Method for cleaning a machining roller of a machining tool and a related cleaning device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for cleaning a rotatably mounted processing roller of a processing tool with a cleaning device, wherein the processing roller is moved toward a brush roller that is rotated by a drive device of the cleaning device until a portion of the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against a portion of the outer circumference of the brush roller. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cleaning device for carrying out the method.

[0002] Such a processing tool could, for example, be a hemming tool for bodywork production in vehicle construction, whose processing roller, designed as a hemming roller, is used for roll-hemming sheet metal parts. For this purpose, the hemming roller is mounted on the processing tool so that it can rotate about a roller axis and is guided along the respective sheet metal part in the hemming area. When roll-hemming sheet metal parts, an adhesive is usually introduced into the hem seam in the hem area. Depending on the application, this adhesive serves to create a material-tight bond at the hem seam or to protect the sheet metal in the hem area from corrosion. If such an adhesive is used for roll-hemming, however, in most cases some adhesive leaks out, which increasingly contaminates the hemming roller. The hemming roller must therefore be cleaned regularly.

[0003] A related cleaning device is known from the prior art, for example from DE 100 01 205 C1. This cleaning device has a brush roller mounted so as to rotate about its roller axis, wherein the brush roller is driven by a drive device. To clean the folding roller, the roller is moved towards the rotating brush roller until an outer circumference of the folding roller rests against an outer circumference of the cleaning roller. When the folding roller rests against the brush roller, the roller axis of the folding roller and the roller axis of the brush roller are aligned parallel to one another. If the brush roller resting against the folding roller is driven by the drive device, contaminants can be removed from the folding roller. However, the folding roller is also set in rotation by the brush roller, which results in an inefficient cleaning process if the brush roller and the folding roller rotate at the same speed.To improve cleaning performance, the folding roller can be moved by an additional drive device with a rotation direction opposite to that of the brush roller or at a rotation speed different from that of the brush roller. In both cases, a relative movement is created between the outer circumference of the folding roller and the outer circumference of the brush roller, which improves the cleaning result. However, providing an additional drive device is complex.

[0004] DE 100 40 950 B4 describes a printing machine which has a brush roller for cleaning a cylinder, both of which are axially parallel to each other.

[0005] Another cleaning device is known from DE 10 2017 210 163 B4. This document also discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1. The device described therein comprises two brush rollers driven by a drive device. Both brush rollers are arranged relative to one another such that together they form a roller nip. To clean a processing roller, it is inserted into the roller nip, whereby the axis of rotation of the processing roller is aligned parallel to the roller axes of the two brush rollers and the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against the outer circumference of the two brush rollers. The two brush rollers can be driven at different rotational speeds via a gear device, so that on the one hand the adjacent folding roller is rotated by the brush roller and on the other hand the actual cleaning process is carried out efficiently. This cleaning device has fundamentally proven itself.However, the provision of two brush rollers increases the number of moving parts, which ultimately increases the maintenance effort due to wear and tear.

[0006] The object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of the complete cleaning of a processing roller of a processing tool, whereby only a driven brush roller is used and no further drive device is necessary on the processing roller.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method can be found in claims 2 and 3.

[0008] The method for cleaning a rotatably mounted processing roller of a processing tool provides that the processing roller is brought towards a brush roller set in rotation by means of the drive device of the cleaning device until a section of the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against a section of the outer circumference of the brush roller. When in contact, the bristles of the brush roller rest on the surface of the processing side of the processing roller. According to the invention, the processing roller is brought towards the brush roller in such a way that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller, a roller axis of the processing roller and a roller axis of the brush roller are aligned skew relative to one another.

[0009] Skew is understood as meaning that two straight lines neither intersect nor are parallel to each other.

[0010] If the outer circumference of the brush roller rests against the outer circumference of the processing roller, a force is transferred from the outer circumference of the brush roller to the outer circumference of the processing roller when the brush roller rotates. Due to the skewed arrangement of the roller axes, the transferred force is made up of a force component acting in the direction of rotation of the processing roller and a force component acting transversely to the direction of rotation of the processing roller. The force component acting transversely to the direction of rotation results in the processing roller rotating about its axis. The force component acting transversely to the direction of rotation causes the bristles of the brush roller to sweep over the surface of the processing side of the processing roller with a movement component transversely to the direction of rotation on the outer circumference of the processing roller. With this sweeping, impurities (e.g.Adhesive residues) are removed from the surface of the processing side of the processing roller. Due to the rotation of the processing roller induced by the brush roller, the bristles sweep over the outer circumference of the processing roller section by section, thus achieving complete cleaning of the processing roller along its outer circumference.

[0011] It is proposed that the roller axis of the processing roller and the roller axis of the brush roller form an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably an angle of 45 degrees, when the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller. This angle can be determined when viewed along the common perpendicular of the two longitudinal axes. The common perpendicular is the uniquely determined line of shortest length connecting two skew lines. The line on which the common perpendicular lies is called the minimal transversal of the two lines. This is the uniquely determined line that is at right angles to the two lines.

[0012] At these angles, the bristles effectively cover the surface of the processing roller perpendicular to the direction of rotation. At the same time, they also generate good propulsion for the rotation of the processing roller.

[0013] To carry out the method according to the invention, a system with a cleaning device having the features of claim 4 is proposed. Advantageous embodiments of this cleaning device are set out in claims 5 to 9.

[0014] The cleaning device comprises precisely one brush roller mounted for rotation about a roller axis and a drive device for rotating the brush roller about its roller axis. The processing roller is mounted on a roller holder for rotation about a roller axis. The cleaning device is designed such that a portion of the outer circumference of the processing roller can be brought close to a portion of the outer circumference of the brush roller, which is set in rotation by the drive device. According to the invention, when the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller, the roller axis of the processing roller and the roller axis of the brush roller are arranged skew relative to one another.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the cleaning device is designed such that the roller axis of the processing roller and the roller axis of the brush roller enclose an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably an angle of 45 degrees, when the outer circumference of the processing roller rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller.

[0016] It is proposed that the brush roller be dimensioned such that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller, the portion of the outer circumference of the brush roller that is in contact with the processing roller completely covers the portion of the outer circumference of the processing roller that is in contact with the brush roller. This ensures complete cleaning of the outer circumference of the processing roller.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a housing, with the brush roller arranged in an interior space of this housing. Firstly, the housing serves to protect workers by at least partially enclosing rotating parts (brush roller). Furthermore, the housing serves to collect the contaminant particles scraped off the surface of the processing roller by the brush roller.

[0018] It is proposed that the interior of the housing be designed such that the brush roller can be subjected to a cleaning fluid. For example, the interior of the housing is partially filled with the cleaning fluid so that the brush roller with its outer circumference is at least partially immersed in the cleaning fluid. As the brush roller rotates, a portion of the cleaning fluid is carried along by the bristles of the brush roller and conveyed to the surface of the processing side of the processing roller, where it improves the cleaning process. The cleaning fluid is advantageously selected such that it causes a chemical dissolution of the contaminants and thus supports the mechanical dissolution of the contaminants induced by the bristles of the brush roller.

[0019] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1 a spatial representation of a cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning the processing roller of a processing tool Fig. 2 a side view of the cleaning device according to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 the processing roller and the brush roller in their arrangement according to Fig. 2 Fig. 4 a top view of the processing roller and brush roller with a view of the section of the brush roller to which the processing roller rests

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a spatial representation of a cleaning device 1 according to the invention for cleaning a processing roller 2 of a processing tool 3. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the cleaning device 1 according to Fig. 1 .In the illustrated embodiment, the processing roller 2 is a hemming roller attached to a processing tool 3 designed as a hemming head. The processing roller 2 is mounted on the roller holder provided by the hemming head so that it can rotate about its roller axis 4. The hemming head can be guided, for example, by a robot arm along a sheet metal edge to be hemmed. The robot arm and the sheet metal edge to be hemmed are not shown. However, the invention is fundamentally not limited to the cleaning of hemming rollers of hemming tools.

[0022] The cleaning device 1 has precisely one brush roller 6 mounted for rotation about a roller axis 5 and a drive device 7 for rotating the brush roller 6 about its roller axis 5. The brush roller 6 is arranged in an interior space of a housing 8 of the cleaning device 1, wherein the housing 8 is held by a base frame 9 of the cleaning device 1. The housing 8 is releasably fixed to the base frame 9 via a quick-release device 10. The base frame 9, in turn, can be fixed to the floor of an installation site via anchoring elements 11. The brush roller 6 is connected to the drive device 7 via a quick-release coupling. The housing 8 has an opening 12, whereby the brush roller 6 is at least partially accessible in the interior of the housing 8. In the side view in Fig. 2 the housing 8 is shown partially cut away so that the brush roller 6 is visible.

[0023] The folding head with the processing roller 2 designed as a folding roller can be moved (for example with the robot arm) towards the brush roller 6 until the folding roller rests against the brush roller 6. When in contact, a section of the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 touches a section of the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, which is set in rotation by means of the drive device 7. The processing roller 2 is moved towards the brush roller 6 in such a way that when the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, the roller axis 4 of the processing roller 2 and the roller axis 5 of the brush roller 6 are arranged skewed to one another. The skewed arrangement of the two roller axes 4, 5 is Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 visible. Fig. 3 shows the processing roller 2 and the brush roller 6 in their arrangement according to Fig. 2 . The brush roller 6 with its bristles 6a is shown as a sectional view. Fig. 4shows a top view of the processing roller 2 and the brush roller 6, looking at the section of the brush roller 6 against which the processing roller 2 rests. The view here is directed along the common perpendicular of both roller axes 4, 5. The minimum transversal intersects the contact surface between the brush roller 6 and the processing roller 2. In the illustration according to Fig. 4 It can be seen that when the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, the roller axis 4 of the processing roller 2 and the roller axis 5 of the brush roller 6 form an angle β of 30 degrees to 60 degrees. In the embodiment shown, the angle β is 45 degrees.

[0024] Furthermore, in particular Fig. 4It can be seen that the brush roller 6 is dimensioned such that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, the portion of the outer circumference of the brush roller 6 that rests against the processing roller 2 completely covers the portion of the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 that rests against the brush roller 6. However, this dimensioning of the brush roller 6 is not mandatory.

[0025] The interior of the housing 8 is designed such that it can be at least partially filled with a bath of a cleaning liquid, wherein the filling level is selected such that the brush roller 6 is at least partially immersed in this bath and can thus be supplied with this cleaning liquid.

[0026] The method according to the invention can be carried out with the cleaning device 1 according to the invention. This method provides that the rotatably mounted processing roller 6 is brought towards the brush roller 2, which is set in rotation by the drive device 7 of the cleaning device 1. According to the invention, the bringing together is carried out such that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, the roller axis 4 of the processing roller 2 and the roller axis 5 of the brush roller 6 are aligned skew to one another. In advantageous embodiments, the bringing together is carried out such that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller 2 rests against the outer circumference of the brush roller 6, the roller axis 4 of the processing roller 2 and the roller axis 5 of the brush roller 6 enclose an angle β of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably 45 degrees. List of reference symbols

[0027] 1Cleaning device 2Processing roller 3Processing tool 4Roller axis of the processing roller 2 5Roller axis of the brush roller 6 6Brush roller 6aBristles of the brush roller 6 7Drive device 8Housing 9Base frame 10Quick clamping device 11Anchoring element 12Opening on the housing 8 βAngle

Claims

1. Method for cleaning a rotatably mounted processing roller (2) of a processing tool (3) with a cleaning device (1), wherein the processing roller (2) is moved towards a brush roller (6) that is set in rotation by means of a drive device (7) of the cleaning device (1) until a section of the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) rests against a section of the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), characterised in that the processing roller (2) is moved towards the brush roller (6) in such a way that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), a roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and a roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) are aligned askew to one another.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), the roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and the roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) enclose an angle (β) of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), the roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and the roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) enclose an angle (β) of 45 degrees.

4. System with cleaning device (1) for executing the method according to one of the preceding claims for cleaning a rotatably mounted processing roller (2) of a processing tool (3) of the system, wherein the cleaning device (1) has exactly one brush roller (6) mounted rotatably about a roller axis (5) and a drive device (7) for rotating the brush roller (6) about its roller axis (5), and the processing roller (2) is mounted rotatably about a roller axis (4) on a roller holder, wherein a section of the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) can be moved towards a section of the outer circumference of the brush roller (6) set in rotation by means of the drive device (7), wherein, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), the roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and the roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) are arranged askew with respect to one another.

5. System with cleaning device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), the roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and the roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) enclose an angle (β) of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

6. System with cleaning device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller (2) is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller (6), the roller axis (4) of the processing roller (2) and the roller axis (5) of the brush roller (6) enclose an angle (β) of 45 degrees.

7. System with cleaning device (1) according to one of 4 claims to 6, characterised in that the brush roller (6) is dimensioned such that, when the outer circumference of the processing roller is in contact with the outer circumference of the brush roller, the section of the outer circumference of the brush roller in contact with the processing roller completely covers the section of the outer circumference of the processing roller in contact with the brush roller.

8. System with cleaning device (1) according to one of 4 claims to 7, characterised in that the cleaning device (1) has a housing (8) and the brush roller (6) is arranged in an internal space of said housing (8).

9. System with cleaning device (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the internal space of the housing (8) is configured such that a cleaning fluid can be applied to the brush roller (6).