Device for feeding tufts of bristles, method for operating said device and brush manufacturing machine

Abstract

A brush manufacturing device ( 1 ) for feeding tufts of bristles ( 2 ) to receiving openings ( 3 ) in a target plate ( 4 ) is provided, The device includes at least one sensor ( 7 ). The sensor allows to monitor the force which a sliding drive ( 5 ) of the device ( 1 ) applies to at least one sliding pin ( 6 ) of the device ( 1 ).

1 . A device ( 1 ) for feeding bristle bundles ( 2 ) into receiving openings ( 3 ) in target plates ( 4 ), the device comprising:
 at least one sliding drive ( 5 );   at least one pin package with a plurality of sliding pins ( 6 ), each of the sliding pins ( 6 ) being configured for inserting one of the bristle bundles ( 2 ) into a respective one of the receiving openings ( 3 ) in the target plate ( 4 ); and   at least one sensor ( 7 ) by which a force transmitted by the sliding drive ( 5 ) to the sliding pins ( 6 ) is determined at least indirectly.   
     
     
         2 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one linear measuring unit ( 8 ), and the as least one sensor ( 7 ) is assigned to the at least one linear measuring unit. 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor ( 7 ) is arranged in a direction of force flow between the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ) and the sliding pins ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin package ( 9 ) has a number of the sliding pins ( 6 ) which correspond to a number and arrangement of the receiving openings ( 3 ) in at least one of a source plate ( 10 ) or the target plate ( 4 ) for the bristle bundles ( 2 ) of a bundle group. 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin guide ( 11 ) arranged between the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ) and a source plate ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one coupling plate, through which a movement of at least two of the sliding pins ( 6 ) is coupled to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a) the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ) is a hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical linear drive, or b) each of the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ) has a respective sensor of the at least one sensor ( 7 ). 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there a plurality of types of the sliding pins ( 6 ) and the at least one sensor ( 7 ) includes a sensor for each of the types of the sliding pins ( 6 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an amplifier ( 13 ) is assigned to the at least one sensor ( 7 ). 
     
     
         11 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit ( 14 ) which is configured to activate the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ), depending on a force determined by the at least one sensor ( 7 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the control unit ( 14 ) at least one of a) is configured for at least one of recording or outputting at least one of force/path profiles or force/time profiles, or has an information output interface. 
     
     
         13 . The device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the control unit has a communication interface ( 17 ) for data exchange. 
     
     
         14 . A brush-producing machine ( 19 ) comprising the device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a device ( 1 ) for feeding bristle bundles ( 2 ) into receiving openings ( 3 ) of target plates ( 4 ), the method comprising:
 providing the device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   determining a force transmitted by the at least one sliding drive ( 5 ) to the sliding pins ( 6 ) at least indirectly using the at least one sensor ( 7 ).   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of a) comparing the force with a reference value or b) deactivating the sliding drive ( 5 ) when the force reaches or exceeds the reference value. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the determining or the comparing of the force when the device ( 1 ) is in no-load operation of the device ( 1 ). 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising inferring at least one of a degree of contamination or a degree of wear of the device from the force that has been determined. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising issuing a request for at least one of cleaning or maintenance of the device ( 1 ) when the force reaches or exceeds a reference value. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising, when the force is increased at a beginning of an adjustment travel of the plurality of sliding pins ( 6 ), at least one of recommending or initiating a replacement and/or re-sharpening of a cutting blade, by which the bristle bundles ( 2 ) are cut. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising recording and supplying the force determined using the at least one sensor ( 7 ) to other devices ( 1 ), via a data store ( 18 ).