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(11) | EP 1 428 457 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Apparatus for the production of brushes |
| (57) Apparatus for producing brushes comprises tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23)
suitable for associating bristle elements (3) with support-base means (24) of said
bristles (3) to obtain said brushes and cam drive means suitable for driving said
tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) said cam drive means comprising enveloping
cam means (8). |
[0002] Brushes exist in the prior art comprising a support base provided with a plurality of holes with each of which a bunch of bristles is associated, said bristles comprising a first portion inserted inside said hole and kept there by means of suitable fixing elements, and a further portion emerging form said hole and protruding from the support base to interact with an object to brush.
[0003] The afore-mentioned brushes may have different shapes and dimensions, furthermore, said brushes may be provided with a grip that enables a user to grip them manually or they may be provided with coupling means for coupling said brushes to a handle, for example to obtain brooms, or lastly, they may comprise fixing elements for fixing said brushes to cleaning tools such as, for example, a vacuum cleaner or the like.
[0004] Depending on the use for which the brushes are intended, different materials can be used to obtain said brushes, said materials may be both natural and synthetic and may have mechanical properties that are rather different from one another.
[0005] The support bases may also be made of different materials, such as for example plastic material or wood.
[0006] To manufacture said brushes machines exist in the prior art that comprise a movable workbench that is suitable for receiving said support bases and for transferring them to a plurality of devices suitable for carrying out thereupon the operations provided by the processing cycle.
[0007] In particular, said machines comprise a drill arranged to obtain in the support bases a plurality of holes arranged to receive the bunches of bristles, and at least one operating head provided with tools suitable for inserting said bunches of bristles in the holes made by the drill.
[0008] The operating head comprises a first tool provided with a slot defining a seat arranged to take from a proper storage a quantity of brushes that is suitable for forming a bunch with dimensions that are suitable for being received in a hole.
[0009] The operating head further comprises a second tool provided with a cavity shaped in such a way as to be arranged to receive the brushes from the first tool and take them near the hole in which they must be inserted.
[0010] The operating head is provided with a third tool suitable for taking a portion of metal wire by unwinding it from a relative reel and advancing it towards the afore-said second tool.
[0011] The afore-said metal wire is used, as will be explained in greater detail below, to act as seaming element arranged to fix the bristles firmly to the relative base element.
[0012] Each seaming element is made in the shape of a "C", it therefore comprises a first arm and a second arm that are parallel to one another and that are connected to a third arm extending substantially transversally in relation to the first arm and to the second arm.
[0013] During machine operation, therefore, at first a bunch of bristles is associated with a seaming element in such a way that the latter substantially envelops said bunch, and afterwards the free ends of the first and second arm are inserted inside a hole and are partially stuck in the support base to stably fix the bunch of bristles.
[0014] Advantageously, the seaming element is positioned along the centre line of the transversal extension of the bunch of bristles, in such a way that when the first and second arm are inserted in the support base, the bunch of bristles is made to bend around said centre line. In this way, a central portion of the bunch of bristles is received inside the hole whilst opposite end portions thereof emerge from the hole thereby coming into contact with one another.
[0015] The operating head is further provided with a fourth tool provided with a needle suitable for inserting the central portion of the bunch of bristles and the seaming element associated therewith, which are both held and kept in the correct position by the afore-said second tool, within the respective hole.
[0016] The operating head further comprises a fifth tool provided with a cutting blade arranged to cut the wire that is intended to constitute the seaming element and with a presser arranged to shape said wire in order to confer thereupon said "C" shape.
[0017] The fifth tool cooperates with a sixth tool provided with a chamber arranged to act as die for bending said wire.
[0018] The operating head lastly comprises a seventh ring-shaped tool, which during each work cycle of the machine removes the bunches of bristles already associated with the support base from the hole in which the bunch supported by the second tool must be inserted, said tool further providing to remove from the second tool the bristles that constitute the bunch, after the latter has been inserted into the relative hole.
[0019] The operating head now disclosed, is actuated by a powered shaft to which a plurality of disc-shaped cams are fixed that are arranged to actuate the first, the second, the third, the fifth and the sixth tool, whereas the fourth and seventh tool are actuated by means of an eccentric element.
[0020] With the fourth tool of the above-disclosed operating head a safety system is associated that is suitable for preventing that the fourth tool performs a complete stroke if an obstacle is detected on the way along which the same must be translated.
[0021] In particular, the safety system stops the stroke of the fourth needle tool in order to prevent its being damaged or broken if it detects that no hole arranged to receive the bristles has been made in the support base.
[0022] The fourth needle tool moves of alternating movement around a guide and is fixed to the actuating lever by means of a connection comprising a stem that is integral with a wedge received in a relative seat.
[0023] If the fourth needle tool, whilst advancing in its own translation movement, meets an obstacle, said wedge comes out from the seat to actuate a sensor that controls the stop of the machine motor.
[0024] The safety system here disclosed is connected to the fourth tool and is therefore integrally movable therewith.
[0025] A drawback of the above-disclosed machines consists in the fact that they cannot operate at very high speeds, which significantly limits their productivity.
[0026] As the strokes performed by the different tools are of significant amplitude, the cams must have large dimensions, which means that the shaft is forced to make to rotate masses that generate considerable inertia forces.
[0027] In addition, the cams actuate the tools by means of levers having considerable lengths, which contributes to increase the masses that must be moved and therefore to further limiting the maximum operating speeds that can be reached by the machines.
[0028] A further drawback of said machines consists of significant lubrication difficulties due to the high number of parts and the impossibility of being able to enclose the moving components in a protective covering. This drawback is particularly serious inasmuch as the bristles intended to constitute the brushes may be made of a material that tends during the processing phase to create powders that by becoming deposited on the movable parts may cause their operation to be impaired. Said drawback is particularly aggravated in machines arranged to make brushes provided with abrasive bristles, the abrasive material that constitutes the bristles in fact by slipping between the movable parts of the machines, damages said machines rapidly and with extreme facility.
[0029] A further drawback of the above-described machines consists of the great noise that forces operators in charge of the machines to use equipment to protect their hearing when said machine are operating. Said drawback is mainly due, once again, to the high number of moving mechanical parts, the mutual interaction of which causes intense noise.
[0030] A further drawback consists of the fact that said machines, in order to obtain greater productivity, are provided with two operating heads, each one of which is associated with the respective drill, thereby being suitable for simultaneously producing a pair of brushes, said heads being actuated by the same motor.
[0031] Such "two-headed" machines nevertheless require two distinct cam units arranged to actuate the tools of each head.
[0032] Providing a double series of cams significantly complicates the machines and contributes to underline the above-illustrated drawback.
[0033] A yet further drawback of the above-disclosed machines consists of the fact that the safety system arranged to prevent damage to the fourth needle tool constitutes a further mass that must be actuated by the powered shaft.
[0034] Furthermore, the need to provide electric connections between the sensor and the motor requires the use of movable cables, which are particularly subjected to wear and to risks of breakage.
[0035] Furthermore, if a prior-art machine has to be stopped, in particular if an obstacle is detected along the way of the fourth needle tool, a brake is actuated that is associated with the actuating motor.
[0036] In such cases, a yet further drawback of the machines disclosed above, consists of the fact that the stop of the machines is not immediate but normally requires another two, or three, processing cycles.
[0037] Therefore, although damage to said fourth tool may be avoided thanks to the safety system disclosed above, the other tools continue working.
[0038] Thus, may occur that the machine gets stuck because the first and the second tool continue to respectively pick up bristles and to take said bristles near the support base, without however that the fourth tool, which has been deactivated, provide to pick them up from the second tool.
[0039] In such a case, before the machine can be reactivated, the material - bristles and metal wire - that has accumulated near the support base must be removed, said operation may require several hours and therefore heavily penalise the aim of obtaining satisfactory productivity.
[0040] Furthermore, as at the end of a work cycle the machine must be stopped, decelerating ramps must be provided that are made necessary by the poor performances of the brake associated with the motor. This contributes to further diminishing the performance of the prior-art machines.
[0041] An object of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with high production speeds.
[0042] Another object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that has limited noise.
[0043] A further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that is simple to make and to use and is also provided with efficient lubrication.
[0044] A yet further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that can be stopped in rather a limited period of time.
[0045] A yet further object is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with an effective safety device suitable for preventing damage thereto in the event of an emergency.
[0046] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising tool means suitable for associating bristle elements with support-base means of said brushes to make said brushes and cam drive means suitable for driving said tool means, characterised in that said cam drive means comprises enveloping cam means.
[0047] Owing to this aspect of the invention, can be obtained an apparatus for the production of brooms provided with great efficiency and reliability.
[0048] The enveloping cam means in fact comprises a plurality of enveloping cams that are integral with primary powered shaft means and cooperate with rolling elements that are revolvingly supported on secondary shaft means in order to make said secondary shaft means to oscillate by preset oscillation amplitudes.
[0049] The secondary shaft means comprises a plurality of oscillating shafts, each one of which actuates a tool of said tool means.
[0050] The use of enveloping cams enables the masses that move in the apparatus according to the invention to be significantly reduced, inasmuch as, for the same oscillation amplitude obtained, the enveloping cams of the apparatus according to the invention have significantly smaller dimensions than those of the disc cams of the prior-art machines.
[0051] This enables an apparatus to be obtained that can operate at high production speeds at rather low noise levels.
[0052] The use of enveloping cams furthermore enables a rather compact tool actuating unit to be obtained and therefore enables to limit the dimensions of the levers arranged to connect each oscillating shaft to the relative tool, in this way enabling a further reduction of the amount of moving masses and therefore enabling to improve the performance of said apparatus.
[0053] The use of enveloping cams enables a tool-actuating unit to be obtained comprising a covering rotationally supporting the primary shaft means and internally containing the enveloping cams associated with said primary shaft means.
[0054] The oscillating shafts arranged to actuate the tools diverge from the covering means in directions substantially perpendicular to those of the primary shaft means.
[0055] The covering means, in addition to protect the moving members from contacting with dust or dirt, is also suitable for containing within itself a lubricant suitable for lubricating the enveloping cams and the other moving members.
[0056] This constitutes a significant advantage over prior-art machines in which the disc cams could at most be lubricated manually by an operator, often with unacceptable results, or even remain devoid of any lubrication for their entire working life, which was consequently significantly shortened.
[0057] A further advantage arising from the use of an actuating unit comprising enveloping cams consists of the fact that as the oscillating shafts may be provided with two free ends protruding from opposite faces of the covering means, said actuating means can drive a pair of operating heads.
[0058] In this way, double operating-headed machines may be actuated having a number of enveloping cams that is substantially the same as half the number of disc cams that would be necessary in a machine according to the state of the art.
[0059] A further advantage of the invention consists of the fact that once the oscillation amplitude of each of the oscillating shafts has been set, the enveloping cams actuating unit can be constructed and assembled separately and be subsequently associated with the apparatus during assembling phase.
[0060] This enables a manufacturer of apparatuses for the production of brushes who manufactures different models of said apparatuses to significantly rationalise inventory. This is allowed by the fact that it is possible to store actuating units that are already assembled and ready for installation that are dedicated to each type of apparatus that has to be produced, rather than storing a plurality of components, in particular disc cams of numerous dimensions and relative coupling members for coupling to the primary shaft means.
[0061] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for the production of brushes comprising tool means suitable for associating bristle elements with support-base means of said brushes to obtain said brushes, motor means suitable for actuating said tool means and braking means suitable for stopping said apparatus, characterised in that said braking means is distinct from said motor means.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment said motor means comprises an electric motor rotationally actuating shaft means connected to said tool means.
[0063] In another preferred embodiment, the braking means comprises a brake associated with said shaft means.
[0064] Advantageously, the brake comprises a pneumatic cylinder inside which is movable a piston that can be brought into contact with a disc, coated with material with high attrition coefficient, keyed onto said shaft means, i.e. made to rotate by the latter by suitable drive means.
[0065] During normal operation, the piston is kept at a preset distance from said disc by means of an operating fluid that overcomes the action of springs that are received in seats obtained in the cylinder and that act on said piston.
[0066] If, for reasons connected with the production cycle of the apparatus, or in the event of danger, the rotation of the shaft means must be stopped, the operating fluid is removed from inside the cylinder. In this way, the piston, through the action of said springs, interacts with the disc to lock it.
[0067] Owing to this aspect of the invention, can be obtained an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with an efficient braking system that enables very rapid stop to be achieved.
[0068] In particular, an apparatus made according with this aspect of the invention can be stopped in the event of an emergency during the same work cycle during which said emergency was detected.
[0069] Furthermore, the presence of braking means having performance significantly greater than that of the usual brakes associated with conventional electric motors enables high operating speeds to be maintained until a few instants before the stop, inasmuch as transitional deceleration periods shortly before the end of a work cycle are not necessary.
[0070] In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for the production of brushes comprising tool means suitable for associating bristle elements with support-base means of said bristles to make said brushes, lever means suitable for driving said tool means, shaft means suitable for actuating said lever means and safety means suitable for disconnecting said tool means from said shaft means, characterised in that said safety means comprises joint means interposed between said lever means and said shaft means.
[0071] Owing to this aspect of the invention, safety means can be obtained that acts on the connection between the lever means and the shaft means, said safety means performing only limited shifts integrally with the shaft means: in this way, a better efficiency of the machine is obtained due to the reduction of moving masses and of the relative forces of inertia during machine operation.
[0072] The invention will be better understood and carried out with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-section taken along a vertical plane of an enveloping cams actuating unit of an apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a lateral view of an apparatus according to the invention showing tool means associated with the actuating unit in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a view like the one in Figure 2 showing a tool arranged to introduce bristle elements inside a respective hole obtained in a support-base means;
Figure 4 is a view like the one in Figure 3 highlighting a stop element for a lever that actuates the tool shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front view of the actuating unit in Figure 4 illustrating a safety means associated with said lever;
Figure 6 is a front view of the lever in Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a front view of a flange associatable with the lever in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a cross-section like the one in Figure 1 illustrating an end of shaft means with which braking means is associated;
Figure 9 is a cross-section like the one in Figure 8 illustrating a further end of the shaft means connected to motor means by safety joint means;
Figure 10 is a view like the one in Figure 5 illustrating an actuating unit arranged to actuate a pair of operating heads of an apparatus according to the invention.
[0073] Figures 1 to 10 show an apparatus 1 for manufacturing brushes comprising an actuating unit 2 arranged to actuate tool means suitable for associating bristle elements 3 with support-base means 24 to obtain the aforesaid brushes.
[0074] The actuating unit 2 comprises a covering 4 at opposite ends of which shaft means 5 is supported by bearings 6, 7, the shaft means 5 being arranged to drive said tools.
[0075] With the shaft means 5 enveloping cams 8 are associated, each one of which is provided with an active profile 9 coupled with rolling elements 10 that are revolvingly supported on shafts 11 that are in turn rotationally coupled with the covering 4.
[0076] The shafts 11 therefore oscillate around the relative longitudinal axes in such a way that each one of them performs an oscillation of preset amplitude.
[0077] Levers 12 are connected with the shafts 11, the levers 12 move, by means of tie rods 13, a plurality of tools with which an operating head 26 of the apparatus 1 is provided.
[0078] Such tools comprise, in detail, a first tool 14 arranged to pick up the bristle elements 3 from a relative storage 15, a second tool 16 arranged to receive the bristle elements and to transfer them near a hole obtained in the support-base means 24, within which the bristle elements must be inserted, a third tool 17 provided with a ratchet device arranged to unwind a metal wire 18 from a relative reel 19, such metal wire being suitable for acting as seaming element elements, having a "C" shape, suitable for securing the bristle elements to the support-base means 24.
[0079] Said tools further comprise a fourth tool 20 provided with a cutting blade suitable for cutting the wire 18 and with a punch arranged to deform the wire 18, as well as a fifth tool 21 provided with a cavity intended to receive the wire during deformation operated by said punch. The afore-mentioned cavity therefore acts like a die cooperating with the afore-said punch to obtain from portions of metal wire of a preset length said "C"-shaped seaming elements.
[0080] The tools further comprise a sixth tool 22 provided with a tip 25 suitable for inserting bristle elements, together with one of said seaming elements previously associated therewith, inside the relative hole made in the support-base means 24, said tool 22 being provided with substantially rectilinear alternating movement in the direction indicated by the arrow F.
[0081] The tools finally comprise a seventh tool 23 provided with an annular body that during an outward stroke is suitable for removing bristle elements 3 already associated with the support-base means 24 from the hole into which further bristle elements must be inserted that were taken from the first tool 14 and delivered to the second tool 16. Said seventh tool 23 is further suitable, during a return stroke, for removing from the relative cavity holding means provided in the second tool 16, the portion of the bristle elements 3 that is intended to protrude from the support-base means 24.
[0082] The enveloping cams 8 at the same shafts 11 oscillation amplitude, have significantly smaller dimensions than the corresponding cams of the apparatuses according to the state of the art, furthermore, also the levers 12 associated therewith are decidedly smaller than those with which prior-art machines are provided.
[0084] The apparatus 1 according to the invention may consequently operate at much greater speeds than the speeds of prior-art machines, with noticeable increases of productivity.
[0085] The use of an actuating unit 2 provided with enveloping cams 8 further enables low noise levels to be obtained.
[0086] Furthermore, the covering 4 acts as a sealed container for a lubricating fluid of the enveloping cams 8 and of the rolling elements 10 associated therewith.
[0087] As Figure 10 shows, the shafts 11 are revolvingly supported on the covering 4 in such a way that opposite ends 11a, 11b thereof diverge from opposite side walls 28, 29 of the covering 4.
[0088] In this way, the actuating unit 2 is suitable for actuating a further operating head 27 at the same time as the operating head 26. This, first of all, enables the space taken up by the apparatus 1 to be significantly reduced, in addition to considerably reduce the number of mechanical members, in particular cams, in relation to prior-art machines.
[0089] As Figures 3 to 7 show, the apparatus 1 further comprises safety means 30 arranged to disconnect said sixth tool 22 from the respective actuating lever 12 if the shift in the direction F of the sixth tool 22 is impeded by the presence of an obstacle.
[0090] The safety means 30 is particularly suitable for preventing translation of the sixth tool 22 if in the support-base means none of the holes has been made into which hole the bristle elements 3 have to be inserted.
[0091] The sixth tool 22 is associated with a carriage 31 that is slidingly movable on a guide-beam means 32.
[0092] The carriage 31 is provided with a first end 33 connected to the tip 25 and with a further end 34, opposite the first end 33, to which the tie rod 13 is fixed that connects the carriage 33 with the lever 12.
[0093] The safety means comprises flange means 35 that is integral with the lever 12 connected to the sixth tool 22 and that cooperates with further flange means 36 that is brought into contact with the flange means 35 during operation by means of suitable presser means 37, as will be more fully disclosed below.
[0094] In the flange means 35 and in the further flange means 36 is made chamber means 38, 38a radially arranged that, when the flange means 35 is brought into contact with the further flange means 36, defines seats suitable for receiving connection pins that are not shown.
[0095] The flange means 35 is keyed onto the oscillating shaft 11 actuating the sixth tool 22, whereas the further flange means is associated with an end zone 39 of a sleeve 40 revolving around a rotation axis X that substantially coincides with the rotation axis of the shaft 11 and that is suitable for receiving within itself one of the free ends 11a, 11b of the shaft 11.
[0096] The presser means 37 comprises pneumatic actuator means 41 comprising in turn a cylinder 42 that is integral with a frame of the apparatus, within which a piston 43 is movable that is provided with a stem 44 connected by bearing 45 to the sleeve 40.
[0097] The safety means 30 further comprises sensor means 46 suitable for detecting the position of the sleeve 40.
[0098] During operation, the cylinder 42 is supplied with compressed air at a preset pressure in such a way as to keep the further flange means 36 in contact with the flange means 35 and thereby to enable actuation of the sixth tool 22 by the lever 12.
[0099] If the sixth tool 22 meets with obstacle along its trajectory, occurs that the further flange means 36 by overcoming the pressure exerted by the pneumatic actuator means 41, moves away from the flange means 35 and thus prevents the lever 12 from further actuating the sixth tool 22.
[0100] In particular, a portion of the pin means comes out from the chamber means 38a obtained in the further flange means 36, whereas the remaining portion of the pin means remains inside the seat means 38 obtained in the flange means 35.
[0101] Simultaneously, the sensor means 46 detects the shift of the sleeve means 40 and transmits a stop signal to a motor 47 actuating the shaft means 5.
[0102] The re-equipment of the apparatus 1 occurs first of all by bringing the lever 12 up against a stop element 48 by actuating the shaft means 11 through a manual command.
[0103] Subsequently, as the lever 12 and the flange means 35 are kept in a fixed position by the stop element 48, a further advance step of the shaft 11 causes said portion of the pins to retract within the chamber means 38 thereby restoring the connection between the lever 12 and the sixth tool 22.
[0104] The presence of safety means 49 associated directly with the shaft 11 enables the performance of the apparatus 1 to be improved inasmuch as the masses that have to be moved are reduced.
[0105] In particular, unlike what happens in prior-art machines, in which the safety means performs a stroke that is the same as the stroke of the sixth tool 22, in the apparatus according to the invention said safety means is only subjected to a shift that consists of an angular oscillation of limited extent integral with the shaft 11.
[0106] The apparatus 1 further comprises braking means 49 suitable for enabling a rapid stop of the shaft means 5 in the event of danger or for reasons linked to the processing cycle.
[0107] The braking means 49 comprises toothed pulley means 50 keyed onto the shaft means 5 and connected by toothed belt means 51 to further toothed pulley means 52.
[0108] The further toothed pulley means 52 is fixed to an end 53 of pivot means 54 revolvingly supported on frame means 55 of the apparatus 1.
[0109] Disc means 57 provided with a coating 58 made of a material with a high attrition coefficient is associated with a further end 56 of the pivot means 54.
[0110] In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the disc means 57 is directly keyed onto the shaft means 5.
[0111] The braking means 49 further comprises pneumatic cylinder means 59 within which piston means 60 is movable, plate means 61 suitable for interacting with the disc means 57, as will be explained in further detail below, being fixed on such piston means 60.
[0112] In a portion 64 of the pneumatic cylinder means 59 facing the plate means 61 seat means 63 is obtained that is suitable for receiving springs 62 arranged to press the plate means 61 towards the disc means 57.
[0113] In operation, during actuation of the shaft means 5, compressed air is introduced inside the pneumatic cylinder means 59 that by overcoming the force exerted by the springs 62 keeps the plate means 61 at a distance from the disc means 57, in such a way that the disc means is dragged to rotate by the shaft means 5.
[0114] If it is necessary to suddenly stop the shaft means 5, the pressurised air is removed from the pneumatic cylinder means 59 in such a way as not to further oppose the action of the springs 62.
[0115] In this way, the plate means 61 is brought into contact with the disc means 57 thereby stopping its rotation almost instantaneously.
[0117] Owing to the braking means 49 it is possible to obtain an apparatus 1 that can be stopped very rapidly.
[0119] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 can maintain high production speeds up to just a few instants before the foreseen stop of the processing cycle.
[0120] This enables the productivity to be considerably improved inasmuch as it is not necessary to provide deceleration transitions that are necessary for machines according to the state of the art due to the poor efficiency of the brakes associated with the motors of the latter.
[0121] Figure 9 shows the motor 47 that makes a drive pulley to rotate the latter rotationally actuating by means of belts 66 a driven pulley 67 keyed onto an intermediate shaft 68 suitable for driving drill tools of the apparatus 1 arranged to make in the support-base means 24 the holes within which the bristle elements 3 are received.
[0122] On the intermediate shaft 68 a toothed pulley 69 is further keyed that cooperates by means of a toothed belt 70 with a further toothed pulley 71 associated with the shaft means 5.
1. Apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21,
22, 23) suitable for associating bristle elements (3) with support-base means (24)
of said bristles (3) to make said brushes and cam drive means suitable for driving
said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23), characterised in that said cam drive means comprises enveloping cam means (8).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising covering means (4) suitable
for containing said enveloping cam means (8) for obtaining actuating unit means (2)
of said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said covering means comprises sealed container
means (4) suitable for containing lubricating means of said enveloping cam means (8).
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said enveloping cam means
(8) is connected to powered shaft means (5) of said apparatus (1).
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 when appended to claim 2, or 3, wherein said shaft
means (5) is rotationally supported on said covering means (4).
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said enveloping cam means
comprises enveloping cams (8) suitable for making further shaft means (11) actuating
said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) to perform oscillations of a preset amplitude.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 when appended to claim 5, wherein said further shaft
means comprises a plurality of shafts (11) rotationally coupled with said covering
means (4) and extending from said covering means (4) transversally in relation to
said shaft means (5).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said shafts (11) is suitable for actuating
a pair of tools (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) of said tool means.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pair of tools comprises a first tool
(14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to first operating head means (26) of said
apparatus (1) and a second tool (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to second operating
head means (27) of said apparatus (1).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first operating head means (26) is suitable
for interacting with first support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24)
and said second operating head means (27) is suitable for interacting with second
support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24).
11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising braking
means (49) suitable for stopping said apparatus (1).
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said braking means (49) is distinct from
motor means (47) suitable for actuating said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 when appended to claim 4, or 5, or when appended to
any one of claims 6 to 11 as appended to claim 4, or 5, wherein between said motor
means (47) and said shaft means (5) safety joint means is interposed.
14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13 when appended to claim 4, or 5,
or to any one of claims 6 to 10 when appended to claim 4, or 5, wherein said braking
means (49) is associated with said shaft means (5).
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said braking means (49) is connected to said
shaft means (5) by transmission means (50, 51, 52).
16. Apparatus according to claim 14, or 15, wherein said braking means (49) comprises
plate means (61) suitable for interacting through attrition with disc means (57) connected
to said shaft means (5).
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said braking means (49) further comprises
transfer means suitable for moving said plate means (61) near to, or away from, said
disc means (57).
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said transfer means comprises cylinder means
(59) within which piston means (60) is movable, the latter being integral with said
plate means (61).
19. Apparatus according to claim 17, or 18, wherein said transfer means further comprises
elastic means (62) suitable for pressing said plate means (61) against said disc means
(57).
20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, or according to any one of claims
11 to 19 when appended to any one of claims 6 to 10, and further comprising lever
means (12) actuatable by said further shaft means (11) and suitable for driving said
tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, or according to any one of claims
11 to 20 when appended to any one of claims 6 to 10, and further comprising safety
means (30) suitable for disconnecting said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23)
from said further shaft means (11).
22. Apparatus according to claim 21 when appended to claim 20, wherein said safety means
(30) comprises joint means (35, 36) interposed between said lever means (12) and said
further shaft means (11).
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said joint means comprises flange means (35)
fixable to said further shaft means (11).
24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said joint means comprises further flange
means (36) associatable with said flange means (35).
25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein in said flange means (35) is obtained chamber
means (38) cooperating with further chamber means (38a) obtained in said further flange
means (36) to define seat means within which pin means are insertable.
26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said seat means moves radially away from
a central zone of said joint means.
27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein said further flange means
is connected to presser means (37) suitable for pressing said further flange means
(36) towards said first flange means (35).
28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said presser means (37) comprises further
piston means (43) sliding in further cylinder means (42).
29. Apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 29 and further comprising sensor means
(46) arranged to detect the position of said further flange means (36) and to generate
a stop signal said apparatus (1).
30. Apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21,
22, 23) suitable for associating bristle elements (3) with support-base means (24)
of said bristles (3) to make said brushes, motor means (47) suitable for actuating
said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) and braking means (49) suitable for stopping
said apparatus (1), characterised in that said braking means (49) is distinct from said motor means (47).
31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said braking means (49) is associated with
shaft means (5) suitable for actuating said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein between said motor means (47) and said shaft
means (5) safety joint means is interposed.
33. Apparatus according to claim 31, or 32, wherein said braking means (49) is connected
to said shaft means (5) through transmission means (50, 51, 52).
34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein said braking means (49)
comprises plate means (61) suitable for interacting through attrition with disc means
(57) connected to said shaft means (5).
35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said braking means (49) further comprises
transfer means suitable for moving said plate means (61) near to, or away from, said
disc means (57).
36. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said transfer means comprises cylinder means
(59) within which piston means (60) is movable, the latter being integral with said
plate means (61).
37. Apparatus according to claim 35, or 36, wherein said transfer means further comprises
elastic means (62) suitable for pressing said plate means (61) against said disc means
(57).
38. Apparatus according to any one of claims 30 to 37, and further comprising cam drive
means suitable for driving said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
39. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said cam drive means comprises enveloping
cam means (8).
40. Apparatus according to claim 39, and further comprising covering means (4) suitable
for containing said enveloping cam means (8) for obtaining actuating unit means (2)
of said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said covering means comprises sealed container
means (4) suitable for containing lubricating means of said enveloping cam means (8).
42. Apparatus according to claim 41 when appended to any one of claims 31 to 37, or when
appended to any one of claims 38 to 40 as appended to any one of claims 31 to 37,
wherein said enveloping cam means (8) is integral with said shaft means (5).
43. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said shaft means (5) is revolvingly supported
on said covering means (4).
44. Apparatus according to any one of claims 39 to 43, wherein said enveloping cam means
comprises enveloping cams (8) suitable for making further shaft means (11) actuating
said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) to perform oscillations of a preset amplitude.
45. Apparatus according to claim 44 when appended to claim 43, wherein said further shaft
means comprises a plurality of shafts (11) rotationally coupled with said covering
means (4) and extending from said covering means (4) transversally in relation to
said shaft means (5).
46. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein each one of said shafts (11) is suitable
for actuating a pair of tools (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) of said tool means.
47. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said pair of tools comprises a first tool
(14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to first operating head means (26) of said
apparatus (1) and a second tool (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to second operating
head means (27) of said apparatus (1).
48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said first operating head means (26) is suitable
for interacting with first support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24)
and said second operating head means (27) is suitable for interacting with second
support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24).
49. Apparatus according to any one of claims 44 to 48, and further comprising lever means
(12) actuatable by said further shaft means (11) and suitable for driving said tool
means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
50. Apparatus according to claim 49, and further comprising safety means (30) suitable
for disconnecting said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) from said further shaft
means (11).
51. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said safety means (30) comprises joint means
(35, 36) interposed between said lever means (12) and said further shaft means (11).
52. Apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said joint means comprises flange means (35)
fixable to said further shaft means (11).
53. Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said joint means comprises further flange
means (36) associatable with said flange means (35).
54. Apparatus according to claim 53, wherein in said flange means (35) is obtained chamber
means (38) cooperating with further chamber means (38a) obtained in said further flange
means (36) to define seat means within which pin means are insertable.
55. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said seat means moves radially away from
a central zone of said joint means.
56. Apparatus according to any one of claims 53 to 55, wherein said further flange means
is connected to presser means (37) suitable for pressing said further flange means
(36) towards said first flange means (35).
57. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said presser means (37) comprises further
piston means (43) that is slidable in further cylinder means (42).
58. Apparatus according to any one of claims 53 to 57 and further comprising sensor means
(46) arranged to detect the position of said further flange means (36) and to generate
a stop signal of said apparatus (1).
59. Apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21,
22, 23) suitable for associating bristle elements (3) with support-base means (24)
of said bristles (3) to make said brushes, lever means (12) suitable for driving said
tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23), shaft means (11) suitable for actuating said
lever means (12) and safety means (30) suitable for disconnecting said tool means
(14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) from said shaft means (11), characterised in that said safety means (30) comprises joint means (35, 36) interposed between said lever
means (12) and said shaft means (5).
60. Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said joint means comprises flange means (35)
fixable to said shaft means (11).
61. Apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said joint means comprises further flange
means (36) associatable with said flange means (35).
62. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein in said flange means (35) is obtained chamber
means (38) cooperating with further chamber means (38a) obtained in said further flange
means (36) to define seat means within which pin means are insertable.
63. Apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said seat means moves radially away from
a central zone of said joint means.
64. Apparatus according to any one of claims 61 to 63, wherein said further flange means
is connected to presser means (37) suitable for pressing said further flange means
(36) towards said first flange means (35).
65. Apparatus according to claim 64, wherein said presser means (37) comprises piston
means (43) that is slidable in cylinder means (42).
66. Apparatus according to any one of claims 61 to 65 and further comprising sensor means
(46) arranged to detect the position of said further flange means (36) and to generate
a stop signal of said apparatus (1).
67. Apparatus according to any one of claims 59 to 66, and further comprising cam drive
means suitable for driving said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
68. Apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said cam drive means comprises enveloping
cam means (8).
69. Apparatus according to claim 68, and further comprising covering means (4) suitable
for containing said enveloping cam means (8) for obtaining actuating unit means (2)
of said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
70. Apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said covering means comprises sealed container
means (4) suitable for containing lubricating means of said enveloping cam means (8).
71. Apparatus according to any one of claims 68 to 70, wherein said enveloping cam means
(8) is connected to primary actuating shaft means (5) of said apparatus (1).
72. Apparatus according to claim 71 when appended to claim 69, or 70, wherein said primary
actuating shaft means (5) is revolvingly supported on said covering means (4).
73. Apparatus according to claim 71, or 72, when appended to claim 69, or 70, wherein
said enveloping cam means comprises enveloping cams (8) suitable for making said shaft
means (11) to perform oscillations of a preset amplitude.
74. Apparatus according to claim 73 when appended to any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein
said shaft means comprises a plurality of shafts (11) rotationally coupled with said
covering means (4) and extending from said covering means (4) transversally in relation
to said primary actuating shaft means (5).
75. Apparatus according to claim 74, wherein each one of said shafts (11) is suitable
for actuating a pair of tools (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) of said tool means.
76. Apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said pair of tools comprises first tool (14,
16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to first operating head means (26) of said apparatus
(1) and a second tool (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to second operating head
means (27) of said apparatus (1).
77. Apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said first operating head means (26) is suitable
for interacting with first support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24)
and said second operating head means (27) is suitable for interacting with second
support-base means (24) of said support-base means (24).
78. Apparatus according to any one of the claims 59 to 77, and further comprising braking
means (49) suitable for stopping said apparatus (1).
79. Apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said braking means (49) is distinct from
motor means (47) suitable for actuating said tool means (14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23).
80. Apparatus according to claim 79 when appended to claim 71, or 72, or when appended
to any one of claims 73 to 78 when appended to claim 71, or 72, wherein between said
motor means (47) and said primary actuating shaft means (5) safety joint means is
interposed.
81. Apparatus according to any one of claims 78 to 80 when appended to claim 71, or 72,
or when appended to any one of claims 73 to 77 when appended to claim 71, or 72, wherein
said braking means (49) is associated with said primary actuating shaft means (5).
82. Apparatus according to claim 81, wherein said braking means (49) is connected to said
primary actuating shaft means (5) by drive means (50, 51, 52).
83. Apparatus according to any one of claims 80 to 82, wherein said braking means (49)
comprises plate means (61) suitable for interacting through attrition with disc means
(57) connected to said primary actuating shaft means (5).
84. Apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said braking means (49) further comprises
transfer means suitable for moving said plate means (61) near to, or away from, said
disc means (57).
85. Apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said transfer means comprises further cylinder
means (59) within which further piston means (60) is movable, the latter being integral
with said plate means (61).
86. Apparatus according to claim 84, or 85, wherein said transfer means further comprises
elastic means (62) suitable for pressing said plate means (61) against said disc means
(57).