Method and apparatus for feeding bristles in brush making machines

A method of feeding tufts of bristles to the inserting station of a brush making machine, comprising the steps of establishing and maintaining a supply of substantially parallel bristles at said station;

• subjecting the bristles of said supply to the action of a first compacting force;
• removing tufts of bristles from the compacted supply;
• establishing and maintaining an accumulation of additional bristles which constitute batches each consisting of parallel bristles and each confined in an envelope;
• transporting said batches seriatim to said supply;
• merging the bristles of successively transported batches into the diminishing supply while continuing to subject the bristles of said diminishing supply to the action of said force, including subjecting the bristles of successive batches to the action of a second compacting force which at least approximates said first force so that the compactness of the thus replenished supply remains at least substantially unchanged;
• and removing the envelopes from successive batches not later than in the course of said merging step.

A method of feeding tufts of bristles to the inserting station of a brush making machine, comprising the steps of establishing and maintaining a supply of substantially parallel bristles at said station;

• subjecting the bristles of said supply to the action of a first compacting force;
• removing tufts of bristles from the compacted supply;
• monitoring the number of removed tufts;
• and merging additional bristles into the diminishing supply in automatic response to removal of a predetermined number of tufts while continuing to subject the bristles of said diminishing supply to the action of said force, including subjecting the additional bristles to the action of a second compacting force which at least approximates the first force so that the compactness of the thus replenished supply remains at least substantially unchanged.

In a brush making machine, the combination of a magazine arranged to store a supply of substantially parallel bristles and having an outlet;

• means for applying pressure to bristles in said magazine including a plurality of biasing members including a first and a second member, and means for repeatedly moving said members away from and toward said outlet whereby said members compact the bristles during movement toward said outlet, said moving means including means for moving one of said members out of compressive engagement with the bristles in said magazine while the other of said members urges the bristles in said magazine toward said outlet, and vice versa;
• means for admitting additional bristles into said magazine behind the compacted supply, said additional bristles being admitted in the form of bundles each of which includes a batch of bristles and an envelope confining the respective batch;
• means for removing the envelopes of successive bundles not later than on admission of the respective bundles into said magazine;
• and means for transferring tufts of compacted bristles from said magazine by way of said outlet.

In a brush making machine, the combination of a magazine arranged to store a supply of substantially parallel bristles and having an outlet;

• means for intermittently tranferring tufts of bristles from said magazine by way of said outlet;
• means for applying pressure to bristles in said magazine including a first and a second biasing member and means for cyclically moving said members in said magazine toward said outlet whereby said members compact the bristles during such movement, said moving means including means for moving said first member out of compressive engagement with the bristles while said second member urges the bristles in said magazine toward said outlet and vice versa so that the bristles at said outlet are subjected to a continuous and at least substantially constant compacting force during each transfer of tufts as well as during the intervals between successive transfers;
• means for admitting additional bristles into said magazine behind the compacted supply;
• and means for monitoring the supply of bristles in said magazine and for actuating said moving means in accordance with a predetermined program.

In a brush making machine, the combination of a magazine arranged to store a supply of substantially parallel bristles and having an outlet;

• means for intermittently transferring tufts of bristles from said magazine by way of said outlet;
• means for applying pressure to bristles in said magazine including a first and a second biasing member and means for cyclically moving said members in said magazine toward said outlet whereby said members compact the bristles during such movement, said moving means including means for moving said first member out of compressive engagement with the bristles while said second member urges the bristles in said magazine toward said outlet and vice versa so that the bristles at said outlet are subjected to a continuous and at least substantially constant compacting force during each transfer of tufts as well as during the intervals between successive transfers, said last mentioned moving means comprising at least one motor for each of said biasing members, means for pivotally connecting one of said biasing members to the respective motor for movement between first and second positions in which saidone biasing member respectively extends across the bristles in said magazine and is located outside of said magazine, and means for yieldably urging said one member to said first position, said one member being moved to said second position while the respective motor is operated to move said one member away from said outlet;
• and means for admitting additional bristles into said magazine behind the compacted supply.