EP2233626B1 - Insertion aid for filling needle plates - Google Patents

Abstract

The insertion device with a needle board (10) for mutual insertion of needles (41, 44) into the needle board, where the needles are clamped in multiple clamping claws (40) and the needle board has multiple holes for receiving needles, comprises three recesses for receiving one of the needles, a removable guiding section (32), a strip, which is fixed to a needle board reception of a mounting apparatus, extends itself in a longitudinal direction and has an adjustment unit that enables an adjustment in x-direction, and an retaining arm, at which the strip is kept. The insertion device with a needle board (10) for mutual insertion of needles (41, 44) into the needle board, where the needles are clamped in multiple clamping claws (40) and the needle board has multiple holes for receiving needles, comprises three recesses for receiving one of the needles, a removable guiding section (32), a strip, which is fixed to a needle board reception of a mounting apparatus, extends itself in a longitudinal direction and has an adjustment unit that enables an adjustment in x-direction, and an retaining arm, at which the strip is kept and which extends in a transverse direction right-angled to the longitudinal direction. The recesses are arranged, so that they are used for guiding the tips of the respective needle into the corresponding holes, where the guiding section has a front surface. The recesses are equidistantly arranged from each other in the longitudinal direction with a distance, which corresponds to a division of the holes of the needle board. The recess is formed as groove, which is formed on a surface of the insertion device and extends up to an edge, where several grooves (51) run parallel to each other. The width and depth of the groove reduce along its progression to the edge. A cross-section of the groove narrows into the depth originating from the surface of the insertion device, and is in trapezoid- or triangular form. The removable guiding section is adapted to the needle board and has same suitable recesses to the holes, is arranged to the strip and is kept relative to the strip in a height-adjustable manner. The strip is adjustable related to the retaining arm in the transverse direction and is fixable in its position by a clamping device. The retaining arm is adjustable related to the mounting apparatus in the longitudinal direction and is fixable in its position.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for loading needle boards of felting or structuring machines.

Felting machines are used to densify fibrous webs of disordered fibers, e.g. Tiles (with and without support material) and occasionally also for the aftertreatment of fabrics and crocheted 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 are seated in corresponding openings or holes in which they are pressed with their holding part. The term "felting needle" used here also includes needles which are used for after-treatment, e.g. Roughening or perforating crocheted or woven fabrics are used.

The insertion of the needles into a needle board and the removal of the same is a tedious process that is often performed 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. Therefore, attempts have been made in the past to at least partially automate this process.

DE 85 12 596 U1 discloses a device for needling and needling felted felt boards, the first loose from Hand completely inserted into a needle board inserted felting needles using a bar. In each case, one of the needles is arranged on the strip grooves for receiving the crutch. The grooves cause a parallel alignment of the crutches of the needles before pressing.

DE 19 23 665 U discloses another device for fully depressing manually inserted felting needles. An indenting punch has a centering groove for aligning the needle crutches in a line.

US Pat. No. 6,393,693 B1 discloses a device for automatic replacement of needles in a needle board. When inserting the crutches of the needles can be aligned by means of a groove in a rotary tool.

DE 83 29 050 U1 discloses a device for insertion into guide channels of guided needles in a needle board. In this case, a mechanical positioning pin is used to locate the needle board holes and for fine positioning before the respective needle is pressed into the needle board.

EP 07 002 360 describes the simultaneous insertion of a number of felting needles parallel to each other with a predetermined distance are clamped in a multiple collet, in a series of holes of a needle board. For this purpose, a filling device is provided, which separates using a pair of parallel augers felting needles from a supply and in a matching, the pitch of the needle board corresponding distance provides so that the needles in groups seized with the multiple collet and then can be used simultaneously in the needle board.

Although the device described allows a considerable simplification of the assembly process, there is a need for improvement. Thus, the needles clamped in the multiple collet may to some extent deviate from the desired parallel orientation. This may be because the needles have been gripped by the multiple collet in non-parallel alignment or the needles have slight bends. As a result, deviations in the position of individual needle tips can occur both within a plane defined by the clamped needles and perpendicular thereto.

Since the Nadelbrettbohrungen are very narrow, even a slight misalignment prevents the insertion of a needle into the associated hole. If even a single needle is misaligned, this can result in the entire group of needles clamped in the multiple collet not being able to be deployed together. In order to remedy the error, it is necessary to intervene manually, e.g. align the affected needles or insert them into the needle board. Such a complicated post-processing delays the loading process.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fast and reliable insertion of groups of needles in to allow a needle board. This object is achieved with an insertion device according to claim 1.

According to the present invention, an insertion aid for inserting a plurality of needles into a needle board of a structuring or felting machine is provided. The needles are clamped together in a multi-collet and preferably arranged parallel to each other in a row. The distance of the needles preferably corresponds to the pitch or the distance of the associated, arranged in a row holes in a needle board to fully assemble them. But it could also be chosen larger needle spacings, leaving a portion of the holes unoccupied. The needle board bores typically have a narrow diameter to securely hold a needle after press-fitting. Accordingly, when inserting, the tolerance to the aforementioned position deviations of the tips of the clamped needles is low.

The insertion device according to the invention has a plurality of grooves for receiving in each case one of the needles clamped in a multiple collet chuck. The grooves form guide channels which are adapted to guide one of the plurality of needles into an associated one of the plurality of bores. The grooves may have an elongate shape and like the needles may be arranged parallel to each other. The grooves are preferably equidistant in a first direction at a distance from each other that corresponds to the pitch of the bores of the associated needle board. Preferably, the distance also corresponds to the distance from adjacent needles in the multiple collet. It is also possible that the pitches differ from each other, but at least each needle has an associated one Recess is associated with their leadership and an associated hole for insertion of the needle. The insertion device could also have further grooves whose distances correspond to a different needle board pitch, so that the insertion device can be used with needle boards of different pitch.

The grooves for receiving the needles are preferably formed in a surface of the insertion device and preferably extend in the surface to an edge. The edge may be an edge of a prism-shaped guide section tapering at an acute angle. The angle may e.g. about 45 degrees.

By such an open-ended groove, the edge of the insertion device can rest on the needle board. One of the clamped in the multi-collet needles can be taken during insertion initially with its tip in the groove and then the Nutverlauf following led to the bore. Preferably, the insertion device is arranged in use so that in continuation of the groove, the corresponding hole of the needle board is in which the needle is to be used. This allows a secure simultaneous transition of all guided in the respective grooves needles in the associated holes. The groove provides the needle with horizontal support against lateral movements within the plane of the inserter surface.

Preferably, the operator guiding the multiple collet by hand biases the needles upon insertion with a slight pressure against the bottom of the respective grooves, so that all needle tips, with any slight misalignment, may be securely seated against the bottom of the respective one, in spite of any registration errors Groove lie. The insertion device is preferably arranged and locked in a position that the groove end is located at the associated bore and a safe entry of the needle tip is achieved in the bore when the needle tip has been guided to the end of the groove. The introducer need not be held by the operator so that he can use his hands to guide the multiple collet and to hold or move the needle board.

The grooves can be made in many ways. Preferably, they run parallel to each other and equidistant in a distance corresponding to the desired pitch. Preferably, all grooves are made equal, but also different designs are possible. The grooves may be retrofitted as recesses in the surface of a guide portion of the insertion means, e.g. be attached by tensioning procedures. The guide section may e.g. made of metal or plastic. The guide portion including the grooves could also be in one piece, e.g. be made by casting.

Furthermore, the grooves may be e.g. also be created by retrofitting a series of parallel webs on a flat surface of the guide portion. The webs may e.g. be cut out of another element, such as a plate. A single, preferably comb-shaped, structure could also be cut or punched out of a plate and secured to the surface, e.g. glued on. As a result, the guide section according to the invention with many parallel grooves of only two elements, namely a prism-shaped base body and a comb-shaped element can be produced.

The grooves can be designed differently. In a In the preferred embodiment, the width of the groove decreases along its length to the edge of the guide portion at which the groove terminates. In this way, it is achieved that needles are initially picked up when the multi-collets approach the insertion device, even with slight misalignment in the groove, and then forced into the desired position when the needle tips are guided in the direction of the groove end at the edge of the sidewalls of the groove. which is aligned with the bore of the needle board. Furthermore, the depth of the grooves can change along their length to the edge, preferably reduce. In a preferred embodiment, both the width and depth of the groove decrease from a large initial groove area for insertion and secure reception of misalignment needles, while the groove narrows towards the end to a small groove area, essentially a bore of the needle board.

The grooves may also have different cross-sectional shapes. Preferably, an equilateral triangular or V-shaped cross section is used which forms a guide groove at a central edge. Due to the narrowing side surfaces of the groove exerted from above on the needles pressure centering of the needles first in the middle of the groove and finally in the hole in the needle board effect. Trapezoidal cross sections can also be used. Preferably, the width of the planar central portion decreases toward the end of the groove to achieve a secure alignment of the needle with the associated bore.

However, a secure alignment of the needle on the bore can also be achieved with much wider grooves, provided that they have sufficient centering. For example, a V-groove of relatively large width and depth can be used to safely pick up needles with positional deviation of the tip. Due to its central groove, the groove despite its width on an optimal centering effect, so that a safe insertion of the needle is also possible in the hole here. The same effect can be achieved with a trapezoidal groove when the flat central portion has only a small width, which is preferably not larger or even significantly smaller than the diameter of the bore. Grooves with a constant cross section or at least a constant depth may prove to be easier to manufacture. However, semicircular or arched or other groove cross sections may be used for needle centering or guidance.

The insertion device according to the invention is preferably used in conjunction with a needle board receptacle of a placement machine. The introducer may include a ledge attached to the needle board receptacle and extending longitudinally of a needle board. The strip preferably extends parallel to a row of holes of the needle board to be loaded in its longitudinal direction. By a suitable arrangement of the bar relative to the needle board, the recesses may each be associated with one of the holes and facilitate the simultaneous insertion of a plurality of parallel needles in the respective associated bore.

The strip may include a replaceable insert or guide portion associated with a particular needle board type and adapted to its bore spacing and / or bore diameter. For another needle board type another insert can be kept ready for replacement. This allows a versatile use of the insertion device for different Nadelbrettergeometrien.

The introducer may further comprise a support arm extending in the transverse direction of the needle board. The bar may be supported on the support arm extending in a longitudinal direction substantially transverse to the support arm. The support arm may be designed like a portal, spanning the entire needle board receptacle in the transverse direction and resting or fastened on the opposite side of the needle board receptacle on the housing of the placement machine. The support arm is preferably mounted in the longitudinal direction displaceable on the housing of the placement machine and can be locked in the respective desired position. Alternatively, he could e.g. be firmly connected to the housing in the middle of the Nadelbrettaufnahme, wherein instead of a longitudinal movement of the support arm now the needle board must be moved to the placement in the desired position.

The attachment of the strip to the support arm can provide adjustability in different directions. Preferably, a connection is provided, which is released by an operator in a few steps to move the strip relative to the holder, and can be fixed to hold the strip in the desired new position. Preferably, screw members are used in conjunction with manually operated rotary handles. It can also be used other clamping devices that allow a quick release and fix the bar and provide a relaxed adjustability and secure hold in the stationary state. Preferably, an adjustability is provided in the transverse direction of the needle board and in the height perpendicular to the needle board plane.

• Fig. 1 zeigt in einer schematischen perspektivischen Ansicht einen Bestückungsautomaten zum Be- und Entnadeln von Nadelbrettern von Filzmaschinen, der eine erfindungsgemäße Einführeinrichtung enthält.
• Fig. 2 zeigt in einer schematischen Darstellung ein für den Bestückungsautomaten aus Fig. 1 geeignetes Nadelbrett.
• Fig. 3 zeigt die Einführeinrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einer vergrößerten perspektivischen Darstellung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt in einer perspektivischen Darstellung den Gebrauch der erfindungsgemäßen Einführeinrichtung aus Fig. 1 beim Einsetzen mehrerer in einer Mehrfachspannzange eingespannter Nadeln in ein Nadelbrett.
• Fig. 5 zeigt in einer vergrößerten perspektivischen Darstellung ein Ende der Leiste der erfindungsgemäßen Einführeinrichtung aus Fig. 3 beim Einsetzen mehrerer Nadeln.
• Fig. 6 zeigt in einer der Fig. 5 ähnlichen Ansicht eine weitere Ausführungsform der Leiste mit einer anderen Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 7 zeigt in einer der Fig. 5 ähnlichen Ansicht eine weitere Ausführungsform der Leiste mit noch einer anderen Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 8 zeigt in einer der Fig. 5 ähnlichen Ansicht eine weitere Ausführungsform der Leiste mit noch einer anderen Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 9 zeigt in einer vergrößerten perspektivischen Darstellung ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer Einführeinrichtung.
• Fig. 1 zeigt einen Bestückungsautomaten 1 zur Bestückung von Nadelbrettern für Filzmaschinen. Ein in Fig. 1 nicht dargestelltes Nadelbrett wird nach seiner Bestückung mit Filznadeln in einer Filzmaschine eingesetzt.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the drawings and the following description of preferred embodiments.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a pick and place machine for loading and needling needle boards of felting machines, which contains an insertion device according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows in a schematic representation of a for the placement machine Fig. 1 suitable needle board.
• Fig. 3 shows the introducer Fig. 1 in an enlarged perspective view.
• Fig. 4 shows in a perspective view of the use of the insertion device according to the invention Fig. 1 when inserting several needles clamped in a multiple collet into a needle board.
• Fig. 5 shows in an enlarged perspective view of an end of the bar of the insertion device according to the invention Fig. 3 when inserting several needles.
• Fig. 6 shows in one of the Fig. 5 similar view of another embodiment of the bar with a different Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 7 shows in one of the Fig. 5 similar view of another embodiment of the bar with yet another Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 8 shows in one of the Fig. 5 similar view of another embodiment of the bar with yet another Führungsnutgeometrie.
• Fig. 9 shows in an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of an insertion.
• Fig. 1 shows a placement machine 1 for loading needle boards for felting machines. An in Fig. 1 not shown needle board is used after its placement with felting needles in a felting machine.

The needle board 10, the in Fig. 2 is shown schematically, has a large number of openings or holes 11 which are arranged in many longitudinal rows 12 and only a few of which are shown in the region of a corner. The pitch, ie the spacing of adjacent holes 11 within a row 12 is the same for all rows. The rows are also arranged equidistantly at a slightly greater distance from each other. The holes 11 extend substantially over the entire surface of the needle board 10. The holes are substantially perpendicular to the needle board level and are sized so that on the one hand a needle can be pressed without the risk of damage in the hole and there on the other hand in the pressed state secure hold. The arrangement of the holes in Fig. 2 in longitudinal rows is to be understood only as an example and could also be chosen differently, if desired. The rows of holes 12 can, for example, as in Fig. 8 also be shown in grooves 60. The needle board 10 is a thin rectangular plate with dimensions of eg 1.7 mx 0.4 m.

For better illustration, the orientations of the respective arrangements are illustrated in the figures by means of a coordinate system relating to the needle board plane. The x-direction runs in the Longitudinal direction of the needle board 10 from the viewer in Fig. 1 seen from the right, the y- or transverse direction to the rear top and the z-direction at right angles to the needle board level to the top front.

The placement machine 1 after Fig. 1 has a needle board guide 3, which adjoins a Nadelbrettaufnahme 2 and allows a displacement of an inserted needle board 10 in the longitudinal or x-direction. On the needle board guide 3 side facing the Nadelbrettaufnahme 2 is a portal-like carrier 5 with a pressing unit 4, which presses the first loosely inserted into a needle board needles in a located below her area of the needle board in this. The pressing unit 4 can be moved in the transverse or y-direction over the entire width of the Nadelbrettaufnahme 2 away.

The needle board guide 3 can be rigidly attached to the placement machine 1. It is dimensioned in length so that it carries the needle board when this is shifted so far in the longitudinal direction to the left, that is located at the right wheel end for pressing the needles below the pressing device 4. Alternatively, the needle board guide 3 could also be made to be pivotable or telescopically insertable into the placement machine 1.

Furthermore, the placement machine 1 has an insertion device 20, which in the Figures 3 and 4 shown enlarged and described below. The insertion device 20 has a support arm 21 which extends like a portal in the transverse direction over the Nadelbrettaufnahme 2 and is fixedly arranged on the machine frame of the placement machine 1. Alternatively, the holder 21 can be movably mounted (not shown) on the machine frame of the placement machine and storage means as for example have known guides. On the support arm 21 is at right angles in the longitudinal direction and parallel to the rows of holes 12 extending bar 30 is arranged. The strip 30 can be fixed to the support arm 21 with the aid of a clamping device 43, not shown in detail, which can be released and locked by the operator with a lever 24. It allows easy release of the bar 30 by hand, a shift and also manual locking in any desired position. The ledge 30 is movably arranged in the y- and x-direction with respect to the support arm 21. An elongated recess 23 in the support arm 21 serves as a guide in the y-direction. The bar 30 remains aligned parallel to the x-direction. The adjustment of the bar 30 in the X direction via adjusting means having an adjusting spindle 61 and linear guide elements. This makes it possible to adjust the bar 30 in the range of a few mm, preferably +/- 10 mm in the X direction.

In operation, a needle board 10, as it is in Fig. 2 is shown, laterally inserted from the right or left into the Nadelbrettaufnahme 2 or the needle board guide 3. For loading are first by an operator using a multiple collet 40, the in Fig. 4 is shown enlarged, a plurality of needles 41 parallel to each other at a distance of the holes 11 taken and initially inserted loosely into a row 12 of Nadelbrettbohrungen. In this case, the operator uses the insertion device 20 according to the invention in a manner which is described in more detail in connection with the following figures.

For inserting needles in the desired areas of the needle board 10, this is displaced in the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion device 20, as described above, adjusted so that 20 needles can be inserted at the desired location of the needle board using the insertion device. Subsequently, the first only loosely inserted needles 41 are pressed by means of the pressing device 4 in the holes 11 of the needle board 10. For this purpose, the operator shifts the needle board in the longitudinal direction and / or adjusted in the transverse direction of the pressing unit 4, so that the respectively to be processed area of the needle board is under the press unit 4 and successively all needles in the needle board can be pressed firmly into the associated hole.

The strip 30 has a carrier element 31 with a substantially parallelepiped structure which extends in the x-direction. Furthermore, the strip 30 has a parallel to the support member 31 extending and connected thereto guide portion 32. The guide portion 32 connects to the support member 31 and is detachably connected thereto. By screws 33, the guide portion 32 is held on the support member 31 and can be removed and replaced by releasing the same. The guide portion 32 is arranged relative to the support member 31 at this adjustable in the Z direction. For this purpose, the guide portion 32 on adjustment, which include an adjusting spindle 62 and linear guide elements. This allows the relative adjustment of the guide section 32 to the carrier element 31 in the range of a few mm, in particular +/- 5 mm. Thereby, the distance of the guide portion 32 to be fitted to the needle board 10 can be determined variably. Due to the detachability of the guide section 32 from the carrier element 31, it is possible, when using different types of needle boards, to use a guide section 32 suitable for the particular needle board. The structure of the guide portion 32, which will be described below, is particularly to the design the needle board holes 11, such as bore diameter and spacing adjusted.

Fig. 4 shows the bar 30 of the insertion device 20 in an enlarged view from the perspective of an operator who stands in front of the placement machine 1 and looks at the needle board. Shown is a hand-guided multiple collet 40, which has a handle 42, in which a plurality of needles 41 are clamped. Although in Fig. 4 only a few needles 41 are shown, can be clamped in the forceps 40 also significantly more needles, such as a extending over almost the entire width of the forceps series of needles. The strip 30 extends over a length which is slightly larger than the width of the multiple collet 40, so that all the needles of a fully loaded pliers 40 can be used simultaneously.

The needles 41 are clamped substantially parallel to one another and without axial offset next to each other by non-visible clamping jaws. The spacing of the needles 41 corresponds to the pitch of the needle board 10, which is given by the spacing of the holes within a row of holes 12 of the needle board. The holes are in Fig. 4 not individually, but shown only in rows 12. The forceps 40 include an actuator, not shown, which allows the operator to open and close the jaws to release a number of needles simultaneously. The pliers 40 includes spring elements, not shown, which hold the needles in the clamped state until the operator opens the pliers by active actuation of a handle and releases the needles. The needles can be removed with the aid of pliers 40 from a filling device, not shown, which presents a number of needles from a supply of needle to the operator in the desired parallel arrangement, such as in EP 07 002 360 is described.

After receiving the needles 41 in the multi-chuck 40 and the clamping of the same, the operator simultaneously inserts the needles using the pliers into a plurality of bores 11 of the needle board 10 lying in a row 12. In this case, the guide section 32 of the illustrated insertion device 20 helps him in the manner described below.

Fig. 5 shows an end of the strip 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention in an enlarged perspective view. The attached to the support member 31 guide portion 32 has the shape of a trapezoidal prism. On its sloping upper surface 34 many parallel grooves 51 are arranged equidistantly, which have the same distance as the holes 11 of a row 12. The grooves 51 have a cross-section in the shape of an isosceles triangle and thereby form a symmetrical, narrowing in depth V-groove. The direction of the edge 52 at the bottom of the groove 51 is parallel to the upper surface 34, whereby the groove 51 has a constant over its entire length cross-section. Adjacent grooves adjoin one another at edges 53, but alternatively, intermediate portions similar to a rim portion 54 may be present in the top surface 34 between the grooves 51.

The guide portion 32 forms at its tapered end a comb-like structure with a zigzag edge 55. The guide portion 32, for example, including the grooves 51 can be made in one piece, for example cast. Alternatively, the grooves may have been retrofitted, for example, by machining methods. Does the guide portion 32 at its tapered end a zigzagged edge 55, it is necessary for reasons of manageability that the strip 30 can be moved with the support member 31 and the guide portion 32 at least by the needle diameter in the y-direction, so that the needle board 10 with the needles 41, which is not yet perfect are pressed into the needle board 10, can be moved in the x direction. For this purpose, the strip 30 may have a deviating from the lever 24 and the recess 23 additional adjusting mechanism (not shown). The adjustment of the bar 30 can be achieved in that a spring force is overcome, which leads back to the initial position after the displacement of the needle board 10, the bar.

The insertion device according to the invention facilitates the simultaneous insertion of a plurality of needles 41, which are clamped in a multiple collet 40. It prevents even a few or even a single misaligned needle from preventing simultaneous insertion of all clamped needles into the corresponding holes and requiring a laborious manual insertion. Fig. 5 illustrates three of a plurality of needles clamped in the forceps 40, with the leftmost needle 44 misaligned while the remaining two needles 41 are arranged in parallel in the desired manner. In an attempt to insert the needles 41, 44 directly into the bores 11, the leftmost needle 44 would miss the associated bore and the simultaneous insertion process would fail. For example, the affected needle 44 would first have to be removed and then inserted by hand.

The insertion device 32 according to the invention, however, allows simultaneous insertion of all clamped needles 41, 44. For this purpose, the bar 30 of the insertion device arranged and fixed so that the guide channels formed by the grooves 51 centrally converge on a respective bore 11 of the needle board 10. The operator now guides the multiple collets 40 so that all the needles 41, 44 extend from above with their tips 45 into the associated grooves 51. By exerting a pressure, the needle tips can be arranged at the edges 52 at the bottom of the grooves 51. The misaligned needle 44 experiences at one of the oblique side surfaces 56 of the groove a centering force, which also forces them with slight bending in the central position. In this way, the forceps 40 can be guided so that all the needle tips 45 are brought into contact with the bottom of the respective groove 51 and slide in a further movement in the groove along and reach the holes 11 simultaneously.

Now the operator can bring the needles 41, 44 by means of the pliers 40 in a vertical position, insert a piece into the holes 11 and release the needles 41, 44 by opening the pliers 40 and leave behind in the needle board 10. In addition to a positional error of a needle 44 in the x-direction, a deviation in the z-direction can also be corrected. By guiding the multiple collet with exerted from above pressure force on the needles, a common management of all the needle tips along the edge 52 at the bottom of the respective groove 51 and thus a simultaneous insertion into the bore 11 can be achieved in this case.

The FIGS. 6 to 9 show the Fig. 5 Similar representations of other embodiments of the guide portion 32 of the insertion device 20, so that in terms of the similarities to the description of the Fig. 5 is referenced.

In the in Fig. 6 shown embodiment, the grooves 51 also has a cross section in the shape of an equilateral triangle, wherein the cross section of each groove, however, reduces to the tapered edge 55 of the guide portion 32 out. The remaining minimum groove cross-section is provided for receiving in each case one of the holes 11. As a result, a structure is created which has a largely straight course at the tapering edge 55 of the guide section 32. This avoids a comb structure that could suffer or cause damage during handling. The groove 51 with the cross section changing along its length can be produced, for example, by machining a groove, the course of which does not run parallel to the upper surface 34. Rather, the edge 52 approaches at the bottom of the groove 51 in the course of the groove to the edge 55 toward the upper surface 34 at.

The insertion of the needles takes place in relation to Fig. 5 described way. The allowable positional deviations of the needles continue to be determined by the width of the grooves 51 in its wider upper region, wherein the width of the grooves 51 is measured at right angles to the edge 52 and, for example, comprises the distance between two edges 53. To the leadership of the needle tips in the direction of the bore 11 and the narrower lower groove cross-section is sufficient after the needles are once included in the grooves 51 and if they are held with the help of the multiple collet if necessary. Under bias in the grooves.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the guide portion 32 of the insertion device 20 according to the present invention. Grooves 51 are also formed on the upper surface 34 and have a cross-section which narrows only in the width but not in the depth. The grooves have sloping side surfaces 56 and a to the upper surface 34 parallel bottom 59 and thereby have a trapezoidal cross-section. The grooves 51 have been formed in this embodiment in that plate members 57 have been mounted on a prism-shaped base body 58. This is done by gluing, but could also be done in a different way. The insertion of the needles is effected as previously described in such a manner that the tips of all needles received in the collet are brought into contact with the bottom 59 thereof in the wider upper portions of the respective groove 51. The narrowing grooves 51 cause in leadership to the holes 11 toward the possibly required centering of the needle tips through the side surfaces 56th

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment in which the grooves 51 have a rectangular cross-section which narrows towards the bore both in width and in depth. Namely, the centering effect of oblique groove surfaces can also be dispensed with if the grooves 51 are wide enough and deep enough that all needle tips can be received in the upper, wider region of the grooves 51. The possibly required centering of needles, which deviate from the desired orientation, takes place in this case during the approach of the needle tips to the holes 11 by the narrowing vertical side surfaces 56 and by the contact pressure on the groove bottom 59. Alternatively, the in Fig. 8 arrangement shown can also be realized with a constant groove depth. According to the in Fig. 8 shown Nadelbrettausführung the holes 11 of each row 12 are recessed in a groove 60 arranged. The insertion is despite the existing distance between the guide portion 32 and the bore 11 readily possible, provided that the needles held in the forceps perpendicular to the needle board and, if necessary. With slight bias in the ends of the grooves 51 are held.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of the guide portion 32 of the insertion device 20 according to the present invention. Grooves 51 are also formed on the upper surface 34, the shape and shape of which may correspond to the above-described or deviating geometries. In contrast to the above-described guide portions, the guide portion 32 of the insertion device 20 according to the Fig. 9 limited by an angle to the surface 34 arranged narrow end face 63. The narrow end face 63 is preferably arranged so that it is perpendicular to the needle board 10 in use of the insertion device. As a result, the guide section 32 at the end, which is associated with the rows 12 of the bores 11, a flattened end 64. The grooves 51, in particular the edges 52, terminate in the narrow end 63 preferably formed as an end face. The recesses 51 and optionally their edges 52 terminate at the end face 63 above and at a distance from the needle board 10.

In use, an insertion device 20 with a guide portion 32 according to Fig. 9 to be set at a distance a to a row of holes 12, so that the tip 45 of a needle 41 finds its associated hole 11. This has the advantage that the needle board 10 can be moved in the x-direction without introduced needles 44 colliding with recesses of the insertion device 20, as is the case with insertion devices 64 with pointed ends. As Fig. 9 shows, between the narrow end face 63 of the support member 32 and the inserted into a bore 11 needle 44, a distance b is present, which is smaller by half the diameter of the bore 11 than the distance a. Due to the distance b, it is possible to equip the insertion device 20 a complete row of holes 12 without the position of the insertion to change. The guide portion 32 of the insertion device 20 can provide a guide during placement, due to its length, only a portion of the needles 41 of a row of needles. After insertion of these needles 41, the needle board 10 is moved in the x direction to introduce more needles. This process is repeated until a row of holes 12 is completely provided with needles. Thereafter, the insertion device 20 can be offset and the next row of holes 12 are again provided by means of several insertion operations with needles 41.

An insertion device 20 is provided which makes it easier for an operator to simultaneously insert many needles 41, 44 clamped in a multiple collet 40 into the associated bores 11 of a needle board 10, even with certain positional deviations. The insertion device 20 has a guide portion 32 with many parallel grooves 51 which are arranged at a distance of the holes 11 and each record the tip 45 of a needle 41, 44 and can lead to the associated bore 11. The grooves 51, the individual needles 41, 44 help to align the holes 11 by correcting any positional deviation by slight bending of the needles 41, 44. The insertion device 20 is mounted on a placement machine 1 and based on a recorded in this needle board 10 adjustable and lockable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

assembly System

2

Needle board receptacle

3

Needle board guide

4

press unit

5

carrier

7

casing

10

needle board

11

drilling

12

line

20

introducer

21

support arm

23

recess

24

lever

30

strip

31

support element

32

guide section

33

screw

34

surface

40

Multiple collet chuck

41

needle

42

handle

43

clamping device

44

needle

45

top

51

groove

52

edge

53

edge

54

edge section

55

edge

56

side surface

57

panel member

58

body

59

ground

60

groove

61

adjusting spindle

62

adjusting spindle

63

face

64

The End

Claims (15)

1. Feeding device (20) and associated needle board (10) for the joint insertion of multiple needles (41, 44), which are clamped into a multiple gripper (40), into the needle board (10), which has multiple holes (11) to receive needles (41, 44), wherein the feeding device (20) has multiple grooves (51) to respectively receive one of the needles (41, 44) and the grooves (51) are arranged so that they are suitable for guiding the point of the respective needle (41, 44) into a respectively associated hole of the multiple holes (11).
2. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least three grooves (51) are provided, which are spaced equidistant from one another in a longitudinal direction (x) at a distance corresponding to the spacing of the holes (11) of the needle board (10).
3. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the multiple grooves (51) are configured on a surface (34) of the feeding device (20) and extend as far as an edge (55), and multiple grooves (51) preferably run parallel to one another.
4. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 1, wherein the guide section (32) has a face (63).
5. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 3, wherein the width of the grooves (51) decreases along their course towards the edge (55).
6. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 3, wherein the depth of the grooves (51) decreases along their course towards the edge (55).
7. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 3, wherein a cross-section of the grooves (51) narrows in depth starting from the surface (34) of the feeding device (20).
8. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 7, wherein the cross-section of the grooves (51) is trapezoidal or triangular.
9. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the feeding device (20) has a bar (30), which is attached to a needle board seating (2) of a loading machine (1) and extends in the longitudinal direction (x).
10. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 9, wherein the bar (30) has adjusting elements, which enable adjustment in x-direction.
11. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 9, wherein the feeding device (20) has a removable guide section (32), which is adapted to the needle board (10) and has grooves (51) fitting the holes (11) thereof.
12. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 10, wherein the guide section (32) is associated with the bar (30) and is held relative to this bar (30) in a height-adjustable manner.
13. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the feeding device (20) has a support arm (21), on which the bar (30) is supported and which extends in the transverse direction (y) at right angles to the longitudinal direction (x).
14. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 12, wherein the bar (30) is adjustable in the transverse direction (y) in relation to the support arm (21) and can be secured in its position by means of a clamping device (43).
15. Feeding device (20) and needle board (10) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the support arm (21) is adjustable in the longitudinal direction (x) in relation to the loading machine (1) and can be secured in its position.

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