EP3024355B1 - Transfer station for transferring bristle filaments - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer station for transferring bristle filaments, which can be supplied to the transfer station in bundles of bristles, which bristle bundles bundle the bristle filaments by means of at least one strip, to a magazine in which magazine the bristle filaments are stored.

In brush making machines, bristle filaments are inserted into a brush body. The bristle filaments used in the brush body then form the bristle field of a brush.

From the DE 197 45 024 A1 For example, a brushing machine with a multiple hopper is known for feeding bundles of bristles from different bristle stocks to a bundle notch having a dividing notch for a stuffing tool. The multiple magazine has multiple feed channels which can be filled by means of a bristle material feeder. The charging device has a storage magazine which has a number of magazine receiving channels corresponding number of obliquely arranged receiving compartments each for a plurality of bristle bundles. The individual bundles of bristles are coated with a sheathing, for example made of paper, which is removed before feeding the bristle material to the feed channels, by gripper tongs pulling the bristle material out of the sheath. By means of a feed gripper, the stripped bristle material can then be taken over at the stripping station and released into one of the feed channels.

From the DE 101 60 220 A1 Another brush making machine is previously known with a stuffing device having a bundle divider with a divider notch. The bundle divider is assigned a multiple magazine with several feed channels for bristles. Spaced spatially to the multiple magazine a storage device for bristles is provided. An intermediate conveyor with a gripper serves to remove bristles from the storage device and the transfer into one of the feed channels of the multiple magazine.

In these two proven brush-making machines, the bristle material can be automatically removed from the bristle stock and transferred to the magazine by means of the feeding device or the intermediate conveyor, since the bristle material processed on this brush-making machine consists of bristle filaments which are cylindrical over their entire length.

Chemically sharpened bristle filaments have been created, also referred to as tapered filaments. These sharpened bristle filaments emanating from a wafer-thin bristle tip are increasingly being used worldwide to create particularly soft toothbrushes. Since these bristle filaments are particularly thin, such sharpened bristle filaments are still inserted by hand into the magazine of a brush-making machine. Such a magazine, also referred to as a material box, has at least one conveying path delimited on both sides by a side strip, which is connected upstream of a stuffing tool of the brush production machine.

The chemically sharpened bristle elements are usually offered in bundles of bristles approximately round in cross-section. In the process, the bristle filaments of a bristle bundle become held together by at least one band and preferably by at least one rubber band. When manually inserting the bunched together held bristle filaments, the bristle bundle is placed on the bottom plate of the magazine and then advanced between the side rails of a magazine provided in the conveyor section up to both sides on the side rails movable pushers. Thereafter, the rubber bands still holding the bristle bundles are removed to pull the pushers by pressing a button behind the now bundle bristle filaments, so that the pushers can squeeze the new bristle material against the bristle filaments already in the conveyor line. Since the sharpened bristle filaments must always be very well embraced, it sometimes happens that the pusher protruding laterally over the side strips also presses on the fingers. Since the pressure on the pusher is not very great, it only causes slight bruises. Since the brush-making machine should not be stopped during the insertion phases of the bristle bundles, the magazine moves when it is necessary to switch from one bristle color to another bristle color. This can lead to serious bruising, even if the operator neglects it. However, such bruising and the associated injury to the operator must be avoided at all costs.

There is therefore in particular the task of creating a transfer station of the type mentioned, which allows the automated transfer of bundled supplied Bristle filaments to, for example, the stuffing tool of a brush making machine magazine.

The solution according to the invention consists in the transfer station of the type mentioned in particular in that the transfer station at least two, in the bundle longitudinally spaced pairs of gripper fingers has that the gripping fingers of the gripper fingers for gripping a bundle of bristles transversely to the bundle longitudinal direction are movable relative to each other so that the distance of these gripping fingers is reduced, and that the gripper fingers pairs the bristle bundle so take that between adjacent gripper finger pairs at least one band of the bristle bundle is arranged.

The transfer station according to the invention is intended for the transfer of bristle filaments to a magazine, which bristle filaments of the transfer station are supplied in bristle bundles. The bristle filaments of a bundle of bristles are regularly combined by means of at least one band. In the magazine, the bristle filaments are then stored unbundled. The transfer station according to the invention has at least two pairs of gripper fingers, which gripper finger pairs are spaced apart in the bundle longitudinal direction. The gripper fingers of the gripper finger pairs are movable relative to one another in such a way that the spacing of these gripper fingers can be reduced in order to loosely clamp or hold the bristle filaments between the gripper fingers of each gripper finger pair. In this case, the bundle of bristles provided is grasped such that at least one band of the bristle bundle is arranged between adjacent gripper finger pairs. The transfer station according to the invention has at least one band opener which is intended to open the at least one band of a bundle of bristles grasped by the gripper finger pairs. The gripper finger pairs which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the bristle allow the bundle-shaped bristle filaments to be unbundled, whereby an automated transfer of the bristle filaments to a magazine, which subsequently unbundled the bristle filaments, becomes possible.

In order to free a bristle bundle held between the gripper finger pairs from the at least one band encompassing the bristle bundle, it is advantageous if the transfer station has at least one band opener for opening the at least one band of a bristle bundle gripped by the gripper finger pairs.

Here, preferred embodiments according to the invention provide that the at least one band opener is designed as a knife, as a pair of scissors or as a pliers.

In order to be able to remove the band thus opened from the region of the bristle filaments, it is advantageous if the at least one band opener is assigned a band gripper which grips the band to be opened by the band opener. After opening the tape through the tape opener, the tape gripper can move the tape past the bristle filaments and remove it.

Instead of such a belt gripper, another advantageous embodiment according to the invention provides that the at least one belt opener is assigned a suction device which sucks the belt opened by the belt opener and removes it by means of a suction flow.

In order not to stand in the way of opening the tape by means of the tape opener, it is expedient if the tape gripper or the suction device is arranged on the side facing away from a band opener of a bristle bundle.

It is possible that the gripper finger pairs of the transfer station grab the respective bristle bundle in a position in which position the bristle filaments with their bristle length extension are oriented approximately in the horizontal direction. However, preference is given to an embodiment in which the gripper finger pairs engage the bundle of bristles concerned in a position in which the bristle longitudinal direction is oriented approximately in the vertical direction.

Since individual bristle filaments can fall through and be lost even from the bundles of bristles encompassed by at least one band, it is advantageous if the bristle bundles are arranged in the region of the gripper finger pairs with their one bundle end face on a support. In this way, it is ensured that even a single bristle filament of a bundle of bristles held by the gripper finger pairs can not fall down and be lost.

In order to move the bristle bundles in the area of the gripper finger pairs and to feed the bristle bundles to the transfer station, it is advantageous if the support is designed as a conveyor belt, which conveyor belt feeds the bristle bundles to the gripper finger pairs.

In order to transport the bristle filaments still held between the gripper finger pairs and possibly already freed from the at least one belt and to be able to move in the direction of the magazine, it can be advantageous if the bristle bundles located on the support are in contact with the bundle end face remote from the support a suction plate can be detected.

In this case, a preferred embodiment according to the invention, that the suction plate has a Tissue, which can be flowed through by the suction flow of a suction fan. Such a weave fabric has such a fine structure that Although the bristle filaments are not sucked through the weave tissue, but instead remain caught in the suction flow of the suction fan on the tissue tissue. This suction flow can pass the tissue of tissue through the openings formed by the tissue structure.

In order to unbundle the bundles of bristles in an orderly manner and to be able to pass on the initially bundled bristle filaments to the magazine, it is advantageous if the bristle bundles are kept at a distance on the support designed as a conveyor belt and if at least one bristle bundle stopper is provided for this purpose Rest position and one in the. Conveyor of the conveyor belt protruding holding position is movable or pivoted. This at least one bristle bundle stopper, which is in control connection with at least one light barrier or similar optical bristle bundle detection, can stretch the distance between the bristle bundles located on the support to the desired distance. In order to pass on the freed from the at least one band bristle filaments to the magazine, it is useful if arranged in the, between spaced bundle longitudinally spaced gripper finger pairs a space, the bristle filaments takeover further gripper pair is retractable. While the thus liberated from the band bristle filaments stick to the suction plate, the adhering to the suction plate bristle filaments are held together by the at least one further gripper pair, which is retractable into the space of the longitudinally spaced in bundle longitudinal direction, described above Greiffinger pairs.

In order to give the bristle filaments held together by at least one band and, more particularly, the bristle filaments freed from the at least one band, to give a certain external contour, which facilitates the handling of these bristle filaments, it is advantageous if at least one gripper finger of at least one gripper finger pair at least one, over the gripper fingers laterally to the adjacent gripper finger of the gripper finger pair projecting longitudinal limit is provided.

In this case, a preferred embodiment according to the invention provides that at least one longitudinal limitation is adjustably held on the gripping finger.

In order to feed the bundle filaments unbundled in the transfer station to the magazine and then to be able to store them in the magazine, it is advantageous if the magazine has at least one conveying path in which the bristle filaments oriented in the vertical direction are arranged between two side strips.

The threading of the bristle filaments into the conveying path delimited by two side strips is facilitated if the at least one conveying section has an insertion region in which the distance of the side strips delimiting the conveying path in the conveying direction is reduced.

In order to hold and secure the bristle filaments stored in a conveying section in their vertically oriented position, it is expedient for the bristle filaments located in the at least one conveying section to have at least one pusher projecting laterally over a side strip and preferably movable along this side strip are held.

In this case, the handling of the unbundled bristle filaments in the region of the at least one conveying section is made easier if on each side strip a laterally protruding pusher is provided.

In order to advance the bristle filaments in the conveying path and to be able to move in the direction, for example, to a stuffing tool, it is advantageous if each conveyor path is assigned a movable between the sidebars of this conveyor line slider.

The handling of the oriented in the vertical direction bristle filaments is facilitated and secured in the region of the conveyor line of the magazine, if at least one slider has at least two sliding fingers, which are spaced apart such that the at least two sliding fingers in the longitudinal extent of the bristle filaments spaced at these can be applied. In this embodiment, the slider has at least two sliding fingers which engage in the longitudinal direction of the bristle at a distance from one another on the adjacent bristle filaments.

It may be expedient if the transfer station, in addition to or as an alternative to the already mentioned edition, has at least one support, preferably designed as a conveyor belt, for providing and / or supplying bristle filaments combined in bristle bundles with at least one belt and / or sheath at least one support at least one gripping device with at least one holding and Abziehgreifer and at least one removal gripper can be assigned. The at least one gripping device with the at least one holding and Abziehgreifer can for detecting a held on this edition and / or supplied bristle bundle and at least partially peel off the tape and / or the envelope and the at least one removal gripper for detecting one of the at least one band and / or bundle section removed from the enclosure and for removal and further transporting the bristle bundle be established. The further transport of the bristle bundle freed from the belt and / or from the covering can then take place to a magazine, for example the one already mentioned, or also directly to a brush production machine downstream of the transfer station, in particular to a stuffing tool of a brush production machine.

A particularly advantageous embodiment according to the invention provides that the transfer station is connected upstream of the stuffing tool of a brush-making machine.

Further developments according to the invention will become apparent from the claims in conjunction with the description of the figures and the drawings. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment.

Figur 1:

eine zur Verarbeitung chemisch angespitzter Borstenfilamente bestimmte Bürstenherstellungsmaschine, die eine Übergabestation hat, von der aus die bündelweise zugeführten Borstenfilamente in ein Magazin übergeben werden, welches Magazin einem Stopfwerkzeug der Bürstenherstellungsmaschine vorgeschaltet ist,

Figur 2:

die auf einem Förderband der Übergabestation zugeführten Borstenbündel, die durch jeweils ein etwa mittig um ein Borstenbündel umlaufendes Gummiband zusammengehalten werden,

Figur 3:

einen zum Aufschneiden des Gummibandes vorgesehenen und hier als Schere ausgebildeten Bandöffner,

Figur 4:

einen zum Erfassen und Abtransport des aufgeschnittenen Gummibandes bestimmten zangenartigen Bandgreifer,

Figur 5:

das Förderband aus Figur 2, von dem ein Borstenbündel mit Hilfe von Greiffinger-Paaren ergriffen wird,

Figur 6:

das auf dem Förderband gemäß Figur 2 und 5 ergriffene und nun vom Gummiband befreite Borstenbündel, das hier von einem weiteren Greiffinger-Paar und einer stirnseitig angeordneten Saugplatte ergriffen wird,

Figur 7:

die in Borstenlängsrichtung voneinander beabstandeten Greiffinger-Paare in einer Detailansicht im Bereich einer verstellbaren Längsbegrenzung,

Figur 8:

die zwischen dem weiteren Greiffinger-Paar gehaltenen und an der Saugplatte angesaugten Borstenfilamente vor der Übergabe an das dem Stopfwerkzeug vorgeschaltete Magazin,

Figur 9:

die zwischen dem weiteren Greiffinger-Paar gehaltenen und von der Saugplatte angesaugten Borstenfilamente in einer Detailansicht,

Figur 10:

die zunächst von einem Gummiband in einem runden Borstenbündel gehaltenen Borstenfilamente, die nach dem Entfernen des Gummibandes nun zwischen den Greiffinger-Paaren in einer langgestreckten Form gehalten sind, welche die Form der Förderstrecke des Magazins bereits vorwegnimmt,

Figur 11:

das hier durch die Förderstrecke vereinfacht dargestellte Magazin, wobei in die Förderstrecke des Magazins die von dem weiteren Greiffinger-Paar sowie der Saugplatte gehaltenen Borstenfilamente eingeführt werden,

Figur 12:

einen zum Einführen der Borstenfilamente in die Förderstrecke bestimmten Einführbereich in einer Detailansicht,

Figur 13:

die nun in die Förderstrecke eingeführten Borstenfilamente unmittelbar vor dem Entfernen des weiteren Greiffinger-Paares und der Saugplatte,

Figur 14:

die von einem, in die Förderstrecke vorschiebbaren Schieber zu einem Borstenvorrat zusammengeschobenen Borstenfilamente, und

Figur 15:

die in dem bündellosen Vorrat befindlichen Borstenfilamente, von denen sich nun auch das weitere Greiffinger-Paar und die Saugplatte entfernt haben.

It shows:

FIG. 1:

a bristle filament for processing chemically sharpened bristle filaments, which has a transfer station from which the bundled bristle filaments are transferred into a magazine, which magazine is connected upstream of a stuffing tool of the brush manufacturing machine,

FIG. 2:

the bristle bundles supplied on a conveyor belt of the transfer station, which are held together in each case by a rubber band circulating approximately centrally around a bundle of bristles,

FIG. 3:

a band opener provided for cutting the rubber band and designed here as a pair of scissors,

FIG. 4:

a pincer-like band gripper intended for grasping and removing the cut rubber band,

FIG. 5:

the conveyor belt off FIG. 2 from which a bundle of bristles is grasped with the aid of gripper-finger pairs,

FIG. 6:

according to the conveyor belt FIGS. 2 and 5 taken and now freed from the rubber band bristle bundles, which is gripped here by a further gripper finger pair and a suction plate arranged on the front side,

FIG. 7:

the gripper finger pairs spaced apart in the bristle longitudinal direction in a detail view in the region of an adjustable longitudinal boundary,

FIG. 8:

the bristle filaments held between the further gripper finger pair and sucked on the suction plate before being transferred to the magazine upstream of the stuffing tool,

FIG. 9:

the bristle filaments held between the further gripper finger pair and sucked by the suction plate in a detailed view,

FIG. 10:

the bristle filaments initially held by a rubber band in a round bundle of bristles, which are now held in an elongated form between the gripper finger pairs after removal of the rubber band, which already anticipates the shape of the conveyor path of the magazine,

FIG. 11:

the simplified here represented by the conveyor line Magazine, wherein in the conveying section of the magazine, the bristle filaments held by the further gripper pair and the suction plate are introduced,

FIG. 12:

a lead-in area intended for introducing the bristle filaments into the conveying path in a detailed view,

FIG. 13:

the bristle filaments now inserted into the conveyor line immediately before the removal of the further gripper finger pair and the suction plate,

FIG. 14:

the bristle filaments pushed together by a slide, which can be pushed into the conveying path, into a bristle supply, and

FIG. 15:

the bristle filaments present in the bundle-free stock, from which now also the further gripper finger pair and the suction plate have been removed.

In the FIGS. 1 to 15 the details of a transfer station 1 are shown, which is intended to transfer bundled bristle filaments to a magazine 2 which subsequently stores the bristle filaments. Such bristle filaments are regularly offered in bristle bundles 3, in which the bristle bundles are held together by at least one band and in particular at least one rubber band 4. The magazine 2 may, for example, be preceded by a stuffing tool 5 of a brush making machine, which stuffing tool 5 removes a subset of bristle filaments from the stock in the magazine 2 to subsequently supply the bristle filaments in a brushing machine provided in the brushing machine Use brush body 6. The brush body 6 is positioned in front of the stuffing tool 5 by means of a positioning device 7.

In the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 5 to 8 it can be seen that the transfer station 1 at least two, in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bundles spaced apart pairs 8, 9 of gripper fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 has. In this case, the gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 of the gripper pairs 8, 9 for gripping a supplied bristle bundle 3 transversely to the bundle longitudinal direction movable relative to each other such that the distance of the gripping fingers 10,11; 12, 13 is reduced to each other. If the distance between the gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 of each gripper finger pair 8, 9 reduced, the bristle bundle 3 of the original, round in cross-section and in FIG. 10 left form in the in FIG. 10 shown on the right, now deformed elongated shape. The gripping finger pairs 8, 9 grip the bristle bundle 3 in such a way that the rubber band 4 which still holds the bristle filaments together, which is preferably non-circular in cross-section and preferably approximately rectangular, lies between the gripper fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 adjacent gripping finger pairs is arranged.

In FIG. 2 It can be seen that the bristle bundles 3 stand with their one bundle end face on a support, which is designed here as a conveyor belt 14. The bristle bundles 3 are supplied to the transfer station 1 on the conveyor belt 14. In order to solve the bristle bundles 3 ordered and continue to move, the bristle bundles 3 are placed on the conveyor belt 14 at a distance. For this purpose, at least one bristle bundle stopper 15, 16 is provided, which is movable or pivotable between a rest position and a in the conveying path of the conveyor belt 14 projecting holding position. Each in control connection with a light barrier and arranged here on both sides of the conveyor belt 14 Pairs of bristle bundle stoppers 15, 16 ensure that the bristle bundles 3 are kept at a distance. The bristle bundles 3 standing on the conveyor belt 14 are fed to the two gripper finger pairs 8, 9, which gripper finger pairs are spaced apart in the bundle longitudinal direction. The gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 of the gripper finger pairs 8, 9 are transversely movable relative to the bundle longitudinal direction of such relative to each other or movable, that the distance of these gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 is reduced and a between the gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13 of the gripper finger pairs 8, 9 located bristle bundle is held securely. The gripper finger pairs 8, 9 grip the bristle bundle 3 such that between adjacent gripper finger pairs 8, 9 the at least one rubber band 4 that holds together the bristle filaments of a bristle bundle 3 is arranged.

In FIG. 2 is indicated that the transfer station has at least one band opener 17, which is designed here as a pair of scissors. The band opener 17 is provided for opening the at least one rubber band 4 which surrounds the bristle bundles gripped by the gripper finger pairs 8, 9. While trained as a scissors band opener 17 which cuts through at least one rubber band 4, the rubber band 4 is held on the band opener 17 side facing away from the bristle bundle 3 by a pincer-like band gripper 18, which then pulls the cut rubber band 4 on bristle bundle over and transported away. Subsequently, the rubber band 4 is thrown into a waste container. Instead of the band gripper 18 and a direct suction of the cut rubber band 4 may be provided. In the band opener 17 and the band gripper 18 a circular Filamentverdränger 19 is provided at the top of the scissors or pliers arms, which ensures that not in addition to the rubber band 4 and individual bristle filaments cut or clamped become.

In FIG. 3 the bristle bundle 3 is deformed in a subsequent process step. When merging the gripping fingers 10, 11; 12, 13, the bristle bundle 3, which is initially round in cross-section, is deformed in such a way that, in cross section, the bristle bundle 3 in FIG FIG. 10 shown elongated shape assumes. Before this deformation takes place, a cover plate 20 is pivoted or moved in such a way that it is held over the bristle bundle 3 in order to prevent a single bristle filament from springing out. The transformation of the by the gripper finger pairs 10, 11; 12, 13 bundle filaments held together in bundles is carried out by the two gripper finger pairs 8, 9.

In FIG. 4 It is indicated that a further gripper finger pair 21 with gripper fingers 22, 23 can be retracted into the intermediate space provided between the gripper finger pairs 8, 9 in the longitudinal direction of the bundle, which accommodates the bristle filaments which are no longer held by a rubber band 4. At the same time a suction plate 24 is moved over the support facing away from the end face of the bristle filaments, which holds the bristle filaments at their ends by a suction flow. This suction plate 24 has a Tissue fabric that is so fine that bristle filaments can not be sucked through the suction plate.

In FIG. 5 the gripper finger pair 21 and the suction plate 24 have removed the bristle filaments freed from the rubber band from the feed formed by the conveyor belt 14 and the gripper finger pairs 8, 9 in order to move these bristle filaments to the magazine. In FIG. 7 the structure of a gripper finger pair on the basis of the gripper finger pairs 8, 9 shown in detail. As can be seen, on each gripper finger on both sides of the bristle filaments in each case one over the gripper fingers laterally to the adjacent gripper fingers of the gripper pair 8 or 9 projecting longitudinal boundary 25 is provided. This longitudinal boundary, which is held displaceably or adjustably on the gripping finger assigned to it, has an obtuse angle, for example an angle of 100 degrees, with respect to the gripping finger carrying the longitudinal boundary 25. Also in the area of the gripper finger pairs 8, 9, there are light barriers: 26, which signal the presence of the bristle filaments.

The gripper finger pair 21 and the suction plate 24 then move the bristle filaments to the in FIGS. 1 to 15 The magazine 2 has at least one conveying path 27, in which conveying path 27 the bristle filaments freed from the belts 4 are stored. The conveying path 27 has two side strips 28, 29, which are spaced apart from one another and which guide the bristle filaments oriented in the longitudinal direction of the bristle.

The conveying path 27 has an insertion region 30, in which the distance between the side rails 28, 29 delimiting the conveying path 27 is reduced in the conveying direction. In the FIGS. 11 and 13 the bristle filaments held on the gripper finger pair 21 and on the suction plate 24 are inserted into the conveying path 27 in the insertion region 30 between the two side strips 28, 29. A direct insertion from above between the side strips 28, 29 is possible if the distance between the side strips 28, 29 is greater than the cross section of the held together in elongated form bristle filaments.

In the conveying section 27, the bristle filaments are held with at least one pusher projecting laterally over a side strip 28, 29 and movable along this side strip 28, 29. In the FIGS. 11 and 13 It can be seen that the side strip 28 has two pusher channels 31, in each of which a pusher 32 is movable, and that the movable on the side rail 28 and in a holding position in the conveying path 27 can be pivoted pushers 32 are spaced apart in bristle longitudinal direction.

The conveyor line 27 is also associated with a slide 33 which is movable between the side rails 28, 29 of the conveyor section 27 and compresses the bristle filaments stored there. Here, this slide 33 has at least two slide fingers 34, 35 which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the bristles and which are guided in slide channels 36 in the side rails 28, 29. In the insertion region 30, the slide channels 36 are funnel-shaped, in order to detect and accommodate the slide fingers 34, 35 can.

In the FIG. 14 Bristle filaments placed in the conveying path 27 are deposited there as far as a bottom plate of the conveying path 27 and pushed against the pushers 32. To ensure the secure hold of the bristle filaments here, the slider 33 is applied from behind to the bristle collar. Subsequently, the gripper finger pair 21 can be removed so that the slider 33 now presses the bristle collar against the two pushers 32. The two pushers are removed laterally to be pivoted back into its holding position behind the newly supplied bristle collar, parallel to the slide 33, in which now the entire bristle supply is held together by the pushers 32.

In FIG. 15 the gripper finger pair 21 and the suction plate 24 are removed from the region of the bristle filaments. In the FIGS. 11 and 13 to 15 is indicated that the conveyor line 27 a Tatscher 37 is assigned. This Tatscher 37 is movable in the bristle longitudinal direction by a few millimeters between an upper and a lower Tatscher position, wherein in the lower Tatscher position, the bristle filaments are acted upon at their free bristle ends. By acting on the bristle filaments stored in the conveying path 27, it is intended to prevent individual bristle filaments from moving upwards during travel in the conveying path 27. In order to effectively prevent such bristling of individual bristle filaments, it is advantageous if the protractor 37 extends over the entire region of the bristle material stored in the conveying path 27.

In an embodiment of the transfer station 1 not shown in the figures, this is provided with at least one further, preferably designed as a conveyor belt, support for providing and / or supply of at least one band and / or with a sheath bundled in bristle bundles 3 bristle filaments. This at least one further edition are associated with a gripping device with at least one holding and Abziehgreifer and at least one removal gripper. The gripping device with the at least one holding and Abziehgreifer is adapted for detecting a held on its associated pad and / or supplied, with at least one band and / or sheath encased bristle bundle 3 and at least partially removed the tape and / or the enclosure , With the at least one removal gripper, a bundle section of the bristle bundle 3 that has been freed from the at least one belt and / or the sheath can be gripped and the bristle bundle 3 can thus be removed from the support and transported further. The further transport of the bristle bundle 3 then takes place, for example, to the magazine 2 and / or to a downstream brush-making machine, in particular directly to a stuffing tool of such a brush manufacturing machine.

The transfer station 1 shown here allows the automated transfer bundle-supplied bristle filaments to the stuffing tool of a brush-making machine upstream magazine. Since this transfer no longer has to be done manually, unintentional bruising and injury to the operators are prevented. The transfer station 1 shown here is particularly well to use in conjunction with such bristle filaments, which are processed, treated and / or marked on at least one bristle end. Thus, the transfer station 1 shown here can be used advantageously with bristle filaments which are chemically or mechanically sharpened on at least one bristle end. Such bristle filaments may have unilaterally chemically sharpened ends, chemically sharpened ends on both sides, or bristle ends sharpened mechanically on one or both sides. The transfer station is also useful in conjunction with such bristle filaments having pre-rounded or threaded bristle ends. The transfer station 1 can also be used with such bristle filaments which are preferably colored with a marker on at least one bristle end.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Transfer station

2

magazine

3

bristle bundles

4

rubber band

5

filling tool

6

brush body

7

positioning

8th

Gripping finger pair

9

Gripping finger pair

10

Greiffinger (by Greiffinger-Paar 8)

11

Greiffinger (by Greiffinger-Paar 8)

12

Greiffinger (from Greiffinger-Paar 9)

13

Greiffinger (from Greiffinger-Paar 9)

14

conveyor belt

15

Bristle bundles Stopper

16

Bristle bundles Stopper

17

Bandöffner

18

tape gripper

19

Filamentverdränger

20

cover

21

Gripping finger pair

22

Greiffinger (by Greiffinger-Paar 21)

23

Greiffinger (by Greiffinger-Paar 21)

24

suction plate

25

Longitudinal limitation (on the gripper fingers)

26

photocell

27

conveyor line

28

sidebar

29

sidebar

30

insertion

31

Pusher channels

32

handle

33

pusher

34

slide finger

35

slide finger

36

Slide channels

37

Tatscher

Claims (26)

1. Transfer station (1) for transferring bristle filaments which are infeedable to the transfer station in bristle bundles (3), said bristle bundles (3) gathering the bristle filaments as a bundle by means of at least one band (4), to a magazine (2), the bristle filaments being stored in said magazine (2), characterized in that the transfer station (1) has at least two pairs (8, 9) of gripper fingers (10, 11; 12, 13) which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the bundle, in that the gripper fingers (10, 11; 12, 13) of the gripper finger pairs (8, 9) on account thereof for gripping and transferring a bristle bundle (3) are specified such that they are movable in relation to one another in such a manner that the spacing of these gripper fingers (10, 11; 12, 13) is reduced, wherein the bristle bundle (3) to be gripped during transfer is gripped by all gripper fingers (10, 11; 12, 13) of the gripper finger pairs (8, 9), and in that the gripper finger pairs (8, 9) here grip the bristle bundle (3) in such a manner that at least one band (4) of the bristle bundle (3) is disposed between adjacent gripper finger pairs (8, 9).
2. Transfer station according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transfer station (1) has at least one band opener (17) for opening the at least one band (4) of a bristle bundle (3) acquired by the gripper finger pairs (8, 9).
3. Transfer station according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one band opener (17) is configured as a knife, as scissors, or as pliers.
4. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one band opener (17) is assigned a band gripper (18) which acquires the band (4) to be opened by the band opener (17).
5. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one band opener (17) is assigned a suction installation which suctions the band (4) opened by the band opener (17) and conveys said band (4) away by means of a suction flow.
6. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the band gripper (18) or the suction installation is disposed on the side of a bristle bundle (3) that faces away from a band opener (17).
7. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bristle bundles (3) in the region of the gripper finger pairs (8, 9) are disposed so as to have the one bundle end side thereof on a bearing element.
8. Transfer station according to Claim 7, characterized in that the bearing element is configured as a conveyor belt (14), said conveyor belt (14) infeeds the bristle bundles (3) to the gripper finger pairs (8, 9).
9. Transfer station according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the bristle bundles (3) or bristle filaments located on the bearing element on that end side thereof that faces away from the bearing element are acquirable by means of a suction plate (24).
10. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the suction plate (24) has a Dutch-weave fabric which is perfusible by the suction flow of a suction blower.
11. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bristle bundles (3) on the bearing element which is configured as a conveyor belt (14) are kept so as to be spaced apart, and in that to this end at least one bristle bundle stopper (15, 16) which is displaceable or pivotable between a standby position and a holding position projecting into the conveying path of the conveyor belt (14) is provided.
12. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a further gripper finger pair (21) which takes over the bristle filaments is interjectable into the intermediate space which is disposed between gripper finger pairs (8, 9) which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bundle.
13. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that on at least one gripper finger (10, 11; 12, 13; 22, 23) of at least one gripper finger pair (8, 9, 21) at least one longitudinal delimitation (25) which projects beyond the gripper finger so as to be lateral to the adjacent gripper fingers of the gripper finger pair is provided.
14. Transfer station according to Claim 13, characterized in that at least one longitudinal delimitation (25) is held so as to be adjustable on the gripper finger (10, 11; 12, 13; 22, 23).
15. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the magazine (2) has at least one conveying track (27) in which the bristle filaments which are oriented in the vertical direction are disposed between two side strips (28, 29).
16. Transfer station according to Claim 15, characterized in that the at least one conveying track (27) has an introduction region (30) in which the spacing of the side strips (28, 29) which delimit the conveying track (27) is reduced in the conveying direction.
17. Transfer station according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the bristle filaments which are located in the at least one conveying track (27) are held by at least one pusher which laterally projects beyond a side strip (28, 29) and is preferably displaceable along this side strip (28, 29).
18. Transfer station according to Claim 17, characterized in that an at least unilaterally projecting pusher (32) is provided on each side strip (28, 29).
19. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that each conveying track (27) is assigned a slider (33) which is displaceable between the side strips (28, 29) of this conveying track (27).
20. Transfer station according to Claim 19, characterized in that at least one slider (33) has at least two slider fingers (34, 35) which are mutually spaced apart in such a manner that the at least two slider fingers (34, 35) are placeable so as to bear on the bristle filaments and to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the latter.
21. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the transfer station (1) is specified to be disposed upstream of a stuffing tool (6) of a brush-making machine.
22. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the transfer station (1) is specified for transferring bristle filaments which are processed, treated and/or marked on at least one bristle end.
23. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the transfer station (1) is specified for transferring bristle filaments which are chemically or mechanically tapered on at least one bristle end.
24. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the transfer station (1) is specified for transferring bristle filaments which have a spliced or prerounded bristle end on at least one bristle end.
25. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the transfer station (1) is specified for transferring bristle filaments which on at least one bristle end have a bristle end which is preferably colored by a marker.
26. Transfer station according to one of Claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the transfer station (1) has at least one bearing element which is preferably configured as a conveyor belt for providing and/or infeeding bristle filaments which are held together as bristle bundles (3) by at least one band and/or by a sheathing, said bearing element being assigned a gripper installation having at least one holding and retrieval gripper and at least one removal gripper, wherein the gripper installation is specified with the at least one holding and retrieval gripper for acquiring a bristle bundle (3), which is provided on the at least one bearing element and/or an infed bristle bundle (3), and for at least partially retrieving the band and/or the sheathing, and the at least one removal gripper is specified for acquiring a bundle portion which is relieved from the at least one band and/or the sheathing and for removing and conveying the bristle bundle (3) onward, in particular to one or the magazine (2) and/or to a brush-making machine disposed downstream.

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