US1841531A

US1841531A - Tobacco stripping and booking machine

Info

Publication number: US1841531A
Application number: US446834A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hinchcliff Henry Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-04-24
Filing date: 1930-04-24
Publication date: 1932-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1932.

H. .A. HINCHCLIFF TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1950 5 sheets sheet l 7 I 2 lblYENT BY 2 j g; ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932. H. A. HINCHCLIFF 1,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING u) BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1930 5 sheets-Sheet 2 -5 56 7 )5 ,,g, 42/ w W 1 ATTORNEY 19, 19325 H. A. HINCHCLIFF 7 1,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPP ING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1950 5 Shei ats-Sheet 3 if? 4 ,7 K 4 .53 4. Q I I VIIIIIIIIIIIIIlll'll-IIIIIIIIJII.VIII! ATTORNEY N Jan. 19, 1932. H. A. HINCHCLIFF I 1,341,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jol A J a'ri.' 19, 1932- -H. A. HINCHCLIFF 1,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1930- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ilv INVENTOR I Patented Jan. 19, 1932 HENRY ALLEN Hmormmrr, or oonnnenrorivr, NEW YORK TOBACCO :SYTRIPPINGAND BooK Ne MACHINE The present invention relates to machines for stripping and bookingtobacco leaves and consists of. improvements in construction, in W arrangement andin operation otlering ma- 'terial advantages over the machines as heretofo re employed for a like purpose.

Important improved features of the present invention include: an improved cutting arrangement employing a novel type of rota-ry cutter designed to conform to the tapered contour of the stem to be severed so as to effect a substantial reduction of Waste leaf membrane and furthermore having a groove formation to cooperate with apressureroller for feeding of the leaf in the stripping ordesteming o eration; an improved means, operative automatically, for stopping the booking drum aft-ereach cutting opera tion'and having associated therewith provision for ad usting of the initial orstarting position of the cutter so as to adapt the operation thereof for economically dost-eming different sizes of leaf as the conditions require; provision for driving of the rotary cutter and the coacting roller to have uniform speed of theopposed and coactlng surfaces with special provision to compensate for change in the contact diameter of the m roller thereby to reduce the wear on the cutter to the minimum; means for adjusting the pressure between the grooved roller and the cutter and special provision for supporting the leaf until deposited on the drum by the belts. 5" I l 'he foregoing and other important features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by refs 1 erence tothe accompanying drawings wherein an approved embodiment of the invention is disclosed and wherein likereference char acters are applied in the several views.

' ln'thedrawings: v 1

Fig. l'is side GlGVZitl-Oll of the machine embodying --the features of my invention taken from the left. I r

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in frontzelevation with the gear box shown in section on the line (a--a of Application filed April 24,

to the corresponding parts Fig. 3 is a right hand elevation of the ma- 1930. Serial ll'o. 446,834.

chine with gear box shown in section on the line 6+6 of Fig. 2. Y I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the drum, cutter and upper roller, with the front shown down, taken on line o-.-a of Fig. 2, with a portion of the knife or cutter broken away.

Fig. 5 isa partialsectional View taken on line ;Z-. Z of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a section, taken in a near ,hori-- zontal plane, of the upper roller on line ee of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical cross section of the drums and cutter taken on line ff of :Fig l.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the development of the knife or cutter.

Flg. 9 1s a detail sectionalview of the clutch release pin taken on line gg of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 isa vertical sectional view of the clutchtaken on line 7t7z. of Fig. 3 and Figs. 11 to 13 are detail sectional views of the cutter and coactingpressure roller taken on lines rc.c, y-y and 2-2 of Fig. 8 respectively. i In the approved embodiment of thefeatures oi my present invention as here shown, the supporting parts include the left side frame 1 connected to the rightside frame member 2 by a rear cross.franieinember 3, the front cross frame 4 and the foot treadle bearing and tie rod 5. On the'frame 2 is supported the motor bracket v6 supportmg motor 8 energrzed'by a. suitable electric circuit and control switch not shown.

in the arrangement, conventional to this [type of machine, there is suitably journalled upon the frame acylindr'icalcarrier or book ing'drum 8789 provided at'its central portion withan annular knife or cutter 91 ro-- 10. The motor shaft 9 is arranged in axial alignment with a worm shaft 11 and slidably mounted on the worm shaft 11 is the cone l l engaged by the spring 15 interposed between it and the collar 16 fixed on the shaft. The spring normally moves the cone let into clutching engagement with the cup member of the clutch 10 except when disengaged as hercinatter described. With the clutch engaged, the motor drives the worm shaft 11 upon which the cone clutch member is slidably keyed in the usual manner. The worm shaft has suitable hearings in the gear box 13 and formed with a worm thread 11 meshing with the helical idler gear 19 and the helical drum gear 20.

Drum cmmections.lin accordance with the present invention the drum is rotated by means of the drum gear 20 with provision, operative automatically, to stop the rotation at an initial or staring point determined by an adjustable and releasable stop thereby to adjust the starting point with relation to t 11G portion of the cutter suited for desteming leaves of a given size. In accordance therewith, the drum gear 20 has afiirqed thereto by rivets a ratchet wheel 22 and is pinned to the drum shaft The latter shaft has freely journalled thereon the stop arm 25, the position of which is controlled by the hand whee. 26 having a tongue 26 fitted within a groove in the stop arm as shown. The hand wheel 26 is mounted freely upon the drum shaft 23 and is maintained in position thereon by a collar 27 aflixed to the shaft. The stop arm carries a stud 29 upon which is pivotally mounted the pawl 30 held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 22 by the spring 31 connected to pin 32 on the pawl and to pin 32 on the stop arm. By moving the handwhee 26 clockwise 3) the position of the stop arm 25 can be set to any desired notch, which will change the location of the stopping position with respect to the drum shaft 23 and with respect to any of the parts connected thereto. As the drum shaft 23 is caused to rotate only in a. clockwise direction by the worm 11 a coacting stop is rovided and positioned to be engaged by the stop arm and which shall be releasable at the will of the operator for restarting after the stop engagement has operated. In the stopping action. it is arranged whereby the coacting stop is mounted to be movable upon engagement therewith of the stop with provision for transmitting the movement to the clutch member for disengaging the same. This provision as shown includes a forked clutch operating arm 33 having projections 33 fitted within a groove 14 formed in the clutch cone member. The operating arm 33 is suitably fastened to a shaft journalled in bearings in the frame members 1 and 2. The releasable stop as shown comprises a stop pin 40 slidably fitted in coacting stop arm 41 and maintained in its oute' position by the action of spring 42 (Fig. 9). As shown in Fig. 3, the stop pin 40 is normally positioned to be engaged by the stop arm 25 and can be moved or retracted from its engaging position by means of a slotted arm as engaging a cross pin a l on the stop pin and slidable in slot 41 of the arm ll and projecting into the slot of arm 43. The arm 41 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 45 carried by the frame 2 and maintained in its upper position for engagement by the stop arm 25 by the spring as. The arm ell formed with a projection 41. as shown positioned to engage the end of the clutch operating arm 33 whereby upon engagement of the stop arm 25 with the coacting pin 40, movement will be imparted to the latter and transmitted by the engagement of the projection ll with the clutch operating lever to the clutch cone member so as to dise gage the clutch for stopping of the drum rotation.

The slotted arm 43 fastened to shaft 47, the latter being ournalled in the frame 2 and carrying, inside the frame, the arm 48 like wise rigidly fastened to the shaft. The arm lb is connected to be operated by the foot treadle 51 by means of the link 49 pivotally connected by stud 50 to the arm and by stud 52 to the treadle; the treadle be ing mounted upon the bearing rod 5. A spring 53 is, as shown, arranged by its connection to the link 49 to operate normally to elevate the treadle and in consequence maintain the stop pin 40 in position for eugagement by the stop arm The treadle 51, which is the right hand foot treadle, accordingly controls the single or one revolution action of the machine and when it is desired to start the machine this treadle is depressed and instantly released. This effects the retraction of the stop pin 40, allowing spring 46 to n'iove arm 4:1. upwardly to release clutch operating arm 33 which then permits spring 153 to move the cone member 1% in frictional clutch engagement. Releasing the foot treadle allows the pin 40 to again assume its position for engagement by the stop arm 25 to again stop the machine upon the completion of the single revolution of the drum.

1018mm st0p.A second foot treadle control. left hand side as here shown. is provided with suitable connections to the clutch for disengaging the clutch to stop the machine at the will of the operator and at any interval of the drum revolution. For this purpose. inside of the left hand frame 1, there is fastened on the shaft 34, an arm 35 which is operated by a link 36 connected to

studs

37 and 39 from the foot treadle 38 mounted on the bearing rod 5 convenient to the left foot of the operator.

' Gutter will drioc.As shown in Fig. 6, the helical idler ear 19 has formed therewith the knife roller drive sprocket and the brush "drive sprocket 60. This gear run-s freely onthe shaft 56 and is maintained in alignment on said shaft by the side frame 2 and the collar 57 affixed to the shaft. The shaft 56 is journalled to turn freely in the frame members 1 and 2. A knife roller supporting arm bland 'coacting'arm 63 and a pressure adjustment arm 65 are affixed to the shaft 56 whichalso carries asknife' roller scraper -67"secured stud 68 w-hrchris positionedto allow the scraper to swing laterally to maintain proper engagement with the roller 77.

The

arms

61 and, 63 have bearings at their outer ends for the knife roller shaft 69 which is positively driven by the chain 72 running 'over sprocket 7O keyed upon the roller shaft.

The shaft 69 passes through an opening in the bracket 73 which acts as a closure member'for the gear box 13. This opening is enlarged to allow the shaft 69 to swing up and downas the drum or cutter radius varies as hereinafter described.

The belt rolls 74 and 75 are journalled freely on the shaft 69 and positioned centrally between these rollers is the cutter roller '57 keyed on the shaft to be positively driven therewith. The key 7 6 therefor is slightly elongated allowing lateral shifting of the cutter roller to maintain proper bearing upon the rotary cutter, which supports the roller assembly and whichmay not always run true.

This lateral movement accordingly will allow the roller to bear equally on the spaced cutting edges of the cutteror drum knife. The roller 7 7 hasa groove as shown adapted to re- 1 ceive the upper portion of the stem as here inafter described. 1 The pressure control arm 65has a weight 7 9 adjustably'mounted thereon for adjusting the pressure of the roller upon the knife or cutter. The pressure, as will be' understood 1S supplemented by the weight of the parts mounted on

arms

61 and 63 andby the pull of theusualbooking belts 79, '80, 81, 82, 83 and 81. i V 1 Drum and outter.As shown in Fig. 'i, the drum shaft 23 has its bearings in frame members 1 and 2 and is located laterally by the hub of drum gear 20 and a fixed collar 85.

- The drum member 87 is fastened to the shaft 23 by the pin 88 and the complemental drum member 89 is fastened to said shaft by the pin 90. The annularcutter or knife 91 is as "shown fitted to inwardly extending flanges formed on the respective drum members 87' and 89 and 1s rotatively secured thereon by the pin 92 extended'through an aperture in the cutter and fitting registering holes in the drum members.

Thecutter' 91, in accordance with an important feature ofthe present invention, formed as best shown in Fi s. 2 4, 7 "and 11 with a central peripheral groove bounded at the outer sides bythe opposite'cutting or knife edges 91. Theknife edges, as best shown in-thedevelopment thereof in Fig. 8,

are arranged with the cutting portions thereof in angular relation progressively diminish ing in'spaced relation orc'utting widthfrom a point a to'the point 7) 'soas to conjointly form acutter adapted to 'severth'e stemfrom the leaf membrane with a tapering cut. The cutting portion of the knife froma to b has a tapering relation conforming to the taper of the averagestem of the leaf to be stripped. The compromise portion of the cutter from b to 0 having reverse angularity of the edges is adaptedto act as a clamp or gripper for inclined shoulders for supporting the inner edge of the leaf membrane until deposited upon the drums by the

belts

81 and 82.

The cuttingaction of the machine as described is as follows: the operator feeds the tip of the stem into the grooves of the upper :95

roller andthe drum knife or cutter'wherein the stem is compressed so that the leaf is pulled into the machine. The stem fits into the groovesso that the upper half portion is in the roller groove and the lower halfportion thereof isin the cutter groove, positioning the membrane of the leaf at the level V of the cutting edges. As these are shaped to correspond to the shape of the-stem, the resulting cutwi'll be close to the stem and leave 5 very little of the valuable leaf membrane on the stem. The groove between the cutting edges of the cutter is further formed to decrease in depth as the distance between As previously explained, thepressure between the'roller and the cutter may be adjustedby the movement of the weight 7 9 on the-arm 65 to obtain an effective cutting pressure.

As described, the width of the cutting at 1). Due to the fact that the roller is supported'by thecutting edges of the cutter and that the groove in the roller 77 is "concaved in cross sectlonal contour, as the width of the cutting edges decreases they willycome in con-tactwith a smaller radius or diameter of the roller. As both the roller and cutter are positively driven this variation of contact di am'eter tends to alter the relative "speeds of,

the coacting or contact surfaces. -To'-'con1- the edges becomes less, thereby providing 171110 for aconstant pull on the stema ndper'm'itting easy feeding of the'leaf to bestripped.

edges or spaced relation varies from a maX- 'lmum 'as shown at a tothe minimum width pensate for this condition and to the end of maintaining substantially uniform surface speed of the coacting surfaces, the radius of the cutting edges is arranged as shown best in Fig. 4: to progressively lessen or decrease in diameter from the initial or starting point a to a degree required for maintaining constant relative surface speed of the coacting surfaces of the cutter and roller.

When the stripped stem emerges from the grooves between the cutter 91 and the roller 77 the stem may do any one of three things. It may cling to the knife roller 77 from which it will be removed by the scraper 67 to drop onto the belts which will deposit it into a chute 130. It may drop directly onto the belts which will convey it to the chute or it may adhere to the knife to be removed by a scraper 131 provided on the rear cross frame 3 which likewise supports the chute. A chute cover 132 is provided prevent the stems from getting entangled in the belts, the cover being supported between the side frames 1 and 2.

Brush 001meci'f0ns. .s best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the idler gear 19 also has formed with it the sprocket 30 which drives through chain 93 the brush sprocket 9 1 se cured on a brush shaft 95. This brush shaft, as best shown in Fig. 5 is ournalled in frame member 2 and has at its inner end a recess adapted to receive a key projection of a brush 96. The other end of the brush fits in a recess 97 of a sleeve 97 journalled on a stud 98 driven into tl e frame 1. The brush 96 is arranged so that when the pivotal front 99 is up it will be in position to remove the tips of the leaves from the

belts

81 and 82 and throw them back upon the drum where they belong. The swinging front 99 is pivotally supported upon the shaft 10 1. the end portions of which are eccentric with. respect to the portion of the shaft on which the front 99 is mounted. The left hand eccentric 1041' projects beyond frame 1 and has a handle 105 by which the shaft 101 may be rotated in its eccentric bearings and cause the front to be raised or lowered. The

belts

79, 80, 81, 82 83 and 8 1 pass over the

front return rollers

100 and 101 which run freely on

shafts

102 and 103. Shaft 102 projects beyond the left side frame 1 so that the operator can use it for a handle to swing the front out against a stop pin 107 when it is desired to remove the stripped and booked leaves from the machine. The front rollers are prevented from resting against the drum by the f ont projection 99 hearing against a pin 106 on the frame.

Helper-As best shown in 1 and 2., the

endless belts

79, 80, 81. 82 83 and 84 pass from the upper return rollers 74 and around the drums 87 and 89 by which they are driven by frictional engagement and during the operation by engagement with the leaves interposed between the belts and the drum. Upon leaving the drum the belts pass over the front return rollers 100101 (Figs. 4: and 5), under the idler roller 108, which rotates freely on shaft 109, over idler roller 110 on shaft 111, under

tension rollers

112, 113, 114., 115, 116 and 117 (Fig. over upper return guide roller 118 journalled on a shaft 119 and thence back to the upper return rollers 7 1-75. The tension rollers 112 to 117 have individual. pivoted and weighted mountings each of which consists of studs 120 upon which the rollers are journalled, the studs 120 being mounted on tension arms 121. The tension arms are all mounted upon a shaft 127 on which they swing freely. Each arm is provided with a slidable weight 129 adjustable in position for adjusting the tension of the associated belt.

Operation-Before starting to strip any tobacco the drum knife or cutter should be set to that position at which the cutter groove will compress the stem and leave a minimum of membrane on the stripped stem. If the power is on, the operator depresses both treadles t ereby disengaging the clutch and withdrawn the release pin 4-0 from engagement with tne stop arm The handwheel 26 can now be rotated clockwise (from right hand side) to the desired position. This po sition will be where the width of the knife is slightly less than the width of the stem and somewhcres between the points (I, and b (Fig. 7). Care will be taken to have the cutting completed before the end of the leaf reaches point 6. Frequently in stripping fine wrapper where a very fine cut is desirable the rear end of the leaf will. be set so as to just reach the point b. After the setting is accomplished the trcadles will be released and the drum 8789 will rotate until the stop arm 25 engages the coacting pin 40, thereby stopping the machine. Thereafter the machine will always stop at this set point except when the operator neglects to release the right hand foot trcadle or unless the machine is temyora *ily stopped by the depression of the left foot treadle 38.

The ope 'ator now sits in front of the machine and takes one of the leaves to be stripped and feeds the butt or larger end of the stem into the grooves between the roller 77 and the cutter 91. Both foot treadles are depressed, the right one momentarily. The release of the left foot treadlc 38 allows the machine to run and the stem is ripped by compression within the grooves. The entire leaf is opened by the hands permitting the leaf to slip through the fingers. From time to time, as the leaf is drawn into the machine faster than it can be properly opened, the motion is retarded or stopped by the operator by depressing the left foot trca-dle 38. Vhen the leaf has been completely drawn into the machine the operator releases the left foot treadle permitting the machine to pass through the remainder of its cycle at its fastest speed. During this time the operator is pickingyup another leaf to begin the cycle Over again as soon as the machine has stopped. p

As the leaf, is drawn'into the machine by the compression of the stem, the knife edges sever the leaf on either side of the stem. The stem, passing through the grooves, is disposed of as previously described. The half of. eachleaf is deposited on the drum niembers by the belts and is carried around on the drum members until the machine is stopped as described. As the machine will be again started at the same point on the drum and the leaf will be fed at the same time, it will be laid on top of the previous leaf. This operation will be repeated until a booki is formed. When the required number of leaves to complete the book have been fed into the machine they are removed in a group. This is done by allowing the machine to the stop position. Both treadles are now depressed and held down. The front 99 is pulled'from the in position againstpin 106 (shown in Fig. l) tothe outer or open position against pin 10'? (shown in Fig. 4), by pulling on the extension of shaft 102. The ends of each book will be properly fed) under the front and in such position that they can be taken, one in each hand. The pressure on the lefttreadle 38 is now released slightly so that the drum advances a little and by doing this. alternately the stripped leaves may be drawn from the machine in perfect condition. Upon closing of the front a new lot may then be started.

While I have described and shown an approved" embodiment of the features ofthe present invention, it will be understood that the. disclosure is illustrative and that varied modifications thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. As an example thereof, while I have shown my improved cutting arrangement comprising a I cutter" having its cutting edges in tapered relation to correspond to the taper of the stem and cooperating with a pressure roller each of which is positively driven, it will be understood that if desired the roller may be mount ed as an idler and frictionally driven and in this [casethe cutter maybe formed with the tapered cutting edges and groove therebetween to possess the important advantages as described but of a concentric form as the necessity of compensating for variation of the contact diameter with the roller would then be eliminated. l I

Having described my invention, I claim: LA tobacco strippingfmachine comprising arotary drum, a cutter carried by the drumand provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relationadapted toproduce v a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper ofthe leaf stem, means operative automatically to stop the drum' at a determlnedstarting position and means for adjusting the operative relation of the cutter and start ing position for adjusting the cutter action to different sizes of leaves.

2. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cu" ing edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum, means operative automatically to stop the drum at a predetermined starting position, said latter means being adjustable to establish an initially effective portion of the cutter edges suited to the larger end of the leaf stem to be severed.

l 3. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce cut tapered substantially to con- Iorm to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting'operation, means operative automatiformto the taperofthe leaf'stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation and provided with a groove circumferentially thereof to receive the stem, means for rotatingthe cutter and roller to have uniform coacting surface speed, means operative automatically to stop the drum at.

a predetermined starting position and means for adjusting the operative relation of the cutter and starting position for adjusting the cutter action to different sizes of leaves.

5. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by thedrum and provided with opposite cutting edges in'angular relation adapted to aroduce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the we ting operation, said cutter being formed with a groove between the cutting edges having a progressive reduction in size'to have feeding engagement with the stem, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatian m ' taper of the leaf steam, a rol cally to stop the drum at a predetermined starting position.

6. A tobacco stripping machine compris ing a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and erovided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitabl 1 journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation, said cutter and roller being formed with grooves for feeding engagement with the stem, means for rotating the cutter and roller to have uniform coacting surface speed, adjustable means for applying pressure of the roller on the cutter, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatically to stop the drum at a predetermined starting position.

7. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter ao coact therewith in the cutting operation, adjustable means for applying pressure on the roller, said cutter androller being relatively formed for gripping the leaf stem under compression for feeding the leaf, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position.

8. A. tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular re ation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the ler pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter to coact therewith in the cutting operation, adjustable means for applying pressure of the roller on the cutter, aid cutter and roller being relatively formed for gripping the leaf stein under compression for feeding of the leaf during the cutting operation, means for rotating the drum and roller to have substantially uniform speed of their coacting sur faces and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position.

9. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a tapered cutsubst-antially conforming to the taper of a leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter to coact there 'ith in the cutting operation, said cutter being formed with a circumferential groove intermediate of the cutting edges of progressively diminishing depth as the cutting cdges decrease in spaced relation and having annular shoulders at the outer sides of the cutting edges for supporting the leaf, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position.

10. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a tapered cut substantially conforming to the taper of the leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter to coact therewith in the cutting operation, said roller being formed with a circumferential groove to receive the upper portion of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum and the roller to effect substantially uniform u'iovemcnt of the coacting surfaces of the roller and cutting edges and said cutting edges being formed of progressively reduced diameter as their spaced relation decreases to compensate for reduction in diameter of the engaged portion of the roller, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined position.

ll. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cuting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of a leaf stem, means for rotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position, said latter means comprising a stop arm rotatively secured to the drum and adjustable angularly with relation thereto and a coacting stop positioned to be engaged by the stop arm, said coacting stop being shiftable from engaging position for restarting.

12. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum including a shiftable clutch member and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position consisting of a stop arm rotatively secured to the drum and adjustable angularly with relation thereto, a coacting stop positioned to be engaged by the stop arm, connections from the latter stop to the clutch member, said coacting stop being shiftable from engaging position and treadle connections thereto for shifting of said stop for starting of the machine.

13. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum including a shiftable clutch member and ice iii)

' into engaging position,

connections'to ally stopping of the machine tion consisting of a stop arm rotativelv secured to the drum and adjustable an ularly' with relation thereto, a coactmg stop positioned to be engaged by the stop arm and connected to transmit movement to the clutch member, said coacting stop being provided with a contact pin slid-ably mounted therein, means operative normally to move said pin to said pin for retracting same for starting of the machine and a second treadle with the clutch member for manuthe will of the operator. 7

14. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite-cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation, said roller being formed with a circumferential groove and being mounted to have lateral shifting movement for maintaining proper engagement with the cutting edges, means [for rotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined starting position. I v

15. A tobacco stripping machine comprising drum composed of aligned cylindrical drum sections suitably journalled, a circular cutter supported upon inner flanges of the drum sections, said cutter being provided with opposite cutting edges in angular rela tion adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, said cutter being formed with a central groove between the cutting edges adapted to receive the stem, aroller pivotally supported. to bear upon the cutter and formed with a central circumferential groove to coact with the cutter groove for pressure feeding engagement with the stem, said roller being supported to have lateral movement to insure proper engagement with the cutter, means for rotating the drum, means operative automatically to stop the drum at a, predeter- I mined starting position, said latter means being adjustable to establish an initially effective portion of the cutter suited" to the larger end of the leaf stem to be severed and manually operated means for interrupting the rotation of the drum atthe will of the operator. A

16. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to con form to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon the treadle connections 1 formed with grooves cutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation, said cutter being formed with 7 between the cutting edges for feeda groove stem and means for ing engagement with the rotating the drum.

17. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear uponthe cutting edges to coact therewith inthe cutting operation, said cutter and roller being for feeding engagement with the stem, adjustable means for apply ing pressure of the roller on the cutter and means for rotating the cutter and roller to have uniform coacting surface speed.

18. A tobacco stripping machine compris-' ing a rotary drum, a circular cutter carried by the'drum and provided with opposite cutting edges in angular relation adaptedto produce a cut tapered substantially to con-- form to the taper ofthe leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter, adjustable means for applying pressure of the roller on the cutter, said cutter and roller being relatively formed for gripping of the leaf stem under compression for feeding the leaf and means for rotating the drum.

19. A tobacco stripping and booking machine comprising a. rotary drum, a cutter carried by the drum centrally thereof, means for rotating the drum, belt supporting rollers arranged to support booking belts at opposite sidesof the cutter and to pass from an upper frontal reversing position 'rearwardly to a lower frontal reversing position and including a roller pivotally supportedat the latter position, a pivotally supported swinging front for supporting the latter roller, a brush suitably journalled and positioned to deflect the leaves onto the drum from the belts as the latter pass over the lower reversing roller and the pivotal support of the swinging front being adjustable for raising and lowering the lower reversing roller with relation to the brush, substantially as described. i

signed at College Point, in the county of Queens and State of New York, this 1 1 day of April, A. D. 1930.

[HENRY ALLEN HINCHCLIFF.