US2952371A

US2952371A - Tobacco looper

Info

Publication number: US2952371A
Application number: US595237A
Authority: US
Inventors: C M Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-07-02
Filing date: 1956-07-02
Publication date: 1960-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1977-09-13

Description

Sept. 13, 1960 c. M. SMITH I ,3

' TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w i m 1 Q "3 q; i a 3% 1x 1 1 N f o *0 1 C. M. Smith. S Q INVENTOR. N w 8 ep 1 1 c. M. SMITH 2,952,371

' TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. M. Smith N IN V EN TOR.

Mad-9' Y M F C. M. SMITH TOBACCO LOOPER Sept. 13, 1960 Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Shet 3 c. M. 3mm;

INVENTQR.

v 50% v QKM. QWM' m QKM, mm m n w W wk N9 m aw v9 mm m m nt M -Mr P 1950 c. M. SMITH 2,952,371

" TOBACCO LOOPER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 S W gzl zs% C. M. SMITH TOBACCO LOOPER Sept. 13, 1960 Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

p 1 1960 c. M. SMITH 2,952,371

TOBACCO LOOFER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. /3

C. M. Smith INVENTOR.

BY wyzWFM L Patented Sept. 13, .1960

Fice TOBACCO LOOPER C. M. Smith, Yadkinville, N.C. Filed July 2, 1956, Ser. No. 595,237

16 Claims. (Cl. 214-55) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in farm machinery, and more specifically to a tobacco looper.

Although great strides have been made in recent years in mechanizing farm equipment, tobacco, when picked in the Southern States, still must be bundled into hands and then manually tied upon a stick for curing purposes. Inasmuch as the tobacco must be tied upon the sticks soon after it is picked, it will be readily apparent that there is utilized a large amount of labor at the time when such labor is required for harvesting the tobacco crop.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved tobacco looper which is so constructed whereby it is merely necessary to place hands or bunches of tobacco in the tobacco looper and the tobacco looper will automatically tie the tobacco onto a tobacco stick.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco looper which includes a needle and means for positioning tobacco relative to the needle, there being provided suitable drive means for moving the needle in a figure eight pattern around tobacco so that a tobacco retaining string is first looped about the tobacco on one side of a tobacco stick and then looped about the tobacco on the opposite side of a tobacco stick, the Weight of the tobacco retained in the loops of the string being distributed on opposite sides of the stick and thus retaining itself in place on the stick.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco looper which is automatic in operation, the tobacco looper being provided with means for advancing a tobacco stick therethrough, means for receiving tobacco fed therein positioning such tobacco on opposite sides of the tobacco stick and tobacco tying means operated in timed relation to the movement of the tobacco stick and the position of the tobacco on opposite sides thereof for tying the tobacco to the tobacco stick.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved needle construction for looping a retaining string about the tobacco for retaining the tobacco on a tobacco stick, the needle construction including a needle which is free floating and which is selectively engaged by needle carriers with the needle being transferred from one needle carrier to the other and being moved in a circular pattern by each of the loop carriers whereby a figure 8 pattern is followed with the needle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco looper which is so constructed whereby it may be mounted on an existing tobacco harvester for receiving tobacco from clips carried by the automatic conveyor system of the tobacco harvester so that once the tobacco has been picked and placed into the clips of the tobacco harvester, the tobacco is automatically elevated and moved into the tobacco looper where it is automatically tied to a tobacco stick.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a drive system for a tobacco looper which is so constructed whereby when tobacco is placed into a tobacco receiving clip of a tobacco looper, the tobacco is automatically swung into a position adjacent a tobacco stick, a needle bearing a tobacco tying string is looped about the tobacco and over the tobacco stick and the tobacco stick is advanced to make the tobacco tying string taut to hold the tobacco in place.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco looper which includes means for positioning and tying tobacco on opposite sides of a tobacco stick, and means for advancing the tobacco stick intimed relation to the tying of the tobacco on opposite sides thereof, the drive means for advancing the tobacco stick being so constructed whereby as the end of a tobacco stick is approached, the tobacco stick is rapidly advanced in order to avoid any delays in the tying of tobacco on the next adjacent stick.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the tobacco looper which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tobacco looper of Figure 1 viewed from the opposite side thereof and shows further the details thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2 andshows the details of the tobacco looper in the vicinity of the tobacco tying means thereof, there being illustrated the drive means for the needle and the tobacco positioning means;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the specific details of the needle carriers and the manner in which the needle is transferred from one needle carrier to the other when moving through a figure 8 pattern;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 2 and shows further the specific details of the various drive means of the tobacco looper;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of Figure 1 and shows more specifically the details of the needle and the means for driving the needle through a figure 8 pattern;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of Figure 6 and shows further details of the needle and the manner in which it is mounted for freedom of movement;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 7 and shows the specific details of a one revolution clutch drive for one of the needle carriers;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of Figure 3 and shows the specific relationship of the tobacco positioning means with respect to a tobacco stick;

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of a tobacco receiving and retaining clip which is a part of the tobacco positioning means and shows the specific details thereof;

Figure ll'is an enlarged side elevational view of the tobacco clip of Figure 10 and shows further the details thereof;

Figure 12 is an end view of the tobacco of Figure 10;

holding clip Figure 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the upper part of the tobacco looper and shows the manner in which tobacco sticks are advanced to the tobacco looper;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken above the tobacco stick showing the manner in which tobacco is tied thereto, the needle of the tobacco looper being shown in section;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view showing the relationship between a tobacco conveyor and the tobacco positioning means of the tobacco looper whereby tobacco may be automatically conveyed from a conveyor of a tobacco harvester to the tobacco looper.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the tobacco looper which is the subject of this invention, the tobacco looper being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The tobacco looper includes a supporting frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12.

The supporting frame 12 includes a pair of

standards

14 and 16 which extend upwardly at one end of the tobacco looper 10. The upper ends of the

standards

14 and 16 are connected together by a transverse frame member 18. The

standards

14 and 16 are also connected together adjacent their lower ends by a transverse frame member 20.

Connected to intermediate portions of the

standards

14 and 16 are longitudinally extending

frame members

22 and 24, respectively. The opposite ends of the

frame members

22 and 24 are connected together by a transverse frame member 26, as is best illustrated in Figure 5. Extending between the

frame members

22 and 24 is a mounting plate 28 which has one edge thereof secured to the transverse frame member 26. Extending downwardly from the mounting plate 28 is a supporting leg 30 which is centrally located.

Disposed in overlying relation to the

frame members

22 and 24 and extending from the upper ends of the

standards

14 and 16 are

frame members

32 and 34, respectively. The opposite ends of the

frame members

32 and 34 are supported by

uprights

36 and 38 which extend upwardly from intermediate portions of the

frame members

22 and 24, respectively. Extending transversely between the upper ends of the

uprights

36 and 38 is a transverse frame member (not shown).

Extending upwardly from the transverse frame member 20 at spaced points intermediate the ends thereof are relatively short uprights 40 which have secured to their upper ends longitudinally extending legs 42 of a U-shaped frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 44. The legs 42 are connected by a transverse member 46. Extending upwardly from the central part of the transverse member 46 is an upright 48 which is disposed in longitudinal alignment with an upright 50 which extends upwardly from the plate 28 in vertical alignment with the support 30. The

uprights

48 and 50 support a tobacco stick guide 52.' The tobacco stick guide 52 extends to the right of the main portion of the supporting frame 12, as viewed in Figure 1, and is braced by a diagonal brace 54 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the transverse frame member 26, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 5.

Extending upwardly from each of the legs 42 is an upright 56 which is braced by a diagonal brace 58, the opposite end of the diagonal brace 58 being secured to the transverse frame member 20. Secured to the extreme upper end of each of the uprights 56 is a longitudinal support 60 whose purpose will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

Secured directly to the transverse frame member 20 at spaced intervals intermediate the ends thereof are longitudinally extending hanger supports 62. The forward ends of the hanger supports 62are supported by short uprights 64, as is best illustrated in Figure 1.

Secured to a corner of the mounting plate 28 and extending upwardly therefrom in vertical alignment with the longitudinal frame member 24 is a support 66. The support 66 carries at the upper end thereof a longitudinally extending mounting plate 68 which is braced by a diagonal brace 70.

Extending longitudinally from the upright is a support 72 having an upper surface disposed in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the supporting plate 68. The support 72 has the right hand end thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, braced by a transverse member 74 whose opposite end is supported by a sloping support 76, the lower end of the sloping support 76 being secured to the longitudinal frame member 22.

Extending between the transverse frame member 18 and that transverse frame member which extends between the upper ends of the

uprights

36 and 38 is a plate 78 which is of a lesser width than the supporting frame 12, the plate 78 being best illustrated in Figure 3. Carried by the plate 78 is a needle assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 80.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 6 in particular, it will be seen that the needle assembly 80 includes a pair of

tubular housings

82 and 84 which extend above and below the plate 78 and which are supported thereby. The

tubular housings

82 and 84 are disposed in overlapping relation, as is best illustrated in Figure 4, so as to form a single generally figure 8 shaped housing. Positioned in the tubular housing 82 is a needle carrier which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 86. A similar needle carrier 88 is positioned in the tubular housing 84. The needle carrier 86 includes a shaft 90 having secured to the lower end thereof a generally circular needle carrying plate 92 and to an intermediate portion thereof a similar needle carrying plate 94. The needle carrying plates 92 and 94 are spaced apart a distance equal to generally the height of the tubular housing 82 and are disposed therein for guided movement relative thereto.

The needle carrier 88 also includes a shaft 96 and a pair of

needle carrying plates

98 and 100. The

needle carrying plates

98 and 100 are very similar to the needle 4 carrying plates 92 and 94 and are disposed within the tubular housing 84 in guided relation.

Extending upwardly from theplate 78 in overlying relation to the

tubular housings

82 and 84 is a mounting bracket 102. A similar mounting bracket 104 is disposed vertically above the mounting bracket 102. The shafts and 96 extend upwardly through the mounting

brackets

102 and 104 and are suitably journaled therein for rotation.

Carried by the upper part of the shaft 90 is a gear 106 which has a hub portion 108 extending upwardly thereabove. The hub portion 108 is provided with a bevel gear 110 which is meshed with a bevel drive gear 112. The bevel drive gear 112 is carried by a horizontal shaft 114 which is suitably journaled in a pair of pillow blocks 116 carried by uprights 118 secured to the plate 78, as is best illustrated in Figure 3. Disposed intermediate the pillow blocks 116 and mounted on the'shaft 114 is a sprocket 120 for facilitating the driving shaft 114.

In order that the shaft 96 may be rotated, there is provided -a gear 122 which is in constant mesh with the gear 106. It is to be understood that the

gears

106 and 120 are freely rotatable on the

shafts

90 and 96 and continuously rotate during the operation of the tobacco looper 10.

In order that the

gears

106 and 122 may be continuously driven, there is mounting on the plate 28 an electric motor 124. The electric motor 124 is provided with a drive sprocket 126 which is aligned with a sprocket 128. The sprocket 128 is mounted on a transverse idler shaft 130 which is suitably journaled in a pillow block 132 carried by the support 72 and a pillow block 134 carried by 'the support plate 68. Entrained over

the'sprockets

126 and 128 and drivingly connecting it to the other isa drive chain 136.

Disposed to the right of the idler shaft 130, as viewed in Figure 2, is a shaft 138 which has one end thereof journaled in a pillow block 140 supported on the support 72 and the opposite end thereof journalled in a pillow block 142 mounted on the support plate 68. The shaft 138 is provided with a sprocket 144 which is aligned with a sprocket 146 connected to the sprocket 128. Entrained over the

sprockets

144 and 146 and drivingly connecting the two together is a drive chain 148.

Mounted on the shaft 138 and connected to the sprocket 144 for rotation therewith is a sprocket 150. The sprocket 150 is longitudinally aligned with the sprocket 120 and is connected thereto by a drive chain 152 entrained over the two sprockets. The intermediate portions of the drive chain 152 pass over a roller 154 which is suitably supported by the transverse frame member which extends between the

uprights

36 and 38. Thus the shaft 114 is continuously driven to continuously rotate the

gears

106 and 122.

Referring once again to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that the gear 106 is part of a one revolution clutch assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 156. The clutch assembly 156 includes a clutch plate 158 which directly underlies the gear 106 and which has a hub 160 secured to the shaft 90 by means of a set screw 162. The gear 106 has a hub 164 which rests upon the clutch plate 158 and supports the gear 106 against vertical movement. Carried by the underside of the gear 106 is 21 depending drive pin 166.

The clutch plate 158 is cut-away as at 168 and has pivotally connected thereto a dog 170 with a depending finger 172, the dog 170 being connected to the clutch plate or clutch disk 158 by means of a pivot pin 174. The dog 170 is normally urged inwardly to an operative position by a spring 176 which has one end anchored to the clutch plate 158 and the other end anchored to the dog 170.

Engaged with the finger 172 and normally retaining the dog 170 in an inoperative position is a latch member 178.

The gear 122 is part of a clutch assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 180. The clutch assembly 180 is identical with the clutch assembly 156 with the exception of being of the opposite hand.

The clutch assembly 180 includes a clutch plate 182 having a hub 184 secured on the shaft 96 for rotation therewith by a setscrew 186. The gear 122 includes a hub 188 which rest upon the clutch plate 182 to position the gear 122 on the shaft 96.

As is best illustrated in Figure 8, the clutch plate 182 is provided with a generally V-shaped notch 1% in the periphery thereof. Pivotally connected to the upper surface of the clutch plate 82 by means of a pivot pin 192 is a dog 194. The dog 194- is urged inwardly by means of a spring 196 which has one end thereof anchored to the clutch plate as at 198 and the other end to the dog 194.

Secured to the underside of the gear 122 and depending therefrom is a drive pin 200. The drive pin 200 is disposed in the path where it will engage a hook portion 202 of the dog 194 when the dog 194 is in an operative position. However, the dog 194 is normally retained in an inoperative position by a latch member 284 which normally projects into the general area of the notch 198 and behind a finger 206 which depends from the dog 194.

It will be readily apparent that when the latch 178 is in an inoperative position, a shaft 90 Will be driven to drive the needle carrier 86. On the other hand, when the latch 204 is depressed, the shaft 96 will be driven to drive the needle carrier 88.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the needle carrying plate 92 is cut away as at 208 to provide clearance for the needle carrying plate 98. The

1 clearance for the "needle carrying plate 92. The needle carrying plates 94 and 100 are similarly configurated.

The needle carrying plate 92 is also provided with a notch 212. A similar notch 214 is formed in the needle carrying plate 98. The needle carrying plates 94 and 180 are provided with similar notches.

Carried by the transverse frame member 18 is a suitable guide 216. The guide 216 has mounted therein for longitudinal movement a horizontal portion 218 of'a needle which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 228. The needle 220 also includes a Vertical portion 222 which has connected thereto intermediate its ends the horizontal portion 218, the interior of the

needle portions

218 and 228 the two being communicated, as is best illustrated in Figure 7. The needle 220 is further supported by a guide strap 223 secured to the underside of the plate 78 and supporting the horizontal portion 218, as is best illustrated in Figure 7.

It is to be noted that the needle 220 is so mounted whereby the vertical portion 222 has the upper part thereof extending upwardly into the area defined by the

tubular housings

82 and 84. In Figure 4 the vertical portion 222 is illustrated as being disposed within the notch 212.

. The needle carrier 86 has just received the vertical portion 222 and is in the process of moving it about a circular path. It is to be understood that the needle carrier 86 will be rotated at single revolution and then will then stop in the position of the needle carrier 88 illustrated in Figure 4.

Once the needle carrier 86 has moved the vertical portion 222 through a complete circle, movement thereof will stop. When the needle carrier 88 is next actuated, as it rotates, the

plates

98 and 108 will pick up the vertical portion 222 and the notches 214 and move the vertical portion 222 in a second circular path, the two circular paths slightly overlapping and the direction of movement being opposite so that the vertical portion 222 of the needle 220 is moved through a figure 8 pattern.

In order that the vertical portion 222 will be retained in the

notches

212 and 214, the horizontal portion 218 is provided with a spring 224. The spring 224 bears at one end against the guide 216 and the opposite bears against the stop 226 carried by the horizontal portion 218.

The forward end of the horizontal portion 218 is open and will have past therein string 228 from a suitable spool (not shown). The string 228 is intended for use in tying tobacco to a tobacco stick and will be under the proper tension, the tension being applied in a manner similar to that of a normal sewing machine.

Referring now to Figure 14 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the ultimate product of the tobacco looper 10. This includes a conventional tobacco stick 230which has disposed on opposite sides thereof bunches of hands of tobacco 232. The tobacco 232 is staggered and has looped thereabout a part of the string 228, the string 228 being looped about the bunch or hand of tobacco 232 by the figure 8 motion of the vertical portion 222 of the needle 228. It is to be understood that the string 228 is torn, one end thereof being anchored with respect to the end of a tobacco stick 230 and that the weight of the tobacco 232 disposed on opposite sides of the tobacco stick 238 will retain the tobacco in place.

It has been described above how the vertical portion 222 of the needle 220 will move through a figure 8 pattern. It is necessary to move the tobacco stick 230 relative to the needle 220 in timed relation thereto and at the same time to position the tobacco 232 on opposite sides of the tobacco stick 238 so that the string 228 may i be looped thereabout when the vertical portion 222 of needle carrying plate is cut away as at 210 to provide the needle 228 moves to its figure 8 pattern.

The

shafts

98 and 96 are transversely spaced and the vertical portion 222 of the needle 220 is aligned with a tobacco stick support 52. Suitably mounted at one side of the tobacco support 52 are horizontally disposedpillow blocks'234 and 236. The pillow block 234 carries '7 an idler shaft 238 supporting an idler sprocket 240. A drive shaft 242 has the upper end thereof suitably journaled in the pillow block 236 and has the extreme upper end thereof provided with a drive sprocket 244. The drive sprocket 244 is aligned with the idler sprocket 240 and entrained over the two is a conveyor chain 246.

Referring now to Figure 13 in particular, it will be seen that the conveyor chain 242 is provided with a drivlug 248 which is engageable with an end of a tobacco stick 230 for advancing the same along the tobacco stick guide 52 and beneath the vertical portion 222 of the needle 220.

In order that the tobacco stick 230 may be automatically fed into the tobacco looper 10, there is secured to the tobacco guide 52 in racks 250 for receiving tobacco sticks 230 in a vertical stack. As each tobacco stick 230 is moved out beneath the stack, the next tobacco stick will then move down for engagement with the driving lug 248.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that the lower end of the drive shaft 242 is rotatably journaled in a suitable pillow block 252 carried by the transverse member 46. The lower end of the drive shaft 242 is provided with a ring gear 254.

The ring gear 254 overlies a transverse shaft 256 who'se opposite ends are suitably journaled in pillow blocks 258 secured to the underside of the

frame members

22 and 24. Carried by the intermediate portion of the drive shaft 256 is a pinion gear 260 which is disposed in meshed engagement with the ring gear 254.

Also extending between the

longitudinal frame members

22 and 24 is a shaft 262. The shaft 262 has the opposite ends thereof suitably journaled in pillow blocks 264 secured to the upper surfaces of the

longitudinal frame members

22 and 24. The shaft 262 is a continuously driven shaft and is provided with a sprocket 266. The sprocket 266 is aligned with a sprocket 268 on the shaft 138. Entrained over the

sprockets

266 and 268 is a drive chain 270.

Rotatably journaled on the shaft 262 is a sprocket 272 which is aligned with the sprocket 274 secured to the shaft 256. Entrained over the

sprockets

272 and 274 is a drive chain 276. The sprocket 272 is selectively connected to the shaft 262 for driving thereby by a one revolution clutch assembly which is referred to in general by reference numeral 27 8, the one revolution clutch assembly 278 being identical with the

clutch assemblies

156 and 180. Further explanation of the clutch assembly 278 is believed to be unnecessary with the exception of the statement that a drive wheel 280 thereof is externally notched and has engaged therewith a dog 282 carried by a mounting bracket 284 mounted on the plate 28. The dog 282 prevents reverse rotation of the drive wheel 280, the drive wheel 280 being rigidly secured to the shaft 262 for rotation therewith.

Supported by the legs 62 are pillow blocks 286 which support a transverse shaft 288. The shaft 288 is prdvided with a sprocket 298 which is aligned with the sprocket 292 carried by the shaft 262. Entrained over the

sprockets

290 and 292 and connecting the two together is a drive chain 294. Carried by the transverse member 46 is a roller 296 which engages the top mug of the drive chain 294 to permit it to clear the transverse member 46.

The sprocket 292 is normally stationary with the shaft 262 rotated therethrough. In order to control rotation of the sprocket 292, there is provided with a one revolution clutch assembly 298. The clutch assembly 298 is identical with the

clutch assembly

156 and 180.

The operation of the clutch assembly 298 is controlled by a latch 308 which has connected thereto a lever 302. The lever 302 is in turn connected to a shaft 304 Whose opposite end is connected to a plunger shaft 306 of an electrode device 308.

Carried by the legs 42 are horizontally disposed pillow blocks 310. The pillow blocks 310 are vertically aligned with pillow blocks 312 carried by the support 60. Journaled in the pillow blocks 310 and 312 are

vertical shafts

314 and 316. The

vertical shafts

314 and 316 have mounted at the lower ends thereof ring gears 318 which are in mesh engagement with pinion gears 320 carried by opposite ends of the shaft 288. It is to be noted that the arrangement of the gears are such that the

shafts

314 and 316 rotate in opposite directions.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft 314 is a rotating support 322. A similar rotating support 324 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 316. The rotating supports 322 and 324 are provided with

projections

326 and 328 carrying a tobacco receiving and retaining

clip

330 and 332, respectively. It is to be noted that the

rotating supports

322 and 324 are disposed out of phase with respect to one another.

The rotating support 322 includes an upwardly projecting cam 334. The rotating support 324 includes a similar cam 336.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the latch 204 is pivotally mounted on an upstanding bracket 338 carried by the plate 78. Depending from the plate 78 is a tube 340 in which there is mounted for vertical reicprocation a rod 342. The rod 342 is provided at its upper end with an offset portion 344 which is engageable with the latch 284 to pivot it to an inoperative position. As the rotating support 322 rotates, the cam 334 thereof will engage the lower end of the rod 342 and move upwardly to pivot the latch 204 to an inoperative position so that the clutch assembly 162. may operate to drive the needle carrier 88.

The latch 17 8 is pivotally mounted on a support bracket 346 and is engaged by an offset portion 348 of a rod 350 mounted in a sleeve 352. The foregoing parts being identical with the parts operating the latch 204. A rod 350 is engaged by the cam 336 of the rotating supics gt 324 to effect the operation of the clutch assembly Referring once again to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seen that the shaft 288 is provided with a lug 354 which is engageable with a projecting end of a rod 356. The rod 356 is connected by means of the universal joint 358 to a lever 360 which is pivotally mounted on extension 362 of the mounting plate 28. The opposite end of the lever 360 has carried thereby a latch 364 for the clutch assembly 278.

Depending from the plate 78 and secured to a strap 60 is a suitable guard assembly 366 for tobacco passing through the tobacco looper. There is also illustrated in Figure 3 suitable supports 368 which depend from outer edges of the plate 78 and which carry spring loaded switches 370 having

operators

372 and 374. The operators 372 and 3-74 are so positioned whereby they overlie the

clips

330 and 332 when they are in tobacco receiving positions. The switches 370 are connected to the electro-magnetic device 308 for energizing the same, there being provided a suitable power source in the circuit.

Assuming the rotating supports 322 and 32.4 to be in the position as illustrated in Figures 3 and 9. The clip 332 is ready for receiving tobacco. The tobacco is manually placed in the clip 332 at which time the operator 374 of its respective switch 370 is moved so as to energize the electro-magnetic device 338. The electro-magnetic device 308 then operates the clutch assembly 298 to drive the shaft 288 which in turn drives the

rotating supports

322 and 324. The ratio of drive is such that the

rotating supports

322 and 324 are rotated only one-half of a revolution from the solid line positions of Figure 9 to the dotted line positions of the same figure. As the shaft 288 rotates, the lug 354 causes movement of the linkage for the control of latch 364 with the result that the clutch assembly 278 is actuated at the proper time interval and the shaft 256 is rotated to drive the conveyor chain 246. The conveyor chain 246 will then advance a tobacco stick, such as the tobacco stick 230 the necessary distance.

As the rotating support 324 rotates, the cam 336 thereof will result in the movement of the latch178 to an inneedle 220 about the tobacco 232 carried by the clip 324-.

The foregoing is a half cycle for the tobacco looper 10. The cycle is completed by placing tobacco in the clip 332 with the tobacco 232 being carried inwardly to the opposite side of the tobacco stick 230 and having the string 228 looped thereabout by the actuation of the clutch assembly 180. The process is repeated until the desired number of bunches or hands of tobacco 232 are tied onto the tobacco stick 230.

It is to be appreciated that inasmuch as the tobacco sticks 230 must rest upon suitable supports, the tobacco 232 cannot be tied from one end of the tobacco stick 230 to the other, but that a suitable space must be left at each end of the tobacco stick 230. In order to provide for this and at the same time not disrupt the automatic operation of the tobacco looper 10, there is provided a second drive for the shaft 256. This second drive includes a sprocket 371 secured to the shaft 256 and a sprocket 3-73 rotatably journaled on the shaft 262. Carried by the shaft 262 is a clutch assembly 375 which is identical to the other clutch assemblies. It is to be noted that the ratio of drive between the shaft 262 and the shaft 256 between the sprockets 371 and 373 is such that the shaft 256 is rapidly rotated. The sprockets 371 and 373 are connected together by a driver chain 376.

In order to control the operation of the clutch assembly 3 74 at the proper time interval, there is depending from the legs 62 suitable hangers 3-78 carrying a shaft 380 on which there is mounted a relatively large gear or sprocket 382. Carried by the shaft 288 is a pin 384 which is engaged with the teeth of the gear 382 so that the gear 382 is advanced one tooth each revolution of the shaft 288.

Extending from one side of the gear 382 is a drive pin 386 which is engageable with a rod 388 whose opposite end is connected to a lever 390 pivotally mounted on the extension 392 of the mounting plate 98. The lever 3-90 is connected to a latch 394 of the clutch assembly 374.

Referring now to Figures 10, 11 and 12, in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the details of one of the clips, the clip being the clip 332. The clip 332 made in two

halves

396 and 398 having

hubs

400 and 402 disposed in overlying relation and connected together by a pivot pin 404. The

halves

396 and 398 include elongated legs 406 and 408', respectively, the leg 406 being shorter than the leg 408 for the purposes of clearance. Extending around the

legs

406 and 408 is acontinuous spring 410 which normally urges the

legs

406 and 408 together.

It is to be noted that the outer ends of the

legs

406 and 408 flare so as to facilitate the positioning of tobacco between the

legs

306 and 408. The spring 410 resiliently clamps the

legs

406 and 408 about the tobacco disposed therebetween so that the

clips

330 and 332 releasably hold the tobacco during the typing operation and will release the tobacco as the tobacco stick 230 advances relative to the

clips

330 and 332.

The tobacco looper in the form described above is intended for manual feeding and may be mounted in a bar or some other suitable place the tobacco is brought for tying on the tobacco sticks 230. However, at the present time there are being manufactured tobacco harvesters which use conveyor chains and clips for elevating the tobacco immediately after being harvested. The tobacco looper 10 may be mounted on such tobacco harvesters for receiving tobacco directly from the conveyors thereof and for automatically tying such tobacco onto tobacco sticks so that the only manual operation in the harvesting is the actual picking of the tobacco and placing it on the con veyors.

Referring now toFigure 15 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conveyor 412 of the con ventional tobacco harvester. Carried by the conveyor 412 is a plurality of clips 414 which are identical to the

clips

330 and 332 although the legs thereof may be of the same length if desired. Also illustrated is the rotating support 324 which has a clip 416 mounted thereon in a slightly different position from the posit-ion of the clip 332. The change in position of the clip 416 is due to the relationship between the conveyor 412 and the rotating support 324 as compared to its normal position for hand loading. Also, it may be necessary to move the positions of the switches 370 so that the switches 370 will be operated by movement of the tobacco from the clips 414 into the clip 416. It is to be understood that the rotating support 322 will be provided with a clip substantially identical to the clip 416 and that a conveyor similar to the conveyor 412 will be provided for rotating the support 322.

As the conveyor 412 advances toward the rotating support 324, tobacco 232 carried by the clip 414 will enter into the clip 416 and be released from the clip 414. The tobacco 232 will then operate the switch 370 to stant the normal operation of the tobacco looper 10 in the manner described above.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the tobacco looper 10 may be conveniently mounted on conventional tobacco harvesters with a minimum of change in the structure thereof. If mounted on a tobacco harvester, the electric motor 124 may be replaced and the tobacco looper 10 may be driven from the engine or other power unit of the tobacco harvester by suitable drive means.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern.

2. A tobacco looper comprising a .needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, means on said needle carriers for transferring said needle from one of said needle carriers to the other of said needle carriers and back again whereby said figure eight pattern is continuously repeated.

3. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separate drive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each of said separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needle carriers.

' means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation tomovement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separate 7 drive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for said separate drive means operative in re sponse to the placing of tobacco in said tobacco positioning means.

6. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separate drive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each of said separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needle carriers, said separate drive means each including a continuously rotating drive member, a driven member connected to each of said needle carriers, and a clutch for selectively connecting each of said drive members to a respective one of said driven members.

7. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pat-tern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separate drive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each of said separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needle carriers, said separate drive means each including a continuously r0.- tating drive member, a driven member connected to each of said needle carriers, and a clutch for selectively connecting each of said drive members to a respective one of said driven members, said clutches being of the one revolution type.

8. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, separate drive means for each of said needle carriers, control means for each of said separate drive means for alternatingly driving said needle carriers, said separate drive means each including a continuously rotating drive member, a driven member connected to each of said needle carriers, and a clutch for selectively connecting each of said drive members to a respective one of said driven members, said control means including clutch operating linkage and means on said tobacco positioning means engageable with said clutch operating linkage for operating said clutches in response to operation of said tobacco positioning means.

9. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spaced rotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of said supports, said tobacco supporting clips being mounted on said rotating supports in out of phase relation.

110. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spaced rotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of said supports, drive means for said rotating supports for rotating said rotating supports one half a revolution in response to positioning of tobacco in one of said tobacco supporting clips.

11. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spaced rotating supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of said supports.

12. A tobacco looper comprising a needle, needle dnive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in a transverse figure eight pattern, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means comprising a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular pattern, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spaced rotating suports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of said supports, means on said rotating supports for operating said needle drive means in response to rotation of said rotating supports. 1

13. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands of tobacco on alternately opposite sides of a longitudinally advancing tobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut during such wrapping operation, necdle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in the same general direction as that of said longitudinal advancement of said tobacco stick alternately in circular paths on opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that portion of a tobacco hand being Wrapped and substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string.

14. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands of tobacco on alternatingly opposite sides of 'a longitudinally advancing tobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut during such wrapping openation, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle alternately in circular paths from opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that portion of a tobacco hand being wrapped and substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string, said needle drive means comprising 13 a pair of transversely spaced needle carriers, said needle carriers being mounted for rotation whereby each needle carrier moves said needle in a circular path.

15. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands of tobacco on alternately opposite sides of a longitudinally advancing tobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut during such wrapping operation, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle in the same general direction as that of said longitudinal advancement of said tobacco stick alternately in circular paths from opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that portion of -a tobacco hand being Wrapped and substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said needle drive means including control means operative in response to the placing of the tobacco in said tobacco positioning means.

16. In a tobacco looper, a needle for looping string about hands of tobacco on alternatingly opposite sides of a longitudinally advancing tobacco stick and for maintaining the string substantially taut during such wrapping operation, needle drive means engaging said needle for moving said needle alternately in circular paths from opposite sides of the centerline of the associated tobacco stick and substantially tangential thereof whereby the paths are of small diameter to correspond closely to the diameter of that pontion of a tobacco hand being Wrapped and substantially obviating the formation of slack in the string, and tobacco positioning means for moving tobacco longitudinally relative to said needle in two spaced lines in timed relation to movement of said needle, said tobacco positioning means including a pair of transversely spaced rotatable supports, a tobacco supporting clip carried by each of said supports, said tobacco supporting clips being mounted on said rotating support in out of phase relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,220 Anstiss Jan. 1, 1929 2,327,252 Dickerson Aug. 17, 1943 2,538,698 McNeill Jan. 16, 1951 2,564,614 Sowers Aug. 14, 1951 2,704,158 Long Mar. 15, 1955 2,776,760 Covi-ngton Ian. 8, 1957