sectional shape of the sea-island composite fiber can be set to a substantially arbitrary shape, and the cross-sectional shape is formed in a circular shape. , Any form formed in a deformed cross-sectional shape other than a circle (for example, a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle, a multi-leaf shape, etc.) can be adopted. This cross-sectional shape can be set according to the application and purpose of use. In addition, it is possible to use a mixture of a plurality of types of cross-sectional shapes.

Further, with respect to the arrangement of the flat island portions of the sea-island composite fiber, as long as the conditions of the outer peripheral surface forming portion composed of only the sea portion are satisfied, as shown in various morphological examples described later, substantially Any arrangement is possible. In addition, a form in which a plurality of types of arrangement forms are mixed is also possible. This arrangement can be appropriately set according to the intended use and purpose of use.

Further, in the hair material for brushes according to the present invention, the tip portion of the exposed island portion at the end portion (one end portion or both end portions) of the sea island composite fiber can be formed into a tapered tapered shape, and the sea island composite fiber can be formed. It is also possible to form a shape in which the cross-sectional shape of the inner island portion is substantially maintained up to the tip portion of the exposed island portion. In the form of forming the tip of the exposed island part in a tapered shape, for example, the sea part is made of a resin having a faster dissolution rate and the island part is made of a resin having a slower dissolution rate with respect to the dissolving agent. Can be achieved. The form in which the cross-sectional shape of the flat island portion is maintained substantially as it is up to the tip of the exposed island portion is, for example, composed of a resin that dissolves only in the sea portion with a dissolving agent, and the island. This can be achieved by constructing the portion with a resin that is insoluble in the drug.

Further, in the hair material for brushes according to the present invention, it is also possible that the sea-island composite fibers have island portions made of different materials. Furthermore, it is also possible to have a form having a plurality of islands having different cross-sectional sizes. By having a plurality of types of islands in this way, it is possible to have a plurality of functions at the same time.

The present invention also provides a brush in which the above-mentioned brush bristle material according to the present invention is used at least in a part. In particular, the brush according to the present invention has the above-mentioned characteristics such as a soft touch that does not damage the object to be cleaned and excellent cleaning performance including dirt scraping performance, and also has excellent durability. Since it is used, it is particularly suitable as a toothbrush having excellent scraping performance of dirt and plaque, a brush for precision cleaning, a face washing brush, a cosmetic brush, and the like.

In such a brush according to the present invention, a range of 1 to 50 mm is exemplified as a preferable range of the brush bristles length (length from the brush root to the bristles), although it depends on the use thereof, and more preferably. , 1 to 20 mm, more preferably 5 to 15 mm.

The brush bristle material according to the present invention as described above can be designed substantially freely in size, arrangement, cross-sectional shape, arrangement density, etc. of the island portion with respect to the sea portion, as described in Patent Document 4 described above. It can be made intentionally using techniques that can be used. Alternatively, a technique for producing a sea-island composite fiber using a conventionally known so-called pipe-type sea-island composite base (a base in which the island component is finely divided by a group of pipes and distributed in a predetermined state in the sea component) is used. It can also be intentionally produced by using it. However, it is more preferable to use the technique described in Patent Document 4 described above because the target sea-island composite fiber can be produced more easily and with higher accuracy.

As described above, according to the present invention, it has characteristics such as a soft tactile sensation that does not damage the object to be cleaned and excellent cleanability including the ability to scrape dirt, and further, it retains the peeling of the island portion and the island portion. It is possible to provide a bristle material for a brush having excellent durability that can prevent tearing of a sea area.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide various brushes using at least a part of the above-mentioned brush bristle material, and particularly to provide a brush suitable as a toothbrush, a brush for precision cleaning, a face washing brush, a makeup brush and the like. can do.

The hair material for a brush according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, FIG. 1 (A) is a schematic side view of one end of the hair material, and FIG. 1 (B) is shown in line BB of FIG. 1 (A). It is a schematic cross-sectional view along. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the flocking method at the time of using a brush hair material for a toothbrush. It is a schematic side view of one end part of the hair material for a brush which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows various form examples of the hair material for a brush which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows still another various form example of the hair material for a brush which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a hair material 1 for a brush according to an embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (A) shows one end of the hair material 1. As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the brush hair material 1 is a cross section composed of a sea portion 2 and an island portion 3 composed of two or more types of resins having different chemical dissolution rates (two types of resins in the illustrated example). The sea island composite fiber 4 has a circular surface shape, and the island portion 3 at one end or both ends in the longitudinal direction of the sea island composite fiber 4 (FIG. 1 (A) shows only one end of the hair material 1). ) Is configured as an exposed brush hair material (hereinafter, the exposed island portion 3 is referred to as an exposed island portion 3a). As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the sea-island composite fiber 4 is formed in a flat shape in which the cross section of the island portion 3 is larger in the major axis than in the minor axis, and forms the outer peripheral surface of the sea-island composite fiber 4. The outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 to be formed is composed of only the sea portion. The ratio Ts / Dis of the minor axis Dis of the flat island portion 3 and the thickness Ts of the sea portion of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 in the cross section of the sea island composite fiber 4 is 1.2 or more. In the illustrated example, all the islands 3 are formed on the flat islands 3, and the islands 3 are arranged in parallel with each other with the flat shape as the same direction. More specifically, each island portion 3 has the same minor axis Dis, and a total of five island portions 3 having different lengths are arranged. As for the arrangement direction of the flat island portion 3, various forms can be adopted as described later.

In the brush hair material 1, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 forming the outer peripheral surface of the sea island composite fiber 4 is composed of only the sea portion 2, and the sea island composite fiber 4 is composed of only the sea portion 2. The flat-shaped island portions 3 are unevenly distributed in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber 4 at a portion closer to the central portion other than the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5. Then, in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber 4, the ratio Ts / Dis of the minor axis Dis of the island portion 3 to the thickness Ts of the sea portion of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 is preferably 1.2 or more. As described above, the sea-island composite fiber 4 is produced so as to be more preferably 2.0 or more. The sea-island composite fiber 4 having such a form can be substantially freely designed in terms of the size, arrangement, cross-sectional shape, arrangement density, etc. of the island portion with respect to the sea portion, as described in Patent Document 4 described above. It can be intentionally produced by using various techniques. More specifically, it is a composite base for discharging a composite polymer stream composed of a polymer having at least two components, a measuring plate having a plurality of measuring holes for measuring each polymer component, and a polymer discharged from a plurality of measuring holes. A plurality of distribution holes 1 are formed in a merging groove 1 for merging flows, and a plurality of distribution holes 2 are formed in a merging groove 2 for merging a plurality of discharged polymer streams from the distribution hole 1. Distributor plate 2 and, if necessary, the distribution plates after the distribution plate 3 in which a plurality of distribution holes are bored in a confluence groove for merging a plurality of discharged polymer streams from the distribution holes on the upstream side, and The above-mentioned sea-island composite fiber 4 made of two or more kinds of resins having different chemical dissolution rates can be produced by using a composite base having a discharge plate for discharging a polymer from the distribution plate on the most downstream side (patented). Document 4 exemplifies various forms of such a composite base). By using such a manufacturing technique, the exposed island portion 3a can be easily formed into a spatula-shaped island portion having a desired flat shape, and stable spinning becomes possible. The brush bristle material 1 as described above can be produced by using the sea-island composite fiber 4. Alternatively, as described above, a conventionally known so-called pipe-type sea-island composite base (a base in which the island component is finely divided by a group of pipes and distributed in a predetermined state in the sea component) is used to make the sea-island composite fiber. It is also possible to make 4.

Further, the exposed island portion 3a at the longitudinal end portion of the sea island composite fiber 4 is formed as follows, for example. The sea-island composite fiber 4 is composed of two types of resins having different chemical dissolution rates (for example, dissolution rate by alkaline treatment), a resin for forming the sea part 2 and a resin for forming the island part 3. Therefore, for example, the sea part 2 is made alkaline. It is formed of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) as a polyester-based resin that is dissolved in, and the island portion 3 is formed of nylon (Ny) (registered trademark) as a resin that is not soluble in alkali, and the length of the sea-island composite fiber 4 is formed. By treating the directional end portion with alkali for a predetermined length and dissolving only the sea portion 2 of the end portion, the end portion of the brush bristle material 1 having the exposed island portion 3a as shown in FIG. 1A is formed. It is formed. The above-mentioned predetermined length of the treatment in which the alkaline treatment is performed to dissolve only the sea portion 2 and the insoluble island portion 3 is left is the exposure length of the exposed island portion 3a. This exposure length is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm as described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the exposed island portion 3a is composed of, for example, a resin that is not dissolved by the alkali treatment, the island portion 3 in the sea island composite fiber 4 is flattened even after being exposed by the dissolution of the sea portion 2. The exposed island portion 3a is formed in the same cross-sectional shape from the root portion to the tip portion. In particular, the ratio Ts / Dis of the minor axis Dis of the island portion 3 and the thickness Ts of the sea portion of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 is formed to be 1.2 or more. The preferable range of the ratio Ts / Dis, the preferable range of the number of island portions 3 in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber 4, and the preferable range of the diameter of the sea-island composite fiber 4 are as described above.

The brush bristle material 1 configured as described above is used at least in part for producing various brushes. Generally, two types of methods are generally known as methods for flocking a brush bristle material to a brush component, and these two methods are taken as an example in the case of use for a toothbrush. This will be described with reference to 2.

FIG. 2A shows a toothbrush 13 in which the brush bristle material 11 is flocked on the head portion of the toothbrush component 12, and as a method of flocking the brush bristle material 11, a- There are two types of methods as shown in FIGS. 2 (B) and 2 (C), which are enlarged cross-sectional views along the line a. In the method shown in FIG. 2B, the brush bristle material 11 folded in half is inserted into the bristle hole 14, and the brush bristle material 11 is fixed to the toothbrush component 12 with a fixture called a flat wire 15. .. The finished toothbrush is commonly referred to as a flat line toothbrush. In such a flat-line toothbrush, both ends of the brush bristles 11 prepared in advance serve as the bristles of the brush. In the method shown in FIG. 2C, one end of the brush bristle material 11 is inserted into the through hole 16 of the head portion surface side member 12a of the toothbrush component member 12, and the end portion of the inserted brush bristle material 11 is inserted. A heating device (not shown) is applied to form a lump for preventing or fixing, which is called a hot-bulb 17, and then the back member 12b of the head is joined to hide the hot-bulb 17 and complete the toothbrush product. Let me. The finished toothbrush is commonly referred to as a flat line toothbrush. In such a non-flat line toothbrush, one end of a brush bristles 11 prepared in advance serves as a bristles of the brush. Therefore, when the brush bristle material 1 according to the present invention is used for a flat line toothbrush, the exposed island portions 3a described above are formed at both ends of the brush bristle material 1, and the non-flat line toothbrush. When used in, the exposed island portion 3a will be formed at one end of the brush bristle material 1.

In the brush using the brush bristles 1 according to the above embodiment, as described above, a large number of exposed islands 3a having a relatively weak waist due to the structure in which thin and thin exposed islands 3a are present at the ends of the bristles. The bristles that come into contact with the object to be cleaned are formed so that the object to be cleaned is less likely to be damaged, a soft touch is obtained, and excellent cleanability (excellent) even for small parts that are difficult to clean, such as between teeth. The dirt scraping performance and dirt scraping performance) are exhibited. Since the exposed island portion 3a is formed on the flat island portion, an excellent spatula-like function is exhibited, and dirt and plaque are satisfactorily scraped off by the tip thereof, which is even more excellent. Cleanability is achieved. Further, by setting the ratio Ts / Dis of the thickness Ts of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 5 to the minor diameter Dis of the flat island portion 3 to 1.2 or more, the exposed island portion 3a having a flat shape is at the root thereof. The part is supported in a state of being covered with the sea part 2 having a sufficient thickness, and even when an external force is repeatedly applied to the exposed island part 3a, the sea part supporting the exposed island part 3a due to the external force. 2 is prevented from tearing, and high durability of the brush bristle material 1 is realized.

FIG. 3 shows one end of the brush bristles 21 according to another embodiment of the present invention (Embodiment 2). In the present embodiment, the tip of the exposed island portion 23 exposed from the sea island composite fiber 22 at the end portion of the brush bristle material 21 is formed in a tapered shape. The brush bristle material 21 having such a form has, for example, a resin having a faster dissolution rate in the sea part (for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and a resin having a slower dissolution rate in the island part with respect to alkali as a dissolving agent. This can be achieved by configuring with (eg, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)). In this way, the sea area around the exposed island portion 23 is removed by the alkaline treatment at the portion where the exposed island portion 23 is formed at a high dissolution rate, and the exposed island portion 23 is left, but gradually due to the slow dissolution rate due to the alkaline treatment. It is dissolved in and formed into a tapered tapered shape. Further, under the influence of the alkali treatment at the end of the sea-island composite fiber 22, the shoulder portion of the sea-island composite fiber 22 which is connected to the exposed island portion 23 and remains is rounded as shown in the figure. It has a smooth shape.

Even in the brush bristle material 21 provided with the exposed island portion 23 whose tip portion is formed in a tapered shape, the object to be cleaned is not easily damaged and a soft touch feeling can be obtained as in the first embodiment. Moreover, excellent cleanability is exhibited even for small parts, and excellent durability can be obtained. Since the exposed island portion 23 is formed in a spatula-shaped flat island portion, dirt and plaque are satisfactorily scraped off by the tip of the spatula-shaped flat-shaped exposed island portion 23. , Even better cleanability is exhibited. Further, as compared with the first embodiment described above, since the tip portion of the exposed island portion 23 is sharpened, it is possible to exert an excellent cleaning effect even on a finer portion.

Table 1 summarizes the typical features of the first embodiment and the second embodiment when applied to a toothbrush. In the first embodiment, the sea part is formed of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), the island part is formed of nylon (Ny) (registered trademark), and in the second embodiment, the sea part is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the island part is made of polybutylene terephthalate (polybutylene terephthalate). It was formed with PBT), and exposed islands were formed by alkaline treatment. The characteristics of the brush bristle material in Table 1 are shown as contrasting characteristics with the brush bristle material formed of a monofilament of nylon (registered trademark), which is usually a single material, and the durability of the brush bristle material. Is shown as a contrasting characteristic with the hair material described in Patent Document 1 described above. In Table 1, ◯ indicates that the characteristics are equal to or higher than those of the comparison target, and ⊚ indicates that they are significantly superior to the comparison target.

In the bristle material for brushes according to the present invention, the outer peripheral surface forming portion forming the outer peripheral surface of the sea island composite fiber in the cross section of the sea island composite fiber is composed of only the sea portion, and the island portion is the central portion other than the outer peripheral surface forming portion. It is unevenly distributed in the near part, and the cross section of the island part is formed in a flat shape in which the major axis is larger than the minor axis. As long as the ratio Ts / Dis with and is configured to be 1.2 or more, the sea-island composite fiber can take various cross-sectional forms. Various forms are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The brush bristle material 31 shown in FIG. 4 (A) has substantially the same shape as that shown in FIG. 1 (B), and is formed on a sea-island composite fiber 34 having a sea portion 32 and an island portion 33 having a flat shape. In addition, it has an outer peripheral surface forming portion 35 having a predetermined thickness or more and is composed of only the sea portion. In the brush bristle material 41 shown in FIG. 4B, the sea island composite fiber 44 having the sea portion 42 and the flat island portion 43 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 45 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. Compared to the form shown in FIG. 4 (A), the number of flat-shaped islands 43 is 6, and each island 43 has the radius of the sea-island composite fiber 44 in the major axis direction. It is arranged in the direction. In the brush bristle material 51 shown in FIG. 4C, the sea island composite fiber 54 having the sea portion 52 and the flat island portion 53 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 55 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The number of islands 53 having a flat shape is 4 as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (B). In the brush bristle material 61 shown in FIG. 4D, the sea island composite fiber 64 having the sea portion 62 and the flat island portion 63 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 65 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The number of islands 53 having a flat shape is 3 as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (B).

Further, in the brush bristle material 71 shown in FIG. 4 (E), the bristle material 71 is formed of a sea island composite fiber 74 having a sea portion 72 and an island portion 73 having a flat shape, and an outer peripheral surface having a predetermined thickness or more composed of only the sea portion is formed. It has a portion 75, and each island portion 73 having a flat shape is arranged along the extending direction of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 75 as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (C). In the brush bristle material 81 shown in FIG. 4 (F), the sea portion 82 and the sea island composite fiber 84 having the flat island portion 83 are formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 85 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. Compared to the form shown in FIG. 4 (E), the shape of the flat island portion 83 arranged along the extending direction of the outer peripheral surface forming portion 85 is the shape of the sea outer peripheral surface forming portion. It is formed so as to be curved along the extending direction of 85. In the brush bristle material 91 shown in FIG. 4 (G), the sea portion 92 and the sea island composite fiber 94 having the flat island portion 93 are formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 95 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The bending direction of each island portion 93 having a flat shape is opposite to the bending direction shown in FIG. 4 (F), as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (F). ing. In the brush bristle material 101 shown in FIG. 4H, the brush bristle material 101 is formed of the sea island composite fiber 104 having the sea portion 102 and the flat island portion 103, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 105 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion. The flat island portion 103 is thinner (smaller in minor axis) and is curved in the radial direction of the sea-island composite fiber 104 as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (C). It is formed.

Further, in the brush bristle material 111 shown in FIG. 4 (I), the hair is formed on the sea island composite fiber 114 having the sea portion 112 and the flat island portion 113, and the outer peripheral surface having a predetermined thickness or more is formed only by the sea portion. The flat-shaped island portion 113 is thicker (larger in minor axis) and the number of flat-shaped island portions 113 is 2 as compared with the form shown in FIG. 4 (E). Has been done. In the brush bristle material 121 shown in FIG. 4 (J), the brush bristle material 121 is formed of the sea island composite fiber 124 having the sea portion 122 and the flat island portion 123, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 125 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion. The flat-shaped island portion 123 is formed thicker and longer than the form shown in FIG. 4 (I), and both ends of the island portion 123 are in contact with the outer peripheral surface forming portion 125. It extends to the position. Further, in the brush hair material 131 shown in FIG. 4 (K), the hair is formed on the sea island composite fiber 134 having the sea portion 132 and the flat island portion 133, and the outer peripheral surface having a predetermined thickness or more is formed only by the sea portion. The flat-shaped island portion 133 has a portion 135, and the flat-shaped island portion 133 is a flat-shaped island portion 133 in which two sets of island portions 133 arranged in a C shape are arranged in the form of four sets. The total number of is eight.

Further, FIG. 5 illustrates various cross-sectional shapes of the sea-island composite fiber itself. In the brush bristle material 141 shown in FIG. 5 (A), the sea portion 142 and the sea island composite fiber 144 having the flat island portion 143 are formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 145 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The cross-sectional shape (external cross-sectional shape) of the sea-island composite fiber 144 is formed in a triangular shape, and the arrangement region of the flat-shaped island portions 143 arranged in parallel with each other is also formed in a triangular region. Has been done. In the brush bristle material 151 shown in FIG. 5B, the sea portion 152 and the sea island composite fiber 154 having the flat island portion 153 are formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 155 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The cross-sectional shape (external cross-sectional shape) of the sea-island composite fiber 154 is formed in a quadrangular shape, and the arrangement region of the flat-shaped island portions 153 arranged in parallel with each other is also formed in a quadrangular region. Has been done. In the brush bristle material 161 shown in FIG. 5C, the sea island composite fiber 164 having the sea portion 162 and the flat island portion 163 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 165 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The cross-sectional shape (external cross-sectional shape) of the sea-island composite fiber 164 is formed in a trefoil shape, and the flat-shaped island portion 163 arranged parallel to each other has a circular region. Is formed in. In the brush bristle material 171 shown in FIG. 5D, the sea island composite fiber 174 having the sea portion 172 and the flat island portion 173 is formed, and the outer peripheral surface forming portion 175 having a predetermined thickness or more consisting of only the sea portion is formed. The cross-sectional shape (external cross-sectional shape) of the sea-island composite fiber 174 is formed in a five-leaf shape, and the flat-shaped islands 173 arranged parallel to each other are arranged in a circular region. It is formed. As described above, various forms can be adopted in the cross-sectional shape of the sea-island composite fiber.

As described above, the sea-island composite fiber in the present invention can take various cross-sectional forms, and can be optimally designed according to the application and purpose of use.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described.
Examples 1-11, Comparative Example 1
[Making hair materials for brushes]
As raw materials, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT, "Trecon" (registered trademark) 1100SW manufactured by Toray Co., Ltd.), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, manufactured by Toray Co., Ltd., T755M), nylon 610 (Ny610, manufactured by Toray Co., Ltd. "Amilan" (Registered Trademark) CM2001), Thermoplastic Polyamide Elastomer (Ny11-PTMG (Polytetramethylene Glycol), Alchema's "Pevax" (Registered Trademark) 72R53), Polybutylene Naphthalate (PBN, Toyo Boseki, AE-500) ) Was dried and prepared under the recommended conditions. Table 2 shows the resin species of the sea and islands, the area ratio between the sea and the islands, and the number of islands. The islands are formed in a flat shape and are unevenly distributed in the central part of the sea. The sea-island type composite fiber designed in 1 was melt-spun. After the eluted fibers are cooled and solidified in water, the first stage is stretched 4.5 times in warm water at 60 ° C. and the second stage is stretched 4.5 times in a dry atmosphere at 120 ° C., and then a remittent fever set in a dry heat atmosphere. Was carried out to obtain a sea-island composite fiber. The composition of the obtained sea-island composite fiber is shown in Table 2.

The fibers were bundled in a straight line with a bundle diameter of 45 mm, packaged, and then cut to an arbitrary length. Next, the bundle of sea-island composite fibers was immersed in a heated caustic soda solution with the cut both end faces exposed to dissolve and remove both ends to expose the islands. The exposure length of the islands was controlled by changing the immersion time in the caustic soda solution. Table 2 shows the characteristics of the obtained bristle material for brushes.

As Comparative Example 1, PBT fibers were immersed in a caustic soda solution in the same manner as described above to prepare a bristle material for a brush in which both ends were tapered and tapered.

[Making a toothbrush]
The brush hair material obtained by the above method was set in a flat wire type hair transplanter, a predetermined number (about 15 to 40 hairs) was picked, and the hair material was folded in half and driven into the hair transplant hole of the toothbrush head together with the flat line. .. As the toothbrush head, a toothbrush head having a flocked hole with a diameter of 1.5 mm and having a flocked portion of 8 rows and 4 columns was used. Table 2 shows the hair length (mm) and the number of flocked hairs (lines / holes) of the toothbrushes produced in Examples and Comparative Examples.

The following evaluations were performed on each of the obtained toothbrushes, and the results shown in Table 2 were obtained.
[Cleanability evaluation]
An artificial plaque manufactured by Nissin Co., Ltd. was applied to the dentition model and dried for 5 minutes or more. A toothbrush moistened with water was pressed from the upper surface of the dentition model with a force of 230 g, and brushing was performed in the direction along the dentition with a stroke width of 70 mm and a stroke speed of 180 mm / sec. The upper side of the back tooth part of the dentition model was used for the evaluation of the tooth surface, and the outer side of the anterior tooth part was used for the evaluation between the teeth. The cleanability was calculated from the number of brushings up to the standard based on the remaining amount of dirt after brushing 20 times with a nylon bristle toothbrush by the following formula.
Cleanability = 20 ÷ (number of brushings to reach the standard)

[Hair opening durability evaluation]
A load of 230 g is applied vertically to the toothbrush from the back side of the sliding surface, and in a state where hot water at 37 ° C is dropped, the stainless corrugated plate is slid 1000 times in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush to make the brush part. The hair opening rate was measured. The method for calculating the hair opening rate was (BA) / A × 100% when the width of the brush portion in the initial state was A mm and the width after sliding was B mm.

[Hair tear durability evaluation]
Under the same conditions as the above-mentioned evaluation of hair opening durability, the tearing of the hair tips was observed every 50 times of brushing, and the number of times the number of hair materials having hair tears became five was recorded.

[Tactile / foaming evaluation]
Twenty adults were asked to use the toothbrush for 30 days, and responses were requested according to the following criteria, and the average score was used as the evaluation value.
Score Tactile foaming 5 Very soft Very good foaming 4 Soft foaming is good 3 Usually neither can be said 2 Hard foaming is bad 1 Very hard Very bad foaming

The present invention can be applied to any brush, and is particularly suitable for toothbrushes, tongue brushes, cleaning brushes and the like.

1, 21 Brush hair material 2 Sea part 3 Island part 3a, 23 Exposed island part 4, 22 Sea island composite fiber 5 Outer surface forming part 11 Brush hair material 12 Toothbrush component 12a Head part front side member 12b Head part back side member 13 Toothbrush 14 Flocked hole 15 Flat line 16 Through hole 17 Burnt ball 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, 121.131, 141, 151, 161, 171 Brush hair material 32, 42 , 52, 62, 72, 82, 92, 102, 112, 122.132, 142, 152, 162, 172 Marine 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93, 103, 113, 123.133, 143 , 153, 163, 173 Flat-shaped islands 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94, 104, 114, 124.134, 144, 154, 164, 174 Kaishima composite fibers 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125.135, 145, 155, 165, 175 Outer surface forming part

Claims (5)

When a brush bristles made of sea-island composite fibers made of two or more types of resins having different chemical dissolution rates are used for a brush, the islands at one end or both ends of the sea-island composite fibers constituting the bristles are formed. A brush having an exposed exposed island portion and a sea portion of the sea-island composite fiber that covers the island portion on the root side of the exposed island portion and supports the exposed island portion when a brush hair material is used for a brush. The hair material is formed into a flat shape in which the cross section of the island portion of the sea island composite fiber has a larger major axis than a minor axis, and the sea island is used when the brush hair material is used for a brush. The outer peripheral surface forming portion forming the outer peripheral surface of the composite fiber is composed of only the sea portion, and the minor axis Dis of the island portion and the thickness Ts of the sea portion of the outer peripheral surface forming portion in the cross section of the sea island composite fiber. A hair material for a brush having a ratio Ts / Dis of 1.2 or more. The hair material for a brush according to claim 1, wherein the major axis / minor axis ratio of the island portion is 2 or more. The hair material for a brush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the minor axis Dis of the island portion is in the range of 10 to 300 μm. The hair material for a brush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the number of islands in the cross section of the sea-island composite fiber is 3 or more. A brush in which at least a part of the brush bristle material according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used.

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