US1786608A - Bunch transfer for cigar machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. w, 1930. J. F HALSTEAD 11,786,6QJ8

BUNCH TRANSFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 2.

I g 44a 4? 196 ATTORN EY Dec. 3@, 1930. J. F. HALSTEAD fi fiw BUNCH TRANSFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY atented Dec. 30, 1930 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. HALSTETAD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BUNCH SFER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Application filed April 21,

This invention relates to bunch transfers for cigar machines, its main object being to make the performance of these devices more dependable and, particularly, to improve the action of their grippers.

In acigar machine, the cigar bunch issuing from the rolling apron, on which the binder is applied to the filler charge, must be transferred in its various stages of manufacture from one mechanism after the other before it reaches the wrapper applying device and the final finishing roller, and becomes a finished cigar. Some of these mechanisms are in line with one another axially with respect to the bunch, while others are aligned transversely to the same, so that some of the transfers must carry the cigar bunch in the direction of its axis, while others must carry it at right angles thereto. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide transfer means for carrying the cigars in thesetwo ways.

In cigar bunch transfers heretofore employed, the opening operation of the grippers, performed by stationary cam tracks placed in the path of the transfer arm or other mechanisms, required an appreciable portion of the transfer movement so that in depositing a bunch, the grippers, in order to be wide open at the end of the stroke of the transfer arm, had to start opening some distance before the bunch had reached its destination, so that in case of a bunch thinner than the average for which the gripper mechanism was adjusted, the bunch in delivery was liable to fall out of the transfer too soon.

In collection, as the grip of the gripper eleof a double acting spring in such a manner i that the opening and closing operations of .lel motion means, such as an endless chain 1928. Serial No. 271,878.

oted at a point half way between the two successive mechanisms, so that the path described by the bunch is a circular arc. The block carrying the grippers is rotatably attachcd to the free end of the swinging transfer arm and is controlled by suitable paral-' swinging on a stationary sprocket mounted on the pivot shaft of the transfer arm, so as to maintain the cigar bunch in the same relative position during its entire travel. In some of the mechanisms, however, the bunch is held by parts which project above the same, so that to avoid interference and consequent damage to the bunch, the latter must be put into place from above and taken out by lifting it upward, and it therefore becomes necessary to correct the circular path of the bunch so as to clear a vertical line for a small distance at the end of the stroke near such a mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to rectify the path end for the purpose stated, and this is accomplished by means of special mounting of the transfer arm and of special arrangement of the parallel motion device of the gripper supporting block as described 5 I hereafter.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved bunch transfer arranged for movement lengthwise of thecigar bunch, the full lines showin the mid position and the dotted lines the end positions of the transfer arm;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section, shown at middle position;

Fig. 3 is a top view, partly in section, of the finger mechanism at middle position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the transfer arm atan end position, the full lines showing its initial position on picking up a bunch, and the dotted lines showing its position after lifting the bunch clear of the forward bunch holder;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of a modification of the improved finger mechanism arranged for crosswise movement of the cigar bunch;

Fig. 6 is a sectional front elevation of the creisswise finger mechanism shown in Fig. 5; an

Figs. 7, 9, 11 and 13 are side elevations and Figs. 8, 10, 12 and 14 are sectional front elevations, respectively, showing the finger mechanism of the lengthwise transfer in four 20 different positions.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided an arm mounted for oscillation, bunch grippers carried by said arm, and means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers. In the best constructions contemplated, the arm has means for maintaining the grippers in pendant position during the arm oscillation. In the best constructions also, the mechanism for operating the grippers includes a cam and one of the grippers has a pin engaging said cam, and means are provided for controlling the action of said cam on the pin. The means above referred to may be widely varied in constructions within the scope of the claims, for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention is, therefore, not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, an arm 15 pivoted on a shaft 16 carries the cigar bunch B by means of two bunch grippers 17 and 18, swingably suspended as a unit from the free end of the arm. One of these grippers 17 is relatively stationary, being fixedly attached to a square head block 19 on the end of a shaft20, while the other gripper 18 is pivoted on the two horizontally projecting ends of a pin 21 in the head block 19.

To oscillate the arm 15 to cause the gripper to transport the bunch, the arm 15 is clamped on shaft 16 supported by a'pedestal 22 and oscillated by a rack 23 driven from the cigar machine and actin on a gear segment 24 mounted on the sha t 16. The cigar bunch is made to travel along the arcuate path of the transfer arm in a horizontal position by means of two sprockets 25 and 26, connected by an endless chain 27 having a chain tight- ,ener spring 28. One 'of the sprockets 25 is adjustably attached to the shaft support.-

ing the grippers; the other sprocket 26 is loosely mounted on the pivot shaft 16, but is prevented from turning by two pins 29 in the face of pedestal 22. If the pins 29 are fitted tightly into the corresponding holes in the sprocket 26, the cigar bunch on starting the forward motion of the transfer arm, will travel in a horizontal position on the arcuate path 30 shown in Fig. 1, provided that the sprockets 25 and 26 are of the same diameter.

In case the bunch rests in a holder 31, which projects vertically above it, such holder will interfere with the path 30 and the bunch must then be lifted up to clear the holder. For this purpose, the holes for the pins 29 in sprocket 26 are elongated or made larger in diameter than the pins, as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the sprocket 26 turns with the arm 15, and the bunch is swung in a circular path about the shaft 16 as though fixed to arm 15, until the sprocket 26 is stopped by the rear sides of the enlarged holes engaging the pins 29, whereupon the bunch continues its movement in a position slightly out of horizontal since its rear end has been carried up higher than its forward end. Since the bunch must reach its destination in the next mechanism in a horizontal position, the diameter of sprocket 26 is made larger than the diameter of'sprocket 25 by an amount just sufficient to turn the bunch back into its original position by the time it arrives at the other end of the transfer stroke. Two stop pins 33 and 34, which engage adjustable screws 35 and 36 in the transfer arm, locate the transfer in the correct positions at the ends of the transfer stroke.

The movable gripper 18 is equipped with two pins or studs, 37 and 38, secured thereto, the pin 38 projecting from a portion of the gripper along the axis of its pivot 21. The pin 37 which is fixed to themid portion of the gripper 18, is ball-headed and is guided by a cam 39 which is loosely mounted on the gripper shaft 20, but is fastened to the swinging arm 15 for movement therewith by means of a pin 40, and this cam has an inside and outside cam track communicating by slots 41 and 42 in the shell 43 of the cam. The other pin 38 of the gripper 18 is engaged by one end of a coiled torsion spring 44 surrounding theshaft 20 and having two radially projecting ends which are normally only slightly separated, as shown in Figs. 10 and 14, the pin 38 projecting between these ends. The other end of the spring than that engaging the pin 38 bears against the pin or stud 45 fixed with respect to the arm 15 projecting from the cam 39, and this pin also projects between the projecting ends of the spring 44. According to the direction of the motion of the arm 15, either the one end of the spring 44 or the other engages the pin 38, the pin 45 tending to pull the pin 38 after it in response to the movement of the oscillating arm 15, the spring acting as a yieldable connection between the two pins,as shown in Figs.7to14. One end of the spring bears on the pin 38 in such a direction asv to force the pin 37 from the outer cam track to the inner, and the other end of'the track acts to force the pin 37 from the inner track to the outer, so that the gripper 18 is caused to open or close by the cam 39, according to the direction of the force from thespring 44. The gripper opening and closing mechanisms being contained in the transfer arm itself, stationary outside cams are eliminated and accidents due to their presence are obviated. The pins 37, 38 and 45, and the cam slots 41 and 42, are so located, as shown in Figs 7 to 14, that movement of pin 37 and therefore gripper 18 occurs at the ends of the transfer motion of arm 15, just as the arm starts in the other.

. neutral position between the two ends of spring 44. The resiliency of gripper 17 also serves to adjust the gripper pressure on'the bunch for variations in bunch thickness and differences in tobacco quality or condition.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a modification of the improved transfer is shown, suitable for carrying the cigar bunch in cross-wise position, in a direction perpendicular to its axis. In this arrangement, the pivot pin 21 is omitted and a movable gripper is loosely pivoted on gripper shaft 20a which extends beyond the head block 19a fastened to the end of the pivot pin. A long pin 46 fastened to the arm 15a in parallel relation to the gripper shaft 20a, extending into the path of the grippers but clearing the same due to notches 53 therein, extends inwardly between the radially diverging ends of the coil torsion spring 42, surrounding the shaft 20a. In this modified form, the cam 39 is replaced by two latchpieces 47 and 48, placed in two inclined grooves 49 and 50 of the head block 19a, and corresponding to the inner anc outer tracks of cam 39. These latch-pieces are pivoted on pins 51 in the head block 19a and are held in tension by two compression springs 52 imbedded in the inclined grooves. They serve to stop the pin 46 from entering into the groove and to guide it into the other groove at the end of each stroke, when, according to the direction of the pres sure exerted on the pin 46 by the torsion spring 44, and when at the same time either one or the other latch-piece is turned on its pivot by the pin 45 on the arm 15a, as will be seen from inspection of Fig. 6. Movement to the other groove and the resultant operation of the grippers is caused by the pin 45a moving with the arm 15a in a path about the head block to a point where it engages one of the latch-pieces above its pivot to move the latch and release the pin 46.

In the position shown in Fig. 6, the grippers are closed and the movable gripper 18a is under tension from torsion spring 44a, tending to open the gripper by means of the pin 46, but is retained by the latch-piece 47 until the bunch arrives at the end of the delivery stroke and the latch-piece 47 engages the stationary pin 45a, whereby the pin 46 is freed and the gripper 18 opens and releases the bunch. This condition corresponds to the position of the lengthwise transfer shown in Figs. 1' and 2 and in Figs. 13 and 14.

In Figs. 7 and 8, showing four different positions in the operation of the lengthwise transfer device, the cigar bunch has just been delivered and the transfer arm 15 is starting to swing back in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 8. In this position of the gripper mechanism, the pin 37 has just been forced to enter the inner camtrack through the slot 41 by the pressure of the forward end of the spring 44 on the under side of the pin 38, while the rearward end of the spring 44 bears against the stationary pin 45, thereby opening the gripper 18.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the transfer arm 15 is in the mid position of its return swing. The grippers are still open, though the pin 38 is now under tension to close the gripper 18 by the pressure of the rearward end of the spring 44 on its upper side, with the forward end of the spring 44 resting on the pin 45. The gripper 18 is held in the open position by the pin 37 which is retained by the shell 43 of the cam 39 until, at the end of the return stroke, it has reached the slot 42, when the spring 44 forces it out of the cam, thus causing the gripper 18 to close and grip the cigar bunch B, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

In Figs. 13 and 14, finally,-the transfer arm 15 is shown in the mid position of its forward stroke. The finger 18 is still closed, but now is under tension to open through the pressure of the forward end of the spring 44 on the under side of the pin 38. It is restrained from opening by the pin 37 which bears against the shell 43 of the cam 39 until the cigar bunch has arrived in its delivery position (Figs. 7 and 8), when the pin 37 registers with the slot 41 and is forced to enter the cam, thereby opening the finger 18 and releasing the cigar bunch.

In the cross-wise transfer shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the performance of the grippers is identical with that of the lengthwise transfer. In View of the explanation of the operation given in connection with Figs. 7 to 14, further description of the operation of the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is deemed unnecessary and in omitted in the interest of brevity.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and spring actuated mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for quickly opening and closing said grippers.

2. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination With an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said arm havin means for maintaining the grippers in su stantially vertical pendant position during arm oscillation.

3. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippersv carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said arm having sprockets and a chain for maintaining the grippers in pendant position during arm oscillation.

l. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch,

and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said arm having sprockets and achain having a limited free movement for maintaining the grippers in pendant position during arm oscillation and for providing a limited tilting movement of a bunch during the first part of the arm oscillation.

5. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including a cam and one of said grippers having a pin engaging said cam, and means controlling the action of said cam on said pin.

6. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means foroscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including a cam and one of said grippers having a pin engaging said cam, a stud carried by said gripper, a second stud carried by said cam, and a spring engaging said studs and operating to control the action of said cam on said pin.

7. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, and mechanism carried by the free end of said arm for operating said grippers, said mechanism including a cam having an inner and an outer track with two passages connecting meaeea said tracks and. one of said grip ers having a pin engaging said cam, a stu' carried by said gripper, a second stud carried by said cam, and a spring engaging said studs and operating to cause said pin to pass from the inner track tothe outer track at one end of the arm oscillation and from the outer track to the inner track at the other end of the arm oscillation.

8. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, mechanism on the free end of said arm for instantaneously operating said grippers and means controlling said mechanism for actuation only when the bunch is at its initial and final positions.

9. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, quick acting mechanism on the free end of said arm tending to operate said grippers, and means preventing operation of said mechanism except at the extreme end of each oscillation of the arm.

10. In a cigar bunch transfer, the combination with an arm, of bunch grippers carried by said arm, means for oscillating said arm to cause said grippers to transport a bunch, means for maintaining said grippers in pendant position during oscillation of said arm, and trip mechanism including an element fixed to one of said grippers and an element fixed to said arm and operated by relative movement of said elements to instantaneously operate said grippers at the extreme end of each oscillation of the arm.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN F. HALSTEAD.

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