US2286306A - Cigarette machine tobacco feed - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1942.

c. F. RANDOLPH 2,286,306

CIGARETTE MACHINE TOBACCO FEED Filed April 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 16, 1942.

CIGARETTE MACHINE TOBACCO FEED 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed April 21, 1957 \J I WW ATTORNEY c. F. RANDOLPH 2,286,306

Patented June 16, 1942 4 CIGARETTE MACHINE TOBACCO FEED Clifiord F. Randolph, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,124

31 Claims. (01. 131-66) This invention relates to an improvement in tobacco feeds for continuous rod cigarette machines, its main object being to overcome the difficulties experienced in forming a perfect cigarette rod by providing means for rendering the tobacco charge on the traveling cigarette paper web more homogeneous than has been possible heretofore.

1 In most cigarette machine tobacco feeds it is customary to deliver the tobacco from a source of supply to pin and picker rollers, or on an apron to a point of discharge, and then allow the tobacco to fall in a shower onto the traveling cigarette web. With these methods it is difficult to obtain a rod of constant cross section and density so that in many instances the reslllting cigarettes formed will not meet the requirements of density and uniformity and accordingly will be rejected as imperfect.

The present invention has taken into consid eration these disadvantageous features of the prior art, and has made possible the production of more perfect cigarettes, both from the point of view of homogeneity and weight.

It has been found that if the tobacco fed from the conventional carded rollers onto a traveling web or apron is subsequently compacted or shrunk in the direction of its feed as it is fed to the rod former, the above mentioned results are achieved. That is, tobacco discharged from the apron is not conducted to picker rollers, or dropped into the usual chute leading to the maker, but is discharged from the source of supply as a narrow stream into a channel, which may take many forms, but which in the embodiments shown is either inclinedor vertical and approximately the width of the rod, where it is compacted by means of the movement of the channel or a wall thereof in order to bring the tobacco rod which ultimately issues from the channel to substantially a uniform cross section and density. The tobacco which is vibrated into compacted position axially of its movement lengthwise of the channel is fed in this state as a uniformly compacted, narrow mat directly into the rod former, and hence substantial variations in density or cross sectional area of the mat are eliminated.

It is an added object of this invention to provide a vibratory channel tobacco guiding and feeding mechanism which will progressively compact or shrink the tobacco into a mat of uniform density in the direction of its feed through the channel.

It is a further object to provide a tobacco feeding channel in which one of the walls thereof is capable of being vibrated to compact tobacco located therein.

It is an additional object to provide a tobacco feed in which tobacco is fed into a closed channel, and one or more walls of said channel comprises an endless traveling surface.

It is a further object to provide a device for feeding tobacco to a rod forming mechanism in which means are furnished for engaging the tobacco and forming a rod of substantially constant cross section and density.

It is a further object to furnish an electrical vibrating mechanism connected to the resiliently mounted tobacco feed channel for compacting the tobacco axially in its movement through said channel.

The invention also consists in the provision of a tobacco feeding and compacting channel having at least one portion constructed to guide the tobacco which has been compacted in the channel into the cigarette making mechanism.

It is a further object to provide a cigarette forming mechanism in which a narrow mat of compacted tobacco is conducted from a movable compacting channel onto a moving cigarette paper web and fed into a cigarette machine rod former.

It is a further object to feed a narrow compacted mat of tobacco to a rod forming mechanism and compress the same as it is being fed thereto.

The invention also consists of an arrangement of parts such that the main tobacco sup-ply chamber is placed directly over a portion of the rod forming mechanism with the result that the space occupied by the machine is markedly less than that heretofore required.

The invention also contemplates feeding t0- bacco through a circuitous path to form a filler rod and conducting the filler rod beneath the initial tobacco feeding unit into association with the cigarette paper web to move together into the cigarette rod forming mechanism.

An additional object is to feed tobacco in a narrow stream of a width approximating that of a finished cigarette rod, in a substantially horizontal plane to a point of discharge, and deliver the stream into a narrow confining and compacting channel where it is positioned for compaction into a mat of uniform density appropriate for forming more perfect cigarettes than heretofore possible in existing machines. It further includes associating the compacted mat of tobacco and a cigarette paper web and moving this assembly into cigarette forming mechanism.

In carrying out this object the direction of movement of the stream and mat may be the same or opposite as shown in the drawings forming part of this specification.

A further object is to feed the tobacco in one path, discharge it into a compacting channel, and then direct it to an opposite direction into the cigarette forming mechanism. This arrangement results in a more uniform rod formation, and a shorter cigarette machine inasmuch as the tobacco feed is positioned directly over the rod former.

The invention also contemplates a novel method for forming a filler rod of substantially unvarying cross section and density in which loose tobacco is compacted axially of its movement through the machine by agitation during a portion of said movement, after which the compacted tobacco is associated with a moving endless cigarette web and formed into a cigarette rod.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists of certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth more specifically in the appended claims.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a continuous rod cigarette machine showing the improved means of delivering the fed tobacco from the chute of a tobacco feed to the paper web of the cigarette rod;

Fig, 2 is a cross-section on line 22 of Fig. 1, giving a vertical elevation of the delivery end of a tobacco feed and showing the manner of feeding the filler tobacco to the auxiliary conveyor belt;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the shape of the vibrating filling trough and the position of the belt on the same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification in the arrangement of the auxiliary feed conveyor and the vibrating trough; and

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig, 4, showing a mechanical method of vibrating the filling trough.

Referring to the drawings, the tobacco T issuing from the end roller 4 of the delivery apron 5 of the tobacco feed 6 is delivered to a roller 1 mounted on a shaft 8 and provided with pins from which the tobacco is picked by the pins of a picker roller 9 located adjacent roller 1 on a shaft H3, and propelled thereby into a chute ll, the bottom of which may be formed by an endless conveyor belt l2 running over a roller I 3 on a horizontal shaft l4. A roller l5 mounted on a shaft 16 above roller 1 assists in guiding tobacco onto roller 1 and also presses it into a mat or layer thereon up to the height of the pins ll of the same so as to form a uniform mat, which will smoothly pass through a channel formed by the roller and a concave l8 concentric therewith and constituting a part of the general tobacco feed enclosing structure. The roller 4 and the horizontal shafts 8, l0 and I6 are supported in the side walls of the tobacco chamber 3 and are turned in the direction of the respective arrows from the drive shaft of the tobacco feed (not shown). The roller [3 is driven at high speed so that the tobacco T falls on the conveyor belt I2 in the form of an even mat T which is carried forward by the belt and discharged from it as it turns around roller I3.

Beneath roller 13 is mounted an inclined concave tobacco confining member or trough I9 which may have desirably a general U-shaped cross section or formed of a bottom plate and spaced side walls which may be rigid members or traveling belts, terminating above the endless tape-belt 20 which carries the paper web P, which it pulls around a roller 2| on a horizontal shaft 22 from a reel on the cigarette machine. The trough I9 is supported on a plate 23 which is carried by fiat springs 24, fastened to it by angles 25, from a base plate 26 provided with angles 21, the plate 26 being attached to a bracket 28 on the cigarette machine frame through rubber cushions 29. The trough I9 is set into rapid vibrations of short amplitude by an electric vibrator 30 mounted on a block 3| carried by the base plate 26, the armature 32 of this vibrator being attached to plate 23 through one of the angles 25. If desired, suitable mechanical vibrating mechanism can be used.

An endless belt 33 is carried by rollers 34, 35, 36, 31, 38 and 39 mounted on shafts suitably supported in the machine frame along the top of trough I9 in the direction of the arrows, thereby transforming the trough into a closed channel provided with a moving top surface. The channel belt 33 is driven from the machine drive (not shown) at cigarette-rod speed, that is, at the same linear velocity as the tape belt 20, and runs at an incline towards said belt between the rollers 31 and 38, the space between the belts 20 and 33 forming a continuation of channel l9 and acting to compress the tobacco as it moves to the forming mechanism.

The tobacco layer T enters the channel H! in a loose, narrow stream, but in traveling through it, owing to the vibratory motion imparted thereto, is compacted axially and settles into a homogeneous narrow mat T" approximately the width of a cigarette rod, and is carried in this state onto the paper web P by the belts 20 and 33 and, after being wrapped in the paper web of the applicant's invention in which tobacco is fed from the main supply chamber 6 onto a feed conveyor belt l2 which runs in the direction indicated by the arrows. Belt [2 is trained over rollers, I3, 42 and 43 and the tobacco is fed thereto in a narrow stream from delivery chute H as the belt is passing between rollers l3 and 42. At roller 42 the belt l2 makes substantially a right angle turn and then runs vertically until it is guided around roller 43. The feed trough is constructed similarly to trough I9, and as shown, consists of a stationary part 44 of generally U-shape cross section, the bottom of which is spaced from and parallel with belt 12, and having a curved center portion which follows the curvature of roller 42, and of a movable vertical part also of U-shape cross section similarly arranged with respect to the belt, and having an end portion which is shaped to follow the curvature of roller 43. The stationary part 44 is attached by a bracket 46 to the tobacco chamber 6, while the movable part 45 is hinged on a stud 41 and held a small distance away from the stationary part by a spring 48 held on stud 49 of part 45 by means of adjustingscrews 50, the said spring bearing against a stationary frame member through which the stud 49 passes. The distance at which the bottom walls of the trough parts 44 and 45 are spaced from belt I2, which functions to confine tobacco in the channel, and exert a feeding and compacting influence, depends upon the thickness of the cigarette rod that is to be formed. It is intended, however, that adjustment can be made to control this factor. In order to compact the tobacco which is confined Within the channel, and which moves down to the rod forming mechanism chiefly by gravity, the movable part of the device is adapted to be vibrated by means of some type of vibrating unit, either electrical or mechanical. In the embodiment shown, this part is vibrated by rotation of a hexagonal member 52 fixed on a shaft 53 having a pulley 54 driven by a belt 55. The shaft 53 is supported in a bearing 56. As the shaft 53 revolves, the corners of the hexagon 52; or other regular polygon, push the movable part 45 of the trough towards the stationary part 44 against the tension of spring 48, thus throwing the feed trough into rapid vibration. In the same manner as in the modification shown in Figs. 1-3 inclusive, the tobacco enters the receiving end of the channel as a loose, narrow stream. The channels in both embodiments are narrow in width and consequently confine the stream against lateral expansion so that when the channels are agitated the tobacco therein is compacted lengthwise of its movement through the channel and issues as a compacted mat of approximately rod size. The evenly compacted tobacco T" is discharged from the channel 45 by belt I2 over the curved end wall and conveyor 26 upon the paper web P which, fed forward by conveyor 20, carries it to the rod former 40, 4|, as before. It will be noted that the tobacco is fed from the channel at the same speed at which the loose tobacco is delivered thereto. Between the roller 43 and the rod former tongue 4| the tobacco charge on the paper P is guided by a top plate 51 which preferably is inclined towards belt for compressing the tobacco moving thereunder, and has an end portion 51a which may be positioned to engage with belt l2 and remove any particles of tobacco that tend to cling thereto.

It is also to be noted that the supply tobacco chamber 6 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is placed directly over the cigarette rod former 40, 4|. This arrangement in no manner interferes with the operation of the novel tobacco feed described above, but makes possible the construction of a shorter machine, and a consequent savings in floor space. Tobacco is showered in a narrow stream onto belt I2, conveyed thereby and discharged into a vertical channel though still under feeding control of belt l2. Tobacco issuing from the lower end of the channel is then directed into the rod former by a part of belt l2, and in an opposite direction from the feed of the stream on belt 12 from chamber 6.

The various means referred to may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with means having walls providing a tobacco receiving trough, of means providing a travelling surface cooperating with an open side of said trough and forming a wall closing said open side to provide therein an elongated space having a cross section approximately that of a cigarette rod, and mechanism imparting to at least one wall of said space a vibratory movement oblique to the axis of the trough and having a component of movement in the same direction as said travelling surface to advance and compact the tobacco in said trough into a cigarette filler and mechanism for wrapping a continuous strip of cigarette paper about said filler.

2. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tobacco feeding belt, of means for depositing picked or suitably separated tobacco thereon, in a narrow stream elongated in the direction of travel of said feeding belt, a feed trough positioned to receive tobacco from said belt, means to vibrate positively at least one wall of said trough, to compact said tobacco axially in its direction of feed through said trough, and a traveling surface beneath said trough for conveying said tobacco, so compacted, into the rod forming mechanism of said machine.

3. In a cigarette machine, a rod former, an upright tobacco confining and guiding channel, including a trough, means comprising a stretch of feeding belt traveling along an upper lever for delivering a narrow stream of picked or otherwise suitably separated tobacco approximating the width of a cigarette rod into said trough, a stretch of traveling belt closing one side of said trough yieldingly, means for vibrating positively at least one wall of said trough to compact the tobacco in said trough axially of its direction of movement therethrough, and means for delivering to the rod former the vibration-compacted stream in substantially its final rod form.

4. In a cigarette machine tobacco feed, an upright tobacco confining and feeding channel, including a trough and means providing a stretch of traveling surface constituting means to close flexibly an open side of said trough, a conveyor providing a stretch of traveling surface for delivering a narrow stream of tobacco of a width approximating the width of a cigarette rod into saidchannel, a vibrating device connected to said trough, and means for operating said vibrator to vibrate positively at least one wall of said trough to compact tobacco'therein axially of the length of said channel.

5. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco channel having a receiving end and a delivery end, said channel being fabricated with a trough member and a flexible, traveling stretch of belt for closing the open side of said trough, a stretch of flexible belt acting as a conveyor for delivering a narrow stream of tobacco approximating the width of a cigarette rod to said channel, means for vibrating said trough positivel to compact the tobacco therein to form a narrow compacted rod of tobacco of substantially uniform-density, and means disposed adjacent to the delivery end of said channel for moving said tobacco in its compacted form from said channel into the rod former of said machine.

6. In a cigarette machine, means for feeding a narrow stream of tobacco, a chute comprising an open trough of generally U-shaped cross section located adjacent to said means, to receive tobacco discharged therefrom, and means providing a traveling surface adapted to retain tobacco in said chute, mechanism connected to said trough for Vibrating it positively to compact tobacco therein lengthwise of its movement therethrough, and to hold it under compaction, and means for feeding said compacted tobacco from said chute directly into the rod forming mechanism of said machine.

'7. In a cigarette machine, means for separating tobacco from a supply thereof and showering it onto a traveling conveyor in a narrow stream, a channel disposed adjacent, to said conveyor for receiving said stream of tobacco, and including a trough with an open side, and means providing a traveling surface closing said open side, confining the tobacco against lateral movement, and means for vibrating said trough positively to compact tobacco contained therein axially of said channel as said tobacco is moved therethrough.

8. In a cigarette machine, means for showering separated tobacco in a narrow stream onto a traveling conveyor, a narrow U-shaped trough, and a flexible belt cooperating with said trough to close its open side and form therewith a channel disposed adjacent to said conveyor for receiving and advancing said stream, said belt serving as means for confining said tobacco in said channel, and means acting intermittently with high frequency in contact with said trough for compacting said tobacco axially of said channel to form a rod filler of uniform density and substantially cigarette size in cross section.

9. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a traveling tobacco carrying web, and means for showering tobacco in a narrow stream thereon, of a channel receiving tobacco from said web, said channel comprising a rigid trough-like member having walls partly enclosing said stream and also comprising a traveling surface spaced from the bottom of said trough-like member to close the open side thereof flexibly, and to confine the stream therein, means for vibrating said member positively to compact said stream in the direction of movement of said surface, and means disposed adjacent to the discharge end of said channel for moving said tobacco in its compacted form from said channel directly into the rod former of said machine.

10. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a traveling tobacco carrying web, and means for showering tobacco in a narrow stream thereon, of a channel receiving tobacco from said web, said channel comprising a resiliently mounted rigid member having walls partly enclosing said stream and also comprising a traveling surface spaced from the bottom of said member to close the open side thereof and to confine the stream therein, a vibrating mechanism connected to said member, means for operating said vibrator to cause said member to compact said stream in the direction of movement of said surface, and means disposed adjacent to the discharge end of said channel for moving said tobacco in its compacted form from said channel directly into the rod former of said machine.

11. In a cigarette machine, a rod former, a belt for feeding a web of paper and tobacco into said former, and means for compressing said tobacco axially prior to the movement of said paper and tobacco into said former, said means comprising a vibratory trough and a traveling web spaced from the bottom of said trough, and closing the open side of the trough, cooperating therewith to confine tobacco in said trough and compact it therein while feeding it directly to said paper.

12. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feeding plate, means providing a traveling surface moving over said'plate and cooperating therewith to form a channel for tobacco and confining said tobacco for movement thereover, means for vibrating said plate positively to and fro relatively to said surface and intermittently in the direction of travel thereof, to feed tobacco and compact it in the direction of its feed, and other traveling means cooperating with said firstnamed traveling surface for advancing said compacted tobacco from between said traveling means and said plate directly into the rod forming mechanism of said machine.

13. Tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigarette machine comprising a traveling web, means for showering picked or otherwise suitably separated tobacco upon said web in a narrow stream of a width substantially that of a cigarette rod, a trough disposed adjacent to said web and having a cross sectional area substantially equal to that of said stream, and adapted to receive said stream from the web, said trough including a vibratory wall concave in cross-section, a flexible traveling surface cooperating flexibly therewith to compact tobacco therein into uniform density, and another traveling member cooperating with said traveling surface in continuation of said trough to feed said compacted tobacco directly into the rod former of said machine.

14. In a cigarette tobacco feed for a cigarette machine, the combination with a conveyor carrying a narrow stream of tobacco of a width substantially that of a cigarette rod, of a narrow channel including a trough of like cross-sectional area with that of said stream, positioned to receive said stream, and deliver it in a compacted, approximately rod sized filler, to the rod former of said machine, and means for vibrating said trough positively to compact the tobacco moving therethrough to form said rod sized filler.

15. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a conveyor carrying a narrow stream of tobacco, of an inclined narrow trough comprising an inclined vibratable plate, concave in cross section, electrical means to vibrate said plate positively, at high frequency, and a flexible traveling surface closing the open side of said concave plate and cooperating flexibly with said plate to confine tobacco thereon and also to advance said rod into said machine, said ad- Vancement being effected by the combined gravitational and frictional forces applied by said inclined plate and flexible member, aided by the vibration of said plate, while compacting the rod.

16. A tobacco feed for a cigarette machine comprising a resiliently supported vibratable trough concave in cross section, means to vibrate said trough positively for compacting tobacco moving thereover, a traveling surface closing the open side of said concave trough and confining tobacco thereon, a cigarette rod former, and a traveling belt supporting an endless paper web and cooperating with said surface to ad- Vance said compacted tobacco from said trough into said former.

17. In a cigarette machine tobacco feed, means for forming a narrow stream of tobacco on a traveling web, a narrow chute having walls spaced apart a distance equal to approximately the width of a cigarette rod located adjacent an end of said web for receiving said stream and directing it to said machine, electromagnetic means for vibrating said chute to compact said tobacco positively at high frequency, and an endless belt cooperating with said chute for confining tobacco therein and feeding said compacted tobacco into said machine.

18. A rod forming device for a cigarette machine comprising a narrow upright tobacco guide channel including an upright trough forming a concave rear wall for said channel, a stretch of flexible traveling surface closing the open side of the trough, yieldingly, means to vibrate the trough positively, a stretch of traveling surface moving in one direction for feeding into the upper end of said upright channel a stream of tobacco substantially equal in cross-sectional area to that of said channel, whereby said stream of tobacco is compacted, by said vibration of the trough, into a cigarette rod filler as it moves through said channel, and a stretch of conveyor arranged to receive said stream at the foot of said upright channel and moving in the opposite direction to, and located directly beneath, said second stretch of traveling surface, for conveying said filler rod into the cigarette forming mechanism of said machine, said cigarette forming mechanism being also disposed directly beneath said portion of the second stretch of traveling surface leading to the upper end of said channel.

19. A cigarette machine, comprising a narrow cigarette tobacco feed channel, having an upright trough-like rear wall and a stretch of flexible, traveling surface forming a wall member closing the open side of said trough, a stretch of traveling surface for delivering a narrow stream of tobacco into said channel, mechanism for depositing said stream upon said secondnamed stretch, means for vibrating said rear wall of said channel to oscillate the same to and r relatively to said first-named flexible traveling wall, thereby to compact the tobacco within said channel into an approximately rod-shaped uniform filler, and a conveyor located directly beneath said mechanism, and traveling in a direction opposite to that of the stretch of traveling surface leading to the channel, said conveyor serving to move said filler and a cigarette paper web directly into a rod forming device.

20. A cigarette machine, comprising a narrow cigarette tobacco feed trough having a main wall and spaced side walls, and a moving surface spaced from said main wall for confining tobacco in said trough, and means connected to said main wall for vibrating the main wall and side walls positively to compact tobacco passing therethrough into a rod of substantially uniform density and of approximately cigarette cross-sectional area.

21. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a substantially vertical tobacco feeding channel, including a trough element having at least one movable wall, of overhead mechanism for feeding tobacco in a narrow stream in one direction to and through said channel, including a moving surface closing an open side of said trough and confining tobacco therein, means beneath said mechanism moving in an opposite direction to said overhead mechanism to remove said tobacco from said channel, a vibrator adapted to act against the wall of said trough opposite to said moving surface to cause vibratory movements of said opposite wall to and fro relatively to said moving surface, and means to operate said vibrator positively.

22. The method of forming a continuous cigarette rod which comprises continuously showering tobacco from a source of supply, and forming on a moving surface an approximately rod-sized stream of said tobacco so showered, advancing said stream to a point of discharge, forwarding said stream downward from said point of discharge by gravity, restricting said stream against lateral movement as it travels downward under the forced gravity and compacting it, by applying positively thereto a vibratory force acting in the direction of movement of the stream, while it travels downward under the force of gravity into a continuous narrow filler of a cross-section approximating that of a cigarette filler rod, and then immediately applying a cigarette wrapper about said stream to form a cigarette rod.

23. The method of forming a continuous cigarette rod which comprises feeding and continu- OllSly advancing a narrow stream of loose tobacco to a point of discharge, forwarding said stream downward from the point of discharge by gravity, confining said tobacco to a fixed path of descent, applying positively to said tobacco as it falls downward a vibratory force of high frequency to form a narrow compacted filler of uniform density approximating a cigarette filler rod in cross section, and subsequently moving said compacted filler into engagement with a cigarette wrapper to form a cigarette rod.

24. The method of forming a continuous cigarette filler rod which comprises continuously showering a narrow stream of tobacco onto a moving surface, delivering said stream to a point of discharge, forwarding said stream downward from the point of discharge by gravity, vibrating said tobacco stream during its downward fall and travel, positively to compact the tobacco axially of its movement to produce a filler of compacted tobacco substantially equivalent in cross section to that of said rod, and of uniform density, and feeding said compacted filler to a rod forming device.

25. The method of forming a continuous cigarette rod which comprises feeding and continuously advancing a narrow stream of loose tobacco to a point of discharge for movement by gravity to form a falling column of tobacco, vibrating said falling stream of tobacco positively to compact the tobacco into a narrow filler of compacted tobacco of a cross section approximating that of a cigarette filler rod, and then applying a cigarette wrapper about said stream to form a continuous cigarette rod.

26. The method of forming a continuous cigarette rod which comprises feeding and continuously advancing a narrow stream of loose tobacco to a point of discharge, forwarding said stream downward from the point of discharge by gravity, vibrating said falling tobacco stream while confining it within restricted lateral limits to compact the tobacco into a narrow filler of compacted tobacco of a cross section approximating that of a cigarette filler rod, then compressing said compacted stream laterally, and then applying a cigarette wrapper about said stream to form a cigarette rod.

27. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco confining and guiding channel including a trough, and including also a flexible member formed with a stretch constituting a traveling closure for closing flexibly an open side of said trough and acting as a frictional means for compacting said tobacco in said channel to form a continuous compacted tobacco filler of substantially rod shape, and an integral stretch of said flexible member constituting a conveyor for delivering to said channel a narrow stream of tobacco, a rod forming device, means for moving said filler from said channel to said rod forming device, and means to vibrate said trough positively for compressing said filler.

28. In a cigarette machine, means for separating tobacco from a supply thereof, and showering it onto a traveling conveyor in a narrow stream, a channel shaped member forming a chute for tobacco of approximately cigarette rod size positioned adjacent to said traveling conveyor and inclined away from a horizontal plane for receiving tobacco from said conveyor, means for vibrating said channel to compact tobacco, said compaction being effected by the pull of gravity acting on the tobacco in the channel and by the vibration of said channel, a second traveling surface positioned adjacent the discharging end of said channel to receive the compacted filler tobacco and forward it to a rod former.

29. In a cigarette machine, means for showering tobacco onto a substantially horizontal traveling surface; a channel shaped member forming a chute inclined away from a horizontal plane, positioned at the discharge end of said traveling surface to receive filler tobacco therefrom; means for confining tobacco filler therein to form a filler having a cross section of approximately cigarette size; means for vibrating said channel to compact filler therein; a second traveling surface positioned at a lower level and at the same end of said horizontal travelling surfacefor receiving the compacted filler from said channel shaped member to convey-it to a rod forming device.

30. In a cigarette machine, means for showering separated tobacco in a narrow stream onto a traveling conveyor; a channel shaped member inclined away from a horizontal plane to form a chute'for tobacco; a flexible belt cooperating with said channel shaped member to close its open side and form therewith a closed channel having a cross section approximately the size of a cigarette rod and disposed adjacent to said conveyor stream, said belt servingas means for confining said tobacco in said channel; and means for vibrating said channel to form a rod filler of uniform density and substantially cigarette size in cross section.

31. In a cigarette machine, means for showering separated tobacco in a narrow stream onto a traveling conveyor at one level, a confining channel shaped member forming a chute inclined away from a horizontal-plane and disposed adjacent to said conveyor for receiving said stream from said conveyor and advancing said stream, means for vibrating said channel to form a rod filler of uniform density and substantially cigarette size in cross section, and a second traveling member disposed at the discharge end of said channel and at another level than said first named conveyor to receive and apply a paper wrapper to said filler for forming a cigarette rod.

CLIFFORD F. RANDOLPH.

for receiving and advancing said 3ERTIFICATE CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,2 6,506. June 1 5, 19L 2.

CLIFFORD r. RANDOLPH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 6, claim 22, before "restricting" insert -'-then--; line 8, same claim, for "forced gravity read --force of gravity-; and that the said Letters Patent shonld be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 18th day of August, A. 'D. 19L 2.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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