US1856421A - Cigar wrapping and banding machine - Google Patents

Description

10 Sheets-Sheet l v fizz/67727 7" fiZg rm Miller M. MILLER CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11. 1921 May 3,1932

May 3, 1932. M. MILLER 1,856,421

' v CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE I Original Filed April 11, 1921' 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 3, 1932. M. MILLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING\ AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 3, 1932- I Y M. MILLER 1,856,421 I CIGAR WRAPPINFY AND BANDING MACHINE 4 Original Filed April 11, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qww wi A m w y 1932- M. M lLLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1932. M. MlLLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet e y 1932. M. MILLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING AND 'BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921" 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 M. MILLER May 3, 1932 CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8' (f 722197275?" Mjrm M17791 y 1932. M. MILLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Original Filed April 11, 1921 10 heets-She t 9 diff 65,5 65 w 1770 372227 y 1932- M. MILLER 1,856,421

CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE briginal Filed April 11, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O {l fz ffijja QZWJB ZW' Myron 4417/91 O f @www, Mdem Patented May 3, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MYBON MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD WM. COLTMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TO BEBTRAM CIGAR WRAPPING AND BANDING E IACHINE Application filed April 11, 1921, Serial No. 460,368. Renewed July 31, 1925.

My invention relates to wrapping and bandin machines.

My o ject is to provide'a machine which wraps and bands a cigar simultaneously in 6 the most simple and expedient manner possible, the arrangement and coordination of the parts being such as to reduce the cost of manufacture to a minimum. So far as I am aware, no attempt has heretofore been made 10 to wrap and band a cigar in one operation,

much less to apply a wrapper singly, although banding a cigar by a machine is, to a certain extent, well known. The reason for the inability of wrapping the cigar by a machine is due to the failure to devise mechanism which will handle the cigar without abrading. its tobacco wrapper. Manual wrapping has, therefore,been wholly resorted to.

Because of the fact that cigars are marketed in conditions which vary as the number of brands, some being wrapped in tinfoil, others in transparent or. waxed paper, while some are provided with no outside wrapper at all, although in every instance a trade label commonly known as a band is applied around 'the cigar, it is to be understood that I do not contemplate imposing any limitation upon. the present invention of having to adhere to both operations, as the scope of the invention extends also to the manner of accomplishing each operation, whether singly or in combination with the other.

In practice, difiiculty has been experienced in handlingcigars, as for instance, in applyingthe band orlabel. The main reason is that the inherent delicacy of the cigar subjects it to crushing or abrading, and requires that great care be had in the feeding so that they be presented to the various mechanism, one at a time, without likelihood of choking or clogging the operative parts of the machine. It is impossible to make a large. number of cigars of precisely the same dimensions although they may approximate those dimensions. In machines heretofore known. to the art, the mechanisms have not, so far as I am aware, been adapted to automatically compensate for the slight irregularities or dliIGP- ences in shape or dimensions of the cigars, re sulting in either the imperfect application of the band in some instances, or the damaging of the cigars by crushing them or abrading their Wrappers, in other instances. Wrapping of the cigars has always been costly because of the skilled labor required, and the inability at times to procure this labor which has often resulted in accumulation of the cigars at the factory in a nonvmarketable condition, facing thepossibility of drying out and becoming a loss to the manufacturer.

According to the teachings of my invention, I provide a machine which'is simple, inexpensive and capable of performing in the s mplest manner possible the wrap ing and banding operations so that the cigar will not be injured in anyway, because'of irregularity of size or dimension. One of the salient features of my invention is the cheapness of construction and the low cost of maintenance due chiefly to the few number of parts and the positiveness with which they act, thereby insuring substantial operation at all times.

To that end, I provide mechanical operating devices whereby the parts are so timed that they coordinate to effect the sequence of operations, beginning with the initial feeding of the band and wrapper to the holder of the cigar carrier and ending with the discharge of the completely .wrapped and banded cigar. riages, locking devices and other instrumentalities, which, while peculiarly adapted to cause the timing and coordination of the parts aforesaid, are susceptible of modification and I do not intend to limit myself to the precise form, construction and arrangement of these mechanical operating devices, except where specified in the claims.

The wrapper and band feeder of my invention embodies novel means for taking off a band from the stack and a properly dimensioned wrapper from the roll in such a manner that there will be no interference with the succeeding band and wrapper. There is the feed carriage so timed that its movement will be such as to position in the path of the carrier a band and wrapper ready for the I provide cams, levers, car-.-

succeeding operation of the cigar carrier.

The feed carriage is in form of a clamp which liver the wrapper and band which resultsvin cutting the wrapper to proper size and advancing the web of the wrapper roll to supply the feed carriage for a subsequent operation.

Thecigar carrier, which is shown in form of a reciprocatory carriage, is timed and operated for an uninterrupted movement, being first moved so that a pocket or holder will be brought into position forthe wrapper and band to be placed thereon immediately after they are delivered by the feed carriage. Following this is the engagement of the cigar which=has been automatically positioned 1n the path of the carrier. The wrapper and b'andare fed on the holder in a condition ready for wrapping around the cigar as soon as received, that is, their relative posltion when placed on the holder is the same as it is around the cigar.

The cigar feedercomprises a hopper or trough feeding the cigars by gravity to the discharge end where they are taken one by one and placed in the path of the carrier.

; Discharge of the cigars is timed with the movement of the carrier and means have been provided to prevent the trough from feeding a cigar while one previously discharged 1s still in the process of being wrapped and banded. This is secured by a receiver designed normally to block the discharge end of the trough, but as-the carrier advances, it is tripped'to receive a cigar and to be held until receding of the carrier takes place whereupon the cigar is delivered to asetter arm. V a r The object of my wrapping and banding mechanism is to press the rear or inner end of the wrapper and band down on and around the cigar in a tucking action and to hold it there; then to finish the movement by a folding action accomplished, in the present instance, by a cooperating folder which snugly and evenly lays the outer end of the wrapper and band down on the cigar. The tip of the band carrying the adhesive material protrudes slightly from the adjacent edge of the wrapper so as topermit it to adhere to that portion of the band which it engages when laid around the cigar. The ends of the wrapper are twisted about the tips of the cigar by revolving'twisters acting after the cigar is wrapped. In each instance, the various parts of the'wrapping and banding mechanism automatically operate by movement of the cigar carrier, the tuckers and folders first acting to secure the edges of the wrapper lengthwise around the cigar and simultaneously the band, and thereafter the twisters operating to twist the ends of the wrapper about the tips of the cigar.

The tucking, folding and twisting devices are arranged to yield against spring pressure, so that they cannot injure the cigars. Heretofore, great diificulty has been experienced in that part of the machine which actually folds or wraps the ends of the band, it being the chief reason for the failure to produce a device which applied a wrapper also. My improvement provides for a light, yet sufficient, pressure of the wrapping and twisting devices, without permitting them to dig into the cigar. By the use of a wrapping device which comprises an initially acting member that forces the band down on and around the cigar, and a secondary folding member which acts thereafter to finish the wrapping action, I prevent injury to the cigar and insure tight and even application of the wrapper and band thereto; the twister members rotate about the ends of the cigar, applying a gentle and firm pressure which action positively secures the ends tightly without injuring that portion of the clgar.

, Other features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention being susceptible to modifications in various respects without departing from its essential principles, the disclosure hereinafter given is to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive, of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the machine, illustrating the drive;

Figure 2 isa side elevational view, taken on the right hand side of the machine as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plane view;

Figure 4: is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 2, illustrating the wrapper andband feed carriage advancing to deliver a wrapper and band-to the cigar carrier; V

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, illustrating the cigar carrier'removing a wrapper and a band from their feed carriage which is in released position;

Figure 8 is a similar view, but taken at right angles to show the cigar carrier in uppermost position and the twister fingers lay- 130 ing the ends of the wrapper down and about the cigar tips;

= Figure 9 is a similar view, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8 to show the tuckingand folding fingers acting to lay the ends of a wrapper and band around the cigar;

Figure 10 is a sectional View taken on line "10-410 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a detail-of the twister fingers;

Figure 12.is a sectional trating the tucker, folder, Constructed as a unit Figure 13 is a detail band magazine;

Figure 14 is also a detail sectional view of theband magazine; and

a guide cam for plan view illusand twister fingers sectional view of the Figure 15 is a detail sectional viewoftlie resilient means employed to press the tucker and folder fingers against the cigar.

The working parts are supported by the frame 1. Forming'part of the frame structure is the vertical cigar carrier guide, preferably disposed in alignment with the vertical axis of the machine. This guide comprises essentially the angle irons 3 secured to the frame through the medium of cross braces 5. Y The cigar carrier designated generally as 6 comprises the cross members 7 joined by the vertical members 8, the ends of the cross members 7 projecting past the vertical members 8 to track in the angle irons 3. The upper cross member 7 is provided with 'a holder 9 formed on its top surface with a recess 10 which preferably conforms to the usual shape of a cigar. The holder 9, as

. shown in Figure5, is secured to the top cross member 7 bymeans of bolts 11, but this is merely preferable. At one side of the carrier I 6, a toothed bar 12 is secured, which toothed bar meshes with a gear 13 suitably carried on the frame 1. The power shaft 15 is driven by any suitable means but, in the present instance, it is illustrated as carrying a gear 14 through which power is transmitted. A disc 16 is secured to one face of the gear 14 for the purpose of imparting a reciprocatory motion to the rackbar 17 in form of an eccentric action. The rack bar 17 is formed in the shape of a yoke, the outer bifurcated leg carrying the toothed portion and the inner bifurcated leg extending around the countershaft 18. The lower end of the yoke is pivoted to the'disc 16 in form of an eccentric connection. ,The teeth of the rack 17 mesh with the gear 19 on the countershaft 18, so that, as the rack ascends, the gear 19 will rotate in one direction, and in the opposite direction as the rack descends. Thus,

the gear '13 being on the countershaft, will cause the carrier bar 12 and hence the cigar carrier 6, to reciprocate back and forth in the angle irons 3.

The band and wrapper. feed mechanism is timed to operate and deliver a band and wrapper upon the holder 9 before the carrier axls of the reciprocatory cigar carrier 6, Comprising the sub-frame 21 are the angle irons 22 properly secured to the frame and serving as a track for the reciprocating feed carriage 25. The outer ends of the angle irons 22 are secured together by the cross member 23 completing the sub-frame 21 upon which the wrapper roll 24 is carried by the bracket 26. The Wrapper roll 24 is rotatably suspended ovef the table of the sub-frame so that the feeding end is guided between upper and lower resilient fingers 27 and 28 respectively. The upper fingers 27 are secured to the strap 29, lying across the upper edges of the irons 22, with the ends turned down against the sides of the latter. The lower fingers 28 are spaced from thehorizontal flanges of the irons 22 by the cross members 30 and so raised as to meet the upper fingers 27 with a small clearance between, in which the feeding end of the wrapper roll 24 is guided and kept taut by the opposite fingers pressing gently, but yieldingly, against each other.

The reciprocatory feed carriage 25, which feeds a band and wrapper to the cigar carrier 6, is timed to operate with the movement 7 approaches to the position where it receives a cigar from the cigar feeder. In order to maintain the band and wrapper in suitable position over the advancing cigar carrier 6 and avoid the employment of extra parts, such as holding and stretching devices, which tend to make the mechanism as a whole intricate and expensive to manufacture, the feed carriage 25 is arranged to remain in the path of the carrier 6 for a short period of time, and yet not interfere with the movement of the same.

To this end, the carriage 25 is constructed of open frame work comprising the upper member 31 and the lower member 32, the upper member being movable relative to the lower member and serving as a clamp to hold the band and wrapper between the two. The lower member 32 consists of the rectangular frame having the cross members 33 and the longitudinal slide plates 34 suitably secured to the cross members, as by screws or the like.

The lateral edge of the slide plates 34 projects outwardly to lie upon the horizontal leg of the irons 22, which plates are held thereon by topangle irons 35 Secured to the irons 22. The upper frame member 31 is sim-,

ilarly constructed having the cross members 33 and thelongitudinal members 34', which in this instance do not project laterally. The rear cross members 33 are grooved, as indicated at 36 in Figure 7, which with the groove 37 in the upper cross member 33 form slots through which the resilient wrapper guide fingers 27 and 28 together with the wrapper are allowed to pass when the carriage 25 is withdrawn from the cigar carrier path. It is to be noted that the forward edge of the wrapper is allowed to protrude slightly so as to be clamped between the 34, and in these spacing blocks are provided a 'pintle 38 to pivotallycarry a lifting cam- 39. A tripping lug 40 is suitably secured to the machine, as to the underside of the angle iron 22, and is so located as to engage the lower arm of the lifting cam 39, thereby causing the same to pivotally swing its upper arm into engagement with the upper frame 31; This lifts the upper part 31 of the carriage 25 whereby the band and wrapper are freed. The upper frame'3l', while in this osition, is guided by the pin's41, preferab y provided in pairs at each side. Springs 42 are employed as positive means for rep turning the upper frame 31 which will occur after the carriage has receded to the position of receiving another band and wrapper for the succeeding operation, and a lifting cam has disengaged the tripping lug 40.

In order to sever a proper size wrapper from the roll 24, a cutter has been prov ded to o erate in timed relation to the movement of t e carriage 25. This cutter mechanism comprises knife carrying blocks 43 mounted on the upper and lower cross members 33 and 33 respectively, the upper block carrying a movable knife 44 operating in a slot provided I for the reception thereof, being normally held "in upper or in operative position by means of thespring 45. A cooperating knife 46 is mounted stationarily in the lower block-43 and cross members 33. These knives 44 and 46 are carried in the blocks in any vfashion, and if it is desired, their action may be reversed. The lower knife 46 is preferably held rigid, while the upper knife 44 is provided with slots in which screws ride to permit sufficient movement.

When the carriage 25 is advanced in the feeding of a band and wrapper to the holder 9,- the upperknife 44 is adapted to be automatically pressed downwardly by means of a cam 47 carried upon a pivotally mounted block 48 on the frame 1. The block 48 is arranged to be locked against pivotal movement when the carriage 25 advances forwardly so as to cause the cam to engage the knife 44 and thereby force the latter to be pressed downwardly whereupon a proper size wrapper'is severed from the roll 24. In order to permit thecupper frame member to be held in extended or open position on the return thereof without the knife 44 interfering with the cam, the block 48 is arranged to swing outwardly on its pivot. T

The drive provided for this reciprocatory feed carriage 25 comprises a semi-circular cam 50 suitably secured to one face-of the gear 13 and positioned thereon so as to engage an arm 51 asthe carrier 6 is being advanced upwardly. The lower end of the arm 51 is pivoted to the frame at 52, and the upper end is connected to the feed carriage through the link 53 and bracket 54 which bracket is suitably secured on the under side to. the front cross member 33. This arrangement ofreciprocating the feed carriage is preferable, but may be varied, if so desired. The-cam 5O isarranged to have the arm 51 ride it as the gear 13, throughthe rack 12, starts the carrier 6 on its upward movement. This swings the arm 51 outwardly and brings the feed carriage 25 over the advancingcarrier 6,

the former'being. heldin that position by the continued engagement of the cam 50 with the arm 51 until the arm rides off the cam when, at this stage, the carrier G l's on its.

downward travel and about to reach lower osition.

The description thus far given relates to the feeding of the wrapper by the feed carriage 25. Simultaneous with the feeding of the wrapper is the feeding of the band, the mechanism for which is timed to cooperate with the mechanism handling the wrapper, and in reality forms part thereof.

The band magazine 55 is suitably fastened to the frame of the machine and as shown in Figures 2 .and 4, the magazine rests on the lower cross brace 5 and'fastens to the adjacent pair of vertical angle irons 3) Any form of construction may be resorted to in constructing the magazine 55. In Figures 4, 13 and 14, I have shown preferably the vertical channel, members 56 and the spaced cross members 57 at the top and bottom-of the magazine 55 so as to result in a vertical opening being formed between the ends therof to expose the edges of the bands. The cross members 57 carry downwardly projecting brackets 58 for supporting pulleys 59 around which cables 60 are trained. One end of the cables fastens to projecting ends of a stack raising member 61 while the oppostite end carries Weights 62 causing an upward pressure .to be applied to the underside of the stack so as to continually feed the bands to the discharge end from where they are taken one by one and delivered to the carriage 25. Spacer blocks 56 extending the length of theverti- J cal channels 56 are provided so as to keep the stack properly positioned within the magazine 55. K

A band delivery arm 62 is pivotally carried on a bracket 63 secured to the transverse frame 21, the arm- 62 being free to move about its pivot when a lug 62 on the arm is engaged by a cam finger-63 on the carriage 25 during the backward travel of the latter.

The outer end of this arm 62 is provided with a port which has communication with a suction cylinder 64 by means of the flexible hose connection 65, the cylinder 64 being carried by the frame 1 and actuated by the movementof the carrier 6. The piston'rod 66 carries between its ends a plate 67, one end of which projects in the path of the center cross piece 7 of the frame comprising the carrier 6, in order that on downward movement of the latter, the piston rod will be carried therewith and the piston head 68 brought to its lower position in the cylinder. This creates a suction in the band delivery arm 62 which at this particular time is engaging the outer band of the stack, and consequently, this band will be picked up and carried with the delivery arm as the latter swings upwardly. Timed with this movement is the lower-. ing of the upper frame or clamp member 31 of the carriage 25, and with such action the inner end of the band is clamped between the front cross pieces 33 and 33', as shown in Figure 4. It is to be noted that this end of the band is clamped with the wrapper,

and hence, will be delivered together to the holder 9, the band being beneath the wrap r. An adhesive tip of the band is moistenetfby the capillaryaction of the water keeping the tape 130 leading from the tank 131 moistened. Of course, the tip of the band need not necessarily possess adhesive material, but may vummed by the tape 130. is the carrier 6 is caused to ascend, the plate 67 is released and the spring 69, which has been put under compression, W111 raise the plate, and hence the piston 68 in the cylinder 64, thereby restoring the pressure therein to atmospheric. This releases the band from the delivery arm 62 in time for the carriage 25 to advance to feeding position. I

The carrier 6, as fully shown in Figure 8, passes through the center portion of the open carria e 25 taking with it the band and wrapper w ich are held therein, and advancing thesewith the holder 9 to the cigar feeding 1 shown in Figures 2, 4, and

mechanism,.the next step in the operation of the machine. y n

This cigar feeding mechanism, as best hopper or chute 70 suitably supported in inclined position on the sub-frame 21 so that the cigars placed therein will feed by avity to the end discharging them to the holder 9. I have provided an automatic feeding de vice operable, as the carrier passes, to remove fine from actual delivery until the carrier has discharged the cigar then being wrapped and banded, and is on its way to lower position. To that end, blocks 71 are secured to the angle iron guides 72 in vertical ali ment with irons 3,.for forming a continue guide in .which the carrier 6 may track during its complete stroke. A shaft 73 extending Cooperating with the receiver 74 is a set- I ter 76 which takes the cigar from the receiver to hold it in suspended position over the advancing holder 9. As the carrier 6 advances upwardly, the receiver 74 is thrown part way around on the shaft 73 until the stop 7 5'.clears the chute 70 and the socket comes'in register 7, comprises the a cigar from the chute 70 and hold" it con-* transversely to the machine is fastened to the to receive a cigar. As the carrier will be 'advanced beyon that point, the receiver 74 remains tilted backwardly. But, as the carrier 6 returns, the receiver 74 will fall back due to the weight of the cigar and thereby roll the latter onto the setter 76.

' The upper structure of the machine comprises the wrapping mechanism 80 which is in essence a carriage carrying a plurality of mova le resilient fingers "operating to tuckand fold the band and wrapper longitudinalwrapper ly around the cigar, and to twist the ends about the ends of the cigar.

By reference to Figures 2, 3, 9 and 12 particularly, it will be observed that a pair of transverse shafts 81 and 82 are carried at the upper end of the machine for supporting cam carrying bars 83 and 84 respectively. Upon the bars 83, cams 85 are provided, having a relatively great dwell or rise andupon the bars 84 cams 86 are provided having a relatively smaller dwell, the purpose of which will be presently described. The carriagecomprises the transverse members 87 connect- 7 ing, together, as a unit, the longitudinal finger guides 88 and 89, there being a pair of each so disposed that one of each pair is carried on the opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The finger guides89 are spaced apart'so'as to lie against the outer sides of the vertical angle irons 72 which form guides therefor, permitting the carriage to move upwardly and downwardly, which movement automatically operates the wrapper fingers to be now described.

The finger guides 88 and 89 are provided with a plurality of openings 90 through which project the rods 91 for carrying the tucker fingers 92 on one side of the machine and the rods 93 for carrying the folder fingers 94 on the opposite side of the machine. Rollers 95 are rotatablycarried by the outer end of the rods 91 for tracking the cams 85 which causes the tucker fingers 92 to take a comparatively rapid inward movement because of the sudden dwell of the cams. Similar rollers 95 are rotatably carried by the outer end of the rods 93 for tracking the cams 86 which causes the folding fingers 94 to take a relatively slow inward movement because of the gradual rise of the cams, The holder 9 of the carrier 6 will at this time have a cigar resting in the socket 10, a band and wrapper being interposed between the two. As the tucker fingers 92 advance inwardly, they will fold one of the overlapping edges of the band and wrapper around the cigar, while the folder fingers advancing at a slower pace will fold the other overlapping edges of the band and wrapper around the cigar, the action of the latter fingers overlapping the action of the former fingers so that the folding and tucking takes place substantially at the same time in order that the wrapper and band are snugly laid about the cigar. Thus, the cigars are handed and wrapped longitudinally. The relative arrangement of the tucker fingers and folder fingers is immaterial, though I have shown a tucker finger 92a and a cooperating folder finger 92 disposed so as to engage the band which then has a relative position as being on the outside of the wrapper.

It is to.be noted from the various views and especially Figure 15 that the fingers, both tucker and folder have in addition to their own flexibility a spring 96 arranged to press gently, but yieldingly, on the fingers so as to have them firmly bear against the cigar. This allows for any variations in the size of cigars,

as the fingers will preferably follow the con-- tour of the cigar.

The twister means employed to lay down the ends of the wrapper about the cigar are shown more clearly in Figures 2, 5 and 8. By reference to Figure 2, particularly, it will be seen that the machine has the cam carrying bars 100 on one side and similar bars 101 on the other side. On the bars 100,cams 102 of the design shown in detail in Figure 11 are mounted, and are constructed so as to have a central groove 103 in which a roller pin 104 may track. The upper portion of this groove is turned outwardly in an upward direction for a purpose which will be later described.

On the bars 101, cams 105 of a design shown in Figure 5, or Figure 8, are mounted, and are arranged to have a like central groove 106 which, in this particular case, converge and then turn outwardly, where a spring latch 107 prevents return of the rollerpin 108 when similar manner, namely, by the loosely mounted links 113 also pivoted on the bracket 110 'The plates 111 are preferably aligned in the transverse axis of the machine, being provided with apertures which register with apertures in each .of the cross members 87. These apertures form a bearing for sleeve 114, more properly serving-as spools, around which several COIIVOllltlOIlSOf a cable 115 are wound between the cross members 87 and bars 111. Here the sleeves 114 are enlarged slightly to interlock themselves in place, and yet, be allowed to rotate freely, as the carriage raises and lowers. This is obtained by the cables 115 extending the full length of the carriage travel and being wound around the sleeves several times, so that when they ride the cables rotation will take place. The ends of the cables 15 are secured to the frame of the machine at vertical aligned points, these points being'clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8.

The pins 104 project through the links 109 and ride in the groove of the. rollers 116 which have at their inner face a disc 117 secured thereto. A pair of twister fingers 117 are fastened to this disc 117 in any preferred way, preferably so as to give them resiliency and a tendency to hold themselves toward each other at the free end. Inwardly turned loops 118 are provided along the length of the fingers 117 and, when the latter are gripping the ends of a cigar, these loops 118 will be touching each other. To separate them so as to allow the fingers 117 to grip initially the ends of a cigar, a rod 120 is adapted to move inwardly and pry the'loops 118 apart. This is accomplished by allowing the rod 120 to pass through the center of the roller 116, having slidable movement relative thereto, and to project from the opposite side sufficient to be secured to a second roller 121, the groove of which receives one end of the pin 108. As shown in detail in Figure 10, the sleeve 114 is provided at one end with a fixed disc 122 having a central aperture 123 to permit the rod 120 to slide therethrough,

ers 108 ride out of the per end and start downwardly along the outer'dge of the cam 105, the spring latches 107 preventing downward return of the rollers 108 in the groove. This draws the rods 120 outwardly that is, from between the loops 118 which allows the fingers 117 of each pair to close inon the unfolded end of the wrapper. In its upward movement, the carrier 6 engages and moves the carriage therewith. It will be observed, therefore, that, as soon as the carrier 6 reverses its direction of movement and descends, the wrapper carrier will likewise, move to lower position, its downward movement causing the fingers 117 to revolve and twist the ends of the wrapper into ta ls at the ends of the cigar, as shown in Fig. 8.

In order that this action may be more fully understood, reference is made to the position of twisting fingers 117 at the ends of the cigar in holder 9, In this Fig. 8, the rollers are on their downward'travel along the outer edge ofcams 105 and the rods 120 have been 2 withdrawn from loops- 118, to permit twisting fingers 117 to grip the ends of the wrapper so that these-fingers, by continuing to rotate as they are withdrawn from the ends of the cigar, will twist the ends of the wrapper into tails. The formation of these tails is clearly apparent from the position of the twisting means as shown in Fig. 8, as it will be readily seenthat these twisted fingers serve to grip the wrapper and to twist the 5 ends as they are moved outwardly. These fingers being ofresilient construction will close upon each other at their ends as they are withdrawn from the cigar, thereby gripping'the ends of the wrapper and tightly twisting them into this tailformation. Re-

volving of the fingers 117 is procured by the sleeves 114 being rotated as they travel the cable 115. The slots 124 being sufficient to only permit longitudinal movement, or sliding, of the fingers 117, will cause thelatter to be revolved as the sleeves 114 are rotated. The setter arms 76, before mentioned, are pivoted to the frame 1. These arms 76 are shaped to lie normally in the path of the mov- 0 ing carrier 6. When the carrier advances up- 'wardly, it will first remove the cigar from 1 the arms and then fiip the same outwardly to such distance as will enable the carrier to clear. The-arms 76 .are provided with flipper fingers 125 arranged to return to normal position as the carrier 6 returns downwardly, but before the holder 9 will pass. The ends of the cigar projecting from the socket 10 will be engaged by these flipper fingers, causing the cigar to be raised and rolled onto the discharge chute 126. v

The operation is as follows:

The carrier 6 is advanced upwardly by'the rack 12 meshing with the gear 13 on the coungroove 106 at the upter shaft 18. The gear 19, also on the counter J shaft, is rotated by the rack member 17 being pulled downwardly through its eccentric connection with the driver 14. The cam 50 on the gear 13 will ride against the abutting edge of the arm 51 and pull the band and wrapper feed carriage 25 toward the progressing carrier 6. Before the carriage 25 proceeds with this movement, a band is taken from the magazine 55 by the delivery arm 62 and delivered to the carriage. This is secured by a tripping finger 63 engaging the lug 62 when the carriage is" returned from feeding a band and wrapper to the cigar, previously in the machine. The inner tip of the band held to the arm 62 by vacuum is swung so as to lie in the slot 36 under the wrapper then lying therein but not, as yet, cut. This action is relatively quick and is finished before the cam 39 holding the upper clamping frame 31 of the carriage inraised position, engages a lug 135. Such engagement will lower this frame 31 by means of the springs 42, and hence the band and wrapper, will be firmly clamped in the carriage 25. As the carriage now proceeds toward the path of the carrier 6, a cam 47 engages a projecting cutter knife 44, causing it to depress and shear the wrapper lying between it and a cooperating knife 46. Further movement finds the carriage 25 directlyover the advancing carrier 6, with the band and wrapper now free as the cam 39 has been engaged by a finger 40 to release the clamping action of the member 31. The carrier will then push the holder 9 through the center of the carriage, taking with it the band and wrapper. 4

While this is taking place, a cigar will be positioned on the setter 7 6, which, of course, will also be picked up by the holder and placed in the socket 10. The members 89 of the wrapping mechanisms 11' e directly in the path of the moving carrier, which naturally means that they will be forced to travel with the carrier 6 as the latterascends, by engaging the upper cross member 7. This gives movement to the wrapping mechanism and causes it to operate. The rollers 95 on the outer ends of the tucker and folder finger carrying rods 93 will track the cams 85 and 86. The tucker fingers 92 will advance inwardly at a relative- .y great rate of movement because of the large dwell of the cams 85. The ends of the band and wrapper on that side will be laid about the cigar. Gradually, but not at the same rate, the folder fingers 94 are advancing to fold over the opposite edges of the band and wrapper. The tucker fingers 92 will still be tucking the ends first laid around the cigar so that both the band and wrapper will be applied tightly and evenly throughout the length. The adhesive end of the band proj ects slightly further around the cigar, so that the adhesive surface will properly grip the rolled band, or wrapper if preferable, of the end that has been tucked.

As soon as this operation is completed,

further advancement upwardlyof the wrapto advance inwardly at right angles to the.

tucker and folder fingers. The pins 104 riding in the grooves 103 approach that portion of the grooves which converge inwardly, resulting in the fingers 117 being carried to the center of the machine; the rollers 116 in whose roove the pins 104 ride, carry the fingers. s soon as this takes place, the pins 108 riding in the grooves 106, will reach the top of the grooves and travel down the outer edge of the cams 105. This draws the rods or pins 120 outwardly, as they are secured to the rollers 121 in whose grooves the pins 108 ride. Drawing the rods 120 from between the loops 118 permit the fingers 117 to close resiliently upon the ends of the wrapper around the cigar. By this time, the carrier 6 and the wrapper mechanism has taken a downward movement, and hence, the sleeves 114 with which the fingers 117 are rotatably interlocked,-will rotate by riding the cables 115. Thus the twister fingers 117 are revolved to twist the wrapper about the ends of the cigars. According to the size of the cigar shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and the same cigar shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, in the wrapper, the fingers 117, when first moving inwardly, grip the wrapper at each end substantially at the point where the cigar terminates, namely at the tips, and from this point on in their downward movement, these fingers rotate to twist the protruding ends 117 of the wrapper, resulting in a formation, which may begiven the arbitrary terms of protuberance, appendage, projecting wrapper end or, if desired, a tail. The protruding ends or appendages between the dotted cigar tips and the ends of the wrapper, as shown in Fig. 8, are twisted by the rotating twisters 117 as they descend with the cigar carrier 6.

The cigars are placed upon the setter 76 by the receiver 74. This receiver is pivotally mounted at the discharge end of the chute 70. When the carrier 6 passes this point in its travel upward, it tilts the receiver '7 4 in such a fashion as to take a cigar from the chute but at the same time, preventing more than one rolling therefrom. Return of the cigar carrier 6 to lower position releases the receiver from its tilted position, resulting in the latter discharging the cigar received onto the setter 76. Further discharge of the cigars are prevented by the receiver being provided with a curved tongue which swings in front of the chute 70 after the receiver returns to normal position.

After the cigar is wrapped and banded, the cigar carrier will return to lower position. In doing so, the setter arms 76 return inwardly again after being flipped outwardly by the carrier 6 when moving upwardly. The flipper fingers 125 on these arms 76 and exmade in the details of construction without departing from the essential features or characteristics of the present invention, and accordingly I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction of the machine shown.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cigar wrapping and handing machine comprising a cigar carrier, and means for applying a wrapper and a band to successive cigars. w I

2. Ina machine of the class described,'the combination with a cigar carrier, of a carriage for feeding a wrapper and abandzto said carrier, and means for applying the wrapper and band to the cigar;

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cigar carrier adapted to receive a cigar to be wrapped and banded simultaneously of means for applying a wrapper and a band to the cigar.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a cigar carrier adapted to receive a cigar in its advancing movement, means for advancing said carrier, and a second carrier cooperating with said means and being provided with a plurality of fingers for applying a wrapper and a band to the cigar.

5. In a machine adapted to apply a wrapper to a cigar and secure the ends of the wrapper to prevent accidental removal, a cigar carrier, means for imparting an advancing movement to said carrier and means for placing acigar thereon during said advancing movement, means for feeding a wrapper on said carrier before the cigar is placed thereon, and means for applying the wrapper including its ends to the cigar.

6. In a machine of the 'class described,

means for applying a wrapper to a cigar comprising, a cigar carrier, a wrapper feeding mechanism, and tucking and folding fingers for laying the edges of the wrapper about the cigar.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for applying a wrapper to a cigar comprising, a cigar carrier, a wrapper carrier having a plurality of fingers for tucking and foldingthe wrapper about the cigar, and means disposed transversely to said fingers for securing the ends of the wrapper to the tips of the cigar.

8. In a machine of the class described, a cigar carrier, means for operating said carrier, a feeding carriage, said means also operating said carriage but in a'plane transverse to said carrier, a wrapper carrier disposed in' alignment with said cigar carrier, said cigar carrier engaging'and moving said wrapper carrier during each operation of the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, a cigar carrier, a feeding carriage operable in a plane transverse to said carrier, and a wrapper carrier movable by said cigar carrier whereby wrappers will be applied singly to successive cigars.

10. In a machine of the class described, a cigar carrier, means for imparting movement to said carrier, means for feeding a wrapper and a band simultaneously to said carrier by moving in the path of said carrier as the latter moves forwardly, means for feeding a cigar to said carrier, and a second carrier having movable members thereon for securing said wrapper and band to the cigar.

11. In a cigar wrapping machine, a cigar holder, mechanism for applying a wrapper to a cigar, said mechanism including resilient fingers for rolling the wrapper longitudinally about the cigar and resilient fingers for twisting the ends of the wrapper at the ends of the cigar.

12.- In a cigar banding machine, the combination of a vertical guideway, a cigar carrier adapted to reciprocate in said guideway, and banding mechanism disposed in the path of and actuated by said cigar carrier for applying bands to the cigars on said carrier.

13. In a cigar banding machine, the combination of a vertically movable cigar carrier, means for feeding a band to said carrier, means for feeding a cigar to said carrier, and a carriage disposed in the path of said carrier and provided with cam operated banding fingers for 14. In a cigar banding machine, the combination of a movable cigar'carrier, means for feeding a band to said carrier, means for feeding a cigar to said carrier, a carriage disposed in the path of and movable by said applying the band to the cigar.

mechanism operable by the movement of said carrier to feed a cigar thereto including a cigar receiving element disposed at the mouth of a chute for receiving successive cigars as fed through the chute, said carrier preventing the discharge of more than one cigar at a time but operable to receive the succeeding cigar from said chute upon the return movement of said cigar carrier.

19. In a cigar banding machine, the combination of a movable cigar carrier, a banding feedin carriage operable at an angle to the path 0% movement of said carrier to feed a band thereto, band applying mechanism, and means to effect the operation of said carriage and said mechanism at predetermined intervals in the operation of said carrier. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of April, 1921.

MYRON MILLER.

carrier, and means disposed on said carriage for applying the band to the cigar.

In a cigar banding machine, the combination of a movable cigar carrier, means for feeding a band to said carrier, means for feeding a cigar to said carrier, a carriage disposed in the path of and movable by said carrier, and cam operated banding fingers mounted on saidcarriage for applying the band to the'cigar.

l6.'Mechanism for applyinga band to a cigar including a movable cigar carrier and mechanism for feeding a cigar to said carrier comprising ,a chute, a receiver at the mouth

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