Apparatus for holding and centering a candle wick in a container

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for holding and centering a candle wick in a container. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a fixing apparatus is provided for the candle wick, which can be connected to the container in a detachable in such a way that it can be pivoted relative to the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding and centering a candle wick in a container, comprising: a fixing apparatus for the candle wick, which is connectable to the container in a detachable manner, and when connected to the container, the fixing apparatus is pivotable about a horizontal axis into the interior of the container; wherein the fixing apparatus has at least one fixing fork which has a free end for the candle wick; and wherein, when the fixing fork is in a resting position, the free end is disposed below the horizontal pivoting axis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing apparatus is connectable to the container in such a way that it is pivotable and linearly moveable relative to the container.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a centering apparatus is provided, which is mountable onto the container in a detachable manner, and to which the fixing apparatus is attachable.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the centering apparatus is mountable onto to an edge of the container.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the centering apparatus is a centering ring that centers inside or outside at the edge of the container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a spring element is provided, by which the fixing apparatus is pivotable back into the resting position, the resting position being horizontal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the spring element is a return spring.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the fixing fork has a V-shaped recess for the candle wick.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an adapter ring is provided, which can be coupled to the centering apparatus.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the centering apparatus is insertable into the adapter ring in a positive-locking manner.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of fixing apparatuses is provided for a plurality of candle wicks.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a spring element is provided, by which the fixing apparatus is pivotable back into the resting position, the resting position being horizontal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a spring element is provided, by which the fixing apparatus is pivotable back into the resting position, the resting position being horizontal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a spring element is provided, by which the fixing apparatus is pivotable back into the resting position, the resting position being horizontal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a spring element is provided, by which the fixing apparatus is pivotable back into the resting position, the resting position being horizontal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the free end of the fixing fork has a V-shaped recess for the candle wick.

17. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the fixing fork has a V-shaped recess for the candle wick.

18. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the free end of the fixing fork has a V-shaped recess for the candle wick.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure is described using a preferred embodiment as an example. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a holding and positioning apparatus 6 which is placed onto a container 7 prior to automatic wicking;

(3) FIG. 2 a tappet 8 with a wick 9 and wick plate 10 at the point in time when the tappet plunges into the container 7, thereby actuating the fixing fork 2;

(4) FIG. 3 the fully plunged tappet 8 and the fixing fork 2 being opened thereby;

(5) FIG. 4 the tappet 8 after it has been withdrawn from the container 7 and the fixing fork 2 tautens, centeres and clamps the wick due to the restoring force of the spring 3; and

(6) FIG. 5 a centering ring 1, the fixing fork 2, the return spring 3, the marking 5 as well as the fixed wick 9 after automatic wicking; here, with an adapter ring 4 for another container size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The apparatus according to the invention is preferably already placed by hand or by means of an automatic auxiliary device onto the edge of the container to be filled when laying the containers 7 onto a system for producing cast or filled candles prior to wicking. However, this process can also take place at a later point in time after the containers 7 have been placed into the candle making machine.

(8) During the subsequent passage of the containers 7 through an automatic (or also manual) wicking machine, the apparatus according to the invention is actuated by the tappet of the wicking machine, in which a pre-lengthened wick 9 provided with a wick plate 10 is located.

(9) In this case, preferably a fixing fork 2 (in the case of two (or more) fixing forks 2, preferably both fixing forks 2), which is/are attached to a centering ring 1 in a rotatable or pivotable manner and preferably, in addition to this, in a linearly movable manner, is/are impressed by the tappet 8 of the wicking machine when plunging into the container 7 and is pivoted downwards into the direction of the inside of the container. Before pivoting, the fixing fork 2 can preferably be linearly moved downwards in the direction of the container edge. As soon as the tappet 8 is withdrawn from the container 7, wherein the wick 9 remains fixed to its wick plate 10 at the bottom of the container 7, the fixing fork(s) 2 pivot(s) back to its/their original preferably horizontal position by means of the spring 3. The upper free end of the wick 9 remains clamped and centered in the container by the free end of the fixing fork 2 (or by the shape of both fixing forks 2). In the case that the fixing fork 2 is automatically linearly moved upwards under a spring pre-load after pivoting, the wick 9 is additionally tautened.

(10) The wicked container 7 with the wick-holding and positioning apparatus according to the invention now leaves the wicking machine and can then be fed to a filling machine by means of conveyor belts without requiring any further manual intervention for the fixation of the wick.

(11) The holding and positioning apparatus can preferably be provided with a marking 5 so that the filling nozzle or the liquid or pasty material (burning mass) can enter into the container 7 between the/the fixing fork(s) 2 and the centering ring 1 during the later filling of the container 7.

(12) The diameter of the centering ring 1 depends on the container diameter. The holding and positioning apparatus can be utilized by using a respective adapter ring 4 for different container diameters.

(13) The holding and positioning apparatus according to the invention can be removed by hand or by means of an automatic auxiliary device after the solidification of the burning mass and then be fed to other containers 7 that are still to be filled.

(14) A subsequent straightening of the wick is no longer necessary due to the apparatus according to the invention.

REFERENCE LIST

(15) 1 centering ring 2 fixing fork 3 spring 4 adapter ring 5 marking 6 complete holding and positioning apparatus 7 container 8 tappet 9 waxed wick 10 wick plate