CN114745987A - Brush reconditioning device and method for reconditioning brushes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush finishing device for removing excessively protruding bristles (14) from a bristle union (16), comprising at least three parallel, plate-like clamping elements (24-34) each having a wedge-shaped, converging, end edge (38). The clamping elements (24-34) subdivide the bristle union (16) into sections and move relative to one another such that the projecting bristles (14) are clamped between adjacent clamping elements and are subsequently pulled out. Methods for trimming brushes are also described.

Description

Brush reconditioning device and method for reconditioning brushes

Technical Field

The invention relates to a brush finishing apparatus for removing projecting bristles from a bristle union, the bristles of which are fastened to a bristle carrier and which together with the bristle carrier form at least part of a brush, wherein the bristle union has a free end.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing protruding bristles from a bristle union of a brush.

Background

There are different ways in which the bristles or all of the bristle tufts can be fastened to the bristle carrier. This can be accomplished by means of anchors, or knots, that are pressed into the walls or bottom of the opening in the bristle carrier, or without the use of anchors. If a non-anchoring method is used, the bristles are, for example, overmolded at their fastening ends or, after being inserted through openings in the bristle carrier, welded or fused to the back side. In another method, a thickened fastening end of the bristle or bristle tuft is inserted into the blind hole and is narrowed in the edge region on the front side by deformation of the bristle carrier. The method proposed for anchorless fastening is only an example and does not limit the invention. It cannot be ruled out that the free end of one or more bristles projects too far with respect to the bristle union, which is true for all these methods of making brushes. The fact that the bristle union does not terminate in a plane or just terminates, for example, in a sawtooth or curved profile, is desirable in many cases, since a certain degree of inconsistency in the position of the bristle ends leads to better functionality of the brush. Such as hair combs, can be more easily inserted into the hair by having some degree of "unevenness", i.e. some deliberately protruding bristles, at the ends of the bristle union. In the toothbrush, the bristle united portion has a large flexibility at the end, and if a large number of bristles are intentionally protruded with respect to the other bristles, gums are protected. Thus, for many brushes, the bristles within the bristle union ideally end up within a tolerance threshold, rather than lying exactly in one plane. All ends terminate in a plane, which is also technically impossible to achieve, since there are always manufacturing tolerances. This is in turn particularly relevant for fastening bristle bundles by means of anchors or knots, since a plurality of bristles has to be folded over by means of the anchors or knots, and it is often the case that the bristles are not divided into two halves of equal length by the anchors or knots.

Thus, the brush manufacturer sets a tolerance within which the bristle ends of the bristle associations should or are allowed to end.

In the prior art, there are a number of different ways of trimming bristles that protrude too far or brushes with such bristles. One method is to cut the protruding bristles. However, the bristles are no longer rounded but rather sharp-edged. This is acceptable only if the other bristles are not chamfered. It is also not acceptable to cut the bristles flush if the bristles are pointed. Since the subsequently cut bristles are in the bristle union, it is no longer possible to taper the cut bristles.

In the case of bristles which have been chamfered and pointed and which project too far from the bristle part, a method is therefore used in which the projecting bristles are pulled out of the bristle part manually.

DE 3742771 a discloses a method of cutting the projecting bristles, for example by first moving a stop plate close to the bristle union and then pressing the laterally projecting bristles with a knife against the stop plate and cutting them off. This is particularly true if the bristles at the edges are bent outwardly and extend laterally. Another method consists in moving the two clamping elements relative to each other in the end region of the bristle union, thus clamping the projecting bristles like a tweezer. It is important, however, that the two clamping members come together in close proximity to the projecting bristles, otherwise the projecting bristles are not clamped but rather can only be pushed apart and bent by one of the two clamping members.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore the object of the present invention to find a brush trimming device and a method for trimming a brush which make manual trimming superfluous and by means of which the projecting bristles can be removed from the bristle union.

The object is achieved by a brush finishing device for removing projecting bristles from a bristle union, the bristles of which are fastened to a bristle carrier and together with the bristle carrier form at least part of a brush, wherein the bristle union has free ends. The brush conditioning device according to the invention comprises at least three parallel, in particular plate-shaped clamping pieces having end edges facing the free ends, wherein the end edges run together in a wedge-shaped manner in the direction of the end of the bristle union, and has a drive which spaces the clamping pieces apart from one another and which is able to move the clamping flanks of the clamping pieces relative to one another in order to clamp the projecting bristles between the clamping flanks. The drive mechanism can also move the clamping members toward each other away from the bristle carrier to extract the protruding bristles from the bristle carrier.

The brush-trimming device according to the invention subdivides the bristle union into a number of segments, which means that it is divided into at least two segments because of the at least three plate-like clamping members. This ensures that the bristles of the entire bristle combination are hardly bent or not bent at all when they are finally moved between the two clamping elements associated therewith and clamped there. Also important is the wedge-shaped end edge, since this ensures that the bristle union is divided into these different sections and that no bristles bear against the flat end face of the clamping part and bend there. Rather, the bristles enter the region between the clamping elements parallel or almost parallel, without significant bending. The free ends of the bristle associations are then defined by the free ends of the bristles of the bristle associations.

In the contact region with the projecting bristles, the clamping flanks can preferably be oriented straight and parallel to one another. The closing direction is preferably perpendicular to the clamping flanks or the flat contact regions.

Alternatively, the clamping part can have a recess in a preferably flat contact region transversely to the pull-out direction, into which recess the heavily projecting bristles are then pressed in their elastic deformation in such a way that they no longer slide off relative to the clamping part when the projecting bristles have to be pulled out. The clamping force can thus be increased without the risk of the protruding bristles breaking off.

Another alternative provides that the clamping part has a recess on the clamping flank between the contact region and the other end. This has the advantage that in the intermediate region where the recess is present there is no contact between adjacent clamping elements and that clamping of the projecting bristles in the contact region is always ensured. In particular, the force is applied to the plate-shaped clamping part in the central region.

The wedge shape preferably extends over the entire longitudinal edge of the plate body and may taper towards the edge.

The wedge-shaped end edge may optionally have a height in the direction of the bristle carrier that is greater than 2 mm. This is sufficient to penetrate into and separate the bristle union.

The clamping element has a maximum thickness of, for example, at most 2 mm.

In order to make it easier to produce the brush-dressing device according to the invention, all clamping elements can have the same geometry, but at least also in the region of the end edge.

The bristle carrier always has a front side facing the free end of its union of bristles, which projects from the bristle carrier. According to one variant of the invention, the clamping element extends perpendicularly to the front side, specifically to the front region, in which it is located and in which the projecting bristles can be extracted theoretically. The brush-trimming apparatus according to the invention can in fact also be used for circular brushes or brushes with curved bristle carriers. In this case, the front side is not straight, so that the clamping element can optimize the bristle union over several cycles by pulling the projecting bristles out of the section to be machined over several cycles. The bristle carrier is then rotated (for circular brushes) or advanced (weiterkaten), for example for curved hairbrushes, between cycles.

The bristle carrier can have an elongate bristle field, such as, for example, a toothbrush or a hairbrush. The clamping elements in this case preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the bristle field, so that relatively few clamping elements are sufficient and at the same time the distance between the clamping elements from one another (as long as they are not close to one another) is small. Due to the small spacing between the clamping members, the precision with which the bristles can be clamped is increased. When the clamping parts approach one another and the free ends of the bristles, which protrude too far, enter the clamping range of the clamping parts, the bristles, which are located at the edge of the gap between the two clamping parts that are still not yet in abutment with one another, are bent virtually only a little.

As mentioned previously, in order to extract the projecting bristles, the clamping member is removed from the bristle carrier after clamping, which naturally means a relative movement between the clamping member and the bristle carrier. Of course, the plate body can likewise be held stationary, while the bristle carrier is moved away from the clamping element relative to the clamping element.

There may be a plurality of sets of clamping members that perform trimming in sequence, wherein the clamping members of a first set are oriented differently relative to the bristle carrier being trimmed than the clamping members of a second set. The clamping elements of the second group are oriented, in particular, at right angles to the clamping elements of the first group.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing projecting bristles from a bristle union of a brush, wherein the bristle union has free ends. The method is characterized by the following steps:

at least three parallel clamping elements spaced apart from one another are moved towards the free end of the bristle union, wherein the clamping elements have a terminal edge facing the free end, which terminal edge extends to the end thereof in a wedge-shaped manner toward one another, such that the bristle union is divided between the at least three clamping elements, wherein the clamping elements are held spaced apart from the bristle carrier such that only projecting bristles enter the clamping side regions of the clamping elements,

the clamping members are moved relative to each other such that the projecting bristles are clamped between the clamping flanks of adjacent clamping members, and

the clamping member is removed from the bristle carrier, thereby extracting the protruding bristles from the bristle carrier.

As explained before with reference to the brush-trimming device according to the invention, the bristle associations may have a longitudinal direction with reference to the free end and the clamping elements may then be oriented in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the clamping elements are moved in the region of the flat sides, spaced apart from one another, toward the bristle union, which should not be understood as limiting.

The movement can take place in this case towards the free end, i.e. the clamping part is moved essentially in the longitudinal direction of the bristles towards the bristle union or laterally in the end region into the bristle union.

The spacing of the clamping part from the bristle carrier is selected such that the bristle ends, which are positioned precisely, project into the region of the wedge-shaped end edge and do not enter the clamping flank region. This positioning ensures that the clamping member subdivides the bristle union into several sections.

The bristle ends of the bristle associations are preferably pointed, here either chemically and/or mechanically.

The number of wedge-shaped end edges and gripping members can be matched to the number of bristle ends so that the precisely located bristle ends, i.e. those bristle ends which do not protrude excessively, are not gripped between the end edges and are pulled out by the gripping members. This means that it is in fact easy to clamp the ends of the bristles between the wedge-shaped end edges of adjacent clamping members, but then when the clamping members are removed from the bristle carrier, the correctly positioned bristles slide out of the region between the end edges without being pulled out of the bristle union.

Optionally, the number of wedge-shaped end edges and gripping members matches the number of bristle ends and the gripping members are moved into the bristle union at such a distance that the correctly seated bristle ends terminate between the end edges. The clamping element thus divides the bristle union into segments.

So many clamping elements can be used in relation to the width of the bristle union that needs to be processed in one process step that it is subdivided into two, three, four, five or six or even more segments, i.e. three, four, five, six, seven or more clamping elements.

It is a further feature of the invention that with the brush trimming device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, the geometry of the clamping element does not necessarily have to be adapted to the pattern of the bristle associations, which is also referred to as an aperture pattern. The bristle union is formed by the smaller width between two adjacent clamping elements which are still at a distance from one another, regardless of whether a plurality of bristle tufts of circular shape or a plurality of bristle regions which run in an elongated manner and which are staggered with respect to one another or run parallel to one another, or other tuft patterns.

The device according to the invention can be subjected to the trimming operation at a so-called filling cylinder (Stopftrommel) which further advances the bristle carrier, or the device according to the invention can be installed as a trimming device in the filling station after the filling means and the filling cylinder. The brush can here optionally be held on the same support that also carries the bristle carriers in the filling device.

Another variant provides for the finishing work to be carried out, for example, by fastening the bristle carrier to a rotating filling cylinder. The filling process is then performed at a specific location on the filling cylinder.

The filling cylinder then continues to rotate after filling and then the method according to the invention and the brush finishing device according to the invention work in this new position.

Alternatively, it is of course possible to remove the brush from the filling device or from the entire filling station, for example fully automatically by means of a gripper or a robotic/programmable multi-axis gripping device, or manually. In which the bristle carriers can be mounted, for example, on a support in a chain or so-called clamping device which holds the bristle carriers in a filling station.

Another alternative is to provide the brush finishing apparatus as a workstation, which is located directly after the filling station.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a perspective side view of a brush modification apparatus according to the invention in an open state;

fig. 2 shows the brush modification apparatus according to fig. 1 in a feed state, in which the brush modification apparatus accommodates a bristle union;

fig. 3 shows the brush modification apparatus according to fig. 1 in a closed, i.e. clamped, state;

fig. 4 shows the brush finishing apparatus according to fig. 1 after the extraction of the excessively protruding bristles;

fig. 5 shows a front view of the brush trimming device in the state of the position shown in fig. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the brush trimming apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the brush trimming apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the brush conditioning apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 4;

fig. 9 shows a combined brush filling apparatus with a brush conditioning apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a brush modification apparatus 10 that extracts bristles 14 from a bristle sub-assembly 16 that protrude beyond a predetermined tolerance threshold, i.e., that are too protruding, to modify an already completed or to be completed brush 12.

The brush 12 is in this case a toothbrush, by way of example only. Each of the brushes of any type may be similarly conditioned by the brush conditioning apparatus 10. The brush 12 includes a bristle carrier 18 into which a plurality of bristle tufts 19 are inserted and secured to form a bristle union 16. The bristle union 16 is thus the sum of all the bristles fastened and the bristle bundles 19. The bristle carrier may be a portion of the brush body (e.g., a platelet body) or the entire brush body. In any event, the bristle carrier will become part of the finished brush.

The bristle bundles 19 are secured in the bristle carrier 18 without or with anchors, as described at the outset. The manner of fastening is not critical to the function of the brush modification apparatus 10, as the brush modification apparatus functions with the bristles fastened to the bristle carrier 18 in any manner.

The bristle union 16 has a free end 20 which is formed by the free ends of all the bristles of the bristle bundle 19. The free ends are those ends that are not secured in the bristle carrier 18.

The position of the free ends of the bristles is not always the same, i.e. the spacing from the so-called front side 22, on which the bristle carrier 18 fastens the bristle bundles 19, is not equal. There are certain tolerances in the manufacturing process within which the ends of the bristles lie. The ends of the bristles also need not lie in or ideally form a plane, and it is sometimes more deliberately desirable that the ends terminate slightly different distances from the front side 22 so that the ends are rubbed against the teeth or gums individually rather than as a unitary, relatively stiff unit. Thereby, the individual, more protruding bristles can more easily penetrate into the tooth gaps.

There is thus a range of tolerances within which the ends of the bristles should lie, regardless of what shape the ends of the bristle union should be formed, whether the shape is flat, serrated or other regular or irregular, yet desirable, profile surface.

In fig. 1, the bristles 14 are shown, which lie clearly outside this tolerance range and protrude with respect to the end 20 of the bristle union 16, in particular by more than 1 mm. This unique, overly prominent bristle 14 can make the brush 12 a defective item.

The individual bristles 14 are loosened and extracted from the bristle pack by the brush trimming apparatus 10.

The brush conditioning device 10 comprises a plurality of thin clamping elements 24-34, in particular with a maximum thickness of 1.5mm, which have opposite, straight clamping flanks 36, which each extend opposite one another. The clamping parts 24 to 34 each have a terminal edge 38 facing the free end 20, which does not end straight at the end side but rather runs in a wedge-shaped manner to the end, in particular tapers toward an edge 40.

All clamping pieces 24-34 preferably have such end edges 38 in the shape of a wedge.

The wedge shape extends over the entire top edge towards the brush 12.

The wedge shape extends over the entire longitudinal extent, preferably also uniformly.

The clamping pieces 24-34 are movably supported perpendicular to their clamping sides 36, for example using continuous rails or bolts.

A drive device is provided with at least one first drive 42 and one second drive 44, wherein the drives 42 can move the clamping parts 24-34 relative to and away from each other at right angles to the clamping flanks 36, and the drives 44 can move the clamping parts 24-34 preferably parallel to the clamping flanks 36 and in the longitudinal direction (direction a) of the bristles of the bristle union 16 and/or parallel to the front side 22 in the region of the bristle bundles 19 to be trimmed back in the forward and in the opposite direction (direction B).

Of course, instead of the actuator 44, it is also possible to provide an actuating device which moves in the other direction. In any event, the terminal edge 38 must be capable of moving toward and away from the area of the bristle pack 16 that is desired to be finished.

In the starting position shown in fig. 1, the clamping parts 24 to 34 are all spaced apart slightly from one another, so that a gap 46 is produced in the region of the clamping flanks 36 which face one another. Alternatively, the gaps 46 may be the same size.

In a first step, the brush trimming device with the clamping elements 24 to 34 is advanced relative to the bristle sub-assembly 16 by the drive 44, for example by a movement of the clamping elements 24 to 34 or by a movement of the bristle carrier 18 in the direction of the clamping elements 24 to 34. Wherein the terminal edge 38 enters the bristle pack 16, as is the case in figures 2 and 6. The depth of penetration is selected such that the ends of the precisely positioned bristles, and thus the ends 20 of the bristle associations, are always within the extent of the terminal edge 38 between two adjacent clamping members 24-34. That is, the gripping members 24-34 subdivide the bristle sub-assembly 16 into distinct sections. These different sections need not be formed by a single tuft 19 of bristles, rather the brush trimming device 10 with the grippers 24-34 may also subdivide a tuft 19 into several sections depending on the position of the tuft 19 relative to the grippers 24-34.

In any case, however, the projecting bristles 14 are located between adjacent clamping flanks 36 of the two clamping parts 24-36, wherein the region at the end of the clamping flanks 36 which is in contact with the projecting bristles 12 is a so-called contact region 39, which contact region 39 starts from the respective end of the terminal edge 38, see fig. 1 and 2.

In a next method step, which is illustrated in fig. 3 and 7, the clamping elements 24 to 34 are moved relative to one another by the drive 42, i.e. perpendicularly to the clamping flanks 36. The clamping flanks 36 then bear against one another under pretension at least at the opposing contact regions 39. The individual bristles can slide laterally past the edge 40 into the adjacent space between adjacent end edges 38 as the clamping members 24-34 approach one another. Due to the tapering of the end edge 38, no bristles are bent by being pressed to a (not present here) flat end side, without the possibility of being clamped between the clamping pieces 24-34. All of the bristles may be substantially unaffected by the clamping members 24-34 and may be distributed in a manner that is substantially embedded and secured in the bristle carrier 18.

After the projecting bristles 14 have entered between the clamping flanks 36, when the clamping elements 24-34 are pressed together, they are clamped on the contact region 39, since the clamping elements 24-34 are moved together in a modular manner, i.e. the clamping elements 24-34 are in planar contact with one another, except of course for the clamping elements between which the projecting bristles 14 are clamped too far.

Next, a displacing movement of the bristle carrier 18 relative to the brush modification apparatus 10, as described with reference to fig. 4 and 8, is performed, such as by removing the brush modification apparatus 10 via the drive 44. The bristles 14 projecting therefrom are released and extracted from the bristle association 16 and from the fastening thereof. The brush 12, which was previously shown as a defective item, is thus free of defects.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping side 36 is always straight.

Alternatively, as indicated by the dashed lines in fig. 3, the clamping flanks can also have one or more recesses 50 extending transversely and parallel to the edge 40. The resilient, projecting bristles 14 are then squeezed and then spread into the groove 50 to better retain the projecting bristles between the clamping members.

It is preferred that the grooves 50 are never sharp relative to the flat areas of the clamping member 24, but are chamfered in order not to cut the bristles 14.

An alternative provides that the clamping part 24 has a recess 53 in the clamping flank 36 in an intermediate region (see region in fig. 2) between the contact region 39 and the opposite end 51, as is illustrated in fig. 2 and 7. The plate-shaped clamping elements 24-34 are therefore somewhat thinner in the middle region. This has the advantage that in the intermediate region where the recess 53 is present there is no contact between adjacent clamping members and that the clamping of the projecting bristles in the contact region 39 is always ensured. In particular, the force F is applied to the plate clamps 24-34 in the middle region.

Preferably, this is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but is generally applicable, the contact region 39 and the end 51 may each be flat and optionally also may lie in one plane.

The wedge-shaped end edge 38 preferably has a height h (see fig. 8) of between 1.5mm and 3mm, preferably more than 2 mm. All tolerances within the end of the precisely embedded bristles are thus covered.

Of course, too many projecting bristles 14 can also be removed by the brush finishing device 10, which bristles are embedded, for example, in a bristle union 16 in which the bristle bundles 19 extend obliquely relative to one another or, as in the case of electric toothbrushes, in a swirling manner.

In the bristle pack 16, which is serrated in side view, the clamping elements 24 to 34 naturally have edge edges 40 and end edges 38, which reproduce the desired sawtooth geometry.

If the brush is, for example, a circular brush or another hair brush with a convex, cylindrical front side 22, the finishing operation takes place in a plurality of steps. The clamping members 24-34 are moved relative to each other to machine the cylindrical section of the toothbrush and to extract the bristles 14 protruding in this region, whereafter the brush trimming device is reopened and the brush is rotated so that the adjacent section can be trimmed.

During this rotation, it is not necessary to remove the brush modification device 10 opposite the brush carrier 18, since there is no risk, via the tapering end edge 38, that lightly swept bristles are outside the range of the brush modification device 10 or that excessively protruding bristles 14 cannot be clamped between the clamping flanks 36 when the bristle carrier 18 is rotated.

It is emphasized in connection with fig. 7 that the clamping elements 24-34 which abut against one another here have a total width which corresponds to the total width of the bristle union 16. It should be noted here, however, that the outer clamping parts 24 and 34 respectively bear on the outer sides against bristles, which cannot be clamped, on account of the wedge-like shape of the isosceles triangle. In order to be able to grip these bristles which are located extremely outside (on the left and right in fig. 7) and to extract the projecting bristles which are present there, the brush finishing device can, for example, finish in two cycles. In the first cycle, the brush conditioning device is moved slightly to the right with respect to the position in fig. 7 and in the second cycle to the left, so that the very outer bristles can also always be located between the clamping pieces 24-34.

If all the projecting bristles 12 cannot be extracted in one operation, the method can be carried out several times in succession, or, in order to be able to maintain a high frequency, a downstream workstation can be provided with a second set of clamping members 24-34 (second brush finishing device 10), which continues to perform the finishing work. It is advantageous if the clamping members 24-34, which abut against each other, with respect to the bristle carrier, differ from the position in the previous trimming device 10, which is illustrated in fig. 9. Alternatively, the clamping elements of the later trimming device 10 can be oriented, for example, obliquely with respect to the clamping elements of the first trimming device 10, for example, also at right angles (see fig. 9 for two groups of trimming devices 10, each having a clamping element 24 to 34 as explained above). Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that the wedge-shaped end edge 38 does not extend symmetrically in cross section relative to an imaginary center line (equilateral triangle) as in the illustrated variant, but rather that, at least for the very outer clamping pieces 24 and 34, the flat side 36 (the flat side 36 pointing outward in each case in the outer clamping pieces 24 and 34) extends to a sharp edge 40 and then, starting from this, extends at an incline toward the opposite flat side 36.

In order to release the clamping parts 24-34 from one another easily, extensions 70 can be formed or fastened on the clamping parts, for example (see fig. 8), which extensions are slightly inclined, so that between the extensions of the directly adjacent clamping parts 24-34, spring elements 72 are provided, which can be pressed together sufficiently far enough to enable the clamping flanks 36 to bear against one another, but which then, during the return stroke of the drive 42, initiate a spontaneous separating movement of the clamping parts 24-34. Alternatively, the laterally projecting clamping parts which are adjacent to one another in pairs can themselves also have leaf-spring-like extensions 70 which can bear against one another. Thus, no additional elastic element has to be provided between the extensions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping members 24-34 move substantially perpendicular to the front side 22 in the region of the trimmed bristle associations, as described, before the clamping members 24-34 move relative to each other. During this movement in the longitudinal direction a, the bristles of the bristle union are pressed apart from each other. The same effect can also be achieved if the brush trimming device 10 is moved from a position laterally displaced with reference to fig. 2, not perpendicular to the front side 22, but parallel thereto in the direction B. For example, the clamping members 24-34 move further to the rear to the right toward the rear end of the bristle holder 18 in the initial position with reference to FIG. 2. The clamping elements 24 to 34 are then moved forward and in the process the bristle associations 16 or the bristle bundles 19 are segmented until the position in fig. 3 is reached.

Of course, any other feed direction or feed movement between the brush trimming device 10 and the bristle union 16 can also be realized.

Fig. 9 shows a brush production plant with a drum 60 rotating about the X-axis and having a plurality of clamping devices 62 for the bristle carriers 18 on its periphery. In one position of the roller 60, here the 3 o' clock position, i.e., to the right, the bristle holder 18 is filled. This filling method is illustrated only, in practice by means of a conventional filling device 64 which employs a movable tongue to feed the bristle bundles 19 together with the anchor into the respective openings of the bristle carrier 18 and to fold the bristle bundles 19. After all of the openings in the bristle carrier 18 are filled, the drum 60 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow. On the other side with respect to the filling station, here at the 9 o' clock position, the filled brushes are dressed by means of a brush dressing apparatus 10.

Alternatively, there may be another set of clamping members having a different orientation relative to the brush carrier 18 than the orientation of the clamping members 24-34 shown at the 9 o' clock position in the figure. The clamping elements of the other set are shown here at the 12 o' clock position. Unlike the clamping elements of the first group, the clamping elements of the other group are angled, for example, at 90 ° to the bristle carrier 18 to be machined, so that the interfaces between the contact elements 24 to 34 which are in contact with one another extend differently toward the bristle union 16.

The process then continues, and the finished brush is removed and an unfilled brush carrier 18 is placed again.

Claims (16)

1. Brush trimming device for removing projecting bristles from a bristle union (16), wherein the bristles are fastened to a bristle carrier (18) and form at least part of a brush (12) therewith, the bristle union (16) having a free end (20), characterized by at least three parallel clamping pieces (24-34) having a terminal edge (38) facing the free end (20), wherein the terminal edges (38) extend in a wedge-shaped manner in cross section, and by a drive device which can move the clamping pieces (24-34) apart from one another and with clamping flanks (36) facing one another relative to one another in order to clamp the projecting bristles (14) between the clamping flanks (36), wherein the drive device can also move the clamping pieces (24-34) which are moved toward one another away from the bristle carrier (18), so as to extract the protruding bristles from the bristle carrier (18).

2. Brush trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping pieces (24-34) are straight and parallel to each other in the region of the clamping flanks (36).

3. Brush trimming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping piece (24-34) has a groove (50) extending transversely to the pull-out direction in the region of the clamping flank (36).

4. Brush trimming device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wedge-shaped end edge (38) has a height (h) in the direction of the bristle carrier (18) which is greater than 1.5mm, preferably between 1.5mm and 3 mm.

5. Brush finishing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all clamping pieces (24-34) have the same geometry at least in the region of the terminal edge (38).

6. Brush finishing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle carrier (18) has a front side (22) facing the free end (20) and the clamping piece (24-34) extends perpendicularly to this front side (22).

7. Brush finishing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle carrier (18) has an elongate bristle field and the clamping element (24-34) extends in the longitudinal direction of the bristle field.

8. Brush conditioning apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of groups of clamping elements (24-34) are subjected to a conditioning work in succession, wherein the clamping elements (24-34) of a first group are oriented differently with respect to the bristle carrier (18) to be conditioned than the clamping elements of a second group, in particular the clamping elements (24-34) of the first group are oriented perpendicularly to the clamping elements (24-34) of the second group.

9. Method for removing protruding bristles (14) from a union of bristles (16) of a brush (12), wherein the union of bristles (16) has a free end (20), characterized by the steps of:

moving at least three parallel, spaced-apart clamping pieces (24-34) towards the free end (20) of the bristle union (16) in such a way that the bristle union (16) is divided between the at least three clamping pieces (24-34), which have a terminal edge (38) facing the free end (20) of the bristle union (16) and which extends in a wedge-shaped manner toward the end of the terminal edge (38), wherein the clamping pieces (24-34) are held spaced apart from the bristle carrier (18) in such a way that only projecting bristles (14) enter into the region of the clamping flanks of the clamping pieces (24-34),

moving the clamping members (24-34) relative to each other such that the projecting bristles (14) are clamped between the clamping flanks (36), and

moving the clamping members (24-34) away from the bristle carrier (18) and thereby extracting the projecting bristles (14) from the bristle carrier (18).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the union of bristles (16) has a longitudinal direction with reference to the free end of the union of bristles (16) and the clamping elements (24-34) are aligned in the longitudinal direction.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the clamping elements (24-34) are moved in the region of their clamping flanks (36) at a distance from one another towards the bristle union (16).

12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the clamping elements (24-34) are moved parallel to the region of the front side (22) of the bristle carrier (18) in which the bristle associations (16) to be trimmed are located.

13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the clamping part (24-34) is moved into the bristle union (16) in such a way that the precisely positioned bristle ends project into the region of the wedge-shaped end edge (38) and do not reach the extent of the clamping flanks (36).

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the bristle ends are pointed.

15. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the wedge-shaped end edges (38) and the clamping pieces (24-34) are matched in number to the bristle ends and the clamping pieces are moved into the bristle union at such a distance that the exactly situated bristle ends end between the end edges (38).

16. Method according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that a further group of clamping elements (24-34) is provided which extend parallel to one another, the clamping elements (24-34) of the group being oriented differently with respect to the bristle carrier (18) to be dressed, in particular the clamping elements of the further group of clamping elements (24-34) which extend parallel to one another being oriented perpendicularly to the group of clamping elements (24-34) which has first been subjected to a dressing operation.

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