Machine and method for making bristle tools

Abstract

A machine (1) for making bristle tools (50) comprises a first operating assembly (2) provided with at least drilling means (3) and punching means (4) respectively for making open cavities (52) on bodies (51) of said tools (50) and for inserting bundles (60) of bristles (61) therein; a moving unit (5) comprising a first, substantially flat supporting base (14) to which a plurality of first supporting elements (11) are secured parallel and adjacent, adapted to house the tool bodies (51) and movable at least to move and position the tool bodies (51) at the drilling means (3) and the punching means (4); at least one feeding unit (10) provided with second supporting elements (12) adapted to receive and support the tool bodies (51), arranged adjacent and parallel along a ring path P and movable along the ring path (P) between respective loading positions (C), in which they are arranged opposite the first operating assembly (2) to receive tool bodies (51), and a defined transfer position (T, T' ), in which they face the first operating assembly (2) and the moving unit (5) to allow the latter to pick up said tool bodies (52).

Description

[0001] Machine and method for making bristle tools

[0002] The present invention relates to machines for making bristle tools for domestic and / or industrial use, in particular tools such as brushes, brooms, scrubbing brushes and the like, in which the bristle bundles are secured to open cavities made in the base or body of the tool. According to the prior art, the bristle bundles or tufts are secured to the bodies or bases or slats of bristle tools, such as brushes, brooms, scrubbing brushes and the like, by performing a drilling operation and a subsequent punching operation. Through the drilling process, open cavities, or blind holes, are created on the body of the tool, into which the bristle bundles are inserted during the subsequent punching operation and secured therein by respective anchoring or locking elements. More precisely, the bristles of each bundle are grouped and folded in a “U” shape around a respective anchoring element so as to form an anchoring end that is inserted by a punch together with the anchoring element inside a hole of the tool body and secured there.

[0003] Machines for making bristle tools are known which comprise a drilling and punching station which is provided with one or more drilling heads and with one or more punching heads and with supporting means adapted to support and move the bodies of the tools between the drilling and punching heads during operation.

[0004] More precisely, the supporting means are configured to arrange each tool body with respect to the drilling and punching heads in a plurality of successive positions that allow the drilling heads to make a predefined pattern of holes and the punching heads to insert the respective bristle bundles with the relative anchoring elements inside the holes.

[0005] Machines are known having supporting means comprising a platform or movement base, called a pantograph, movable with various degrees of freedom in translation and rotation and provided with a plurality of seats adapted to receive and lock respective bodies of tools. The movement platform, when stopped together with the drilling and punching heads, in particular in an inactive position, allows to load or insert the bodies of the tools to be drilled and punched into the seats and to remove the finished tools, i.e., drilled and provided with bristles.

[0006] In the simplest and most economical machines, the operations of inserting the bodies and removing the finished tools are carried out manually by an operator who stops the machine and the movement platform, in particular in the inactive position. However, this procedure requires stopping the machine and therefore production for the time necessary to insert or remove the tools.

[0007] It is also possible to perform this tool insertion and removal during the operation of the machine with the movement platform in motion, but this procedure can be dangerous for the safety of the operator.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to improve the known machines and methods for making bristle tools for domestic and / or industrial use, in particular tools in which the bristle bundles are secured in open cavities made in the tool body.

[0009] Another object is to provide a machine and a method for making bristle tools that allows the tool bodies to be drilled and punched to be loaded quickly, conveniently and safely for the operator without the need to stop the machine.

[0010] A further object is to provide a machine for making bristle tools having a high productivity and requiring limited interventions by an operator.

[0011] Still another object is to provide a machine for making bristle tools having a robust and reliable construction and compact and limited dimensions.

[0012] In a first aspect of the invention, a machine is provided for making bristle tools according to claim 1.

[0013] In a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided for making bristle tools according to claim 18.

[0014] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached figures which illustrate some exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0015] Figure l is a frontal view of the machine for making bristle tools of the invention, which illustrates in particular a first drilling and punching operating assembly and feeding unit of tool bodies in processing position;

[0016] - Figure 2 is a schematic plan view from above of the machine of Figure 1, illustrating in particular the tool body feeding units, the first operating assembly, a tool moving unit, a tool transfer unit and a second operating assembly for processing bristles;

[0017] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, illustrating in particular the feeding units in the processing position and the first operating assembly;

[0018] - Figure 4 is a perspective view like that of Figure 3 illustrating the feeding units in the non-operating position and the tool moving unit;

[0019] - Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the feeding units in the processing position and associated with the tool moving unit partially illustrated;

[0020] - Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the tool moving unit in a seizing configuration;

[0021] - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tool moving unit in the seizing configuration;

[0022] - Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of the tool moving unit associated with the drilling means and the punching means and the transfer unit and in respective drilling and punching steps;

[0023] - Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tool moving unit and the transfer unit in a bristle tool transfer step;

[0024] - Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, illustrating in particular the second operating assembly associated with the transfer unit and the moving unit in a step of picking up the tools;

[0025] - Figure 12 is a partial perspective view like that of Figure 11 illustrating the transfer unit in a loading step of the tools on moving means of the second operating assembly;

[0026] - Figure 13 is a cross-section of a bristle tool made by the machine of the invention;

[0027] - Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of a variant of the machine of the invention illustrating the moving unit associated with drilling means, slotting means and punching means of the first operating assembly;

[0028] - Figure 15 is a partial and enlarged view of the machine in Figure 14, illustrating in particular drilling means during a drilling step on a body of a bristle tool, illustrated in section;

[0029] - Figure 16 is an enlarged detail of Figure 15, illustrating a cavity made by the drilling means;

[0030] - Figure 17 is a plan view of the cavity in Figure 16;

[0031] - Figure 18 is a partial and enlarged view of the machine of Figure 14, illustrating in particular slotting means acting on the tool body;

[0032] - Figure 19 is an enlarged detail of Figure 18, illustrating a cavity with grooves made by the slotting means;

[0033] - Figure 20 is a plan view of the cavity with grooves of Figure 19;

[0034] - Figure 21 is a partial and enlarged view of the machine of Figure 14, illustrating in particular punching means acting on the tool body and in an insertion step of a bristle bundle with an anchoring element into a hole provided with grooves;

[0035] - Figure 22 is an enlarged detail of Figure 21, illustrating a bristle bundle inserted into a cavity with grooves and locked therein by the anchoring element;

[0036] - Figure 23 is a plan view of the hole with bristle bundle of Figure 22.

[0037] With reference to Figures 1 to 12, the machine 1 of the invention is illustrated for making bristle tools 50 or tools 50 for domestic and / or industrial use, such as brushes, brooms, scrubbing brushes or the like, each tool 50 comprising a body or base or slat 51 provided with a plurality of open cavities 52 adapted to receive respective bundles 60 of bristles 61, for example locked by relative related anchoring elements (Fig. 13). In particular, the machine 1 comprises a first operating assembly 2 provided with drilling means 3 and punching means 4 respectively to make a series of open cavities 52 or blind holes on the bodies 51 of the tools 50, and to insert respective bundles 60 of bristles 61 into the open cavities 52, for example locked in place by relative anchoring elements in a known manner.

[0038] The drilling means comprise a plurality of drilling heads 3 of known type, for example three and oriented vertically, and the punching means comprise a plurality of punching heads 4 of known type, for example two oriented vertically, adapted to insert respective bundles 60 of bristles grouped and folded in a "U" shape, for example around a respective anchoring element 65, into the open cavities 52 of each tool body 51, or base 51.

[0039] The machine 1 further comprises a moving unit 5 comprising a first supporting base 14, substantially flat, to which a plurality of first supporting elements 11, for example six, are secured parallel and adjacent, adapted to house the tool bodies 51. The moving unit 5 is movable for moving and positioning the tool bodies 51 at the drilling means 3 and the punching means 4; in particular, the moving unit 5 is movable along and about a first movement axis XI, in particular substantially horizontal, and along a second movement axis Y 1 and a third movement axis Z1.

[0040] The first supporting elements 11 of the moving unit 5 comprise respective first gripping means 18, for example including elastic locking means capable of retaining and elastically locking a respective tool body 51 in place.

[0041] The machine 1 further includes at least one feeding unit 10 positionable in front of the first operating assembly 2 in an operating position A and provided with a plurality of second supporting elements 12 adapted to receive and support the tool bodies 51 and arranged adjacent and parallel along a ring path P and movable along the ring path P selectively between respective loading positions C, in which they are arranged on the side opposite the first operating assembly 2 so as to receive the tool bodies 51, for example manually inserted by an operator, and a defined transfer position T, in which the second supporting elements 12 face the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5 to allow the latter to grasp and pick up the tool bodies 51.

[0042] For this purpose, the moving unit 5 is movable in a seizing configuration D, in which it is adjacent and facing the feeding unit 10 to grip and pick up the tool bodies 51 from the latter, as better explained in the following description.

[0043] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the machine 1 of the invention comprises a pair of feeding units 10 positionable adjacent to each other in front of the first operating assembly 2, in particular aligned along a first direction H.

[0044] The second supporting means 12 of each feeding unit 10 comprise respective second gripping means 19 arranged to receive and lock the tool bodies 51, for example including elastic locking means capable of retaining and elastically locking in position a respective tool body 51.

[0045] Each feeding unit 10 is movable, in particular linearly, between a respective operating position A in which it is positioned in front of the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5 (Fig. 1 and 3) and a respective non-operating position B in which it is laterally spaced from the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5 to allow access to the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5, for example for maintenance operations, or to manually load the bodies 51 directly onto the moving unit 5.

[0046] To this end, each feeding unit 10 is slidably mounted on a respective first supporting frame 35 and linearly movable along the first direction H between the operating position A and the non-operating position B.

[0047] The ring path P, along which the second supporting elements 12 of each feeding unit 10 are movable, comprises a first straight section Pl at which the second supporting elements 12 are arranged on the opposite side with respect to the first operating assembly 2 and a second straight section 2 parallel to the first section Pl at which the second supporting elements 12 face the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5.

[0048] More precisely, the feeding unit 10 comprises at least one endless moving belt or tape or chain 15 supporting the plurality of second supporting elements 12; the moving chain 15 is rotatable about return wheels 16, 17 so as to move the second supporting elements 12 along the ring path P so as to position them in the loading C and transfer T positions. In particular, the moving chain 15 is mounted on a first idle return wheel 16 and a second motorised return wheel 17, rotated by a rotary actuator 32.

[0049] The return wheels 16, 17 are rotatably secured to a second supporting frame 36 which is mounted on the first frame 35, slidable along the first direction H.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the second supporting elements 12 are, for example, removably secured to the moving chain 15 by respective coupling means, in particular of the magnetic type, and each feeding unit 10 comprises actuator means 13 arranged to detach and move a second supporting element 12 at a time away from the moving chain 15, arranged in the defined transfer position T, so as to position it in a further transfer position T’. In the further transfer position T’ the second supporting element 12 is closer to the moving unit 5 so as to allow a free first supporting element 11 of the moving unit 5 to grasp and pick up the tool body 51 supported by the second supporting element 12, in particular when the moving unit 5 is arranged in the seizing configuration D (Fig. 6).

[0051] The actuator means 13 are secured to the second supporting frame 36 at the first idle pulley 16 and comprise a linear actuator, for example electric or pneumatic, able to move linearly, in particular in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal plane containing the rotation axes of the return pulleys 16, 17 of the moving chain 15, the second supporting element 12 placed in the transfer position T and move it in the further transfer position T’, as better explained in the following description.

[0052] With particular reference to Figures 7 to 10, the machine 1 comprises first driving means 30 adapted to move the moving unit 5 linearly along, and in rotation about, the first movement axis XI and linearly along the second movement axis Y 1 and along the third movement axis Zl, said movement axes XI, Yl, Z1 being orthogonal to each other. The moving unit 5 thus has four degrees of freedom in space.

[0053] Each first supporting element 11 is further rotatably secured to the first supporting base 14 of the moving unit 5 and is movable about a respective inclination axis J, in particular parallel to the second and third movement axes Yl, Zl.

[0054] It is envisaged, in a variant of the machine 1 of the invention not illustrated in the figures, that the moving unit 10 lacks actuator means 13 and that the second supporting elements 12 are not movable in the further transfer position T’, but that each first supporting element 11 of the moving unit 5 is movable also substantially perpendicularly to the first supporting base 14, so as to detach and move away from the latter to grasp and pick up a tool body 51 positioned on a second supporting element 12 of a feeding unit 10, arranged in the transfer position T.

[0055] With particular reference to Figures 2, 11 and 12, the machine 1 of the invention may comprise a transfer unit 7 arranged on a side of the first operating assembly 2 opposite to that on which the feeding unit(s) 10 is positioned and configured to pick up the tools 50 provided with bristle bundles 60 from the first operating assembly 2.

[0056] In particular, the machine 1 of the invention may also comprise a second operating assembly 6 arranged to process the bristles 61 inserted into the open cavities 52 of the tool bodies 51 and the transfer unit 7 is interposed between the second operating assembly 6 and the first operating assembly 2 and is configured to transfer the tools 50 provided with bristle bundles 60 from the first operating assembly 2 to the second operating assembly 6.

[0057] For this purpose, the moving unit 5 is also movable in a discharging configuration E in which it faces the transfer unit 7 to release to the latter the bristle tools 50 or the tool bodies 51 provided with bristle bundles 60 inserted by the punching heads 4 into the open cavities 52 made by the drilling heads 3 of the first operating assembly 2.

[0058] The transfer unit 7 comprises one or more gripping elements 41, for example two, each of which is configured to grasp and retain a tool 50 and movable between a gripping position F (Fig. 11), in which said gripping element 41 picks up a tool 50 from a first supporting element 11 of the moving unit 5, and a release position G (Fig. 12), in which said gripping element 41 transfers and releases the tool 50 to moving means 20 of the second operating assembly 6.

[0059] The transfer unit 7 comprises second driving means 40 for moving the gripping elements 41, for example along and about a first driving axis X2 and linearly along a second driving axis Y2, in particular orthogonal to the first driving axis X2. Each gripping element 41 therefore has, for example, three degrees of freedom in space.

[0060] The transfer unit 7 comprises a second supporting base 42 to which the two gripping elements 41 are secured parallel and spaced apart. The second supporting base 42 is slidably mounted along the first driving axis X2 on a second cross member 43 having opposite ends rotatably secured to two second carriages 44. The second cross member 43 is rotatable about a respective longitudinal axis parallel to the first driving axis X2. The two second carriages 44 are slidably mounted on respective first lateral guides 45 of the machine 1 and are movable along the second driving axis Y2. The second lateral guides 45 are secured to the main frame of the machine 1, not illustrated.

[0061] The second operating assembly 6 comprises a plurality of operating stations 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of known type configured to perform respective operations on the bristles 61 of the bristle tools 50 and the moving means 20 arranged to transfer the bristle tools 50, in particular in sequence, between the operating stations 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.

[0062] With reference to the illustrated embodiment, the moving means 20 of the second operating assembly 6 comprise, for example, a moving table or wheel 27 rotatable about a rotation axis K and provided with a plurality of supporting units 28, secured angularly spaced along a peripheral edge of the moving table 27 and adapted to receive from the transfer unit 7 and then retain respective bristle tools 50.

[0063] The supporting units 28 are provided with respective third gripping means 29, for example including elastic locking means capable of retaining and elastically locking the body 51 of a tool 50 in position.

[0064] The rotation axis K is, for example, substantially horizontal and the moving table is therefore of the vertical type. The second operating assembly 6 comprises, for example, a first operating station 21 for trimming the bristles (trimming station), a second operating station 22 and a third operating station 23 for shredding the end part of the bristles (feathering stations), a fourth operating station 24 for profiling the bristle bundle (cut finishing station) and a fifth operating station 25 for tapping and smoothing the bristles (tapping station).

[0065] An output station 26 is further provided, in which the finished and completed bristle tools 50 are detached from the supporting units 28 and released onto conveying means comprising an unloading chute 48 and a conveyor belt 49.

[0066] The operation of the machine 1 of the invention provides for arranging the two feeding units 10 in the respective operating positions A in which they are positioned adjacent to each other and in front of the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5 to allow an operator to load the tool bodies 51 on the second supporting elements 12 arranged in the respective loading positions C, in particular along the first section Pl of the ring path P, on the opposite side with respect to the first operating assembly 2. In particular, the operator inserts each tool body 51 into a respective second supporting element 12, locking it therein thanks to the second gripping means 19.

[0067] After having loaded all the second supporting elements 12 arranged in the respective loading position C, along the first section Pl of the ring path P or, alternatively, while the second supporting elements 12 arranged in the first section Pl are loaded with the tool bodies 51, the second supporting elements 12 can be moved along the ring path P so as to progressively move the second supporting elements 12 provided with bodies 51 along the second section P2 of the ring path where they face the first operating assembly 2 and the moving unit 5. More precisely, the moving chain 15 is driven by the rotary actuator 32 with intermittent or continuous motion so as to position in succession each second supporting element 12 provided with a tool body 51 in the defined transfer position T in which the actuator means 13 are able to detach and move away from the moving chain 15 the aforesaid second supporting element 12 in the further transfer position T’ in which it is closest to the moving unit 5 so as to allow a first free supporting element 11 of the latter to grasp and pick up the tool body 51 supported by the second supporting element 12, in particular when the moving unit 5 is arranged in the seizing configuration D.

[0068] More precisely, when the moving unit 5 is arranged in the seizing configuration D the first gripping means 18 of a first supporting element 11 are able to grasp the tool body 51 present on the second supporting element 12 arranged in the further transfer position T’. By suitably moving the moving unit 5, i.e., the first supporting base 14 and / or the first supporting element 11 itself, the body 51 is removed from the second supporting element 12.

[0069] This procedure is repeated to remove the respective bodies 51 from the subsequent second supporting elements 12 of the feeding unit 10.

[0070] Once one or more first supporting elements 11 are loaded with respective bodies 51, for example two, the moving unit 5 is arranged in a processing configuration in which the first supporting base 14 is moved linearly along and / or in rotation about the three movement axes XI, Yl, Z1 and the first supporting elements 11 are rotated, if required, about the respective inclination axes J, to allow the drilling heads 3 and the punching heads 4 respectively to make the open cavities 52 on the bodies or bases or slats 51 of the tools 50 and to insert respective bundles 60 of bristles 61 in the open cavities 52.

[0071] While the drilling heads 3 and the punching heads 4 act on the tool bodies 51 housed on the moving unit 5, the feeding units 10 can be loaded with other tool bodies 51 by the operator in a complete manner, as described above.

[0072] Once the drilling and punching operations have been completed on all the tool bodies 51 on the moving unit 5, that is, once the tools 50 provided with bristles 61 have been made, the moving unit 5 is arranged in the discharging configuration E in which it faces the transfer unit 7 so as to transfer the tools 50 to the latter.

[0073] More precisely, the gripping elements 41 of the transfer unit pick up the tools 50 from the first supporting elements 11 one at a time and transfer them to the moving means 20 of the second operating assembly 6.

[0074] For this purpose, before the moving unit 5 is arranged in the discharging configuration E, the gripping elements 41 are moved into the gripping position F, in which they are able to pick up respective tools 50 from the relative first supporting elements 11 of the moving unit 5.

[0075] Once the tools 50 have been grasped, the gripping elements 41 are moved to remove the tools from the first supporting elements 11 and arranged in the release position G, in which they transfer and release the tool 50 to the supporting units 28 of the moving table 27 of the second operating assembly 6.

[0076] More precisely, the second supporting base 42 of the transfer unit 7 on which the two gripping elements 41 are secured parallel and spaced from each other is moved along the first driving axis X2 on the second cross member 43 and the latter is rotated about a respective longitudinal axis coinciding with the first driving axis X2 and moved along the second driving axis Y2.

[0077] The tools 50 positioned and locked on the supporting units 28 by the respective third gripping means 29 are transferred in sequence through the operating stations 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of the second operating assembly 6 in which one or more operations are performed on the bristles 61.

[0078] In particular, in the first operating station 21 the bristles 61 are trimmed, in the second operating station 22 and in the third operating station 23 the end part of the bristles 61 is shredded, in the fourth operating station 24 the bristle bundle is profiled or shaped and in the fifth operating station 25 the bristles are tapped and smoothed.

[0079] In the output station 26, the finished and completed tools 50 are detached from the supporting units 28 and released onto conveying means comprising an unloading chute 48 and a conveyor belt 49.

[0080] The machine 1 for making bristle tools 50 according to the invention thus allows the bodies 51 of the tools to be drilled and punched to be loaded quickly, conveniently and safely without the need to stop the machine. More precisely, while the drilling and punching operations are carried out on the bodies 51 positioned on the moving unit 5 inside the first operating assembly 2, tool bodies 51 to be drilled and punched can be loaded by the operator on the feeding units 10 easily and safely since the second supporting units 12 are arranged in the loading position C, i.e., along the first section Pl of the ring path P, on the opposite side with respect to the first operating assembly 2 and therefore outside the processing area of the machine.

[0081] The number of second supporting elements 12 on the two feeding units 10 also allows the machine 1 to be fed without further intervention by the operator for a significant time interval.

[0082] It should further be noted that when the moving unit 5 is arranged in the seizing configuration D, it is able to grasp and pick up the tool bodies 51 from the feeding unit 10. More precisely, a first supporting element 11 of the moving unit 5 is able to grasp and then pick up from a second supporting element 12 arranged in the transfer position T, T’ a tool body 51 supported by it. It should be noted that in order to transfer the tool body 51 from the feeding unit 10 to the moving unit 5, no special gripping and moving means are therefore necessary, but the mobility of the moving unit 5 is used, which has four degrees of freedom.

[0083] Similarly, when the moving unit 5 is arranged in the discharging configuration E to transfer the tools 50 made in the first operating assembly 2 to the transfer unit 7, the transfer unit 7 and more precisely the respective gripping elements 41 are already arranged in the gripping position F ready to pick up the tools 50 supported by them from the respective first supporting elements 11 of the moving unit. It is thereby possible to minimise the loading times of the bodies 51 and release times of the tools 50 and thus reduce the non-operating downtime of the first operating assembly 2 during which the drilling means 3 and the punching means 4 are inactive.

[0084] It should also be noted that since the moving unit 5 is movable according to four degrees of freedom in space and is therefore able to pick up the bodies 51 from the feeding units 10 and transfer the tools 50 to the transfer unit 7 stopped in their respective positions, the feeding units 10 and transfer units 7 are relatively simple and do not require complex and expensive movements.

[0085] Furthermore, since the moving means 5 are configured not only to conveniently position the bodies 51 at the drilling 3 and punching 4 heads, but also to pick up the bodies 51 from the feeding units 10 and transfer the tools 50 provided with bristles to the transfer unit 7, the machine 1 of the invention is particularly compact in terms of size and dimensions.

[0086] Finally, it should be noted that while the drilling and punching operations are performed on the bodies 51 positioned on the moving unit 5 inside the first operating assembly 2, at the same time one or more operations can be performed on the bristles 61 of the tools 50 present on the moving means 20 of the second operating assembly 6.

[0087] With particular reference to Figure 14, a variant of the machine 1 of the invention is illustrated, which differs from the embodiment described and shown in Figures 1 to 12 only for the first operating assembly 2, which comprises, in addition to the drilling means 3 and the punching means 4, slotting means 8 respectively to make open cavities 52 on the bodies

[0088] 51 of tools 50 and to insert respective bundles 60 of bristles 61 into the latter. The latter are configured to make, on a side wall 53 of each open cavity 52, at least one groove 55 that extends inside the respective body 51, particularly converging towards its interior, and is provided with an opening 55a to allow the insertion and locking by interference and partial deformation of a corresponding anchoring element 65 adapted to lock a respective bundle 60 of bristles in the cavity 42.

[0089] More precisely, and with reference to Figures 15-17, the drilling means 3 comprise at least one drilling tool 71, of known type, mounted on a drilling head 72, which is linearly movable along an operating drilling direction L to sequentially make the cavities or holes 52 on each body 51.

[0090] The punching means 4 comprise at least one punching tool 73, of known type, mounted on a punching head 74 which is linearly movable along an operating punching direction N to forcibly insert a bristle bundle 60 and a relative anchoring element 65 into a respective cavity

[0091] 52 of a body 51. For this purpose, the punching means 4 are associated with feeding means of the bristles, of known type and not illustrated, and pickup means, also of known type and not illustrated, adapted to pick up the bristle bundles 60 from the feeding means. The pickup means deliver the bristle bundles 60 to insertion means 75, also of known type and not described in detail, which, together with the anchoring elements 65, are loaded onto the punching tool 73. In particular, the insertion means 75 transfer the bristle bundles 60 to the punching tool 73, grouped and folded into a U-shape around the respective anchoring elements 65 so as to form anchoring ends 60a to be inserted into the cavities 52 (Figures 21- 23).

[0092] With reference to Figures 18-20, the slotting means 8 comprise at least one slotting tool 76 mounted on a slotting head 77 adjacent to a drilling head 72 and linearly movable along an operating slotting direction M to make the groove 55 in each cavity 52 of a body 51.

[0093] In the embodiment illustrated, the slotting means 8 are configured to make, on a side wall 53, in particular cylindrical, of each cavity 52, a pair of notches or grooves 55, facing and opposite each other, each groove 55 extending inside the body 2, in particular converging towards the interior of the body 51, and being provided with an opening 55a for the insertion of an anchoring element 65.

[0094] In particular, each groove 55 has a cross-section, particularly substantially orthogonal to the side wall 52 of the cavity, that is substantially constant and rectangular in shape. It is also envisaged that the cross-section of the groove 55 may converge towards the interior of the cavity 52. In particular, the two facing and opposite walls of the groove 55 and / or the wall connecting them may converge towards the interior of the cavity.

[0095] The slotting means 8 may also be configured, as in the embodiment illustrated particularly in Figures 18-19, to create grooves 55 comprising a respective first entry portion 55b equipped with the opening 55a and a respective second anchoring portion 55c, having smaller dimensions than the first portion 55b and provided with anchoring walls designed to engage the anchoring element 65, as explained further in the description.

[0096] In this case as well, the cross-sections of the first entry portion 55b and the second anchoring portion 55c of each groove 55 are substantially constant and rectangular in shape.

[0097] In the variant of the machine 1 of the invention illustrated in Figure 13, the first operating assembly 2 comprises three drilling heads 72 to which three slotting heads 77 and two punching stations 74 are associated, adjacent.

[0098] The operation of this variant of the machine 1 of the invention for making bristle tools 50 differs from that of the main embodiment in that the moving unit 5 is moved linearly along and / or in rotation about the three movement axes XI, Yl, Z1 and the first supporting elements 11 are rotated, if required, about the respective inclination axes J, to allow the drilling heads 72, the slotting heads 77 and the punching heads 74 respectively to make the open cavities 52, the grooves 55 on the bodies or bases or slats 51 of the tools 50 and then to insert the respective bundles 60 of bristles 61 into the open cavities 52

[0099] The method according to the invention for making bristle tools 50 using the machine described above and illustrated in the figures comprises the following steps:

[0100] - arranging in the operating position A at least one feeding unit 10 provided with the plurality of second supporting elements 12 adapted to receive and support the bodies 51 of tools and arranged adjacent and parallel along the ring path P and movable along said ring path P;

[0101] - loading tool bodies 51 onto the second supporting elements 12 of the feeding unit 10 arranged in the respective loading positions C;

[0102] - during or after said loading of the bodies 51, moving the second supporting elements 12 along the ring path P so as to position successively and one at a time each second supporting element 12 supporting a respective tool body 51 in the defined transfer position T, T’;

[0103] - arranging the moving unit 5 in the seizing configuration D for grasping and picking up a respective tool body 51 from each second supporting element 12 of the feeding unit 10 arranged in the transfer position T, T’;

[0104] - moving the moving unit 5 so as to position the tool bodies 51 housed in the first supporting elements 11 selectively at at least the drilling means 3 and the punching means 4 of the first operating assembly 2 respectively to make open cavities 52 on the bodies 51 and to insert respective bundles 60 of bristles 61 into the open cavities 52;

[0105] The method provides for arranging the moving unit 5 in the seizing configuration D after having moved a second supporting element 12 into a further transfer position T’ in which said second supporting element 12 is closer to the moving unit 5 so as to allow a first free supporting element 11, i.e., free of a tool body 51, of the moving unit 5 to grasp and pick up a tool body 51 supported by the second supporting element 12.

[0106] The method further comprises the step of arranging the moving unit 5 in a discharging configuration E for transferring bristle tools 50, in particular made in the first operating assembly 2, to a transfer unit 7 after arranging at least one gripping element 41 of said transfer unit 7 in a gripping position F, where said gripping element 41 is able to pick up a bristle tool 50 from a first supporting element 11 of the moving unit 5.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Machine (1) for making bristle tools (50) comprising at least:- a first operating assembly (2) provided with at least drilling means (3) and punching means (4) respectively to make open cavities (52) on bodies (51) of said tools (50) and to insert into said open cavities (52) respective bundles (60) of bristles (61);- a moving unit (5) comprising a first, substantially flat, supporting base (14) to which a plurality of first supporting elements (11) adapted to house said tool bodies (51) are secured parallel and adjacent, said first supporting base (14) being movable at least along and about a first movement axis (XI), in particular substantially horizontal, and along a second movement axis (Yl) and a third movement axis (Z 1) for moving and positioning said tool bodies (51) at at least the drilling means (3) and the punching means (4);- at least one feeding unit (10) positionable in front of said first operating assembly (2) in an operating position (A) and provided with a plurality of second supporting elements (12) adapted to receive and support said tool bodies (51), arranged adjacent and parallel along a ring path (P) and movable along said ring path (P) selectively between respective loading positions (C) in which they are arranged on the side opposite the first operating assembly (2) so as to receive tool bodies (51) and a defined transfer position (T, T') in which said second supporting elements (12) face the first operating assembly (2) and the moving unit (5) to allow the latter to pick up said tool bodies (52).

2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said moving unit (5) is movable in a seizing configuration (D) in which it is adjacent and facing said feeding unit (10) to grasp and pick up said tool bodies (51) from the latter.

3. Machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first supporting elements (11) of said moving unit (5) and said second supporting means (12) of said feeding unit (10) comprise respective first gripping means (18) and respective second gripping means (19) arranged to receive and lock said tool bodies (51), in particular said first gripping means (18) and said second gripping means (19) comprising elastic locking means.

4. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said feeding unit (10) is movable, in particular linearly, between said operating position (A), in which it is positioned in front of said first operating assembly (2) and said moving unit (5), and a non-operating position (B), in which it is laterally spaced from said first operating assembly (2) and said moving unit (5) to allow access to said first operating assembly(2) and / or said moving unit (5).

5. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said ring path (P) comprises a first straight section (Pl) at which said second supporting elements (12) are arranged opposite the first operating assembly (2) and a second straight section (P2) parallel to the first section (Pl) at which said second supporting elements (12) face the first operating assembly (2) and the moving unit (5).

6. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said feeding unit (10) comprises at least one endless moving chain (15) supporting said plurality of second supporting elements (12), said moving chain (15) being rotatable around return wheels (16, 17) for moving said second supporting elements (12) along said ring path (P) and positioning them in the loading (C) and transfer (T) positions.

7. Machine (1) according to claim 6, wherein said second supporting elements (12) are removably secured to said moving chain (15) by respective connection means, in particular of the magnetic type, said feeding unit (10) comprising actuator means (13) for detaching and moving away from said moving chain (15) a second supporting element (12) when arranged in said defined transfer position (T) and moving it to a further transfer position (T’) in which it is closer to the moving unit (5) so as to allow a first free supporting element (11) of the moving unit (5) to grasp and pick up the tool body (51) supported by the second supporting element (12).

8. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a pair of feeding units (10) positionable adjacent to each other in front of said first operating assembly (2), in particular in respective operating positions (A).

9. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising first driving means (30) for moving said moving unit (5) along and about said first movement axis (XI) and along said second movement axis (Yl) and said third movement axis (Z 1), in particular said movement axes (XI, Yl, Zl) being substantially orthogonal to each other.

10. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each first supporting element (11) is rotatably secured to said first supporting base (14) and rotatable about a respective inclination axis (J).

11. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first operating assembly (2) further comprises slotting means (8) adapted to create, on a side wall (53) of each cavity (52), at least one groove (55) extending inside the respective body (51), in particular converging towards the inside of said body (51), and provided with an opening (55a) to allow the insertion and locking by interference and partial deformationof a corresponding anchoring element (65) arranged to lock a respective bundle (60) of bristles in the cavity (42).

12. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a transfer unit (7) arranged on a side of said first operating assembly (2) opposite to that in which said feeding unit (10) is positioned and configured to pick up the tools (50) provided with bristle bundles (60) from said moving unit (5).

13. Machine (1) according to claim 12, comprising a second operating assembly (6) for processing the bristles (61) inserted in the cavities (52) of the tool bodies (51), said transfer unit (7) being interposed between said second operating assembly (6) and said first operating assembly (2) and configured to pick up and transfer the tools (50) provided with bristle bundles (60) from said first operating assembly (2) to said second operating assembly (6).

14. Machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said moving unit (5) is further movable in a discharging configuration (E) in which it faces said transfer unit (7) to release said bristle tools (50) to the latter.

15. Machine (1) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said second operating assembly (6) comprises a plurality of operating stations (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) configured to perform respective operations on the bristles (61) of said bristle tools (50) and moving means (20) for transferring said bristle tools (50) between said operating stations (21, 22, 23, 24, 25).

16. Method for making bristle tools (50) using a machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising:- arranging in a respective operating position (A) at least one feeding unit (10) provided with a plurality of second supporting elements (12) adapted to receive and support tool bodies (51) and arranged adjacent and parallel along a ring path (P) and movable along said ring path (P);- loading tool bodies (51) onto second supporting elements (12) of said feeding unit (10) arranged in respective loading positions (C);- during or after said loading said bodies (51), moving said second supporting elements (12) along said ring path (P) so as to position successively and one at a time each second supporting element (12) supporting a respective tool body (51) in a defined transfer position (T, T’);- arranging a moving unit (5) in a seizing configuration (D) to grasp and pick up from each second supporting element (12) of the feeding unit (10) arranged in the transferposition (T, T’) a respective tool body (51);- moving said moving unit (5) so as to position the tool bodies (51) housed in the first supporting elements (11) selectively at least at drilling means (3) and punching means (4) of a first operating assembly (2) respectively to make open cavities (52) on said tool bodies (51) and to insert respective bundles (60) of bristles (61) into said open cavities (52).

17. Method according to claim 16, comprising arranging said moving unit (5) in the seizing configuration (D) after having moved a second supporting element (12) into a further transfer position (T’) in which said second supporting element (12) is closer to the moving unit (5) to allow a first supporting element (11) of the moving unit (5) to grasp and pick up a tool body (51) supported by said second supporting element (12).

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