CLAMPING APPARATUS, BRUSH PRODUCTION MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CLAMPING A BRISTLE CARRIER

Abstract

An improved clamping apparatus (8) for use in brush production is provided. The clamping apparatus (8) has at least one plug-in receptacle (13) for a fastening stud (12) of a bristle carrier (7) which is to be clamped, and at least one clamping element (14) assigned to the plug-in receptacle (13). This clamping element (14) can be advanced transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle (13) from a starting position into a clamping position in which it secures the bristle carrier (7) via its fastening stud (12) on the clamping apparatus (8).

Claims

1. A clamping apparatus (8) configured for clamping at least one bristle carrier (7), the clamping apparatus (8) comprises: a basic body (20) including at least one plug-in receptacle (13) that is adapted to receive a fastening stud (12) of a bristle carrier (7); at least one clamping element (14) assigned to the plug-in receptacle (13), the at least one clamping element is advancable transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle (13) from a starting position into a clamping position; and the clamping apparatus (8) forms a carrier cassette (24) which is configured to be movable from processing station to processing station of a brush production machine (1).

2. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping element (14) is arranged spaced apart from a surface (8a) of the clamping apparatus (8), and a plugging-in opening (21) of the plug-in receptacle (13) is formed in said surface.

3. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping element (14) at least partially projects into the plug-in receptacle (13) in the clamping position.

4. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping element (14) comprises a cylindrical clamping pin (14),

5. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 4, wherein a longitudinal axis of the clamping element (14) is oriented transversely or at right angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle (13).

6. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one clamping spring (16) for the at least one clamping element (14), with which the at least one clamping element (14) is automatically movable into its clamping position.

7. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle (13) is configured for centering the fastening stud (12) in the plug-in receptacle (13).

8. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle (13) has centering surfaces (17), which are oriented at an angle with respect to one another, which are adapted to center the fastening stud (12) which is adapted to be positioned in the plug-in receptacle (13).

9. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a guide (18) for the at least one clamping element (14) or a resetting element with which the clamping element (14) is movable from the clamping position into the starting position.

10. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body (20) has a contact surface (22) which surrounds the at least one plug-in receptacle (13) and is configured as an abutment for a bristle carrier plate (11) of a bristle carrier (7).

11. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping element (14) is configured for producing a clamping force on a bristle carrier (7), said clamping force has a force component which is oriented in a plugging-in direction defined by the plug-in receptacle (13).

12. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle (13) comprises a plurality of plug-in receptacles (13).

13. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one fastening element (28) with which the clamping apparatus (8) is releasably secured in a processing position.

14. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one fastening element (28) is a magnet (28).

15. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one centering arrangement (29) including at least one of a centering hole (29) or a centering pin.

16. The clamping apparatus (8) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one handling interface (26) for a handling gripper (25).

17. A brush production machine (1) for producing brushes (2), comprising: a processing station (3); at least one clamping apparatus (8) at the processing station (3); the at least one clamping apparatus (8) includes a basic body (20) with at least one plug-in receptacle (13) for a fastening stud (12) of a bristle carrier (7), and at least one clamping element (14) which is assigned to the plug-in receptacle (13) and is advanceable from a starting position into a clamping position transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle (13).

18. The brush production machine (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one clamping element (14) is arranged spaced apart from a surface (8a) of the clamping apparatus (8), and a plugging-in opening (21) of the plug-in receptacle (13) is formed in said surface.

19. A method for clamping a bristle carrier (7), comprising: providing the clamping apparatus of claim 1; and clamping the bristle carrier (7) using the clamping element (14) of the clamping apparatus (8), by the clamping element (14) acting on a fastening stud (12) of the bristle carrier (7), the bristle carrier (7) being fastenable via said fastening stud (12) to a brush body of a brush (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The invention is not restricted to said exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments emerge by a combination of the features of individual claims or a plurality of claims with one another and/or by a combination of individual features or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiment. In the illustration, in partially highly schematized form:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a brush production machine with a filling tool, a bristle magazine and with a cluster-separating device, which is movable between the bristle magazine and the filling tool, and a holding stand, wherein the holding stand has a clamping device which makes use of the technical teaching according to the invention and on which four individual bristle carriers are clamped,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a side view of one bristle carrier of the four bristle carriers illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein a bristle carrier plate with a plurality of cluster holders and also a fastening stud on a rear side of the bristle carrier plate can be seen,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the bristle carrier illustrated in FIG. 2,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows the clamping apparatus which is illustrated in FIG. 1 with a total of four plug-in receptacles, wherein each of the plug-in receptacles is equipped with in each case one bristle carrier, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a perspective bottom view of the clamping apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4,

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the clamping apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5,

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a partially broken-open side view of the clamping apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, and

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a view, which is sectioned along the line denoted by VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, of the clamping apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 7, wherein a total of four fastening studs (illustrated in section) of bristle carriers and four clamping elements, which are in the clamping position and are in the form of cylindrical clamping pins, can be seen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a brush production machine, which is denoted as a whole by 1, for producing brushes. The brush production machine 1 has a frame 2 on which a processing station 3 is arranged. The processing station 3 comprises a filling tool 4, a cluster-separating apparatus 5 and a bristle magazine 6. A stock of loose bristle filaments has been gathered together in the bristle magazine 6. Individual clusters of bristles can be removed from the bristle magazine 6 with the aid of the cluster separator 5 and transferred to the filling tool 4. The clusters of bristles transferred to the filling tool 4 are stuffed into the held-ready bristle carriers 7 with the filling tool 4. The filling of the bristle carriers 7 with clusters of bristles results in the production of a bristle arrangement consisting of a plurality of clusters of bristles on each bristle carrier 7. Subsequently, the bristle carriers 7 can be optionally processed further or fastened directly to a brush body or to a handle.

[0048] In order to be able to stuff the clusters of bristles into the held-ready bristle carriers, the bristle carriers 7 are clamped on a clamping apparatus denoted as a whole by 8. According to FIG. 1, the clamping apparatus 8 is arranged releasably on a holding stand 9 of the brush production machine 1. The holding stand 9 is configured to adjust the clamping apparatus 8 together with the bristle carriers 7 clamped thereon in three axes relative to the filling tool 4 in order to move cluster holders 10, which are present on the bristle carrier 7, into a stuffing-in position in which the clusters of bristles can be introduced into the individual cluster holders 10.

[0049] FIGS. 2 and 3 now show illustrations of a bristle carrier 7 clamped on the clamping apparatus 8 in FIG. 1. In particular the side view of the bristle carrier 7 according to FIG. 2 clarifies that the cluster holders 10 are formed on a bristle carrier plate 11 of the respective bristle carrier 7. From a front side of the bristle carrier 7, clusters of bristles can be introduced into the cluster holders 10 in order to produce a bristle arrangement on the bristle carrier plate 11 of the bristle carrier 7.

[0050] A fastening stud 12 which, in practice, is also referred to as a spike can be seen on a rear side of the bristle carrier 7 that faces away from the front side of the bristle carrier 7. The bristle carrier 7 can be connected to a handle, stem, brush body or to another part of a brush via said fastening stud 12. Even in the case of bristle carrier plates 11 configured differently within a product family of bristle carriers, the fastening studs 12 of the individual product family members are generally configured identically or at least very similarly. This circumstance now makes use of the clamping apparatus 8 which is described in detail below.

[0051] The clamping apparatus 8 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 8 has a total of four individual plug-in receptacles 13. The plug-in receptacles 13 serve to receive the fastening studs 12 of the bristle carriers 7 to be clamped. For this purpose, the fastening studs 12 are introduced into the plug-in receptacles 13 through plugging-through openings 21.

[0052] Each of the plug-in receptacles 13 is furthermore assigned a clamping element 14 which, for the clamping of a bristle carrier 7 which is plugged with its fastening stud 12 into the plug-in receptacle 13 assigned to the clamping element 14, can be advanced from a starting position into a clamping position transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle 13. FIG. 7 shows one of the clamping elements 14 in its clamping position on a fastening stud 12 of a bristle carrier 7.

[0053] Clear cross-sections of the plug-in receptacles 13 and of the plugging-in openings 21 thereof are noticeably smaller than the cross sections of the bristle carrier plates 11 of the bristle carrier 7 to be clamped. In addition, the clamping elements 14 are arranged spaced apart from a surface 8a of the clamping apparatus 8 in which the plugging-in openings 21 of the plug-in receptacles 13 are also formed. In this manner, undesirable contact between the clamping elements 14 and the bristle carrier plates 11 is prevented and damaged caused by the clamping of the bristle carriers 7 in the region of the bristle carrier plates 11 is avoided.

[0054] The clamping elements 14 are in the form of cylindrical clamping pins 14. The longitudinal axes of the clamping pins 14 are oriented transversely and here even at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the plug-in receptacles 13 to which the clamping pins 14 are in each case assigned.

[0055] FIG. 2 in particular clarifies that the fastening studs 12 of the individual bristle carriers 7 are provided with a cross-sectionally approximately V-shaped annular groove or notch 15. In the clamping position, the clamping elements 14 engage in the V-shaped annular grooves or notches 15 of the fastening studs 12 and thus secure the bristle carriers 7 on the clamping apparatus 8 for their further processing.

[0056] The clamping apparatus 8 has a respective clamping spring 16 for each of its clamping elements 14. The clamping springs 16 automatically hold the clamping elements 14 in their clamping position. If the clamping elements 14 are therefore not loaded, i.e. displaced counter to the direction of force of the clamping springs 16 on the clamping apparatus 8 in the direction of their starting position, the bristle carriers 7 which are clamped on the clamping apparatus 8 remain fixed on the clamping apparatus 8. This considerably facilitates the handling of the clamping apparatus 8. In particular whenever the clamping apparatus 8 is also used as a carrier cassette which is moved with bristle carriers 7 clamped thereon from processing station to processing station of the brush production machine 1, clamping of the bristle carriers 7 can be maintained even without power being supplied to the clamping apparatus 8.

[0057] The plug-in receptacles 13 are furthermore configured for the centering, i.e. for the correct and reproducible positioning of fastening studs 12 and bristle carriers 7 on the clamping apparatus 8. For this purpose, each of the plug-in receptacles 13 has two centering surfaces 17 oriented at an angle to each other. Since the centering surfaces 17 are arranged lying opposite the respective clamping element 14 in the direction of force of the clamping springs 16, fastening studs 12 of the bristle carriers 7, said fastening studs being plugged into the plug-in openings 13, are automatically centered in their clamping position on the clamping apparatus 8 by the advancing of the clamping elements 14 and are positioned for correct further processing.

[0058] As the sectional illustrations according to FIGS. 7 and 8 clarify, the clamping apparatus 8 furthermore has a respective guide 18 for each of its clamping elements 14. The clamping elements 14 are mounted movably in the guides 18 and can be moved to and fro between their starting position and their clamping position.

[0059] In addition, each clamping element 14 can be assigned a resetting element which is not illustrated separately in the figures. With the aid of the resetting element, the clamping elements 14 can be set back out of their clamping position into their starting position counter to the action of the clamping springs 16 and optionally can also be locked there. Examples of resetting elements can be pin- or sword-shaped drivers which can be moved onto the clamping elements 14 in order to bring the clamping elements 14 back out of their clamping position into their starting position.

[0060] FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the fastening studs 12 also have oblique surfaces 19. Said oblique surfaces are designed and arranged in a manner corresponding to the centering surfaces 17 of the plug-in receptacles 13. In the clamping position, the fastening studs 12 lie with their oblique surfaces 19 against the centering surfaces 17 of the plug-in receptacles 13. The plug-in receptacles 13 are therefore coordinated in respect of their cross section to the configuration of the fastening studs 12 on the rear sides of the bristle carriers 7.

[0061] As already mentioned previously, the clamping apparatus 8 is in the form of a carrier cassette and has a basic body 20. The total of four plug-in receptacles 13 are formed on said basic body. The basic body 20 has contact regions 22 on its front side, on which plugging-in openings 21 into the plug-in receptacles 13 are also formed. The contact regions 22 surround the total of four plug-in receptacles 13. The contact regions 22 which surround the respective plug-in receptacles 13 and the plugging-in openings 21 thereof serve as abutments for the bristle carrier plates 11 of the bristle carriers 7 when the bristle carriers 7 are clamped on the clamping apparatus 8 with the aid of the clamping elements 14.

[0062] On the basis of their configuration in the form of cylindrical clamping pins 14, the clamping elements 14 are configured for producing a clamping force on the respectively clamped bristle carrier 7. The clamping force has a force component which is defined in the plugging-in direction of the fastening studs 12 into the plug-in receptacle 13, said plugging-in direction being defined by the respective plug-in receptacle 13. In specific terms, this means that the clamping elements 14 by their contact on a flank 23, which faces away or is remote from the bristle carrier plate 11, of the V-shaped annular groove or notch 15 lie against the fastening stud 12 located in each case in the clamping position. Via the flank 23 oriented obliquely with respect to the advancing direction of the clamping element 14, the clamping force transmitted by the clamping element 14 to the fastening stud 12 is deflected transversely or at right angles to the advancing movement of the clamping element 14 in such a manner that the bristle carrier plate 11, which is connected to the fastening stud 12, of the bristle carrier 7 is brought into contact with one of the contact regions 22 on the basic body 20 of the clamping apparatus 8. Each of the bristle carriers 7 clamped with the clamping apparatus 8 thus obtains a defined contact against the contact region 22 assigned thereto. Reliable and precise processing of the bristle carriers 7 is thus promoted.

[0063] The clamping apparatus 8 designed as a carrier cassette 24 can be moved from one processing station of the brush production machine 1 to a subsequent processing station. In order to move the clamping apparatus 8 which is in the form of the carrier cassette 24, the brush production machine 1 according to FIG. 1 has a handling gripper 25. The handling gripper 25 can grasp the clamping apparatus 8 at handling interfaces 26 which are formed on the clamping apparatus 8 for the handling gripper 25.

[0064] As handling interfaces 26 for the handling gripper 25 of the brush production machine 1, the clamping apparatus 8 has, on its basic body 20, a plurality of recesses 27 which are arranged in a grid matching the handling gripper 25.

[0065] In addition, the clamping apparatus 8 is equipped with fastening elements 28 with which the clamping apparatus 8 can be secured releasably to a processing station 3, in the present exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 to the holding stand 9 of the brush production machine 1. Two magnets 28 are provided as the fastening elements 28. The magnets 28 are arranged close to the edge on a rear side or lower side 20a of the basic body 20 within a receptacle for the magnets in the basic body 20 of the clamping apparatus 8. Due to their position close to the edge, they can act through the material of the basic body 20 of the clamping apparatus 8 and can thus secure the clamping apparatus 8 on a processing station 3 without further mechanical fastening element.

[0066] On its rear side or lower side 20a facing away from the plugging-in openings 21 into the plug-in receptacles 13, the clamping apparatus 8 has a total of two centering arrangements 29 in the form of centering holes 29. The clamping apparatus 8 can be placed with its two centering holes 29 on correspondingly arranged centering pins which are arranged, for example, on the holding stand 9 of the brush production machine 1 from FIG. 1. The centering arrangement thus correctly define the position and orientation of the clamping apparatus 8 on the holding stand 9 and also prevent lateral displacement of the clamping apparatus 8 out of the desired position. With the aid of the magnets 28 and the centering arrangement 29, the clamping apparatus 8 can thus be reliably secured on the processing station 3.

[0067] The above-described clamping apparatus 8 makes it possible to carry out the method described below for clamping a bristle carrier 7. It is provided in this connection that the brush head 7 is clamped by a clamping element 14 of the clamping apparatus 8, wherein the clamping element 14 does not act on an outer circumference of the bristle carrier plate 11 of the bristle carrier 7, but rather on the fastening stud 12 of the bristle carrier 7, said fastening stud protruding on the rear side from the bristle carrier plate 11 of the bristle carrier 7.

[0068] The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of brush production. For this purpose, inter alia, the clamping apparatus 8 is provided. The latter has at least one plug-in receptacle 13 for a fastening stud 12 of a bristle carrier 7 to be clamped, and at least one clamping element 14 assigned to the plug-in receptacle 13. The clamping element 14 can be advanced transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle 13 from a starting position into a clamping position in which said clamping element secures the bristle carrier 7 via its fastening stud 12 on the clamping apparatus 8.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 Brush production machine [0070] 2 Frame [0071] 3 Processing station [0072] 4 Filling tool [0073] 5 Separating apparatus [0074] 6 Bristle magazine [0075] 7 Bristle carrier [0076] 8 Clamping apparatus [0077] 8a Surface on front side of 8 [0078] 9 Holding stand [0079] 10 Cluster holders [0080] 11 Bristle carrier plate [0081] 12 Fastening stud [0082] 13 Plug-in receptacles [0083] 14 Clamping element/clamping pin [0084] 15 V-shaped annular groove/notch on 12 [0085] 16 Clamping spring [0086] 17 Centering surfaces [0087] 18 Guide [0088] 19 Oblique surfaces on 12 [0089] 20 Basic body [0090] 20a Lower side/rear side [0091] 21 Plugging-in opening of 13 [0092] 22 Contact region [0093] 23 Flank [0094] 24 Carrier cassette [0095] 25 Handling gripper [0096] 26 Handling interface for 25 on 8 [0097] 27 Recess for 25 [0098] 28 Fastening element/magnet [0099] 29 Centering arrangement