The present invention relates to an apparatus for the production of brushes, in particular for the production of brushes of considerable dimensions that can be used on machines for cleaning environments of large extent, such as industrial premises, road surfaces and the like.

Brushes are known comprising a support base provided with a plurality of holes with each one of which a bunch of bristles is associated, the bristles comprising a first portion inserted inside the hole and kept there by suitable fixing elements, and a further portion emerging from the hole and projecting from the support base to interact with an object to be brushed.

The support base may have the form of a disc from one face of which the bristles protrude.

The bristles may be arranged substantially perpendicularly to the face, or be tilted by an angle of a preset degree in relation to the face.

Alternatively, the support base may have the shape of a roller and be provided with a side surface from which the bristles lead away in a substantially radial direction.

For the manufacture of the brushes disclosed above machines are known comprising a movable workbench suitable for receiving the support bases and transferring them to a plurality of devices suitable for performing on them the operations envisaged by the processing cycle.

In particular, such machines comprise a drill suitable for making in the support bases a plurality of holes arranged for receiving the bunches of bristles, and an operating head provided with tools suitable for inserting the bunches of bristles into the holes made by the drill.

In the machines disclosed above, the drill and the operating head can be arranged one above the other or side by side in such a way that when the drill has finished making a plurality of holes in a support base, the latter is transferred to the operating head, which inserts the bristles inside the holes. If the drill and the operating head are arranged one above the other, the machines have great vertical overall dimensions.

Such machines can therefore be installed only in very tall buildings.

Furthermore, maintenance of the machines may be very complicated inasmuch as an operator entrusted, for example with their repair, or maintenance, has to intervene on parts of the machine that may be positioned at a considerable vertical height from a floor to which the machine is anchored. The operating head comprises a first tool provided with a slot defining a seat arranged for taking from a proper magazine a quantity of bristles suitable for constituting a bunch of dimensions such as to be able to be received in a hole.

In the event of a machine arrest, it may be necessary to prevent the first tool from taking the bristles from the magazine.

For this purpose, the magazine can be removed by means of a lever associated with the magazine from a pickup zone in which the first tool interacts with the bristles contained in a cavity with which the magazine is provided.

Nevertheless, this operation may be rather burdensome, inasmuch as it has to be performed manually by an operator.

The operating head furthermore comprises a second tool provided with a cavity shaped in such a way as to be arranged for receiving the bristles from the first tool and take them near the hole inside which they have to be inserted.

The operating head is provided with a third tool suitable for picking up a portion of metal wire by unwinding it from a respective reel and conveying it forwards to the second tool.

The metal wire is used to make a stapling element arranged for firmly fixing the bristle to the corresponding base element.

Each stapling element is "C"-shaped, it therefore comprises a first arm and a second arm that are parallel to one another, interconnected by a third arm extending substantially transversely in relation to the first arm and the second arm.

During operation of the machine, therefore, initially a bunch of bristles is associated with a stapling element in such a way that the latter substantially wraps around the bunch, and subsequently the free ends of the first and of the second arm are inserted inside a hole and are partially inserted in the support base to stably fix the bunch of bristles.

The stapling element is positioned on the centre line of the transverse extent of the bunch of bristles in such a way that when the first and second arm are inserted into the support base the bunch of bristles is made to fold around the centre line. In this way, a central portion of the bunch of bristles is received inside the hole whilst opposite end portions thereof emerge from the hole, coming into contact with one another.

In order to obtain brushes that are able to perform a more effective cleaning action, inserting a metal wire into the bunches of bristles to be associated with the support base is known.

For this purposes, portions of metal wire are manually mixed with the bristles inside the magazine that contains the bristles.

This significantly complicates the production cycle and limits machine productivity.

The operating head is furthermore provided with a fourth tool suitable for inserting inside the respective hole the central portion of the bunch of bristles and the stapling element that is associated with it, which are supported and kept in the correct position by the second tool.

The operating head furthermore comprises a fifth tool provided with a blade arranged for cutting the wire intended to constitute the stapling element and a presser arranged for shaping the wire to give it the "C" shape.

The fifth tool cooperates with a sixth tool provided with a chamber that acts as a matrix for bending the wire.

Lastly, the operating head comprises a seventh tool shaped as a ring that at each working cycle of the machine removes the bunches of bristles already associated with the support base from the hole into which the bunch supported by the second tool has to be inserted, this tool also removing from the second tool the bristles that constitute the bunch, after the latter has been inserted into the respective hole.

The operating head disclosed above is driven by a motorized shaft to which a plurality of cams are fixed that are arranged for driving the tools.

One drawback of the machines disclosed above consists of the fact that if brushes of large dimensions have to be manufactured that therefore require the use of portions of bristles of great length, the seventh tool has to perform a stroke that is of considerable extent in such a way as to remove the bristles from the second tool.

Moving the seventh tool is therefore rather complicated.

A similar drawback is also encountered when driving the second tool.

Also in this case, if the second tool has to perform a stroke of considerable extent, the cam dedicated to drive it must take on a dimension that may be unacceptable.

A further drawback of the machines disclosed above consists of the fact that the first tool, being driven by a lever controlled by a respective cam, cannot oscillate by more than approximately 70-80°.

The limited quantity of this oscillation makes picking up the bristles from the respective magazine difficult.

A yet further drawback of the machines disclosed' above consists of the fact that, if brushes have to be obtained from roller-shaped support bases, such support bases involve long and burdensome positioning operations on respective equipment with which the workbench is provided.

In particular, the support bases must be centred between a headstock and a tailstock that rotationally support them during drilling operations and insertion operations of the bristles inside the holes made by the drill.

One object of the invention is to improve the machines for the production of brushes.

Another object is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that is provided with limited vertical overall dimensions.

A further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with a tool for supporting and positioning the bristles that is provided with a major work stroke.

A yet further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with a magazine for the bristles to be associated with respective support bases of the bristles that can easily be moved from a work position to a rest position.

Yet a further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes in which support bases suitable for receiving a plurality of bunches of bristles to constitute the brushes can be easily positioned in relation to the tools of the apparatus.

A yet further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus that enables brushes to be obtained in a fairly simple manner that are provided with portions of metal wire mixed with the bristle elements projecting therefrom.

In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising drill means arranged for making hole means in support base means suitable for forming said brushes, tool means arranged for inserting bristle elements into said hole means to obtain said brushes, transfer means arranged for moving said support base means to, and away from, said drill means and said tool means, characterised in that said drill means and said tool means are positioned on opposite sides of said transfer means.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that is provided with limited overall dimensions in a vertical direction.

The drill means and the tool means are in fact arranged substantially at the same vertical height on opposite sides of the apparatus in relation to the transfer means.

This enables apparatuses of large dimensions to be installed, suitable, for example, for the manufacture of brushes to be associated with industrial cleaning machines, also inside production facilities with limited vertical height.

Furthermore, both drill means and tool means can easily be inspected and subjected to maintenance inasmuch as they are easily reachable by an operator.

In an embodiment, the apparatus may consist of four main bodies, a first body comprising the drill means, a second body comprising the tool means, a third body and a fourth body each comprising a part of the transfer means.

In this way, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that can be easily transported and rapidly installed.

In a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising tool means arranged for associating bristle elements with support base means of said bristles to make said brushes and driving means arranged for driving said tool means, characterised in that between said tool means and said driving means link-block drive means is provided.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, driving the tool means may be simplified, inasmuch as this driving does not involve the use of a cam of large dimensions.

In an embodiment, the tool means comprises deflecting tool means arranged for facilitating the insertion of the bristle elements into respective hole means obtained in the support base means.

The link-block drive means comprises a rod having an end with which deflecting tool means is associated and a further end opposite the end, hinged in a position eccentric to a disc rotatably driven by the driving means.

The link-block drive means furthermore comprises a sleeve, revolvingly supported on a frame integral with the apparatus, inside which an intermediate portion of the rod is received.

The link-block drive means furthermore enables rotating elements of limited dimensions to be installed on the apparatus even in the case of major tool means strokes.

As a result, the apparatus is subjected to less mechanical stress as the mass that is moving is less.

In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising tool means arranged for associating bristle elements with support base means of said bristles to make said brushes and driving means arranged for driving said tool means, characterised in that said driving means comprises oscillating means.

In an embodiment, the tool means comprises positioning tool means arranged for supporting and positioning the bristle elements.

The oscillating means comprises an input shaft rotatably driven at a substantially constant speed by a motor shaft of the apparatus.

The oscillating means furthermore comprises an outlet shaft that drives a lever suitable for controlling the positioning means.

The oscillating means is configured in such a way that the outlet shaft rotates in accordance with a desired law of motion.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with tool means, in particular positioning means, configured in such a way as to perform major operating strokes without generating an unacceptable amount of inertia forces.

With the apparatus according to the invention the tool means, in particular the positioning tool means, can perform strokes having an extent up to 280 millimetres.

Using the oscillating means enables the masses moving in the apparatus according to the invention to be significantly reduced inasmuch as, for the same amount of oscillation obtained, the moving components of the oscillating means have dimensions that are significantly less than those of the cams of known machines.

This furthermore enables an apparatus to be made that is able to operate at high production speeds - in relation to the significant dimensions of the brushes that may be produced-with rather low noise levels.

A further advantage of the invention consists of the fact that the oscillating means, once the amount of oscillation of the outlet shaft has been fixed, can be constructed and assembled separately and can be subsequently associated with the apparatus during the assembly phase.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising tool means arranged for associating bristle elements with support base means of said bristles to make said brushes and driving means arranged for driving said tool means, characterised in that said driving means comprises gear means.

In an embodiment, the gear means comprises pinion means integral with said tool means and rack means driven by a lever connected to a cam rotated by motor shaft means of the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the tool means comprises pickup means movable between a loading position, in which said pickup means picks up bristle elements from magazine means, and a delivery position, in which said pickup means delivers said bristle elements to positioning means arranged for supporting and positioning the bristle elements, said positioning means cooperating with insertion means arranged for inserting said bristle elements into hole means obtained in the support base means.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes provided with tools, particularly pickup tools, suitable for performing angular rotations of any amount.

This can be carried out with great ease by suitably dimensioning the pinion means that has to interact with the rack means, in particular by creating pinion means provided with a preset number of teeth.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising magazine means arranged for containing bristle elements suitable for being associated with support base means to make said brushes, pickup means arranged for picking up said bristle elements from said magazine means, characterised in that it furthermore comprises moving means arranged for shifting said magazine means between a rest position, in which said pickup means is far from said magazine means, and an operating position, in which said pickup means picks up said bristle elements from said magazine means.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the pickup means from picking up bristle elements from the magazine means, if it is necessary to stop the apparatus as quickly as possible, for example in the event of a components fault of the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the magazine means comprises a first container arranged for receiving bristle elements of a preset type and a second container arranged for receiving bristle elements of a different type.

In such a case, the moving means may take the magazine means to a first operating position, in which the pickup means picks up the bristle elements from the first container, or to a second operating position, in which the pickup means picks up the bristle elements from the second container.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, positioning means is provided for an apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising tailstock means arranged for position support base means suitable for receiving bristle elements to make said brushes, characterised in that it furthermore comprises actuator means provided with stem means with which said tailstock means is associated.

In an embodiment, between the stem means and the tailstock means, bearing means is interposed that enables said tailstock means to rotate in relation to the stem means.

The actuator means transfers the tailstock means between a retracted rest position, in which the support base means can be inserted between the tailstock means and headstock means of spindle means of the conventional type with which the tailstock means cooperates, and a forward work position, in which the tailstock means immobilises the support base means against the headstock means.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus for the production of brushes that enables finished brushes to be removed rapidly and very easily from the apparatus and which also enables support base means to be positioned just as easily to which the bristle elements have to be fixed to obtain the brushes.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for the production of brushes, comprising transfer tool means suitable for receiving bristle elements and transferring said bristle elements to positioning means of said bristle elements, characterised in that said transfer tool means furthermore comprises pickup means arranged for picking up wire stiffening means, suitable for being mixed with said bristle elements, and delivering said wire stiffening means to said positioning means.

In an eighth aspect of the invention transfer tool means is provided for an apparatus for the production of brushes, comprising notch means suitable for receiving bristle elements and transferring said bristle elements to positioning means of said bristle elements, characterised in that it furthermore comprises pickup means arranged for picking up wire stiffening means, suitable for being mixed with said bristle elements, and delivering said wire stiffening means to said positioning means.

In an embodiment, the positioning means is configured in such a way as to support the bristle elements and to position the bristle elements in relation to support base means with which said bristle elements have to be associated.

In a further embodiment, pickup means comprises lever means hinged on the transfer means and controlled by actuator means. Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible to obtain an apparatus that enables brushes to be made that are provided with a portion of metal wire mixed with the bristle elements and therefore provided with high cleaning efficiency. The invention may be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of deflecting tool means of the apparatus in Figure 1 and of link-block drive means associated with deflecting tool means;
• Figure 3 is a side view of the deflecting tool means and of the link-block drive means in Figure 2;
• Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 are views like those in Figure 2 showing the deflecting tool means in three subsequent working positions;
• Figure 7 is a side view of the oscillating means arranged for driving positioning tool means of the apparatus according to the invention;
• Figure 8 is a front view of the oscillating means in Figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a side view of pickup means of the apparatus according to the invention and of gear driving means associated with the pickup means;
• Figure 10, Figure 11 and Figure 12 are side views of container means of the apparatus suitable for receiving bristle elements, showing the container means in three different operating configurations;
• Figure 13 is a side view of positioning means of the apparatus according to the invention arranged for positioning support base means with which bristle elements have to be associated to obtain brushes;
• Figure 14 is a side view of the apparatus according to the invention showing a version of the pickup means shown in an operating position;
• Figure 15 is a view like the one in Figure 14 showing the pickup means in a different operating position;
• Figure 16 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure 14;
• Figure 17 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 14.

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus 1 for the production of brushes, comprising a drill 2 suitable for making a plurality of holes 9 (Figure 4) in support bases 3 arranged for forming the brushes.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises an operating head 4 provided with a plurality of tools arranged for associating bristle elements with the support bases 3 to make the brushes. The support bases 3 may comprise disc-shaped support bases 3a from one face of which the bristle elements lead away in such a way as to define an angle of a preset amount in relation to the face.

The support bases 3 may furthermore comprise roller-shaped support bases 3b from a side face of which the bristle elements lead away.

The apparatus furthermore comprises transfer means 5 arranged for enabling the positioning of the support bases 3 in relation to the drill 2 and to the operating head 4.

The transfer means 5 comprises guides 6 on which carriage means 7 supporting the support bases 3 are slidable in the direction indicated by the arrows F.

The drill 2 and the operating head 4 are arranged on opposite sides of the guides 6 in such a way as to face one another.

The carriage means 7 comprises a first carriage 7a suitable for moving the disc-shaped support bases 3a and a second carriage 7b suitable for moving the roller-shaped support bases 3b.

The first carriage 7a is slidable on a first portion 6a of the guides 6, whereas the second carriage 7b is slidable on a second portion 6b of the guides 6, the first portion 6a and the second portion 6b extending on opposite sides in relation to the drill 2 and to the operating head 4.

The transfer means 5 furthermore comprises slide means 8 slidable in the direction indicated by the arrows F1 on further guides that are not shown that are integral with the carriage means 7.

The slide means 8 comprises a first slide 8a slidable on the first carriage 7a with which support means is associated that is suitable for supporting disc-shaped support bases 3a and driving means suitable for rotatingly driving the disc-shaped support bases 3a around a respective longitudinal axis.

The slide means 8 furthermore comprises a second slide 8b slidable on the second carriage 7b with which further support means is associated suitable for supporting roller-shaped support bases shaped 3b and further driving means suitable for rotatingly driving the roller-shaped support bases 3b around a respective longitudinal axis.

The support means and the further support means are arranged in such a way as to simultaneously support two support bases 3, a first support base facing the drill 2 and a second support base facing the operating head 4.

The apparatus 1 is therefore able to simultaneously process the two support bases 3 in such a way that whilst the drill 2 obtains a plurality of holes 9 in the first support base, the operating head 4 associates bristle elements with corresponding holes 9 made by the drill 2 in the second support base 3, in the course of a preceding working cycle of the apparatus.

The apparatus 1 is furthermore provided with shift promoting means that is not shown that is arranged for translating the drill 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows F2 to, and away from, the transfer means 5 and the support bases 3 associated with them.

The shift promoting means is shaped in such a way as to rotate the drill means 2, as shown by the arrow R, to enable the drill 2 to make holes 9 tilted by an angle of a preset amount in relation to a surface of the support bases 3.

The drill 2 may take on any configuration comprised between a first end configuration M1 and a second end configuration M2.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises further shift promoting means, which is also not shown, suitable for rotating the operating head 4, as shown by the arrows S.

Similarly to the drill 2, the operating head 4 can take on any configuration comprised between a further first end configuration N1 and a further second end configuration N2, in such a way as to insert bristle elements inside the holes 9 tilted by an angle of a preset amount in relation to a surface of the support bases 3.

The apparatus 1 allows alternating producing of disc-shaped brushes or roller-shaped brushes, owing to the shape of the transfer means 5.

Furthermore, the apparatus 1 is able to rapidly and extremely easily move from the production of brushes of a certain size to the production of brushes of a different size owing to the presence of the carriage means 7, of the slide means 8, of the shift promoting means and of the further shift promoting means that enable to compensate for dimensional differences of the support bases from which the brushes have to be obtained.

During the transfer from an environment within which it was manufactured or stored to a further environment in which it has to be installed, the apparatus 1 can be subdivided into four main bodies.

The possibility of identifying modular blocks of limited dimensions enables transport of the apparatus to be simplified, in particular it enables, for each of the blocks, containing means - for example containers - of the usual dimensions to be used.

The blocks consist of a first block comprising the drill 2 and the corresponding shift promoting means, a second block comprising the operating head and the further shift promoting means, a third block comprising the first portion 6a of the guides 6, the first carriage 7a and the first slide 8a and a fourth block comprising the second portion 6b of the guides 6, the second carriage 7b and the second slide 8b.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the operating head 4 comprises a deflecting tool 10 suitable for facilitating the insertion of the bristle elements into the hole means 9 made in the support bases 3.

The deflecting tool 10 comprises bar means 11 with a first end 13 of which an arched appendage 12 is associated, said arched appendage 12 being arranged for removing bristle elements already associated with respective holes 9 from a further hole 9 positioned near the holes 9, to enable a positioning tool 70 (Figure 15) to position further bristle elements in the further hole 9.

In other words, as the bristle elements that are projected from the holes 9 could obstruct the insertion of the further bristle elements, the arched appendage 12 removes the bristle elements from the further hole 9.

Subsequently, after a pusher tool has positioned a portion of the further bristle elements inside the further hole 9, the arched appendage removes a remaining portion of the further bristle elements from the positioning tool 70.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a motor shaft that through a chain 15 rotatingly drives a pulley 14.

The pulley 14 drives, by means of a gear drive that is not shown, a revolving disc 16 with which a further end 17 is rotatingly coupled in an eccentric position opposite the first end 13 of the bar means 11.

An intermediate portion 18 of the bar means 11 is slidable inside a sleeve 19 revolvingly supported on a crossbar 20 integral with a frame 21 on which the revolving disc 16 is rotatingly coupled.

The revolving disc 16, the bar means 11, the sleeve 19 and the crossbar 20 together define link-block drive means 22 arranged for driving the arched appendage 12 according to a preset trajectory.

The crossbar 20 and the longitudinal members 23 of the frame 21 to which the crossbar 20 has to be fixed comprise a plurality of openings 24 suitable for receiving connecting screws.

This plurality of openings 24 enables varying of the positioning of the crossbar 20 in relation to the frame 21 and therefore of the trajectory followed by the arched appendage 12.

In other words, if optimising the trajectory is desired, it is possible to remove the connecting screws from the openings 24, cause sliding of the crossbar 20 on the longitudinal members 23 and subsequently again insert the connecting screws inside the openings 24 to make the crossbar 20 integral with the longitudinal members 23.

Similarly, also end portions 25 of the sleeve 19 are provided with a plurality of openings 24 cooperating through the connecting screws with the openings 24 obtained in the crossbar 20.

In a similar manner to what has been disclosed above, this permits fine adjustment of the trajectory travelled by the arched appendage 12.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a lever 26 arranged for actuating the positioning tool 70 of the apparatus 1, this positioning tool 70 being suitable for supporting bristle elements and positioning them at a hole 9 inside which they have to be inserted.

As shown in Figure 15, the positioning tool 70 comprises a chamber 71 suitable for receiving the bristle elements, the bristle elements being delivered to the positioning tool by a transfer tool 34 that picks up the bristle elements from respective container means 35 (Figure 10), as will be disclosed in greater detail below.

Inside the positioning tool 70 a pusher tool is slidable that inserts the bristle elements supported inside the chamber 71 into the holes 9 obtained in the support bases 3.

The lever 26 comprises a first end that is not shown, connected to the positioning tool 70, and a second end 27, opposite the aforesaid first end, hinged on a further first end of an arm 29.

The arm 29 is fitted at a further second end 30 opposite the further first end 29 on an outlet shaft 32 of an oscillator 31.

The oscillator 31 furthermore comprises an input shaft 33 rotatingly driven by the motor shaft of the apparatus 1.

The oscillator 31 is shaped such as to give the lever 26 oscillation of a preset amount and therefore such as to confer on the positioning tool 70 a motion governed by a desired law. The use of the oscillator 31 enables the moving masses in the apparatus 1 to be significantly reduced inasmuch as for the same amount of oscillation obtained, the moving components of the oscillator 31 have dimensions that are significantly less than those of the cams of prior-art machines.

With reference to Figure 9, there is shown a transfer tool 34 arranged for picking up bristle elements from container means 35 (Figure 10) to deliver them to the positioning tool 70.

The transfer tool 34 comprises a shaped body 36 provided with a notch 37 having a shape and dimensions such as to pick up a preset quantity of bristle elements from the container means 35.

The transfer tool 34 is movable between a loading position A, indicated by a continuous line in Figure 9, in which the shaped body 36 picks up the bristle elements from container means 35, and an unloading position B, indicated by a dotted line in Figure 9, in which the shaped body 36 delivers the bristle elements to the positioning tool 70.

The shaped body 36 is made integral with a pinion 38 by means of a bar 39.

The pinion 38 engages with a rack 40 connected to a lever driven by a cam that is in turn made to rotate by the motor shaft of the apparatus 1.

The pinion 38 and the rack 40 together constitute gear drive means 41 that enables the transfer tool 34 to perform angular rotations of any amount.

With reference to Figures 10 to 12, there is shown a transfer tool 34 associated with container means 35 provided with a first cavity 42 suitable for containing bristle elements of a preset type and with a second cavity 43 suitable for containing bristle elements of a different type.

For example, the first cavity 42 may contain bristle elements of a preset colour, whereas the second cavity 43 may contain bristle elements of a different colour.

Alternatively, the first cavity 42 may contain bristle elements made from a given material, whereas the second cavity 43 may contain bristle elements made from a different material.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises moving means 44 arranged for shifing the container means 35 to, and away from, the pickup tool 34.

In particular, the moving means 44 transfers the container means 35 between a first operating position, indicated by an X in Figure 10, in which the pickup tool 34 picks up the bristle elements from the first cavity 42, a second operating position, indicated by Y in Figure 11, in which the pickup tool 34 picks up the bristle elements from the second cavity 43, and a rest position, indicated by Z in Figure 12, in which the container means 35 is distanced from the pickup tool 34, in such a way that the latter cannot pick up the bristle elements from the first cavity 42 or from the second cavity 43 either.

The moving means 44 comprises a first pneumatic cylinder 45 provided with a stem 46 that leads away bilaterally from the pneumatic cylinder 45.

The stem 46 comprises a first portion 47 that terminates with a first end 48 fixed to a frame 49 of the apparatus 1.

The stem 46 furthermore comprises a second portion 50 that terminates with a second end 51 fixed to a bracket 52 integral with the frame 49.

With the stem 46 there is associated a piston, that is not shown, which defines a pair of chambers inside the pneumatic cylinder 45.

By inserting air under pressure into one of the chambers of the pair of chambers and by taking air from the other chamber, it is possible to make the pneumatic cylinder 45 slide on the stem 46.

The pneumatic cylinder 45 can therefore take on a first work configuration, indicated by V in Figure 10, in which the second portion 50 is received inside the pneumatic cylinder 45, whereas the first portion 47 is projected from the latter and a second work configuration, indicated by W in Figure 12, in which the first portion 47 is received inside the pneumatic cylinder 45, whereas the second portion 50 is projected from the latter.

The moving means 44 furthermore comprises a further pneumatic cylinder 53 provided with a further stem 54, the further rod being movable between an extended position, indicated by H in Figure 10, in which it is projected from the further pneumatic cylinder 53, and a retracted position, indicated by K in Figure 11, in which it is received inside the further pneumatic cylinder 53.

The further pneumatic cylinder 53 is integral with the pneumatic cylinder 45.

The further stem 54 is connected with the container means 35, through a support rod 55.

In the first work position X, the pneumatic cylinder 45 takes on the first work configuration V, whereas the further pneumatic cylinder 53 takes on the extended position H.

In the second work position Y, the pneumatic cylinder 45 takes on the first work configuration V, whereas the further pneumatic cylinder 53 takes on the retracted position K.

Lastly, in the rest position Z, the pneumatic cylinder 45 takes on the second work configuration W, whereas the further pneumatic cylinder 53 takes on the retracted position K.

Owing to the presence of the further pneumatic cylinder 53, the apparatus 1 is able to produce brushes with different types of bristles.

Owing to the presence of the pneumatic cylinder 45, it is possible to prevent the pickup tool 34 from picking up bristle elements from the container means 35 if it is necessary to stop the apparatus 1 with extreme rapidity, for example in the event of breaking of parts that constitute the apparatus 1.

With reference to Figure 13, there is shown positioning means 56 suitable for positioning roller-shaped support bases 3b in relation to the drill means 2, or in relation to the operating head 4.

The positioning means 56 comprises tailstock means 57 suitable for cooperating headstock means associated with a spindle of the prior-art type and suitable for rotating the roller-shaped support bases shaped 3b.

The positioning means 56 furthermore comprises actuating cylinder means 58 provided with stem means 59 with an end 61 of which the tailstock means 57 is associated.

Between the stem means 59 and the tailstock means 57 bearing means is interposed 60 that enables the tailstock means 57 to rotate in relation to the stem means 59.

The actuating cylinder means 58 is of the dual-effect type and is suitable for transferring the tailstock means 57 between a retracted rest position P1, indicated with a dotted line in Figure 13, in which the roller-shaped support bases 3b can be inserted between the tailstock means 57 and the headstock means of the spindle, and a forward working position P2, indicated by a continuous line in Figure 13, in which the tailstock means 57 immobilises the roller-shaped support bases 3b against the headstock means.

The actuating cylinder means 58 is configured in such a way as to support the stem means 59 in two distinct zones 62, 63, when the tailstock means 57 is in the forward working position P2.

This enables deformation of the stem means 59 to be limited during a working cycle of the apparatus 1.

With reference to Figures 14 to 17, there is shown an apparatus according to the invention provided with a device suitable for associating a portion of metal wire 81 with the bristle elements that are inserted into the holes 9, in such a way as to enable the manufacture of brushes having a more aggressive cleaning action.

The metal wire 81 may be made of steel and may have a rectangular section, for example measuring 2 X 0.5 millimetres.

The length of the portion of metal wire 81 may be slightly less than the length of the bristles.

The metal wire 81 is initially wound around a reel, which is not shown, from which it is picked up by a motorized unwinder equipped with a dosing storage unit.

This device comprises a brushless motor 72 arranged for driving the rotation of an unwinding wheel 73 cooperating with an abutment wheel 74 supported in an idle revolving manner by a frame of the apparatus.

The abutment wheel 74 is suitable for pressing the metal wire 81 against the unwinding wheel 73 to enable transfer of the metal wire 81 in an advancing direction F4.

In this way, by driving the brushless motor 72 for a certain number of revolutions, it is possible to unwind a portion of metal wire 81 having a desired length.

The device furthermore comprises cutting means 82 arranged for cutting the portion of metal wire 81 to the desired length.

The cutting means 82 comprises a movable blade 76 cooperating with a fixed blade 75.

The movable blade 76 is controlled through an arm 78 by a cam 77 rotatingly actuated by the motor shaft of the apparatus.

The cutting means 82 is movable as indicated by the arrow F5 parallel to the advancing direction F4 of the metal wire 81, in such a way as to enable portions of metal wire 81 of the desired length to be obtained.

In Figures 14 and 15, there is shown an embodiment of the transfer tool 34 suitable for picking up a portion of metal wire 81 and delivering it to the positioning tool 70.

The transfer tool 34 is provided with a lever 79 shaped as a "V" and hinged on an external zone 83 of the transfer tool 34. The lever 79 comprises a first appendage 84 hinged on a free end 86 of a rod 87 of an actuator 80 connected to a frame of the apparatus 1.

The lever 79 furthermore comprises a second appendage 85 arranged for pressing the portion of metal wire 81 against an external surface 88 of the transfer tool 34.

By driving the actuator 80 it is therefore possible to immobilise the portion of metal wire 81 on the transfer tool 34, keep the portion integral with the transfer tool 34 during the shift of the latter and lastly enable the transfer of the portion of metal wire 81 from the transfer tool 34 to the positioning tool 70.

During operation, the unwinding wheel 73 and the abutment wheel 74 convey the metal wire 81 forwards to the transfer tool 34.

Subsequently, the cutting means 82 cuts the metal wire 81 in such a way as to obtain a portion of metal wire 81 that extends on both sides of the transfer tool 34 in such a way that the transfer tool 34 interacts with a portion positioned near the centre line of the portion.

As the transfer tool 34 is therefore driven in the direction indicated by the arrow T, it picks up the portion of metal wire 81, in such a way that that it is immobilised between the second appendage 85 and the external surface 88.

Subsequently, the transfer tool 34 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow T to a position in which, following driving of the actuator 80, the second appendage 85 is removed from the external surface 88 to allow the transfer tool 34 to deposit the portion of metal wire 81 inside the chamber 71.

Subsequently, the transfer tool 34 is rotated yet further in the direction of the arrow T, in such a way as to deposit a bunch of bristles associated with the notch 37 inside the chamber 71.

Also subsequently, the pusher tool simultaneously inserts the bristles and the portion of metal wire 81 associated with them inside a hole 9.