US1143628A - Cutting mechanism for cigarette-machines. - Google Patents

Description

. I. M. HORNADAY.

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1914.

1L J$$fifim Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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IHE NORRIS PETERS o0. PHOTU-LITHOV. WASHINGTON. D C.

J. M. HORNADAY.-

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3,19|4.

Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. wAsHmmwv. D C.

JAMES M. HORNADAY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR T0 LIGGETT 8t MYERS TOBACCO COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MIS$OURL A COREOBATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915..

Application filed March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HORNADAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cutting Mechanism for fiigarette-ll/lachines, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette making machines of the continuous rod type, and particularly to the cut-off mechanism for severing the rod into cigarette lengths, and has as its primary object to provide a light simple direct acting mechanism, free of all lateral or torsional strains whereby greater speed may be attained with better results than heretofore.

By means of the novel construction and arrangement herein shown and described, the longitudinal and angular movements of the several parts are imparted by power applied respectively in the longitudinal axial line of the reciprocating supporting member, and around said axis as a center. The power thus applied being direct, friction is lessened, strains eliminated, the parts made lighter, the power required to run the mechanism decreased, and the possible speed of the machine materially increased.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cut-off mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line H. 5 is a perspective view of a clamp block forming a part of the invention.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a portion of the stationary main frame of a continuous rod cigarette machine upon which frame two bearings 11 are rigidly mounted in spaced relation lengthwise of the machine to sustain opposite ends of a longitudinally reciprocating bar or slide 12 which carries the entire rod cutting mechanism. The central portion of the bar 12 is preferably circular in cross section, as shown, with ends 13, 14 of a shape other than circular. In the present embodiment these ends are square and slide in similarly shaped bearings or guides 11; they may however be oval, hexagonal or of other form to prevent rotation of the bar in its bearings. These guides 11 preferably have a geometrical axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the bar or slide. A lug 15 projects from one end 13 of the bar 12to which is pivoted a connecting rod 16 operated by an eccentric 17 on a continuously revolving shaft 18. A crank or other equivalent means may be substituted for the eccentric if found more suitable. The pivot 19 of the connecting rod 16 passes through the lug 15 in the longitudinal center of the bar 12, its axis and the axis of shaft 18 intersecting the axis of said bar at right angles, thus enabling the bar to be moved in its bearings by a direct pull and thrust, free from side or torsional strains. Mounted to swing angularly about the axis of the bar on the round portion thereof is a frame or arm 20 carrying a circular, disk-like knife 21. The frame 20, in the form shown, consists of two tubular parts 22 that surround the central portion of the bar 12 and are retained in position thereon against endwise movement by two fixed collars 23, 24. From each tubular part a leg 25 extends up ward and these legs are connected at their upper ends by a flat circular plate 26 upon which a like plate 27 rests and is clamped thereto by a through bolt 28. From the plate 27 a bracket 29 extends that supports a long two-part tubular bearing 30, 31, integral with the bracket 29, in which revolves a shaft 32 with a belt pulley 33 at one end andthe circular knife 21 on the other end. As thus supported, the frame 20 with the circular knife 21 can rock freely in an angular direction on the bar 12 around its longitudinal axis.

Mounted rigidly but adjustably upon the bar 12 and movable longitudinally therewith is a tubular guide 34 for sustaining the cigarette rod while being cut into cigarette lengths. The guide, in this form of the invention, comprises a body 35 through which is made a horizontal perforation running parallel with the axis of bar 12 and intersected by a slot 36 at right angles to the perforation into and out of which the cutting edge of the circular knife is adapted to swing. The body 35 is firmly connected to the upper end of a stem 37 mounted at its lower end in a clamp block 38 which in turn is clamped on the circular portion of the bar 12 near the rectangular end 14. The clamp block has two holes 39, 40, extending therethrough at a right angle to each other through which holes the bar 12 and stem 37 pass. Slots 11, 42', extend respectively from one side of each of said holes outwardly and by means of bolts 43, a l, spanning said slots, the clamp block is gripped on the bar 12 and to the stem 37. Projecting from the perforation in the body 35 on one side thereof is a flaring or conical mouthpiece 45 into which the cigarette rod enters and, passing through the body 35 and into a tubular support 46 extending from the perforation therein on its other side, is cut into lengths by the vibratory movement of the circular knife 21. A steel bushing 47 projects into the slot 36. of the body 35 and has a hole therethrough for the cigarette rod to pass, said bushing cooperating with the circular knife to make'clean sharp cuts through the cigarette rod. Because of the novel construction ofthe clamp block- 38, the tubular guide 3r'may be adjusted, in every possible direction, vertically, horizontally, and angularly about the axis of the bar 12 and stem 37. The knife 21 may also be adjusted relatively-to the tubular guide by loosening. the bolts28, 57 and turning the'circular plate 27.

Vibratory movement is imparted to. the

rocking frame 20 and circular knife 21 from ashaft 18 and eccentric 4:9 thereon the peripheral surface of which is made with a convex curvature in the direction of its axis,

and is fitted with a strap 50, the inner face of which has a similar concave curvature to permit the strap rocking laterally on the eccentric. A bar 51 projects from the eccentric' strap, in the end of which is formed a socket 52 for a stem 53 adjustable therein and fixed after adjustment by a screw bolt 54:. The stem 38 is connected to a block 55 by'a horizontal pivot 56, said block in turn being pivoted on the upper circular plate 27 of the frame 20 by a bolt 57.

Constructed as described, with the shafts 18 and 48 geared to move at properrelative speeds, the bar 12 carrying-the cutter 21 and tubular guide 34 will be reciprocated longitudinally in the axial line of said bar by the eccentric 17-on shaft 18', at the same time, the frame 20" and cutte will be rocked angularly' about the axis of said bar, by'eccentric "19, the eccentric strap 50 moving laterally on the eccentric under the longitudinal reciprocation of the frame 20. The movement of the bar- 12 in the direction of travel of the cigarette rod will, for a portion of the distance,be at the same'speed as the rod, and it is at this time that the knife will advance to cut the rod and then recede to allow said rod to move through the guide on thereturn movement of the bar 12, a distance sufficient for another cigarette.

Attention is called to the fact that the power for reciprocating the bar 12, upon which all the moving parts are carried, is in the exact ax allineof'said bar, and furthermore, that the roclnng frame supporting the ing parts owing to the fact that all lateral or torsional strains are eliminated, which in present devices must be provided for; and by reason of the simple, and light construction and direct movements of the operating parts, the cutting mechanism can be driven at the highest speed without jarring or in any way interfering with the other functions of the cigarette machine.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, a longitudinally movable supporting member, an actuating member having a pivotal connection with said supporting member for imparting reciprocating movement thereto, the axis of said pivotal connection intersecting the central longitudinal axis of said supporting member, a cutter arranged to move longitudinally with said supporting member, and means for rocking said cutter about said central axis while moving with said supporting member.

2. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, a longitudinally movable supporting memher, acutter supported thereby and arranged to move longitudinally with said supporting member, means for applying a thrust force to said supporting member in opposite directions acting longitudinally of said supporting member at a point in the longitudinal axial line of said supporting member for reciprocating the same, and means for rocking said cutter about said central axis while moving with said supporting member.

3. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, a slide, a cutter, a supporting arm for said cutter having an axis of rotation on said slide, a guide for said slide, said guide having a geometrical axis coinciding with said first named axis, means for applying a thrust force to said slide in opposite directions acting longitudinally of said slide at a point on the coincident axes to reciprocate said slide, and means for rocking said= arm and cutter while said! slide is moving.

4*. In a cut-off mechanism, a longitudinally movable supporting member, means for imparting reciprocating movement thereto having a pivotal connection with said supporting member, the axis of said pivotal connection intersecting the central longitudinal axis of said supporting memher, a tubular guide for the article to be cut, a revolving cutter co-acting with said guide, a frame carrying said cutter mounted on said supporting: member and movable thereon, and means for rocking saidcutter angularly about said central axis while moving longitudinally thereof.

5. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spaced guides, a supporting bar mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in said guides, a cigarette rod guide rigidly connected to said bar, a revolving cutter mounted on said bar between said guides to reciprocate With the bar and rock independently thereof, means for reciprocating said bar and the cutter having a pivotal connection with said bar, said pivotal connection having its axis in the central axial line of said bar, and means for rocking said cutter angularly about the said axis.

6. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spaced guides, a supporting bar mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in said guides, a cigarette rod guide rigidly connected to said bar, a revoluble cutter, a swinging frame carrying said cutter mounted on said bar between said guides to reciprocate with the bar and rock independently thereof to carry the cutter to and from said rod guide, means for reciprocating said bar and cutter having a connection with said bar at the end of said bar, and means for rocking said cutter carrying frame on the bar angularly about the same axis.

7. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, in combination a pair of spaced guides, a supporting bar having angular portions thereon slidable longitudinally in said guides, and an intermediate portion circular in cross section, a frame mounted on said intermediate portion to move longitudinally with said bar and rock trans- &

versely thereon, a revoluble cutter carried by and movable with said frame, a cigarette rod guide adjustably mounted on said supporting bar, means for reciprocating said bar, cutter and guide having a connection for actuating the bar attached at the end of said bar, and means for rocking said cutter carrying frame on the bar angularly about said axis to swing said cutter to and from said cigarette guide.

8. In a cut-0E mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spaced guides, a supporting bar round near its middle portion with ends of other shape slidable longitudinally in said guides, a frame mounted on the middle portion of said bar to move longitudinally therewith and rock transversely thereon, a revoluble cutter carried by and movable with said frame, a cigarette rod guide, a clamp adjustable on the center of said bar and adjustably supporting said guide, means for reciprocating said bar, cutter and guide acting upon said bar at a point in line with the axial center of said bar attached to the bar at the end thereof, and means for rocking said cutter-carrying frame on the bar angularly about said axis to swing the cutter to and from said cigarette guide.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. HORNADAY. Witnesses:

W. FLowERs, H. E. WHITE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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