Bristle Bundle Segmentation Using Multi-Direction Notch Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in reliably and consistently filling compartment notches with bristle filaments during the distribution of bristle bundles from a stock of loose bristle filaments, which affects the uniformity and quality of the bristle bundles.

Innovation Solution

A procedure and compartment device design that involves moving a bundle department with a compartment notch in a compartment movement past loose bristle filaments, changing the direction of movement at least twice, preferably three times, to ensure complete and uniform filling of the compartment notch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bundle separator moves in a straight line past the supply of loose bristle filaments, then the separating process is simple, but the filling of the separating notch with bristle filaments is unreliable and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of filling separating notchVSAvoidcomplexity of separating movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bundle separator is designed to perform a dynamic separating movement that changes direction at least twice in the separating region, rather than moving in a straight line. This dynamic motion pattern ensures that bristle filaments are reliably guided into the separating notch from multiple directions, improving filling consistency while maintaining a mechanically simple implementation through cam-driven or crank-driven motion mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the separating notch is moved through a larger separating area, then more bristle filaments can be collected, but the space requirements for the bristle magazine increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of bristle filaments in bundleVSAvoidarea of bristle magazine
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bundle separator executes a dynamic motion pattern that includes changing direction at least twice within the separating region. This allows the separating notch to efficiently collect bristle filaments from a compact bristle magazine area, as the multi-directional motion maximizes filament collection within a limited spatial footprint, reducing the overall magazine size while maintaining bundle consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4463037B1Method for segmenting bristle bundles, segmenting device, and brush-tufting machine
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 ZAHORANSKY AG
  • EP4463037B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4463037B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4463037B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to, among others, a method for segmenting bristle bundles (5) from a supply (10) of loose bristle filaments (11), wherein a segmenting notch (14) of a bundle segmenting unit (13) is moved past the supply (10) of loose bristle filaments (11) in a segmenting movement, and a bristle bundle (5) is segmented from the supply (10) in the process and reaches into the segmenting notch (14). The invention is characterized in that the movement direction of the segmenting notch (14) changes at least twice, preferably at least three times, in a segmenting region (16) on the supply (10) when a segmenting movement is carried out.