US2244142A - Method and apparatus for inserting draft elements in cigars - Google Patents

Description

Julie 3,1941., S.CLAUSEN 2,244,142

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS Filed June 24, 1937 e Sheets-Sheet 1 f I i 7/ 4| 1M +221 li fw i LQY g z INVENTOR Sigurd CZau/sen, BY

ATTORNEY June 3,1941. 's Us EN 2,244,142

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN SERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS FiledJune 24, 195'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 St'gurd Claiosen ATTORNEY.

INVENTQR.

June 3, 1941. s. CLAUSEN 2,244,142

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR" INSERI'ING'DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS Filed June 34) 1957 e Shee' tS-Shet 5' Mmm i 1 n w u &@ ma w T m& m u a w @m J m m If C I Mi June 3, 1941. 's CLAUS'EN I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INS'ERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS Filed June 24, 1957 GSheets-Sheet 4 ma Wm.

wt g 4w INVENTOR Stgqrd Gaza/sen ATTORNEY June 3, 1941.

s. CLAUSEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS Filed June 24, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Sigurd Clause, 7

ATTORNEY S. CLAUSEN June 3, 1941.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS 6 Sheets-Shet 6 Filed June 24, 1957 lNVENTOR n e s w a 1. C m u g p S ATTO R N EY Patented June 3, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING DRAFT ELEMENTS IN CIGARS Sigurd Clausen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 24, 1937, Serial No. 150,074

51 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar making machines and has for an object to provide a mechanism coordinated with a cigar machine for inserting a draft element, such as a tube into the head of the cigar to make unnecessary the cutting or perforating of the head by the smoker.

A further object of the invention resides in provisions for automatically projecting a piercing element through a tube, then projecting the tube and piercing element into the cigar head, and then withdrawing the piercing element, all of such operations being in timed relation with the feed of cigars from the cigar machine. The invention also comprises rerolling and knurling means coordinated with the tube inserting and piercing means.

Animportant feature of the invention comprises inserting a tube into a cigar head and knurling said head after said tube has been inserted. The invention in this connection includes, more specifically, means for knurling said head during the withdrawal of a piercing element previously passed into said head with the tube.

In carrying a specific embodiment of my invention into effect, I have illustrated a rerolling and knurling mechanism of the usual type in combination with the cigar forming machine, and operatively combined with such rerolling and knurling mechanism I provide a second knurling device combined with a head piercing and tube inserting mechanism, including tube feeding and actuating means operating automatically and in timed relation with the cigar forming and rerolling mechanism.

Another feature of the invention comprises tube supply means, means for ejecting tubes therefrom, and means for feeding the ejected tubes to position for insertion into the cigar head. In this connection the invention further includes means for insuring the feed of tubes to provide a tube for each cigar. It also includes locking means under control of the tube feeding means for at times suspending operation of the ejecting means at the supply source to insure against an oversupply of tubes.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the rerolling, knurling, tube inserting and re-knurling mechanism and tube feeding mechanism adapted for application to a cigar forming machine.

- 1 tion of the cylinder.

Fig. 2 is a top planview of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the tube feeding hopper and cooperating mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figs. 3A and 3B are views of details.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the hopper feed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5--5 of Figure 2 showing the re-rolling and knurling mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation and partial section of part of the re-knurling, head piercing and tube inserting mechanism showingthe position of the parts before a cigar enters the knurling tool.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing an advanced step in the piercing and tube feeding operation.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the parts.

shown in Figure 6 with the cigar head inserted in the knurling tool and the piercing tool advanced for piercing and feeding a tube into the cigar head.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view showing the piercing tool and tip tube fully inserted in the head end of a cigar.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view similar to Figure 9 with the piercing tool in a retracted position leaving the tube in the inserted position in the cigar head, and

Fig. 11 is a view of a cigar head and head tube in section illustrating the finished product of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional detail View of a modification comprising means combined with the first knurler for piercing the cigar head as a preliminary to insertion of the tube at the second knurler.

Fig. 13 is a view in rear elevation of the construction shown in Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 5, there is illustrated a re-rolling mechanism comprising rolling cylinder l, apron 2, oscillating pinion 3 and rack reciprocated by a cam (not shown) which is actuated by or in conjunction with the mechanism of the cigar making machine to which the mechanism shown in Figure 1 is designed to be attached and operatively connected therewith for continuous automatic operation.

A formed cigar 5 is fed from the forming machine to the apron 2 and dropped onto the apron as seen in Figure 2 for re-rolling between the apron and cylinder by the oscillating rotary mo- I'he apron at the entrance end has a rectangular cut-out as seen in Figure 2 to afford clearance for the fingers of the feed mechanism (not shown) which convey the formed cigar from the forming machine. At the lower or exit end the apron is extended as seen at 2 Figures 1 and 5, and which extension has brackets 2 by means of which the apron is pivoted on a rod 6, Figure 5, secured in a bracket 1 mounted on frame member 8. Underneath the forward end of the apron is a bracket 9 in which a tubular adjusting screw Iii is threaded, and seated in the screw is a coiled spring upon which the stiffening rib I I of the apron rests and whereby the apron due to its pivotal support is caused V to press the cigar against the cylinder I during the re-rolling operation. The timing of the oscillating rotary movement of cylinder I by its actuating cam is such that upon delivery of a cigar at the upper outwardly flared end of the apron the cylinder will roll the cigar downward beginning at the point shown in Figure 5, and then back and forth and finally a longer roll toward the exit end will free the cigar and permit it to roll down the apron and onto a pair of curved fingers I2 formed at the end of arms I3 fixed on stub shaft It. This shaft is journalled in bearings I5 formed at the end of arm I6 projecting from hub I6 which is adjustably fixed on rod 6. On shaft I4 between bearings I5 a lever I! is mounted in fixed position and sleeved on the shaft between this lever and one of the bearings is a torsion pring I3, one end of which engages with the bearing frame and the other end engages the lever or the stop arm I9, Figure 5, formed integrally with the lever. The purpose of spring I8 is to raise arms I3 carrying fingers I2 to the position shown in Figure 5. Stop arm III has an adjusting screw which bears against arm I6 to adjust and limit the upward movement of fingers I2 to properly center the cigar carried thereby relative to the knurling tool. Lever I'I projects into the path of a pin on plate 2| secured to rack bar 4, Figure 5, so that as the rack reciprocates, lever I'I will alternately rise and fall due to the lift imparted by plate and pin 2| and return movement by spring I8, thereby imparting a rocking movement to shaft I4 in timed relation to the feed of cigars from the re-rolling apron 2, and thereby reciprocating fingers I 2 to move first into the position of Figure 5 to catch a cigar for the first knurling operation, remain stationary during the knurling, then retract beneath the apron to allow the cigar to roll downtoward the second knurling position, and then move upward again into the position of Figure 5.

The cigar is held in the first knurling position on fingers I2 by a wide gripper 22 carried by arm 23 which is fixed on rock-shaft 24 journalledin bearing 25 formed on arm 26 projecting from hub I6. Shaft 24 is rocked by means hereim after described to oscillate the gripper in'unison with the oscillations of fingers I2 to close'upon a cigar and hold same upon fingers I2 against rotation when acted upon by the knurling tool 21, Figure 2, and to open and release the'cigar for transfer to the second knurling position. The apron '2 is cut away at the sides to provide clearance for fingers I2 to pass up into the path of a cigar as shown in Figures 1 and 5, but in Figure 1 only one of the fingers I2 is seen, the second fin-' ger being obscured by the gripper 22 and its arm 23. As seen in Figure 5, the apron, where it passes under the first knurling position, is given a downward curve to allow the cigar to roll off the apron and onto the fingers I2. The clearances at the sides of the apron are continued downward to afford clearance for a pair of skids 28 which are adjustably secured on a bracket 25 to receive the cigar when released by fingers I2 and gripper 22. The skids are fiat metal strips bent at an angle to fit over the front of bracket 29, where they are adjustably secured by crossslots and bolts as shown in Figure 1. From the bracket plate the skids project upward at a slight angle and then curve upward as shown at 3!] to form fixed gripping surfaces for a cigar at the second knurling and tube inserting position. From the curved section 38 the skids extend in a straight line with a slight downward incline to a point approximately under the axial center of the first knurling position as seen in Figure 5. Cooperating with the skids are a pair of reciprocating push rods 3| which are positioned beneath the apron 2 and project through the plane of the apron at the side clearances to a point in advance of fingers I2 where the enlarged ends'of thepush rods rest on the skids and upon which they are adapted to slide. When fingers I2 and gripper 22 separate to release a cigar, the rockshaft It is turned counterclockwise by lever I! to a degree suficient to swing fingers I2 below the apron, thereby depositing the cigar on the apron whereupon it rolls down the apron and onto the skid sections 32. The cigar comes to rest at the angle formed at the point where the skids pass through the plane of apron 2, that is, slightly in advance of the enlarged ends 34 of the. pushrods iii. A hinged fender 33 insures the return to said point, of cigars rolling up the slight incline ofv the skid sections 32. When the push rods are moved forward the ends 34 engage the cigar and push it forward on the skids against the fender 33 causing it to swing forward to allow the cigar to roll over the curved edge and into the gripping sections 3E3 where it is caught by gripper 35 to be held thereby in axial alignment with the second knurling tool 36. Gripper 35 is carried by arm 3'! having a hub keyed to rockshaft 38 which is journalled, in bearing. 39 mounted parallel with bearing 25 on the arm 25. Rockshafts 24 and 38 have pinions ti! and 4| constant-i ly in mesh so that wheneither shaft is turned the other will turn in the opposite direction. To accomplish this movement either of the rockshafts 24 or 38 may be actuated, and in the present arrangement, as best seen in Figure 5, shaft 33 is the actuated shaft. For this purpose shaft 38 is provided with lever 42 having a hub keyed on the shaft, and which lever is, pivotally connected with pull-rod 43. When rod 43 is pulled to the right as viewed in Figure 5, lever 42 will turn rock-shaft 38 clockwise and through the engagement of pinions II and 40 turn rock shaft 2! counterclockwise. This rotary movement actuates arms 31 and 23 and moves grippers 35 and 22 out of their gripping positions. Sleeved on rock-shafts 38 between bearing 39 and the hub of lever 42 is a torsion spring 46, Figure 2, having its ends hooked into bearing 39 and the hub of lever 42, whereby when the lever is pulled by rod t3 the sprin is placed under increased tension so that when the pull on rod 43 ceases the spring will turn shaft 38 in the opposite direction, and this movement will be transmitted to shaft 24 through pinions II-60 and thereby move arms 31 and 23 toward each other and grippers 35 and 22 into gripping position. To'aid in this return movement shaft 24 is provided with a lever 45 to which extension spring 46 is at-' tached, the other end of the spring being attaohed to a suitable frame member as seen in Figure 1. When a cigar receives the final operation at the second knurling position and is released by gripper it rolls off the skids 28 onto tray 51.

The two knurling tools 2'. and 38 are mounted on grooved hubs 48 and 49 respectively. Hub 48 has two grooved driving pulleys 50 and 5!, the former being driven continuously by belt 52, and the latter of smaller diameter driving belt 53 which drives the larger grooved pulley 54 on hub 49. By this means the two knurlers are driven in unison, for successive operation upon the same cigar, and the second knurler 36 being driven at a slower speed for the finishing operation. Both knurlers are given a longitudinal movement to move them into and out of knurling position by rollers riding in the grooves in hubs 48 and 49, and these rollers are carried by arms 55 and 56, Figure 2, projecting from sleeve 51 journalled on a stub-shaft (not shown) and which sleeve is oscillated by the usual link and cam lever as employed in the usual knurl operating mechanism. The latter, in order to avoid complicating the drawings, is omitted. As usual the linkage which efiects the reciprocation of the knurling tool also connects with the cutter 58, Figure 1, for moving the cutter laterally into position for clipping the tuck end of the cigar during. the first knurling operation. A plate or fender 59 serves to back up the cigar in the second knurling position when said cigar is pressed against said plate by the re-knurler. Plate 55 is inclined at a slight outward angle,

as shown in Figure 1, to avoid interference with 9 cigars which might be slightly off center during the passage to the re-knurler and for enablingsuch cigars to move endwise into the correct position for engagement by the knurling tool and before the gripper 35 grips the cigar.

In Figures 6 to 10 the tube inserting mechanism is shown in detail. The knurling tool 36 has a tubular shank 69 which passes through the axial center of hub 49 and is fixed therein by a set screw as shown in section in Figure 6. Hub 59 is enlarged and grooved to form pulley 54, and the pulley is recessed to receive a ball bearing ti which is sleeved on flanged arbor R2 and retained thereon by ring 63 secured to the pulley hub by screws. The arbor is formed at the end of a slide 554 which slides in a slot formed between the inner side of bar 65 and retaining block 66. 1e slide 66 has a longitudinal slot on its upper side in alignment with tubular shank 6i and in this slot a long tube 68 is fitted to slide through the bore of arbor 52 and through the length of the tubular shank 6B of the knurling tool 36 while the knurling tool rotates. Tube 68 is attached to a block 69, Figures 2 and 3, and which block is bolted to a slide Til having retaining flanges working in slots on the upper and lower faces of bar 55 whereby tube 58 is reciprocated within slide 5 independently of the reciprocation of the slide and knurling tool. Sliding within the tube 68 a piercing needle H which is attached to a block 12 bolted to slide 13 having retaining flanges also working in the slots in bar 65, and capable of sliding on the bar independently of slide "H3 so that needle H may be reciprocated within the tube 68 independently of the reciprocation of the tube. Slides l0 and T3 are actuated by link 7 and lever I5 which passes down through a slot in tray 4'! and is pivoted to a frame member of the machine.

Also pivoted on the machine frame is a lever 19 directly in line with lever 15 and connected thereto by adjustable link 88 so that levers T5 and 79 will swing on their pivots with a parallel motion. Projecting downward from hub 78 of lever 19 is a cam lever 8| having a roller 82 working in the cam groove of disk 83 secured to shaft 84 which is driven from the main drive of the cigar forming machine. Cam 83 rotates continuously to impart oscillating motion to lever 8| and through lever 19 oscillating motion to lever 75. Link 14 has a wide slot as best seen in Figures 9 and 10 through which pin 85 projects from slide H1 whereby during part of the movement of slide '13 in either direction slide 18 will be carried along by the same movement of lever 15, the purpose of which will hereinafter be referred to. The swing of lever 15 moves slides if! and 73 from the full retracted position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 9 which indicates the limit of the forward stroke, and during the movement from the position of Figure 2 slide it is first moved forward without moving slide It until pin 35 strikes end 86 of the slot in link it whereupon both slides move in unison to the end of the forward stroke at which point the relative positions of the slides and link will be as indicated in r'gure 9. Upon the return stroke of lever l5, link 74 will move slide 13 away from slide 70 as shown in Figure 10 until pin es engages end 87 of the slot whereupon both slides will move in unison to the relative position indicated in Figure 2.

In the block 66 which is secured upon the wide flange of bar 55 as shown in Figure 3, is a slot 56 (Figs. 3a and 3b) which extends under and beyond the discharge outlet for paper tubes 9 from hopper 95. Working in this slot is a push rod 88, Figures 1, 2, and 3, adjustably secured in clamp 89 attached to a block which slides: on rod 9| carried by two blocks secured upon frame plate s2, one of which, block 93, being shown in Figure 1, and the other being located at a point beneath bar 65. The purpose of push rod 88 is to advance the paper tubes 94 through the slot as they are discharged from the hopper into the slot. The paper tube slot in block 66 is partly covered by plate 96 upon which the frame 91 of the tube gate and ejector is mounted and secured to block 56. From the base of frame 9? to the metal plate 58, Figures 1 and 6, the slot is covered by a transparent plate 99 so that the feed of paper tubes may be readily observed. The paper tube feed slot and the needle and feed tube slot are of the same depth and their bottoms are in the same horizontal plane, and from the edge 98* of plate 98 to shoulder 66 see Figure 6, the block 66 is recessed to the depth of the tube slot, that is, a depth equal to the diameter of tubes 94 to permit transfer of tubes from the feed slot to the needle and feed tube slot, and for the purpose of permitting the transfer the wall of slide 64 is cut away between the points 54* and 54 as more clearly seen in Figure 6. Plate 98 is made of spring metal and has an L-shaped extension to form blade I00. This blade is given a slight downward bend so as to contact the paper tubes with light pressure, and to insure that the tubes are held properly in the path of push blade NH. Slicing crosswise on block 56 under the blade I Gil is the push blade In! which is moved back to the edge of block 66 as seen in Figure 8 to permit a tube 94 to be fed under blade I39, and when blade lfil is moved forward it engages the length of the tube and pushes it across the block t6 and.

through the gap in slide 54 into the needle and feed tube slot. This movement of blade HM and paper tube 94 places a tube 94 in alignment with feed tube 68 and needle 'II as seen in Figure 6 so that as the needle and tube are moved forward by the movement of slides I3 and "It as above explained, the needle will enter and pass through the paper tube 94 and the feed tube 63 following up will engage the paper tube (see position indicated in Fig. 7) and push it forward from under'retaining blade I and through the bore of arbor 02 and into the tubular shank 60 of the knurling tool 36, see Figure 8. It will be noted that the movements of the needle and feed tube are such that when the two slides 13 and I0 begin moving together the relative positions of the needle, paper tube and feed tube will be as indicated in Figure '7. That is, the needle will protrude beyond the end of paper tube 94 and all three will move together to the posi tion of Figure 8. This brings the needle in position to pierce the head of the cigar as lever I continues the forward movement of slides I3 and I0. As the movement continues the needle point enters the cigar head and the paper tube 94 follows into the perforation until feed tube 03 reaches the cigar head, that is, when the paper tube is fully inserted in the cigar as indicated in Figure 9. This position indicates the limit of the forward movement of lever 75, link '14, slides 13 and "I0, needle 1| and feed tube 63. Lever 15 now starts on its return movement due to the continuous rotation of cam disk 83, and the first step is the movement of slide I3 away from slide IE! to the position indicated in Figure which movement withdraws the needle from the paper tube 94, except its pointed end, while the feed tube still abuts the paper tube holding it in position within the cigar head, and the filler tobacco due to the action of the knurler will be com pressed about the tube. The continued movement of lever I5 now moves both slides 10 and I3 in the return movement withdrawing the point of the needle from the inserted paper tube 94 and feed tube I58 from contact therewith, and both the needle and feed tube will move together at the same rate and are returned to the position of Figure 6 to permit the next paper tube to be fed into position by push blade IOI the instant the needle and tube 68 arrive at the position of Figure 6. During this entire operation the pulley 54 and knurler 30 are in continuous rotation. The re-knurling operation thus takes place simultaneously with the insertion of the needle II and paper tube 94, and continues throughout the withdrawal of the needle from the cigar; the knurler 36 being projected into engagement with the cigar head (Figure 8) prior to entry of the needle into said head, and said knurler remaining in engagement with said head until after the needle is withdrawn.

The hopper for paper tubes 94 is circular in form and has a fiat bottom set at an angle and mounted rigidly on frame plate 02. The purpose in setting the hopper bottom at an angle is to cause the small paper tubes to gather at the lower angle. Bottom member I02 of the hopper may be solid as shown in section in Figure 3, or of any other form, but the circumferential edge must be continuous and of suflicient width to prevent tubes 94 dropping through (except for the tube passing notch or discharge slot I05 hereinafter mentioned). Seated on bottom member I02 is a rotating bottom or collector plate I03 having spaced notches I04 on its periphery and of a length to freely admit the paper tubes. As the bottom rotates the tubes are tumbled about in the lower angle of the hopper and as the tubes level off on plate I03 they move toward the hopper drum 95 and assume positions tangential to plate I03 and eventually drop into the notches or pockets I04 and rest on the rim of bottom member I02. The rotating plate I03 at its periphery is of a thickness sufficient to form pockets at the notches of a depth approximately equal to the diameter of the tubes, so that, once the tubes are caught by the pockets they will be retained therein and be carried around to the upper section of the hopper to the discharge slot I05 in the rim of bottom member I02, Figur 3. Through this slot the tubes drop successively onto the gate I06 which projects through a slit in the wall of hopper 95 and into the slot I05. The gate is loosely hinged at the top of frame 91 so that its weight will tend to maintain it in the closed position. At approx-' imately its mid-section the gate has a slight outward bend as indicated at I0 5 to form a cam surface which is engaged by pin I01 on the ejector plate I08 sliding in frame 91 and of a Width and thickness to freely enter slot I05. At the top of ejector plate I08 are a pair of knuckles I09 (Fig. 3) between which is hinged a link H0 which is pivotally connected to lever II I clamped on rockshaft H2. As the lever III oscillates downward from the position shown in Figure 3 it draws the ejector plate I08 downward, and this movement causes pin I01 to swing the gate I06 out of the path of paper tube 94 in the discharge slot I05 and the ejector continues downward into slot I05 to eject the tube 94 therefrom and insure its deposit in the tube slot 66' in block 68 to be engaged by push rod 88 as above described. The plate 96, on which the frame 91 is mounted, is cut away as shown in Figures 3 and 3A, to permit the tube to pass from discharge slot I05 with the feed slot 05. It may also be noted that the edge of slot 66 opposite the discharge slot I05 is preferably cut away, as shown at 66", so that it is inclined and aligned with the lower wall of said slot I05, thereby facilitating the ejection of the tubes. On the upward oscillation of lever III the ejector is returned to the position of Figure 3 allowing the gate to fall back to its trapping position to catch the next tube 04, which enters the discharge slot I05. In the operation of this apparatus the feed of tubes 94 to the discharge slot I05 may be irregular, that is, pockets I04 may miss catching a tube and this contingency is taken care of by the timing of the feed mechanism as hereinafter described.

The rotating bottom or collector plate of the hopper is secured to an arbor H3 journalled in bearings in the hopper bottom member I02 and fram member 92, Figure 3, and fixed on the arbor is a ratchet wheel IM, and sleeved on the arbor is a lever II5 from an end of which projects arm H6 to which is pivoted ratchet dog In. Oscillating motion is imparted to lever II5 to move ratchet dog II'I one notch at each oscillation for intermittent rotation of the collector plate I03.

The movements of the grippers 22 and 35, cigar push-rods SI, paper tube push-rod 88, tube transfer blade IIlI, ejector I08, and ratchet lever H5, are all controlled by cam shaft H8 journalled in bearings H9, one of which is shown in Figures 3 and 5 mounted on frame member 8. This shaft is driven in clockwise direction Cam I20 (see Fig. 5) actuates lever I25 which 5 is pivotally connected with pull rod 43 which actuates grippers 35 and 22 as above explained. Lever I25 is pivoted on block I26 mounted on a frame member and has a roller follower I21 which engages the periphery of disk I23 and is held toward the same by the pull of springs 44 and 46. Cam I20 has a long concentric surface or dwell of approximately 280 and a relatively short concentric surface ofabout 60 connected by a short quick rise and fall as seen in Figure 5.

ing cigars in position in alignment with the knurling tools 36 and 21. As cam roller I 27 rides up on surface a, lever I is moved to the right pulling link 43 in the same direction and rocking shafts 38 and 24, respectively, clockwise and counterclockwise to raise arms 3? and 23 and 25 move grippers and 22 out of gripping position to release the cigars held thereby and allow the finished cigar to roll down skids 28 onto the tray 41 and a cigar from the first knurling position to roll onto the skids to be pushed into po-- 3'0 sition for gripping at the second knurling position, the grippers remaining in open position during the travel of roller I2! on the long concentric surface of the cam I 25. coincidentally with the start of the movement of lever I25 to 35 raise grippers 35 and 22 out of gripping position, oscillating rack-bar 4 through pinplate 2i in its upward stroke engages lever IT to move arm I3 and fingers I2 down so that these fingers will recede below apron 2 to allow the cigar at the first knurling position to roll onto the apron and from the apron onto skids 28 as above explained. During the continued dwell of roller I27 on the long concentricsurface of cam I25 rack-bar I will start on its downward stroke allowing lever I! to recede due to the pull of its spring I8 thereby returning fingers I2 to the receiving position of Figure 5 in readiness to catch the next cigar from the re-rolling operation. Also during this period rack-bar '4 will make several its upper edge permits the cigar to pass over said short oscillations (without engaging lever II) for the re-rolling of a cigar, and as roller I2? is about to roll down surface I) of cam I 26, rackbar 4 will make its long downward stroke to impart a longer roll to the cigar being re-rolled so as to carry it beyond the point of engagement between the apron and cylinder and thereby allow the cigar to roll down the apron to be caught by fingers I2 at which time cam roller I2? rides down cam surface b and grippers 35 and 22 are brought down into gripping position. As roller I2'I rides down on cam surface I) and grippers 35 and 22 move toward the gripping position through the. action of springs 5 and 5.5, and

simultaneously with the feed of a cigar from the 5 re-rolling operation to the first knurling posi-- tion, the cigar previously released by fingers I2 from the first knurling operation which comes to rest at the angle formed by the skids and apron intermediate the two knurling positions, will be lever I 28 pivoted at I 29 in a bearing'secured to a frame member and located behind bearing I I9,

Figure 5. Lever I28 has a rod I35 fixed in a hub at the upper end and projecting horizontally therefrom, and on this rodpush-rods 3| are hinged. Each push-rod SI is made in two sections joined by two clamping screws passing through a slot in one section as seen at I3I in Figure 5 to permit adjustment of the rods for length and uniform engagement of a cigar by both rods. Lever I28 has a roller follower I32 for engaging the periphery of cam plate I2I and is held in contact therewith by a spring which to avoid confusion in the drawings has been omitted. Cam I2! comprises along concentric surface or dwell of approximately 250, a slow forward drive cam surface 0 and a quick return surface d. In the position shown in Figure 5, cam lever I28 is at the limit of its return stroke with roller I32 at the beginning of the concentric surface. As the cam rotates clockwise from the position shown in Figure 5, roller I32 will ride on the concentric surface, and hence push rods 3I will be held stationary at the position shown in Figure 5, and when roller I32 is engaged by cam surface 0 the roller will ride outward and cause lever I28 to swing forward, that is, to the left as viewed in Figure 5, and push the rods 3! forward on skids 28 to a point near the curve 30 to roll a cigar over the edge into the seat 33 to meet gripper 35 as it is moving into gripping position. It will be noted by reference to Figure 5 that cam I2I will rotate approximately 250 before the push rods 3i begin to operate, and that during that period the inclined portion a of cam I20 will have rocked the lever I25 to open the grippers 35 and 22 to release the cigars held thereby. The forward movement of the push-rods 3i will bring the cigar over the upper edge of the curve or bend of seat 30 after gripper 35 has started toward gripping position and has reached a position wherein, while its upper longitudinal edge is spaced suiiiciently from the curve of seat 39 to permit the cigar to pass through the gap therebetween, the lower longitudinal edge of the gripper is sufliciently close to the lower part of seat 30' to prevent the cigar from rolling beyond said lower edge of the gripper. In other words, at the time that the cigar is pushed over the upper curveof seat 35, the gripper is so positioned that curve and down into said seat, but the lower edge of the gripper prevents the cigar from rolling off said seat. Continued movement of the gripper brings it into the position shown in Figure 5, the push-rods 3| being meanwhile retracted toward their normal (Fig. 5) position as cam I2I continues its rotation.

Cam I22, see Figures 2 and 3, is a grooved cam having three cam surfaces 6 which engage roller I33 journalled on a stud clamped at the end of arm I34. This arm is secured on the end of rock-shaft I35 journalled in bearing At the oppositeend of shaft I35 is secured arm I37, which with arm I34 and rock-shaft I35 forms a crank as seen in Figure 3, and which crank is connected with hopper lever H5, Figure 4, by an adjustable link I38. By this operative connection between cam I22 and lever H5, the hopper collector disk I03 is rotated intermittently through ratchet and pawl I I' l-I I'I three notches to each complete revolution of cam I22.

Lever II5 has pivotally connected to its outer end a rod I39 which slides in block I40 (Fig. 2) pivoted at the end of lever I II. On rod I 39 at its free end is a collar I42 adjustably secured to the red by a set screw and which collar engages block I48 to positively draw the lever MI in one direction. Lever MI is pivoted at I43 on the frame plate 92, and pivoted to the other end of this leveris a slide block I44 which slides in a slot in block 90 to which feed rod 88 is attached as above explained. Sleeved on rod I39 is a compression spring I45 which is seated between adjustable stop I46 and pivoted block I'40 so that movement of lever I4I to effect the forward feed movement of rod 88 is obtained through compression spring I45. Rod 88 feeds one paper tube 94 at a time in the tube slot as it is discharged from the hopper 95, and also the line of tubes as seen in Figure 2, until the first tube in the line abuts against shoulder 66 (Fig. the tubes being held in alignment between the walls of the feed slot and plates 99 and 98. The tension of spring I45 is sufficient to impart the necessary motion to lever I4I to feed the light paper tubes, but when the tube slot is full and feed rod 88 cannot be further advanced, the pressure of rod I69 will be taken up by the compression of spring I45 and the rod will slide through its bearing block I40. The return movement of lever I4I for the feed stroke of rod 88 is made by the engagement of collar I42 with bearing block I40. Thus for each feed step of collector plate I03 lever I4I imparts a feed stroke to rod 88 regardless of whether or not a tube has been discharged from the hopper.

Cam I23, Figures 2 and 5, controls the crossfeed of paper tubes 94 from the feed slot in block 65 to the feed slot in slide 64 by means of blade:

I6I. Blade I'lll is attached to a slide I41 which reciprocates on rail I48 secured tobracket I49 projecting from frame plate 92. Slide I4! is actuated by lever I50 which has a pin working in a vertical slot in the slide as seen in Figure 5,

and lever I50 is secured on rock-shaft I5I which works in bearings in a pair of brackets I49. Shaft l5I passes through one of the brackets I49 and on the opposite end a lever I52 is secured and to which is pivoted an adjustable link I53..

This link is pivotally connected to lever I54 which is pivoted at I55 on bearing H9. Lever I54 has a roller follower I56 which contacts the periphery of cam plate I23 and is held in contact therewith by a spring I5! connected between a pin.

projecting from frame member 8 and a pin projecting from the hub of lever I54. Cam I23 has a long concentric surface or dwell of approximately 210 which holds lever I54 in its forward position, the position shown in Figure 5, against the pull of its spring I51, and through link I53 and levers I52 and I50 holds slide I41 and blade Illl in the retracted position inre'adiness for the cross-feed of a paper tube 94. As roller I56 rides in on cam surface 1, lever I54, through the pull of spring i51, draws link I53 and lever I52 rearward, that is, to the right as viewed in Figure 5,'

moving lever I forward and shifting slide I41 and blade I'6I forward to transfer a tube 9 4 from the feed slot position under spring blade I00 to the feed slot in slide 64 in position to be engaged by the piercing needle and feed tube as above explained, the limit of the forward or transfer shift of blade lill being reached when roller I56 rides onto the low point g of the cam surface 1 which has a dwell of about 100. The purpose of this dwell is to hold transfer blade IOI in the forward position, and thereby to hold a tube 94 in alignment with the piercing needle 'II as seen in to enter the tube. The roller I56 then rides outward on cam surface h moving lever I54 to retract slide I4'I and blade IN, and, when the roller rides onto the long concentric dwell, blade IOI will be held in the full retracted position of Figure 5 during which time the operations above described in connection with Figures '7 to 10 take place.

Cam I24, Figures 2 and 3, controls the movements of gate I06 and ejector I08. As above explained the gate and ejector are actuated by lever III secured on rock-shaft II2 which is journalled in brackets I49. On the shaft H2 is clamped a lever I58 to which is pivoted adjustable link I59 pivotally connected to lever I60 which is pivoted at I6I on cam-shaft bearing II9. Lever I60 has a roller follower I62 which is held in contact with the periphery of cam plate I24 by a spring (not shown) connected to lever I60. Cam plate I24, as seen in Figure 3, has three identical sets of cam surfaces for successively actuating lever I60 three times for each revolution of the cam plate, the three actuations corresponding to and being performed in timed relation with the three actuations of the hopper collector plate I63 for each revolution of the hopper control cam I22. That is, during each interval of rest of collector plate I03 (at which time a tube is or may be held in the discharge slot I05 by gate I06) one of the sets of cam surfaces of cam plate I24 actuate lever I60 to effect the movements of gate I06 and ejector I08 as above explained. Each set of cam surfaces on cam plate I24 comprises a high concentric surface m of approximately 30, low concentric surface n of approximately 30, connecting cam surface 0 between m and n of approximately 10", and cam surface 11 of approximately 50. In the position shown in Figure 3, a cam surface 27 has completed the active or ejector stroke of the levers, and gate I06 is partly closed (enough to insure catching a tube 94 deposited by the collector plate into discharge slot I05) and as roller I62 continues to ride up on cam surface 21, lever I60 will continue moving forward to raise ejector I08 slightly higher to allow pin I01 to enter slot I06 in the gate and permit the gate to completely close discharge slot I05. As the, roller I62 rides on the high concentric surface m the ejector will remain stationary and the gate fully closed. As the roller rides down on cam surface 0 the ejector movement starts, without, however, opening the gate, that is, to approximately the position shown in Figure 3 (the purpose of which will be later explained) and then the roller rides on low concentric surface 11 and holds the levers and connected parts for a short interval in approximately the position shown in Figure 3. When roller I62 r1des down cam surface 1) the ejector movement is completed by a rapid inward movement of lever I62 to the limit as the roller contacts the curved part of cam surface 10, and as roller I62 starts to ride up on the straight part of cam surface I the ejector mechanism returns to the position shown in Figure 3.,

During this movement of cam. I24 and 00- operating levers in the operation'of the. gate and ejector, stop-lug I63, which forms part of 'lever I58 and the clamp whereby the lever is spring (not shown) attached to a pin projecting from the pivot end of the lever which tends to constantly draw the lever to the right from the position shown in Figure 2 to move pin I63 against stop I63 or under it as will be presently explained. To lever I65 is pivotally connected a bar I61 which projects under the hopper and rests on tube feed lever MI to which it is linked by a headed pin I68 the shank of which works in slot I89. Pin IE8 is free to move back and forth in slot I69 as lever I4I swings on its pivot to reciprocate the tube feed rod 83, and as lever I4I swings to the right after having imparted the full feed stroke to rod 88 (the position shown in Figure 2) rod IE! will follow lever I iI due to the pull of the spring connected to lever IE5 until pin I64 abuts against stop-lug I63. Under certain conditions, hereinafter pointed out, if lug IE3 is not in the path of movement of pin I64, lever I65 will move further until it abuts against stop I'Iii which is adjustably mounted on bracket I49. In this latter position of lever IE5 pin I64 will stand under stop-lug I53 and prevent the oscillation of rock-shaft H2 and interrupt the ejector movement.

The purpose of control lever I65 is to insure i' the proper feed of paper tubes to the transfer position; to make certain that a tube will be in position for cross-feed to the tube inserting position in slide 64; and to prevent an oversupply of tubes at the discharge slot I65.

It may be noted more specifically that, upon the completion of the downward stroke of the ejector, the arm H5 and rod I39 (Figs. 2 and 4) are actuated by cam I22 to rock the lever MI and shift the plunger 83 to the left (Fig. 2)

The straight portion of the cam surface 13 thenacts upon roller I62 and lever I to restore the ejector I68 to its uppermost position.

After the plunger 83 has completed the forward feeding movement of the ejected tube the cam I22 actuates rod I38 to feed the hopper plate IE3 one step and concurrently to restore the plunger 88 to the right, into its retracted position. During the retraction of said plunger, the lever I is swung by its spring so that its pin I64 moves to the right, but before said pin can pass under the stop lug I63, the next cam surface 0 of cam I24 comes opposite roller I62, and.- the ejector I03 drops slightly into the position shown in Figure 3, at which time the lug I63 has dropped sufiiciently to come into the path of pin IM and thus block further movement of the latter to the right. Thenwhen sur face 11 of cam I24 passes out of engagement with roller I52, and the curved surface of cam portion. 1) of said cam comes under said roller, the ejector completes its downward movement and ejects another tube from slot Hi5, into position between the previously ejected tube and the plunger 88.

When the feed slot 66' is not full the foregoing action is repeated. When, however, said feed slot is full, and the arms 5 l5 and I39 are actuated by cam 122 in the direction for advancingthe plunger 88, the forward movement of the latter is blocked byitsengagement with the tube which has just been ejected from discharge slot 165 into feed slot 66'. The spring M5 on rod I3?! is now compressed and allows said rod to slide in its pivot block without imparting further movement to lever i4! and plunger 88. However, during said actuation of arms I 55 and H39 in plunger feeding direction, the straight portion of cam surface p on cam lit engages roller E62 and raises the ejector m3 to its highest position. Stop lug its is thereby also raised into its uppermost position, so that the lever Hi5 can be swung by its spring suniciently to bring its pin 664 beneath said step lug I53, at which time further movement of said lever I 55 under the action of its spring is stopped by engagement with said lever with stop l'itl. It may be noted that when the advance of plunger 88 is blocked by a full line of tubes, as above described, pin I68 of lever I4! is positioned suffieiently to the rear of the forward end of slot iii?) to permit lever I to remain stationary with the pin ltd under the stop lug I63.

With a full line of tubes in slot 3% as aforesaid, plunger 33 cannot feed forwardly the tube last ejected from discharge slot It? until after crosshead iili has fed the foremost tube out of slot 65 and has been retracted into its position shown in Figure 5. Then, in the next actuation of arms H5 and tilt to advance the plunger 88, the latter feeds the line of tubes forwardly. In this operation of said plunger, pin 5538 or" lever MI strikes the forward end of slot H59 in link It! and restores lever E55 into its left hand position shown in Figure 2, releasing the stop lug I63. Thereafter, as the operation continues, plunger 33 is retracted as previously described, and lever I55 is drawn to the right by its spring, but before pin Id ican come under stop lug 153 the next cam surface 0 of cam i2 3 comes opposite roller M2 and lug H63 drops back into the path of said pin Hi l, freeing the ejector mechanism for operation to feed a tube through discharge slot Hi5 into slot 65.

As above stated, the piercing of the cigar tip and insertion of a paper tube M takes place while a cigar is held in position at the second knurling tool 38, and during that operation no cross-feed or transfer of paper tubes from the feed slot in block 66 to the slot in slide 6:? takes place. But in order to insure a supply of tubes to the transfer position, the hopper feed acts three times to one transfer movement. This takes care of the occasional ure of pockets its to catch a tube for delivery to the discharge slot m5. When the feeding of tubes into the discharge slot N55 is constant and the feed slot in block 85 is full with a tube in position to be released by the gate, push rod 88, as previously noted, will abut the line of tubes and be arrested in its forward movement and spring ME on'rod $39 will be compressed and allow the rod to slide in its pivot block Hit Without impartin further movement to feed lever Mi. At such time lever It! would come to rest at a point further tothe right as viewed in Figure 2, i. e., the length of a paper tube 9 and consequently rod It! will be free to slide on lever Edi a corresponding distance and permit lever M5 to move pin 56% under stop-lug its. In that position of pin 56 3, as above stated, the turning of rock-shaft H2 will be arrested and prevent the operation of the ejector. In such case, the tube carried in the pocket its which happens to be in alignment with the discharge slot I215 will not be released by the gate and will be carried around the hopper by the collector plate. Thus jamming of paper tubes at the discharge slot of the hopper is avoided.

The timing of cam H24 is such that as the ejector stroke begins by the opening of gate I06, stop-lug 53 will have moved down into the path of pin E64 and prevents lever I65 from moving the pin under the stop-lug and thereby permits rockshaft II2 to complete the full ejector stroke to place a tube 96 in position in the feed slot 66' to be advanced by push-rod 88. This insures the regular constant feed along the feed slot 66' when tubes are regularly and constantly deposited in discharge slot E85 by the collector plate I03, if the feed slot is not already filled. When the pockets I04 of the collector plate happen to miss catching a paper tube in regular order, and therefore the discharge slot 35 would be empty when the ejector passes down through that slot, the feed slot 56 would not be full up to the discharge point at the hopper and consequently push-rod 88 would make an idle stroke. It is for this purpose that the hopper collector plate and the ejector mechanism are actuated three times in each revolution of the control cams I22 and I24 during the single operation of the crossfeed blade it! and the piercing needle and tube inserting mechanism for each revolution of their control cams I23 and 83. This enables the hopper and ejector mechanism to catch up on the supply of paper tubes to the feed slot and permits push-rod 88 to feed tubes forward to the transfer position.

The operation of the complete apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description of the re-rolling, knurling, re-knurling and paper tube inserting mechanism and their functions, and

may be summarized as follows: The mechanism above described being operatively connected with a cigar forming machine of the usual type, such, for example, as a machine of the general type illustrated in the patent to Tyberg, No. 1,134,246, dated April 6. 1915, or, as shown in the patent to Rundell, No. 1,532,545, dated April 27, 1926, a cigar produced by that machine is deposited upon the apron of the re-rolling mechanism, and since the re-rolling and knurling mechanism and the cam shaft controlling the actuation of cigar feed, grippers and paper tube inserting mechanisms are all driven in unison with the cigar forming machine, all parts will begin operating simultaneously, and, as the first cigar is undergoing the re-rolling operation, the paper tube feeding mechanism starts supplying tubes in readiness for feeding into position for insertion into the cigar; as they arrive at the re knurling position. When the re-rolling operation on the first cigar is completed the cigar is delivered to the first gripping fingers for the first knurling operation. During this time should the paper tube slot become filled before the first cigar reaches the tube inserting position, the feeding of tubes into the feed slot will be skipped as above explained. When the first knurling operation is completed the cigar is passed along to the second knurling and tube inserting position while the tube feeding mechanism continues to operate. At that point the tube insertion and second knurling takes place simultaneously, and in the meantime a second cigar has been delivered to the first knurllng position, and a third cigar is delivered for re-rolling. At this time four operations will be under way, i. e., tube inserting, reknurling, first knurling and re-rolling. As the tube inserting and re-knurling operation is completed the first cigar is discharged onto the receiving tray and the second cigar advances to the second knurling position and this cycle of operations continues as long as the entire apparatus is in operation.

Means may be provided for piercing the head of the cigar as a preliminary to the insertion of. the needle H and tube 94 in the second knurling position. The entry of the needle and tube may thereby be facilitated in cigar heads in which the filler is tightly compressed. This pre-piercing means, shown in Figures 12 and 13, may be associated with the first knurler 21 and may take the form of the piercing mechanism illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 12,720, filed March 23, 1935. Thus, referring to Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings of the present application, the knurler 21 is shown attached to a sleeve I12, sliding in the sleeve hub I13 of pulleys 50, 5i. In bushings I14 within the sleeve I12 is mounted the piercing pin I 15, which thus is concentric with knurler 21. A collar I16 on sleeve hub I13 retains said hub in position in the frame bearing portion I11 in which it is journalled. A key I18 projects from hub I13 into a long keyway in sleeve I12 whereby rotation of pulley 5D is transmitted to said sleeve I12 and knurler 21. Rotation of sleeve I12 is transmitted to pin I15 through pin I19 which projects from sleeve I12 into an extended keyway in pin I15. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that sleeve I12 and pin I15 can both move axially, independently of each other. Pin I15 may be reciprocated by any suitable means, such as cam operated lever I30 which engages shifter collar IN on said pin, and is operated to and from its rest position I (Fig. 12). Sleeve I12 is reciprocated by cam arm 55 previously mentioned, which is actuated to and from its rest position 55' (Fig. 12). As in my co-pending application, No. 12,720, above referred to, the operation of lever I80 and pin I15 is so timed with respect to the operation of sleeve I12 that said pin I15 is caused to pierce the cigar head after the knurler 21 engages said head, said pin I15 being withdrawn from the cigar head before knurler 21 is disengaged therefrom.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 12 the needle I15 is projected only a slight distance into the cigar head, and the needle H is projected further into said head to the distance necessary for insertion of the tube. It will be clear that, if desired, the stroke of needle E15 may be such as to carry the latter into the cigar head to the same extent as needle 1I. It will be furthermore seen that needle I15 may be of. smaller diameter than needle 1|, so that the piercing of the cigar head may be accomplished in stages producing both increased length and diameter of the hole in the cigar head; or, if both of said needles be projected the same distance into the head, the piercing stages may correspond simply to increasin diameters.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not ,of limitation, and- I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. The method of treating a cigar comprising inserting a piercing element through a tube, introducing said tube andelement into the head of said cigar, withdrawing said piercing element from :said head, and knurling said "head during said withdrawal of said element.

2. The-processor treating the head of a cigar, comprising passing a piercing element through a tube, forcing the element and tube into the cigar head to depositthe tube therein, withdrawing said element,and'knurling'said head during said insertion and withdrawal of said element.

3. In combination, means for knurling the head of a cigar, means for inserting a draft element through said knurling means and into said head, and means for withdrawing said inserting means while said draft element is maintained in said head.

4. In combination, means for knurling the head of a cigar, puncturing mean-s, means for passing said puncturing means through the knurling means and into said head, and means for feeding a tube into the path of said puncturing means for travel therewith into said head.

5. In combination, means for supporting a cigar, means for puncturing the head of said cigar while the latter is engaged with said supporting means, means for moving said puncturing means into and out of engagement with said head, means for depositing a tube between said puncturing means andsaid head, and means for causing said tube to travel with said puncturing means into said head. 1

6. In combination, means for supporting a cigar, means for puncturing the head of said cigar while the latter is engaged with said supporting means, means for moving said puncturing means into and out of engagement with said head, means for depositing a tube between said puncturing means and said head, means for inserting said tube into said head, and means for operating said tube inserting means independently of said puncturing means.

'7. The process of inserting a tube into the head of a cigar, comprising projecting a puncturing element beyond an inserting element and into the tube, projecting both the puncturing element and the inserting element to insert the puncturing element and tube into the cigar, retracting the puncturing element from the tube and into saicl inserting element, and withdrawing said puncturing and inserting elements to a position for acting upon a new tube.

8". In combination, means for supporting a cigar, puncturing means, tube-inserting means surrounding said puncturing means, means for feeding a tube into a position between said puncturing and inserting means and said supporting means, and means for first projecting the puncturing means through said tube, then projecting both the puncturing and the inserting means to carry the puncturing means and the tube into, the head of the cigar, then withdrawing the puncturin'g means from the tube and into the insert-' ing means, and then retracting the puncturing and inserting means to their initial position.

9. The process of treating a cigar comprising rerolling. the same, then knurling the head of said cigar, and then concurrently knurling said cigar head andinserting a tube into the same.

10. The process of treating a cigar comprising rerolling the same andthereafter concurrently knurling the head of said cigar and inserting a tube into said head.

11. Cigar treating mechanism comprising rerollingmeans, means for knurling a cigar subsequent to the action of said rerolling means thereon, and means cooperating with said knurling means for inserting'a tube into the head of said cigar.

12. Theprocess of treating a cigar, comprising depositing a .tube in the cigar head after application'o'fjth'e wrapper thereto, and knurling said head after said tube has been deposited.

13. The process of treating a cigar comprising depositinga tube in the cigar head and knurling said-headduring the depositing 'of said tube. and after said tube has beendeposited.

14:. Cigar treating mechanism comprising rerolling means, means 'for knurling a cigar subsequent to' the action of the rerolling means thereon, and means for'passing a tube along the axis of the knurling means and into the head of the cigar.

15. The process of treating a cigar comprising projecting a puncturing element beyond an inserting element and into a tube, projecting both the puncturing element and the inserting element to insert 'the puncturing element and tube into the cigar, retracting the puncturing element, maintaining the inserting element in engagement with the tube while knurling the cigar head to compress the filler tobacco about the tube, and withdrawing the puncturing and inserting elements to a position for acting upon a new tube.

16. The process of treating a cigar comprising depositing a tube in the cigar head after application of the wrapper thereto, and knurling said head to compress the filler tobacco about the tube after the latter has been deposited.

l7. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar supporting means, means for feeding cigars in succession to-said supporting means, draft element inserting means, means for feeding draft elements in succession to said inserting means, and means for actuating said inserting means to insert the draftelements in succession into the heads of successive cigars on said supporting means.

18. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar sup-porting means, means for feeding cigars in succession to said supporting means, draft element inserting means, means for feeding said elements rectilinearly in succession toward said inserting means, and means for actuating said inserting means to insert said' elements in succession into the heads of successive cigars on said supporting means.

19. Cigar treatingmechanism comprising cigar supporting means, means for feeding cigars in succession to said supporting means, tube sup- :ply'means, means for feeding tubes in a given :path from said supply means toward said supporting means, means for feeding a tube trans- "versely of the first mentioned path into alignmentwith a cigar in said supporting means, and

means forwinserting an aligned tube into said cigar.

20. Cigartreating mechanism comprising cigar supporting means, draft element supply means, means for ejecting draft elements successively from said supply means into a feed channel, means for feedingejected draft elements through said channel and toward said supporting means, means for inserting said elements into cigars in said supporting means, and means controlled by said feeding means for rendering said ejecting means ineffective when said channel is filled.

21. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar supporting means, draft element supply means, means for ejecting draft elements successively from said supply means, means for feeding ejected draft elements through said channel and toward said supporting means, means for inserting said elements into cigar insaid supporting means, and interlocking means between said feeding means and said ejecting means for controlling the efiectiveness of said ejecting means.

22. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar supporting means, means for feeding cigars in succession to said supporting means, means for piercing the head of a cigar, means for feeding tubes in succession toward said piercing means, means for projecting said piercing means through a tube, and thence into the head of a cigar in said supporting means, and means for projecting said tube into said head concurrently with the passage of said piercing means into said head.

23. Cigar treating mechanism comprising knurling means, means cooperating with said knurling means for piercing the head of a cigar, a second knurling means, means for transferring said cigar from the first to the second knurling meansand means cooperating with the second 'knurling means for inserting a tube into the head of said cigar.

'24. Cigar t'reating mechanism comprising knurling means, means cooperating with said knurling means for piercing the head of a cigar, a second knurling means, meansfor transferring said cigar from the first to the second knurling means, and means comprising a second piercing means cooperating with the second knurling meansfor' introducing a tube into the head of said cigar.

' 25. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar supporting means, means for piercing the head of a cigar in said supporting means, a secand supporting means, means for transferring said cigar from the first to the second supporting means, and means cooperating with the second supporting means for inserting a tube into the head of said cigar.

26.Cigar treating mechanism comprising means for piercing the head of a cigar to a given extent, and means comprising other piercing means for piercing said head to a further extent and introducing a tube into said head.

27. Cigar treating mechanism comprising rero lling means, means for receiving a cigar from said rerolling means, means for knurling the head of the cigar in said receiving means, means for releasing said cigar from said receiving means, a second receiving means, means for transferring said released cigar to said second receiving means, and means cooperating with said second receiving means for inserting a tube into the head of said cigar.

28. Cigar treating mechanism comprising means for supporting a cigar, means for successively feeding cigars to said supporting means,

tube supply means, means for ejecting tubes from said supply means, means for feeding ejected tubes'in a given path, means for inserting tubes into cigars in said supporting means, and means movable transversely to said tube feed path for transferring tubes successively from said path to said inserting means.

29. Cigar treating mechanism comprising a support, means for feeding cigars successively' to said support, a source of tube supply, means for ejecting tubes from said supply source, means for transferring tubes sequentially from said source to said ejecting means, means for operating said ejecting means, means for feeding siong a given path tubes ejected by said ejecting means, means for inserting said tubes into cigars in said support, and means for transferring tubes from said path to said inserting means.

30. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for ejecting tubes from said source, said source comprising means for receiving tubes and carrying the same sequentially to said ejecting means, means for feeding along a given path tubes ejected by said ejecting means, means for inserting said tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for transferring tubes from said path to said inserting means, and means for operating said tube receiving means with greater frequency than said transferring means to insure the provision of a tube for each cigar.

31. Cigar treating mechanism comprising a cigar support, means for feeding cigars to said support, draft element supply means, means for ejecting draft elements therefrom, means for inserting said elements into cigars in said support, and means for feeding ejected draft elements from said supply means to said inserting means.

32. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar feeding means, a tube supply source, means for ejecting tubes from said source, said source comprising movable means for conveying tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, and means for transferring tubes from said ejecting means to said inserting means.

33. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar feeding means, a tube supply source, means for ejecting tubes from said source, said source comprising movable means for conveying tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for transferring tubesfrom said ejecting means to said inserting means, and means for operating said tube conveying means with greater frequency than said tube inserting means.

34. Cigar treating mechanism comprising cigar feeding means, 'a tube supply source, means for ejecting tubes from said source, said source comprising movable means for conveying tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for transferring tubes from said ejecting means to said inserting means, means for operating said tube conveying means with greater frequency than said tube inserting means, and means for suspendiing operation of said ejecting means in response to the accumulation of a full line of tubes between said ejecting means and said inserting means.

35. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for feeding tubes longitudinally along a given path from said supply source, and means for feeding tubes transversely from said path to said inserting means.

36. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said source, means operable for intermittently conveying tubes successively to said ejecting means, and means operable during intervals between successive operations of said conveying means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means.

3'7. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of draft element supply, means for inserting draft elements into cigars supplied by said feeding means, and means for transferring draft elements from said source to said inserting means.

38. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said source, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, and means comprising a yieldable connection for operating said tube feeding means.

39. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said supply source, means operable at greater frequency than said inserting means for conveying tubes to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, and means responsive to accumulation of a full line of tubes between said ejecting means and said inserting means for disabling said ejecting means.

40. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said supply source, means operable at greater frequency than said inserting means for conveying tubes to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, and means controlled by said feeding means and responsive to accumulation of a full line of tubes between said ejecting means and said inserting means for disabling said ejecting means.

41. In combination, cigar feeding means, a Source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said supply source, means operable at greater frequency than said inserting means for conveying tubes to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, and means responsive to accumulation of a full line of tubes be tween said ejecting means and said inserting means for suspending action of said feeding means.

42. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said supply source, means operable at greater frequency than said inserting means for conveying tubes to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, and means responsive to accumulation of a full line of tubes between said ejecting means and said inserting means for suspending action of said feeding and ejecting means.

43. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said source, means operable at higher frequency than said inserting means for conveying tubes to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means, yieldable means for operating said tube feeding'means, and stop means controlled by said feeding means, said stop means being constructed and arranged to block operation of said ejecting means when feeding of tubes by said feeding means is obstructed.

44. In combination, cigar feeding means, a source of tube supply, means for inserting tubes into cigars supplied by said feeding means, means for ejecting tubes from said tube supply source, said tube supply source comprising a hopper and a plate therein having means for receiving tubes, means for actuating said plate step by step to bring tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for operating said ejecting means, and means for feeding ejected tubes toward said inserting means.

45., In combination, cigar feeding means, a tube supply source lcomprising a hopper, a plate rotatably mounted in said hopper and provided with tube-receiving recesses, means for ejecting tubes from said hopper, means for intermittently rotating said plate to convey tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes, and means for inserting said tubes into cigars supplied by said cigar feeding means.

46. In combination, cigar feeding means, a tube supply source comprising a hopper, a plate rotatably mounted in said hopper on an inclined wall thereof, for rotation about an axis inclined to the vertical and provided with tube-receiving recesses, means for ejecting tubes from said hopper, means for intermittently rotating said plate to convey tubes successively to said ejecting means, means for feeding ejected tubes, and means for inserting said tubes into cigars supplied by said cigar feeding means.

47. In combination with a cigar machine comprising rerolling means and means for receiving a cigar from said rerolling means and knurling the same, means for receiving a cigar from the first mentioned receiving means, and means adjacent the second receiving means for inserting a tube into the cigar held thereby, cotemporaneously with the rerolling of a cigar by the rerolling means and the knurling of a cigar in the first receiving means.

48. In combination with a cigar machine comprising rerolling means and means for receiving a cigar from said rerolling means and knurling the same, means for receiving a cigar from the first mentioned receiving means, and reknurling said cigar, and means adjacent the second receiving means for inserting a tube into the cigar held thereby, cotemporaneously with theflrerolling of a cigar by the rerolling means and the knurling of a cigar in the first receiving means.

49. The method of treating a cigar which comprises first rerolling the same, then knurling said cigar, and then inserting a tube into the head of said cigar and reknurling the same.

50. The process of treating the head of a cigar, comprising knurling said head and concurrently depositing a tube therein.

51. In apparatus for inserting tubes into cigars, a tube supply source, means for ejecting tubes successively from said source, means for feeding ejected tubes, and operating means for said ejecting and feeding means, said operating means being so constructed and arranged as to cause an ejected tube to be fed forwardly a predetermined distance while the ejecting means dwells in its ejecting position.

SIGURD CLAUSEN.

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