US1067149A - Tobacco-leaf-stemming machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. P. SGOVILL.

'rpmcco LEA'P STEMMING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1913. 1,067, 149.

Patented July 8, 1913;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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az wsl ffleawzl.

J. P. SOOVILL.

TOBAGGO LEAF STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1913.

1,067,149. Patented July 8,1913.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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James P seovrrn er aim-mam, rein-1o, Ass-xenon TO-TROJAN MACHINE commit-r,

' or near, 'NEW YO=RK; A coaroimrioir or NEW Yon-x.

. aoiieceo-tmrsmsmmm'mummies.

meme;

Specification, of Letters latent. Application filed April 8,1913. I Saris-1N0. 259,592. I

,To'f'iill ev kofljzfz't may concern;

.4 Be it known that 1, JAMES P. Smyrna, a" e .Qf'the-E United 'States', residing a Cincinnati, in the eounty of Hamilton and- State of Ohio,'have' invented a certain'new ieed machine ofthe general t .peillustrated 'in'the patent granted" R; Cofieef-No; 569,575.,granted Oct.11?;, 1896. ln-this'prior j'patent'a-nd, the others with which I am fa-' "milia r the stripping rolls havea continuous stripping periphery. "In oneJof my-rolls' 2 2'5" there is a longitudinal row of p ointed me]- talli'c instrumentalities, I such as 'wires, nee dies or tacks-,and on the opposing I'rollis a fiber or resilient segment set to contact or meet with the. leaf puncturing 'instrumen- $0 'ta-liti'es', sothat fthere is a simu'ltaneous punc hiring and Wiping action; The major po-r-' tionflof' the peripheral surfaceissmooth, non-contacting-with its adjacent surface, so thatthestripping action is intermittent, and the leafcanibe readily "introduced between the rolls. "At the same time, either the circumferenee (if the rolls or of the peripheral surface, intermediate the stripping elements, .is about equal to an average leaf length, so

[that there is no tendencyto Wrap the .leaf jolt-stem around the roll andit will beth-rown oiitshould it become pulled away from the 'belts. In this Way I can use the most .efi'ecq'tive speeds safely and efficiently, and. there Q5 arej no structural .part's' other than the stripwhich would tend toe iert a concus- -sionontheleaf.

I "Following is a brief statement of features, characteristics, and objects of the invention.

Stripping elements simultaneously coact- "ing on opposite sides of the-leaf, :of differeptial eifi ciency. rActionint-erm'itting, main an opening between the rolls during greater. part of a singlerotation. Stripping segments narrow faced; circumferentially so rat liteaauly e, 1913.

as-jt-o present a' minimum amount of leaf attacking instrumentalities liable to either ,break'or entangle the ste s Circu ference of rolls. approximating or greater than average ljeaf length so thata stem Will not overlaparoundthe roll, Each .roll' has a imajor portion of its periphery smooth or nor 1-' stripping, and noncontacting with the adg acent periphery, so, as to maintain openhetween rolls during greater part of a.

single rotation, for'readyleaf acc ss. Flexiblle member,.the loose portionextended um der the inflpence of Icentrifugal foree, op- 1 erating in 'rel'ation to theextremities of the metallic- .0r puncturinginstrumentalii .b h ebi tz s imi i i lea min ng; ea litengl'e i e 39R l em reak g, to i fimiee t .strineil lemen e separ te the lieaf atrom' the "stem without greater Ra'rt of the time for leaffaccess; to

Ne ie radiail" surface,-

v 710 t e not ee l c nc l mrmal y, but momentarily to expose them for v stripping .80 meeting .thestrij os or severing thestem's'; to naintain'anopeiiiugbetween the rolls the make stripping elements. on one roll of Clif vferential efii'ciency compared to stripping elements ofgthe opposite rollQsd-tliat the elements' operafing'simultaneously on opposite sides'of'. the leaf approximate in charaeter the. different conditions of the texture pre-z sented. loy a transverse section of-the-leaf during operation. The effect of the vsimule taueeus action of elementsof-idifierentijal eiliciency upon opposite sides of the leaf is to'more OIJlBSS turn the Stein onits axis as git; passes endwise between the rolls so asto expose every portion of the Web to the strip in action, P Iiiis to-be sets of rolls each operating in relation. to a stem gripping carrier "advancing the leaf at an angleto the axes of therolls so ast'o causethe. jungripped portion of the leaf ors-tem- .to' he .drawn between the rolls andv to move progressively e dvvi th rolls.- 1

understood that there aret'ivo on the other hand, the other set of rolls op-' erate from the medial portion of the leaf toward the tip in the general direction of the 1 leaf grain, a relatively more diflicult separaportion to the rate of tion and consequently the aggregate stripping efiiciency for this step is relatively greater. It is also to be understood that the capacity of the machine is somewhat in prosaeed at which the rolls can be safely and efliciently rotated.

.A two-fold object is to obtain-the maximum stripping capacity with roll speeds and strippers producing the minimum amount of roll counter dragging influencesrelative to the draw of the carrier, so as to'subject the leaf to the minimum amount ofstem breaking, leaf mauling, and leaf entangling influences, and to reduce to a minimum all influences opposing the introduction of the leaf between the ends of the rolls and the progressive travel of the leaf in a direction endwise of the roll. The greater the area of roll stripping surface, the greater the tendency of leaf to become impaled upon the extremities of the strippers, adhering to and impeding the roll, hence I reduce to a minimum the area of roll stripping surface-, depending upon speeds appropriate to impart a high frequency or intermittent character or stripping operation, the non stripping roll surfaces predominating.

The relative ratio of carrier travel, roll speeds, and degree of stripping efficiency may be selected with reference to the conditions of the products and the results de-" sired. In one instance, a maximum stemmmg capacity may be the main obyective, and more or less sllght maulmg of the str ps a secondary consideration, as in producing products for pipes or cigarette smoking and other uses, whereas in another instance it may be desirable to curtail the maximum capacity for producing a better condition of strips, as in preparing tobacco for cigar fillers or plugs, and various types of smok ing tobacco.

' The objects, features and characteristics,

will-be readily understood in connection with the description'ofthe accompanying drawings forming a 'part of this specification and representing the preferred embodiment of the invention, inwhich Figurel is a front elevation of the first stripping rolls. Fig. 2 is an end view of said rolls. Fig. 3 is an end View of the second stripping rolls. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the stem gripping carriers,

or leaf presenting means and stripping rolls representing their general relative diSPOSltion in an organized machine. Fig. 5 is an endview of a rejecting roll one of which or a pair of which is preferably placed in front of each pair of stripping rolls.

Arrows are used to mdicate directions of rotation and movement andt-he leaves are crudely dotted in to indicate their general direction of travel and position.

v The first strippers'comprise the rolls A, B, rotated in opposite directions through any suitable provision, and C, D, represent the second stripping rolls also operated in opposite directions. a 2

Thefirst rolls are set at an angle to stem gripping carrier belts E, and thesecond set of rolls is set at approximately the same angle-relative to a second stem gripping carrier F. The two sets of stem gripping carriers have an overlapping relationship or zone of concurrent action for shifting the "stem grip and transposing the order of leaf advancementise that the stem held and pulled substantially the same of the sequential operations. This might be accomplished by giving the second carrier a relatively higher'speed than the first carrier and the same general direction of way for each travel, when the machine is organized substantially as indicated in Fig. 4, but it is understood that the same general end might be accomplished by causing the second car'- rier to move at an angle in relation to the first carrier substantially as'shown ina machine organization disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 690,883, filed April 15, 1912. Preferably, the rolls have a circumference approximately of an averv age leaf length say eighteen inches, so

that a stem or leaf will not have opportunity to lap around one of these rolls, while if a stem is occasionally drawn out of the grip of the carrier, the centrifugal force will throw it away from the rolls and prevent them from becoming packed or encumbered. The periphery of each roll has a smooth or non-stripping circumferential surface, the rolls being so set that during rotation the smooth surfaces do not contact but present and maintain an -opening between the rolls during the greater. part of the rotation, renderin ready access for the leaves drawn by the lt. The non-stripping, non-contacting roll surfaces, also function to hold the portion of the leaf undergoing operation substantially in the plane oftangential presentationto the strippers, and being preferably smooth surfaces they offer no opposition to the movement of the leaf endwise of the rolls, c. -.'0 the draw of the 0 apiece of leatherer rubberfbelting,; the outer i a. ential-fz-fiexible member-8,.theoppo'site ends.

leaflongitudinally of as: steam between" the rolls 1 during: the

On thelower roll A, I preferably-provide;

52: short longitudinalro-w of initial leaf puncturing needles '1, at the end -of-the r011 immediately adjacent the carrier belt; Preferably I modify theoperation of these- I needles 1- by attachingithe opposite-endsof- Tea circumferential flexible member =2, say a belt section, tcthe smooth" portion's of the periphery, the inedial, looseportion' of this flexible member. being disposed over the -nee-- dles 1, through which the needlesproject; The centrifugal vforce throws this loose -me dial portion of the flexible member out-- wardl y so thatit'not only conceals the extremities of the'needles but-the loose portion forms a'radiallyyielding surface'which can be forced-inwardly to expose the -needles slightly and momentarily at .the tangential 'line of leaf presentation, so as to puncture thejweb and-then retreat without imparting an elongatedtear or cnt.=' On the other roll B, -adjacent'the needles 1, I preferably pro vide asecond circumferential flexible 'mem- "ber the endsof which are secured to-the periphery, the medial portion beingyjloose' directly iopposite the. needles, and 5 I prefer .ablyfornrslits'4 in this member 3, sothat the needles-will not engage .i-ntoithis leather piece 3. ,It'is' desirable that this member 3 shall be stiffener-lessfiexiblethan the mem as-t0 nrge-a-the leaf ltoward'the nee.

and-to de" ress-the medial portionof, the" member .2 511 iently to bring thefneedle's momentarily into action. A convenient way 1 ofaz'stiffening thi's member '3' is to provide a j longitudinal fle'ilblc member 5, .s'uch a's a ,end jofwhich is attached-to the periphery of, the rapper rel-1,: the inner or free end extend-J ing tran'sVerselyj5between the periphery of' the rollandthe loose portion of the memberj3,"actingias a sort of --spring .or tension influence; x

Lrthe initial*leafg-pnneturing:instrume H itie sarenot-ofthe-essencejof them-- 'v eiiti n,=1 norf-reqiiired nnder all; conditions, 50, they" are -'advantageousunder some condt, tioii f operation'depending'upon thecharacter of-the. P IQdIiGt; I ()f 'conrse,-the inst'r u mentalities "are -only; showir inztheurolls nhih 1 li fi Z "fit-ripping; efl iiencyy elements or sp urs: for the-roll A,- compriseja-l'ongitndinal rowof zwir'es," needles, or ally i, from the periphery. and preferably ing? or rejecting-through slots's of the mediah loose-portion; 7" of. a jcircumfer-- pf y'vhieh agre attached' to the periphery" of; the an; aand his fiexible memberop eret es I in relation heelementsfi" substantially as:

ip ing; The maj or 4 the menses-.2 coordinates" withotlie needles- 'll 'Breferably: the tacks or spurs 6 are-spaced to: approximate the diameter of 'theLabutt-I'pontionof the stem which passes betweenithe =first ro1l's,':and the spurs arepreferably inclined. 'reversely to the direction offroll rotation so as notto hook into the product. i

the companion roll B, I place a nar- 1'oW: faced brush=,-'fiber or resilient segment 9radiallyrprojectingfrom the periphery and segmentof minor efficiency, the'elements 6,

mentary contact once during a single rotat-1on.- Preferably the brush segment 9 IS -'se t-=t0 fcontactthe elements 6 during aroll J rotation. The fiber represents a stripping formed with .the inclined face 10 so as to presentfthe shorter fibers first to the bent tacks 6 in thedirection of roll rotation so that there is a gradual closing in upon the leaf of these two stripping'eleinents of differential efliciency. In the second set of.

rolls C,' D, I provide a similar brush seginent" and harsher stripping segment-of spurs, except that no flexible member is shown, and on the roll C of the second set I preferably provide two or more rows of spurs 6, or stagger them, so that the aggregate strippingefiiciency ofthe second strip- I pingrolls is greater than that of the first rolls-, in order toseparate 'the leaf from the stem when the stripping ,is in the general direction of the leaf grain or toward the tip.

The spurs 6 ofthe second set of rolls ares'et relatively closer together to approximate the diameter of the tip ends of the stems passing through the second rolls.

;-In practice, I preferably run the first set fOf rollsat the rate of say, nine hundred r0 tations-a minute or even more,while in the second rollsthe rotation is proportionately higher, saytwelve hundred rotations a min-- 7 ute or more so as to accentuate the difference between theirfrelatively differential strip-' ping efficiency. At the same time preferably thesecond'belt has a faster surface, than the first stemgripping carrier. It will be noticed that a greater portion of the periphcry of each roll. is smooth and non contacting and preferably formed by segmental wooden' blocks 11 and as the smoothperiplr 'eral'surfaces do not contact, they maintain an: opening between the rolls readily ad- :m'itting leaf presentation and the traverse tack-s16,- projecting radi Jot-theleaf"'lengthwise ofithe rolls, while the: stripping .1 segments. occupy but a small portion of the periphery so that the operatio'n is intermittent, but owing to-the high 1 stempassing-endwise between the rolls, so -va s-to effectually; separate the webrfrom the stem close to and parallel with the stem and whether stripping toward the butt or toward the tip. Thefiber or resilient segment 9 is closely compacted and only projects slightly radially beyond the smooth periphery formed by the adjacent blocks 11, thereby limiting the depth of stem embedment into the brush surface, while the wood segments 11 act as binders laterally confining or compacting the fibers. The simultaneous differential. and intermittent stripping is sufficient to effect the separation while reducing to a minimum the counter drag of rolls upon the leaf held between the carrier belts under superior tension.

Preferably I place before the stripping rolls, a roll or pair of rolls 15, see Figs. 4 and 5 appropriately rotated, and having flexible flaps or radial repellers 16, for

'throwing out short, or broken leaves and attacking agencies, to-wi circumferential flexible member 3, have preventing them from entering the stripping rolls, or being retained by the stem gripping carriers so as to be carried through the machine without adequate stripping.

These discarded products calrbe stripped on the same machine by so feeding them as to insure an effective grip of the carrier 50 as to'effectively subject the leaf web to the stripping'action. Of course all the strippers, whether spurs, fiber wires, tacks or brushes, project radially from the periphery and form fixed components thereof defining a stripping surface or segment, though they may be bent or inclined so as not to liter-' ally coincide with the geometrical radius of the rolls. Preferably the minor efficient elements are resilient, the harsher coacting .eleliients are stiffer or relatively non-resil-.

ient so as to form simultaneously coacting stripping elements of differential efficiency, though the comparative degreecf resilience is not of limiting significance except where the differential stripping efliciency" is directly a characterization of the claims. 7 Either the elements 1 or 6 may be generalized as spurs fixed in relation to the periphery, and the flexible circumferential belt may be'generalized as a radially movable member effectively exposing the spurs for stripping but rendering said spurs inoperative except on the tangential line of leaf presentation.

The invention is of course susceptible of various embodiments differing from the specific disclosure of the drawings.

In the first pair of rolls one pair of leaf t, the spurs 1 and definite leaf puncturing, or transverse webserering function which will not cut. the stern, while the other-agencies,"to wit, the brush segment andcoacting spurs have definite, stripping function longitudinally of the stem. zThese two agencies coordinate as the rolls are rotated to administer these two treatments as the leaf is drawn between the rolls longitudinally of its stem, while at the same time it travels in a general direction endwise of the rolls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:.

1. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a stripping segment extending endwise acrossthe'periphery comprising radially projected fibers, said roll having, a-large portion ofits periphery constituting a nonstripping surface, and means engaging the stem and drawing it into operative relation to the stripping roll.

segment of radially projected members the components being of differential stripping efficiency, said segments coacting during a roll rotation, and each of said rolls having a major portion of its periphery constituting a non-strippingsurface, providing an open space between theirolls during a greater part of a single rotation, and means engaging the stem and'drawing it into operative relation to the stripping rolls. 3. In a tobacco stemming machine,- in combination with a stem-stripping carrier, a roll having a stripping segmentof closely compacted fibers, radially secured to the periphery constituting stripping instrumentalities of minor efficiency, a companion roll provided .with radially secured members constituting stripping instrumentalities of major efficiency, said rolls being so' arranged that said stripping instrumentalities and segment coact during the roll rotation, the major portion of each roll beingv arranged to provide a non-stripping surface presenting an opening between the rolls except when the stripping members-are brought into coactive position. I

4c. Ina tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a brush stripping segment, a greater portion of the peripheral surface being non stripping, and means engaging the stem and drawing it intooperative relation to the strippingv roll. v

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll having a longitudinal row of spurs, the major portion of the periphery being a non- .stripping surface, and means engaging the stem and drawing it into operative relation to the stripping roll.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll, formed with a single longitudinal, minor circumferential stripping segment comprising closely compacted resilient elements, and means. engaging the stem anddrawing it into operative relation to the stripping roll.

7. Inya tobacco stemming .machine', in

pair of oppositely rotated 'rolls,-one being of oppositely rotated rolls each having a combination with leaf presentingmeans, ah

a at:

eanne formed with a longitudinal stripping segment comprising closely compacted resilient elements, the other roll having-a longitudina row of spurs, the diiferentlal stripping elements coac'ting duringthe roll rotation,

the .major portion of the-@peripheral" smface of each roll being nonestripping and noncontacting and the resilient segment having an inclined face presenting the shorter izleinents first to the spurs in the direction of roll rotation.

8, in a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a

of oppositely rotated rolls having re- ,Spectively stripping instrumentalities of mii101" and major eiiiciency adapted to simultaneously operate upon opposite sides of a leaftendii g'to turn the stem on its axis as itis' drawn endwise of the rolls, and the ma- ,jor portion of the peripheral surface of each roll being non-stripping.

9. flu a tobacco stemming machine, a roll' having .strippingsegment and a major nons'tripping peripheral, surface, the circumfer-- ence approximating an average leaf length,

andmea-ns presenting a leaf to the rotating combination with leaf presenting means, a

pair. of oppositely rotating Tolls having al- =ternatestripping and non stripping peripheral mfracesthe stripping surfaces coactmg and the non-stripping surfaces non-contacting, maintaining an opening through the rolls during the greater ,part ofa single rotation, an rthe strippers ofone rollbeing of difi'erenti -l et iicie'ncy as compared to the r 1 combination with leaf presenting means, a pair of oppositely rotated rolls one-formed strippers-bf the companion roll. v

12. "In "a tobacco stemming machine, 111' crimbinationwithleaf presenting means, a'

roll formed-With a longitudinal row, of 'stripperai saidroll having a major nonstripping surface, a flexible member secured to the non-stripping surface to provide a yielding 'surfa eeha ving its loose portion disposed adj-aeent tothe strippers.

I '13. In .af'tobaeco stemmingmachine, 1n combinationiwi'th leaf ,presentln'g means, a

roll for "ed with a longitudinal row of strip{ pars, SaldI frQlfl having a considerable nonstripping surface, a flexible member, the opposits ends .uflw'hich are secured to the nons'tripping peripheral surface providinga loose porti'on, and the strippers operating through said loose ,portion,

M in a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a

pair of oppositely rotated rolls, one being formed with a longitudinal row of leaf puncturing instrumentalities," a flexible member, the opposite endsbeing secured to the rollperiphery, the puncturing instru mentalities operating through the medial loose portion of said flexible member, the

opposite roll having a second flexible memf her, the medial loose portion being arranged to coactwith the medial loose portion-of the flexible member of itslcompanion roll.

'15. In a tobacco stemming machine, a roll,

a flexible Imember' extending-circumferentially, its opposite ends. being secured to the'roll leaving a medial loose portion, and

a longitudinal flexible member one end of- Which is secured to the roll, the free end extending transversely between the ipe-v riphery of the roll, and the medial loose puncturing instrumentalitieaa circumferen;

tial flexible member having a loose ,portion disposed in relation to the .pifncturing instrument-antics; the other roll having a member set to enact with the loose portion of the flexible member, and a considerable portion of the circumference of said rolls being non-stripping.

17. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

combination with leaf presenting means, a

pair of oppositely z-rotated rolls having stripping elements of diiferent-ial eiiiciency set to simultaneously operate upon opposite sides of a leaf, a flexible member secured to one .of said rolls to provide a radially yielding surface, said 'rolls having non-stripping surfaces maintaining an opening'between the rolls during a greater apart of a single rotation, the circumference of said rolls approximating an average leaf length.

18. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

with a longitudinal row of leaf'puncturing instrumentalities, :a circumferential member "having its opposite ends attached to the roll, .itsloose portion normally concealing the extremities of the puncturing instru- "mentalities the com anion roll. havin a lesser flexible member, its loose portion coacting with the loose portion of the ad]a 7 cent flexible member during roll rotation.

19. Infla tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presentingmeans, a

roll having a longitudinal .row of-leaf punc-' turing instrumentalities and a flexible-member secured to the rollwith its loose portion pierced to normally conceal the extremities yielding. nnderradial pressure to momenta-rily expose the said instrumentalities for operation.

" 20. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

combination with leaf. presenting means, a" pair of oppositely rotated rolls, a longi-- 'tudinal row of fibers on one roll, a longiacting with the harsher stripping instrumentalities, the major portion of the peripheries being non-contacting and non-' stripping.

22. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting 'means, a pair of oppositely rotated rolls, having 7 stripping'elements of differential efliciency adapted to operate simultaneously upon opposite sides of a leaf, said rolls having noncontacting and non-stripping peripheral surfaces, and so arranged that during the V rotation, there is an intermitting action foif simultaneously engaging stripping elements of differential e ciency.

23. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a pair of oppositely rotated rolls each formed with peripheral stripping and non-stripping surfaces, the stripping elements coacting' during roll rotation, the stripping in- "strumentalities of one roll being of major and the stripping instrumentalities of the other roll of minor efliciency, and thenon stripping surfaces providing ready leaf air:-

cess during the roll rotation.

24. In a tobacco stemming machine, a first and a'second roll oppositely rotated,

, means presenting a leaf thereto, a row of leaf puncturing instrumentalities on the fl-rstproll, a flexible member on the first roll ha ing its loose portion pierced to operate in relation to the extremities of said puncturing inst-rumentalities'a second row of harsher stripping instrumentalities on the first roll on another portion of the periphery, alesser flexible member on the second roll having its loose portion coacting with the puncturing instrumentalities of. the first roll, and a compacted brush segment on another portion of the periphery of said second roll, set to coact with the harsher instrumentalities of the first roll, the major portion of the periphery being non-contacting and non-stripping; V

25. In a. tobacco stemming "machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a

first and a second-setof oppositely rotating rolls, the rolls off each set having stripping instrumentalitiesf of differential .eificiency operating simultaneously upon opposite sides of the'leaf, the aggregate stripping efliciency'of one set of rolls being of-minor character tooperate against the leafgrain and the aggregate stripping efliciency of the other set of'rolls being of major character to operate in a general direction of the leaf g i I v 26. In a tobacco stemming machine, in

vcombination with leaf presenting means, a

pair of oppositely rotated rolls, one having a longitudinal row of. major eflicien'cy'stripping elements, the other having a coacting,

longitudinal row of less efliciency stripping elements, portions of the'peripheries being non-contact-ingnnd non-stripping surfaces, rendering an intermittent action of differential stripping. efliciency, the lesser "efficiency elements exerting a wiping action on the leaf simultaneously with the puncturing or rending action of the major stripping efliciency elements.

27. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a roll having radiallyprojecting lea-f attacking elements for separating the web from the stem, and a flexible member having a surface operating under the influence of centrifugal force in relation to the extremities of said elements, and yieldable under radial pressure.

28. Ina tobacco stemming machine, in combination with leaf presenting means, a pair of oppositely rotating, rolls, radially projecting stripping elements, and a flexible member having ,a loose medial portion operating under the influence of centrifu a1 force and adapted to yield inwardly un er radial pressure.

29. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a first and a second stem gripping carrier, having overlapping ends, and the same general direction of travel, arranged for se quential operation, and for transposing the order of leaf advancement between the carriers.- a pair of stripping rolls for one carrier having segmental stripping and nonstrippingsurfaces, and a second pan of stripping rolls for the'other carrier.

30. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a first and a second -stem gripping carrier, said'carrier being arranged for delivering a leaf, fi'om one to the other carrier, and for transposing the order of leaf advancement, a pair of stripping rolls for one carrier hav ing segmental stripping and non-stripping surfaces, :1 second pair of stripping rolls for the second carrier, and a flexible member attached to one roll having a portion centrifugally extended and yielding under radial pressure, said member coacting with one of the stu 1n o erations to influence the leaf position as it-is being separated from g the stem. j

31. In combination with, a stem gripping carrier'and rotating stripping rolls, a rotating roll having radial repellers, disposed in front o'f-the stripping roll and appropriately rotated for throwing out short or broken leaves and preventing them entering the working parts of the stemmer.

32. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presentingmeans, oppositely rotated rolls, means drawing a leaf throu h said rolls, one of said rolls having radia y projecting leaf attacking elements 'on a portion of its periphery, and acircumferential flexible member onjsa'id roll having a portion expandlng under the influence of centrifugal force and formin a yielding radial surface,

said leaf attac ing elements operating through said expanding portion.

tated rolls, means drawing'a leaf through said rolls, one of said rolls having radially projecting leaf attacking elements on a-por tion of 7 its periphery,- a circumferentialmember on said roll having'a portion expanding under the influence of centrifugal force and forming a radiallyyielding surface, said leaf attacking elements operating. through said expanding portion of ,the' circumferential member, the other roll having a segment on a portion of its periphery formed of radially projecting resilient ele- 1 ments, and the rolls being arranged so that i said segment coacts with the leaf attacking elements of the adjacent roll and with the yielding surface of said circumferential member. j r 40 34. In a-tobacco'stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a roll, in combination with resilient leaf attacking elements radially projecting from said roll andficonstituting a minor segment of the periphery,

and binding segments laterally 'compacting the elements of said stripping segment, and limiting the depth of stem embedment.

35. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf' presenting means, a roll, in combination with resilient 'le'af attacking element's radially projecting from said roll and constituting a longitudinally extending minor segment of the periphery, and binding segments having smooth peripheral surfaces laterally adja-' cent the resilient radial elements, and limitingthe depth of stemembedment.

36. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, in-combination with, a roll having a longitudinal row of radially 6 projecting spurs, and a cooperating roll having a longitudinal row of radially projecting stripping elements, said row senacting as therolls are rotated, the circumferential roll. surfaces adjacent said stripping elements being non-contacting and non-stripthe spurs operating through said yielding named roll.

'33. Ina tobacco stemming machine, leaf. presenting means, a pair of oppositely ro-' leaf accessand leaf support during-the non'- stripping portion of roll rotation, andco- 'ping and constituting a roll opening sup porting the leaf .011 the lower roll in approximately the tangential plane of presen tation. I a I 37. In a tobacco :stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a roll, radiallyproject ing' e um on a --port=icn of the peri hery, a flexible member having a radially yielding surface expanded under centrifugal force,

surface,'a second roll, and means on the second roll so placed as to coac't with-the sins and with the yielding sur faceoffth'e exible member of the periphery of'fihe fi'rs't 38, In a tobacco stemming machinefilea f presenting means, afro'll having leaf attacking elements, and a flexible member'sedure'd to the roll and prbvidin'gEa circumferential" extending surface yielding radiallmand be; acting-with said "leaf attacking.-elel iients.=. 39. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf 1 presenting means, a pair of rot-ated rolls, one'hayingja leaf attacking elements, a circumferential flexible member on the other roll having a radially yielding surface 'expanded by centrifugal force," and, :formed with circumferential slits for tangentially passing the attackingelements of theopposite roll.

a 395 40.111 a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a pair of rolls, stripping elements, and. a flexible circumferential member on one roll having a radially yield-' ing surface expanded by' centrifugal force. 41. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf resentinginstrumentalities, a pair of rolls ormed with circumferential, non-cont acting, non-stripping surfaces, coacting to provide ing elements, the major peripheral roll sur- 'face being non-stripping,-so asjto bring said single element intooperation but once dur- 4 mg one rotation.

43, In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf presenting means, a. pair of rolls, one of said rolls having ashort longitudinal row of leaf puncturing elements at the stem-entering end of the roll, the row being.lineal1y proportioned to substantially sever the Web transversely as it passes endwise of the roll.

44.111 a tobacco, stemming machine, leaf presenting means, :a roll, fixed spurson'a portion of the periphery, and a radially,

yielding surface expanded by centrifugal force, through which the extremities of the {spurs project during the stripping operation.

. 45. In a tobacco stemming mach ne, leaf presenting means, a roll, fixed 3 3111s on' the periphery, and a radially lnova le member operating to produce an effective spur pro-' jeetion beyond'said member during the roll rotation, for the stripping-action, and-to render said spurs inoperative except on the tangential line of leaf presentation.

46, In a tobacco stemming machine, leafprese'ntingf'means for gripping and ulling one end' of the leaf, an angularly dlspo'sed pair of stripping rolls, one roll being formed with a longitudinal row of peripheral spurs,

opposite sides "of the leaf, tending to turn the ungripped end of the leaf on its axis .;as' it progresses endwise between the rolls.

=47. In a tobacco stemming machine, leaf ---r p'resenting means, and a roll formed-with are;

a; ."longitudinal row of peripheral spurs,

Is paced one from another to afford. a stempassage between adjacent spurs, longitudinallly of, the roll approximating the diameter inf-that portion of thO StQID to'be drawn ends wise of said roll byf s aid leaf presenting 48. In a tobacco stemming machine, means for gripping and draw ng a leaf, stripping rolls rotating in opposltion to the draw of the carrier, leaf puncturing spurs on a por- 3' .tion of the periphery of one of the rolls, at the leaf entering end, said spurs being spaced to afford} intermediate stem passage, for transversely severing the leaf without cut ting thestem, and coacting stripping'ele. 4D

ments on other portions of the roll peripheries, forstripping from saidtransverse cut longitudinally of the stem.

49. In a tobacco stemming machine,.a stem gripping carrier, a pair of rolls rotating in opposition to the draw of'the carrier, provided with-a row of leaf puncturing spurs adjacent the carrier, for' cutting' the leaf transversely without severing the stem, and

also provided with co-acting stripping ele.- Q ments extending longitudinally of the rolls, r

positioned to operate after the leaf cutting, to strip longitudinally ofthe' stem from the out line to the end, of thezstem, as the leaf travels endwise of and is drawn through the 55 rollsby the carrier. I

JAMES P. SCOVILLQ Witnesses:

- PA L FmoKnL, V ANNIE Coornn.

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