US3758246A - Apparatus for producing wax match shafts - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for producing wax match shafts, comprising a shaping die having an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral, preferably a quadrilateral, cross-sectional configuration with convex sides.

Description

Waited States Patent Kessier 1 Sept. 11, 1973 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WAX MATCH SHAFTS Republic of South Africa Assignee: Chet Industries (Proprietary) Limited, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 182,645

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 863,948, Oct. 6, 1969, Pat. No. 3,626,047.

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 14, 1968 South Africa 68/6627 US. Cl 425/93, 93/84 R, 425/302,

425/324, 425/383 Int. Cl B311 l/00 17a 16 10 [.5 [4 1610a ./06. 106 10C 37 58 39 15a 19 155 19 5c i je [58] Field of Search 425/93, 112, 383, 425/396, 302, 324, 328, 343; 264/136, 145, 280; 93/1 C, 82, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,509,797 5/1970 Johnson 425/343 3,180,911 4/1965 Muller 264/119 2,964,077 12/1960 Molla 144/51 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser WWUKEQQMEKTPF Attorneylrvin S. Thomps ofiaiid llohert J. Patch et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for producing wax match shafts, comprising a shaping die having an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral, preferably a quadrilateral, crosssectional configuration with convex sides.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPHIQB 3.758 246 SHEET 2 OF 3 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WAX MATCH SHAFTS This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 863,948, filed Oct. 6, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,626,047.

This invention relates to wax matches.

For the purpose of this specification, the term wax match" includes any match whose shaft is composed of combustible sheet material impregnated and folded, rolled or otherwise compacted into elongate form.

The shafts of wax matches are normally of circular cross section.

Hitherto, conventional wax matches have suffered from the disadvantage that their shafts are generally thin and not as rigid as wooden matches. Such a wax match is not as easy to strike as a conventional wooden match. Although such wax matches approach the effectiveness of wooden matches if manipulated correctly, there has been some bias against such wax matches in certain sectors of the buying public.

This disadvantage has been overcome by increasing the cross-sectional dimensions of the shafts. Hitherto, the increase in shaft thickness has, however, suffered from the disadvantage that the cost of production is increased due to the increase in material that is required.

Another disadvantage with conventional wax matches with round shafts, is that they cannot be produced satisfactorily by means of conventional automatic machines used for conventional wooden matches of rectangular cross-section. For example, the mass application of striking heads on the tips of round shafts is very difficult, if not impossible. It will be appreciated that this increases the production costs of wax matches so that they are not as competitive in relation to wooden matches as they might be.

The difficulty with the mass application of striking heads on round shafts, arises from the fact that it is standard practice with all match making'plants to insert match shafts into round apertures in holders for dipping into striking material in fluid form, a head of striking material being formed on the tip of each shaft during dipping. Experience has shown that whereas the rectangular shafts or splints of conventional wooden matches engage securely in the round holes with the corners of the shafts firmly engaging the surrounds of the apertures, the same firm engagement cannot be obtained when round shafts are inserted into round apertures. It will be appreciated that if the round apertures are small enough'to ensure a firm engagement with round shafts, the insertion of the round shafts into the apertures becomes a problem and damage to the ends of the shafts occur.

lt hasalso been found that it is not'satisfactory to insert the round shafts into rectangular apertures.

The obvioussolution to the'problemwould be to produce wax matches with shafts of rectangular crosssectional configuration, but intensive investigation by the applicant has indicated that it isnot so simple to produce a rectangular wax match shaft. Several foreign wax match manufacturers of international repute have directed considerable effort to the production of a rectangular wax match shaft, but to the best of applicants knowledge no conspicuous success has been achieved so far. in fact, applicant's investigations have indicated that it is generally accepted in the wax match art that it is not a practically feasible proposition to produce a rectangular wax match shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages and to provide a satisfactory and economical apparatus for producing wax match shafts of rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

The method in connection with which the apparatus according to the present invention is used, includes the steps of coating combustible sheet material with suitable impregnating material; compacting the sheet material into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration; deforming the rounded element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides; and allowing the deformed element to expand radially at least to reduce the concavity of the sides.

It has been found that if the rounded element is only deformed to a rectilinear cross-sectional configuration, there is a tendency for the material of the element to expand radially outwardly so that the element loses its rectilinear configuration and again approaches a rounded cross-sectional configuration. However, by proceeding further and deforming the element so that it has a polylateral configuration with concave sides, the tendency for the material of the element to expand radially urges the element back towards a rectilinear configuration. Tests have shown that with the method according to the invention, a neat substantially rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration can be achieved.

The rounded elongated element may be produced in any suitable manner from any suitable combustible sheet material, such as paper, which is coated with any suitable impregnating material, such as wax, to give the finished product the required degree of rigidity and combustibility. Any suitable wax or a combination of waxes or a combination of at least one wax and any other suitable material may be used as impregnating material.

Preferably, the sheet material is first folded upon itself and is then passed through one or more dies to compact it and form it into an elongated element of rounded cross-sectional configuration.

The sheet material may be coated with impregnating material at any suitable stage or stages before, during and/or after the folding and compacting steps so that the folds of the rounded elongated element are suitably impregnated to hold them in position.

The rounded element may be deformed into polylateral configuration in any suitable manner, such as by passing the element'through one or more shaping dies.

Preferably, the rounded element is deformed progressively to the concave polylateral configuration. The element may accordingly be deformed to present a rectilinear polylateralcross-sectional configuration prior to being deformed into the concavepolylateral configuration.

The rounded element may be deformed to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides prior to being deformed into the rectilinear crosssectional configuration.

- Preferably, the deformed element of concave polylateral configuration is allowed to expand to a substantially rectilinear configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the element is deformed to present a quadrilateral crosssectional configuration and it is preferred to have a substantially rectangular shaft after the concave configuration has been allowed to expand radially.

A continuous element or an element of considerable length may be formed and then cut into required lengths to produce individual shafts, after the element has been deformed into concave polylateral configuration.

According to the invention, the wax match shaft producing apparatus includes means operative to receive a travelling web of combustible material and fold it laterally upon itself; means operative to receive and compact the folded web into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration; at least one shaping die located downline of the compacting means, the shaping die presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides; and feed means operative to pass the web of combustible material through the folding and compacting means and the resultant rounded element through the shaping die.

At least one additional shaping die may be located ahead of the shaping die with the convex polylateral aperture, the additional shaping die presenting an aperture at least part of which has a rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration.

At least one further shaping die may be located ahead of the die with the rectilinear polylateral aperture, the further shaping die presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides.

Preferably, the dimensions across corners of the polylateral apertures of all the shaping dies are substantially equal.

The apparatus may further include cutting means downline of the shaping die with the convex polylateral aperture, the cutting means comprising an anvil operative to receive and support an elongated element passing from the shaping die and presenting a cutting edge lying in a first plane; and at least one rotary blade which presents a cutting edge and which is fast with and extends radially from a drive shaft, a face of the blade being opposed to the first plane and lying in a second plane disposed at an acute angle to the first plane with the two planes converging in the direction of rotation of theblade and the cutting edge of the blade lying in a rotational plane locatedadjacent the cutting edge of the anvil.

The 'inventionincludes dies as set out above which are adapted for use with the apparatus as set out above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of apparatus suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a folding device of the apparatus of. FIG. 1, operative to fold a travelling web of combustible material upon itself.

F IG. 3 is a perspective view of a further folding device which is located downline of the device of FIG. 2 and is operative to fold the travelling web further.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another folding device which is located downline of the device of FIG. 3 and is operative to fold the travelling web still further upon itself.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a compacting die which is located downline of the device of FIG. 4 and is operative to compact the folded web into an elongated element of rounded cross-sectional configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a shaping die located downline of the compacting die of FIG. 5 and operative to deform the rounded element to present a quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly in section, of another shaping die located downline of the shaping die of FIG. 6 and operative to deform the element further to present a rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section, of yet another shaping die located downline of the shaping die of FIG. 7 and operative to deform the element further to present a quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides.

FIG. 9 is a side view, partly in section, of cutting means located downline of the shaping die of FIG. 8 and operative to sever a continuous element passing from the shaping die of FIG. 8 into individual shafts of required length.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view to a larger scale of the cutting means of FIG. 9.

A web 1 of combustible paper passes from a supply roll 2 round tensioning rolls 3 and into a molten wax bath 4. The folding devices 5, 6 and 7 of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 respectively and the compacting die 8 of FIG. 5, are located in sequence in wax bath 4. Folding device 5 comprises a trapezium-shaped sheet of metal with its corners 5a bent over in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Folding device 7 is of similar construction. Folding device 6 presents U-shaped folding aperture 6a which extends therethrough.

Web 11 is received as a flat sheet of material by folding device 5 and is folded along opposite sides upon itself as it passes through device 5 to a folded web la, as can be seen from FIG. 2. Web 1a is received by folding aperture 6a of device 6 and is folded into the U-shaped web 112, as it passes through device 6, as can be seen from FIG. 3. Initially when the web is threaded through the various devices when the apparatus is set up, web 1a is folded into U-shape by hand and is passed through folding aperture 6a. The U-shaped web lb is received by folding device 7 and folded still further toweb 10 as it passes through device 7, as can be seen from FIG. 4. Initially when the apparatus is set up, folded web lb is folded by hand into the formation of web 1c and passed through device 7. Once the apparatus is started up, the

web is fed through continuously and is folded autom ati-' cally.

As the web passes through wax bath 4 in flat and folded form, the web becomes coated with and the folds impregnated in wax.

The folded web 10 passes from folding device 7 to compacting die 8 which presents a bore 9 having a converging and serrated entry zone 90, a central compacting zone 9b of substantially uniform circular cross section, and a flared outlet zone 9c. As web 1c passes through entry zone 91:, it is progressively compacted to the size of the central zone 9b and the serrations crimp the material of the folded web 10 so that it is compressed in longitudinally fluted fashion. The compression is consolidated in central zone 9b and a continuous, elongated element 10 of generally rounded crosssectional configuration emerges from die 8. As the rounded element 10 emerges from die 8, it is coated with an external wax layer 11.

If required, the rounded element 110 may be passed through one or more further compacting dies (not shown) in wax bath 4. After passing from the compacting die or dies, the rounded element lit passes from wax bath 4 and through a second wax bath 12 to ensure a satisfactory external wax coating on the element.

From the second wax bath l2, rounded element passes through cooling water bath 13 to set the wax coating. Upon leaving the water bath 13, the cooled element 10 is subjected to a mechanical shaking operation by a rotary beater 14, to dislodge water adhering to the element.

So far the apparatus and method are conventional for the production of a conventional round wax match shaft.

From water bath l3, rounded element 10 passes over support rollers 15a, 15b, 15c, l5d,l5e, and through shaping die 16 of FIG. 6, two shaping dies 117a, 117b, similar to die 17 of FIG. 7 and shaping die 18 of FIG. 8 which are located in sequence to deform the rounded element 10 progressively. Shaping dies 16, 17a, 17b and 18 are steam heated to render the wax on element 10 plastic. Drip trays 19 are provided underneath the shaping dies.

Shaping die 16 presents an aperture 20 with a circular entry portion 20a having a flared receiving mouth, a deforming portion 2% having a quadrilateral crosssectional configuration with convex sides 21, and a connecting portion 20c which converges from entry portion 20a to deforming portion 20b and which changes in cross-sectional configuration from that of circular entry portion 200 to that of quadrilateral deforming portion 20b.

It will be appreciated that as the element 10 passes through deforming portion 20b of shaping die 16, the rounded configuration is deformed to a quadrilateral configuration with convex sides which is complementary to the concave configuration of deforming portion 20b. When it leaves shaping die 16, the deformed element 10a expands radially and assumes a crosssectional configuration approaching a rounded configuration.

Shaping dies 17a, 17b are similar in construction to shaping die 16 with the exception that the deforming portion 22b of aperture 22 is rectangular in crosssectional configuration with straight sides 23. As the element passes through each of shaping dies 17a, 17b, the convex quadrilateral configuration is deformed to a rectangular configuratiom When 'it leaves each of shaping dies 17a, 17b deformed element 10b again expands radially towards a rounded configuration but it will be appreciated that with each deforming step, the expanded configuration comes closer to being rectangular.

Shaping die 18 is similar in construction to shaping die 16 with the exception that 'the deforming portion 25b of aperture 25 has a quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides 26. As the element passes through shaping die 18 it is deformed to a quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides. When the deformed element 100, leaves shaping die 18, it again expands radially to reduce the concavity of the sides. By carefully relating the degree of compaction of the elongated element and the precise crosssectional configuration of the deforming portions of the shaping dies, as will be within the competence of a skilled man in the art, the degree of radial expansion of shown in FIG. 8.

The dimension x across corners is the same for the quadrilateral deforming portions of the apertures of all the shaping dies 16, 17a, E712 and 18.

Downline of the last shaping die 18 is a pair of feed rolls 27' between which the rectangular elongated element 10c passes on its way to cutting means 28. Through frictional engagement with elongated element 10c, feed rolls 27 continuously draw web 1 off supply roll 2, continuously draw the folded web through the folding and compacting means in wax bath 4 and continuously draw the elongated element 10 through second wax bath 12, through water bath l3 and through shaping dies 16, 37a, 17b and 18, before feeding the elongated element to cutting means 28.

Support rolls 15, feed rolls 2'7 and rotary cutting means 28 are driven from common drive motor 29. In order to avoid tension being set up in the elongated element 10 as it passes through shaping dies 16, 17 and 18, first support roll 15a has the greatest speed of rotation, the speed of the succeeding support rolls decreasing progressively with roll 15e having the slowest speed of rotation which is equal to that of feed rolls 27.

So far, the apparatus has been described for the production of a single elongated element It). It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be adapted simultaneously to produce a plurality of juxtaposed elongated elements.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate rotary cutting means adapted to handle a plurality of elongated elements We simultaneously.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 110, the cutting means 28 comprises a stationary plate 30 presenting a plurality of apertures 31 through each of which an elongated element we can pass from feed rolls 27. The surrounds of each aperture 31 constitute an anvil adapted to receive and support an elongated element for severing. The outer edge of each aperture 31 on the side opposite feed rolls 27 constitutes a cutting edge lying in the plane of the outer face 300 of plate 30.

A pair of cutting blades 32 with cutting edges 32a are fast with and extend radially in opposite directions from drive shaft 33 which is rotatably coupled to drive motor 29. The blade cutting edges 32a lie in rotational planes located adjacent the plane of the outer surface 30a of plate 30 so that upon rotation, blade cutting edges 32a successively pass the anvil cutting edge at the outer end of each aperture 31 to sever an elongated element 10c extending therethrough into individual match shafts 34. The circumferential spacing between blade edges 32a, the speed of rotation of blades 32 and the rate of forward feed of elongated elements 10c, are related so that a match shaft 34 of required length is cut off each time a blade edge 32a passes an aperture 31 in plate 30 through which an elongated element 10c extends.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the inner face 32b of each blade 32 lies in a plane disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the outer face 30a of plate 30 with the planes converging in the direction of rotation of the blades 32. The reason for this is that if blades 32 were located parallel to plate 30, the end of a continuously moving elongated element we emerging from an aperture 31 in plate 30 after it has been severed by the leading cutting edge 32a of a blade, would tend to contact the inner face 32b of the blade which is opposed to the outer face 30a of plate 30. This would render the emerging end of the elongated element We liable to damage which could cause problems during subsequent stages in the manufacturing of matches from severed shafts and/or could yield finished matches of inferior quality.

With the arrangement of FIG. 9 in which the inner faces 32b of blades 32 lie at angles to the outer face Ella of plate 30, the spacing between a blade 32 and plate 30 increases rearwardly with the result that after the leading cutting edge 32a of a blade passes an aperture 31 in plate 30, successive zones of the blade moving past the aperture 31 moves further away from the outlet end of the aperture 31 and remains clear of the emerging end of an advancing elongated element 10c.

It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, the number of apertures 31 in plate 30 of cutting means may be changed to suit the number of elongated elements required to be produced simultaneously. Thus, plate 30 may have only one aperture 31.

The apparatus may be provided with a positive variable speed drive unit between cutting means 28 and the remainder of the apparatus so that individual match shafts 34 of variable length can be cut off without any adjustment to the apparatus being required, other than an adjustment of the ratio of the variable speed drive unit to vary the speed of rotation of cutting blades 32.

Instead of severing elongated element 100 into individual shafts 34 immediately after the elongated element leaves final shaping die 18, the element 10c may be suitably wound for subsequent cutting by separate cutting means using a rotary or reciprocating knife or knives.

It will be appreciated that instead of producing match shafts of substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, shafts having anysuitable rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration such as triangular,

pentagonal or hexagonal may be produced by using shaping dies similar to dies 16, 17 and 18 having apertures with deforming portions of suitable crosssectional configurations.

Where a match shaft having a thickness commensurate with that of a conventional wooden match is required, it is current practice to use two or more superimposed layers of sheet material in order to obtain an elongated element of required thickness.

The thickness of the end product may be increased by increasing the width of the sheet material instead of increasing the thickness of the sheet material by the superimposition of two or more sheets. By increasing the width of the sheet material, material of inferior strength to that which is currently required, may be used without any danger of the sheet material breaking. As a result, a saving in the cost of the end product without any sacrifice in its quality may be achieved.

Tensioning rolls 3 permit the use of materials of relatively low tensile strength but are not essential and may be omitted where material of suitable strength is used. Where tensioning rolls 3 are omitted, the first zone along the production line where tension is applied to the web of sheet material and the resultant elongated element, is at the first support roll 15a.

it has been found that a match shaft produced by apparatus in accordance with the invention engages firmly and satisfactorily with round apertures in a dipping holder and that the mass application of striking heads to the tips of individual shafts is facilitated.

The invention permits the production of wax matches which are commensurate in shape, dimensions and rigidity with conventional wooden matches and which is competitive in price.

It has been found that a wax match according to the invention can be made satisfactorily and economically by means of conventional automatic match making machines.

i-iaving described my invention, 1 claim:

1. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising a molten wax container; folding means located in the container and operative to receive and fold a travelling web of combustible material laterally upon itself; a compacting die located in the container and operative to receive and compact the folded web into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration; a first shaping die located downline of the compacting die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configu-' ration with convex sides; a second shaping die located downline of the first shaping die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration; a third shaping die located downline of the second shaping die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides; and severing means located downline of the third shaping die and operative to sever a continuous element passing from the third shaping die into individual match shafts.

2. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising means for coating combustible sheet material with liquid impregnating material, means folding the sheet material to reduce the width thereof, means compacting the folded sheet material into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration, and means deforming the rounded element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides and for permitting the deformed element to expand radially at least to reduce'the concavity of the sides.

3. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising means feeding a web of combustible material through molten wax, means folding the web laterally upon itself as it travels through the molten wax, means compacting the folded web into an elongated sheet of generally rounded configuration as it travels through the molten wax, means deforming the rounded element. to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides, means deforming the resultant element to prescut a rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration, means deforming the resultant element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides and allowing the resultant element to expand radially to a substantially rectilinear configuration, and means severing the expanded element into individual match shafts.

i i t t '3

Claims (3)

1. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising a molten wax container; folding means located in the container and operative to receive and fold a travelling web of combustible material laterally upon itself; a compacting die located in the container and operative to receive and compact the folded web into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration; a first shaping die located downline of the compacting die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides; a second shaping die located downline of the first shaping die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration; a third shaping die located downline of the second shaping die and presenting an aperture at least part of which has a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides; and severing means located downline of the third shaping die and operative to sever a continuous element passing from the third shaping die into individual match shafts.

2. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising means for coating combustible sheet material with liquid impregnating material, means folding the sheet material to reduce the width thereof, means compacting the folded sheet material into an elongated element of generally rounded cross-sectional configuration, and means deforming the rounded element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides and for permitting the deformed element to expand radially at least to reduce the concavity of the sides.

3. Wax match shaft producing apparatus comprising means feeding a web of combustible material through molten wax, means folding the web laterally upon itself as it travels through the molten wax, means compacting the folded web into an elongated sheet of generally rounded configuration as it travels through the molten wax, means deforming the rounded element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with convex sides, means deforming the resultant element to present a rectilinear polylateral cross-sectional configuration, means deforming the resultant element to present a polylateral cross-sectional configuration with concave sides and allowing the resultant element to expand radially to a substantially rectilinear configuration, and means severing the expanded element into individual match shafts.

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