DE1604501A1 - Method and device for sharpening the ends of a branch of an artificial Christmas tree - Google Patents

Description

W ... 12- 846/66 ■ '12 / Bö ·

Percy Dieffenbach

0Iypliant, Pennsylvania (V ₀ St "Α.)

Method and apparatus for sharpening the ends of a branch of an artificial, Christmas tree eso

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sharpening the tip or end of a branch of an artificial Christmas tree or the like, and more particularly to a fully automated apparatus for creating the correct sharpening on the twig without the threads carried thereon / au confuse or » to. affect. Burning further refers to an automatic device for imparting the correct bend to a pointed or non-pointed branch at the point and / or on the branch to be inserted into the otarnm with minimal disturbance or confusion of the hands worn on the branches. -

009846/1378

In recent years, artificial Christmas tree designs have become fashionable in which multiple tree branches are supported by a central tree trunk. The branches are made up of two twisted wires that carry pre-cut synthetic threads, which to some extent represent the needles of a natural tree. The branches are formed of a material that is referred to in the industry as "brush stock" in which the threads arranged same length and are arranged centrally, so that the ends of the _(threads radially at right angles to the axis of the branch extend.

The brush stick is thus cylindrical in shape provided with a non-changing diameter gauge. For a natural evergreen tree, the new ones are Needles a lot at the top of the branch, of course shorter than the mature needles further inward from the Branch tip. Thus nature creates branches, the ends of which have the shape of a rounded or pointed cone.

To create an artificial Christmas tree that looks the most attractive to the buying public. it has been found desirable to sharpen every tip of the Christmas tree branch in order to produce a product create that looks very similar to an actual tree. As the plastic needles, for example, from Needles formed from polyvinyl chloride »excellent elastic

. BAD 009846/1378

160Λ501

bad memory is achieved by merely mechanically deforming the needles. the tip obtained by bending it from the radial position into a position in line with the twisted wires only a momentary tapering Position, and upon subsequent cooling, the resilience of the needles allows them to remain in their inclined or in-line position so that an actual taper is produced at the top of the branch of "the artificial tree ". ■: ■. -

It is known to heat plastic to do this elastic memory of the plastic material to change temporarily, and it is known to deform the material in the heated state, but it consists in Related to brush stick material, the problem that by all known conventional devices for deforming a part of the brush stick not only the desired one Deformation, but also a complete matting of the Needles around and in line with the twisted wires rather than the desired gradual taper is obtained in which the needles extending on the same radius to an increasing extent be tilted towards the end of the branch in sighting.

0090 ^ 6/137

About the aesthetic appearance of artificial Christmas trees To improve this type, the outer ends of a single point or multiple point will be used Branches are usually bent upwards in order to obtain maximum symmetry and shape in the tree design. Furthermore, especially in those cases where the tree is composed of branches, it is the cross-branch sections have required to bend the inside end of the branch, deh. the point which is the end that is in the with Bores provided stem extends, in downward direction, as this is the position of the bend on the Place between the attachment of the cross-branch and the end inserted in the tree trunk is what rotation of the Branch around the axis of the drilled hole prevents what would most certainly occur, since the presence of the Cross-branch creates an imbalance on the multi-apex branch.

Purposes and advantages of the invention go from the following description in which the invention is explained with reference to the drawing, for example.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a fully automated device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment _a

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1, with a hood showing the aspiration has to keep steam in the work area.

09846/1378

Fig * 3 is a view of a cable according to the Torrichtung line 3-3 of Figure 1, wherein a branch 'of an artificial tree in one ^position. Is shown in which a SpitÄenabschnitt is sharpened.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of an artificial Christmas tree tree branch with two opposite tip sections made according to the invention are pointed.

J ¹ Ig. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an artificial Christmas tree branch with a main branch section and two diagonally directed cross branches after the tips have been pointed by the method according to the invention "...".

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a second embodiment the fully automated device according to the invention with one device for bending the tip and the inner part of the strap of a pointed Christmas tree branchV

fig. Figure 7 is a front view of "part" of the "device according to fig «6» where a ba; is bent in a branch at both ends »

Fig. 8 is a side view of a part of the device according to Fig. 7 according to Mnie 8 - * '8 *

FIG. 9 is a side view of the device according to FIG Line 9-9 of Fig. 7 »

009846/1378

Figo 10 is a diagrammatic view of a Christmas tree branch with multiple tips prior to bending the tip and inner end sections at an angle to the axis of the main branch Fig11 is a perspective view of the same branch after it has passed through the branch 6 to 9 is passed through the bending portion of the device according to FIGS. In general, the invention is directed to a method of Sharpening of the outer end or the tip of an artificial one Christmas tree branch made from a multitude of pre-cut plastic threads of constant length is held by two twisted wires, the thread ends of the, branch radial and in the right V / angles protrude to the branch axis. This procedure exists in that a series of spaced-apart branches are moved while the temperature of the Threads of the tip section is increased in order to reduce their elasticity or their elastic memory, whereupon the heated threads from their in the right Angled radial position forced to an increasingly inclined position towards the tip end after which the heated oblique threads are cooled o

In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention a conveyor for Move spaced branches in

009 84 6/1378

in a sequential manner in one to the branch axis right-angled sighting. The tips of the branch run through the clamping parts of two cylindrical roller-like brushes that go in opposite directions are driven and strive to move the threads out of their right-angled position outside in positions in alignment with the branch axis to brush while being carried by the tip portion Jaden will be exposed to steam emerging from a series of nozzles exits, which is arranged near the clamping area of the brushes sindo The longitudinal axes of the oppositely driven roller-like brushes face from the direction of brush movement obliquely away, so that the outermost threads of the tip section are with the for the longest period of time driven roller-like brushes are in contact and accordingly are skewed to a greater extent than the innermost threads of the same tip portion The tip section is thus provided with a gradual taper, without any confusion or Matting results.

In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor device moves after the branch from the · clamping parts of the cylindrical roller-like brush emerges, continued that Branches in series through a bending section of the device to lead, in which a twisted endless belt, that by the moving branches themselves by friction

00 9 846 / 137S

is driven causes the pointed tip portion or the. tapered tip portions of the branch at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the Main section of the branch to be bent. At the same time, opposing ones at a distance occur grooved wheels with. the threadless inner end of the branch engage and bend this inevitably y / o to an opposite bend at the inner end; each Branch.

In Figs. 1 to 3 the invention is in one Embodiment shown when applied to artificial Christmas tree branches that only have a tip section have * At the top of Fig. 1 is a Container or funnel 1 ο shown, which consecutively receives artificial Christmas tree branches 12, their Tip portion H is pointed in a fully automatic manner by the device indicated generally at 16 is. Each branch 12 is formed from pre-cut plastic filaments 18 which are the needles of a natural To represent the coniferous tree «. The threads 18 have equal length and are held in the middle by two twisted wires 2o * The effect of twisting and the holding of the wires leads to the tendency to arrange the threads on the twisted wires 2o radially, whereby, the threads 18 generally at right angles to the axis of the Branch 12 extend. It should be noted that the branch

009846/1378

16045QI

characterized by the fact that in its splice baby .14 the ladles, instead of extending radially at right angles to the branch axis, in the direction towards the end of the tip section 14- increasingly obliquely-Ii & gen _$ in order to produce the general acuity which, to the greatest extent, is a natural branch *. ;

The device according to the invention ^r-umfaßt- substantially a table 22 in Jort an irregular rectangle, and the lisch 22 (not shown) by a number of table legs may be supported. Four vertical support parts 24, which are spaced apart from one another and are provided with bearings 26, are fastened upright on the table. The bearings 26 support transverse shafts 28 and 3o at the y order end and the rear end of the table 22. Each shaft 28, 3o carries appropriate drive wheels 52 which support endless chains or belts 34, the upper section being somewhat under two fixed guides rush .3-6 arranged in the form of strips, which are covered by a cover; or sheath 38 stand down by hanging support parts 4o. The rear shaft have 3o 1st to zweckentsprechendeVieise driven Thus, by an electric motor 42 via a conventional ^ belt drive 44 'endless-belt 34, instead, also, may be replaced by endloöe ^ chains, as long as the motor 42 ^ i EH ^- " Operation befinäet, the endeavor to be at a distance * from each other ^ί be ** ⁵ '

009846/1378

- ro - 1 60A501

sensitive branches 12 between the endless belts 34 and clamp the fixed strip guides 36, whereby the branches 12 by friction from the front end of the gate direction towards the funnel 1o for delivery in these are moved. Thus, the branches 12 become in line in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the branch 12 with the tip portion 14 extending outwardly and to one side of the left strap 34.

A second important part of the invention consists in the means for inducing the desired taper on the tip portion 14 without tangling or tangling of the individual threads 18 when they move from a radial position at right angles to increasingly oblique ones Positions are moved «, for this the table 22 is with a front L-shaped support bearing arm 46 and a rear I-shaped support bearing arm 48, which to this Serves - to drive two driven upper and lower shafts 5o and 52, spaced apart from one another, as it was on can best be seen in FIG spaced openings. which is the front ends of the shafts 5o and 52 take up. The ends of the shaft have rings 56 'around them To prevent axial movement of the shaft, however, rotation to allow their axis. The rear bearing arm 58 is also provided with an upstanding plate 58,

0098 46/137 8

which supports aie shafts 5o and 52 in the same way- .. Each "shaft 5o and 52 is coupled to an elongated cylindrical roller-like brush 6o and 62, respectively, which extend over the greater distance of the table 22 and at the Spalfbereicli ^: -64- A second drive motor 66 is supported by means not shown at the rear of the table 22 and has a suitable belt drive 68 for rotating the upper brush 6o clockwise, as shown in Fig. 2 by the upper one The brushes 6o and 62 are in circumferential contact with each other, so that the lower brush 62 can be driven in a clockwise direction by the leveling contact between the brushes Direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the upper brush 6o can be used »It is closed Note that the bearing arms 46 and 48 are not in alignment with the direction of movement of the branch 12, as shown in I ¹ Ig. 1 is indicated by the straight arrow. Instead, the powered brush 62 is inclined outwardly away from the point of entry of the branch 12 so that when the branch 12 is placed on the conveyor of the front end of the apparatus, the tip portion 14 of the branch 12 is in the gap 64 of the brushes 60 and 62 is received, wherein when the branch 12 moves backward on the conveyor, the

0 09846/1378.

Tip section 14 gradually sinks out of contact moved with the brushes 6o, 62 »It can thus be seen that the from the outer end of the tip section 14. carried suture 18 for a longer period of time than the inner sutures of the same tip section 14 in FIG Contact with the brushes 6o, 62 remain.

The two Lagerarxne 46 and 48 meet a second Function by supporting the third important element of the twig-sharpening device. A hollow one Tube 7o, which has a closed tube, is supported by openings in the two perpendicular Plates 54 and 58 at a distance, outside the brushes 6o, are formed. The plate 54 is provided with an opening 72, while the plate 58 with an opening 74 for Receiving the ends of the hollow tube 7o is provided. The pipe 7o is equipped with a series of jet nozzles 76 at the front. end of the table 22, and the nozzles 76 are in a small Y-angle directed downwards, so that the working medium in the gap 64 or the line of contact of the brushes 6o and 62 is directed »From a steam supply (not shown) incoming steam flows through a line 8o to a working fluid coupling 82, the carried by the pipe 7o extending in the longitudinal direction, is so that steam from each of the spaced nozzles 76 to the contact area the brushes 6o, 62 is directed. It can be a valve

BATH ORIGINAL 009846/1378

ISOA5OI

device 78 can be used in an appropriate manner * to control the escape of steam from the nozzles 76. The steam heats the tip sections 14 of the branches 12 when they pass between the brushes 6o * 62 at the front end of the device, whereupon the heated threads 18 lose their elastic memory or their elasticity and are pressed together by the brushing action of the brushes 6o, 62 * If the axis of the brushes 6o * would be in alignment with the direction of movement of the branches 12, all needles or threads 18 in contact with the brushes 6o, 62 would be deformed uniformly, doh "they would all be generally in alignment with of the branch axis are in a highly matted state. Instead of creating a gradual taper, only the position of the thread-like needles 18 would be changed from a radial position to an aligned position by the fact that the axis of the brushes 60, 62 is at a small angle away from the aligned position the JTadein 18 at the outer end of the tip section "14 in the gap 64 of the brush 6o, 62 during eitperiode.gehalten a longer Z and thus be obliquely set in a greater 'angle with respect to ihrevorherige rectangular radial position" When the front end 84 of the brushes 60 , 62 is heated by the steam emerging from the nozzles 76, the threads 18 of the tip section 14 graze as they pass through

0 09 84 6 / 137t /

-U-

the Bxirstenspalt 64 pressed together and heated at the same time. The threads become essentially instantaneous heated to the extent necessary so that they temporarily lose their elasticity. While the! threads 18 not to any appreciably greater extent are heated when they move out towards the position shown in Mg. 1, the remain Threads 18 in the tip section U between the brushes 60, 62 compressed to a lesser or greater extent, and once they have reached the position shown in FIG

reach and be cooled, they keep their slope - - *

Position at ,, around the gradual tapering or beveling cause, which is indicated in the finished product in the funnel 1o.

It should also be noted in connection with J? Ig _o 3 that the brushes 60 and 62 are formed from stiff radial fibers 86 which tend to brush out the needle threads 18 in the tip section 14 of the branches 12. Accordingly, the tip of the Christmas tree branches 12 actually brushed and not compressed and tangled or matted by rollers having hard surfaces.

From Fig. J5 it is also clear how the Brushes 60, 62 are heated. ' The from the nozzles 76, the are carried by the pipe To, emerging steam jets 88 penetrate the gap area 64 between the brush

BAD 009846/1378

fibers-86 around the needle-like threads 18 of the tip section 14 of the Christmas Tree Branch-12 effective to heat. A pivoting cover or hood 38 has that Aiming to keep the steam in the work area, however, it can be rotated about a hinge 59 for access to create for repairs etc. The ends of the machine are open to feed and discharge a number of To enable branches 12 to be pointed.

In Fig. 4, a branch 12 is shown with two brush assemblies and steam heating means arranged at an angle on either side of the endless conveyor so as to simultaneously taper both ends to form "double-tapered tip sections 14 ^1. The apparatus which performs this function , is the "device according to fig. 1 to 3 identical with the exception that two heating devices and brush assemblies are provided on each side of the endless conveyor device «

According to fig. 5, a modified form of a Christmas tree branch 12 ″ is provided which, in addition to the main branch section 15, has two diagonally directed transverse branches 17. The main branch section I5 and the diagonal transverse branches 17 have tip sections 14 '''which lie in a common plane. All of the tip sections 14 ^f ″ are simultaneously tapered by pulling the branch 12 ″ through the device in accordance with fig. 1 on the

009846/137

same way as the single branch 12 is passed through.

Certain changes are intended to be made can be without departing from the scope of the invention, for example other devices than two rotary brushes be provided for rotation in the manner shown in a Y / angle to the trajectory of the Branches are arranged, or steam jets can be used will which the branch at the point of contact heat with the rotating brushes. For example, heated air or a heated air instead of steam Liquid, for example water, can be used, which comes from a device of the same type for dispensing Rays can escape. It is possible to have 3 air jets uswo can be used in place of the brushes, being through changing work equipment speed the desired escalation can be achieved.

6 to 9, a modified embodiment of the invention is shown in which, in addition to the fully automatic device for tapering the tip end of the row of artificial Christmas tree branches, passing through the device, automatic means for generating desired ones Bends are provided at the tip and inner end of each branch as this passes through the move automated device through. At this

■ ■ @ ÄD ORiGENAL

009846/1378

Embodiment of the invention is the table 122, which is of the same design as the table 22 according to FIG ^{. 5 1} Ig. 1 is provided with the same type of conveyor device: in the form of endless chains or belts 134, the upper section or upper lurm slightly under two fixed guides.

gen 136 is arranged, which is a series of with several rfplzen or a single point artificial Y / 'Christmas tree Carry 112 from front to back in the direction of the arrow. The fixed guides 136 are by hanging support parts 14o on a cover or " hung up on a wrapper. "The back one, the straps load-bearing vYelle 13o is "on" by an electric motor 142 the same way as the above-described embodiment driven * The endless belts 134 work with the guides 136 together to keep the spaced apart to clamp the branches 112 between them, so that the branches 112 by friction from the front end of the "device 131 in the direction towards the delivery end I33 to be moved «Thus, be moved in the same way as at of the embodiment described above, branches 112 in FIG The row moves in a direction perpendicular to its axis with the tip portion 114 extending on the outside of the left belt 134 of the conveyor stretches away. In this embodiment there is a brush structure from cylindrical roller-like brushes inevitably driven by a motor 166, with nozzles 17β

ν-—
8AD ORIGINAL

00 984 6713 1 8

emerging steam the front end 184 of the brush assembly heated As in the above-described embodiment- ^ form, the upper brush I6o works with a lower brush (not shown) together to the desired taper at the tip end 114 of the Christmas tree branch 112 to evoke.

In this embodiment of the invention, additional means are provided to impart a desired opposite curvature to the pointed tip portion 114 of branch 112 and the inner end of the same branch 112. This is achieved through the use of a belt drive 2oo _f which is arranged on the outside of the left belt 134. In addition, a positively driven bending device 2o2 is provided on the outside of the right belt 134, which acts on the thread-free section 115 of the tree branch 112.

Two pulley support parts 2o4 stand from the top cover 138 down and support a horizontally extending shaft 2o6, a first Pulley 2o8 for free rotation around a horizontal Axis carries »There is one of these at a distance to the rear and in alignment with the pulley 2o8 second pulley 21o, which is free to rotate about a vertical axis by means of a generally vertical support part a 212 is supported, which is at the top of the Table 122 is attached to “The vertical support part

0G984 6/137 8

carries a shaft 214, which supports the belt pulley 21 ο, approximately at an angle to the horizontal, as best shown in Ed. 9. An endless one Belt 216 runs on the circumferential surface of the two in the Distance between the pulleys 21 ο and 2o8o Due to the arrangement of the front belt pulley 2o8 for rotation around a horizontal: axis and above the endless belt and by the arrangement of the rear pulley 21 ο under the conveyor belt 134 is the belt 216 twisted and it moves from a generally horizontal Position at tangent point 22o on the horizontal aligned rear belt eh ei "be 21 ο. Thus, if a non-bent branch 112 from the tapered. establishment of the gate direction exits, "moves the Tip portion 114 in contact with the outer surface of belt 216 near tangent contact point 218 $ γ / ο the belt 216 runs off the clockwise rotating pulley 2o8 (lig # 9). Since the belt 216 moves downwards and at the same time its position of changes from a generally horizontal position to a vertical position, the tip portion 114 of the branch 112 must move also bend down, as best shown in Fig. 7 is indicated. As mentioned above, it's the frictional coupling. ment between the belt 134 and each branch 112, which causes branch 112 to be calibrated from the Yorder end 131 to. the rear end 133 of the device because the drive

009846/1378

- 2ο - 1 60 4-5Q1

belt 134 positively driven by motor 142 will. . "

The contact between moving tip portion 114 and the outer surface of belt 216 causes belt 216 to move in the ^{direction indicated by arrow 222 (S 1} Xg. 9). Conveyor belt 216 moves at the same speed as branch 112 as it is moved through it. This greatly reduces the tendency for any threads in contact with the outer surface of the conveyor belt 216 to tangle or tangle as the belt 216 changes orientation and changes from a position above the plane of the conveyor to one position moved below the level of the conveyor, the tip portion 114 will naturally bend downward in the ways best indicated in FIG.

Since it is necessary to bend the inner end portion of the same branch 112 in a direction which opposite to the bend imparted to outer tip portion 114 is on the opposite side of the device a device at 2o2 for automatic Achieving such a bend provided »The device 2o2 has generally upper and lower at an axial distance mutually located overlapping grooved wheels or discs 23o and 232, which by appropriate

.0 09846/1378

Drive devices 234 with flexible cables in opposite directions Sightings are driven to a vertical From support part 24o supports two skins 2-36 and 238 from, which - carry the grooved disks 23o, 232 at the desired speed in the correct sighting, as it is indicated in Mg. 8 »The upper disk 23o rotates according to 3? ig. 8 counterclockwise while the lower disk 232 rotates clockwise. The circumference of the upper disk 23o on the underside thereof is generally in alignment with the upper tower of the conveyor belt 1341 which is the plane of branch movement certainly. The upper disk 23o is with a sieve of im ' Spaced grooves 242 provided, whose Width and depth and spacing with the diameter of the lower disk 232, the number, the spacing, the bite and. the depth of their tuna 244 as well as the speed of rotation of the disk 232 are coordinated. You are through that flexible drive device 234 driven in the opposite direction, the speed by a Usual support and gear drive device 2Φο is controlled. The flexible drive mechanism; -234 is "fc direct with the driven cutting disk i45 '. gek-uj? #elt: ,, which one assigned to the driven Siemens 144 «, therefore both disks 23o and 232 inevitably in opposite directions - continued sightings at a speed; driven, which is coordinated with the speed of the conveyor belt 134

0 0 9 8 4 6/13 7 8

is ned if these are the spaced apart Carrying branches 112 by friction

The purpose of the upper disk 25o is only therein, the inner end 115 of a branch 112 near one Bending point 117 to be arranged during the bending through the small overlapping outer disk 232 If the conveyor 134 »136 the inner end 115 of the branch 112, which does not carry any threads 18, in the gap area 246 between the somewhat overlapping grooved Seheiben 23o and 232 moved, the end 115 of the branch 112 at the point 119-'in a of the grooves 244 of the lower disk 232 so that the An effort is made to the inner end portion 115 to the Bending point 117 slightly outward of the grooved contact area with the larger upper disk 23o upwards to bend. At the point of maximum bending, which is shown in Fig. is the amount of upward deflection which the inner tip portion 115 of the branch 112 given is, by the axial distance ΐ (Fig. 7) between the two grooved disks 23o and 232 and by the extent vertical overlap determined by the stretch X (Fig. 8) is determined.

Obviously you can, instead of that, the tip section 114 of branch 112 down and the inner end are bent upwards, which is indicated in FIG. 7, the belt drive 2oo and the one rotating in opposite directions

00984 6/13 78

Pulley arrangement 2o2 with respect to the plane of the conveyor belt 134 can be arranged in various ways such that an upward bend or downward bend for the tip section 114 or the inner end section 115 »viz to a greater or lesser extent can, as it is shown in the illustrated embodiment - is. It is further noted that, although in the embodiments according to the Pig 6 to 9 a device for bending branches is shown, which the device for. Tapering of the branch ends is assigned, obviously each part of the device operated separately although, when operated simultaneously, the single device greatly reduces the amount of manual labor that is required is to create artificial tree branches while twigs be created with great uniformity, since they i.n Row are moved through the device.

The way in which the automated bender changes the Jorm of the branch is most important. can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 11, in which in Sche ^ Borrowed view of a multi-pointed ku ^ _. · Licher Christmas tree branch is shown before and after bending. The branch 312 has three tips 314, the Durnfr Wrapping a cross branch 317 around a main branch is formed are with the exception of the inner end 315 is the branch 312 formed from twisted wires, which threads between

BATH ORIGINAL

009846/1378

hold yourself, as you would when making artificial Christmas tree branches It is usual ο If the Christmas tree branches 312 of this type move in a row through the device, - they are bent to the shape shown in Fig. 11 The tips 314 are bent downwards around bending points 321, which are at a small distance from the winding point lie. The inner end 315 of the branch 312 is around the Bend 317 bent upwards · The use of the designations Of course, "up" and "down" are relative, as they are in the actual work process branch 312 is reversed when connected to the tree trunk so that tips 314 are actually bent upwards and the main branch section bent downwards is when it extends out of a hole drilled in the log.

009846/1378

Claims (1)

Pat ent claims 1. Procedure for sharpening the tip end · a A branch of a Christmas tree made from pre-cut plastic threads of constant length, which are cut from two twisted wires are held, the threads in the projecting radially at right angles to the branch axis, thereby characterized in that a row of spaced apart Branches are advanced in sequence, increasing the temperature of the filaments at the tip end of each branch is, in order to reduce their elasticity, the heated filaments are inclined from their right-angled radial position in the direction towards the tip end and that the skewed threads are cooled so that they are their Regain elasticity. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in _{that f} that the heated threads are brushed for inclination from their right-angled radial position in the direction towards the tip end. ■ .- ■ '"■■ _ _: 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the threads are heated at the tip ends to increase the temperature at the tip end of the branch by means of steam. .-. _ _: 4. Device for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 3 »characterized by a conveyor device (34> 36) to move the branch (12) 009846/137 8 in a direction perpendicular to its axis, a Heating means (76) attached to the tip section (14) of the branch is arranged opposite to increase the temperature of the thread to increase the elasticity of the threads To reduce the tip section, and by a device (6o, 62) for. Brushing the threads (18), the tip section from their perpendicular radial position to positions generally in alignment with the axis of the Branch before cooling the tip section to one gradually creating a sharpened or angled tip. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4t, characterized in that that the brush device is two cylindrical roller-like brushes (6o, 62), a device for supporting the Aligned Axis Brushes, a device for tilting the longitudinal axis of the brushes slightly away from the conveyor (34 »56) in the direction the movement of the branches (1.2), and means for driving the brushes in opposite directions has around their axes, so that the branch tip (14) during the first part of their movement on the conveyor in the nip (64) of the brush rollers is held, the outermost lace threads (18) remain in contact with the brushes for a longer period of time than those spaced inwardly from them lying lace threads. 6. Device according to spoke 4 or 5 »thereby ge 009846/1378 indicates that the heating means has a plurality of jet nozzles (76) which are close to the brush rollers (6o, 62) are arranged, the emerging from the nozzles' Rays in the direction against the gap line between the brushes are directed to the tip portion of the Effective heating of the branch. · 7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the conveyor has two spaced apart endless belts (34) and a fixed! guide device (36), which is above the upper belt surface and at a small distance from it lies whereby the guide means frictionally holds the branch on the endless belt when the branch moves at right angles to its axis through the device moved through. 8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7> characterized in that the heating device is a hollow tube (7ο) »- on the side of the roller brushes ( ^r ~ \ 62) on the opposite side of the conveyor device (34 * 3.6) Alignment with the one formed between them (64) and having a plurality of spaced apart working fluid nozzles (76) coupled to the tube and the outlet openings of which are directed towards the line of contact between the oppositely rotating brushes, and further means for delivering steam to the pipe 009846/1378 having. 9. Device for automatically bending one end of an artificial ·:;, T / ei.oiiaciitsto ^ n ^. cvlje? at an angle to the axis of the main branch section, characterized by a conveyor (134> 136) for moving a number of spaced artificial Christmas tree branches in a direction generally perpendicular to the branch axis, an endless belt (216), a device (2o8, 21o) for arranging the belt in the path of movement of the branch (112) and for moving the belt in general in alignment with the conveyor, -. being an end of the belt above the plane of branch movement, and that other end of the belt is located below this plane, so that as a result of contact between each Branch and strap the end portion of each branch is bent at an angle to the axis of the main branch section. 1o. Device according to Claim 91, characterized by spaced pulleys (2o8, 21o) for supporting the respective ends of the belt (216), means for supporting the pulley at the front end of the device for rotation by one horizontal axis, a device for supporting the rear, spaced drive pulley for rotation about a vertical axis, about twisting the belt from a generally horizontal position at the front end of the device to a generally perpendicular position 009846/1378 at the rear end to cause ^ the bending of the end of the Christmas tree branch without matting or tangling any thread-like: to facilitate needles carried by him. 11. The device according to claim 1o, characterized in that that the pulleys (2o8, 21o) are arranged for free rotation about their axes, with contact between each moving branch on the conveyor (134, 136) and the endless belt (216) 'serves to carry it through Drive friction. ·. 12. Device for automatic compulsory bending: at one end of an artificial Christmas tree branch, characterized by a conveyor device (124 »136) for moving a number of spaced artificial ones Christmas trees in a direction generally perpendicular to the two-eared jack, a first and a second Disc (23o, 232), a device for supporting the Slices in spaced parallel planes in an overlapping manner, with the gap area (246) interspersed between them the advancing branches, and by means (234) for driving the. at a distance from each other, overlapping Discs in opposite directions around their axles, whereby one end of the branch (i12) moves in the gap area between the panes in one direction and is bent to an extent due to the shape ORIGINAL - * ■ 009846/1 378 the orientation and the speed of the discs is determined. 13 · Device according to claim 12, characterized in that that the disks have grooves (242, 244) on their circumference and that the drive device is an inevitable Has drive device which couples the grooved disks to the conveyor device (134 | 136), so that the speed of the disk rotation with the conveyor speed is coordinated. 14 · Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the tangent line to one of the disks coincides with the plane of branch movement in the area of overlap. 009846/1378 I ³ ^ * * Blank page