US2603220A - Cigar machine - Google Patents

Description

J. P. DURNING July 15, 1952 CIGAR MACHINE 3 Shee ts-Sneet 1 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1944 INVENTOR JAMES P. DURNIN BY JEAN L. DURNI c, DECEASED MG, EXECUTRIX J. P. DURNING CIGAR MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1944 FIGZ INVENTOR JAMES P. RNING,DECEASED BY JEAN L. DURNING, EXECUTRIX B w omq July 15, 1952 J. P. DURNING 2,603,220

- CIGAR MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 17, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet s BY JEAN L. DURNING, EXECUTRIX Patented July 15, 1952 CIGAR MACH INE James P. D'urning, deceased, late of St. Albans, N. Y., by Jean L. Durning, executrix, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machin- Y ery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Original application February 17, 1944, Serial No. 522,701, now Patent No. 2,470,766, dated May 24, 1949. Divided and this application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,429

i This invention relates to cigar machines, and

more particularly to improvements in cigar machines of the type wherein long filler tobacco is fed into an elongated trough formed by a bottom conveyor belt and spaced side conveyin belts associated therewith which are operative to move a stream of long filler tobacco in a controlled manner to a cutter which separates predetermined lengths of tobacco from the stream of the tobacco for delivery to mechanism which forms the bunch lengths into a column from which are separated bunch charges.

This application is a division of co-pending application Serial Number 522,701, filed February 17, 1944 for Cigar Machine, now Patent No.

2,470,766, granted May 24, 1949.

In mechanisms of the type under consideration, inaccuracies may occur in the amount of tobacco advanced during each step-wise movement of the feeding conveyors so that inequalities occur in the length of tobacco forming the vertical column. The present invention constitutes a solution of this problem because it provides means for so controlling and driving the conveyors of the tobacco stream conveying system that each length of tobacco advanced thereby is satisfac- 8 Claims. ('01. 131-21) torily uniform in length, and inequalities are practically eliminated.

An object of the preseent invention is to provide an improved conveying system for'advancinglong filler tobacco to a bunch length cutting mechanism and means associated therewith for so controlling the movement of the belts forming the conveyor system that at all times substantially equal lengths of tobacco will be fed and cut from said stream.

The invention further consists in the provision of improved conveyor driving mechanism and control means associated therewith which coact in such manner as to insure substantial uniform travel of the conveyor system each time the advancing end of the stream of tobacco, advanced by said conveyor system, is delivered into the range of action of a cutter which cuts oil a bunch length for delivery to the bunch length assembling magazine of the cigar machine.

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

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

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a cigar machine embodying the improved filler feed conveying and control mechanism of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same taken on line 22* of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a side elevation of an enlarged cigar and the drive control mechanism for'the cross feed channel belts taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a similar side elevation on an enlarged scale of the feed belt control mechanism illustrating the movements of said mechanism; and

Figure 5 is a view showing a detail of the filler feed driving mechanism. I

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it may be noted that the stemmed leaf tobacco is placed by an operator in the filler feed channel of the cross feed, with the length of each leaf or portion of each leaf extending lengthwise of the channel to form a continuous layer or stream of tobacco of proper thickness. Said feed channel is formed by a horizontal feed belt 30 and two vertical feed belts 32 and 34. Said belts are intermittently driven from a drum 68 on a shaft 36 and pulleys l8 and 80 driven from shaft 36, the latter being supported in suitable bearings of a supporting frame 38 secured to a bed plate 40 mounted on the main frame 42 of the machine. On shaft 36 is fastened a ratchet 44 which is driven intermittently by a pair of pawls 46 (Figures 3 and 4) pivoted upon a stud 48 on the upper end of an oscillating arm 50 loosely mounted on shaft 36. Arm 50 is connected by an adjustable rod 52 to a cam lever 54 (Figure 5) carrying a cam roller 56 engaging with a cam track 58 of a cam 60 mounted on the main cam shaft 62 which is supported by suitable bearings of the main frame'42. Cam shaft 62 carries a gear (not shown) which is suitably driven from the main drive shaft of the cigar machine (not shown). Cam lever 54 is loosely mounted on a supporting shaft 66 mounted in the main frame 42.

The horizontal feed belt 39, which forms the bottom of the tobacco feed channel and is driven by the drum 68 secured to the intermittently rotating shaft 36, is led over several suitable idler pulleys and a guide pulley 10 (Figure 1) which is supported by an adjustable bearing to take up slack and secure the proper tension of said belt Guide pulley l0 and its adjusting means are supported by a suitable bracket 12 attached to a member 14 which is mounted on frame 38 and supports a plate 16(Figure 2). The plate 16 is 1 and 2).

.end of the stream of filler tobacco.

secured to bracket 12 and member I4 and supports the upper run of belt 30 and thereby assures a straight and even bottom on the feed channel. The inner runs of the verticalfeed belts 32 and 34 form the side walls of said channel.

Belts 32 and 34, as previously mentioned, are driven by rollers I8 and 80, respectively (Figures Roller I8 is secured on the upper end of a vertical shaft 82 which carries on its lower end a bevel gear 84 (Figure 2) .meshing with a bevel gear 86 which is secured to the drum 08. Roller 80 is similarly mountedon avertical shaft 88 to the lower end of which is attached a bevel gear 90 meshing with a bevel gear 92 secured to the intermittently rotating shaft 30, Each vertical belt 32 and 34 runs over onef'of a pair of vertical rollers 94 (Figure 1). Cover plates 98 and 98 are supported on the shafts of rollers 80, 34, and I8, 94 respectively, and the upper edges of belts 32 and 34 are guided by downwardly extending flanges on plates 96 and 98, respectively. As mentioned heretofore, the filler tobacco is placed in the filler feed channel to form a continuous layer or stream and the filler stream is advanced by the feed belts into an extension of the filler feed channel formed by two stationary side walls I wherein a corrugated cutter I02 severs a predetermined length from the leading Since cutter I02 and its operating mechanism forms no specific part of the present invention, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

This severed section of the tobacco stream should correspond to the length of cigar bunches to be produced, and not vary during the operation of the machine. To achieve this object, the feed belt drive mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4 is of a novel construction to eliminate all possible lost motion. In describing said drive mechanism,

we may assume that one bunch length of the filler stream has been fed into the extension of the filler feed channel and oscillating arm 50 has come to rest against an adjustable stop screw I04. position I (Figure 3). Stop screw I04 is threaded into a flange of the member I4 and is adjusted to a position at which its inner end will stop the oscillating arm 50 at the end of each forward stroke thereof, thereby taking up all possible back lash.

The return stroke of arm 50 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4, as well as its forward stroke, is produced by the action of cam lever'54 upon connecting rod 52, as previously described. Shortly after starting on their return stroke with arm 50, the pawls 4B are lifted off the ratchet 44, at the dotted position II thereof shown in Figure 4, and remain locked in this position while being carried by arm 50 to its rearmost position 111 shown in Figure 4. The pawls 46 are interconnected at the ends thereof which are in front of pivot 48, by a pin I06 secured in a hole in one pawl and projecting into a slightly larger hole I08 in the other pawl. To the end of pin I projecting from hole I08 is attached one end of a tension spring IIO (Figure 3). The other end of said spring is anchored to a stud I I2 attached to arm 50. Thus the pawls 46 are held in engagement with ratchet 44 when arm 50 begins its rearward stroke. During the rearward stroke of the arm 50, the lifting of said pawls occurs when the fiattened portion II4 of a pin II6, secured in the pawl in which the pin 206 is also fastened, contacts and rides upon a roller II8 which projects into the path of said flattened portion I I4. Roller H8 is pivoted to a stud IIB on one end of a double lever I20 loosely mounted on a stud I22 held in one side wall of supporting member I4. To the other end of double lever I20 is attached a tension spring I24 anchored to the same side wall of member I4. From the latter also protrudes a stop pin I25 against which the free end of double lever I20 is normally held by the tension spring I24. While pawls 40 are being lifted from ratchet 44, when flattened portion II4 of pin IIO rides over, the roller II8, a projection I26 on an extension I28 of the pawl carrying pin IIB, engages underneath a shoulder I30 of a latch or lock lug I32 and thereby holds the pawls in lifted position, so that said pawls do not slide upon or have any contact whatsoever with the now stationary ratchet during their return stroke with arm 50. Therefore, less wear on the teeth of the ratchet and the pawls, which can cause improper or delayed engagement during the feeding action, and a much quieter operation of the machine are obtained. Lock lug I32 is pivoted to a stud I34 on arm 50. A compression spring I36, seated in a depression in the outer end of arm 50, keeps lug I32 and projection I26 in constant engagement in either locked or unlocked position. As previously mentioned, the lifted pawls 46 are carried by arm to their rearmost position III, Figure 4, where lock lug I32 contacts adjustable release screw I38. thereby compressing spring I38 and producing a slight unlatching movement of lock lug I32 which releases the projection I26 of the pawl from the shoulder I30 of lock lug I32. Thereupon the tension spring I I0 pulls the pawls 4G downward toward ratchet 44, but engagement of the pawls with the ratchet is prevented at this point by a stationary control cam I40 upon whose arcuate periphery I42 the flattened portion I I4 of pin IIS projecting from one of the pawls 45, rides while arm 50 swings forwardly from its rearmost position, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4. Therefore pawls 46 cannot engage with ratchet 44 and impart motion to the same until the flattened portion II4, riding on the periphery I42 of cam I40, has reached the end of said cam. Pawls 46 are then pulled downwardly by tension spring IIO. It is the distance from the point where the pawls drop into engagement with ratchet 44 to the point where the arm 50 contacts the stop screw I04, which determines the amount of feed, i. e., the length of tobacco filler forwarded by the channel belts 30, 32 and 34. In order to produce uniform cigar bunches, it is of utmost importance that the length of each filler charge be uniform and even at all times. For this reason, a slot I46 is provided at the end of cam I40 and a hardened finger I44 is pivotally mounted in said slot with its arcuate tip I49 continuous with the periphery I42 of cam I40 and its outer corner I48 extending beyond the forward end of said cam, thus assuring a sharp drop when the flattened portion II4 of pin IIB rides over finger I44. To minimize lost motion due to slippage of the pawls when dropping on ratchet 44, one pawl is a distance of one-half tooth shorter than the other, giving the assurance that in any case, one of the pawls will fall immediately into engagement with a corresponding tooth of the ratchet 44. It may be noted that the provision of a sharp and solid point at the edge of the stationary cam I40, instead of the finger I44, would cause considerable damage in case lock lug I32 should fail to lock the pawls in their lifted position during their return stroke. For this reason, a compression spring I50 (Figures 3 and 4) is employed to hold finger I44 in its operative position. The latter is normally pressed by spring I50 against a stop pin I52, but should the pawls return inan unlocked or down position, the projecting flattened portion II4 of pin II6 would simply press finger I 44 out of the way and ride up onan inclined surface I54 provided for this purpose at the edge of cam I40 and slide backward on the periphery I42 of the same.

In'order to provide means forchanging the length of filler stream fed during each cycle, and also to permit the filler feed to be accurately set to advance the exact length of filler tobacco required for the cigar bunch, the stationary cam I40 is equipped with a scale and pivotally mounted on shaft 36. An indicator finger I56 (Figures 3 and 4) is mounted on supporting frame 38, and cam I40 may be moved to the desired position upon loosening lock screw I58 which is threaded into said cam and passes through a slot I60 in frame 38. Thus the finger I56 will designate on the scale on cam I40 the length of filler which is being fed in each cycle.

The release, and stop screw I38 (Figures 3 and 4) which trips lock lug I32 at the rearmost position of arm 50, is secured in the hub of a control member I62 loosely mounted on a stud I64 (Figures 3 and 4) held by frame 38. Member I62 is furthermore equipped with a resetter finger I66, 2. stop lug I68 and a lock lug I'e0. To the latter is attach-ed a-lock plate I12 which is held in engagement'with a lock arm I14 attached to a stud I16 loosely supported by a bushing I16 held by frame 38. On the stud I18 is also secured a control arm I80 (Figures 1 and 2) to which is pivoted a control link I82. Every time link I82 moves in an upward direction, it will cause control arm I80 and lock arm I14 to move upward also, thereby effecting a disengagement of the latter from lock plate I12. The engagement of arm I14 with lock plate I 12 normally holds the release and stop screw I38 in an ineffective position, as shown in Figure 3. Disengagement of arm I14 from plate I12, however, permits a tension spring I84 connecting resetter finger I66 and stud I18, to swing member I62 and bring screw I38 into the path of the oncoming lock lug I32 on arm 50. A stop pin I86, held by frame 38, engages the stop lug I68 and thereby limits the extent to which the member I62 will be displaced by spring I84. The arm 50, when reaching its rearmost position, then presses the free end of lock lug I32 against said stop screw I38 and the release of the lifted pawls 46 is effected, as previously described. After'the feeding of each length of filler, the release or stop screw I38 is returned to its ineffective position by aresetter arm I88 which projects from the hub of arm 50 and oscillates with the latter. On its free end, arm I88 carries a stop screw I98 which, during the forward stroke of arms 50 and I88, engages with the free end of the resetter finger I66 and moves the same upward, thereby producing an upward movement of lock lug I and its plate I12. A tension spring I82 (Figures 1 and 2) connected to control arm I80, acts to maintain lock arm I14 in its downward position to re-engage the lock plate I12 when the finger I66 is disengaged by stop screw I90.

The cross feed conveyors 30, 32 and 34 are actuated during the operation of the machine whenever it is necessary to feed additional bunch lengths of tobacco to the magazine indicated generally M. The quantity of tobacco in magazine M is determined by means of a measuring plunger 352 attached to the lower end of a vertical shaft 316 suitably supported for vertical movement in bearing brackets 318 and-380, both of which'are rigidly attached to pedestal 200. Shaft 316 is reciprocated b'y-an oscillating forked lever 382 carrying a pair of rollers 384 engaging with a collar 386loosely mounted on shaft 316. To the latter is adjustably clamped a lug 388 against which the collar 386 is held by a compression spring 390 seated against a collar392 fastened to shaft 316. Lever 382 is fastened on a horizontal shaft 400 supported by suitable hearings in pedestal 200. Shaft 400 carries a rocker arm 402 which is connected by an adjustable rod 404 to a suitable cam lever 406 fulcrumed on shaft 66. The downward movement of measuring plunger 352 is effected by the downward motion of lever 382 which, by means of rollers 384, depresses collar 386 and through spring 390 and collar 392, imparts downward motion to shaft 316. The tobacco column (not shown) in magazine M offers resistance to the descending measuring plunger 35.2, but arm 382 continues its downward stroke for a short distance, thereby compressing spring 390 and causing collar 386 to move away from lug 388. In this manner, suiiicient pressure is exerted through spring 390 and collar 392 to effect compaction of the tobacco column in magazine M.

'Lever 406 carries a cam follower 408 engaging with a cam track 4I0 of suitable design for causing the desired reciprocation of shaft 3'16, which cam track is formed in cam 60 mounted on shaft 62 (Figure 5).

In order to control efiectively the height of the tobacco column (not shown) in magazine M, which column normally consists of several superimposed bunch lengths of tobacco, lug 388 mounted on shaft 316 carries adjustable trip screw 4I2 which normally during the downward movement of shaft 316 and plunger 352, engages the free end 4I4 of the double lever AIS pivoted to a-stud 4I8 held by pedestal 200. The other end-420 of lever M6 is connected to feed belt link I82 (Figure 1). Therefore, when trip screw 4I2 engages end 4I4 of lever M6 and moves it downwardly, the other end 420 of lever 4I6 moves upwardly and through link I82 connected thereto, causes an upward movement of control arm I10 and lock arm I14. Since, as previously described, the upward movement of lock arm I14 permits stop screw I38 to move into the path of lug I32 and effect a release of lifted pawls 46, the feed belt drive control is tripped and a new charge is fed in the following cycle of the machine.

It will be noted that control arm I and lock arm I14 are moved downwardly by spring I32 when trip screw 4I2 moves away from lever 4I6 upon upward movement of shaft 316. This permits arm I14 to re-engage lock plate I12 when lock plate I12 is returned to its initial position by engagement of stop screw I30 with arm I66. In case the tobacco column (not shown) in magazine M is too high, that is, when too much tobacco has accumulated in magazine M, measuring plunger 352 cannot enter very far into the magazine and plunger 352 and shaft 316 come to rest before trip screw 4I2 can engage end 4I4 of lever MB. In such case, tripping of the feed belt drive control cannottake place, and controlarm I80 and lock arm I14 remain in their operative positions and no release of pawls 46 is effected. Thus pawls 46 remain lifted through the following cycle and therefore the feeding action of feed belts 30, 32 and 34 is interrupted and no charge is fed during the following cycle of the machines Y1 The-invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustrate theinvention, is but one of many possible concrete embocliments of the same. vIt is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

-What isclaimed is: '1. The combination with a series of belts arranged to form a filler feed channel wherein filler tobacco may be placed to form a continuous layer, of a cutter for cutting bunch lengths from said layer, a'magazine, a measuring plunger, means for cyclically moving said plunger to compress said bunch lengths in said magazine, a trip finger mounted on said plunger, means operated by said trip finger for selectively and intermittently driving said belts to advance said layer in said channel to said cutter and into said magazine, said means including a ratchet, a shaft on which said ratchet is mounted, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring connected to said arm and urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a device for lifting and latching said pawl in lifted position during the rearward movement of said arm, instrumentalities operative when tobacco is to be fed to said magazine for unlatching said pawl from said device at termination of the rearward movement of said arm, a second latch controlled by said trip finger and operative to positively hold said unlatching instrumentalities out of operative position when latched, mechanism to urge said instrumentalities into operative position when they are released from said second latch, a cam having an arcuate periphery and an inwardly extending face at its forward end and adapted to support the unlatched pawl in lifted position as said arm moves forwardly whereby said pawl will drop into engagement with the ratchet as it rides over the forward end of said cam, and the pawl will drive the ratchet during the remainder of its forward movement.

2. The combination with a series of belts arranged to form a filler feed channel wherein filler tobacco may be placed to form a continuous layer, of means for intermittently driving said belts to advance said layer in said channel, said means including a ratchet, a shaft on which said ratchet is mounted, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, aspring connected to said arm and urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a device for lifting and latching said pawl in lifted position during the rearward movement of said arm, instrumentalities for unlatching said pawl from said device at termination of the rearward movement of said arm, a cam having an arcuate periphery and an inwardly extending face at its forward end and adapted to support the unlatched pawl in lifted position as-said arm moves forwardly whereby said pawl will drop into engagement with the ratchet as it rides off the forward end of said cam, and the pawl will drive the ratchet during the remainder of its forward movement, an inclined surface extending between saidinwardly extending face of said cam and its arcuate periphery, and a yielding finger positioned adjacent to said inwardly extending face and extending outward beyond said inclined surfac and having an arcuate periphery normally, continuous withthe periphery of said cam.

3. The combination with a series of beltsarranged to form a filler feed channel wherein fillertobacco may be placed to form a continuous layer, of means for intermittentlyv driving said belts to advance said layer in said channel, said means including a ratchet, a shaft on which said ratchet is mounted, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on-said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted I on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring connected to said arm and urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a device for lifting and latching said pawl in lifted position during the rearward movement of said arm, instrumentalities for unlatching said pawl from said device at termination of the rearward movement of said arm, a cam having an arcuate periphery and an inwardly extending face at its forward end and adapted to support the unlatched pawl in lifted position as said arm moves forwardly whereby said pawl will drop into engagement with the ratchet as it rides over the forward end of said cam, and the pawl will drive the ratchet during the remainder of its forward movement, movable means mounting said unlatching instrumentalities proximate the position occupied by said arm at the termination ofits rearward movement so that said instrumentalities may be moved into inoperative position, and a latch operative to engage said instrumentalities and hold them in inoperative position.

4, The combination with a series of belts arranged to form a filler feed channel wherein filler tobacco ma be placed to form a continuous layer, of means for intermittently driving said belts to advance said layer in said channel, said means including a ratchet, a shaft on which said ratchet is mounted, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring connected to said arm and urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a device for lifting and latching said pawl in lifted position during the rearward movement of said arm, instrumentalities for unlatching said pawl from said device at termination of the rearward movement of said arm, a cam having an arcuate periphery and an inwardly extending face at its forward end and adapted to support the unlatched pawl in lifted position as said arm moves forwardly whereby said pawl will drop into engagement with the ratchet as it rides over the forward end of said cam, and the pawl will drive the ratchet during the remainder of its forward movement, said instrumentalities in eluding a pivoted member, an unlatching projection on saidmember, a latch surface on said member, a latch arm operative to engage said latch surface and maintain said unlatching projection in inoperative position, means operative, when said belts are to be driven to advance tobacco in said channel, for moving said latch arm out of engagement with said latch surface, and means to move said unlatching projection into position to unlatch and free said pawl for movement into operative driving relationship with said ratchet.

5. In a tobacco feeding mechanism comprising a channel formed of spaced vertical belts and a bottom tobacco supporting belt located beneath and extending between said spaced vertical belts for supporting a layer of tobacco, said mechanism including ,a ratchet, a shaft mounting said ratchet, anoscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft for travel between a foremost operative position and a rearmost inoperative position, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a latch for latching said pawl in inoperative position relative to said ratchet during the movement of said arm from said foremost to said rearmost position, means located adjacent said rearmost inoperative position of said arm for unlatching said pawl whereby said spring may displace said unlatched pawl into position for actuating said ratchet, a second latch device including said pawl unlatching means, a lever, a lock arm, a linkage connecting said lever and arm, a trip finger adapted to engage said lever and move said arm to unlatch said second latch device, and means for moving said unlatching means into unlatching position relative to said firstnamed latch when said second latch device is unlatched.

6. In a tobacco feeding mechanism comprising a channel formed of spaced vertical belts and a bottom tobacco supporting belt located beneath and extending between said spaced vertical belts for supporting a layer of tobacco, said mechanism including a ratchet, a shaft mounting said ratchet, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft for travel between a foremost operative position and a rearmost inoperative position, 1

a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a latch for latching said pawl in inoperative position relative to said ratchet during the movement of said arm from said foremost to said rearmost position, means located adjacent said rearmost inoperative position of said arm for unlatching said pawl whereby said spring may displace said unlatched pawl into position for actuating said ratchet, a second latch device retaining said pawl unlatching means in inoperative position when latched, a lever, a pivoted lock arm, a linkage connecting said lever and arm, a trip finger adapted to engage said lever and move said arm to unlatch said second latch device, a projection on said second latch device, and a projecting element on said oscillating arm positioned to engage said projection during the forward movement of said oscillating arm to reset said second latch device.

7. In a tobacco feeding mechanism comprising a channel formed of spaced vertical belts and a bottom tobacco supporting belt located beneath and extending between said spaced vertical belts for supporting a layer of tobacco, said mechanism including a ratchet, a shaft mounting said ratchet, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft for travel between a foremost operative position and a rearmost inoperative position, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a latch for latching said pawl in inoperative position relative to said ratchet during the movement of said arm from said foremost to said rearmost position, means located adjacent said rearmost intobacco for moving said trip finger toengage said lever and move said arm to unlatch said second latch device, and separate means that move said pawl unlatching member into operative unlatching position relative to said first-named latch when said second latch device is unlatched.

8. In a tobacco feeding mechanism comprising a channel formedof spaced vertical belts and a bottom tobacco supporting belt located beneath and extending between said spaced vertical belts for supporting a layer of tobacco, said mechanism including a ratchet, a shaft mounting said ratchet, an oscillating arm loosely mounted on said shaft for travel between a foremost operative position and a rearmost inoperative position, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted to engage and drive said ratchet, a spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, a latch for latching said pawl in inoperative position relative to said ratchet during the movement of said arm from said foremost to said rearmost position, means located adjacent said rearmost inoperative position of said arm for unlatching said ,3 pawl whereby said spring may displace said unlatched pawl into position for actuating said ratchet, a second latch device to hold said pawl unlatching means out of operative unlatching position, a lever, a pivoted arm, a link connecting said lever and arm, a trip finger, means operative when said belts are to feed tobacco for moving said trip finger to engage said lever and move said arm to unlatch said second latch device, a projecting element on said oscillating arm and a projection on said pawl unlatching means located in the path of said element during its for ward movement with said oscillating arm to move said pawl unlatching means out of operative position for latching by said second latch device.

I JEAN L. DURNING, Executria: of Estate of James P. Burning,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,838,115 Schussler Dec. 29, 1931 2,226,370 Carlson Dec. 24, 1940 2,255,051 Ferenci Sept. 9, 1941 2,255,054 Halstead Sept. 9, 1941

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