Clamping apparatus, brush production machine and method for clamping a bristle carrier

Abstract

An improved clamping apparatus ( 8 ) for use in brush production is provided. The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) has at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) for a fastening stud ( 12 ) of a bristle carrier ( 7 ) which is to be clamped, and at least one clamping element ( 14 ) assigned to the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ). This clamping element ( 14 ) can be advanced transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) from a starting position into a clamping position in which it secures the bristle carrier ( 7 ) via its fastening stud ( 12 ) on the clamping apparatus ( 8 ).

1 . A clamping apparatus ( 8 ) configured for clamping at least one bristle carrier ( 7 ), the clamping apparatus ( 8 ) comprises:
 a basic body ( 20 ) including at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) that is adapted to receive a fastening stud ( 12 ) of a bristle carrier ( 7 );   at least one clamping element ( 14 ) assigned to the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ), the at least one clamping element is advancable transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) from a starting position into a clamping position; and   the clamping apparatus ( 8 ) forms a carrier cassette ( 24 ) which is configured to be movable from processing station to processing station of a brush production machine ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) is arranged spaced apart from a surface ( 8   a ) of the clamping apparatus ( 8 ), and a plugging-in opening ( 21 ) of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) is formed in said surface. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) at least partially projects into the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) in the clamping position. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamping element ( 14 ) comprises a cylindrical clamping pin ( 14 ), 
     
     
         5 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the clamping element ( 14 ) is oriented transversely or at right angles with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ). 
     
     
         6 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one clamping spring ( 16 ) for the at least one clamping element ( 14 ), with which the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) is automatically movable into its clamping position. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) is configured for centering the fastening stud ( 12 ) in the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ). 
     
     
         8 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) has centering surfaces ( 17 ), which are oriented at an angle with respect to one another, which are adapted to center the fastening stud ( 12 ) which is adapted to be positioned in the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ). 
     
     
         9 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a guide ( 18 ) for the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) or a resetting element with which the clamping element ( 14 ) is movable from the clamping position into the starting position. 
     
     
         10 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the basic body ( 20 ) has a contact surface ( 22 ) which surrounds the at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) and is configured as an abutment for a bristle carrier plate ( 11 ) of a bristle carrier ( 7 ). 
     
     
         11 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) is configured for producing a clamping force on a bristle carrier ( 7 ), said clamping force has a force component which is oriented in a plugging-in direction defined by the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ). 
     
     
         12 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) comprises a plurality of plug-in receptacles ( 13 ). 
     
     
         13 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastening element ( 28 ) with which the clamping apparatus ( 8 ) is releasably secured in a processing position. 
     
     
         14 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one fastening element ( 28 ) is a magnet ( 28 ). 
     
     
         15 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one centering arrangement ( 29 ) including at least one of a centering hole ( 29 ) or a centering pin. 
     
     
         16 . The clamping apparatus ( 8 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one handling interface ( 26 ) for a handling gripper ( 25 ). 
     
     
         17 . A brush production machine ( 1 ) for producing brushes ( 2 ), comprising:
 a processing station ( 3 );   at least one clamping apparatus ( 8 ) at the processing station ( 3 );   the at least one clamping apparatus ( 8 ) includes a basic body ( 20 ) with at least one plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) for a fastening stud ( 12 ) of a bristle carrier ( 7 ), and at least one clamping element ( 14 ) which is assigned to the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) and is advanceable from a starting position into a clamping position transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ).   
     
     
         18 . The brush production machine ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one clamping element ( 14 ) is arranged spaced apart from a surface ( 8   a ) of the clamping apparatus ( 8 ), and a plugging-in opening ( 21 ) of the plug-in receptacle ( 13 ) is formed in said surface. 
     
     
         19 . A method for clamping a bristle carrier ( 7 ), comprising:
 providing the clamping apparatus of  claim 1 ; and   clamping the bristle carrier ( 7 ) using the clamping element ( 14 ) of the clamping apparatus ( 8 ), by the clamping element ( 14 ) acting on a fastening stud ( 12 ) of the bristle carrier ( 7 ), the bristle carrier ( 7 ) being fastenable via said fastening stud ( 12 ) to a brush body of a brush ( 2 ).