APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BRISTLE PRODUCTS

Abstract

An apparatus for producing bristle products is provided. The apparatus (1) has at least two, preferably redundant, tufting units (3, 4) which can optionally be moved from a setting-up position (7) outside a working chamber (8) of the apparatus (1) into a working position (9) within the working chamber (8) and vice versa, in particular such that, whenever one of the at least two tufting units (3, 4) is arranged in the setting-up position (7), another of the at least two tufting units (3, 4) can be or is arranged in the working position (9).

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for producing bristle products (2), the apparatus comprising: a working chamber; and at least two tufting units (3, 4) for tufting bristle bundles (5) into bristle product bodies (6), and the tufting units (3, 4) are alternately movable from a setting-up position (7) outside a working chamber (8) into a working position (9) within the working chamber (8) and vice versa.

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a changing apparatus (10) configured to change a position of the tufting units (3, 4) from the setting-up position (7) into the working position (9).

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the changing apparatus (10) includes a rotary unit (11) on which the tufting units (3, 4) are arranged.

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein, for changing a position between the tufting units (3, 4) between the working position (9) and the setting-up position (7), the tufting units (3, 4) are rotatable about an axis of rotation (12).

5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a linear unit (13) with which the tufting units (3, 4) are linearly movable transversely with respect to an axis of rotation (12) of a of the changing apparatus (10).

6. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a docking apparatus (15) with which the tufting unit (3, 4) located in the working position (9) is at least one of fixed or aligned in the working position (9).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus (15) has at least one fixing device (35) at the working position (9) and in each case at least one corresponding mating fixing device (36) at each of the tufting units (3, 4).

8. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a protection device (16) which bounds the working chamber (8), the protection device (16) comprising at least one of a switching-off apparatus, a protective fence, an electronic access boundary, at least one light barrier, or at least one light curtain.

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the protection device (16) is at least one of openable or deactivatable for changing a position of the tufting units (3, 4).

10. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the protection device (16) is arranged between the at least two tufting units (3, 4) on the changing apparatus (10) and, during a movement of the tufting units (3, 4), is movable together therewith.

11. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two tufting units (3, 4) are functionally redundant with respect to one another.

12. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein each said tufting unit (3, 4) has at least one of a tufting tool (18), a tie wire feed apparatus (19), a bundle-dividing apparatus (20), or a bristle magazine (21).

13. The apparatus (1) according to claim 12, wherein at least one tufting tool (18) comprises an exchangeable pusher tongue (22).

14. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a station for at least one of processing or handling at least one of bristle products (2) or bristle product bodies (6).

15. The apparatus (1) according to claim 14, wherein the station is at least one of a tufting station (25), a milling station (26), a drilling station (23), or a handling station (27).

16. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a transport apparatus (28) with at least one transport holder (29) with which at least one of bristle products (2) or bristle product bodies (6) are movable within the working chamber (8) between stations of the apparatus (1).

17. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a controller (30) for activating at least one of the tufting units (3, 4), a changing apparatus (10), a protection device (16), at least one of a processing or handling station, or a transport apparatus (28).

18. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, wherein the controller (30) comprises a data interface (31) via which the controller (30) is at least temporarily connectable to a data memory (32) and/or is configured for reading the data memory (32).

19. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, further comprising a data memory (32) in which data is stored for retrieval by the controller (30).

20. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, wherein the data comprises at least one of production program data, process parameters, servicing data, maintenance data, setting-up data, or data relating to the tufting units (3, 4).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment, but is not restricted to this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments emerge by combining the features of individual claims or a plurality of claims with one another and/or in a combination of individual features or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiment.

[0036] In the figures:

[0037] FIG. 1: shows a perspective illustration of an apparatus for producing bristle products, which has two tufting units which are movable alternately into a processing position within a working chamber of the apparatus, with a first of the two tufting units being in the working position,

[0038] FIG. 2: shows the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 before a change of position of the tufting units, wherein a protection device bounding the protective chamber is open for the change of position,

[0039] FIG. 3: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 immediately after the change of position of the tufting units,

[0040] FIG. 4: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the protection device closed and the second tufting unit docked in the working position, and

[0041] FIG. 5: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the second tufting unit in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] All of the figures show an apparatus, denoted in its entirety by 1, for producing bristle products 2. Examples of bristle products 2 which can be produced by means of the apparatus 1 shown in the figures are brushes, brooms and paintbrushes.

[0043] The apparatus 1 comprises two tufting units 3 and 4 with which bristle bundles 5 can be tufted into provided bristle product bodies 6. Owing to the fact that the apparatus 1 has a total of two tufting units 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 is configured redundantly with respect to the tufting of bristle bundles 5.

[0044] The tufting units 3 and 4 can be moved optionally and alternately from a setting-up position 7 outside a working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 into a working position 9 within the working chamber 8. In this way, one of the two tufting units 3 or 4 in the working position 9 can always be arranged within the working chamber 8 while measures for servicing, checking, maintenance, repair, conversion and/or setting up can be undertaken at the respective other tufting unit 4 or 3, which is located in the setting-up position 7.

[0045] The apparatus 1 shown in the figures has advantages in particular for a change of pattern, for which frequently more extensive work has to be undertaken at a tufting unit. While the one tufting unit 3 or 4 which is located in the working position 9 can continue to be operated, it is possible to undertake corresponding measures for adapting the apparatus 1 for changing the pattern at the other tufting unit 4 or 3, which is located in the setting-up position 7 outside the working chamber 8.

[0046] The apparatus 1 can therefore be used without relatively great interruptions during the production of bristle products 2. The two tufting units 3 and 4 therefore promote high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the apparatus 1.

[0047] The apparatus 1 has a changing apparatus 10 which comprises a rotary unit 11 with which the two tufting units 3 and 4 can optionally be moved from their setting-up position 7 into the working position 9. The two tufting units 3 and 4 can be rotated about a common axis of rotation 12 between the working position 9 and their setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10. The changing apparatus 10 is constructed in such a manner that, whenever one of the two tufting units 3 or 4 is in the working position 9, the other of the two tufting units 3 or 4 is arranged in the setting-up position 7.

[0048] The figures show that the changing apparatus 10 has a linear unit 13 with which the tufting units 3 and 4 are movable linearly on the changing apparatus 10. The linear movement of the tufting units 3, 4 caused by the linear unit 13 takes place transversely, namely at a right angle, with respect to the axis of rotation 11 of the changing apparatus 10. The linear unit 13, by means of two guide rails 34, defines a linear axis 14, along which the two tufting units 3 and 4 can be moved from a position approximate to the axis of rotation 12 (compare FIGS. 2 and 3) into an outer position on the changing apparatus 10 (compare FIGS. 1, 4 and 5).

[0049] The tufting units 3 and 4 take up the positions approximate to the axis of rotation 12 when the tufting units 3 and 4 are rotated, for the previously described change of position, from the setting-up position 7 into the working position 9 or from the working position 9 into the setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10 and the rotary unit 11 thereof.

[0050] The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a docking apparatus 15. The docking apparatus 15 can be used to fix a tufting unit 3, 4, which is located in the working position 9, in the working position 9 and to centre same in the working position 9. For this purpose, the docking apparatus 15 has two fixing device 35 located at the working position 9 and being in the form of fixing receptacles and in each case two corresponding mating fixing devices 36 in the form of fixing pins at each of the tufting units 3, 4. FIG. 1 shows the first tufting unit 3 at the docking apparatus 15.

[0051] By means of a movement of the tufting unit 3 along the linear axis 14 of the linear unit 13, the docking apparatus 15 is released (compare FIG. 2) and the tufting unit 3 becomes free. The tufting unit 3 can subsequently be moved into the setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10.

[0052] Having reached the setting-up position 7, the tufting unit 3 is then moved again along the linear axis 14 of the linear unit 13 into an outer position on the changing apparatus 10.

[0053] The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a protection device 16 which prevents unauthorized access to the working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 and bounds the working chamber 8.

[0054] The protection apparatus 16 is in the form of a protective fence. An embodiment of the protection device 16 that is not shown in the figures comprises an electronic access boundary, for example at least one light barrier and/or at least one light curtain, by means of which the working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 is bounded.

[0055] The protection device 16 can optionally also comprise a switching-off apparatus which, in the event of unauthorized access to the working chamber 8, ensures that the functional units of the apparatus 1 are switched off. This increases the working safety during use of the apparatus 1.

[0056] For a change of position of the tufting units 3, 4, the protection device 16 can be opened in the region of the two tufting units 3 and 4. For this purpose, a fence section 17 of the protection device 16 can be raised so as not to obstruct the rotational movement of the tufting units 3 and 4 about the axis of rotation 12.

[0057] In an embodiment of the apparatus 1 that is not shown in the figures, provision is made that at least part of the protection device 16, for example the previously mentioned fence section 17, is arranged at the changing apparatus 10 and between the at least two tufting units 3 and 4 and, during a movement of the tufting units 3 and 4, is moved together with them.

[0058] The tufting units 3 and 4 are constructed functionally redundantly with respect to one another. Each of the tufting units 3 and 4 shown in the figures has a tufting tool 18, a tie wire feed apparatus 19, a bundle-dividing apparatus 20 and a bristle magazine 21.

[0059] The tufting tools 18 of the tufting units 3 and 4 of the apparatus 1 shown in the figures in each case have changeable pusher tongues 22. This promotes adaptation of the tufting units 3 and 4 in the event of a change of pattern.

[0060] A store of loose bristle filaments is in each case contained in the bristle magazines 21 of the tufting units 3 and 4. In the case of each of the tufting units 3 and 4, bristle bundles 5 can be removed from the bristle magazine 21 by means of the bundle-dividing apparatus 20, by a dividing movement of the bundle-dividing apparatus 20 along the bristle magazine 21, and fed to the tufting tool 18.

[0061] Fastening ties are supplied to the tufting tools 18 by means of the tie wire feed apparatuses 19. By means of a movement of the pusher tongues 22, the fastening ties can then be tufted together with the bristle bundles 5 into provided bristle product bodies 6.

[0062] Within its working chamber 8, the apparatus 1 has a plurality of stations for processing and handling bristle products 2 and bristle product bodies 6. One of the stations is a drilling station 23. Bundle-receiving holes 24 can be produced in provided bristle product bodies 6 in the drilling station 23. A tufting station 25 is provided downstream of the drilling station 23, the tufting station essentially being formed by the two position-changeable tufting units 3 and 4 of the apparatus 1. Downstream of the tufting station 25, the apparatus 1 has a milling station 26. Tufted bristle bundles 5 can be trimmed in the milling station 26.

[0063] Downstream of the milling station 26, the apparatus 1 has a handling station 27. In the handling station 27, bristle product bodies 6 can be placed into the apparatus 1 or finished bristle products 2 removed from the apparatus 1.

[0064] The previously mentioned stations 23, 25, 26 and 27 are arranged uniformly distributed around a transport apparatus 28. The transport apparatus 28 has a plurality of transport holders 29 with which bristle products 2 and/or bristle product bodies 6 can be moved within the working chamber 8 between the stations of the apparatus 1. The transport holders 29 are movable on a plurality of axes in order to carry out positioning movements. Bristle products 2 and/or bristle product bodies 6 can thus be positioned as required by means of the transport holders 29 for processing and/or handling at the stations 23, 25, 26 and 27.

[0065] The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a controller 30 which is configured for activating the functional units of the apparatus 1. Specifically, the controller 30 is configured for activating the tufting units 3, 4 of the changing apparatus 10, the protection device 16 and the stations 23, 25, 26, 27 and also the transport apparatus 28.

[0066] The controller 30 comprises a data interface 31 via which the controller 30 can be at least temporarily connected to a cloud-based data memory 32. The cloud-based data memory 32 is at least temporarily part of the apparatus 1 and contains data, such as, for example, production program data, process parameters, servicing data, maintenance data, setting-up data and/or data relating to the tufting units 3 and 4. The abovementioned data are available in the cloud-based data memory 32 for retrieval and for use by the controller 30.

[0067] The controller 30 is also configured for describing the data memory 32 and for storing corresponding data in the data memory 32. The two arrows denoted by 33 symbolize a bidirectional data connection between the controller 30 and the data memory 32.

[0068] The diverse remaining arrows shown in the figures symbolize a movement of the functional units of the apparatus that are marked by the arrows.

[0069] The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of bristle product production. For this purpose, an apparatus 1 is proposed which has at least two, preferably redundant tufting units 3 and 4 which can be alternately moved from a setting-up position 7 outside a working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 into a working position 9 within the working chamber 8 and vice versa, in particular such that, whenever one of the at least two tufting units 3 or 4 is in the setting-up position 7, another of the at least two tufting units 3 or 4 can be or is arranged in the working position 9.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Signs 1 Apparatus 2 Bristle product 3 Tufting unit 4 Tufting unit 5 Bristle bundle 6 Bristle product body 7 Setting-up position 8 Working chamber 9 Working position 10 Changing apparatus 11 Rotary unit 12 Axis of rotation 13 Linear unit 14 Linear axis 15 Docking apparatus 16 Protection device 17 Fence section 18 Tufting tool 19 Tie wire feed apparatus 20 Bundle-dividing apparatus 21 Bristle magazine 22 Pusher tongue 23 Drilling station 24 Bundle-receiving hole 25 Tufting station 26 Milling station 27 Handling station 28 Transport apparatus 29 Transport holder 30 Controller 31 Data interface 32 Data memory 33 Bidirectional data connection 34 Guide rail of 13 35 Fixing device of 15 36 Mating fixing device of 15