GB682019A - Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of candles and like articles - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0682019/III/1> <PICT:0682019/III/2> <PICT:0682019/III/3> In the manufacture of wax candles, a continuous rod of wax-covered wick is made by extruding solid wax under pressure through an orifice around a wick which is guided towards the centre of the orifice to be drawn forward by the extruded wax, the extrusion being effected at a temperature and speed such that, with no cooling of the extruded product other than by contact with the air, the product is a continuous rod sufficiently firm to be handled; successively tipping the free end of the extruded wax rod by causing relative movement towards each other of the outer end of the rod and a rotating cutter capable of uncovering a short-length of wick at this end; and cutting off the desired length of wax rod after each tipping operation to form a candle and to expose a fresh end of the rod for tipping. In a suitable extrusion apparatus for the process, an extrusion cylinder 20 is mounted in line with a ram 18 on the end of a piston rod, the piston of which is contained in a hydraulic cylinder 16 and is operated by hydraulic pressure by oil from a tank 13 and pressure pump 14. The extrusion cylinder 20 is held by a plate 8 of the framework and a strap 17 welded to a cross-beam 19. The extrusion nozzle comprises a base plate 28 bolted to the plate 8, a nozzle plate 29 hinged to the base plate at 30, Fig. 2A, and a die plate 31 bolted to the nozzle plate and having an extrusion orifice 32. The nozzle assembly is clamped in position by a pivoted lever 33. A wick tube 34 is fixed in a slot provided in the rear face of the nozzle plate 29, the tip of the tube being bent so that a wick issues thereform on the axis of the orifice 32. The wick is carried on a spool 36. A stripper cone 42 with a sharpened rear edge is mounted in front of the extrusion orifice 32. In operation, the extruded rod is formed round the wick protruding from the wick tube, the wick being drawn forward by the wax as it advances through the extrusion nozzle. In hot climates, the extrusion cylinder or nozzle assembly may be provided with water cooling. A suitable composition for small candles comprises paraffin wax, 89.5 per cent; stearine, 7.5 per cent; beeswax, 3 per cent. From the stripper cone, the rod is led to the tipping and cutting machine for conversion into candles, a device being inserted therebetween for allowing the latter machine to work without interruption. The loop of wax rod 53 increases or shortens according to the position of the pulley 50 on the rails 52, the pulley 50 running up the rails when the extrusion machine is stopped for rechanging. The tipping and cutting machine, more fully described in Specification 682,018, comprises a set of feed rollers 60, Fig. 3, which grip the rod 53 and advance it intermittently towards a tipping cutter head 61 continuously rotated by a motor 62. When the rollers, driven by a mechanism 63, have advanced the rod through nearly the length of one candle, the motor 62 and cutter head 61 are moved to the left, as shown, by a cam 64 and arm 65 to meet the advancing 4od 53 and cut a conical tip on the rod, leaving a short length of wick exposed. The cutter head 61 is then moved to the right. The rollers 60 now hold the rod 53 stationary and a knife blade 66 carried by a rotor 67 parts the rod which is pushed by an arm 68 into a shoot 69.