APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BRISTLE PRODUCTS

Abstract

An apparatus for producing bristle products is provided. The apparatus (1) has at least two, preferably redundant, tufting units (3, 4) which can optionally be moved from a setting-up position (7) outside a working chamber (8) of the apparatus (1) into a working position (9) within the working chamber (8) and vice versa, in particular such that, whenever one of the at least two tufting units (3, 4) is arranged in the setting-up position (7), another of the at least two tufting units (3, 4) can be or is arranged in the working position (9).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2022 100 716.2, filed Jan. 13, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing bristle products, in particular brushes, brooms and/or paintbrushes.

BACKGROUND

DE 1 632 376 A1 has disclosed a brush production machine which comprises a set of tools consisting of a plurality of drilling tools and tufting tools, wherein the number of tufting tools is greater by one than the number of drilling tools, and in each case the tufting tool which is not in operation can be switched off at least to an extent such that no clusters of bristles are output by it.

Apparatuses of the type mentioned at the beginning are also known in practice in various embodiments. The previously known apparatuses have tufting units with which bristle bundles can be tufted into provided bristle product bodies in order to produce a stock of bristle bundles.

Tufting units of this type can have tufting tools, by means of which bristle bundles previously retrieved from a bristle magazine are tufted together with a fastening tie consisting of a tie wire into a bundle-receiving hole in a bristle product body and anchored there.

Apparatuses of this type are often used for producing different bristle product patterns. The change of pattern generally requires diverse adaptations to the apparatus and in particular to the tufting unit thereof. It is thus possible, for example, that, for a change of pattern, what is referred to as a pusher tongue, with which fastening ties together with bristle bundles are tufted into provided bristle product bodies, has to be exchanged. This may also be necessary if the pusher tongue is damaged. Likewise, for a change of pattern, what is referred to as a bundle divider of the tufting unit, with which bristle bundles can be retrieved from a store of loose bristle filaments, may also need to be adapted. Pattern-dependent adaptations may also be required with regard to a wire feed apparatus, with which tie wire for producing fastening ties can be fed to the tufting tool of a tufting unit. Similar work may also be needed for servicing, repair, setting up and/or maintaining the apparatus. All of these measures necessitate shutting down the apparatus and may reduce its overall equipment effectiveness.

SUMMARY

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned at the beginning which promotes greater overall equipment effectiveness.

To achieve the object, an apparatus having one or more of the features disclosed herein directed towards an apparatus for producing bristle products is provided. To achieve the object, in particular an apparatus for producing bristle products, in particular brushes, brooms and/or paintbrushes, is therefore provided, which apparatus has at least two tufting units for tufting bristle bundles into bristle product bodies, wherein the tufting units are alternately movable from a setting-up position outside a working chamber of the apparatus into a working position within the working chamber and vice versa. Thus, whenever one of the at least two tufting units is arranged in its setting-up position, another of the at least two tufting units can be arranged in a working position within the working chamber of the apparatus.

In this way, an apparatus for producing bristle products is created which permits setting up, which is necessary in the event of a change of pattern, for example, of one of the at least two tufting units outside the working chamber without the apparatus having to be shut down in the meantime. While work is being undertaken at the tufting unit located in the setting-up position, the other tufting unit, which is in the meantime in the working position, can continue to be used independently thereof in order to tuft bristle bundles into provided bristle product bodies. The apparatus can therefore continue to be used for producing bristle products even when work is being carried out on one of the at least two tufting units.

The apparatus according to the invention provides corresponding advantages also in the event of maintenance or servicing measures. As soon as work has to be undertaken at one of the at least two tufting units, the tufting unit concerned can be moved into the setting-up position outside the working chamber of the apparatus while the other tufting unit can be used within the working chamber in order to produce bristle products.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, provision is made that, for changing the position of the tufting units, said apparatus has a changing apparatus with which the tufting units can be moved from their setting-up position into the working position. The changing apparatus can be set up for preferably automatically changing the position of the tufting units between their setting-up position and the working position. The changing apparatus can have a rotary unit, for example with a rotary disc, on which the at least two tufting units of the apparatus are arranged. The rotary unit acts as a rotatable and common carrier structure for the at least two tufting units.

For the changing of the position between the working position and their setting-up position and vice versa, the tufting units can be rotatable, in particular with the changing apparatus, about a, preferably common, axis of rotation. In this way, the movement of the at least two tufting units between their setting-up position and the working position within the working chamber can take place in a rotational movement. The changing of the position of the tufting units can be undertaken by means of a rotational movement in one direction of rotation or else by an alternating rotational movement.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, provision is made that the apparatus, in particular the changing apparatus, has a linear unit with which the tufting units are linearly movable. A linear axis of the linear unit can be oriented here transversely or at a right angle with respect to an axis of rotation, for example with respect to the axis of rotation already previously mentioned, of a changing apparatus, for example of the changing apparatus already previously mentioned.

In particular whenever the tufting units are rotated about a, preferably common, axis of rotation for changing the position, it may be expedient to move the tufting units beforehand along a linear axis of the linear unit into a position approximate to the axis of rotation. The centrifugal forces occurring when the rotational movement is carried out are thereby reduced. The linear unit can furthermore be used to move, in particular to position, the tufting units located in the setting-up position and/or in the working position.

The apparatus can furthermore have a docking apparatus with which a tufting unit located in the working position can be fixed and/or can be aligned, in particular can be centred, in the working position. For this purpose, the docking apparatus can have at least one fixing device located in the working position and preferably in each case at least one corresponding mating fixing device at each of the tufting units. The previously mentioned linear unit can be used to position the tufting units into the active region of the docking apparatus in the working position or to release the tufting units from the docking apparatus.

The apparatus can furthermore have a protection device which bounds the working chamber. The protection device can be configured to prevent an unauthorized access to the working chamber of the apparatus. The protection device can have a switching-off apparatus with which functional units of the apparatus, in particular the tufting units, are deactivated as soon as access to the working chamber of the apparatus is established.

The protection device can comprise a protective fence and/or an electronic access boundary. The protection device can have, for example, at least one light barrier and/or at least one light curtain as the electronic access boundary. If the protective fence is opened, the switching-off apparatus can deactivate functional units of the apparatus.

If the protection device has an electronic access boundary, for example with a light barrier and/or with a light curtain, the switching-off apparatus can be connected to the light barrier and/or to the light curtain. If the light barrier and/or light curtain is/are switched on because of unauthorized access to the working chamber, the switching-off apparatus can be activated to switch off the functional units of the apparatus.

The protection device can be temporarily deactivatable and/or openable for changing the position of the tufting units between their setting-up position and the working position.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, provision is made that at least part of the protection device, in particular a fence section, is arranged between the at least two tufting units on the changing apparatus and, during a change of the position of the tufting units, is movable together with them. In this way, opening of the protection device for a change of the position of the tufting units can take place by means of the tufting unit movement undertaken for the change of position.

The tufting units of the apparatus are preferably functionally redundant with respect to each other. The function of a tufting unit which is in the setting-up position can thus be taken over by a tufting unit of the at least two tufting units that is arranged in the working position. Each tufting unit can have at least one tufting tool and/or at least one tie wire feed apparatus and/or at least one bundle-dividing apparatus and/or at least one bristle magazine.

Bristle bundles together with fastening ties can be tufted into provided bristle product bodies by means of a tufting tool. A tie wire feed apparatus can be used to feed tie wire for fastening ties to the tufting tool. A bundle-dividing apparatus can be used to retrieve bristle bundles from a store of loose bristle filaments which can be stored in a bristle magazine of the tufting unit. By means of a corresponding movement of the bundle-dividing apparatus, bristle bundles can be divided from the bristle store and fed to the tufting tool.

So that the apparatus can be retrofitted to another bristle product pattern in a comparatively simple manner, it may be expedient if at least one tufting tool of a tufting unit has an exchangeable pusher tongue.

The apparatus can have, preferably within the working chamber, at least one station for processing and/or handling bristle products and/or bristle product bodies. For example, a tufting station, a milling station, a drilling station and/or a handling station can be provided as the station. The tufting units which are changeable in their positions can be assigned to a tufting station of the apparatus that is arranged at the previously defined working position.

At the drilling station, it is possible to provide bristle holders with bundle-receiving holes. The tufting units of the apparatus can be used to tuft bristle bundles into the bundle-receiving holes produced in the drilling station. In a milling station, tufted bristle bundles can be trimmed, in order to provide the set of bristles of the bristle products with a certain contour.

The apparatus can have a transport apparatus with at least one transport holder with which bristle products and/or bristle product bodies are movable within the working chamber between stations of the apparatus.

At a handling station, bristle product bodies to be processed can be introduced into the working chamber of the apparatus and finished bristle products can be removed from the working chamber and optionally delivered to a downstream process step.

The transport holder already mentioned previously can be set up to clamp bristle product bodies and/or bristle products and/or can be movable in order to position the bristle products and/or bristle product bodies on a plurality of axes.

The apparatus can have a controller for activating functional units of the apparatus, in particular for activating the at least two tufting units, the changing apparatus already mentioned previously, the protection device and/or the at least one station of the apparatus, which station has already been mentioned previously and is arranged within the working chamber.

The controller can comprise a data interface. The controller can be connected at least temporarily to a data memory and/or can be configured for preferably bidirectional communication with the data memory via the data interface. From the data memory, the controller can read data stored in the data memory for the production, servicing, maintenance and/or setting up of the apparatus. The controller can also be configured to describe the data memory and to store corresponding data in the data memory. The data memory with which the controller can communicate via its data interface, is preferably a cloud-based data memory.

The apparatus can therefore at least temporarily have a preferably cloud-based data memory, preferably in which production program data, process parameters, servicing data, maintenance data, setting-up data and/or data relating to the tufting units are stored for retrieval by the controller.

For each bristle product pattern to be produced with the apparatus, a dedicated data set can be stored in the cloud-based data memory. It is thereby possible to enable the apparatus via the cloud-based data memory to produce new bristle product patterns. This can take place from afar, for example by means of the manufacturer of the apparatus. This permits a retrospective functional adaptation of apparatuses already delivered for producing bristle products.

Via its data interface, the controller can also store data, in particular data which have been collected by the apparatus, for example via at least one sensor of the apparatus, in the data memory. The data are then available there optionally for evaluation and/or for use by other apparatuses for producing bristle products.

In this connection, it may therefore be expedient if the apparatus has at least one sensor for data acquisition. Furthermore, process parameters, servicing data, production program data, maintenance data, setting-up data and/or data relating to the tufting units of the apparatus can also be stored via the data interface in the data memory for analysis and/or use by other apparatuses for producing bristle products. All of the previously mentioned data can also be data which, for example, have been produced automatically or else have been input or read in by an operator during the setting up, servicing, maintenance or use of the apparatus for producing bristle products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment, but is not restricted to this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments emerge by combining the features of individual claims or a plurality of claims with one another and/or in a combination of individual features or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiment.

In the figures:

FIG. 1: shows a perspective illustration of an apparatus for producing bristle products, which has two tufting units which are movable alternately into a processing position within a working chamber of the apparatus, with a first of the two tufting units being in the working position,

FIG. 2: shows the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 before a change of position of the tufting units, wherein a protection device bounding the protective chamber is open for the change of position,

FIG. 3: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 immediately after the change of position of the tufting units,

FIG. 4: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the protection device closed and the second tufting unit docked in the working position, and

FIG. 5: shows the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the second tufting unit in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All of the figures show an apparatus, denoted in its entirety by 1, for producing bristle products 2. Examples of bristle products 2 which can be produced by means of the apparatus 1 shown in the figures are brushes, brooms and paintbrushes.

The apparatus 1 comprises two tufting units 3 and 4 with which bristle bundles 5 can be tufted into provided bristle product bodies 6. Owing to the fact that the apparatus 1 has a total of two tufting units 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 is configured redundantly with respect to the tufting of bristle bundles 5.

The tufting units 3 and 4 can be moved optionally and alternately from a setting-up position 7 outside a working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 into a working position 9 within the working chamber 8. In this way, one of the two tufting units 3 or 4 in the working position 9 can always be arranged within the working chamber 8 while measures for servicing, checking, maintenance, repair, conversion and/or setting up can be undertaken at the respective other tufting unit 4 or 3, which is located in the setting-up position 7.

The apparatus 1 shown in the figures has advantages in particular for a change of pattern, for which frequently more extensive work has to be undertaken at a tufting unit. While the one tufting unit 3 or 4 which is located in the working position 9 can continue to be operated, it is possible to undertake corresponding measures for adapting the apparatus 1 for changing the pattern at the other tufting unit 4 or 3, which is located in the setting-up position 7 outside the working chamber 8.

The apparatus 1 can therefore be used without relatively great interruptions during the production of bristle products 2. The two tufting units 3 and 4 therefore promote high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 has a changing apparatus 10 which comprises a rotary unit 11 with which the two tufting units 3 and 4 can optionally be moved from their setting-up position 7 into the working position 9. The two tufting units 3 and 4 can be rotated about a common axis of rotation 12 between the working position 9 and their setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10. The changing apparatus 10 is constructed in such a manner that, whenever one of the two tufting units 3 or 4 is in the working position 9, the other of the two tufting units 3 or 4 is arranged in the setting-up position 7.

The figures show that the changing apparatus 10 has a linear unit 13 with which the tufting units 3 and 4 are movable linearly on the changing apparatus 10. The linear movement of the tufting units 3, 4 caused by the linear unit 13 takes place transversely, namely at a right angle, with respect to the axis of rotation 11 of the changing apparatus 10. The linear unit 13, by means of two guide rails 34, defines a linear axis 14, along which the two tufting units 3 and 4 can be moved from a position approximate to the axis of rotation 12 (compare FIGS. 2 and 3) into an outer position on the changing apparatus 10 (compare FIGS. 1, 4 and 5).

The tufting units 3 and 4 take up the positions approximate to the axis of rotation 12 when the tufting units 3 and 4 are rotated, for the previously described change of position, from the setting-up position 7 into the working position 9 or from the working position 9 into the setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10 and the rotary unit 11 thereof.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a docking apparatus 15. The docking apparatus 15 can be used to fix a tufting unit 3, 4, which is located in the working position 9, in the working position 9 and to centre same in the working position 9. For this purpose, the docking apparatus 15 has two fixing device 35 located at the working position 9 and being in the form of fixing receptacles and in each case two corresponding mating fixing devices 36 in the form of fixing pins at each of the tufting units 3, 4. FIG. 1 shows the first tufting unit 3 at the docking apparatus 15.

By means of a movement of the tufting unit 3 along the linear axis 14 of the linear unit 13, the docking apparatus 15 is released (compare FIG. 2) and the tufting unit 3 becomes free. The tufting unit 3 can subsequently be moved into the setting-up position 7 by means of the changing apparatus 10.

Having reached the setting-up position 7, the tufting unit 3 is then moved again along the linear axis 14 of the linear unit 13 into an outer position on the changing apparatus 10.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a protection device 16 which prevents unauthorized access to the working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 and bounds the working chamber 8.

The protection apparatus 16 is in the form of a protective fence. An embodiment of the protection device 16 that is not shown in the figures comprises an electronic access boundary, for example at least one light barrier and/or at least one light curtain, by means of which the working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 is bounded.

The protection device 16 can optionally also comprise a switching-off apparatus which, in the event of unauthorized access to the working chamber 8, ensures that the functional units of the apparatus 1 are switched off. This increases the working safety during use of the apparatus 1.

For a change of position of the tufting units 3, 4, the protection device 16 can be opened in the region of the two tufting units 3 and 4. For this purpose, a fence section 17 of the protection device 16 can be raised so as not to obstruct the rotational movement of the tufting units 3 and 4 about the axis of rotation 12.

In an embodiment of the apparatus 1 that is not shown in the figures, provision is made that at least part of the protection device 16, for example the previously mentioned fence section 17, is arranged at the changing apparatus 10 and between the at least two tufting units 3 and 4 and, during a movement of the tufting units 3 and 4, is moved together with them.

The tufting units 3 and 4 are constructed functionally redundantly with respect to one another. Each of the tufting units 3 and 4 shown in the figures has a tufting tool 18, a tie wire feed apparatus 19, a bundle-dividing apparatus 20 and a bristle magazine 21.

The tufting tools 18 of the tufting units 3 and 4 of the apparatus 1 shown in the figures in each case have changeable pusher tongues 22. This promotes adaptation of the tufting units 3 and 4 in the event of a change of pattern.

A store of loose bristle filaments is in each case contained in the bristle magazines 21 of the tufting units 3 and 4. In the case of each of the tufting units 3 and 4, bristle bundles 5 can be removed from the bristle magazine 21 by means of the bundle-dividing apparatus 20, by a dividing movement of the bundle-dividing apparatus 20 along the bristle magazine 21, and fed to the tufting tool 18.

Fastening ties are supplied to the tufting tools 18 by means of the tie wire feed apparatuses 19. By means of a movement of the pusher tongues 22, the fastening ties can then be tufted together with the bristle bundles 5 into provided bristle product bodies 6.

Within its working chamber 8, the apparatus 1 has a plurality of stations for processing and handling bristle products 2 and bristle product bodies 6. One of the stations is a drilling station 23. Bundle-receiving holes 24 can be produced in provided bristle product bodies 6 in the drilling station 23. A tufting station 25 is provided downstream of the drilling station 23, the tufting station essentially being formed by the two position-changeable tufting units 3 and 4 of the apparatus 1. Downstream of the tufting station 25, the apparatus 1 has a milling station 26. Tufted bristle bundles 5 can be trimmed in the milling station 26.

Downstream of the milling station 26, the apparatus 1 has a handling station 27. In the handling station 27, bristle product bodies 6 can be placed into the apparatus 1 or finished bristle products 2 removed from the apparatus 1.

The previously mentioned stations 23, 25, 26 and 27 are arranged uniformly distributed around a transport apparatus 28. The transport apparatus 28 has a plurality of transport holders 29 with which bristle products 2 and/or bristle product bodies 6 can be moved within the working chamber 8 between the stations of the apparatus 1. The transport holders 29 are movable on a plurality of axes in order to carry out positioning movements. Bristle products 2 and/or bristle product bodies 6 can thus be positioned as required by means of the transport holders 29 for processing and/or handling at the stations 23, 25, 26 and 27.

The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a controller 30 which is configured for activating the functional units of the apparatus 1. Specifically, the controller 30 is configured for activating the tufting units 3, 4 of the changing apparatus 10, the protection device 16 and the stations 23, 25, 26, 27 and also the transport apparatus 28.

The controller 30 comprises a data interface 31 via which the controller 30 can be at least temporarily connected to a cloud-based data memory 32. The cloud-based data memory 32 is at least temporarily part of the apparatus 1 and contains data, such as, for example, production program data, process parameters, servicing data, maintenance data, setting-up data and/or data relating to the tufting units 3 and 4. The abovementioned data are available in the cloud-based data memory 32 for retrieval and for use by the controller 30.

The controller 30 is also configured for describing the data memory 32 and for storing corresponding data in the data memory 32. The two arrows denoted by 33 symbolize a bidirectional data connection between the controller 30 and the data memory 32.

The diverse remaining arrows shown in the figures symbolize a movement of the functional units of the apparatus that are marked by the arrows.

The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of bristle product production. For this purpose, an apparatus 1 is proposed which has at least two, preferably redundant tufting units 3 and 4 which can be alternately moved from a setting-up position 7 outside a working chamber 8 of the apparatus 1 into a working position 9 within the working chamber 8 and vice versa, in particular such that, whenever one of the at least two tufting units 3 or 4 is in the setting-up position 7, another of the at least two tufting units 3 or 4 can be or is arranged in the working position 9.

List of Reference Signs
1  Apparatus
2  Bristle product
3  Tufting unit
4  Tufting unit
5  Bristle bundle
6  Bristle product body
7  Setting-up position
8  Working chamber
9  Working position
10 Changing apparatus
11 Rotary unit
12 Axis of rotation
13 Linear unit
14 Linear axis
15 Docking apparatus
16 Protection device
17 Fence section
18 Tufting tool
19 Tie wire feed apparatus
20 Bundle-dividing apparatus
21 Bristle magazine
22 Pusher tongue
23 Drilling station
24 Bundle-receiving hole
25 Tufting station
26 Milling station
27 Handling station
28 Transport apparatus
29 Transport holder
30 Controller
31 Data interface
32 Data memory
33 Bidirectional data connection
34 Guide rail of 13
35 Fixing device of 15
36 Mating fixing device of 15

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for producing bristle products (2), the apparatus comprising:

a working chamber; and

at least two tufting units (3, 4) for tufting bristle bundles (5) into bristle product bodies (6), and the tufting units (3, 4) are alternately movable from a setting-up position (7) outside a working chamber (8) into a working position (9) within the working chamber (8) and vice versa.

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a changing apparatus (10) configured to change a position of the tufting units (3, 4) from the setting-up position (7) into the working position (9).

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the changing apparatus (10) includes a rotary unit (11) on which the tufting units (3, 4) are arranged.

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein, for changing a position between the tufting units (3, 4) between the working position (9) and the setting-up position (7), the tufting units (3, 4) are rotatable about an axis of rotation (12).

5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a linear unit (13) with which the tufting units (3, 4) are linearly movable transversely with respect to an axis of rotation (12) of a of the changing apparatus (10).

6. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a docking apparatus (15) with which the tufting unit (3, 4) located in the working position (9) is at least one of fixed or aligned in the working position (9).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus (15) has at least one fixing device (35) at the working position (9) and in each case at least one corresponding mating fixing device (36) at each of the tufting units (3, 4).

8. The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a protection device (16) which bounds the working chamber (8), the protection device (16) comprising at least one of a switching-off apparatus, a protective fence, an electronic access boundary, at least one light barrier, or at least one light curtain.

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the protection device (16) is at least one of openable or deactivatable for changing a position of the tufting units (3, 4).

10. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the protection device (16) is arranged between the at least two tufting units (3, 4) on the changing apparatus (10) and, during a movement of the tufting units (3, 4), is movable together therewith.

11. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two tufting units (3, 4) are functionally redundant with respect to one another.

12. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein each said tufting unit (3, 4) has at least one of a tufting tool (18), a tie wire feed apparatus (19), a bundle-dividing apparatus (20), or a bristle magazine (21).

13. The apparatus (1) according to claim 12, wherein at least one tufting tool (18) comprises an exchangeable pusher tongue (22).

14. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a station for at least one of processing or handling at least one of bristle products (2) or bristle product bodies (6).

15. The apparatus (1) according to claim 14, wherein the station is at least one of a tufting station (25), a milling station (26), a drilling station (23), or a handling station (27).

16. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a transport apparatus (28) with at least one transport holder (29) with which at least one of bristle products (2) or bristle product bodies (6) are movable within the working chamber (8) between stations of the apparatus (1).

17. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a controller (30) for activating at least one of the tufting units (3, 4), a changing apparatus (10), a protection device (16), at least one of a processing or handling station, or a transport apparatus (28).

18. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, wherein the controller (30) comprises a data interface (31) via which the controller (30) is at least temporarily connectable to a data memory (32) and/or is configured for reading the data memory (32).

19. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, further comprising a data memory (32) in which data is stored for retrieval by the controller (30).

20. The apparatus (1) according to claim 17, wherein the data comprises at least one of production program data, process parameters, servicing data, maintenance data, setting-up data, or data relating to the tufting units (3, 4).