US20250194724A1

US20250194724A1 - Fiber bundle for artificial hair, method for manufacturing fiber bundle for artificial hair, and in-process fiber band

Info

Publication number: US20250194724A1
Application number: US18/849,923
Authority: US
Inventors: Aki Kano; Yu NAKAMURA
Original assignee: Kaneka Corp
Current assignee: Kaneka Corp
Priority date: 2022-03-25
Filing date: 2023-02-07
Publication date: 2025-06-19
Also published as: WO2023181672A1; JPWO2023181672A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a fiber bundle for artificial hair, a method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, and an in-progress fiber strip, which can reproduce light and natural hair ends as compared with a conventional technique. The present invention is configured to include a plurality of fibers and a fixing part that fixes an intermediate portion of a plurality of the fibers. A plurality of the fibers are bundled by the fixing part, and both longitudinal ends are not aligned, and when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from a plurality of the fibers and the extracted 300 fibers are placed in order of length, in a range of 50th to 250th fibers counting from longer ones, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less, and the number of fibers having a same length is 30 or less.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fiber bundle for artificial hair, a method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, and an in-progress fiber strip.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a fiber bundle for artificial hair resembling human hair has been used as a material of a head decoration product such as a hairpiece, a wig, an extension, a braid, or a hair band (for example, Patent Document 1).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2010-47846 A

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Usually, a fiber bundle for artificial hair is often attached to a head of the user in a manner that the center is bent and both ends become hair ends.
However, since both ends of the conventional fiber bundle for artificial hair are aligned linearly at the time of cutting, hair ends are aligned linearly when the fiber bundle for artificial hair is attached to a head, resulting in a hairstyle giving a heavy and unnatural impression.
For this reason, in order to make hair ends light and natural, a specialized technique is required, and it is necessary to go to a beauty salon or the like for operation, and it has been difficult to make a light and natural hairstyle at home or the like.
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a fiber bundle for artificial hair, a method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, and an in-progress fiber strip, which can reproduce light and natural hair ends as compared with the conventional technique.

Solution to Problem

One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a fiber bundle for artificial hair, including a plurality of fibers and a fixing part that fixes an intermediate portion of the plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers are bundled by the fixing part, and both longitudinal ends thereof are not aligned, and when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from the plurality of fibers and the extracted 300 fibers are placed in order of length, in a range of 50th to 250th fibers counting from longer ones, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less, and a number of fibers having a same length is 30 or less.
“Length” as used here refers to a length of a fiber when the fiber is suspended in a state where a base end portion of the fiber is fixed and a weight of 2.0 g is fixed to a tip portion of the fiber.
“Same length” as used here means that a difference is less than 1 cm. That is, in a case where a value obtained by rounding up first and subsequent decimal places is the same, the length is considered to be the same.
“Intermediate portion” as used here refers to a portion other than both longitudinal ends, and refers to a portion between one end and another end in the longitudinal direction.
According to the present aspect, both ends are not aligned, and gradually change when placed in order of length, and for this reason, natural hair ends can be reproduced.
In a preferred aspect, a length of a longest fiber among the plurality of fibers is 10 cm or more, and a difference between the length of the longest fiber and a length of a shortest fiber is 3 cm or more, the plurality of fibers include an intermediate fiber in addition to the longest fiber and the shortest fiber, the intermediate fiber is shorter than the length of the longest fiber by 1 cm or more and longer than the length of the shortest fiber by 1 cm or more, and a length in a longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle for artificial hair is longer than the length of the longest fiber.
In a preferred aspect, a total length thereof is 1 m or more.
In a preferred aspect, the fiber has a crimp.
One aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, the method including a strip-shaped body forming step of forming a strip-shaped body by arranging fibers in a strip shape and a cutting step of cutting an intermediate portion of the strip-shaped body so that a cut portion satisfies a condition (1) or (2) below:

- (1) the cut portion has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in a width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion; or
- (2) the cut portion has at least two first projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two first projecting portions form a first recess.

According to the present aspect, a length distribution of the fibers can be easily adjusted, and gaps can be formed between the fibers without a large bias.
In a preferred aspect, the cutting step includes cutting an intermediate portion of the strip-shaped body to cut the strip-shaped body into a first in-progress fiber strip and a second in-progress fiber strip, the cut portion of the first in-progress fiber strip has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion, and the cut portion of the second in-progress fiber strip has at least two second projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second projecting portions form a second recess.
In a preferred aspect, a length of the first projecting portion is 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less.
In a preferred aspect, the first projecting portion has a triangular shape or an arc shape.
In a preferred aspect, an angle of a vertex of the first projecting portion is 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.
A preferred aspect, includes a hackling step that is a step after the cutting step, the hackling step including forming a bundle-like body by bundling the cut strip-shaped body, and performing hackling of the bundle-like body.
One aspect of the present invention is an in-progress fiber strip used for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, the in-progress fiber strip including a plurality of fibers arranged in a strip shape and a first end region on one end side in a longitudinal direction, the first end region satisfying a condition (3) or (4) below:

- (3) the first end region has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in a width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion; or
- (4) the first end region has at least two first projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two first projecting portions form a first recess.

According to the present aspect, since unevennesses are formed in the first end region, a natural alignment of hair can be achieved when a fiber bundle for artificial hair is formed.
In a preferred aspect, the in-progress fiber strip further includes a second end region on another end side in the longitudinal direction, the second end region satisfying a condition (5) or (6) below:

- (5) the second end region has at least two second recesses in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second recesses form a second projecting portion.
- (6) the second end region has at least two second projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second projecting portions form a second recess.

In a preferred aspect, a length of the first projecting portion is 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less.
In a preferred aspect, the first projecting portion has a triangular shape or an arc shape.
In a preferred aspect, an angle of a vertex of the first projecting portion is 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.

Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, light and natural hair ends can be reproduced as compared with a conventional technique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a first in-progress fiber strip according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view of the first in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating an outline (contour) of a main part of FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a second in-progress fiber strip according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a plan view of the second in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 3B is a plan view illustrating an outline (contour) of a main part of FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a manufacturing process of the fiber bundle for artificial hair of FIG. 1 , in which FIG. 4A is a plan view of a strip-shaped body in a strip-shaped body forming step, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of an in-progress fiber strip after cutting in a cutting step.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the in-progress fiber strip according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view of the first in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the second in-progress fiber strip.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are explanatory diagrams of the in-progress fiber strip according to Example 4 of the present invention and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, in which FIG. 6A is a plan view of Example 4, FIG. 6B is a plan view of Comparative Example 1, FIG. 6C is a plan view of Comparative Example 2, and FIG. 6D is a plan view of Comparative Example 3.

FIG. 7 shows a photograph capturing a product fiber bundle of Examples 1 to 4 of the present invention and Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

FIG. 8 shows a photograph capturing a product fiber bundle of Examples 1 to 4 of the present invention and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 when the product fiber bundle is formed into a braid.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams of an experiment result of Example 1 of the present invention, in which FIG. 9A is a histogram when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 9B is a graph in which 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip and placed in order of length.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of an experiment result of Example 4 of the present invention, in which FIG. 10A is a histogram when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 10B is a graph in which 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip and arranged in order of length.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams of an experiment result of Comparative Example 1 of the present invention, in which FIG. 11A is a histogram when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 11B is a graph in which 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip and arranged in order of length.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams of an experiment result of Comparative Example 2 of the present invention, in which FIG. 12A is a histogram when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 12B is a graph in which 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip and arranged in order of length.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of an experiment result of Comparative Example 3 of the present invention, in which FIG. 13A is a histogram when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip, and FIG. 13B is a graph in which 300 fibers are randomly extracted from an in-progress fiber strip and arranged in order of length.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
A fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair according to a first embodiment of the present invention constitutes a kind of head ornament selected from a group including a hair wig, a hairpiece, weaving, a hair extension, braid hair, a hair accessory, and doll hair.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair is a fiber bundle in which a plurality of fibers 2 are bundled at a fixing part 3, is used by being folded back near the fixing part 3, and extends in a predetermined direction as a whole in a folded state.
The fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair includes the fibers 2 of a plurality of kinds of lengths.
The fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment is formed by hackling in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 after the fibers 2 are arranged in a strip shape and cut by a cutting device to form the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
In the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair, a length of the longest one of the fibers 2 is preferably 20 cm or more and 335 cm or less.
In the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair, a length of the shortest one of the fibers 2 is preferably 10 cm or more and 115 cm or less, and more preferably 50 cm or more and 90 cm or less.
In the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair, a difference between a length of the longest one of the fibers 2 and a length of the shortest one of the fibers 2 is 3 cm or more, and preferably 40 cm or more and 325 cm or less.
The fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment has a total length of 1 m or more in a linearly extended state.
The fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair includes at least three types of fibers having different lengths, and in addition to the longest one of the fibers 2 and the shortest one of the fibers 2, there is an intermediate one of the fibers 2 (intermediate fiber) having a difference of 1 cm or more from the longest one of the fibers 2 and the shortest one of the fibers 2.
In the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair in a state of being linearly extended, both longitudinal ends are not aligned, and end portions of the fibers 2 are at substantially different positions.
When the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair is unraveled to the fibers 2 after removing the fixing part 3, 300 of the fibers 2 are randomly extracted from the fibers 2, and the extracted 300 of the fibers 2 are arranged in order of length, in a range of 50th to 250th fibers from the longest fiber, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less, and the number of fibers having the same length is 30 or less.
The fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair includes a first fiber bundle for artificial hair formed by hackling the first in-progress fiber strip 10 and a second fiber bundle for artificial hair formed by hackling the second in-progress fiber strip 11.

(Fiber 2)

The fiber 2 is preferably made from at least a fiber of one kind selected from a group including an acrylic fiber (AC fiber) such as a modacrylic fiber (MODA fiber), a polyethylene terephthalate fiber (PET fiber), a polyvinyl chloride fiber (PVC fiber), a nylon fiber (Ny fiber), and a polypropylene fiber (PP fiber).
A cross-sectional shape of the fiber 2 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a circular shape, a Y shape, an H shape, a U shape, a C shape, an X shape, a flat shape, a horseshoe shape, or the like.
The fiber 2 may be hollow or solid.
The fiber 2 may be crimped by crimping or the like, or may not be crimped.

(First In-Progress Fiber Strip 10)

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the first in-progress fiber strip 10 includes a first end region 20, a central region 21, and a second end region 22 in this order from one end side to another end side in the longitudinal direction.
The first end region 20 is a region extending from one end to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed. The first end region 20 is a portion corresponding to a cut portion cut by a cutting step described later.
The first end region 20 includes two recesses 30 a and 30 b (first recesses) at an intermediate portion in a width direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the recesses 30 a and 30 b are recessed from one end in the longitudinal direction toward the central region 21, and include a first inclined portion 35 and a second inclined portion 36.
Both the first inclined portion 35 and the second inclined portion 36 extend linearly and intersect at a boundary portion with the central region 21.
An angle θ1 (angle of a bottom portion of the recesses 30 a and 30 b) formed by the first inclined portion 35 and the second inclined portion 36 adjacent to each other illustrated in FIG. 2B is preferably an obtuse angle, more preferably 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, and still more preferably 20 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less.
A first inclined portion 35 a of the recess 30 a and a first inclined portion 35 b of the recess 30 b are parallel to each other, and a second inclined portion 36 a of the recess 30 a and a second inclined portion 36 b of the recess 30 b are also parallel to each other.
Further, in the first end region 20, from another viewpoint, a triangular projecting portion 31 (first projecting portion) is preferably formed by two of the recesses 30 a and 30 b, and the projecting portion 31 having an isosceles triangular shape is preferably formed.
An angle θ2 (an angle of a vertex of the projecting portion 31) formed by the second inclined portion 36 a of the recess 30 a and the first inclined portion 35 b of the recess 30 b illustrated in FIG. 2B is preferably 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, and more preferably 20 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less.
A length (depth from an end) of the recesses 30 a and 30 b are preferably 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less, and more preferably 22 cm or more and 26 cm or less.
Lengths of the recesses 30 a and 30 b may be the same or different.
The central region 21 is a region having a quadrangular shape provided in a longitudinal center portion, and is a region to which 95% or more of the fibers 2 belongs.
A length in the longitudinal direction of the central region 21 is preferably 45% or more of an entire length.
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the second end region 22 is a region extending from an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction to another end, and is a region where triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed. The second end region 22 is a portion corresponding to a cut portion cut by a cutting step described later.
The second end region 22 has a line-symmetric relationship with the first end region 20. In view of the above, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the first end region 20 in each member of the second end region 22, and description of such configurations will be omitted.
The second end region 22 includes two of the recesses 30 a and 30 b (second recesses) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
A depth direction of the recesses 30 a and 30 b of the second end region 22 is a direction approaching the recesses 30 a and 30 b of the first end region 20.
Positions of bottom portions of the recesses 30 a and 30 b in the second end region 22 (positions of center lines) are the same as positions of bottom portions of the recesses 30 a and 30 b in the first end region 20 (positions of center lines) in the width direction.
In the second end region 22, from another viewpoint, the triangular projecting portion 31 (second projecting portion) is preferably formed by two of the recesses 30 a and 30 b, and the projecting portion 31 having an isosceles triangular shape is preferably formed.
A position of a top portion of the projecting portion 31 of the second end region 22 is the same position as a position of a top portion of the projecting portion 31 of the first end region 20 in the width direction.
(Second in-progress fiber strip 11)
As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the second in-progress fiber strip 11 includes a third end region 40, a central region 41, and a fourth end region 42 in this order from one end side to another end side in the longitudinal direction.
The third end region 40 is a region extending from one end in the longitudinal direction to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed.
The third end region 40 is a portion corresponding to a cut portion cut by a cutting step described later, and is a region paired with the second end region 22 of the first in-progress fiber strip 10 at the time of cutting.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the third end region 40 includes two projecting portions 51 a and 51 b (first projecting portions) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b project from the central region 41 toward one end, and include a first inclined portion 55 and a second inclined portion 56.
Both the first inclined portion 55 and the second inclined portion 56 extend linearly and intersect at one end.
An angle θ3 (angle of a vertex of the projecting portion 51) formed by the first inclined portion 55 and the second inclined portion 56 adjacent to each other illustrated in FIG. 3B is preferably an acute angle, more preferably 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, and still more preferably 20 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less.
A first inclined portion 55 a of the projecting portion 51 a and a first inclined portion 55 b of the projecting portion 51 b are parallel to each other, and a second inclined portion 56 a of the projecting portion 51 a and a second inclined portion 56 b of the projecting portion 51 b are also parallel to each other.
Further, in the third end region 40, from another viewpoint, a triangular recess 50 is preferably formed by two of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b, and the recess 50 having an isosceles triangular shape is preferably formed.
An angle θ4 (angle of a bottom portion of the recess 50) formed by the first inclined portion 55 a of the projecting portion 51 a and the second inclined portion 56 b of the projecting portion 51 b illustrated in FIG. 3B is preferably 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less, and more preferably 20 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less.
A length of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b (projecting length from the central region 41) is preferably 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less, and more preferably 22 cm or more and 26 cm or less.
Lengths of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b may be the same or different.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the central region 41 is a region having a quadrangular shape provided in a longitudinal center portion, and is a region to which 95% or more of the fibers 2 belongs.
A length in the longitudinal direction of the central region 41 is preferably 45% or more of an entire length.
The fourth end region 42 is a region extending from another end in the longitudinal direction to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed. The fourth end region 42 is a portion corresponding to a cut portion cut by a cutting step described later, and is a region paired with the first end region 20 of the first in-progress fiber strip 10 at the time of cutting.
The fourth end region 42 has a line-symmetric relationship with the third end region 40. In view of the above, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the third end region 40 in each member of the fourth end region 42, and description of such configurations will be omitted.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the fourth end region 42 includes two of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b (second projecting portions) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
A projecting direction of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the fourth end region 42 is a direction away from the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the third end region 40.
A position of a top portion of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the fourth end region 42 is the same position as a position of a top portion of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the third end region 40 in the width direction.
In the fourth end region 42, from another viewpoint, a triangular recess 50 is preferably formed by two of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b, and the recess 50 having an isosceles triangular shape is preferably formed.
A position of a bottom portion of the recess 50 of the fourth end region 42 is the same position as a position of a bottom portion of the recess 50 of the third end region 40 in the width direction.
Next, a method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment mainly performs a strip-shaped body forming step, a cutting step, and a hackling step in this order.
Specifically, first, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the fibers 2 are arranged in a strip shape to form a strip-shaped body 60 (strip-shaped body forming step).
At this time, a width of the strip-shaped body 60 is preferably 15 cm or more and 58 cm or less, and more preferably 33 cm or more and 40 cm or less.
Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the strip-shaped body 60 is cut at predetermined intervals by a triangular wave-shaped blade portion so that the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 alternately formed (cutting step).
At this time, in the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 cut and separated, a length of the longest one of the fibers 2 is preferably 20 cm or more and 335 cm or less.
In the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 cut and separated, a length of the shortest one of the fibers 2 is preferably 10 cm or more and 115 cm or less, and more preferably 50 cm or more and 90 cm or less.
In the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 cut and separated, a difference between a length of the longest one of the fibers 2 and a length of the shortest one of the fibers 2 is 3 cm or more, and preferably 40 cm or more and 325 cm or less.
The in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 of the present embodiment have a total length of 1 m or more.
The in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 have gradually different lengths in the width direction, and include at least three kinds of the fibers 2 having different lengths. That is, the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 include the longest one of the fibers 2, the shortest one of the fibers 2, and an intermediate one of the fibers 2 having a 1 cm or more of length difference from the longest one of the fibers 2 and from the shortest one of the fibers 2 respectively.
Subsequently, the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 are bundled in a bundle shape to form a bundle-like body, the bundle-like body is dropped onto a hackling table provided with a plurality of rod-shaped portions such as a pin support, and then the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 are pulled out from a gap between the rod-shaped portions of the hackling table to perform hackling (hackling step), the fixing part 3 is attached and fixed to an intermediate portion of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11, and bent near the fixing part 3, so that the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair is completed.
At this time, in the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11, orientation of the fibers 2 is aligned and gathered while a positional relationship between the fibers 2 is shifted in the longitudinal direction by the hackling.
The number of times of hackling at this time is not particularly limited, but is preferably five or more and 20 or less from the viewpoint of aligning orientation of the fiber 2 more.
At this time, the fixing part 3 is preferably attached in a range of ¼ of a length in the longitudinal direction of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 from a longitudinal center portion of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11.
According to the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, positions of the fibers 2 in the longitudinal direction are not aligned, and when 300 of the fibers 2 are randomly extracted and placed in order of length, in 50th to 250th fibers counted from the longest fiber, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less, and the number of fibers having the same length is 30 or less. For this reason, light and natural hair ends can be reproduced.
According to the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, a total length is longer than a length of the longest one of the fibers 2, a difference between a length of the longest one of the fibers 2 and a length of the shortest one of the fibers 2 is 3 cm or more, and an intermediate one of the fibers 2 is shorter by 1 cm or more than the length of the longest one of the fibers 2 and longer by 1 cm or more than the length of the shortest one of the fibers 2. For this reason, light and natural hair ends can be reproduced.
According to the method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, it is easy to adjust a length distribution of the fibers 2.
According to the method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the first end region 20 of the first in-progress fiber strip 10 and the fourth end region 42 of the second in-progress fiber strip 11, and the second end region 22 of the first in-progress fiber strip 10 and the third end region 40 of the second in-progress fiber strip 11 form a pair, respectively, so that loss of the fiber 2 is small and yield can be improved.
According to the method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, since an end region of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 has a smaller hair amount than a central region, a hackling step is easily performed, and the hackling step can be performed also in a case where the fiber 2 to which a crimp is imparted with strong crimp strength and has a high crimp rate is used. Further, by hackling the fiber 2 having a high crimp rate through crimp imparting with strong crimp strength, the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair imparted with an added value such as high volume and rough touch can be manufactured.
According to the method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, since an end region of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 has a smaller hair amount than a central region, hackling can be performed by human power for the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 having a total length of 90 cm or more, for which hackling has been conventionally difficult to perform by human power. As a result, the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair having a total length of 1 m or more can be manufactured.
According to the method for manufacturing the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair of the present embodiment, since an end region of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 has a smaller hair amount than a central region, time for hackling can be significantly shortened as compared with a conventional method, and production efficiency can be improved. As a result, product costs can be reduced.
According to the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 of the present embodiment, since unevennesses are formed in the end regions 20 and 22, natural alignment of hair can be achieved when the fiber bundle 1 for artificial hair is formed.
Next, a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the fiber bundle for artificial hair of the second embodiment, a shape of in-progress fiber strips 110 and 111 as an in-progress product is different from that of the in-progress fiber strips 10 and 11 of the first embodiment.

(First In-Progress Fiber Strip 110)

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the first in-progress fiber strip 110 of the second embodiment includes a first end region 120, the central region 21, and a second end region 122 in order from one end side to another end side in the longitudinal direction.
Similarly to the first end region 20 of the first embodiment, the first end region 120 is a region extending from one end to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed.
The first end region 120 has a pitch of unevennesses narrower than that of the first end region 20 of the first embodiment, and includes three recesses 130 a to 130 c (first recesses) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
The recesses 130 a to 130 c are recessed from one end in the longitudinal direction toward the central region 21, and include the first inclined portion 35 and the second inclined portion 36.
Further, from another viewpoint, in the first end region 120, two projecting portions 131 a and 131 b (first projecting portions) are formed by three of the recesses 130 a to 130 c.
Lengths of the recesses 130 a to 130 b may be the same or different.
Similarly to the first end region 22 of the first embodiment, the second end region 122 is a region extending from an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction to another end, and is a region where triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed.
The second end region 122 has a line-symmetric relationship with the first end region 120. In view of the above, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the first end region 120 in each member of the second end region 122, and description of such configurations will be omitted.
The second end region 122 includes three of the recesses 130 a and 130 c (second recesses) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
A depth direction of the recesses 130 a to 130 c of the second end region 122 is a direction approaching the recesses 130 a to 130 c of the first end region 120.
Positions of bottom portions of the recesses 130 a to 130 c in the second end region 122 are the same as positions of bottom portions of the recesses 130 a to 130 c in the first end region 120 in the width direction.
From another viewpoint, in the second end region 122, two projecting portions 131 a and 131 b (second projecting portions) are formed by three of the recesses 130 a to 130 c.
Position of top portions of the projecting portions 131 a and 131 b of the second end region 122 are the same position as positions of top portions of the projecting portions 131 a and 131 b of the first end region 120 in the width direction.

(Second In-Progress Fiber Strip 111)

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the second in-progress fiber strip 111 includes a third end region 140, the central region 41, and a fourth end region 142 in this order from one end side to another end side in the longitudinal direction.
Similarly to the third end region 40 of the first embodiment, the third end region 140 is a region extending from one end in the longitudinal direction to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed.
The third end region 140 includes three projecting portions 151 a to 151 c (first projecting portions) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
The projecting portions 151 a to 151 c project from the central region 41 toward one end, and include the first inclined portion 55 and the second inclined portion 56.
Further, from another viewpoint, in the third end region 140, two recesses 150 a and 150 b (first recesses) are formed by three of the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c.
Lengths of the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c may be the same or different.
Similarly to the fourth end region 42 of the first embodiment, the fourth end region 142 is a region extending from another end in the longitudinal direction to an intermediate portion, and is a region in which triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed.
The fourth end region 142 has a line-symmetric relationship with the third end region 140. In view of the above, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the third end region 140 in each member of the fourth end region 142, and description of such configurations will be omitted.
The fourth end region 142 includes three of the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c (second projecting portions) in an intermediate portion in the width direction.
A projecting direction of the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c of the fourth end region 142 is a direction away from the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c of the third end region 140.
From another viewpoint, in the fourth end region 142, two of the recesses 150 a and 150 b (second recesses) are formed by three of the projecting portions 151 a to 151 c.
In the embodiment described above, a recess or a projecting portion is formed in the in-progress fiber strips 10, 11, 110, and 111, but the present invention is not limited to this. A length of each fiber only needs to gradually change, and for example, each end region of an in-progress fiber strip may have a right triangular shape.
In the embodiment described above, the first in-progress fiber strips 10 and 110 have two or three recesses in each of the end regions 20, 22, 120, and 122, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of recesses in each end region may be one, or may be four or more as illustrated in FIG. 6A.
Similarly, in the embodiment described above, the second in-progress fiber strips 11 and 111 have two or three projecting portions in each of the end regions 40, 42, 140, and 142, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of the projecting portions in each end region may be one or four or more.
In the above-described embodiment, a shape of the end regions 20, 22, 40, and 42 is a triangular wave shape in which the triangular recesses 30 and 50 or the triangular projecting portions 31 and 51 are repeated, but the present invention is not limited to this. A shape of the end regions 20, 22, 40, and 42 may be wavy. That is, a vertex of the projecting portions 31 and 51 or a bottom portion of the recesses 30 and 50 may be rounded in an arc shape.
In the embodiment described above, the first in-progress fiber strips 10 and 110 and the second in-progress fiber strips 11 and 111 are alternately formed in the cutting step, but the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may be such that, in the cutting step, only the first in-progress fiber strips 10 and 110 or only the second in-progress fiber strips 11 and 111 are formed.
In the above-described embodiment, the recesses 30 a and 30 b of the second end region 22 are located at the same positions as the recesses 30 a and 30 b of the first end region 20 in the width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The recesses 30 a and 30 b of the second end region 22 may be shifted from the recesses 30 a and 30 b of the first end region 20 in the width direction.
Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, positions of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the fourth end region 42 are located at the same positions as the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the third end region 40 in the width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. Positions of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the fourth end region 42 may be shifted from positions of the projecting portions 51 a and 51 b of the third end region 40 in the width direction.
In the above-described embodiment, triangular wave-shaped unevennesses are formed in the end regions 20, 22, 40, and 42, but the present invention is not limited to this. Sawtooth-shaped unevennesses may be formed in the end regions 20, 22, 40, and 42.
In the above-described embodiments, each component member can be freely replaced or added between the embodiments as long as they are included in the technical scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1

Modacrylic (MODA) fibers were used as fibers, and the fibers were arranged in a strip shape so that a width was 36 cm and a weight was 65 g, and cut into a triangular wave shape so that a length of the longest fiber was 99 cm and a length of the shortest fiber was 51 cm to form an in-progress fiber strip having two recesses in each end region as illustrated in FIG. 2 . The formed in-progress fiber strips were bundled to form a bundle-like body, and four sets of hackling were performed on the bundle-like body, and then the bundle-like body was bundled with a fixing string to form a fiber bundle for artificial hair. Example 1 was obtained as described above.
Note that, in the hackling, work of gathering in a bundle-like body, allowing the bundle-like body to pass through a hackling table nine times, and bundling the bundle-like body at the tenth time was regarded as one set.

Example 2

Example 2 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip having two projecting portions in each end region as illustrated in FIG. 3 was formed.

Example 3

Example 3 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip having three recesses in each end region as illustrated in FIG. 5A was formed.

Example 4

Example 4 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip having four recesses in each end region as illustrated in FIG. 6A was formed.

Comparative Example 1

Comparative Example 1 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip was formed using two kinds of fibers having different lengths (lengths of 66 cm and 94 cm) as illustrated in FIG. 6B.

Comparative Example 2

Comparative Example 2 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip was formed using a fiber having a length of 99 cm as illustrated in FIG. 6C.

Comparative Example 3

Comparative Example 3 was obtained in the same manner as Example 1 except that an in-progress fiber strip was formed in a manner that an end region having one projecting portion only on one side as illustrated in FIG. 6D.
(Sensory evaluation)
As for an appearance, a bilaterally symmetrical brush-like fiber bundle in which a hair amount was decreased toward hair ends was evaluated as o, and other fiber bundles (for example, one in which a hair amount does not change even on the hair ends side, one that is not bilaterally symmetrical, one that is not brush-like, and the like) were evaluated as x.
Regarding combing property, a professional beauty evaluator combed a fiber bundle with his or her fingers, and evaluated the ease of combing with his or her fingers from a root to hair ends of the fiber bundle. One that a beauty evaluator determined as having a hair amount decreased toward hair ends, allowing easy combing with his or her fingers, and having less resistance was evaluated as o, and others were evaluated as x.
Regarding hair handleability, a professional beauty evaluator divided a fiber bundle into two or three pieces, and evaluated resistance when the fiber bundle was divided. One that the beauty evaluator determined as having low resistance at the time of dividing a fiber bundle was evaluated as good hair handleability that is o, and others were evaluated as x.
Regarding braiding property, a professional beauty evaluator made a braid, and a fiber bundle whose braid was finished into a pencil shape toward hair ends and hair ends are stopped without unraveling was evaluated as o, and others were evaluated as x.
A result of sensory evaluation of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are shown in Table 1.
Photographs taken Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are illustrated in FIG. 7 , and photographs of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 taken after being braided are illustrated in FIG. 8 .

TABLE 1

				COMPAR-	COMPAR-	COMPAR-
				ATIVE	ATIVE	ATIVE
EXAMPLE 1	EXAMPLE 2	EXAMPLE 3	EXAMPLE 4	EXAMPLE 1	EXAMPLE 2	EXAMPLE 3

APPEARANCE	∘	∘	∘	∘	x	x	x
COMBING PROPERTY	∘	∘	∘	∘	x	x	x
HAIR HANDLEABILITY	∘	∘	∘	∘	x	x	x
BRAIDING PROPERTY	∘	∘	∘	∘	x	x	x

In Examples 1 to 4, as shown in Table 1, sensory evaluation was excellent for all of appearance, combing property, hair handleability, and braiding property as compared with Comparative Examples 1 to 3.
As shown in each photograph of FIG. 7 , in Comparative Examples 1 to 3, hair ends splay out and the hair ends were not organized, whereas in Examples 1 to 4, hair ends were organized in a brush shape, the hair ends were light and natural, and it was confirmed that an appearance was excellent. Further, in Examples 1 to 4, as shown in each photograph in FIG. 7 , it was confirmed that a hair amount decreased toward hair ends.
It was confirmed that when a braid was made in Comparative Examples 1 to 3, combing and hair handleability were poor, a braid could not be made to hair ends as in each photograph in FIG. 8 , and an appearance in which hair ends splay out was obtained, whereas when a braid was made in Examples 1 to 4, combing and hair handleability were excellent, and a braid could be made to hair ends as in each photograph in FIG. 8 , and an appearance with organized hair ends was obtained.
From the result of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 3, it has been found that by forming end regions at both ends, all of appearance, combing property, hair handleability, and braiding property are excellent, hair ends are organized, and a braid can be made to hair ends when a braid was made.
In Example 1, Example 4, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, a histogram obtained by randomly extracting 300 fibers from a fiber bundle for artificial hair and dividing the fibers by each length, and a graph obtained by plotting the extracted 300 fibers in order of length are illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 .
Note that the length was measured as the fibers were suspended in a state where the fibers were formed into a U shape, a weight of 2.0 g was attached to a tip portion of the fibers, and a base portion was fixed, and the fibers were in a state of being linearly extended due to the weight of the weight.
In Comparative Example 1 in which fibers having two kinds of lengths were used, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, peaks were formed at lengths of around 69 cm and 98 cm in the histogram, and the number of fibers having the same length was more than 30 at the peak around 69 cm.
Further, in Comparative Example 1, a graph in which transition of a fiber length was stepwise and continuous was obtained as in FIG. 11B, and there was a portion (steep portion) where the length greatly changed between 50th and 100th fibers counting from the longer ones.
In Comparative Example 2 in which fibers having the same length were used, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, a peak was formed around a length of 102 cm in a histogram, and in the peak, the number of fibers having the same length was more than 30, and in a range from 50th to 250th fibers counting from the longer ones, a difference between lengths of adjacent fibers was 3 cm or less.
Further, in Comparative Example 2, a graph in which transition of a fiber length was a gently continuous almost entirely was obtained as illustrated in FIG. 12B.
In Comparative Example 3 in which an end region having one projecting portion only on one side was formed, as illustrated in FIG. 13A, fibers were moderately dispersed in a histogram, and one broad peak was formed, and in the peak, the number of fibers having the same length was 30 or less, and in a range from 50th to 250th fibers counting from the longer ones, a difference between lengths of adjacent fibers was 3 cm or less.
In Comparative Example 3, a graph in which transition of a fiber length was a gently continuous almost entirely was obtained as illustrated in FIG. 13B.
On the other hand, in Examples 1 and 4 in which end regions were provided on both sides, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 10A, in a histogram, fibers were widely dispersed as compared with Comparative Example 3, one broad peak was formed, the number of fibers having the same length was 30 or less, and in a range from 50th to 250th fibers counting from the longer ones, a difference between lengths of adjacent fibers was 3 cm or less.
In Examples 1 and 4, a graph in which transition of a fiber length was a gently continuous almost entirely was obtained as illustrated in FIGS. 9B and 10B.
From the above, it has been found that, as in Examples 1 to 4, by forming an end region in which both longitudinal ends are not aligned, and when 300 fibers are randomly extracted and arranged from longer ones, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less in a range of 50th to 250th fibers counting from the longer ones, and the number of fibers having the same length is 30 or less, to form gently changing end regions, hair ends that are light and natural as compared with a conventional technique can be reproduced.
Further, as in Examples 1 to 4, it has been found that by using an in-progress fiber strip in which a shape of an end region is wavy and that satisfies conditions (1) or (2) below, in a case of making a braid, combing and hair handleability are excellent, a braid can be made to hair ends, and an appearance with organized hair ends can be obtained.

- (1) The end region has at least two recesses in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two recesses form a projecting portion.
- (2) The end region has at least two projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two projecting portions form a recess.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

- 1: fiber bundle for artificial hair
- 2: fiber
- 10, 110: first in-progress fiber strip
- 11, 111: second in-progress fiber strip
- 20, 120: first end region
- 22, 122: second end region
- 30 a, 30 b, 130 a to 130 c: recess
- 31, 131 a, 131 b: projecting portion
- 40, 140: third end region
- 42, 142: fourth end region
- 50, 150 a, 150 b: recess
- 51, 51 a, 51 b, 151 a to 151 c: projecting portion
- 60: strip-shaped body

Claims

1. A fiber bundle for artificial hair, comprising:

a plurality of fibers; and

a fixing part that fixes an intermediate portion of the plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers are bundled by the fixing part, and both longitudinal ends thereof are not aligned, and

when 300 fibers are randomly extracted from the plurality of fibers and the extracted 300 fibers are placed in order of length, in a range of 50th to 250th fibers counting from longer ones, a difference in length between adjacent fibers is 3 cm or less, and a number of fibers having a same length is 30 or less.

2. The fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 1, wherein

a length of a longest fiber among the plurality of fibers is 10 cm or more, and a difference between the length of the longest fiber and a length of a shortest fiber is 3 cm or more,

the plurality of fibers include an intermediate fiber in addition to the longest fiber and the shortest fiber,

the intermediate fiber is shorter than the length of the longest fiber by 1 cm or more and longer than the length of the shortest fiber by 1 cm or more, and

a length in a longitudinal direction of the fiber bundle for artificial hair is longer than the length of the longest fiber.

3. The fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 1, wherein a total length thereof is 1 m or more.

4. The fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers have a crimp.

5. A method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, the method comprising:

a strip-shaped body forming step of forming a strip-shaped body by arranging fibers in a strip shape; and

a cutting step of cutting an intermediate portion of the strip-shaped body so that a cut portion satisfies a condition (1) or (2) below:

(1) the cut portion has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in a width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion; or

(2) the cut portion has at least two first projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two first projecting portions form a first recess.

6. The method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 5, wherein

the cutting step includes cutting an intermediate portion of the strip-shaped body to cut the strip-shaped body into a first in-progress fiber strip and a second in-progress fiber strip,

the cut portion of the first in-progress fiber strip has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in a width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion, and

the cut portion of the second in-progress fiber strip has at least two second projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second projecting portions form a second recess.

7. The method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 5, wherein a length of the first projecting portion is 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less.

8. The method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 5, wherein the first projecting portion has a triangular shape or an arc shape.

9. The method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 8, wherein an angle of a vertex of the first projecting portion is 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.

10. The method for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair according to claim 5, further comprising a hackling step that is a step after the cutting step, the hackling step including forming a bundle body by bundling the cut strip-shaped body, and performing hackling of the bundle body.

11. An in-progress fiber strip used for manufacturing a fiber bundle for artificial hair, the in-progress fiber strip comprising:

a plurality of fibers arranged in a strip shape; and

a first end region on one end side in a longitudinal direction,

the first end region satisfying a condition (3) or (4) below:

(3) the first end region has at least two first recesses in an intermediate portion in a width direction, and the two first recesses form a first projecting portion; or

(4) the first end region has at least two first projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two first projecting portions form a first recess.

12. The in-progress fiber strip according to claim 11, further comprising a second end region on another end side in the longitudinal direction, the second end region satisfying a condition (5) or (6) below:

(5) the second end region has at least two second recesses in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second recesses form a second projecting portion; or

(6) the second end region has at least two second projecting portions in an intermediate portion in the width direction, and the two second projecting portions form a second recess.

13. The in-progress fiber strip according to claim 12, wherein a length of the first projecting portion is 5 cm or more and 40 cm or less.

14. The in-progress fiber strip according to claim 11, wherein the first projecting portion has a triangular shape or an arc shape.

15. The in-progress fiber strip according to claim 14, wherein an angle of a vertex of the first projecting portion is 10 degrees or more and 70 degrees or less.