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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
BRUSH ROLLER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/089997
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a brush roller, which consists of brush rings that are to be placed in a longitudinal direction (s) one after the other on an elongated auxiliary frame (A) , each one of the brush rings consisting of a frame part (2) that is provided with an essentially radially directed (r) bristle formation (1) . The brush roller is coupleable with a brushing machine by means of coupling parts (K) , existing in connection with the brush roller's auxiliary frame (A) and having a through hole (O) preferably with a shape of a polygon, such as a square. The brush rings belonging to the brush roller have a discontinuous bristle formation (1; Ia), when viewed in a cross section, and the frame parts (2) thereof comprise a mechanical coupling assembly (3), which makes possible coupling of the brush rings to be coupled one after the other on the auxiliary frame (A) in deviating positions in respect with each other particularly in order to achieve a bristle formation of the brush roller that is spiral shaped, symmetrical with gaps or a like.

Inventors:
SAJAKORPI KIMMO (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2006/000013
Publication Date:
August 31, 2006
Filing Date:
January 11, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SAJAKORPI OY (FI)
SAJAKORPI KIMMO (FI)
International Classes:
A46B7/10; A46B9/02; A46B13/00; A46B13/02; A46B
Foreign References:
CA1159611A1984-01-03
EP1428456A12004-06-16
DE1290919B1969-03-20
DE3736822A11989-05-11
US4153967A1979-05-15
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Kangasmäki, Reijo (PL 25, Tampere, FI)
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Claims:
Claims :
1. Brush roller, which consists of brush rings that are to be placed in a longitudinal direction (s) one after the other on an elongated auxiliary frame (A) , each one of the brush rings consisting of a frame part (2) that is provided with an essentially radially directed (r) bristle formation (1) , and, which brush roller is coupleable with a brushing machine by means of coupling parts (K) , existing in connection with the brush roller's auxiliary frame (A) and having a through hole (0) preferably with a shape of a polygon, such as a square, characterized in that the brush rings belonging to the brush roller have a discontinuous bristle formation (1; Ia) , when viewed in a cross section, and that the frame parts (2) of the same comprise a mechanical coupling assembly (3), which makes possible coupling of the brush rings to be coupled one after the other on the auxiliary frame (A) in deviating positions in respect with each other particularly in order to achieve a bristle formation of the brush roller that is spiral shaped, symmetrical with gaps or a like.
2. Brush roller according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling assembly (3) comprises counterpart surfaces, being arranged on male female principle on the sides of the frame parts of the brush rings .
3. Brush roller according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the coupling assembly (3) comprises male counterpart surfaces (3a) on a first side (I) of the frame part (2) of the brush rings and female counterpart surfaces (3b) , on a second side (II) thereof.
4. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 13, characterized in that a discontinuous bristle formation of the brush rings is formed of two or more radially directed (r) bristle formation zones (Ia) , existing symmetrically on the periphery of the frame part (2 ) .
5. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 14, characterized in that the male or female counterpart surfaces (3a, 3b) of the coupling assembly (3) are arranged in the frame part (2) essentially at points (2") with the bristle formation zones (Ia) in order to achieve an essentially symmetrical bristle formation with gaps of the brush roller.
6. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 14, characterized in that the male or female counterpart surfaces (3a, 3b) of the coupling assembly (3) are arranged to extend at least partly as far as a part (21) of the frame part (2) without a bristle formation, particularly in order to achieve a spiral shaped bristle formation of the brush roller.
7. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 16, characterized in that at least a part of the brush rings thereof are made integral from plastic based material for the part of both their bristle formations and frame parts (1, 2) .
8. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 17, characterized in that at least a part of the brush rings (1, 2) thereof and the auxiliary frame (A) are manufactured essentially from the same recyclable plastic material, such as polypropylene or like.
9. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 18, characterized in that its brush rings have at least three, preferably five bristle formation zones (Ia) .
10. Brush roller according to any of the preceding claims 19/ characterized in that each bristle formation zone (Ia) in the brush rings thereof is formed of at least two or more bundles of bristles (Ia')/ being placed side by side on the frame part (1) and the breadth thereof corresponding essentially to the breadth of the frame part.
Description:
Brush roller

The invention relates to a brush roller, which consists of brush rings that are to be placed in a longitudinal direction one after the other on an elongated auxiliary frame, each one of the brush rings consisting of a frame part that is provided with an essentially radially directed bristle formation. The brush roller is coupleable with a brushing machine by means of coupling parts, existing in connection with the brush roller's auxiliary frame and having a through hole typically with a shape of a polygon, such as a square.

So called brush rings are being used to form brushes in most heterogeneous sweeping devices and brushing machines. The brush rings being used traditionally comprise usually a ring shaped frame part that is in other words bent to annular shape, when viewed in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal direction of the bristles, and that is usually made of thin sheet iron, the thickness of which is e.g. about

1 mm and in which the bristles have been attached e.g. by means of suitable solidifying attachment mass. This type of brush rings are usually planar, when the intention is to produce brushes of especially high quality.

Particularly in cases, where the mounting frame of the brushing machine comprises an axle with the shape of a polygon, such as a square, the type of brush rings presented above have not been used as such very often, but instead in this type of solutions a type of an integral brush roller, as shown e.g. in figure 1, has been used traditionally, which consists of a brush frame, that is pushed in a longitudinal direction around a brushing machine's mounting frame from one end thereof, and which is provided with a brush formation by applying traditional brush manufacturing techniques

by threading bristles therein e.g. through holes provided therewith e.g. in pairs. In this type of brush rollers both wood and plastics have been used as the frame material .

Thus, due to the fact that the manufacturing techniques of brush rollers provided with a uniform frame part, which has a through hole particularly with a shape of a polygon, is still at present on a very traditional level, the manufacturing of brush rollers is also in practice a very laborious process, which requires several successive stages, comprising first of all making of the frame usually by turning a piece of wood on a lathe, thereafter drilling of holes therein for bristles and furthermore thereafter threading of the bristles into the frame part. Thus, when taking into account especially the prior art in the field otherwise, it is not possible in this context to produce sufficiently competitive products at present. On the other hand, such a problem is also involved with the brush rollers of the type described above, that reuse of the brush rollers requires always dismantling of the brush rollers and remounting of the same or else the worn-out brush rollers must be disposed of e.g. by burning or by transporting as such to a dump area. A crucial problem involved with these types of solutions is thus particularly laboriousness of the manufacturing of the same and, in addition to that, finally also those environmental disadvantages caused by the same.

It is an aim of the brush roller according to the present invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems presented above and thus to raise essentially the level of prior art. In order to achieve this aim, the brush roller according to the invention is mainly characterized by that the brush rings belonging to the brush roller have a discontinuous bristle formation, when viewed in a cross section, and

that the frame parts of the same comprise a mechanical coupling assembly, which makes possible coupling of the brush rings to be coupled one after the other on the auxiliary frame in deviating positions in respect with each other particularly in order to achieve a bristle formation of the brush roller that is spiral shaped, symmetrical with gaps or a like.

As the most important advantages of the brush roller according to the invention may be mentioned simplicity, functionality and environmental friendliness of its operating principle and manufacturing as well as putting together of the same. Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to exploit a brush roller, which deviates to its advantage significantly from the traditional manufacturing technology both in terms of its environmental friendliness and usability, and that is to be put together from planar brush rings also when used in connection with the type of brushing machines explained in the beginning, having a fastening frame e.g. of the shape of a polygon. By using an auxiliary frame that is to be coupled removably with the brush rings and carried out according to the present invention, disproportionately massive premanufacturing stages are avoided in addition to the laborious putting together of the brush roller itself.

A brush roller according to the invention may thus be put together simply by using brush rings in the brush roller in question, the coupling assembly of which comprises counterpart surfaces on the sides of the frame parts of the brush rings, being based on male- female principle. As an advantageous embodiment, the male and female counterpart surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the frame part of each brush ring. Furthermore, when brush rings are being used in this context provided with a discontinuous bristle formation and that have symmetrically in two or more points

radially directed bristle formation zones, it is possible to carry out a bristle formation of the brush roller first of all in a way that an essentially symmetrical bristle formation with gaps is achieved. This kind of a solution can be carried out by placing e.g. the male counterpart surfaces just at points with bristle formation zones and the female counterpart surfaces in the frame part at a point without a bristle formation. On the other hand, it is possible to carry out a spiral shaped bristle formation of a brush roller e.g. simply by placing the male counterpart surfaces of the coupling assembly so that they partly come up to the part of the frame part without a bristle formation, in which case the female counterpart surfaces may be placed for their part furthermore at a point of the frame part without a bristle formation. With the type of placement of the counterpart surfaces of the coupling assembly as described above, it is furthermore possible to carry out a frame part as lightly structured as possible, which has full amount of material only at those points provided with bristle formation zones and for the part without a bristle formation only a ridge that couples the bristle formation zones. In this way it is possible to minimize efficiently material consumption.

Advantageous embodiments of the brush roller according to the invention have been presented in the dependent claims related to the same.

In the following description, the invention is being illustrated in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

in figure 1 is shown a traditional brush roller that is to be used in connection with a brushing

machine provided with a fastening frame having the shape of a polygon,

in figure 2 is shown a front view of an advantageous brush ring belonging to the brush roller according to the invention,

in figure 3 is shown an advantageous brush ring belonging to the brush roller according to the invention as seen from the back,

in figure 4 is shown a brush roller, which has a spiral shaped brush formation and that consists of brush rings as shown in figure 2, as seen from the side,

in figure 5 is shown a brush roller, which has a spiral shaped brush formation and that consists of brush rings as shown in figure 2, as seen from the front,

in figure 6 is shown an advantageous alternative front view with respect to figure 2 of a brush ring of a brush roller according to the invention,

in figure 7 is shown a brush roller, which has a symmetrical brush formation with gaps and that is formed of brush rings as shown in figure 2, as seen from the side, and

in figure 8 is shown a brush roller, being put together from brush rings as shown in figures 2 or 6, as a longitudinal section view.

The invention relates to a brush roller, which consists of brush rings that are to be placed in a longitudinal direction s one after the other on an elongated auxiliary frame A, each one of the brush rings consisting of a frame part 2 that is provided with an essentially radially directed r bristle formation 1. The brush roller is coupleable with a brushing machine by means of coupling parts K, existing in connection with the brush roller's auxiliary frame A and having a through hole 0 typically with a shape of a polygon, such as a square. The brush rings belonging to the brush roller have a discontinuous bristle formation 1; Ia, when viewed in a cross section, and the frame parts 2 thereof comprise a mechanical coupling assembly 3, which makes possible coupling of the brush rings to be coupled one after the other on the auxiliary frame A in deviating positions in respect with each other particularly in order to achieve a bristle formation of the brush roller that is spiral shaped, symmetrical with gaps or a like.

As an advantageous embodiment the coupling assembly 3 comprises particularly with reference to the views shown in figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 counterpart surfaces, being arranged on male-female principle on the sides of the frame parts of the brush rings.

The coupling assembly 3 comprises particularly with reference to figures 2 and 6 male counterpart surfaces 3a on a first side I of the frame part 2 of the brush ring and furthermore with reference to figure 3 female counterpart surfaces 3b on a second side II thereof.

A discontinuous bristle formation of the brush rings is formed as shown particularly in figures 2 , 3 and 6 of two or more radially directed r bristle formation zones Ia, existing symmetrically on the periphery of the frame part 2.

As a particularly advantageous embodiment, the male or female counterpart surfaces 3a, 3b of the coupling assembly 3 are arranged in the frame part 2 advantageously e.g. as shown in figures 6 and 3 essentially at points 2" with bristle formation zones Ia in order to achieve a brush roller as shown in figure 7 that has an essentially symmetrical bristle formation with gaps. In this solution the male counterpart surfaces 3; 3a are formed as shown in figure 6 of five projections, existing in the frame part 2 at the points 2" with bristle formation zones Ia and the female counterpart surfaces 3 ; 3b respectively of five hollows, existing in the frame part, at an inside edge thereof, of the brush ring as shown in figure 3 , in a part 2 ' , where there is no brush formation. With the type of placement of the counterpart surfaces of the coupling assembly as described above, it is furthermore possible to carry out an as lightly structured frame part as possible, which has full amount of material only at those points provided with bristle formation zones and on the part 2 ' without a bristle formation only a ridge coupling the bristle formation zones.

As an alternative solution with respect to the above, the male or female counterpart surfaces 3a, 3b of the coupling assembly 3 are arranged advantageously as shown e.g. in figures 2 and 3 to extend at least partly as far as the part 2 ' of the frame part 2 without a bristle formation, particularly in order to achieve a spiral shaped bristle formation of the brush roller as shown in figures 4 and 5. This solution may also be

carried out in a corresponding manner as the one described above so, that only the male counterpart surfaces 3; 3a are placed as described above to extend partly as far as the part 2 ' of the frame part 2 without a bristle formation, in which case the opposite side II of the brush ring may still be carried out as described above for the part of its female counterpart surfaces 3; 3b.

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment, at least a part of the brush rings thereof are made integral from plastic based material for the part of both their bristle formations and frame parts 1, 2.

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment, at least a part of the brush rings 1, 2 thereof and the auxiliary frame A are manufactured essentially from the same recyclable plastic material, such as polypropylene or like.

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment, the brush rings have at least three or depending on its diameter advantageously five bristle formation zones Ia as shown in figures 2 , 3 and 6.

Furthermore with reference to those advantageous embodiments shown in figures 2, 3 and 6, each bristle formation zone Ia in the brush rings is formed of at least two or more bundles of bristles Ia', being placed side by side on the frame part 1 and the breadth thereof corresponding essentially to the breadth of the frame part .

Brush rollers that are to be mounted as described above may be manufactured from brush rings that have been put together e.g. by injection molding or gluing, in which bristle formations have been made e.g. of brush part preforms that are coupled to the frame part in a manner

described above and in which their bristles have been melted together by one end thereof e.g. during a prefabrication stage.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented or described above, but instead it can be modified even very significantly within the scope of the basic idea of the invention. The principle according to the invention may thus be used in connection with so called zigzag brush ring structures in addition to planar brush rings, whereby it is furthermore possible to use bristle parts in the brush rings comprising e.g. organic, plastic based and/or metallic substances . Each brush ring of the brush roller can be formed of a frame part that is e.g. narrower or broader than the shown embodiments , into which a brush formation has been attached comprising e.g. one single entirety or that is made of more parts than shown above. It is also possible to provide the brush rings being exploited in the brush roller according to the invention e.g. with male-female counterpart surfaces that are e.g. on a wider area on the sides of the frame parts thereof. It is furthermore possible to carry out the coupling assemblies of the brush rings e.g. in a way that the first type of brush rings have only female counterpart surfaces on the opposite outer surfaces of the same and that the second type of brush rings have only male counterpart surfaces, respectively. Naturally the auxiliary frame of the brush roller according to the invention as well as the frame part and the brush formation of each brush ring belonging to the same can be manufactured from most heterogeneous materials, by exploiting most heterogeneous manufacturing methods, whereby polypropylene has been presented only as an example of one possible alternative, being, however, very suitable for the purpose.