US3489463A - Brush sizing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1970 F. w. HUDSON ETAL 3,489,463

BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 MOT- 2 INVENTORS FREDERICK W. HUDSON BY PAUL J. KAVENY Jan. 13, 1970 F. w. HUDSON ETAL BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1967 Jan. 13, 1970 F. W.HUDSON ET AL BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 4, 196'? INVENTORS FREDERICK W. HUDSON BY PAUL J. KAVENY ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1970 F. w. HUDSON ETAL 3,489,463

BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS FREDERICK W. HUDSON Y PAUL J. KAVENY Jan. 13, 1970 1 F. w. HUDSON E'TAL ,489,

BRUSH S IZ ING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS FREDERICK w. HUDSON L 1 YPAUL J. KAVENY A TTQRWEV Jan. 13, 1970 F. w. HUDSON TAL 3,489,463

BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 196'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 |-4sov-- k v T MR- I I FEE L 4 T P53 P56 m 5; ITO-3 INVENTORS FREDERICK W. HUDSON BYPAUL. J. KAVENY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,489,463 BRUSH SIZING APPARATUS Frederick W. Hudson, West Henrietta, and Paul J. Kaveny,

Rochester, N .Y., assignors to Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 658,459 Int. Cl. A46d 9/00 US. Cl. 30017 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for sizing the individual hair fibers of a cylindrical cleaning brush to produce a brush having a smooth, even, outer periphery.

This invention relates to apparatus for sizing a cylindrical brush and, in particular, to apparatus for accurately sizing the hair fibers of a cylindrical brush to produce a brush having a symmetrical outer periphery.

More specifically, this invention relates to apparatus for reproducing an even, smooth peripheral surface on a xerographic cleaning brush. In the process of xerography, a plate, comprising a conductive backing upon which is placed a hotoconductive insulating material, is charged uniformly and the photoconductive surface then exposed to a light image. The photoconductive coating becomes conductive under the influence of the light image so as to selectively dissipate the electrostatic charge found thereon/or therein to prdouce a latent image. The latent image is then developed by means of a variety of pigmented resins which have been specifically developed for this purpose. The pigmented resins, or as herein referred to toners, are electrostatically attracted to the latent image found on the photoconductive surface in proportion to the amount of charge found thereon/ or therein so that areas of small charge concentration become areas of low toner density while areas of greater charge concentration become proportionaly more dense. The developed latent image can then be transferred to a support material and permanently affixed thereto.

Transfer of a developed latent image is usually effected by a corona generating device which imparts an electrical charge suflicient to attract toner particles from the photoconductive surface to a support material, the magnitude of the charge required to effect transfer being dependent upon many variables. It has been found, however, that some residual developing material will remain behind after transfer is effected. That is, although the electrostatic transfer forces applied to the support material will effect transfer of a preponderance of the developed image, some toner particles possessing the higher magnitude of forces than the transfer forces will remain on the photoconductive surface. A common method of removing this residual toner from a xerographic plate is to treat the plate with a cleaning brush after the transfer operation is completed; the brush fibers being moved rapidly over the plate surface to produce the desired cleaning. For further information concerning suitable apparatus for cleaning a photoconductive surface, reference is had to Turner and Mayo, US. Patent No. 2,751,616.

In the xerographic process, a cylindrically shaped, coremounted, brush is commonly used to clean residual toner from a photoconductive surface because of the obvious advantage afforded by this type of brush. The brush is mounted at a predetermined distance from the plate surface so that the hair fibers are in tangential contiguous contact with the plate surface. Rotating the brush at a relatively high speed causes the hair fibers to flick residual toner from the plate, the flicking action generating a mechanical and triboelectrical force to produce the required 3,489,463 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 cleaning. It has been found that a cylindrical brush must be accurately sized in order to produce the required force needed to remove residual toner. Each individual hair fiber acts as a relatively thin structural member in that the hair fiber, having a relatively uniform cross-sectional area, behaves in a predetermined manner depending upon the fiber length and material. Long hair fibers will be relatively pliable or flexible and the shorter hair fibers becoming stiffer as the slenderness ratio (the ratio of length to cross-sectional area) decreases. A xerographic cleaning brush having excessively long hair fibers Will not produce the desired cleaning action because the hair fibers are slapped or dragged across the photoconductor surface. Rather than producing the required flicking action, the long hair fibers produce what is known as a soft ride. On the other hand, hair fibers which are too short are too rigid and can produce forces capable of damaging the photoconductive surface. It has been found that a brush having short rigid hair fibers will cause plate abrasions when rotated at relatively high speeds.

- Itshould be clear from the prior discussion that proper sizing of a xerographic cleaning brush is a very important and highly desirous end result in the xerographic art. That is, for each brush material and fiber denier, there is a critical fiber length which must be maintained to produce a brush capable of performing the cleaning operation. Oftentimes the tolerances allowed over the outside diameter of such a brush are extremely small, many times smaller than those encountered in similar art such as the paint roller art or the like.

Although many suitable devices exist for shearing paint rollers and the like, such devices have been found to be incapable of holding the close tolerances required of a xerographic cleaning brush. For example, a common brush shear known in the art employs a series of helical blades mounted on a drum or the like which act in co Operation with a stationary blade to shear hair fibers placed therebetween. The hair fibers are held more or less stationary while the movable blade is rotated at high speed thereby producing a lawn mower effect. As can be seen, to accomplish rapid and complete sizing of each individual hair fiber in this type of apparatus would be extremely difficult because the hair fibers are presented to the cutter in a random hit or miss fashion. Increasing the speed of the offset rotary blade in an effort to accomplish more complete shearing creates vibrations of a magnitude such that accurate sizing of the brush hair fibers cannot be accomplished.

It is therefore an object of this invention to improve apparatus for shearing a cylindrical brush.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for uniformly sizing the hair fibers of a Xerographic cleaning brush.

Another object of this invention is to treat the hair fibers of a cylindrical core-mounted pile fabric to produce a brush having a substantially symmetrical outer periphery.

A still further object of this invention is to provide shearing apparatus for producing a xerographic cleaning brush capable of removing residual toner from a photoconductive surface without abrading said photoconductive surface.

Yet another object of this invention is to rapidly and etficiently shear substantially all the individual hair fibers of a xerographic cleaning brush to a uniform length.

Another object of this invention is to minimize the vibration found in a shearing apparatus so that a cylindrical brush may be accurately sized.

These and other objects of the present invention are attained by rapidly rotating a cylindrical brush so as to uniformly arrange the hair fibers along the brush radials.

A plurality of cutting heads, which are capable of treating the hair fibers of the rotating brush, are mounted in a plane perpendicular to the radially arranged hair fibers. The cutters are advanced into the work a predetermined distance thereby uniformily sizing the hair fibers. The cutting heads are also moved in a lateral direction thereby producing a smooth, even peripheral surface.

For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left-hand perspective view of the shearing apparatus of the present invention with the surrounding frame and cover plates removed;

FIG. '2 is a front view of the apparatus with the covers and frame broken away to show the internal structure of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the cutting heads taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in partial section of the cutting head drive mechanism taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the hydraulic drive unit taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram of the apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus of the presnt invention is particularly adapted for shearing cylindrical xerographic cleaning brushes having synthetic pile fibers, however it should be clear such apparatus is equally adaptable for shearing cleaning brushes fabricated of natural furs. As disclosed in the previously cited Turner patent, a cylindrical cleaning brush is mounted in an automatic xero aphic machine between truncated members in close proximity to the photoconductive surface to be cleaned. The brush is mounted so that some interference exists between the photoconductive surface and the outer extremities of the brush hair fibers. Rapid rotation of the brush causes the hair fibers to be flicked against the p'hotoconductive surface thereby removing residual toner thereon. As can be seen, it is extremely important that the brush fibers are sized to a uniform length so that the desired flicking action is produced and, furthermore, that the outer peripheral surface of the brush be symmetrical about the axial center line so that proper interference is maintained as the brush rotates through 360.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, the apparatus of the present invention will be explained in further detail. A brush to be sheared is supported in the present apparatus in the same manner that it would be supported in an automatic xerographic machine. That is, a cylindrical brush 9 (shown in dotted lines), comprising a hollow core upon which a pile fabric is placed, is supported between truncated cone-shaped members 11 and 12 (FIG. 1). By mounting the brush in this manner, it is made to automatically align itself along the identical geometrical center line that it will assume in an automatic xerographic machine. It can be seen that this center line will lie along an imaginary axis passing through the center of truncated members 11 and 12. This imaginary axis is used in the present invention as a reference point from which the length of the hair fibers can be determined.

Brush 9, shown positioned in the loading and unloading station of the present apparatus, is supported in a loading frame 13 comprising a cylindrical hub 14 upon which is rigidly affixed two U-shaped members 15. Bearing hubs 16, located at the outer extremities of the U-shaped members, are journaled therein to rotatably support truncated members 11 and 12. Running coaxial with, and extending through, hub 14 is a shaft 17 which is journaled at each end in support members 18 and 19, respectively. The support members are affixed to the base plate 20 by weld- 4 ing or similar means to provide a permanent base about which the loading frame can be rotated.

The loading frame 13- is free to rotate about shaft 17 so that untreated brush 9 being supported in the loading and unloading station, is advanced into a position where it can be treated by cutting heads '50 herein referred to as the work zone. The work zone is the horizontal area in which the comb-like teeth of cutting heads 50 are capable of contacting and guiding the brush hair fibers into shearing relation with said cutters. It should be noted that this work zone can vary as the size of the brushes vary and means are provided, as described below, to accommodate these brushes in the present invention.

A hydraulic drive unit 25 (FIG. 6) supplies the driving force needed to advance the loading frame (FIG. 6) from the loading and unloading station into the work zone. As shown in FIG. 6, drive unit 25 comprises a housing 26 in which. a cavity 27 is formed. Drive shaft 28 is centered in the cavity and fits snugly against the embossed section 29 extending from the main housing. Vane 30 is permanently afiixed to the shaft and runs the entire length of the cavity opening to divide the cavity into two separate chambers. Rotation of the loading frame is produced by introducing hydraulic fluid under pressure from reservoir 31 (FIG. 1) through intake-exhaust port 32 to exert a force against vane 30 sufficient to drive shaft 28 in a direction from stop 33 towards stops 34. Hydraulic drive shaft 35 extends exterior the housing and has afiixed thereto a drive sprocket (not shown). The drive sprocket transmits rotational motion to the loading frame by means of sprocket 40 acting through chain 41. The position of the loading frame in the work zone, and therefore the location of a brush supported therein, is established by means of stops 36 which are positioned to engage embossed sections 39 located at either end of one of the U-shaped members 15. By providing only one U-shaped member with embossed sections, the frame is restricted in its movement to swing through only of arc. As can be seen, the direction of rotation of the loading frame is reversed for each loading and unloading cycle. That is, a brush advanced into the work zone is returned to an unloading position by reversing the direction of rotation of loading frame 13. As shown in FIG. 6, blocks 37 and 38 are welded, or permanently aifixed in a similar manner, to support members 18. The blocks are located on the support members in a position so that stops 36 are capable of engaging the embossed sections of the loading frame as the frame swings from one position to another. Hardened steel pads 42 are positioned on the embossed sections and are machined so as to contact the stops in a relativey flat position.

Truncated cone-shaped member 12 is biased outwardly from hub 16 by means of a spring (not shown) located in housing 43. To load a brush in the shearing apparatus of the present invention, the operator moves truncated cone-shaped member 12 back towards hub 16 to enable the core brush member to he slipped over stationary truncated member 11. The spring bias member is then allowed to move into contact with the brush until it is seated against the core as shown in FIG. 1. With the brush so positioned, the hydraulic drive unit is actuated by the operator causing the loading frame to swing towards the work zone. The frame will continue to swing until pad 42 encounters stops 36. It should be noted that although the advancement of the loading frame into the work zone is interrupted, the hydraulic drive unit continues to deliver rotational force to the loading frame thereby positively seating the frame against stops 36. By applying a continual force to the frame in contact with the stops assures positive seating of the frame in the work zone. Furthermore, this positive seating eliminates unwanted vibrations which would otherwise be found in this type of support.

A brush being supported in the work zone is rotated at a relatively high speed in order to force the individual hair fibers in a substantially uniform position. That is, the individual hair fibers will be forced outwardly along the radials of the brush thereby enabling them to be individually treated by cutting heads 50. A motor MOT1 located below base plate acts through drive pulley 46 and flexible belt to supply the necessary force to rotate a brush in the work zone. Truncated member 11 is affixed to a shaft 48 which is journaled in hub 16. Shaft 48 is extended through the hub and terminates in a clutch plate 49 capable of cooperating with either the electromagnetic clutch 51 in the work zone or the electromagnetic brake 58 in the load and unload station. Belt 45 drives driven pulley 47 which is keyed to shaft 53 which passes through bearing housing 54 and is mated to the electromagnetic clutch. As can be seen, rotational force is transmitted to a brush in the work zone when the clutch electrically engages clutch plate 49. Shaft 53 is journaled in housing 54 and the housing permanently aflixed to base plate 20 by means of support member 55. Also permanently affixed to base plate 20 adjacent to drive belt 45 is an adjustable belt tensioning unit 56 capable of maintaining the desired frictional driving contact in the belt. Tensioning unit 56 comprises a base 59 upon which tensioning pulley 60 is adjustably mounted. Pulley 60 is positioned in contact with the belt so that suflicient tension is introduced in the driving system to insure a positive friction drive to be maintained throughout.

Positioned adjacent to clutch plate 49 in the loading and unloading station is an electromagnetic brake 58 which is mounted on support member 19 by means of arm 57. It has been found that a brush which is,rapidly rotated in the work zone will continue to rotate at relatively high speeds when returned to the unloading station. It is therefore advantageous to provide means to brake or stop this freely rotating brush so that the operator may now readily and rapidly unload a brush returned to this station. The brake also serves a second function in that it will hold truncated member 11 in a non-rotating pos ture thereby facilitating the loading of a brush into frame 13. The electric control for both the electromagnetic brake and clutch will be explained in the operations section below.

Referring now to FIG. 4, brush 9 is shown positioned in the work zone with the hair fibers in tangential contiguous relation with cutting head 50. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of cutting heads are mounted adjacent to each other in a substantially horizontal plane to describe a work zone, the plane described by the cutting heads being parallel to the axial center line of the truncated cone-shaped members. Each shaving head comprises a stationary blade 61 and a movable blade 62 capable of cooperating to shear hair fibers positioned therebetween. Stationary blade 61 has a plurality of comb-like teeth machined therein capable of receiving and directing hair fibers of a rapidly spinning brush into a position where they can be acted upon by movable blade 62. Movable blade 62, which is complementary to the stationary blade, is oscillated rapidly in a horizontal direction at a speed suflicient to shear hair fibers moving therebetween. It should be noted that the force acting on the individual hair fibers by the cooperating blade is in a horizontal direction so as not to disturb the centrifugal forces supporting or holding the individual hair fibers in a radial direction.

As previosuly noted, a xerographic cleaning brush must be sized so that its outer periphery is uniform. It has been found that an extremely smooth outer surface can be obtained by placing the cutting blades slightly below the pre-established geometrical axial center line of the brush when the brush is supported in a horizontal plane. The centrifugal forces acting upon the hair fibers, due to the rotation of the brush, causes the hair fibers to bend slightly depending upon material and fiber length. Locating the cutting heads somewhat below the horizontal center line of the brush compensates for this bending action so that the resultant shearing forces will be substantially erpendicular to the hair fibers. The amount of offset, of course, is dependent upon the degree to which each individual fiber bends.

To further aid in the positioning of the hair fibers during the shearing operation, a vacuum hood is placed behind the cutting heads which is capable of creating suflicient negative pressure to pull the hair fibers radially as they pass through the work zone. As shown in FIG. 4, the hood 120 extends the entire length of the work zone and has suction parts 125 therein positioned directly behind the movable cutting blade. A vacuum pump (not shown) is provided which acts through flexible connector 121 to produce the required negative pressure. A further function of this vacuum system is to remove clipped hair fibers from the work zone thereby preventing a build lip of residual hair fibers which could hamper the shearing operations. The hood is aflfixed to support column 95 by means of bolts 126 and does not reciprocate with the cutting heads.

Oscillation of the movable blades is produced by a unitized system driven by flexible shaft 70. The flexible shaft is directly connected to motor MOT-3 located beneath stationary base plate 20 in machine frame 117 (FIG. 2). The flexible shaft is connected to cam shaft 73 (FIG. 5) by means of collar 72. In the present apparatus, a like, or even number, of cutting heads are located on either side of cam shaft 73 and these opposed blades oscillated so that they are moving 180 out of phase creating equal offsetting forces thereby eliminating unwanted machine vibrations. The movable heads on either side of the cam shaft are bolted to a single slide 74 by means of bolts 75 and the slides positioned in a guide member 76. The slides are held in the guide by upper and lower retaining plates 77 and 78 so that the slide can only move in a horizontal direction. The retaining plates are permanently aflixed to the guide member by means of screws 79. The cam shaft is journaled for rotation in bearing plates 80 which are permanently aflixed to guide member 76, the cam shaft being held in place and properly positioned by means of thrust washer 81 and shaft collar 82. Two eccentric cams 83 are machined on the cam shaft so that the rise and fall of each is 180 out of phase. An arm 84 is connected to the eccentric portion of the cam shaft by means of needle hearing 85 and the arm operatively connected to the slide 74 through drive member 87. Arm 84 is free to pivot about drive member 87 by means of pivot pin 86. It can be seen that rotation of the cam shaft causes the movable blades positioned on either side thereof to be driven horizontally but in opposition to each other. i

The stationary blades of the shaving heads are positioned in the slot provided in mounting member 88 and are held in place by means of mounting bolts 89. The mounting member is then permanently aflixed to guide member 76 so that the stationary heads are held in a permanent relation in respect to one another. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the movable blade 62, which is supported on bolt 75, is held in close communication with stationary blades 61 by means of spring member 90. Spring member 90 rides in a groove (not shown) machined in the back of movable member 62 so that the movable blades will be free to oscillate horizontally in respect to the stationary blade. Sufficient clearance is provided between spring member 90 and bolt 75 to enable the movable blades to be driven by slide member 74 through the full rise of eccentric earns 83 (FIG. 5).

Afiixed to either end of guide 76 by means of bolts 93 is a female dovetailed member 91 (FIG. 4). A male dovetailed member 92 is moted to the female member 91 and rigidly supported by main support column 95 and the support column, in turn, welded to a movable table 96. Also permanently afiixed to the movable base plate is motor MOT-2 and its associated gear box 97 which acts through crank 98 and arm 99 to move buide member 76, with the cutting heads 50 attached thereto, in a horizontal direction. A shim 100 is positioned between male and female dovetailed members to provide a replaceable bearing surface upon which they cooperate. It can be seen that a two-part motion is imparted to the cutting heads. First, the movable blades are rapidly moved in a horizontal direction to shear individual hair fibers and, second, the cutting heads are reciprocate-d back and forth so as to produce a smooth, even peripheral surface on a brush being treated. The throw of arm 99 is such that each shaving head will be moved laterally thereby superimposing the work areas of each adjacent cutting head thereby eliminating any blind spots that may be present as well as eliminating transition zones between cutting heads where the shearing might be uneven.

The movable table which supports the cutting heads and their associated driving apparatus, is pivotally mounted upon the stationary base plate 20 so that the cutters can be moved into a brush being supported in the work zone. The movable base plate is mounted on stationary base plate 20 by means of hinges 104 and is free to rotate about hinge pin 101 (FIG. 4). Two hydraulic drive cylinders 103 are pinned to mounting bases 105 and the bases, in turn, being permanently affixed to stationary base plate 20 by means of sdrews 118. The piston rod of the hydraulic drive cylinder 103 is in communication with the movable base plate through means of clevis 106. The degree of rotation of the movable base plate is governed by adjustable stops 105 and 106, respectively, similar to those employed in the associated loading frame. In operation, a spring loaded pneumatic cylinder 107 is employed to bias the movable base plate in a non-shearing position. That is, cylinder 107 is spring loaded so that the cutters will be moved out of contact with a workpiece when no hydraulic pressure is being delivered to the hydraulic drive cylinders. The spring biased piston acting through contact head 108 exerts a force on arm 109 producing sufiicient torque to rotate the movable head about hinges 104. The plate will continue to swing back, or away from the work, until adjustable stops 106 contact retaining blocks 110 mounted on the stationary base plate. With hydraulic pressure being applied to drive cylinders 103, piston arm 111 extends thereby advancing the movable base plate toward the work. The table, and therefore cutting heads, continue to advance until stop 105 encouters positioning block 113 aflixed to stationary base plate 20.

A pneumatic cylinder 107 (FIG. 4) provides a biasing force against which drive cylinders 103 acts in moving the cutting heads into the work. Pneumatic cylinder 107 insures that the table will advance smoothly into the work by dampening out, or isolating, any erratic movements in the hydraulic system. An adjustable valve (not shown) is placed betwen pneumatic lines 114 and 115. The flow of fluid (air) from one side of the pneumatic piston to the other is regulated by setting the adjustable valve and thus the biasing pressure of the system can be regulated. The pneumatic cylinder is spring loaded to return the table to a position where the cutting heads are out of contact with the work when hydraulic pressure is removed from cylinders 103. Referring to FIG. 4 piston rod, acting through bearing head 108, forces lever arm 109, which is aflixed to the table, in a downward direction. The table will continue to move downwardly until stop 106 encounters block 110 positioned on the stationary base plate 20.

The positioning of the cutting heads in reference to a brush supported in the work zone is determined by the placement of adjustable stop 105. The cylindrical brush is positioned in frame 13 with its axial center line in a predetermined horizontal position and the cutting heads are located in a plane parallel to the axial center line of the brush. Table 96 is rotated about hinge pins 101 so that the cutting heads move into the work uniformly.

That is, the plane in which the cutting heads are positioned remains parallel to the axial center line of the brush as the cutting heads are moved into the work. As can be seen, the length to which the hair fibers are sheared, that is, the dimension from the axial center line of the brush to the outer extremity of the radial supported hair fibers, is controlled by the distance the cutting heads are allowed to advance into the work by stop 105.

MACHINE OPERATION So that a better understanding of the automatic operations of the present invention may be had, these operations will be described herein with reference to the electronic diagrams shown in FIG. 4. Four hundred and eighty volts are first supplied to the circuit thereby energizing the primary side of transformer T-1. Switch 5-1 is then closed thereby providing a circuit for current to flow through the secondary side of transformer T-1 which is wound to step down the voltage to volts. Closing switch S-1 also allows relay 1CR to be energized causing contacts 1CR-1 and 1CR-2 to be closed. Contact 1CR-2 completes a holding circuit around switch S-1 thereby holding relay lCR energized until such time as the master switch EMS-1 is opened to break the circuit. Closing contact 1CR-1 allows power to reach the motor components of the present apparatus.

With contact 1CR-1 held closed by relay lCR, the operator is free to manually start the motor components in any desired sequence. Referring once again to FIG. 4, manually depressing palm button PB-1 causes current to reach and energize relay lMR. With relay 1MR energized, contact lMR-l is made completing a holding circuit around spring loaded palm button PB-1 thus allowing the operator to release the button. Energizing 1MR also closes contact lMR-Z in the 480-volt circuit thereby permitting three-phase power to reach the brush drive motor MOT-1.

Similarly, depressing palm buttons PB-Z and PB-3 energizes relays 2MR and 3MR, respectively, completing holding circuits around the palm buttons through contacts 2MR-1 and 3MR-1. With the above-mentioned relays energized, contacts 2MR-2 and 3MR-2, respectively, are also pulled closed thereby starting motors MOT-2 and MOT-3; motor MOT-2 providing the energy to cause the slide 74 to reciprocate in a lateral direction; and motor MOT-3, acting through flexible shaft 70, to oscillate the movable blades 62 found in the cutting heads 50.

As previously noted, a vacuum system is provided to remove sheared hair fibers from the work zone. In order to ready the vacuum system for operation, palm button PB-4 must first be depressed to cause energization of relay 4MR. With 4MR energized, a holding circuit around palm button PB-4 is completed by closing contact 4MR-1. It should also be noted at this time that the four contacts 1MR-3, 2MR-3, 3MR-3, and 4MR-3 in the loading head indexing circuit are also closed by their respective relays. However, before the vacuum motor MOT-4 can be started, the loading head must first be advanced to an indexing position as explained below.

The operator now loads a brush into the loading frame at the load and unload station and is ready to advance the head into the work zone. Advancement of the work piece into the work zone is accomplished by the operator depressing both palm buttons PB-5 and PB6 to provide a path of current to reach and energize relay 20R. At the time of relay energization, a holding circuit around palm buttons PB5 and PrB-6 is established through the now closed contact 2CR-2 and power is supplied to the vacuum motor MOT-4, contact 4MR-2 in the motor circuit being closed by relay 4MR. The operator is now free to release the two spring loaded palm buttons which, in turn, provide a circuit to energize relay 3CR. Energizing relay 3CR closes contact 3CR-1.

Assuming, for explanatory purposes, that the shearing apparatus has been started with the switch actuator 122,

locked to shaft 17 (FIG. 1), in physical contact with limit button 123 on switch LS-l, it can be seen that a path for current now exists to cause relay 4CR to become energized. Energization of relay 4CR results in contact 4CR-1 to close. Current now flows through 3CR-1, normally closed time delay contact 1TD-1, and the now closed 4CR-1 to reach and energize solenoid SOL-1. Solenoid SOL-1 is physically located in the loading head hydraulic drive unit 25 (FIGS. 1-.3) and causes a delivery valve therein to direct hydraulic fluid through intake port 32 causing the loading frame to rotate in a clockwise direction. As previously explained, the loading head will be advanced in a clockwise direction until its advancement is interrupted by indexing stops 36. It should be noted at this point that as the loading head begins to swing towards the work zone, contact with limit switch LS-I is broken, and, in fact, no contact is being made with either limit switch LS-l or LS2. With both LS-l and LS2 out of the circuit, the electromagnetic brake 58 and electromagnetic clutch 51 are deenergized thereby allowing the loading head to swing freely from one position to another. Upon the completion of the advancement of the brush into the work zone, limit switch LS2 is physically made by the actuator 122 contacting button 124 (FIG. 1) thereby providing a path for current to reach the timer circuit. A relay built into the timer (not shown) immediately opens normally closed time delay contact 1TD-1 preventing any change in the delivery valve position in the loading head hydraulic drive unit so that the frame continues to be driven against the indexing stops by the hydraulic drive unit.

Closing switch LS2 also allows 120-volt A.C. current to reach the full-wave bridge rectifier REC1 which, in turn, converts the alternating current into 90 volts average D.C. current needed to energize the magnetic clutch and brake. As previously explained, energizing the magnetic clutch now couples brush motor MOT-1 to the brush being supported in the work zone. At this time the brake located in the load and unload station is also energized causing truncated cone-shaped member 11 positioned therein to be locked in a stationary position providing the operator with a non-movable surface against which he can work as well as stopping freely spinning brushes which are returned from the work zone.

Closing of limit switch LS2 also energizes solenoid SOL3 causing movable table 96 actuating cylinders 103 (FIG. 3) to extend, thus moving the work table, with the cutting heads aflixed thereto, into the work. The table continues to move forward under the action of the cylinders until arrested by blocks 113 (FIG. 4). The circuitry will remain positioned as herein described until the timer times out. That is to say, the oscillating cutting heads are now located at a predetermined distance from the axial center line of the rapidly rotating brush and are in a position to shear the hair fibers to a uniform size. Also at this time, the cutting heads are being reciprocated in a lateral direction so that the areas being sheared by each cutting head overlap the adjacent areas to produce a smooth, even outer periphery.

It should be noted that shearing times will vary as the diameter and fabric materials vary and, therefore, it has been found advantageous to provide the apparatus of the present invention with an adjustable timer. Timers of this nature are marketed under the tradename Cycleflex by the Eagle Timer Company.

Upon termination of the time cycle, a relay in the timer circuit causes contact 1TD-2 to close and contact 1TD-3 to open. Opening contact 1TD-3 results in the electromagnetic brake and clutch to be deenergized as well as deenergizing solenoid SOL3. With solenoid SOL3 deenergized, spring loaded piston 107 (FIG. 4) is now able to force the table back against stop block 110 thus moving the cutters out of contact with the work.

At this ime, swich LS2 is closed allowing relay 5CR to pull contact SCR-l to a closed position providing a path through 3CR-1 and the now closed contact 1TD2 to energize solenoid SOL-2. Solenoid SOL-2 repositions previously referred to delivery valve in the loading head hydraulic drive unit so that the head swings back in a counterclockwise direction until once again indexing stops 36, mounted in embossed sections 38, interrupt the rotational movement of the head. It should be noted that as the head is rotating between stations, both limit switches LS-l and LS2 are opened, deenergizing he brake and clutch to permit free entry into the new position. A new or untreated brush is advanced to the work zone while a sheared or treated brush returns to the unloading position. With limit switches LSI and LS2 open, the timer is also taken out of the circuit so that it will be able to reset itself preparatory to repeating the above-described indexing cycle. The automatic indexing operation will continue until such time as either switch EMS-1 is opened causing cessation of all machine operation or one of motor controlling relays is taken off the line.

While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modificaions or changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sizing the individual hair fibers of a cylindrical brush including a frame,

support means for rotatably supporting a cylindrical brush in said frame,

drive means for rotating the brush about the axis center line thereof at a speed sufiicient to suspend the individual brush fibers in a radial direction, 7 a plurality of cutter heads having blades therein, the cutters being-movably mounted in said frame and being positioned adjacent to each other in a plane parallel to the exial centerline of the brush,

means to move the cutters uniformly into contiguous tangential relation with the brush fibers,

slide means to drive the individual cutter blades substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of said brush at a speed suflicient to shear fibers presented thereto,

reciprocating means to move the cutter heads transversely along the brush surface wherein each cutter treats a surface of the brush previously treated by the adjacent cutter. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a vacuum drawmg means is positioned adjacent to the cutters on the side of the cutters away from said brush to further support the brush fibers presented to said blades.

3. Apparatus for accurately sizing the individual hair fibers of a cylindrical brush to produce a brush having a smooth symmetrical outer periphery thereon including a stationary base plate,

support means for rotatably supporting a cylindrical brush in said base plate,

drive means for rotating the brush about the axial centerline thereof at a speed sufiicient to suspend the individual brush fibers in a radial direction, a movable table hinged for rotation on said base plate, a plurality of cutting heads having clipper blades therein, the heads mounted on said movable table and being positioned adjacent to each other in a plane substantially parallel to the axial centerline of a brush supported in said stationary base plate,

means to move said table about the hinge whereby the cutters are moved into contiguous and tangential relation with the brush fibers wherein the brush fibers are clipped by said blades,

reciprocating means to move the plurality of heads transversely along thhe brush surface wherein each head treats a surface of a brush previously treated by an adjacent head.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a vacuum draw- 11 -12 ing means is positioned adjacent the cutters and ar- 1,389,302 8/1921 Hagstrom 30017 ranged to further support the brush fibers presented to 2,003,269 5/1935 Arter 51-53 X said cutters. 2,773,333 12/1956 Johansson 51-53 5. The apparatus of claim 4 having further means to 3,233,943 2/1966 Peterson 300-17 control the distance through which said movable table 2,929,140 3/1960 Wilson 30133 is rotated wherein a brush having hair fibers of a prc- 5 3,432,973 3/1969 Heinrich 51215 determined length are produced therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 US. Cl. X.R. Re. 16,204 11/1925 Ramstetter S153 5153; 83100, 215

WAYNE A. MORSE, JR., Primary Examiner

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