EP1953287B1 - Method and device for charging needle plates for felting machines - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for loading and despiring needle boards of felting machines with felting needles.

Felting machines serve to densify fibrous webs of disordered fibers, such as nonwoven webs (with and without backing material), and occasionally also for aftertreatment of woven or knitted fabrics. For this purpose, the felting machines have a substantially planar support, which is provided with a large number of felting needles. This carrier is also referred to as a needle board. The felting needles sit in corresponding openings, into which they hold with their holding part are pressed. The term "felting needle" used here also includes needles which are used for the aftertreatment, eg roughening or perforating of knitted or woven fabrics.

Inserting the needles into a needle board is a tedious process that is often done entirely or partially by hand. If needles are worn or if the needles of a needle board are to be replaced for other reasons, the old needles must be removed from the needle board and the new needles inserted into the needle board. This is a time consuming process. Therefore, attempts have been made in the past to at least partially automate the process. The Utility Model DE 83 29 050 U1 discloses a pick and place machine with a felting needle magazine. This is positioned above a needle board. The openings present in the needle board can be detected by suitable optoelectronic sensors. The needles can then be transferred from the magazine into the holes via a corresponding mechanical drive.

In addition, from the utility model DE 1923665 a device for inserting and ejecting needles of a needle board known. The machine has a movable frame that can be positioned above a needle board. An ejection punch provided on the device can be moved vertically by motor force to press on the needle tips thereby releasing the needles from their seats. Similarly, the same machine is used to press felt needles loosely inserted into a needle board into the needle board.

The individual publications deal with partial aspects of the problems that occur when needling and needling needle boards. However, there is still a lack of facility or device with which needle boards can be needled in an efficient manner.

On this basis, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for fast needling needle boards.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 or the device according to claim 8:

In the method according to the invention, a multiple collet chuck is used to simultaneously grasp several felting needles and insert them into corresponding openings of the needle board. In the multiple collet, the felt needles are held at a distance that coincides with the hole spacing of the needle board. In this way, an automatic manipulator or a corresponding trained worker by means of the multi-collet each insert a whole group of felting needles in the needle board. For example, rows of holes can be equipped with needles in just a few steps or a few operations. A corresponding pressing device can then press the needles of a row of holes in a single stroke in the needle board.

Preferably, the collet is designed so that it can hold the individual felting needles in almost any distance, ie in any division. The felting needles are clamped eg between two smooth jaws. However, the multiple collet is associated with a filling device adapted to receive the group of felting needles to be received by the multiple collet the pitch to be available, which is also present on the needle board. Preferably, one of the clamping jaws has recesses which correspond to the predetermined pitch of the filling device. The depth of the recesses is less than the needle thickness, so that the needles arranged in the recesses can be clamped by the second clamping jaw with its smooth inner side. The filling device removes the needles, for example, a needle container, in which a large number of corresponding felting needles, however, loose aligned, ie, for example, are parallel and directionally equal to each other. The separation of the felting needles and the presentation of the same for gripping with the multiple collet, for example via a singulator with one or more threaded spindles on which the felting needles are oriented transversely to the axis of rotation of the threaded spindles.

A corresponding workstation equipped for fitting needle boards preferably has the following components for carrying out the method: a holding device for the needle board to be loaded, said multiple collet, a filling device for filling the multiple collet, and an injection device which serves the felting needles inserted into the needle board to press into the needle board. Preferably, a transport device is additionally provided, which serves to transfer the needle board from a loading position to the press-in device. This significantly facilitates the work of equipping a needle board.

The filling device specifies the needle pitch. Under Nadelteil the distance between the felting needles within a row, which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal side of a needle board is to be understood. The filling device may for this purpose have two threaded spindles whose pitch corresponds to the desired needle pitch. The needle pitch and the spacing of the needle rows of a needle board can be detected with a camera or other sensor device. The threaded spindles can be replaced manually, for example. The machine control may prompt the operator to remove the threaded spindles that are suitable for the detected pitch from a supply and insert them into the filling device.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, an extraction device for needling a needle board is provided in addition to the pressing device. The extraction device can be arranged in the immediate vicinity of the press-in device. It is preferably provided with a pusher bar, by means of which a pressure on the working parts of the felting needles can be exerted to release the felting needles. Preferably, the puller includes one or more hook rails that engage and pull the felted feet of the felting needles to pull the felting needles out of the needle board.

• Figur 1 eine Einrichtung zum Be- und Entnadeln von Nadelbrettern von Filzmaschinen,
• Figur 2 Teile der Einrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in schematisierter Prinzipdarstellung,
• Figur 3 eine Halteeinrichtung für ein Nadelbrett in schematisierter Draufsicht,
• Figur 4 und 5 das Ausziehen einer Filznadel aus einem Nadelbrett in schematisierter Darstellung,
• Figur 6 eine Füllvorrichtung zum Bereitstellen einer Gruppe von Filznadeln für eine Mehrfachspannzange in perspektivischer Darstellung und
• Figur 7 eine Mehrfachspannzange zum Überführen der von der Füllvorrichtung gemäß Figur 6 präsentierten Nadelgruppe in ein Nadelbrett.

Further details of advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from claims and the drawings and the description below. This is limited to essential aspects of the invention and other circumstances. The description should be used as a supplement. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a device for needling and needling of needle boards of felting machines,
• FIG. 2 Parts of the device according to FIG. 1 in a schematized schematic representation,
• FIG. 3 a holding device for a needle board in a schematic plan view,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 the extraction of a felting needle from a needle board in a schematic representation,
• FIG. 6 a filling device for providing a group of felting needles for a multiple collet in a perspective view and
• FIG. 7 a multiple collet for transferring the from the filling device according to FIG. 6 presented needle group in a needle board.

In FIG. 1 a device 1 for equipping needle boards 2 for felting machines is illustrated. The device 1 is designed as a component semi-automatic machine. Such needle boards 2 are used for example for producing felt in felting machines. The needle board 2 has a large number of holes 3, which are arranged in longitudinal, transverse or obliquely arranged rows. Such a needle board may for example have dimensions of 1.70 mx 0.4 m. The openings 3 and their central axes are usually oriented substantially parallel to each other and aligned approximately at right angles to the flat needle board 2. Within a series of openings 3, the hole spacings, ie the (center) distances between the holes, are preferably substantially constant.

The assembly semi-automatic after FIG. 1 has a holding device 4 for the needle board 2. The holding device 4 is designed in the form of a turntable. It has a board frame 5, which is pivotally mounted about a preferably horizontal axis of rotation 6 or rotatable. For this purpose, the board frame 5 is pivotally positionable by means of not further illustrated drives. The drives are supported on the machine frame of the device 1. The board frame 5 has a board guide 7, for example, from the schematic representation of FIG. 2 evident. To the board guide 7 include guide rails 8, 9, which are arranged at a distance parallel to each other and serve to receive the needle board 2 between each other. The guide rails 8, 9 form a linear guide for the board 2. They allow the needle board 2 is pushed or pulled from the side parallel to the axis of rotation 6 on the holding device 4. To facilitate this process, a plurality of rollers 10, 11, 12, 13 may be arranged on the board frame 5, which are rotatable are stored and form a roller guide for the needle board 2. The rollers 10, 11, 12, 13 are preferably arranged on the needle board 2 and movable away from it. To move electrical or hydraulic actuators can serve. If the needle board 2 are to be moved on the holding device 4, the rollers 11 to 13 are moved to the needle board 2 until they lift the needle board 2 from corresponding contact surfaces. The needle board 2 is now easily movable. For loading the rollers 11 to 13, however, for example, hydraulically lowered. The needle board 2 can thus rest on corresponding contact surfaces of the board frame 5. Provided on the guide rails 8, 9 or at another suitable location locking device, for example in the form of hydraulic clamping claws 14, 15, the needle board 2 can now clamp on the board frame 5.

The board frame 5 has, like the Figures 2 and 3 show, preferably on a central opening 16, project into the corresponding held on the needle board 2 felting needles 17. The edge of this opening 16 can, as FIG. 3 shows, serve as a contact surface and thus as a stop means for the positioning of the needle board 2. This applies both in terms of in FIG. 3 symbolized X as well as the symbolized Y-direction. The stops 18, 19 thus formed by parts of the wall of the opening 16 thus do not act on the edges of the needle board 2 but on the outer felting needles 17. The stops 18, 19 can also be formed by resilient strips or the like. In particular for the X-direction, this can be advantageous in order not to damage the external needles when hitting the stop 19 when inserting the needle board 2.

The holding device 4 is how FIG. 2 indicates, carried by its rotational positioning 20. This can move the needle board into a vertical position, into a slanted position (shown in FIG FIG. 1 and 2 ) or in a horizontal position. Optionally, any intermediate positions can be adjusted. The positioning device 20 may be part of a transport device 21, which in FIG. 2 is indicated by a linear guide device. This linear guide device has guide rails 22 and a carriage 23, which is formed by the positioning device 20. It serves to hold the holding device 4 with the needle board 2 from the in FIG. 2 right insertion position in a press-in or Entnadelungsposition 24 to transfer. While the needle board 2 in loading position, such as FIG. 1 is accessible to a worker in the manner of a lectern, the press-in and pawl position 24 is preferably in one of a hood 25 (FIG. FIG. 1 ) covered area of the assembly semi-automatic. This represents a preferably illuminated working space, which is visible through viewing window. However, the hood 25 denies workers immediate access.

The transport device 21 has drive means (not further illustrated) by means of which the holding device 4 carried by the positioning device 20 is moved by a machine control device 26 (FIG. FIG. 1 ) can be controlled. The method of the holding device 4 with the needle board 2 from the loading position in press-in and Entnadelungsposition 24 is preferably triggered by the request of the operator.

In the press-in and Entnadelungsposition 24 at least one press-in device is provided, which is a Eindrückleiste 27 and a suitable drive means, for example a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 28 or other actuators, and which is movable on the needle board 2 and away from it. The indentation bar 27 is preferably held linearly movable in the vertical direction in order to cooperate with a horizontally held needle board 2 in its press-in position 24. The indentation strip 27 has a pressure surface 29 on its lower end face, which in operation faces the needle board 2 held underneath. This pressure surface 29 has a portion in the form of a prism and a planar portion. During the press-in process, the felted needles 17 to be pressed in are first pressed into the needle board 2 with the prismatic section of the pressure surface 29 of the indentation strip 27. The prism guide ensures that the felting needles 17 are held laterally stable during the pressing process. You can not dodge. The press-in process is terminated by the Eindrückleiste 27 is laterally displaced to press the felt needles 17 completely into the needle board 2 with the flat area of the pressure surface 29. The pressure surface 29 extends over the entire working width of the device 1 and thus has at least the length of a row of holes of the needle board 2. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure surface 29 is not formed absolutely straight with respect to the X-direction parallel to the axis of rotation 6. Rather, it is preferred that the pressure surface 29 arch slightly or slightly beveled so that the pressure surface 29 is approximately one to two millimeters below its ends in the region of the center of the indentation strip 27. This measure helps to compensate for a Brettdurchbiegung that results when impressing felting needles in the openings 3 due to the large forces acting and the existing flexibility of the needle board 2.

In the immediate vicinity of the indentation bar 27, an extraction device 30 may be arranged. To this includes one or more Ausdrückleisten 31 and a corresponding number of Ausziehleisten 32. Each Ausdrückleiste 31 preferably extends in turn over the entire length of a needle board 2. It has a foot portion 33, as it FIG. 4 is recognizable. A lower angled portion 34 of the foot portion 33 is provided with slots 37 whose pitch coincides with the hole pitch of the needle board 2. In the preferred embodiment, four such Ausdrückleisten 31 are arranged in close proximity, the four Ausdrückleisten have slots with a pitch corresponding to the four most common pitches of needle boards 2. The section 34 of the respective needle board 2 matching Ausdrückleiste 31 can thus, as FIG. 4 illustrated, are pushed over the working parts 35 of the felting needles 17, which sit with their holding parts 36 in the openings 3. The slots 37 include the working parts 35 with play. However, they are narrower than the holding parts 36. When lowering the Ausdrückleiste 31 therefore sets on the conical portion 38 of each felting needle 17 and moves the press-fit holding member 36 slightly. The foot 39 of each felting needle 17 is thereby moved slightly away from the needle board 2.

It is also possible that the Ausdrückleiste 31 has a lower portion 34 which is straight. The Ausdrückleiste 34 then includes a bore whose diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the working part 35 of the felting needle 17. The free end of this bore has a conical portion which corresponds approximately to the conical portion 38 of the felting needle 17, which is the working part 35 connects with the holding part 36 of the felting needle 17. The Ausdrückleiste 31 then pressed by means of this conical section, the felting needles 17 partially from the needle board 2 and its openings 3 out.

The Ausdrückleisten 31 are each via their own drives, such as hydraulic cylinder 40 ( FIG. 2 ), vertically reciprocatingly movable. Preferably, the working stroke is greater than the length of the working part 35.

To the extractor 30 also belongs to the FIG. 5 apparent Ausziehleiste 32. Each Ausdrückleiste 31 (if there are several) may also be associated with a Ausziehleiste 32. The Ausziehleiste 32 extends over the entire length of the needle row or row of holes of the needle board 2. The Ausziehleiste 32 has an angled foot portion 41, which serves to engage the dissolved feet 39, such as FIG. 5 illustrated. The angled foot section is continuous in its longitudinal direction, that is closed, ie without openings or slots. Thus, a pull-out strip 32 may be used for different needles where the spacings of the holes 3 are different. The pull-out strip 32 is a drive device 42 (FIG. FIG. 2 ), which gives the Ausziehleiste 32 symbolized by arrows extraction movement. As part of this, the extraction strip 32 is first brought to the needle board 2. This is, for example, essentially a vertical movement. Then the Ausziehleiste 32 is moved transversely to the felting needle 17 in a second phase of movement, so that the foot portion 41 between the foot 39 and the needle board 2 moves. In a return stroke, essentially directed axially to the felting needle 17, the holding part 36 is pulled out of the opening 3 out.

In order to improve the gripping of the feet 3 of the felting needles 17 through the pull-out strip, the pull-out strip 32 can be formed with openings corresponding to the spacing of the holes 3. Then, the foot portion 41 of the Auszugsleiste 32 partially engage between the felting needles 17 which improves the extraction process. This allows the extraction of the felting needles 17 from the needle board 2 when it is rotated by 90 degrees, to the in FIG. 5 indicated direction, are arranged.

All possible Ausziehleisten 32 can be actuated by a common drive means 42 and are rigidly connected thereto.

To catch the pulled out needles serves a needle collecting tray 43, the FIG. 2 dashed and better FIG. 1 is apparent. The needle collecting tray 43 is arranged obliquely inclined, so that removed with the puller 30 from the needle board 2 remote needles from the needle collecting tray 43 and can slide in this to a lower tray portion. In the needle collecting tray 43 arranged intermediate walls ensure that the felt needles 17 slide substantially parallel to each other to the lower trough area and there are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The operator entrusted with the operation of the workstation can remove the needles in an orderly manner there and conduct them to a refurbishment or disposal. In the Vorgeehnsweise described the needles are recovered without destruction and possibly reusable.

For positioning in particular the Ausdrückleiste (s) 31 in the X direction, in the longitudinal direction of the needle board 2 is preferably at least one sensor device, for example in the form of at least one image pickup device (camera) 44 is provided ( FIG. 2 ). This is preferably arranged at a location which is traversed by a longitudinal end of the needle board 2 in the transfer from the loading position to the drawing position or Entnadelungsposition or press-fit position 24. The image recording device 44 "sees" at least one end of each row of holes and thus can detect both the position of the hole row end and the existing hole pitch, ie the needle or hole spacing. In addition, the distance between two rows of holes can be detected by the image recording device 44. In this way, the machine control unit 26 can first activate the ejection bar 31 for the needling, which has a corresponding slot pitch. In addition, the machine control means may influence the transport means 21 so as to position the pin row to be expressed just below the selected ejection bar 31. Preferably, four such Ausdrückleisten 31 are provided - but the number may vary from case to case.

For loading the needle board 2 with needles is a multiple collet 45, as they are made FIG. 1 and 7 evident. It serves to accommodate in the needle board 2 felting needles 17 in the desired pitch (spacing). It has at least two clamping jaws 46, 47, of which at least one is movably mounted. The jaws 46, 47 define between each other a clamping gap 48 which can be narrowed by suitable actuation of a release lever 49 to clamp felting needles between the clamping jaws 46, 47. The trigger lever 49 is preferably located adjacent to a handle 50 which projects away from the multiple collet 45.

The collet 45 is one of FIG. 6 assigned filling device 51, which is preferably provided on the device 1 above the holding device 4 in the grip region of the worker. The filling device 51 serves to separate felting needles 17 in the desired spacing and to present them in groups, so that they can be gripped and removed by the collet chuck 45. The filling device 51 forms a screw conveyor and has for this purpose separating means, for example in the form of two mutually parallel threaded spindles 52, 53, whose pitch coincides with the hole pitch of the needle board 2. For variable hole spacings, the thread pitch can be adapted to be variable. The threaded spindles 52, 53 both have matching threads (both have right-hand threads or both have left-hand threads) and rotate in the same direction. Rotary positioning motors, such as stepper motors 54, 55 are used. Above the ends of the threaded spindles 52, 53 a hopper 56 is arranged picks up a needle supply. Preferably, the hopper 56 is provided with a vibrator, which selectively puts him in slight vibration.

Between the threaded spindles 52, 53, a hold-down 57 is preferably arranged, which may be in the form of a parallel to the threaded spindles 52, 53 extending bar. He has on its underside a hold-down means, which may consist of plastic or of a metal.

In addition to the threaded spindle 53, a cutout 58 is formed in the frame supporting the threaded spindles 52, 53. the multi-collet 45 access to the holding parts 36 and feet 39 of the felting needles 17 granted. In the cutout 58, a vertically movable bar 59 is arranged. It has on its upper side a substantially flat sliding surface, which lies slightly below the lower edge of the blank holder 57. The feet 39 slide on the bar 59 and are thereby aligned uniformly.

A not further illustrated sensors detected when both screws 52, 53 are completely filled with felting needles 17, i. if each thread contains a felting needle 17. The sensor device then stops the stepper motors 54, 55 and activates the hold-down device 57 to obtain the orientation of the needle feet 39 of the felting needles 17. Subsequently, the bar 59 lowers. Now the cutout 58 is free and the felting needles 17 can be gripped with the multiple collet 45 and clamped in a predetermined pitch.

• Ein in zumindest einer Reihe mit neuen Nadeln zu bestückendes Nadelbrett 2 wird zunächst an die Einrichtung 1 herangeführt. Dies kann mittels eines geeigneten Wagens oder sonstigen Gestells geschehen. Beispielsweise ist das Nadelbrett 2 darin in vertikaler Orientierung gehalten, wobei seine lange Kante horizontal und seine kurze Kante vertikal steht. Das Nadelbrett 2 kann nun (von Hand) auf die Halteeinrichtung 4 überführt werden. Dabei wird es von einer Linearführungseinrichtung in Form von Führungsschienen 8, 9 geführt. Die darin vorhandenen Rollen 10 bis 13 erleichtern den Vorgang. Das Nadelbrett 2 wird dabei von Hand so lange bewegt (in Figur 1 von links nach rechts) bis die äußersten Nadeln an dem Anschlag 19 anstoßen. Durch Betätigung eines entsprechenden Schalters werden nun alle Rollen 10 bis 13 abgesenkt und die Klemmpratzen 14, 15 aktiviert. Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass das Nadelbrett 2 vollständig mit Nadeln bestückt ist und zumindest eine Nadelreihe entfernt werden soll. An der Einrichtung 1 wird ein entsprechender Schalter betätigt. Die Transporteinrichtung 21 überführt das Nadelbrett 2 mitsamt Brettrahmen 5 nun in die Auszugsposition 24. Dabei wird das Nadelbrett 2 so gedreht, dass die Arbeitsteile 35 der Filznadeln 17, wie in Figur 4 veranschaulicht, etwa vertikal nach oben weisen.

The function of the device 1 is described below:

• A needle board 2 to be equipped with new needles in at least one row is first brought to the device 1. This can be done by means of a suitable trolley or other frame. For example, the needle board 2 is held therein in a vertical orientation with its long edge horizontal and its short edge vertical. The needle board 2 can now be transferred (by hand) to the holding device 4. It is guided by a linear guide device in the form of guide rails 8, 9. The existing roles 10 to 13 facilitate the process. The needle board 2 is moved by hand for so long (in FIG. 1 from left to right) until the outermost needles abut stop 19. By pressing a corresponding switch, all rollers 10 to 13 are now lowered and the clamping claws 14, 15 activated. It is assumed that the needle board 2 is completely equipped with needles and at least one row of pins to be removed. At the device 1, a corresponding switch is actuated. The transport device 21 transfers the needle board 2, together with the board frame 5, into the pull-out position 24. The needle board 2 is rotated in such a way that the working parts 35 of the felting needles 17, as in FIG FIG. 4 illustrates pointing approximately vertically upwards.

When transferring the needle board 2 from the in FIG. 2 right position in the pull-out position, the needle board 2 has passed through the field of view of the image pickup device 44. This has detected the hole pitch of the needle board 2. Now, the corresponding Ausdrückleiste 31 is selected and the needle board 2 is positioned with the expressed Filznadelzeile just below this Ausdrückleiste 31. The transverse positioning of the needle board 2 was done by conditioning the felting needles on the stop 19. In general, the accuracy in terms of relative positioning of the Ausdrückleiste 31 is sufficient. For particularly fine felt needles, it may also be appropriate to produce the exact Maßbezug by the image pickup device 44 and the Ausdrückleiste 31 and / or the needle board 2 by a transverse movement (in FIG. 2 perpendicular to the drawing plane) readjust.

Preferably, the coordinates of the openings 3 of a needle board 2 are detected before the loading process. For this purpose, it is necessary that the openings 3 free of felting needles 17th are. The acquisition of coordinates is usually a one-time process.

It follows the release process of the felting needle 17 by the Ausdrückleiste 31 is lowered so far that the feet 39 of the felting needles 17 are pressed slightly away from the needle board 2. The felting needles 17 thereby pass from the in FIG. 4 illustrated position in the position after FIG. 5 , When this is done, the Ausdrückleiste 31 can move back to its original position. The Ausziehleiste 32 now pulls the pre-dissolved felting needles 37 by the feet 39 engages behind and pulls away from the needle board 2. The loosened felting needles 17 fall out of the needle board 2 into the needle catching pan 43, in which they slide parallel to each other downwardly into a front position of the machine, where they can be easily removed by a worker.

Once the row of pins is removed, the needle board 2 can be returned to the loading position. If several rows of needles are to be refitted, the rows to be loaded can also be first needled. For this, the needle rows are needled after appropriate positioning of the needle board 2 as described above.

To reassemble the needle board 2 or the needled openings 3, the transport device 21 is driven so that the needle board back into the in FIG. 2 right illustrated position is transferred. The worker standing in front of the machine can now use the multiple collet 45 to insert needles into the pin-shaped needle board 2 (see FIG FIG. 1 ) deploy. For this he takes with the multiple collet 45 of the threaded spindles 52, 53 ( FIG. 6 ) carried needles on their holding parts 36. The orientation of the feet 39 remains in the multiple collet 45. While inserting a needle set or a group of felting needles 17 with the multiple collet 45 into the corresponding openings 3 of the needle board 2, a corresponding sensor of the filling device 51 detects that the threaded spindles 52, 53 are empty and sets the stepping motors 54, 55 and, if necessary The vibrator in order to fall from the reservoir or the hopper 56 needles on the singling device in the form of threaded spindles 52, 53 and to separate them the thread pitch accordingly. The bar 59 is again in the upper position and aligns the feet of the felting needles 17. As soon as both threaded spindles 52, 53 are full, the filling device 1 stops again. The worker can pick up the next group of needles with the multiple collet 45 and insert them into the needle board 2. He only has to make sure that the working parts 35 find the felting needles 17 in the corresponding openings 3. If he has used the provided needles 17 in the needle board 2, he activates the function for pressing the felting needles 17 of the device 1. For this purpose, the machine control controls the transport device 21 and transferred the needle board now facing down with working parts in the press-in position 24 under the indentation 27. The hydraulic cylinders 28 are activated. The pressure bar 27 now presses in a downward movement all the holding parts 36 in the needle board 2 until the feet 39 abut the needle board 2.

If several rows of needles are to be loaded at the same time, the indentation bar 27 is again moved away from the needle board 2 and the needle board 2 is moved further by a row distance, which was previously determined by the image recording device 44, so that the next row of needles is below the pressure surface 29 of the indentation strip 27 ,

If all needles 17 are pressed in, the needle board 2 is moved back into the loading position ( FIG. 2 right) and the clamping claws 14, 15 are released. Now the whole or partially repositioned needle board 2 thanks to the existing rollers 10 to 13 with little force again be moved away from the board frame 5 side away.

The filling device 51 inevitably predetermines foot orientation of the feet 39. If, alternatively, an opposing foot orientation is to be achieved, a second mirror-shaped filling device 51a (FIG. FIG. 1 ) be provided. While the filling device 51 moves the felting needles 17 from left to right, the filling device 51a moves the felting needles 17 from right to left. This results in the opposite foot orientation. The worker may alternatively use the filling device 51 or the filling device 51a.

If he wants to change the predetermined by the threaded spindles 52, 53 division, he can replace the threaded spindles 52, 53. A corresponding spindle stock is kept ready at the placement semi-automatic machine. By appropriate positive couplings he sets the threaded spindles 52, 53 in accordance with the desired rotational position in the filling device 51 a. The insertion of the threaded spindles can be done in accordance with a screen prompt that outputs the machine control according to the detected with the image pickup device 44 division.

An insertion machine for needle boards 2 has a filling device 51, which presents felting needles 17 in a pitch which coincides with the hole pitch of a needle board. A worker can take the felting needles 17 with a multiple collet 45 and insert them into the rows of holes of the needle board 2 in groups. This results in a loading process with very high productivity.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Facility

2

needle board

3

openings

4

holder

5

board frame

6

axis of rotation

7

board guide

8th

guide rail

9

guide rail

10

role

11

role

12

role

13

role

14

clamping claw

15

clamping claw

16

opening

17

felting needles

18

attack

19

attack

20

positioning

21

transport means

22

rails

23

carriage

24

Press-in and delimbing position

25

Hood

26

Machine controller

27

push-in

28

hydraulic cylinders

29

print area

30

puller

31

push-out

32

extracting strip

33

foot section

34

section

35

working part

36

holding part

37

slot

38

Conical section

39

foot

40

driving means

41

foot section

42

driving means

43

Needle drip pan

44

Image recording device

45

Multiple collet chuck

46

jaws

47

jaws

48

clamping gap

49

sear

50

Handle

51, 51a

filling

51

screw

52

screw

53

stepper motor

54

stepper motor

55

hopper

56

Stripper plate

57

neckline

58

strip

Claims (20)

1. Method for loading needle boards (2) of a felting machine with felting needles (17), which have a working part (35) and a holding part (36), with the following steps:

   providing a needle board (2) with a plurality of openings (3), which are arranged to receive the felting needles (17) and are spaced at predetermined distances,

   providing a multi-collet chuck (45), which is arranged to receive multiple felting needles (17) by gripping the holding part (36) thereof,

   inserting a group of felting needles (17) with parallel longitudinal alignment into the multi-collet chuck (45),

   inserting at least the working parts (35) of the felting needles (17) held by the multi-collet chuck (45) into the openings (3) of the needle board (2) and

   pressing the holding parts (36) of the felting needles (17) into the openings (3) of the needle board (2).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the felting needles (17) are fed to the multi-collet chuck (45) in groups.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the felting needles (17) are held in the multi-collet chuck (45) at the same distances from one another as the distances between holes.
4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the holding parts (36) are only pressed in after all the felting needles (17) provided for loading the needle board (2) have been inserted into their openings (3).
5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that loading of the needle board (2) occurs in a loading position, which differs from the position in which the holding parts (36) of the felting needles (17) are pressed into the openings (3) of the needle board (2).
6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that openings (3) are cleared of existing felting needles before the felting needles (17) are inserted.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the felting needles to be removed are released in a two-step process firstly with a press-out bar (31) and are then pulled out from another needle board side with an extraction device (30).
8. Device for loading needle boards (2) of a felting machine with felting needles (17), which have a working part (35) and a holding part (36), with the following components:

   a holding device (4) for a needle board (2) to be loaded in order to hold the needle board (2) in a loading position;

   a multi-collet chuck (45), which is arranged to grip and release a group of felting needles (17) oriented parallel to one another in a controlled manner,

   a filling device (51) to load the multi-collet chuck (45) with multiple felting needles (17);

   a pressing device (27, 28) to press felting needles (17) inserted into openings (3) of the needle board (2) with their holding parts (36) into the openings (3) of the needle board (2).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the holding device (4) has a transport device (21), which serves to transfer the needle board (2) out of the loading position to the pressing-in or deneedling position (24).
10. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the holding device (4) has a rotation device (20), by means of which the needle board (2) is held to rotate around a rotational axis (6).
11. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the holding device (4) includes a locking device (14, 15) to hold the needle board (2) firmly on the holding device (4).
12. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the holding device (4) is provided with a linear guidance device (8, 9) for the needle boards (2) to guide the respective needle board (2) with low friction during transfer into the holding device.
13. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the multi-collet chuck (45) has an associated filling device (51) to automatically load the multi-collect chuck (45) with felting needles (17).
14. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that the filling device (51) has a felting needle storage container, which has an associated separating device.
15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the separating device (51) comprises a worm conveyor device, which is arranged to feed the felting needles (17) to the multi-collet chuck (45).
16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the worm conveyor device has two threaded spindles (52, 53), which are arranged parallel to one another and are rotationally driven in a controlled manner.
17. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the felting needle storage container (56) is connected to a vibration generating device.
18. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that it has an extraction device (30) to remove felting needles (17) from the openings (3) of the needle board (2).
19. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that an imaging device (44) is provided to identify the positions and/or the spacings of the openings (3) of the needle board (2).
20. Device according to claim 8, characterised in that a press-out and/or extraction device (30, 31) is provided in addition to the pressing device (27, 28).

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