US1968372A - Stemming machine - Google Patents

Description

July 3l, 1934. K. E. cmRPENTERr STEMMING' MACHINE -Filed July 5o, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 L M Ww A wwlly W//Ml\W/IJW\|IWIIW1Mwum M @N n W u. w @Y M W. y w P; @U a L.. uw RN`\ l" E/ \\\\M A T @M HJI; w RN i @E mmxm. QN sw s@ July 3 1, '1934. K. E.I CARPENTER STEMMING MACHINE Fi1 ed July 30. 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTRN July 31, 1934.

K. E. CARPENTER STEMMING MACHINE 1 Filed July 30, 1932 l il" 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

July 3l, 1934. K. E. CARPENTER 1,968,372- 'STEMMING MACHIN-E I Filed Julyo, 1932 11 Sheets-sheet 4 I N VEN TOR. NNE/w CARPE/m BY AUORNZ K. E. CARPENTER STEMMING MACHINE July 31, 1934,

Filed July 30, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Rm n m@ u Ax. wm. Fm Y S \J M M N E W K .H |IIl//Mf W. l@ RMN/ .Wil l] .I i L Wwnwhwiwi n Tifm// -UY 31, 1934- K. E. CARPENTER 1,968,372

STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 l u INVENTOR.

KEN/MTH @Kfm/ER B Y Y ATTORNEY July 31, 1934- Y K. E. CARPENTER 1,968,372

STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 .33g A I 45- 7/.95

IN VEN TOR.

KBV/VH# E. (MPE/vm? A TTORNE .5'

July 31, 1934.l

K. E. CARPENTER STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 l N V EN TOR.

/IYJ l J// ATToRNEYf July 3l, 1934. K. E. CARPENTER 1,968,372

STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 3o, 1932 11 sheets-sheet 9 IZZ INI/EN TOR.

ATToRNE KENNETH SWf/vrf/e,

July 31, 1934.

K. E.- CARPENTER 1,968,372

STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 30. 19152V 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. KBV/VET# (fsw/Ew rm JUTY 31, 1934- K. E. CARPENTER 1,968,372

STEMMING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1932 11 'Sheets-Sheet ll 352 IN VEN TOR.

f Q4 w@ l ATToRNE Patented july 3l, i934 s'rslvninno MACHINE Application July 3i), 1932, Serial No. 626,510

i3 Ciaims.

o stemming machines,

purpose of removing the stem of a leaf from the web or body portion tiiereo; the example 'to se described being particularly for the stemming or stripping oi tobacco leaves.

In the tobacco industry a certain portion or all of the stern of the tobacco leaf, which is of woody or fibrous nature, is dcsirably separated from the web portions of the lcai, since the more iibrous stein portions are objectionable to the trade, particularly in smoking or chewing mixtures.

This invention attains one of its objects in the provision ci a machine vfhic' serves automatically to remove the stern of a tobacco or other leaf 'from the web portions thereof, without, except as may be desired, breaking the stern, and Without any appreciable mutilation of the body of the leaf.

A further object of the invention is found in the provision or" a stemming machine including means for automatically feeding the leaves to the stemming elements which serve to stern, and to clear the stemmed portion, as a continuous operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro- .vide apparatus for the stemming oi leaves, such as tobacco leaves, having stems of various lengths thicknesses, the being enabled `eliectively to handle leaves stems of a Wide range of ensions without requiring any particular ad ment or the parte of device.

An additional object ofthe invention is attained in a novel mechanical principle of separating a leaf stein from the body of the leaf, tlie structural realization of this idea serving to clear the stemmed leai as fast the stemming operation lakes place, in a ina-nner toprevent clogging or of the leaf stripping elements, and in a anner successfully maintaining the integrity oi the leaf body.

A still further ob' the invention is attained in a such efficient f suoli as utiod .ter the e stripping or stemming process, there remains 1-o stein portion on which visible any traceoi the .foliage portion or body oi" the i The stripping operation thus eiiiciently conducted, conduces to substantial savings over a period of tiinein eliminating the loss oi fragmentary leaf portions heretofore accompanying; the stein after less complete, socalled, automatic processes. 'A

The foregoing and still furt.. er objects will appear from the following cle-tailed description of the invention as embodied in a presently preferred form of tobacco stemming machine, and from the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

leig. 1 is a Vertical elevation of a tobacco stemu ining machine, illustrating a convenient manner of mounting such machine on a table-like support therefor; Fig. 2 is a plan View or top elevation of the machine appearing in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an y enlarged fragmentary plan View of the structure appearing in Fig. 2; Fig. i is a Vertical longitudinal section as taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3; 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation along line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a Vertical transverse section along line 6 6, appearing in Fig. S; Fig. 'l is a transverse sectional elevation along line '1 7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a section along line 8 8 or" Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a section along line 9 9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional elevation through a gear case, and illustrating a preferred arrangement of mechanism for driving certain of the leai-steinming and handling ele'- ments; Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section along line 11-11 oi Fig. v10; Figs. 12 and 13 are, v respectively, vertical sections, longitudinally of the machine, as viewed along lines 12 12 and 13 13, of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 lis a fragmentary sec'- tion, illustrating an adjustment detail, and taken along line 14 14 of Fig. il, and Fig. 15 is a side elevation, with certain parts sectioned, of a modied form of stemming roll.

Referring now by characters of reference to l'the drawings, the device is conveniently mounted on a table-like support, the horizontal, preferably plane surface portion of which is indicated at 20 (Fig. 1), the mounting being preferably of metallic construction and consisting of leg members 2l and horizontal cross braces 22. The members 22 may, as desired, be employed as a support subjacent to the table surface 20. 55

Preliminary to the stemming mechanism proper, there is employed, by preference,` a plurality of stern-feeding belts, one of which is indicated at 23, and arranged so that its upper ight moves substantially in the plane of the table 1' surface 20, one or the outer end of the belt 23 passing over an idler pulley or'roll 24 provided with a shaft projecting at its ends, and operable in bearing brackets or arms 25 secured, for eX- g ample, at one end of the frame constituting the 3105 table 20. The opposite end of b'elt 23 operates over a pulley or'roll 2,6,Ymounted on `Aa shaft 2'7V carried, preferably, in journal arms 28projecting endvvise of the table, the shaft 27 being 'driven as hereinafter described. i

Coacting with the belt or conveyor 23, for stemfeeding purposes, is a belt 29 operating parallel and preferably contiguous thereto. Adjacent to the belt 29, and on the opposite side thereof is a belt 30. In describing the elements 29 and 30 as being in the nature of belts, will un derstood that they serve primarily conveyors, and that any suitable forin of ele structure including the usual forms of belting, be einployed in the locations indicated by the reference numerals last mentioned; for example, the conveyors 23, 29 and 39 may be provided with 'orojections, lugs or flights suitably spaced dimensioned for the purpose of conveying prestemmed leaves to the stemming mechanism hereinafter described. The belt 29, as will appear from Fig. 2, is of somewhat less length tbe-n. the belt 23, its inner end passing over o. pulley o 31 mounted on a shaft 32, which may be carri by depending arms 33 secured to the horizontal portion of the table 2i). The belt or conveyor as appears, is yet shorter than the belt 29, the inner end of the belt 30 passing over a roll or pulley 34, secured to a shaft 35 which is carried in depending bearings 36, conve ntly secured beneath the table element 2 It will be i the pulley 24 is common to the three belt veyor elements 23, 29 and serving as or driving pulley for belts 29 and the i being driven from roll or pulley 26 and In order to correlate the following desc.: i with the apparatus of the belts or conveyors thus far described, it will be understood that the prestemmed leaves are disposed successively upon the belts 23, 29 and 30 with the larger ends of the several stems in substantially abutting engage ment with an upstanding guide, such a .rib or flange 37. It is obviously practicable to feed the prestemmed leaves from a suitable hopper or the like, (not shown), so that the leaves are picked up successively by the belts. The chine illustrated, however, operates at a spee, usually satisfactory, when the presteinmed leaves are disposed, by hand, as described, upon the conveyors.

Extending upwardly or outwardly of the surface of the table portion 2G, is an angulate upstanding frame member 38, the nature and construction of which will best appear from and 5. The member 38 includes a 'transverse portion providing journals for certain stripping` and drawing elements (hereine nl, A i..

hereinafter described; and a por ion extending longitudinally of the table and secured thereto as by a bracket 38A (Figs. 3, 5 and 8). This longitudindal portion serves as an for aof spaced bearings 39 and el), utilized respectiv 1Ay for shafts fil and 42, upon which. are mou d pulleys 43 and ell. One of these bearings, such as 40, is preferably constructed as a slidable block, adiustably positioned along a longitudinal slot therefor, in the thus providing adjustment of the tension of a belt 45. This belu 45 operates over pulleys i3 and Lili, and is provided preferably with a cardcloth covering, the projections of which preferably are provi over a portion of its width, as appears in these pins being provided with. angulate ter ,i portions l5 (Fig. 6). These bent ends of t7. e cardoloth pins are preferably bell. all in one direction, or toward the right Fig. 6), for a pose hereinafter appearing. o direction of operation of the pulleys e3. and le is counterclockwise (Fig. 4) as indicated by the arrows.

:ht or pass of the cardcloth belt 45, extends parallel to and operates along anc of table 20 in order that the angulate terminals will be carried into engagement with the adjacent tabl surface, and thus be brought downwardly over the stems of leaves being transported by belts 23, and 30. The stems in this manner become ennieshed between the pins projecting from the lower night of belt It will be understood that the function of the belt l5 is not to strip the stero from the leaf, or vice versa, but serves merely as a movable guide for the leaves, d vered successively to the steinming and drawing rolls, hereinafter described.

The belt 45 is actuated, according to preference, by a worin gear Il?, 3 and 5), driven by a worm 43, carried and actuated by a shaft 49, the worm shaft being prefer .bly iournalled at one end and the worin and gear enclosed by, a housing 50. The housing 50 is detachably secured to the bearing arm 98, the worm shaft 49 projecting therefrom into a. gear case 5l, wherein provision is made for driving actuation of the shaft ffl-9, as fully hereinafter appears. One vertical wall of the housing 5o is apertured to form a second bearing 52, enacting with the bearing 39 in journalling the shaft 4l.

The table surface 2G is provided with a substanially central rectangular aperture 53, preferably ,ferring now more particularly to Fig. l, it will appear that one of the depending flange members 54 serves with a wall of case 5l, to receive, in journalling relation, a shaft 55, serving to spirally grooved stemming roll 56, characterized by an endles convolute groove 57, in which, as hereinafter appears, the actual strip- 1mg of the leaf from the stern, takes place. The roll or worm 55 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, (Fig. Ll) and so that, as a presteinmed leaf is advanced toward the roll, the stem, near the butt end of the leaf, is caused to engage a widened or entering mouth 53, at the leading end of the groove 5". This portion is formed so that the entering end of the stemming roll 56 is of slightly less diameter, than the diameter of the roll over the remaining portion of its length.

The worm or stripping roll 56 may be formed of a single solid, substantially cylindrical piece of metal, substantially as shown. As an alter- '1 nate, equally preferable construction, this roll may consist of a cylinder (Fig. l5), of somewhat lesser proportionate diameter than as shown at l'g on the surface of which is spirally wound or il-shaped section, and offer an advantage in the individual convolutions being resilient, the individ. al grooves are permitted to expand when necessarytc accommodate stems of abnormal thickness.

The shaft 55 by which the stemming roll 56 is carried, is extended to the right (Fig. 4) 150 'to a point within the gear case 51, where it is driven by means yhereinafter described.

Overlying the roll 56 .in parallel adjacence theretois a shoe 62 which is desirably formed of wood or some dense fibrous material, but which may be formed of metal and provided 'with a longitudinal, centrally disposed keel 63 (Fig. 6), the shoe or keel being tapered upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to provide a toe portion above the entering end of groove 57. Thus, as the prestemmed leaf is advanced and brought to'occupy the first few grooves of roll 56, the leaf will be gradually contacted by the shoe and its keel portion 63, which serves gradually to press the stem portion of the leaf more firmly into the groove 57 on the roll 56. The shoe is rendered distantly adjustable with respect to the roll 56, through the provision of vertically apertured arms 84, one carried by arm 38, and the other by the gear case 5l. Through the apertures of arms 64 extend studs 65 (Figs. 4 and 7), the studs being secured to the shoe. Set screws 66 serve to position the studs, and hence the shoe, in adjusted relation.

One of the studs 65, as appears at the left hand end of the shoe 62 (Fig. 4), is connected to the shoe through a U-shaped member 67 serving, as best appears in Fig. 7, to receive between its legs one margin of the lower pass of the cardcloth belt 45. The vertical spacing of the legs of the portion 67 is such as to receive therebetween the free margin of the belt 45, and at the same time to permit vertical adjustment of the shoe without interfering with the distance setting or adjustment of the belt 45, provided for by means hereinafter described. The other stud 65 may be connected directly to the shoe 62, asY

shown at the right of Fig. 4.

A predetermined distance placement of the lower pass of belt 45 with respect to the surface of table 20 is provided for, in the present example, by an angle member 68 from the upper face of which project threaded studs 69, these studs projecting through apertures therefor in projection l70 carried by the arm 38. Nuts 71 coact with the threaded studs to permit Vertical adjustment of the guide angle 68.

The member 67 which serves to carry the shoe 62, is, in the example illustrated, employed to carry one end of a longitudinal support, such as a rod (Figs. 4, 6 and 7). The opposite end of rod 75 may conveniently be secured to the opposite end of the shoe structure 62. Along the rod -75 is slidably disposed, for purposes of adjustment, a stem-breaking element 76 provided with a set screw '77 by which the member 76 may be kept in adjusted position along the rod 75 and along the roll 56. Over the greater part of 'its length, the shoe 62 or particularly the keel portion 63 thereof, slightly clear the adjacent periphery of the stemming worm 56. The stembreaking or cutting element 76, however, isso arranged as to approach contact with the periphery of the stemming roll. While not strictly necessary to the normal stemming function of the parts, as hereinafterv described, it is sometimes desirable to permit a certain amount of the tip portion of the stem to remain with the leaf, after it passes through the machine; this remaining'portion of stem being retained with the leaf in certain classes of tobacco. If it is thus desired Vto avoid stripping, a certain desired portion of the leaf, the member 76 is moved along the rod 75 to a point corresponding to the location along the roll, at which the undesired stem portion will have transversely traversed the roll 56; hence as the remaining stem and leaf tend to be further advanced longitudinally of the stemming roll, the stem is broken at the desired point by the breaking or cutting member 76 and thus allowed to pass over with the separated leaf portions.

Disposed `somewhat laterally beyondor to the right (Fig. ,6), of the stemming roll 56, are a pair of preferably parallel drawing rolls 78 and '79, mounted respectively on shafts 80 and 81 (Fig. 6). Shaft VSi) is journalled at spaced points in the depending flange or arm 54, and in wall of lgear case 5l, while shaft 8l is journalled at its opposite ends in bearing blocks 82, slidably disposed for vertical movement in channels 83 therefor, formed in the bearing arm 83. Disposed within these channels, are springs-84, so located as to engage the bearing blocks 82, in a direction to urge the roll T9, toward the roll '78. The rolls 'I8 and 'Z9 thus preferably operate in peripheral adjacence, and at least one roll is formed of a relatively soft material such as sponge rubber, or provided with a frictional surfacing 85. The frictional relation between the rolls is preferably such that only one thereof such as 78, need be driven, in a manner hereinafter described. It is also preferable that at least one of the rolls, such as 78, be spirally grooved, as shown at 86, the spiral groove therein being preferably of a pitch such that the stem and/or leaf, in passing along the stemming and drawing rolls, is advanced at substantially the same rate by both devices. ne leading or stern-entering ends of the drawing rolls are preferably of relatively reduced diameter to form a flared opening 87 therebetween, and to facilitate introduction of the butt end of the stem or leaf. The preferred direction of rotation of rolls 78 and 79 is as indicated by the arrows of Figs. 5 and 6.

After engagement by the drawing rolls 78 and 79, the stems, being at this point substantially stripped, are picked up by a pair of rotary wire brushes shown respectively at 88 and 89, rotatably carried respectively, as by shafts 90 and 91,

both shafts being conveniently journalled in the gear case 51, as in bearings 92, for shaft 90, and 93 for shaft 91. These bearings may be, as shown, of anti-friction type. The shafts 90 and 91 are driven by mechanism within the case 51, as hereinafter described. Ifhe directions of rotation of shafts 90 and 91 are relatively opposite each other, but correspond to the direction of rotation of the shafts carrying rolls 78 and 79.

It is seen from Fig. 6 that keel 63 and the stemming roll 56, the pair of rolls 'T8- '79, and the paired brushes 88 and are arranged substantially along a common plane, substantially parallel to and coincident with the table surface 2o, this plane being preferably, but not necessarily, horizontal.

ProceedingV now to a description of 'the gearing and driving mechanism associated with the several stemand leaf-handling members, a prime mover such as an electric motor 95, is conveniently supported on certain of the crossbraces, such as 22, of the table structure, and is belt connected as shown, to a pulley 96, secured to a portion of shaft 55 which projects to the right (Figs. 1 and case .is shown as of laterally open construction,

provided with a detachable closure member 98 secured as by cap screws or the like, to the body of the case. It may, in certain cases, be desirable to provide a top opening for the case, to permit access to the interior thereof for replacement of lubricant within the case which is preferably kept such a level that the rotating parts therein are splash oiled, and thus lubrication attention kept at a minimum.

In order to permit removal of the closure 98 without disturbance of shaft bearings, internal bearing arms such as 99 may be formed integrally with the case, and others such as 109, disposed adjustably within the case, for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

The power shaft extending longitudinally of the table and transversely of the case 51, is provided centrally of the case with a drive worm 101, meshing with a. worm gear 192, (Figs. 10 and 11) mounted on a shaft 193, which is journalled in one wall. of the case and in one of the arms 99, and which projects outwardly of the case (Fig. 11) where it carries a sprocket 194. This sprocket is, in turn, connected as by a chain 195 to a sprocket 106 which is in driving relation to the shaft 27, above described, and which, through pulley or roll 26 serves to actuate the belt 23 and through pulley or roll 24, the belts 29 and 30.

The shaft 55, in projecting to the left (Fig. 19) through the case, serves directly to carry and hence to actuate the stemming roll 56.

The shaft 8G, heretofore described, and which serves to carry actuate one or the lower of the stem-drawing rolls, such as 73, extends transversely of and within the case 51, and is actuated by a gear 193 which is in mesh withA and driven by a gear 199, (Figs. 10 and 11) carried by shaft 55, internally of the gear The frictional relation between the drawing rolls 78 and '79 is preferably such that the operation of one roll such as '.78, serves frictionally to actuate the companion roll 79. rihus, although both rolls may be individually powered, the present example discloses direct actuation of only 'the roll 78.

Also carried by the shaft 55 internally of the case, is a gear 110, directly meshed with a gear 111, carried by a stub shaft 135, mounted or journalled in one side of the Ushaped, angularly adjustable bearing arm 109 hereinafter described in detail. The gear 111 meshes, in turn, with a gear 112 which is secured, internally of the case, to the shaft 91 by which is carried the upper wirebrush roll 89, the shaft 91 being journalled for purposes of permitting a distance adjustment between the wire brush rolls, in the bracket or arm 190 as hereinafter described. The shaft 89, being the lower drawing roll drive shaft, is conveniently journalled in one wall of the case, and in one of the bearing arms 99, as best appears in Fig. 13.

Carried by the shaft S0 for purposes of actuating the lower wire brush roll, is a gear 115 (Figs. l0, 11 and 13). The gear 115 is enmeshed with an idler gear 116 which is, in turn, in driving relation with a gear 117, carried by the shaft 90, being the drive shaft for the lower stem-cleaning roll, preferably of wire brush form, and previously indicated at 83. The shaft 9G is conveniently journalled, like shaft 89, in one side of the case and in the internal bearing arm 99 (Fig. 12). Disposed intermediately of the drive shaft 99 within the case, is a worin 118 engaging a worm gear 119, secured to a shaft 129 in the lower portion of the case, this shaft extending longitudinally thereof, and transversely of the table portion 20. The shaft 120 is journalled in one of the arms 99, formed integrally with case 51, and also in a wall portion of the case where the shaft projects therethrough. Outwardly of the case, the shaft 120 is provided with a bevel gear 121,

meshing with a companion bevel gear 122 (Figs 10 and 11), the gear 122 being secured to a lay shaft, for power take-off purposes, indicated at 123 and extending to any desired length, laterally along, and preferably beneath the table 29.

Power is available through shaft 123 for driving any suitable mechanism, for example, a hopper feed (not shown) for mechanically disposing the pre-stemmed leaves in succession along the belts 23, 29 and 30.

Provision for driving the cardcloth belt 45 is made through a gear 12e carried and driven by shaft 89, and with which is enmeshed an idler gear 125, carried as by a stub shaft 126, carried by a wall of the case, the gear 125 engaging in turn, a gear 12'?, carried by shaft 49. 49 is above noted, and as best seen in Fig. 5, serves to drive the worm 48, and therethrough the worm gear 47 which directly actuates shaft 41, and hence the pulley at the driving end of the cardcloth belt 15.

Proceeding now to a description of the facilities for adjustment ef the distance relation between the stem-cleaning rolls 88 and 89, it will appear from Figs. 19, 11 and 13 that the U-shaped bracket 199 is angularly adjustable about the shaft 55 as an axis, and that such angular movement permits predetermined placement of the gear 112 and shaft 91 without disturbing the mesh of gears 119, 111 and 112, but that such adjustment in no wise effects the arrangement of gears 124, 125 and 127. Thus shifting the U-shaped bracket up or down, with respect to the case 51, and angularly with respect to the shaft 55, obviously brings the roll 39 closer to or farther from the roll 88, permitting a compensation for wear of the rolls, or for any initial differences in their diameters. So as to permit this adjustment of the shaft 91 and bracket 190, without loss of lubricant from the case, the case is slotted as at 130, 131 and 132 (Fig. 11), the internal surface 133, as well as the mating internal surface of bracket 134 being machined to engage with a substantially fluid-tight fit. A detail of this adjustment appears in Fig. 14, wherein it is seen that shaft 91 is flanked by the slots 131 and 132 through which extend cap screws 135, whereby the bracket 100 is kept inits adjusted relation.

The manner of operation, and courses of the lea es and stems before, during and after stemming, have been heretofore partly described incident to a description of the mechanism, but may be briefly reviewed for sake of completeness, as follows:

As known to those acquainted in the tobacco trade, the leaves as usually received by the manufacturer present a short length of a heavier or thicker sten". near the butt portion. In utilizing the device of the present example for stemming or stripping tobacco leaves, the leaves are disposed in spaced relation, transversely of the conveyors 23, 29 and 30, and preferably in an even row thereon as determined by placement of the butt portion of each leaf adjacent the guide 37. Placement of the prestemmed leaves on the rst conveyors may, as before noted, be effected either manually, or from a suitable feeding device (not shown),.forming per se, no part of the present i invention.

Movement of belts 23, 29 and 30 to the right (Figs. 1 4) causes the prestemmed leaf to traverse The shaft vlll] the surface of table 20 to a point substantially below the aXis of shaft 42 (Fig. 5) where the angulate pin-ends of belt 45 are brought in over-riding interengaging relation with the stem portions. In moving beyond this point the pins 46 serve as fingers to engage the opposite sides of the leafy stem, this engagement being continued, as hereinafter appears, to a point where the stem is brought substantially into the opening 87 between the stem-drawing rolls 78 and 79, and preferably about the same time, into the mouth or opening between the small end of stemming roll 56 and the shoe 62. The stem, however, is not released by the pins 46 at this point, but continues to be engaged thereby until it has axially traversed substantially half of the stemming and drawing rolls.

As the stem, still containing its leaf portions, is brought into engagement with the drawing rolls and the worm 56, the thicker stem portion close to the butt of the leaf is grippingly engaged between the friction surfaces of rolls 78 and 79; their direction of rotation being such as to tend to draw the leaf transversely of the table and rolls, and to the right (Fig. 6). By the time, however, that any appreciable transverse movement of this sort is initiated, the leaf stem just beyond or below the point of origin of its leafy parts, will have been brought between the roll 56 and shoe 62. Thus as the stem is being advanced to the right, it is also brought to lie within one of the grooves 57 of the stemming roll, and substantially tangent to the roll. The grooves, because of their spiral formation, tend to advance the leaf to the right (Fig. 4) as the'leaf is drawn (to the right Fig, 6), under the influence of rotation of rolls 78 and 79 in frictionally gripping the butt end of the stem. The leaf stem is thus drawn through a movable stemming or stripping aperture formed between the adjacent projecting threads of roll 56, and the overlying surface of keel 63 on shoe 62. This aperture being insumcient to permit the passage transversely therethrough of leaf parts other than the stem, causes the web or body portion of the leaf to remain on the left (Fig. 6)v of the keel member 63, While the stem (or the undesired portion thereof) is moved to the right (Fig. 6) due to the direction of rotation of the drawing rolls.

As appears from Fig. 6, the direction of rotation of stemming roll 56 tends frictionally to carry the stripped leafy body or web away from the keel member 63, and thus possesses the faculty of immediately clearing the leafy portions as they are stripped from the stern. This results from the natural tendency of the stripped leaf frictionally to adhere to the surface of the stemming roll. The stripped web or body is thus directed downwardly at one side of the stemming roll, through vthe opening or port therefor, (Fig. 2), into a suitable receptacle or onto a suitable conveyor (not shown), below the table surface 20. As an aid to ready removal and clearance of the stripped lleaf portions, it is my preference to employ an Vin a stationary member. In the present device the position of the several stripping orifices 138 between the spiral stemming roll and keel, is constantly shifting to the right (Fig. 4), and at the same time any choking or jamming, as well as any undesired compacting effect, is prevented by movement of the stripping surface away from the stem. The stemming roll of the present invention thus serves a distinctly dual function in that it clears the stripped or stemmed leafy portions,

it stems.

While the relative speeds of rotation of rolls 56, 78 and 79 are not critical for successful opera-tion of the machine, it is my preference to operate the roll 56 at a somewhat higher speed than that of the rolls 78 and 79. The selection such speeds is determined in part by the pitch of the threads or grooves 57 on roll 56, and the pitch the groove 86 on the roll 78, the stemming roll being preferably operated at such speed that the apparent longitudinal movement of the grooves 57 and 86 coincides substantially with the linear speed of belt 45. t will appear that, by adjusting the relative speeds of rolls 56 and 76, a rate of movement of the leaf and stem transversely of the table is desirably so selected that the leafy portions have completely traversed roll 56, and hence are stemmed to the desired extent, by the time the leaf has moved longitudinally to a point where it is released by the pins 46 as the lower flight of belt 45 starts to move upwardly over its driving pulley. At this point one end of the stem may yet be held between the shoe and the stemming roll, and the opposite end gripped between the rolls 78 and 79 so as tobe kept substantially withinthe plane of the table 20.

Assuming now that it is desired to retain a portion of the tip of the stem with the body portions of the leaf, trials will show at what point along the roll 56 the undesired stem portion will have traversed the roll, operating at a given speed. At such point is located the stem cutter or breaker 76. As the leaf in process of stripping, attains this point, the element 76 engages the stem and severs it. The smaller part of the stern to be retained with the leaf, is thus carried to the left of roll 56 (Fig. 6) while the coarser, undesired portion of the stem is moved to the right, between rolls 78 and 79.

It is to be understood that the stemming or stripping operation takes place practically entirely, due to the coaction of members 78-79, the roll and member 63, and that while the threads 57 of the stemming roll, 86 o-f the drawing device will serve of themselves to advance the leaf as it is being stemmed, it is desirable to engage the stem at spaced points, for which purpose there are employed the pins 46 between the stemming and drawing rolls.

My preference is to operate the stemming roll at a rotative speed about fty per cent greater than that of rolls 78-79, from which it will appear advisable to provide some means for retaining the stem against movement transverse of the roll 56 as to the left (Fig. 6), in case a broken stem precludes a normal effect of the drawing rolls. Such means is provided in the angulate ends 45 of the pins of the cardoloth belt 45, which, by virtue of their angular presentment to the stem, tend to prevent its movement to the left (Fig. 6), while readily permitting movement thereof to the right under the pulling or drawing influence of rolls 78-79,

Although not strictly essential'to a commercially complete stemming operation, it is my preference` lli) to provide rotary brushes 88 and 89 which serve to engage the stem somewhat prior to, or upon its discharge from rolls 78 and 79. The rotary brushes are preferably so arranged that their wire bristles meet in or close to the horizontal plane of the table surface 20 and hence along a line just beyond the point of discharge of the stems between the drawing rolls. The rolls 83 and 89 have a peripheral speed somewhat exceeding the linear speed of the stem at this point, due to the drawing rolls, and thus serve to remove from the stem, by brushing action, any remaining Vestiges of leafy fragments. The stems are discharged, by the brushes, to a point behind or marginally beyond the table, while any leafy fragments thus finally recovered by the brushes, collect on a ilow board 139 for discharge into a suitable receptacle or onto a conveyor (not shown), disposed below the table 20. My preference is so to arrange the rotary brushes with respect to the drawing rolls, that the first few inches of the butt portion of the stem is acted upon by the brushes in advance of release of the stem by the drawing rolls.

I claim:

l. In a tobacco stemming machine, a ste-. roll having a spiral, peripheral groove, a station-- ary element overlying and transversely bridging portions of said groove and means for drawing a leaf to be stemmed, between the roll and overlying element.

2. In a stemming machine, a rotary stemming element having a helical stem-receiving groove, a stationary leaf-pressing element adjacently overlying the groove of said rotary element but disposed entirely without said groove, and means for drawing a leaf through the groove of said rotary element during rotation thereof.

3. In a leaf-stemming machine, stemming means including a rotary element having a helical peripheral groove, a stationary barrier overlying said element, means for adjusting the spacing of the barr'er and element, a leaf receiving throat formed by adjacent ends of the barrier and element, and means for directing the leaves to be stemmed, into said throat and transversely of said element.

4. In a tobacco stemming machine, a spirally grooved, rotary stemming element, means for moving leaves, in process of stemming, transversely of said element, and means between the element and rst said means, adapted to move the leaves, during stemming, along said element, as the leaves are moved transversely thereof.

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a spirally grooved rotary stemming element, means for effecting a relative movement of leaves and said element transversely of each other, and means, operable between the nrst said means and element, for effecting a relative movement of the leaves and said element, during stemming, in a direction lengthwise of the stemming element.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stemming element having a spiral stem-receiving groove, members spaced laterally of said element for drawing the leaf thereacross and a traveling leaf-positioning structure, operable between said element and said members.

7. In a tobacco stemming machine, a spirally -rgrooved stemming element, a pressing member rolls.

8. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stemming screw, a stationary pressing member overlying said screw, means operating in parallel adjacence to said screw for advancing a leaf along the screw, and means on the opposite side of said advancing' means for causing a positive transverse movement or" the leaf stem, crosswise of the screw, as the leaf is advanced therealong.

9. a stemming machine, a rotary stemming elememL having a helical stem-receiving groove, means erable adjacent the stemming element for moving a leaf along said element, said means inclading elements engaging the stem of the leaf and tending to prevent its discharge from the rotary element, due to the rotation of such element.

l. In a stemming machine, a rotary stemming element having a spiral stem-engaging and stripping groove, means operable adjacent the sternming eleinent for moving a leaf along said element, and rotary stem-gripping means operable in a direction tending to prevent discharge of the stem under influence of rotation of the stemming element, the stemming element and gripping means being located adjacent to, and on opposite sides of said leaf-moving means.

il. In a tobacco stemming machine, spaced members arranged to engage a leaf during stemone of said members having a spiral stemreceiving groove thereon and transversely engaging the leaf, and a loaf drawing device coacting with grooved member for moving the leaf stem transversely of such member as the stem is adv iced thereby.

l2. In a leaf stemming machine, a combination of paired leaf-stemming and leaf-pulling elements, cert-ain of which elements are rotatable with respect to a leaf in process of stemming, means ccacting with said elements for keeping a leaf and stem in contact therewith, during the process of stemming, and said rotary elements having formed thereon means for advancing a leaf stem along their axes during their rotation.

i3. In a leaf stemming machine, in combination, spaced, substantially parallel, spirally grooved rotating elements adapted concurrently to receive a leaf and stem within their spiral grooves, and means operable between said elements for urging portions of a leaf into said spiral grooves, during the stemming process.

i4. In tobacco stemming machine, a spiral stemming roll, a spiral drawing roll, means for advancing a pre-stemmed leaf into bridging relation to said rolls, means for concurrently rotating said rolls, and means tending to urge a leaf, during stemming, into the spiral grooves of said rolls.

l5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a spirallygrooved stemming member, the grooves thereof adapted to receive a leaf stem disposed substantially tangent thereto, a stationary guard element disposed along the groove member and parallel thereto, and forming therewith a travelingstemming orifice, means for drawing the stem of a leaf through said orifice, means defining a receiving area for the leafy matter stripped from said stem,. means for rotating the stemming member element and certain of said port margins relative to other portions of the stripping port and relative to the parts of the leaf, during stripping lli) and means adjustably positioning the other element and remaining port margins.

17. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stripping element having an endless stem-receiving and -stripping groove, a pressing shoe overlying said groove adjacent the element, and means for drawing the leaf endwise, through said groove in a direction substantially tangent to said element, and transversely thereof.

i8. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stripping element having a continuous stem-receiving groove, a stationary pressing member transversely overlying the groove, means for drawing the stem through said groove and adjacent said pressing member, and means, between the stripping element and drawing means, for advancing a leaf to said groove.

19. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary, spirally grooved stripping element, a pressing shoe adjacently overlying said element, and adapted to bridge at least certain of its grooves, means for advancing a leaf into the ccnvolutions of said spiral element and thereafter withdrawing the stem crosswise of said element, and a stemsevering device disposed adjacent the spiral element, and spaced from its leaf-entering end.

20. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary, spiral, s ipping element, a pressing shoe over said element, means for advancing a leaf into the convolutions of said spiral element and thereafter withdrawing the stem crosswise of said element, a stem-severing device disposed adjacent the spiral element and spaced from its leaf-entering end, and means for adjusting the position of said severing device along the spiral element.

2l. In a tobacco stermning machine, the combination with a rotary spiral stemming roll and a drawing device for moving a stem transversely of the spiral roll, of a rotary brush element, dirposed beyond the drawing device in the direction of movement of a stem thereby, and means between the spiral roll and drawing device, tending to position the leaf stem against movement responsively to stemming action of the spiral roll,

22. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with a spiral stemming roll, a pair of drawing rolls coacting to move a leaf stem transversely of the spiral roll, means for advancing the leaf under treatment along the spiral and drawing rolls as the stem is moved transversely thereof, and a pair of rotary brushing elements, arranged to engage a stem beyond said drawing rolls.

In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination, a table-like working surface, means for transporting leaves, before and during stemming, along said surface and substantially in the plane thereof, a stemming device including a spiral stemming roll, a stem pulling device adapted to withdraw the stem during stripping, from said spiral roll, said stemming device and pulling device being arranged for simultaneous concurrent engagement with a leaf, during stripping, substantially in the plane of said working surface, and a stationary guide overlying the stemming roll, and tending to press the leaf under treatment against the surface of the roll as the leaf portions are advanced therealong.

24. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary spiral stemmer, a pair of puller rolls and a pair of stem-brushing elements, the paired elements and rolls being disposed for mutual contact in a plane substantially tangent to the periphery oi said stemmer and means for moving the leaves under treatment, axially of the stemmer and rolls yas the leaf portions are passed therebetween.

25. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable, spirally grooved stemmer, a belt having a portion movable in parallelism to said stemmer, a pair of drawing rolls beyond said belt, driving means connected to operate the stemmer and drawing rolls, such that the peripheral speed of the rolls is substantially less than that of the stemmer, and the stem-engaging movement of said rolls is in a direction opposite that of the stemmer, and a pair of brushing rolls disposed beyond the drawing rolls, the driving means being arranged to actuate the corresponding drawing and brushing rolls in the same direction of rotation, with the brushing rolls rotating at a peripheral speed substantially in excess of that of the drawing rolls, the stemmer, drawing rolls, and brushing rolls disposed to engage the stems substantially along a common horizontal plane.

26. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stemming mechanism including a spiral roll, a member longitudinally overlying said roll and spaced therefrom so as to receive a leaf between the roll and overlying member, a rotary leaf-conveying member operable in a plane closely parallel to the axis of said stemming roll at one side thereof, and including means for positively and successively feeding leaves in a direction substantially lengthwise of said stemming roll and overlying element and means on the side of said conveying member opposite the stemming roll, for drawing stripped leaf stems from the stemming roll and conveyor.

27. In a tobacco stemming machine, a spirally grooved, rotary stemming roll, a presser element longitudinally overlying the roll, and a conveyor belt having pin elements adapted to engage successive leaves for advancement thereof to the roll and overlying element, the pin elements being formed to oppose movement of the stems, in the direction of stemming movement of the leaf portions.

28. In a tobacco stemming machine, including a spiral stemming roll and a stationary presser member longitudinally and adjacently overlying said roll, a movable leaf-engaging structure having a portion operable along a portion of said stemming roll, and in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation thereof.

29. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stemming element having a spiral groove, and means coacting with the rotary element, adapted to stem leaves presented at substantially a right angle to the aXis of said roll, an apronor belttype conveyor movable toward and parallel to the axis of said roll, and a cardcloth leaf-engaging element movable parallel to said conveyor and tending to advance the leaves to be stemmed, to a position for engagement by the spiral grooves of said roll.

30. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotary stemming element having a spiral stem-engaging seat, defined, at least in part, by means displaceably disposed on the surface of the element.

31. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stemming roll including an axial portion or core, and a peripheral stem-engaging structure consisting of a convolutely disposed resilient member providing a continuous open groove on the periphery of the roll.

32. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stemming roll including an axial portion or core, and a peripheral stem-engaging structure consisting of a convolutely disposed member formed of a flexible material, and providing a continuous open groove on the periphery of the roll, the individual turns a rotary, spiral steinniL Q of said member being displacealole axially relative to each other and to said 33. A stemming element for a machine, including a posed in relatively displaceable anjacent turns about the element.

Elli. A stemring steinining machine, having a stern-receiving channel or variable sectional rea.

35. In a stemming machin i leaves, a stripping instri'inientality consisting o a spirally grooved roll, t. substantial Width at th being reduced in di stationary shoe longitudine. for urging the leavesl "L lill/0 ..1 of said ion, and

a conveyor of endless type ad presteinined leaves, and to advance suoli leaves to a point het en hoe and roll, and for adjusting distance relation or" said shoe with respect to said stemming roll.

39. in a tobacco steni .ing machine, a spiral stemming roll, a element longitudinally overlying the stemming roll, a pair of drawing rolls disposed laterally oi, and in parallel adjacence to the stemming roll. and a belt arranged to operate between the stemming and drawing rolls, and having linger elements for engaging the prestelnined leaf and the stems thereof durin;Y stemming, and arranged to rnove the leaf and st in longitudinally of the several said rolls, the stemming roll and drawing rolls having portions of reduced diameter adj .cent their leaf-entering ends, so as to form an entering throat between the stemming roll and presser element and a similar throat between drawinT rolls.

ln a tobacco stemming machine, rneans for drawing leaf with respect to a stemming and leal-clearing device, drawing means including a of parallel stein-engaging rolls, means forming a resilient storn-engaging surface along the line of contact ci said rolls, and means formed in part oy one of said rolls, for advancing a leaf stern therealong, the rolls themselves being adapted to coact to a stern transversely therebetween.

lll. ln a tobacco stemming machine, a pair of rolls for drawing a stern relative to a stripping device, said rolls being arranged in parallel adjacence, one thereof being provided with a resilient surface and one thereof being provided with a spiral, peripheral groove.

e2. A leaf and stein-directing device i'or a tobacco-stemming machine, adapted to determine the direction of movement of a leaf during steinnfiing, said device including a belt having pin elements projecting from one surface, the tips of said pins being bent outwardly ci the shank portions there-oi the direction oi movement of stems during stripping, means io Jning a Workg surface adapted to oe engaged by the loent ninals of said and 1c heit and pins, distantly, with respect to said ourfice.

A device for guidingly engaging a tobacco leal during a process oi stripping, said device inciu angular y 1cent in the direction of stripping inoveinent of the leaf, a Working surface adjacent the ends1 of the pins, a guide for the belt, and means for distantly adjustinfr the belt, through gui e, with espect to said Working surface.

KENNETH E. CARPENTER.

ineens for adjusting i a cardcloth 1eelt, the pins of which are

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