Machine for making bristle tools

The modular drilling unit with interchangeable components and advanced transmission joints addresses the complexity and maintenance challenges of existing bristle tool machines, ensuring reliable and precise drilling with reduced downtime and stress on bearings.

WO2026154441A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-07-23BORGHI SPA
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
BORGHI SPA
Filing Date
2026-01-19
Publication Date
2026-07-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing machines for making bristle tools face issues with complex and bulky motion transmission means, high wear and maintenance costs due to integrated drilling units, and reduced reliability and durability of electric motors and spindles, especially when high rotational speeds and linear feed rates are required.

Method used

A modular drilling unit with interchangeable rotary electric motor and spindle, utilizing magnetic, Oldham, or elastic transmission joints to compensate for misalignments and absorb vibrations, allowing easy replacement and customization of components.

Benefits of technology

Enhances operational reliability, reduces maintenance downtime, and allows for precise and accurate drilling operations with simplified component replacement and reduced stress on bearings, thus extending the life of the drilling unit.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A machine (1) for making bristle tools (100) comprises at least one modular drilling unit (2) configured to make cavities (102) on the bodies (101) of the bristle tools (100) and includes a rotary electric motor (3) provided with an outer casing (17) and a drive shaft (7) and a spindle (4) provided with a tool holder shaft (8) arranged to clamp and rotate a drilling tool (5) and a main body (18) to rotatably support said tool holder shaft (8); the electric motor (3) and the spindle (4) are interchangeable and reversibly coupleable in an assembled configuration (A) and disengageable in a disassembled configuration (B) by means of connection means (10) and joint means (50); the connection means (10) are configured to reversibly connect together the outer casing (17) of the electric motor (3) and the main body (18) of the spindle (4) and the joint means (50) comprise a transmission joint (6; 16; 26; 36) adapted to reversibly connect the drive shaft (7) to the tool holder shaft (8) and configured to compensate for any misalignments between the drive shaft (7) and the tool holder shaft (8).
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Description

[0001] Machine 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 and the like, in which the bristle or fibre bundles are inserted into holes made in the body of the tool and secured therein by means of fastening or anchoring elements.

[0003] According to the prior art, the bristle or fibre bundles or tufts are secured to the bodies or bases of bristle tools, such as brushes, scrubbing brushes, brooms, and the like, by performing a drilling operation and a subsequent punching operation. Through the drilling process, cavities, or blind holes, are created on the body of the tool, generally made of plastic or wood, into which the bristle bundles are inserted during the subsequent punching operation and typically secured in the holes by anchoring elements. More precisely, the bristles of each bundle are grouped and folded in a “U” shape around an anchoring element so as to form a fixing end that is inserted by a punching element together with the anchoring element into a hole of the tool body.

[0004] The blind holes are made on the tool bodies by one or more tools or drilling bits rotated by respective spindles driven by a rotary electric motor of adequate size and power and moved linearly with respect to the tool body to perform the required drilling on it.

[0005] Machines for making bristle tools are known that comprise one or more fixed electric motors that are mechanically connected to each spindle by suitable motion transmission means, typically comprising pulleys, belts and the like. More precisely, the transmission means connect the shaft of the electric motor to the spindle so as to transfer the rotational motion. The drilling operation is particularly burdensome both for the electric motor and for the spindle and the reliability and durability of the latter depending, as is known, on numerous operational factors such as the effectiveness of the motor and / or spindle cooling, diameter and / or depth of the holes to be made, material (of the tool body) to be drilled, sharpness and / or wear of the drilling bits, etc. In particular, the spindles are subject to marked wear of the tool holder shaft support bearings as a result of the stress transmitted by the drilling tip in operation. This wear is particularly high since the drilling bits in the machines for the production of bristle tools generally rotate at high speeds (25,000-30,000 rpm) with linear feed rates between 1 and 2 mm / revolution.

[0006] The use of fixed electric motors connected to the spindles by transmission means makes it possible on the one hand to use powerful electric motors with high reliability and operating life on the other hand to quickly and easily replace only worn and / or damaged components, typically spindles with worn bearings.However, the motion transmission means are quite complex, bulky and expensive, especially in the case of high productivity machines equipped with a plurality of spindles to be driven simultaneously by one or more electric motors.

[0007] Machines for making bristle tools are also known in which specific integrated drilling units, so-called drilling electro spindles, are provided to drive the drilling bits in rotation, each of which comprising a rotary electric motor integrated with, and driving, a respective spindle on which the drilling tip can be mounted.

[0008] The entire drilling motorised spindle with the drill bit is moved, in particular linearly towards and away from the body of the tool with reciprocating motion, to perform the required holes on the latter, without the need for bulky and complex motion transmission means, which makes it possible to considerably simplify the structure of the machine and its operation. However, in the event of wear or damage to the spindle or motor, the entire drilling unit must be replaced, with higher costs to be borne.

[0009] The replacement of the entire drilling unit is also necessary in the event that a motor with a different power and / or drive characteristics or a different spindle, for example having a different mass / inertia, is required.

[0010] Furthermore, since the drilling electro spindle must be moved with respect to the body of the tool to be drilled, its dimensions, and therefore the dimensions of the electric motor, must be kept small so as not to excessively increase the masses to be moved linearly with reciprocating motion and thereby increase the structural stresses acting on the entire machine. Therefore, the electric motors of the electrospindles have smaller dimensions and power ratings than the fixed electric motors, while performing the same drilling operations, and therefore generally have a shorter operating life.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to improve the known machines for making bristle tools for domestic and / or industrial use, in particular the machines provided with drilling units comprising an electric motor and a spindle intended to drive a drilling tool and configured to make holes in which to insert and then fix bristle or fibre bundles on the tool bodies.

[0012] Another object is to provide a machine for making bristle tools provided with at least one drilling unit of a modular type that allows quick and easy replacement of the electric motor and / or the spindle for example in case of wear and / or damage.

[0013] A further object is to provide a machine for making bristle tools provided with at least one modular drilling unit particularly compact in weight and size and at the same time capable of driving the drilling tools at high rotational speed and feed rates.Another object is to provide a machine for making bristle tools with a robust and reliable construction and particularly precise and accurate operation.

[0014] These and other objects are achieved by a machine for making bristle tools according to one or more of the claims set forth below.

[0015] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached figures, which illustrate some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic front and partial view of the machine for making bristle tools of the invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a section according to a longitudinal plane of a modular drilling unit of the machine of Figure 1 comprising a rotary electric motor, a spindle, connection means and joint means, in particular of the magnetic type, in an assembled configuration; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the drilling unit of Figure 1 in a disassembled configuration;

[0018] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the drilling unit of Figure 1 in the disassembled configuration;

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the magnetic transmission joint of the drilling unit of Figures 2 -4 associated with a drive shaft of the electric motor and a tool holder shaft of the spindle, partially illustrated, and in the assembled configuration;

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective and exploded view of the transmission joint and the drive and tool holder shafts, partially illustrated, of Figure 5;

[0021] Figure 7 is a front view of the transmission joint of Figure 5;

[0022] Figure 8 is a section along plane VIII- VIII of Figure 7.

[0023] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a magnetic transmission joint of a variant of the drilling unit, associated with a drive shaft of the electric motor and a tool holder shaft of the spindle, partially illustrated, and in the assembled configuration;

[0024] Figure 10 is a perspective and exploded view of the transmission joint and the drive and tool holder shafts, partially illustrated, of Figure 9;

[0025] Figure 11 is a section according to a first longitudinal plane of a variant of the modular drilling unit of the machine of Figure 1 in the assembled configuration;

[0026] Figure 12 is a section along a second longitudinal plane, orthogonal to the first longitudinal plane, of the drilling unit of Figure 11.

[0027] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the transmission joint of the drilling unit of Figure 11 associated with a drive shaft of the electric motor and a tool holder shaft of the spindle, partially illustrated, and in the assembled configuration;Figure 14 is a partial perspective and exploded view of the transmission joint and the drive and tool holder shafts, partially illustrated, of Figure 13;

[0028] Figure 15 is a perspective view of an intermediate transmission disc of the transmission joint of Figures 13 and 14;

[0029] Figure 16 is a perspective view of a transmission joint of a variant of the drilling unit associated with a drive shaft of the electric motor and a tool holder shaft of the spindle, partially illustrated, and in the assembled configuration;

[0030] Figure 17 is a perspective and exploded view of the transmission joint and the drive and tool holder shafts, partially illustrated, of Figure 16;

[0031] Figure 18 is a perspective view of an intermediate transmission disc of the transmission joint of Figures 16 and 17;

[0032] Figure 19 is a perspective view of a transmission joint of another variant of the drilling unit associated with a drive shaft of the electric motor and a tool holder shaft of the spindle, partially illustrated, and in the assembled configuration;

[0033] Figure 20 is a perspective and exploded view of the transmission joint and the drive and tool holder shafts, partially illustrated, of Figure 19;

[0034] Figure 21 is a perspective view of an intermediate elastic element of the transmission joint of Figures 19 and 20.

[0035] With reference to Figure 1, the machine 1 according to the invention is illustrated for making bristle tools 100 for domestic and / or industrial use, such as brushes, scrubbing brushes, brooms or the like, each tool 100 comprising a body or base 101 having a plurality of open cavities 102, or blind holes, and adapted to receive respective bristle or fibre bundles 110 and possibly related anchoring elements.

[0036] The machine 1 comprises at least one modular drilling unit 2 configured to make the cavities 102 on the bodies 101 of the bristle tools 100, the latter positioned, for example, on a support surface 19. The machine 1 further includes at least one punching unit 9, of known type and therefore not described in detail, arranged to insert and block the bristle bundles 110 in the cavities 102 made by the drilling unit 2.

[0037] With particular reference to Figures 2 to 4, the modular drilling unit 2 comprises a rotary electric motor 3 provided with an outer casing 17 and a drive shaft or motor shaft 7, a spindle 4 provided with a tool holder shaft 8, arranged to clamp and rotate a drilling tool 5 adapted to make the cavities 102, and a main body 18 adapted to rotatably support the tool holder shaft 8. The electric motor 3 and the spindle 4 are interchangeable and reversibly coupleable in an assembled configuration A (Figure 2) and disengageable in a disassembledconfiguration (B) (Figures 3 and 4) by means of connection means 10 and joint means 50, wherein the connection means 10 are configured to reversibly connect together the outer casing 17 of the electric motor 3 and the main body 18 of the spindle 4 in the assembled configuration A and the joint means 50 comprise a transmission joint 36 adapted to reversibly connect the drive shaft 7 to the tool holder shaft 8 in the assembled configuration A. The transmission joint is a transmission joint, in particular substantially homokinetic, which makes it possible to compensate for misalignments between the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8.

[0038] The rotary electric motor 3 of the known type is, for example, an asynchronous electric motor.

[0039] The drive shaft 7 is rotatable about a first rotation axis XI and the tool holder shaft 8 is rotatable about a second rotation axis X2.

[0040] The connection means 10 comprise a support element 70, secured to the outer casing 17 of the electric motor 3 and provided with a first coupling flange 71, and a second coupling flange 72, made on one end of the main body 18 and couplable to the first coupling flange 71 in the assembled configuration A. The first coupling flange 71 is provided for example with a centring seat 71a and the second coupling flange 72 is provided with a centring protrusion 72a having a shape and dimensions complementary to those of, and adapted to be inserted into, said centring seat 71a in the assembled configuration A.

[0041] The centring seat 71a and the centring protrusion 72a have, for example, a circular shape. The support element 70 comprises a first seat 73 adapted to receive at least one first bearing 37, in particular two adjacent first bearings 37, for example of the rolling type, adapted to rotatably couple the drive shaft 7 and the support element 70. More precisely, the support element 70 comprises a respective through internal cavity in which the first seat 73 having a cylindrical shape is made.

[0042] The first seat 73 and the first bearings 37 allow the support element 70 to be centred, i.e. precisely positioned, with respect to the drive shaft 7. In this way, the mechanical connection between the support element 70 and the outer casing 17 of the electric motor 3 need not be precise, more precisely and in particular between a face of the first coupling flange 71, opposite to the face provided with the centring seat 71a, and a front portion of the outer casing 17.

[0043] The main body 18 of the spindle 4 comprises a second seat 74 adapted to receive one or more second bearings 38, in particular a pair of adjacent second bearings 38, for example of the rolling type, adapted to rotatably support the tool holder shaft 8. More precisely, the mainbody 18 comprises a respective through internal cavity in which the second seat 74 is made. It should be noted that since the second bearings 38 are housed adjacent in the same second seat 74, made of a single cylindrical surface, for example obtained by means of the same machining, and since the tool holder shaft 8 thus has a reduced length, the second bearings 38, which support the tool holder shaft 8 of the spindle 4 and are subjected to the main load, during operation are almost free from unwanted stresses and vibrations, caused by even significant errors of concentricity between the front seat and the rear seat of the bearings 38, as occurs in the known integrated electrospindles. In addition, due to the reduced length of the tool holder shaft 8, the spindle 4 has greater torsional rigidity that ensures more precise and accurate operation.

[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 to 8, the transmission joint 36 is a magnetic type joint, in particular substantially homokinetic, comprising a first bushing 51 and a second bushing 52. The first bushing 51 is provided with a first seat 53, couplable to the end 7a of the drive shaft 7 of the electric motor 3, and a second seat 54 coaxial and opposite to the first seat 53. The second bushing 52 is provided with a third seat 55 couplable to the end 8a of the tool holder shaft 8 and is insertable into, and magnetically couplable to, the second seat 54 in the assembled configuration A of the drilling unit 2. The ends 7a, 8a of the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8 are secured and made integral with the respective bushings 51, 52 for example by means of transverse locking screws.

[0045] The magnetic attraction force between the outer magnetic wall 52a of the second bushing 52 and the inner magnetic wall 54a of the second seat 54 of the first bushing is such as to allow the rotational motion to be transmitted with a suitable torque between the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8. The transmission joint 36 of the magnetic type guarantees a predefined magnetic transmission torque.

[0046] In the assembled configuration A an outer magnetic wall 52a of the second bushing 52 and an inner magnetic wall 54a of the second seat 54 are separated by an air gap 58 of defined thickness.

[0047] Thanks to this air gap 58, which separates the two bushings 51, 52, the magnetic transmission joint 36 makes it possible to compensate for linear and angular misalignments between the two rotation axes XI, X2 of the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8 and helps to absorb vibrations and / or any torsional overloads during the operation of the drilling unit 2, which makes it possible to extend its operating life. More precisely, the transmission joint 36 of the magnetic type avoids the occurrence of imbalances and / or stresses deriving in operation from any misalignments between the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8, and theoccurrence of overloads of the electric motor 3, in the event of collisions or jamming of the drilling tool 5. In the latter case, in fact, when the resistant torque exerted by the tool holder shaft 8 exceeds the magnetic transmission torque of the transmission joint 36, the bushings 51, 52 and therefore the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8 disengage.

[0048] With reference to Figures 9 and 10, a variant of the drilling unit 2 is partially illustrated, which differs from the embodiments described above only for the joint means 50 that comprise a different further transmission joint 26 of the magnetic type, comprising a first flange 41 provided with a first magnetic wall 43 and couplable to the end 7a of the drive shaft 7 and a second flange 42 provided with a second magnetic wall 44 and couplable to the end 8a of the tool holder shaft 8. The first magnetic wall 43 and the second magnetic wall 44 face, in particular separated by an air gap of defined thickness, and are magnetically coupled in the assembled configuration A of the drilling unit 2. The magnetic attraction force between the two magnetic walls 43, 44 is such as to make it possible to transmit the rotational motion with a suitable torque between the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8.

[0049] The first flange 41 comprises a first hub 45 arranged to receive and couple with the end 7a of the drive shaft 7 and the second flange 42 comprises a second hub 46 arranged to receive and couple with the end 8a of the tool holder shaft 8. The hubs 45, 46 are secured and made integral with the respective ends 7a, 8a of the shafts 7, 8 for example by means of transverse locking screws.

[0050] It should be noted that also in this case the magnetic transmission joint 26 makes it possible to avoid imbalances and stresses deriving in operation from any misalignments between the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8 and to avoid overloading the electric motor 3 in the event of collisions or jamming of the drilling tool 5, that is, of the tool holder shaft 8.

[0051] With particular reference to Figures 11 to 15, a further variant of the drilling unit 2 of the machine 1 of the invention is illustrated, which differs from the embodiment described above and illustrated in Figures 2 to 8 for the joint means 50 which comprise an Oldham type transmission joint 6, which includes a first hub 11 provided with a first front tooth or tenon 13 and couplable to an end 7a of the drive shaft 7 of the electric motor 3, a second hub 12 couplable to an end 8 a of the tool holder shaft 8 of the spindle 4 and provided with a second front tooth or tenon 14 and an intermediate transmission disc 10 having two opposite faces 10a each provided with a respective front coupling recess 15. The front recesses 15 are mutually orthogonal and arranged to slidably couple each with a respective front tooth 13, 14 of the first and second hub 11, 12 in a mounting configuration A of the transmission jointAs is known, the Oldham joint is a homokinetic joint that allows the transmission of motion between two misaligned but parallel shafts. In this case, therefore, the first rotation axis XI of the drive shaft 7 and the second rotation axis X2 of the tool holder shaft 8 are parallel, but they can be misaligned allowing a lower precision in the connection between the electric motor 3 and the spindle 4.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the first hub 11 is made as a single body, i.e. it is integrated, with the end 7a of the drive shaft 7 and the second hub 12 is made as a single body with the end 8 a of the tool holder shaft 8.

[0053] Alternatively, the first hub 11 and the second hub 12 may be separate components, reversibly secured to the ends 7a, 8a of the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8.

[0054] With reference to Figures 16 to 18, another variant of the drilling unit 2 is partially illustrated, which differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 11 to 15 and described above only for the intermediate transmission disc 20 of the transmission joint 6, which comprises two opposite and orthogonal front recesses 25, each of which is formed by a pair of elastically flexible side walls 28, made on a corresponding face 20a of the aforementioned intermediate transmission disc. For example, the two elastically flexible side walls 28 of each front recess 25 comprise two elastically flexible sheets or lamellae, machined on the respective face 20a of the disc 20, for example by milling. The elastically flexible side walls 28 of the front recesses 25 of the transmission joint 6 help to absorb vibrations and / or any torsional overloads during the operation of the drilling unit 2, which makes it possible to extend its operating life.

[0055] In addition, the elastically flexible side walls 28 of the front recesses 25 make it possible to compensate for slight angular misalignments between the two rotation axes XI, X2 of the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8. The elastically flexible side walls 28 also make it possible to obtain a backlash-free connection between the tooth 13, 14 of the hub 11, 12 and the relative front recess 25, limiting the stresses due to the interference between the two elements.

[0056] With reference to Figures 19 to 21, a further variant of the drilling unit 2 is illustrated, which differs from the embodiments described above only for the joint means 50 comprising a homokinetic transmission joint 16 of the elastic type that includes a first hub 21 provided with a plurality of first front teeth 23, for example two, and couplable to the end 7a of the drive shaft 7, a second hub 22, provided with a plurality of second front teeth 24, for example two, and couplable to the end 8a of the tool holder shaft 8, and an intermediate elastic element 30, having a plurality of radial recesses 31, in particular in a number equal to thesum of the number of the first front teeth 23 and that of the second front teeth 24. The radial recesses 31 are in fact arranged to receive and couple with the first front teeth 23 of the first hub 21 and the second front teeth 24 of the second hub 22 in a mounting configuration A of the transmission joint 16. The first front teeth 23 are angularly and regularly spaced around the first rotation axis XI, in particular they are diametrically opposite, and similarly the second front teeth 24 are angularly and regularly spaced around the second rotation axis X2, in particular they are diametrically opposite.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the first hub 21 is made of a single body, i.e. it is integrated with the end 7a of the drive shaft 7 and the second hub 22 is made of a single body with the end 8 a of the tool holder shaft 8.

[0058] Alternatively, the first hub 21 and the second hub 22 may be separate components reversibly secured to the ends 7a, 8a of the drive shaft 7 and the tool holder shaft 8.

[0059] The intermediate elastic element 30 is made of elastomeric material and comprises a central body 32 from which a plurality of arms 33 extend radially angularly and regularly spaced forming the radial recesses 31.

[0060] The intermediate elastic element 30 of the transmission joint 16 thanks to its elasticity allows the transmission joint 26 to compensate for angular misalignments between the two rotation axes XI, X2 of the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8 and also contributes to absorbing vibrations and / or any torsional overloads during the operation of the drilling unit 2, which allows its operating life to be extended.

[0061] The operation of the machine 1 for making bristle tools 100 involves the activation of the drilling unit 2 to perform the cavities 102 on the bodies 101 of the bristle tools 100 that are positioned on the support surface 19. The punching unit 9 is also activated to insert and lock the bristle bundles 110 into the cavities 102, or blind holes, made by the drilling unit 2. In the event that the spindle 4 or the electric motor 3 of the modular drilling unit 2 must be replaced, they can be separated quickly and easily in the disassembled configuration B thanks to the connection means 10 and the joint means 50. More precisely, the connection means 10 allow the main body 18 of the spindle 4 to be separated from the support element 70, secured to the outer casing 17 of the electric motor 3, and the transmission joint 36 allows the drive shaft 7 of the electric motor 3 to be disconnected and separated from the tool holder shaft 8 of the spindle 4 (Figures 3 and 4).

[0062] Given the compact overall dimensions of the drilling unit 2, the replacement of the electric motor 3 or the spindle 4 can be easily and quickly carried out on the machine both in the event of breakage or malfunction of one of the two components and in the event that themotor or spindle must be replaced with similar components having different performance and / or technical characteristics. For example, a different type of spindle 4 can be mounted on the drilling unit 2 in the event that the machine 1 must make a different type of tools, which require specific drilling operating parameters (rotational speed and feed rate) and / or specific drilling tools (with chip breaking, for hard plastic materials, etc.). Similarly, a different electric motor 3 having respective dimensional and operational characteristics (size, weight, power, torque curve, rotation speed, etc.) can be selected and mounted on the drilling unit 2 according to production needs.

[0063] In this way it is possible to simplify maintenance operations and reduce their duration, that is, to reduce machine downtime and production stoppage.

[0064] In addition, if the machine 1 is associated with a tool store comprising various types of electric motors 3 and spindles 4, it is possible to quickly and easily create the optimal drilling unit 2 to be assembled based on the specific requirements, i.e. the type of bristle tool to be made. More precisely, the machine 1 may comprise a plurality of electric motors 3, having respective dimensional and operational characteristics and a plurality of spindles 4, having respective performance and / or technical characteristics, each electric motor 3 being couplable to each spindle 4 to form the modular drilling unit 2 suitable for production needs. It should be noted that thanks to the use in the drilling unit 2 of a transmission joint that makes it possible to compensate for linear and angular misalignments between the two rotation axes XI, X2 of the drive shaft 7 and tool holder shaft 8, it is not necessary that the coupling between the support element 70 of the electric motor 3 and the main body 18 of the spindle 4 be excessively precise and therefore expensive to manufacture (in particular, with tight tolerances on the shape and dimensions of the seat and centring protrusion). The transmission joint not only makes it possible to compensate for any linear and angular misalignments between the two shafts 7, 8 but also contributes to absorbing vibrations and / or any torsional overloads during operation.

[0065] The mechanical connection between electric motor 3 and spindle 4 is therefore greatly simplified.

[0066] Finally, it should be noted that the second bearings 38, which support the tool holder shaft 8 of the spindle 4 and which are subjected to the main load during operation, are free from unwanted stresses caused by even significant errors of concentricity between the front seat and the rear seat of the bearings 38 themselves, since, unlike the integrated electrospindles, the tool holder shaft 8 has a reduced length and the bearings 38 are mounted on the same second seat 74, made of a single cylindrical surface, for example obtained by means of thesame boring operation.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Machine (1) for making bristle tools (100) having bodies (101) provided with open cavities (102) adapted to receive respective bristle bundles (110), comprising at least one modular drilling unit (2), configured to make cavities (102) on bodies (101) of bristle tools (100) and comprising:a rotary electric motor (3) provided with an outer casing (17) and a drive shaft (7); a spindle (4) provided with a tool holder shaft (8) arranged to clamp and rotate a drilling tool (5) adapted to make said cavities (102) and with a main body (18) to rotatably support said tool holder shaft (8);characterised in that the electric motor (3) and the spindle (4) of said drilling unit (2) are interchangeable and reversibly coupleable in an assembled configuration (A) and disengageable in a disassembled configuration (B) by means of connection means (10) and joint means (50), wherein said connection means (10) are configured to reversibly connect / disconnect said outer casing (17) of said electric motor (3) and said main body (18) of said spindle (4) in said assembled configuration (A) and said joint means (50) comprise a transmission joint (6; 16; 26; 36) adapted to reversibly connect said drive shaft (7) to said tool holder shaft (8) in said assembled configuration (A) and configured to compensate for any misalignments between the drive shaft (7) and the tool holder shaft (8).

2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means (10) comprise a support element (70), secured to said outer casing (17) of said electric motor (3) and provided with a first coupling flange (71), and a second coupling flange (72), made on one end of said main body (18) and couplable to said first coupling flange (71) in said assembled configuration (A).

3. Machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first coupling flange (71) is provided with a centring seat (71a) and said second coupling flange (72) is provided with a complementary centring protrusion (72a) and adapted to be inserted in said centring seat (71a) in said assembled configuration (A).

4. Machine (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said support element (70) comprises a first seat (73) adapted to receive at least one first bearing (37), in particular two adjacent first bearings (37), adapted to rotatably couple said drive shaft (7) and said support element (70).

5. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (18) comprises a second seat (74) adapted to receive at least one second bearing (38), inparticular a pair of adjacent second bearings (38), adapted to rotatably support said tool holder shaft (8).

6. Machine (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said transmission joint (26, 36) is a magnetic type joint.

7. Machine (1) according to claim 6, wherein said transmission joint (36) comprises a first bushing (51), provided with a first seat (53) couplable to one end (7a) of the drive shaft (7) and a second seat (54) coaxial and opposite to said first seat (53), and a second bushing (52), provided with a third seat (55) couplable to one end (8a) of the tool holder shaft (8), said second bushing (52) being inserted into, and magnetically coupled to, said second seat (54) of said first bushing (51) in said assembled configuration (A).

8. Machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein in said assembled configuration (A) an outer magnetic wall (52a) of said second bushing (52) and an inner magnetic wall (54a) of said second seat (54) of said first bushing (51) are facing and separated by an air gap (58) of defined thickness.

9. Machine (1) according to claim 6, wherein said transmission joint (26) comprising a first flange (41), couplable to one end (7a) of the drive shaft (7) and provided with a first magnetic wall (43), and a second flange (42), couplable to one end (8a) of the tool holder shaft (8) and provided with a second magnetic wall (44), said first magnetic wall (43) and said second magnetic wall (44) abutting each other and magnetically coupled in a mounting configuration (A) of said transmission joint (26).

10. Machine (1) according to claim 9, wherein said first flange (41) comprises a first hub (45) arranged to receive and couple with said end (7a) of the drive shaft (7) and said second flange (42) comprises a second hub (46) arranged to receive and couple with said end (8a) of the tool holder shaft (8).

11. Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said transmission joint (6) is an Oldham-type homokinetic joint and comprises a first hub (11), couplable to one end (7 a) of the drive shaft (7) and provided with a first front tooth (13), a second hub (12), couplable to one end (8a) of the tool holder shaft (8) and provided with a second front tooth (14), and an intermediate transmission disc (10; 20), having two opposite faces (10a; 20a) each provided with a respective front recess (15; 25), said front recesses (15; 25) being orthogonal to each other and arranged to slidably couple each with a respective front tooth (13, 14) of said first and second hubs (11, 12) in a mounting configuration (A) of said transmission joint (6).

12. Machine (1) according to claim 11, wherein each front recess (25) of said intermediatetransmission disc (20) is formed by a pair of elastically flexible side walls (28), made on a corresponding face (20a) of said intermediate transmission disc (20).

13. Machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said transmission joint (16) is a homokinetic joint of the elastic type comprising a first hub (21), couplable to one end (7a) of the drive shaft (7) and provided with a plurality of first front teeth (23), a second hub (22), couplable to one end (8a) of the tool holder shaft (8) and provided with a plurality of second front teeth (24), and an intermediate elastic element (30) having a plurality of radial recesses (31), said radial recesses (31) being arranged to receive and couple with said front teeth (23, 24) of said first and second hub (21, 22) in a mounting configuration (A) of said transmission joint (16).

14. Machine (1) according to claim 11 or 13, wherein said first hub (11; 21) is made as a single body with the end (7a) of said drive shaft (7) and said second hub (12; 22) is made as a single body with the end (8a) of said tool holder shaft (8).

15. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of rotary electric motors (3) having respective dimensional and operational characteristics and a plurality of spindles (4) having respective performance and / or technical characteristics, each electric motor (3) being couplable to each spindle (4) to form the modular drilling unit (2).