CA2190735A1 - Floss yarn bulking assembly and method - Google Patents
Floss yarn bulking assembly and methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA2190735A1 CA2190735A1 CA002190735A CA2190735A CA2190735A1 CA 2190735 A1 CA2190735 A1 CA 2190735A1 CA 002190735 A CA002190735 A CA 002190735A CA 2190735 A CA2190735 A CA 2190735A CA 2190735 A1 CA2190735 A1 CA 2190735A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- yarn
- zone
- humidifier
- tension
- rollers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
- D02J—FINISHING OR DRESSING OF FILAMENTS, YARNS, THREADS, CORDS, ROPES OR THE LIKE
- D02J1/00—Modifying the structure or properties resulting from a particular structure; Modifying, retaining, or restoring the physical form or cross-sectional shape, e.g. by use of dies or squeeze rollers
- D02J1/22—Stretching or tensioning, shrinking or relaxing, e.g. by use of overfeed and underfeed apparatus, or preventing stretch
- D02J1/222—Stretching in a gaseous atmosphere or in a fluid bed
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C15/00—Devices for cleaning between the teeth
- A61C15/04—Dental floss; Floss holders
- A61C15/041—Dental floss
- A61C15/042—Dental floss comprising protuberances along its length, e.g. balls or knots
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
- D06M23/00—Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process
- D06M23/10—Processes in which the treating agent is dissolved or dispersed in organic solvents; Processes for the recovery of organic solvents thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
- F26B13/001—Drying and oxidising yarns, ribbons or the like
- F26B13/002—Drying coated, e.g. enamelled, varnished, wires
Abstract
A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss blush comprising alternating portions of thread sections which do not stretch significantly under tension and brush sections which stretch under slight tension, including the step of coating at least the thread sections of a reverse twisted high tenacity nylon yarn (10) with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being nylon, polyurethane or mixtures thereof. The thread sections of the yarn (10) are thereafter heated to vaporize solvent therefrom while the yarn (10) is maintained under a tension of 0.15 to 1 N. In the humidifier assembly (18) having a housing which defines a humidifier zone (20) the brush sections of the yarn (10) are exposed to a mixture of steam and gas while the yarn (10) is under tension. Finally, the brush sections of the yarn (10) are heated to remove solvent and passed through the humidifier zone (20) under controlled tension.
Description
WO 95/32684 ; Z 1 9 0 7 3 5 . ~
El~OSS Yl~l~N B~RING ~Q~2T~MRT.Y AND NET~OD
This invention relates to an; ~ d thin floss brush product and to a novel procesa for its manuf~cture. In particular this invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a c~n~;n~ u~ yarn having brush sections separ~ted by thinner thread sections.
Tooth dec~y and dental disease can be c~used by b~cterial action resulting from the formation of plaque about the t~eth and/or the enLL _ t of food p~rticles between the teeth and interstices th-~rebet . . The removal of plaque and L. t.~ -~'d food p~rticles reduces the ~n~ ;~n~e of caries, gingivitia, and mouth odors as well as gener~lly improving or~l hygiene.
Conventional brushing has been f ound to be ;n~ te for removing ~11 entr~pped food p~rticles ~nd plaque. To supplement brushing, dental flosses and tapes have been .~
To improve the effectivenoss and convenience of dental flosses, dental flosses ' in~ng a thin ~fl08sn portion and a l-h;r~k~n~
~brush~' portion, together with a thre~der have been developed. The brush portion, when drawn a5 between tooth surfaces, has been found to provide an; _ ~ c lA-n;n~ action which remov material~ left by the floss portion, Wo 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 ~ s when used alone. The combination provides a subs~nnt;~lly superior ~ nn;n~ ~ction. Such a device is described in U.S. Patent 4,008,727, for example. The ~ ty of this product 5 regui~es that each floss segment be individually m~nufactured and th~t the product be packaged as bundles of the individual, sep~rate floss articles .
A cont;n~ y~rn hnving bru~h 10 sections separated by thinner thread ~ections is rl;F-r~?8~Cl in ~.S. P~tents 4,008,727 and 4,142,538. In the n nufacture of brush floss products of this type, a polymer solution can be ~pplied to ~t lea~t a portion of the yarn and, 15 while the yarn is under s~ff;ci~nt tension to dr~w it into ~ thread, heat cnn be applied to remove the solvent and/or further to polymerize the polymer. The portion of the yarn to which the polymer has been applied renains a thread 20 when the yarn tension is removed ~Ifter heating.
We discuve ~d that conv~ti~n~l textured nylon yarns and previously developed manuf~cturing processes lacked the tensile str~ngth required for making such a product. Fur~h~ e, the 25 portion of the yarn which was ;nt^n~ to be the brush portion lacked the bulk and texture desired when not under tension.
Attractive and plo~-nt flavors ~nd flavor odors h~ve been provided in dental 30 products ;nrlll~l;n~ dental flosses to imp~rt n f lavor to the f losses and ~_~ _ __ 3~ their regul~r use. These have been ~pplied in the form of fl~voring oils to the surface of floss or wax coatings on the f 1088, or dispersed in 35 wax coatings ~pplied to the floss. In a process described in ~opGn~; ns, comnonly ~ n^~l arpl;~t;r~l Serial No. 07/809,625 filed =~ 2 90735 ~ ' wo95l32684 1 ~ "~
rO~ `- 17, 1991, ~lavoring oils are applied to flo8a in a low-melting wax composition cr~nt~;n;n~ a mixture of high and low melting point polyethylene glycols, the low melting 5 characteristic of the wax retaining the flavoring oils without s;~n;f;~nt 1088 through evaporation or from oxidation. Application of these low melting wax compositions to a flos8 brush was found to clog and mat the brush 10 portion of the yarn, reducing it~ effectivenes8 as a rleJ-n;n~ article.
We further disc.,veL.l that conventional textured nylon yarns having brush 8-_ - t~ geparated by thinner e~ typically 15 f~iled to provide the n~C~ ry bulking of the brush 8~ re~iuired for effective rle~n;
of teeth.
It was also f ound that the speed at which the yarn could be ~Lucesse~ was limited by 20 a number o~ constraints. ~ccordingly this invention also ~ddresses the issue of processing nu~ber of yarns simul~n^ouPly.
It is one object of this invention to provide an; ~ ,d floss brush which can be 25 spooled and ~ 7 as a c~o~;n~
brush/thread from a traditional flo8s dispenser, Another object of this invention is to provide an; _ ~,vcd process for the m~nufacture of a floss brush which can be spooled ~nd 30 ~; ~F---- ~ a8 a ~"nt-~n~ bru8h-throad from a traditional floss 1; F~p~nP~r A further object of this invention is to provide a proces8 for manufacturing a polymer coated floss brush made from a textured yarn 35 which retains or exceeds the bulk and I h;
of the original, ~n~-ort~ 1, relaxed ynrn.
It i8 a further object of the Wo gs/32684 2 1 q O 7 3 5 invention to provide ~ hllm;~f;~r asssmbly for use in the ~bove process and a procens for improving the bulking of the brush sections of the floss bruah.
According to the invention there is provided a process for manufacturing a ~nnt;T~ dental flol~g brush co_prising alternating portions of thread ~;ection~, which are ~ d, ~nd thread sections, the procesa comprising the steps of a) coating at least the thread sections of a twisted yarn with a 801~lt;~n Of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyureth~ne, and mixture~; thereof;
~) heating at least the t~read section~ of the yarn ~nd vaporizing solvent therefrom while the yarn i8 ~ ;nt~;n-~l under a tension of f rom 0 .15 to 10 N; and c) feeding the yarn through ~
hll~;~3;f;Pr zone c~nts;n;n~ a æteam and gas mixture, and ~To~:;n~ at lea~t the brush sections of the yarn to the steam and gas mixture, the yarn being r--;nt~;n~l at a con9tant tension which is s~ffi~i~ntly low to allow the brush ~ection~ to contr~ct longit~l~;nS~l ly until ths brush sections of the yarn have r2gained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the -n. o; t~, relaxed yarn, the yarn being fed into the hllm;~f;~r zone at a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom to m-;nt~;n a ~ .,t;:~lly constant brush tension as the bru3h sections expand in the hllm;~3;f;~-r zone .
The process may lnclude coating the brush sections with ~ sol~-~; r~n of poly~er in a volatile solvent before feeding the yarn through 2 1 q 0 7 3 5 the h~m;~l~f;er zone, the polymer being selected from the group consi8ting of nylon, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof.
The yarn may be fed into ~nd removed 5 from the h--~ 3; f i pr zone by; n~l^rPnAPnt drives, the relative speed~ of the ; n~ t drives being controlled to l~-;nr~;n a ~ L~ lly con8tant bru8h tension as the brush sections expand in the h~ ; f; Pr zone.
The steam and ga8 mixture may have a temperature of 130C., nd a water vapor content of 65% (v/v).
Preferahly the steam and gas mixture is a ~team and air mixture having a temperature of 130C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v).
Further according to the invention there is provided a process for re~toring the bulk of ~tretched nylon yarn, comprising feeding the yarn into a h~lm;~;f;Pr zone cnntJ~;n;n~ a ao ste~m ~nd g~s mixture, the yarn bei~g fed into the h~rn;~;f;~r zone ~t a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom to T^-;nt~;n a sub~tantially constant yarn tension as t_e yarn expand~ in the h--~l; ~1; f; er zone .
The steam and gas mixture may have a temperature of 130C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v) .
Preferably the steam and ga~ mixture is a ~team and air mixture having a temper~ture o~ 130C. and a water vapor content of 6596 (v/v).
The yarn may be f ed into and removed from the h~-ln;A;f~r zone by ~n~ r- t drive~, the relative speeds of the ;n~Ppen~3Pnt drives being controlled to ~n-;nt~n a ~ubgt--nt;~-lly constant y~rn tension as tho yarn expands in the h.-~; ~; f; pr zone .
The yarn pas~ed through the h~ f; pr Wo 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 . ~
20ne may be supported by a support means as it passes through the I ~;f;~r zone. The support means may comprise at l~ast one ~ ;n~ means which E~upports the yarn by rl ~ _ in~ the yarn as it passes through the hl-m;~;f;~r zone, the means being mounted for v~ t n~-2;rl~ the travelling yarn. The ~ ng means preferably intermittently releases the yarn as it passes through the h--m;~;fier zone, thereby to ~ te reduction in length of the yarn ~18 it passes through the h--m; ~; f; er zone .
The yarn may be guided on rollers as it passes through the humidifier asse_bly and the process may include h; 11 ;n~ at lea~t ~ome of the rollers.
The process may include applying a water/alcohol solution to the rollers.
The y~rn may be a yarn co~ted with a polymer solut;rln.
Still further according to the invention there ig provided a h.lm; ~; f; ~r asse_bly for ~Tos~n~ a yarn to steam, comprising:
a housing ~f;n;n~ a h--m;~;fier zone, the housing having a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet;
fluid inlet means for introducing a steam and g~s mixture into the ' ~ f; ~r zone;
fluid outlet means for removing steam ~nd gas from the h~m;~;f;er zone; ~nd drive means for feeding the yarn into the h~m;~l~f;~r zone at ~ first speed and removing the yarn from the h~m;~l;fier zone at a second speed which i8 le~s than the first speed, thereby to r~o;nf-;n a subs~-ont;~lly constant y~rn tension ~8 the y~rn exp~mds in the Wo95/32684 ~ 21 90735 p~ ~r~
h~lm; ~; f; -r zone .
The housing and drive means may be n~d to a~~ ' te a plurality of yarns simult~n~ou~l y. The drive mean~ may comprise a plurality of roller8 on an input side of the humidifier zone ~nd a plurality of roller~ on an output side of the hllm; ,1~ f i -r zone .
The ~~ . t may include water/~lcohol applicator means for applying a water/alcohol so~ n to circumferential ~urfaces of at le~st one of the rollers. The water/alcohol applicator mean6 may include means for ~pplying a water/alcohol 801ut;nn to the cir. 'er.:~tial ~urfaces of each of the rollers.
The aLL~y. t may include means for ~3~rirp;n~ exce~s liguid from the circumferential surfaces of the rollers and mean8 for c~tching the liquid which is ~tripped of f the circumf erential 8urf ace~ .
The rollers may have different di~meters to ~c- ' t~ change~; in length of the yarn, thereby to control the ten~ion of the yarn .
Separ~te drive means ~y be provided for feeding the yarn into the hllm;~l;f;~r zone ~nd for removing the yarn from the 1 ~l;f;~-r zone .
The drive mean~ ~nay include at le~st one drive motor.
The asse_bly may include support means for ~I.L~p~JL l.ing the yarn~ in the hou~ing as they pas~ through the humidif ier zone .
The support menns may be in the f orm of at least one ~ in~ me~ns for ~ the yarn8 a~ they pAss through the hllm;~;f;~r zone, each ,~1. _;n~ means being mounted for .~ t along~ite the travelling y~rns at a Gpeed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W095132684 ' . 21 9 07 35 ~ z.~~~r~
C~L~ n~ to the speed of Yections of the yarns which it is cl ~ _ ~ n~ .
Fig. 1 is a gchematic rG,~.~L' F~ t;nn of a system for producing a cnnt;n~n~ length of 5 connected dental floss brushes in accuLl~ce with this invention;
Fig. 2 i~ a schematic side view of a hllm;~l;fi~-r aE~8embly for uge in the system of Fig. 1, in accc,L-l~cc with the invention; and Fig. 3 i~ a schematic side view of another ~ ' t of the ~ '~;f;er ~se bly in accoLd~ ce with the invention.
RQferring to Fig. 1, a proces~ for ~nufacturing a floss brush from a yarn ;nrl~ fi 15 passing a length of y~rn 10 through a dye/re~in ~pplicator asse~bly 12, drying the dye/resin in a drying ch mber 14, passing the yarn 10 through a resin applicator ass~mbly 16, bulking or ~Yp~n~;n~ the fiber 10 in a hllm;~;f;~r asQemh,ly 20 18 which defines a ~ '~;f;Pr zone 20, drying the yarn in a ~cond drying chamb~r 22 and then passing the yarn 10 through a wax/flavoring reservoir 23.
The untrQated yarn 10 is supported on 25 creels 24 fro~ where it is feed by a tt-n~inn~r 26 to the dye/resin applicator assembly 12 which is described ln greater detail in ~oponr3;n5, co_monly ~PP;~n~d patent application entitled "yarn coating a~sembly ~nd method'~, the entire nn~t~nt~ of which are incvL~vL~Lted herein by ref erence .
The applicator assembly 12 ~ n~ an applicator h~ad 28 8~r~1; ecl with a coating material, e.g. dye or resin or a ~ ;n.t;rln thereof fro_ a aupply tanlc 30 via a pump 32. A
cam (not shown) untGd on ~ wheel 34 controls the inter_ittent coating of the yarn by ~ W0 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 perio~ l y urging the yarn into contAct with the coating material supported by the head 28.
In order to dry the dye/resin, the yarn is passed into the drying cha~her 14 where heated air from the second drying chamber 22 and heat generated by infrared heaters 36 mounted within the drying chamber 14, dry the yarn 10 before it paases to the regin arpl; r~ltr~r assembly 16. Drive rollers 38 mounted on the downstream side of the drying chamber 14 serve to draw the yarn 10 through the dye/resin applicator a~sembly 12 and drying chamber 14 while the t^n~ n~r 26, in the form of a disc brake, insures that the reguisite tension is l--;nt~-in~A on the yarn 10. Downstream of the drive rollers 38 the tension of the yarn 10 is si~n;f;c~ntly reduced and remains at thia lower l~vel as it passes through the resin applicator assembly 16 and into the hllm; ~ f i er assembly 18 .
The resin Arpl;c~tor ~ssembly 16, while similar to the dye/resin applicator /Issembly 12, In~ a tension sensing mea~s for ~enaing the yarn tension.
A8 the yarn 10 passes through the h~ .r zone 20 of the as~embly 18, the y~rn 10 is exposed to a steam ~nd gas mixture, which in this ' - '; t is a steam/air mixture, and which is used in the bulking process, as is deacribed in greater det~il hereinaf ter .
Up1tre~m of the h-m~;~;f;er zone 20, the yarn 10 i~ fed over a number of rollers 44 which are driven by a fir~t drive means (not shown) which is common to the drive means driving the drive rollers 38.
In contrast, the rollers 46 on the downstream ~ide of the h--~ 7;f;--r zone 20 are driven by ~ second driv~ means tal~o not shown).
_ _ W0 95/32684 ~ 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 P ~
The uae of a second drive meana is necessit~ted by the fact that the yarn, as it passes through the h~ q;fi~r zone 20, bulks and therefore contracts resulting in ~ ch~nge in the speed of 5 the yarn 10 ~8 it passes through the zone 20.
Upon exiting the h~;AIfi~r ~ssembly 18, the yarn 10 passes through the drying chamber 22 where it is fed along a circuitous path over a number of rollera 48.
A Eecond set of drive rollers 50, also driven by the second drive means, ---;n~:~;n~l the reguisite tension on the yarn lO as the yarn 10 p~sses into the wax/flavoring reservoir 23.
Wax/flavoring iQ, applied to the yarn 10 by means 15 of a lick roller 51. A p~ir of squeeze rollers 52, mounted on the ' -L~ e~ side of the reservoir 23, Egu~ Q excess wax/flavoring from the yarn 10 before the yarn passes into a refrigeration unit 54. A chiller drive roller 20 pair 56 driven by a third drive me~ns ~not shown) dr~ws the yarn 10 from the refrigeration unit 54 where~fter the yarn is t~ken up on low tension t~ke-up winder_ 58.
It will be ~ppreciated that the 25 various drive means may include separate drive motors or may sh~re a common drive motor to which they ~re connected by suitable gearing d,L ' _~, O .
As indic~ted on Fig. 1 ~ plurality of 30 yarns may be aL ' a~ d next to each other and ' simult~n~c-u~-ly before being taken up on the respective low tension ta3ce-up winders 58.
The l ~ ~ f i Pr assembly 18 is shown in gr~ater detail in Fig. 2, the rollers 44, 46 35 serving to guide the yarn 10 through the assembly 18. Each of the four rollers 44 on the upstream side ~8 well as the three roll~rs 46 on -~ 21 90735 w095132684 P~ l/8_,3 ~
the downstream aide are provided with doctor blades 60 to avoid excea8ive build up of moiature on the rollers by stripping exce8s liguid off the circumferential surface8 of the 5 rollers. The moisture is then caught ln drip pans 62 ~n80n; ~t~cl with each of the doctor bl~de~ 60 and led off by means of conduits (not shown) .
The hll-nirl~f;~r zone 20 ia defined 10 int~ t~ a steam/gas diverter 64, an exhaust hood 65, and a distribution cone 66. The exhaust hood 65 serve8 as an outlet means for ste~m and gas. The g~s which is removed could include air and alcohol fumes, the alcohol 15 emanating from a sprayer aa ia ~i~n~-r;hed in greater detail below. The cone 66, which s~rpli-~ ateam/g~ to the zone 20, is connected by means of a ~team manifold 68 to an inlet conduit 70, which 8erves as an inlet meana for 20 the steam/gas mixture. The conduit 70, in turn, splitting into a st~am inlet 72 and a hot air inlet 74 . The kot air inlet 74 ~--rpl i o~ heated air at a temperature of approximately 400C.
thu~ nl ~ inin~ the zone 20 at an elevated 25 temperature. The first five roller~, in contra~t, are refrigerated to ~ temperature of 5C. by means of cold wat~r swivela. As can be 3een in Fig. 2 a sprayer 76 ~nd a felt pad 78 are provided, these serving to apply a 30 water/alcohol ~olvl~ n to the ~irst and fourth rollers respectively. Cooling of the rollers and the uae of the water/alcohol 8oluti rn avoids r~h~ni~n of the yarn 10 to the roller~. For thiE~ - 'i - t, a 50% Isopropyl alcohol/50Y6 35 water soluti^n waa fou~d to work well. It will be ~ppreci~ted that any nulober of the rollera could be cooled or treated with the _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W0 95132684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 . ~,I/U.~
water/alcohol aolut; r~n .
A~ the yarn 10 passea through the h~ ;f;er zone 20 the heated air/ateam mixture causea the yarn lO to fluff up/bullc ~nd 5 ~n~ l y to contract . The ateam, air and ~ny alcohol vapors, having pa~aed through the zone 20, are drawn off by the exhaust hood 65.
Another: i t of the hllm;~l; fi-~r assembly 18 is illustrated in Fig. 3 which 10 providea a set of 7 downstre~m rollera and a ~et of 7 u~ LL ~ . rollera . The illuatration doea not show the rollera themaelv~a but merely providea a schematic er~ ee -~t~t;~n of the path of ~ drive chain 82 for driving the rollers.
15 The chain 82 is driven from a drive mount 84 which in~ ^R a chain t~n~ n~r 86, and a gear box 88 _ounted on a gear mount 89. As ahown in Flg. 3, the lower enda of the chain 82 ~re supported by a chain guide 9 0 and a apann box 20 92, respectively, to provide added aupport to the chain 82 as it entera and exita it~ drive path on either side of the drive _ount 84. In this . - '; t the entire houaing 93 forms the h~m;~;f;er zone and the rollers (not ahown) have 25 different diameters to take account of changea in length of the yarn.
El~OSS Yl~l~N B~RING ~Q~2T~MRT.Y AND NET~OD
This invention relates to an; ~ d thin floss brush product and to a novel procesa for its manuf~cture. In particular this invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a c~n~;n~ u~ yarn having brush sections separ~ted by thinner thread sections.
Tooth dec~y and dental disease can be c~used by b~cterial action resulting from the formation of plaque about the t~eth and/or the enLL _ t of food p~rticles between the teeth and interstices th-~rebet . . The removal of plaque and L. t.~ -~'d food p~rticles reduces the ~n~ ;~n~e of caries, gingivitia, and mouth odors as well as gener~lly improving or~l hygiene.
Conventional brushing has been f ound to be ;n~ te for removing ~11 entr~pped food p~rticles ~nd plaque. To supplement brushing, dental flosses and tapes have been .~
To improve the effectivenoss and convenience of dental flosses, dental flosses ' in~ng a thin ~fl08sn portion and a l-h;r~k~n~
~brush~' portion, together with a thre~der have been developed. The brush portion, when drawn a5 between tooth surfaces, has been found to provide an; _ ~ c lA-n;n~ action which remov material~ left by the floss portion, Wo 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 ~ s when used alone. The combination provides a subs~nnt;~lly superior ~ nn;n~ ~ction. Such a device is described in U.S. Patent 4,008,727, for example. The ~ ty of this product 5 regui~es that each floss segment be individually m~nufactured and th~t the product be packaged as bundles of the individual, sep~rate floss articles .
A cont;n~ y~rn hnving bru~h 10 sections separated by thinner thread ~ections is rl;F-r~?8~Cl in ~.S. P~tents 4,008,727 and 4,142,538. In the n nufacture of brush floss products of this type, a polymer solution can be ~pplied to ~t lea~t a portion of the yarn and, 15 while the yarn is under s~ff;ci~nt tension to dr~w it into ~ thread, heat cnn be applied to remove the solvent and/or further to polymerize the polymer. The portion of the yarn to which the polymer has been applied renains a thread 20 when the yarn tension is removed ~Ifter heating.
We discuve ~d that conv~ti~n~l textured nylon yarns and previously developed manuf~cturing processes lacked the tensile str~ngth required for making such a product. Fur~h~ e, the 25 portion of the yarn which was ;nt^n~ to be the brush portion lacked the bulk and texture desired when not under tension.
Attractive and plo~-nt flavors ~nd flavor odors h~ve been provided in dental 30 products ;nrlll~l;n~ dental flosses to imp~rt n f lavor to the f losses and ~_~ _ __ 3~ their regul~r use. These have been ~pplied in the form of fl~voring oils to the surface of floss or wax coatings on the f 1088, or dispersed in 35 wax coatings ~pplied to the floss. In a process described in ~opGn~; ns, comnonly ~ n^~l arpl;~t;r~l Serial No. 07/809,625 filed =~ 2 90735 ~ ' wo95l32684 1 ~ "~
rO~ `- 17, 1991, ~lavoring oils are applied to flo8a in a low-melting wax composition cr~nt~;n;n~ a mixture of high and low melting point polyethylene glycols, the low melting 5 characteristic of the wax retaining the flavoring oils without s;~n;f;~nt 1088 through evaporation or from oxidation. Application of these low melting wax compositions to a flos8 brush was found to clog and mat the brush 10 portion of the yarn, reducing it~ effectivenes8 as a rleJ-n;n~ article.
We further disc.,veL.l that conventional textured nylon yarns having brush 8-_ - t~ geparated by thinner e~ typically 15 f~iled to provide the n~C~ ry bulking of the brush 8~ re~iuired for effective rle~n;
of teeth.
It was also f ound that the speed at which the yarn could be ~Lucesse~ was limited by 20 a number o~ constraints. ~ccordingly this invention also ~ddresses the issue of processing nu~ber of yarns simul~n^ouPly.
It is one object of this invention to provide an; ~ ,d floss brush which can be 25 spooled and ~ 7 as a c~o~;n~
brush/thread from a traditional flo8s dispenser, Another object of this invention is to provide an; _ ~,vcd process for the m~nufacture of a floss brush which can be spooled ~nd 30 ~; ~F---- ~ a8 a ~"nt-~n~ bru8h-throad from a traditional floss 1; F~p~nP~r A further object of this invention is to provide a proces8 for manufacturing a polymer coated floss brush made from a textured yarn 35 which retains or exceeds the bulk and I h;
of the original, ~n~-ort~ 1, relaxed ynrn.
It i8 a further object of the Wo gs/32684 2 1 q O 7 3 5 invention to provide ~ hllm;~f;~r asssmbly for use in the ~bove process and a procens for improving the bulking of the brush sections of the floss bruah.
According to the invention there is provided a process for manufacturing a ~nnt;T~ dental flol~g brush co_prising alternating portions of thread ~;ection~, which are ~ d, ~nd thread sections, the procesa comprising the steps of a) coating at least the thread sections of a twisted yarn with a 801~lt;~n Of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyureth~ne, and mixture~; thereof;
~) heating at least the t~read section~ of the yarn ~nd vaporizing solvent therefrom while the yarn i8 ~ ;nt~;n-~l under a tension of f rom 0 .15 to 10 N; and c) feeding the yarn through ~
hll~;~3;f;Pr zone c~nts;n;n~ a æteam and gas mixture, and ~To~:;n~ at lea~t the brush sections of the yarn to the steam and gas mixture, the yarn being r--;nt~;n~l at a con9tant tension which is s~ffi~i~ntly low to allow the brush ~ection~ to contr~ct longit~l~;nS~l ly until ths brush sections of the yarn have r2gained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the -n. o; t~, relaxed yarn, the yarn being fed into the hllm;~f;~r zone at a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom to m-;nt~;n a ~ .,t;:~lly constant brush tension as the bru3h sections expand in the hllm;~3;f;~-r zone .
The process may lnclude coating the brush sections with ~ sol~-~; r~n of poly~er in a volatile solvent before feeding the yarn through 2 1 q 0 7 3 5 the h~m;~l~f;er zone, the polymer being selected from the group consi8ting of nylon, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof.
The yarn may be fed into ~nd removed 5 from the h--~ 3; f i pr zone by; n~l^rPnAPnt drives, the relative speed~ of the ; n~ t drives being controlled to l~-;nr~;n a ~ L~ lly con8tant bru8h tension as the brush sections expand in the h~ ; f; Pr zone.
The steam and ga8 mixture may have a temperature of 130C., nd a water vapor content of 65% (v/v).
Preferahly the steam and gas mixture is a ~team and air mixture having a temperature of 130C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v).
Further according to the invention there is provided a process for re~toring the bulk of ~tretched nylon yarn, comprising feeding the yarn into a h~lm;~;f;Pr zone cnntJ~;n;n~ a ao ste~m ~nd g~s mixture, the yarn bei~g fed into the h~rn;~;f;~r zone ~t a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom to T^-;nt~;n a sub~tantially constant yarn tension as t_e yarn expand~ in the h--~l; ~1; f; er zone .
The steam and gas mixture may have a temperature of 130C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v) .
Preferably the steam and ga~ mixture is a ~team and air mixture having a temper~ture o~ 130C. and a water vapor content of 6596 (v/v).
The yarn may be f ed into and removed from the h~-ln;A;f~r zone by ~n~ r- t drive~, the relative speeds of the ;n~Ppen~3Pnt drives being controlled to ~n-;nt~n a ~ubgt--nt;~-lly constant y~rn tension as tho yarn expands in the h.-~; ~; f; pr zone .
The yarn pas~ed through the h~ f; pr Wo 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 . ~
20ne may be supported by a support means as it passes through the I ~;f;~r zone. The support means may comprise at l~ast one ~ ;n~ means which E~upports the yarn by rl ~ _ in~ the yarn as it passes through the hl-m;~;f;~r zone, the means being mounted for v~ t n~-2;rl~ the travelling yarn. The ~ ng means preferably intermittently releases the yarn as it passes through the h--m;~;fier zone, thereby to ~ te reduction in length of the yarn ~18 it passes through the h--m; ~; f; er zone .
The yarn may be guided on rollers as it passes through the humidifier asse_bly and the process may include h; 11 ;n~ at lea~t ~ome of the rollers.
The process may include applying a water/alcohol solution to the rollers.
The y~rn may be a yarn co~ted with a polymer solut;rln.
Still further according to the invention there ig provided a h.lm; ~; f; ~r asse_bly for ~Tos~n~ a yarn to steam, comprising:
a housing ~f;n;n~ a h--m;~;fier zone, the housing having a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet;
fluid inlet means for introducing a steam and g~s mixture into the ' ~ f; ~r zone;
fluid outlet means for removing steam ~nd gas from the h~m;~;f;er zone; ~nd drive means for feeding the yarn into the h~m;~l~f;~r zone at ~ first speed and removing the yarn from the h~m;~l;fier zone at a second speed which i8 le~s than the first speed, thereby to r~o;nf-;n a subs~-ont;~lly constant y~rn tension ~8 the y~rn exp~mds in the Wo95/32684 ~ 21 90735 p~ ~r~
h~lm; ~; f; -r zone .
The housing and drive means may be n~d to a~~ ' te a plurality of yarns simult~n~ou~l y. The drive mean~ may comprise a plurality of roller8 on an input side of the humidifier zone ~nd a plurality of roller~ on an output side of the hllm; ,1~ f i -r zone .
The ~~ . t may include water/~lcohol applicator means for applying a water/alcohol so~ n to circumferential ~urfaces of at le~st one of the rollers. The water/alcohol applicator mean6 may include means for ~pplying a water/alcohol 801ut;nn to the cir. 'er.:~tial ~urfaces of each of the rollers.
The aLL~y. t may include means for ~3~rirp;n~ exce~s liguid from the circumferential surfaces of the rollers and mean8 for c~tching the liquid which is ~tripped of f the circumf erential 8urf ace~ .
The rollers may have different di~meters to ~c- ' t~ change~; in length of the yarn, thereby to control the ten~ion of the yarn .
Separ~te drive means ~y be provided for feeding the yarn into the hllm;~l;f;~r zone ~nd for removing the yarn from the 1 ~l;f;~-r zone .
The drive mean~ ~nay include at le~st one drive motor.
The asse_bly may include support means for ~I.L~p~JL l.ing the yarn~ in the hou~ing as they pas~ through the humidif ier zone .
The support menns may be in the f orm of at least one ~ in~ me~ns for ~ the yarn8 a~ they pAss through the hllm;~;f;~r zone, each ,~1. _;n~ means being mounted for .~ t along~ite the travelling y~rns at a Gpeed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W095132684 ' . 21 9 07 35 ~ z.~~~r~
C~L~ n~ to the speed of Yections of the yarns which it is cl ~ _ ~ n~ .
Fig. 1 is a gchematic rG,~.~L' F~ t;nn of a system for producing a cnnt;n~n~ length of 5 connected dental floss brushes in accuLl~ce with this invention;
Fig. 2 i~ a schematic side view of a hllm;~l;fi~-r aE~8embly for uge in the system of Fig. 1, in accc,L-l~cc with the invention; and Fig. 3 i~ a schematic side view of another ~ ' t of the ~ '~;f;er ~se bly in accoLd~ ce with the invention.
RQferring to Fig. 1, a proces~ for ~nufacturing a floss brush from a yarn ;nrl~ fi 15 passing a length of y~rn 10 through a dye/re~in ~pplicator asse~bly 12, drying the dye/resin in a drying ch mber 14, passing the yarn 10 through a resin applicator ass~mbly 16, bulking or ~Yp~n~;n~ the fiber 10 in a hllm;~;f;~r asQemh,ly 20 18 which defines a ~ '~;f;Pr zone 20, drying the yarn in a ~cond drying chamb~r 22 and then passing the yarn 10 through a wax/flavoring reservoir 23.
The untrQated yarn 10 is supported on 25 creels 24 fro~ where it is feed by a tt-n~inn~r 26 to the dye/resin applicator assembly 12 which is described ln greater detail in ~oponr3;n5, co_monly ~PP;~n~d patent application entitled "yarn coating a~sembly ~nd method'~, the entire nn~t~nt~ of which are incvL~vL~Lted herein by ref erence .
The applicator assembly 12 ~ n~ an applicator h~ad 28 8~r~1; ecl with a coating material, e.g. dye or resin or a ~ ;n.t;rln thereof fro_ a aupply tanlc 30 via a pump 32. A
cam (not shown) untGd on ~ wheel 34 controls the inter_ittent coating of the yarn by ~ W0 95/32684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 perio~ l y urging the yarn into contAct with the coating material supported by the head 28.
In order to dry the dye/resin, the yarn is passed into the drying cha~her 14 where heated air from the second drying chamber 22 and heat generated by infrared heaters 36 mounted within the drying chamber 14, dry the yarn 10 before it paases to the regin arpl; r~ltr~r assembly 16. Drive rollers 38 mounted on the downstream side of the drying chamber 14 serve to draw the yarn 10 through the dye/resin applicator a~sembly 12 and drying chamber 14 while the t^n~ n~r 26, in the form of a disc brake, insures that the reguisite tension is l--;nt~-in~A on the yarn 10. Downstream of the drive rollers 38 the tension of the yarn 10 is si~n;f;c~ntly reduced and remains at thia lower l~vel as it passes through the resin applicator assembly 16 and into the hllm; ~ f i er assembly 18 .
The resin Arpl;c~tor ~ssembly 16, while similar to the dye/resin applicator /Issembly 12, In~ a tension sensing mea~s for ~enaing the yarn tension.
A8 the yarn 10 passes through the h~ .r zone 20 of the as~embly 18, the y~rn 10 is exposed to a steam ~nd gas mixture, which in this ' - '; t is a steam/air mixture, and which is used in the bulking process, as is deacribed in greater det~il hereinaf ter .
Up1tre~m of the h-m~;~;f;er zone 20, the yarn 10 i~ fed over a number of rollers 44 which are driven by a fir~t drive means (not shown) which is common to the drive means driving the drive rollers 38.
In contrast, the rollers 46 on the downstream ~ide of the h--~ 7;f;--r zone 20 are driven by ~ second driv~ means tal~o not shown).
_ _ W0 95/32684 ~ 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 P ~
The uae of a second drive meana is necessit~ted by the fact that the yarn, as it passes through the h~ q;fi~r zone 20, bulks and therefore contracts resulting in ~ ch~nge in the speed of 5 the yarn 10 ~8 it passes through the zone 20.
Upon exiting the h~;AIfi~r ~ssembly 18, the yarn 10 passes through the drying chamber 22 where it is fed along a circuitous path over a number of rollera 48.
A Eecond set of drive rollers 50, also driven by the second drive means, ---;n~:~;n~l the reguisite tension on the yarn lO as the yarn 10 p~sses into the wax/flavoring reservoir 23.
Wax/flavoring iQ, applied to the yarn 10 by means 15 of a lick roller 51. A p~ir of squeeze rollers 52, mounted on the ' -L~ e~ side of the reservoir 23, Egu~ Q excess wax/flavoring from the yarn 10 before the yarn passes into a refrigeration unit 54. A chiller drive roller 20 pair 56 driven by a third drive me~ns ~not shown) dr~ws the yarn 10 from the refrigeration unit 54 where~fter the yarn is t~ken up on low tension t~ke-up winder_ 58.
It will be ~ppreciated that the 25 various drive means may include separate drive motors or may sh~re a common drive motor to which they ~re connected by suitable gearing d,L ' _~, O .
As indic~ted on Fig. 1 ~ plurality of 30 yarns may be aL ' a~ d next to each other and ' simult~n~c-u~-ly before being taken up on the respective low tension ta3ce-up winders 58.
The l ~ ~ f i Pr assembly 18 is shown in gr~ater detail in Fig. 2, the rollers 44, 46 35 serving to guide the yarn 10 through the assembly 18. Each of the four rollers 44 on the upstream side ~8 well as the three roll~rs 46 on -~ 21 90735 w095132684 P~ l/8_,3 ~
the downstream aide are provided with doctor blades 60 to avoid excea8ive build up of moiature on the rollers by stripping exce8s liguid off the circumferential surface8 of the 5 rollers. The moisture is then caught ln drip pans 62 ~n80n; ~t~cl with each of the doctor bl~de~ 60 and led off by means of conduits (not shown) .
The hll-nirl~f;~r zone 20 ia defined 10 int~ t~ a steam/gas diverter 64, an exhaust hood 65, and a distribution cone 66. The exhaust hood 65 serve8 as an outlet means for ste~m and gas. The g~s which is removed could include air and alcohol fumes, the alcohol 15 emanating from a sprayer aa ia ~i~n~-r;hed in greater detail below. The cone 66, which s~rpli-~ ateam/g~ to the zone 20, is connected by means of a ~team manifold 68 to an inlet conduit 70, which 8erves as an inlet meana for 20 the steam/gas mixture. The conduit 70, in turn, splitting into a st~am inlet 72 and a hot air inlet 74 . The kot air inlet 74 ~--rpl i o~ heated air at a temperature of approximately 400C.
thu~ nl ~ inin~ the zone 20 at an elevated 25 temperature. The first five roller~, in contra~t, are refrigerated to ~ temperature of 5C. by means of cold wat~r swivela. As can be 3een in Fig. 2 a sprayer 76 ~nd a felt pad 78 are provided, these serving to apply a 30 water/alcohol ~olvl~ n to the ~irst and fourth rollers respectively. Cooling of the rollers and the uae of the water/alcohol 8oluti rn avoids r~h~ni~n of the yarn 10 to the roller~. For thiE~ - 'i - t, a 50% Isopropyl alcohol/50Y6 35 water soluti^n waa fou~d to work well. It will be ~ppreci~ted that any nulober of the rollera could be cooled or treated with the _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W0 95132684 2 1 9 0 7 3 5 . ~,I/U.~
water/alcohol aolut; r~n .
A~ the yarn 10 passea through the h~ ;f;er zone 20 the heated air/ateam mixture causea the yarn lO to fluff up/bullc ~nd 5 ~n~ l y to contract . The ateam, air and ~ny alcohol vapors, having pa~aed through the zone 20, are drawn off by the exhaust hood 65.
Another: i t of the hllm;~l; fi-~r assembly 18 is illustrated in Fig. 3 which 10 providea a set of 7 downstre~m rollera and a ~et of 7 u~ LL ~ . rollera . The illuatration doea not show the rollera themaelv~a but merely providea a schematic er~ ee -~t~t;~n of the path of ~ drive chain 82 for driving the rollers.
15 The chain 82 is driven from a drive mount 84 which in~ ^R a chain t~n~ n~r 86, and a gear box 88 _ounted on a gear mount 89. As ahown in Flg. 3, the lower enda of the chain 82 ~re supported by a chain guide 9 0 and a apann box 20 92, respectively, to provide added aupport to the chain 82 as it entera and exita it~ drive path on either side of the drive _ount 84. In this . - '; t the entire houaing 93 forms the h~m;~;f;er zone and the rollers (not ahown) have 25 different diameters to take account of changea in length of the yarn.
Claims (21)
1. A process for manufacturing a continuous dental floss brush comprising alternating portions of brush sections, which are expanded, and thread sections, the process comprising the steps of a) coating at least the thread sections of a twisted yarn with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof;
b) heating at least the thread sections of the yarn and vaporizing solvent therefrom while the thread sections being heated are maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 10 N; and c) feeding the yarn through a humidifier zone containing a steam and gas mixture and exposing at least the brush sections of the yarn to the steam and gas mixture, the yarn being maintained at a constant tension which is sufficiently low to allow the brush sections to contract longitudinally until the brush sections of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn, the yarn being fed into the humidifier zone at a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom, to maintain a substantially constant brush tension as the brush sections expand in the humidifier zone.
b) heating at least the thread sections of the yarn and vaporizing solvent therefrom while the thread sections being heated are maintained under a tension of from 0.15 to 10 N; and c) feeding the yarn through a humidifier zone containing a steam and gas mixture and exposing at least the brush sections of the yarn to the steam and gas mixture, the yarn being maintained at a constant tension which is sufficiently low to allow the brush sections to contract longitudinally until the brush sections of the yarn have regained at least 100 percent of the diameter of the uncoated, relaxed yarn, the yarn being fed into the humidifier zone at a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom, to maintain a substantially constant brush tension as the brush sections expand in the humidifier zone.
2. A process of claim 1, which includes coating the brush sections with a solution of polymer in a volatile solvent before feeding the yarn through the humidifier zone, the polymer being selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof.
3. A process of claim 1, wherein the yarn is fed into and removed from the humidifier zone by independent drives, the relative speeds of the independent drives being controlled to maintain a substantially constant brush tension as the brush sections expand in the humidifier zone .
4. A process of claim 1, wherein the steam and gas mixture has a temperature of 130°C. and a water vapor content of 65% (v/v).
5. A process of claim 4, wherein the gas is air.
6. A process for restoring the bulk of stretched nylon yarn, comprising feeding the yarn into a humidifier zone containing a steam and gas mixture, the yarn being fed into the humidifier zone at a speed greater than that at which the yarn is removed therefrom, to maintain a substantially constant yarn tension as the yarn expands in the humidifier zone.
7. A process of claim 6, wherein the steam and gas mixture has a temperature of from 130°C. and a water vapor content of 6596 (v/v).
8. A process of claim 7, wherein the gas is air.
9. The process of claim 6, wherein the yarn is fed into and removed from the humidifier zone by independent drives, the relative speeds of the independent drives being controlled to maintain a substantially constant yarn tension as the yarn expands in the humidifier zone.
10. A process of claim 9, wherein the yarn is guided on rollers as it passes through the humidifier assembly and wherein the process includes chilling at least one of the rollers.
11. A process of claim 10, wherein the process includes applying a water/alcohol solution to the rollers.
12. A process of claim 6, wherein the yarn is a yarn coated with a polymer solution.
13. A humidifier assembly for exposing a yarn to steam, comprising:
a housing defining a humidifier zone, the housing having a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet;
fluid inlet means for introducing a steam and gas mixture into the humidifier zone;
fluid outlet means for removing steam and gas from the humidifier zone; and a drive means for feeding the yarn into the humidifier zone at a first speed and removing the yarn from the humidifier zone at a second speed which is less than the first speed, thereby to maintain a substantially constant yarn tension as the yarn expands in the humidifier zone.
a housing defining a humidifier zone, the housing having a yarn inlet and a yarn outlet;
fluid inlet means for introducing a steam and gas mixture into the humidifier zone;
fluid outlet means for removing steam and gas from the humidifier zone; and a drive means for feeding the yarn into the humidifier zone at a first speed and removing the yarn from the humidifier zone at a second speed which is less than the first speed, thereby to maintain a substantially constant yarn tension as the yarn expands in the humidifier zone.
14. An assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing and drive means are designed to accommodate a plurality of yarns simultaneously.
15. An assembly of claim 13, wherein the drive means comprises a plurality of rollers on an input side of the humidifier zone and a plurality of rollers on an output side of the humidifier zone.
16. An assembly of claim 15, wherein the arrangement includes water/alcohol applicator means for applying a water/alcohol solution to circumferential surfaces of at least one of the rollers.
17. An assembly of claim 16, wherein the water/alcohol applicator means includes means for applying a water/alcohol solution to the circumferential surfaces of each of the rollers.
18. An assembly of claim 17, wherein the arrangement means for stripping excess liquid from the circumferential surfaces of the rollers and means for catching the liquid which is stripped off the circumferential surfaces.
19. An assembly of claim 15, wherein the rollers have different diameters to accommodate changes in length of the yarn, thereby to control the tension of the yarn.
20. An assembly of claim 13, wherein separate drive means are provided for feeding the yarn into the humidifier zone and for removing the yarn from the humidifier zone.
21. An assembly of claim 20, wherein the drive means include at least one drive motor.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US249,515 | 1994-05-26 | ||
| US08/249,515 US5558901A (en) | 1994-05-26 | 1994-05-26 | Floss yarn bulking assembly and method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2190735A1 true CA2190735A1 (en) | 1995-12-07 |
Family
ID=22943794
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002190735A Abandoned CA2190735A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 | 1995-05-23 | Floss yarn bulking assembly and method |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US5558901A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0802773B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU696181B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9507899A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2190735A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69533449T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995032684A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA954081B (en) |
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-
1994
- 1994-05-26 US US08/249,515 patent/US5558901A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-05-18 ZA ZA954081A patent/ZA954081B/en unknown
- 1995-05-23 BR BR9507899A patent/BR9507899A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1995-05-23 DE DE69533449T patent/DE69533449T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-05-23 CA CA002190735A patent/CA2190735A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-05-23 EP EP95921384A patent/EP0802773B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-05-23 AU AU26478/95A patent/AU696181B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1995-05-23 WO PCT/US1995/006564 patent/WO1995032684A1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1996
- 1996-07-09 US US08/677,156 patent/US5780099A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5780099A (en) | 1998-07-14 |
| AU696181B2 (en) | 1998-09-03 |
| WO1995032684A1 (en) | 1995-12-07 |
| DE69533449D1 (en) | 2004-10-07 |
| EP0802773A4 (en) | 1999-06-16 |
| ZA954081B (en) | 1996-03-11 |
| US5558901A (en) | 1996-09-24 |
| EP0802773B1 (en) | 2004-09-01 |
| BR9507899A (en) | 1997-09-16 |
| EP0802773A1 (en) | 1997-10-29 |
| DE69533449T2 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
| AU2647895A (en) | 1995-12-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |