Device and method for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments

Abstract

Device (1) for separating bristle bundles (2) from a supply (3) of loose bristle filaments, characterized in that the device (1) has at least two spaced-apart, identical groups (4, 5) of separation notches (6) which can be moved past the supply (3) in a separation movement (7) for separating bristle bundles (2), wherein a distance between the groups (4, 5) is greater than a distance between adjacent separation notches (6) within a group (4, 5) of separation notches (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments. To produce bristle products, such as brushes, tucks, and / or paintbrushes, bristle filaments are combined into bristle bundles and, in a subsequent step, attached to a bristle product body.

[0002] For this purpose, the bristle bundles are separated from a supply of loose bristle filaments. To do this, separating notches are moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments in a separating motion, with bristle filaments from the supply being drawn into the separating notches. The bristle filaments subsequently located in a separating notch then form a bristle bundle.

[0003] From the publication DE 197 34 615 A1, a method and a device for producing a bristle carrier, in particular a toothbrush, comprising a plurality of bristle tufts are already known. The method provides for stuffing the bristle tufts into holes in the bristle carrier and then securing them. The method is characterized in that, prior to stuffing, first bristles and second bristles are mixed and combined to form the bristle tufts.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments for the production of bristle goods, which promote an efficient separation of bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments.

[0005] To solve this problem, a device for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments is proposed, comprising the means and features of the independent claim directed to such a device. To solve this problem, a device for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments is proposed, which device has at least two spaced-apart, identical groups of separating notches that can be moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments in a separating movement to separate bristle bundles.

[0006] With each of the groups of dividing notches, a number of bristle bundles can then be divided from the supply, which corresponds to a number of bristle bundles in a bristle trim of a bristle product to be produced or to a subgroup of bristle bundles of a bristle trim of a bristle product to be produced.

[0007] Because the device has at least two identical groups of separation notches, a higher, for example twice the amount of bundle groups can be separated from the supply of loose bristle filaments per unit of time than was the case with previously known devices for separating bristle bundles.

[0008] The Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a prior art device for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments. The prior art device has only one group of separating notches. A comparable separating device is also disclosed in DE 10 2016 012 148 A1.

[0009] Furthermore, the device promotes a better filling of the individual compartment notches of the two identical groups of compartment notches while maintaining an unchanged cycle time, as the groups of compartment notches can be moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments in a compartmental movement at a lower speed.

[0010] According to the invention, a distance between the groups of compartment notches is greater than a distance between adjacent compartment notches within a group of compartment notches.

[0011] The device can have a compartmentalizing element on which the groups of compartmentalizing notches are arranged. If the at least two identical groups of compartmentalizing notches are arranged on one compartmentalizing element, they can be moved particularly easily one after the other past a supply of loose bristle filaments to separate bristle bundles from the supply. Due to their shared arrangement on one compartmentalizing element, the at least two groups of compartmentalizing notches can be at a constant distance from one another.

[0012] The use of a common compartmentalizing element with at least two identical groups of compartmentalizing notches arranged thereon promotes the aforementioned cycle time reduction or the reduction of the speed of the compartmentalizing movement while maintaining the same cycle time. While one group of compartmentalizing notches can be moved into a transfer position (explained in more detail below) using the compartmentalizing element, in which the bristle bundles located in the group of compartmentalizing notches can be held ready for removal and transport, the other group of compartmentalizing notches can be moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments to remove bristle bundles from the supply.

[0013] Each group of at least two identical groups of compartment notches can have identical compartment notches in terms of number and shape. This promotes the previously explained increase in efficiency of the device compared to the prior art (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) previously known devices.

[0014] The compartment element may be a compartment disc. The compartment disc may have a circular-arc-shaped edge on which the groups of compartment notches are arranged.

[0015] In particular, in the case of a dividing disc which has a circular arc-shaped edge on which the groups of dividing notches are arranged, the groups of dividing notches can be arranged at an angular distance of 45° to 180°, in particular of 90° to 120°, and in a preferred embodiment of the device at an angular distance of 120°.

[0016] The arrangement of at least two groups of compartmental notches at an angular distance of 120° promotes a reduction to 120° of the angle of rotation that a group of compartmental notches must travel to a transfer position after being completely filled with bristle bundles. This promotes a shorter cycle time or a lower speed of the compartmental movement. Furthermore, it is possible for the groups of compartmental notches to pass through the supply of loose bristle filaments twice, which can lead to homogeneous filling of the compartmental notches and thus a more homogeneous separation of bristle bundles from the supply. For this purpose, the compartmental movement can be an alternating movement.

[0017] The compartmentalization movement, in which the at least two groups of compartmentalization notches, in particular the one compartmentalization element on which the groups of compartmentalization notches can be arranged, are moved, can be a rotary movement, preferably an alternating rotary movement. The groups, in particular the compartmentalization element, can be rotatable about a common rotation axis to execute the compartmentalization movement.

[0018] To carry out the compartmentalization movement, the device can have a drive, in particular a rotary drive, with which the groups of compartmentalization notches, in particular the compartmentalization element, can be moved in the compartmentalization movement.

[0019] The device may comprise a magazine for receiving the supply of loose bristle filaments, which is arranged in a removal position, in particular on the compartment element.

[0020] The device may further comprise a removal device for removing bristle bundles from the compartmentalizing notches. The removal device may be arranged in a transfer position, in particular on the compartmentalizing element.

[0021] The aforementioned magazine for receiving the supply of loose bristle filaments and the aforementioned removal device can be arranged offset from one another by 180° with respect to a rotation axis about which the groups of compartment notches can be rotated in the compartment movement.

[0022] The removal device can have a number of removal means for removing bristle bundles from the compartment notches, which number corresponds to the number of compartment notches in a group. In this way, it is possible to empty all compartment notches of a group filled with bristle bundles in one step, in particular simultaneously, using the removal means of the removal device.

[0023] The removal device can be configured to remove and / or transport bristle bundles using negative pressure. For this purpose, the removal device can have suction lines as removal means, which are connectable or connected to a negative pressure source of the device. Using the negative pressure source, a negative pressure can be applied to the suction lines. The negative pressure can be used to suck in the bristle bundles located in the compartment notches of a group of compartment notches in the transfer position and transfer them to a target position via the suction lines.

[0024] The dividing element can be configured to transport the bristle bundles from the aforementioned removal position on the supply of loose bristle filaments to a transfer position.

[0025] The device may comprise at least one counterpart and / or at least one counter-holder, which can be advanced toward the compartment element by means of a counter-holder device. The aforementioned compartment element may be arranged between the at least one counterpart and / or the at least one counter-holder.

[0026] The at least one counterpart, the at least one counterholder and the at least one counterholder device can be arranged relative to the compartment element in such a way that the bristle bundles located in the groups of compartment notches are secured against falling out of the compartment notches by the at least one counterpart and the at least one counterholder during their transport with the compartment element into a transfer position.

[0027] The aforementioned magazine can have a filament pusher. The filament pusher can be used to apply pressure to loose bristle filaments in the magazine toward the groups of compartmental notches. This can promote a homogeneous filling of the compartmental notches at the edge of the compartmental element with bristle filaments.

[0028] To achieve this objective, a method for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments is also proposed, using a device according to one of the claims directed to such a method, which has the features of the claim directed to such a method. Accordingly, it is provided that a group, in particular the groups, of separating notches are moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments in an alternating separating movement, in particular in an alternating rotary movement, to fill the separating notches.

[0029] Due to the alternating separation movement, the groups of separation notches of the previously described device are guided past the supply of loose bristle filaments at least twice. This allows for a higher degree of filling or a more homogeneous filling of the separation notches when separating bristle bundles from the supply of loose bristle filaments.

[0030] In one embodiment of the method, the removed bristle bundles are moved into a transfer position in the compartmentalizing notches of a group. In the transfer position, the bristle bundles can be removed from the compartmentalizing notches and transported further using a removal device, preferably by means of negative pressure and / or simultaneously.

[0031] Using the removal device, the bristle bundles can then be fed to a downstream processing device. In a downstream processing device, the bristle bundles can, for example, be transferred into a holding device, rounded off, ground, melted, and / or, in particular, fed into an injection mold. It is also possible to feed the bristle bundles to a stuffing device, which can then, if necessary, stuff the bristle bundles into receiving holes in a bristle product body.

[0032] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, but is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments result from the combination of the features of individual or multiple claims with each other and / or in combination of individual or multiple features of the exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1: a perspective view of a device for separating bristle bundles from a supply of loose bristle filaments, with a separating element on which two identical groups of separating notches are arranged, which can be moved past the supply of loose bristle filaments in a separating movement for separating bristle bundles therefrom, Fig. 2: a top view of the compartment element of the Fig. 1 shown device, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4: perspective representations of the Fig. 1 shown device with compartment element in different rotational positions, Fig. 5: a perspective view of a device for separating bundles of bristles known from the prior art and Fig. 6: the compartment element of the Fig. 5 shown device with only one group of compartment notches.

[0033] The Fig. 1-4 show at least parts of a device, designated as a whole by 1, for separating bristle bundles 2 from a supply 3 of loose bristle filaments.

[0034] The device 1 has two spaced-apart, identical groups 4 and 5 of separating notches 6 which can be moved past the supply 3 in a separating movement symbolized by an arrow 7 for separating bundles of bristles 2.

[0035] The two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 are arranged on a compartment element of the device 1. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the compartment element 8 of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 device shown in different situations 1.

[0036] Fig. 2 illustrates that a distance between the two groups 4 and 5 is greater than a distance between adjacent compartment notches 6 within a group 4 or 5 of compartment notches 6. The two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 are arranged at a distance from one another at an edge 9 of the compartment element 8.

[0037] Each group 4 and 5 of the two identical groups of compartment notches 6 has identical compartment notches 6 in terms of number and shape. In this way, it is possible to use the two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 to pick out identical groups of bristle bundles 2 from the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments.

[0038] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates that the compartment element 8 is a compartment disc 10 with a circular-arc-shaped edge 9, on which the groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 are arranged. The two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 are spaced apart by 120°. The angular distance is measured between two identical compartment notches 6 of the two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6, for example, between the middle compartment notch 6 of one group 4 and the middle compartment notch 6 of the other group 5 of compartment notches 6.

[0039] The compartment movement 7 is an alternating rotational movement of the two groups 4 and 5 around a common rotation axis 11. The two groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 and the compartment element 8 are rotated around the rotation axis 11 to execute the compartment movement 7.

[0040] For this purpose, the device 1 has a drive 12, namely a rotary drive for the groups 4 and 5 of compartment notches 6 and the compartment element 8.

[0041] The device 1 further comprises a magazine 13, which serves to hold the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments. The magazine 13 is arranged in a removal position 14 on the compartment element 8. The device 1 further comprises a removal device 15 for removing bristle bundles 2 from the compartment notches 6. The removal device 15 is arranged in a transfer position 16 on the compartment element 8. The removal device 15 is equipped with a number of removal means 17 for removing bristle bundles 2 from the compartment notches 6, which number corresponds to the number of compartment notches 6 in a group of 4 or 5 compartment notches 6.

[0042] The removal device 15 is configured for removing and transporting bristle bundles 2 by means of negative pressure and, for this purpose, comprises suction lines 17 as removal means, which are connected to a negative pressure source 18. Each group 4 and 5 comprises nine compartment notches 6. The removal device 15 has a total of nine removal means 17 in the form of suction lines, so that all bristle bundles 2 held ready in the compartment notches 6 of a group 4 and 5 in the transfer position 16 can be removed together.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows that at least two compartment notches 6 of a group 4 or 5 of compartment notches 6 have different sizes and / or shapes.

[0044] The magazine 13 of the device 1 has a filament pusher 19. With the help of the filament pusher 19, pressure can be exerted on the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments within the magazine 13 in order to press the bristle filaments against the compartmentalizing element 8. With the help of the filament pusher 19, the bristle filaments can be moved from the magazine 13 into the compartmentalizing notches 6 of the two groups 4 and 5 of compartmentalizing notches 6, which pass through the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments during the compartmentalizing movement 7, and the compartmentalizing notches 6 can be filled with bristle bundles.

[0045] The Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 further illustrate that the compartment element 8 is flanked by two counterparts 20 and a counterholder 21. The counterholder 21 is connected to a counterholder device 22, with which a distance between the counterholder 21 and the compartment element 8 can be regulated. The two counterparts 20 and the counterholder 21 serve to secure the bristle bundles 2 in the compartment notches 6 from falling out during their transport from the removal position 14 on the magazine 13 to the transfer position 16 on the removal device 15.

[0046] Due to the alternating compartmental movement 7, each group 4 and 5 of compartmental notches 6 can be guided past the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments in the magazine 13 at least twice. This promotes a homogeneous filling of the compartmental notches 6 with bristle filaments.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows the device 1 with filled compartment notches 6. Fig. 3 shows the device 1 with compared to Fig. 1 Separation disc 10 rotated by 120° after removal of the bristle bundles 2 from the first group 4 of separation notches 6. The first group 4 of separation notches 6 is empty. The second group 5 of separation notches 6 has been passed a second time past the magazine 13 with the supply of 3 loose bristle filaments and is now filled.

[0048] Fig. 4 shows the compartment disc 10 opposite Fig. 3 is rotated by 120°. The second group 5 of compartment notches 6 is ready for the removal of the bristle bundles 2 below the removal means 17, namely the suction lines in the transfer position 16. The first group 4 of compartment notches 6 is already filled after passing through the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments twice. The angle of rotation that the first group must travel after being completely filled to reach the transfer position 16 on the removal device 15 is then only 120°.

[0049] The device 1 is configured to carry out the method explained below for separating bristle bundles 2 from a supply of three loose bristle filaments. In this process, the groups 4 and 5 of separating notches 6 are moved past the supply 3 of loose bristle filaments in an alternating separating movement 7, namely in an alternating rotational movement, to fill the separating notches 6 with bristle bundles 2.

[0050] The removed bristle bundles 2 are then moved into the compartment notches 6 of groups 4 and 5 into the transfer position 6 on the removal device 15. In the transfer position 16, the bristle bundles 2 are removed from the compartment notches 6 and transported further in one work step and, in the technical sense, simultaneously by means of the removal device 15 using negative pressure.

[0051] The Fig. 5 and Fig.6 show a prior art device 100 having a compartment element 800 with only a single group 400 of compartment notches 600.

[0052] The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of bristle manufacturing. For this purpose, a device 1 for separating bristle bundles 2 from a supply 3 of loose bristle filaments is proposed, which device has at least two spaced-apart, identical groups 4 and 5 of separating notches 6. Groups 4 and 5 can be moved past the supply 3 in a separating movement 7 to separate bristle bundles. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 bundles of bristles 3 supplies of loose bristle filaments 4 first group of compartment notches 5 second group of compartment notches 6 compartment notches 7 Compartment movement 8 compartment element 9 edge of 8 10 compartment disc 11 Rotation axis of 4.5 12 rotary drive 13 Magazine 14 Removal position 15 Removal device 16 Transfer position 17 Withdrawal means, namely suction line 18 Vacuum source 19 filament pushers 20 counterpart 21 Counterholder 22 Counterholding device 100 Device according to the state of the art 400 group of compartment notches 600 compartment notch 800 compartment element

Claims

[1] Device (1) for separating bristle bundles (2) from a supply (3) of loose bristle filaments, characterized by in that the device (1) has at least two identical groups (4, 5) of dividing notches (6) spaced apart from one another, which can be moved past the supply (3) in a dividing movement (7) for dividing bundles of bristles (2), wherein a distance between the groups (4, 5) is greater than a distance between adjacent dividing notches (6) within a group (4, 5) of dividing notches (6). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) comprises a compartment element (8) on which the groups (4, 5) of compartment notches (6) are arranged, in particular wherein the groups (4, 5) of compartment notches (6) are arranged at a distance from one another on an edge (9) of the compartment element (8). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each group (4, 5) of the at least two identical groups of compartment notches (6) has compartment notches (6) that are identical in number and shape. [4] Device (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the dividing element (8) is a dividing disc (10) with a circular arc-shaped edge (9) on which the groups (4, 5) of dividing notches (6) are arranged. [5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the groups (4, 5) have an angular distance of 45° to 180°, in particular of 90° to 120°, preferably at an angular distance of 120°, from one another. [6] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compartmentalizing movement (7) is a, in particular alternating, rotary movement and / or wherein the groups (4, 5), in particular the compartmentalizing element (8), is / are rotatable about a rotation axis (11) to carry out the compartmentalizing movement (7). [7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a drive (12), in particular a rotary drive, for the groups (4, 5) of compartment notches (6), in particular for the compartment element (8). [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a magazine (13) for receiving the supply (3) of loose bristle filaments, which is arranged in a removal position (14), in particular on the dividing element (8). [9] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) has a removal device (15) for removing bristle bundles (2) from the dividing notches (6), which is arranged in a transfer position (16), in particular on the dividing element (8). [10] Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the removal device (15) for removing bristle bundles (2) from the compartment notches (6) has a number of removal means (17) which corresponds to the number of compartment notches (6) of a group (4, 5). [11] Device (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the removal device (15) is designed for the removal and / or removal of bristle bundles (2) by means of negative pressure, in particular wherein the removal device (15) has suction lines as removal means (17) which are or can be connected to a negative pressure source (18). [12] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dividing element (8) is arranged to transport the bristle bundles (2) from a removal position (14) to a transfer position (16). [13] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two compartment notches (6) of a group (4, 5) have different sizes and / or shapes. [14] Method for separating bristle bundles (2) from a supply (3) of loose bristle filaments using a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a group (4, 5) of separating notches (6) for filling the separating notches (6) with bristle bundles (2) is moved past the supply (3) of loose bristle filaments in an alternating separating movement (7). [15] Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the removed bristle bundles (2) in the compartment notches (6) of a group (4, 5) are moved into a transfer position (16) in which they are removed from the compartment notches (6) and transported further by means of a removal device (15), preferably by means of negative pressure and / or in one working step.

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