GB1592688A

GB1592688A - Brush making machine

Info

Publication number: GB1592688A
Application number: GB5321777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-12-30
Filing date: 1977-12-21
Publication date: 1981-07-08
Also published as: DE2659458A1

Description

(54) BRUSH MAKING MACHINE (71) I, HEINZ ZAHORANSKY, a German citizen, trading as ANTON ZAHORANSKY KG, of 7868 Todtnau, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to ge performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a brush making maching having a plurality of processing stations and a plurality of workpiece holders, by means of which brush bodies clamped therein are delivered to or discharged from the processing stations, the workpiece holders being moved by a feed mechanism at intervals in a recurring cycle of movement into the region of the processing stations. It is intended to be particularly suitable for small brushes, especially for tooth brushes.

A known machine of this kind operates with a cyle of movement which is composed of a series of translatory and rotary transport path sections which overlap one another, but are staggered in time relative to one another.

During a translatory section of movement the workpiece holders are guided past processing stations such as a brush drilling and/or a brush filling machine, where they are arrested during processing and subsequently transported. To achieve the movements, necessary for processing, of the brush bodies clamped in the workpiece holders, the workpiece holders are arranged on a carriage or slide which is displaceable in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the brush bodies.

By means of the path section which is translatory and rotary in sections there results an intermittent feed and the end regions of the straight feed are followed by a rotary transport movement running laterally at right angles to the feed direction. In these end regions are provided turning drums whose axes of rotation are parallel to the transport direction within the translatory transport movement and which can receive two carriages or slides with workpiece holders.

A disadvantage of this known brush making machine is that it is comparatively expensive. Also, disadvantageously, large masses, namely the large carriages or slides with the workpiece holders mounted thereon, have to be moved. Since on the known brush making machine the feed mechanism engages only one of the carriages located in the two translatory sections, the carriages lying in front of it at any given time in the feed direction are pushed forwards against one another. Thus, within a feed series a complete number of carriages is necessary to achieve a continuous feed. A particular disadvantage is that the exact spacing between carriages is difficult to observe in practice, partly because of the unavoidable dirt caused by sheared bristles and the like, which can lead to disruptions in the work cycle.Because of the need for comparatively exact positioning of the brush bodies according to their hole spacing, however, it is essential to observe the precise spacing.

A further disadvantage of the known brush making machine is that it is very expensive to change over from one type of bristle to another.

A further known brush making machine has cassettes to hold the brush bodies, as well as thrust mechanisms and gripping arms to convey the brush bodies. However, the cassettes and also the feed mechanisms are also of complicated construction and, consequently, liable to break down.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a brush making machine of the above-mentioned type, which is of comparatively simple construction and permit operation largely free of breakdown. This machine is also intended to be largely insensitive to the unavoidable incidence of dirt.

According to the invention, there is provided a brush making machine, comprising a plurality of processing stations, a plurality of workpiece holders, a feed mechanism comprising a flexible endless loop for moving the workpiece holders at intervals in a recurring cycle between the processing stations, guide means for the workpiece holders comprising an endless loop parallel to the feed mechanism and having at least one straight portion, each workpiece holder comprising a clamping device for a brush body, the clamping device being movable in at least one plane relative to the feed mechanism, and an adjusting mechanism associated with at least one of the processing stations for adjusting the position of the clamping device, and hence a brush body, relative to that processing station according to the bristle arrangement of the brush body.

The endless loop feed mechanism is advantageous, as each workpiece holder can be connected directly to the feed mechanism.

Thereby, the operating safety of the machine according to the invention is substantially greater than on the known machines. The feed mechanism may be formed by at least one chain or the like.

The provision of guide means in the form of an endless loop enables faults which can otherwise occur in a changover from one guide to an adjoining guide whenever there is a generally simultaneous change of direction to be avoided. The guide for the workpiece holders may comprise one or more rails arranged substantially parallel to the chain or the like and the rail or rails arranged parallel to the feed mechanism preferably being made continuous. This form of construction is simple to execute in practice and gives reliable guidance of the workpiece holders.

Each workpiece holder comprises clamping devices which are movable in at least one plane relative to the feed mechanism, preferably in several planes corresponding to the three space coordinates. In the region of e.g. a brush drilling or brush filling machine the brush bodies held by the clamping devices can thus be displaced and displacement can take place in particular according to the position of the holes for bristle bunches in the brush body. Irregularities in workpiece holder guidance can thereby also be allowed for.

To provide clamping devices for the bristle bodies which are displaceable in any direction within one plane, guide bars extending longitudinally and transversely to the direction of travel of the feed mechanism are appropriately provided.

A possible form of construction of the workpiece holders comprises a guided base plate connected to the feed mechanism and a clamping support plate which is movably mounted thereon and which carries the clamping device for the brushes, the clamping support plate preferably being connnected interchangeably to the base plate. The clamping support plate is advantageously spring-loaded for displacement relativ to the base plate, especially into a side position with respect to the cross bar guides resting against stops. The workpiece holders together with the brush bodies thereby always reach a specific starting position in the region of a processing machine. This starting position can be selected appropriately so that processing begins e.g. with drilling of the brush body at one corner of the subsequent hole area.

Advantageously, the workpiece holders are mounted pivotably in order to execute a pivoting movement relative to the longitudinal axis of a drilling or filling device.

This pivotability also enables a brush with crossed bristles to be made.

In a further form of the invention the feed mechanism, preferably a roller or the like supporting the workpiece holders in the region of a drilling and filling device, can have a variable relative spacing from the brush drilling and filling device. For brush bodies with a curved topside supporting the bristles, depth compensation is necessary for drilling and/or filling such a topside. This is made possible by the above-mentioned form of the invention.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the guide for the workpiece holders has precision guides, at least in sections, with comparatively small tolerances coordinated to the drilling or filling spacing and has guides with comparatively large tolerances in other sections. The brush bodies for processing can thereby be guided in the region of the processing machines with the necessary accuracy, while in the other regions guidance sufficiently accurate for transport is provided by the basic guides.

A simple form of construction provides that the basic guides and the feed mechanism for the workpiece holders are simultaneously formed by at least one continuous chain or the like to which workpiece holders are fastened so as to be substantially proof against tilting.

A further preferred feature of the invention provides that the clamping support plate is connected directly to the feed mechanism and is movable longitudinally and transversely relative to it, the feed mechanism preferably having at least one carrier for each clamping support plate. This form of construction is particularly simple.

In the region of the processing devices there may be provided positioning mechanisms for adjusting and guiding the workpiece holders or the clamping support plates.

The or each positioning mechanism preferably comprises a frame with one or more bearing points or the like for clamping support plates. The workpiece holders run into these frame-like positioning mechanisms, where they are brought into a starting position for processing and are then also positioned during this processing, whereby they can be held, for example by retaining or clamping mechanisms, preferably operated by compressed air.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment .of a brush making machine according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a brush making machine according to the invention designed as a multiple machine, Figure 3 is a plan view of a clamping support plate for use in a machine according to the invention, having a clamping device holding a clamped toothbrush body, Figure 4 is a stepping drive for the feed mechanism of a machine according to the invention, Figure 5 and 6 are a plan view and a side view respectively of a workpiece holder for use in a machine according to the invention, Figure 7 is a side view of a modified embodiment of a brush making machine according to the invention having horizontally arranged guides, Figure 8 is a plan view of a brush making machine according to the invention in which the axes of the guides are arranged vertically, Figure 9 is an end view of one end of a feed mechanism and a positioning mechanism for use in a machine according to the invention, Figure 10 is a partial side view of a further modified embodiment of a brush making machine according to the invention, Figure 11 is a view of a workpiece holder with guides and chain, for use in a machine according to the invention, Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Fig.

11 of a modified workpiece holder with guides, Figure 13 is a further view corresponding to Fig. 11 of a modified workpiece holder with guides, Figure 14 shows a workpiece holder with a chain and two carriers and Figure 15 shows a workpiece holder with a chain and one carrier.

A brush making machine 1 according to the invention has a feed mechanism 2 to which several workpiece holders 3 are secured (Fig. 1). The feed mechanism 2 is an endless loop and comprises in this embodi -meat a chain 4 which runs over two sprocket wheels 5 as routing means. The axes 6 of the sprocket wheels 5 are substantially horizontal, so that the feed mechanism 2 operates as a whole in a substantially vertical plane corresponding to the drawing plane according to Fig. 1.

Processing stations 7 are provided in the translatory and the routing regions of the feed mechanism 2. In the direction of rotation according to the arrow PF1 these are, for example, on the topside 13 a brushbody delivery mechanism 8, followed by substantially horizontally working brush filling device 9, followed by, on the underside 12 of the feed mechanism 2, finishing mechanisms 10, lOa, lOb, followed by, on the topside 13, a removing mechanism 11.The finishing mechanism 10 serves to shear off the bristles; the ends of the bristles are polished with the mechanism l0a, this mechanism l0a executing, in addition to a to-and-fro movement in the transport direction according to the arrow PF2 and a rotary movement, both of these two movements also being executed by the mechanisms 10 and lOb, also a rotation about a vertical axis. The mechanism lOb cleans the brushes, removing cut-off bristle pieces and the like.

The workpiece holders 3 are arranged movably relative to the feed mechanism 2, so that the bristle bodies 14 clamped therein can be positioned according to the bristle arrangement, during processing, when the feed mechanism is stationery.

Arranged substantially parallel to the feed mechanism 2 is a guide 15 in the form of an endless loop for the workpiece holders 3.

This guide 15 is formed by a rail 16 supporting the workpiece holders 3 from their underside facing the chain 4.

As already mentioned, the position of the clamped brush bodies 14 can be adjusted relative to the feed mechanism 2. In an embodiment of a workpiece holder 3 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a guided base plate 17 connectable to the feed mechanism and a clamping support plate 18 mounted movably thereon are shown. The clamping support plate 18 carries a clamping device 19 for a brush body 14. The clamping support plate 18 is displaceable in all directions relative thereto in a plane parallel to the base plate 17. For this, guides 20 in the form of cross bars are provided in the embodiment. The clamping support plate 18 is held by springs 21 in a side position where it rests against stops 22, 22a. The clamped brush bodies thereby always reach a specific position in the region of processing stations where they are then displaced, as required, against the spring tension.The clamping support plate 18 can advantageously be easily separated from the base plate 17 and exchanged, so that a change-over to other brush bodies can be made simply.

The clamping device 19 arranged on the clamping support plate 18 has a fixed stop 23 and a movable stop 23a, between which a brush body can be held (Figs 3 and 5). The movable stop 23a is spring-loaded towards the fixed stop 23 and has a point of engagement 24 which, when stressed according to the arrow PF3 by operating means 25 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, causes the stop 23a to pivot about its axis 26, so that a clamped brush body 14 is released.

If required, the spacing between clamping support plate 18 and associated base plate 17 can be variable (not shown in the Figures).

Depth compensation is thereby possible in the processing of brush bodies having an uneven, e.g. curved, bristle side. In this direction of movement, also, the clamping support plates rest, outside processing stations, appropriately spring-loaded against one or more stops.

In the region of processing devices, especially in the region of brush drilling and brush filling devices 9, there are provided positioning mechanisms 27 for adjusting and guiding workpiece holders 3 or the clamping support plate 18 (Figs. 2 and 9). These interact with cam plates or such like control elements, not shown here, which engage e.g.

via linkages on the connecting points 28, 28a marked by double arrows according to the directions of movement provided (Fig. 9).

The positioning mechanism 27 is here designed in the form of a frame with two bearing points 46, 46a for clamping support plates 18. Fig. 9 shows in dotted lines the topside 13 and the bottomside 12 of the feed mechanisms 2. The viewing direction of Fig. 9 is in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1 towards the routing means, in the region of which a brush filling device 9 is provided.

The workpiece holders 3, connected to the feed mechanism 2, together with clamped brush bodies 14, reach the region of the positioning mechanism 27 by means of a feed movement. The positioning mechanism 27 comprises elements which, when the clamping support plate 18 runs into their region, displace it out of its transport position (see Fig. 5), on one side, held by the springs 21 against stops 22, 22a and into a starting position for processing (Fig. 9). The clamping support plate 18 is pushed away from its stops 22, 22a. Acting as displacing elements are, on the one hand, a blocking bolt 30 which can be pushed in and out and engages on the end side 29, at the front in the transport direction, of the clamping support plate 18 and, on the other hand, a rising slope 31 for transverse displacement.The displacing elements 30, 31 precisely align the position of the clamping support plate and, consequently, the brush body 14 into the starting position for processing, irrespective of inaccuracies in the feed mechanism 2.

In the starting position for processing shown in Fig. 9, the filling tool, not shown here, is positioned in front of the upper left hole 32 of the brush body 14. After each filling operation the clamping support plates 18 are displaced by the positioning mechanism 27 by the amount of one hole spacing of the brush body, the clamping support plates 18 being moved further away from the stops 22 and 22a. In this processing the filling tool 32 (Fig. 1) merely executes a reciprocating movement in the direction of the double arrow PF4.

On termination of the filling operation the blocking bolts 30 are retracted, so that the workpiece holders 3 can be moved out of this processing station. The clamping support plates 18 are returned by the springs 21 into the transporting position where they rest against the stops 22, 22a.

Particularly in the case of toothbrushes or similarly shaped oblong brushes, the transporting position shown in the Figures, where the brush bodies are held with their longitudinal axes at right angles to the feed direction, has proved advantageous. This position is also advantageous in the regions of the routing means.

As well as the vertical position of the feed mechanism 2 shown in Figures 1 and 7, it can also be arranged in a horizontal plane (Fig. 8), the axes 6 of the sprocket wheels or the like provided in the routing regions lying vertically. On this machine shown diagrammatically a brush drilling machine 33 is connected in front of the brush filling device 9. In the region thereof the feed mechanism 2 is supported by an additional roller 34.

A chain 4 is preferably used as feed mechanism 2. However, instead of the chain 4, a conveyor belt 34a can be provided, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. If required, a combination of a chain 4 and a conveyor belt 34 can also be advantageous (Fig. 2).

A stepping drive is appropriately provided to drive the feed mechanism 2. A possible embodiment is shown in Figure 4. One of the sprocket wheels 5 is connected to a pawl wheel 35 which interacts with a lever 36 arranged co-axially to the pawl wheel 35 and having a pawl 37. The lever 36 is connected to a lifting cylinder 38 which moves the lever 36 to and fro.

Rails can be provided in various arrangements to guide the workpiece holders 3.

In Fig. 1 there is provided a continuous rail 16 supporting the workpiece holders. Fig. 2 also shown lateral guides 39 in the translatory region of the feed mechanism 2. These are primarily required in the region of processing stations where forces occur which act on the brushes at right angles to the feed mechanism.

A modified brush making machine according to the invention is shown in a partial side view in Fig. 10. The clamping support plates 1 8b themselves are connected directly to the feed mechanism 2. In different embodiments Figs. 14 and 15 show carriers 40, 40a fastened to the chain 4 and engaging the clamping support plate 18a or 18b.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 14, the chain 4 has in the transport direction in front of and behind a clamping support plate 18a to be transported a carrier 40 whose clear spacing is greater during drilling, filling and the like by the amount of displacement provided in a longitudinal direction than the length of the clamping support plate 18a. In the other embodiment accord ing to Fig. 15 only one carrier 40a is provided, which engages in a recess 41, forming a carrier holder, of the clamping support plate 18b. Here, also, care is taken to ensure the necessary longitudinal displaceability by sizing the recess 41 appropriately in the transport direction.On the two clamping support plates 18a, 1 8b are arranged laterally projecting rollers 42 which run on guide rails running approximately parallel to the transport path of the feed mechanism 2 (marked only by dotted lines in Figs. 14 and 15).

The guide rails can be designed or arranged according to Fig. 11 to 13, whereby they can be made differently within the feed path depending on requirements. However, the U-shaped rails, shown in Fig. 13, which surround the rollers 42 are used for preference. To obtain in the region of drilling or filling devices the necessary lateral displaceability of the clamping support plate 1 8a or 18b, the U-shaped rails 43 can have lateral, slot-shaped interruptions 44 through which the rollers 42 can then penetrate. This is shown on one side by dotted lines in Fig. 13.

With these clamping support plates 18a, 1 8b displaceable in relation to the feed mechanism it is also advantageous if they are held outside processing stations preferably by spring tension in a side position where they rest against one or more stops or the like both longitudinally and transversely.

In the arrangement of guide rails shown in Fig. 12, the clamping support plate 1 8b is guided from one side by the rails, while they are themselves guided and supported from the other side by the feed mechanism 2, here the chain 4. The chain has supporting faces 45 especially in the region of its carrers 40a.

The form of construction of the guide in Fig. 11 is particularly suitable for a horizontally working feed mechanism or for certain transport path sections of the feed mechanism 2.

The embodiments described above (Figs.

10 to 15) of the workpiece holders with a clamping support plate 1 8a or 1 8b connected directly to the mechanism 2 result in a particularly simple construction and also allow rapid, uncomplicated change-over to other types of brushes.

A modified arrangement of processing stations 7 is shown in Fig. 7. Here, both the brush drilling and the brush filling devices are arranged in the routing region of the feed mechanism 2. In this case, two spaced routing means 5a are provided to maintain a straight transport path in this region. In this arrangement the positioning mechanism could, if required, be designed as a unit covering in parallel the region of the drilling machine 33 and the region of the filling machine 9, whereby the drilling and filling tools can then work synchronously and in parallel. The finishing mechanisms 10, 10b provided on the underside 12 are also arranged, here, in a different sequence particularly suitable for the processing of brushes with natural bristles.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A brush making machine, comprising a plurality of processing stations, a plurality of workpiece holders, a feed mechanism comprising a flexible endless loop for moving the workpiece holders at intervals in a recurring cycle between the processing stations, guide means for the workpiece holders comprising an endless loop parallel to the feed mechanism and having at lest one straight portion, each workpiece holder comprising a clamping device for a brush body, the clamping device being movable in at least one plane relative to the feed mechanism, and an adjusting mechanism associated with at least one of the processing stations for adjusting the position of the clamping device, and hence a brush body, relative to that processing station according to the bristle arrangement of the brush body.

2. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the guide means for the workpiece holders comprises one or more rails arranged substantially parallel to the feed mechanism.

3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each said clamping device is movable in a plurality of planes corresponding to the three space coordinates.

4. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workpiece holders are guided on bars extending in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions of travel of the feed mechanism.

5. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the workpiece holders are adapted to hold the brush bodies with their longitudinal axes transversely relative to the feed direction of the feed mechanism.

6. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workpiece holders each comprise a base plate connected to the feed mechanism and a clamping support plate which is mounted movably thereon and which carries a clamping device for the brushes.

7. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the clamping support plate is spring-loaded into a position resting against a stop for displacement relative to the base plate.

8. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping device comprises a fixed stop and a movalbe stop the movable stop being spring-loaded towards the fixed stop and being arranged to engage operating means during clamping and unclamping of a brush body.

9. Machine according to any preceding

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

ing to Fig. 15 only one carrier 40a is provided, which engages in a recess 41, forming a carrier holder, of the clamping support plate 18b. Here, also, care is taken to ensure the necessary longitudinal displaceability by sizing the recess 41 appropriately in the transport direction. On the two clamping support plates 18a, 1 8b are arranged laterally projecting rollers 42 which run on guide rails running approximately parallel to the transport path of the feed mechanism 2 (marked only by dotted lines in Figs. 14 and 15).

The guide rails can be designed or arranged according to Fig. 11 to 13, whereby they can be made differently within the feed path depending on requirements. However, the U-shaped rails, shown in Fig. 13, which surround the rollers 42 are used for preference. To obtain in the region of drilling or filling devices the necessary lateral displaceability of the clamping support plate 1 8a or 18b, the U-shaped rails 43 can have lateral, slot-shaped interruptions 44 through which the rollers 42 can then penetrate. This is shown on one side by dotted lines in Fig. 13.

With these clamping support plates 18a, 1 8b displaceable in relation to the feed mechanism it is also advantageous if they are held outside processing stations preferably by spring tension in a side position where they rest against one or more stops or the like both longitudinally and transversely.

In the arrangement of guide rails shown in Fig. 12, the clamping support plate 1 8b is guided from one side by the rails, while they are themselves guided and supported from the other side by the feed mechanism 2, here the chain 4. The chain has supporting faces 45 especially in the region of its carrers 40a.

The form of construction of the guide in Fig. 11 is particularly suitable for a horizontally working feed mechanism or for certain transport path sections of the feed mechanism 2.

The embodiments described above (Figs.

10 to 15) of the workpiece holders with a clamping support plate 1 8a or 1 8b connected directly to the mechanism 2 result in a particularly simple construction and also allow rapid, uncomplicated change-over to other types of brushes.

A modified arrangement of processing stations 7 is shown in Fig. 7. Here, both the brush drilling and the brush filling devices are arranged in the routing region of the feed mechanism 2. In this case, two spaced routing means 5a are provided to maintain a straight transport path in this region. In this arrangement the positioning mechanism could, if required, be designed as a unit covering in parallel the region of the drilling machine 33 and the region of the filling machine 9, whereby the drilling and filling tools can then work synchronously and in parallel. The finishing mechanisms 10, 10b provided on the underside 12 are also arranged, here, in a different sequence particularly suitable for the processing of brushes with natural bristles.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A brush making machine, comprising a plurality of processing stations, a plurality of workpiece holders, a feed mechanism comprising a flexible endless loop for moving the workpiece holders at intervals in a recurring cycle between the processing stations, guide means for the workpiece holders comprising an endless loop parallel to the feed mechanism and having at lest one straight portion, each workpiece holder comprising a clamping device for a brush body, the clamping device being movable in at least one plane relative to the feed mechanism, and an adjusting mechanism associated with at least one of the processing stations for adjusting the position of the clamping device, and hence a brush body, relative to that processing station according to the bristle arrangement of the brush body.
2. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the guide means for the workpiece holders comprises one or more rails arranged substantially parallel to the feed mechanism.
3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each said clamping device is movable in a plurality of planes corresponding to the three space coordinates.
4. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workpiece holders are guided on bars extending in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions of travel of the feed mechanism.
5. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the workpiece holders are adapted to hold the brush bodies with their longitudinal axes transversely relative to the feed direction of the feed mechanism.
6. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workpiece holders each comprise a base plate connected to the feed mechanism and a clamping support plate which is mounted movably thereon and which carries a clamping device for the brushes.
7. Machine according to claim 6, wherein the clamping support plate is spring-loaded into a position resting against a stop for displacement relative to the base plate.
8. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping device comprises a fixed stop and a movalbe stop the movable stop being spring-loaded towards the fixed stop and being arranged to engage operating means during clamping and unclamping of a brush body.
9. Machine according to any preceding

claim, wherein the guide means interact with cam plates or other control elements.
10. Machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible endless loop passes around a plurality of routing means.
11. Machine according to claim 10, wherein the feed mechanism is arranged in a substantially vertical plane, the axes of the routing means being substantially horizontal.
12. Machine according to claim 11, wherein there is arranged on the feed mechanism in the direction of rotation-on the topside before a routing means a brush-body delivery mechanism, followed by a substantially horizontally working brush drilling and/or filling device, followed, on the underside of the feed mechanism, by finishing mechanisms, followed, preferably on the topside, by brush body removing mechanism.
13. Machine according to claim 10, wherein the feed mechanism is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane, the axes of the routing means being substantially vertical.
14. Machine according to any preceding claim wherein the processing stations include a drilling and a filling device and the workpiece holders are mounted pivotably so as to be capable of executing a pivoting movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the drilling or filling device.
15. Machine according to claim 6 or any of claims 7 to 14 when appendant thereto, wherein the spacing between a clamping support plate and an associated base plate is variable and the clamping support plate rests in the normal position on one side against a stop.
16. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing stations include a drilling and a filling device and the feed mechanism comprises a roller in the region of the drilling and/or filling device, the roller having a variable relative spacing from the brush drilling and filling device.
17. Machine according to any preceding claim, comprising lateral guides at least in places on the feed mechanism.
18. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the processing stations are movably mounted relative to the feed mechanism.
19. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide means comprises at least in sections precision guides with comparatively small tolerances and has in other sections guides with comparatively large tolerances.
20. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the feed mechanism comprises at least one continuous chain to which workpiece holders are fastened so as to be substantially proof against tilting.
21. Machine according to claim 6 or any of claims 7 to 20 when appendant thereto, wherein the clamping support plate is connected directly to the feed mechanism and is movable relative thereto longitudinally and transversely, the feed mechanism comprising at lest one carrier for engaging each clamping support plate.
22. Machine according to claim 21, wherein the clamping support plate comprises guide means preferably in the form of one or more rollers which project laterally at right angles to the transport direction and which run on one or more guide rails running substntially parallel to the transport path of the feed mechanism.
23. Machine according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the feed mechanism comprises in the transport direction in front of and behind a clamping support plate to be transported a carrier, the clear spacing of which is greater than the length of the clamping support plate.
24. Machine according to claim 21 or 22, wherein for each clamping support plate there is provided a carrier which engages in a recess in the clamping support plate, the recess having a length in the transport direction greater, preferably by the amount of longitudinal displacement of the clamping support plate, than the carrier.
25. Machine according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the or each guide rail is a U-shaped rail surrounding one or more of the rollers of the clamping support plates.
26. Machine according to any of claims 23 to 25, wherein the clamping support plates, especially their guide means, are guided, on the one hand, by rails engaging on one side and running in the transport direction and, on the other hand, by the feed mechanism itself, the feed mechanism having supporting faces preferably in the region of the carriers.
27. Machine according to any preceding claim, wherein a lateral guide for the clamping support plates has interruptions in the region of the processing stations.
28. Machine according to any of claims 21 to 27, wherein the clamping support plates are held outside processing stations in a side position where they rest against stops both longitudinally and transversely.
29. Machine according to any of claims 21 to 28, wherein, in the region of a brush drilling and/or brush filling machine a positioning mechanism has elements for displacing the clamping support plate when it enters said region, out of its transport position on one side held by springs into a starting position for processing.
30. Machine according to claim 29, comprising displacing elements for displacement into said starting position for processing, the displacing elements comprising a blocking bolt which can be moved in and out and which engages on the end side, at the front in the transport direction of the clamping support plate, as well as a rising slope for transverse displacement.
31. Machine according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a frame having one or more bearing surfaces for the clamping support plates.
32. Machine according to any preceding claim, comprising a stepping drive, preferably a pawl mechanism with a lifting cylinder, for driving the feed mechanism.
33. A brush making machine, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.