GB2143807A

GB2143807A - Conveying and batching of brush members

Info

Publication number: GB2143807A
Application number: GB08413461A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Steinebrunner; Benno Dorflinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-25
Filing date: 1984-05-25
Publication date: 1985-02-20
Also published as: DE3415557A1; DE3415557C2; GB8413461D0; GB2143807B; BE899236A

Abstract

The apparatus (1) serves to convey brush members (2), in batched quantities and substantially in the correct position, from a disordered supply (4) of brush members to an apparatus (25) downstream thereof to which the brush members can only be supplied individually or in small quantities and at the same time in a parallel position. The apparatus (1) comprises a batching means (5) which is provided between the receiving container (3) with the supply (4) of brush members and the downstream sorting device (25). The batching means (5) is constructed with a preliminary batching device (6) and a fine batching device (7) downstream thereof, so that the brush members are taken from the storage container (3) and divided into batches in several conveying stages and at the same time their position is corrected, at least in the longitudinal direction. From one conveying stage to the next, the positions of the brush members are progressively brought closer to the desired parallel position of delivery. As shown, batching devices (6) and (7) may each comprise a reciprocating pusher (10) and (21); a transverse pusher may act across the top of pusher (10) to lay members (2) side-by-side. Pusher (10) may be replaced by a continuous elevating conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveying and batching of brush members The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying and batching elongate brush members, such as for example toothbrush members and the like, which may be non-uniformly or assymetrically profiled in the longitudinal direction.

It is known to convey such brush member in substantially parallel and longitudinally oriented manner from a supply of brush members arranged irregularly and located in a container to a filling machine or the like. In the known apparatus a position correcting device is provided downstream of a brush member supply container. However, when conveying brush members in disordered manner, particularly in large quantities, it has been found that at the entry end of the position correcting device disruption can frequently occur, particularly as a result of jamming and the like of the brush members, also caused by the considerable backwash.

Additional "loosening devices" provided there may indeed release such jamming in many cases; however, they themselves also constitute obstacles in the path of travel of the brush members, and consequently the overall risk of breakdown is not reduced to the desired extent. Furthermore, such disruptions also lead to periods of idleness at later stages in the processing. Finally, manual intervention by a supervisor is frequently also necessary.

There is therefore a need for an apparatus which operates as reliably as possible and also makes it possible to take brush members from a large, unsorted supply of brush members without any operational disruption. At the same time, manual intervention should be avoided as far as possible.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for conveying and batching elongate brush members from a supply of brush member lying in a disordered manner in a container, including batching means arranged to receive the brush members from said supply and to convey them in substantially parallel and longitudinally oriented alignment, the batching means including a device for preliminary batching and a device for fine batching of the brush members.

In a preferred embodiment it is possible to achieve a favourable adaptation of the elements of the apparatus which directly cooperate with one another, since this adaptation can be readily matched in construction to the number of brush members which are to be produced in a batch. The transition from the total quantity in the store to a substantially individual conveying of the brush members may be completed in several adapted steps by which it is possible to achieve a simple, virtually trouble-free transfer of brush members. At the same time, the positions of the brush members are aligned.

Conveniently, the batching or metering means and preferably also the supply container are arranged to provide for the brush members paths of travel ascending in steps with conveying means located between the steps, the conveying means having capacities which decrease in the direction of travel. With this arrangement, specific quantities of brush members can be taken from a supply and fed into the next stage. As a result of the capacities decreasing in the direction of travel, the quantities conveyed are adjusted several times. Preferably, the batching means includes means for removing a number of brush members from the supply, whilst at least one monitoring device is provided which registers the quantity of brush members conveyed and is operatively connected to a batching device upstream of it.Thus, there is a controlled conveying movement from one batching device to the next and also from the supply container to the preliminary batching device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the preliminary batching device includes a substantially horizontal lifting plate or the like connected to a lifting drive, particularly a lifting cylinder, and the plate being substantially vertically movable from a receiving position in the region of the base of the storage or supply container into an upper delivery position preferably located somewhat above the maximum filling level of the storage container. In order to receive a specific quantity of brush members, the lifting plate may be guided along the supply of brush members, and only a specific number of brush bodies can be deposited on it, this number being limited by the surface area of the plate.Some of the brush bodies, particularly those which are lying in an inclined position, generally fall back into the storage container, so that some alignment of the positions of the brush members is carried out even during this removal.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the fine batching device is provided after the preliminary batching device, viewed in the overall direction of conveying, whilst the distance which the brush members are conveyed between them is shorter than the length of a brush member and preferably about half as long as a brush member. Thanks to the dimensions of this conveyed distance, the brush members can only move to a certain inclined position within this conveyed distance. The tiny transverse movement of the brush members which is thus permitted is so small that there is virtually no obstacle to further travel. The fine batching device in turn takes only some of the quantity of brush members conveyed by the preliminary batching device.

Conveniently, the lifting plates, the paths travelled by the brush members between the devices and the like of the batching means are arranged to slope downwards, at least in sections, for gravity aided conveying of the brush members in the direction of travel. This results in particularly reliable intermediate travel between the batching devices and the like.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the longitudinal dimension of the lifting plate of the preliminary batching device is oriented at right angles to the direction of travel and is less than twice the length of a brush member, and preferably at the longitudinal end of the preliminary batching device there is a pushing device for pushing together the supply of brush members located there until they occupy approximately the length of a brush member. As a result of this initially greater width of the preliminary batching device, a specific quantity of brush members can be taken at full width even from a fairly large storage container.

Using the pushing device, any brush members which are located in an offset position in the longitudinal direction can be pushed together into a bundle of brush members in which the brush members are substantially parallel. The dimensions envisaged ensure that brush members do not come to abut on one another at their ends, which could cause disruption.

In a modified embodiment of the invention, the preliminary batching device comprises a conveyor belt with bars or the like arranged at right angles to the direction of circulation for receiving a limited number of brush members. A preliminary batching device of this kind is particularly advantageous when fairly long intermediate distances of travel are involved.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of conveying and batching elongate brush members from a supply of brush members lying in a disordered manner in a storage area, to a further processing machine, comprising taking the brush members from the storage area and dividing them into batches in a plurality of transporting steps, while at the same time effecting positional correction of the longitudinal axes of the brush members. Thus, the transporting of batches of, for example, toothbrushes also almost automatically corrects the position of the brushes in the desired manner at the same time.

Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention having a supply container, batching or metering means and an adjoining sorting device; Figure 2 shows a side view corresponding substantially to Fig. 1, but with the batching devices of the batching means in different positions; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a side view roughly comparable with that shown in Fig. 1, but in this case having a preliminary batching device comprising a conveyor belt; Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5; and Figure 7 to 9 show various views of a conveyor belt with strippers, grippers and the like of varying constructions.

An apparatus 1 or la (Figs. 1 to 6) is used for transporting elongate brush members 2 from a brush member supply 4 located in a receiving container 3 to a further processing machine (not shown here), more particularly a filling machine, or to a sorting or positioning device arranged upstream of said further processing machine.

In the receiving container 3, the brush members 2 may be in an unsorted arrangement (jumbled together).

The brush members 2 usually arrive in the receiving container 3 by being poured in, and this has the advantage that when the brush members 2 are produced, e.g. by means of an injection moulding machine, they can be placed unsorted in a transporting container.

Adjoining the receiving container 3 is a batching means, generally designated 5. In this batching means 5 the brush members 2 taken from the brush member supply 4 are divided into several batches in a plurality of transporting steps and at the same time positioned, at least in the longitudinal direction. The batching means 5 substantially comprises a preliminary batching device 6 and a fine batching device 7. In addition to this two-stage embodiment shown in the example, it would also be possible for several of these devices to be provided in the overall direction of conveying.

The batching means 5 as a whole, starting from the supply 4 of brush members, has a path of travel which ascends in steps, with lifting conveying means located between the steps. In the overall direction of conveying shown by the arrow Pf 1 in Fig. 1, the quantities conveyed decrease virtually from one step to the next. At the same time, the positions of the brush members are increasingly brought closer to the desired delivery position.

The preliminary batching device comprises, as conveying means, a lifting plate 10 connected to a lifting drive 8, particularly a lifting cylinder 9; in its longitudinal direction, this lifting plate 10 is arranged substantially horizontally and at right angles to the overall direction of travel and can be moved vertically by the lifting drive. Fig. 2 shows the lifting plate 10 in its lower, receiving position, where it is located near the base or somewhat below the base of the supply container 3. In Fig. 1, the lifting plate 10 is shown in its upper, delivery position. The width of the lifting plate 10 is such that about 10 to 20 brush members can lie on it. In the overall direction of conveying, the lifting plate 10 is somewhat inclined in order to aid the picking up of brush members 2 from the supply 4, on the one hand, and to permit gravity-aided conveying, on the other hand. The side of the lifting plate 10 remote from the receiving container 3 runs along a housing wall 11, so that the brush members 2 located on the lifting plate 10 can abut on this side.

At the upper end of this housing wall there is a delivery opening 12 which can be closed off by means of a slide 14 connected to a lifting drive 13.

In front of the lifting plate 10, on the side of the lifting container 3, there is a limiting slide 15 which can close off the exit opening from the receiving container 3, on the one hand, and can limit the side of the lifting plate 10 facing the container, on the other hand. The limiting slide 15 is vertically movable by means of a lifting cylinder 16 independently of the lifting plate 10 but in accordance with the position thereof. In order to remove a cer tain number of brush members 2 from the supply 4 the lifting plate 10 is first moved into its lower receiving position (Fig. 2). The limiting slide 15 is then also in its lowest position. Thanks to the base 17 of the lifting container 3 sloping towards the preliminary batching device 6, brush members can slide along onto the lifting plate 10.The base 17 has a somewhat steeper gradient near the preliminary batching device 6, with an adjoining section 18 extending substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the limiting slide 15 or lifting plate 10. In this way, a receiving chamber is formed which is limited at the base by the lifting plate 10 and which to some extent favours longitudinal alignment of the brush members 2 sliding into it. The lifting plate 10 is then moved upwards by means of the lifting cylinder 9, whilst any diagonally positioned or superfluous brush members 2 drop back into the supply 4 of brush members.

Possibly, any individual brush members in an inclined position may be aligned by the lifting movement and by the slope of the lifting plate 10 into a substantially parallel longitudinal position. If the lifting plate 10 is in its upper delivery position above the filling level of the receiving container 3, the limiting slide 15 is also moved up. In this way, too, any brush members 2 projecting diagonally beyond the lifting plate 10 will be caught and either ejected into the brush member supply 4 or aligned on the lifting plate 10.

Adjoining the preliminary batching device 6 in the overall direction of conveying (arrow Pf 1) is the fine batching device 7. The fine batching device 7 is somewhat comparable with the preliminary batching device 6 in construction. At the entry end it comprises a fine batching slide 19 with a lifting cylinder 39 and a lifting plate 21 connected to a lifting drive 20. Between the discharge opening 12 of the preliminary batching device 6 and the fine batching device 7 is a chute like connection 22 by means of which the brush members 2 can pass from the preliminary batching device 6 to the fine batching device 7. The delivery end of the connection 22 opens onto the lifting plate 21 when the latter is in the receiving position as shown in Fig. 2.

In this position, the fine batching slide 19 is also in the bottom position so that the brush members can move onto the lifting plate 21 via the connection 22. In its receiving position, the lifting plate 21 could also be located somewhat lower down, like the lifting plate 10 of the preliminary batching device 6, thereby additionally helping to ensure that the brush members 2 are received in a pre-ordered longitudinally aligned position. In the path of travel 22 between the preliminary batching device 6 and the fine batching device 7 there is a monitoring device with a sensor 23 for detecting the brush members 2 being conveyed and those still available in the store. This monitoring device is conveniently operatively connected to the preliminary batching device 6 mounted in front of it.This ensures that brush members 2 can only be delivered from the preliminary batching device 6 when the supply of brush members in front of the fine batching 7 has decreased to below a certain level. For this supplementary transport, the slide 14 is pulled back downwards by the lifting drive 13, so that brush members 2 can pass through the delivery opening 12 to the fine batching device 7. The brush members 2 then slide along to the fine batching slide 19.

Adjoining the fine batching device 7 there is also a connection 24, rather in the form of a chute, leading to a sorting device 25 or the like. At some point on this connection 24 there is another sensor 26 which is operatively connected in particular with the lifting drive 20. When there is still a minimum level of brush members 2 abutting on the sorting device 25, which will be detected by the sensor 26, the lifting plate 21 which is in the receiving position (Fig. 2) will move upwards with the brush members 2 lying on it. In the delivery position of the lifting plate 21 as shown in Fig. 1, the required brush members 2 then slide over the connection 24 to the sorting device 25. Whilst the lifting plate 21 is travelling upwards, the fine batching slide 19 will also move into its upper end position.In this position, if required, further brush members can be taken from the preliminary batching device 6, and these brush members will then abut on the fine batching slide 19 which has travelled upwards. It should be mentioned that the quantity of brush members detected by the fine batching device 7 is substantially smaller than the quantity detected by the preliminary batching device 6. Consequently, these devices also operate in different sequences controlled by the monitoring device or by the sensors 23 and 26.

The spacings X and Y on the one hand between the preliminary batching device 6 and the fine batching device 7 and between the fine batching device 7 and the subsequent sorting device 25 or the like are such that there is only a very limited possibility of brush members 2 becoming inclined as they are fed in, and this inclined position is not sufficient to cause blockages. This is because these two dimensions X and Y are smaller than the length of a brush member and are preferably about half as long as a brush member.

To ensure the largest possible capacity for the storage container 3, it is wider than the length of a brush member 2. Accordingly, the lifting plate 10 of the preliminary batching device 6 also has a corresponding width. However, in the sorting device 25 or the like, the brush members 2 have to arrive in a certain longitudinal position lying substantially parallel. To achieve this, at the preliminary batching device 6 there is provided a pushing device 27 shown in Fig. 3 by means of which any brush members arriving on the lifting plate 10 can be pushed together so that this supply of brush members is only about as wide as the length of a single brush member. To avoid disruptions, the maximum width of the receiving container 3, at least in the region of the preliminary batching device 6, and also the length of the lifting plate 10 are arranged to be less than twice the length of a brush member. This ensures that brush members abutting end to end in the longitudinal direction cannot knock against each other in the region of the push ing device 27 and thereby become jammed The pushing device is mounted in the region of the preliminary batching device 6 and more particularly at the lifting plate 10 which is in the delivery position (at the top). It comprises a pressure cylinder 28 and a laterally movable longitudinal slide 29.

Figure 3 also clearly shows that the entire apparatus 1 together with the receiving container 3 forms a cohesive unit. To adapt to different lengths of brush members 2, the lateral boundary walls 30 of the part of the total apparatus provided downstream of the preliminary batching device 6 can be adjusted relative to one another. Dimensional alterations are not necessary for the region of the preliminary batching device 6 provided that the brush members have a length which is longer than half the width of the lifting plate 10. If necessary, corresponding parts of the batching device can be exchanged or replaced to suit different lengths of brush members 2 or also to fit different shapes.

This is because, according to the shape, different quantities can be received on the lifting plates 10 and 21.

Figure 4 shows a cross section through the apparatus 1 on the line IV-IV in Fig. 1, in which the lifting plate 21 of the fine batching device 7 is in the upper delivery position. The lifting plate 10 of the preliminary batching device 6 is shown in its upper position as well, but in this case the supply of brush members on it have not yet been pushed together by the pushing device 27 into a bundle which will fit the spacing between the two lateral boundary walls 30 of the next region, in the direction of travel.

A modified embodiment of an apparatus la is shown in Fig. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the preliminary batching device 6a comprises a rotating conveyor belt 31 as the transporting means, instead of a vertical slide. This conveyor belt 31 comprises bars 32 arranged at right angles to its direction of rotation, between which receiving chambers 33 are formed for receiving a limited number of brush members 2. The central longitudinal plane of the conveyor belt 31 extends diagonally upwards, starting from the receiving container 3, preferably at an angle, for example, 60 to the horizontal. The upper end face of the conveyor belt 31 is in the region of the connection 22 with the fine batching device 7.The receiving chamber 33a which is located at the highest point or somewhat further on in the direction of travel of the belt 31 is closed off by means of swinging flap 34 which can be swung back as required to deliver the brush members 2 rotated in the receiving chamber 33a in the direction of the arrow Pf 2. The belt 31 travels on in cycles of one receiving chamber 33 or 33a. The sensor 23 is operatively connected to the drive of the swinging flap 34 and also to the cycle drive 35 of the conveyor belt 31. If the supply of brush members abutting on the fine batching device 7 falls below a certain minimum, the drive of the swinging flap 34 is activated so that it opens up the receiving chamber 33a.After the swinging flap 34 has swung back in the direction of closure (Fig. 5) the cycle drive 35 of the conveyor belt 31 switches on again for one receiving chamber, In the embodiment by way of example, the cycle drive 35 used is a ratchet drive with a stroke distance corresponding substantially to the spacing between two adjacent bars 32.

Figure 6 clearly shows that the ribs of the conveyor belt 31 or of the receiving chambers 33 is greater than the length of a brush member but less than twice the length of a brush member. This results in the advantages described hereinbefore with reference to Fig. 3. Here, again, there is a pusher device 27 in the delivery area, i.e. in the region of the receiving chamber 33a in this embodiment, by means of which the brush members located in this receiving chamber 33a can be pushed together.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the internal spacing z between adjacent bars 32 is such that virtually only parallel brush members 2 can be deposited in the receiving chambers 33. This may be advantageous for receiving a specific number of brush members 2, with a specific gradient of the belt 31 and other conditions adapted thereto. Tests have shown that, in particular, if the brush members are simply lying loose and unsorted in the receiving container 3, it may be advantageous if the internal distance z between adjacent bars 32 is greater than the length of a brush member. This is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9. This ensures a substantially improved filling of the receiving chambers. However, in this case, care must be taken to ensure that any brush members lying diagonally or vertically are removed.

This can be done by means of one or more strippers 36 or grippers 37 (Fig. 7). In this way, any brush members lying at an angle are returned to the supply 4. The grippers 37 operate in the same cycle as the conveyor belt 31.

Figure 8 shows another possibility in which slides 38 mounted laterally on the conveyor belt 31 penetrate into the receiving chambers 33 cyclically and tip over any brush members which are in an inclined or vertical position. In the arrangement according to Fig. 9 as well, brush members.in the wrong position are tipped into a position parallel to the bars 32 by means of bell crank levers.

All in all, the apparatus 1, la according to the invention permits virtually undisrupted conveying of brush members from a fairly large, unordered supply of brushes lying loose to an apparatus downstream thereof which can only operate reliably if a small supply of brushes, e.g. from one to four brushes, is fed in. At the same time, this apparatus ensures that the brush members arrive at this further processing machine or sorting apparatus more or less in a parallel position.

A further feature of the preferred embodiments is that even those brush members which are asymmetrical or non-uniform in their longitudinal contour can be moved from a disordered store to a position where they are longitudinally oriented in parallel manner on the processing machine Brush members of this kind are also shown in side view in Fig. 1. With brush members of this kind the risk of "snagging" is particularly great when large quantities are involved and the dividing into batches in the apparatus according to the invention takes account of this risk.

Claims

1. Apparatus for conveying and batching elongate brush members from a supply of brush members lying in a disordered manner in a container, including batching means arranged to receive the brush members from said supply and to convey them in substantially parallel and longitudinally oriented alignment, the batching means including a device for preliminary batching and a device for fine batching of the brush members.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the batching means is arranged to provide for the brush members paths of travel ascending in steps with conveying means located between the steps, the conveying means having capacities which decrease in the direction of travel.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the batching means includes means for removing a number of brush members from the supply and wherein at least one monitoring device is provided which is operatively connected to a said batching device upstream of it and detects the quantity of brush members being conveyed or still present.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein between the preliminary batching device and the fine batching device a said monitoring device is provided for controlling the preliminary batching device.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the said batching devices are arranged one behind the other and have batch quantities which decrease in the overall direction of conveying.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the batching devices includes one or more limiting slides for the brush members conveyed.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preliminary batching device is disposed adjacent the said brush member supply container, and includes a said limiting slide arranged at the discharge opening of the supply container, said slide being capable of being actuated in accordance with the position of the preliminary batching device.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the preliminary batching device includes a substantially horizontal lifting plate connected to a lifting drive, the plate being substantially vertically displaceable from a receiving position located in a base area of the said brush member supply container to an upper delivery position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lifting drive is a lifting cylinder and wherein said upper delivery position is located somewhat above the maximum filling level of the supply container.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the lifting plate is oriented with its longitudinal dimension at right angles to the overall direction of conveying and one longitudinal side of the lifting plate is disposed adjacent the supply container and the other longitudinal side is disposed adjacent a discharge opening of the preliminary batching device when the plate is in the upper delivery position.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein a closure member is mounted at the discharge opening of the preliminary batching device.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said closure member is a slide connected to lifting drive means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the fine batching device is arranged adjoining the preliminary batching device, viewed in the overall direction of conveying, whilst the distance which the brush members are conveyed between the two devices is less than the length of a brush member.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said conveyed distance is about half as long as a brush member.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the fine batching device comprises at its entry end a fine batching slide and a fine batching lifting plate connected to a fine batching lifting drive means.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and 15, wherein downstream of the fine batching device there is provided a said monitoring device for controlling the fine batching device.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the distance travelled by brush members between the fine batching device and another device or similar travel limiting means downstream of the fine batching device is shorter than the length of a brush member.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said distance travelled is about half as long as a brush member.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claims 8 and 15 and any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the lifting plates and the paths travelled by the brush members between the devices are arranged so as to slope downwards in the direction of travel, at least in sections, for gravity-aided conveying of the brush members.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the lifting plate of the preliminary batching device is oriented at right angles to the conveying direction and is less than twice the length of a brush member.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein at a longitudinal end of the preliminary batching device there is a pushing device for pushing together the supply of brush members located there until they form an arrangement approximately the length of a brush member.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21, wherein guide walls are provided extending in the conveying direction and their spacing is adjustable to suit different lengths of brush member, at least in the region near and downstream of the preliminary batching device.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the devices mounted in said region are also correspondingly adaptable.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23, wherein the preliminary batching device is a conveyor belt with bars arranged at right angles to the direction of circulation for receiving a limited quantity of brush members.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the conveyor belt is arranged to slope upwards, and at the upper end area of the belt on the delivery side, which is opposite the receiving side, there is a closure for selective closing of receiving chambers formed between the bars.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said upward slope is at an angle of approximately 60 to the horizontal.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the closure is in the form of a swinging flap which is adjustable in the direction of travel.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 24 to 27, wherein the drive for the conveyor belt is a cycle drive.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said cycle drive is a ratchet drive with a cycle distance corresponding substantially to the spacing between two adjacent bars.

30. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 24 to 29, wherein the width of the conveyor belt or of the receiving chambers thereof is greater than the length of a brush member and less than twice the length of a brush member, and wherein a lateral pushing device is arranged at the delivery point.

31. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 24 to 30, wherein at the receiving end of the conveyor belt there are one or more stripping means and/or gripping means for removing brush members which are arranged diagonally or for correcting their position.

32. Apparatus for conveying and batching elon gate brush members substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Fig ures 5 and 6 or Figures 7, 8 or 9 of the accompany ing drawings.

33. A method of conveying and batching elongate brush members from a supply of brush mem bers lying in a disordered manner in a storage area, to a further processing machine comprising taking the brush members from the storage area and dividing them into batches in a plurality of transporting steps, while at the same time effecting positional correction of the longitudinal axes of the brush members.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein from one transporting step to the next, the position of the brush members is increasingly brought closer to the delivery position.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein while the brush members are brought closer to the delivery position any individual brush members in an unfavourable position are sorted out or recy cled.

36. A method of conveying and batching elongate brush members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 and 6 or Figures 7, 8 or 9 of the accompanying drawings.