US2378166A - Cigar machine reroller mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June l2, 1945. H. H. WHEELER CIGAR'MACHINE REROLLER MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June l2, 1945.. H. H. WHEELER 2,378,166

CIGAR MACHINE REROLLAER MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l mvENToR 131 AHENRY H WHEELER A ORNEY Patented June 12, 19454 $2,378,165 GIGAR Henry o I nati originar application February s; .1938, 'serial N.' r

"189,300. Divided and this amlicatiim Septem- Thisinvention relates to cigar machines 'and more particularly to animprovedreroliingi and' trimming unit for cigar rolling machines.` its main object is to provide a compact .deviceA with enclosed operating mechanism for high vspeed operation. This invention also proposes. to. providea rerol'ling unit which is wholly independent insofarasits driveand operativev parts arie'lconcerned v.of the remainder oi v'the cigar rolling machine,. and which can, .if desired or necessary, be -rea'dih7 removed for repairs and` interchange. of parts.

Due ito the fact that substantiallyvrall'or the operatingV parts fof .the improved rerolling 'and cigar vlocating mechanism are enclosed, api-actically ali dirt,l tobacco dust andY waste particles and abrasives, whichinight 'pro-ve detrimental and causeexcessive Wear to the operatveparts,

are ,denied access thereto, and consequent-1y. ythe. life of .the .entire `mechanism is greatly' increased( Itis'a further ,object .of the invention, there-V fore, to provide an improved reroliing and locating mechanism having operative 'enclosed4 wherein these parts are protected from excessive The invention also .consists `in the provision .of ,a new and improved rerolling, trimming and.

knurling unit preferably provided .with 'an' independent cam shaft .which may he driven by means of a suitable coupling 4from .the cigar rolling device.

The invention further `proposes the provision of' individual earns and cam tracks mounted on thev drive shafts for. each one ofthe severaloperating l parts in order to provide more time for i-riiirlingA and making better cigar jheads. arrange ment also gives more time to the wrapper layer when it is not necessary to use the 'hand'knurleri ruary 8,193.8, which has ,issued as retenus! 2,337,076, granted `December 21,` leiorgef roller and trimmer for Vcigar n iaclfiines.

. Itis an additionallobject .ofi the inventions@ provide mechanism fory continuousiydrivng knuriing devicesand also theshaft .which vdrives.-

afcamrwhereheretoforeit has beencustomary .v

fdrivendirectlyzlor through .a suitable coupling' wear and .tear by reason of the .enclosing .ele-

mechanism is driven from themain drive shaft of the .rerolling dev-iceand thereby eliminates ail necessity of lusing a separate extcriorfdrlve..

`It'is'aniadditional .object of the. invention to providean y'improved mechanism for controiling oscillatory movement .of the cigar rerolling. in orderlthatvthelo'stmotionmay b e kept to a minimumv and that moreperfect cigars vmay he produced because of .the eliminationkoi .this .undesirable lfeature. .This is brought about'bv reason of the fact that the pinion .which Ydrives rerolling .drum 'is .in turndriven from a gear ses: mentzuforming a part :of a single lever driven from tooperatelthe driving pinion of the remi-ling drum from a rack having numerous connections which brought it into operation .With a `cam which effected the rotationof the errance:

ment also results in ai sturdier .construction inV f lorder to provide .a simpler and .more ,editiert drivexforx the. reroller `.the invention also con: sistsein .the provision of a .drive .shaft which :is

from the .drive shaft of the rolling Thislm'akes .possible .ag more unied rerolin structure thanhasexisted heretofore.

The-invention also `consists n-.theprovdsion .o means-for. .driving this .ag .cutter .of a cigarfjrokl:

lingmachine directly from the .operating means.

or the .rerol-ling unit wherein theiagutter and thefknurlers of the rerolling mechanism are gcon.- tinuously operated.

1 With .these .and .other objects' notl speciclly mentioned :in view, the .invention ,consists :innere tainV constructions and .combinations which beheriematter `ful-1i7 ,described and. then set forth in .the claims Ahereunto appended.

v.In'.the1-accompanving.mavvinss lwhich, term .a pant of this specicationgand .which like lchar.- aotrs of. reference indicate *the .same or dike par 5;... '.fx

Fien-11e i is endelevation of irmiroved fFiau-re 2 avsectionaiside .eievation oi-the proved -rerolfling'unit showing its: driverelaim with another unittoff athezcigarirolling. indemne. l Referring to Figures i and. 2, the improved the flag cutter ofthe rolling mechanismpifms 55 Uiconsistsrof-a 'hou'sing'ld:; an;oscillat1ng reporting drum I2, a resiliently supported concave I3, a cigar locating knurler I4, cigar grippers I and I6, trimmers I1, I8, and an independently driven finishing knurler I9. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 the whole rerolling unit U is detachably mounted on table 20, and may be secured thereon by meansof any conventional type of screw IIa.

The cigar, after having its wrapper applied, is

deposited on the concave I3 by a suitable transfer whereon it is rolled back and forth a number of times by the drum I2, thereby redistributing hard spots in the filler and softening the same.

The cigar is then pressed by the grippers I5, I6

(Figures 1 and 2), rst lightly so that each cigar can be moved axially without damage to its fragile wrapper until the locating knurler I4 has engaged and displaced the head of the cigar into a predetermined axial position, and then firmly to hold the cigar xedly, while the trimmers I1, I8 are moved'in'to cutting position and closed upon the tuck e'nd of the cigar. This mechanism makes it substantially impossible for the knives to move the positioned cigar, with the net result that all are cut to a fixed length. The grippers then open, allowing the cigar to roll down the concave I3 onto the table 20 of the machine, to be picked up by the wrapper die attendant who stacks it in a tray provided for this purpose.

In the event that a cigar head has a wrapper improperlyapplied thereto and it is necessary that it be unwound and repaired manually, a nishing knurler I9is available to the operator and the head of the repaired cigar may be nished in this knurler .after which the cigar is placed on the tray referred t0. i

.The operating mechanism for the rolling drum, locating knurler, grippers and trimmers is located in the housing II, Which is closed by a cover 2|, this housing carrying a bearing bracket 22 for the shaft 23 of the locating knu'rler I4. The main drive shaft 24, which may be a part of the existing .drive of the Acigar rolling device, projects through and is supported by a bearing 25 of housing' II and carries a cam' 25 at its inner end. A bearing 21 of the housing supports a shaft 28 on which thererollingdrum I2 and its operating gear 29 lare fastened, the latter gear meshing with and `being oscillated byv a gear segment 30 on a lever'3l which is mounted on a pivot shaft 32a supported `in a lug 32 of housing Il and supports a follower'33 in engagement with a cam track 34 of plate cam 26.

At its lower end the concave I3 is fastened to a block 35 mounted on a rocker shaft 36 supported in housing II and a bearing block 31 resting on table 20, While its upper end bears against a compression spring 38 carried in an adjustable socket 39 threaded into a-block 40 extending from a bearing 4I of housing II. The spring 38 presses a set screw 42 -n the lower end of the concave I3 in adjusted position to admit a cigar delivered by the cigar transfer from the wrapping device.

The cigar locator I4 is carried at the end of shaft 23, which is driven by a bevel gear 43 held against axial displacement by a collar 44 bearing against an internal shoulder in bracket 22, the hub of gear 43'having a long keyway connecting it to and permitting axial movement of shaft 23. Between flanges 45 on shaft 23 is tted a roller 46 carried by a lever41 pivoted in housing II and having a follower 48 held against the face of a cylindrical track 49 on barrel cam26 by a tensionspring 50. When theroller '48` engages with,thelaxialldepression' 5I of cam track 49, the' shaft roller 46 causes an axial movement of shaft 23, which has a bushing 52 slidable in a bearing 53 of housing Ii, thereby bringing the locator I4 into the dotted position I4 where it engages and locates a cigar rin its proper trimming position. On the hub of bevel gear 43 is mounted a pulley 54 attached thereto by a pin 55 and over which runs a belt 56 driving a pulley 51 on a shaft 58 supported by a sleeve 59 mounted in housing Il. The shaft 58 drives the rotating part of the nearby flag cutter unit of the rolling machine as shown in Figure 4.

The bevel gear 43 is driven by a bevel gear 60 on a vertical shaft 6l supported in a bearing bracket 62, the shaft 6i having a, bevel gear 53 in mesh with a bevel gear 64 on a horizontal shaft mounted in bracket 62, which shaft is attached by a conventional single tooth coupling 66 (Figure l) to a continuously driven shaft 61 of the rolling machine. Coupling 66 assists in the ready removal of the rerolling device as a unit for repair and/or replacement, as desired. The gear 43 also drives a bevel gear 63 on a shaft 59 supported in a bushing 19 held in a bearing 1| of housing I I, the shaft 69 being connected by a universal joint to the shaft of finishing knurler I9, as shown in co-pending application, Serial No. 101,563, filed September 19, 1936, by Sigurd Clausen, now matured into Patent No. 2,151,898 granted March 28, 1939, for Knurler unit for cigar machines.

The cigar grippers are arranged to grip the cigar lightly while it is being axially located by the knurler I4, and then firmly while it is being trimmed to size by the cutters I1, I8. The lower grippers I5 are xedly mounted on a shaft 12 supported `in a. bearingv (not shown) of housing II. The shaft 12 carries an arm 14 having a follower 15j, held against a cam 16 on shaft 24 by a spring 11janchored to a post 11a on arm 14 and a post 18 in housing II. As the roller 15 rides off the lobeof cam 13, the spring 11 pulls the grippers I5 into their up position against the cigar C, openings being provided in the concave I3 for their passage thereto.

The upper gripper I5 is loosely mounted on a shaft 19 supported in a bearing 8l) of housing II. On shaft 19 is fixedly mounted an arm 8| carrying tWo horizontal pins 62 and 83, the former extending above and the latter below the gripper I6; 'A coil spring 84 on shaft 19 has one end inserted into a fixed collar 85 while its other end presses down on gripper I5 thus holding the latter against the lower pin 83 of arm 8l. On the end of shaft 19 within the housing is fastened a crank arm (not shown) Which is connected by a link 81 to a bell crank lever 88 fulcrumed on a stud 89 affixed to housing II. The lever 88 carries a follower 93 heldin engagement with the peripheral track 9| of cam 26 by a spring 92 attached to arm 86 and anchored to a post 93 in housing II. As the depression 94 of track 9i engagesV with roller Sil), the arm 8l causes the gripper I5 to move towards the cigar C and grip the same lightly by the pressure of the weak spring 84 while the arm I5 is likewise actuated toward the cigar, thereby permitting axial locationof the cigar without injury to its wrapper. As the roller Si! then runs off depression 94 onto the periphery of track 4S, the strong spring 92 pulls the upper pins 82 of arm 8| down upon the gripper, causing the latter to press firmly against the cigar, thus preventing axial movement during the trimming operation. It will be seen, therefore, that as the knurler I4 moves forward to locate a cigar, clamp arm" I3 bears lightly the cigar has been axially located, they are moved towards the drum into cutting position and then. close upon and sever the tuck end oi the located cigar.v The trimming knives l.I"I,'. IB (Figures 1 and 2) are mounted on a iianged sleeve 95 loose on -a .shaft Sli supported in bearing block 31 and in a. hearing 181 of housing I I. 0n sleeve 95 arealso mounted a flanged collar @il carrying a coil spring 99 .and a collar |[I.0,the members I'I, I8, 95 and 93 being clamped I. together by nuts IIII screwed against a spring washer H32 on sleeve 95. In the illustrated embodiment the knives Il, I3 lie in vertical planes and sleevell and collar 93 which support them are moved axially into and out of operative position. A drum cam |08 is engaged by .a cam follower IMI on a cam lever Illa adjustably fulcrurned at .m6 (Figure 1) to impart axial movement to the trimmers at the proper time. Since this mechanism forms :no Vpart of the present improvement, further detailed description is deemed `.unnecessary a'nd .is omitted in the interest of brevity.

Each of the trimming knives I7 and IIl is provided with a rear extension upon which are mounted followers (not shown) which engage the top and the bottom of an oblong cam bar III.

' The bar III is pivoted in bearing block 31 and in a bearing I I2 of housing I I and on its housing end carries a crank arm II3 connected by a link II4 to a cam lever I I5 pivoted on a stud IIS held in a bearing (not shown) of housing I I. The lever I I has a follower I I3 in engagement with a track IIS in the rear face of cam 26, whereby the bar III is turned into an upright position at the proper moment, causing the followers onthe knife extensions to separate and thereby close the trimming knives Il and IB upon one another thus cutting the cigar C to the proper length.

Below the cutting position of the trimmers, an

'opening is provided in the table plate 20 of the machine, and a funnel-shaped chute |20 is attached to plate 2|] (Figures 1 and 2), the chute |20 terminating into a pipe |2| connecting with the suction system of the machine, so that all scrap resulting from trimming the cigars is immediately removed and the adjoining parts of the machine are kept clean.

The drive shaft of the rerolling unit is attached by a conventional coupling |28 (Figure 4) to the drive shaft |29 of the wrapping device of the cigar machine designated` generally W, which may be of the type shown in 'cmpending application,

Serial No. 107,792 filed by James P. Burning,

October 27, 1936, now Patent No. 2,290,171'granted July 21, 1942, which has aV gear I3!) driven by a gear I3I from the main shaft of the machine. As shown, by merely removing the coupling securing means, which may be screws of any known type, the whole rerolling unit may be separated and 'removed from the machine. This improved drive has a decided effect in simplifying the rerolling mechanism drive, makes it possible to form a more compact unit, eliminates the necessity of using large cams on the main drive shaft, cuts down to a marked extent the size of levers used and in general adds to the overall efliciency of the rerolling mechanism'in the pivoduction of more uniform cigars andcheroots. The shaft 58', supported by the sleeve 59 'land driven by the belt 56 from the continuously rotating knurler shaft 23, is made use of, as heretofore mentioned, to drive the flag ,cutterof the Vwrapping device. The

latter consists of a rotating double-pointed knife |32 mounted `on shaft I32a coacting with a ledger plate |33, which are raised into operating position once in every cycle,v of the machine. For thisr purpose, the ilag cutter is supported on a cam operated swing ,arm |34 and driven by a friction wheel 'ISEengaging :with a pulley |36 loosely carried on a stud |37 A(as shown in Figure 4) by a cam operated arm |133 swinging on a shaft |39 supported by the frame I4@ of the wrapping device. universal, joint I4| to a; shaft |42 which in turn is attached by a universal joint |63 to a coupling IM 'onshaft `5&3... When the rerolling 'unit kis detached .from table 293 byA Aremovins screws I Ia .and I28a, the pulley |36 A.Slides oistud |37).

The mechanism above ydescribed may rbe varied vin construction within-thescope of the claims, for the particular devicer selected to illustrate the invention isv butV one ,ofV many possible ,con-y crete embodiments of the same. The invention is not, therefore, to be, restricted to the'precise details 4of the `Stuwturo.shownand described..

a driven gear on said shaft, a main shaft also mounted in said housing, a cam on said main shaft, a lever provided with a cam follower engaging said cam, means on said housing providing a pivotal support for said lever, 4and a gear segment secured to said lever and engaging said gear to operate said rerolling device.

2. In a cigar machine having a support table,

the combination with a` rerolling mechanism comprising a rotating rerolling drum and a yieldingly mounted concave spaced therefrom, driving means for cyclically imparting motion to said drum to roll cigars back and forth on said concave, said driving means including a shaft, a

cam located on said shaft, a lever, a cam follower on said lever tracking'said cam, a housing detachably mounted on said table, means on said housing providing a pivotalsupport for said lever, a toothed member mounted on said lever, a shaft supporting said rerolling drum, a gear on said last-named shaft meshing with said toothed member, and means for driving said first-named shaft and rotating said cam to oscillate said rerolling drum, said driving means being located above said table and free of operative connections beneath said table, whereby to permit ready removal of said rerolling mechanism from said machine as a complete unit.

3. In a cigar machine having a supporting table, the combination with a rerolling sub-assembly mechanism including an oscillatable rerolling drum and a concave spaced therefrom,

The hub of pulley |136 is connectedL by a" shaft journalled in said housing, a cam located on said shaft, a lever fulcrumed on and operative Within said housing of said sub-assembly mechanism, a cam follower on said lever, a gear segment mounted on said lever, a shaft supporting said drum, a pinion on said last-,named shaft engaged by said gear segment, and means for cyclically rotating said cam to impart oscillating rotary movement to said drum.

4. A cigar machine rerolling mechanism subassembly unit for use in a cigar machine having a supporting frame and a support table for detachably supporting said unit, comprising a rotating rerolling drum, a concave spaced therefrom for guiding cigars beneath said drum, a housing forming the frame of said unit,` driving mechanism mounted in said housing for imparting movement to said drum, said mechanism including a shaft journalled in said housing and supporting said drum, a pivot shaft mounted on said housing, a drum driving lever mounted on said pivot shaft, a main shaft also `ournalled in said housing, a cam located on said main shaft, a follower on said lever coacting with said cam for moving said lever, and means on said lever for imparting oscillating rotary movement to said drum.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rerolling mechanism unit, comprising a rotating rerolling drum and a yieldingly mounted con- Fil,

cave spaced therefrom, driving means for imparting motion to said drum, a housing element constructed and arranged to enclose a part of said driving means for rotating said drum, said means including a shaft journalled in said housing, a cam located on said shaft, a pivoted lever mounted on said housing, a cam follower on said lever tracking said cam, a rack on said lever controlled by said cam through said follower, a drum support shaft, a pinion on said drum support shaft engaged by said rack, and means for driving said first-named shaft to rotate said cam and thereby impart oscillatory and rotary movement to said drum.

6. In a cigar machine having a support table, the combination with a rerolling mechanism unit comprising a rerolling drum and a cigar supporting concave spaced therefrom, said unit being removably mounted on said table, of driving mechanism for said drum, a housing enclosing a part of said driving mechanism including a shaft jcurnalled in said housing and supporting said drum, driving means on said shaft, a main shaft also journalled in said housing, a cam located on said main shaft, and connections between said cam and driving means for oscillatingly rotating said drum, said connections located above said table and operative wholly within said housing.

HENRY H. WHEELER.

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