(19)
(11) EP 0 432 868 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
25.09.1991 Bulletin 1991/39

(43) Date of publication A2:
19.06.1991 Bulletin 1991/25

(21) Application number: 90306731.2

(22) Date of filing: 20.06.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: A46D 1/08
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE GB

(30) Priority: 13.12.1989 US 449189

(71) Applicant: TUCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Forest Dale, Vermont 05745-0146 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Lewis, John C.
    Salisbury, Vermont 05769 (US)

(74) Representative: Price, Paul Anthony King et al
D. Young & Co., 21 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1DA
London EC4A 1DA (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Brush making apparatus for assembling tufts and method therefor


    (57) Picker elements (111) are advanced a first distance (X) into contact with the ends (115) of parallel filaments (113) in a stock box (100) and then stopped (movement from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2). A flap (106) is vibrated by a vibrator (117) and this positions some of the filaments (118) ready to slide into the mouths (112) of the picker elements (111), which are then advanced a second distance (Y) in order to scoop up the aligned filaments in order to form tufts of filaments (movement from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3). The vibrator (117) is then turned off and the picker elements (111) retracted a third distance (Z) in order to remove the tufts from the stock box (100) (movement from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4). The stopping and vibrating during the forward stroke ensures that the filaments do not become misaligned or forced out of the stock box (100) by the picker elements (111).






    Search report