DE3624343A1 - Method for producing a fibre strip and device for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

A fibre strip is specified as a prefabricated bristle element for a brush, by means of which efficient production of a brush is to be made possible. The fibre strip consists of a single layer of coplanar fibres which run parallel to one another and are connected to one another congruently in terms of material on a strip-shaped edge region. The fibres consist of a thermoplastic material and are preferably arranged resting directly adjacently against one another, seen in the longitudinal direction of the strip.

Description

The invention first relates to a method of manufacture of a fiber strip as a trimming of a brush, prefabricated part, which in turn is strip-shaped Fixing area can be fixed on the brush body, the the strip-forming fibers from a thermoplastic Plastic. With fiber strips for so-called strips Brushing the fibers forming the brush trimmings are becoming more common wise fixed in a U-metal profile, in which the fibers are arranged in a U-shaped course, the central ones being used for fixation in the U-profile used sections of the fiber between the yoke of the U-profile and its legs as well as a central one Fixing rod are pressed, which in the U-profile is fixed together with the fibers, the free leg edges of the U-profile so far pressed together be that the rod on which the yoke of the U-profile reach behind something on the opposite side, so that in Result a frictional fixation of the fibers and a positive locking of the rod in the profile which prevents the fibers from being pulled out are saved from the profile. One like that Strip brush pre-made brush element can be used on common Way at e.g. Brush body made of plastic be attached, one for handling the finished Suitable brush or its installation in a cleaning device Has shape.  

In the case of such strip brushes, in order to achieve a uniformly dense - in particular gapless - fiber trim, which is an essential prerequisite for a good usage effect of the respective brush, it is usually necessary based on the unit length of the brush or the U-profile, to use significantly more fibers than the thickness of the fibers for a gapless connection of the same to one another and an optimally uniform occupation of the brush with fibers would be minimally required, whereby - due to the U-shaped arrangement of the individual fibers in the holding profile - even with such a dense Trimming result in at least two rows of fibers parallel to the longitudinal direction of the brush.

The way of producing strips described so far brush elements has the disadvantage that that for achieving a brush with a be agreed dense structure in any case a disproportionate moderately large number of individual fibers is required, which then in the finished brush in several to each other essentially Lichen parallel rows are arranged. A given one Therefore, fiber thickness and free fiber length are assumed the overall fiber trim is relatively stiff, which is important for both Use effect disadvantageous as well as for handling the brush is unfavorable. Another disadvantage is that of Type of fixation of the fibers resulting in a U-profile, relatively high technical effort for the production of the respective fiber strip, which is also raised associated time expenditure.

The object of the invention is therefore a method of the beginning specify the type mentioned for the production of a fiber strip, that, under the constraints that the fiber strip, on the length of the fiber trim of a brush, with a minimal number of fibers should be realizable,  nevertheless should ensure a good cleaning effect and the usability of the brush both in the sense of a easy and convenient handling as well as good Protection of the material to be processed with the brush, e.g. of a textile fabric, to improve, a rational manufacture Position of such a fiber strip allows, as well as a To provide an apparatus for performing this method.

This task is ge with respect to the method triggers the fibers intended to form the strip initially coplanar and parallel to each other are arranged indirectly next to each other, such that a stripe-shaped fiber arrangement with along parallel Straight fiber ends arises, and that such measure ordered fibers along at least one of the parallel ones Longitudinal edges of the strip are welded together.

The method according to the invention mediates at least the following technical advantages:

By welding the ends of the directly next to each other lying fibers results in a needle-shaped profile of the weld extending along the strip leading to a positive fixation of the finished fiber strip in a two-part brush body, e.g. one on one Base body element covers cover covers that each other opposite, each receiving a "half" of the weld Have grooves that can be used to advantage. The procedure technical - single layer - training of the achieved Fiberboard is always with a minimum number of fibers realizable. One for the respective purpose of the finished brush expedient stiffness of through the fiber Streak formed fiber trim of the brush can with pre  given thickness of the fibers by choosing the free length of the same can be easily specified. Another advantage is that the free required for a certain stiffness Lay the fiber length at the - achieved according to the process - single layer The formation of the fiber strip can be less than e.g. strip brushes with at least two parallel brushes Rows of fibers are provided to increase the stiffness of the fiber a brush. To that extent, inventive method also an additional fiber material savings achieved.

In the proposed implementation of claim 2 The inventive method can by separating the achieved, double-sided welded fiber strip, along a longitudinal center line of the same in particular rationally two unilaterally connected fiber strips are made.

Due to the features of claim 3 are by material and Dimensions particularly favorable designs of fibers given, which is for a manufacture of a fiber strip are particularly suitable according to the inventive method.

Regarding the creation of a device for implementation of the method according to the invention becomes that of the invention basic task by the features of claim 4 solved.

The device according to the invention initially works with a Separation of fibers by grooves rotating on one driven disc picked up and from this, in transport direction to be taken. So isolated Fibers are made using an excavation piece that holds the fibers  centrally under and with a fork-shaped guide elements that lift the fiber ends from the grooves of the Discs raised and between a hold-down and the excavation piece transported, the fibers due to congestion in direct contact with one another reach. Immediately after lifting the fibers the grooves are ver their outer ends together welds. The device is simple, works reliable and conveys an effective rationalization tion of the manufacturing process.

This applies in particular to the characteristics of the contractor Proverb 5 specified design of the device with two Welding devices, one fiber strip with two Weld seams are created by the separation between them Weld seams in two trimmings suitable for a brush Strips can be divided.

With the holddowns provided according to claim 6 the introduction of fibers from the storage box into the Grooving of the drive plate in the sense of a forced movement favors and the functional reliability of the device increased. The same applies mutatis mutandis to those according to claim 7 intended, swiveling design of the storage box and possibly a low protruding into this storage box attitude.

By means of a light provided according to claim 8 barrier controlled cutting device can with the Fiber strips produced according to the invention automatically to the respectively required - by moving adjustable light barrier - cut off length are, which favors the rational production overall becomes.  

Further details and features of the invention emerge from the following description of the Ver driving and a device suitable for its implementation tion based on the drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a fiber strips produced by the process of this invention with welded together along both edges of strip fibers,

Fig. 2 shows details of a brush using the fiber strip according to Fig. 1 Cleaners produced in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal center plane of the fiber strip,

Fig. 3 shows the basic structure of a fiber for the preparation of the strip according to Fig. 1 suitable, the inventive device in a simplified schematic representation,

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the welding area of the device according to FIG. 3, in an enlarged scale and

Fig. 5 shows the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in side view according to a view in the direction of arrow V Fig. 3, Fig. 4, each weils in simplified schematic representation.

The reference is specifically made in the Fig. 1, the details of which, as shown, a total of elongated rectangular fiber strips 10 is made of one single layer of synthetic fibers 11 from thermoplasti-magnetic material disposed along both longitudinal edges 12 and 13 of the fiber strip 10, over whose entire length L are welded together.

The fibers 11 , which run parallel to each other in the strip plane and extend at right angles to the longitudinal edges 12 and 13 between them, are shown in the special embodiment shown, seen in the longitudinal direction of the fiber strip 10 , arranged immediately adjacent to one another, so that over seen the length of the fiber strip 10 , the densest possible fiber packing is achieved.

For purposes of illustration, ie without limitation to generality, it is assumed that the fibers have a thickness of 0.3 mm and a length of 35 mm measured between the strip edges 12 and 13 , which corresponds to the width B of the fiber strip 10 , and that whose length L is 150 mm, the fiber strip 10 thus comprises 500 fibers 11 .

It is understood that a fiber strip 10 with the basic structure shown in Fig. 1 can also be realized in such a way that the fibers 11 , seen in the longitudinal direction of the fiber strip 10 , have a Lich th distance from one another, which is the greater can, the greater the thickness of the fibers 11 , the maximum value of such a clear distance if the fibers 11 are to be weldable to one another without the addition of additional material. If larger values of the Lich th distance between the individual fibers 11 are provided, it is expedient to connect the fiber ends with additional, narrow plastic strips made of thermoplastic material by welding, such connection strips not necessarily streaking directly along the edges of the 12 and 13 of the fiber strip 10 must run, but may also be relocated, if necessary, at a distance of a few millimeters from the fiber ends more into the inner region of a fiber strip 10 .

The fiber strip shown in FIG. 1 can be produced in a simple manner by placing an arrangement of fibers 11 corresponding to the shape of the fiber strip 10 between a flat base which is narrower than the fiber strip and a hold-down which prevents the Fibers 11 can be placed in several layers one above the other, is pushed between two welding heads, by means of which the one along the edge 12 and the fiber ends arranged at the edge 13 are continuously welded to one another, whereby, as in FIG. 1, the inner edges shown in broken lines 12 'and 13 ' be limited, strip-shaped welding areas 14 and 16 arise, which have a width of about 1 mm.

By separating the fiber strip 10 along its longitudinal center line, two unilaterally connected fiber strips 10 'and 10 ''are obtained from the fiber strip 10 according to FIG. 1, which are formed contiguously only along their one longitudinal edge of the 12 or 13 and each for the fiber trim for a, according to its basic structure in FIG. 2, to the details of which should now be referred to, shown, generally designated 18 brush can form, which can be efficiently produced with the help of such fiber strips 10 'and 10 ''.

The brush 18 shown in FIG. 2 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber trim has a two-part brush body 19 , 21 , which comprises a base element 19 made of thermoplastic material, which is designed as a supporting element of the brush body and, for example, the handle of the brush or Attachment of the brush body 19 , 21 to a cleaning machine provided, not shown, fastening elements with supply, and a cover strip 21 , which is made of the same thermoplastic material as the base body element 19 and can be welded to it, for example, by the action of ultrasound. For this purpose, provided on the cover strip 21 , triangular in cross-section prismatic ribs, which function in ultrasonic welding technology as energy direction indicators, are designated 22 and 23 .

These ribs 22 and 23 of the cover strip 21 can be brought into contact with a step surface 24 or the longitudinal end face 26 of a rib 27 of the base body part 19 , with which they can fuse together under the influence of ultrasound. The base body part 19 and the cover strip 21 ha ben, seen in the illustration of FIG. 2, mutually opposite grooves 28 and 29 , which are bounded on one side by the rib 27 of the base part and the rib 23 of the cover strip 21 and on the on the other side by likewise opposing clamping ribs 31 and 32 of the base body part 19 or the cover strip 32 . These clamping ribs are, based on the respective base of the grooves 28 and 29 , approximately 0.3 mm lower than the respectively adjacent rib 27 and 23 of the base body 19 and the cover strip 21 .

When the fibers 11 are welded to the fiber strip shown in FIG. 10, an essentially needle-head-shaped configuration of the welding regions 14 and 16 results, as can be seen from FIG. 2.

When assembling the brush 18 , the base element 19 lies flat on an ultrasonic welding table, the type that a fiber strip 10 or 10 'or 10 ''can be placed on the base body part 19 that the groove 28 is a part of needle head-shaped welding area 14 or 16 . Thereafter, the cover strip 21 , the correct position of which is made easier on the base element 19 by a stop rib 33 , is placed on the base element 19 and the fixation area of the fiber strip 10 or 10 'or 10 ''adjacent thereto and by ultrasound -Action welded to it, where in the triangular prismatic ribs 22 and 23 merge with the counter surface 24 or the rib 27 of the base body element 19 . As a result, the clamping ribs 21 and 22 of the base body element 19 and the cover strip 22 move together to such an extent that the fibers 11 of the brush trimmings emerging between them are additionally clamped in and a load-resistant connection between the brush body 19 , 21 as a whole and the fiber strip 10 or 10 'or 10 ''is achieved. This possible way of assembling a brush by means of a fiber strip 10 produced according to the method according to the invention enables a particularly efficient and inexpensive manufacture of brushes of the most varied types.

For a rational production of the fiber strip 10 shown in FIG. 1 Darge is particularly suitable according to its basic structure in FIG. 3, to the details of which express reference is made, and in details in FIGS. 4 and 5, to the details thereof Reference is made to the illustrated device according to the invention. This device, designated as a whole by 30 , comprises a circular disk 36 which can be driven in rotation and which has a radius R of typically 100 mm and a thickness of 12 mm. This circular disk 36 is provided on its circumference with U-shaped grooves 37 , the depth and clear width of which is approximately 10% greater than the fiber diameter of the fibers 11 used to manufacture the fiber strip 10 . The circumferentially measured distance of the grooves 37 is 2 to 4 mm in typical cases.

For processing to the fiber strip 10 provided fibers 11 are shown as fiber collar 39 which contains a strip for a plurality of fiber 10 sufficient number of individual fibers 11 is in a designated overall by 47 storage box arranged to start a to the periphery of the circular disc 36 which is open towards the mouth opening 48 has. The fibers 11 of the fiber bundle 39 are already oriented parallel to one another and perpendicular to the central plane 49 of the disk 36 . The fiber bunch 39 is, by means of a between parallel walls 51 and 52 of the storage box 47 is displaceably guided plunger 38 in the direction of arrow 55, ie in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation pressed 53 of the disc against the peripheral surface 54, wherein the plunger 38 as not specifically shown, is pressed by means of a prestressed compression spring against the fiber bundle 39 with moderate force.

When the disk 36 rotates in the direction of the arrow 41 , in the illustration of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the counterclockwise direction, the grooves 37 of the disk 36 each take on a fiber 11 when they pass the mouth opening 48 of the storage box 47 . whereby initially a separation of the fibers 11 required for the production of the fiber strip 10 is aimed at and their defined orientation perpendicular to the central plane 49 of the disk 36 - is maintained by the corresponding orientation of the grooves 37 .

In order to be able to hold the fibers 11 separated in this way after they emerge from the storage box 47 with their intended orientation in the grooves 37 , a disk-shaped hold-down, generally designated 42, is provided, which has a mouth opening 48 of the storage box 47 on the outlet side, pointed nose 56 through a slot 57 of the wall 51 of the storage box 47 protrudes into this.

This hold-down 42 has between the tip of the nose 56 and the vertical transverse center plane 58 of the disk 36 according to FIG. 3 a closely fitting on the peripheral surface 54 of the guide edge section 59 which is curved in accordance with the radius R of the disk 36 and which is subsequently separated by a tangential that means horizontally extending leading edge section 61 is continued. By holding down 42 , at the curved leading edge portion 59, the disc 36 with its outer circumferential surface 54 practically slides along, prevents the fibers 11 - in the curved region of the down position 42 - can jump out of the grooves 37 . The perpendicular to the longitudinal center plane 49 of the disk 36 measured thickness of the hold-down 42 is slightly less than the thickness of the disk 36th The hold-down 42 is arranged so that its longitudinal median plane coincides with the longitudinal median plane 49 of the disk 36 .

The disk 36 is seen ver with a central circumferential groove 62 , the clear width measured perpendicular to the center plane 49 of the disk 36 and the hold-down 42 is significantly less than the thickness of the hold-down 42 and, for example, 1 to 2 mm, and thus approximately 1/10 to 1/5 the thickness of the hold-down disk 42 is. The radial depth of the groove 62 is greater than that of the grooves 37 and is typically between 0.5 and 1 mm.

In this groove 62, extends as shown in FIG. 3 plate-shaped flat-, "from the left" an excavation piece 63 inside, has a slidably supported on the groove base, lower support edge 64 and an upper horizontal guide edge 66, the fibers in a diameter 11 corresponding verti cal distance parallel to the horizontal leading edge portion 61 of the hold-down 42 runs. This excavation piece ends, with its upper edge always below the transverse grooves 37 , with a pointed nose 67 towards the storage box 47 , some angular degrees "beyond" the vertical transverse median plane 58 , in the area during transport of the fibers 11 in the direction of the arrow 41 seen, the excavation from the grooves 37 and onward transport into the central horizontal guide limited by the horizontal edges 61 and 66 of the hold-down 42 and the excavation piece 66 , which begins through the slot 68 between the guide edge portion 61 and the guide edge 66 of the excavation piece 63 is formed.

The device 30 further comprises a total of 43 be marked, fork-shaped guide element with two parallel, horizontal fork arms 44 , the lateral distance is slightly less than the width of the fiber strip 10th The upper edge 69 of the fork arms 44 , which runs approximately parallel to the horizontal leading edge section 61 of the hold-down 42 and the horizontal guide edge 66 of the excavation piece 63 , is slightly higher, that is to say approximately 0.3 to 0.6 mm higher than the leading edge section 61 of the hold-down 42 .

These guide fork arms 44 extend into the area in which the hold-down 42 has its curved leading edge section 59 and are there with up to half of the grooves 37 reaching, in the direction of transport see, obliquely rising leading edges 71 , at which the free ends of the individual fibers 11 can be supported, as a result of which the fiber ends experience a slight deflection, radially outwards, when they run onto the upper edges 71 or 69 of the fork arms 44 . Viewed in the direction of transport 41 , a welding station is arranged immediately following the excavation point, which lies in the region of the vertical transverse central plane 58 of the disk 36 , which comprises two welding devices 46 consisting of heatable rods, which are symmetrical with respect to the arrangement shown in FIG the longitudinal center plane 49 of the device 30 are arranged.

The device 30 operates, as far as explained so far, as follows:
The ver using the disk 36 and the hold-down 42 individual fibers 11 , as soon as they run onto the excavation piece 63 , are lifted out of the grooves 37 and melted in the region of their free ends at the welding station 46 . Beyond the welding station, viewed in the direction of transport, the fibers jam in the slot guide 68 . As soon as the fibers 11 have passed the welding station 46 , their free ends, which have previously been slightly bent back against the trans port direction, move forward and bond cohesively to the still melted ends of the fiber 11 that had previously passed through the welding station, so that, beyond the welding station of the continuous in the welding areas 14 and 16 fiber strips 10 with immediately adjacent fibers 11 is formed.

The now coherent fiber strip 10 passes via a ramp 72 to a cutting device, not shown, on which, preferably controlled by a light barrier, the fiber strips are cut to the lengths provided for further processing to form brushes.

The device 30 is further equipped with a second hold-down 73 , which on the first hold-down 42 opposite side of the storage box 47 inner edge 74 slides smoothly against the peripheral surface 44 of the disk 36 . This hold-down 73 occurs with a nose 76 through a slot 77 of the hold-down 73 together with the nose 56 of the first hold-down 42, the circumferentially measured width of the mouth opening 48 of the storage box, seen in the circumferential direction of the disk 36 , limited. This hold-down 73 is constantly held in contact with the circular disc 36 by means of a spring 77 and can be moved back and forth along the circumference of the circular disc 36 by a few angular degrees by means of a drive, for example a pneumatic cylinder 78 . Likewise, a swivel drive for the storage box 47 , for example realized by a pneumatic cylinder 79 , is provided, by means of which the storage box can be swiveled back and forth about an axis 81 by a few degrees.

Through these pivoting movements of the storage box 47 and circumferential sliding movements of the hold-down device 73 , the fiber bundle 39 can be "shaken" somewhat in the storage box, whereby the insertion of the fibers 11 into the grooves 37 in the region of the mouth opening 48 of the storage box 47 is supported.

Claims (8)

1. A method for producing a fiber strip as a stocking of a brush, prefabricated part that can be fixed on a strip-shaped fixing area on the brush body, the fibers forming the strip being made of a thermoplastic, characterized in that the to form the Strips ( 10 ; 10 '; 10 '') provided fibers ( 11 ) initially coplanar and parallel to each other ver running immediately next to each other, such that a strip-shaped fiber arrangement is formed with parallel ends arranged along fiber ends, and that such geord neten Fibers ( 11 ) are welded together along at least one of the parallel longitudinal edges ( 12 or 13 ) of the strip ( 10 ). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fiber ends are welded together along both edges ( 12 and 13 ) of the fiber strip ( 10 ). 3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the fibers ( 11 ) used for producing the fiber strip ( 10 ) consist of a polyamide and a thickness of 0.2 to 1 mm, preferably a thickness of 0.3 to Have 0.6 mm. 4. Device for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following features:

• a) there is provided a circular disk ( 36 ) which can be driven to rotate about a horizontal axis and which is provided on its circumference with transverse grooves ( 37 ) running parallel to its axis of rotation ( 53 ), the radial depth and - measured in the circumferential direction - slightly, that is about 10%, larger than the diameter of the fibers ( 11 ) used to form the fiber strip ( 10 );
• b) there is a storage box ( 47 ) which is open towards the edge of the disk ( 36 ) and accommodates a fiber bundle ( 39 ) in which a number of fibers ( 11 ) are used to form a plurality, for example 50, fiber strips ( 10 ) is sufficient, with the grooves ( 37 ) parallel orientation can be accommodated, and a stamp ( 38 ) is provided, the box ( 47 ) can be moved towards the edge of the disc and the fiber bundle ( 39 ) with a minimum force presses against the periphery of the disc ( 36 );
• c) it is seen in the direction of rotation ( 41 ) of the disc ( 36 ), the hold-down ( 42 ) adjoining the storage box ( 47 ) is provided, which follows the disc contour within an angle of rotation range and is then oriented tangentially to the edge of the disc, this being tangential Section ( 61 ) of the hold-down ( 42 ) preferably runs horizontally ver;
• d) the disc ( 36 ) is provided with a central groove ( 62 ) whose radially measured depth is greater than the radial depth of the grooves ( 37 ), and it is a flat-plate-shaped, in the central groove ( 62 ) of the disc (36) engages excavation (63) is provided, the curved inner edge terminating in a free end portion at the beginning of the tangential portion of the hold-down (42) engages in the groove (62) and parallel to the tangential portion (61) of the hold-down ( 42 ) has a running guide edge ( 66 ), the distance from the hold-down ( 42 ) is also only slightly larger than the fiber diameter;
• e) there is a fork-shaped guide element ( 43 ) provided that has parallel guide arms ( 44 ) running on both sides of the disk ( 36 ) and the lifting piece ( 63 ), the upper edges ( 69 ) of which are parallel to the tangential sections ( 61 or 66 ) the hold down ( 42 ) or the excavation piece ( 63 ), but at a slightly greater distance from the axis of rotation ( 53 ) of the disc ( 36 ) than the guide edge ( 61 ) of the hold-down ( 42 ) and at their free Ends with oblique Auflaufkan th ( 71 ) are provided in the ramp area to below the grooves ( 37 );
• f) is a welding device ( 46 ) which mediates the fusion of the fiber ends along at least one of the edges ( 12 and 13 ) of the fiber strip, which is produced by the fibers ( 11 ) running onto one another between the hold-down ( 42 ) and the excavation piece ( 63 ), Seen in the direction of rotation of the disc ( 36 ), arranged at the beginning of the tangential sections of the hold-down ( 42 ) and the excavation piece ( 63 ).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that two welding devices ( 46 ) are provided in a symmetrical arrangement with respect to the disc center plane ( 49 ), by means of which the fiber ends along both edges ( 12 and 13 ) of the fiber strip ( 10 ) can be welded together are. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the holding-down device ( 42 ) has a wiping edge ( 56 ) projecting through a slot ( 57 ) into the storage box ( 47 ), and that also on the entry side of the disk into the storage box ( 47 ) the circumference of the disc ( 36 ) on a sector area following, further hold-down ( 73 ) is provided, which has a box ( 47 ) protruding through a slot ( 77 ) in the storage and wiping nose ( 76 ). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the storage box ( 47 ) and / or the further hold-down ( 73 ) seen in the circumferential direction of the disc ( 36 ) can be pivoted back and forth in a limited angular range is or are trained. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a cutting device controlled by a light barrier for cutting the fiber strips ( 10 ) is provided.