US1058823A - Feeding device for tobacco-leaves. - Google Patents

Description

G. F. WHITING & L. P. WHITAKER. FEEDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APILIOATION FILED FEB. 20, 1909.

WITNESSES G. P. WHITING & L. P. WHITAKER.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED 1'33. 20, 1909.

\ Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

a SHEEN-SHEET 2;

G. F. WHITING & L. P. WHITAKER. FEEDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1909.

Patented Apr. 15,1913.

a sHn'ETssHnnT a.

ZNVENTORS.

" ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUY 1F. WHITING AND LOUIS P. WHITAKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE PNEUMATIC TOBACCO STEMMER CO 0]? WASHINGTON, DIS- TRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO-LEAVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUY F. WHITING and LOUlS P. WHITAKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Devices for Tobacco-Leaves; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inis a top plan View of a feeding apparatus embodying our invention, a portion of the feed table being broken away. Fig. ,2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fi 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view 0 a portion of the apparatus, drawn to a still larger scale and showing the auxiliary feeding carrier or chain and adjacent parts. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on line 55 Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail fof a part of the apparatus. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view.

of a part of the apparatus.

The object of ourinventio-n is to provide a mechanism for feeding tobacco leaves to a stemming machine, orfor other purposes, in which the leaves may be arranged upon a horizontal table from which they are carried, separated or spaced a certain distance apart and turnedinto a vertical plane and held at a desired angle to a vertical plane extending transversely of their line of travel, or otherwise delivered from the feeding mechanism.

Our present invention isan improvement on the feeding mechanism invented by, Louis P. Whitaker and covered by his application 2- for Letters Patent of theUnited States filed Feb. 6, 1907 and given Serial No. 356,014 and our improvements have in mind facili tating the introduction of the leaves into the feeding mechanism, so as to obtain a .ver

rapid feed vof the leaves, and with a minimum of labor on the part of the operator or feeder.

In carrying out our invention, we provide a horizontal feed table A supported in an desired manner and provided preferably Wit a longitudinally extending conveyer B, which may be formed of a single belt or a plurality of belts passing around rollers b, b, the latter being the driving roller. Adjacent to' the inner edge of the conveyer B and parallel thereto we arrange what we term the auxiliary carrier, consisting (as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive) of a sprocket chain C, or other endless carrying device, provided with a plurality of outwardly or upwardly projecting teeth or projections 0. The teeth a are preferably inclined forward in the direction. toward which they move when the carrier is in operation, or at least have their rearward edges inclined forwardly as shown, so that they resemble saw teeth or ratchet teeth, the object of such formation being to permit the butt portions of the stems of tobacco leaves to be,moved over the teeth very readily in the direction of travel of the carrier, but to have the teeth take into the butt portions when they are released by the feeder and carry them forward with the carrier.

The teeth 0 are conveniently formed in the edge portions of gsh'ort plates 0' which are riveted or otherwise secured to the exterior link plates of the chain on one or both'sides (the tooth plates 0'- being herein shown only on one side of the chain or carrier) but the may be formed in other ways. The chain is mounted on a rear driving sprocket C and a forward idle groove pulley C The sprocket wheel C is in this in-' stance mounted ri 'dl on a shaft 6 which also carries the riving roller 6 for the conveyer B, and the grooved roller C is mounted loosely on a shaft 6? hereinafter referred to, and upon which the roller b, of

the conveyerB, is also loosely mounted. The upper lap of the chain C rests-preff'er'ably in a longitudinal slot or recess a in the feed table A, so thatthe teeth 0 pro- ,ject a short distance ,above the top of the table and the lower lap of the chain may be provided'with a tightener C as shown in Fig. 3 if desired. The chain 0 is driven at substantiall the same speed as the con- .veyer B, and 1n feeding tobacco leaves the I vided on one edge only as here shown, the.

chain engages the butt portions of the leaf stems a short distance from their ends, the leafy portions or tails lying upon the conveyer B, and in the case of very long leaves extending be 0nd the same on the side toward the fee er.

D represents an adjustable head guide having supporting brackets d provided withslots to-receivesecuring screws d to secure the head guide to the table,'and this head guide is arranged at such a distance from the chain C as toinsure that the leaves are uniformly engaged by the chain, at. the

proper point. In feeding the operator is assisted by this guide in getting the leaves in such'position that the butt ends will be practically even. i

- Above the row of teeth 0 of the upper lap of the chain C we arrange a yielding guide D, which preferably consists of a flat strip of sheet steel or other resilient metal having a smooth under surface. Where the chain C is provided with tooth plates onboth edges, the guide D will preferably arranged above the longitudinal center of the chain butwhere tooth plates are proguide D is located centrally above the teeth.

and carrying a vertically supported and vertically movable rod d therein. A spring d the springto bear downward more or less, above the teeth 0 and with locklng means.

engages an exterior rojection, or pin (Z on the rod to hold it yie dingly in its depressed position and the downward movement of the rod is limited by a wing nut or other adjustable device d", on the rod as shown. The lower end of rod d is split and engages the rib (2 to which it is connected by a pin passing through the bifurcated part of the rod, and through a slot 01 in the rib (i thus providing for the longitudinal movement of the guide.

The opposite end of the spring guide D is supported in such a manner as to enablethe guide to be adjusted toward and from the teeth a of the chain C. In this instance a bracket d is secured tothe table and carries a horizontal rod d the end of which is bifurcated to embrace the guide D to which it is preferably securely pinned. The rod ri is provided'withmeans such as a. winged head d" by which it may beturned to cause such as a jam nut (Z tolo'ck it in its adjusted position.

.The chain 0- is drlven as hereinafter described, and at a comparatively slow rate of speed, so-that the operator can take a number of leaves at a time, aline the butts with head-guide D, flatten them upon the table and slide them forward over the teeth 0 and beneath the guide D at a much greater rate of speed than the chain C travels. As soon as the operator releases the. leaves their stems are gripped by the teeth 0 and they are carried along with the chain, the tails being carried by the conveyer B, leaving the operators hands free to grasp another quantity of leaves and slide them along over the teeth 0, up to the last one of the previous lot, and so on keeping a continuous row of leaves between the teeth 0 and the spring guide D, which form a magazine, as it were, and enable the operator by intermittently placing a number of leaves in the feed to effect a practically continuous feed of the leaves therefrom.

The leaves are taken one at a time from the auxiliary carrier C, by a delivery mechanism and separated to a'distance of several inches, and separately delivered to a stemming machine. The specific form of delivery mechanism herein shown and described is covered by the application of L. P. Whitaker hereinbefore described, and is not specifically claimed herein.

The delivery chain E is mounted on a driving sprocket E on the shaft b and an outer sprocket E of small diameter, mounted on an extension of the table. The chain E is provided at intervals with a tooth e on its upper face, which forms a continuation of a lateral tooth 6 arranged on the side of the chain, and preferably extends .at an angle downwardly, and rearwardly,

the angle of tooth 6' corresponding to the angle at which the tobacco leaves are to be delivered, after they are turned from a horizontal into a substantiall vertical position.

The speed of the sproc et chains 0 and E is timed so that the sprocket chain C moves substantially the distance between two adjacent stems or leaves while the chain E moves the much greater distance, between two teeth e, e, so that each of the leaves carried by chain C is delivered to a tooth e of chain E at the instant that the leaf escapes the lower end of guide D, and the tooth e at once carries the leaf toward the delivery end of chain E and beneath a guide F arranged edgewise above the chain E and su ported similarly to the forward end of gui e D by means of spring pressed rods f, f and brackets f f, but the guide F is arranged to press firmly upon the stem or butt portion' of theleaf as it is carried along by the tooth e.

At a certain point above chain E the guide F is stopped, and at substantially the same point a lateral guide G- is arranged adjacent to the lateral teeth 6', and supported yieldingly, as by spring pressed rods 9 g and brackets g g. The end of guide G adjaface of the tooth e'with which it is in contact, thus presenting each leaf to the stemming machine at the desired angle, determined by the angle of the tooth e. The leaves will also extend above the chain E a uniform distance determined by the adjustment of the head guide D, as will be clearly understood, so that the butt ends of the leaves may be properly gripped by the feedlng mechanism of the tobacco stemming machine.

It will be understood that at the time the leaves are transferred from the receiving carrier C to the delivery carrier E they will fall off of the conveyer B, and hang down- Ward thereby facilitating the turning of'the' leaves into vertical position when they engage theupturned end of the guide G.

The var1 ous parts of the apparatus may be driven in any desired Way. In the'present drawings we have shown a driving shaft' H which may be driven from the stemming machine or independently and at different speeds as required, a suitable change speed gearing of any well known or preferred type being employed if desired. The shaft H is here shown as having a pulley h for receiving a driving belt, but it may receive power in any desired way. The shaft h is provided at its rear end with a worm hengaging a worm wheel I) on the shaft. 1) for imparting motion to the auxiliary carrier C and the conveyer B. At its forward end the shaft H is shown as provided with a' bevel gear 11 engaging a larger bevel wheel 6 on shaft 1), for driving the delivery chain E. Varia-'- tions may obviously be made in the driving mechanism without depart-ing from the invention.

Between the conve er B, and the auxiliary chain 0, we emp oy a vertically adjustableplate L (see Fig. 6) the forward end of which is notched or cut away to permit the teeth 6 of chain E to pass therethrough as they rise through the table around the sprocket wheel E. We may employ a spring plate for this purpose and secure it rigidly to the table at the end farthest-from the sprocket wheel, as by screw Z, in such manner that the other end tends to spring upward, and provide an adjustingscrew l by means of which the vertical adjustment of the forward end of the plate'may-be accomplished, as shown best in Fig. 6.- In

I'm engagement with said some cases we may provide a bottom screw Z engaging the lower face of the plate L to raise it, as also shown in Fig. 6, if found necessary or, desirable. The effect of raising and lowering this plate is to vary the length of the efieetive portions of the teeth 1 c, 0 of the auxiliary chain C, as it will vary the amount which said teeth the plate.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A feeding device for leaves, comprising among its members a feed table to support project above Ithe leaves, a carrying device provided with serrated portions for engaging the leaves near their butt ends arranged longitudinally of and adjacent to one edge of said table,

said serrated portions of the carrier being constructed to permit the leaves to be moved freely over the same in one direction only,

and means for moving said carrying device in said direction, whereby said carrier engages the leaf stems near one end and carries them in a direction transversely of their length.

2. A feeding device for leaves, comprising among its members, a feed table, a carrymg device arranged longitudinally of and adjacent to one edge 0 the table and mov1n toward the delivery end of the dev ce, said carrying device being provided with leaf engaging teeth, said teeth having their rear faces inclined toward the delivery end of the device to permit the leaves to be freely moved transversely of their length oyer the same in said direction.

3'. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members a feed table, a carrying device arranged longitudinally of and adjacent to one edge of the table and moving toward the delivery end the device, said carrying device having 'rojections-for positively engaging and feeding the leaves therewith, said projections being constructed to permit the leaves to be moved freely thereover transversely of their length, in a direction toward the delivery end of the device and means for positively holding the leaves in engagement with said projections.

41. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members a feed table, a carrying device arranged longitudinally of and adjacent. to one edge of the table and movable toward the delivery end of said feeding device, and provided with leaf engaging and feeding projections inclined toward the said delivery end of the device, and a stationary leaf engaging guide for holding the leaves rojections and capable of yielding away rom'said carrying device.

5. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members a feeding table, an end- "less carrier arranged longitudinally of end adjacent to one edge of the table and proamong its members a feed table, an endless having a smooth frictionface, for engaging the leaves and pressing them into contact with said teeth, a support engaging the end carrier arranged longitudinally of and adj acent to one edge of the table, provided with a longitudinally disposed row of teeth, said teeth having their rear faces inclined toward the direction in which the carrier is moved, to permit the leaves tobe moved freely transversely of their length over said teeth in said direction, means for .operating said carrier and a stationary spring guide located above said carrier, and having a smooth friction face, for engaging the leaves and pressing them into contact with said teeth. 7. A feeding device-for leaves comprising among its members, a feed table, an endless carrier provided with a'longitudinally disposed row of teeth, said teeth havingt-heir rear faces inclined toward the direction in which the carrier is moved, to permit the leaves to be moved transversely of their length freely over said teeth in said direction, means for operating said carrier and a stationary spring guide located above said carrier, and having asmooth friction face,

for engaging the leaves and pressing theminto contact with said teeth and independent adjusting devices en aging said guide at different points in its ength.

8. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members, an endless carrier provided with a longitudinally disposed row of teeth, said teeth having their rear faces inclined toward the direction .in which the carrier is moved, to permit the leaves to be moved freely'over said teeth in said direction, means for operating said carrier and a spring guide located above said carrier, and having a smooth friction face, for engaging the leaves and pressing them into contact with said teeth, said guide having the'end farthest from the delivery end of the feed, e.\tending upward, a rotatable support engaging the upturned portion of the guide, and means for adjusting said rotary part about its axis of rotation. v

9. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members, an endless carrier provided with a longitudinally disposed row of teeth, said teeth having their rear faces inclined toward the direction in which the carrier 'is moved, to permit the leaves to be moved freely over said teeth in said direction, means for operating said carrier and a spring guidev located above said carrier, and

of said guide nearest the delivery end of the feed, said guide having a longitudinal movement with res ect to said support, the other end of said guide being turned upward away from said carrier, a rotatable support engaging the upturned portion of said guide .and means for adjusting said rotatable support about its axis of rotation.

10. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members, an endless carrier provided with a longitudinally disposed row of teeth, said teeth having their rear faces inclined toward th direction in which the carrier is moved, to permit the leaves to be moved freely over said teeth in said direction, means for operating saidcarrier and a spring guide located above said carrier, and having a smooth friction face, for engaging the leaves and pressing them into contact with said teeth, a vertically movable spring pressed rod connected to the end of said guide nearest the delivery end of the feed, a horizontally disposed rotatable support engaging the guide near its opposite end, and means for adjusting said rotatable guide to vary the tension of the guide upon the leaves.

11. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members a feed table, an endless chain arranged longitudinally of and adjacent to one edge of the table and having its links provided with vertically and longitudinally disposed plates provided at their upper edges, with teeth. inclined in the direction toward which the chain is moved, means for driving said chain, and a stationary guide located above said chain and having portions substantially parallel thereto, to hold the :leaves in engagement with said teeth.

12. A feeding device for leaves comprising among its members, a carrier rovided with leaf engaging pro ections inc med, to-

ward the direction in which the carrier is moved, drivin mechanism for said carrier, means for hol ing the leaves in engagement .with said projections and a delivery carrier operated at greater speed than the first men- ;tioned carrier, provided with means for re- .ceiving the leaves therefrom singly, and separating them.

13. In a feeding device for tobacco stem- ;mingmachines, the combination with a de-.

,livering carrier provided with teeth at in- .tervals for conveying single leaves and presenting them to the stemming machine, and means for turning the leaves from a horizontal to a vertical position while in engagement with said carrier, of an auxiliary carrier operated at slower speed than and delivering leaves to said delivering carrier, said auxiliary carrier being provided with a plurality of closely related projections inclinedjn a direction toward the delivery carrier to permit the leaves to be, moved freely thereover in said direction, and means for holding the leaves in engagement with said auxiliary carrier.

14:. In a feeding device for-tobacco stemming machines, the combination with a horizontal feeding table, of a deliveringcarrier provided at intervals with teeth on a horizontal and vertical face for conveying single leaves and presenting them to the stemming machine, means for turningthe leaves from a horizontal to a vertical position while in engagement with said carrier, of an auxiliary carrier provided with closely related teeth, inclined toward the delivering carrier, to permit the leaves to be moved by hand freely over said teeth toward the delivery carrier, a guide for holding the leaves in engagement with said auxiliary carrier, and means for driving said auxiliary carrier at a lower rate of speed than the delivering carrier.

15. In a feeding device for tobacco stemming machines, the combination with a horizontal feed table, of a horizontally disposed conveyer, for receiving and carrying the main portions of the leaves, an endless carrier, parallel to said conveyer, for engaging the leaves near their butt ends, said carrier being provided with teeth having their rear edges inclined in the direction of travel of the carrier, and a yielding gulde located above the carrier, for holding the leaves in engagement therewith.

16. In -a feeding device for tobacco stemming machines, the combination with an endless carrier, provided with closely re-' lated teeth inclined in the direction of travel of said carrier, a horizontal plate located adjacent and substantially arallel to a portion of said carrier, means or adjusting said plate vertically with respect to said carrier to vary the depth' of engagement of said teeth with the tobacco leaves, and a guide above said carrier for holding the leaves in engagement with said carrier.

17. In a feeding device for tobacco stemming machines, the combination with a I horizontal feed table, of a horizontally disposed conveyer, for receiving the main portions of the leaves, a horizontally disposed 18. In a feeding device for tobacco stemming machines, the combination; withv a horizontal feed table, of a horizontally .disposed conveyer, for receiving the main portions of the leaves, a horizontally disposed carrier arranged parallel to said, conveyer and provided with closely related rojections inclined toward the direction 0 travel of said carrier, for. engaging the portions of the leaves adjacent to their butt ends, means for moving said conveyer and carrier at substantially the same rate of speed, means for engaging thebutt portions of the leaves above said carrier and holding them in engagement therewith, delivering mechanism for receiving the leaves singly from said carrier, and delivering them to, the stemming machine, means for driving said de livery mechanism at greater speed than the saidcarrier, and conveyer, and means for turning said leaves into a vertical, position while in engagement with said delivering mechanism.

In testimonywhereof we afiix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

GUY F. WHITING. LOUIS P. 'WHITAKER. Witnesses:

J. K. Moonn,

F. DOYLE.

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