APPARATUS FOR COMBINING BRUSH

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for combining a brush. The apparatus for combining a brush includes: a brush-fitting unit that is coupled to a main body and couples a fixing member for fixing a brush hair part of a brush to a brush body by pressing the fixing member; a brush-feeding unit that is coupled to the main body to feed the brush to the fitting unit; and a brush-rotating unit that is combined with the brush-feeding unit, and rotates the brush.

Claims

1. An apparatus for combining a brush, the apparatus comprising: a brush-fitting unit that is coupled to a main body and couples a fixing member for fixing a brush hair part of a brush to a brush body by pressing the fixing member; a brush-feeding unit that is coupled to the main body to feed the brush to the brush-fitting unit; and a brush-rotating unit that is combined with the brush-feeding unit and rotates the brush.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush-fitting unit includes: a pressing body that is disposed on a side of the main body and has a center hole; a plurality of pressing projections that, is disposed on the pressing body to protrude toward the center hole of the pressing body and couples the fixing member to the brush body by pressing the fixing member, and a projection-actuating mechanism that is combined with the main body and moves the plurality of pressing projections toward the center hole.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the projection-actuating mechanism includes: a driving motor that is disposed inside the main body; moving rods that each have a first part connected to the driving motor and a second part exposed out of the main body to move; and a pressing head that is coupled to the moving rods to move with the moving rod and pressing the plurality of pressing projections toward-the center hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein tops of the plurality of pressing projections exposed out of the pressing body are inclined, and a plurality of head grooves are formed in the inner side of the pressing head at positions corresponding to the plurality of pressing projections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush-feeding unit includes; moving guide rods that are coupled to the main body; a moving body that is fitted on. the moving guide rods to move in the longitudinal direction of the moving guide rods; a moving cylinder that is connected to the moving body to move the moving body; a moving cylinder-fixing body that is combined with the moving cylinder; connecting rods that each have a first part coupled to the main body and a second part combined with the moving cylinder-fixing body; and a brush holder that is coupled to the moving body to hold the brush.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a brush-rotating unit that is coupled to the moving body and rotates the brush holder.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the brush-rotating unit includes: a base body that is coupled to the moving body; a rotating motor that is coupled to the base body; and a rotary connector that has a first part connected to the rotating motor and a second part connected to the brush holder to rotate the brush holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an apparatus for combining a brush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a pressing head illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the pressing head illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating that the pressing head illustrated in FIG. 1 has moved to a pressing body.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a brush manufactured in accordance with the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] It is necessary to refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and those illustrated in the drawings in order to fully understand the present invention, operational advantages of the present invention, and objects accomplished by implementing the present invention.

[0030] The present invention is described hereafter in detail by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals indicate like components in the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an apparatus for combining a brush according to an embodiment of the present, invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a pressing head illustrated in FIG.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the pressing head illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating that the pressing head illustrated in FIG. 1 has moved to a pressing body, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a brush manufactured in accordance with the embodiment.

[0033] As illustrated in the figures, an apparatus 1 for combining a brush according to the embodiment includes: a brush-fitting unit 200 that is coupled to a main body 100 and couples a fixing member B3 for fixing a brush hair part B1 of a brush B to a brush body B2 by pressing the fixing member B3; a brush-feeding unit 300 that is coupled to the main body 100 to feed the brush B to the brush-fitting unit; and a brush-rotating unit 400 that is combined with the brush-feeding unit 300 and rotates the brush 3.

[0034] The main body 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be formed in the shape of a hollow hexahedron and may be supported by a plurality of legs 110.

[0035] In the embodiment, the main body 100 may be made of metal and a driving motor 231 may be disposed inside the main body 100.

[0036] The brush-fitting unit 200 assembles a brush by pressing a metallic tube illustrated in FIG. 7 with mechanical force without using an adhesive on the brush body B2.

[0037] In the embodiment, the brush-fitting unit 200, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a pressing body 210 that is disposed on the front of the main body 100 and has a center hole 211 at the center, a plurality of pressing projections 220 that each have a first end protruding outward from the center hole 211 of the pressing body 210 to press the fixing member B3 and a second end exposed out of the pressing body 210, and projection-actuating mechanism 230 that is combined with the main body 100 and moves the plurality of pressing projections 220 to the center of the center hole 211 to press the fixing member B3.

[0038] The pressing body 210 of the brush-fitting unit 200, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, may be formed in a circular shape and is coupled to the main body 100, so it is fixed in different way from the pressing head 233,

[0039] In the embodiment, the brush body B2 fitted in the fixing member B3 is inserted into the center hole 211 of the pressing body 210 to be pressed by the plurality of pressing projections 220.

[0040] In the plurality of pressing projections 220 of the brush-fitting unit 200, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the first ends are not exposed to the center hole 211 of the pressing body 210 and the second ends are exposed outward from the outer circumferential side of the pressing body 210, before the pressing body 210 is surrounded by the pressing head 233.

[0041] In this state, when the pressing head 233 is moved toward the main body 100 and surrounds the pressing body 210, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the plurality of pressing projections 220 are moved toward the center of the center hole 211 by pressing force of the pressing head 233 and press the fixing member B3 surrounding the brush body B2, thereby coupling the fixing member B3 to the brush body B2.

[0042] When the pressing head 233 returns to the initial position, the plurality of pressing projections 220 are returned to the initial positions by restoring force from springs in the pressing body 210. In the embodiment, the first parts are fixed in grooves in the pressing body 210 and the second parts are fixed to the pressing projections 220, so the plurality of pressing projections 220 can be elastically returned by the springs (not illustrated).

[0043] In the embodiment, the plurality of pressing projections 220 exposed on the outer circumferential side of the pressing body 210, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be inclined outward as they go to the main body 100 and may be gentile as they go far away from the main body 100. In this case, it is possible to smoothly move the plurality of pressing projections 220 when pressing with the pressing head 233.

[0044] The projection-actuating mechanism 230 of the brush-fitting unit 200, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is combined with the main body 100 and presses and couples the fixing member B3 to the brush body B2 by moving the plurality of pressing projections 220 into the center hole 211 of the pressing body 210.

[0045] The projection-actuating mechanism 230 in the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes the driving motor 231 disposed inside the main body 100, a pair of moving rods 232 each having a first part connected to the driving motor 231 and a second part moved forward/backward through the front side of the main body 100 by the driving motor 231, and the pressing head 233 designed to be coupled to ends of the pair of moving rods 232 to move with the pair of moving rods 232 and to surround the outer circumferential side of the pressing body 210 to move the plurality of pressing projections 220.

[0046] The pressing head 233 of the projection-actuating mechanism 230, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be formed in a circular shape and the center of the pressing head 233 is bored.

[0047] In the embodiment, a plurality of head grooves 233a is formed in the inner side of the pressing head 233, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In the embodiment, the plurality of head grooves 233a may be formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of pressing projections 220 and inclined to correspond to the inclination of the plurality of pressing projections 220.

[0048] The brush feeding unit 300 holds the brush B to be machined and moves it back and forth to the brush-fitting unit 200.

[0049] In the embodiment, the brush feeding unit 300, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes: a pair of moving guide rods 310 coupled to the main body 100; a moving body 320 fitted on the pair of moving guide rods 310 to move in the longitudinal direction of the moving guide rods 310; a moving cylinder 330 connected to the moving body 320 to move the moving body 320, a moving cylinder-fixing body 340 combined with the moving cylinder 330; connecting rods 350 having a first part coupled to the main body 100 and a second part combined with the moving cylinder-fixing body 340; and a brush holder 360 coupled to the moving body 320 to hold the brush R.

[0050] First ends of the pair of moving guide rods 310 of the brush-feeding unit 300 may be detachably bolted to the main body 100 and guide the moving body 320 sliding forward/backward, with the brush holder 360 thereon.

[0051] The moving cylinder 330 of the brush-feeding unit 300, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is connected to the moving body 320 through a rod and moves the moving body 320 in the longitudinal direction of the moving guide rod 310. Accordingly, the brush holder 360 coupled to the moving body 320 to fix the brush B is correspondingly moved forward/backward.

[0052] In the embodiment, the moving cylinder 330 may be pneumatic cylinder that is operated by air pressure.

[0053] The moving cylinder 330 is bolted through a bracket under the moving cylinder-fixing body 340 of the brush-feeding unit 300, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the top of the moving cylinder 330 may be detachably bolted to the connecting rods 350.

[0054] The connecting rods 350 of the brush-feeding unit 300, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may be detachably bolted to the main body 100 at first ends.

[0055] The brush, holder 360 of the brush-feeding unit 300 automatically holds and releases the brush B.

[0056] In the embodiment, the brush holder 360, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a holder body 361 coupled to the moving body 320, a holder motor 362 coupled to the holder body 361, and a pair of holder tongs 363 connected to the holder motor 362 to hold the brush B.

[0057] The holder body 361 of the brush holder 360 may be rotatably coupled to the moving body 320. For example, a shaft may be provided to the moving body 320 with a bearing and the holder body 361 may be fitted on the bearing.

[0058] The holder motor 362 of the brush holder 360 may be a pneumatic motor that is operated by air pressure and opens or closes the pair of holder tongs 363 in the height direction of the pneumatic motor, whereby it is possible to hold the brush B. In the embodiment, connecting and operating the holder motor 362 and the pair of holder tongs 362 may be achieved by the technology that is generally used in the field of robot.

[0059] The brush-rotating unit 400 rotates the brush holder 360 at a predetermined angle, for example, about 20 degrees to press another part of the fixing member B3 that has been pressed one time by the brush-fitting unit 200.

[0060] In the embodiment, the brush-rotating unit 400, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a base body 410 bolted to the moving body 320, a rotating motor 420 coupled to the base body 410, and a rotary connector 430 having the bottom connected to the rotating motor 420 and the top connected to the holder body 361 to rotate the brush holder 360.

[0061] In the embodiment, the rotating motor 420 moves up or down the rotary connector 430 and an end of the holder body 361 is connected to the rotary connector 430, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The holder body 361, as described above, is rotatably coupled by a bearing, and the like, so when, the rotary connector 430 is moved down by the rotating motor 420, the holder body 361 connected to the rotary connector 430 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the brush B fixed by the pair of holder tongs 363 is also rotated clockwise.

[0062] The operation of the embodiment is briefly described hereafter with reference to the drawings.

[0063] First, the brush hair part B1 and the brush body B2 fitted in the fixing member B3 are inserted, between the pair of holder tongs illustrated in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the brush holder 360 is moved to the center hole 211 of the pressing head 233 by operating the brush-feeding unit 300.

[0064] In this state, the pressing head 233 is moved toward the front side of the main body 100 by operating the brush-fitting unit 200. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when, the pressing head 233 surrounds the outer circumferential side of the pressing body 210, the plurality of pressing projections 220 protrude into the center hole 211 of the pressing body 210 and press the fixing member B3 fitted on the brush body B2, thereby fixing the fixing member B3 to the brush body B2.

[0065] Thereafter, the pressing head 233 is returned to the initial positions and then the brush-rotating unit 400 is operated, whereby the brush holder 360 is rotated at a predetermine angle, about 20 degrees. The pressing head 233 is moved again to surround the pressing body 210, thereby pressing the fixing member B3 with the plurality of pressing projections 220. Accordingly, sequential grooves are formed on the fixing member B3, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0066] Finally, the finished brush B is returned to the brush-feeding unit 300 after the pressing head 233 is returned, to the initial positions, and then the brush B is released from the pair of holder tongs 363.

[0067] As described above, according to the embodiment, since it is possible to combine the fixing member for fixing the brush hair part to the brush body without an adhesive by pressing it with the brush-fitting unit and it is also possible to improve the work efficiency through a semi-automated process.

[0068] Further, since it is possible to press another part of the fixing member that, has been pressed, by rotating the brush with the brush-rotating unit, the coupling force can be improved.

[0069] Further, since the brush can be automatically moved to the brush-fitting unit by the brush-feeding unit, the work efficiency can be improved through a semi-automated process.

[0070] It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the changed, and modified examples should be construed, as being included in claims of the present invention.