DEVICE FOR FEEDING TUFTS OF BRISTLES, METHOD FOR OPERATING SAID DEVICE AND BRUSH MANUFACTURING MACHINE

Abstract

A brush manufacturing device (1) for feeding tufts of bristles (2) to receiving openings (3) in a target plate (4) is provided, The device includes at least one sensor (7). The sensor allows to monitor the force which a sliding drive (5) of the device (1) applies to at least one sliding pin (6) of the device (1).

Claims

1. A device (1) for feeding bristle bundles (2) into receiving openings (3) in target plates (4), the device comprising: at least one sliding drive (5); at least one pin package with a plurality of sliding pins (6), each of the sliding pins (6) being configured for inserting one of the bristle bundles (2) into a respective one of the receiving openings (3) in the target plate (4); and at least one sensor (7) by which a force transmitted by the sliding drive (5) to the sliding pins (6) is determined at least indirectly.

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one linear measuring unit (8), and the as least one sensor (7) is assigned to the at least one linear measuring unit.

3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (7) is arranged in a direction of force flow between the at least one sliding drive (5) and the sliding pins (6).

4. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pin package (9) has a number of the sliding pins (6) which correspond to a number and arrangement of the receiving openings (3) in at least one of a source plate (10) or the target plate (4) for the bristle bundles (2) of a bundle group.

5. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one pin guide (11) arranged between the at least one sliding drive (5) and a source plate (10).

6. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one coupling plate, through which a movement of at least two of the sliding pins (6) is coupled to one another.

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the at least one sliding drive (5) is a hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical linear drive, or b) each of the at least one sliding drive (5) has a respective sensor of the at least one sensor (7).

8. (canceled)

9. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein there a plurality of types of the sliding pins (6) and the at least one sensor (7) includes a sensor for each of the types of the sliding pins (6).

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an amplifier (13) is assigned to the at least one sensor (7).

11. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit (14) which is configured to activate the at least one sliding drive (5), depending on a force determined by the at least one sensor (7).

12. The device (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit (14) at least one of a) is configured for at least one of recording or outputting at least one of force/path profiles or force/time profiles, or has an information output interface.

13. The device (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit has a communication interface (17) for data exchange.

14. A brush-producing machine (19) comprising the device (1) as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method for operating a device (1) for feeding bristle bundles (2) into receiving openings (3) of target plates (4), the method comprising: providing the device (1) as claimed in claim 1; and determining a force transmitted by the at least one sliding drive (5) to the sliding pins (6) at least indirectly using the at least one sensor (7).

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising at least one of a) comparing the force with a reference value or b) deactivating the sliding drive (5) when the force reaches or exceeds the reference value.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one of the determining or the comparing of the force when the device (1) is in no-load operation of the device (1).

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising inferring at least one of a degree of contamination or a degree of wear of the device from the force that has been determined.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising issuing a request for at least one of cleaning or maintenance of the device (1) when the force reaches or exceeds a reference value.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising, when the force is increased at a beginning of an adjustment travel of the plurality of sliding pins (6), at least one of recommending or initiating a replacement and/or re-sharpening of a cutting blade, by which the bristle bundles (2) are cut.

21. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising recording and supplying the force determined using the at least one sensor (7) to other devices (1), via a data store (18).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The invention is described in greater detail below with the help of exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments result from a combination of the features of individual or multiple elements disclosed herein with one another, and/or a combination of individual or multiple features of the exemplary embodiments.

[0037] In the drawings:

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 6: show different views of a first embodiment of a device for feeding bristle bundles into receiving openings of a target plate, wherein the device has two pin packages of sliding pins which are connected to a sensor and a sliding drive of the device via a coupling means,

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a comparable device, wherein each of the two pin packages of the device in this case is assigned a sensor, and wherein the two pin packages of the device are moved via a common sliding drive,

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of a comparable device, wherein each of the two pin packages of the device is assigned a sensor and a sliding drive,

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of a device which is set up to introduce at least two different kinds of bristle bundles into receiving openings of a target plate, wherein the sliding pins provided for a first type of bristle bundles are coupled to one another via a first coupling means and are provided with a sensor of the device, while groups of sliding pins which are provided for the insertion of a second kind of bristle bundles are connected to one another, and to a second sensor of the device, via a second coupling means,

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of a comparable device, wherein in this case the different kinds of sliding pins, which are provided for the insertion of different kinds of bristle bundles, are each assigned a sensor and a sliding drive,

[0043] FIG. 11 shows an example of a force/path graph that can be generated using the sensors of the device shown in the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In the following description of different embodiments of the invention, elements which correspond in terms of their function are given the same reference signs, even if their design and form differ.

[0045] The figures show parts of a device for feeding bristle bundles 2 into receiving openings 3 of target plates 4, which is referred to as a whole as 1. Each of the devices 1 shown has at least one sliding drive 5 and multiple sliding pins 6 for the insertion of bristle bundles 2 into the receiving openings 3 of the target plates 4. Each of the devices is equipped with at least one sensor 7, by means of which a force of at least one sliding drive 5 can be determined at least indirectly when moving the sliding pins 6.

[0046] The device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 has a linear measuring unit 8, by means of which an adjustment travel of the sliding pins 6 of the device 1 monitored by the sensor 7 can be measured. In this way, it is possible for the device 1 to generate a force/path graph, as is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 11, for example.

[0047] The figures show that the sensors 7 are arranged in the direction of force flow between the sliding drive 5 in each case and the sliding pins 6, to which the sensors 7 are assigned. All sensors 7 are piezo-force transducers which are set up for the precise measurement of tensile and compressive forces in very high resolution.

[0048] All of the devices shown in the figures have a plurality pin packages 9 which comprise multiple sliding pins 6. In this case, a pin package 9 contains a number of sliding pins 6 which correspond in terms of number and arrangement to receiving openings 3 in a source plate 10 of the device 1, by means of which the bristle bundles 2 are provided for insertion into the receiving openings 3 in the target plate 4, and/or which correspond in terms of number and arrangement to receiving openings 3 in the target plate 4 for bristle bundles 2 of a bundle group.

[0049] The devices 1 shown in the figures are further equipped with a pin guide 11 which is designed as a pin guide plate. The pin guide 11 in this case is arranged between the sliding drives 5 and the previously mentioned source plate 10. The devices 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, 7 and 9 have coupling means 12, through which a movement of at least two sliding pins 6 of the sliding pins of a device 1, in part of at least two pin packages 9 of a device 1, are coupled to one another. In the devices 1 shown in the figures, coupling plates act as coupling means 12.

[0050] The sliding drives 5 of the devices 1 shown in the figures may be hydraulic, pneumatic and/or electromechanical linear drives.

[0051] In the case of individual embodiments of the device—so, for example, in the case of the embodiments of the devices 1 according to FIGS. 8 and 10—a sensor 7 is provided in each case for each sliding drive 5.

[0052] The devices 1 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are set up to fill each bristle field of the target plate 4 with two different kinds of bristle bundles 2. For this purpose, the device 1 according to FIGS. 9 and 10 has two different kinds of sliding pins 6.

[0053] In order to be able to measure the force which is transmitted to the different kinds of sliding pins 6, a sensor 7 is assigned in each case to each kind of sliding pin 6.

[0054] The two upper sliding pins 6 of the device 1 shown in FIG. 9 are connected to one another via a coupling means 12. In this case, the upper sensor 7 of the two sensors 7 of the device 1 from FIG. 9 makes contact with the coupling means 12 of the two upper sliding pins 6.

[0055] The pin packages 9 of the device 1 are also connected to one another via a corresponding coupling means 12, with which a second sensor 7 of the device 1 is in contact.

[0056] In the case of the device 1 shown in FIG. 10, a sensor 7 and a sliding drive 5 are assigned to each of the two pin packages 9 of the device 1, as well as to each individual upper sliding pin 6 of the device 1.

[0057] Each of the devices 1 has an amplifier 13 for each sensor 7.

[0058] The sensors 7 are connected at least indirectly to a control unit 14 of the respective device 1. The control units 14 are set up to actuate the sliding drive or sliding drives 5, depending on a force determined by the at least one sensor 7 of the respective device 1. As already indicated above, the devices 1 are set up, in particular through their control units 14, for the recording and/or output of force/path profiles. A possible force/path profile is illustrated by way of example with the help of the diagram according to FIG. 1. In addition, it is also possible for force/time profiles to be created with the help of the devices 1.

[0059] By means of an information output unit 15 and an information output interface 16 of the respective device 1, data from the sensors 7 and, in particular, the previously mentioned force/path profiles or force/time profiles can be issued to a user or transmitted to an evaluation unit. For this purpose, the information output unit 15 in each case comprises a display.

[0060] The devices 1 also have communication interfaces 17 for exchanging data with an external data store 18. As shown by way of example in the figures, the external data store may, for example, be a cloud store. The communication interfaces 17 in this case may also be set up for wireless communication.

[0061] The devices 1 are part of a brush-producing machine 19. The previously described devices 1 are set up for carrying out the method described below for operating a device 1 for feeding bristle bundles 2 into receiving openings 3 in target plates 4.

[0062] In this case, it is provided that a force of at least one sliding drive 5 of the respective device 1 is determined using a sensor 7.

[0063] Depending on the embodiment of the method, the force can be compared with a reference value. Examples of reference values have already been explained in the general description.

[0064] It is therefore possible, by way of example, to deactivate the respective sliding drive 5, or also all sliding drives 5, of the device 1, when the force reaches, or exceeds, a reference value which may be a maximum permissible force, for example.

[0065] The force may also be determined during no-load operation of the respective device 1. This is particularly true when inserting and/or withdrawing at least one sliding pin 6 of the respective device 1. Here, too, a comparison can take place between the force determined and a reference value.

[0066] In this way, it is possible to compare the force that can be determined during no-load operation with a reference value and thereby make inferences, where appropriate, in relation to contamination and/or wear of the device.

[0067] In this case, a request for cleaning and/or maintenance of the device 1 can be issued, for example via the information output unit 15 already mentioned above and/or the information output interface 16 already mentioned above of the device 1. If the force exceeds the reference value, cleaning and/or maintenance of the device 1 can be carried out.

[0068] When a force is increased at the beginning of an adjustment travel of the at least one sliding pin 6, which leads to the force falling outside a tolerance range, a replacement and/or re-sharpening of a cutting blade, by means of which bristle bundles 2 are cut in an upstream method step, can be recommended and/or initiated.

[0069] The graph according to FIG. 11 shows the tolerance range of the force over the adjustment travel or sliding path of the sliding pin or sliding pins 6. The graph comprises a total of three stacked force profile lines, wherein an upper of the three lines 20 represents an upper limit value of the force and a lower line 21 of the three lines represents a lower limit value of the force. The third line 22, which runs between the two lines 20 and 21, represents the force determined with the help of the at least one sensor 7 via the adjustment travel of the at least one sliding pin 6.

[0070] It can clearly be seen that the force determined with the help of the at least one sensor 7 lies within the tolerance range.

[0071] The force determined using the sensors 7 can be recorded and provided via the data store 18 which has already been mentioned, in this case the cloud data store, of other devices 1. This is, for example, in the form of force/travel graphs, such as that shown in FIG. 11, and/or in the form of force/time graphs.

[0072] Furthermore, the information supplied via the data store 18 can also be provided with action recommendations and/or instructions, for example with recommendations on when cleaning, maintenance, replacement of expandable parts and/or deactivation of the device are required.

[0073] The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of brush production. For this purpose, a device 1 for feeding bristle bundles 2 into receiving openings 3 of a target plate 4, among other things, is proposed, which has at least one sensor 7. The sensor 7 allows the force which is transmitted by a sliding drive 5 of the device 1 to at least one sliding pin 6 of the device 1 to be monitored.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 device [0075] 2 bristle bundle [0076] 3 receiving opening [0077] 4 target plate [0078] 5 sliding drive [0079] 6 sliding pin [0080] 7 sensor [0081] 8 linear measuring unit [0082] 9 pin package [0083] 10 source plate [0084] 11 pin guide [0085] 12 coupling means [0086] 13 amplifier [0087] 14 control unit [0088] 15 information output unit [0089] 16 information output interface [0090] 17 communication interface [0091] 18 data store [0092] 19 brush-producing machine [0093] 20 upper line [0094] 21 lower line [0095] 22 force profile