US3167355A

US3167355A - Broom bristle segregating machine

Info

Publication number: US3167355A
Application number: US249681A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L Aldrich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-07
Filing date: 1963-01-07
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 E. L. ALDRICH BROOM BRISTLE SEIGREZGATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1965 INVENTOR Ewfleo 0 Q1. 0210/ A r raQA E Y5.

Jan. 26, 1965 E. L. ALDRICH BROOM BRISTLE SEGREGATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1963 INVENTOR. 152140920 l. JQLDE/CH BY I United States Patent 3,167,355 BROOM BRISTLE SEGREGATING MACHINE Edward L. Aldrich, Bakersfield, Caliii, assignor to David F. Demarest, East Orange, NJ. Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,681 Claims. (Cl. 309-118) This invention has to do generally with the segregation of bristles from a relatively bulk mass, of lesser numbers that may be required for certain purposes. More specifically, the invention is concerned with apparatus for thus segregating bristles in proper quantities individually required for making or filling street sweeper brushes or brooms, and specifically gutter brooms.

My general object is to provide simple and effective apparatus whereby from a bulk assemblage of elongated bristles, it is possible to segregate a predetermined lesser number conveniently delivered for use in filling them into a street gutter sweeping broom.

structurally, the invention contemplates improved apparatus whereby a bulk mass of the bristles is subjected to longitudinal vibration which results in segregation and passage of a predetermined number and arrangement of the bristles through apertures from which the bristles are gathered for convenient handling.

in its preferred form, the invention provides a simple assembly of a vertically reciprocated or vibrated receptacle, conveniently in the form of an open top tube, at the lower portion of which is provided an arrangement of apertures each adapted to receive and pass a single bristle, and into which the bristles are directed by the combined effects of the aperture formation and vibration imparted to the receptacle. Simple provision may be made for receiving and gathering the bristles passed through the apertures, by mounting stationarily below the receptacle a convergent open end gathering tube through which the bristles pass to be taken in bunched condition, all as will later appear.

The above mentioned, as Well as additional features and objects of the invention will be understood more fully from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the apparatus in front elevation;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section enlargement showing the lower portion of the bristle receptacle and gathering tube below;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section on line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus is shown .to comprise a suitable frame structure generally indicated at 10, comprising a base 11 and vertical members 12 converging at 12a to a top interconnecting plate 13. The frame structure supports a vertically reciprocable bristle receptacle generally indicated at 14, preferably in the form of tube 15 open at its upper end for reception of bulk mass of metallic, natural or synthetic fiber bristles 16. The receptacle 15 may be mounted for vertical reciprocation or vibration in any suitable manner, as by vertically spaced sets of flexible supports 17 extending between and secured to the receptacle-carried and framesupported

brackets

18 and 19, respectively. The supports 17 may be of any suitable relatively thin metal, or non-metallic material such as reinforced rubber, belting or the like, held to the brackets by fasteners 20.

The tube 14 may be subjected to axial vibration by any of various known vibrating mechanisms such as a wheel 21 having its axle 22 journaled in bearing 23 attached to the tube, the Wheel being unbalanced as by an attached weight 24 so that on rotation the unbalanced forces tend "ice to vertically reciprocate or vibrate the tube. The wheel 21 is shown to be driven from the frame mounted motor 25 by way of belt 26.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, to the bottom flange 15a of the tube 15 is secured by bolts 27 an intermediate guide disc 28 and a lower orifice plate 29. The disc 28 has a central opening defined by the downwardly and inwardly inclined guide surface 28a about a horizontal distribution of orifices 30 in plate 29. The illustrated plate with its contained orifices is to be regarded merely as illustrative of any suitable means for presenting at the bottom of the receptacle 15, a predetermined number and arrangement of apertures for selectively receiving and passing the bristles 16. So typified, the mouths of the apertures 30 appear in plan as having slotted configurations, see FIG. 5, with .the edges 31 of the mouths being tapered inwardly .to guide the bristles into the orifice extents below.

The bristle gathering means is shown to comprise an open end, downwardly tapered tube 32 stationarily mounted below and in axial alignment with the receptacle 15, as by arms 33 attached to the frame uprights 12. Being aligned also with the aperture plate 29, the enlarged top mouth of the tube 32 receives the bristles that have passed through the orifices and progressively gathers them into bunched condition so that they may be conveniently grasped at 34 below the .tube for removal. The segregated bristles not only are thus bunched, but longitudinally conformed by being dropped to rest on base plate 35.

In operation, the vibrating receptacle 15 agitates the bristles so that individually they enter the apertures 30 toward which the outer bristles are guided down along the inclined surface 28a. The vibration assures that each of the apertures 39 will receive and pass an individual bristle down into the gathering tube 32 below in a very short period of time, thus assuring delivery of a predetermined number of the bristles as may be required. It will be apparent that different similar orifice plates 29 may be substituted to feed out greater or lesser numbers of bristles. The latter fall by gravity down through the gathering tube for removal as previously indicated when each segregation is completed.

As the drawings indicate, the bristles dropped through the orifices onto plate 35 remain at their upper ends Within the orifices 30, thus assuring such arrested positioning of the passed bristles until all the orifices are oc cupied and therefore the desired predetermined number of bristles have been segregated from the bulk mass in the vibrating receptacle. The gathered bristles have sufficient extent at 34 below the tube 32, to be capable of being deflected and pulled down out of the orifices and the gathering tube.

It will be understood that the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative of the invention in a typical though preferred embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departure from the intended spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for segregating elongated bristles comprising,

(A) a frame structure,

(B) a vertically positioned bulk bristle receptacle supported by said frame for vertical reciprocation,

(C) means for vertically reciprocating said receptacle and its contained bristles,

(D) means forming apertures in predetermined number and arrangement which receive and pass the bristles being reciprocated, and

(E) means including a downwardly tapered guide positioned below said receptacles for receiving and gathering together the bristles passed through said aper- .tures, said guide being adaptedtopass the lower extents of the bristles in gathered condition. 2. Apparatus for segregating elongated bristles comprising, a a

(A) a frame structure, 3 a (B) avertically positioned tubular open .top bulk bristle receptacle, (C) flexible means" mounting said receptacle frame structure for vertical movement, 7 (D) means for vertically vibrating said receptacle; (E) means forming apertures in predetermined numher and arrangement at the lower portion of saidl receptacle, and

(F) stationary means positioned below said receptacle a I v and adapted to'gathertogether and pass toa location below said stationary rneans 'the relatively widely distributed bristlcspassing through said orifices.

to the.

enemas I bra'ting means (D) cornprises a motor mounted on-the frame structure, and a rotating unbalanced mass carried "by the receptacle and driven by said motor. 7

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said aperture forming means (E) comprises a horizontal distribution of apertures having enlarged'upper downwardly convergent mouths below which the apertures are reduced.

5. Apparatus according to claim ,4, comprising means forming a downwardly and inwardly inclined'guide surface surrounding" said apertur'es'and acting to direct'the lower ends of the bristles into the apertures.

References Cited :iiithe file'of this patent v UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I I 492,032 Lee" Feb.'2 1,- 1893

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR SEGREGATING ELONGATED BRISTLES COMPRISING, (A) A FRAME STRUCTURE, (B) A VERTICALLY POSITIONED BULK BRISTLE RECEPTACLE SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATION, (C) MEANS FOR VERTICALLY RECIPROCATING SAID RECEPTACLE AND ITS CONTAINED BRISTLES. (D) MEANS FORMING APERTURES IN PREDETERMINED NUMBER AND ARRANGEMENT WHICH RECEIVE AND PASS THE BRISTLES BEING RECIPROCATED, AND (E) MEANS INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY TAPERED GUIDE POSITIONED BELOW SAID RECEPTACLES FOR RECEIVING AND GATHERING TOGETHER THE BRISTLES PASSED THROUGH SAID APERTURES, SAID GUIDE BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THE LOWER EXTENTS OF THE BRISTLES IN GATHERED CONDITION.