Device and method for manufacturing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves

Abstract

Device for manufacturing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves, comprising: a first cutting device (2) designed as a planing / cutting or peeling knife (8) for cutting at least one wooden blade (10) from a wooden blank (4); a second cutting device (12) designed as a comb knife (22), needle board or several knife wheels for cutting at least one wooden blade (10) into wooden threads (16) of essentially equal length; a gathering and twisting device (32) for gathering and twisting a quantity of wooden threads (16) to form a twisted strand of wooden threads (42); a device (40) for at least partially filling spaces between wooden threads (16) of the wooden thread strand (42) with a wax / paraffin material, in particular a wax / paraffin material bath (44) or a wax / paraffin spraying device; and a cutting device (50) for cutting the wooden thread strands (48) into firelighters of equal length, essentially cylindrical, each with a plurality of wooden threads (16) extending from one end face of the wooden thread strand (48) to the opposite end face of the wooden thread strand (48).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves.

[0002] Common wood wool firelighters for fireplaces or barbecues are typically made from wood wool in the form of bales. German patent DE 102 27 750 A1, for example, discloses a firelighter for igniting solid fuels such as wood or charcoal, particularly for use in solid fuel fireplaces such as fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, tiled stoves of any type, and charcoal barbecues. This firelighter consists of a section of natural wood wool rope impregnated with paraffin and possessing a defined residual moisture content, the paraffin forming a solid, waxy core. In such wood wool bales, the individual wood fibers vary in length and are chaotically tangled. The further processing of these wood wool bales to manufacture the firelighters, as well as the handling of such wood wool firelighters, results in a significant amount of wasted wood fibers.Furthermore, known manufacturing processes for firelighters made from wood wool are complex, costly, and cannot be automated, or only partially so.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for the cost-effective, simple and automatable production of firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves.

[0004] This problem is solved by a device according to independent claim 1 and by a method for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves with the features of independent method claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0005] An apparatus according to the invention for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire, or for lighting solid fuel stoves, comprises a first cutting device, designed as a plane or a cutting / peeling knife, for cutting at least one sheet of wood from a wooden blank. The apparatus further comprises a second cutting device, designed as a knife comb, a needle board, or several knife wheels, for cutting at least one sheet of wood into wood threads of substantially equal length. The apparatus also includes a gathering and twisting device for gathering and twisting a quantity of wood threads into a twisted strand of wood threads, as well as a device for at least partially filling the spaces between the wood threads of the wood thread strand with a wax / paraffin material, in particular a wax / paraffin bath or a wax / paraffin spraying device.Furthermore, the device includes a cutting device for cutting the strands of wooden threads into equally long, essentially cylindrical firelighters, each with a plurality of wooden threads extending from one end of the strand of wooden threads to the opposite end of the strand of wooden threads.

[0006] In such a device, a first cutting unit cuts wooden sheets from a wooden blank, which could, for example, be a squared timber. The cut wooden sheets are very thin, approximately 0.5 to 2 mm, and are cut across the entire surface of the wooden blank, so that each of the wooden sheets has approximately the same dimensions.

[0007] To prevent the wood sheets from curling up after being cut from the wooden blank, it is conceivable to arrange several cutting blades of the first cutting unit parallel to each other, at a very small distance from one another, thus cutting several wood sheets from a single wooden blank simultaneously. This ensures that the cut wood sheets lie very close together and prevent them from curling. Furthermore, such a first cutting unit can accelerate the production of the wood sheets, as several sheets can be cut at once.

[0008] The second cutting device cuts the wood sheet from the first cutting device into wood threads of equal length using a knife comb, a needle board, or several cutting wheels. Unlike conventional wood wool, which is typically used to make firelighters for fireplaces or barbecues, or to ignite solid fuel stoves, the wood threads produced by the second cutting device all have the same length and thickness and are oriented in the same direction. These wood threads do not require an additional step, such as combing, which is therefore unnecessary according to the invention. Combing the wood threads damages them and causes them to break, resulting in a significant amount of wasted wood thread.

[0009] The wood fibers produced using the first and second cutting devices are considerably easier to handle than conventional wood wool, as the individual fibers have the same dimensions and orientation. This significantly simplifies further processing of the wood fibers.

[0010] In a bundling and twisting device, a specific quantity of wooden threads is twisted into a single strand, whereby the ends of the strand are twisted in opposite directions around its longitudinal axis. This twists the parallel wooden threads into a tight strand, with the threads lying as close together as possible and the spaces between them being as small as possible. Such a twisting device can, for example, have two ring-shaped gripping arms that grasp a number of wooden threads, each firmly gripping one end of each thread to form a strand, and then twisting the two ends in opposite directions.

[0011] Following the gathering and twisting of the wood strands, the spaces between them are at least partially filled with a wax / paraffin material, which binds the strands together to form a cohesive unit. The wax / paraffin material can also form an outer layer around the strand. This can be achieved, for example, by holding the twisted strand in its twisted position with the gripping arms of the twisting device and immersing it in a bath of hot, liquid wax / paraffin, or by spraying it with wax / paraffin in a wax / paraffin spraying device. This is particularly advantageous for the subsequent burning of the firelighter, as it allows for a long, controlled, and virtually odorless burn.The hot wax / paraffin material must be at a temperature above 40 °C to ensure it is in a liquid state. The wax in the wax / paraffin material could be, for example, beeswax.

[0012] According to a first embodiment, a device for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves further comprises a winding device for winding the strand of wood threads provided with wax material, in particular by winding the ends of the strand against the twisting direction of the wood threads.

[0013] Following the application of the wax / paraffin material, the twisted strand can be unwound. The strand of wooden threads is gripped, for example, by the arms of the same or an additional twisting device and unwound a short distance in the opposite direction of the twist. This has the advantage of creating gaps between the individual twisted wooden threads, allowing air to enter and thus providing oxygen during combustion of the firelighter, thereby increasing the surface area available for burning. This ensures that the firelighter burns evenly.

[0014] In the winding mechanism, the twisted wooden threads are not fully unwound, so that within the unwound strand, the individual wooden threads are wound spirally around the longitudinal axis of the strand. This gives the firelighter both a high density and compactness, as well as spaces between the wooden threads that promote combustion. The individual wooden threads are firmly connected within the partially twisted strand, preventing them from falling out and thus making the firelighters easier to handle.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, a device for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves comprises a table for positioning the wooden blanks on it, wherein the table and the first cutting device are movable relative to each other.

[0016] To cut a sheet of wood from a wooden blank, it is possible, for example, to move the table on which the blank is positioned towards the first cutting device, which remains stationary. The movement of the table then presses the blank against the cutting device, causing it to peel / cut a sheet of wood from the blank. Alternatively, the first cutting device can be moved lengthwise along the blank, which is stationary on the table, to cut a sheet of wood from its surface.

[0017] In another embodiment, the second cutting device is designed to cut several superimposed wooden sheets into wooden threads of essentially the same length.

[0018] The cutting of several stacked wooden sheets by the second cutting device accelerates the manufacturing process of the wooden threads. The wooden sheets cut by the first cutting device can be stacked on top of each other by suitable conveying means or cut by several parallel first cutting devices that simultaneously cut several wooden sheets of the same size.

[0019] Another embodiment provides a storage / storage area for the cut wood threads. In such a storage / storage area, it is possible to store a large quantity of previously produced wood threads in order to subsequently process them in the bundling and twisting device, the gap-filling device, the winding device, and the cutting-to-length device.

[0020] Another embodiment includes a cooling area for allowing the strand of wooden threads to cool after the wax / paraffin bath. This allows the wax-paraffin layer to harden completely and, in addition to the twisting, bond the individual wooden threads together.

[0021] It is also conceivable to arrange the cooling area after the wooden thread strand has been partially wound in the winding device. This way, the wax-paraffin layer only hardens once the wooden thread strand has assumed its final shape.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the device comprises conveying means between the first and second cutting devices and / or between the cutting devices and the gathering and twisting device and / or between the gathering and twisting device and the gap-filling device. Furthermore, the device may include conveying means between the gap-filling device and the winding device and / or between the winding device and the cutting device. Additional conveying means are possible between the winding device and the cooling area and / or between the cooling area and the cutting device.

[0023] Such conveying systems can consist, for example, of conveyor belts between the individual units and enable the automated production of firelighters from a wooden blank, without the need to manually transport the intermediate products between the individual processing units. Furthermore, conveying systems between the individual units accelerate and make the process more reliable, as none of the processing steps to be carried out in the individual units can be omitted.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves, wherein the method comprises the following steps: cutting a wooden blank into wood threads of substantially equal length; forming at least one strand from the wood threads by gathering and twisting together a quantity of wood threads; at least partially filling the spaces between wood threads of the wood thread strand with a wax / paraffin material, in particular by immersing the wood thread strand in a bath with a hot wax / paraffin material or by spraying the wood thread strand with wax / paraffin material in a wax / paraffin spraying device; and cutting the wood thread strands to length into firelighters of equal length, substantially cylindrical, each with a plurality of wood threads extending from one end face of the wood thread strand to the opposite end face of the wood thread strand.

[0025] Such a process is quick and inexpensive to implement, fully automatable, and, in particular due to the equally long and parallel wooden threads, causes little to no waste of wooden threads.

[0026] Such a method realizes the advantages described above, and all embodiments described with regard to the device and the associated advantages also apply in procedural correspondence to the manufacturing process of firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves.

[0027] A first embodiment provides, after the step of filling spaces between wooden threads of the wooden thread strand, at least partial unwinding of the wooden thread strand coated with wax / paraffin material in the opposite direction of twisting of the wooden threads.

[0028] According to the invention, when cutting a wooden blank into wood threads of essentially equal length, first, by means of a first cutting device, designed as a planing-cutting or peeling knife, wood sheets are cut from a wooden blank and these are cut into wood threads of essentially equal length by means of a second cutting device, designed as a knife comb, a needle board or several knife wheels.

[0029] Furthermore, in another embodiment, several wooden sheets, in particular several wooden sheets placed on top of each other, are cut into wooden threads of essentially the same length.

[0030] In another embodiment, the wooden threads are placed in a storage / storage area.

[0031] Another embodiment provides that the subset of wood threads to be twisted is taken from the storage / holding area. The subset of wood threads can vary depending on the desired thickness of the fire starter.

[0032] In a further embodiment, after at least partially filling the spaces between the wooden threads of the wooden thread strand with a wax / paraffin material and in particular after twisting the wooden thread strand, a cooling step takes place.

[0033] The present disclosure further comprises a firelighter for a fireplace or barbecue fire, or for lighting solid fuel stoves, to which no claim is directed, comprising a strand of wooden threads, wherein the strand of wooden threads has a substantially cylindrical shape with a plurality of wooden threads extending from one end face of the strand to the opposite end face. At least a number of the wooden threads of the firelighter are wound spirally around a longitudinal axis of the strand, and a wax / paraffin material at least partially fills the spaces between the wooden threads.

[0034] Because the multitude of wooden threads in the firelighter extend from one end of the strand of wooden threads to the opposite end of the strand of wooden threads, and the wooden threads are twisted together, the falling out of individual wooden threads is prevented and the handling of the firelighter is made easier.

[0035] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. The terms "above" and "below" or "left" and "right" serve to better explain the schematic representations of the exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the figures, without limiting the invention to the exemplary embodiments shown. Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view and a top view of a first cutting device for cutting a wooden blade in operation, according to an embodiment of the invention in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view and a top view of a second cutting device in operation, according to an embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 3 shows a side view and a front view of a set of circular knives and a comb knife, according to an embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 4 shows a top view and a side view of a combination of a first and a second cutting device, according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, shown schematically in operation. Fig. Figure 5 shows a side view and a top view of a combination of a first and a second cutting device, according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, shown schematically in operation. Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic top view of a gathering and twisting device and a strand of wooden threads, according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the gathering and twisting device with a strand of wooden threads and a device for filling gaps, according to an embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 8 shows a top view of a winding device with a strand of wooden threads and a front view of the strand of wooden threads, according to an embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 9 shows a front and side view of a cutting device and a strand of wooden thread, according to an embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation. Fig. Figure 10 shows a front and top view of a cutting device and a strand of wooden thread, according to a further embodiment of the invention, in schematic representation.

[0036] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a first cutting device 2 for cutting one or more wooden sheets, wherein the upper illustration is a side view and the lower illustration is a top view of the first cutting device 2.

[0037] The side view of the cutting device 2 shows, from right to left, a movable table 6, a wooden blank 4, a plane 8, and a wooden blade 10. The table 6 is schematically represented as a rectangular plate and in the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the table is movable in a horizontal direction, in the direction of arrow A. A rectangular wooden blank 4 is located on the top of the table 6, resting flat on the table 6 and flush with the table 6 at its rear right end. In this embodiment, the wooden blank 4 is... Fig. Table 1 is slightly shorter than table 6, so that it protrudes on the left side under the wooden blank 4. At the upper left end of the wooden blank 4 is a planing / cutting blade 8, which is positioned at an angle of approximately 45° to the wooden blank 4 and whose height relative to the wooden blank is adjustable.

[0038] In Fig. 1 the right-hand cutting edge of the plane 8 is located just below the top of the wooden blank 4, and the height difference corresponds to the thickness of the wooden blade 10 to be planed.

[0039] The last planed wooden blade, number 10, is in Fig. 1 schematically represented as a line, has the length of the wooden blank 4 and lies partially on the plane and protrudes to the rear over the plane 8.

[0040] The arrow direction B indicates the direction of movement of the wooden blade 10 over the plane 8.

[0041] In the top view of the first cutting device 2, the rectangular wooden blank 4 is shown on the right. To its left is the last planed wooden blade 10, with the vertical dashed line, located approximately in the middle of the wooden blade 10, indicating the plane 8 located below and concealed by the wooden blade 10.

[0042] In the operation of the in Fig. In the first cutting device 2 shown in Figure 1, the table 6 moves in the horizontal direction indicated by the double arrow A. Fig. Figure 1 shows the starting position of the first cutting device 2. The table 6 is initially moved to the left in the direction of the plane 8. As the table 6 moves towards the plane 8, the plane 8 is moved across the surface of the wooden blank 4, cutting a thin layer of wood 10 from the blank. The movement of the table is at least equal to the length of the wooden blank 4, ensuring that the entire surface of the blank 10 is cut away. The thin layer of wood 10, consisting of a surface layer of the wooden blank 4, typically has a thickness of approximately 0.5 to 2 mm and is pushed across the plane 8 by the movement of the table 6 in the direction of arrow B.

[0043] This step of cutting a wooden sheet 10 from the wooden blank 4 is repeated several times in succession, with the height difference between the plane 8 and the table 6 being reduced each time by the thickness of a wooden sheet 10 to be planed off, either by adjusting the height position of the plane 8 or the table 6, in order to successively plane wooden sheets 10 off the wooden blank 4 until the wooden blank 4 is used up. Then the next wooden blank 4 is placed on top.

[0044] It is also conceivable to move not the table 6 but the plane 8 in the direction of arrow A across the surface of the wooden blank 4. Furthermore, it is conceivable to arrange several planes 8 parallel to each other, one above the other, and thus simultaneously cut a plurality of wooden sheets 10 from the wooden blank. The planes 8 could, for example, have a length corresponding to the length of the wooden blank 4 in order to stabilize the cut wooden sheets on its top and bottom surfaces and thus prevent the very thin wooden sheets 10 from curling up.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 2 shows two views of a second cutting device 12, wherein the upper view corresponds to a side view of the cutting device 12 and the lower view to a top view of the cutting device 12.

[0046] The side view of the second cutting device 12 shows the wooden blade 10 made of Fig. 1 and a set of circular blades 14 arranged on a left section of the wooden blade 10. In the Fig. Figure 2 shows the left-hand circular blade disc of the circular blade set 14, which has a circular cross-section. A central axis is shown circularly in the middle of the circular blade set 14, around which the circular blade rotates in the direction of arrow C. The circular blade set 14 is arranged at the left end of the wooden blade 10 such that it stands perpendicular to the surface of the wooden blade 10 and its lower end lies below the wooden blade 10. The area of ​​the wooden blade 10 to the left of the circular blade set 14 has already been cut into a multitude of parallel wooden threads 16.

[0047] The top view of the second cutting device 12 shows the rectangular surface of the wooden blade 10 with the circular blade assembly 14 and the wooden threads 16 arranged at its left end. As can be seen in the top view of the second cutting device 12, the wooden threads 16 are cut from the wooden blade 10 by longitudinal, parallel cuts. Furthermore, the top view shows that the circular blade assembly 14 is cylindrical and consists of several parallel, equidistant circular blade discs 18.

[0048] In Fig. 2 is the direction of movement B of the wooden blade 10 according to Fig. Arrow 1 points towards the circular blade set 14. Arrow C indicates the direction of rotation of the circular blade disc 18 about its central axis.

[0049] One in Fig. The second cutting device 12 shown in Figure 2 cuts a wooden sheet 10 into a plurality of longitudinally oriented wooden threads 16. The wooden sheet is moved through the circular blade set 14 in the direction of arrow B. The wooden threads 16 produced by the second cutting device 12 each have the same thickness and length, where the length corresponds to the length of the wooden sheet 10 and the thickness is, for example, approximately 0.5 to 2 mm.

[0050] Fig. Figure 3 shows two different embodiments of the knives used for cutting the wooden threads 16. It is in Fig. 3 A side view and a front view of a circular knife set 14 and a comb knife 22 are shown schematically.

[0051] The front view of the circular knife set 14 shows that it consists of several parallel circular knife discs 18 and a circular knife holder 20, which runs centrally through each of the knife discs 18 and represents the axis of rotation of the circular knife set 14. The knife discs 18 of the circular knife set 14 are circular and arranged parallel and equidistant from each other at a distance of approximately 0.5 to 2 mm on the circular knife holder 20. Furthermore, the knife discs 18 have a small thickness, for example, less than 1 mm. The sectional view shows that the diameter of the circular knife holder 20 is approximately half the diameter of the circular knife discs 18.

[0052] Fig. Figure 3 further shows a comb knife 22, which consists of a comb knife holder 24 and a comb knife blade 26 having a toothed profile. The comb knife holder 24 forms approximately two-thirds of the comb knife 22 and has a rectangular cross-section. The comb knife blade 26 has fifteen toothed points on its underside, which form the lower third of the comb knife 22. The distance between two teeth of the toothed profile is, for example, approximately 1 mm.

[0053] From the front view of the comb knife 22, it can be seen that the thickness of the comb knife blade 26 is approximately half the thickness of the comb knife holder 24. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the left side of the toothed portion of the comb knife blade 26 represents the cutting surface in the side view. The lower toothed portion of the comb knife blade 26 tapers to a point and forms an angle of approximately 15° with the upper portion of the comb knife blade 26, with the lower toothed portion of the comb knife blade 26 being inclined towards the cutting surface.

[0054] The in Fig. The knives 14, 22 shown are used to cut the surface of a wooden blank 14 or a wooden sheet 10, to cut wooden threads 16 from the wooden sheet 10, or to make evenly spaced longitudinal cuts on the top of the wooden blank 4.

[0055] Fig. Figure 4 shows a side view and a top view of a combination of the in Fig. 1 first cutting device 2 and the one shown in Fig. 2 shown second cutting device 12, in operation.

[0056] The Fig. 4 includes all elements of the Fig. 1, wherein on the wooden blade 10 in the direction of arrow B, the circular blade set 14 is located to the left behind the plane 8. Fig. 2 is arranged. The area of ​​the wooden blade 10 located behind the circular blade set 14 in the direction of arrow B is already formed into wooden threads 16 according to Fig. 2 were cut up.

[0057] As can be seen in the top view of the combination 28 of the first and second cutting device 2, 12, the circular blade set 14 cuts through the surface of the wooden blade 10.

[0058] Through the in Fig. In the combination 28 of the first and second cutting devices 2, 12 shown, a wooden blade 10 is cut from the wooden blank 4 by the first cutting device 2 with the aid of the plane 8, by moving either the wooden blank 4 or the plane 8 in the direction of arrow A. The cut wooden blade 10 is guided over the plane 8 in the direction of arrow B and subsequently cut into wooden threads 16 by the majority of the cutter discs of the circular blade set 14, as shown in the top view of combination 28.

[0059] Fig. Figure 5 shows a second possible combination 29 of a first and a second cutting device in operation, showing a side view and a top view of the combination 29.

[0060] The combination 29 comprises a first cutting device 2 with all in Fig. The elements shown in Figure 1 are arranged on the surface of the wooden blank 4, on its left side and in front of the plane 8, the circular blade set 14 of the second cutting device 12 is positioned. The side view shows that the circular blade set 14, arranged perpendicularly on the surface of the wooden blank 4, cuts into the surface of the wooden blank with its outer circumference.

[0061] From the top view, it can be seen that to the left of the circular blade set 14 is a longitudinally cut wooden blank top 30. To the left of this is shown the last planed wooden sheet 10, which was cut into wood threads 16 by the plane 8.

[0062] With the help of the in Fig. In the combination of the first and second cutting devices 2, 12 shown in Figure 5, the wooden blank 14 is moved in the direction of arrow A and cut longitudinally by the circular blade set 14 located on the surface of the wooden blank 4. Thus, after processing with the circular blade set 14, the wooden blank 4 has a longitudinally cut surface. The cutting depth by the circular blade set 14 is greater than the thickness of the wood fibers 16 to be planed off. Subsequently, parallel wood fibers 16 are peeled from the wooden blank 4 by the plane 8.

[0063] In Fig. Figure 6 schematically shows a top view of a gathering and twisting device and a strand of wooden threads. The gathering and twisting device 32 comprises two grippers 36, 38, which can grasp and hold a strand of wooden threads 34. The grippers 36, 38 can, for example, be ring-shaped and enclose the surface of the strand of wooden threads 34. The in Fig. The wooden thread strand 34 shown in Figure 6 consists of a multitude of wooden threads 16 running parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the strand 34, each having the same thickness and length. Grippers 36, 38 are attached to the left and right end regions of the wooden thread strand 34 at a distance from the left and right ends of the wooden thread strand 34. Each gripper 36, 38 can have two pivotable gripping arms.

[0064] In Fig. Figure 6 further illustrates the twisting directions D and E in which the strand of wooden threads 34 is twisted. To twist the wooden threads 34, the left gripper 36 rotates in the direction of arrow D and the right gripper 38 rotates in the direction of arrow E, each around the horizontal center line of the strand of wooden threads 34, with the twisting directions D and E being opposite to each other, with twisting direction D clockwise and twisting direction E counterclockwise. The twisting device 32 twists the strand of wooden threads 34.

[0065] Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the bundling and twisting device with a strand of wooden threads and a device for filling gaps in a schematic representation. In the present embodiment, this device is designed as a wax material / paraffin bath. The strand of wooden threads 42 is the strand of wooden threads 42 twisted by the twisting device 32. The wax material / paraffin bath 44 consists of a tub or similar container filled with a wax material / paraffin liquid (not shown here).

[0066] In the Fig. In the device 40 shown in Figure 7 for filling gaps, the twisted strand of wooden threads 42 is held by the grippers 36, 38 and completely immersed in the wax material / paraffin bath 44. The grippers are preferably the grippers 36, 38 of the Fig. 6, by which the wooden thread strand 42 is held in the twisted position. The twisted wooden threads 16 of the wooden thread strand 42 are moistened with a wax material / paraffin liquid, and the spaces between the individual wooden threads 16 are at least partially filled by the wax / paraffin material. This process can be repeated several times to fill the spaces between the wooden threads 16.

[0067] Fig. Figure 8 shows a top view of a winding device with a strand of wooden threads and a schematic front view of the strand of wooden threads.

[0068] The construction of the winding device 46 can be compared to the construction of the twisting device 62. Fig. 6 correspond. The wooden thread strand 42 in the top view is the twisted wooden thread strand 42 coated with wax / paraffin material according to the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.

[0069] In Fig. Figure 8 also shows the winding directions F and G in which the wooden thread strand 42 is wound. The winding directions are opposite to those shown in Figure 8. Fig. 6 shown twisting directions D and E, so that the left end of the wooden thread strand 42 is twisted counterclockwise and the right end of the wooden thread strand 42 is twisted clockwise.

[0070] Furthermore, the Fig. Figure 8 shows a front view of the partially wound strand of wooden threads 48 produced by the winding device 46. The sectional view shows that the individual wooden threads 16 are arranged at close intervals. The wooden threads 16 are wound spirally around the longitudinal axis of the partially wound strand of wooden threads 48.

[0071] Through the in Fig. In the winding device 46 shown in Figure 8, the twisted strand of wooden threads 42, wetted with the wax-material-paraffin liquid, is partially wound in the directions F and G by means of the grippers 36, 38. The angle by which the strand of wooden threads 42 is twisted in the direction of arrows F and G is less than the angle by which the strand of wooden threads 42 is twisted by the winding device 32. Fig. 6 was twisted. Therefore, the twisted strand of wooden thread 48 does not correspond to the one in Fig. The wooden thread strand 34 shown in Figure 6 has wooden threads 16 running parallel to each other. By partially unwinding the wooden thread strand 42, small gaps are created between the individual wooden threads 16, providing a larger surface area for combustion when the firelighter is later burned.

[0072] Fig. Figure 9 shows a schematic front and side view of a cutting device and a strand of wooden thread.

[0073] In the side view of the cutting device 50, a cutting knife 52 and the partially wound strand of wooden thread 48 are shown according to Fig. Figure 8 shows the cutting blade 52 positioned at a short distance and perpendicular to the surface of the wooden thread strand 48. The cutting blade 52 includes a cutting edge mounted on a holder located above it. The holder of the cutting blade 52 has a rectangular cross-section. According to the side view, the cutting edge of the cutting blade 52 has a cross-section that decreases downwards.

[0074] In Fig. 9 the cutting knife 52 is arranged above the strand of wooden threads 48 to be cut into pieces of equal length.

[0075] Arrow H shows the feed direction of the partially wound strand of wood thread 48, and arrow I indicates the cutting direction of the cutting knife 52.

[0076] In the Fig. In the cutting device 50 shown in Figure 9, partially twisted strands of wooden thread 48 are cut to predetermined lengths. The strand of wooden thread 48 moves successively by equal feed distances in the direction of arrow H, stops briefly, and is then cut by the cutting blade 52, which moves downwards in the direction of arrow 1 like a guillotine. The resulting cut strands of wooden thread 48 are all the same length and thickness, typically have a length of about 5 to 10 cm, and form the finished firelighters.

[0077] Fig. Figure 10 shows a schematic front and top view of a cutting device and a strand of wooden thread.

[0078] The top view shows the partially wound strand of wooden thread 48 according to Fig. 8 and a swivel knife 56 arranged at its right end. The swivel knife 56 has a holder 58 consisting of two equally sized parallel rectangular plates, a pivot axis 62, and a cutting edge 60. The cutting edge 60 is pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction of the partially wound strand of wood thread 48. The two holders 58 of the swivel knife 56 are arranged at a distance from each other that corresponds approximately to the thickness of one of the holders 58. The holders 58 are connected to each other on the side facing the strand of wood thread via a pivot axis 62. The cutting edge 60 is attached to the pivot axis 62, mounted at a height of approximately one-third of its length on the pivot axis 62, and is rotatably mounted between the holders 58. The side view of the cutting device shows the cutting edge 60 in a position swiveled approximately 15 degrees to the left.The upper right edge of the cutting edge 60 is slightly recessed compared to the lower area of ​​the cutting edge. The strand of wood thread 48 is shown to the right of the cutting surface of the cutting edge 60 in the sectional view.

[0079] Arrow H indicates the feed direction of the wooden thread strand 48, and arrow J indicates the cutting direction of the cutting edge 60. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 10, the strand of wooden thread 48 is moved successively in the feed direction H at equal feed distances, briefly stopped and cut off by the cutting edge 60 rotating in the direction of arrow J.

[0080] The cutting device 54 cuts strands of wooden thread 48 into pieces of equal length and thickness, approximately 5 to 10 cm. These cut strands of wooden thread 48 form the finished firelighters.

[0081] A device according to the invention for producing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves comprises cutting devices, as described in the exemplary embodiments in Fig. 1 to 5 described, a gathering and twisting device, as with reference to Fig. 6 described a device for filling gaps, as with reference to Fig. 7 described, a screw-on device, as with reference to Fig. 8 described and a cutting device, as with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. Ten elements are described, each arranged sequentially and traversed one after the other. Suitable conveying devices can be provided between each element.

[0082] After the in Fig. Elements 1 to 5 shown can include a storage / storage area for the wooden threads. Furthermore, after the setup for filling the spaces, according to... Fig. 7, a cooling area for cooling the wax / paraffin layer. Reference symbol list: 2 first cutting device 4 wooden blanks 6 Table / Sled 8 Planers / Cutting / Peeling knives 10 wooden sheets (veneer) 12 second cutting device 14-piece round blade set 16 wooden threads 18 circular blade disc 20 Round blade holder 22 comb knives 24 Comb knife holder 26 Comb knife blade 28 combined cutting device 29 combined cutting device 30 longitudinally cut wooden blank top surface 32 Combining and twisting device 34 strands of wooden thread 36 grippers 38 grippers 40 Device for filling gaps 42 twisted strands of wooden thread 44 Wax / Paraffin Bath 46 Turning device 48 partially twisted strands of wooden thread 50 Cutting device 52 cutting knives 54 Cutting device 56 swivel knives 58 bracket 60 cutting edges 62 Rotation axis

Claims

[1] Device for making firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves, comprising: a first cutting device (2) designed as a planing / cutting or peeling knife (8) for cutting at least one wooden blade (10) from a wooden blank (4); a second cutting device (12) designed as a comb knife (22), needle board or several knife wheels for cutting at least one wooden blade (10) into wooden threads (16) of essentially equal length; a gathering and twisting device (32) for gathering and twisting a quantity of wooden threads (16) to form a twisted strand of wooden threads (42); a device (40) for at least partially filling spaces between wooden threads (16) of the wooden thread strand (42) with a wax / paraffin material, in particular a wax / paraffin material bath (44) or a wax / paraffin spraying device; and a cutting device (50) for cutting the wooden thread strands (48) into firelighters of equal length, essentially cylindrical, each with a plurality of wooden threads (16) extending from one end face of the wooden thread strand (48) to the opposite end face of the wooden thread strand (48). [2] Device according to claim 1, further comprising a winding device (46) for winding the strand of wooden threads (42) provided with wax material, in particular by winding the ends of the strand (42) against the direction of twisting of the wooden threads (16); [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a table (6) for positioning the wooden blanks (4) on it, wherein the table (6) and the first cutting device (2) are movable relative to each other. [4] Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second cutting device (12) is designed to cut several stacked wooden sheets (10) into wooden threads (16) of substantially equal length. [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a storage / storage area for the cut wood threads (16). [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cooling area for cooling the strand of wood thread (42) after the wax / paraffin material bath (44). [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising conveying means between the first and second cutting device (2, 12) and / or between the cutting devices (2, 12) and the gathering and twisting device (32) and / or between the gathering and twisting device (32) and the device (40) for filling gaps and / or between the device (40) for filling gaps and a twisting device (46) and / or between a twisting device (46) and the cutting device (50; 54) and / or between a twisting device (46) and the cooling area and / or between the cooling area and the cutting device (50, 54). [8] Method for manufacturing firelighters for a fireplace or barbecue fire or for lighting solid fuel stoves, comprising the following steps: Cutting a wooden blank (4) into wood threads (16) of essentially equal length by first cutting wood sheets (10) from a wooden blank (4) using a first cutting device (2) designed as a planing / cutting or peeling knife (8) and cutting these into wood threads (16) of essentially equal length using a second cutting device (12) designed as a comb knife (22), needle board or several knife wheels; Forming at least one strand (42) from the wooden threads (16) by gathering and twisting together a quantity of wooden threads (16); At least partially filling the spaces between wooden threads (16) of the wooden thread strand (42) with a wax / paraffin material, in particular by immersing the wooden thread strand in a bath (44) containing a hot wax / paraffin material or by spraying the wooden thread strand with wax / paraffin material in a wax / paraffin spraying device; and Cutting the wooden thread strands (42) into equal length, essentially cylindrical firelighters, each with a plurality of wooden threads (16) extending from one end face of the wooden thread strand (48) to the opposite end face of the wooden thread strand (48). [9] Method according to claim 8, wherein after the step of filling spaces between wooden threads (16) of the wooden thread strand (42) an at least partial unwinding of the wooden thread strand (42) provided with wax / paraffin material is carried out against the twisting direction of the wooden threads. [10] Method according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein several wooden sheets (10), in particular several wooden sheets (10) laid on top of each other, are cut into wooden threads (16) of substantially equal length. [11] Method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the wooden threads (16) are placed in a storage / storage area. [12] Method according to claim 11, wherein for the step of forming a strand of wood threads (34) the subset of wood threads (16) to be twisted is taken from the storage / storage area. [13] Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein after at least partially filling spaces between the wooden threads (16) of the wooden thread strand (42) with a wax / paraffin material and in particular after twisting the wooden thread strand (42) a cooling step is carried out.

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