US2318588A - Tobacco feed for cigarette machines - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1943. c. ARELT TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed May 28, 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet -l INVENTQR BY Czar/65% Mun May 11, 1943. c. ARELT ,TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES INVENTQSR (Zarles fire]? -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I TTORNIEY C. ARELT TOBACCO FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES May 11,1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .v n nw I INVENTOR BY mar/e5 JZ e/f I A'r'ronilv' Patented May 11, 1943 UNITE-D STATES TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Charles Arelt, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 28 1937, Serial No. 145,236

23 Claims. (01. 131-109) This invention relates to tobacco feeds for continuous rod cigarette machines, its main object being to provide means for improving the delivery of the carded tobacco into a more even and uniform stream than has heretofore been attainable,

since it is considered that the uniformity of this tobacco on aconveyor and preventing access thereto of external forces which wouldtend to affect the uniformity of this layer.

It is an additional object to provide for'the substantial elimination of lateral air currents in a tobacco feed mechanism by furnishing members cooperating with a tobacco distributing'surface for effecting this purpose.

The invention also consists in the provision of a tobacco distributing wall or surface, and mecha-' nism for adjusting it to and from a rotary feeding element to obtain the most efficient position therefor. It isa further object to also provide adjusting devices for raising and lowering this wall with respect to the layer feeding conveyor to obtain the most beneficial feeding of a tobacco stream thereto.

The invention also includes a novel winnowing device in which tobacco is projected in a shower onto an inclined wall or surface which carries a plate for directing heavyparticlesseparated out from theshower into a receptacle, and inwhich the heavy particles of the shower tend to work up the surface onto said plate while'the remainder ofthe tobacco slides down thesurface into the cigarette tobacco conveying mechanism.

Th invention also consists in the provision of winnovring means which separate part of the heavy undesired tobacco particles by direct re ,aecticn from a continuous tobacco shower projected upon a distributing plate and anotherpart by contact with the plate and sliding movement up sad piate and into a receiving receptacle.

In order to provide for guidance of the stream oi tobacco issuing from the tobacco distributing surface, means coacting with said surface are preferabiy aifixed thereto for fulfilling this pur pose.

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A further object is to provide a device cooperat-- ing with the conveyor for forming a substantially closed passageway of a gradually increasing cross section for guiding and feeding a layer of tobacco to a compacting and feeding mechanism.

The invention also consists in'the provision of a vibratory conveyor for feeding a layer of tobacco from an inclined receiving surface to a compacting device which feeds the compacted 1ayer to a separating device for removing sections of tobacco therefrom and directing them in timed relation to the movement of a cigarette paper web into a rod forming mechanism. r

With these and other objects notspecifically mentioned in view, the invention consists of 'certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described, and then specificallyset forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters designatejthe same or.;l -ike Fig.1 is a sectional side elevation of the-im proved tobacco feed, incorporating the various features of the invention; a I

Fig. 2 is a partial-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the construction and arrangement of the vertical division plates, and adjusting means therefor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the tobacco take-offdevice, on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation; partly in cross-section, on lines 3-4 and 4'-'--4' of Fig. 3, showing the reciprocating feeding mechanism of the tobacco take-off-device;

Fig. 5 is'a front elevation-on line 55 of Fig. 3; showing a picker roller associated with the take-- off device; l

Fig. 6 is-a sectional side elevation of a modified type of device embodying a rotary tobacco de-, livery element; w 1 4 Fig. '7 is afront elevationof the same, partly in cross-section, on line 1-4 of Fig. 6; v i r Fig. 8 is a front elevation on line 8-8 of Fig. 6,- showingthe means for sealing thesides of the rotarytake-ofi device; 1 Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, showing the action of the rotary tobacco delivery; and I Fig. 10 is a partial front elevation taken across the conveying mechanism showing a modified arrangement of a layer leveling device comprising combs mounted above the vibratory conveyor.-

Referring to Fig. 1, the tobacco 'T in the feed chamber Ii! is carried bya feed belt ll into the carding pins of a continuously rotating feed drum I 2. After the surplus tobacco is removed from the feed drum by refuser drums I3 and M, which are kept clear by fans I5, the tobacco layer T is discharged by a fast-revolving picker roller l6 onto the blades of a rotary fan I! which throws it against an inclined surface or wall l8. To prevent spilling of tobacco, the pulley IQ of feed belt H, the feed drum l2, and the fan H are partly surrounded by a concave which seals the bot tom of the feed chamber H].

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, surface l8 comprises a plate which is corrugated or otherwise formed with down-running channels to prevent lateral movement of tobacco passing thereover, and is divided into separate compartments by vertical division plates 2|, so that air currents produced by the motion of the carding drums, picker roller and fans will either be' held at a minimum or eliminated in order not to disturb the even distribution of the tobacco, and the latter will run down the plate inevenly spaced uniform streams T". Part of the separation of undesirable heavy particles is effected by the fan ll which throws them clear of plate l8. Other unwanted heavy particles are removed when the tobacco T" strikes plate |8 on the upward part of its projection, and these heavy particles, stems and the like move up the plate and are deposited on a plate |8d secured thereto and directed into a receptacle or stem box 46 which is removably mounted in wall ID of the tobacco chamber. This results in a more efficient'separationthan heretofore obtainable. At the bottom of plate l8, a cross-shield 22 may be adjustably mounted to extend over the entire width of the plate, not only to lessen the effect of air currents'on the tobacco projected on the Wall l8 but also localize and direct the air stream beneath the plate 22 along conveyor 23 on which the tobacco is formed into a layer T as it travels along so that the directed air current has a feeding effect on the tobacco falling from plate l8 onto conveyor 23. It is to be noted that shield 22 can be swung about its supports 22a to adjust the position of its lowermost edge with respect to'the conveyor 23 to obtain the most desirable air pressure on the'stream of tobacco issuing from plate l8. When the plate 22 is omitted, the stream of tobacco moves directly from plate l8 onto the conveyor 23.

' In the embodiment shown, conveyor 23 consists of 'a'plate supported by'resilient strips 24 from a casting 25 which is resiliently attached t a bracket 26 carried'by'the frame'21 ofthe cigation set up by the vibrating conveyor table 23, with respect to plate 36, also causes the tobacco to be compacted in the direction of feed of the tobacco towards channel 4|. This is due to the rapid diagonal vibrations of the table 23 as it travels the tobacco towards the channel beneath the plate 36. Plate 36 which also acts to hold the tobacco layer upon the conveyor is mounted with its free end diverging slightly from the conveyor (Fig. 1) in order that the tobacco will not choke the passageway, and will have free movement to the compacting and feeding members. This plate is supported on a cross member 38 by a bar 31 and suitable screws adjustably secured to brackets 39 fastened to the sides 1 0a of the tobacco chamber. The brackets are adjustable by means of slots formed therein so that the height of the plate 36 above the conveyor 23 can be regulated to produce the proper thickness of layer as the tobacco is propagated by the vibration of the plate.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 10, thin longitudinal strips or combs 36a are adjustably mounted in a manner similar to plate 36. These combs have an action similar to plate 36 and also tend to prevent crumpling of the layer and to maintain a uniform light pressure thereon due to their slight downward deflection from the point ofsupport.

The conveyor 23 discharges the tobacco layer T into a channel abutting its free'end and forming a continuation of the same, the said channel preferably being formed by a casting 4| on which side plates 42 are mounted near its ends, Figs. 3 and 4. To prevent tobacco from being spilled in entering the channel, resilient strips 43, Figs. 3 and 4, are attached to the end flanges 23' of conveyor 23. These strips extend beyond the end of the conveyor and engage slidbrator consistingof a magnet 3H which is fasably with the inner faces of the side plates 42, thereby sealing the'movable tobacco forwarding device.

- Above the channel 4| and coacting with the same is suspended a continuously-moving tobacco forwarding device indicated generally as F, which covers the entire available width of the channel. This device, according to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of two members 44 and 45, one within the other, the outer member 44 being made in two parts bolted together on lugs 46 to permit the insertion of the other. The members 44 and by means of bushings 41 are slidable on eccentric sleeves 48 and 49 mounted on a shaft 50 supported in adjustably mounted bearings 5| and keyed thereby as byv keys 48a, 49a, the eccentrics 48 of member 44 being set at opposition to the eccentrics 49 of member 45 so that each'member is in its uppermost position when the other is in its downmost, as the shaft 50 is turned from the drive of the tobacco feed. The bearings 5| are mounted for vertical adjustment with brackets 84 in which they are journaled. These brackets are provided with elongated'slots which enable them to be adjustably mounted on the machine frame. By means of this mechanism, the space between the feeding members 'can be accurately controlled. The members 44 and 45 are provided with downwardly projecting serrated or otherwise roughened fingers, the fingers 52 of member 44 interlocking with the fingers 53 of member 45 along the entire width of channel 4|. The member 44 has' lugs 54 by which-it is pivoted to arms 55, and member 45 has similar lugs 55 passing through slots in the shell of member 44 by which it is pivoted to arms 51, the arms 55 and '51 being swingably suspended from a shaft 58 supported by brackets 59 mounted on the frame of the tobacco feed and provided with elongated slots which allow for desired adjustments. The

concave by the amount of the eccentricity of the sleeves 48 and 49, thereby producing a continual intermittent controlled motion of the tobacco, which during this forward motion is held in place laterally by the closely spaced fingers of the propelling members.

As the advancing tobacco layer protrudes beyond the forward edge of channel M, a separating roller 6| mounted on a shaft 62 within the delivery chute removes sections from the advancing layer edge'and directs them upon the web P which is being carried through the machineon a tape belt 63 supported by a bracket 64 on the cigarettemachine frame 21, Fig. 1

While several types of devices may be used for separating portions of tobacco from the advancing layer as itissues over the edge of concave M, in Fig. l, a roller 5| provided with a bar I3 is designed to remove sections in tinied relation to the movement of the layer over the concave edge and cigarette web P, with the net result that the tobacco is directed onto the web P to form a filler made up more or less of lamifiations. Thus, if roller 6| rotates once for every cigarette length increment of web feed, which is about two and three quarter inches, and ;the width of the tobacco chamber is about three feet, there will be approximatelyfourteen separate cutoff sections of the layer T' falling onto the traveling web before it moves to the rod former. This feed tends to increasel 'the uniformity of rod cross section since the tobacco falling from the edge of concave 4! is not torn apart and broken up, but maintains substantially the characteristics it possessed when it was separated from the layer. The delivery chute is formed by a stationary inclined wall 65 attached to a metal strip 56 mounted upon concave 4 I [and by a movable wall 51 mounted on hinge blocks 88 pivoted to lugs 59 (Fig. l) fastened to bracket 54. The sides of the chute are closed byside plates I5 fitted between the end walls 65 and 51. Roller @I is driven in timed rotation to the layer advancing mechanism 44, 45 through sprocket TII fixed to shaft I52, sprocket 12 being mounted on shaft 58 and conventional chains trained over said sprockets.

In order to obtain the best distribution of tobacco on the surface I8, and effect the most efficient separation of heavy particles from the stream of tobacco projected thereon. it has .been' found desirable to place the wall I8, and plates 2I in several locations in the chamber in order to determine the position which will give the best results. The surface, plates and shield 22 can be removably fixed to thewalls of the chamber ormay be provided with adjusting devices which will allow them to be readily moved for the-purpose above mentioned.

One form of adjusting mechanism which can be used is that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which wall I8 is provided with end lugs I8aformed. with elongated slots I88. Bolts I812 extend through slots I38, cooperate with lugs ISa and by means of slots IBc allow the plate to be adjusted to and stantially, horizontally and'vertically. Slots IBs in lugs I8a allow plate I8 and its attached elements to be adjusted vertically to and from conveyor 23. In order to provide for the adjustment of plates 2I, rods 2Ia are secured thereto, which rods are movable in slots 2 Ib'formed in the side walls IIla of the tobacco chamber and are secured in adjusted position by wing nuts 2Ic. Shield 2?. is also mounted for adjustment on bolt 22a movable in slots 22b formed in side walls Illa and is held in adjusted position by similar fastening means. In Fig. 1, the extreme horizontal positions of wall I8 and plates 2! are denoted by numerals I8 and 2I'. The uppermost position or limit of adjustment of Wall I8 is reached when lugs I8a occupy positions IBa' at which time plate I8d is positioned at I8d' and plate I Be is located at I8e. The other limit of adjustment of guard plate I8e, which is attached to and forms a part of wall I8 is shown in dotted lines at I86" when plate I8d is located at I8d". By these means it can be seen that any desired on the chamber sides to cover them, and thereby eliminate any detrimental efifect upon the dis tribution of tobacco.

Obviously, other Ways of supporting the plates and shield above described might be resorted to. For instance, if it should be found that the cross bars I8b, 2Ia and 22a interfered with the proper distribution of tobacco upon the surface I8 they could be removed entirely and othermeans of support used. Plates 2| could be supported from the top by a cross support, and wall I8 could be secured at its sides by means of screws driven into the walls of the chamber. In a similar manner shield 22, if used, could be mounted on the walls of the chamber.

If a picker roll BI is used in conjunction with the movable layer feeding member, it may also be turned by a sprocket II on its shaft 62 through a chain driven from sprocket I2 on shaft 50 and is made to gradually engage the entire edge of channel M, at least once in every complete movement of the member, by arranging its pins'13 overlappingly in spiral formation. For this purpose, the pins in each axial row are set at a distance approximately equal to one-half the num ber of rows times the diameter of the pins, and the pins in successive rows are placed onehalf of their diameter ahead of those in the preceding row. For instance, the picker roller shown in Fig. 5 has six rows of pins around its circumference, the pins are set three pin diameters apart axially in each row, and the successive rows are advanced by one-halfpin diameter in the axial direction. In order to position the pins more easily and effect the most desirable arrangement, they are mounted in keys '54- extending over the entire length of the roller, which are removably located in grooves or slots formed in the circumference of roll BI. The shaft 62 is supported by bearings 15.

In Figs. 6 to 9, a modification of the improved tobacco feeding device is shown and designated generally as R. Here, the channel M is made concave and has a rotary take-off acting in conjunction therewith. On the shaft 50, which is driven by a gear I6, hubbed disks 11 having a plurality of radially projecting fingers II are so mounted that annular grooves I8 are formed in order that the pins 82 can enter them, get behind the tobacco and eject it into the chute B5, B1. The disks T! are assembled from both ends of an angularly set key 19 and are drawn up against a central collar 80 by nuts 81.

With the grooves 18 of the compacting and feeding roller in register with the pins 82 of the picker roller 83 which inthis case are set in separate circles at distances apart of one diskwidth but with the pins a multiple of the diskwidth apart in each axial row, there being twice as many pins in each circle as there are disks between consecutive pins in each row. Thus, in the picker roller shown in Figs. 6 and 7, there are six pins in each groove registering pin circle, and the pins in each axial row are three disks apart, making a total of eighteen rows of pins around the circumference. When in operation,

the fingers T! of the take-ofi roller grip the tobacco-layer advanced by the vibrating plate 23, Fig. 9, and carry it into the path of the pins 82 which enter the grooves 18 and, owing to their spiral formation, successively cross the entire surface of roller 11 and remove the sections sepa rated from the advancing layer and direct them into chute 65, 61, as mentioned hereinabove. Other appropriate pin combinations might be used if found desirable. M

The sealing of channel 4| shown in Fig. 8, is similar to that of feeding mechanism F, the ,extension strips 43 of plate 23 engaging with the side plates 42 of the channel at both ends of roller 11.

. The several 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 the 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. In a tobacco feeding device for a cigarette machine provided with spaced sides, a flat corru gated stationary tobacco distributing surface extending across said machine from side to side thereof, means spaced from said surface for projecting a continuous shower of tobacco against said surface, said corrugations preventing lateral movement of said tobacco, a single inclined conveyor of a width corresponding to that of said surface positioned beneath said surface for receiving tobacco in a continuous stream directly from said surface, and meansfor imparting diagonal vibratory movement. to said conveyor to advance said stream as a continuous layer of undiminished width intosaid machine.

2. In a tobacco feeding device for a cigarette machine, a tobacco distributing surface, means for impelling tobacco in a continuous shower upon said surface, and separating out heavy particles, a receptacle, a plate secured to said surface for directing heavy particles into said receptacle, part of said particles being thrown clear of said surface and part moving up said surface and onto said plate by virtue of their momentum, means for adjusting the location of said plate to control the quantity of particles moving into said receptacle, a conveyor mounted beneath said surface and receiving tobacco in a continuous stream from said surface and forming a continuous layer, and means for vibrating said conveyor for feeding saidcontinuous layer thereover along the axis of the resulting studded roller with diagonal vibratory movements and compacting said layer longitudinally in the direction of feed as a result of the'vibration of said conveyor.

3. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a resiliently mounted conveyor, a source of supply of tobacco, a distributing surface positioned to-receive a continuous shower of tobacco from said source and allow it to fall freely in a continuous stream onto said conveyor and form a layer thereon, means for cuting increments of tobacco from the face of said stream, and means for vibrating said conveyor to feed tobacco in a continuous layer to said cutting means.

' 4. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a' resiliently mounted conveyor, a source of supply of tobacco, a distributing surface positioned to receive a continuous shower of tobacco from said source and allow it to fall freely in a continuous stream onto said conveyor and form a layer thereon, a stationary device supported be low and adjacent said surface for guiding said tobacco onto said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor to feed tobacco in a continuous layer to said machine, and means for cutting increments of tobacco from the front edge of said layer. Y

5. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a resiliently mounted table inclined at an acute angle with the horizontal conveyor, a member mounted above said conveyor table and forming a substantially closed inclined passageway therewith, a source of supply of tobacco, a distributing surface positioned to receive a continuous shower of tobacco from said source and allow it to fall in a continuous stream onto said conveyor table and form a layer thereon beneath said member, a device supported below and adjacent said surface for guiding said tobacco into said passageway, and means for vibrating said conveyor table to feed tobacco in a continuous layer through said passageway to said machine.

6. In a tobacco feed mechanism, in combination, a tobacco conveyor positioned at an acute angle with the horizontal for advancing a continuous layer of tobacco, a tobacco distributing surface located above said conveyor and operative to direct a continuous layer forming tobacco stream towards said conveyor, means for feeding tobacco from a source of supply comprising a rotary fan for throwing a continuous shower of tobacco onto said surface, and a stationary plate positioned between said surface and conveyor and constructed and arranged for guiding tobacco onto said conveyor and directing an air current beneath said plate to propel tobacco along said conveyor.

7.-A tobacco feed mechanism comprising an inclined tobacco distributing plate, a rotary fan for throwing tobacco fed from a source of supply onto said plate, a conveyor extending upwardly at an acute angle with the horizontal beneath said plate receiving tobacco in a continuous substantially uniform stream from said surface, devices for separating conveyor-wide increments from the stream of tobacco advanced by said conveyor, a member spaced above said conveyor and forming therewith a passageway of gradually increasing cross section in the direction of feed of said tobacco for holding said tobacco on said conveyor and gathering said tobacco forming said stream adjacent said devices, and means located adjacent said conveyor and surface for receiving said stream from said surface and directing said stream into said passageway.

8. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a tobacco distributing surface, a plurality of relative wide outstanding spaced members arranged at right angles with respect to said surface to prevent lateral tobacco movement thereon, and means for adjusting said members to and from said surface.

9. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a tobacco distributing surface, a plurality of wide spaced plate members arranged at right angles with respect to said surface to prevent lateral tobacco movement thereon, means for adjusting said members to and from said surface, said means including movable bars mounting said members, and locking devices cooacting with said bars to secure them in adjusted position.

10. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a conveyor mounted at an acute angle to the horizontal, a tobacco distributing surface mounted to receive a continuous shower of tobacco and direct it in a stream towards said conveyor, a member cooperating with said conveyor and spaced therefrom tending to prevent disturbance of the uniformity of the stream and guiding said tobacco to the conveyor, a plate positioned above said conveyor and at an angle thereto to form a passageway with said conveyor, said plate being more distant from the conveyor at the discharge end than at the entrance to said passageway, and means for operating said conveyor to feed said tobaccostream as a continuous layer through the passageway and compact it in the direction off-feed along said passageway solely by the movements of said conveyor.

11. In a cigarette machine, the combination' with a channel and a conveyor, of a stationary tobacco feeding-surface spaced above said conveyor and delivering a continuous stream of tobacco directly thereto, means for operating said conveyor to forward a continuous layer of tobacco to said channel in a plane inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal solely as the result of the movements of said conveyor, mechanism cooperating with said channel for compressing and advancing said layer over said channel, a delivery chute, and a device for separating stream-wide increments from the leading edge of said layer as it moves beyond said channel and directing said increments into said chute.

12. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feeding channel, means for forwarding a layer of tobacco to said channel, a device for compacting said .layer and feeding it through said channel, said device comprising a plurality of relatively movable members operating with a curvilinear feeding and pressing motion to, from and along said channel, and a separating member for separating sections of said layer as it issues from said channel.

13. A tobacco compacting and feeding mechanism comprising a pair of interfitting tubular members provided with a plurality of spaced interfitting feeding surfaces, supports for said members, a shaft projected through said members, cams fixed on said shaft and coacting with said members for imparting alternate movement to each of said members.

14. A tobacco compacting and feeding mechanism comprising a pair of devices provided with spaced interfitting members having tobacco engaging faces, supports mounting said devices, and means for moving said devices alternately to move one set of members relatively to the other and effect a tobacco feed.

15. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a channel and a conveyor comprising a table inclined at an acute angle with the horizontal constructed and arranged as the sole means for supporting and feeding a layer of tobacco into said channel, of a device for vibrating said conveyor and compacting said layer and passing it through said channel to a point of discharge, said device comprising a movable member provided with a roughened tobacco engaging surface in direct engagement with said layer of tobacco, means for moving said member to compact and feed said layer, and means located adjacent said point for separating uniform sections from the edge of said advancing compacted layer.

16. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tobacco distributing wall, of means for projecting tobacco upon said wall, a channel, a conveyor comprising a vibratory table positioned at an acute angle with the horizontal located beneath said wall and delivering a continuous layer of tobacco to said channel, a rotary compacting and feeding member comprising a plurality of spaced disks, said disks being provided with tobacco forwarding elements on their peripheries, located above and concentric with said channel, and a picker roller having peripherally spaced elements extending from said roller and operating between said disks and constructed and aranged to engage the top of the layer of tobacco moved forward by said member to remove sections of compacted tobacco from said member as it compacts said layer and advances ing a roller provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves and a plurality of spaced circumferential grooves intersectioning said longitudnal grooves, a separating member having a plurality of means for entering said circumferential grooves for engaging the top of the tobacco in said circumferential grooves and ejecting lengths of compacted tobacco from said longitudinal grooves and directing them into said machine.

18. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feed mechanism, a vertically inclined tobacco distributing plate spaced from said mechanism, means for throwing a continuous shower of tobacco against said plate to select desirable tobacco from said shower, an inclined tobacco feeding table located directly beneath said plate for receiving said selected tobacco falling from said plate, tobacco compactors extending above a portion of said table and located adjacent the lower end of said table, and means for vibrating said table to impart thereto vibratory motion transversely of the plane of said table for feeding said selected tobacco in a substantially uniform and continuous layer and compacting said layer in the direction of travel as it advances to said compactors for further compacting thereby for delivery to said machine.

19. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feed mechanism, a stationary tobacco distributing from, a plate spaced from said conveyor and m as a w h ith $01 s iel qeeqo and means 'for vibrating said conveyor to impart thereto diagonal feeding movement said canveyor'being' constructed ancl arranged to iunctign as the sole tobaccofeeqing means'for aqvancing saidstream of tobacco as a continuous layer.

ben'eath 'sai d plate intosaitl machine.

' 20JIn a tobacco feed for acigarette machine, a source of supply of tobacco, a conveyor for feeding a layer of tobacco to said machine, a distributing surface located above said conveyor, means located substantially opposite said surface for. tl'irdwing'a continuous tobacco shower; upw bcn d' r a a sa mi in plate' carried by "and extending rearwardly of said surface above said. conveyor, a plate lgcated fi' e iam er l de aid u i c fo qu rectingtobaccdonto said conveyor, and means for adjusting the position of; said first namecl plate and surface relative tov said conveyor 1 I 't a h ne w-fie eq q rec ivin a v 'i q eedat an acute angle, t lioiiz'bntai, elinea tat ona t9..- b'acco feed n f 99%? abov s d 201.1: via/6rv d l i lt filabils tream I acco o a i ii i e s er v ratin eid con: l 'd q wa w th sub tantiall di: agfinal v f fi qv l ents l li li 9. he lane f$5 i YQ f nflinl l sl layer 9. ai l tobaccii receivingi member, saiq conveyor; move; i f cliipicfiifi a itqb'eqq i th di cti n f df b i er 41? aid movement saidbdfivevorl ri dev se nosi ip eed at; he

discharge end of said conveyor cooperatin with a WW x r i l m mber. t t u z en empa fi ad, e a d. l yer ov r sa d. membe '22, Infarigarette machine, the combination 5- for, throwing tobacco fed from a source oi lPRly 6 els ama ee ile tableiaelieed acute; eng ewi peripheralwgrooves. leceiee. abov and CQDQQIHPHQ with said channel, and; a r ller having a glurality of pins tially eq al ens-in j hedemhs i erq qqn t u te s and ar nged; o nter s id gr v an e sage he top of. the ay r Qt tobacco and remove sec ions o comlgacted to a c r m} s d first: na e tel er it; furthercompacts said layer and advances it over said; concave.

23. A tobacco; feed mechanism comprisin an inclined tobacco, distributing plate, a rotary fan upwardly onto saigl plate, asingle conveyor, com-v sing a h ems nedb neath he; owermos 9 5. Q a d d s ribu in p at 9 ec v ng: o: asi s a n inuous s bst ntia ly ni-form treams mm; a snrl a et eans or mam ai q l a ns; or ai ta l o fewer saidstrearn in a layer-qversaid table. anq com pact n t n t e, dimctipnf -l e and m ans; located between and adjacentsaid conveyor; table anq surface fordirecti ng tobacco falling from said, surface onto said conveyor; table and for lso i ect ngar h r ur n s e era ed; by, said ran along said conveyor: tq. assist in the r nsp tati nf. same coh eon-

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