DEVICE FOR FEEDING BRISTLE BUNDLES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BRISTLE PRODUCTS, AND BRISTLE MATERIAL PRODUCTION MACHINE

Abstract

Improvements in the technical field of the production of bristle products are provided. To this end, a device (1) for feeding bristle bundles (2) for the production of bristle products is provided, with the device having an impact plate (4) with an aerodynamic shape.

Claims

1. A device (1) for feeding bristle bundles (2) for the production of bristle products, the device (1) comprising: at least one perforated plate (3) with at least one perforated area (5) including receiving holes (6), into which the bristle bundles (2) are adapted to be transported by a flow generated by negative pressure; at least one impact plate (4) downstream of the perforated plate (3), said impact plate has at least one impact surface (7) as a stop for bristle bundles (2) that are adapted to be transported into the receiving holes (6) in the perforated plate (3); wherein the impact plate (4) has an aerodynamic shape; and a housing (16) with a receptacle (17) for the impact plate (4), the receptacle (17) having a streamlined inner contour with a form corresponding to the aerodynamic shape of the impact plate (4).

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape of the impact plate (4) comprises at least one of a streamlined portion (8) which is downstream of the at least one impact surface (7), [and/] or at least one impact surface (7) which is adapted to a shape of at least one of the perforated areas (5) of the perforated plate (3).

3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the perforated plate (3) has at least two of the perforated areas (5) with receiving holes (6), or an impact surface (7) is assigned to each said perforated area (5), the impact plate (4) having a number of impact surfaces (7) that matches a number of perforated areas (5) of the perforated plate (3).

4. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape of the impact plate (4) comprises at least one streamlined portion (8) which is downstream of the at least one impact surface (7), and a respective one of the streamlined portions (8) being downstream of each said impact surface (7) of the impact plate (4).

5. The device (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of a) the streamlined portions (8) of the impact plate (4) have a geometry which tapers in a direction of flow, or b) the impact plate (4) has rounded transitions on surfaces that come into contact with flow.

6. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape of the impact plate (4) at least one of a) includes a rounded transition (9) between the at least one impact surface (7) and a streamlined portion (8) of the impact plate (4), or the aerodynamic shape of the impact plate (4) includes a constriction (10) between adjacent impact surfaces (7), or b) includes rounded contours between the impact surfaces (7) of the impact plate (4).

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape at least one of includes at least one streamlined portion (8) having a mirror-symmetrical longitudinal section or is rotationally symmetrical.

8. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape includes at least one streamlined portion (8) having a longitudinal section delimited by at least two or more arcuate lines (11), the two or more arcuate lines (11) being connected to one another on a side of the impact plate (4) facing away from the impact surface (7) or each of the two or more arcuate lines (11) extends around a center point which is arranged outside the impact plate (4).

9. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic shape includes at least one streamlined portion (8), and longitudinal section of the at least one streamlined portion (8) has a rounded end pointing away from the impact surface (7).

10. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impact plate (4) includes at least one flow guiding structure (12).

11. The device (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the impact plate (4) includes at least one flow channel (13) as the flow guiding structure (12), and the at least one flow channel (13) is at least one of formed on an outer side of a streamlined portion (8) or passes through the impact plate (4).

12. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one impact surface (7) includes at least one inlet opening (14) into a flow channel (13) of the impact plate (4).

13. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one impact surface (7) is perforated by at least one flow opening.

14. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (16) includes at least one of a) at least one flow channel (13) aligned in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the impact plate (4) or b) at least one flow channel (13) aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the impact plate (4).

15. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the impact plate (4) includes at least one retainer (18), or b) the housing (16) and the at least one impact plate (4) are produced in one piece.

16. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the impact plate (4) or the housing (16) is produced by an additive manufacturing process.

17. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a suction line (20) for each said receiving hole (6) in the perforated plate (3) or each said receiving hole being connected to or having a negative-pressure source (21).

18. The device (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein outlet ends (22) of the suction lines (20) are arranged or formed on a retaining plate (23) that is upstream of the perforated plate (3).

19. A bristle material production machine (100) having the device (1) as claimed in claim 1.

20. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments but is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments. Further exemplary embodiments emerge from combining the features of individual or multiple claims with one another and/or combining individual or multiple features of the exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

[0040] FIG. 1: shows a side view, in section, of a bristle material production machine having a device for transporting bristle bundles into receiving holes in a perforated plate by means of negative pressure, the device being downstream of a dividing device for dividing bristle bundles from a store of loose bristle filaments and multiple suction lines for transporting the bristle bundles into receiving holes in a perforated plate, an impact plate being arranged downstream of the perforated plate, the impact plate comprising an impact surface downstream of which is a streamlined portion of the impact plate, in order to promote a low-turbulence or turbulence-free flow toward a negative-pressure source of the device,

[0041] FIGS. 2-5: show different views of a first embodiment of an impact plate, the impact plate having two substantially circular impact surfaces, which are assigned to two circular perforated areas of a perforated plate of the device,

[0042] FIGS. 6 and 7: show different, perspective views of a further embodiment of an impact plate with two impact surfaces, a streamlined portion being downstream of each impact surface, and the impact plate having multiple flow guiding structures in the form of flow channels formed on the outside of the impact plate,

[0043] FIGS. 8-11: show different views of a further embodiment of an impact plate, here the two impact surfaces of the impact plate each having four inlet openings into flow guiding structures, specifically into flow channels passing through the impact plate, the course of the flow channels toward their outlet ends being split into multiple sub-channels, as depicted in the sectional illustration according to FIG. 11,

[0044] FIGS. 12-14: show different views of a further embodiment of an impact plate which has a total of two impact surfaces, between which a constriction of the impact plate is formed, in order to both minimize the surface area of the impact plate and adapt the impact surfaces of the impact plate to the geometries of the perforated areas of the corresponding perforated plate to which the impact plate is assigned,

[0045] FIG. 15: shows a perspective illustration of two impact plates, which are arranged in a common housing and each have two separate impact surfaces, the housing and the impact plates being formed in one piece and being produced by means of an additive manufacturing process, for example by means of 3D printing,

[0046] FIG. 16: shows a view of a further housing with two impact plates arranged therein, the impact plates having fixing means in the form of retaining magnets, by means of which they are fastened in the housing and can be removed easily and quickly without tools as required,

[0047] FIG. 17: shows a side view, in section along the line XVII-XVII shown in FIG. 16, of the housing shown in FIG. 16 and the two impact plates, this figure showing that lateral flow channels are also provided, in addition to central flow channels, downstream of the impact plates in the direction of flow between the impact plates and their receptacles in the housing, and these lateral flow channels have the effect that a negative pressure or a flow resulting therefrom can be partially guided also over the sides of the receptacle in the housing such that not all of the flow needs to undergo a 90 deflection at the edge of the impact plates after impinging on the impact plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] In the following description of various embodiments of the invention, elements which have matching functions are provided with matching reference signs, even if their configuration or shaping is different.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows at least parts of a bristle material production machine, denoted 100 overall, having a device, denoted 1 overall, for feeding bristle bundles 2 for the production of bristle products, in particular toothbrushes. The device 1 has at least one perforated plate 3 and at least one impact plate 4. The perforated plate 3 comprises at least one perforated area 5 composed of receiving holes 6, into which the bristle bundles 2 can be transported by means of a flow generated by negative pressure. The impact plate 4 is arranged downstream of the perforated plate 3 in the direction of transport of the bristle bundles 2 through the device 1. The direction of transport of the bristle bundles 2 and the flow through the device 1 for transporting the bristle bundles 2 into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plate 3 are depicted by the arrows 19 in FIG. 1.

[0050] The impact plate 4 has at least one impact surface 7 for bristle bundles 2. The impact surface 7 makes it possible to slow down the bristle bundles 2 drawn into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plate 3. The impact surface 7 thus serves as a stop for the bristle bundles 2.

[0051] FIGS. 2-17 show different embodiments of impact plates 4, which can be used instead of the impact plate 4 illustrated in section in FIG. 1. All of the impact plates 4 shown in the figures have an aerodynamic shape, which can favorably influence a flow for transporting the bristle bundles 2 into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plates 3.

[0052] Except for the impact plate 4 shown in FIGS. 12-14, each of the impact plates 4 has a respective streamlined portion 8, downstream of the corresponding impact surface 7, for each of their impact surfaces 7. Each of the impact plates 4 shown in the figures also has impact surfaces 7 of which the shape is adapted to a shape of the perforated areas 5 of the perforated plates 3 assigned to the impact plates 4. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the perforated areas 5 are round, preferably circular.

[0053] The perforated plates 3, which are assigned to the impact plates 4 shown in FIGS. 2-17, each have at least two perforated areas 5 with receiving holes 6. The impact plates 4 have a number of impact surfaces 7 that matches the number of perforated areas 5 of the perforated plates 3. This ensures that an impact surface 7 of an impact plate 4 is assigned to each perforated area 5 of the perforated plates 3.

[0054] FIGS. 1-11 and 15-17 depict that a respective streamlined portion 8 is downstream of each impact surface 7 of an impact plate 4.

[0055] The streamlined portions 8 have a geometry which conically or spherically tapers in the direction of flow through the device 1. The impact plates 4 have as few as possible, preferably no sharp-edged transitions, in particular sharp-edged transitions aligned transversely to the direction of flow, on their surfaces that come into contact with flow.

[0056] The figures also depict that the aerodynamic shapes of the impact plates 4 comprise rounded transitions 9 between the impact surfaces 7 and the streamlined portions 8 of the impact plate 4.

[0057] FIGS. 2-17 show that the aerodynamic shape of the impact plates 4 comprises a respective constriction 10 between the impact surfaces 7.

[0058] FIG. 4 uses a longitudinal section through a streamlined portion 8 of the impact plate 4 shown in FIGS. 2-5 to depict that the streamlined portion 8 has a mirror-symmetrical longitudinal section and additionally is rotationally symmetrical. The same also applies for the impact plate 4 shown in FIGS. 8-11 and its longitudinal section, which is depicted in FIG. 11.

[0059] These streamlined portions 8 each have a longitudinal section delimited by multiple arcuate lines 11, two of the arcuate lines 11 being connected to one another on a side of the impact plate 4 facing away from the impact surface 7. The arcuate lines 11 each extend around a center point which is arranged outside the respective impact plate 4. The streamlined portions 8 are rounded at their end pointing away from the impact surface 7.

[0060] The impact plates 4 shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8-11 are provided with flow guiding structures 12 which are conducive to the formation of a low-turbulence or turbulence-free flow around the impact plate 4.

[0061] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of an impact plate 4, flow guiding structures 12 in the form of flow channels 13 made on the outside of the impact plate 4 are provided.

[0062] The impact plate 4 shown in FIGS. 8-11 has flow guiding structures 12 in the form of flow channels 13, which pass through the impact plate 4 and the portion 8 of the impact plate 4. This can be clearly seen on the sectional illustration through the impact plate 4 according to FIG. 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-11 of an impact plate 4, a total of four inlet openings 14 are formed in a flow channel 13 of the impact plate 4 within the impact surfaces 7 in each case. The course of the flow channels 13 branches off into multiple sub-channels 15 toward a rear end of the impact plate 4. This is shown in the sectional illustration according to FIG. 11. The inlet openings 14 are in positions on the respective impact surface 7 which are offset from regions in which bristle bundles 2 impinge on the impact surfaces 7. The inlet openings 14 are thus offset from the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plates 3, with the result that vertical projections of the receiving holes 6 onto the impact surfaces 7 are positioned outside the inlet openings 14.

[0063] It is possible to perforate the impact surfaces 7 of the impact plates 4 with flow openings as required. The flow openings that can be made in the impact plates 4 are, for example, drilled holes, preferably laser drilled holes. In particular the embodiment of the impact plate 4 shown in FIGS. 12-14, which does not have a streamlined portion 8 downstream of the impact surfaces 7 of this impact plate 4, is suitable for a perforation of this type. Such a perforation makes it possible to dispense with a closely meshed woven fabric with which impact plates used in practice are often furnished.

[0064] FIGS. 1 and 15 to 17 show that the device 1 also has a housing 16 with a receptacle 17 for at least one impact plate 4. The receptacle 17 has a streamlined inner contour with a form corresponding to the at least one streamlined portion 8.

[0065] The housing 16, together with the at least one impact plate 4, forms at least one flow channel 27 aligned in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the impact plate 4 or of the housing 16 and at least one flow channel 28 aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the impact plate 4 or of the housing 16.

[0066] The impact plates 4 shown in FIGS. 2-14 and 16-17 have multiple fixing means 18 in the form of retaining magnets, with which the impact plates 4 can be fastened in the receptacles 17 in the housing 16 of the device 1 without tools.

[0067] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 15 of a housing 16, the housing is produced in one piece together with the two impact plates 4. The housing 16 and impact plates 4 thus form a materially homogeneous, monolithic unit, which can be produced for example by means of an additive manufacturing process.

[0068] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the housing 16 has multiple flow conducting surfaces 29 within the receptacles 17 for the impact plates 4, these flow conducting surfaces delimiting and forming the flow channels 27, 28 between the impact plates 4 and the inner contours of the receptacles 17.

[0069] Like in the other embodiments of impact plates 4, it also holds true for the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 15 that the impact plates 4 and the housing 16, in particular the at least one streamlined portion 8 of the impact plates 4 and/or the receptacles 17 in the housing 16 can be produced by means of an additive manufacturing process.

[0070] The device 1 according to FIG. 1 has a respective suction line 20 for each receiving hole 6 in the respective perforated plate 3. The device 1 according to FIG. 1 is also equipped with or connected to a negative-pressure source 21, the negative pressure from which can be applied to the flow guiding parts of the device 1, specifically to the housing 16, the impact plates 4, the perforated plates 3, the suction lines 20 and ultimately the bristle bundles 2 arranged therein.

[0071] Outlet ends 22 of the suction lines 20 are fastened to a retaining plate 23 of the device 1. The retaining plate 23 is upstream of the perforated plate 3.

[0072] The device 1 functions as follows: [0073] A bristle bundle divider 24 of the device 1 is used to divide bristle bundles 2 from a store 25 of loose bristle filaments and move them into the transfer position, shown in FIG. 1, on the device 1.

[0074] In the transfer position shown in FIG. 1, the bristle bundles 2 still arranged in the bristle bundle divider 24 are lined up upstream of inlet openings of the suction lines 20 on a further retaining plate 26 of the device 1, to which the inlet ends of the suction lines 20 are fastened.

[0075] If the negative-pressure source 21 of the device 1 is then activated, the bristle bundles 2 held ready are drawn into the suction lines 20 according to the arrows 19 in FIG. 1, which symbolize the direction of transport of the bristle bundles 2 through the device 1, and transported into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plate 3 by the flow generated by the negative pressure. The bristle bundles 2 are slowed down by the impact plate 4 arranged downstream of the perforated plate 3. In the process, the bristle bundles 2 strike the impact surface 7 of the perforated plate 3.

[0076] The aerodynamic shape of the impact plate 4, which is distinguished among other things by the streamlined geometry of the streamlined portion 8, guides a flow generated by the negative-pressure source 21 such that turbulence is reduced or even completely avoided. This can be conducive to the transport of the bristle bundles 2 into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plate 3 and/or the reliable discharge of dirt, for example abrasion dust, which can adhere to the bristle bundles 2.

[0077] FIG. 1 shows that the negative-pressure source 21 is connected, via the receptacle 17 in the housing 16, the flow channels 27, 28, which together with the inner contour of the receptacle 17 in the housing 16 form the impact plate 4, the receiving holes 6 in the impact plate 3 and the suction lines 20, to the bristle bundles 2 that are in the transfer position in such a way that the bristle bundles 2 can be drawn into the receiving holes 6 in the perforated plate 3 through the suction lines 20. In the process, the bristle bundles 2 are slowed down by the impact surface 7 of the impact plate 4.

[0078] The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of the production of bristle products 2. For this purpose, what is proposed is a device 1 for feeding bristle bundles 2 for the production of bristle products, this device having an impact plate 4 with an aerodynamic shape.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0079] 1 Device [0080] 2 Bristle bundles [0081] 3 Perforated plate [0082] 4 Impact plate [0083] Perforated area in 3 [0084] 6 Receiving hole in 3 [0085] 7 Impact surface of 4 [0086] 8 Streamlined portion of 4 [0087] 9 Transition between 7 and 8 [0088] Constriction [0089] 11 Arcuate line [0090] 12 Flow guiding structure [0091] 13 Flow channel in or on 4 [0092] 14 Inlet opening [0093] Sub-channel [0094] 16 Housing [0095] 17 Receptacle in 16 [0096] 18 Fixing means [0097] 19 Direction of transport of the bristle bundles through the device/flow [0098] Suction line [0099] 21 Negative-pressure source [0100] 22 Outlet end of 20 [0101] 23 Retaining plate [0102] 24 Bristle bundle divider [0103] Store of loose bristle filaments [0104] 26 Further retaining plate [0105] 27 Flow channel in 17 [0106] 28 Flow channel in 17 [0107] 29 Flow conducting surface [0108] 100 Bristle Material Production machine