Method and device for supplying fibres to a filing tool in a brush manufacturing machine

Abstract: Method for supplying fibres to a filling tool in brush manufacturing machines, whereby, per operating cycle, a bundle of fibres (7) is taken from a selected fibre duct (4,5) to the filling tool (3) by means of a bundle take-up device (6) which cooperates with at least two fibre ducts (4,5), characterized in that, for the selective supply of the fibres (2-2A), use is made of moveable closing devices (19,20) which cooperate with the far ends (11,12) of the fibre ducts (4,5) and which make sure, thanks to their movement, that fibres (2-2A) can only be taken from one fibre duct (4,5) at a time.

Description: The present invention concerns a method and device for supplying fibres to a filling tool in a brush manufacturing machine. In particular, it concerns brush manufacturing machines of the type whereby, by means of a bundle take-up device which cooperates with at least two fibre ducts, a bundle of fibres is taken from a selected fibre duct to a filling tool per operating cycle. The known brush manufacturing machines of this type, as well as the methods applied herein, are disadvantageous in that they are quite complex. Moreover, the known brush manufacturing machines are disadvantageous in that in many cases, the fibre ducts must carry out complicated movements, whereby such fibre ducts are relatively unwieldy, so that the speed of such a device is restricted. Examples of such known devices are disclosed in EP 0.346.965 and DE 40 40 297. According to EP 0.346.965 the device is provided with a drawer. As such drawer is relatively heavy, during movement of the latter, large inertia forces have to be surmounted. According to DE 40 40 297 the selection of fibres is done by moving the complete fibre magazines, as a result of which also large inertia forces have to be surmounted. The invention aims a method and a device for supplying fibres to a filling tool, which are improved in respect to the known methods and devices and, more particularly, do not show said disadvantages. To this aim, the invention consists of a method for supplying fibres to a filling tool in brush manufacturing machines, whereby, per operating cycle, a bundle of fibres is taken from a selected fibre duct and is moved towards a filling tool by means of a bundle take-up device, whereby this bundle take-up device co-operates with at least two fibre ducts, the method being characterized in that the bundle take-up device is taking up each bundle in front of the fibre duct concerned and that, for the selective supply of the fibres, use is made of movable closing devices which co-operate with the ends of the fibre ducts and which by means of their movement can be placed in front of the fibres of the fibre ducts concerned, such that fibres can only be taken from one fibre duct at a time. According to a preferred embodiment, two fibre ducts are used with closing devices which are connected to one another in such a way that if one is open, the other is closed, and vice versa. According to a special embodiment of the invention, the course of the bundle take-up device is changed during the operation. Hereby, the course of the bundle take-up device is preferably adjusted as a function of the fibre duct from which the fibres must be taken, which offers the advantage that the bundle take-up device does not need to follow an entire course during each operating cycle, as the course can be restricted up to the fibre duct from which fibres are to be taken. The invention also concerns a device to realize the above-mentioned method, consisting of at least two fibre ducts, a bundle take-up device which co-operates with these fibre ducts and which, per operating cycle, can bring a bundle of fibres from a selected fibre duct to the filling tool and means which make sure that, per operating cycle, fibres can be taken from only one fibre duct, which device is characterized in that the above-mentioned means consist of closing devices which co-operate with the far ends of the fibre ducts; in that the device is provided with a drive providing in the movement of the closing devices such that, during each operating cycle, fibres can only be taken from one fibre duct at a time, while the other fibre ducts are closed; and in that the take-up device during its movement takes up bundles of fibres directly at the front end of the fibre duct concerned. In a particular embodiment, the device is provided with means to change the course of the bundle take-up device, whereby these means contain a control which changes the course of the bundle take-up device as a function of the fibre duct from which the fibres are to be taken, such that, at each take-up, the bundle take-up device is moved only up to the fibre duct from which fibres are to be taken for the cycle concerned. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment is described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic top view of a device according to the invention; figure 2 shows a view according to arrow F2 in figure 1, but somewhat more detailed; figure 3 is a schematic section according to line III-III in figure 2, but for another position. As shown in the figures 1 and 2, the invention concerns a device 1 for supplying fibres 2-2A to a filling tool 3 in a brush manufacturing machine, consisting of at least two fibre ducts 4 and 5, a bundle take-up device 6 which cooperates with said two fibre ducts 4 and 5 and which, per operating cycle, can bring a bundle of fibres 7 from a selected fibre duct, 4 or 5 respectively, to the filling tool 3, and means 8 which make sure that per operating cycle fibres 2-2A can be taken from only one fibre duct 4 or 5. The fibre ducts 4 and 5 consist, as is known, of guides 9 in between which an amount of fibres 2-2A is provided which, by means of press-on elements 10, can be pressed in the direction of the bundle take-up device 6. The bundle take-up device 6 consists, as is known, of an element, usually in the shape of a half moon, which can be rotated between the ends 11 and 12 of the fibre ducts 4 and 5 and the filling tool 3, and which has a recess 14 at its edge 13, in which, per operating cycle, a bundle of fibres 7 can be taken up and separated from the fibres 2-2A in the fibre duct 4 or 5. The bundle take-up device 6 is rotated by means of a drive element 15 and coupling means 16 provided between this drive element 15 and the bundle take-up device 6, including among others the lever 17 represented in the figures 1 and 2. According to the invention, the above-mentioned means 8 consist of closing devices 19 and 20 which cooperate with the far ends 11 and 12 of the fibre ducts 4 and 5 and which can be moved by means of a drive 18 and which, thanks to their movement, make sure that fibres 2-2A can be taken from only one fibre duct 4 or 5 at the time. In the case where the device 1, as represented in figure 1, has two fibre ducts 4 and 5, two closing devices 19 and 20 should be preferably used which are connected so solidly that if one is open, the other is closed, and vice versa. To this end, these closing devices 19 and 20 can be fixed on one common support 21, whereby this support can preferably be rotated around the shaft 22 of the lever 17. The closing devices 19 and 20 preferably consist of key-shaped pieces, such that the fibres 2-2A can be easily pushed back over a short distance when the fibre duct 4 or 5 is closed off and the key-shaped pieces can be placed before the fibres 2-2A. The device 1 according to the invention also contains means 23 to change the course of the bundle take-up device 6. As shown in figure 3, these means 23 may be part of the coupling means 16 and may consist of an element 24 which is moved back and forth between two fixed positions A and B by means of a drive element 15; a connection which couples the bundle take-up device 6 to the above-mentioned element 24 and which in this case consists of the lever 17 and a coupling bar 25; and a drive mechanism 26 which makes it possible to shift the coupling point 27 between said connection and the above-mentioned element 24, such that at least in one position of the element 24, in this case the position A, by shifting the coupling point 27, the bundle take-up device 6 can take up at least two positions C and D. As represented in the figures 2 and 3, the coupling bar 25 is preferably connected to the end 29 of the lever 17 by means of a universal joint 28. The element 24 in this embodiment consists of an arm or crank which can be rotated over an angle X. The coupling point 27 consists of a pivot 30 which can be shifted in a groove 31, provided in the crank 24. The groove 31 preferably extends according to an arc, and such that the hinge point 28 in position B of the element 24 remains in the same place for all positions of the coupling point 27. This is made possible by making use of a groove which, in position B of the element 24, extends according to an arc around the hinge point of the universal joint 28, such with a radius R as represented in figure 3. The pivot 30 is moved by means of a pressure cylinder 32 which can preferably take up two positions, whereby the coupling point 27 is situated on one or the other end of the groove 31 respectively. The means 23 to change the course of the bundle take-up device 6 preferably contain a control 33 which changes the course as a function of the fibre duct 4 or 5 from which fibres 2-2A are to be taken, such that the bundle take-up device 6 is only moved to the fibre duct 4 or 5 concerned at each take-up, in other words such that no unnecessary movement is made. The working of the device 1 can be easily derived from the figures. In the case where, as represented in figure 1, the closing device 19 is placed before the fibre duct 4, only fibres 2A can be taken from the fibre duct 5. By moving the closing devices 19 and 20 into the position represented by means of the dot and dash line, only fibres 2 can be taken from the fibre duct 4. Thus, via the control of the drive 18, it is possible to choose to take fibres 2 from the fibre duct 4 or fibres 2A from the fibre duct 5. It is the intention that two sorts of fibres are hereby provided in the fibre ducts 4 and 5, either fibres of different nature, of different size or of different colour, which are then provided in a brush body 34 according to a preset pattern. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotation of the bundle take-up device 6 is restricted up to the fibre duct 4 or 5 from which fibres 2-2A are to be taken at that time. This is realized, in the case where fibres 2 are to be taken from the fibre duct 4, by putting the coupling point 27 in the position A of the element 24 in point T, and in the case where fibres 2A are to be taken from the fibre duct 5, by putting the coupling point 27 in position A of the element 24 in point U, as indicated in figure 3. When the element 24 is in position B, it is in theory not important where the coupling point 27 is situated in the groove 31, since the place of the coupling point 27 in this case has no influence on the place of the universal joint 28. For the bundle take-up device 6 is then always in the position E, with the recess 14 centrally in front of the filling tool 3. In the case where fibres 2 are to be taken from the duct 4 several times in a row, the coupling point 27 will be maintained in the highest position, such that the pressure cylinder 32 can remain in extended position. The coupling point 27 then moves back and forth between the points T and V in figure 3. If fibres 2A are required several times in a row, the pressure cylinder 32 can remain slid in, whereby the coupling point 27 will then move between the points U and W. It is clear that the movement of the coupling point 27 along the groove 31 can be realised during the rotation of the element 24 between the positions A and B. Depending on whether the coupling point 27 is situated in the point T or U, the bundle take-up device 6 will move between the positions E and C or the positions E and D, as indicated in figure 1. The rotations realized hereby are Y and Z respectively. The movement of the bundle take-up device 6, as well as the required course thereof, can also be realized by means of an electronically programmable control and for example a servomotor. This also applies to the different elements of the filling tool 3, such as the slide, the needle which each time anchors the bundles of fibres 7 in the opening concerned of the brush body 34, the feeding in steps of the thread and the cut and profile elements for the clamp or the anchor with which each little bundle of fibres 7 is fixed in the brush body 34. By properly programming the different drive systems of the elements for supplying the bundles of fibres 7 and for inserting and anchoring them in the brush body 34, their movements and positions can be perfectly synchronized in the required manner.

Claims: Method for supplying fibres to a filling tool in brush manufacturing machines, whereby, per operating cycle, a bundle of fibres (7) is taken from a selected fibre duct (4,5) and is moved towards a filling tool (3) by means of a bundle take-up device (6), whereby this bundle take-up device (6) co-operates with at least two fibre ducts (4,5), characterized in that the bundle take-up device (6) is taking up each bundle (7) in front of the fibre duct (4,5) concerned and that, for the selective supply of the fibres (2-2A), use is made of movable closing devices (19,20) which co-operate with the ends (11,12) of the fibre ducts (4,5) and which by means of their movement can be placed in front of the fibres (2-2A) of the fibre ducts (4,5) concerned, such that fibres (2-2A) can only be taken from one fibre duct (4,5) at a time. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that two fibre ducts (4,5) are used with closing devices (19,20) which are connected to one another in such a way that if one is open, the other is closed, and vice versa. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the course of the bundle take-up device (6) is changed. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the course of the bundle take-up device (6) is directed as a function of the fibre duct (4,5) from which the fibres (2-2A) are to be taken; in that the bundle take-up device (6) consists of a rotatable element which has a recess (14) at its edge (13) in which a bundle of fibres (7) can be taken up; and in that the bundle take-up device (6) is rotated in one direction with the recess (14) up to before the filling tool (3) and in the other direction, as desired, with the recess (14) up to before the respective ends (11,12) of the fibre ducts (4,5), whereby the recess (14) in the bundle take-up device (6), during the take-up of fibres (2-2A) is moved not further than the fibre duct (4,5) from which the fibres (2-2A) are to be taken. Device for supplying fibres to a filling tool in a brush manufacturing machine according to the method of claim 1, consisting of at least two fibre ducts (4,5), a bundle take-up device (6) which co-operates with these fibre ducts (4,5) and which, per operating cycle, can bring a bundle of fibres (7) from a selected fibre duct (4,5) to the filling tool (3) and means (8) which make sure that, per operating cycle, fibres (2-2A) can be taken from only one fibre duct (4,5), characterized in that the above-mentioned means (8) consist of closing devices (19,20) which co-operate with the far ends (11,12) of the fibre ducts (4,5); in that the device is provided with a drive (18) providing in the movement of the closing devices (19,20) such that, during each operating cycle, fibres (2) can only be taken from one fibre duct (4,5) at a time, while the other fibre ducts are closed; and in that the take-up device (6) during its movement takes up bundles of fibres directly at the front end of the fibre duct (4 or 5) concerned. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has means (23) to change the course of the bundle take-up device (6). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said means (23) to change the course of the bundle take-up device (6) are equipped with a control (33) which changes the course of the bundle take-up device (6) as a function of the fibre duct (4,5) from which the fibres are to be taken, such that, at each take-up, the bundle take-up device (6) is moved only up to the fibre duct (4,5) from which fibres (2-2A) are to be taken. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the bundle take-up device (6) is driven by an element (24) which can be moved back and forth between two fixed positions (A, B) by means of a drive element (15); a connection which couples the bundle take-up device (6) to the above-mentioned element (24); and a drive mechanism (26) which makes it possible to shift the coupling point (27) between said connection and the above-mentioned element (24), such that at least in one far position (A) of the element 24 which can be moved back and forth, by shifting the coupling point (27), the bundle take-up device (6) can take up at least two positions. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the moveable element (24) consists of a crank which can be turned back and forth over a fixed angle (X), and in that the coupling point (27) consists of a pivot (30) which can be shifted in a groove (31) in the crank. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pivot (30) can be moved by means of a pressure cylinder (32). Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the groove (31) has such a shape that the bundle take-up device (6) in the second position (B) of the moveable element (24) remains in the same place for all positions of the coupling point (27). Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the bundle take-up device (6) consists of an element which can be rotated between the ends (11-12) of the fibre ducts (4-5) and the filling tool (3), and which has a recess (14) at its edge (13), in which, per operating cycle, a bundle of fibres (7) can be taken up and separated from the fibres (2-2A) in the fibre duct (4-5) concerned; in that the bundle take-up device (6) is mounted on a lever (17); in that this lever (17) and the above-mentioned crank are connected to one another by means of a coupling bar (25), which is connected to the lever (17) by means of a universal joint (28) on the one hand, and to the crank by means of the above-mentioned coupling point (27) on the other hand; and in that, in the second position (B) of the moveable element (24), the groove (31) extends according to an arc around the above-mentioned universal joint (28).

Inventors: BOUCHERIE LEONEL POLYDORE, BOUCHERIE, LEONEL POLYDORE
Applicants: BOUCHERIE NV G B, G.B. BOUCHERIE, N.V.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A46D3
IPC codes: A46D3