Method and apparatus for producing a round brush

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for producing a round brush makes provision for the filaments (22) which are to be processed to be introduced into a container (46) and then made to vibrate by a vibration body (50) which is placed in position from above and is made to vibrate in the vertical direction. The filaments (22) thereby align themselves in relation to one another before being gripped and clamped between two pieces of wire, which are twisted.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a round brush in which the filaments are clamped between two twisted wire sections.

[0002] A generic method and a generic device are already known from EP 1 917 886 A1.

[0003] JP S55 32521 A shows a device for manufacturing round brushes, with a bristle magazine and a singulator that takes bristle bundles from the magazine and from which the bristle bundles are conveyed via a toothed conveyor belt to two movable walls. A striking element presses fibers lying on top of other fibers downwards.

[0004] EP 1 917 886 A1 shows another method for manufacturing round brushes.

[0005] In small round brushes, the filaments are clamped between two twisted wire sections. The two wire sections can also merge seamlessly by bending one wire at a 180° angle. Such round brushes are typically intended for specialized applications, such as interdental brushes or mascara brushes. The individual filaments are extremely thin, sometimes with a diameter of only 0.05 mm.

[0006] For the perfect shape of the round brush, it is crucial that the filaments are evenly aligned and not unevenly distributed along the length of the brush, so that, for example, there are tuft-like clusters of filaments, then sections without filament, and then another kind of more or less large tuft. EP 1 917 886 A1 shows that the bundle to be processed is not handled as a package, but rather as a kind of wall of filaments arranged side by side. These side-by-side filaments are held at one end by a clamping device. The two wire sections (which, as mentioned, also include two wire sections of a continuous wire) then lie in the middle of the filaments and divide them in half. During the subsequent twisting process, each filament is then removed from the clamping device.

[0007] As has been demonstrated in practice, it is very difficult and time-consuming to align the filaments parallel to each other and position them exclusively next to one another, preferably in contact, so that the bundle height is ideally only one filament (i.e., a flat bundle with a layer thickness of only one filament) or at most a few filaments (i.e., a flat bundle with a thin layer on a few filaments). In any case, the bundle height should be very uniform. This is extremely difficult in practice due to the soft structure and small diameter of the filaments. Consequently, it sometimes happens that more filaments overlap in some sections than in adjacent areas, or that individual filaments lie slightly perpendicular to each other. This results in a slightly uneven round brush.

[0008] The filaments are preferably aligned during their production, more precisely when filaments are cut from one or more fiber strands. Due to the small diameter of the filaments, they are only produced on-site, i.e., at the manufacturing plant for round brushes. For example, a strand consisting of numerous individual filament fibers, such as 50-150, is wound onto a spool. Approximately 200 filaments are required for an interdental brush, which are produced by cutting filaments from one or more strands. Depending on how many filaments are contained in a strand and how many filaments are required for a brush, one strand or several strands are unwound from parallel-aligned reels or from a reel containing multiple strands.After unwinding, the strands pass through a corrugated track formed by rollers, which run perpendicular to the strand's direction of movement, before the filaments are cut. The strand rests on top of one roller, the next roller presses the strand slightly downwards, and the roller after that guides the strand over it. The resulting pressure on the strand widens it, and the individual filament fibers increasingly lie side by side. Ideally, all the filament fibers lie parallel to each other at the end, possibly with a thin layer thickness. In this case, the layers are uniform, with adjacent filaments in each layer, before the filaments are cut. A guide comb, located before or after the corrugated track, can improve the fanning out of the filament fibers.Before or immediately after cutting, the future or already obtained filaments are gripped by the clamping device, which then brings the bundle of filaments lying next to each other to the twisting station.

[0009] In particular, because different materials are constantly being processed in such devices, i.e., strands with more or fewer filament fibers as well as with fibers of different thicknesses, and also because more or fewer deflection rollers with different diameters have to be used accordingly, this aforementioned fanning out of the strand into filament fibers arranged next to each other remains complex and problematic.

[0010] Even a variation in which one of the two jaws of the clamping device is briefly moved sideways to shift the filaments relative to each other and make the bundle uniformly thick does not solve all problems.

[0011] The object of the invention is therefore to create a method and a device with which flat bundles of very uniform, low height can be produced in a simple, very fast and high-quality manner, which are then clamped between the wires during twisting.

[0012] The invention provides a method for manufacturing a round brush in which the filaments are clamped between two twisted wire sections, by the following steps: Individual filaments are placed in a container so that they lie on top of each other, each filament having a first end and an opposite second end. A vibrating body is placed on the filaments in the container. The filaments are laterally distributed and aligned with each other by vibrating the vibrating body with a vertical motion component against the filaments, forming a flat bundle of filaments aligned parallel to each other. The flat bundle is then gripped at either its first or second ends by a clamping device, with the gripped ends being clamped between jaws movable against each other. The flat bundle is positioned between two wire sections, and the wires are twisted and the filaments are clamped between the wire sections.

[0013] The invention provides for a separate intermediate step before the filaments are even received in the clamping device. For this purpose, they are placed in a container where they are not perfectly aligned with each other, as the filaments are not all parallel and may also lie on top of each other or at an angle. By placing a vibrating body on top and oscillating the body with a component in a vertical direction, the filaments are also set into vibration and oscillate along with it. In doing so, they align themselves parallel to each other, and the thickness of the bundle becomes uniform in a very short time.

[0014] The vibrating body is wide enough to extend transversely across the entire bundle. A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that the vibrating body does not compress the bundle, but merely sets the filaments into vibration, so that the self-alignment of the filaments occurs without stress. Compression would have the opposite effect, because after the removal of a press ram, the filaments would spring back unpredictably due to the introduced stress, thus negating the alignment of the filaments within the bundle.

[0015] After the filaments have been distributed and aligned laterally, the flat bundle can either be picked up immediately by the clamping device or reach the clamping device via one or more intermediate steps.

[0016] During the subsequent twisting process, at least in the first phase of twisting, the clamping device can continue to hold the filaments at the picked-up and clamped end, so that they remain positioned for as long as possible.

[0017] During distribution and alignment, the vibrating body can also perform a horizontal oscillation perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the filaments. Alternatively, in practice it has also proven successful to oscillate the vibrating body exclusively vertically.

[0018] The container preferably has a U-shaped cross-section, meaning it is open at the top, and the bundle is inserted from the top or from an open side. Sides of the container laterally confine the bundle, so that the sides run parallel to the filaments.

[0019] The vibrating body can either be a type of piston that presses down against the flat bundle during vibration, or, alternatively, a body with a significantly smaller longitudinal extent (measured along the length of the filaments) than the filaments themselves. This vibrating body extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of these filaments, preferably in the region of the middle of the filaments.

[0020] Preferably, the contact area of ​​the vibrating body, measured in the longitudinal direction of the filaments, has a maximum of 30%, and in particular only a maximum of 15% of the length of the filaments.

[0021] As just mentioned, it is advantageous to minimize the contact area between the vibrating body and the filaments. For this reason, a rod-shaped vibrating body can be used, particularly one with a convexly curved underside. This underside simultaneously serves as the contact surface with the filaments. This results in point contact or, at most, minimal line or area contact, which is sufficient to set the filaments into vibration. Due to this small contact area, the filaments can move laterally and relative to each other much more easily than with a large, stamp-like vibrating body with a large contact area.

[0022] Preferably, the vibrating body is positioned approximately in the middle of the filaments (relative to their longitudinal extent).

[0023] It is further advantageous if the rod-like vibrating body lies freely rotatable on the bundle around its longitudinal axis, because mobility of the vibrating body also increases the freedom of movement of the filaments during alignment.

[0024] The vibrating body is optionally moved by a vibration drive, particularly at a frequency of 5 kHz and above. Tests have shown that a frequency of 25-50 kHz, and especially 33-39 kHz, yields very good results because the alignment and distribution of the filaments can be achieved extremely quickly at these frequencies. The lower the frequency, the longer this alignment process takes.

[0025] The vibrating body rests on the filaments with its own very low weight, and the vibration drive, for example a sonotrode, preferably has a minimal distance to the vibrating body in its non-vibrating initial state, which is only bridged during vibration. This means that the sonotrode does not add any weight that would pre-tension or stress the filaments before vibration begins.

[0026] Preferably, and this is not to be understood as restrictive, the entire vibrating body can be set into vibration for less than one second to align the filaments, i.e., the distribution and alignment process takes less than 1 second.

[0027] Another embodiment of the invention provides that the vibrating bodies are excited at different frequencies during alignment. This means that the excitation frequency varies over time. Here, too, it is advantageous to work with a frequency spectrum ranging from 25 to 50 kHz, preferably 33 to 39 kHz. The frequency is then varied within this spectrum.

[0028] The variation in frequency, when plotted on a graph of frequency over time, can be sinusoidal, pinnacled, or jagged.

[0029] Preferably, the filaments are aligned so that they all lie individually next to each other and not on top of each other. However, as mentioned, bundles with a height greater than one filament diameter can also be produced.

[0030] As explained at the beginning based on the state of the art, the filaments can be cut from at least one continuous strand of fibers.

[0031] When cutting filaments from a continuous strand of fibers, the U-shaped container can optionally be positioned under the cutting device, i.e., the fibers are drawn into the laterally open container and then cut in front of the container entrance, so that they come to rest directly in the container.

[0032] Preferably, the filaments are pre-oriented when being inserted into the container such that all first ends point in the same direction and all second ends in the opposite direction. This means that, for later optimal alignment, the filaments have a maximum deviation of 45° from this optimal orientation. The filaments are not oriented at 60° or even 90° to this orientation and thus completely perpendicular to each other. This relates to a variant of the invention.

[0033] Preferably, the filaments are set into ultrasonic vibration.

[0034] The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention, with a container for holding filaments, a vibrating body that can be placed on top of the filaments placed in the container, a vibration drive for vibrating the vibrating body in a vertical direction and for creating a flat bundle, a clamping device for gripping the flat bundle at one end, and a twisting device for twisting two wire sections together while twisting the filaments of the flat bundle.

[0035] As mentioned above, the device according to the invention can have a rod-like vibrating body, in particular with a convexly curved underside that forms the contact surface with the filaments. The vibrating body can also be freely rotatable on the bundle.

[0036] The vibrating body is mounted, for example, in a vertical guide groove, which allows vertical movement of the vibrating body, but limits its movement laterally, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the filaments.

[0037] In particular, there is only a small lateral clearance between the guide groove and the vibration body, preferably less than 1 mm, and especially less than 0.5 mm.

[0038] However, it is important that the vibrating body can move vertically downwards, namely when the bundle becomes flatter and flatter.

[0039] The vertical guide groove can, for example, be a groove in the aforementioned side legs of the container.

[0040] As previously mentioned in connection with the inventive method, the vibration drive can set the vibrating body into vibration in the vertical direction at a frequency of 25-50 kHz, possibly even less than this, and optionally also in the horizontal direction.

[0041] The vibration drive can rest movably on the vibrating body without a mechanically fixed coupling.

[0042] In general, the features mentioned in connection with the method according to the invention, individually or in combination as previously mentioned, can also be used in the device according to the invention, just as, conversely, the features of the device can be used in the method according to the invention.

[0043] This means, for example, that the vibration drive does not set the vibrating body in motion with a single frequency during the alignment process, but with different frequencies, which lie, for example, in the frequency band above.

[0044] The container is preferably shorter in its longitudinal dimension than the filaments, because then the ends of the filaments can protrude from the container to grip them. Furthermore, if the container has no end faces, as just mentioned, this also increases the degrees of freedom for the filaments when aligning themselves.

[0045] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the following drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show: Figure 1 a first step of the inventive method for manufacturing a round brush, in which a wire is bent, Figure 2a second step of the inventive method, Figure 3 a third step of the inventive method, in which a flat bundle is positioned between the wire sections, Figure 4 a fourth step of the inventive method, when the filaments are attached by twisting the wires, Figure 5 a device used to cut filaments from one or more strands, Figure 6 a device according to the invention, wherein not all parts of this device are shown, wherein the right half represents a first variant of the device according to the invention and the left half a second variant, Figure 7 a third variant of the device according to the invention in side view, Figure 8 the device according Figure 7 in longitudinal view, and Figure 9 another device according to the invention.

[0046] In Figure 1Figure 1 shows a first step in producing a round brush, in which the round brush has filaments that are clamped between wire sections of a twisted wire 10. The term "twisted wire" refers, on the one hand, to a variant in which a wire 10 is bent by 180° so that this wire piece has, so to speak, two wire sections 14, or to a variant in which two separate wires 10 are used to be twisted together.

[0047] In the variant according to Figure 1 The wire 10 is pushed through a slider 12 between two bodies 16, so that it is folded by 180°, as shown in Figure 2 can be seen.

[0048] A gripper 18 then clamps the wire at the bent end or the wire sections 14 at a free end.

[0049] In Figure 3It can be seen that a flat bundle 20 of filaments 22, in which the filaments 22 are all lying next to each other, so to speak in a row, is held by a clamping device 24 with two jaws 26 that are movable relative to each other.

[0050] The filaments 22 have a first end 28, which is unsecured and free, and an opposite second end 30, which is oriented in the opposite direction. The clamping device 24 grips the filaments 22 in the area of ​​one of these ends 28, 30, for example, the second end 30.

[0051] The longitudinal orientation of the filaments 22 with respect to the wire 10 or the wire sections 14 is such that the wire 10 or the wire sections 14 lie in the middle of the filaments 22 and hold them between them.

[0052] In a subsequent procedural step, which in Figure 4As can be seen, the wire sections 14 are plastically deformed and twisted relative to each other by gripping and twisting their ends 32 in a schematically shown twisting device 33. Additionally or alternatively, the gripper 18 can also be rotated.

[0053] One or more filaments 22 can be clamped between individual contact points of the wire sections 14. It is important that the total length of the finished round brush always contains an even number of filaments and that no accumulation of filaments 22 occurs, in particular no irregular accumulation of filaments 22 along the longitudinal extent of the round brush.

[0054] To prevent this, it is important to make the bundle 20 as uniformly thick as possible and, of course, to bring the filaments 22 into contact next to each other as much as possible.

[0055] How this is achieved will be explained below.

[0056] In advance, in Figure 5However, it has been shown how optionally – this is not to be understood as restrictive – the filaments 22 are produced at all. Typically, there are strands 34 of filament fibers, with each strand potentially containing 50 to 150 filament fibers. These continuous strands are wound onto spools 36, as shown in Figure 5 shown. It can also be advantageous for several strands 34 to be wound side by side on a spool 36.

[0057] After unwinding, the filaments 22 are cut by a cutting device 38. Optionally, a stylized fanning device 40 (shown alongside) may be present between the cutting device 38 and the rollers 36. This fanning device has the aforementioned spools 42, which are offset in height and provide a meandering path for the strand(s) 34. This path widens the strand 34 and positions the filament fibers as close together as possible. However, this device 40 can also be omitted, as just mentioned.

[0058] Before the filaments 22 are cut, the free ends of the filament fibers are grasped by a gripper 44. This gripper 44 then brings the produced filaments 22, as shown in Figure 6 sketched, in a container 46, either from above or from the side.

[0059] This container 46 has a U-shaped cross-section with side legs 48 which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the filaments 22.

[0060] Preferably, the container 46 is open in the axial direction of the filaments 22; no end walls are provided. This would also allow the filament fibers to be drawn laterally into the container 46 and, if necessary, slightly beyond it, and then the filaments 22 to be cut at the entrance of the container 46. In this case, the filaments 22 are already inside the container 46.

[0061] Furthermore, the filaments 22 preferably protrude axially with their two opposite ends towards the container 46.

[0062] The orientation of the filaments 22 in the container 46 is such that all first ends 28 point in one direction and all second ends 30 of the filaments 22 point in the opposite direction, i.e. the orientation is essentially parallel, without all filaments 22 actually running exactly parallel to each other (preferably offset by a maximum of 45° to each other).

[0063] How to in Figure 6 As can be seen, the filaments are irregularly distributed in container 46, some lying on top of each other. In some places, the height of the bundle 20 in the vertical direction is only one filament high, while in others it is two filament thicknesses. In other sections of container 46, there are no filaments at all (here, in the right end section). It can also happen that the filaments 22 are not aligned parallel to each other, but lie at a slight angle to each other, both in the bottom and upper layers.

[0064] To uniformize the bundle height, or even to have only one fiber at a height, a vibrating body 50, here in the form of a strip or plate, is placed on the bundle from above with minimal pressure or only its own weight and set into vibration. The pressure on the bundle 20 without vibration is so low that it is insufficient to push all the filaments 22 lying in an upper layer into the lower layer or to uniformly standardize the bundle 20 in height.

[0065] To generate the movement, a stylized vibration drive 52 is provided, which sets the vibrating body 50 into vibration in the vertical direction V.

[0066] Optionally, the vibrating body 50 can be set into vibration exclusively in the vertical direction or additionally also in the horizontal direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the filaments.

[0067] The extension of the vibrating body 50 in the longitudinal direction L is significantly less than the length of the filaments 22, for example a maximum of 30%, in particular a maximum of 15% of the length of the filaments 22.

[0068] Preferably, the vibrating body is designed such that its underside is convexly curved downwards, and / or it has an extent in the longitudinal direction L of a maximum of 5mm, in particular a maximum of 2mm, so that the contact distance or contact area is reduced with respect to the longitudinal direction L.

[0069] With a convexly curved underside, the apex (highest point) of the convex surface would run along the width B of the container 46. Ideally, this would result in only a point contact between the round filaments 22 and the curved underside running perpendicular to them.

[0070] The vibration drive brings the vibrating body to a frequency of 25 to 50 kHz, particularly 33 to 39 kHz, and possibly significantly lower. Additionally, the frequency may change during the processing phase, preferably within the aforementioned limits, which offers advantages for aligning and distributing the filaments 22.

[0071] This process of aligning and distributing the filaments 22 takes only about a maximum of one second, in particular even a maximum of 0.5 seconds, during which time the vibrating body 50 oscillates under minimal pressure on the filaments 22 above and causes them to vibrate.

[0072] As the bundle 20 collapses, the vibrating body 50 also moves downwards, as in Figure 6The upper and lower positions can be seen on the right half of the image. The upper position of the vibrating body 50 is still spaced apart from the bundle 20, while in the lower, right position, it can be seen that the bundle 20 is only one filament diameter high.

[0073] The left half of Figure 6 shows a variant for the right half, as far as the vibrating body 50 is concerned.

[0074] As already explained with reference to the right half, it is advantageous if the contact with the filaments 22 above is as minimal as possible. For this reason, the device according to the left embodiment is provided with an elongated, narrow vibrating body 50, which forms a strip that either has a convexly curved underside, as previously shown with reference to the vibrating body 50 in the right half, or is formed by a rod with a circular cross-section.

[0075] The vibratory body 50 can be mounted either directly on the vibratory drive 52 or on an intermediate part 54, which may be designed similarly to the vibratory body 50 in its right half. A fixed mechanical coupling between the vibratory body 50 and the intermediate part 54 is preferably not present; at most, some guidance in the longitudinal direction L is provided to prevent the vibratory body 50 from shifting. In particular, the vibratory body 50 can rotate freely about its longitudinal axis.

[0076] Particularly preferably, in the non-vibrating initial state, there is a vertical gap between the vibrating body 50 and the intermediate part 54 arranged above it, so that in the initial state only the guide body 50 rests on the bundle with its own weight. This also optionally applies to the embodiment described below.

[0077] The Figures 7 and 8They show another option for this variant of the device, in which the side legs 48 are slotted and a groove 60 (see Figure 8 ) so that a vertical guide for the vibrating body 50 - here a roller - is provided.

[0078] The width b of the groove 60 is, for example, only about a maximum of 0.5 mm, in particular a maximum of 0.2 mm, larger than the diameter of the roller-like vibrating body 50.

[0079] In this variant, for example, a sonotrode, acting as a vibration drive 52, contacts the vibrating body 50 from above without any mechanical coupling. At most, there is touch contact in the initial state, or, preferably, a small gap exists between the guide body 50 and the vibration drive 52, which is then bridged during vibration. Of course, an intermediate part 54 can also be present here.

[0080] After the filaments 22 are briefly set into vibration, they align themselves parallel to each other, forming only one layer. Then, the process can begin immediately. Figure 3 The clamping device 24 shown receives the filaments and thus the bundle 20 by, for example, pulling the bundle 20 out of the device longitudinally. Alternatively, the vibrating body 50 can also be moved upwards by a drive (not shown).

[0081] The amplitude of the vibration drive should be set such that, at maximum downward deflection after the filaments have been distributed and aligned, the bundle is not compressed by the vibration drive 52. This feature can optionally, i.e., not necessarily, also be applied to the other embodiments.

[0082] Figure 9Figure 1 shows a variant of the device in which the filaments 22 are not transferred to the container 46 immediately after being cut. For example, the variant shown is... Figure 9 For example, consider filaments 22 made of natural hair. The filaments 22 are arranged parallel to each other in a magazine 70 and are pressed by pressure P into an intermediate container 72, which has several chambers 74. This intermediate container 72 is moved laterally to the magazine 70, similar to bundle separators. During a transverse stroke, several chambers 74 are filled. The filaments 22 contained therein are then transferred into a common container 46, which, as in Figure 6 can be executed.

[0083] Subsequently, the bundle 20, which is still inharmonic in height and consists of filaments 22, is homogenized in height by means of vibrating bodies 50, as previously explained. In this process, the filaments 22 are aligned parallel to each other and spread out laterally.

[0084] It should be emphasized that the vibration drive 52 can of course also be integrated into the vibrating body 50. This means that the vibrating body 50 is the section of the entire unit that comes into contact with the filaments 22.

[0085] Preferably, the filaments 22 are set into ultrasonic vibration.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a round brush in which the filaments are clamped between two wire sections (14), consisting of the following steps: introducing individual filaments (22) into a container (46) such that filaments (22) lie on top of each other, the filaments (22) each having a first end (28) and an opposite, second end (30); placing a vibrating body (50) on the filaments (22) in the container (46); laterally distributing and aligning the filaments (22) in relation to each other by causing the vibrating body (50) to vibrate with a vertical movement component against the filaments (22) to form a flat bundle (20) of filaments (22) that are aligned parallel to each other; taking up the flat bundle (20) at either the first or the second ends (28, 30) by a clamping device (24) by clamping the taken-up ends (28, 30) between jaws (26) movable relative to each other; positioning the flat bundle (20) between two wire sections (14); and twisting the wire sections (14) and, in the process, clamping the filaments (22) between the wire sections (14).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, at least in a first phase of twisting, the clamping device (24) continues to hold the filaments (22) at the taken-up and clamped ends (28, 30).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, during the distributing and aligning process, the vibrating body (50) additionally performs a horizontal vibrating movement or exclusively performs a vertical vibrating movement.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (46) has a U-shaped cross-section, with side legs (48) laterally bordering the bundle (20).

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibrating body (50) is a part that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the filaments (22) and the extent of which in the longitudinal direction (L) is less than that of the filaments (22).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the vibrating body (50) is rod-like, in particular with a convexly curved lower side, which is designed as a contact surface with the filaments, preferably wherein the rod-like vibrating body (50) rests on the bundle (20) so as to be freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the vibrating body (50) is moved by a vibration drive (52), in particular at a frequency of 25 to 50 kHz, preferably 33 to 39 kHz.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filaments (22) are aligned such that they lie in the container (46) individually next to each other and not on top of each other after the vibrating body (50) has acted on them.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filaments (22) are cut from at least one strand (34) of continuous fibers.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the filaments (22) are introduced into the container (46), they are preoriented such that all first ends (28) point in the same direction and all second ends (30) point in the opposite direction.

11. A device for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a container (46) for receiving filaments (22); a vibrating body (50) that can be placed from above onto the filaments placed in the container (46); a vibration drive (52) for vibrating the vibrating body (50) in the vertical direction and for producing a flat bundle (20) of filaments (22); a clamping device for gripping the flat bundle at one end; and a twisting device (33) for twisting two wire sections (14) while turning in the filaments (22) of the flat bundle (20).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the vibrating body (50) is rod-like, in particular with a convexly curved lower side, which constitutes the contact surface with the filaments (22), preferably wherein the rod-like vibrating body (50) rests on the bundle (20) so as to be freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

13. The device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the vibration drive (52) causes the vibrating body (50) to vibrate in the vertical direction at a frequency of 25 to 50 kHz.

14. The device according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the part driving the vibrating body (50) only abuts on the vibrating body (50) without being mechanically coupled to it.

15. The device according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the vibrating body (50) is vertically movable and laterally guided in a vertical guide groove (60).

Images