BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various monofilament dental tapes, as distinguished from multifilaments tapes, have been commercialized which feature reduced shredding, a primary consumer complaint registered for most multifilament dental flosses. These are described and claimed in U. S. Patents Nos. Re 35,439; 3,800,812; 4,974,615; 5,760,117; 5,433,226; 5,479,952; 5,503,842; 5,755,243; 5,845,652; 5,884,639; 5,918,609; 5,962,572; 5,998,431; 6,003,525; 6,083,208; 6,148,830; 6,161,555; and 6,027,592, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These dental tapes generally have serious shortcomings in gentleness, in delivering coatings during flossing and in being handled easily and conveniently during flossing Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based interproximal devices are described in: U. S. Patent Nos. 5,209,251; 5,033,488; 5,518,012; 5,911,228; 5,220,932 ; 4,776,358; 5,718,251; 5,848,600; 5,787,758; and 5,765,576, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. To date, no commercial versions of these tapes have been coated effectively and cannot be used to deliver active ingredients, interproximally and subgingivally during flossing. Handling during flossing, i. e., wrapping the tape around fingers in preparation for flossing, is difficult. Most fail to provide a gentle tape edge. Many tapes are plagued with serious dimensional inconsistency problems, as well.

See also co-pending Patent Applications Serial Nos. 60/227,196; 60/227,239; 60/227,240; 60/227,246; 60/227,244; 60/227,255; and 60/227,433; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Coated monofilament dental tapes including: elastomeric, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), bicomponent and other polymeric tapes coated with ingredients at relatively high levels (between about 20% and 120% by weight of the tape) and increasing by between about 50% and 150% the thickness of the tape after coating are described in the various referenced co- pending applications cited herein. Generally, these coatings are applied to both sides of the monofilament tape. These coated monofilament dental tapes feature an enhanced flossing performance attributed primarily to the various saliva soluble coatings applied to the various monofilament dental tapes. Total delivery of a wide range of active ingredients contained in the coatings into the oral cavity during flossing is a key performance feature of these saliva soluble coated monofilament tapes.

Traditionally, most commercial dental tapes are dispensed in about 18- inch increments from a dispenser package that contains from between about 8 yds. and about 200 yds. of tape wound onto a bobbin means. For promotion purposes, samples of dental tapes are generally distributed in single dose packages containing one or two pieces of tape of about 18 inches each.

Heretofore, uncoated or lightly waxed dental tape dispenser packages have been manufactured using traditional"yarn"bobbin winding means. That is, high speed bobbin winding machines have been adapted from yarn and thread manufacturing operations to wind uncoated or lightly waxed dental tapes suitable for use in traditional dental tape dispensers utilizing methods commonly known in the art for winding waxed or unwaxed multifilament and monofilament dental flosses.

Coated elastomeric and other forms of monofilament dental tapes such as described in the various co-pending applications and issued U. S. Patents cited above have proven to be most difficult to bobbin wind on cores using traditional bobbin winding equipment and procedures. That is, unlike uncoated or lightly waxed tapes, these rather heavily coated monofilament tapes tend to slip off the bobbin during winding, and generally resist buildup to a bobbin of the required yardage. Further, when traditional heat sources are applied to the tape prior to the tape's arrival on the bobbin to"tack"one wind of the tape to previously wound coated tape"winds", the winding tension tends to increase dramatically as the diameter of the wound bobbin increases. This increased tension on the wound bobbin, as it builds, coupled with the near melt heating conditions imposed on the coated monofilament tape coating up-stream from the bobbin core tends to deform the bobbins further. Subsequent exposure of bobbins to high temperature and/or high relative humidity tends to displace the coating and/or deform the bobbin.

Typical bobbin deformations resulting from this increased winding tension with improper conditioning and location of the"tacking"energy input and/or from exposure to high temperature and high humidity includes bobbins which can be described as"out-of-round","squashed bobbins","bulging bobbins","bobbins with displaced coatings squeezed out of the bobbins", etc.

Obviously, such misshapen, deformed and coating displaced bobbins do not dispense effectively in the various commercial tape dispensers available, most of which call for commercial bobbins within certain fairly close dimensional specifications including diameter, width, straight sides, etc. The net is, elastomeric monofilament dental tapes, monofilament PTFE dental tapes, bicomponent tapes and other monofilament polymeric monofilament dental tapes with coatings from between about 20% and about 120% by weight of the monofilament tape, when commercially bobbin wound using conventional thread, yarn and/or dental floss/tape bobbin winding processes and equipment, can produce deformed bobbins that are out-of-spec for use with most commercial tape dispensers and/or bobbins that deform and/or release that coating when exposed to high temperature and/or high relative humidity.

In addition, these coated monofilament tape bobbins tend to deform when exposed to elevated temperatures and/or'high relative humidity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes having a wide range of coating levels, using a coating conditioning means in conjunction with a coated monofilament tape tension controlling means to produce substantially round bobbins with the coated tape secured to the bobbin, such that it is dispensed uniformly free from unwinding, backlash, bobbin deformation, with a tack value from between 0.1 and about 0.5 grams.

One embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method for bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes at commercial speeds without bobbin deformation.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method for bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes having a wide range of coating levels at commercial speeds without bobbin deformation.

A further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes constructed of various polymeric materials, wherein these coated tapes, once bobbin wound, can be dispensed consistently from commercial tape dispensers when exposed to elevated temperatures and high relative humidity.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for bobbin winding coated elastomeric monofilament dental tapes at commercial speeds free from bobbin deformation where all revolutions (wraps) of the coated elastomeric monofilament tape are secure to the bobbin and such bobbins continue to hold their shape and retain their coatings when exposed to elevated temperature and/or high relative humidity.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for bobbin winding coated monofilament PTFE dental tapes with coatings of between 20% and 120% by weight of the PTFE at commercial speeds free from bobbin deformation and where all revolutions (wraps) of the coated monofilament PTFE tape are held secure to the bobbin and such bobbins continue to hold their shape and retain their coatings when exposed to elevated temperature and/or high relative humidity.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for bobbin winding coated bicomponent dental tapes with coatings between 20% and 120% by weight of the bicomponent tape at commercial speeds free from bobbin deformation and where all revolutions (wraps) of the coated bicomponent tape are held secure to the bobbin and such bobbins continue to hold their shape and retain their coatings when exposed to elevated temperature and/or high relative humidity.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a means for bobbin winding coated monofilament dental tapes of polymeric construction with coatings of between 20% and 120% by weight of the polymeric tape at commercial speeds free from bobbin deformation and where all revolutions (wraps) of the coated monofilament tape are held secure to the bobbin and such bobbins continue to hold their shape and retain their coatings when exposed to elevated temperature and/or high relative humidity.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a uniformly wound bobbin of coated monofilament tape that is free from : (a) deformation, (b) premature release of revolutions of the wound tape, and (c) excessive winding tension wherein, upon unwinding, the coated tape releases from the bobbin evenly without disrupting said coating with minimal drag, and substantially free from backlashes and where the coated monofilament tape retains its shape and coating when exposed to elevated temperatures and high relative humidity.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is to provide wound bobbins of coated monofilament tape where some of the coating is conditioned such that said coating adheres to the surface of the previous winds of bobbin wound coated monofilament tape and provides a tack value up to about 0.5 grams.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide bobbin wound coated monofilament tape that unwinds evenly free from backlashes with a tack value between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1, comprised of Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C, are schematic drawings of the bobbin winding process and apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a bobbin of the coated monofilament tape as it is being wound onto the bobbin.

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating the coated tape as it is dispensed from a dispenser showing the coating on both sides of the tape.

Figs. 4 through 10 are bar charts detailing Tack Values for bobbins of various commercial interproximal devices and for bobbins of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specifically, the present invention relates to bobbins of coated monofilament tape and to an improved means for bobbin winding a broad range of coated monofilament tapes, including coated elastomeric and PTFE tapes, as well as coated bicomponent and other monofilament polymeric dental tapes, wherein said coated monofilament tape is subjected to conditioning means, whereby the coating on said monofilament tape is conditioned to adhere to previous winds on the bobbin and the tension on this conditioned coated monofilament tape is controlled during winding to avoid bobbin deformation during bobbin winding and/or coating displacement and to provide bobbins free from deformation and coating displacement when exposed to elevated temperatures and/or elevated relative humidity.

The coating conditioning means is preferably a physical energy means such as heating, but can be a chemical means, whereby the coating is "tackified"chemically. The conditioning means and winding tension provides tack values for the bobbins of the present invention from between about 0.2 and 0.4 grams.

In a preferred embodiment, the bobbin winding invention includes coating conditioning whereby: a"temperature conditioning"means is provided prior to wrapping on a bobbin, in combination with: variable, controlled speed bobbin winding means, thereby minimizing the tension applied to the bobbin as the temperature conditioned coated tape is wound onto the bobbin.

Under some winding conditions, it may be desirable to direct additional energy to the appropriate area of the bobbin utilizing various sources of controllable,"directable energy"such as: hot air, radiant heat, lasers, radio frequency and the like to supplement the coating conditioning.

The present invention provides bobbins of coated monofilament tape having various levels of coating wherein: the coated monofilament tape remains intact on the bobbin with a minimum of tension, the bobbin remains substantially dimensionally uniform with substantially no coating displacement, and the coated monofilament tape is consistently releasable from the bobbin during dispensing with a minimum of drag having a tack value between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams, and where said bobbin is substantially free from winds falling off the bobbin and is substantially free form"back lashing"and/or coating displacement when exposed to elevated temperatures and/or elevated relative humidity.

The preferred coating conditioning means of the present invention comprises one or more of the following (see details in Figs. 1, la, Ib, Ic and 2.): a controlled"temperature conditioning"means over, through or on a ceramic eyelet which the tape traverses prior to being wound onto a bobbin, a directable source of energy which is targeted onto the bobbin during winding and/or a controlled temperature ceramic eyelet that contacts the bobbin during winding.

This"heat tacking"coating conditioning embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 1, la, lb, lc and 2 of the drawings. The coated tape is illustrated in Fig. 3.

The various monofilament tapes described in the U. S. Patents referenced above can be coated with from 20% to 120% by weight of the coatings described in Table 5 below. These coated tapes can be bobbin wound according to the present invention. Particularly preferred coated monofilament tapes suitable for bobbin winding according to the present invention are described in Tables 1 to 4 below: Table 1 TAPE COMPOSITION Ex. Thermoplastic Silicone TiO2 Secondary Other No. Elastomer Process (%) Polymer Add'n Type Manufacturer Trade name Grade Aid added Type (%) Type (%) (%) 2 PEBA Atofina PEBAX 55/33 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- polyester amide 3 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- Adflex-5 4 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-9. 7 -- 5 PEBA Atofina PEBAX 63/33 0 0 0 -- polyester amide 6 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 7 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- 8 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- Adflex-5 9 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-9. 7 -- 10 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- Nylon 11-5-- 11 TPE DuPont Hytrel 6359FG 2. 3 1. 0 0 Ca Stearate polyether ester 0.1 12 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4.7 Ca Stearate 0.1 13 TPE-E DSM Arnitel PM581 0 0 0-- polyether ester 14 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 15 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 0 PBT-5 -- 16 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 PBT-5 -- 17 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- PBT-5 Table 1 (cont'd) PROCESSING PROPERTIES DIMENSIONS UTILITY FACTORS CONDITIONS Ex. Melt Draw Draw Break Elong-Elastic Decitex Width Thick Gentle-Tape Hard- No. Temp Temp Ratio Strength ation Limit (mm) (mm) ness Flex ness °C °C in to (%) Percep-Twist NewtonsBreak tion Index Shore D (%) 2 260 130 6.8: 1 30 26 0 750 1.30 0.063 6 4 37 3 260 130 6.5: 1 27 18 0 760 1. 30 0.063 6 4 37 4 260 130 6.8: 1 26 19 0 760 1.30 0.063 6 4 37 5 260 135 6: 1 30 15 0 805 1.44 0.065 5. 5 4 36 6 260 135 6.3: 1 32. 36 13 0 800 1. 41 0.067 5.5 4 36 7 260 135 6.2: 1 33.47 17 0 860 1.36 0. 066 5.5 4 36 8 260 135 6.2: 1 25.94 14 0 810 1. 32 0.078 5.5 4 36 9 260 135 6.2: 1 29.46 14 0 780 1. 34 0.069 5.5 4 36 10 260 135 6.2: 1 30.63 13 0 810 1.30 0.065 5.5 4 36 11 225 130 5 : 1 20 20 15 1400 1.70 0.070 7 3 33 12 225 140 5.7: 1 24 14 10 1230 1.70 0.070 7 3 33 13 235 140 4.3: 1 18 13 10 1500 1.63 0.084 7 3 33 14 240 115 4.3: 1 19 14 5 1634 1.64 0.085 7 3 33 15 235 140 4.3: 1 19 10 3 1580 1.68 0.079 7 3 33 16 235 140 4.3: 1 18 12 2 1500 1.70 0.086 7 3 33 17 235 140 4.3: 1 21 15 4 1575 1.77 0.083 7 3 33 Table 2 TAPE COMPOSITION Ex. Thermoplastic Silicone TiO2 Secondary Other No. Elastomer Process (%) Polymer Add'n Type Manufacturer Tradename Grade Aid added Type (%) Type (%) (%) 18 TPE-E DSM Arnitel EM550 0 0 0 -- polyether ester 19 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 20 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-6.2-- 21 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 PBT-5-- 22 TPE-P OSM Arnitel EM630 0 0 0 -- polyether ester 23 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 24 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- Adflex-5 25 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-6.2-- 26 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 PBT-5-- 27 TPE-P DSM Arnitel UM552 0 0 0 -- polyester ester 28 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 0 Ca Stearate 0.1 29 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 30 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 Adflex-5-- 31 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.5 PP-1.2 Ca Stearate PBT-5 0.1 32 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 PBT-5 Ca Stearate 0.1 33 EPDM Monteil Adflex Q100F 0 0 PP-20-- TPV 34 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-24.7 35 ditto ditto ditto ditto 7 3 PP-30-- 36 ditto ditto ditto ditto 7 3 PP-34. 7 -- 37 ditto ditto ditto ditto 7 3 PP-40 -- Table 2 (cont'd) PROCESSING PROPERTIES DIMENSIONS UTILITY FACTORS CONDITIONS Ex. Melt Draw Draw Break Elong-Elastic Decitex Width Thick-Gentle-Tape Hard- No. Temp Temp Ratio Strength ation Limit (mm) ness ness Flex-ness °C °C in to (%) (mm) Percep-Twist Shore D Newtons Break tion Index (%) 18 240 140 4. 3 : 1 23 25 7 1800 1.95 0.096 7 3 33 19 240 115 6: 1 27 11 5 1050 1.47 0.071 7 3 33 20 240 140 5.6: 1 26 17 5 1216 1.45 0.071 7 3 33 21 240 145 5.9: 1 28 145 5 1220 1.55 0.074 7 3 33 22 235 150 4.5: 1 18 12 4 1090 1.44 0.067 7 3 33 23 235 150 4.7: 1 17 11 4 1130 1.50 0.068 7 3 33 24 235 150 4.6: 1 18 10 7 961 1.35 0.065 7 3 33 25 235 150 4.6: 1 14. 30 10 965 1.24 0.073 7 3 33 26 235 150 4.6: 1 20 12 5 1018 1.39 0.069 7 3 33 27 240 150 6.6: 1 32 12 8 1300 1.49 0.070 7.5 3.5 31 28 230 150 5.6: 1 26 15 8 1090 1.40 0.070 7.5 3.5 31 29 240 150 6. 3 : 1 29 16 8 1150 1.46 0.070 7.5 3.5 31 30 230 140 5.6: 1 30 16 10 1233 1.48 0.069 7.5 3.5 31 31 230 145 5.7: 1 22 19 10 1108 1.53 0.067 7.5 3.5 31 32 230 245 5.3: 1 24 14 8 1143 1.48 0.064 7.5 3.5 31 33 240 130 4.5: 1 26 20 0 910 1.60 0.064 5.5 NT NT 34 240 130 4.5: 1 25 24 0 940 1.59 0.064 5.5 NT NT 35 240 130 4.7: 1 28 20 0 870 1.58 0.064 5.5 NT NT 36 240 130 4.7: 1 27 23 0 880 1.58 0.060 5.5 NT NT 37 240 130 4.7: 1 35 18 0 720 1.44 0.063 5 NT NT Table 3 TAPE COMPOSITION Ex. Thermoplastic Silicone TiO2 Secondary Other No. Elastomer Process (%) Polymer Add'n Type Manufacturer Tradename Grade Aid added Type (%) Type (%) (%) 38 PEBA Atofina PEBAX 55133 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- polyester amide 39 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- EMA-3 40 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- 41 PEBA Atofina PEBAX 63/33 3.5 1.8 PP-4. 7 -- EMA-3 42 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 0 Nylon 11-5 PDVF - 3 43 TPE-E DSM Arnitel PM581 3 0 0-- polyether ester 44 TPE-E DSM Amitel EM550 3 0 0 -- polyether ester 45 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 1.8 PP-1.2-- EMA-3 46 TPE-E DSM Arnitel UM552 3 1.8 PP-1.2-- polyether ester Table 3 (cont'd) PROCESSING PROPERTIES DIMENSIONS UTILITY FACTORS CONDITIONS Ex. Melt Draw Draw Break Elong-Elastic Decitex Width Thick-Gentle-Tape Hard- No. Temp Temp Ratio Strength ation Limit (mm) ness ness Flex-ness °C °C in to (%) (mm) Percep-Twist Shore D Newtons Break tion Index (%) 38 260 130 6.8: 1 28 24 0 775 1.30 0.063 6 4 37 39 260 130 7: 1 28 30 3 750 1.30 0.063 8 4 37 40 260 130 6.8: 1 29 24 0 800 1.35 0.070 6 4 37 41 260 135 6.5: 1 31 20 3 800 1.40 0.065 5. 5 4 36 42 260 135 6.2: 1 28 14 0 800 1.30 0.065 5.5 4 36 43 235 140 5: 1 22 16 7 1400 1.60 0.079 7 3 33 44 240 140 6: 1 25 20 7 800 1.30 0.060 7 3 33 45 240 140 6: 1 27 15 5 850 1.35 0.065 7 3 33 46 240 150 6: 1 27 17 10 1100 1.47 0.069 7.5 3 33 Table 4 TAPE COMPOSITION Ex. Thermoplastic Silicone TiO2 Secondary Other No. Elastomer Process (%) Polymer Add'n Type Manufacturer Tradename Grade Aid added Type (%) Type (%) (%) 47 Styrenics Alphagary Evoprene G978 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- SEBS 48 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 1.8 PP-1.2-- 49 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- EMA-3 50 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-9. 7 -- 51 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-9. 7 -- PS-5 52 TPU Dow Pelethane 2103-0 1.8 PP-1.2-- 90AEN 53 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 1.8 PP-1.2-- 54 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1.2-- EMA-3 55 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3.5 1.8 PP-9. 7 -- 56 TPV DSM Sarlink 4149D 0 1.8 PP-1. 2 -- 57 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 1.8 PP-1. 2 -- 58 ditto ditto ditto ditto 0 1.8 PP-1. 2 -- EMA-3 59 ditto ditto ditto ditto 3 1.8 PP-6. 2 -- Table 4 (cont'd) PROCESSING PROPERTIES DIMENSIONS UTILITY FACTORS CONDITIONS Ex. Melt Draw Draw Break Elong-Elastic Decitex Width Thick-Gentle-Tape Hard- No. Temp Temp Ratio Strength ation Limit (mm) ness ness Flex-ness °C °C in to (%) (mm) Percep-Twist Shore D Newtons Break tion Index (%) 47 200 100 7 : 1 19 30. 10 1100 1. 30 0.060 6 4 37 48 200 100 7: 1 20 35 12 1100 1.30 0.060 6 4 37 49 200 100 7.2: 1 17 32 12 1100 1.30 0.060 6 4 37 50 200 100 7: 1 14 20 7 1100 1. 30 0.060 8 4 37 51 200 100 7: 1 22 28 8 1100 1.30 0.060 6 4 37 52 230 120 7: 1 32 15 5 1200 1.40 0.068 7 3 33 53 230 120 6: 1 30 17 6 1200 1.40 0.068 7 3 33 54 230 120 6: 1 26 16 6 1200 1.40 0.068 7 3 33 55 230 120 5: 1 22 10 2 1300 1.45 0.070 7 3 33 56 220 105 4.5: 1 20 20 5 1400 1.45 0.072 6 4 37 57 220 105 5: 1 22 35 7 1300 1.40 0.070 6 4 37 58 220 105 4.8: 1 19 20 5 1350 1.48 0.075 6 4 37 59 220 105 4.2: 1 15 20 5 1450 1.48 0.075 6 4 37 Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. la is a general schematic drawing of the bobbin winding process of the present invention. King spools of coated monofilament dental tape, designated la through ld, supply coated tapes, designated 2a through 2d, to tension controlled bobbin winders, designated as 5a through 5d.

The take up tension on bobbin winders, 5a through 5d, is controlled by programmable logic controller means, 3, through connecting means, 3a, resulting in controlled tension during winding.

Coated monofilament tapes, 2a through 2d, are passed over or through a coating conditioning means, 4, prior to being wound by bobbin winders, 5a through 5d. During bobbin winding, bobbin winders, 5a through 5d, are exposed to a suitable directed energy source, 6, such as hot air, radiant heat, lasers, radio frequency, contact heat, etc., for completion of the heat tacking process. Bobbins wound under these conditions are dimensionally stable, retain the coatings and have tack values between about 0.1 and about 0.5 grams.

Fig. lb is a side-profile schematic view of bobbin winding means, 5a, with coated monofilament tape, 2a, engaging both the temperature conditioning and coating conditioning means, 4, and directed energy source, 6.

Fig. lc illustrates coated monofilament tape, 11, passing through heated coating conditioning means, 12, prior to winding onto bobbin, 13.

Fig. 2 illustrates in more detail the winding of coated monofilament tape, 20, as it passes through coating conditioning means, 21, creating a conditioned (pool) of coating suitable for tacking purposes, 22, on the bobbin, 23.

Fig. 3 illustrates monofilament tape, 30, with saliva soluble coatings, 31 and 32, having tack values between about 0. 1 and about 0.5 grams.

It is understood, that for the purposes of the present invention, coating conditioning means such as heat tacking can be achieved by (1) using any one of a number of temperature conditioning devices such as a heating bar, a tube or box or low intensity warmed air zone such as produced by a heat lamp at fixed distance, all equipped to maintain a constant controllable temperature and, in the course of passage, pre-heat the monofilament tape and its coating to an optimum temperature, prior to (2) winding in combination with a directable source of energy to the bobbin itself during winding, as illustrated in Figs. la and lb.

Alternatively, a single, coating conditioning means can be used. For example, hot air heat tacking means, 6, as shown in Figs. la and lb, can be used during winding without temperature conditioning means, 4; provided that the underside of the tape, 2a through 2d, is properly heated and made"tacky" but not molten during winding by means, 6. Ideally, this is achieved by means of a heated ceramic eyelet as discussed below and shown in Fig. lc and Fig. 2.

When coating conditioning means, 4, is used, it is maintained at a temperature such that in the"contact time"provided by the controlled line speed of the bobbin winding mechanism, it warms the coating and the tape to just below the softening temperature of the coating. In one embodiment, a short pass heating"bar"or other surface, at a surface temperature of between about 55°C and 90°C conducts sufficient energy to the tape coating without reaching the melt-temperature of the coating. Practically speaking, contact between the coated monofilament tape and coating conditioning means, 4, is at best, a"kiss". That is, the monofilament tape is traveling at between about 350 and 500 feet/second, and at these speeds, is barely touching the contact surface of coating conditioning means, 4, as shown in Fig. lb. The net effect is that the coated tape is conditioned and made barely tacky by engaging coating conditioning means, 4, so that coated monofilament tapes, 2a through 2d, can be completely heat tacked during the winding process by the directed energy source, 6, just preceding the subsequent wraps of the tape on the bobbin under controlled or minimum tension.

The completion of the heat tacking step of applying directed energy, such as hot air to the bobbin during winding is designed to preferably heat the underside of the coated tape, thereby assuring that the final wraps of coated tape on the bobbin are secure, and that the shape of the bobbin is maintained without unwrapping of the tape strands, and/or of strands falling over the side of the bobbin. Such a hot air tacking source generally ranges in temperature from between about 50° and 90°C, while other energy forms are adjusted to momentarily raise the surface temperature of the"just about to be over- wrapped"segment of coated monofilament tape to a similar temperature.

To maintain suitable and essentially constant tension on the temperature conditioned coated tape and bobbin during winding, while avoiding bobbin deformation; the bobbin winding speed is constantly being varied as detailed in Tables 7 though 12 below. That is, at the outset, as the heated coated tape is introduced onto the bobbin core, the core is rotated at relatively higher rpm. This winding speed is then generally continuously reduced as the core is wound with numerous wraps of coated tape, eventually totaling from about 8 up to about 200 yds wound on the bobbin. That is, the winding speed continues to decelerate as the wraps on the bobbin increase and as the bobbin of coated monofilament tape increases in diameter. The directed hot air source envelopes and/or touches the bobbin during the entire procedure, such that the last piece of the coated monofilament tape comprising the last yard is tacked securely to the previous wrap on the bobbin.

A preferred means of achieving this substantially constant tension during winding is to use the Cezoma bobbin winding machine model number CE 1487-8. 0/10. 2-91 fitted with a process control computer. The bobbin rotation at the beginning of the cycle (starting speed) is preferably in the range from between about 500 to 350 rpm spindle speed. To maintain suitable tension on the coated monofilament tape, this starting speed is then gradually reduced during the winding cycle by the process control computer by setting the rate of speed reduction such as to be gradually reduced throughout the wind cycle. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the desired shape of a speed reduction curve for a specific coated monofilament tape will be a function of the final thickness of the coating on the tape, as that determines the diameter of the bobbin being formed. See details in Tables 7 through 12 below, which describe additional examples of coated monofilament tape bobbins of the invention wound at various tensions.

Example 1: An elastomeric monofilament tape 0.002 inches in thickness was coated with a saliva soluble coating as described in Example 77 in Table 5. The loading mechanism was adjusted to produce a coating load of approximately 53 mg/yd. This weight of coating ingredients produced a coating on both sides that was normally 0.001 inches thick (for an overall finished thickness of about 0.004 inches). When using a Cezoma@ model number CE 1487 with code 36 set at 225 and Code 37 set at 965, an acceptable bobbin was formed. See also Table 6 below.

The Cezoma@ was fitted with a temperature controlled heating bar having a shape such that approximately one inch of the surface touched the tape which passed by under light tension or pressure against the surface. For this example the temperature of the heating bar version of the Coating Conditioning means was maintained at 80°C plus/minus 3°C.

The Cezoma@ was also fitted with a hot air manifold which directed its energy to the underside of the bobbin such that the surface of the tape next to be overlaid in the wrapping rotation was exposed momentarily to a stream of air exiting the manifold at approximately 50°C.

Preferably, the ceramic eyelet on the traverse block on the winder is heated, thereby avoiding heating the entire bobbin during winding. By heating the ceramic eye, the coated monofilament tape is heated immediately prior to being laid onto the bobbin. This embodiment allows for producing wound bobbins of greater lengths without deformation attributed to excess heat energy. Details of this heated ceramic eyelet arrangement are illustrated in Fig.

2 of the drawings.

Under these conditions, substantially uniform bobbins containing 8 and 200. yds of product could be produced routinely at commercial speeds with no bobbin deformation. When placed in dispenser packages and stored, these bobbins can be dispensed without difficulty or loss of product integrity.

It is critical to this invention that both the rate of speed (rpm) change and the shape of the curve expressing said speed change be controlled according to the physical parameters of the coating on the tape being wound.

A series of coated elastomeric tapes as described in co-pending Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/263,220, and as detailed in Table 5, were bobbin wound using the bobbin winding process of the present invention. The results of heating with single source of heat (or no heat) in a manner common to the industry are also described in Table 5 in the rows labeled"heat needed to wind"and"bobbin tack". However, when the method of heat tacking described herein was used, each formula could produce a nearly perfect bobbin with appropriately selected conditions for the elements of (1) coating conditioning, and (2) controlled tension.

Saliva soluble coatings for monofilament tapes to be bobbin wound according to the present invention are described in Table 5 below. In the Table, the term"Ultramulsion 10-2.5" is defined as an emulsion of polydimethylsoloxane (PDMS) at 2.5 million cs in a nonionic surfactant Poloxamer 407, where the PDMS is at 10% by weight of the total emulsion.

Table 5 EXAMPLE 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 Ingredient Ultramulsion 10-2.5* 57.1 54.8 52.3 50.8 50.8 50.8 58.8 60.8 60.1 55.1 51.1 60.1 61.1 61.1 53.1 57.1 POLOXAMER 407 60.1 60.1 Emsorb 2726 12.5 7.5 12.5 9 5 3 3 0 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 Stearyl Alcohol 9.2 10.5 8 7 11 13 15 16 15 15 15 15 15 15 10 8 15 15 Insoluble Saccharin 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 Propyl gallate 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Spicemint Flavor 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vanilla Mint Flavor 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 tetrasodimpyrophosphate 8 14 14 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 14 4 6 6 10 6 dicalcium phosphate 10 6 10 Microcystalline Wax ML 445 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 7 10 7 7 Triclosan 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 Observation Need heat to wind y n y y n Y Y y y y y y y y y y y Bobbin tack (1=poor, 5=good) 1 5 5 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 Flake resistance Feels sticky(1=no, 5=very) 5 4 4 2 1 2 2 3 3 3 1 4 3 4 4 Load of two samples 29/19 na na 43/50 28/11 53/39 58/43 33/20 51/40 33 46/53 40/39 38/38 50/37 48 45 38/39 43/39 A series of examples illustrating the relationship between varying the control elements of this invention and bobbins wound is detailed in Table 6 below.

Table 6 Example # Table 1 Pre-heat Cezoma Starting Cezoma Directed Hot Bobbin Formula # Conditioning Speed Code 36 Reduction air Temp Quality @mg/yd Bar in Speed Code 37 in °C °C 78 18@40 80 225 999 45 excellent 79 18@60 85 225 985 55 excellent 80 17@37 77 175 975 50 excellent 81 16@50 90 125 965 53 good-excel 82 14@55 85 75 905 60 good 83 15@45 none 25 800 50 Fair 84 18@50 none 0 500 none poor Similar bobbin winding results are obtained with coated PTFE and bicomponent dental tapes and other similarly coated polymeric tapes.

When either of the bobbin winding means of the present invention are deleted from the bobbin winding process, the resultant bobbins are of lesser quality and generally unsuitable for commercial use.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed towards "dynamic cores"which are responsive to the compression forces created by extended exposure of the bobbins of coated monofilament tape to high heat and humidity, i. e., temperatures of 40°C and above and relative humidity of 75% or greater.

Extended exposure of bobbins of coated monofilament tapes of the present invention to high temperatures and/or high relative humidity tends to either: (1) cause the molecules in the monofilament tape elastomer to re-orient causing the tape to contract as it becomes more elastomeric while applying increased compression pressure on the core, or (2) cause the saliva soluble coating to absorb more water and thereby increase the coating load while applying increased corresponding compression pressure onto the bobbin core.

Failure to provide relief from these compression forces results in either the coating oozing from between the winds of the bobbin onto the sides of the bobbin and/or the bobbin winds moving laterally causing a misshapen bobbin.

In both instances, the bobbin generally does not dispense properly.

The dynamic cores of the present invention are responsive to these compression forces and tend to maintain the bobbin free from coating oozing and free from wind distortion when exposed to high temperature and high relative humidity conditions, thereby allowing the bobbin to dispense properly.

The dynamic cores of the present invention are manufactured from various substances including plastics and spring steel and are characterized by a variable diameter such that the core changes in diameter dimension in response to varying compression forces while maintaining a generally round dimension enabling it to rotate on the dispenser hub.

The compression forces on the core of coated monofilament tape loaded at 40 mg/m bobbin wound to 25 meters when stored at 40°C and 75% humidity decreased the core diameter substantially after 90 days. After 90 days, when exposed to these conditions, the bobbin provided with a dynamic core remained substantially free from wind distortion and free from premature coating release and dispensed properly.

The corresponding bobbin wound at 50 meters and stored under comparable conditions produced a bobbin core with a substantially higher reduction in diameter after 90 days.

The compression tension on the core of the bobbins of the present invention are the product of the tension imposed on the coated monofilament tape as it winds onto the bobbin and as the bobbin is expanded from a single wind on its core to the multiple winds required to place 8, 10,25,50,100 or 200 meters of coated monofilament tape onto the bobbin. As these winds of coated monofilament tape are built up on the bobbin the tension on latter winds of the coated monofilament tape is progressively reduced by reducing the revolutions per minute (rpm) the expanding bobbin core is being wound.

Thus, the tension placed on the 25th yard of coated monofilament tape wound onto a 25 yd bobbin is substantially less than the tension placed on the first yard of the tape wound onto the bobbin core. This reduction in tension on the tape as the bobbin is being wound is particularly critical to those coated monofilament tapes which may be placed under high temperature and/or high humidity conditions later on.

Set out below in Tables 7 through 12 are the results of bobbin winding a series of monofilament dental tapes of the invention coated with saliva soluble coatings such as described in Table 5 at between about 30 mg/yd and about 60 mg/yd. These bobbins were wound using a Cezoma@, Model No. CE 1487 with Code 36 set at: 25,75,125,175,225 and 255, respectively, and Code 37 having start and finish RPM as reported. The Tack Values for some of these bobbins are detailed in Table 14 below.

Table 7 Code 36 @ 25 Code 37 RPM Start RPM finish 999 411 382 985 411 382 965 411 382 955 411 382 935 411 382 905 411 382 800 411 382 700 411 382 600 411 382 500 411 389 400 411 389 300 411 389 200 411 389 100 413 395 0 488 488 Table 8 <BR> <BR> Code 36 @ 75 Code 37 RPM Start RPM Finish 999 494 382 985 494 382 965 494 382 955 494 384 935 494 419 905 494 444 800 494 470 700"494455 600 494 470 500 490 472 400 499 485 300 498 481 200 499 468 100 499 485 0 494 487 Table 9 Code 36 @ 125 Code 37 RPM Start RPM Finish 999 457 378 985 554 384 965 556 382 955 565 382 935 577 420 905 567 472 800 577 531 700 575 547 600 573 549 500 573 553 400 573 556 300 573 556 200 573 558 100 573 569 0 573 572 Table 10 <BR> <BR> Code 36@175 Code 37 RPM Start RPM Finish 999 514 384 985 635 378 965 641 542 955 644 453 935 644 520 905 646 556 800 646 608 700 650 624 600 650 632 500 650 633 400 650 632 300 650 637 200 650 630 100 650 641 0 650 648 Table 11 <BR> <BR> Code 36@225 Code 37 RPM Start RPM Finish 999 600 380 985 709 481 965 716 496 955 716 554 935 720 575 905 722 632 800 720 689 700 725 703 600 723 707 500 727 714 400 734 720 300 727 714 200 725 716 100 725 718 0 727 727 Table 12 Code 36 @ 255 Code 37 RPM Start RPM Finish 999 655 389 985 755 551 965 747 553 955 760 611 935 766 648 905 766 701 800 769 736 700 771 718 600 771 756 500 773 758 400 773 760 300 771 762 200 773 762 100 773 767 0 771 767 For the purposes of the present invention, Tack Values for the bobbins of coated monofilament dental tape are determined by measuring the amount of free-hanging tape in grams, suspended from the bobbins, needed to overcome the tack of the wound tape on the bobbins, wherein once this tack value is attained, the bobbin will continue to unwind, being driven by the weight of the tape suspended from the bobbin.

The tack values for commercial products were determined by adding weight to the unwound, suspended product until the tack of the bobbin was overcome and the bobbin would continue to unwind, driven by the suspended product/weight combination.

One of the surprising and distinguishing features of the coated monofilament dental floss bobbins of the present invention are the Bobbin Tack Values for the bobbins of the present invention compared to the Bobbin Tack Values for various commercial dental tapes and flosses.

The Bobbin Tack Values for various commercial interproximal devices are summarized in Fig. 4, a bar chart setting out these relative Bobbin Tack Values.

The Bobbin Tack Values for the various bobbins of the present invention as described in Tables 7 through 12 are summarized in Table 14 and Fig. 5.

Clearly, the Bobbin Tack Values for the bobbins of the present invention are dramatically lower than current commercial products.

Table 13 Floss Bobbin Tack Value in Grams Glide# Floss 2.2258 Oral-B Satin Tape@ 78.0629 Colgate Total@ Mint Waxed Floss 3.2872 Eckerd Hi-Tech Floss 2. 1775 J&J REACH@ Gentle Gum Care 2. 5953 Fresh Mint Floss J&J REACH@ Whitening Mint 8. 2387 Floss Table 14 Coated Monofilament Tape Bobbin winder settings are as follows: Code 36 (Winding Speed) = 25,75, 125,175,225,255; Code 37 (Reduction Speed) = 999,985,965,955,935,905; Air Heat Temperature = 76.3°C; Eyelet Temperature = 60.4°C BOBBIN TACK VALUE in grams 255-999 0. 2768 225-999 0. 2233 175-999 0. 1906 125-999 0. 2505 75-999 0. 2984 25-999 0. 2302 255-985 0. 3516 225-985 0. 2130 175-985 0. 1985 125-985 0. 2365 75-985 0. 3015 25-985 0. 2278 255-965 0. 2759 225-965 0. 1632 175-965 0. 2367 125-965 0. 1977 75-965 0. 3230 25-965 0. 2414 255-955 0. 2411 225-955 0. 1570 175-955 0. 1591 125-955 0. 1819 BOBBIN TACK VALUE in grams 75-955 0. 3320 25-955 0. 2404 225-935 0. 2290 225-935 0. 2279 175-935 0. 2298 125-935 0. 2243 75-935 0. 3146 25-935 0. 2778 255-905 0. 1826 225-905 0. 1770 175-905 0. 1617 125-905 0. 2856 75-905 0. 3251 25-905 0. 2689 The present invention has been described in detail, including the preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure, may make modifications and/or improvements on this invention and still be within the scope and spirit of this invention as set forth in the following claims.