GB410174A - Improvements in or relating to tobacco cutting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

410,174. Cutting tobacco. MOLINS, W. E., 2, Evelyn Street, Deptford, London. Nov. 11, 1932, No. 31909. [Class 5 (i).] A tobacco leaf cutting machine of the type in which curved edged knives 1 are movable to co-operate with a fixed mouthpiece 8 having rigid walls and are arranged to sever a compressed cheese of tobacco after extrusion from the mouthpiece, is characterised in that the severing action of the knife or knives on the cheese is at all times in the same direction and in that the knife or knives are confined to movement in one plane and that at least a part of the cutting edge of a knife or knives is moved past and into contact with a sharpening element 11 between each cutting operation and that immediately succeeding it. Fig. 2 shows three circular disc knives 1 mounted on spindles 2 axially adjustable in bearings 5 incorporating ball races, the knives being free to rotate on the spindles. An oil stone 12, to remove any burr set up by the grindstone 11, may be in the form of a wheel or simple block, as shown, and may be adjustable to compensate for wear of the knives : the stone 11 is similarly adjustable and is trued by means of a diamond. The spindles 2 may be automatically adjustable radially. The knives may be positively driven, e.g. by sun and planet gearing. Alternatively, a single large diameter circular disc may be employed ; or, segmental knives 32, Fig. 7, spring-pressed against stops 34 and cam-operated at the grinding position to render them concentric with the axis of rotation, may be used ; or, a reciprocating circular knive 24, Fig. 8, may be rotated on its axis by a pawl 31 and ratchet 30 or may rotate idly on its axis. The axis of the/or each knife may be inclined with respect to the axis of the cutter head. Specification 365,997 is referred to in the Provisional Specification.