US1476770A - Art of stemming tobacco - Google Patents

Description

'Dem 1l ,1923.

F. C. SCHOHELD ART 0F STEMMING TOBACCO Filed Dec. lO, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 7 w A, all D L E F O H C s c.. F.,

.Deia-11, 1923..

. ART oF s'TEMMING TOBACCO Filed Deo. 1o, i921 5 sheets-sheet? Patented Dec. 11, i923.

1,476,710 P- rENr oFF-ics.

FREDERICK o. sonorrnnn, or LYITCIIBURG, VIRGINIA, AssIeNoR To 'roBAOoosrEM- MING MAOHINROOMPANY, or LYIIOrsenna,v VIRGINIA; a CORPORATION OR DRI-1A,-

WARE.

ART rOIE STEMMING TOBACCO.

imputation med December .10, 1921. serial `316,521,320.

This invention relates tO leaf stemming and more particularly to a method of. and apparatus for stemming tobacco'leaves,and has special reference to the provision of a leaf stemming method andk apparatus ofthe type in which the web or'lamna of the leaf is detached from the stem by stripping-the leaf lamina from an intermediate point of the stem towards its opposite ends.V

@ne of the common classes of machines used for stemming` tobacco leaves comprehends apparatus iny which the principlev is employed of seizing or grippingl the stem of the tobacco leaf and stripping the web or lamina of the leaf from the stem as by drawing the gripped leaf through stemming or stripping elements. AccordingV to one type of machine employing this general principle, the leaf is seized Or gripped at the butt end of the same and the leaf so gripped is fed through stemming elementsy which strip the lamina from the butt endtow'ards the tip end of. the leaf'. Although inrthis type of machine the butt, being strong, tough and firm, may be securely gripped and the leaf efficiently fed through the stennning elements, it is well known that the detaching of the lamina from the stem carried on with considerable difficulty, the stemming from butt lto tip in being with the grain of the leaf and in causing a crowding or bunching of the lamina about the stem being a fairly dihicult operation.A

To overcome. this disadvantage incident to stemming from butt to tip another type of machine has been devised in which the leaf is gripped or seized at the tip end and the stemming operation effected from the-tip towards the butt. The stemming or stripping from tip towards butt involves a stripping against the leaf grain and such stripping may be effected with considerable ease and facility. However, in the latter' type of machine, although thev stripping step may be carried` on to advantage, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in properly gripping the tip end of the leaf perfect gripping and feeding.v

and feedin the leaf from, thestemmingele-V ments by't e'gripped tip end,ltheIV thin relatively frail and in'rrn tip end'A of" the leaf being liable to tearing and breaking when subjected to a moderatel degree of pulling strain. Thisv disadvantage.` has `been. so serious at times that'in` some forms ofv thisv latter type of machine special means have had` to be devised forl changing the grippingpoint of the stem from the tip towards the tougher part ofthe stem libre as the leaf is progressively stripped there Y.

from. The type of machine, therefore,

where the butt' end of the leaf is seized and'y the leaf stripped from butt to vtipy is opento` the disadvantage of' diiiicu'lt str-.ipping or stemming; and the type where the tip end isgripped and the leaf' stripped from the tip toibutt is open tothe equally serious disadvantage of .insecure and im- To eliminate the defects or disadvantages incident to suchtypes of machines and to combine the desirablev features' thereof, third type ofY machine hasl beeny devised in which the leafstem is gripped: at a point intermediate the 'ends' thereof and the lamina stripped from. such point towards the opposite ends of the leaf. The intermediate point of. the stem consists of av relatively tough fibre and such part of, the stem may n be. securely taken hold of andv they leaf may be fed through stripping means withv the stem so gripped without the liability of the stem breaking or tearing. Althoughl part of the stemming, namely that from the gripped intermediate point towards the tip,

is relatively difficult, the stemming from lasttype have not been found to work with Y the consistency, ease andV speed desiredy in the stemming art. Where the partsz of the leaf on opposite sides Of. the intermediate point were stripped in successive steps, special gripping, feeding andjstemmingV constructions had to be devised which were at llo in operation. Where the parts of the Vleaf lwere stripped in opposite directionv simultaneously from the intermediate point, in addition to providing several sets of stemming rolls active on such parts lwithrthe resulting increase in complexity of the machine structure, special means for grip-ping the stem so as to take up for differential strains in opposite Adirections had to b e incorporated in the' Ymachine because ofthe necessity to equalize stripping action in opposite directions, this being impossible of attainment without such means because of the fact that stripping in the direction towards thekybutt requires less resisting pull than stripping in the direction towards the stem, the draws" in opposite direction being thereforeunequal. Prior machines of this type, therefore, although logically correct in attackingthe stemming problem on the broad principle of gripping at an intermediate point and stemming towards .the opposite ends of the leaf, do not supply the best solutionfrom the viewpoint of accomplishing the desired ends with relatively simple apparatus'so that gripping, feeding and stemming can be carried on with the facility and speed attainable in this type of ma.- chine. i t Y My present invention primarily contemplates the provision of an apparatus of the type last referred to in which the principle of gripping vthe stem at a point intermediate its ends and stripping the lamina or blade of the leaf from such point towards the opposite ends of the leaf .is employed, my invention contemplating a novel method of and apparatus for gripping,`feecling and stemming the blades, such method and apparatus not being subject to the defects found in prior machines ef this type.

The principal objects. of my invention may besaid to include, besides the provision of a method of and apparatus for stei'nming tobacco leaves of the kind referred to, the

provision of a method and apparatus in which the leaf folded about the gripped point and the lamina detached from the resulting folds; the provision of a method and apparatus of this type in which the leaf is folded and fed in folded condition through a set of stemming elements, the folds of the leaf being simultaneously acted upon by the same set of stemming rolls, the apparatus required .being relatively simple not only, but stemming being carried on with a tendency towards equalizing opposing pulls or draws on the stem and with secure stem grippinOv and feeding effected; the still further provision of a method and apparatus in which the lamina of th-e leaf is removed from the folds and from the gripped portion of the stem in a single operation; the still further provision of a novel method and means for positioning the tobacco leaves and for feeding the grippers thereto and the general provision of simple, easily operated and controlled apparatus carrying on the various steps of the method.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in `the elements and. their relation one to the other as hereinafter particularly described ant sought to be dened in the claims, reference y being had to the accompanying drawings which show preferred'embodiment of my invention and in which: f Y

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional ele- Avational view of my 1 machine with parts for operating on the gripper bars to permit a full `cleaning of the leaves in la single operation, and

Figures 9 vand l0 are views of modifications.

As hereinbefore referred to, a prime desideratum of my present invention comprehends the provision' of a tobacco stemming construction in which the tobacco leaves are folded about a point intermediate the ends of the leaf and the lamina or web of the leaf is stripped from the resulting folds. ln the. present exemplification ofmyinvention the tobacco leaves, after being untied from the bundle or hand, are placed on a feed tableandwhile in position on said table the leaves are seized or taken holdy of bymeans of gripping elements fed to the table, the leaves being` gripped at a point or portion intermediate the ends of the leaf and the so gripped le ves are fed forward to be stemmed This exemplifies-- tion of my invention is shown in the drawings and referring to Figure l of the.

drawings, l show mounted on s Ybracket l() forming part of thestationary framework Y- ll a support l2; and on the said support l provide theL inclined feed table 13. Upon the table 13 are placed the individual leaves which are untied from afhand, the leaves being positioned on the table so as to be capable of being seired by the gripping` means active on a point of the stem intermediateV the ends thereof. To this end the table 13 is provided with a section er portion 14s lying below the Vpath of the grippers, as will appear presently, and Vconnected to the said section la l provide a gauge board l5 functioning to aline the butts of the leaves, the said vgauge board 15 being adjustably connected to the table section las by means ofthe slot and wing nut means 16, the adjustability of the gauge board 15 being provided to the end of adapting the machine to various lengths of tobacco leaves. The leaves L are placed on the table with the butts -preferably alined by the gauge board 15, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the intermediate portion of the leaves being located in the space between the table 13 and its extended section 14.

Io the end of providing means for gripping the leaves and for feeding them forwardly, I preferably provide a feeding apparatus of the type shown in my prior Patents No. 1,268,392 of June f1, 1918 and 1,286,124- of November 26, 1918, the said feeding means comprising generally endless companion carriers of the sprocket chain type, the said sprocket chains carrying complemental gripping bars for seizing and feeding the leaves through the stemming apparatus. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, I show the sets of companion sprocket chains, one set being shown in the drawings and designated as 17 and 18 respectively, the said sprocket chains being trained over opposed sprocket gears 19, 20; 21 and 22 respectively. The sprocket gears 19 to 22 are suitably journalled in bracketed structures 23 and 24 forming part of the stationary framework 11 of the machine, the sprocket gears being positively actuated to be movable in synchronism by any desirable mechanism.

Spacedly mounted in the sprocket chains 17 and 18 I provide sets of complemental gripping elements in the form lof gripping bars, the said gripping bars being fed into coacting clamping condition for gripping and feeding the tobacco leaves. This is clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein is shown provided a series of spaced carrier bars 25 on 'the chain 18 and a series of complemental clampingV bars 26 on the endless chain 17. As the companion endless chains are rotated by the synchronously operated sprocket gears, the complemental endless gripper bars 25 and 26 are fed into coacting condition, as clearly shown to the left of Figure 1, the gripper bars 25 and 26 gripping therebetween the leaves L at a region intermediate the ends of the leaves, the leaves so gripped being then fed from the feed table. 13 forwardly for the stemming operation with both ends of the leaf drooping, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of' the drawings. Y Y

The leaves after being gripped and fed forward in the manner hereinabove referred to, are then forwarded .and the lamina or web of the leaves is st-ripped from the resulting folds. For the purpose of folding the leaves any sui-table means may be provided and I prefer, as shown in the present` exemplification of my invention, to fold the leaves by the act of feeding the same through the stemming elements, the drooping forward end of the leaf facilitating the folding step. Referring again to Figure 1 of the drawings, I show the provision of stemming elements such as the opposed stem` ming rolls 27 and 28, these stemming rolls being preferably of the type surfaced with card clothing, the stemming rolls 27 and 28 being suitably journalled in the oscillatable arms 29 and 30 respectively. The arm 29 is suitably journalled in the framework of the machine and the arm 30 is journalled in the bracketed structure 31 forming part of the frame 11 of the machine, such a construction being fully shown in my Patent No. 1,268,392 of June 1, 1918. The arms 29 and 30 may be provided with adjustable tensioning elements as shown in my said patent for the purpose of adjusting the stemming action of the said rolls. The tobacco leaves grippe-d between a carrier bar 25 and a clamping bar 26 are fed by the endless chains to and between the card clothing rolls 27 and 28, these rolls separating under tension to permit the leaves to pass therebetween, the advance or butt end of the leaf being lapped or folded under the rear end of the leaf by the act of feeding the said leaf between the stemming rolls. The separation of the stemming rolls 27 and 28 and the folding of the leaf therebetween is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. In the onward movenient of the gripping bars 25 and 26 after the latter pass the stemming rolls 27 and 28, the stemming rolls close upon the tobacco leaves as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the stripping action of the said stemming rolls commencing at such time. The rolls 27 and 28 are rotated in opposite directions as iIIdi- Y cated by the arrows in the figures, suitable means being provided andl connected to the other operating parts of Ithe apparatus for imparting the desired rotation to the stemming rolls. lVith the feeding forward of the bars and the rotation of the stemming rolls 27 and 28, the lamina or web of the `leaf L is stripped from the overlying folds of the leaf, the coacting movement betweenv the gripping bars and the rolls effecting a sluiting or wiping stripping action on the leaf web, the relative movement of the parts of the apparatus effecting a simultaneous stripping or detaching of the folds of the leaf from the stem, as clearly indicated inV Figure 5 of the drawings.

For the purpose ofeffecting a secure gripping of the bars 25 and 26 as the same are passed between the stripping rolls 27 and' 28, I may -provide the o-pposing pressure shoes 32 and 33 acting on complemental bights or reaches of lthe companion chains 17 and 18, the shoe 32 being preferably stationarily mounted on the framework of the machine and the shoe 33 being yieldingly mounted on the same, the said shoe 33 being resiliently mounted for yielding movement by means of the adjustable spring pressure elements 34E and 35 connecting opposite ends of the shoe 33 to upstanding bearings 3G and 37 respectively, the latter forming part of the framework of the machine. Y

l have found in the practice of the method carried out by the above described apparatus, that the tobacco leaves may be folded about an intermediate point without breaking or snapping and that the leaf when so folded maybe effec-tively stemmed by the simple stripping apparatus hereinabove described. l have further found that by this method and means the stem may be securely gripped at a relatively tough portion thereof, and that when the leaf is folded about the gripped point and more partie-- ularly about the complemental grippers with the lamina simultaneously stripped in the same direction by the opposing stemming rolls, that the tendency for the lea'tl and the stems to slip between the gripping bars during stripping action is effectively minimized with the resulting increase in stemming efficiency, the simultaneous action of the stripping rolls on the overlapping folds furthermore tending to equalize the pulling strains on the opposite folds, this being another factor in preventing slipping of the stems between the gripper` bars. llVith my method and apparatus, furthermore. the leaves L may be fed to the table 13 without that degree of accuracy hitherto found necessary in prior machines where the alining of the butts involved the need for care and accuracy of feeding of the stems to the gripper elements, the leaves when in fact fed indiscriminately on the table 13 in my invention being properly taken hold of at some intermediate point b v the gripping bars Q5 and 26. ln prior machines where the butts of the leaves are gripped and fed forwardly, the improper positioning of the leaves on the table oftimes results in a decreased productivity or yield of the apparatus for the reason that such improper feeding results in improper gripping by the bars, this yielding a high percentage of drops and also resulting at times in missing` the leaves and failing to feed them at all. ln the practicel of my method, furthermore, it is unnecessary to preliminarily strip the leaf from the butt ends, preliminary butting apparatus being thereby eliminated. Moreover, with the apparatus I provide, the leaves are fed in a simple manner through a set of stemming elements, the law of operation of the machine being relatively simple with thekresulting yielding of more consistent and uniform results.

In the feeding of the leaves through the stripping elementsl 52T and 28 the leaves are preferably so stripped as to effect complete stemming in a single operation. ln my copending application, Serial No. 521,319, filed Dec. 10, 1921, l provide a construction in which the lamina of the leaves is stripped from the folds of the same with aV portion of the web or lamina left adhering to the stem adjacent the gripped portion thereof with means provided for subsequently stripping such adhering lamina from the stem. ln the present exemplification of my invention l provide a construction in which complete stemming is effected in a single operation while the leaves are moving between the stemming' rolls 27 and 28. To this end my present invention comprehends means for moving the stem between the gripper bars while the leaves are being moved between the stemming rolls and to effect this the gripper bars are rotated so that the web adhering to the stem at the gripper bars will be presented to the stem- 1 g r ming rolls to be stripped thereby. llo accomplish this the lower gripper bar 25, reference being had particularly to Figures Q and 6 to S, is provided with opposed trunnions rotatable in adjacent links of the chain carrier 1S and on one of the trunnions 38 is provided the gear wheel 39 which is adapted to engage or mesh with a rack bar l0 as the grigpeil bar 25 is advanced between the stemming rolls 2T and 2S. By this means the lower gripper bar is rotated during stemming action and the upper gripper bar 26 is rotated thereby with the movement of the stems therebetween effected in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures t and 5 of the drawings. This rotation is timed and speeded so that the lower portion of the leaf remains praetically in immovable contact with the surface of the lower stemming roll while the upper portion of the leaf is drawn through the meshes of the upper roll and the stem drawn out. he cleaned stem is thus drawn forward between the gripper bars and is returned to a point between Athe meshes of the stemming rolls 'while the bars are receeding from the rolls and the rolls are rotating away from the bars. At this moment the gripper bars cease to rotate and the stemming process continues with the result that all the lamina is removed from the stems as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and there is no need for further cleaning the stems by a secondary set of stemming rolls.

Referring still to Figures 2 and 6 to 8 of the drawings, the parts are so constructed as to effect the rotation of the lower gripper bar for a limited period as hereinbefore referred to, the parts being, furthermore, so constructed as to permit the engagement between the gear wheel 39 and rack 40 without shock and with facility. To this end the rack bar 40 i's 'mounted for reciprocating motion in the runway '41. provided in the framework of fthe machine and means is provided for effecting the reciprocating motion of the rack bar, such means comprising preferably a connecting rod 42 pivotally connected -to one en'd of the rack bar 40, as shown in the figures, the other end ofthe rod being connected tothe crank armv43 which is fixed to the shaft 44'of the sprocket wheel 22, as particularly "shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. With this construction, referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that as the gripper bars are Vbeing moved forwardly with the leaves therebetween and as the gear 39 is about to engage the rack 40, the rack 40 is moved inthe direction of movement of the gripper bars so that engagement takes place 'without shock. 'It will be further evident that as soon as engagement takes place therack `har 40 is moved 'in the reverse direction effecting a quick rotation 'of the lower gripper bar andthe upper gripper bar "actuated thereby. For the purpose of causing the teeth ofthe 'gear '49 to be presented to the teeth of the rack alw'aysin the same relation, I preferably provide the fin 45 on the shaft 'of the gear wheel 39, and 'cooperating vwith "this iin I provide v"the"track 46 having lthe incline 47 'at 'the forward end thereof, the inclinebeing provided 'for the purpose of engaging the Vlin and turning the gear wheel so that thegear teethfare presented tothe `rack teeth always in the same relation, this to prevent binding between these parts. v l

In Figure -9 I show avmodiiication of the gripper bars to permit the stemming .rolls to close upon the tobacco leaves immediately the gripper bars pass vthe same. 'Io this end I provide the rotating gripper 'bars 25 and Y26 arranged out of vertical alinement with the upperzgripper bar in advance of the Vlower gripper bar. Referring to Figure 9 it will be seen that with this construction the stemming rolls 27 and 28 will closenearer the receding bars and-take hold of the tobacco earlier. In this case the lower arm need not be pivoted, the upper rollv rising to allow 4the bars to pass. The lower roll is permanently mountedju-st below the line of travel of the lower bar.

In Figure 10 I'show a stillV further modification of my invention in which the Vgripper bars 252 and 262 are corrugated to the end that the stems lare better-gripped and drawn with greater facility during the rotation of the bars.

The practice of my method and the operation of my apparatus will, in the main, be apparent from the above detailed description thereof. The leaves L, after being untied from the bundle or hand, are placed on the table 13 and table section 14 with the butts of the leaves lpreferably alined by the gauge board 15. The leaves positioned in this manner are then gripped at a point intermediate 4the -ends thereof between the gripper bars 2and 26 with the leaves then fed forward. As the ileaves are advanced bythe gripper bars the leaves are fed between the stemming rolls 27 and 28, vthe latter functioning to fold the advance portion of the leaves under the remaining portions of the same. the leaves so foldedbeing thenv fed through the stripping rolls 27 and 28 foi-the stemming'operation, the Stripping rolls being'operative simultaneously lon op positeffolds of the leaf. The lamina is completely stripped rfrom the leaves. in a'single operation, the rotation of the -gripperb'ars during movement of the leaves through the stemming rolls effecting the presentation of all the lamina tothe vstemming rolls for complete stripping action.

From labove it will be app-arent that I have 'provided an apparatus in which the leaves may be effectively4 'gripped at an intermediate point fand eiliciently fedforv the stripping step, the stripping apparatus being of relatively simple 'construction and the 'cooperation of the feeding andstripping means being 'such as .to permit 'o'fhigh Aspeed of operation, eilicient stemming, and `easy controlby 'an operator.

'Vhi'le I have shown my devi'ceinth'e preferred form, it will be l'obvious "that 'many changes 'and modifications may bemafde in the structure .disclosed without departing from the spirit fof the invention, `defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The method 'of 'leaf vstermniing Vwhich consists in gripping "the 'leaf stem at a portion intermediate its Sends, in :folding 'the' leaf and 'in removing inthe same step the lamina or web 'ofthe leaf from the 'folds Aand from the said grippedportion.

2. The method kof leaf 'stemming which consists in gripping the leaf'stem ata point intermediate its ends, in "feeding the 'same through 'the stemming elements to remove the lamina ofthe Ele'afzfrom the gripped point of the stem towardtheleaf endsyand in changing the point. of ,gripping while the leaf is,` fed through thestemming elements.

3.*The method of leaf vstemming which consistsin grip,1i)ing'the leaf Stemat a point intermediate its ends, in rfeedingthe Same through 'the stemming elements to r'remove the lamina of theleaf `fromjthe gripped I point ofthe'stenrtowardthe *leaf ends, and

in progressively changing the point of gripf ping While the leaf is fed through the stemming elements whereby the leaf may be completely stemmed while'fed through the stem ming elements. Y

4. The method of leaf stemming which consists in gripping the leaf stem by means of gripping elements at a point intermediate` iso its ends, in then feeding the gripper elementsV and the leaf through stemming elementsand in moving the same in the gripper elements during feeding of the same through .the stemming elements whereby all parts of the web of the leaf are subjected to stripping action.

5. The method of leaf stemming which consists in gripping the leaf stem at a point Sintermediate its ends, in folding the same and in feeding the folds through stemming elements to remove the lamina. of the leaf from the gripped point of the stem toward the leaf ends, and in changing the point of gripping while the leaf is fed through the stemming elements.

6.. An apparatus for leaf stemming com-- prising means for gripping the leaf stem at a. point intermediate its ends whereby the 'leaf may be folded, means, for stemming the leaf in folded condition and means for varying the gripping point of the stem during the stemming action.

7. An apparatus for leaf stemming comprising means for gripping the leaf stem at a point intermediate its ends and means for detaching the complete lamina or web of the leaf in a single stemming operation.

8. An apparatus for leaf stemming comf prising means for gripping the leaf stem at a point intermediate its ends whereby the leaf may be folded, stemn'iing elements,

means for feeding the leaf in folded condi-v tion through the stemming elements and.

prising opposed stemming rolls, con'iplemental endless chain carriers, companion gripper bars movably mounted in the carriers, the gripper bars being arranged to cooperate with the Vstemming rolls for movement between the said rolls during leaf stemming activity. and means lfor moving the bars in the carriers during such activity.

11. :[n- .an apparatus for leaf stemming, complemental.carriers and companion grip- Aper bars mounted in the carriers, the gripperbarsbeing rotatable in the carriers.

ravegvvo.

12. In an Vapparatus for leaf stemming.,

complemental chain carriers and companion gripper bars mounted in the carriers, the gripper bars being rotatable in the carriers.

13. In an apparatus for leaf stemming, complemental carriers and companion corrugated gripper bars mounted in the carriers, the gripper bars being rotatable in the carriers.

14. In anv apparatus for leaf stemming, complemental carriers and companion gripper bars mounted in the carriers, the gripper bars being rotatable in the carriers and means for rotating the bars in the carriers. y

15. In an apparatus for leaf stemming, a movable endless chain carrier, a rotatable gripper bar in the carrier, the said gripper bar including gear means, and mechanism operative to rotate the gear means and the bar during movement of the carrier, the said mechanism comprising a rack engaging the gear.

16. In an apparatus for leaf stemming, a movable endless chain carrier, a rotatable gripper bar in the carrier, the said gripper bar including gear means, and mechanism operative to rotate the gear means and the bar during movement of the carrier, the

said mechanism comprising a reciprocating` rack engaging the gear.

17 An apparatus for stemming leaves, comprising means for gripping the leaf stem at a point intermediate its ends whereby the leaf may be folded and means for stemming the leaf in folded condition, the gripping means comprising a plurality of rotatable gripping Abars between which the leaf stem is held, one of the bars being situated in advance of the other.

18. An Aapparatus for stemming leaves comprising means for gripping the leaf stem at a point intermediate its ends whereby the leaf may be fed in folded condition, a plurality of relatively movable stemming rolls having their aXes in a lvertical plane and means for feeding lthe folded leaf lthrough the stemming rolls, the gripping means comprising a plurality of rotatable gripping bars between which the leaf stem isheld,

one of the bars being situated in advance ofv the other.

Signed at Lynchburg, inY the county v.of Campbell and State of Virginia, thisth` day'of Dec., A. D. 1921.

' FREDERICK c. scnorinrn.

Images