EP0143930A2 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing brushes - Google Patents

Abstract

A separating device (1) belonging to a brush manufacturing machine is used to remove an envelope (2) from bristle bundles (8). For this purpose, a gripping device (5) with a holding and pulling gripper (6) on the one hand and a removal gripper (7) on the other hand. With the holding and pulling gripper (6), the sheath (2) is first gripped and moved longitudinally somewhat relative to the bristle bundle (8), so that a sheath-free bundle section is present, on which the removal gripper (7) can engage. The latter then pulls the bristle bundle (8) out of the somewhat recessed envelope (2) and can then transport it further to a downstream magazine (10).

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing brushes, in which bristle bundles enclosed by a covering, packaging or the like are brought into the vicinity of a bristle supply and are there fed to the bristle supply after removal of their packaging, covering or the like. To remove the sheathing from bundles of bristles, it is already known to provide knives for separating the sheathing. Such a knife can be guided radially and / or in the longitudinal direction through the casing. The disadvantages here are that damage to the bristles cannot be ruled out by the knife and that the bristles can also be pushed out of the bristle supply by the knife, which can lead to malfunctions. In addition, such knives become dull over time and have to be replaced. In addition to the necessary interruption to operation, there is also the fact that such a blunt knife can also cause malfunctions. Finally, additional devices are required to remove the separated coverings, so that a total of one increased effort is given.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned at the outset, by means of which a trouble-free separation of sheaths from the bristles therein is possible even over a longer period.

To achieve this object, it is proposed according to the invention in particular that the coated bristle bundle is grasped on its covering and this is removed in sections, after which the exposed bundle section is gripped and the bristle bundle and the covering are separated from one another.

On the one hand, damage to the bristles located within the covering is practically excluded and, moreover, trouble-free operation over a longer period of time is possible, since practically no wearing parts are used in this method.

It is particularly advantageous if the bundle of bristles is held alternately, preferably overlapping in time, when the sheath is removed. As a result, the bundle of bristles is held securely during the entire separation process.

The invention also relates to a brush production machine with a device for supplying bristles to a tamping device or the like, a separating device for removing an envelope or the like initially encasing the individual bristle bundles and a subsequent transfer device for the bristles or the bristle supply are provided.

Such a brush manufacturing machine is according to the invention in particular characterized in that the Separating device has a gripping device with at least one holding and pulling-off gripper for gripping the covered bristle bundle and for at least partially pulling off the covering and at least one removal gripper or the like for gripping the free bundle section and for removing or transporting the bundle. By means of such a separating device, the covering is pulled off somewhat in some areas and the bundle, which is then partially exposed, is gripped by the removal gripper and pulled out of the covering. Mechanical removal of the casing is achieved. Because there are practically no wearing parts, such a separating device is also largely maintenance-free.

The grippers expediently each have at least two gripping jaws or the like which can be moved approximately radially to the bristle bundle, with gripping surfaces which are approximately matched to the outline shape of the bristle bundle, in particular approximately semicircular. The bundle of bristles is thereby tightly encompassed during the separation process and also for further transport, so that the bundle of bristles is held together without a covering.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the holding and pulling gripper can be displaced in relation to the bristle bundle in the longitudinal direction thereof by part of the bundle length. The covering can thereby be gripped and pulled back somewhat by the displacement movement, so that one end of the bristle bundle becomes free. The removal gripper is expediently also approximately coaxial to the bristle bundle and additionally preferably transversely thereto, e.g. B. to a bristle magazine, movable. The removal gripper can grip the exposed bristle bundle and then pull it out of the casing and, if necessary, towards a bristle magazine or the like move.

If appropriate, the bristle bundles are mounted approximately vertically in the region of the separating device, the gripping and pulling gripper engaging at the upper end or the removal gripper being arranged such that it can be fed from above. In this vertical position, the covering can be pulled off, a support for the bristles being formed on the underside by the support. A further embodiment of the invention provides that a pressure application device is provided in the bristle magazine, which has pressure elements acting alternately on the bristle supply, the greatest distance between these pressure elements corresponding at least approximately to the cross-section of a bundle of bristles supplied by the removal gripper. The bristle bundles separated from the covering can thus be introduced into the bristle stock without the bristle stock already in the magazine having to be changed, in particular with regard to the pressurization.

Additional embodiments of the invention are listed in the further subclaims. The invention with its essential details is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

• Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht einer Trennvorrichtung mit nachgeschaltetem Borstenmagazin, wobei sich ein Greifer in Arbeitsstellung befindet,
• Fig. 2 eine Seitenansicht einer Trennvorrichtung mit beiden Greifern in Arbeitsstellung,
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht einer Trennvorrichtung mit einem aus seiner Umhüllung entfernten Borstenbündel,
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht eines Entnahmegreifers mit gehaltenem Berstenbündel im Bereich eines Borstenmagazines,
• Fig. 5 eine etwa mit Fig. 4 ergleichbare Seitenansicht, hier jedoch bei bereits abgesetztem Borstenbündel,
• Fig. 6 eine Seitenansicht eines Borstenmagazines nach dem Zuführen eines Borstenbündels,
• Fig. 7 eine etwa Fig. 6 entsprechende Seitenansicht eines Magazines, hier jedoch in einer anderen Stellung der Druckelemente,
• Fig. 8 eine Aufsicht eines Borstenmagazines mit Druckbeaufschlagungsvorrichtung,
• Fig. 9 eine Aufsicht einer Trennvorrichtung mit davor angeordnetem Bündelmagazin und Vereinzelungsvorrichtung,
• Fig. 10 ebenfalls eine Aufsicht der in Fig. 9 gezeigten Anordnung, hier jedoch in anderer Arbeitsstellung,
• Fig. 11 eine Aufsicht einer abgewandelten Trennvorrichtung mit einem Doppelmagazin für Borstenbündel und
• Fig. 12 eine Aufsicht einer Doppelzuführung für Borstenbündel unterschiedlicher Ausführung zu einer Trennvorrichtung.

It shows more schematically:

• 1 is a side view of a separating device with a downstream bristle magazine, with a gripper in the working position,
• 2 is a side view of a separating device with two grippers in the working position,
• Fig. 3 is a side view of a separator a bundle of bristles removed from its envelope,
• 4 is a side view of a removal gripper with a held bundle of bursts in the area of a bristle magazine,
• 5 is a side view comparable with FIG. 4, but here with the bristle bundle already set down,
• 6 is a side view of a bristle magazine after feeding a bundle of bristles,
• 7 is a side view of a magazine corresponding to FIG. 6, but here in a different position of the printing elements,
• 8 is a plan view of a bristle magazine with a pressurizing device,
• 9 is a plan view of a separating device with a bundle magazine and separating device arranged in front of it,
• 10 is also a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 9, but here in a different working position,
• 11 is a plan view of a modified separating device with a double magazine for bristle bundles and
• Fig. 12 is a plan view of a double feed for bristle bundles of different designs to one Separating device.

A separating device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is part of a brush manufacturing machine, in which in particular bristles 3 initially located in a covering 2 are fed to a brush tamping machine, of which only the so-called circular arc divider 4 can be seen in FIGS. 1, 8 and 11.

The separating device 1 essentially has a gripping device designated as 5. A holding and pulling gripper 6 is provided for gripping the covered bristle bundle 8, as shown in FIG. 1, and also for at least partially pulling off the covering 2, as can be seen in FIG. 2. In addition, the gripping device 5 also has a removal gripper 7, with which the free bundle section 9 can be gripped and pulled out of the casing 2. In addition, the bristle bundle 8 pulled out of the casing 2 is transported with the aid of the removal gripper 7 to a bristle supply 11 located in a magazine 10.

The grippers 6 and 7 each have two gripping jaws 12, 13 in the exemplary embodiment, which have approximately adapted to the outline shape of the bristle bundle 8, in particular approximately semicircular gripping surfaces 14, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 9 to 11. The holding and pulling gripper 6 is accommodated in a lifting frame 15, which overall can be displaced in height relative to the bristle bundle 8 located in the separating device 1 according to the arrow Pf 1. Pneumatic lifting drives 16 in particular are provided both for adjusting the gripping jaws 12 and 13 and for adjusting the height of the lifting frame 15.

A bristle bundle 8 located in the separating device 1 is vertically open with respect to its longitudinal extent a support 17 is mounted, which in the exemplary embodiment is part of the bottom of a feed device 18 (cf. FIGS. 9 and 10). The sheathing 2 is now separated from a bundle of bristles 8 in that the coated bundle of bristles 8 is first gripped by the gripping jaws 12 of the holding and pulling gripper 6 at the upper end region, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1. By actuating the lifting drive 16 for the lifting frame 15, the holding and pulling gripper 6 is moved somewhat downward relative to the bristle bundle 8, the covering 2 being correspondingly stripped off. The lifting movement is dimensioned such that the upper bundle section 9, which is free of the covering 2, grips the removal gripper securely

7 enables. For example, the lifting movement of the holding and pulling-off gripper 6 could be provided such that the covering 2 is stripped off over approximately half the bristle length. The removal gripper 7 in its up position in FIG. 1 is then moved to the bristle bundle 8 until its gripping jaws 13 are located to the side of the free bundle section 9. Then the bristle bundle 8 is gripped at its free bundle section 9 by closing the gripping jaws 13 (see FIG. 2) and pulled out of the casing 2 by raising the removal gripper 7.

The holding and pulling gripper 6 remains approximately in its closed position during this separation process, but its gripping jaws 12 can yield somewhat radially, which can be achieved by removing the pressure from the lifting cylinders 16. The covering 2 is thus stripped off on the gripping jaws 12 without a greater pull-out resistance being present. In the actual separation process, the bristle bundle 8 is held alternately, preferably overlapping in time, by the grippers 6 and 7, so that the bristle bundle 8 is held securely in each phase of the separation.

In addition to its vertical direction of displacement, the removal gripper 7 is also horizontally displaceable, the horizontal guide 19 leading to the magazine 10 in the exemplary embodiment. A bristle bundle held by the gripping jaws 13 can thereby be transported laterally from the area of the separating device 1 into the area of the magazine 10. The bristle magazine 10 has a pressurizing device with pressure elements 20, 21 which act alternately on the bristle supply 11. This causes an approximately constant supply pressure to the circular arc divider 4. The bristle bundle 8 is inserted into the magazine 10 between these pressure elements 20, 21, as is shown in FIG. 4. After the bristle bundle 8 has been deposited, it is acted upon and held on the back by the fork-shaped pressure element 20 (FIG. 5). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the finger-shaped pressure element 21 can be pulled out of the bristle supply and then takes over the loading of the bristle supply instead of the fork-shaped pressure element 20. The fork-shaped pressure element 20 can then be moved back to a position (FIGS. 7 and 1) until the space between the pressure elements 20 and 21 is sufficient to accommodate the next bundle of bristles 8 separated from the sheath 2.

8 shows a top view of the arrangement of the pressure elements 20, 21 in the magazine 10, the discharge end of which opens in the region of the circular-arc compartment 4. It can also be clearly seen here that the pressure elements 20, 21 can be displaced both in the longitudinal direction of the magazine 10 and in the disengagement and engagement position.

Fig. 11 shows a separation device 1 in supervision with an associated double magazine 10 a, in which, for example, bristles with different colors are entered. For the corresponding side adjustment movement For optional loading of these magazine channels, the removal gripper 7 is arranged so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal extent of the magazine 10 a in accordance with the distance between these magazine channels. The lifting cylinder 22 is provided as the drive, while a further lifting cylinder 23 is provided for moving the removal gripper 7 from the separating device to the magazine 10 a. The holding and pulling gripper 6 lying below the removal gripper 7 is not visible in this illustration.

The feed device shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 serves to feed the coated or coated bristle bundles 8 to the separating device 1. It has a separating device 24 with a combined blocking and transport slide 25 at its feed end. With the separating device 24, the bristle bundles 8 arriving one after the other via a guide channel 26 can be fed one after the other to the separating device 1. The locking and transport slide 25 is approximately angular in shape with a locking side 27 and a feed side 28. If the slide 25 is in the release position shown in FIG. 9, the bristle bundles located in the guide channel 26, which preferably runs at an angle, can slip, the foremost one resting against a stop 29. By moving the slide 25 transversely, for which a lifting cylinder 30 is provided here, the slide 25 moves into the blocking position shown in FIG. 8, whereby it transports the bundle of bristles 8 resting against the stop 29 into the separating device 1. After the slide has been pulled back, the gripping jaws 12 of the holding and pulling-off gripper 6 shown here can grip the bristle bundle 8 or its sheath 2.

It should also be mentioned that ver Different means for removing the stripped envelope 2 can be provided. For example, the stripped sheath 2 (Fig. 3) could be removed by compressed air.

In a departure from the illustrated embodiments, the magazines 10, 10 a often have comparatively narrow receiving channels for the bristle supply 11, the width of these channels being smaller than the diameter of the approximately round bristle bundles 8. In this case, it is provided that the bristle bundles are adapted to the shape of the bristle receptacle, in particular to the width of the magazine receptacle channels, during and / or after removal of the sheath 2. For this shape adaptation, the clear receiving cross-section of the gripping jaws 13 of the removal gripper 7 in the closed position z. B. be rectangular, the narrow sides at most corresponding to the width of a magazine receiving channel. Experiments have shown that despite this change in shape, the bristle bundle 8 is held securely. If necessary, the bristle bundle 8 could also be gradually deformed from its round cross-sectional shape into a cross-sectional shape suitable for a subsequent magazine. The receiving cross section of the gripping jaws 12 of the holding and pulling gripper 6 can already have an intermediate shape between the round cross section and the intended delivery cross section of the bristle bundle, and the receiving cross section of the removal gripper jaws 13 can correspond to the final, intended delivery cross section of the bristle bundles 8.

It should also be mentioned that the holding and pulling gripper 6 and / or the removal gripper 7 each with respect to their gripping movement approximately radial to the bristle bundle 8 a fixed and a movable gripping jaw can be formed. This results in a significant simplification, since a corresponding lifting drive is only required for the movable gripping jaw.

In addition to the illustrated embodiment of a separating device 1 with approximately vertical storage of the bristle bundles 8, the separating borehole direction 1 can also be designed for horizontal storage of the bristle bundles 8, preferably with a one-sided, end-face stop. In this embodiment, the design with gripping jaws fixed on one side is also particularly advantageous. It should also be mentioned that the gripping jaws 12 are fixed in the pulling direction and the end stop or the base 17 can be movable relative to it for the partial removal of the casing 2.

The separating device 1 according to the invention can also be used separately without a feed connection to a bristle storage magazine or, if appropriate, in connection with a material dressing device.

Overall, the separating device 1 according to the invention, also in connection with the respectively adjacent devices 18 and 10, has the essential advantage that the transport, the respective transfers and the separation of the casing 2 with comparatively simple means and at the same time high operational reliability even over longer production sections without problems can expire. This is also a prerequisite for the planned, largely largely automatic overall production process.

For example, a double magazine 10 a (Fig.

11) associated separating device 1 is expediently also provided a double feed device 18 a for bristle bundles 8, as shown in FIG. 12. As a result, bristle bundles 8 containing alternating or optionally different bristles can be fed to the separating device 1. After the separation process, the bristles held by the removal gripper 7 are fed to one of the magazine channels 31 or 31 a, depending on the type. The bristles can e.g. B. differ in terms of color, bristle length, thickness, material, etc.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the feed device 18 a and the magazine are designed for two different types of bristles. If necessary, these devices could also be set up for more than two types of bristle. Despite this processing of several types of bristle, it is advantageous to use only one separating device 1. The mechanical effort is therefore comparatively low overall even when processing several different types of bristle.

In the feed device 18 a according to FIG. 12, two feed channels 32 coming from bristle bundle magazines (not shown here) can be seen which are connected to the separating device 24. This has two slides 33, by means of which bristle bundles 8 can optionally be removed from one or the other feed channel 32 and fed to the separating device 1 via a connecting channel 34. For the subsequent transport of the bristle bundles 8, the feed channels 32 and the connecting channel 34 can be arranged obliquely as slides.

All the features shown in the description, the claims and the drawing can be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another.

Claims (22)

1. A method for producing brushes, in which bristle bundles initially enclosed by a wrapping, packaging or the like are brought into the vicinity of a bristle supply and are supplied to the bristle supply there after the removal of their packaging, sheathing or the like, characterized in that the coated bristle bundle is gripped on its covering (2) and this is removed in sections, and then the exposed bundle section (9) is gripped and the bristle bundle (8) and the covering (2) are separated from one another. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristle bundle (8) when removing the sheath (2) is held alternately, preferably overlapping in time. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bristle bundle changes in cross-sectional shape during and / or after removal of the sheath, in particular the shape of a subsequent one Bristle holder are adjusted, if necessary gradually increasing. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that alternating or optionally containing different bristles, covered bristle bundles (8) from their sheath (2) separated and then sorted by type of bristle magazines as loose bristle stock (11) fed will. 5. Brush production machine with a device for supplying bristles to a tamping device or the like, whereby a separating device for removing an envelope or the like that initially surrounds the individual bristle bundles and a subsequent transfer device for the bristles or the bristle supply are provided, in particular according to the method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the separating device (1) comprises a gripping device (5) with at least one holding and pulling gripper (6) for gripping the covered bristle bundle (8) and for at least partially pulling off the covering ( 2) and at least one removal gripper (7) or the like for gripping the free bundle section (9) and for removing or transporting the bristle bundle (8). 6. Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the grippers (6, 7) each have at least two approximately radially to the bristle bundle (8) movable gripping jaws (12, 13) or the like. With the outline shape or the cross section of the bristle bundle ( 8) have approximately adapted, in particular approximately semicircular gripping surfaces (14). 7. Machine according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the holding and pulling gripper (6) relative to the bristle bundle (8) in the longitudinal direction thereof is displaceable by part of the bundle length. 8. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the removal gripper (7) approximately coaxially to the bristle bundle (8) and preferably transversely thereto, for. B. to a bristle magazine (10, 10 a) is movable. 9. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the bristle bundles (8) in the region of the separating device (1) are mounted approximately vertically, and that the holding and pulling gripper (6) engages at the upper end or the removal gripper (7) is arranged to be feedable from above. 10. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that for adjusting the gripping jaws (12, 13) and preferably also for adjusting the height of the holding and pulling gripper (6) relative to a bristle bundle (8), lifting cylinders, preferably pneumatic lifting cylinders (16, 22, 23, 30) are provided. 11. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the holding and pulling gripper (6) with its jaw adjustment drives u. Like. Is connected to a lifting frame (15) movable approximately in the longitudinal direction of a bristle bundle (8). 12. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that for feeding the coated bristle bundle (8) to the separating device (1) a Ver Individual device (24) is provided, which preferably has a combined locking and transport slide (25). 13. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that at least one bristle magazine (10, 10 a) is provided in the transport direction behind the separating device (1) for receiving the bristles (3) removed from the sheaths (2), the The receiving end is arranged in the area of the removal gripper (7). 14. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that in the bristle magazine (10, 10 a) a pressurizing device is provided which has the bristle supply alternately pressurizing elements (20, 21), and that the greatest distance between them Pressure elements (20, 21) from one another correspond at least approximately to the cross section of a bristle bundle (8) fed by the removal gripper (7). 15. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 14, characterized in that in front of a separating device (1) or several magazines or the like. For receiving coated bristle bundles (8) and behind the separating device (1) or several magazines (10, 10 a) or Like. Are arranged for loose bristle stock (11). 16. Machine according to claim 15, characterized in that the bristle bundle magazines is assigned a separating device (24) for alternating or optional feeding of individual bristle bundles (8). 17. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that the separating device (1), in particular the removal gripper (7) u. Like. And the separating device (1) downstream bristle magazines (10 a) or magazine channels (31, 31 a) can be positioned relative to each other. 18. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 17, characterized in that at least the removal gripper (7) has gripping jaws (13) with a clear receiving cross-section, which is approximately on the cross-section of a separating device (1) downstream receptacle (10, 10 a) is adapted for a bristle supply (11). 19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the removal gripper jaws (13) have an approximately rectangular receiving cross-section, and that its narrow sides at most the width of a z. B. correspond trough-shaped receptacle for the bristle stock. 20. Machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the gripping jaws (12) of the holding and pulling gripper (6) has a receiving cross section with at least one intermediate shape between the approximately round cross section of the bristle bundle (8) and the intended delivery cross section, and that the receiving cross-section of the removal gripper jaws (13) corresponds approximately to the intended delivery cross-section of the bristle bundles (8). 21. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 20, characterized in that the holding and pulling gripper (6) and / or the removal gripper (7) with respect to them Bristle bundles (8) are approximately radial gripping movements, each with a fixed and a movable gripping jaw. 22. Machine according to one of claims 5 to 21, characterized in that the bristle bundles (8) in the region of the separating device (1) are mounted approximately horizontally, preferably with an end stop, and that, if necessary, part of the support has a radially fixed gripping jaw (12 ) forms.

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