US1089680A - Cigarette-making machine. - Google Patents

Description

R. A. SLOAN & J. E. L. BARNES.

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1912 Patented Mar. 10, 191;

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CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

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R. A. SLOAN & J. E. L. BARNES.

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1912.

Patented Man-10, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. SLOAN AND JOHN E. LLOYD BARNES, 0F LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 687,533.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ROBERT ALEXANDER SLOAN and JOHN EDWARD LLOYD BARNES, subjects of the King of Great Britain, and residing in Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Applicable to Cigarette-lVlaking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention 1s to regulate or to facilitate the regulation of cigarette making machinery of the continuous type so that the cigarettes produced shall conform as nearly as possible to the weight intended, and in carrying it into practice we provide a device for continuously weighing a specific number, say 100, of the cigarettes as they issue from the machine. In the simplest arrangement, the weight continuously indicated in this manner may serve as a guide to the machine operator directing him when to speed-up or to speed-clown the tobacco feeding mechanism by hand, accordingly as the weighing device shows that the cigarettes are coming out below or above the intended weight. e prefer however to make the apparatus quite automatic, by combining with the weighing device a relay device controlled by the latter and adapted to regulate appropriately the speed controlling gear of the tobacco feeding mechanism.

1 \Ve prefer generally to arrange the device to weigh the cigarettes as they issue from the cigarette making machine. Assuming that the number to be continuously weighed is 100, their weight would be about 9,- lb., and as the regulation should be within a small percentage, the balance must be very sensitive and not liable to be interfered with by the cigarette propelling mechanism.

V'Ve have illustrated methods of carrying our .invention into practice in the accompanying drawings of which Figure l is a diagrammatic view intended to explain the invention broadly; Figs. 2 to 6 show one form of the apparatus in fuller detail, Fig. 2 being a plan and Figs. 3, 4t, 5 and 6 sectional elevations on the respective lines A, A, B, B, C, C, and D, D, of Fig. 2. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a modified construction in which the cigarettes are propelled along the weigh-beam by a chain conveyer, Fig. 7 being a plan, and Figs. 8 and 9 being sectional elevations on the respective lines E, E, and F, F, of Fig. 7. The remaining figures are fragmentary detail views; Fig.

10 is a diagram showing the preferred scheme of electrical connections, Fig. 11 shows a mercurial contact device, and Figs. 12 and 13 show alternative mechanisms for operating the tobacco feed regulating spindle. Fig. 14 shows a device for indicating quantitatively the deviation in weight of the cigarettes above or below the normal.

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1, which as already stated is merely diagrammatic, l is a weigh-beam fulcrumed on the knife edges 2 and carrying the pulleys 3 over which the endless traveling band at is strained. One of the pulleys 3 is positively geared to the cigarette making machine (without disturbing the poise as subsequently described) so that the speed of the band a is always proportional to that of the cigarette making machine, or in other words to the rate at which the cigarettes C are delivered by the cigarette making ma chine chute 5. 6 is a deflector which determines where the cigarettes land on the belt and they fall OK at the other end on to a collecting belt 7 from which they are lifted off by the attendant. The band will obviously carry a constant number of cigarettes, this number being determined by the length occupied thereon by the cigarettes and the lineal speed of the band in relation to the speed of the cigarette making machine. 8 is a balance weight which keeps the weighbeam horizontal when the weight of the cigarettes on the band is normal; if the cigarettes should come out lighter than intended the left end of the weigh-beam will use and if heavier it will fall. In this way a specific number of cigarettes are continuously weighed in transit and in the absence of any automatic control the apparatus would serve as an indicator directing the machine operator when to speed-up or speed down the tobacco feeding mechanism accordingly as the cigarettes are shown to be coming out below or above the intended weight. Asstated, however, the regulation is preferably effected automatically by means of some form of relay and a typical form thereof of the electrical type is indicated. 9 is the tobacco feed regulating spindle of the cigarette making machine, upon which the ratchet wheel 10 is keyed, and this is adapted to he stepped around in either direction by the pawls L and H carried on the levers 11 which are linked as shown to the cores of the solenoids L and H One ill 45 is a metal cylinder mounted by an in sulating core on the shaft d6 of the worn wheel 41; it is shown of two diameters in Fig. 10 but this is merely for the sake of greater clearness. Four prongs or brushes make contact with this cylinder. Of these, M bears continuously on the cylinder, L and H stand normally clear of it but are drawn down into contact with it when their respective small solenoids L and H are energized; the greater part of the cylinder is cut away in the line of the fourth brush d7, so that only a segment 45 remains. The electrical connections are clearly sh )WD in Fig. 10.

hen the weigh-beam tion as shown in Fi slightly out of balance, the prong M can only make contact with the glass part 3?, and none of the circuits are then closed. If the free end of the weigh-beam descends farther, then both prongs M and H come into contact with the conducting part ll when the rod 39 is advanced. Immediately atte ward the brush 4L7 mak-s contact with the segment 45 and the circuit is completed from the battery 1 through wire 49, brush l7, cylinder 4.5, brush M wire 3/ part H wire 11*, around small solenoid H around is in neutral posi- 10, or only very .2 large solenoid H and back to battery by wire 14. The solenoid 11 being energized, it pulls the brush H into contact with the cylinder e5, giving much better contact than is atlorded by the prongs M and H and the part H so that the main current passe from the batter T by the wire 49 brush all. I

segment hi brush H around small solen' id H around large solenoid TV, (which "hen makes its Working stroke), and back to be ttery by wire 14. Before the prongs retreat from the part H, the segment ill leaves the brush 4-7 and so breaks the circuit of both the small and the large solenoids. It will be seen that by this arrangement there can be no sparking at the prongs M, L and ii, as the current is neither made nor broken by them, and they only require to carry a current heavy enough to energize the smaller solenoids. The action is of course similar when the free end of the weigh-beam rises so as to bring the part L into line with the two prongs M and L; in these circumstances the solenoid L operates the wheel 10 in the reverse direction each time the prongs Ill,

1 L and H make their forward stroke.

The device shown in Fig. 12 for operating the tobacco teed-regulating spindle 9 has been described in connection with Fig. l, and it is only further necessary to explain how the stroke is regulated and the pawls kept clear of the wheel teeth when not in action. 48 are adjustable steps carried by the base of the frame and abutting below the levers 11, so that the number oi teeth taken at each stroke can be regulated. 4&9

13 may be user. The wheel 10 is now made as a worm wheel, driven by the worm 51 fixed on the shaft 52. are a pair of mi. -r wheels riding loosely on the shaft 52 and on in opposite directions by the central miter wheel 5a which latter rotates continuously. 55 are magnetic clutches by which either of the nnter wheels 58 can be clutched t The electric leads L o the shaft.

and H from the weigh-beam contact device and lei rom the battery are coupled to the clutches as shown by rubbing contacts of the usual type, and it will be seen that when the current flows through 14C and in the tobacco feed-regulating spindle 9 will be turned in one direction, and will be turned in the reverse direction when the current flows through ll and T ll hile no current flows, the spindle 9 remains at rest.

The contacts controlled by the weigh-beam might be in the ton of wires dipping into mercury, but =o the well-knoi n1 objections to the use it s ch contacts for prolonged service, we I tore to use the form already described in ordinary cases. It a mercurial contact is to be used, we prefer the torn shown in Fig. 11, where 56 is a curved glass tube mounted on the .VQlZgllbeam and partially filled with mercury 57. The tube sealed un'lcr vacuun and the three terminals lil", l and N are fused through the glass. The tilting of the tube in either direction will obviously estiblish the electric circuits in the rexpiired mannor.

As it is desirable that weigh-beam should not merely ii licate 1e fact that the cigarettes are coming out heavier or lighter than normal, but should also ive a quantitative indication of the amou it of the excess or deficiency in weight, we the deiice shown in Fig. 1%. This consists ot a light pointer 58 delicately pivoted at 59 on the weigh-beam near its free end. This pointer has a depending arm 0 with a balance wei ht Gfl,-(er it might be controlled by a light spring), and it has a stem (32 playing between fixed banking pins 33. These pins are far enough apart to allow the weigh-beam to swing either up or doi'n tar mough to operate the relay before the sins abut a?" list the stem (32, so that the present device in no way ailects the scnsitivencss oi the automatic control action. Any tun ther excess tr leficiency ot' the weight will then be indicated by the pointer against the fixed scale G l: which may read percen Sta Cir

The pointer might obviously be balanced on a fixed pivot, aLcl the banking pins be fixed to the weighbeani but the arrangement shown has the advantage that only a single pointer and s alc are required.

in the modif cation shown in 7, S and 9, the nicttes are rolled along; the weighlicam, dine on the angles 15 there- :t1 and bei 1. repelled by the vanes fixed pitch 0 6 running}; over l to the endles ran she sprocket wheels (37 carried in the bra -l between rette as it )csition, l1

rtween the vanes rolling for a short distance along the iiied track ('9 at the end of which l on to the weigh track. it

l l and end of the they :t'all on fixed track TO t m which they Ia on to collecting belt but to economize length we show this iiied track curved around so as to return the cigarettes to the lower pair of angles 15 along whicl they make a return journey finally falling oti at the left end of the iei beam track on to the collecting belt whic is not shown. The vanes are t course evenly pitched and the weigh-beam track is of the exact length to hold, say 100 cigarettes one rolling oil at the delivery end as one rolls on at the receirinp; end. We have found. however that, owing to slight irregularities in the delivery of the cigarettes from the cl ".tto making; machine, a cigarette may occasionally tail to enter fairly into the corresponding space betweei the conveyor vanes, and owing; to the very rapid rate of delivcr g :11 an occurrence 's apt to disar of the following cigarettes e with the continuous and accurite \VOl'klll ot the ap )Rlill'HS. To meet diliiculty, we prefer to receive the cigatroin the cigarette making machine chute on a t'arcling endless band 71, and to transfer their. therefrom into the snaces bctw'rci the conveyor canes.

cam tcr i The cigates pass oil the band Tl over a iixedbrir 79, which is curved downwardly and i lower edge *7? turned upwardly. i ie cigarettes crowded to 'ethe-r slightly ev encounte fixed 1 plate, ii any ai suuare v ss the band ti and numbed along; until they roll 3 stopped by the up'u 73. lhe lower end of the l slope has a 9' the lowermost slight irregiuai :onipensated rettes shall b aline l v e n ment cndwi we provide a pair or small round or square endless traveling" bolts lying close above the collecting hand and converging toward the delivery end, where they are separated by h 155th of a cigarette.

at er more than the lc l hcse "lhe resolved. speed of bells conforms with that o"? the cigarettes and the latter are thus gradially pushed into alinen'icnt a. they travel. This device may also he use :tul tor moving; he cigarettes (.KMlWlf} across the collecting belt on which 1 they ultin'iately bring ther it fall, so as to L n in o a. in re con- "i'enicnt QOSllTIOl 'i'or 1'()El10\'2l by the attcnd ant.

new fully described our linen- Ll eclare that what we claim, and desire to secure by Letter 1 ateut is;--

l. in combination with a ci arctte inahinc, a wei hing: device comprising; an ad- 1 1 nioi'alfle part over pass in a czmtinuous at a re c J rtional to the ie machine said movable part able \vciiht icing; normally balcoinni ul :rum in such inanciearettes supported lllllQ device is always the saint for indicating coniiiiuuiusly the pos 't the said movable part in rcspect to its ba anced or zero position, substantially as descriied.

2. In co nbination with a cigarette machine; a we'i'hing device comprising an adjustable weight and a movable part over vhich the cigarettes pass in a continuous stream and at a rate proportional to the speed of the machine, and an organization controlled by the movement of the said movable part and adapted to actuate a part the movement ol which regulates the rate of." teed of tobacco to the cigarette machine; sul'istantially as described.

In combination with a cigarette machine; a weighing; device comprising a weigh-beam and trareling eiulless belt to r ceive and transmit the cigarettes and rneans for driv c said belt at a "ate in synchrouisiu with that oi he cigarette ma chine in such manner he number of cigarettes pport l by s id \r' .=ighin; (!erice is alwa s the sa )stantially as described.

ln combination with a cigare te ma.-

ustahle weight and 2 which the stream an cigarettes chine ;---adevice coir prising a mi i-bean .i belt and driving novice therefor carried by the said scale beam, a part rotated in s' ';.'nclnronisni with the cigarette machine, and means for transmitting a torque to the weigh-beam tending only to rotate the latter about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the knife edges thereof, and adapted to transmit the movement of the said rotated part to the said driving device; substantially as described.

In combination with a cigarette niachine;a weighing device comprising a weigh-bean'i and conveyer belt adapted always to support a constant number of cigarettes and driving device therefor carried by the said scale beam,'a part rotated in syn chronism with the cigarette machine, and a shaft located at right-angles to the scalebeam knife edge axis, and adapted to connect the said rotated part to the said driv ing device; substantially as described.

G. In combination with a cigarette machine;a weighing device comprising a weigh-beam and conveyer belt and driving device th refor carried by the said scale beam, a part rotated in synchronism with the cigarett machine, and a universal cou pling having pivots the axis of which coincides with the axis of the scale-beam knife edges; substantially as described.

7. In combination with a cigarette 1nachine;a weighing device comprising a weigh-beam and a traveling endless belt to receive and transmit the cigarettes, means for driving the said belt at a rate in syn chronism with that of the cigarette machine. and an organization controlled by the movement of the said scale-beam and adapted to actuate a part the movement of which regulates the rate of feed of tobacco to the cigw rette machine; substantially as described.

8. In combination with a cigarette machine ;-a weighing device comprising a weigh-beam and conveyer belt and driving device therefor carried by the said scale beam, a part rotated in synchronism with the cigarette machine, means for transmitting a torque to the weigh-beam tending only to rotate the latter about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the knife edges thereof, and adapted to transmit the movement of the said rotated part to the said driving device; and an organization controlled by the movement of the said scalebeam and adapted to actuate a part the movement of which regulates the rate of feed of tobacco to the cigarette machine; substantially as described.

9. In combination with a cigarette ma chine ;-a weighing device comprising a weigh-beam and conveyer belt and driving device therefor carried by the said scale beam, a part rotated in synchronism with the cigarette machine, a shaft located at right-angles to the scale-beam knife edge axis, and adapted to connect the said rotated part to the said driving device; and an organization controlled by the movement of the said scale-beam and adapted to actuate a part the movement of which regulates the rate of feed of tobacco to the cigarette ma hine; substantially as described.

10. In combination with a cigarette machine ;-a weighing device comprising a weigh-beam and conveyor belt and driving device therefor carried by the said scale beam, a part rotated in synchronism with the cigarette machine, a universal coupling having pivots the axis of which coincides with the axis of the scale-beam knife edges, and an organization controlled by the movement of the said scale-beam and adapted to actuate a part the movement of which regulates the rate of feed of tobacco to the cigarette machine; substantially as described.

11. In combination with a cigarette machinc;-a weighing device over the movable part of which the cigarettes pass, a source of power which can be directed to operate in either direction the device which regulates the feed of the cigarette machine, and means actuated by the weighing device and adapted to direct the said source of power so that the feed regulating device is operated in the one direction or in the opposite direction, accordingly as the weighing device is over-poised or under-poisec, substantially as described.

12. In combination with a cigarette machine :a weighing device over the movable part of which the cigarettes pass, electromagnetic mcans for controlling in either direction the movement of the part which reg ulates the feed of the cigarette machine, a source of electrical energy and electrical contacts some of which are on the movable part of the weighing device, connected to the said electro-magnetic means and source and adapted when the weighing device is over-poised to connect the electro-magnetic means to the source so as to cause the movement of the feed regulating part in the one direction, and when the said device is underpoised to connect the electro-magnetic means to the source so as to cause the movement of the said part in the opposite direction; substantially as described.

13. In combination with a cigarette machine ;a weighing device over the movable part of which the cigarettes pass, electromagnetic means for controlling in either direction the movement of the part which regulates the feed of the cigarette machine, a source of electrical energy and electrical contacts some of which are on the movable part of the weighing device, connected to the said electro-magnetic means and source, said con tacts being adapted when closed to connect the respective circuits of the electro-magnetic means to the source; means moving synchronously with the cigarette machine adapted to close said contacts, and a circuit breaking device actuated synchronously with the cigarette machine and adapted to open the said circuits; substantially as described.

14. In combination with a cigarette machine ;--a weighing device over the movable part of which the cigarettes pass, electromagnetic means for controlling in either direction the movement of the part which regulates the feed of the cigarette machine, a source of electrical energy and electrical contacts some of which are on the movable part of the weighing device, connected to the said electro-magnetic means and source and adapted when closed to operate one or other of two relay lrcuits according as the movable part of the weighing device is under poised or over-poised, said relays closing the respective circuits of the electro-magnetic means, and means for inc ependently opening the latter circuits; substantially as described.

15. In combination with a cigarette machine ;-a weighing device comprising an adjustable weight and a movable part over which the cigarettes pass in a continuous stream and at a rate proportional to the speed of the machine, and pivoted indicating means articulated to said movable part and having a gravity piece which is in its lowest position when the weighing device is in poise; substantially as described.

16. In a cigarette machine in combination ;a weigh beam, a conveyor band carried thereby and driven synchronously with the cigarette machine, an electre-magnetic de vice to move the feed screw of the cigarette machine so as to accelerate the feed, an electro-magnetic device to move the said feed screw in the opposite direction, a source of electrical energy, contacts on the weiglr beam, means moving synchronously with the cigarette machine and adapted to close said contacts so that the said source may be connected to the one electromagnet when the weigh-beam is over-poised, and to the other when it is under-poised substantially as described.

17. In a cigarette machine in combination ;-a weigh beam, a conveyor band carried thereby and driven synchronously with the cigarette machine, an clectro-magnetic device to move the feed screw of the cigarette machine so as to accelerate the feed, an electromagnetic device to move the said feed screw in the opposite direction, a source of electrical energy, contacts on the weighbeam, means moving synchronously with the cigarette machine and adapted to close said contacts so that the said source .ay be connected to the one electro-magnet when the weigh-beam is over-poised, and to the other when it is under-poised, and a switch moving synchronously with the cigarette n1achine and adapted to open the circuits connected by the contacts before said contacts are opened; substantially as described.

18. In a. cigarette machine in combination ;-a weigh beam, a conveyor band carried thereby and driven synchronously with the cigarette machine, an electro-magnetic device to move the feed screw of the cigarette machine so as to accelerate the feed, an electro-magnetic device to move the said feed screw in the opposite direction, a source of electrical energy, contacts on the weigh-beam, means moving synchronously with the cigarettc machine and adapted to close said coutacts so that said source may be connected to the one electro-magnet when the weigh-beam is over-poised, and to the other when it is under-poised, and a switch moving synchronously with the cigarette machine and adapt;- ed to close the circuits connected by the contacts after said contacts are closed and to open said circuits before said contacts are opened; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we atlix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ROBT. A. SLOAN. J. E. LLOYD BARNES. Witnesses Josnrir E. Ernst, A. S. ALLEN.

Copier of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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