U.S. patent application number 10/868823 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for method and device for manufacturing brushes.
Invention is credited to Boucherie, Bart Gerard.
Application Number | 20050001467 10/868823 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33425992 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050001467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boucherie, Bart Gerard |
January 6, 2005 |
Method and device for manufacturing brushes
Abstract
Method for manufacturing brushes whereby openings (3) for
bundles of fibers (5) are provided in a brush body (2), to which
end the brush body (2), while it is placed in a positionable brush
body holder (18), is being presented to a boring tool (19), whereby
this boring tool (19) is moved to and fro according to the boring
direction in order to carry out the actual boring operation on the
one hand, and in order to provide for a depth compensation on the
other hand, characterized in that the actual boring operation and
the depth compensation are realized by means of a single drive
element (24).
Inventors: |
Boucherie, Bart Gerard;
(Izegem, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
33425992 |
Appl. No.: |
10/868823 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
300/3 ;
300/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
300/003 ;
300/021 |
International
Class: |
A46D 003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 2003 |
BE |
2003/0387 |
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing brushes wherein openings for bundles
of fibers are provided in a brush body, and wherein the brush body,
while it is held in a positionable brush body holder, is presented
to a boring tool, comprising moving the boring tool and the brush
body holder to and fro relative to each other along the boring
direction in order to carry out the boring operation, and using a
single drive element to carry out the to-and-fro motion and boring
steps.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a drill head
of the boring tool is mounted on a carriage, and moving the
carriage by means of said drive element.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, for the drive element,
use is made of an electric drive element.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the immediate speed of
the above-mentioned relative to-and-fro movement of the boring tool
in relation to the brush body is set by means of a control of the
drive element.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned
control of the drive element enables a depth compensation which
takes the relative positioning of the brush body in relation to the
drill head into account.
6. A device for manufacturing brushes according to the method of
claim 1, comprising at least a boring device and wherein the boring
device comprises a positionable brush body holder and a boring
tool, and including a drive device arranged to move the boring tool
relative to the brush body holder in a to and fro direction along
the boring direction so as to carry out a boring operation, and
wherein the drive device comprises a single drive element.
7. The device according to claim 6, comprising a carriage, and
wherein at least a drill head of the boring tool can be moved to
and fro by means of said carriage, and wherein the carriage is
controlled by the drive element.
8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the drive element
comprises a controllable positioning motor.
9. The device according to claim 6, wherein that the drive element
comprises an electric drive element.
10. The device according to claim 6, wherein that the drive element
comprises a servomotor of the rotating or linear type.
11. The device according to claim 6, including a control unit
controlling the above-mentioned drive element, so that during each
boring cycle, a boring movement as well as a depth compensation is
carried out as a function of the position taken by the positionable
brush body holder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns a method and device for
manufacturing brushes.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] It is known that brushes can be made by forming openings in
brush bodies, more particularly by boring holes and by subsequently
inserting brush fibers in the shape of brush bundles in these
openings.
[0005] It is also known that the above-mentioned openings can be
provided at different angles in the brush body in order to thus
insert brush fibers at an angle. This is for example the case when
brushes are made whose brush bundles are arranged in the shape of a
fan, such as for example scrub brushes, brooms and the like.
[0006] In order to manufacture such brushes, it is known to provide
the brush bodies in a positionable brush body holder and to thus
present them to a boring tool. By turning the brush body holder,
the brush body provided therein is placed at different angles in
front of the boring tool, which makes it possible to provide
openings at an angle.
[0007] As a result of the rotation of the brush body holder, the
distance as of the side of the brush body in which the openings are
to be formed to the front side of a drill which is present in the
boring tool is not always the same, however, such that, apart from
an actual to-and-fro boring movement, also a depth compensation
will have to be provided for.
[0008] In order to realize such a depth compensation, apart from
the actual boring movement, use is traditionally made of a boring
tool on the one hand which, in order to bring about the boring
movement, carries out a specific to-and-fro movement if a
positionable brush body holder whose centre of rotation can be
shifted by means of a drive element on the other hand, such that,
thanks to said shift, it becomes possible to realize a depth
compensation. A disadvantage of this technique consists in that two
entirely separated drives are required, namely to move the boring
tool to and fro and to shift the positionable brush body holder.
Another disadvantage consists in that such a brush body holder,
which cannot only be positioned, but which must also be slidable,
is difficult to apply in brush manufacturing machines which make
use of what is called a turret with which the brush bodies can be
presented to the boring tool, a filling tool and possible other
tools respectively, as this requires a rather complex
construction.
[0009] In order to realize the actual boring movement and the depth
compensation, it is also known to fix the boring tool on a first
carriage which can only be moved to and fro over a fixed course
length to realize the actual boring movement, whereby this first
carriage is fixed in a movable manner on a second carriage with
which the depth compensation is carried out. Every carriage hereby
has its own drive. A disadvantage of this known embodiment consists
in that it is rather complex and takes up quite a lot of space,
since two carriages as well as two drive elements are required.
[0010] Moreover, the actual boring movement is obtained in these
known devices by means of a cam drive, as a result of which the
drill will always go to and fro over a fixed course length. This
course length is adapted to the largest depth of hole which is
customary when manufacturing brushes, which may amount to some 40
mm. When brushes are manufactured whereby the depth of hole is
smaller, for example 10 mm, the boring tool will carry out an
unnecessary large movement, which results in that the production
speed is adversely influenced.
[0011] With the above-described method, the speed and the course of
the to-and-fro boring movement can usually not be set, so that the
openings will always be drilled with the same speed of penetration
and drawback speed. This is disadvantageous in that the boring will
not be optimal, and in that for example the rate of speed of the
boring is larger than would be optimally required. Moreover, in
case of a to-and-fro boring movement which cannot be set, it is not
possible to take the material into account out of which the brush
body has been made, nor to reckon with the thickness of the used
drill or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention aims a method and a device for
manufacturing brushes, more particularly for providing openings for
brush fibers in a brush body, whereby one or several of the
above-mentioned disadvantages are excluded.
[0013] To this aim, the invention initially concerns a method for
manufacturing brushes whereby openings for bundles of fibers are
provided in a brush body, to which end the brush body, while it is
placed in a positionable brush body holder, is being presented to a
boring tool, whereby this boring tool and the brush body holder are
relatively moved to and fro in relation to each other according to
the boring direction in order to carry out the boring operation or
boring movement, characterized in that the above-mentioned
to-and-fro boring operation is realized by means of a single drive
element. By making use of a single drive element, it is possible to
provide the openings without the necessity of using two carriages,
several drive elements, multiple cam drives or a slidable brush
body holder.
[0014] The whole is preferably conceived such that the drill head
can be placed in several positions as a function of a control,
without thereby being bound to certain fixed course lengths. Thanks
to the fact that the movement of the boring tool is no longer bound
to a fixed course length, the boring tool can be controlled such
that not only a depth compensation can be realized, but also the
course length can be optimized at the same time as a function of
the depth to be bored, such that no unnecessary course is being
taken. Moreover, the immediate speed of the boring tool moving to
and fro can be adjusted, such that for example the rate of speed
and the drawback speed of the to-and-fro boring movement can be
optimized.
[0015] Preferably, the drive element consists of a controllable
positioning motor which is coupled to the carriage, either or not
via a transmission. Such a motor allows for a very simple control.
More particularly, an electric drive element will be used to this
end, such as a servomotor of the rotating or linear type.
[0016] The invention is particularly useful when manufacturing
brushes with rather large brush bodies, whereby a considerable
depth compensation has to be provided for, which may strongly vary
during the production of one and the same brush.
[0017] Secondly, the invention also concerns a device for
manufacturing brushes, more particularly according to the
above-mentioned method, whereby this device comprises at least a
boring device and whereby this boring device in turn at least
consists of a positionable brush body holder and a boring tool,
whereby a drive device is provided which can relatively move the
boring tool and the brush body holder to and fro in relation to
each other according to the boring direction so as to carry out a
boring operation, and whereby the above-mentioned drive device is
formed of a single drive element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In order to better explain the characteristics of the
invention, the following preferred embodiments of the invention are
described as an example only without being limitative in any way,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 represents a section of a brush which can be realized
with a device according to the invention;
[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically represent a known device in two
different positions;
[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent a device according to
the invention in two different positions;
[0022] FIG. 6 schematically represents a variant of a device
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] FIG. 1 represents a brush 1, traditionally consisting of a
brush body 2 in which openings 3 have been formed, in which brush
fibers 4 in the shape of bundles of fibers 5 have been inserted. At
least a number of the openings 3 and bundles of fibers 5 are
situated at different angles, as a result of which, as represented,
it is possible to realize for example an insertion in the shape of
a fan.
[0024] FIGS. 2 and 3 represent a known boring device 6 with which
openings 3 can be formed at different angles in a brush body 2.
This boring device 6 is composed of a positionable brush body
holder 7 and a boring tool 8.
[0025] The brush body holder 7 is fixed around a point of rotation
9 in a positionable manner, around which it can be positioned by
means of a non-represented drive, and thus can be presented to the
boring tool 8 in different angular positions.
[0026] The boring tool 8 comprises a drill head 10, in which can be
provided a drill 11 to form the openings 3, and a motor 12 to drive
the drill head 10 in a rotating manner.
[0027] The boring tool 8 is provided on a first carriage 13 which
can be moved to and fro as such over a fixed course length D1 in
order to realize the actual boring movement, whereas this first
carriage 13 is in turn fixed on a second carriage 14 with which can
be carried out a depth compensation over a variable distance D2.
The carriages 13 and 14 are each driven separately by means of the
respective drives 15 and 16 which are only represented
schematically, whereby at least the drive 15 consists of a cam
drive.
[0028] In order to provide openings 3 in a brush body 2, said brush
body 2 is clamped in the brush body holder 7. By positioning the
brush body holder 7, openings 3 can be provided at different
angles, as is respectively represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. From these
figures it is clear that, as a result of the rotation of the
clamped brush body 2, the point A will be situated more to the
right than the point B in FIG. 3, such that as a function of the
place where an opening 3 is formed, a depth compensation has to be
provided for, at least when all the openings 3 have to be realized
with the same or practically the same depth and/or in order to
prevent that the brush body 2 is being bored right through.
[0029] This is done, as mentioned above, by changing the position
of the second carriage 14, by moving it over a distance D2, while
the first carriage 13 is constantly moved to and fro over the same
course length D1.
[0030] It is clear that the boring device 6 of FIGS. 2 and 3 has
the disadvantages mentioned in the introduction.
[0031] FIGS. 4 and 5 represent a boring device 17 according to the
present invention comprising a positionable brush body holder 18
and a boring tool 19.
[0032] The positionable brush body holder 18 can be positioned
around a point of rotation 20 and it can be placed in different
angular positions in front of the boring tool 19 by means of a
schematically represented drive device 21.
[0033] The boring tool 19 comprises a drill head 22 which can be
driven in a rotating manner by means of a motor 23.
[0034] The boring device 17 is special in that only one common
drive element 24 is used to realize the to-and-fro movement for the
boring as well as to provide for a depth compensation.
[0035] In the given example, use is made to this end of only one
carriage 25 upon which the actual boring tool 19 has been provided,
whereby this carriage 25 can be moved by means of a single drive
element 24.
[0036] The drive element 24 can be of any nature whatsoever. Use is
preferably made, however, of an electric servomotor of the rotating
or linear type, which can enforce a to-and-fro movement to the
carriage 25, possibly via a suitable transmission element, such as
a spindle or the like. Instead of a servomotor, use can also be
made of other drive elements.
[0037] Naturally, the whole is provided with a control unit 26
controlling the drive element 24, such that during each boring
cycle, a boring movement as well as a suitable depth setting is
realized as a function of the position taken by the positionable
brush body holder 18, as is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively.
It is clear that the connection between the angular position and
the required depth compensation can be geometrically derived from
the arrangement and can be partly determined by means of the
required boring results, and that an appropriate control can be
realized as such.
[0038] An additional advantage of this control unit 26 is that the
immediate speed of the to-and-fro boring operation can be
controlled, such that for example the rate of speed, the speed of
penetration and the drawback speed of the boring operation can be
optimized. Thus, for example, it is possible to select a slow rate
of speed, whereas the speed of penetration can be set higher and
the drawback speed even higher still if necessary, in order to
speed up the boring operation.
[0039] FIG. 6 represents a variant whereby only the drill head 22
can be moved, whereas the motor 23 is arranged in a fixed manner.
Use is hereby made of a transmission 27 which allows the drill head
22 to be shifted by means of the carriage 25, while the rotational
movement of the motor 23 can nevertheless be still transmitted to
the drill head 22. As is schematically represented, such a
transmission 27 may consist of a geared shaft 28 which can be
shifted in the longitudinal direction and which works in
conjunction with a gear wheel 29 driven by means of the motor
23.
[0040] It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to
applications whereby the brush body holder 18 can be positioned
around a point of rotation 20 which is formed of a specific axis of
rotation. Thus, for example, the invention can also be applied to
embodiments whereby the brush body holder 18 can carry out other
positioning movements, for example around a point of rotation 20
allowing for a rotation in different directions, such as a ball
joint, or in a different direction by means of a suspension with
several axes of rotation. Nor is it excluded to realize the
invention with a boring tool 19 provided on a positionable table,
while the brush body holder 18 is either or not arranged in a fixed
manner.
[0041] Although in the embodiment described above as an example, at
least the drill head 22 is moved to and fro in relation to the
brush body holder 18, it is not excluded to move the brush body
holder 18 to and fro in order to carry out the boring operation,
while the drill head 22 is arranged in a fixed manner. Also a
boring operation which is carried out by moving the brush body
holder 18 to and fro, as well as the drill head 22, is within the
bounds of possibility.
[0042] The method of the invention can be easily derived from the
above-described operation of the boring device 17.
[0043] The invention is by no means limited to the above-described
embodiments given as an example and represented in the accompanying
drawings; on the contrary, such a method and device for
manufacturing brushes can be realized according to different
variants while still remaining within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *