Wide-stretch roller and device for smoothing a textile fabric with a wide-stretch roller

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spreading roller for smoothing a layer of fabric, which is designed as a round brush with a base body and bristles projecting from its outer surface by means of a free end section, wherein the bristles are grouped as spaced-apart bristle bundles and these bristle bundles are each fixed to the base body by means of a fastening section, and wherein bristle bundles arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane of the base body run obliquely to the transverse plane of the base body, in that their free end sections are inclined towards the ends of the base body, such that a transverse tension can be achieved on the fabric layer when the spreading roller interacts with it.

[0002] The invention further relates to a device for smoothing a textile fabric in the area traversed by a spreading roller, wherein the spreading roller, designed as a round brush and interacting with the surface of the fabric, has a cylindrical base body with bristles attached therein, which, grouped into bristle bundles, project beyond an outer surface of the base body and whose bristle bundles are each spaced apart from one another, wherein, by means of free end sections of the bristles that attack the fabric, longitudinal tension of the fabric can be achieved, firstly in a direction in which a relative movement between the fabric and the spreading roller takes place, and secondly, by means of bristle bundles inclined obliquely towards the ends of the base body and arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane of the base body, transverse tension can be achieved on the fabric when the spreading roller interacts with it.

[0003] Rotating brushes used for smoothing fabrics or films are generally known and can interact with them in a manner that can be derived from the simplified representation of the operating principle. Figures 15 to 17 This results in a layer of fabric 47, which may be, for example, a web of textile material and is to be smoothed, being spread out on a base 48. A layer in the Figure 15 The rotating round brush 49 shown consists of a base body 50 with bristles 51 arranged on its outer surface and is driven counterclockwise according to this illustration, as indicated by a direction arrow 52.

[0004] Furthermore, the round brush 49, pressed against the fabric layer 47 with a force acting orthogonally to the base 48, is moved relative to the fabric layer 47 in a direction of travel 53. Thus, the direction of rotation of the round brush 49 (see direction arrow 52) is clearly opposite to a rolling motion resulting from the direction of travel 53. This causes an area of ​​the fabric layer 47 located behind the round brush 49 in the direction of travel to be pulled across its width, primarily in the longitudinal direction. This removes creases in the fabric layer 47 that run perpendicular to the direction of travel 53 of the round brush 49 in the untreated fabric layer. Such an interaction of the bristles 51 of the round brush 49 with the fabric layer 47 is also referred to as a trailing bristle function or a "weather vane effect," in which the friction of the bristles 51 against the fabric layer 47 generates a tensile force in its longitudinal direction.

[0005] As the Figure 16To illustrate, the rotary brush 49 generates a substantially uniaxial tangential stress behind it in the direction of travel 53, i.e., in the area it traverses. However, this stress does not lead to the removal of creases 54, which run substantially in the direction of travel 53 of the rotary brush 49. Rather, it is often the case that these creases are first created by the tangential stress of the rotary brush 49 and are further intensified by the brush through flattening, making them almost impossible to remove.

[0006] In the Figure 17 Instead of individual bristles 51, a bristle bundle 55 is provided, which according to the Figure 17 The tool is placed orthogonally on the surface of the fabric layer 47 and drawn across it under slight pressure. It can be seen that the soft bristles 51 of the corresponding bristle bundle 55 deflect away from the direction of travel 53 as trailing bristles 51.

[0007] A spreading roller for smoothing a layer of material of the type mentioned in the respective preambles of claims 1, 11 and 13 is known from DE 10 2004 038 165 B4. This spreading roller, referred to as a spreading roller, consists of a roller body and bristle bundles arranged on it, which are inclined, particularly in the two end regions of the roller body, to the left and to the right in the direction of its ends. This is intended to smooth a web guided on the outer surface of the spreading roller, which may, for example, be a film web, by means of the longitudinal forces generated by the bristles and by means of the transverse forces generated by the inclined bristle bundles. The roller body is freely rotatable in bearings of a holder.

[0008] Consequently, the spreading roller is designed to deflect a moving web and is thus driven by the moving film web. Alternatively, the spreading roller can also have a motor drive, which, however, drives the spreading roller at such a speed that the resulting peripheral speed of the inclined bristle ends essentially corresponds to the running speed of the tensioned web. This deflection of the film web, which is either crease-free or eliminates existing longitudinal creases, requires that the film web rolls on the spreading roller and that there is essentially no relative speed between the running speed of the film web and the peripheral speed of the spreading roller. It is therefore a passive unwinding of the film web on the spreading roller.Provided that a relative speed is avoided, a smoothing of the film web can be achieved so that it has neither longitudinal nor transverse creases.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to create a spreading roller designed as a round brush, with which tensions can be introduced into the fabric layer in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, even at a relative speed occurring between the circumferential speed of the spreading roller and a travel speed of the fabric layer, in order to smooth a layer of fabric.

[0010] This problem is solved starting from the respective preambles of claims 1 and 11 with their characterizing features. The patent claims dependent on claims 1 and 11 contain further developments of these solutions according to the invention.

[0011] A spreading roller for smoothing a layer of fabric is designed as a round brush with bristles projecting from the outer surface of a base body. The bristles are grouped into spaced-apart bundles, each bundle having a mounting section fixed to the base body. Furthermore, bristle bundles arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane of the base body run obliquely to this plane, with their free end sections inclined towards the ends of the base body, such that transverse tension is achieved when the spreading roller interacts with the fabric layer.

[0012] Each bristle bundle is to be received in a recess formed in the base body in a second section adjoining the mounting section. The recess is to extend essentially in the radial and axial directions of the base body, with the bristle bundle arranged in the recess being guided on both sides by first side walls extending in the axial direction of the base body. Furthermore, each bristle bundle, which runs at an angle to the surface of the fabric layer, is to be pivotable towards the respective end of the base body by applying force to its free bristle ends. As previously explained, with obliquely running bristle bundles that perform a tangential relative movement and are placed orthogonally on the surface of the fabric layer, the two effects of trailing and running up are superimposed.

[0013] The spreading roller according to the invention is suitable for applications where a relative velocity occurs between the roller and the surface of the fabric layer; that is, a peripheral velocity achieved by driving the spreading roller is higher than a peripheral velocity caused by the relative movement of the spreading roller with respect to the surface of the fabric layer. This relative velocity is further increased when the spreading roller is driven in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation resulting from the movement in the direction of travel. The ramp-up effect of the obliquely oriented bristle bundles is enhanced by the fact that, due to the degree of freedom created within the recesses, they can easily pivot in the plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the spreading roller.Only this pivoting movement of the bristle bundles around their attachment section is possible because they are guided circumferentially on the first side walls.

[0014] This pivoting motion causes the bristle ends, which run up against the surface of the fabric, to very effectively stretch the fabric in both directions perpendicular to the direction of travel of the spreading roller. The orientation of the recesses, with their longitudinal extensions parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the spreading roller, can also be modified so that the longitudinal extensions of the recesses are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal center axis, i.e., run helically along the outer surface of the base body.

[0015] Since the bristle bundles, guided in the recesses of the base body, can only bend circumferentially at their free end section projecting beyond the base body, the resulting trailing effect at the bristle ends can be controlled. Thus, by designing the recesses—that is, their longitudinal extent and depth along the base body—the bristle stiffness effective at the bristle end can be specifically influenced separately in the two coordinate directions of the spreading roller: the axial direction and the circumferential direction. Increasing the relative speed can further enhance the trailing effect between the corresponding bristle bundles and the material layer.

[0016] In contrast, according to DE 10 2004 038 165 B4, no relative speed should occur between the circumferential speed of the spreading roller and the travel speed of the film web, because preferably the spreading roller should function as a deflecting roller for the film web. Even in the case of the alternatively provided driven spreading roller, it should also serve to move the film web longitudinally, so that the previously described relative speed does not occur. Furthermore, the obliquely oriented bristle bundles are arranged in the base body in such a way that they are only freely movable at their free sections located radially outside the base body. Therefore, with a spreading roller designed in this way, if it were driven at a relative speed, a sufficient ramp-up effect required for transverse stretching of the material layer would not be achieved.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recesses, viewed in cross-section, can be designed as elongated holes, with the bristle bundles being guided on both sides by first parallel side walls extending axially along the base body. Consequently, the bristle bundle is supported circumferentially by the side walls in the area between the mounting section and the outer surface of the base body, resulting in a shorter free bristle length in the circumferential direction and thus greater bristle stiffness at the free bristle ends. On the other hand, the length of the elongated recess, extending longitudinally along the base body, creates a space that allows for corresponding movement of the section of the bristle bundle adjoining the mounting section.The aforementioned interaction of the recess with the bristle bundle can be influenced by its design, so that the bristle hardness of the two functions of the trailing bristles and the leading bristles can be varied independently of each other.

[0018] Furthermore, it is provided that the recesses, viewed in cross-section of the base body, are arranged in such a way that the bristle bundles fixed in the recesses run like tendons within the base body. This positioning of the bristle bundles at an angle to the radial axis and the corresponding design of the recesses allow even a base body with a relatively small outer diameter to be provided with recesses of sufficient depth.

[0019] The precise shape of the recesses can be created using inserts that can be inserted into the base body, for example, if the base body is made of wood. For this purpose, the sections of the base body intended to receive the inserts can be machined relatively roughly, which reduces manufacturing costs. The inserts, which can be identical for a spreading roller, can be produced in large quantities and therefore cost-effectively.

[0020] Furthermore, the recesses for different groups of bristle bundles can vary in depth, thereby influencing the spring stiffness of the bristles acting in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller. Preferably, the spring stiffness should increase from the transverse central plane of the spreading roller towards its two ends.

[0021] Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange the bristle bundles obliquely in the recesses at different angles. Thus, when using the spreading roller designed according to the invention, a stretching gradient can be arranged on the treated fabric layer in such a way that the fabric layer is stretched from the center of the spreading roller with an almost linear increase towards both ends of the spreading roller, resulting in a very uniform stretching movement that promotes wrinkle removal and is also gentle on the fabric layer.

[0022] As an alternative to forming the recesses with varying depths, the base body can be manufactured with different diameters in the sections where the recesses are located. This also influences the effective bristle length and thus the effective spring stiffness of the bristles. This reduces manufacturing effort, as all recesses in the spreading roller then have the same depth.

[0023] Furthermore, the bristle bundle is designed to conform to the second side wall of the recess by applying a force to its ends, causing it to pivot longitudinally along the base body. This second side wall has a curved profile extending from the outer surface of the base body. The interaction of the bristle bundle with this curved second side wall results in a progressive increase in its spring stiffness; that is, a bending force profile is created, with the spring stiffness increasing as the bristles bend. The bristle bundle, subjected to a force at its ends, deforms increasingly against the curved second side wall, thus progressively shortening the free bristle length as the bristles bend. Consequently, the bristle bundle reaches its maximum spring stiffness at greater flexures.

[0024] In a further development of this design of the second side wall, it is envisaged that it has a profile in which several differently curved areas connect to one another. In a further embodiment, the curvature of the second side wall can change continuously.

[0025] To reduce friction between the first side walls and the bristle bundle, the bristles in contact with these walls are made of a low-friction material, allowing them to be guided with minimal friction against the first side walls of the recess. Preferably, a portion of the bristles, or only the radially outer bristles, can be provided with optimized sliding properties. This ensures that the bristle bundle is guided with good sliding properties against the first side walls. Alternatively, the surfaces of the first side walls in contact with the bristles can be coated with a sliding layer. If the spreading roller is operated in only one direction of rotation, it is sufficient to coat only the first side wall with which the bristles interact due to the trailing effect.

[0026] Furthermore, the problem is also solved by the fact that, in combination with the defining characteristics of the genus, the bristles have a rectangular or elliptical cross-section, at least in their free end section, and are arranged on the base body with their smaller side surface oriented in the circumferential direction of the spreading roller. Since the area moment of inertia increases with the cube of the extent, even a small difference in width is sufficient to cause a noticeable anisotropy in the bristle movement. In this way, with the usual design of a spreading roller with inclined bristle bundles, the effects of the bristles' trailing and leading-up can be influenced solely by the design of the cross-section of the individual bristles.In a further embodiment of this solution, it is provided that the spreading roller is rotaryally driven, with its direction of rotation being opposite to a rolling motion that would result from a travel direction of the spreading roller.

[0027] Furthermore, a spreading roller is provided for a device for smoothing a textile fabric in the area traversed by the spreading roller. The spreading roller, designed as a round brush and interacting with the surface of the fabric, has a cylindrical base body with bristles attached therein. These bristles, grouped into bundles, project beyond an outer surface of the base body. The bristle bundles are spaced apart from one another. Free end sections of the bristles, which engage the fabric, create longitudinal tension in the fabric in a direction where there is relative movement between the fabric and the spreading roller. Additionally, bristle bundles, inclined obliquely towards the ends of the base body and arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane of the base body, create transverse tension in the fabric layer when the spreading roller interacts with it.The spreading roller is to be designed according to one of claims 1 to 12. In the aforementioned device, the spreading roller is to be driven rotaryally, its direction of rotation being opposite to a rolling motion that would result from a travel direction of the spreading roller.

[0028] Within such a device, spreading rollers can be intentionally equipped with an asymmetry using the aforementioned means, for example, to achieve different processing objectives by selecting the direction of rotation, such as adapting the spreading roller to the specific textile. For a spreading roller for which a changing direction of travel across the textile is provided in the device, a change in the direction of rotation or a spreading roller axis that can pivot by 180° can be provided.

[0029] Finally, the device can be designed as a treatment module for a laundry treatment cabinet, whereby mechanical stresses can be applied to the laundry item by means of at least one spreading roller intended for smoothing the item to be treated, in a treatment position of the treatment module. The treatment module is movably arranged within the laundry treatment device so that, by moving along the laundry item with the spreading roller in contact with a layer of the fabric, the smoothing effect is achieved. The bristles of the spreading roller are each inclined away from the transverse central plane of the spreading roller. Advantageously, this stretches the intermediate laundry item in the width direction of the brush, which improves the smoothing effect.As previously explained, the bristles are grouped into bristle bundles, for which an anisotropic influence of the spring forces of the bristles acting in the circumferential and longitudinal direction of the spreading roller is achieved by means of recesses in the base body designed according to the invention.

[0030] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the drawing, in which different embodiments of the invention are shown in simplified form. The drawing shows: Figure 1, a schematic representation, shows a side view of a spreading roller designed as a round brush with a partial longitudinal section in the area of ​​several bristle bundles arranged in a row, which run within recesses of a base body; Figure 2 shows an end view of the spreading roller. Fig. 1with a partial section in the area of ​​a recess receiving a bristle bundle, Figure 2a a further embodiment of a spreading roller with a cross-section through the spreading roller, in which bristle bundles with a tendon-like course are arranged in a base body, Figure 3 enlarged to scale, a longitudinal section through an arrangement of a bristle bundle in a recess of the base body according to a first embodiment, in which a second side wall of the recess runs flat at an angle to the bristle bundle, Figure 4 a view of a section of the base body with the end of the bristle bundle and the outer contour of an elongated hole visible on the outer surface of the base body Figure 3In the embodiment shown, Figure 5 shows an inclined bundle of bristles before being placed on the surface of a vertically supported layer of fabric, Figure 5 shows the inclined bundle of bristles after its orthogonal movement to the layer of fabric and placement on its surface, wherein the rising bristle ends push the layer of fabric, Figure 5 shows the inclined bundle of bristles after its orthogonal movement to the layer of fabric, wherein the layer is displaced by rising bristle ends.is stretched, Figure 6 shows an inclined bundle of bristles with trailing bristle ends, these exerting a tensile force on the surface of the fabric layer, Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section through an arrangement of a bundle of bristles in a recess of the base body according to a second embodiment, Figure 8 shows a view of the end of a crescent-shaped bundle of bristles seen in cross-section, Figure 9 shows a diagram in which the bristle hardness effective for the two embodiments according to the respective bending angle of the bristles is shown. Figures 3 and 7Figure 10 shows a rectangular cross-section of a bristle used in a further embodiment, Figure 11 shows an elliptical cross-section of a bristle used in a further embodiment, Figure 12 shows a laundry treatment device with a treatment module guided in portals and equipped with three spreading rollers for smoothing a garment, Figure 13 shows an end view of a spreading roller interacting with layers of fabric from the garment, the fabric layers lying against a plate opposite the spreading roller, Figure 14 shows an end view of two spreading rollers interacting with layers of fabric from the garment, which are opposite each other in one plane, Figure 15 illustrates a known basic principle for smoothing a film web or fabric web, in which a rotary-driven round brush with trailing bristle ends is used.Figure 16 shows a top view of the arrangement according to the , Figure 15 and Figure 17, an enlarged scale representation of a bristle bundle of the round brush of the Figure 15 , whose bristle ends trail in the opposite direction of pull.

[0031] In the Figures 1 and 2 The term 1 designates a spreading roller 1 designed as a round brush 2, which has a cylindrical base body 3. Bristle bundles 4, consisting of bristles 5, are fixed in the base body 3 and are evenly distributed around its circumference. Each bristle bundle projects radially beyond an outer surface 6 of the base body 3 with a partial segment. In particular, the Figure 1It can be deduced that these bristle bundles 4, originating from both ends 7 and 8 of the base body 3, are each provided in a partial region of its longitudinal extent. Furthermore, bristle bundles 4 run on both sides of a transverse median plane 9 of the base body 3 at different inclinations, such that they each exhibit an inclination to the transverse plane of the base body 3 in the direction of its ends 6 and 7, respectively.

[0032] Each of the bristle bundles 4 is according to Figure 3 with a subsection 4a movably arranged in a recess 10 formed in the base body 3, wherein the corresponding recess 10, as well as the side view according to Figure 1As can be seen, it is provided with an outer contour in the form of an elongated hole, the longest extent of which runs in the longitudinal direction of the base body 3, so that the bristle bundle 4 can perform a free pivoting movement in this direction. This outer contour, visible in a top view, will be described in more detail below with reference to the Figure 4 will be explained.

[0033] A partial longitudinal section of the in the Figure 1 The depicted base body 3 shows that the bristle bundles 4 are fixed by means of their end-side fastening sections 11 in an end of the respective recess 10 facing away from the outer surface 6 of the base body 3. The recesses 10 form, as in particular the Figures 3 and 4To illustrate, the first side walls 12 and 13 extend in the longitudinal direction of the base body 3 and run parallel to each other, so that the recesses 10 have an elongated outer contour, at least on the outer surface of the base body 3. Consequently, the bristle bundles 4 are guided on these first side walls 12 and 13 due to their diameter being matched to the corresponding width of the recess 10.

[0034] When the bristle bundles 4 are subjected to a force acting orthogonally to the base body 3 at the free bristle ends 14 of their bristles 5, they pivot relative to their mounting sections 11 within the recesses 10. The recesses 10, which terminate with a second side wall 15 in the direction of the respective end 7 or 8 of the base body 3, have such a longitudinal extent that, in the embodiment, the pivoting movement of the bristle bundles 4 about their mounting sections 11 is not limited in this direction. The course of this second side wall 15 is particularly important because Figure 3 to be extracted, wherein in this embodiment the bristle bundle 4 is oriented at an acute angle α to the second side wall in its unloaded state. When the free bristle ends are subjected to a force, as previously described, they move towards the second side wall 15 without touching it. Figure 4The top view shows a section of the round brush 2 in the area of ​​one of the recesses 10, which has the elongated hole-like shape on the outer surface 6.

[0035] The shape of the recess 10 described above, and its interaction with the bristle bundle 4, ensures its circumferential guidance and its relative axial mobility within the round brush 2, resulting in an anisotropic bending stiffness at the bristle bundle 4. While the circumferential guidance of the bristle bundle 4 results in only a short free bristle length, which in the Figure 1 As illustrated by a first dimension arrow 16, the arrangement of the bristle bundles 4 in the recesses 10, which have a large longitudinal extent, results in a large free bristle length for a bend in the longitudinal direction of the base body, which in the Figure 1a second dimension arrow 17 indicates that the bristle bundles 4 act with low stiffness in the longitudinal direction. This allows the desired effect of the converging bristles 5 in the longitudinal direction of the round brush 2 to be enhanced in the manner required for smoothing a fabric web.

[0036] In contrast to the embodiment according to the Figures 1 and 2 As shown in Figure 2a, a spreading roller 27 is provided in which bristle bundles 28 are arranged in a chord-like pattern within a base body 27a. This results in an offset 28a of the bristle bundles 28 from the center point of the base body 27a. In this way, the recesses, which also have a chord-like pattern and otherwise form an outer contour according to the Figure 1 exhibit, in a base body with a relatively small outer diameter and sufficient depth.

[0037] Based on the Figures 5 to 5bThis effect will be explained using the example of a single bristle bundle 4, which is attached to the spreading roller 1 after the Figure 1 on the right side towards the transverse central plane 9 and interacts with a material layer 19 arranged on a support 18. In the Figure 5 The bristle bundle 14, which runs obliquely to the fabric layer 19, assumes a starting position before being placed on the surface of the fabric layer 19.

[0038] As will continue to emerge from the Figures 5a and 5b As a result, the obliquely running bristle bundle 14 is then moved orthogonally to the support 18 and thus to the fabric layer 19. Due to the angle of attack of the bristles 5 of the bristle bundle 4, the orthogonal movement of the bristle bundle 4 results in an upward movement of the free bristle ends 14 on the surface of the fabric layer 19, which together with the support 18 generates a tangential force in the fabric layer.

[0039] The tips of the bristles 5 pierce the fabric layer 19 and push it radially away from the clamping 11 of the bristle bundle 4 in the direction of the oblique tilt. The resulting force acting on the fabric layer 30 is significantly higher than the longitudinal force generated by the trailing bristles 5. The bristle bundle 4 shown, like the Figure 1This illustrates the arrangement of a group of bristle bundles 4 on the corresponding side of the spreading roller 1 with essentially the same oblique orientation, i.e., running obliquely towards the adjacent end of the same. Another group of bristle bundles 4, also acting in the manner described above, runs at the opposite oblique angle. The resulting upward movement of the bristles on the two differently oriented groups of bristle bundles stretches the fabric layer 19, thus removing the creases and folds running lengthwise along the fabric layer 19.

[0040] In the Figure 6The effect occurring at the individual bristle bundle 4 is illustrated, which results from the circumferential movement of the rotary-driven spreading roller 1 and its traversing movement at the bristle bundle 4. The bristle ends 14, which rest on the surface of the fabric layer 19, generate a tensile force on this layer tangential to the spreading roller 1, which serves to remove creases and folds running in the transverse direction of the fabric layer 19.

[0041] In wide-area rollers 1, where inclined bristle bundles 4 are placed orthogonally onto a layer of fabric 19 and perform a tangential relative movement to the fabric layer 19, these two effects of trailing and running are superimposed. The two functions, on the one hand the trailing bristles and on the other hand the running bristles, are used to stretch the fabric layer 19 in different directions, whereby the means according to the invention enable a specific adjustment of the bristle hardness in these two directions.

[0042] A further elaboration of exceptions 20, which is also in the Figure 1 The manner in which they can be arranged in the base body 3 is evident from the Figure 7 . In this case, instead of the one in the Figure 3 the second side wall shown, running at an angle to the unloaded bristles, after the Figure 7A curved second side wall 21 is provided. The recess can also have an oblong cross-section. Figure 4 exhibit. In contrast to the execution according to the Figure 3 according to the Figure 7 a bundle of bristles 22 comes into contact with the second side wall 21 during its pivoting movement towards the installation.

[0043] The curved second side wall 21 causes a progressive increase in the spring stiffness of the bristle bundle 22 as it is increasingly deformed at the second side wall 21. As previously explained, in this embodiment as well, the bristle bundle 22 with its section 22a is movably arranged in the recess 20. A specific spring force acts on the bristle bundle 22, which is fixed at its mounting section 11, with the free bristle length determining the spring stiffness acting on the bending. This free bristle length decreases with increasing force applied to the bristle ends 14. In the embodiment described above, the spring stiffness of the bristle bundle 22 is movably arranged in the recess 20. Figure 7Due to the predetermined curved shape of the second side wall 21, the bristle bundle 22, when subjected to force, increasingly adheres to the second side wall 21 at its bristle ends 23, thereby shortening the free bristle length through the bending. As a result, the bristle bundle 22 exhibits its greatest spring stiffness at this second side wall 21 when bent to its maximum degree.

[0044] To influence the spring stiffness of a bristle bundle 26, it can, as shown in Figure 8, have a cross-section that deviates from a circular shape. This bristle bundle 26 is according to Figure 8 , seen in cross-section, crescent-shaped.

[0045] In a diagram according to the Figure 9A bending angle β is plotted on an abscissa and a bristle hardness bH on an ordinate. A line 29 running parallel to the abscissa illustrates a bristle hardness bH that is constant over the entire bending angle β, as it occurs when the recess 10 is formed according to the Figure 3 This results in... Furthermore, a curve 30 illustrates the bristle hardness b H changing with respect to the bending angle β, as it occurs with a design of the recess 20 according to the... Figure 7 This occurs. In this case, the bristle hardness b H changes progressively with increasing deformation of the bristle bundle 22, as previously explained.

[0046] Furthermore, it is also possible to form the individual bristles 5 of the bristle bundles 4 or 22 with a cross-section that deviates from a circular shape. According to the Figure 10A rectangular cross-section 31 is provided for the individual bristles 5, wherein the rectangular bristle is oriented with its smaller side surface 32 in the circumferential direction of the spreading roller 1. The conditions are similar when using bristle bundles with bristles having an elliptical cross-section 33, in which case their smaller side surface 34, at which the elliptical cross-section has its smallest radius, is oriented in the circumferential direction.

[0047] The combination of the various measures mentioned above for varying the stiffness of the bristle bundles 4 and their anisotropy across the surface of the spreading roller 1 can be supplemented with dynamic parameters during the application of the rotary brush 2, in particular by the ratio of the rotational speed of the spreading roller 1 to its travel speed. This allows longitudinal and transverse forces during the stretching process to be coordinated to achieve an optimum adapted to the respective textile. The actual forces occurring can be measured directly with suitable sensors or indirectly, for example, via the rotational speeds and currents of the two motors that drive the spreading roller 1 during rotation and / or for its movement.

[0048] The process can be dynamically controlled according to the measured values, along suitable parameter combinations adapted to the respective working situation. Furthermore, a significant centrifugal force can be selectively induced at the bristles 5 by increasing the rotational speed of the spreading roller 1, thereby imparting an additional radial force to the fabric layer 19 upon contact.

[0049] From the Figure 12 A schematic representation of a laundry treatment device 35 is shown. This laundry treatment device 35 is said to have a treatment chamber (not shown in detail) in which a suspension device 43 (see figure) is provided. Figures 13 and 14) a shirt 36 is suspended. This shirt is subjected to a smoothing process in the treatment chamber to eliminate wrinkles / creases. The laundry treatment device 35 is equipped with a treatment module 39 guided vertically on two gantries 37 and 38, the treatment module 39 accommodating spreading rollers 40, 41 and 42, which are designed with at least one of the features described above, as shown in the Figures 1 to 6 as well as 8 to 9, which are described in relation to these.

[0050] Preferably, the treatment module 39 accommodates the spreading rollers 40, 41, and 42 in such a way that, if necessary, they can also be adjusted horizontally to smooth the entire front layer of the shirt 36, including the torso, shoulder areas, and sleeves. Consequently, the chest and abdomen area is smoothed by the spreading roller 40, and the sleeve and shoulder areas are smoothed by the two spreading rollers 41 and 42. Due to their design according to the invention, each of the spreading rollers 40, 41, and 42 stretches the treated layer of fabric both in the direction of travel, which is directed downwards from the shirt's suspension point, and in two opposing directions of longitudinal extension of the spreading rollers 40, 41, and 42.Furthermore, a relative movement results from a travel direction 45 of the treatment module 39 and a rotation direction 46 of the driven spreading rollers 40, 41 and 42, which are described in the further . Figures 13 and 14 are shown.

[0051] The Figure 13 Figure 1 shows a view of the spreading roller 40, which is positioned on one side of the shirt 36 suspended in the treatment chamber by a suspension device 43. On the other side of the shirt 36, facing away from the spreading roller 40, there is a stationary pressure plate 44 as a counter-support, against which the spreading roller 40 presses the layers of fabric of the shirt 36 for smoothing. Alternatively, a mannequin arranged inside the shirt 36 can also be used as a counter-support. The Figure 12In the treatment module 39 shown, the spreading roller 40 is moved in the direction of travel 45, while the driven spreading roller 40 rotates in the direction of rotation 46.

[0052] According to another embodiment, which is described in the Figure 14 As shown, the treatment module 39 is to accommodate an additional spreading roller 40' instead of the stationary pressure plate, which is positioned opposite the spreading roller 40. The two spreading rollers 40 and 40' are located opposite each other on either side of the shirt 36 to be treated, thus forming a pair of brushes. The direction of travel of the two spreading rollers 40 and 40' is also designated 45, while their directions of rotation 46 and 46' are opposite. Reference symbol list:

[0053] 1 Spreading roller 2 Round brush 3 Base body 4 Bristle bundle 4a Section of 4 5 Bristles 6 Outer surface of 3 7 End of 3 8 End of 3 9 Transverse center plane of 1 or3 10 Recess 11 Fastening section of 4 12 First side wall of 10 13 First side wall of 10 14 Free bristle end of 5 15 Second side wall of 10 16 First dimension arrow 17 Second dimension arrow 18 Support 19 Fabric layer 20 Recess 21 Second side wall of 20 22 Bristle bundle 22a Section of 22 23 Bristle ends 26 Bristle bundle 27 Spreading roller 27a Base body 28 Bristle bundle 28a Offset 29 Line 30 Curve 31 Rectangular cross-section of 5 32 Small side surface of 5 33 Elliptical cross-section of 5 34 Small side surface of 5 35 Laundry treatment device 36 Shirt 37 Portal of 35 38 Portal of 35 39 Treatment module 40 Spreading roller 40' Spreading roller 41 Spreading roller 42 Spreading roller 43 Suspension device 44 Pressure plate 45 Direction of travel of 39 46 Direction of rotation of 40, 41 and 42 46' Direction of rotation of 40' 47 Fabric position 48 Base 49 Round brush 50 Base body of 45 51 Bristles 52 Direction arrow 53 Direction of travel 54 Crinkle 55 Bristle bundle α Angle between 4 and 15 β Bending angle of 4 b H Bristle hardness.

Claims

1. Expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) for smoothing a substance layer (19), which is embodied as a round brush (2) with a base body (3, 27a) as well as bristles (5) protruding beyond the outer peripheral area (6) thereof by means of a free end section, wherein the bristles (5) are consolidated as bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) spaced apart from one another and said bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) are in each case fixed on the base body (3, 27a) by means of a fastening section (11) and wherein bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane (9) of the base body (3, 27a) run obliquely to the transverse plane of the base body (3, 27a), by their free end sections being inclined in the direction of the ends (7 and 8) of the base body (3, 27a) in such a manner that, when the expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) interacts with the substance layer (19), a transverse tension can be achieved thereon, characterised in that a subsection (4a, 22) of each obliquely running bundle of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28), which attaches to the fastening section (11), is accommodated by a recess (10, 20), which is embodied in the base body (3, 27a) and extends substantially both in the radial and in the axial direction of the base body (3), that the bundle of bristles (4, 22) is guided on first side walls (12, 13, 24, 25), which extend in the axial direction of the base body (3, 27a), and that the respective bundle of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) that runs at a bevel angle in relation to the surface of the substance layer (19) is tilted by an application of force to the free bristle ends (14, 23) in the direction of a second side wall (15, 21) of the recess (10, 20), which delimits the recess (10, 20) in the direction of the respective end (7, 8) of the base body (3, 27a).

2. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the recess (10), when viewed in cross-section, is embodied substantially in a slot-like manner, wherein the bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) are guided on both sides on first side walls (12 and 13), which run in parallel with one another and extend in the axial direction of the base body (3, 27a).

3. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the recesses (10), when viewed in cross-section of the base body (27a), are arranged in such a manner therein that the bundles of bristles (28) fixed therein run in a chord-like manner within the base body (27a).

4. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that, for different groups of bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28), the recesses (10, 20) differ in relation to their depth.

5. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the base body (3, 27a) is embodied in subsections, in which recesses (10, 20) are provided, with different diameters.

6. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the individual bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28), in the unloaded state, run with a different bevel angle within the base body (3, 27a) or the recesses (10, 20).

7. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the bundle of brushes (22, 26, 28) can press against the second side wall (21) of the recess (20) due to an application of force to the bristle ends, wherein this has a curved progression, starting from the outer peripheral area (6).

8. Expanding roller according to claim 7, characterised in that multiple regions with different curvature attach to one another.

9. Expanding roller according to claim 2, characterised in that the recesses (10, 20), with their longitudinal extensions, run at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the base body (3, 27a).

10. Expanding roller according to claim 1, characterised in that the bristles (5), which are in contact with at least one of the first side walls (12, 13), consist of a low-friction material or are coated therewith, so that these are guided with low friction on the respective first side wall (12, 13) of the recess (10).

11. Expanding roller (40, 40', 41, 42) for smoothing a substance layer (19), which is embodied as a round brush (2) with a base body as well as bristles (31, 33) protruding beyond the outer peripheral area (6) thereof by means of a free end section, wherein the bristles (31, 33) are consolidated as bundles of bristles spaced apart from one another and said bundles of bristles are in each case fixed on the base body by means of a fastening section and wherein bundles of bristles arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane (9) of the base body run obliquely to the transverse plane of the base body, by their free end sections being inclined in the direction of the ends of the base body in such a manner that, when the expanding roller (40, 40', 41, 42) interacts with the substance layer (18), a transverse tension can be achieved thereon, characterised in that, at least in their free end section, the bristles (31, 33) have a cross-section that deviates from the shape of a circle, wherein these are arranged on the base body, with their smaller side areas (32, 34) oriented in the peripheral direction of the expanding roller (40, 40', 41, 42).

12. Expanding roller according to claim 11, characterised in that the bristles have a rectangular or elliptical cross-section.

13. Apparatus for smoothing a textile substance in its region that is travelled over by an expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42), wherein the bundle of bristles (1, 27, 40, 40' 41, 42) which interacts with the surface of the substance (19, 36) and is embodied as a round brush (2) has a cylindrical base body (3, 27a) with bristles (5), which are fastened therein and protrude beyond an outer peripheral area of the base body (3), consolidated to form bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28), and the bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) thereof are in each case spaced apart from one another, wherein, by means of free end sections of the bristles (5) which engage on the substance (19, 36), on the one hand it is possible to achieve a longitudinal tension of the substance (19, 36) in a direction in which a relative movement between substance (19, 36) and expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) takes place, and on the other hand, due to bundles of bristles (4, 22, 26, 28) which are inclined obliquely in the direction of the ends (7 and 8) of the base body (3, 27a) and are arranged on both sides of a transverse central plane (9) of the base body (3, 27a), when the expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) interacts with the substance (19, 36), it is possible to achieve a transverse tension thereon, characterised in that the expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) is embodied according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that the expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42) is driven in a rotary manner, wherein the direction of rotation (46) thereof opposes a rolling movement that would result from a direction of travel (45) of the expanding roller (1, 27, 40, 40', 41, 42).

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that this is arranged in a treatment module (39) of a laundry treatment appliance (35), wherein, by means of at least one expanding roller (40, 40', 41, 42) provided for smoothing an item of laundry (36) to be treated, in a treatment position of the treatment module (39), it is possible to achieve mechanical tensions on the item of laundry.