EP2522461A1

EP2522461A1 - Rotatable brush for the removal of a coating from a glass plate

Info

Publication number: EP2522461A1
Application number: EP12167139A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Filippo Badioli; Paolo Sideri; Giacomo Aimar
Original assignee: Biesse SpA
Current assignee: Biesse SpA
Priority date: 2011-05-12
Filing date: 2012-05-08
Publication date: 2012-11-14
Also published as: ITTO20110423A1

Abstract

A rotary brush for the removal of a coating from a plate of glass comprises a supporting body designed to be connected to a rotating shaft, and a bundle of metal bristles anchored to the supporting body and defining a front surface for removal by abrasion of the coating. Mounted on the supporting body of the brush is a skirting body surrounding the bundle of bristles that leaves exposed only an end portion of the lateral surface of the bundle of bristles. The skirting body can be adjusted axially in position with respect to the supporting body according to the reduction in length of the bristles due to wear. The skirting body has a substantially tubular shape and comprises a rear portion for coupling to the supporting body and a front portion defining an annular band designed to receive and contain radially the end portion of the bundle of bristles.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of machines for processing plates of glass, and in particular to a rotary brush for removal of a coating from a plate of glass.
Plates of glass for the production of double glazings have one of their faces typically provided with a reflective metal coating. Said low-emission (low-e) coating serves to increase the thermal efficiency, i.e., the insulating properties of the plate of glass. In the production of glazing, it is necessary to remove a portion of coating, normally along a strip adjacent to the edges of the plate to enable a good grip on the glass of the adhesive that is used in the assemblage of the plate of glass on the frame of the double glazing.
Currently used are simple rotary brushes for the removal of the coating. The length of the bristles of said brushes must be very short to prevent the bristles from splaying out during use as a result of the centrifugal force that generates removal of a non-precise width (generally the width of the strip of coating to be removed is in the region of 20 mm). A drawback of this solution is that of having a reduced exploitation of the brush, with consequent need for frequent replacements.
A known solution ( WO 2008/107087 A1 ) envisages the use of a rolling bearing surrounding the bristles of the brush and carried by the structure of a processing head on which the brush is rotatably mounted. Also this solution presents some drawbacks. The bearing used must be of a special type designed to withstand a high r.p.m, approximately 24,000 r.p.m. As is known, said bearings are very sensitive to the dust resulting from removal of the coating. Consequently, it is indispensable to have a control and protection of the bearing from dust. Moreover, to ensure a good precision of removal it is indispensable to guarantee concentricity between the brush and the bearing. Replacement of the brush hence becomes a complex operation that calls for a skilled operator. Finally, there is a remaining part of brush that cannot be used that is equal at least to the height of the bearing itself (about 6 mm).
The object of the present invention is to provide a rotary brush for the removal of a coating along portions of a plate of glass that will be able to carry out removal of the aforesaid coating in a fast and efficient way, will have a relatively simple and reliable structure, will enable exploitation of the greatest possible length of the bristles of the brush, will enable easy adaptation of the brush to the width of the strip of coating that is to be removed, and finally may be adapted and readily integrated in machines for processing plates of glass of various types.
A further object of the invention is to obtain the aforesaid result with a brush that is relatively simple and presents a low cost.
With a view to achieving said purposes, the subject of the invention is a rotary brush for removal of a coating from a plate of glass, comprising:

a supporting body designed to be connected to a rotating shaft; and
a bundle of metal bristles anchored to the supporting body and defining a front surface for removal by abrasion of the coating,

characterized in that

In a preferred embodiment, the supporting body comprises a stem portion for connection to a rotating shaft, a first cylindrical portion for coupling to the skirting body, and a second cylindrical portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion and defining at least one cavity designed to receive and withhold the terminal portion of the bundle of bristles opposite to the end portion left exposed by the skirting body.
Preferably, the skirting body has a substantially tubular shape and comprises a rear portion for coupling to the supporting body and a front portion defining an annular band designed to receive and contain radially the end portion of the bundle of bristles.
It is moreover possible to envisage that the rear portion of the skirting body presents a plurality of plane side faces for engagement with a tightening tool.
In a preferred embodiment, the skirting body and the supporting body are axially connected together in a non-separable and adjustable way by threaded-coupling means. In particular, the threaded-coupling means comprise a thread on the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion of the supporting body and a corresponding thread on the inner surface of the rear portion of the skirting body.
In a preferred embodiment, the internal cavity of the skirting body gives out onto the front portion with a mouth of smaller diameter in such a way as to define a contrast element designed to co-operate with the free end of the second cylindrical portion of the supporting body to define an end-of-travel position of screwing of the skirting body on the supporting body.
Preferably, there is moreover provided a locknut, the internal thread of which is designed to co-operate with the thread on the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion of the supporting body for blocking and holding in position the skirting body on the supporting body.
The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the figures of the annexed plates of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 and Figure 3 are schematic views of a brush according to the invention, in a condition where the brush is new and a condition where the brush is to be replaced, respectively;
Figure 2 and Figure 4 are cross-sectional views of the brushes of Figure 1 and 3, respectively; and
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a brush according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, a rotary brush is designated as a whole by the reference number 1. The brush 1 comprises a supporting body 2 and a bundle of metal bristles 3 anchored to the supporting body 2.
With particular reference to Figure 5, the supporting body 2 comprises a stem portion 2a for connection to a rotating shaft (not illustrated in the figures) of a processing head of a machine for processing plates of glass. In the figures, the axis A indicates the axis of rotation of the brush. The supporting body 2 further comprises, in a single piece, a first cylindrical portion 2b connected, at one of its ends, to the stem portion 2a and, at the other end, to a second cylindrical portion 2c. The second cylindrical portion 2c has a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical portion 2b and receives within it the bundle of bristles 3. The three portions that make up the supporting body are all coaxial.
In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the bundle of bristles 3 is made up of six sub-bundles of bristles, having a substantially frusto-conical shape, set within the second cylindrical portion 2c so as to create a substantially annular front surface 3a for removal by abrasion of the coating from a plate of glass (not illustrated in the figures). In particular, the substantially annular front surface of the abrasive brush comes into contact with the plane surface of the plate for removing the coating thereof.
The second cylindrical portion 2c is shaped in such a way as to receive and withhold within it the terminal portion 3d of the aforesaid bundles of bristles. In particular, in the case of the embodiment illustrated six cavities 2d are provided, within which the corresponding terminal portions of the bundles of bristles are received with interference.
With reference to Figures 1 to 4, mounted in an axially adjustable way on the supporting body 2 of the brush is a skirting body 5 of a substantially tubular shape. Said skirting body 5 surrounds the bundle of bristles 3 and leaves exposed only an end portion 3c of the lateral surface 3b of the bundle of bristles. The end portion 3c is the free portion of the bundle of bristles opposite to the terminal portion 3d fixed to the supporting body 2.
With reference to the figures, the skirting body 5 can be adjusted axially in position with respect to the supporting body 2 according to the reduction in length of the bristles due to wear.
In particular, Figures 1 and 2 refer to the condition where the brush is new, i.e., it has not yet been used, whilst Figures 3 and 4 refer to a condition where the bristles of the brush are worn and have a shorter length than those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and the skirting body 5 is in its position of maximum raising (with reference to the figures).
With particular reference to Figure 5, the skirting body 5 has a substantially tubular shape and comprises a rear portion 5a for coupling to the supporting body 2 of the brush, and a front portion 5b defining an annular band designed to receive and contain radially the end portion 3c of the bundle of bristles.
The internal cavity of the skirting body 5 gives out onto the front portion 5b with a mouth 6 of smaller diameter in such a way as to define a contrast element designed to co-operate with the free end of the second cylindrical portion 2c of the supporting body 2 and define the end-of-travel position of maximum raising of the skirting body 5 on the supporting body 2.
As may be seen in the perspective views and in the cross-sectional views, the skirting body 5 and the supporting body 2 are connected together in a non-separable and adjustable way by threaded-coupling means.
In particular, provided on the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion 2b of the supporting body 2 is a thread designed to co-operate with a corresponding thread provided on the inner surface of the rear portion 5a of the skirting body 5.
The rear portion 5a of the skirting body 5 has a plurality of plane side faces 5c (Figure 5) for engagement with a manoeuvring tool, such as, for example, a wrench for tightening.
Moreover, the use of a locknut 4 is envisaged, the internal thread of which co-operates with the thread present on the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion 2b of the supporting body 2 for blocking and holding in position the skirting body 5 on the supporting body 2.
The orientation of the thread present on the supporting body 2 and on the skirting body 5 is such that, during use of the brush, rotation of the latter tends to screw the skirting body 5 further on the supporting body 2.
The width of removal can be readily varied by replacing the skirting body 5 and choosing another one, the mouth 6 of which has a different diameter.
With reference to Figure 5, during the operations of mounting of the brush the supporting body 2 is inserted within the skirting body 5 in the direction of the axis of rotation A. To facilitate said operation, normally the bristles 3 are surrounded by a removable band that helps to hold the bundles of bristles axially contained. Once the brush has been inserted into the skirting body 5, the band is eliminated and then the skirting body can be screwed on the supporting body so as to leave only an end portion of the bundle of bristles exposed. Finally, the locknut 4 is fitted on the supporting body 2 at an end opposite to the one on which the skirting body 5 is mounted, i.e., on the part of the stem portion 2a. The locknut 4 is screwed on the cylindrical portion 2b until it comes to bear upon the rear portion 5a of the skirting body 5. Finally, the locknut 4 is tightened so as to generate between the supporting body 2 and the skirting body 5 elastic forces that tend to hold the two bodies together.
Upon initial use of the brush, the skirting body 5 is positioned in the condition illustrated in Figure 2. With the decrease in length of the bristles of the brush due to wear, the operator can now and again reposition the skirting body 5 in a more raised position in such a way as to leave a terminal portion of the bristles free that is always of the same length. This is done until the skirting body 5 reaches the end-of-travel position illustrated in Figure 4, after which the brush can still be used for the residual length 3c visible in Figure 4.
Furthermore, adjustment of the skirting body 5 may be rendered automatic, i.e., without requiring intervention by an operator.
The rotary brush according to the invention thus presents a very simple structure, enables maximum exploitation of the length of the bristles (the reduction in length in the case of the example illustrated may even amount to approximately 8/10 mm), and has a low cost.
Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary even significantly with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the ensuing claims.

Claims

A rotary brush for the removal of a coating from a plate of glass comprising:
- a supporting body (2) designed to be connected (2a) to a rotating shaft; and

- a bundle of metal bristles (3) anchored to the supporting body (2) and defining a front surface (3a) for removal by abrasion of the coating,
said brush being characterized in that mounted on said supporting body (2) is a skirting body (5) surrounding the bundle of bristles (3) that leaves exposed only an end portion (3c) of the lateral surface (3b) of the bundle of bristles (3), said skirting body (5) being adjustable axially in position with respect to the supporting body (2) according to the reduction of length of the bristles due to wear.
The brush according to Claim 1, characterized in that said supporting body (2) comprises a stem portion (2a) for connection to a rotating shaft, a first cylindrical portion (2b) for coupling to said skirting body (5), and a second cylindrical portion (2c) having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion (2b) and defining at least one cavity designed to receive and withhold the terminal portion (3d) of the bundle of bristles (3) opposite to said end portion (3c) left exposed by said skirting body (5).
The brush according to Claim 2, characterized in that said skirting body (5) has a substantially tubular shape and comprises a rear portion (5a) for coupling to said supporting body (2) and a front portion (5b) defining an annular band designed to receive and contain radially said end portion of the bundle of bristles (3c).
The brush according to Claim 3, characterized in that said skirting body (5) and said supporting body (2) are connected together in a non-separable and axially adjustable way by threaded-coupling means.
The brush according to Claim 4, characterized in that said rear portion (5a) has a plurality of plane side faces (5c) for engagement with a tightening tool.
The brush according to Claim 4, characterized in that said threaded-coupling means comprise a thread on the outer surface of said first cylindrical portion (2b) of the supporting body (2) and a corresponding thread on the inner surface of the rear portion (5a) of the skirting body (5).
The brush according to Claim 6, characterized in that the internal cavity of the skirting body (5) gives out onto said front portion (5b) with a mouth (6) of smaller diameter in such a way as to define a contrast element designed to co-operate with the free end of said second cylindrical portion (2c) of the supporting body (2) to define an end-of-travel position of screwing of the skirting body (5) on the supporting body (2).
The brush according to Claim 7, characterized in that a locknut (4) is provided, the internal thread of which is designed to co-operate with the thread on the outer surface of said first cylindrical portion (2b) of the supporting body (2) for blocking and holding in position the skirting body (5) on the supporting body (2).