BRISTLE MAGAZINE FOR A BRUSH PACKING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bristle magazine for a brush stuffing machine, comprising a fiber box that can hold a supply of fibers which can be discharged at an outlet of the fiber box to a bundle take-off device, a pressure mechanism with which the fiber supply in the fiber box can be acted upon in the direction of the outlet, wherein the pressure mechanism has a pressure element which extends transversely through the fiber box and can act upon a side of the fiber supply facing away from the outlet, and an actuator which can actuate the pressure element in the direction of the outlet.

[0002] An example of such a bristle magazine is known from DE 26 32 328. It is described below with reference to the attached Figure 1 described.

[0003] The supply 3 of fibers held in the fiber box 4 of the bristle magazine 1 is fed to the bundle taker 5. This taker has a bundle-receiving notch 6, which, with each pass of the outlet A of the fiber box 4, gathers a small quantity of fibers into a bristle bundle and transports them to a stuffing tool (not shown here). The stuffing tool stuffs the fiber bundle into a brush body. In this way, toothbrushes, paintbrushes, household brushes, brooms, etc., can be manufactured.

[0004] When the bundle taker 5 removes the fibers from the fiber box 4, the fiber supply 3 is continuously pressed by the pressure element 11 towards the outlet A of the fiber box 4. The pressure element 11 is mounted on a carriage 14, which is movable next to the fiber box 4 such that the pressure element 11 extends transversely through the fiber box and presses the entire fiber supply 3 towards the outlet A. The carriage 14 is actuated by the actuator 10.

[0005] The pressure element can be designed as a straight rod or a curved bracket. A plate-shaped pressure element can also be used.

[0006] Regarding its function of applying pressure to the fiber supply 3 towards the outlet A, the pressure element does not necessarily have to extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber box 4. The term "transverse" therefore refers to a direction in which the pressure element extends from one side of the fiber box to the other, both perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber box and with a certain deviation from a perpendicular direction, provided this does not impair the function of applying pressure to the fiber supply towards the outlet. In practice, deviations on the order of up to ±20° will not pose a problem.

[0007] Actuator 10 can be a piston / cylinder unit that operates pneumatically or hydraulically. However, other operating principles are also possible, for example a simple spring.

[0008] The actuator 10 together with the pressure element 11 forms the pressure mechanism.

[0009] Depending on the speed at which the fiber bundle taker 5 removes the fibers from the fiber box 4, new fibers must be regularly inserted into the fiber box 4. These are shown here as a new fiber bundle 2.

[0010] To add the fibers of fiber bundle 2 to fiber supply 3, the pressure element 11 must be retracted and moved "behind" fiber bundle 2, i.e., to the side facing away from outlet A. This can be done either by using a switch that is operated with one hand (for example, the one in Figure 1(shown release switch 12), whereby the actuator 10 retracts the carriage 14 with the pressure element away from the outlet A, or the carriage 14 can be retracted manually (especially if the actuator has a mechanical spring). In both cases, an operator must use both hands: one hand must hold the fiber bundle 2 in the fiber box, and the other hand must either trigger the retraction of the pressure element 11 or push the carriage back.

[0011] It becomes even more complex if the pressure element does not pivot laterally around a pivot axis 13 on the carriage 14 when it is retracted (see Figure 1 ; a return spring 16 ensures that the pressure element 11, after being pulled laterally out of the fiber box 4 and the carriage 14 being pulled back, pivots back into the fiber box 4), but is first pulled laterally out of the fiber box 4 (see the handle 19 in Figure 2 ), then it must be moved backwards and finally pushed back into the fiber box.

[0012] The object of the invention is to create a bristle magazine in which a new supply of fibers can be inserted with less effort, in particular with only one hand.

[0013] This problem is solved by a bristle magazine for a brush stuffing machine according to the features of claim 1.

[0014] To solve this problem, the invention provides that, in a bristle magazine of the type mentioned above, a release mechanism is assigned to the pressure element on the rear side facing away from the outlet. Actuation of this mechanism causes the pressure element to be released from the fiber supply, retracted, and then pressed against a replenished fiber supply. According to the invention, the release mechanism is triggered by inserting a new fiber bundle into the fiber box and then pressing it against the pressure element from behind. This causes the pressure element to be pulled out of the fiber box by the actuator, retracted away from the outlet, and then reinserted into the fiber box, pressing the new fiber bundle against the "old" fiber supply and merging it with the existing supply. The fiber supply is thereby replenished.The particular advantage of the bristle magazine according to the invention is that an operator only needs to insert the new fiber bundle into the fiber box and push it towards the outlet in a single, natural movement. One hand is sufficient for this. As soon as the fiber bundle is pressed against the pressure element, the retraction process of the pressure element is triggered. A further advantage of the bristle magazine according to the invention is that the release mechanism can be triggered independently of the position of the pressure element, namely whenever a new fiber bundle is inserted.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the release mechanism includes a switch that is actuated when a new fiber bundle is pressed onto the side of the pressure element facing away from the outlet. The switch can generate an electrical signal or close / open a circuit, causing the pressure mechanism to pull the pressure element backward in the fiber box and then push it forward again.

[0016] Depending on boundary conditions such as the risk of contamination, the desired level of maintenance-free operation, installation space, etc., different operating principles can be used for the switch. Examples include mechanical, electromechanical, capacitive, inductive, magnetic, or optical switches.

[0017] According to the invention, a switching finger is provided on the side of the pressure element facing away from the outlet, which interacts with the switch. The switching finger serves as a sensor element that responds when a new fiber bundle is pressed onto the side of the pressure element facing the outlet.

[0018] The switching finger can be a two-armed lever, with one arm being able to actuate a new fiber bundle and the other arm operating the switch. This allows the switch to be mounted on the carriage, protected and away from the free end of the switching finger.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a spring is provided that biases the switching finger into a starting position. The stiffness of the spring can be used to set a switching threshold that must be overcome to trigger the retraction and subsequent extension of the pressure element.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, an automated feeder for fiber bundles is provided. This allows a fiber bundle to be inserted into the fiber box and pressed against the rear of the pressure element. As soon as this is detected by the trigger mechanism, the pressure with which the pressure mechanism presses the pressure element against the fiber supply is preferably reduced immediately. This prevents the fiber supply from being pressed with excessive force towards the outlet A and against the bundle take-up device 5, namely with the sum of the pressure force from the pressure mechanism and the pressure force from the automated feeder of the new fiber bundle.

[0021] According to the invention, the fiber box can have more than one fiber channel for one type of bristle or fiber, for example, to be able to equip a brush with several different bristles. In such a multi-bristle magazine, each of the different fiber channels is then assigned its own pressure mechanism.

[0022] The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 A prior art bristle magazine in a schematic top view, Fig. 2 Another bristle magazine from the state of the art in a sectional view; Fig. 3 a top view of a bristle magazine according to the invention; Fig. 4 enlarged scale, the pressure element of the bristle magazine attached to a slide of Figure 3 ; and Fig. 5 a side view of the pressure element of Fig. 4 .

[0023] In Figure 3 A bristle magazine 1 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. For the Figure 1 The same reference symbols are used for known components, and reference is made to the explanations above in this respect.

[0024] A release mechanism is attached to the pressure element 11, which has as essential components a switching finger 20 and a switch 22 (see Figure 4 ).

[0025] The switching finger 20 is a two-armed lever that is pivotably mounted on the pressure element 11 about a pivot axis 24. It has a first lever arm 26 that projects beyond the rear of the pressure lever, i.e., beyond the side facing away from the outlet of the fiber box 4. "Projecting" here means that the switching finger 20 extends from the Figure 4The starting position shown can be pivoted counterclockwise when pressure is applied to the lever arm 26, in particular when a new fiber pack 2 is pressed against the back of the pressure element 11.

[0026] In the starting position, the switching finger is held by a return spring 28, which pulls a second lever arm 30 of the switching finger 20 against a stop 32.

[0027] The second lever arm 30 is assigned to the switch 22, which is attached here to the slide 14. The switch 22 is actuated when the switching finger 20 is pivoted counterclockwise from its initial position.

[0028] As an alternative to a two-armed lever, the switching finger 20 can also be designed as a single-armed lever, i.e., mounted at one end around a pivot axis, for example on the slide 14. In this case, at least the free end of the lever is the switching finger.

[0029] The switch 22 can be any suitable switch capable of detecting that a new fiber bundle 2 is pressed against the back of the pressure element 11. In the illustrated embodiment, it is an electromechanical switch 22, the actuation of which closes an electrical circuit between two contacts (see the connecting leads 34).

[0030] Other switches are also conceivable. Magnetic, electromagnetic, capacitive, inductive, or optical switches can be used. It is also conceivable that the switch is formed by a valve that controls a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit.

[0031] When a new fiber bundle 2 is pressed against the switching finger 20, the switch 22 is actuated. In response to this signal, the actuator 10 is controlled to retract the carriage 14, i.e., away from the side of the fiber box 4 where the outlet A is located.

[0032] When the carriage 14 is retracted, the pressure element 11 pivots clockwise about the pivot axis 13 into a position where it is (almost) parallel to the carriage's direction of travel and parallel to the outside of the fiber box 4. As soon as the carriage is "behind" the new fiber bundle 2, the pressure element 11 can pivot back into the fiber box 4 under the action of the return spring 16. In this position, it again rests against an abutment 36 provided on the carriage 14. After the carriage 14 reaches its maximum retracted position, it is pushed forward again by the actuator 10, so that the fiber supply 3 is pressed towards the outlet A and against the bundle take-up device 5.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiments, the pressure element is a pressure bar that is movable about a laterally arranged pivot axis. Alternatively, a pressure flap can be used that is movable about a pivot axis arranged horizontally above the fiber supply 4. In this case, the pressure element is not pivoted laterally out of the fiber box when it is moved to the back of the fiber supply, but rather pivoted upwards over the fiber supply and out of the fiber box. A release mechanism can also be used with a pressure flap, arranged at a suitable position on the pressure flap to be triggered by a new fiber bundle.

[0034] The particular advantage of the release mechanism is that it can be activated independently of the position of the pressure element 11 in the fiber box. As soon as there is enough space in the fiber box to insert a new fiber bundle 2 behind the pressure element 11, the release mechanism can be activated by pushing the bundle forward by the operator, thus against the back of the pressure element 11. The carriage is then pulled back, moving the pressure element 11 behind the fiber bundle 2.

Claims

1. Bristle magazine (1) for a brush stuffing machine, comprising a fiber box (4) that can hold a supply (3) of fibers that can be delivered to a bundle collector (5) at an outlet (A) of the fiber box (4), a pressure mechanism (10, 11) with which the fiber supply (3) in the fiber box (4) can be applied in the direction of the outlet (A), wherein the pressure mechanism (10, 11) comprises a pressure element (11) which extends through the fiber box (4) and can engage on a side of the fiber supply ( 3) facing away from the outlet (A), and an actuator ( 10) which can apply the pressure element (11) in the direction of the outlet (A), characterized in that a release mechanism (20, 22) is assigned to the rear side of the pressure element (11) facing away from the outlet (A), the actuation of which causes the pressure element (11) to be released from the fiber supply (3), retracted, and pressed again against a replenished fiber supply (3) , wherein the release mechanism comprises a switch finger (20) and a switch (22) , wherein the switch finger (20) cooperates with the switch and serves as a sensor element that responds when a new fiber package is pressed onto the side of the pressure element (11) facing away from the outlet (A).

2. Bristle magazine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch (22) is a mechanical, electromechanical, capacitive, inductive, magnetic, or optical switch.

3. Bristle magazine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch finger (20) is a two-armed lever, wherein a new fiber package (2) can act on one lever arm and the other lever arm (30) can actuate the switch (22).

4. Bristle magazine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch finger (20) is a single-arm lever which is mounted at one end on a slide and extends into the fiber box in such a way that a fiber bundle (2) can act on its free end.

5. Bristle magazine (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a return spring (28) is provided which biases the switch finger (20) to a starting position.

6. Bristle magazine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an automated feed for fiber bundles is provided.

7. Bristle magazine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fiber box (4) is a multiple bristle magazine, in which multiple fiber channels for different fibers are provided, wherein respectively a pressure mechanism (10, 11) is assigned to each of the fiber channels.