US1992761A - Cigar feed for cigar wrapping machines - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1935. J. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5', 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet, l

FIG.5

INVENTOR 4, Zfi I TTORNEY Feb. 26, 1935. J NEUMAIR 1,992,761

CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES 'Filed May 5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR 1935. J. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Max? TTORNEY i H U Feb. 26, 1935. J A NEUMAIR 1,992,761

CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 2f /W%, MM

'TORNEY Feb. 26, 1935. .1. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO A ,4 m BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1 935 CIGAR FEED FOR CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES Joseph Neumair, 'Hollis, N. Y., ,assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 5, 1934, Serial No. 724,159

' 26 Claims. (o1.121 s9)' This invention relates to cigar feeds for cigar wrapping'machines, its main object being to'automatically remove the cigars layer by layer from the bottom of a magazine or hopper into which the same have been deposited from a container wherein they were compressed into shape for final boxing. Since cardboards are usually inserted between the cigar layers, to separate the same and prevent deformation of the angular cross-section'of the cigars, it is also an object of.

this invention to automatically remove these cardboards from the magazine before thebottom cigar layer is delivered to the conveyor of the wrapping machine.

However, the invention is not limited to a construction for removing the cigar layers and cardboards from the bottom of the magazine, as a fur ther object of this invention is to provide a cigar feed operative to remove the cigars layer by layer from the bottom of'a magazine in which the cigar layers are not separated by cardboards. For the latter purpose the device for removing the cardboards is eliminated, and the remaining portion of the cigar feed operates satisfactorily and is somewhat, simpler than prior cigar feeds of the type which are not designed to handle'cigar layers separated by cardboards. Among the cigar feeds of the latter type is that shown in the patent'granted on the application of-l-I. I-I. Wheeler,

it will not operate satisfactorily on square end,

cigars nor on a' stack of cigar layers separated by cardboards, and it is not, entirely reliable with blunt end cigars, whereas theconstruction produced by eliminating the card removing device from the cigar feedforming the subject matter of this application is free of such disadvantages.

To accomplish these objects, the present cigar feed comprises an intermittently operated pusher I which shifts the bottom layer of cigars axially" a given distance; a cam-actuatedseparator plate which enters between the two lowermost layers and lifts the upper layers clear ofthe bottom layer; reciprocable grippers which advance into the space cleared by the aforesaidpusher and separator, grip the lowermost cardboard and, on

their return stroke, withdraw the same from the magazine{ a stripper which retains the upper layers of cigars as the separator plate returns to its starting position;- aretainer which prevents the cardboard atop the bottom cigar layer from '5 following the latter when shifted by'the pusher; and a safety device which-automatically stops the machine incase one'or both-of the grippers have failed totake a hold of the cardboard owing to damaged or bent conditionjof the. latter, or the absence of a cardboard under the bottomof the stack, andalso when the cigars are jammed in the magazine. Accordingly, with these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which forma part of this specification and in which like'characters of reference indicate the same or like parts: 20

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the improved cigar feed with one of the side frames and an end wall of the magazine partly broken away; 7

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, seen from line 22ofFig.1; 1'

Figs. 3 to 5 show a detail of Figs. 1 and 2 in enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the safety device, taken on line 66 of Fig.1; and

Figs. 7 to 14are diagrams showing the successive steps in the operation of the'improved cigar feed. r

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided in a cigar feed a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said'device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said device fails to act on a card board at the bottom of the stack. In the best constructions contemplated the cigar feed will be incapacitated when there is, no cardboard under the bottom ofthe stack or thecardboard thereunder is not removed; and it will also be understood that the cigar feed will handle cigar layers unseparated by cardboards, if the card removing device is eliminated. There is also provided, in the best constructions, mechanism for incapacitating the means for removing the cigar layers, whenever a cigar is jammed in the magazine. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scopeof the claims, for the particular cigar feed selected to illustrate the invention is but on of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

, Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the main frame of the wrapping machine supports a table 16 upon which are mounted the side frames 17 of the cigar feed. In bearings of frame 15 are journaled the cam shaft 18 and the conveyor drive shaft 19 driven from the main shaft 20 of the cigar feed, as shown in Fig. 6. The shaft 18 carries cams 2'7 and 28 and is continuously driven by a gear 29 on shaft 20 meshing with gear 29a on shaft 18. On the shaft 19 are fixed the sprockets 30 and pulleys 31, the shaft 19 being intermittently driven by a gear segment 32 on shaft 20 meshing with a gear 33 on a counter shaft 34 which carries a sprocket 35 over which runs a procket chain 36 driven from a sprocket '37 n the shaft 19. The sprockets 30 drive endless conveyor chains 38 running. over. idler sprockets 39 on shaft 21 journaled in frame ,15, and the pulleys 31 drive endless belts 40 running over pulley 41 on a shaft 42. aThe chains 38 travel under the'bottom of the cigar magazine and serve to intermittently advance the layers of cigars deposited thereon tothe belts 40 which convey them to the wrapping mechanism of the machine f a The cigar magazine consists of an end wall 43 attached to brackets 44 adjustably secured to base V 16, and of two side walls 45, 45' carried by brackets 46' adjustable on side frames 17. On their inner faces, each .of the side frames 17 is providedwith a groove 47 having a short horizontal portion, a long horizontal portion 47, and an inclined portion connecting the'horizontal portions thereof, the portion 47' extending to the forward edges of irames 17 (see Fig. 1);; Reciprocable in the grooves 47' are slides 48 to which, on pins 49, are pivoted the bars 50 carrying on brackets 51, theseparator plate 52. On the bars 50 are carried the rollers 53 normally fitting into the short horizontal. portions of grooves 47. The pivots of rollers 53 areconnecm ed bylinks 54 to levers 55 fastened to rock-shaft 24 which is journaled in frame 15- and oscillated byan arm. 56 connected by a-link 57 to the stud of a cam roller 58 carried by a cam lever 59 which is fulcrumed on shaft 23, the roller 58 engaging in the track of cam 28 on shaft 18. The

oscillatory motion of shaft 24 causes the rollers 53' to move backandforthin grooves 47, 47, thereby imparting an ascending and descending,

as well as a to-and-fro motion, to the trailing ends-of bars 50 and a corresponding motion to the separator plate 52, and a recipricatory motion to bars'48. The leading ends of bars 48 carry studs 60 on which are pivoted latches 61, held in upright position by tension springs 62 which normally pull the stop pins 63 thereon against the under side of bars 48, as shown in enlarged scale-in Figs. 3 to 5.

bearing lugs on the outer faces of frame 17 and of adjusting screws threadedfthrough the hooks 66 and bearing against the frames 17. On' the rods 64 are fastened. posts 767, the springs 65 When in this position, the; upright portions, of latches 61 act as stops for a pair of horizontal rods 64 supported in sets of being interposed between the bearinglugs of the rods 64 and the posts 67. Across the lower ends of posts 67 is fastened a pusher 68 so as to engage the ends of'the bottom layer of cigars in the magazine. 7

When the bars 48.are moved forward by the action of levers 55, the springs 65 cause the rods 64 to follow the same through'a given distance determined by the position of stop-collars 69 on the rods 64, thereby causing the cross bar or pusher 68 to'gently push the bottom cigar layer through that distance. If, for any reason, the tension of springs 65 is not sufficient to move the cigars, the forward end of the notches in the rods 64 will be caught by the hook-ends of the latches 61 and will thus be taken along by them until the engagement of the latches 61 with the hooks 66 releases their hold.

As the bottom layer of cigars is pushed out of the magazine, the tips of the cigars pass below a U-shaped rod 76 hinged on frames vl'iand resting on eccentrically mounted adjustable stops 71, and the relatively thicker body portionsofthe cigars then raise this rod so that the same will form a stop for the cardboard lying atop the bottom cigar layer, thereby preventing the cardboard from being carried along by the latter.

Between pivots '72 set in the frame 17 is carried a shaft- '73 to which are fixed the bell cranks '74 supporting a vertical plate v'75 extending across the open end of the cigar magazine, this plate being held in vertical position by means of adjusting screws 76 set in the bell cranks'and hearing against studs 77 in frames 1'7. As theseparator plate 52 is moved forward by the action of levers 55, it passes under plate '75 and then raises the same asthe rollers 53 move up the incline from grooves 47 to'4'7. In this position,'the' plate '75 acts as a stripper for the cigar layers above the displaced bottom layer during the return stroke of the separator plate 52,, thus keeping the cigar tips and the cardboards in place against end wall 43 of the magazine; 7

Thefront side wall 45"0f the magazine is provided with a pivoted closing plate '78 which nor mally rests on the table 16'by gravity and thus confines the bottom cigar layer within the magazine. As the separator plate 52 advances, however, it lifts the plate 78; thus clearing'the way for the bottom layer and permitting the same to be carried sidewise by the conveyor chains 38.

The inner faces of the portions of the side frames 1'7 beyond the magazine are provided with grooves '79 in which are slidable a pair of blocks 80 which carry between them two horizontalrods 81 and 81'. To the blocks 80 are adjustablyattached the bars 82 on which are pivoted the ends of cross bars 83.connected to levers 84 fulcrumed on the bottom of table 16. At their crossing point, the bars 83 are joined by a'bolt on which are mounted universal joints connectedto links 85 swivel'ed on'arms 86'mounted on shaft 23. The shaft 23 receives rocking motion from an. arm

87 connected by a link88 with an arm 89 on shaft 22which carries a cam lever 90 provided with a roller 91 working in the track of cam 27.

jaws 92, of a pair of grippers'the upper jaws 93 of which are pivoted on the rods 81 and provided with pivoted blocks v94 in which are slidably mounted the pins 95' fixed in blocks 96'on rods 81, the pins 95 carrying compression springs 97 between the blocks 94 and 96. The upper jaws 93 have projecting pins 98 which, at the ends of thebackward and forward strokesof blocks 80, engage with adjustable'stop screws 99 and 99, thereby respectively opening and closing the grip per jaws, the springs 9'7 holding the jaws 93 either against stop pins 100 carried by jaws 92 upon opening of the jaws 92 and 93, or against the tips of the lower jaws upon closing of the jaws 92 and 93. The closing stop screws 99 aresupported by a bracket 101 attached totable 16, while the opening screws 99 are carried by clamps 102 on a shaft 103 supported in lugs of side frames 17. The clamps 102 also carry hooks 104 which strip thecardboard from thegripper jaws during their return stroke as they are being opened by the screws 99. V a i The stop pins 100 are provided with forward projections which engage with the tips of arms 105 as the grippers approach the end oftheir forward stroke. The arms 105 are loose on shaft 25 journaled in brackets 106 of frame and are frictionally held against the sides of these brackets by coil springs 107 interposed between collars on shaft and arms (Fig. 2). On studs 108 carried by the arms 105 rest stepped'levers 109 fast to shaft 26 which'is'journaled in brackets 106, the pins 108 causing the levers 109 to rise and thereby-turn the shaft 26 as the arms 105 are moved toward the magazine 'by the projections of pins 100. The shaft 26 has fastened thereon a lever 110 the free end of which is connected to the pawl 113 by a link 111 the spring 112 being seated on the link 112 and urging the pawl into engagement with a one-tooth ratchet 114 on shaft 19 whenever the lever 110 is inits raised, position due to the turning of shaft 26. When the pawl 113 is thus engaged with the ratchet 114, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the shaft 19 is prevented from turning while the shaft 34 is oscillated by gear segment 32, which is out of mesh with gear 33 on shaft 34 during the time the projections of pins 100 are in contact with arms 105.

When the grippers reach the end of their forward stroke the pins 98 thereon meet the closing pins 99' and thus close the grippers upon the end of the cardboard under the bottom layer of cigars which has previously been displaced axially. If

' one or both pairs of grippers have failed to take hold of the cardboard so thatone or both of the arms 105 are not pushed back into their original position by the cardboard as it is withdrawn from under the bottom layer of cigars during the return stroke of the grippers, the pawl 113 remains engaged with the ratchet 114 and the slack in the upperrun of the chain 36, which runs over idler 1 15 carried by arm 116 fulcrumed on a stop'117 and tensioned by a spring 118, and over'idler 119 on arm 120 loose on shaft 34 and tensioned by spring 121, will then be taken up by the turn ing of the sprocket 35, thereby causing the chain to assume the expanded position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The turning of arm 120 due to this expansion of chain 36 causesa lever 122 mounted on shaft 34 and fastened to arm 120 to turn through the same angle and thereby, through a .link 123 attached thereto, to move the starting or clutch operating lever 124 of the machine, which is connected by a link 125 to a clutch fork 126 engaging the clutch member 127 vsplined on the drive shaft 128 and driven from the clutch member 129 loose-on shaft 123 into 01f position 124 shown inidotted lines, thus disengaging the bevelgear 129a driving bevel gear 130 on shaft 131, the latter carrying a sprocket 132 driving a chain 133 running over sprocket 134 on shaft 20. When the cardboard is whole and both the grippers take hold of the same, the oncoming edge of the cardboard engages with the back of both arms 105 and returns them to starting position with their tails 125 resting against shaft 22, thereby permitting both of the levers 109 to drop into their low position, thus turning back the shaft 26 and disengaging pawl 113 from the ratchet 114 before shaft 34 is actuated by gear segment 32, so that in this case the chain 36' is not disturbed. V r

The shaft 19 carries the driving sprockets 30 of the chains 38 and the driving pulleys 31 of the conveyor belts-40, hence, if the cigars should become jammed in the magazine for any reason, as by a fragment broken off a cardboard, or by a cigar which has fallen out of alignment in the magazine, the shaft 19 will no longer be free to rotate and the slack'in the upper run of chain 36, upon the'meshing of gear segment '32 with gear 33 at the end of the period of rest of the cycle, will be taken up on sprocket 37 and thus will raise the idler arm 120 and disengage the clutch members 127-429 thereby stopping the machine.

A guard cover 126 on the overhanging ends of frames 17 serves as a table from which the cigars may be served to the magazine.

The operation of the improved cigar feed is as follows: During the period of rest, the pusher68,

the stripper plate 75, the grippers 92, 93 and the arms are in their initial positions as shown in the diagram, Fig. 7. The cigars C, with the cardboards A between the layers, having been placed in the magazine 43, 45, 45', the bottom cardboard A and the closing plate 78 rest on the table 16 which is'provided with transverse runways for the chains 38. At thebeginning of the operating period of the cycle, the bars 48v move forward with the latches 61, thus permitting the springs 65 to move the rods 64 and press the pusher 68 supported by posts 67 fromrods 64 against the bottom cigar layer and displace it axially into the position shown in Fig. 8. At the same time the separator plate 52 moves below the stripper plate 75 and the open grippers 92, 93 advance a corresponding distance. The bottom cigar layer in being pushed out of the magazine,

raises the rod 70 from the stops 71 and causes the" same to rest on the cigars, in alignment with the second cardboard A. As the separator 52 continues'its advance it enters into the space cleared by the pusher 68 and, being lifted'as the rollers 53 travel up the incline of grooves 47, raises the cardboard A with the upper cigar layers clear of the bottom layer, as shown inFig. 9. In so doing, the separator also lifts the closing plate '78 into a pocket provided for this purpose in the magazine side walls 45'. The rod 70, which is flattened on the side towards the magazine, then being in alignment with cardboard A, acts as a stop for the latter, preventing it from being partly pushed out of the magazine by the forward motion of the separator. When the grippers 92, 93 complete their forward stroke, Fig. 10, the pins 98 engage With screws 99', thereby closing the jaws ment' of pawl 113 with ratchet 114. As the grippers then commence their return stroke they withdraw the cardboard A from the magazine, the edge of the cardboard engaging the arms 105 and carrying them back into their neutral position, Fig. 11. Near'the end of the return stroke, as the pins 98 first touch the screws 99, the cardboard A engages the upright portions of the hooks 104, whilethe further movement of the gripper ' rods 81, 81 brings the pins 98 against the screws QQand'thereby opens the jaws 92. The carda board, thus released, drops out of the cigar feed,

Fig. 12, while the chains 38 carry the cigar layer forward and deliver the same onto the conveyor belts 40. The retaining rod 70, as soon as the last cigar of the layer has left the magazine, drops back onto stops '71. Finally, the separatorperforms its return stroke, first releasing the closing plate 78 which drops back upon table 16, as

. shown in Fig. 13, and then releasing the stripper plate '75 which resumes its originalposition with screws 76 resting against stops 7'7, seeFig. 14.

As the separator completes its return stroke,

the-latches 61 engage the rear end of the notches Irintherods 54, thereby returning them with the pusher fiii to initial position and compressing the springs 65 on rods 64. In the meantime the second cardboard A with the upper cigar layers has dropped upon the table 16. The conditions now 1 are the same as in Fig. '7, except that the second I tions the stages shownby Figs. 10 and 11 are nonexistent, the stage shown in Fig. 12 following directly after that shown in Fig. 9.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and

'' mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said devices fails to act on a cardboard at the bottom of said stack.

2. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardhoards separating the layers,

of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, a device for removing the v cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device ,for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever there is no cardboard under the bottom of'saidstack.

3. In a cigar feed, the combination of a. magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means'for removing the cigar layers and the cardboards from the bottom or said sta'clr, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever the latter fails to act on a cardboard at the bottom of the stack. V

a. In acigar feed, the combination with a maazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers,

oi me'ans for removing the cigar layers and the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and

mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever the latterfails tofact on a cardboardat' the bottom of the stack, said mechanism being controlled 'by the cardboard being withdrawn from under the bottom of said stack. a

5. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of clear layers superposed on cardboards 'separatingthe layers, of means for removing the'cigar layers and cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever there is no cardboard under the bot: tom of said stack. a 1

6. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means for removingthe cigar layes and cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever there is no cardboard under the bottom of said stack, said mechanism being controlled by the cardboard being withdrawn from under the bottom of" said stack.

'7. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers separated by cardboards, of means for individually removing the layers of cigars andthe cardboards from said'stack, and mechanism for incapacitating said means whenever it fail-S2110.

remove a cardboard from said stack;

8. Ln a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adaptedto receive a stack of, cigar layers separated by cardboards, of means for individually removing the layers of cigars and the cardboards from said stack, and mechanism controlled-by the cardboards removedfrom said stack for incapacitating said means whenever there is no cardboard under the bottom-of said stack. f a i r 9. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted toreceive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means .for removing the cigar layers from the bottomof said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said device fails .to act on acardboard at the bottom of said stack, said means including a'push'er for axially displacing the bottom layercofcigars in' said stack, a separator plate, and devices for moving said plate to cause it to tilt the stack upwardly on the displaced bottom layer and lift the stack clear of the displaced bottom layer.

' 10., In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted'to receive a stack 'of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from thebottom' of said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from therbottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device forincapacitating the cigar feed whenever said veyor for carrying'the displaced bottom layer away from said magazine.

11. In a cigar feed, the combination with'a' moving the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said device fails to act on a cardboard at the bottom of said stack, said means including a pusher for axially. displacing the bottom layer of cigars in said stack, coacting grippers, and devices for closing said grippers on the cardboard lying underneath the displaced cigar layer and moving the grippers away from said magazine with the cardboard, and said mechanism including a ratchet, a sprocket fast to said ratchet, an intermittently driven shaft, a sprocket on said shaft, a chain running over said sprockets, the upper run of the chain being slack, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, an idler sprocket on said arm meshing with the upper. run of said chain, a clutch operating lever connected to said arm, a clutch controlled by said lever, a pawl having a stationary, pivot and normally engaging said ratchet to prevent the rotation thereof during the period when said shaft is driven and thus cause the slack in the upper run of-said chain to be taken up by the sprocket on the driven shaft, whereby said idlersprocket is raised with its supporting arm to actuate said clutch operating lever, and a trigger disposed in the path of the cardboards withdrawn from under said stack by said device and connected to saidrpawl to disengage it from the ratchet when a cardboard engages the trigger. l

12. In a'cigar feed,rthe combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said device fails to act on a cardboard at the bottom of said stack, said means including a pair of side frames, a pair of slides reciprocably mounted in said frames, a pair of bars pivotedon said slides, a separator plate carried by said bars, each of said frames being provided with grooves having horizontal portions at different levels and inclined portions connecting said horizontal portions, rollers on said bars fitting said grooves, and devices for moving said rollers back and forth in the grooves, whereby an ascending and descending motion, as well as a to-and-fro motion, is imparted to the separator plate.

13. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, a device for removing the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating the cigar feed whenever said device fails to act on a cardboard at the bottom of said stack, said means including a pusher for axially displacing the bottom layer of cigars in said stack, a pair of side frames, a pair of slides reciprocably mounted in said frames, a pair of bars pivoted on said slides, a separator plate carried by said bars, each of saidframes being provided with grooves terminating adjacent said magazine and having horizontal portions at different levels and inclined portions connecting said horizontal portions, rollers on said bars fitting said grooves, and devices for moving said rollers back and forth in the grooves, whereby an ascending and descending motion, as well as 14. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of a table underlying said magazine to. support said stack, means for removing the cigar layers and the cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever the latter fails to removeia cardboard from the bottom of thestack. 1

15. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of a table un-' derlying said magazine to support said stack, means for removing the cigarlayers and the cardboards from the bottom of .said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever the latter fails to remove a cardboard from the bottom of the stack, said mechanism being controlled by the cardboard being withdrawn from under the bottom of said stack.

16. In a cigar feed, the-combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers,.of a table underlyingsaidmagazine to support said stack, of means for removing the cigar layers and card-1 boards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever there isno cardboard under the bottom of the stack. l V r 17. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of atable underlying said magazine to support said stack, of means for removing the cigar layers and cardboards from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism operative to incapacitate said means whenever there is no cardboard under the bottom of the stack, said, mechanism being controlled by the cardboard being Withdrawn from under the bottom of said stack.

18. In a cigar feed, thecombination with a magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of a device for removing the cardboard from the bottom of saidstack', and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating said means if the latter fails to remove the cardboard from the bottom of said stack. 7

19. In a cigar feed, the combination witha magazine adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of a device for removing the cardboard from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism controlled by said device for incapacitating said means when there is no cardboard under the bottom of said stack.

20. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of a table underlying said magazine to support said stack, a plate pivoted on one side of said magazine and resting on said table to block transverse movement of the bottom cigar layer in said stack, and means for removing the bottom cigar layer from said stack, said means including a device adapted to lift said plate to clear the Way for the bottom cigar layer and a conveyor for moving the bottom cigar layer sidewise over said'table and away from said magazine.

' '21. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open'bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of a table underlying said magazine ,to support said stack, and, means for'removing the bottom layer of cigars from said stack, said means including a pair of slides, a pair of slidable rods provided with notches in, their forward ends, latches mounted on said slides to engage the forward ends of said rods and provided with hook-ends entering said notches, springs urging said rods against said latches, a pusher supported from ,said rods in position to engage one end of the bottom layer of cigars in said stack, and devices for reciprocating said slides, whereby said springs will cause the rods to follow the forward motion of said slides to press the pusher against the bot tom cigar layer to gently push the same and if the pressure of the springs is insufiicient to move the-cigars the rods will be caught by the hookends of the latches and advanced with the slides against the bottom cigar layer.

22. In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine adapted to receiver a stack of cigar layers superposed on cardboards separating the layers, of means-for removing the cigar layers individually from the bottom of said stack, a hinged rodadjacent the tips of the cigars in said bottom. layer, a stop supporting said rod in a position slightly below the cardboard lying on top. of said bottom cigar layer, said means including' a pusher adapted to displace axially the bottom cigar layer and thus move their tips under magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism for incapacitating said means whenever the cigars become jammed in said magazine. V

24; In a cigar feed, the combination with a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of means for removing the cigar layers from the bottom of said stack, and mechanism for incapacitating said means whenever the cigars become jammed in said magazine, said means including an intermittently driven counter shaft, a conveyor shaft, a conveyor chain underlying said magazine and driven from said conveyor shaft, sprockets on said counter and: conveyor shafts,'a sprocket chain running, over said sprockets, the upper run the rotation ofv said conveyor shaft and cause 7 the slack in the upper run of said sprocket chain to be taken up by the counter shaft sprocket to move theidlersprocket up with said arm and actuate said clutch'operating lever.

25. A cigar feed, comprising in combination a magazine having an open bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of means for separating, the lowermost cigar layer from the remaining layers inthe magazine, said means including a pusher movable against the ends of the cigars of said lowermost layer, to displace a portion only of said cigars in an endwise direction from beneath the overlying layers and thereby provide at the other end thereof an overhang formed by the lower side of the next overlying layer, a separator plate, and mechanism first moving said separator plate endwise of the cigars to bring the forward edge of said plate under said overhang, then upwardly andalong the under side of said next layer past the longitudinal center of the cigars to lift the overlying layers away from-the lowermost layer at one end only of th cigars, and then completely separate said overlying layers from the lowermost'layer along the entire length of the cigars.

26. A cigar feed, comprising in combination a magazine havinganopen bottom and adapted to receive a stack of cigar layers, of means for separating the lowermost cigar layer from the remaining layers in the magazine, said meansineluding a pusher movable against the ends of the cigars of said'lowermost layer, to displace'a portion only of said cigars in an endwise direction from beneath the overlying layers and'thereby provide atthe other end thereof an overhang formed by the lower side of the next overlying layer, a separator plate,v and mechanism first moving said separatorplate endwise of the cigars to bring the forward edge of said plate under saidv overhang, then upwardly and along the under side of said next layer past the longitudinal center of the cigars, to lift the overlying. layers away from the lowermost layer atone end only of thecigars, and then completely separate, said overlying layers from the lowermostlayer along the entire length of the cigars, said mechanism including means swinging said plateabout an axis substantially parallel to the forward edge ofthe plate for lifting the overlying layers.

JOSEPH NEUMAIR. 3

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