Brush-filling apparatus and method for filling brushes

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush-filling apparatus (10) comprising a filling tool (16), which can be moved reversibly back and forth, for filling bristle bundles (40) into a bristle carrier (14). This bristle carrier (14) has a plurality of receiving openings for bristle bundles (40). The brush-filling apparatus works with a plurality of bundle displacers (20, 21, 122) which move already-filled bristles away from the next receiving opening into which bristles are to be inserted. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for filling brushes.

Description

[0001] Brush stuffing device and method for stuffing brushes

[0002] The invention relates to a brush stuffing device and a method for stuffing brushes.

[0003] Brush tucking devices work with a reciprocating tucking tool, which, in the retracted position, is equipped with a bundle of bristles. This bundle is then moved to a receiving opening in a bristle carrier and pushed in by a tucking tongue that is also movable in the tucking tool. If one or more receiving openings are already tugged, the tufts of bristles or individual bristles of these tufts get in the way of the tucking tool when tucking the adjacent receiving opening.

[0004] For this reason, a so-called bundle displacer is used in such brush tufting devices. This type of bundle displacer is a driven element that, synchronized with the reciprocating tufting tool, pushes the previously stuffed bristle bundle(s) away during the next tufting cycle, so that the next tuft to be stuffed is freely accessible for the tufting process.

[0005] In order to increase the cycle rate of such brush stuffing devices, it is advantageous to keep the stuffing stroke as short as possible. The stuffing stroke is the distance the tip of the stuffing tool travels between the stuffed position and the maximum retracted position. However, if the length of the bristle bundle is longer than the stuffing stroke, the free ends of the bristle bundles that have already been stuffed can still be stuck in the stuffing tool when this bristle bundle is already completely anchored in the receiving opening. The bundle displacer can then be moved transversely to the just-stuffed receiving opening and bend this just-stuffed bristle bundle sideways, pulling its end out of the stuffing tool. In this case, the bundle displacer has two functions. It pulls the just-stuffed bristle bundle out of the stuffing tool and also keeps it away from the adjacent receiving opening into which the next bristle bundle is stuffed.

[0006] The object of the invention is to be able to further increase the cycle rate of such a brush stuffing device.

[0007] This task is solved by a brush stuffing device, with a stuffing tool that can be moved back and forth to stuff bristle bundles into a bristle carrier that has a plurality of receiving openings for bristle bundles, and a plurality of bundle displacers that are moved one after the other to the bristle carrier to be stuffed and consist of one or more mechanical parts that, through direct contact with the already stuffed bristles, displace them from the receiving opening that is to be subsequently filled with bristles.

[0008] The brush stuffing device according to the invention does not operate with a single bundle displacer, but with multiple bundle displacers, which consequently have to cover shorter distances from one cycle to the next than with previous brush stuffing devices, in which only one bundle displacer was assigned to the stuffing tool. Until now, it was believed that since a stuffing tool is moved back and forth, just one bundle displacer is sufficient and the movements of these two tools can be easily synchronized. However, it has been found that a significant increase in cycle rates is possible by providing multiple bundle displacers. In addition, the quality of the brushes produced can be improved because it increases the reliability that the area in front of the receiving opening to be stuffed remains free of individual bristles during the stuffing process.When the bundle displacer, which is currently clearing the receiving opening to be filled, is moved to the side, the next bundle displacer can already be in position and keep the next receiving opening clear of bristles that spring back from the surrounding, already filled bristle bundles. The individual movement distances between cycles are short with multiple bundle displacers, which allows for an increase in cycle rate.

[0009] The bundle displacers can be mechanically connected to one another and mounted in such a way that they can be moved toward and away from the bristle carrier in a fixed sequence. In the present invention, the bundle displacers are therefore not only moved laterally toward the bristle carrier, but also toward and away from it. The mechanical coupling ensures high positioning stability and reduced electrical and control requirements.

[0010] One variant prefers that the bundle displacers move along a closed circular track, which can be oval, polygonal with rounded corners, or preferably circular. Such a track movement offers advantages in terms of bearing technology and allows for high speeds for the bundle displacer.

[0011] The bundle displacers can be mounted so that they can move around an axis that is either at an angle of a maximum of 35° to a radial plane relative to the direction of the stuffing movement of the stuffing tool at the end of the stuffing movement, or at an angle of 60° to 90°, in particular 60° to 80°, to this radial plane. This means that the bundle displacers do not move exclusively in a plane parallel to the front of the bristle carrier, but rather they move toward the stuffing tool, shield the receiving opening to be stuffed, and then move further away from the front and the associated receiving opening.

[0012] The bundle displacers can each have a so-called shielding section, with which they displace the bristles and with which they contact them. The shielding sections of all bundle displacers are movable, for example, along a closed ring path. This ring path runs at an angle to the stuffing direction of the stuffing tool at the end of the stuffing movement such that the bundle displacer shielding the currently stuffed receiving opening is, with at least part of its shielding section, closer to a plane defined by the front of the bristle carrier than all other shielding sections. The shielding section opposite the receiving opening currently being stuffed is the one closest to this plane.The term “direction of stuffing movement at the end of the stuffing movement” means that the movement path of the tip of the stuffing tool is viewed here, which occurs shortly before the bristle bundle penetrates into the receiving opening and during penetration.

[0013] This variant also ensures that the shielding section that keeps the currently filled receiving opening clear is always the shielding section closest to the plane through the front of the bristle carrier. This means that when the shielding sections move toward the receiving opening currently being filled, the already filled bristle bundles located significantly further away are not contacted, or are only contacted at their ends, and are not moved toward the exposed receiving opening, which would be counterproductive.

[0014] A variant of the invention provides for the bundle displacers to be rod-shaped. However, these bundle displacers can have a profiled, e.g., curved, free end that forms the shielding section. These rod-shaped bundle displacers can be mounted on a common rotating shaft.

[0015] Preferably, the rod-shaped bundle displacers run parallel to each other or are located in a single plane. If they are located in a single plane, they could extend outward in a star shape from the shaft rotating around an axis, like the spokes of a wheel.

[0016] As already mentioned, the bundle displacers can each have a shielding section with which they contact the bristles to be displaced. This shielding section can enclose a passage for the stuffing tool and the bristle bundle to be stuffed, and can limit this passage on at least two sides.

[0017] The bundle displacer in the shielding section can be, for example, U-shaped, L-shaped, closed ring-shaped or circular in order to define the passage.

[0018] The bundle displacers can be mechanically coupled to one another by a radially outer stabilizing ring to connect the free ends of the bundle displacers near or in the area of ​​the shielding section and thus stabilize them. Alternatively or additionally, the shielding sections can be connected to one another to achieve a direct coupling of the shielding sections and thus also stabilize them.

[0019] An alternative to this provides that the bundle displacers are formed by openings and edges delimiting the openings in a rotatable disc.

[0020] The invention provides that at least two bundle displacers are provided, but preferably at least three bundle displacers, in order to hold the bristle bundle that has just been stuffed over several stuffing cycles and not only to keep the receiving opening that is currently to be stuffed free.

[0021] In other words, not every bristle bundle is touched by the same bundle displacers, as is the case in the prior art.

[0022] The drive for the bundle displacers is a drive that is mechanically or electronically synchronized with the tamping tool. For example, electronic synchronization can involve a servo motor coupled to the tamping tool or its drive via a so-called electronic camming system.

[0023] A mechanical coupling can be achieved via a gear, but the use of a belt or toothed belt is also conceivable.

[0024] To ensure that a bundle displacer holds its bristle bundle after stuffing for several cycles, i.e. stuffing strokes, one variant provides the following: The distance between the bundle displacers and their movement path in relation to the stuffing stroke are selected such that a bundle displacer keeping a currently stuffed receiving opening clear (during the period until the subsequently activated bundle displacer sweeps over the receiving opening to be kept clear) is only moved away from its receiving opening in the area of ​​the stuffing stroke. The range of movement in side view for its subsequent cycle is therefore limited. This range of movement of the bundle displacers relates to a side view, i.e. a view parallel to the plane defined by the front of the bristle carrier.It is advantageous if the drive of the bundle displacers is designed in such a way that, starting from a stuffing position in which they keep a currently stuffed receiving opening clear, the bundle displacers can be moved further with adjustable, varying cycle lengths. This means the cycle spacing is variable and can be adapted to the bristle length. Longer bristles allow for a larger cycle spacing and, accordingly, the bristles can be bent further away than shorter bristles.

[0025] The above object is also achieved by a method for stuffing brushes by means of a brush stuffing device according to the invention, characterized by the following steps: a) A first bundle displacer is moved transversely to a receiving opening in a bristle carrier to be stuffed next, in order to bend previously stuffed bristles away from the receiving opening to be stuffed next, b) a stuffing tool stuffs a bundle of bristles into the receiving opening to be stuffed, c) the stuffed tool moves back, d) the first bundle displacer is moved away from the receiving opening, e) a further bundle displacer is moved transversely to a receiving opening to be stuffed immediately afterwards, in order to bend previously stuffed bristles away.

[0026] In particular, the method according to the invention provides that at least three bundle displacers are provided.

[0027] In step d), the first bundle displacer should hold the bristle bundle that has just been stuffed at least until the next bundle displacer has moved in front of the receiving opening into which the next bristle bundle will be stuffed. It can be even more advantageous if this first bristle bundle is also held in the next cycle, so that its bristles cannot spring towards the receiving opening that is currently being stuffed. If long bristle bundles are being stuffed that are longer than the stuffing stroke, the bristle bundle should be pulled out of the stuffing tool by the first bundle displacer in step d), preferably before the next bristle bundle is inserted into the stuffing tool.

[0028] When the bundle displacers rotate in a timed manner along an annular path, displacing bristle bundles that are being stuffed one after the other, the annular path defines a surface. This surface is preferably oriented obliquely to a front side facing the stuffing tool. The orientation can be at an angle of less than 30°. This has the previously mentioned advantage that the bundle displacers move one after the other closer to the plane of the front side of the bristle carrier and are closest to this plane when they are located directly in front of the receiving opening to be stuffed.

[0029] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings:

[0030] - Figure 1 shows a first variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention, here with two bundle displacers,

[0031] - Figure 2 a second variant inventive

[0032] Brush stuffing device, here with three bundle displacers,

[0033] - Figure 3 shows a third variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention, here with two bundle displacers,

[0034] - Figure 4 shows a fourth variant of the inventive

[0035] Brush stuffing device, here with three bundle displacers,

[0036] - Figure 5 shows a fifth variant of the inventive

[0037] Brush stuffing device with bundle displacers complementing each other to form a circle,

[0038] - Figure 6 shows the brush stuffing device according to Figure 5 in an advanced stage of stuffing a brush holder in a perspective view, - Figure 7 shows the brush stuffing device according to Figure 5 in a perspective view obliquely from below,

[0039] - Figure 8 shows the brush stuffing device according to Figure 5 in a further perspective view,

[0040] - Figure 9 shows a variant of the bundle displacers that can be used in the brush stuffing device according to the invention,

[0041] - Figure 10 shows the bundle displacers used in the embodiment according to Figure 5,

[0042] - Figure 11 shows another variant of bundle displacers that are moved along an oval path,

[0043] - Figure 12 shows a sixth variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention, here with rod-shaped and star-shaped bundle displacers,

[0044] - Figure 13 shows a seventh variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention, similar to that in Figure 12, but with angled

[0045] brush displacers,

[0046] - Figure 14 shows an eighth variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention,

[0047] - Figure 15 shows a ninth variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention, and

[0048] - Figure 16 shows a tenth variant of the brush stuffing device according to the invention

[0049] Figure 1 shows a brush stuffing device 10 which is provided for stuffing receiving openings 12 in a bristle carrier 14.

[0050] The bristle carrier 14 can be plate-shaped, as shown in Figure 1, or form a head of a brush or the entire carrier of the brush.

[0051] The brush stuffing device 10 comprises a reciprocating stuffing tool 16, which can be moved back and forth linearly or along a curved path. The stuffing tool 16 comprises a tip 18, which represents the foremost end of the stuffing tool 16 and moves directly toward the receiving opening 12 to be stuffed. A channel is formed in the tip 18, in which a bundle of bristles is held and pushed into the associated receiving opening 12 by a stuffing tongue.

[0052] The brush stuffing device 10 can either work with a so-called anchor or a loop, by means of which the bristle bundle is permanently embedded in the bristle carrier 14, or work without an anchor, so that the bristle bundles are only pushed into the bristle carrier 14 in order to be subsequently fastened in another way, for example by means of ultrasound technology via a sonotrode or an impact pulse of a tool on a partial circumference or the entire circumference of the opening edge of the receiving opening 12.

[0053] A further alternative provides that the bristle carrier 14 is not part of the later brush, but a magazine which is filled and whose bristle bundles are then pushed together into receiving openings of the bristle.

[0054] During stuffing, the bundle displacers 20, 22 ensure that the receiving opening 12 currently being stuffed remains exposed for the pushing movement of the tip 18, even though adjacent receiving openings already have bundles of bristles which have bristles which would protrude into the path of movement of the tip 18.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, two bundle displacers 20, 22 are provided. These are, for example, ring-shaped, in this case even circular.

[0056] Both bundle displacers 20, 22 are connected via an associated holder 24, 26 to a shaft, symbolized by its axis 28, which rotates by means of a drive 30.

[0057] In this embodiment, the axis 28 is oriented obliquely to the plane defined by the front side 32 of the bristle carrier 14, preferably at an angle of 60 to 90° to this plane, in particular in the range of 60 to 80°. The method described below for stuffing bristle bundles to produce a brush also applies to the other embodiments.

[0058] In the initial position of the stuffing tool, it is in the position at its maximum distance from the front side 32. In this position, a bundle of bristles to be stuffed is inserted into the corresponding channel in the stuffing tool 16.

[0059] Before or during the forward movement, the bundle displacer 22 is moved by the drive 30 in front of the receiving opening 12 currently being filled. The direction of movement preferably occurs from a side in which no bristle bundles have yet been filled. This means that from this side, the surrounding, already filled bristle bundles are pushed away from the receiving opening 12 currently being filled and bent. This is particularly necessary because the bristle bundles are not all exactly parallel after filling, but rather fan out somewhat like a bouquet of flowers.

[0060] By keeping the bundle displacer 20 clear of the area around the receiving opening 12 currently being filled, no bristle obstructs the movement of the tip 18, allowing the tip 18 to move through the bundle displacer 20 to the receiving opening 12, and the filling tongue pushes the bristle bundle into the receiving opening 12, either with or without an anchor. The tip 18 is then retracted.

[0061] After the tip 18 has passed the bundle displacer 20 in the reverse direction, the latter is moved away by the drive 30, and the next bundle displacer 22 moves in front of the receiving opening to be filled next.

[0062] In the embodiment according to Figure 2, three bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 are provided, all of which are moved along a circular path by a drive 30 (not shown here). In this variant, the axis 28, around which the circular path runs, is aligned at right angles to the plane defined by the front side 32. In this variant, the so-called cycle distance is shorter than in the variant according to Figure 1. The cycle distance is the distance that a bundle displacer travels from cycle to cycle, i.e., the distance between the bundle displacer 22 and the bundle displacer 20 is cited here as an example.

[0063] The variant according to Figure 3 is a modification of the variant according to Figure 1 , in which, however, as in Figure 2, the axis 28 is aligned at right angles to the plane defined by the front side 32.

[0064] In the variant according to Figure 4, however, the axis 28, around which the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 according to Figure 2 rotate, is aligned obliquely to the plane defined by the front side 32. Here, too, as in the variant according to Figure 1, the angle of the axis 28 to this plane is in the range of 60 to 90°, in particular in the range of 60 to 80°.

[0065] The aforementioned plane can also be replaced by a so-called radial plane, namely a radial plane related to the tucking movement direction of the tucking tool, more precisely the tip 18, at the end of the tucking movement. This end of the tucking movement begins shortly before reaching the front dead center, i.e. close to the front side 32, and extends to the nearby dead center. However, since this end of the tucking movement preferably runs perpendicular to the front side 32, the plane with the front side 32 is usually also the radial plane. However, it is possible that the bristle bundles run obliquely to the front side 32, namely in the case of obliquely seated bristle bundles, so that here a deviation in the alignment of the axis 28 to the front side 32 results. In this case, the aforementioned angle specifications refer to the radial plane and not to the plane defined by the front side 32.

[0066] Figure 5 shows a further variant in which not just three, but significantly more bundle displacers are provided. For example only, the bundle displacers 20, 22, and 122, which are arranged directly one after the other, are provided with reference numerals.

[0067] All bundle displacers are arranged along a closed ring, here along a circular path. The adjacent bundle displacers preferably contact one another, as shown in Figure 10. Adjacent bundle displacers can also be directly attached to one another. A disk, for example, can serve as the holder 24 for all bundle displacers, or the bundle displacers can have their own holders 24, 26, as shown in the variant in Figure 9, with which they are attached to the common drive shaft.

[0068] The difference between the variants according to Figures 9 and 10 is that in the variant according to Figure 10 the bundle displacers are additionally coupled to one another by a radially outer stabilizing ring 36, wherein the stabilizing ring 36 also contributes to the displacement of already stuffed bristle bundles.

[0069] One variant provides for teeth 38 to protrude from the outside of this stabilizing ring, which are intended to additionally hold the bristles during displacement.

[0070] Figure 5 symbolically shows a bristle bundle 40 that is extremely long and is still held in its bundle displacer 20, even though the bundle displacer 20 has already been cycled away and either the bundle displacer 22 or the bundle displacer 122 is used next. This means that the individual bristle bundles are still held in their assigned bundle displacer for at least one cycle after they have been stuffed. The following bundle displacer or the following bundle displacer then shields the next receiving opening from the other already stuffed bristle bundles.

[0071] Figure 5 also shows how the drive for the movement of the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 is effected, namely here for example via a belt 42 which is set in motion by the drive 30.

[0072] This allows the drive 30 to be positioned at a significant distance from the stuffing tool 16.

[0073] Furthermore, and this applies to all embodiments, the movements of the bundle displacers and the movement of the stuffing tool 16 are coupled to one another either mechanically or electronically, in the case of an electronic coupling in particular via a so-called “camming”.

[0074] The drive 30 is preferably an electric servomotor. In this case, the drive 30 for moving the stuffing tool 16 is provided mechanically via a cam drive, but alternatively also via a servomotor or a combination of both.

[0075] Figure 6 shows that two rows of receiving openings have already been filled, and the third row from the bottom is now being filled from right to left. It can also be seen that the individual bristle bundles 40 fan out slightly conically, thus obstructing the movement of the tip 18 during filling.

[0076] The bundle displacers, some of which have been omitted from the drawing here purely for the sake of clarity, together with the stabilizing ring 36 displace the already stuffed bristle bundles 40 in the vicinity of the receiving opening currently to be stuffed.

[0077] Figures 7 and 8 show, from different angles, that bristle bundles 40 are held by their associated bundle displacer 20 for one or more cycles. The bristle bundles 40 used here are extremely long, even longer than the so-called stuffing stroke, i.e., the movement distance of the tip 18 between its two dead centers. In this case, the bristle bundle 40 is still in the tip 18 when it has just been stuffed and the tip 18 has already been moved to its rear dead center. Then, the bundle displacer 20 pulls the bristle bundle 40 out of the tip 18 through its sideways movement.

[0078] As can be clearly seen, particularly in Figure 8, in this embodiment, the axis 28 around which the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 are moved along their circular path is not perpendicular to the radial plane, but rather obliquely thereto. Here, too, the radial plane refers to the path of movement of the stuffing tool 16, more precisely the tip 18, at the end of the stuffing movement. As explained, this radial plane can also coincide with the plane defined by the front side 32, depending on the orientation of the receiving opening relative to the front side 32.

[0079] Here too, the angle of the radial plane to the axis 28 is between 60° and 90°, in particular 60 to 80°. The bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 are movable along a closed ring path (here a circular ring path). Due to the oblique alignment of the ring path to the stuffing movement direction of the stuffing tool at the end of the stuffing movement itself, the currently active bundle displacer 20 is closer to the front side in a side view than all the other bundle displacers. Seen in a side view, a bundle displacer therefore moves intermittently closer and closer to the receiving opening and thus closer to the plane defined by the front side of the bristle carrier until it lies in front of its assigned receiving opening and shields it. It then moves gradually away from the plane again.

[0080] A bundle displacer can be designed so that only a portion of it comes into contact with the bristles. In the variants explained so far, the entire bundle displacer 20, 22, 122 comes into contact with the bundle, so that its so-called shielding portion is formed by the entire bundle displacer itself. In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 12 to 16, however, bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 are provided that only come into contact with bristles in a partial area, with this partial area then being referred to as the so-called shielding portion 50.

[0081] For these shielding sections 50, it then applies that they optionally move further in cycles on their closed ring path and that this ring path, as just explained using the example according to Figures 5 to 8, moves towards the front side of the bristle carrier 14 and the plane defined thereby and then moves away from this plane again.

[0082] Before referring to the embodiments according to Figures 12 to 16, the variant according to Figure 11 is presented, in which the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 do not rotate along a circular path, but rather on a different, closed circular path in the shape of an oval. Here, the bundle displacers are mounted, for example, on holders 24, 26, which in turn are attached to a chain 52 or a belt that is driven and rotates. This chain or belt then not only rotates, but is also moved laterally relative to the stuffing tool 16.

[0083] In the variant according to Figure 12, the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122 are rod-shaped and extend outward in a star shape from the shaft through which the axis 28 passes. In this variant, the entire bundle displacer is not simultaneously a shielding section 50; rather, the shielding section 50 is defined by a front end region.

[0084] In the variant according to Figure 13, the shielding section 50 is defined by a U-shaped end of the otherwise rod-shaped bundle displacer 20, 22, 122. The shielding section is therefore U-shaped here, although other geometries are also possible, for example, an L or similar geometries. In these bent or curved variants, the shielding section can shield bristles from at least two sides and provide a passage from these two sides for the stuffing tool 16.

[0085] In the variant shown in Figure 14, the axis 28 is either parallel to the radial plane and thus to the plane defined by the front side 32, or at an acute angle to this plane, in this case at a maximum angle of 25°. The rod-shaped bundle displacers 20, 22 run parallel to the axis 28.

[0086] In the variant according to Figure 15, the only difference is that there are no longer two bundle displacers as in the variant according to Figure 14, but three bundle displacers 20, 22, 122.

[0087] Figure 16 shows a slightly different orientation of the axis 28 relative to the front side 32.

[0088] Not shown is a variant in which the bundle displacers are formed by openings and edges defining the openings in a rotatable disc. This embodiment can be imagined according to Figure 10, with the edge of the disc formed by the stabilizing ring 36 and the openings symbolized by the bundle displacers 20, 22, 122.

[0089] The alignment of the annular path of the individual bundle displacers relative to the front side 32 can also be defined such that the annular path along which the bundle displacers are moved circumscribes a surface, in particular a flat surface, which runs obliquely relative to the front side 32. The angle of the planes relative to one another is preferably, but not necessarily restrictive, less than 30°.

[0090] The spacing of the bundle displacers from one another and the movement path of the bundle displacers in relation to the stuffing stroke are selected such that a bundle displacer 20 keeping a currently stuffed receiving opening 12 clear is only moved away from this receiving opening 12 in the area of ​​the stuffing stroke until the subsequently activated bundle displacer 22 passes over the receiving opening to be kept clear. This is based on the side view. This means that the currently active bundle displacer 20 is not moved far away from the front side 32 until the next bundle displacer, in this case bundle displacer 22, comes into action, so that the bundle displacer 20 also holds its bristle bundle in the subsequent cycle.

[0091] The cycle path can be variable in all embodiments, meaning that the distance traveled by a bundle displacer after the stuffing process of its receiving opening until the subsequent stuffing process can vary. For example, in the variant shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pivot angle can be changed from cycle to cycle, or in the variant shown in Figure 5, a bundle displacer can be skipped, so that, for example, after the tip 18 has been moved by the bundle displacer 20, the bundle displacer 122 is activated next, whereas the bundle displacer 22 has no function. This allows for a variable response to different bristle lengths.

[0092] Different attachments with bundle displacers can also be used in the same brush tamping device. For example, with reference to Figures 12 and 13, attachments are plugged onto the specified shaft or, more generally, attached to it, in which more than the five or six bundle displacers shown run outwards in a star shape. In Figures 9 and 10, for example, bundle displacers can be assembled in the form of rings with different circular diameters, or other round rings (e.g. oval) or polygonal rings (e.g. triangular, square, ...). These can also be used to change the cycle path and adapt it to the bundle length. In this way, a modular system can be easily provided which can be used to respond to different brushes and different bundle lengths with minimal modification. If the drive 30 is electronically controlled, the adjustment of the cycle path is also problem-free on the drive side.

Claims

Claims 1. Brush stuffing device, comprising a reversibly movable stuffing tool (16) for stuffing bristle bundles (40) into a bristle carrier (14) which has several receiving openings for bristle bundles (40), and several bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) which are moved successively to the bristle carrier (14) to be stuffed, consisting of one or more mechanical parts which, by direct contact with the already stuffed bristles, displace them from the receiving opening (12) to be stuffed subsequently.

2. Brush stuffing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are mechanically connected to each other and are mounted in such a way that they can be moved successively towards and away from the bristle carrier (14) in a fixed sequence.

3. Brush stuffing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are movable on a closed ring path, in particular on a circular path.

4. Brush stuffing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are mounted to be movable about an axis, wherein the axis (28) is either at an angle of a maximum of 35° to a radial plane with respect to the stuffing direction of the stuffing tool (16) at the end of the stuffing movement or at an angle of 60° to 90°, in particular 60° to 80°, to this radial plane.

5. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) each have a shielding section (50) with which they displace the bristles, wherein the shielding sections (50) of all bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are movable along a closed ring path and the ring path runs obliquely to the stuffing direction of the stuffing tool (16) at the end of the stuffing movement such that the bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) shielding the currently stuffed receiving opening (12) is positioned with at least a part of its shielding section (50) closer to a front face (32) of the The plane defined by the bristle carrier (14) is different from all other shielding sections (50).

6. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are each rod-shaped, in particular with a curved, free end forming the shielding section (50) with the bristles to be displaced, wherein the rod-shaped bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are attached to a common, rotating shaft, preferably wherein the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) run parallel to each other or lie in a plane, in particular extending outwards in a star shape from the common shaft rotating about an axis (28).

7. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) each have a shielding section (50) with which they contact the bristles to be displaced, wherein the shielding section (50) encloses a passage for the stuffing tool (16) and the bristle bundle (40) to be stuffed and limits this passage on at least two sides.

8. Brush stuffing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) in the shielding section (50) are II-, L-, closed annular or circular in shape to define the passage.

9. Brush stuffing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are mechanically coupled to each other by a radially outer stabilizing ring (36) and / or connected to each other in the shielding section (50).

10. Brush stuffing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are formed by openings and edges limiting the openings in a rotatable disk.

11. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least 2, preferably at least 3 bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) are provided.

12. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) is timed and coupled with the movement of the stuffing tool (16), in particular electronically.

13. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) and their path of movement in relation to the stuffing stroke are selected such that a bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) keeping a currently stuffed receiving opening (12) clear is moved away from the receiving opening (12) in a side view only in the area of ​​the stuffing stroke, until the subsequently activated bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) sweeps over the receiving opening (12) to be kept clear afterwards.

14. Brush stuffing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (30) of the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) is designed such that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) can be moved further with adjustable indexing distances from a stuffing position in which they keep a currently stuffed receiving opening (12) clear.

15. Method for stuffing brushes using a brush stuffing device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps: a) A first bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) is moved transversely to a receiving opening (12) to be stuffed next in a bristle carrier (14) in order to bend previously stuffed bristles away from the receiving opening (12) to be stuffed next, b) a stuffing tool (16) stuffs a bristle bundle (40) into the receiving opening to be stuffed, c) the stuffing tool (16) retracts, d) the first bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) is moved from the receiving opening (12) moved away, and e) a further bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) is moved transversely to a receiving opening (12) to be filled immediately afterwards, in order to bend away previously filled bristles.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that in step d) the first bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) the bristle bundle that has just been stuffed (40) lasts at least until the next bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) has moved in front of the receiving opening (12) into which the next bristle bundle (40) is stuffed.

17. Method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that bristle bundles (40) are stuffed which are longer than the stuffing stroke and that in step d) the first bundle displacer (20, 22, 122) pulls the just stuffed bristle bundle (40) out of the stuffing tool (16).

18. Method according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the bundle displacers (20, 22, 122) rotate in a timed manner along an annular path and displace successively stuffed bristle bundles (40), wherein the annular path circumscribes a surface which points to a front side (32) of the bristle carrier (14) facing the stuffing tool (16), in particular is oriented obliquely to the front side (32).

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