BE1018263A3

BE1018263A3 - Machine for manufacturing brushes.

Info

Publication number: BE1018263A3
Application number: BE200700607A
Authority: BE
Inventors: Guido Sommer
Original assignee: Zahoransky Ag
Priority date: 2007-01-23
Filing date: 2007-12-19
Publication date: 2010-08-03
Also published as: CN101228994A; DE102007003295A1

Abstract

A machine for producing brushes (1) has a conveying device (2) for brush bodies (3) or brushes (3a), processing stations (10 to 16) being arranged along the conveying device. The conveying device (2) has at least one conveying section (4,5) with a linear motor (6) which is configured for transporting the brush bodies (3) or brushes (3a) and for positioning them in at least one treatment station.

Description

The invention relates to a machine for producing brushes comprising a conveying device for a brush body or brushes, treatment stations being arranged along the conveying device.

The use for the conveyor device of a circulating chain with fixed supports for the brush bodies or brushes is known. A transport of the brush bodies or brushes from one treatment station to the next is thus possible. The transport continues, however, synchronously so that the processing station having the longest processing time defines the transport rate. In the treatment stations, treatment movements, and therefore movements back and forth or positioning movements going further are often necessary. Because of the coupling of brackets for the brush bodies or brushes to the chain, the processing tools must perform these movements themselves, which however often means a high cost. Threaded spindles, gears, compound tables and the like are used as positioning devices. In general, such positioning devices are mounted according to their application and require considerable effort to be adapted to other brush models.

The object of the invention is to create a machine for manufacturing brushes comprising a conveying device which requires reduced work, on the one hand, as regards the conveying device but also, on the other hand, as regards is positioning devices. In this case, precise and rapid positioning must nevertheless be made possible and adaptation to different brush models must be possible in a simple and effortless way.

To achieve this aim, it is particularly proposed, according to the invention, that the conveying device has at least one conveying section with a linear motor which is configured for transporting the brush bodies or brushes as well as for their positioning in at least one treatment station. The use of one or more linear motors not only allows rapid conveying movements but also positioning movements so that, in many cases, the same processing tools must not perform any subsequent positioning movement and therefore can in these cases, be stationary. In this case, the linear motor suitably has a stator extending substantially along the conveying section and one or more rotors which can be respectively connected with at least one cassette serving as a clamping device and support for the bodies of brush or brushes. The use of several rotors for each linear motor is particularly advantageous because the rotors of a linear motor can be positioned independently of each other. Therefore, work movements independent of each other, adapted to the treatment each time provided, can be executed in the different processing stations. When slicing tufts of hair, a movement back and forth in the direction of transport can thus be performed at different lifting speeds while, independently of this movement, in another workstation that is associated with the same linear motor another movement of movement back and forth is provided.

According to one embodiment, the conveying device may be configured as a revolution conveying device and have at least two transport conveying sections each comprising at least one linear motor. In this case, the conveying device configured as a revolution conveying device may in particular have two conveying sections arranged approximately parallel to one another and, at its ends, transfer devices for moving the cassettes of a conveying section. on the other. There is thus a conveyor system comparable, in terms of the basic principle, the chain in revolution but nevertheless substantially more flexible, which is particularly compact and has proven in practice.

According to an improvement of the invention, the conveying device may have a conveying section which has a planar motor associated for example with an insertion device or a device for pushing tufts of bristles with a planar stator and at least one planar rotor. With such a planar motor, it is possible to proceed to any positioning in a plane. It is in this case a direct drive working in two coordinate directions with which it is possible to proceed with the positioning of the brush bodies, in particular at the insertion device, by a movement of a hole to the other.

Overall, a conveying device that is optimally sized for function and costs to meet the requirements in the different workstations is configured in combination with the linear drives that are used where a transport movement and a monoaxial positioning movement, oriented in the same direction, suffice. A planar motor may also be used for a tufted tufting device where bristles with different lengths of hair are prepared for a slicing or polishing operation. In this case, the longer hairs are pushed to the side and, in doing so, curled so that the shorter hairs are accessible for treatment. This is done with delivery forks engaging laterally in the bristle area and controlled by a single servo-axis. In the case of tufts of hair not lying on a straight line, the discharge forks and brushes shall be positioned relative to each other in such a way that the delivery forks engage the hair zone in accordance with the shape, for example in the form of a zigzag, tufts of hair to repress. By using a planar motor, the cassettes in which the brushes to be treated are clamped can be positioned both in the conveying direction and also transversely thereto, the two movements being controllable in such a way that tufts of bristles can be and other tufts of shorter hairs can be treated.

For positioning more than biaxial, there is in connection with a planar motor a possibility of enlargement, in that the planar rotor is connected to at least one lifting device for an additional axis of movement. In addition, the planar rotor may be connected to at least one rotation device. On the additional axis of movement, it is then provided a support for a cassette for example or another axis of additional movement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one model switching magazine is provided for receiving different cassettes for different brush models.

For a model change, therefore an adaptation of the machine to another brush model, the cassettes for a specific model, coming from a machine passage can be stored in a model switching magazine, while other cassettes for the new brush model are taken from this store or another model switching store and inserted into the processing circuit. Switching to another brush model can thus take place continuously and without interruption. The processing and positioning movements, if different for different brush models in the individual processing stations, contribute, thanks to the rotors of the linear motors operating independently of each other or the planar motors, that the change of model can take place continuously and without interruption.

Additional embodiments of the invention are set forth in the other dependent claims. The invention with its important details is explained in even more detail below on the basis of the drawings.

It is shown in part diagrammatically in FIG. 1 a side view of a machine for manufacturing brushes with a revolution conveying device which has two conveying sections each comprising a linear motor,

Fig. A side view of a machine for making brushes with an insertion station associated with the revolution conveyor device and comprising a planar motor, and

Fig. 3 a detail view in the region of a model switching station.

A machine for making brushes 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a conveying device 2 for brushes 3a, treatment stations being arranged along the conveying device. The conveying device 2 is configured as a revolution conveying device and has two transport sections 4 and 5 arranged, in the embodiment example, approximately parallel to each other and each comprising at least one linear motor 6. The motors linear 6 each have a stator 7 extending substantially along the conveying section and on which several rotors 8 can be driven independently of each other.

The rotors 8 are air-suspended so that they move without contact through an air cushion formed between rotor and stator and therefore without wear. Since the rotors 8 are magnetically held on the stator 7, any arrangement is possible and therefore also a height arrangement of the linear motors. This gives a high flexibility when arranging the machine to make brushes, since its position can be adapted to the predefined available space.

The rotors can be connected to a cassette 9 which in each case serves as a clamping device for two brushes 3a in the embodiment (or brush body 2 according to Fig. 2). Linear motors 6 are used both for transporting brushes 3a in the region of transport sections 4, 5 and for positioning them in treatment stations.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, are arranged as processing stations along the conveying section (lower) 5, in order, in the direction of transport according to the arrow Pf 1, a milling station 10, a first milling station and / or polishing 11 and a second milling and / or polishing station 12. The milling and / or polishing stations 11, 12 may, depending on the brushes to be treated, only have milling tools or polishing tools. or a milling tool and then a polishing tool. The milling and / or polishing station 11 could, for example, have a milling tool and a polishing tool and the milling and / or polishing station 12 only polishing tools.

Are arranged as workstations along the transport section (upper) 4, in order, in the direction of transport according to the arrow Pf2, a stamping station 13, a film embossing station 14, a post suction 15 and a control station 16 in particular with a camera system. There follow a sampling station 17 and a model switch store 18 and finally a supply station 17a. In the stamping station 13, the brushes 3a may, for example, be provided with a production code. For this purpose, the stamping station may have a laser device. In the film embossing station 14, the brush bodies are provided with an overprint and in the suction station 15 cutting and polishing particles can, among others, be removed. Finally, a check of the completed brushes is then still carried out in the control station 16. The finished brushes are then removed from the conveying device, the brushes being separated from the cassettes 9 supporting them. During the change, untreated brushes are fed and tightened in the cassettes which are then empty in the feed station 17a. At the ends of the conveying sections 4, 5 are arranged transfer devices for moving the cassettes 9 of a conveying section to the other conveying section 4 or 5 which are configured, in the embodiment example, as deflection wheels 19 for mechanically or magnetically supporting the cassettes or similar workpieces during movement. It should also be mentioned that the transfer device (s) may have transport claws for gripping and moving the cassettes instead of the return wheels.

The untreated brushes 3a fed into the feed and withdrawal station 17 and clamped in the cassettes 9 are conveyed to the lower linear motor 6 with the return wheel 19 adjacent to the left end of the conveying sections, respectively the cassettes coupled to a rotor 8 being held mechanically or magnetically on the idler wheel 19. The rotors 8 with the cassettes 9 are then placed on the stator 7 of the lower linear motor 6 and brought by it to an appropriate starting position and transported to the milling station 10, a processing passage along the processing stations 10 to 16 thus starting. The rotors 8 with the cassettes 9 are then transported from one station to the other and, at the end of the lower conveying section 5, there is again a displacement on the upper conveying section 4 and there intervenes a transport intervenes along the processing stations 13 to 16. The rotors 8 of the linear motors 6 can be positioned independently of each other so that it is possible to proceed to the respective positions of the cassettes 9 and therefore the brushes retained by them. adapted to the treatment process concerned in the treatment stations. It is thus possible when slicing the bristles in a milling station to move the cassette 9 back and forth with one or more brushes 3a with respect to a cutter with a counter-knife, a slower going and a faster return that can be provided. A back and forth movement is also advantageous during polishing, another unwinding of the movement can be provided here. Cassettes 9 are transported further after each treatment.

At the end of a working passage, the finished brushes are separated from the cassettes 9 in the sampling station 17 and are brought, for example, to a packaging device. At the conveying end of the conveying section 4 is a feed station 17a where untreated brushes are fed and are introduced into the cassettes 9 supported by the rotors 8.

The machine for making brushes 1a can also have, as shown in FIG. 2, an insertion device 21 which can be arranged in particular at the ends of the conveying sections 4, 5. In this case, a deflection wheel 19 is omitted and a displacement device indicated by the arrow is provided in its place. Pf 3 with transport clamps for gripping and moving the cassettes 9. When using an insertion device, brush bodies 3 provided with tufts holes are brought into the feed station 17a to the place of untreated brushes. In the insertion station, tufts of hair are then inserted into the tufts holes. The insertion device may have a conventional insertion machine. In the present embodiment, the insertion device 21 works in connection with a planar motor 22 for the positioning of the brush bodies during the insertion process. The planar motor 22 is part of a third conveying section 25 of the conveying device 2a. The positioning movements from one hole to the other by means of which the individual brush bodies 3 are respectively fed with a tuft hole into an insertion position aligned with the insertion tool 23 may in particular be performed with the planar motor 22. The planar motor 22 has a plate-shaped stator 24 on which a plurality of rotors 8 can be positioned as actors. The rotors 8 can, in this case, be positioned in the planar plane in two axes (X, Y) in any way and independently of each other. The planar motor 22 can be comparatively small and therefore cost-effective because only a small area is needed for positioning and feeding and evacuating the cassettes. The rotors can, if necessary, be connected to a lifting device and / or a rotation device for additional axes of movement. It is thus possible to perform a depth compensation for the brush bodies with a curved bristle area and / or tufts of cross bristles. The positions in length of the tufts of hair and therefore their crossing can be adjusted by a positioning in rotation.

For a change of model, therefore an adaptation to other brushes, a model switching station 20 is provided in the embodiment examples according to FIGS. 1 and 2. This is disposed at the conveying end of the conveying section 4 and has a model switching magazine 18 for receiving different cassettes 9 for different brush models. The different cassettes present, among others, media configured specifically for a model. During a model change, the cassettes 9 used until then are separated from the rotors 8 carrying them and stored in the model switching magazine 18.

Either the insertion machine is stopped or, in a machine without an insertion machine, the introduction of the brushes is interrupted by means of a particular model switching program. All other operations are continuing. Only when the finished brushes are unloaded is the cassette no longer filled with a new body, but is introduced into the model switching magazine 18. It is advantageous for this magazine to be placed transversally to the direction of normal progression of the machines. cassettes. A cylinder pushes these empty cassettes in the transverse direction into the model switching magazine 18. Each new empty cassette is also fed into the magazine and pushes the cassettes already in the magazine backwards. At the end, all the cassettes are in the store and there are no more in circulation. Then, a neighboring store is brought into the position of the previously full store. In this second store are other cassettes 9 arranged for the new brush model. Another cylinder pushes each time a new cassette in working position. In the feeding station 17a, the cassettes are filled with brushes 3a to be treated (Fig. 1) and when using an insertion device 21 (Fig. 2) with brush bodies 3. Subsequent transport then occurs from the supply station 17a to the following processing stations. Several shops for other brush models are also possible. Fig. 3 shows yet another embodiment of a model switching station 20a. Here too, the finished brushes are taken from the cassettes 9 in the sampling station 17 at the end of a working passage. The cassettes 9 used until then are then separated from the rotors 8 carrying them and are stored in the model switching magazine 18. Other cassettes 9a, corresponding to the new brush model, are then taken from an additional magazine provided in the store model switching and are connected to the rotors 8 in place of the previous cassettes 9. The new untreated brushes 3a or, when using an insertion device 21 (Fig. 2), brush bodies 3 are fed into these cassettes 9a in the feed station 17a and the treatment can continue without interruption. It can be provided a number of stores 18 corresponding to the number of different models provided, the stores may in the main be interchangeable. It is also possible to use cassettes 9 which can be adapted to different brush models, which can be done after taking these cassettes out of the production circuit. The number of cassettes to be prepared can therefore be less.

Claims

1. Machine for producing brushes with a conveying device for brush bodies or brushes, treatment stations being arranged along the conveying device, characterized in that the conveying device (2) has at least one section conveying means (4, 5) with a linear motor (6) which is configured for transporting the brush bodies (3) or brushes (3a) as well as for positioning them in at least one processing station.

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear motor (6) has a stator (7) extending substantially along the conveying section (4, 5) and one or more rotors (8) which can be respectively connected to at least one cassette (9) serving as a clamping device for the brush bodies (3) or the brushes.

3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotors (8) of the linear motor (6) can be positioned independently of each other.

4. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying device (2) is configured as a revolution conveying device and has at least two conveying sections (4, 5) each comprising at least a linear motor (6).

5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the conveying device (2) configured as a revolution conveying device has two conveying sections (4, 5) arranged approximately parallel to each other and at its ends, transfer devices for moving the cassettes (9) from one conveyor section to the other.

6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer device (s) has transport claws for gripping and moving the cassettes (9) or similar workpiece supports of a conveying section to the machine. other (4, 5) or deflection wheels (19) for mechanically or magnetically supporting the cassettes (9) during the moving movement.

7. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one insertion device (21) is provided, in particular at the ends of the conveying sections (4, 5).

8. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the conveying device (2) has a conveying section () which has a planar motor (22) associated for example with an insertion device (21). ) or a tufts delivery device comprising a planar stator and at least one rotor (8).

9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotor (8) is connected to at least one lifting device for an additional axis of movement.

10. Machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rotor (8) is connected to at least one rotating device.

11. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that there is provided as processing stations, along the conveying section or sections, a milling station (10), a polishing station (11) , a film embossing station (14) and / or a stamping station (13), a control station (16), at least one intake and sampling station (17, 17a) and, where appropriate, optionally, an insertion device (21).

Machine according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a model switching station (20, 20a) is provided with at least one model switching magazine (18) for receiving different cassettes (9). ) for different brush models.