Method of and machine for manufacturing pipe cleaners

Method of manufacturing pipe cleaners comprising the steps of:

• advancing a first, rigid wire along a predetermined path from a first rotatable spool to a first point on said path;
• advancing said wire from said first point proximate and parallel to thread loop supporting means to a second point on said path;
• feeding at least one soft thread from at least one rotatable bobbin to a third point on said path intermediate said first and second points;
• winding said thread around said first wire and said thread loop supporting means between said third and second points;
• feeding a second rigid wire from a second rotatable spool substantially into contact with said first wire in a junction near said second point;
• successively cutting into pieces the turns of said winding as they approach said second point;
• advancing said two wires jointly in close proximate interrelationship while maintaining them tightened for clamping the individual thread pieces between themselves to a fourth point on said path;
• diverting one of said wires from the other wire and conducting said diverted wire in a loop to a fifth point, which is proximate to said fourth point where it approaches the other of said two wires at an angle to its longitudinal axis;
• twisting said two wires into interlaced helices from said fifth point and onwards for forming a pipe cleaner string in which the individual thread pieces are firmly clamped between said two wires;
• and cutting said strip into pipe cleaners of predetermined length.