US2819746A - Rotary automatic shredding machine for tobacco leaves and the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1958 A. BAGLIONI ,8

v ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR v TOBACCO LEAVES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [swin -n2 Jan. 14, 1958 A. BA'GLIO'NI ,8

ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10. 1953 ,inubchr CLwMlLuJ-u i 1 United States atent-O ROTARY AUTOMATIC SHREDDING MACHINE FOR TOBACCO LEAVES AND THE LIKE Amilcare Baglioni, Rome, Italy, assignor to S. A. S. I. B.-

S. p. A. Scipione Innocenti-Bologna, Bologna, Italy, an Italian joint-stock company Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,319

Claims priority, application Italy April 24, 1953 4 Claims. (Cl. 146-118) This invention has for its object an improved rotary shredding machine, particularly for tobacco leaves.

The shredding machine according to the invention in cludes a shredding unit comprising a rotary cutter head, on which cutters are rigidly fastened and which slowly advances towards the outlet mouth for the tobacco to be shredded, and this in the same measure as the cutter becomes worn out, this advancing being effected by means of a suitable automatic screw control device, and also includes a sharpening unit comprising a grinding wheel which sharpens the cutters during their operation and 4 follows automatically the advancing of the cutter head.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification of a preferred embodiment shown by way of non-limiting example on the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a rotary tobacco shredding machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 3 shows in section the compressing and shredding unit on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 shows in elevation with parts in section the advancing device for the rotary cutter head on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 shows in section the fastening of the cutters to the cutter head on an enlarged scale.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the tobacco to be cut is assembled in a hopper 1 arranged within a machine frame ta and having a substantially vertical front wall, a swinging back wall constituted by rake 3 and an endless conveyor belt 2 forming the bottom thereof. From said hopper the tobacco while being compressed by two pairs of compressing rolls 4, 5 and 6, 7 respectively, is fed forward through a mouthpiece 8 towards a rotary cutting device mounted in front of said mouthpiece and later fully described.

Each pair of said compressing rolls includes a lower roll 5 or 7 and an upper roll 4 or 6 respectively. The lower roll 5 supports the said conveyor belt 2 and is mounted to cooperate not only with upper roll 4 but also with the more closely. located upper roll 6 which again is still closer to the lower roll 7. Thus the tobacco while being fed forward toward the mouthpiece 8 is subjected to three subsequent and increasing compressions namely between rolls 45, 5-6, and 67, respectively. The opening in the mouthpiece 8 forms substantially a continuation of the passageway between rolls 6 and 7 and is provided with a yielding lip 108 (Fig. 3), preferably made of sheet metal, which maintains and regulates the pressure under which the tobacco is forced through said mouthpiece.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the compressing rolls 4, 5, 6, 7 are driven by an electric motor 9, by means of a belt drive 10 which rotates a pulley 110 keyed on shaft 11, on the opposite end of which a speed reducing gear 16 of any known type is arranged to drive said rolls by conventional transmission means not specifically shown in the drawing.

A hydraulic device 20 is connected through a small pipe 21 to the pressure gauge 22. The cylinder of this hydraulic device reacts against a leaf spring 23.

The resistance of the rotation of compression rolls 6 and 7 is transformed into a corresponding axial thrust on a worm (not shown) and is transmitted through the hydraulic device 20 to the pressure gauge 22.

The said rolls 4, 5, 6, 7 have preferably substantially equal diameters and are rotated at such speeds to effect a uniform feed and a progressively increasing compression of the tobacco. Advantageously the final compressing rolls 6, 7 are driven to rotate at equal speed while compressing rolls 4, 5 are drivento rotate at slightly higher speed, said speeds having for example a ratio of 32:26.

The cutting device mentioned above comprises a cutter head 27 rotatably mounted on shaft 127 in front of said mouthpiece 8 transverse to the direction of feed of the tobacco. Said cutter head 27 which is rotated by said motor 9 by means of pulley 28 and belt 29 (Fig. 2), is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced cutters or blades 30 rigidly though adjustably secured thereto and coextending with the discharge opening of the mouthpiece 8. Said cutters are constituted by wide steel ribbons or steel sheet blades and extend substantially in tangential direction out of cutter head 27 by about /2 inch or less. The cutting edges of cutters 30 while rotating pass close in front of the discharge opening of the mouthpiece '8 cutting the tobacco forced therethrough and in addition thereto contacting the rotating grinding wheel 31 thus being continuously sharpened.

The cutters 30 may be secured in the head 27 in any customary manner preferably as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown each cutter 30 is set in a deep slit 227 of head 27 and is held against a projecting lip thereof by a jaw 32 supported by a cross pin 33 and pressed against cutter 30 by a set screw 34 which is seated in a bracket 35 fastened to head 27.

The size of the portion of each cutter 30 extending from the slit 227 is adjusted by hand preferably with the aid of a lever 36 pivoted at 136 at each side of the cutter head 27 and provided with abutments 236 determining the position of the cutting edge of each cutter which is pulled out of its respective slit 227 until it contacts with its cutting edge said abutment 236. Thereafter said levers 36 are swung back in a nonobstructing position.

The cutter head 27 is encased in a housing 37 having in its bottom a discharge opening 38 for the shredded tobacco and in its front a cover 39 swingable upwardly about pivot 139 to permit access to the cutter head 27.

The cutters 30 are quite rapidly worn out during the continuous cutting operation. In order to compensate this wear and to maintain the cutting edges of cutters 36 in operative position close in front of the mouthpiece S, the cutter head 27 is mounted to slowly advance towards the mouthpiece 8. In the shown embodiment the shaft 127 of the cutter head 27 is mounted in two swing arms 40 which are pivoted in the machine frame at 146 outside said casing 37 and permit the cutter head to be swung toward and away from said mouthpiece 8. The side walls of said housing 37 are provided with sufliciently wide manual control, .is rotatably connected to a non-rotatable link 4-6 which is adjustably attached to a lever 47 radially connected to a cross shaft 48 mounted in the machine frame. ":Fhe threaded spindle 44 may be-loeked to said link 46 by frictional means including a -nut 49. Said .cross shaftwt-lfi .is provided-at each end on eaohsideof-the machine with aneccentric 148 cooperating with a strap 150 arranged at one end of aipushrod 50 which with its iotherendis articulatedito said swing arms-40.

My new machine operates as follows:

While the tmachinelis at rest the cutters30 are adjusted in the cutter head '27 to proper cutting position andare secured therein .asdescribed above. The fricton nut 49 connecting the threaded spindle 44 to :the link 46 .is does- .ened and said spindle is .axially displaced by turning the vsame within the nut vt3 rbyrmpans of theihandwheel 144, in order to bringthetcutters 30 in proper position in front of the monthpiece 18. This is effected. by .the =re treating spindle .44 .over the glink .46, .arm 47, eccentric 1418, 150 and p sh nod 50 which swings :the arms .50 -.with the cuthead :27 toward the mouthpiece t8. Thereupon nut 9 is l k to rigidly rconneotttheispindle 44 with the link 46 and the feeding and the compressing tollersil, 5, 6, 7 are driven :by motor 9;. -;The rotating shaft 10.4 of roller .4 turns the wormidl, which againturns nut .43 and eirects an axial displacement of spindle v lat and consequently by t ac on .Q l Q 3I i 14 1. narrow displ ema o s d sw n a ms ,4!) with the cutter head '27 towards e mou hp ece t, T e d gree of su h di placem nt may e e ulated by sh ft g the connection 1.4.6 of e nk 46 t a m .4 a d uc regula on will be dependa 011 he expe ted ea o the cut r 5.0 during th din operation Whe the He head .27 has b en displaced toward the mouthpiece into it nd pos tion, which is dete m ned y a no ho n st pp n member friction o t 9 is being a m tica y loosened thereby declut li ng the t e d d nd tram li k 44? and inte r pt ng any fu e a tio n th sw n arm l and the cutter head 27 supported therein. The pntters 3i) the putter head, which is p e en d from ny tu ne moveme ow d the mouthpiece 8, are slowly i. e. in about one minute fully Worn out and hei lunted sui n das c se an Overload o t e elect ic m to 9, whi h i Stopped by conventional safety devices,

F l w n th toppa e o the mach ne t e cu te b ad ,2 is s n'm s a a from th u i ic e 8 .by tu nins e ,har dwll e wt? :1 b is g e sc ew sp nd e 4 in'its initial position, The cr tters are thereupon re-j u ted nto ro er tut 2s P s tion urea the h ad 2 whe eupo the iuretics descr bed time is repe te T 's r n i whe at tu le cutt r foll h u e hea 27 du ng it d s acem nt re ativ t the mw pie c a dsf ndi g les .3 is o a ab y mou ted in a strong hood 51 which at 52 is swingably attached to the cover 39 and is hinged to a least one of the swing arms 49 by a link member 55 located eccentrically to said fulcrum 52. The length of said link member 53 and also i point o c m nt to the sw'ng rm 40 are a jus so that the position of the grind ng wheel 31 relative to the cutters 39 ma be p perly fix d and a so n order to Pe a Change f ht f 1 f he r nding whe l, 31 n accordance with the wear of the cr tters 30.

Grinding e 31. is made re erabl as a q l dtic l block ith s ax Par ll l to a 7 t cutter h ad 2 and is driven preferably in the direction as this latter by co-axial electric motor 54 directly coupled and fastened laterally on hood S1 A grinding-wheel rectifier 55 shiftably mounted in suitable guides on hood 51 permits of periodically rectifying grinding wheel 31.

Inclined rake 3, swinging away and towards the mouth of the compressing units 4m 7 and which, together with the opposite wall of loading box 1 constitutes a vertical burner n l d y outer swin ing lever 56. keyed to a ha of t ke 3- A. ert c l sw nging lev r- 57 co s s with pulling spring 59 through free horizontal prop 60.

4 t This latter is carried by balance lever -61 -fulcrumed --to lever 56 eccentrically of axis of prop 60. Balance lever 61 coacts with an adjustable abutment member 62 which at the end of the stroke of rake 3, towards the intake of the compressing units, abuts against balance lever 61 which is compelled to assume such ,a position ..(.generally a vertical position) in which it keeps prop -'hQrfizontal.

Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiment just described and shown, :but it may be :arnply varied and modified, particularly as regards the construction of the rotary cutting head, of the 'grintlingunit, and the compressing unit, as well as of ,the devices ,for the rigid fitting of the cutters on the cutter head and of the automatic loading devices, and this without departing from the basic principle oftlte invention as set out in the present specification and in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of thetype desoribedft'or cutting leaf tobacco or similar material 'the improvement comprising in combination a machine frame, a mouth piece or other .dischar-ge member arranged within said frame for feed ing said material to be cut; a cutter head rotatably mounted in front of said mouthpiece; a plurality of cutters rigidly though 'adjustably mounted thereupon; a support for said rotatable cutter head displaceab'ly mounted upon said machine frame to move the cutter head relative to the mouthpiece; driving means 'in said frame continuously effecting such displacement of said support in accordance with the progressive wear of the cutters during their operation; a grinding wheel for the cutters, the width of the wheel substantially conforming to the length of the cutters; a support for the grinding wheel displaceably mounted upon the machine frame; and an adjustable link connecting said support for the grinding wheel and said support for the cutter head to hold said grinding wheel in operative position relative to the cutters of the cutter head while the same is being displaced towards themouthpiece.

2. In a machine of the type described for cutting leaf tobacco or similar material the improvement comprising in combination, a machine frame; a mouthpiece or other discharge member arranged within said frame for'feeding said material to be cut; a rotatable cutter head rotatably mounted in front of said mouthpiece; a plurality of cutters rigidly though adjustably'mounted thereupon; a swingable support for said rotatable cutter head mounted upon said machine frame and adapted to move the cutter head with the cutters relative to the mouthpiece; means continuously effecting a swing movement of said support towards said mouthpiece in accordance with the progressive wear of the cutters during their operation; a grinding wheel for the cutters, the width of said wheel substantially conforming to the length of the cutters; a support for the grinding wheel swingably mounted upon the machine frame; and an adjustable link connecting said support for the grinding wheel and said support for the cutter head to hold said grinding wheel in operative position relative to the cutters while the cutter head is being displaced towards the mouthpiece.

3. A machine for cutting leaf tobacco or the like according to claim 1, wherein the means continuously effecting the displacement of the cutter head comprise a screw spindle; a rotatable nut stationary mounted upon the machine frame to cooperate with said screw spindle and to effect a continuous displacement thereof in axial direction during the cutting operation; means to rotate said nut; and adjustable means transferring said axial movement of said screw spindle upon the displaceable support for the cutter head to move the same towards the mouthpiece.

4. A machine for cutting leaf tobacco or the like according to claim 1, wherein the means continuously effecting the displacement of the cutter head comprise a cross shaft mounted in the machine frame and an eccentrip on said shaft; an adjustable eccentric rod operated 5 by said eccentric and connected with its free end to the References Cited in the file of this patent support of theficutter head; a radial lever integral with UNITED STATES PATENTS sai shaft to e ect its angular dipslacement; a link member adjustably mounted upon said radial lever; a screw f; ig gggg g spindle rotatably attached to said link member; fric- 5 1550592 strisckler Aug 1925 tional means adapted to temporarily fasten said screw 1558613 ggg; 5 spindle to said link member in order to prevent its rota- 1:933:181 Moll-n8 et a1 Oct, 31: 1933 tion; and means effecting a continuous displacement of 2,464,396 Schreiber 22, 1949 the screw spindle in axial direction during the cutting 10 2,612,974 Krause Oct. 7, 1952 operation and while said frictional means are operative. 2,763,307 Schreiber Sept. 18, 1956

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