System and Method of Manufacturing a Composite Candle Wick

Abstract

The system and method for manufacturing the composite candle wick includes a mechanism for feeding the cotton wick and wood wick at substantially the same speeds. The wood wick is heated in order to cause a melting of a wax coating around the cotton wick and pressure is applied to the wick materials through a compression wheel and drive belt which carries the wick materials. Once the pressure is applied to form the composite wick the wicks are then sent through a cutting tube where a cutting blade will cut the wick to its desired length.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for manufacturing a composite candle wick comprising:
 a first feed mechanism for feeding a fabric wick into said system;   a second feed mechanism for feeding a wood wick into said system; and   a compression device for applying pressure to said fabric wick and said wood wick to cause said fabric wick and said wood wick to adhere to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 1  wherein said first feed mechanism comprises a spool on which the fabric wick is wound. 
     
     
         3 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 1  further comprising a wood heating tube into which the wood wicks are fed. 
     
     
         4 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 3  wherein said wood heating tube comprises a radiant heater positioned no more than 0.25 inches from the wood wick when the wood wick passes through said heater. 
     
     
         5 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 1  further comprising a drive belt wrapped around a drive belt pulley that is controlled by a direct current motor. 
     
     
         6 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 1  further comprising a cutting tube for cutting the composite wick into desired lengths. 
     
     
         7 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 5  wherein said compression device which interacts with said drive belt to apply pressure to said fabric wick and said wood wick. 
     
     
         8 . The system for manufacturing a composite candle wick of  claim 1  wherein said fabric wick is coated with a meltable material which when melted facilitates the adherence of said fabric wick to said wood wick.