Candle making apparatus

#This invention relates to candle making apparatus and more particularly, the apparatus for dispensing and holding a length of wick material in the center of a candle wax mold.

#The apparatus of the present invention facilitates the placing of a wick in the center of a molded wax candle. Heretofore, such a procedure was time consuming and laborious, often being done manually.

#In accordance with the invention, a spool containing a continuous supply of wick material is rotatably mounted on a spindle. The wick material is removed from the spool against fricturial drag on the spool and threaded around a pair of pulleys and through a needle bar containing an elongated upright needle. The wick material is then threaded through the top of the needle. A candle mold holder which clamps a candle mold in an upright position, is placed over the needle and the end of the wick material is fixed to the holder. The mold is then clamped to the holder about the needle and wick material, which is centrally located in the mold when wax poured into the mold hardens, the mold is removed from the holder and needle and the wick material cut where it enters the bottom of the mold, leaving the wick in the candle wax.

#Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims and from the accompanying drawing, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wick material dispenser of the candle making apparatus of the present invention; and

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mold holder of the candle making apparatus of the present invention.

#Referring now the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the candle making apparatus of the present invention includes a wick material dispenser 10 and a candle mold holder 12.

#Wick material dispenser 10 includes an upright support plate 14 secured by a base plate 16 to a planar surface S, such as a table top. A spool 18 containing a continuous supply of wick material 20 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 22 connected to support plate 14. A collar 24 is secured by an Allen screw or the like to shaft 22 and retains a coil spring 26 under compression between collar 24 and spool 18. Spring 26 urges spool 18 against a friction disc 28 held on shaft 22 by a locking collar 30. Collar 22 is secured to the end of shaft 22 by a thumbscrew 32. The urging of spool 18 against friction disc 28 precludes undue rotation of spool 18 as wick material 20 is pulled from the spool. Wick material 20 can only be pulled from the spool as spool 18 rotates on shaft 22 against the frictional drag of disc 28.

#When wick material 20 is removed from spool 18, it is threaded around a pulley 34 mounted on a shaft 36 projecting from support plate 14, a second pulley 38 downstream from pulley 34 mounted on a similar shaft, and through a hole 40 in a needle bar 42 mounted between plate 14 and a support plate 44 supported on planar surface S. Needle bar 42 mounts an elongated needle 46 held in an upright position on bar 44 by a thumbscrew 48. A support bar 50 extends between plates 14 and 44 and serves as a restraint for wick material 20 should it drop from hole 40.