TWI789387B - Verfahren und vorrichtung zum herstellen von bursten - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a brush comprising a bristle carrier, providing a revolving endless chain (26) having a plurality of links (28) pivotally secured to each other for bristle The supports ( 30 ) of the carrier ( 12 ) rest on the links ( 28 ). In the machining station, a chain link (28) located in the machining station is moved in two intersecting directions by means of positioning means, so that the chain link is aligned with the machining tool.

Description

Method and apparatus for making brushes

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a brush comprising a bristle carrier in which one or more bristles are secured.

Such devices are known, for example, from DE 196 34 278 A1 or EP 0 563 419 B1. Common to these known methods and devices is that the bristle carriers are moved along a path of revolution on supports fixed to the links of an endless chain. Along this path, there are one or more processing stations through which the bristle carriers are conveyed and processed en route. Such processing stations include, for example, plugging holes, cutting bristles or rounding bristles. However, this list is not exhaustive. The bristle carrier is advanced (takten) step by step in the processing station, and is then removed from the processing station by the chain in the direction of the next processing station. The bristle carrier typically needs to be oriented in two intersecting directions in the processing station (if this orientation is not done by aligning the processing tools).

An example of this is the so-called plugging station, on which the plugging tool is moved along a linear or slightly arcuate path, where the individual bristles or bristle tufts abut against the bristle carrier so that the bristles or bristle tufts are plugged into the corresponding openings in the bristle carrier. Between each individual plugging movement, the bristle carrier is reoriented in both directions so that the free opening is aligned with the plugging tool. There are several possibilities for this orientation.

DE 196 34 278 A1 discloses that the orientation in the direction of revolution is achieved by moving the chain links, and the orientation at right angles to the direction of revolution is achieved by relative movement of the supports on the associated chain links. For this purpose, the carrier has a longitudinal guide transversely to the direction of rotation, in which longitudinal guide the carrier moves.

Other options include completely separating the support from the chain to allow displacement in both directions. These two directions can be stretched out a plane, but can also define the surface of a cylinder.

The object of the present invention is to develop a method and a device which allow a simple and cost-effective construction of the device, wherein the method should be reliable and easy.

This object is solved by a method for producing a brush comprising a bristle carrier in which one or more bristles are fixed, the method being characterized by the following steps: providing a revolving endless chain, the chain having individual chain links pivotably fixed to each other on which supports for supporting the bristle carrier are provided, at least one processing station is provided for performing at least one manufacturing step of the brush along the chain, wherein a processing tool is provided in the processing station, positioning means are provided by which the bristle carrier can be oriented in at least two intersecting directions in the processing station on an associated support of the bristle carrier such that the chain together with The supports and the bristle carriers fixed on the supports continue to move step by step into the processing station, aligning the chain link at the processing station in the two directions by the positioning device, and thus The bristle carrier is aligned with the processing tool, and at least one processing step is performed by the processing tool.

In the method according to the invention, the support on which the machining is being performed is not separated from the chain link in any direction, or the chain link to be aligned is separated from the rest of the chain. In contrast, the links located in the processing station are aligned as a whole with adjacent links, so that less effort is required to position the bristle carrier in the processing station. In addition, chains and supports can be easily implemented. A separate guide between chain, support and/or bristle carrier is no longer required.

The processing tool can perform a plurality of processing actions during which the bristle carrier to be processed is positioned differently towards the processing tool, wherein the link is positioned in the two directions by means of the positioning device displaced to reach the different positions. An example of such a machining tool is a plugging tool with individual plugging strokes, between which bristle carriers have to be repositioned.

In order to align the bristle carrier in the processing station in a direction transverse to the direction of circulation of the chain, the chain starts pivoting laterally on several links before the processing station. In order to achieve a movement transverse to the direction of rotation, not only the chain links located in the processing station are moved sideways, but the entire chain part is pivoted sideways, so that the movability of the individual chain links relative to each other must be less than in the case of Mobility: Only the links located in the processing stations move sideways relative to the rest of the chain.

The chain can be partially bent before and/or after the processing station to produce a chain overlength. This bend then grows and/or shrinks when the links are aligned in the direction of rotation. If an endless chain is stretched between two sprockets, creating a sort of ellipse, all the links of the chain must move together due to the stretching of the chain, in order to move quickly in the processing station in the direction of the loop of the links move. On the one hand, this is disadvantageous due to the inertial mass of the entire chain, and the entire chain will thus be permanently reciprocated in the direction of rotation, so that individual orientation of the chain in another processing station is no longer possible. By means of a decoupling of the chain part within the processing station and a small part of the chain part before and after the processing station, there is a bend-based buffer length in the chain which can be used to realize the chain links in the processing station. Movement in the direction of rotation.

The processing station is in particular a plugging station at which a plugging tool plugs at least one bristle, in particular a plurality of bristle tufts, into the associated opening in the bristle carrier. The links are then oriented between the individual plug hole passes in order to position the bristle carrier.

The bung tool can only be reciprocated against the bristle carrier along a fixed predetermined path of motion. This means that the plug tool itself is not oriented in multiple directions. Instead, the orientation takes place through the bristle carrier. The bristle carrier is moved laterally between each movement step by the positioning device so that the other opening is aligned with the plugging tool to plug holes.

The aforementioned object is also solved by an apparatus for producing a brush comprising a bristle carrier in which one or more bristles are fixed. The device according to the invention comprises a revolving endless chain with individual pivotably fixed links to each other on which supports are provided for supporting the bristle carrier, the device according to the invention has At least one processing station for performing at least one manufacturing step of the brush along the chain, wherein processing tools for the bristle carrier are provided in the processing station. The apparatus also includes a positioning device within the processing station, the positioning device being coupled to each of the links located at the processing station. The positioning device can orient the chain link in at least two intersecting directions, wherein the positioning device and the processing tool are controlled such that the positioning device orients the chain link before processing and thus the bristle carrier to be processed relative to The machining tool is oriented for subsequent machining steps. The device according to the invention is used in particular to carry out the method according to the invention and provides that the positioning means orient the chain links in two directions and not only the supports on the chain links. After the adjoining chain link has been coupled unchanged to the chain link to be aligned, the adjoining chain link is moved together during the alignment of the chain link located in the processing station.

According to the invention, the chain is preferably mounted in such a way that it enables lateral pivoting of links in front of the processing station in a direction transverse to the direction of circulation of the chain.

The chain has in particular a rail guide, wherein the rail guide has a rigid section by means of which the chain is positioned laterally away from the processing station. But the chain is laterally movable, in particular pivotable, between the rigid part and the processing station. The chain should therefore not move and pivot sideways over most of the length of the chain, but only in a relatively short section before the processing tool. On the adjacent station, the chain is precisely guided laterally, so that here, for example, the support can be fitted with a bristle carrier, or the bristle carrier can be removed from the support, or other processing procedures can be carried out, such as making the bristle ends Round or trim bristle ends.

Precise alignment of the movable part of the chain can be facilitated in such a way that the rail guide has a pivotable part between the rigid part and the processing station in which the chain is transverse to the loop direction and is supported and movable together with the pivotable part. This pivotable portion of the track guide relieves the load of the link between adjacent chain links.

In particular, when the chain link is orientated in the processing station, the pivotable parts are passively moved sideways together, possibly additionally also in a second direction.

The processing station may be a plugging station with a plugging tool, wherein the plugging tool preferably moves against a sprocket. The sprockets can thus absorb forces directly by the bung tool, so that the bristle carrier remains stable and the entire support system is little or not bent at all.

The chain is moved in the processing station by at least one sprocket. The positioning device engages the sprocket, and the positioning device moves the sprocket in the two directions, and thus the positioning device moves the chain in the two directions. As a result, the chain itself is positioned extremely precisely, since the sprocket engages the chain in a form-fitting manner.

The sprocket is in particular the driven sprocket.

One sprocket may each be engaged on opposite outer sides of the chain, wherein the two sprockets are rotationally coupled to each other. This means that the chain link located on the processing station is supported directly on the sprocket at the two outer ends of the chain link (as seen in the direction of rotation).

The pivotable part of the track guide extends in particular between the rigid part and the positionable sprocket.

A simple construction of the positioning device is an X-Y carriage, which may be an inexpensive outsourced component and for example comprises two motors, in particular servo motors, movable in two perpendicular directions.

When the sprocket is being adjusted, the driver of the sprocket is preferably positioned on such an X-Y carriage so that the sprocket and driver move together.

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for the manufacture of brushes comprising a number of stations, namely a supply station 10 for a bristle carrier 12 (see Figure 2), a plugging station 14 with a plugging tool 16, a cutting station 18 and the subsequent rounding station 20, the bristle carrier is plugged by the bristle bundle in this plugging tool 16, the free end of the bristle bundle is cut on this cutting station 18, the bristle bundle on this rounding station 20 The trimmed free ends are rounded. The processing tools are thus plugging tools, trimming and rounding tools. Finally, a removal station 22 is provided, at which the brushes 24 made are removed from the device.

The bristle carrier 12 passes through a plurality of stations and is partly transported in these stations by means of a driven revolving endless chain 26 (see FIG. 2 ), which has a successive arrangement and can pivot Chain links 28 which are fastened to one another, of which only two of the chain links are marked in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity.

Supports 30 are located on the chain links 28 , and these supports 30 have corresponding support feet or grooves to receive and fix the bristle carrier 12 .

The support 30 may be formed integrally with the link 28, or may be secured to the outside of the link 28, for example by a quick release fastener. Attaching the separate carrier 30 to the chain link 28 has the advantage that the machine can be retrofitted very quickly if other types of bristle carriers 12 need to be processed in the machine.

The supports 30 are fixedly attached to the links 28, that is, the supports 30 are not displaceable with respect to the associated links 28 of the supports 30 in the manner described below, the supports 30 are fixed on the links 28.

Chain 26 includes at least one driven sprocket 32 and an opposing sprocket 34 that is also driveable but synchronized with sprocket 32 .

As can be seen in Figure 3, the sprocket 32 has two side gears 33 fixed on a common drive shaft 35 driven by a drive motor 36 (in particular an indexing motor (Index). -Motor) in the form of) driven. Chain 26 is held laterally between gears 33 .

Referring to Figure 1, adjacent links 28 are interconnected by links 38 extending laterally from the links. The gear wheels 33 have grooves 41 (see FIG. 1 ) on their periphery, which grooves 41 accommodate the links 38 and thus convey the chain stepwise in the direction of rotation U.

The chain 26 is guided in a rail guide 40 in the region of the link 38 and, as shown in FIG. 2 , by means of two lateral rails 42 , for example U-shaped. Between the rails 42 the chain can only move minimally transverse to the direction of rotation U, so that the chain is well guided laterally.

The rail guides 40 each have a rigid portion 44 for the upper and lower segments of the chain 26 (cf. FIG. 1 ). In this rigid part 44 , as mentioned above, the chain can have little displacement laterally, so as to be well guided in this direction. However, the rigid portion 44 does not extend the entire length between the two sprockets 32 , 34 , but rather extends from the sprocket 34 to a location 50 terminating a plurality of links 28 ahead of the sprocket 32 . For the upper and lower sections, between location 50 and sprocket 32 , pivotable portion 52 of track guide 40 is connected to a corresponding rigid portion 44 .

As illustrated in Figure 2, the link 38 is also housed here in two lateral U-shaped guides.

As illustrated by the double arrow in FIG. 2 , the movable part 52 is preferably pivotable by means of a bearing or link 54 in the region of the transition to the corresponding rigid part 44 .

Furthermore, it is optional to understand that the corresponding pivotable part 52 can still pivotably move about the bearing 56 in the vertical direction with minimal movement.

A positioning device 60 (cf. FIG. 3 ) is provided in the plug hole station 14 shown as a processing station, by means of which positioning device 60 the sprocket 32 can be adjusted in two mutually perpendicular directions X and Y. The direction X is a direction transverse to the rotation direction U, and the direction Y is perpendicular to the direction X and is preferably vertical.

By moving the sprockets 32 together with the motors 36 of these sprockets 32 in the X direction, the chain is moved from the position 50 together with the pivotable part 52 of the track guide to move the bristle carrier 12 being stuffed with tufts of bristles. The opening 62 in (see FIG. 3 ) is aligned with the bung tool 16 in this direction. The plugging tool 16 is only capable of a reciprocating feed movement in the Z direction (see FIG. 2 ). Axis Z is oriented to intersect central axis A of drive shaft 35 (see FIG. 3 ).

The driving motor 36 is located together with the sprocket 32 on an X-Y carriage 63 comprising a base 64 on which a carriage 66 is positioned along a guide 68 in the X direction by Motor 70 (in particular a servo motor) and movable.

Additionally, the base 64 may be vertically oriented by the guides 72 . The drive motor 74 then moves the base 64 vertically in the Y direction. The motor 74 is also preferably a servo motor.

Alternatively, the movement of the bristle carrier 12 in the Y direction can also be effected by a chain motor 36 , but in this case the chain must be accommodated without play between the gear wheels 33 . In this case, the guide 72 and the motor 74 are omitted.

In order to optimize the mobility of the chain 26 in the area of the positioning device 60 in the direction of rotation U and in the direction Y, the chain 26 can optionally be located, for example, directly before and after the sprocket 32 (that is to say on the upper and lower sections). ) is bent, as illustrated above in Figure 1a. The bend is marked with symbol 78 . The chain 26 is given an extra length by the bend 78 so that it can be moved more easily in the Y direction by the positioning device and is separated from the rest of the chain in this area. The bend can be produced, for example, by means of an additional sprocket 80 starting behind the pivotable part 52 of the rail guide 40 . The bend can extend outwards (as in Figure 1a), or also extend inwards towards another section.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a brush will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the supply station 10 , the bristle carriers 12 are inserted onto the corresponding carrier 30 so that they rest without play on the carrier 30 , for example with the previously created opening 62 facing upwards. The chain 26 is driven by a motor 36 at a fixed cycle. Once the bristle carrier 12 has reached the plugging station 14, the bristle carrier 12 is plugged with a plurality of bristle bundles by the plugging tool 16, wherein corresponding pockets 84 with bristles of different colors and the so-called The tuft separator 86. The plugging tool 16 may be a conventional plugging tool that reciprocates along the direction Z or trajectory and always holds a tuft of bristles and guides the tuft into the corresponding bristle tuft that is being aligned with the plugging tool 16. In the opening 62. Plug holes can be made with or without anchors.

In the plug hole station 14, by means of the positioning device 60, the bristle carrier 12 being processed is oriented in the X and Y directions during the respective plug hole stroke.

Subsequently, the respective bristle carrier is advanced further until it reaches the cutting station 18 at which the bristle ends are cut and then rounded in the rounding station 20 . Of course, the stations 18 and 20 can also be omitted if, for example, the bristles are not fixed in the corresponding openings 62 by means of anchors, but the bristle ends are first melted by heating in order to be subsequently squeezed and encapsulated.

Finally, the finished brush 24 is removed from the support 30 again in the removal station 22 .

Typically, a support 30 for a plurality of bristle carriers 12 can be used on a single link 28 .

As shown, in the apparatus, the chain link 28 in the plug hole station 14 is positioned in the X and Y directions, and thus the support 30 on the chain link 28 together with one or more The bristle carrier 12 is positioned together for processing.

In order to protect the chain 26 as much as possible and ensure little vibration during plugging, the plugging tool 16 is plugged against the sprocket 32 , so to speak, since the plugging tool 16 is aligned with the sprocket 32 .

In order to allow sufficient mobility of the chain 26 in the lateral direction (ie the X direction) for the positioning device 60, in one embodiment of the invention the location 50 is approximately one meter from the sprocket 32.

10‧‧‧Supply Station 12‧‧‧Bristle Carrier 14‧‧‧Plug Hole Station 16‧‧‧Plug Hole Tool 18‧‧‧Cutting Station 20‧‧‧Rounding Station 22‧‧‧Removing Station 24‧‧ ‧Brush 26‧‧‧Chain 28‧‧‧Link 30‧‧‧Support 32‧‧‧Sprocket 33‧‧‧Gear 34‧‧‧Sprocket 35‧‧‧Drive Shaft 36‧‧‧Drive Motor 38‧ ‧‧Link 40 ‧‧‧Rail Guide 41 ‧‧‧Groove 42 ‧‧‧Rail 44 ‧‧‧Rigid Part 50 ‧‧‧Position 52 ‧‧‧Pivotable Part 54 ‧‧‧Bearing or Link 56‧‧ ‧Bearing 60‧‧‧positioning device 62‧‧‧opening 63‧‧‧X-Y carriage 64‧‧‧base 66‧‧‧sledge 68‧‧‧guide 70‧‧motor 72‧‧‧guide 74‧ ‧‧Motor 78‧‧‧Bend 80‧‧‧Sprocket 84‧‧‧cassette 86‧‧‧Burst Separator A‧‧‧Axis U‧‧‧Rotation Direction X‧‧‧Direction Y‧‧‧Direction Z‧‧‧direction

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the following explanations and the accompanying drawings, to which reference will be made. In the schema:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention,

Figure 1a illustrates a detail of an alternative guide for the chain used in the device according to Figure 1,

Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the device according to Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a section along the line III-III in Figure 1, which shows the positioning means of the device according to the invention.

Domestic deposit information (please note in order of depositor, date, and number) None

Overseas storage information (please note in order of storage country, institution, date, number) None

12‧‧‧Bristle carrier

16‧‧‧Plugging Tool

26‧‧‧Chain

28‧‧‧chain link

30‧‧‧support

42‧‧‧track

44‧‧‧Rigid part

50‧‧‧Location

52‧‧‧Pivotable part

84‧‧‧box

86‧‧‧hair bundle separator

X‧‧‧direction

Z‧‧‧direction

Claims (14)

A method for manufacturing brushes (24) comprising a bristle carrier (12) in which one or more bristles are fixed, characterized by the steps of: providing a An endless chain (26) having individual pivotally fixed links (28) to each other, on which links (28) are provided with supports for supporting the bristle carriers (12) member (30), providing at least one processing station for performing at least one manufacturing step of the brush along the chain (26), wherein a processing tool is provided in the processing station, providing a positioning device (60), by which the positioning means (60) that the bristle carriers (12) can be oriented in at least two intersecting directions within the processing station on the associated supports (30) of the bristle carriers (12), so that the chain (26) together with The supports (30) and the bristle carriers (12) fixed on the supports (30) continue to move step by step into the processing station, by the positioning device (60) in the two directions aligning the link (28) at the processing station, and thus aligning the bristle carrier (12) with the processing tool, and performing at least one processing step by the processing tool, Wherein for aligning the bristle carrier (12) in a direction transverse to a direction of rotation (U) of the chain (26) in the processing station (14), the chain (26) starts before the processing station in Pivot laterally on several chain links (28). The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing tool performs a plurality of processing actions, during which the bristle carrier (12) to be processed is positioned differently towards the processing tool, wherein by the positioning A device (60) displaces the link (28) in the two directions to the different positions. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chain (26) is partially bent to produce a chain over length before and after the processing station, and wherein when aligning the chain in a circular direction (U) During knots, the bend (78) becomes larger and/or smaller. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing station is a plug hole station (14), on which a plug hole tool (16) applies at least one bristle, particularly a plurality of Bristle tufts are plugged into associated openings (62) in the bristle carrier (12). The method as described in claim 4, wherein the plug hole tool (16) moves back and forth against the bristle carrier (12) along a fixed predetermined movement path, and the bristle carrier (12) is moved by the positioning device (60) Move laterally between each movement step to align the other opening (62) with the plugging tool (16) to plug the hole. An apparatus for producing brushes (24) comprising a bristle carrier (12) in which one or more bristles are fixed, the apparatus comprising a revolving endless chain ( 26), the chain (26) has separate pivotally fixed chain links (28) to each other, on which chain links (28) are provided with supports (30) for supporting the bristle carrier (12), the The device has at least one processing station for carrying out at least one manufacturing step of the brush along the chain (26), wherein a processing tool for the bristle carrier (12) is provided in the processing station, the device at the There is a positioning device (60) in the processing station, the positioning device (60) is coupled with each of the chain links (28) located in the processing station, and the positioning device (60) can make the chain in at least two intersecting directions Orientation of the link (28), wherein the positioning device (60) and the processing tool are controlled such that the positioning device (60) orients the chain link (28) before processing and thus the bristle carrier (12) to be processed is opposed Orient the processing tool for subsequent processing steps. The device as described in claim 6, wherein the chain (26) is installed such that in a direction transverse to a direction of rotation (U) of the chain (26), the chain (26) makes several chain links (28 ) is pivoted laterally in front of the processing station. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chain (26) has a rail guide (40), wherein the rail guide (40) has There is a rigid portion (44) by which the chain (26) is positioned laterally away from the processing station, and wherein the chain (26) is laterally movable between the rigid portion (44) and the processing station To move, especially pivotable. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rail guide (40) has a pivotable portion (52) between the rigid portion (44) and the processing station, at the pivotable portion (52) The chain (26) is supported transversely to the direction of rotation (U) and is movable together with the pivotable part. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the chain (26) is moved in the processing station by at least one sprocket (32), and wherein the positioning device (60) is engaged with the chain wheel (32), and the positioning device (60) moves the sprocket (32) in the two directions, and thus the positioning device (60) moves the chain (26) in the two directions . The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sprocket (32) is driven. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pivotable portion (52) of the track guide (40) extends between the rigid portion (44) and the positionable sprocket (32). The device as described in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the positioning device (60) is an X-Y carriage, in particular, the sprocket (32) is located on the X-Y carriage along with the driver of the sprocket (32). Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the processing station is a plugging station (14) having a plugging tool (16), in particular, wherein the plugging tool (16) is directed toward The sprocket (32) which can be positioned moves.

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