US2430648A

US2430648A - Machine for making swabs

Info

Publication number: US2430648A
Application number: US505485A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schonrock Bernhard
Original assignee: WILLIAMS DRUG SUNDRIES Ltd
Current assignee: WILLIAMS DRUG SUNDRIES Ltd
Priority date: 1943-10-08
Filing date: 1943-10-08
Publication date: 1947-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1964-11-11

Description

Nov. 11,- 1947. SCHQNRCK 2,430,648 I MACHINE FOR MAKING SWABS Filed 001;.- 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- Mdv 3 m oc g,

ATTORNEYS NOV. 11, 1947. I SCHQNROCK 2,430,648

MACHINE FOR MAKING swABs' Filed Oqt. 8, 1943 '7- Shets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1947.

B. SCHONROCK MACHINE FOR MAKING SWABS Filed Oct. 8, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 51 Jil ml' Hm" m we , I r TNVENTOR. I 0* M I ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1947. B SCHONROQK 2,430,648

MACHINE FOR MAKING SWABS Filed 001:. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS NOV. 11,1947. 7 SCHQNRQCK v 2,430,648

" MACHINE FOR MAKING. SWABS Filed Oct. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 v INVENTOR.

BY 2%? 4&4

ATTORNE Y5 Nov, 11, 1947.

BySC HONROCK momma FOR MAKING SWABS Filed-Oct. 8, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 7' ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1947. B, gcHo RocK 2,430,648

MACHINE FOR MAKING S'WABS Q iNVENTOR.

BY 06K I Mam ATTORN E Y5 Filed Oct. 8, 1943 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 r Patented Nov. 11, 1947 MACHINE FOR MAKING SWABS Bernhard Schonrock, Ozone Park, N. Y., assignor to Williams Drug Sundries, Ltd., Toronto, On-

tario, Canada, a corporation of Canada Application October 8, 1943, Serial No. 505,485

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method and machine for making swabs and other articles. Such articles are sticks or rods to which one or more wound masses of absorbent material are applied and connected. Such absorbent applied material may be absorbent cotton, medicated or non-medicated. The invention is not limited to any type of applied absorbent material, and it is not limited to the use of applied material which is absorbent. The applied material can be wound on a mandrel which is made of any material. Said mandrel is preferably cylindrical, but it can have any shape.

It has been well-known for more than fifty years to treat a strand of absorbent cotton by several pairs of drawing rolls, in order to com press and attenuate such a strand without breaking the strand. It has also been well-known, for more than fifty years, to form a spirally wound lap of such attenuated cotton strand, by winding said strand upon a reel or mandrelwhich rests upon a pair of twirling rolls, which twirl said reel or mandrel around its own horizontal axis. It is also well-known, as in Felice U. S. Patent No. 1,700,584, to form a mass of cotton at the end of a wire mandrel which is rotated around its axis, and to interrupt the feed of the cotton, so that the continued twirling of the mandrel tears the cotton from a strand thereof.

The object of my invention is to apply these old principles to an improved swab-making machine which also has conventional transfer means for picking up the sticks one-by-one from a hopper, and for transferring such sticks to an assembly station, where the stick is assembled with the cotton. Such assembly station is provided with twirling rolls for twirling the stick, of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,175,831, issued to Spinney on Mar. 14, 1916.

According to my invention, I provide one of said twirling rolls with a cut-away face, and I supply adhesive to the stick anterior the assembly station.

Another object of my invention, is to provide feeding-gears for feeding the compressed and attenuated sliver of absorbent cotton towards the assembly station, and to operate said gears intermittently, so that said gears are held fixed between successive feeding movements, and said gears then grip the sliver to prevent the anterior end-portion of the sliver from being fed towards the assembly station, unless the sliver is broken at said gears.

Another object of the invention is to provid continuously revolving feeding-rolls between said gears and the assembly station, so that respective lengths of the sliver are successively torn off at said gears, and each respective torn-off length is fed to the stick at the assembly station.

Another object is to provide each said respective length with adhesive, directly at the point where the respective length is spirally wound on the stick, so that the spirally wound layers remain adhering to each other, after the adhesive has dried or set. This prevents the spirally wound mass of cotton from unwinding.

Another object is to provide a method and machine whereby the swab is completed as a finally finished article, at the assembly station, so that the swabs can be directly delivered from the assembly station to packing mechanism.

The invention comprises additional combinations and parts, and it is not limited to the complete combination described herein, as the invention covers numerous sub-combinations.

Additional important objects and features of the invention will be stated in the annexed description and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a section, partially in elevation, through the longitudinal, vertical, median plane of the improved machine. The parts which are shown in elevation, are in front elevation.

Fig. 1A is an enlarged detailed section of the means for removing the sticks from the hopper.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the improved machine. The longitudinal succession of the parts in Fig. 2, is therefore shown reversely to the longitudinal succession of said parts in Fig. 1. The longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the improved machine.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the improved machine, taken at the left-hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the time 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is partially in end elevation.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. '7. This shows in detail, the twirling rolls for revolvmg each stick around its own axis at the assembly station, and certain adjacent parts.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-! of Fi 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation, partially in section, of certain essential parts at the assembly station. These parts are shown in their relative positions, immediately after the twirling ofthe stick has been sta Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8, showing how the completed swab is discharged from the machine.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the completed swab, showing two masses 32 of applied material, located on the stick or rod 2. The invention includes a machine which will apply onl a single mass of material. 7 7

Two dry strandsifl of the applied material, such as dry absorbent cotton, are fed into the inlet end of the machine, by means of respective vertical guides 8a, respective horizontal guides 20, and respective longitudinal guides 8d. These guides Illa, I81), and 18d are fixed to the frame of the machine. Each fixed guide 1801 can have a longitudinal bore or channel, in which the respective strand Hi can be accurately longitudinally guided.

Each of the dry strands l8 passes between respective pairs of drawing or attenuating rolls 1%, 20b, and Zlb. The rolls of each said pair are in vertical superposed relation There are six pairs of said rolls, three pairs being provided for each strand 18. These rolls are made of steel or other suitable material. Such attenuating rolls are well-known per se, because such rolls have been used in attenuating rovings, beginning with the Arkwright spinning machine of 17.68.

The respective rolls 19b are fixed to respective shafts l9 and 19a. The respective rolls 211) are fixed to respective shafts 21 and 26a. The actuating mechanism for operating the various movable parts, will be later described. Said attenuating rolls are of equal diameter, and the respective pairs are rotated at respective difierent angular velocities, so that rolls 2% have a greater peripheral speed than :rolls 1%, and rolls 2!?) have a greater peripheral speed than rolls 26b. The attenuating rolls of each pair turn at the same constant speed. These consecutive pairs of attenuating rolls therefore exert pressure and also exert a drawing and elongating and attenuating action, upon the dry strands 1,8. Each strand is permanently compressed and vattenuated by the respective attenuating rolls.

The upper shafts i9a, 212a, and 2ia are provided with respective vertically slidable bearings, which are vertically guided in respective suitable guides which are fixed to the frame of the machine. Each said hearing has an associated pressure screw 22, whose threaded shank passes through a tapped bore of a wall .of the respective guide. The pressure between each said pair of attenuating rolls can thus be regulated.

Each condensed and drawn and attenuated dry strand l8 then passes through a respective fixed guide H522, and each strand l8 then passes downwardly between the teeth of a respective pair of intermeshing

feeding'and gripping gears

23 and 24. As shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, each strand i8 intermeshes with the teeth of the respective pair of

gears

23 and 24. Said gears 23 and 24 are intermittently revolved so that each said gear alwaysturns in the same respective direction. Each gear of said

pair

23, 24 is turned oppositely to the other gear of said pair. When said gears 23 and 24 are held stationary, they exert sufficient frictional grip on the respective dry and attenuated strand 18, to prevent the movement of said respective strand i8, downwardly away from the respective pair of feeding and gripping gears 23and 24.

By compressing and attenuating each strand anterior its respective gears 23 and 2.4, each strand is made dense and strong, so that when a respective pair of

gears

23 and 24 are held stationary, said gears can hold the respective strand against downward movement away from said ears.

Each strand I 8 then passes downwardly between a respective pair of pull-

rolls

25 and 25a, which are located in a guide casing 18c, which has a vertical outlet guide throat, through which the respective strand l8 passes. The reference letter T in Fig. 8 denotes an anterior end-length of a respective strand [8, which has been torn or separated from the respective strand. This separation is caused by the continuously revolving pull rolls or tearing-

rolls

25 and 25a, which revolve continuously, thus tearing a predetermined anterior length T off the end of the respective strand 18, during the period in which the gears '23 and 24 are held stationary to hold the respective strand I8 against the downward pulling movement of the pull-

rolls

25 and 25a.

Each end-portion of the stick 2, to which the respective length T is applied at the assembly station in order to form the respective wound swab-mass 32, is provided with a spot or spots or with a layer of adhesive, prior to the application of the respective length T to the stick at the assembly station. This adhesive may be a solution or dispersion of gum arabic in water. I can use any type of adhesive.

This adhesive is located in a tank Hit, which has two vertical and laterally spaced outlet pipes 18]. The bottom ends of pipes I81 are located directly above the top of applicator rolls .529, which are fixed to lateral shaft 52. The bottom end or" each pipe i8) is very slightly spaced from the top of the respective roll 52g. The flow of adhesive through pipes 18] is control-led by any suitable means, such as by making said pipes H3; of narrow bore, by providing valves, etc. The end-portions of the sticks 2 project laterally beyond the ends of discs I, at the station where the adhesive is applied. At the adhesive-applying station, the protecting end-part of each stick contacts with the bottom of the respective revolving roll 52g, so that each projecting end-part of stick 2 picks up a thin spot or spots or a thin layer of said adhesive from the respective roll 529.

At this adhesive-applying station, each stick 2 may revolve around its own axis, or the adhesive may be applied without revolving the stick around its own axis.

A liquid adhesive or binder is applied to each dry length T at the assembly station, so that the layers of each length T will firmly adhere to each other. This binder is applied to each length T, directly at the point where the respective length T is wound on the stick 2. I thus apply the hinder or adhesive to each length T, during the formaticn of the swab, so that each swab is completed as a finished and salable article at the assembly station. The adhesive which is applied to the respective lengths T of the dry absorbent cotton at the assembly station may also be an aqueous solution or suspension of gum arabic. The adhesive which is applied to the end-portions of the stick by rolls 52g is thick and viscous, and the adhesive which is applied to each length '1 at the assembly station is thin and fluid. Each mass 32 is provided with sufficient adhesive, to prevent unraveling of said mass 32 when the water of the adhesive has evaporated.

The adhesive which is applied .to the respective lengths T at the assembly station, is located in respective tanks Hill, which have respective vertical outlet pipes 19!, through which the fiow of the thin adhesive is controlled at a constant rate.

The adhesive is supplied to the sticks and to the lengths T, in the form of intermittent drops. The delivery of these drops is timed, by controlvalves, so that each drop is taken up by the respective end-portion of the stick at the adhesiveapplying station or by the respective length T at the assembly station. Hence, there is little or no dripping of the adhesive at either station.

The sticks 2 are located in a hopper I, at whose outlet a corrugated and continuously rotating roll 3 is located. Said roll 3 agitates the pile of sticks 2, to prevent clogging at the outlet of the hopper, where the sticks are picked up one by one, by the pick-up discs 5.

The respective laterally spaced pick-up discs 5, whose peripheries have notches 5a, project partially into hopper I. Said discs 5 are fixed to a lateral shaft 4. The respective pairs of laterally alined notches 5a, pick up the sticks 2, one by one. Each stick 2 is moved out of hopper I, under a fixed guide G, which is fixed to a wall of the hopper I, which is fixed to the frame of the machine. Said guide G prevents sticks 2 from shifting laterally relative to discs 5.

Each stick 2 is delivered by the pick-up discs 5 to a pair of laterally spaced transfer discs I, which are fixed to a lateral shaft 33. Said discs I have notches 6, which are arranged in laterally alined pairs. The leg 8 of a guide which is fixed to the frame of the machine, guides the transfer of the sticks 2, from discs 5 to discs I.

The end-portions of the sticks project laterally beyond discs I, so that said projecting end-portions are provided with adhesive by rolls 52g, while the sticks are located in notches 6. The sticks 2 are then transferred from discs I to the laterally alined notches 9 of additional laterally spaced transfer discs I0, which are fixed to lateral shaft 34, this transfer being guided by a leg I I of said fixed guide.

The front and rear end-portions of each stick 2, project laterally, namely, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1, beyond the respective discs 5, I and Iii. Each said end-portion of the stick projects equally beyond said respective discs. Suitable guide means, not shown, are provided to prevent the sticks from shifting laterally relative to said discs 5, I, I0, and the other parts which feed each stick to the assembly station. Such guide means are well-known per se.

Each stick is delivered from discs I8 to a lateral twirling roll Id, which is made of resilient vulcanized rubber, which has a high coefficient of friction. This twirling roll It has a single notch 5. The front and rear ends of said twirling roll I4 are located laterally between the discs III. Said twirling roll Id feeds each stick 2 between the periphery of said roll Id and a fixed guide I2, which has a fixed wedge I2a, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, to the assembly station. The lateral notch I5 is parallel to the axis of roll I4. As shown in Fig. 8, while the stick is being twirled, the median part of the stick abuts the bottom end-wall of wedge I211, which exerts sufficient downward pressure on the stick to secure the twirling action.

At the assembly station, which is shown in Fig. 8, the twirling roll IQ, which is a continuous cylinder, save where its periphery is interrupted by the single lateral notch I5, is associated with a companion twirling roll I'I, whose periphery has the shape of a part of a cylinder. Said companion twirling roll I? has a resilient periphery, which is made of vulcanized rubber or other suitable material, and which has a planar face IB.

Said twirling rolls I4 and I! are revolved continuously in the same direction, so that the adjacent portions of their respective peripheries turn continuously in opposite directions.

. Fig. 1 shows the stick abutting the bottom endwall of wedge I2a, just after the stick has been released from notch I5, and just before the cylindrical or convex part of roll I! abuts the stick, to start the twirling of the stick.

The stick is supported upon the roll I4 and upon the cylindrical part of roll II during the twirling operation. The parts of said rolls I I- and II which support the stick horizontally during the twirling operation, are located above the horizontal axes of said rolls I4 and II.

It has been well-known for more than fifty years, to wind material upon a mandrel or reel, which rests initially upon the peripheries of two cylindrical twirling rolls, which rotate the reel. However, since I wind the lengths T upon sticks 2 of very small weight, I use the downward pressure of Wedge IZa, in order to produce the necessary frictional drive between stick 2, the roll I4, and the cylindrical or convex part of roll I1.

The axes of rolls Id and I! are parallel to each other, and said axes are located in the same horizontal plane.

As shown in Fig. 7, I provide respective and laterally spaced formers IE2 at the assembly station. Said formers I02 have respective recesses, at which the respective masses 32 are Wound. The top faces of formers I02 can be planar or of any form. In this embodiment, said top faces are planar, save where the recesses are provided.

At the beginning of the twirling operation, the end-portions of each stick 2 are slightly above the unrecessed parts of the top faces of the formers m2. The stick then rests only upon the roll Id and upon the convex or cylindrical part of roll I'I. As the cotton is wound, the masses 32 become thicker and these masses 32 exert a lifting effect upon the end-portion of the stick 2, because such masses 32 then exert pressure upon the bottom faces of the recesses of the formers I02, thus exerting upward pressure upon the end-. portions of stick 2, on which the masses 32 are wound. The end-portions of stick 2 are thus fixed upwardly, while the median part of stick 2 is held against upward movement by wedge I202. The sticks 2 are resilient, so that they return to their straight shape after such flexing. During a part of the twirling operation, a part of the periphery of each mass 32 contacts with a respec-: tive former I82, which is held stationary during the twirling operation.

There is always enough frictional contact between each stick and the twirling rolls I4 and IT, to twirl each stick 2 until the masses 32 have been completely formed.

The axis of each stick 2 is kept substantially or wholly horizontal, while said stick 2 is thus supported and twirled by the rolls I4 and I1.

Each rigid former I02 is integral with a respective rigid arm I25, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is turnably connected to the frame of themachine by a shaft 26. Each arm I25 has a rigid depending extension 27. One end of a respective biasing tension spring 28 is fixed to each extension 21. The other end of each tension spring 28 is fixed by a respective pin 29 to the frame of the machine.

Hence, each former I02 is biased by its respective tension spring to move towards shaft 36 of roll I'I.

As shown in Fig. 4, said shaft 36 of roll H has cams 80, which control the positions of the respective arms I25 and their respective formers 492. A .part of the representation of roll [1 has been omitted .in Fig. c, in order to show one of said cams 80. Each said cam. 80 has a planar face, which is indicated in Fig. 1.. Each said planar face of each cam 80, is parallel to or inclined to, the face [6.

Due to the planar face Hi, the periphery of roll I! is cut away, about 120 degrees.

Each stick 2 is thus twirled about its horizontal axis, while the rolls I4 and I! turn in unison during an arc of about 240 degrees. The periphcry of roll I4 is sufficiently resilient and yieldable, so that its notched portion at the notch [5 releases and movesaway from the stick 2, after said stick 2 has been delivered to the assembly stafion above the formers l 02. At the completion of the twirling operation, the planar face l6 of roll .H directly adjacent roll M, so that the stick is no longer frictionally engaged between the rolls 4-4 and I1.

Fig. 9 shows the respective vertical positions of the planar face l6, after the completion of the respective twirling operation. The planar faces of cams 88 .permit the arms I25 to move from their vertical forming or operative positions which are shown in Fig. 1, to the inclined and inopera- Itiv positions which are shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and which are also shown in Fig. 9, at the completion of the twirling operation.

Fig. 8 shows how the notch I5 of roll M has moved beyond the stick 2, and it illustrates the location of notch [5 just after the beginning of .the twirling operation.

The completed swab is thus released by the movement of formers I82 under the force of springs 28, to .drop into a collecting box. The stick 2 is prevented from moving away from the assembly station by means of the vertical leg of a fixed guide I513.

The movable parts of the machine are actuated .as follows:

As shown in Fig. 4, there is a main shaft 36, which is laterally disposed. Said shaft 36 has a drive pulley 42. There is an idler pulley 4|, to which the drive belt 39 can be shifted from pulley A2. The shaft 36 has a handwheel 49'.

R0213 and rolls 52g As shown in Fig. 2, a sprocket 48 is fixed to .the shaft 3a of agitatin roll 3. Said sprocket 48 is connected by chain 49 to sprocket 50, which is fixed to shaft 52. Paste-applying rolls 52g are fixed to shaft 52.

As shown in Fig. 3, shaft 52 is connected by its gear Ill! and idler gear 99, to gear 330 which is fixed toshaft 33. Fig. 3 also shows that gear 330 meshes with idler gear 98, which meshes with gear 97, which is fixed to shaft 34. As shown in Fig. '2, a gear 94 is fixed to shaft 34, Said gear .94 meshes with idler gear 92a, which meshes with gear 192, which is fixed to shaft 35, Said gear 92 meshes with idler gear 9|, which meshes with gear .95 which is fixed to main drive shaft 36.

Discs 5 Both discs 5 are fixed to a common lateral shaft 4, said lateral shaft 4 being shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, a gear 95 is fixed to shaft 4. Fig. 2 also shows that the gear 96 meshes with an idler gear 95, which meshes with gear 33a, which is fixed to shaft 33. As previously stated, and as shown in Fig, 3, gear 33c of shaft 33 meshes with idler gear 98, which meshes with gear 91 of shaft 36. As previously stated, gear $4 .of shaft 34 meshes with idler gear 92a, which meshes with gear :92 of shaft .35, and said gear 92 meshes with idler gear 9! which meshes with gear .99 of shaft 36.

Discs 7 Said discs I are fixed to the common lateral shaft 33. The drive of said lateral shaft 33 from the shaft 36, has already been described.

Discs 10 The discs it! are fixed to a common lateral shaft 34. The drive of said shaft 34 from the shaft 36 has already been described.

Rolls

17 and 14 The roll I! is fixed to the drive shaft 33. The roll [4 is fixed to the shaft 35. As previously described, the gear 92 of shaft 35 meshes with idler gear 9!, which meshes with gear of shaft 36. The

gears

90 and 31 and 82 are proportioned so that the

shafts

35 and 33 make the same number of revolutions per minute. The diameter of the cylindrical part of roll H is equal to the diameter of the unnotched part of the periphery of roll l4.

.As shown in Fig. 10, the stick 2 may be provided with a depression N, whose cross-secti0n is angular in the axial plane or the stick 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the roll I! is provided with a median transverse recess which is provided at one part thereof with a projection or tooth Na. When the roll ll is rotated in order to discharge the completed swab, said tooth Na passes through the recess N, thus aiding in the discharge of the Stick.

Drawing rolls As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 2! has a gear I22 fixed thereto. Said gear I22 meshes with .a smaller .gear 74 which is fixed to the stud shaft 53. A gear 19, which is fixed to stud shaft 53, meshes with gear H which is fixed to shaft 35. The primary drive of the drawing rolls is therefore produced by means of the shaft 2|.

Fig, 2 shows that the shaft 2i has a gear 6! fixed thereto, and said gear 61 meshes with a gear 60 which is fixed to the shaft Zia. Hence, the top and bottom rolls 2 it are positively driven.

Fig. 2 also shows that the gear 51 of shaft 2| meshes with an idler gear 620., which meshes with a gear 62 which is fixed to shaft 25.

As shown in Fig. 3, shafts 20 and 2011 are connected by equal intermeshing gears, so that both rolls 201) are positively driven.

Fig. 2 shows that gear 62 of shaft 20 meshes with an idler gear 63a, which meshes with a gear 63 which is fixed to shaft l9. Fig. 3 shows that the shafts l9 and I So are provided with equal and intermeshing gears, so that the shaft I911 is positively driven from the shaft l 9.

Hence, all the rolls 2Ib and 20b and 19?) are positivel driven. Said rolls have peripheries of equal diameter. The peripheries of each super? posed pair are driven at the same speed. The rolls 201) are driven at greater peripheral speed than the rolls [9b, and the rolls 2|!) are driven at greater peripheral speed than the rolls 29b.

Gears

23 and 24 Since these

gears

23 and 24 are intermesh, they couple the respective shafts 3'! and 38 of said gears.

g and 4 show the usual pin 13, which is fixed to a disc 13a, which is fixed to the stud shaft 53. Hence, the continuously rotating stud shaft 53 causes the shaft 38 to be intermittently turned, each said turning movement being through an angle of 90 degrees. In'this embodiment, each of the

gears

23 and 24 has twelve teeth, and during each intermittent movement, each said gear is turned through an are which corresponds to three of said teeth. The Geneva stop locks the

gears

23 and 24 against turning, between successive movements thereof.

Rolls

25 and 25a Figs. 4 and 2 show that gear 45, which is fixed to shaft 35, meshes with a gear 55 which is fixed to shaft il. Another gear 450 is fixed to said shaft 41. Fig. 2 shows that said gear 360 meshes with an equal gear 56d, which is fixed to shaft l'la.

Operation of the machine The sticks are withdrawn from the hopper, one by one, by means of the discs 5. Each stick is then delivered to the discs 1, then only the endportions of each stick are provided with adhesive by rolls 52g, and each stick is then delivered to the discs l0, and then to the notch l5 of the roll l4.

Phe drawing rolls operate to condense each dry strand of absorbent cotton or the like, and also to elongate and attenuate each said strand, but without breaking said strand. The strand i then fed continuousl towards the intermittently operated gears 23 and 24, and in intermeshing relation with the teeth of said gears. Each strand is pulled forwardly and continuously, by means of the

rolls

25 and 25a. Due to the intermittent stopping of the gears 25 and 2d, the

rolls

25 and 25a operate to break ofi successive predetermined lengths of each said strand. The lower end of each dry strand is brought into contact with the projecting end-portion of the stick at the assembly station, while the strand is supplied with adhesive at the assembly station. The length of absorbent cotton which is to be wound up may be slightly inclined from the vertical direction, when the bottom end of said sliver of cotton touches the end of the stick. While the

ears

23 and 24 are held stationary, the drawing rolls I912, 201), and Zlb forwardly feed the sliver, which forms a bight above gears 23 and 24. When said gears 23 and 24 are operated, they take up the bight and feed the material of the bight to

rolls

25 and 25a. Each stick is then twirled about its own axis, in order to form the rolls or masses 32.

After the twirling has been completed, the planar face l6 of the roll H is presented to the assembly station, thus stopping the twirling. The continued rotation of the roll I! and of the cams 80 on the shaft 36, finally permit the formers to be moved to the discharge position. Each completed swab then drops into a suitable collecting chute.

While the stick is being twirled at the assembly station which is provided with the rolls l1 and M, the feed of each length T towards the twirling stick is regulated by the rolls 25 and 250., so that each length T is wound under zero back tension, to produce a piral mass 32.

The space between the tearing-

rolls

25 and 25a is only about 0.003 inch to 0.004 inch. The absorbent cotton is fed into the machine, in the form of a thin strand, whose width is about 0.625 inch to 0.75 inch. The thickness of such strand,

when it is fed into the machine, is about 0.125 inch, and such thickness is reduced to about 0.007 inch by the gang of drawing rolls, which produce a sliver of the absorbent cotton. In this machine, I have illustrated only three pairs of drawing rolls, so that the absorbent cotton is attenuated in two successive passes. I can use any number of pairs of drawing rolls, depending upon the thickness of the cotton which is fed into the machine. The original width of the cotton strand which is fed into the machine, is reduced by the attenuating and stretching action of the drawing rolls. Hence the initial width of the cotton strand is reduced to about 0.5 inch by the drawing rolls. Hence the length T of the cotton sliver which is wound around the stick 2, has a width of about 0.5 inch and a thickness of about 0.003 inch to 0.004 inch. These dimensions and the attenuating and drawing action of the drawing rolls, are important in order reliably to tear the cotton into lengths T, by means of the intermittently locked gears 23 and 24, and the continuously revolving tearing-

rolls

25 and 25a.

If desired, the screws 22 can be adjusted, so that the thickness of the cotton which is fed to the tearing-

rolls

25 and 25a, is substantially thicker than the clearance between

saidrolls

25 and 25a. In such case, the

rolls

25 and 25a will substantially compress the cotton, in addition to tearing off successive lengths T. Therefore, I can adjust the machine so that rolls 25 and 25a either do not compress the sliver, or else said rolls 25 and 25a substantially compress the sliver. If the

rolls

25 and 25a substantially compress the sliver, then the thickness of the wound masses 32 is increased. That is, the drawing rolls impart a substantially permanent set to the sliver. If the

rolls

25 and 25a compress the sliver, the set of the sliver is not permanent, so that the thickness of the sliver increases directly after the

rolls

25 and 25a.

Iclaim:

1. In a swab-making machine which has an assembly station, a first roll and a second roll located at said assembly station, the first roll having a cylindrical periphery, the second roll having a partial cylindrical periphery and also having a cut-away face which is closer to the axis of said second roll than its partial cylindrical periphery, mean adapted to revolve said rolls in the same direction, the partial cylindrical periphery of the second roll and the cylindrical periphery of the first roll being sufficiently close to support a stick in twirling position and to twirl said stick around its own axis while the stick is in said twirling position, said machine also having swab-formers, the tops of said rolls being located higher than said swab-formers, said swabformers being located below the end-portions of the stick while the stick is being twirled, said swab-formers being movable towards the axis of the second roll, biasing means biasing said swabformers towards the axis of the second roll, automatic means holding said swab-formers against said biasing movement until said cut-away face is directly adjacent the periphery of the first roll.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which said automatic means are cams which are fixed to the shaft of said second roll, said machine having a fixed guide which guides the movement of the stick away from said rolls when said face is directly adjacent the periphery of the first roll.

3. In a machine for winding a mass of flexible material on a mandrel, a first twirling roll, a second twirling roll, said twirling rolls having re- 1 1 s ee ve. res lient, periph ral. perti nsr a first; part oi the per ph ral; po tion oi the fi st twirling 1 1 hav n the ha e oi a part or a. cylinder, said peri her p tion or? sa d: first, twirling roll also avin a utway f cei he peripheral portion f h rl, econd roll bein or x ind ical shape which has: a n tch h e said; r lls h v ng pa all l lon itud al a said notch being pa allel t said axes, means for rotating said rolls in refill ictive opposed direction said peripheral porie s b in suf cien ly c ose to eac t er to supprt an to. tw n, a mantra when s id first part of the per phera pertion: of; the. first twirlin roll is in registration, with the peripheral portion of theseeongl; twirling roll; said rolls releasing said mandrel when, said cntraway face registers with the, peripheral portion, of the. second twirling roll.

t, In, a, machine for win in a mass of flexible material on a mandreLe first twirling roll, a sec onol; twirling, roll, said twirling rolls having re- PQQHVQ ifill l ienliperipheral portions, a first part of the periphe i el' portion; of the first twirling roll, having the shape of a part; ofja, cylinder, said peripheral portion of= said first twirling roll also having: a. cut-away face,v the peripheral portion or; said. sepon l roll; being 0i eylindricalv shape w ithi a a not h therein, said rolls having p allel p eitu nali ax s aid notch being. parallel 0 said axe m ans 5 1:: r tat n sa d, rolls in res tiv opp ed: ireeti ps a d peripheral p 12 tr o s; being su ficiently close to each other town: no tto tw rl a mand el. wh n said first part of the peripheral portion ofthe; first twirling roll is registration with the eripheral portion of the second twirling; roll, said; rolls releasing Said: mandrel when said nut-away fa-ce registers with the. peripheral por ipnoi the second twirlin roll. and means to hold said; mandrel against. said 113: ripheral portions when. said first part of the pe: ripheral portion of the first twirling roll is in regs istration with said peripheral portion of the sec ond twirling roll.

BE A SCHONROCK.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of reeorcl in, the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS