GB364185A - Process and machine for stripping or stemming tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

364,185. Tobacco-stemming machines. HUYSTEE, A. M. J. VAN, 8c, Fagellaan, Heemstede, Holland. Oct. 7, 1930, No. 29970. [Class 130.] In a machine for stemming tobacco leaves, the leaves are suspended and moved so that the stripping members commence stripping at the top, then pass below the leaves and out of contact therewith and afterwards move upwards and finally inwards against the leaves near to their upper ends. As shown in Fig. 1, the leaves are clamped at their ends between intermittently moving co-operating belts 2, 4 so that they hang vertically downwards, and the belts pass between stripping elements 9, 10 arranged on opposite sides thereof. These elements remove the tobacco from the lower parts of the leaves which continue to move forward until encountered by a blast of air from a blower 21. The blast bends the leaves and compels them to enter co-operating intermittently moving belts 13, 14 adjacent which are stripping elements 17, 18 by which tobacco is removed from the remainder of the leaves. A conveyer belt (not shown) beneath the belts 2, 4, 13, 14 removes the stripped tobacco. Before stripping the tobacco a knife 23 severs the top ends of the leaves. The stripping elements are driven by cranks 35, 36, Fig. 3, actuated by an electric motor 39 and are mounted on beams 28, 29, fixed on rods 30, 31 resiliently mounted in frames 32, 33. Stops 48 on the rods 30, 31 contact with fixed members 49 during the rotation of the cranks thus causing the stripping elements to follow the contour indicated at 50, 56. In a modification, the second set of stripping elements is dispensed with, the top part of the leaves being severed by a knife after the lower part has been stripped. Stripping elements may be arranged on one side of the leaves only, the elements then entering holes in a wall on the other side of the leaves, and the conveyer belts may be replaced by pincers for conveying the leaves.