Brush manufacturing machine

Abstract

 1.- Brush manufacturing machine of the type where use is made of a rotating carrier (4), by which brush bases (3) are presented successively to at least two tools (6,7), characterized by the fact that the same movement is given simultaneously to the carrier (4) fo the brush bases (3) and to the support (10) of the first tool (6) with respect to the second tool (7).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a brush manufacturing machine, in particular of the type where use is made of a rotating carrier, such as a drum, on which brush bases are placed and fastened in brush base holders and presented successively to a number of tools, such as a drilling tool and a filling tool.

[0002] In the case of known brush manufacturing machines of the above-­mentioned type the brush bases are fastened to the circumference of a drum, and, then, via the rotating of this drum, positioned underneath at least a drilling tool and a filling tool, in that order. In order to provide openings in the brush base at the required positions, and subsequently to insert bristles, the known method is to displace the carrier in various directions with in relation to the the tools. Given that the drilling tool and the filling tool work together with the drum in different places, it is clear that a displacement of the carrier, and hence of the brush base in relation to the filling tool can result in not obtaining the desired displacement with respect to the drill head. In this way, for example, the distance between the drill head and the brush base holder secured under the drilling head can change, with the negative result that a complicated setting of the drilling head is required in order to provide a constant drilling depth.

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device by which, inter alia, the above-mentioned disadvantage is excluded. The present invention therefore also relates to a brush manufacturing machine of the type making use of a rotating carrier on which brush bases are presented successively to at least two tools, characterized by the fact that the brush base holder and the support for the first tool are secured to one and the same frame, with the frame being movable with respect to the second tool.

[0004] By the use of a common frame for the above-mentioned carrier and the first tool, for example a drilling tool, it is clear that the distance between the first tool and the brush frames placed on the carrier is unaffected by any displacement of the carrier with respect to the second tool, for example a filling tool.

[0005] It is self-evident to the same result is obtained whenever the carrier with the brush base holders and the first tool are placed on two separate frames and the same movement is transmitted to both frames.

[0006] With a view to better demonstrating the specific features of the invention, the following description, by way of example and without limitative character, is given of a preferential version with reference to the single attached drawing.

[0007] The figure illustrates in diagram form a brush manufacturing machine with, as already-known parts, a magazine 1 for the supply 2 of brush bases 3; a rotating carrier 4 fitted with brush base holders 5, in which the brush bases 3 are placed; tools 6 and 7 placed around the circumference of the rotating carrier, in this case with the first tool 6 constituted by a drilling tool and a second tool 7 constituted by a filling tool; and the lead-away 8 of the finished brushes 9. For the sake of simplicity we have reproduced a version which makes use of brushes where the bristles are all inserted parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper surface of the brush base.

[0008] The specificity of this invention consists of the fact that the carrier 4 for the brush bases 3 and the support 10 of one of the tools, in this case the first tool 6, are secured to, or form part of the same frame 11, whereby this frame 11 is movable with respect to the other tool, i.e. the above-­mentioned second tool 7.

[0009] In order to be able to present the first tool or the drilling device 6 above the brush base positioned below it, on the one hand the rotatable carrier 4 is mounted on a slide 12 which can be slid in direction A with respect to frame 11, and on the other hand the second tool, or in this case drilling device 6, can be slid in a direction B perpendicular to the above-­mentioned direction A. In addition the direction B along which the drilling device 6 can be displaced is also perpendicular to the direction of displacement C of the above-mentioned frame 11.

[0010] A displacement of frame 11 with respect to the second tool 7, in this case the filling tool, is obtained for example by means of guide-rails 13, which can be moved within a fixed frame 14.

[0011] It is obvious that in order to provide the movement of the above-mentioned parts in directions A, B and C, as well as to permit the carrier 4 to rotate and to implement the drilling movement D and the filling movement E, the necessary drives must be present. For the sake of clarity these drives are not reproduced in the figure. It is also clear that they may be of any kind, whether mechanical, pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic, and with or without electronically programmed control.

[0012] The working of the brush manufacturing machine according to the invention can be derived simply from the figure. The brush bases are placed automatically from the magazine 1 into the brush base holders 5. After this they are positioned one by one, by the rotation of carrier 4, opposite the various work stations. Firstly openings 15 are drilled, whilst the bristles are inserted at the following workstation.

[0013] It is clear that further operations can be carried out to the brushes 9 whilst still clamped into the carrier 4. At the end of the different work cycles the manufactured brush 9 is automatically carried away.

[0014] If several rows of bristles 16 are to be inserted into the brush bases 3 is it clear that, once one row of bristles has been inserted, by displacement of slide 12 in direction A, the brush base currently in front of filling tool 7 must be displaced in direction C in order to proceed to the insertion of the following row. Since drilling device 6 and carrier 4 are attached to one and the same frame 11, the distance between the drilling device 6 and the brush base 3 under it remains constant during displacement C. This offers the advantage that no adjustment as regards drilling depth is required. This displacement in direction C can furthermore be coupled with the transverse displacement of drilling device 6 in direction B (e.g. mechanical coupling by means of a lever system) both in such a fashion that upon displacement of the brush base with respect to the filling tool 7 over a certain distance in direction C in order to proceed, for example, with the insertion of a second row of bristles, the drilling device 6 is displaced in direction B over the same distance, in order thus to drill a second row of holes.

[0015] As mentioned above, we have described a version of the machine in which the brushes are manufactured with all the bundles of bristles parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper surface of the brush base. The same system can of course be applied to, for example, brushes with radially inserted bristles or a combination of radially and parallel inserted bristles. In these cases the carrier and/or the brush base holder of this carrier makes all the movements which are necessary to achieve this kind of radial or combined insertion, with the necessary movements being transmitted to the drill head.

[0016] It is self-evident that in the devices illustrated the drilling and filling movements D and E occur simulataneously.

[0017] It is clear that in a similar fashion the filling tool 7 could be placed on a common frame with carrier 4, in which case frame 11 can then be displaced along the length of the drilling tool 6.

[0018] The present invention is in no way limited to the version described by way of example and reproduced in the illustrations, rather this kind of brush manufacturing machine can be effected in all shapes and sizes without falling outside the framework of the invention.

Claims

1.- Brush manufacturing machine of the type where use is made of a rotating carrier (4), by which brush bases (3) are presented simultaneously to at least two tools (6,7), characterized by the fact that the same movement is given simultaneously to the carrier (4) for the brush bases (3) and to the support (10) of the first tool (6) with respect to the second tool (7).

2.- Brush manufacturing machine accoding to conclusion 1, characterized by the fact that the frame to which the carrier (4) for the brush bases (3) is secured and the support (10) of the first tool (6) constitute a single whole.

3.- Brush manufacturing machine accoding to conclusion 1, characterized by the fact that the first tool is a drilling tool, whilst the second tool (7) is a filling tool.

4.- Brush manufacturing machine according to conclusion 1, characterized by the fact that the first tool (6) is a filling tool, whilst the second tool (7) is a drilling tool.

5.- Brush manufacturing machine according to conclusions 2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the carrier (4) is mounted by means of a slide (12) onto the frame (11), whereby the displacement of the slide (12) occurs in direction (A), perpendicular to the drilling movement (D) of the above-­ mentioned drilling tool.

6.- Brush manufacturing machine according to conclusions 2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the frame (11) consists principally of a horizontal table and a support (10), on which a drilling tool (6) is secured above the table, and where the table is provided with a horizontally displaceable slide (12) fitted with a carrier (4), which can be turned on a axis perpendicular to the drilling movement (D), and whereby the drilling tool (6) can be displaced in a direction (B) perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the carrier (4).

7. Brush manufacturing machine according to one of the foregoing requirements, characterized by the fact that the movement of the frame (11) is translated into a movement in direction (B) of the first tool (6).

Drawing