Reciprocating twister pipe cleaner machine

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said chuck members comprises, a hollow tube having a transverse bore receiving said detent means for movement therein, an annular collar having a cam-shaped interior wall, a portion of which is adapted to urge said detent meAns into engagement with said pipe cleaner components, and means for moving said collar on said tube in accordance with the position of its associated carriage whereby said detent means are successively urged against and released from said pipe cleaner components.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for rotating comprises, a hollow connecting member rotatably mounted on said second carriage between and in axial alignment with the respective tubes of each of said chucks said connecting member being connected at each of its ends to a respective one of said tubes for transmission of rotation therebetween and telescopically receiving the tube mounted on said first carriage whereby a closed path is defined between said carriages for said pipe cleaner components, and means for rotating said connecting member whereby said tubes and detent means are similarly rotated to twist said wires and lock said fibrils therebetween.

Claim 5

A device as defined in claim 4 including means mounted on said frame adjacent the first position of said second carriage for cutting the twisted pipe cleaner components in predetermined lengths.

Claim 6

In a machine for continuously fabricating pipe cleaners from components including at least a pair of wires and a plurality of fibrils therebetween and including a support frame, first and second carriage members slidably mounted on said frame for movement between a first position wherein said carriages are located at opposite ends of said frame and a second position wherein said carriages are located in substantially adjacent relation intermediate said frame ends and means for moving said carriage between said first and second positions, means for advancing and twisting said pipe cleaner components, comprising, first pipe cleaner guide means rotatably mounted on said first carriage, second pipe cleaner guide means rotatably mounted on said second carriage operably and telescopically engaged with said first pipe cleaner guide means for transmission of rotation therebetween during movement of said carriage, means for rotating said guide means, gripping means mounted on said first guide means for engaging said pipe cleaner elements as said carriages are moved towards each other from said first position to said second position, and means on said second carriage for successively gripping said pipe cleaner elements as said carriages are moved away from each other from said second to said first position, whereby said pipe cleaner elements are advanced through said machine and said wires are twisted about each other to lock said fibrils therebetween.

Claim 7

In a machine for continuously fabricating pipe cleaners from components including at least a pair of wires and a plurality of fibrils therebetween and including a support frame, first and second carriage members slidably mounted on said frame for movement between a first position wherein said carriages are located at opposite ends of said frame and a second position wherein said carriages are located in substantially adjacent relation intermediate said frame ends and means for moving said carriage between said first and second positions, means for advancing and twisting said pipe cleaner components, comprising, first pipe cleaner guide means rotatably mounted on said first carriage, second pipe cleaner guide means rotatably mounted on said second carriage operably and telescopically engaged with said first pipe cleaner guide means for transmission of rotation therebetween during movement of said carriage, means for rotating said guide means, gripping means mounted on said first guide means for engaging said pipe cleaner elements as said carriages are moved towards each other from said first position to said second position, and means on said second carriage for successively gripping said pipe cleaner elements as said carriages are moved away from each other from said second to said first position, whereby said pipe cleaner elements are advanced through said machine and said wires are twisted about each other to lock said fibrils therebetween.

Claim 8

A machine as defined in claim 6 including a plurality of said means for advancing and twisting said pipe cleaner components.

Claim 9

A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second guide means comprise a pair of telescopically engaged tubular members through which said pipe cleaner elements move during the pipe cleaner twisting and advancing process.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said gripping members comprises a chuck member slidably mounted on its associated tubular member and adapted to cooperate with releasable detent means extending into said tubes for engaging and releasing said pipe cleaner components in accordance with the position of said carriage.

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said chuck members comprise an annular collar having a cam shaped interior wall, a portion of which is adapted to urge said detent means into engagement with said pipe cleaner components.

Claim 12

A machine as defined in claim 10 including means moving said collars on said tubular members in accordance with the position of said carriages.

Claim 13

A machine as defined in claim 6 including means mounted on said frame adjacent the first position of said second carriage for cutting the twisted pipe cleaner components in predetermined lengths.

Claim 14

A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said cutting means comprises cutter blade mounted for pivotal movement betWeen first and second positions and having a plurality of apertures therein positioned in alignment with said guide means at each of said positions and adapted to receive said pipe cleaner therein, and means for pivoting said cutter whereby said pipe cleaner is cut by engagement with the edges of said apertures as said blade is moved between its first and second positions.

Claim 17

The method as defined in claim 14 including the step of intermittently cutting said pipe cleaner components at said third station.