Apparatus to remove one individual hair/fiber at a time from a tuft using a gripping device

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) to remove one individual hair/fiber ( 2 ) at a time from a tuft ( 3 ) using a gripping device ( 4 ), which has a first and a second opposing gripping element ( 5, 6 ). The first and the second gripping elements ( 5, 6 ) are relatively moveable with respect to one another, wherein the first gripping element ( 5 ) has a wedge-shaped groove ( 7 ) oriented towards the second gripping element ( 6 ) and the second gripping element ( 6 ) has an essentially flat counterpressure zone ( 8 ), and wherein the first gripping element ( 5 ) is tapered on the side of the wedge-shaped groove ( 7 ) (taper A) (FIG. 2 ).

1 . An apparatus to remove one individual hair/fiber at a time from a tuft using a gripping device, which comprises a first opposing gripping element and a second opposing gripping element, and wherein the first and the second gripping element are relatively movable with respect to each other, and wherein the first gripping element comprises a wedge-shaped groove oriented towards the second gripping element and the second gripping element comprises an essentially flat counterpressure zone, wherein the first gripping element is tapered on the side of the wedge-shaped groove (taper A).  
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped groove has an edge width (C) of approximately 40 μm.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped groove has an angle (alpha) of approximately 45 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the taper (A) is formed by a pointy cone.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the taper (A) is formed by a rectangular pyramid tip.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping element is designed as a rotation-symmetrical disk, wherein the wedge-shaped groove is designed as a peripheral ring groove with a chamfer on each side.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping element is designed as a rotation-symmetrical disk, wherein the wedge-shaped groove is designed as a peripheral ring groove with a chamfer on each side, and the second gripping element is a cylindrical disk, wherein the peripheral ring groove and a surface of the cylindrical disk communicate with one another.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the rotation-symmetrical disk consists of two similar half-disks.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gripping elements communicate with an electrical detection device to collect an individual hair/fiber from a tuft.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second gripping elements are formed as an electric current bridge when the elements come into mechanical contact (B) with each other, wherein a current flow signals that there is no individual hair/fiber from a tuft between the first and the second gripping element.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, during the gripping process, there is a spring-loaded touch contact between the first gripping element and the second gripping element using a spring device.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the spring device is arranged in a first and/or second shank of the first and/or second gripping element and consists of a bore hole with a lateral slot.