Method and apparatus for making a mop head and a mop head made therewith

Abstract

A machine for making mop heads includes a pair of parallel forward moving conveyor chains and a yarn winder upstream of the conveyor chains. A continuous supply of yarn is wound by the winder around the outside of the conveyor chains as the chains are moving forward. Downstream of the winder, two rolls of fabric apply a narrow strip of fabric to the yarn at opposite ends inside the conveyor chains. A pair of sewing machines stitch the fabric to the yarn to form opposite end loops around the conveyor chains. Periodically, the winder is stopped or slowed while the conveyor chains continue to move forward forming a long angled loop in the yarn dividing groups of yarn loops. A centrally located taping device sequentially encircles each group of yarn loops at a point equidistant between the conveyor chains. Downstream of the conveyor chains, a pair of rotating arms collect individual taped and stitched groups of yarn loops and a cutter cuts the fabric strips and yarn between each bunched group. One of the rotating arms is provided with a supply of ring wire which is automatically threaded into the end loops. The resulting groups of yarn have a generally 'figure 8' configuration with end loops strung together on a curved wire. The ends of the curved wire are manually attached to form a ring. A mop head made with the machine has a single yarn which is looped, stitched and taped and carded on a ring for use with a self-wringing mop.