GB2112635A

GB2112635A - Delivering bristles in brush making machine

Info

Publication number: GB2112635A
Application number: GB08236874A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Steinebrunner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-29
Filing date: 1982-12-30
Publication date: 1983-07-27
Also published as: BE895131A; DE3151730A1

Abstract

A multiple magazine (1) is constructed as a double magazine with two feed channels (12 and 13). Bristles (25) may be removed alternately or selectively from these feed channels by means of the tuft portioning device (3). For this purpose, the delivery end (2) of the magazine (1) can be pivoted (Pf 2) into different positions. The magazine (1) has a fixed magazine portion (10) and an adjoining pivotal portion (11) at the delivery end (2). This pivotal portion has a relatively low mass so that a high operating speed is even possible with a reciprocating movement. The outlet openings of the feed channels (12, 13) are arranged, in their associated delivery positions, relative to the tuft portioning device (3), in such a way that even the reversal point (U) of the portioning slot (5) which receives the tuft of bristles (6) is located inside the particular outlet opening. This ensures reliable and complete filling of this portioning slot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Brush-making machine The invention relates to a brush-making machine with means for delivering bristles from a bristle supply to a tuft portioning device associated with a filling tool, the machine including a multiple magazine from whose feed channels bristles can be removed in tufts, selectively or alternately, and the multiple magazine being pivotable or displaceable relative to the portioning device.

Brush-making machines with known multiple magazines of this kind are used for the manufacture of brushes which have different tufts of bristles within their bristle area. The tufts of bristles may differ, for example, in their colour and/or length.

To enable the appropriate type of bristles to be removed from one of the feed channels, the corresponding outlet opening of the feed channel can be aligned with the tuft portioning device. For this purpose, it is known to pivot the entire magazine or displace it laterally, but this has the major disadvantage that comparatively large masses, namely, the magazine and the supply of bristles contained therein, have to be moved. At high machining speeds and correspondingly high magazine alternating speeds, this requires correspondingly great force. Furthermore, it is difficult to place the supply of bristles in the magazine while the machine is operating since the filling end is also subject to the rapid, jerky reciprocating movement. Thus, great dexterity is required and there may also be a risk of injury.

In another known embodiment of a multiple magazine, this magazine is constructed to be stationary with two pressure elements which alternately close off the outlet openings of the feed channels. A disadvantage, however, is that difficulties may arise on filling the slot in the tuft portioning device, particularly when bristles are removed from the feed channel nearer the filling tool, since only the rapid advance of the portioning device is available for this operation, with a correspondingly short time of engagement of the slot in the bristle supply.

The aim of this invention is therefore to provide a brush-making machine having a multiple magazine wherein the masses moved in the reciprocating process are reduced, so that different bristles can be removed from the magazine even with a rapidly alternating movement. Moreover, it should also be easy and safe to fill the magazine even during operation. Finally, the different types of bristles stored in the magazine should be more or less equally adapted for removal by the portioning device.

According to the invention there is provided a brush-making machine with means for delivering bristles from a bristle supply to a tuft portioning device associated with a filling tool, said machine including a multiple magazine from whose feed channels bristles can be removed in tufts, selectively or alternately, and which at its delivery end has a pivotal portion the pivotal movement of which is adapted to permit alternating access of the tuft portioning device to the ends of the feed channels.

The multiple magazine thus has a fixed portion and, at its delivery end, a pivotal portion which can be positioned relative to the tuft portioning device in accordance with the type of bristle which is to be delivered. As a result of the low mass of the pivotal portion in relation to the magazine as a whole, this makes it possible to achieve high speeds of alternation with little force. A further advantage is that the filling end of the magazine remains stationary, so that the bristles may be inserted safely and without difficulty.

According to a preferred embodiment, the length of the pivotal portion is short and preferably corresponds at least substantially to the pivoting radius of the tuft portioning device. As a result, the pivotal portion has a comparatively low mass, on the one hand, but on the other hand it is sufficiently long to ensure that the pivoting angles for switching from one feed channel to another still remain comparatively small. This results in a favourable supply of bristle material since the deflection is effected at an oblique angle and the transitional areas between the fixed part of the magazine and the pivotal portion may also readily be constructed to give a continuous transition.Appropriately, at least one closure member for closing off the outlet openings of the feed channels which is outside the region of the portioning device are provided at the delivery end of the pivotal portion. Thus, the outlet openings of the feed channels not required at a particular moment are closed off.

It is particularly advantageous if the outlet openings of the feed channels in their particular delivery positions are arranged relative to the tuft portioning device in such a way that the reversing point of the portioning slot which receives the tuft of bristles is located inside the outlet opening in question. In this way, the filling of the portioning slot may take place over a comparatively long period of time or distance, since part of the return movement and also part of the advance movement and, more particularly, the reversal point with its stoppage of movement are all available for the filling operation. Appropriately, adjoining the base portion or other guide part of the pivotal portion, there is a guide base or similar guide part or parts leading to the filling tool.This provides a support or guide for a tuft of bristles which has been removed and is being conveyed between the pivotal portion and the filling tool. According to another feature, the guide base or the like is displaceable so as to adapt to different lengths of bristles and the guide base or the like is connected to a lifting cylinder which is preferably secured to the holder for the bearing shaft which carries the pivotal portion. This guide base can thus be displaced according to the bristle length, so that a feed plane is formed which is in alignment with the base or the like associated with the particular guide channel which is releasing bristles.

Some additional embodiments of the invention are described in the other subsidiary claims.

In order that the invention may be readily understood certain embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of a multiple magazine with a filling tool and tuft portioning device, in which the pivotal portion belonging to the magazine is in different positions, Figure 3 shows a side view, partially in section, of a magazine with a tuft portioning device, Figure 4 is a plan view of the magazine shown in Fig. 3, with a filling tool, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the magazine viewed along the section line V-V in Fig. 4, Figure 6 is a side view of the region of articulation between the fixed part of the magazine and the pivotal portion and Figures 7 and 8 are plan views of the pivotal portion in different positions.

Adjoining a multiple magazine 1 belonging to a brush-making machine, there is a tuft portioning device 3 at the delivery end 2 thereof and adjoining this tuft portioning device 3 is a filling tool 4. The tuft portioning device 3 has an arcuate peripheral portion in which there is a portioning slot 5 for receiving a tuft of bristles 6 from the bristle supply 7 in the magazine. For this purpose, the tuft portioning device 3 is pivoted in the direction of the double arrow Pf 1 so that the portioning slot 5 is filled at the delivery end 2 of the magazine and, after travelling forward with the tuft of bristles 6, enters the tuft receiving means 8 of the filling tool 4. The filling tool 4 folds the tuft of bristles 6 and anchors it in a receiving hole in a brush body 9 (Fig. 1).

According to the invention, the multiple magazine 1, constructed as a double magazine in the embodiment by way of example, has a fixed magazine part 10 and a pivotal portion 11 at the delivery end 2. The pivotal movement in the direction of the double arrow Pf 2 is adapted to permit access of the tuft portioning device 3 to the ends of the feed channels 1 2 and 1 3 alternately. In the position of the pivotal portion 11 shown in Fig. 1, the feed channel 1 2 is in the delivery position, whilst the feed channel 1 3 is closed off by a closure member 14.According to Fig. 2, on the other hand, the pivotal portion 11 engages with the feed channel 1 3 in the delivery position, whilst the other feed channel 1 2 is closed off by another closure member 1 5. The closure member 1 5 simultaneously forms a cam guide 1 6 and thus covers part of the tuft portioning device 3. The cam guide extends from the side 1 7 or 1 7a facing the filling tool 4 up to the filling tool 4 itself, where the tuft of bristles 6 is picked up. The side 1 8 belonging to the closure member 1 5 and facing the magazine is adapted substantially to the swivel radius of the pivotal portion 1-1. At its end facing the tuft portioning device 3 it runs into the cam guide 16.The swivelling movement of the tuft portioning device 3 in the direction of the double arrow Pf 1 is preferably such that the portioning slot 5 travels back as far as the side of the associated feed channel 1 2 or 1 3 remote from the filling tool and then moves back to the filling tool 4, in the opposite direction, carrying a tuft of bristles 6. It is particularly advantageous if the reversal point between the return movement and the advance movement of the portioning slot 5 is located inside the bristle supply, which is in the delivery position. Thus, the conditions for picking up the tufts of bristles are substantially the same in the positions of the pivotal portion 11 shown in both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As a result, the portioning slot 5 is filled uniformly and completely, even when there are different types of bristles.

It should be pointed out that the multiple magazine 1 may be mounted with its central longitudinal axis either horizontal (as in Fig.

3), inclined or possibly even vertical. Pushing means 35 are also provided to ensure that the bristle supply is adequately pressed against the tuft portioning device 3. With the multiple magazine 1 arranged substantially vertically, the base 1 9 shown in the embodiments by way of example would form a lateral guide accordingly. Then an opposite lateral guide wall might also be provided. In the embodiment by way of example shown in the drawings, the magazine is mounted horizontally or somewhat inclined.

Fig. 3 shows, on the underside of the magazine, a holder 20 for a bearing shaft 21, this holder extending into the region of the pivotal portion, its upper end being connected to the pivotal portion 11 whilst its lower end is connected to an actuating lever 22 or the like. The actuating lever 22 may be actuated by means of a connecting rod 23 (Fig. 4) in the direction of the double arrow Pf 3, so that the pivotal portion 11 then performs a swivelling movement shown by the arrow Pf 2. The actuating lever 22 may, for example, be coupled to the positioning drive of a workpiece holder for the brush which is to be filled, so that a suitable tuft of bristles is removed, in accordance with the set position of the holes.

The lateral boundaries of the magazine 1 and its feed channels 12, 1 3 are formed by longitudinal strips 24 which extend over about half the longitudinal dimension of the guided bristles 25 (Figs. 3 and 5). The pivotal portion 11 of the magazine 1 is formed essentially by finger-like pivotable extensions of these strips 24. These strips belonging to the pivotal portion 11 are connected, via spacers 26, to a base portion 1 9a and a carrier portion 27.

The pivotal portion 11 and its guide fingers 28 are pivotable about a single spindle (bearing shaft 21) mounted in the central longitudinal plane M (Fig. 4) of the magazine. As a result, the ends of the guide fingers 28 at the delivery end 2 always remain within one plane, in all the different pivotal positions, so that the closure members 14, 1 5 can be kept simple in construction and/or more favourable conditions of transfer are obtained. To provide a continuous transition between the fixed magazine portion 10 and the pivotal portion 11, the guide fingers 28 located outside the pivot axis are constructed so that their associated fixed magazine strips 24 overlap in the separating area and engage with one another.

In order that the bristle supply 7 is supported virtually continuously, the magazine base 1 9 or 1 9a comprises separating edges concentric with the pivot axis in the separating area between the fixed portion 10 and the pivotal portion 11. Preferably, in this area there is also provided a thin covering plate, preferably connected to the fixed magazine portion 10, for covering the separating line 30 between the magazine base 1 9 and the base portion 1 9a. The cover plate 29 is preferably constructed, as shown in Fig. 6, with one end extending flat in the feed direction. After a transition of this kind in the feed direction, it is appropriate to provide, on the opposite side, a pressure plate 31 which acts on the bristles (Fig. 6). This pressure plate 31 appropriately has an insertion guide at its entry end.If desired, it may also be mounted so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow Pf 4, so that it can "pat" the top of the bristle supply.

Adjoining the base portion 1 9a of the pivotal portion 11 there is a guide base 32 or similar guide portion which extends from the base portion 1 9a to the tuft receiving means 8 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) of the filling tool 4. The tufts of bristles 6 taken from the bristle supply 7 and located in the tuft portioning device 3 are in this way supportively guided throughout the movement of transfer to the filling tool 4. In the lateral direction at right angles to this support, the cam guide 1 6 abuts on the portioning device 3 along this travel route. In order to adapt to different bristle lengths, the guide base 32 is adjustable in height, preferably by means of a lifting cylinder 33. This permits adaptation to the guide base of the particular feed channel which is in the delivery position.In fact, the magazine base of these feed channels 12, 1 3 may have different heights, to adapt to different bristle lengths. For alternate removal from the feed channel 12, on the other hand, and then from the feed channel 13, on the other hand, with bristles of different lengths, it is essential for the guide base 32 to be correspondingly vertically adjusted alternately to adapt to the particular magazine base 1 9 or base portion 19a.

When the magazine bases of the feed channels 12, 1 3 are offset relative to one another, segment-shaped recesses 34, matched to the pivoting region, are provided in the base portions 1 9a of the feed channels 1 2 and 1 3 in the separating area between the fixed part of the magazine 10 and the pivotal portion 11 (Figs. 7, 8). This ensures that the particular base portion 1 9a does not project into the area of the adjacent feed channel when the pivotal portion 11 is swivelled. The gap formed by the segment-shaped recesses 34 are appropriately bridged by thin covering plates, as shown in Fig. 6. As already mentioned, these covering plates 29 terminate in a flat portion at the front.They preferably consist of spring plate, the terminating end of which rests resiliently on the base portion 1 9a located underneath.

It should also be mentioned that the closure member 1 4 may be formed by a fixed transvese strut, whilst the guide fingers 28 and/or closure members 14, 1 5 are arranged in such a way or comprise recesses so that these parts overlap somewhat and engage with one another, at least in the closed position. This reliably prevents the bristle supply 7 from coming out. Fig. 5 shows, in cross section on the line V-V in Fig. 4, the two feed channels 1 2 and 13, which are charged with bristles 25 of different lengths. This figure also clearly shows the different positions of the magazine bases 1 9 relative to the longitudinal lateral guide consisting of the strips 24.

The guide base 32 may be adapted to these different positions of the magazine bases by means of the lifting cylinder 33.

The length of the pivotal portion 11 appropriately corresponds at least substantially to the pivot radius of the tuft portioning device 3. One essential aspect which must be borne in mind when choosing the dimensions of this pivotal portion 11 is the operating speed and, in particular, also the resulting pivoting speed of the pivotal portion 11. Accordingly, the length of this pivotal portion should be as short as possible so as to reduce the masses in motion. On the other hand, the deflection of the bristle area should not be too great either, so as to ensure that there are no feed problems in the transitional area between the fixed portion and the pivotal portion 11.

It should also be mentioned that the multiple magazine 1 may also have more feed channels 1 2 and 1 3 than are shown in the drawings.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the broken lines additionally show the tuft portioning device 3 in its end return position, where the portioning slot 5 is at the reversal point U. The brief standstill which occurs at this point is particularly favourable for the filling of the slot 5 with bristles 25, since it contributes to a complete and uniform filling. This is also assisted by the fact that, both on returning and also on advancing, the slot 5 effectively engages in the associated bristle supply.

Claims

1. Brush-making machine with means for delivering bristles from a bristle supply to a tuft portioning device associated with a filling tool, said machine including a multiple magazine from whose feed channels bristles can be removed in tufts, selectively or alternately, and which at its delivery end has a pivotal portion the pivotal movement of which is adapted to permit alternating access of the tuft portioning device to the ends of the feed channels.

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the pivotal portion is short and corresponds at least substantially to the pivoting radius of the tuft portioning device.

3. Machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at the delivery end of the pivotal portion, there is provided at least one closure member for closing off the outlet openings of feed channels which are currently outside the range of the portioning device.

4. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outlet openings of the feed channels are arranged, in their particular delivery positions, relative to the tuft portioning device in such a way that the reversal point of the portioning slot receiving a tuft of bristles is located inside the particular outlet opening.

5. Machine as claimed in any of claims-1 to 4, wherein the magazine is constructed as a double magazine with two feed channels and two closure members are provided, each of which closes off one outlet opening of a feed channel whilst the other outlet opening is located in the removal range of the portioning device.

6. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein a cam guide is provided, covering part of the tuft portioning device, this cam guide extending from the side of the particular feed channel which is in the delivery position and is facing the filling tool up to the filling tool itself, and this cam guide is part of a closure member.

7. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein on one side of the magazine there is provided a holder for a bearing shaft or the like, this holder extending into the region of the pivotal portion of the magazine one end thereof being connected to the pivotal portion whilst the other end is connected to an actuating lever or the like.

8. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lateral boundaries of the magazine or its feed channels are formed by longitudinal strips which extend over about half the longitudinal dimension of the guided bristles, and the pivotal portion of the magazine is formed essentially by finger-like, pivotable extensions of these strips.

9. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, including guide fingers on the pivotal portion of the magazine which are pivotable about a single spindle mounted in the central longitudinal plane of the magazine and the fingers articulated outside this spindle have their associated fixed magazine strips overlapping and engaging with one another in the separating area between the fixed portion and the pivotal portion.

10. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the magazine base or at least one lateral termination of the magazine comprises dividing edges concentric with the pivot axis in the separating area.

11. Machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dividing edges of the magazine base or the like are covered by a thin plate connected to the fixed magazine portion, said plate having one end extending flat in the feed direction.

1 2. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein, adjoining the base portion or other guide portion of the pivotal portion, there is a guide base or similar guide portion or portions leading to the filling tool.

1 3. Machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide base or the like is displaceable to adapt to different bristle lengths and the guide base or the like is connected to a lifting cylinder which is secured to the holder for the bearing shaft.

14. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the magazine bases or similar lateral terminations have different vertical or lateral positions, and in that the guide base can be matched to the magazine base of the particular feed channel which is in the delivery position.

1 5. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the ends of the guide bases in the range of the pivotal mounting, these guide bases being arranged at different heights or offset relative to one another, have segment-like recesses adapted to the pivoting range, and this transitional area is covered by a thin base plate or the like.

1 6. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the drive of the pivotal portion is coupled to the positioning drive of a workpiece holder for the brush which is to be filled.

17. Machine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein, in the feed direction after a guide base or similar transition, there is provided a pressure plate which acts on the top or opposite side of the bristles.

18. A machine including a multiple magazine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.