US3007476A - Machine for applying mouthpieces to cigars - Google Patents

Description

1961 v T. E. BAUGHER ETAL 3,007,476

MACHINE FOR APPLYING MOUTHPIECES TO CIGARS Filed Jan. 2a, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS MOSES LIVERANT 'THDMAS z. BAUGHER A TORNE Y Nov. 7, 1961 T. E. BAUGHER ETAL 7 MACHINE FOR APPLYING MOUTHPIECES TO CIGARS Filed Jan. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MOSES LVERANT THOMAS E. BAUGHER BY ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1961 T. E. BAUGHER ETAL MACHINE FOR APPLYING MOUTHPIECES TO CIGARS Filed Jan. 28, 1958 4 sheets sheet 3 MOSES L\VE.RANT THOMAS E. BAUGHER BY T TORNL'Y Nov. 7, 1961 T. E. BAUGHER ETAL 3,007,476

MACHINE FOR APPLYING MOUTHPIECES T0 CIGARS Filed Jan. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS MOSES L\VERANT THOMAS E. BAUGHER A ORNE) 3,007,476 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 are 3,llt)7,476 MACHINE FUR APPLYING MQUTEWKEKIE T9 CIGARS Thomas E. Baugher, York, Pa, and Moses Liverant,

RD. 8, York, Pa; said Baugher assignor to said Liverant Filed Jan. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 711,578 11 illaims. (Cl. 131-88) This invention relates to a machine for applying premolded mouthpieces to the tip ends of cigars, whereby the cigars are sold with said mouthpieces applied thereto.

For a number of years, cigars have been sold with preformed or molded mouthpieces of various kinds affixed to the tip ends thereof and a substantial market has been developed for this type of product. Although the direct expense of forming pre-molded mouthpieces is slight, especially when such mouthpieces are molded automatically from suitable synthetic resin, it has only been possible heretofore to apply such mouthpieces to the tip ends of cigars manually. As far as is known, no automatic equipment has thus far been developed for applying such mouth pieces to the tip ends of cigars by automation, notwithstanding the fact that many varieties of cigarettes now are provided with various kinds of tips, some of which include filters of various kinds, most or all of which are manufactured by automatic machines. Under such circumstances however such cigarette tips are fabricated incidentally to the same being applied to the tip endsof the cigarettes. Hence, a different problem is presented than is involved in applying preformed mouthpieces to the tip ends of cigars.

The increasing cost of manual labor in recent years has correspondingly increased the cost of cigars with premolded mouthpieces applied thereto manually. Hence, the existing market for this type of cigar has remained small, whereas if the manual labor factor could be substituted in the cost of this type of cigar by the smaller cost of applying the mouthpieces by automation, the cost of this type of cigar would be less than it is at present.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a machine which is operable automatically to feed cigars progressively to equipment in the machine where pre-molded mouthpieces are fed automatically and are applied sequentially to the cigars as fed along a predetermined path, without damage to the cigars.

It is another object of the invention to provide in such machine means for clamping the cigars While a mouthpiece is being applied to the tip end thereof, thereby minimizing the possibility of crushing the cigars during such operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in the machine means for applying a suitable cement, such as vegetable glue, to at least certain portions of the tip end of the cigar prior to the application of the mouthpiece thereto, whereby such cement not only secures the mouthpiece to the tip of the cigar but it also somewhat lubricates the tip of the cigar while the mouthpiece is being pushed thereonto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type which is of a relatively simple nature employing a minimum number of parts and consuming a minimum amount of power to operate, the design being such that the machine is capable of long life and is relatively fool-proof in operation, requiring substantially no supervision, thus permitting for example a single supervisor to oversee the operation of a number of machines.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the principles of the present invention as seen from one end of the conveyor side thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of said machine illustrating certain details of the operating mechanism thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but illustrated on a larger scale than used in said figures.

FIG. 4 is a vertical elevation showing the discharge end of the machine and illustrating details of certain portions of the operating mechanism and particularly the clamping portion of the machine.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, further enlarged elevation of the machine as seen from the entrance end thereof and particularly illustrating the mechanism for applying cement to opposite surfaces of the tips of cigars.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the transfer drum for the mouthpieces, portions thereof being broken away to illustrate details of the same.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing portions of the guide means for the mouthpieces and the plunger by which the same are pushed onto the tip ends of cigars, the plunger being shown in retracted position in full lines and in extended position in broken lines.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cigar product produced by the machine and comprising a cigar to which the pro-molded mouthpiece has been affixed to the tip end.

A preferred embodiment of the machine which incorporates the principles of the present invention is illustrated in perspective views respectively in FIGS. 1 and 2, as seen from the feed end of the machine and the rear side thereof, and in which views it will be seen that a suitable frame 10 includes a plurality of vertical posts 12, several of which support a horizontal base 14 upon which power means such as an electric motor 16 and a gear reduction unit 18 are mounted, the same being interconnected by a belt 29. It is to be understood however that the power means may include an integral gear reduction unit, whereby the present illustration is not to be regarded as restrictive.

At the opposite side of the frame 10 from the base 12, a conveyor platform 22 is mounted stationarily and the opposite ends of parallel side flanges 24 rotatably support the opposite ends of shafts 26 and 28, to. which rollers 39 and 32 are affixed. Extending around said rollers is an endless, flexible conveyor belt 34, upon which a row of cigars 36 are placed in parallel relationship to each other so as to extend transversely to the path of movement of the belt 34 which is indicated by the arrows shown in'FlG. 3, the tip ends 38 of the cigars all extending toward the same side of the conveyor belt 34 as is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The frame 10 also supports a sloping late 40 upon the upper surface of which a drum 42 rotates. Said drum actually is a transfer member and details thereof are particularly shown in FIG. 6, and is provided with a plurality of radially extending sockets 44 within which pre molded mouthpieces 46 are positioned. Said mouthpieces have a tip 48 which is placed in the mouth of a smoker, while the opposite end of each mouthpiece has a socket 50 which receives the tip end 38 of the cigar 36, the finished product being best illustrated in FIG. 9.

The mouthpieces 46 are individually placed within the.

sockets 44 with the socket end 50 thereof radially outermost as shown in FIG. 6. Such mouthpieces may be fed to the drum 42 by any suitable feeding means such as one of a variety of hopper-like mechanisms operated by vibration or otherwise, and otherwise arranged to feed the mouthpieces 46 in desired orientation relative to the sockets 44 within drum 42. The specific feeding means is not illustrated, especially since it may be of conventional type employed for purposes of sorting and feeding a wide variety of objects to any type of mechanism requiring such feeding. Hence, the present illustration is simplified by not including such feeding means. However, it is to be understood that the feeding means can be supported by plate 40, for example, and surmount the drum 42.

The feeding means referred to in the preceding paragraph will sequentially feed the mouthpieces 46 to the uppermost socket 44 as viewed in FIG. 6 for example. Drum 42 is mounted on the upper end of a shaft 52 which is rotatably supported within a bearing in plate 40. Said shaft extends below plate 40 and the opposite end thereof has a driving or index member 54 connected thereto fixedly. Said member has a plurality of radial notches 55 therein for purposes to be described. The notches 55 correspond in number to the sockets 44 and are circumferentially spaced around the periphery of member 54, similarly to the manner in which the sockets 44 are spaced around the periphery of drum 42.

A pair of semi-circular plates 56 and 58 are mounted respectively adjacent opposite sides of the periphery of drum 42 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, said plates being fixed at their lower edges by any suitable means such as welding or otherwise to the plate 40, there being sufiicient clearance between the plates 56 and 58 and the periphery of drum 42 that the rotation of the drum is not impeded. However, the plates 56 and 58 are sufficiently wide as to project vertically from plate 40 a sufficient distance to overlie enough of the outer ends of sockets 44 that the mouthpieces 46 will not be able to move from the sockets 44 until one of the sockets is spaced opposite the feed opening 60 between the lower ends of plates 56 and 58 as shown in FIG. 6. Diametrically opposite the feed opening 60 is an entrance space 62 through which the mouthpieces 46 are introduced into the sockets 44 sequentially.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, it will be seen that a channel-shaped guide member 64 is supported by a portion of frame horizontally below the lower edge of plate 40 so as to be transverse to one edge of the conveyor platform 22. A pair of parallel guide bars 66 also are secured to plate 40 to define a chute 68 down which a mouthpiece 46 moves by gravity, as shown in FIG. 6, when one of the sockets 44 is moved so as to be in radial alignment with the feed opening 60. The mouthpiece 46 thus discharged from socket 44 slides down chute 68 and into the guide member 64, such movement being arrested by a spring leaf 70 which extends above the guide member 64 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. During the sliding movement of the mouthpiece 46 down chute 68 and into guide member 64, the tip 48 thereof, being substantially fiat, will strike cross bar 72 which extends horizontally across guide member 64 midway of its length and above the bottom thereof as clearly shown in FIG. 7. The mouthpieces 46 preferably are relatively light in weight and the striking of the tip 48 against cross bar 72 causes one fiat surface thereof to become substantially parallel to the cross bar 72 while the tip end is sliding past the bar, thereby orienting the mouthpiece 46 within guide member 64 so that the fiat tip ends 48 of the mouthpieces will be substantially horizontal when finally brought to rest within guide member 64. This orienting movement is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The drive mechanism for the various movable elements of the machine now will be described. Bevel gear 74 is driven by the gear reduction unit 18 and meshes with another bevel gear 76 to drive a shaft 78 supported by bearings in standards 80. A crank disc 82 has a radial slot 84 therein within which a crank pin 86 is adjustably positionable. The crank disc 82 is driven in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and one end of a drive link 88 is pivotally connected to pin 86. The other end of drive link 88 is pivotally connected to a lateral extension 90 of plunger 92, the extension 90 being reciprocable within guide slot 94 formed in one wall of channel-shaped guide member 64 as clearly shown in FIG. 7. Hence, as the crank disc 81 rotates, continuously, plunger 92 will be reciprocated sequentially in op posite directions. It also will be noted that the outer end of plunger 92 has a transverse slot 96 therein which receives the cross bar 72 when moving to the forward, broken line position, thereof shown in FIG. 7.

Intermediately of the ends thereof, drive link 88 has a laterally projecting pin 98 which, when link 38 is traveling during the portion of its path represented by the broken line illustration in FIG. 4, will be disengaged from index member 54. However, when the outer end of link 88 is traveling through the lower portion of its path of movement as exemplified by the full line illustration thereof in FIG. 4, pin 98 will be received within one of the radial notches 55 in index member 54 and, due to the link 88 moving in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent the full line illustration thereof in FIG. 4, the index member 54 will be rotated in a direction to drive the drum 42 a distance equal to that between adjacent sockets 44, in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, thereby advancing another socket 44 within said drum to the feed opening 60 in order that a mouthpiece 46 may slide therethrough into the guide member 64 so as to be positioned for engagement by the forward end of plunger 92.

Fixed to the lower end of shaft 52 is a pulley wheel 100 around which a belt 102 passes, as best shown in FIG. 4. Said belt also passes around another drive pulley 104 which is fixed to one end of a drive shaft 106 rotatably supported by bearing brackets 108 carried by frame 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The other end of shaft 106 has a drive gear 110 fixed thereto, said gear meshing with drive gear 112 which is fixed to one end of shaft 28 to which roller 32 is fixed and by which conveyor belt 34 1s driven in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 3. Due to the fact that drum 42 is driven stepwise by the action of pin 98 engaging index member 54, the belts 34 also will similarly be driven stepwise, each driving movement of the belt preferably being equal to the diameter of one of the cigars 36.

The belt 34, being driven by roller 32, will drive the other roller 30 around which the belt passes, thereby also driving shaft 26, on one end of which is a plurality of pulleys 114 and 116. A suitable reservoir 118 is supported by the frame 10 beneath conveyor platform 22. Such platform also is provided with a plurality of spaced, parallel slots 120 through which the upper portions of the peripheries of a pair of discs 122 and 124 project. Said discs respectively are connected to a rotatable shaft 126 which is suitably supported by frame 10 and a pulley 128 is connected to the outer end thereof, whereby a belt 130 which extends around pulleys 114 and 128 serves to drive the discs 122 and 124 which respectively engage opposite end portions of a cigar 36 as shown in FIG. 5, while the cigars are moved in feeding direction by conveyor belt 34.

The reservoir 118 contains a suitable supply of cement such as vegetable glue and the peripheral surfaces of discs 122 and 124 preferably are knurled or serrated so as to afford ready means for frictionally engaging the cigars 36 as they are moved to the discs by conveyor 34. Only the disc 122 revolves within the cement reservoir 118 and thereby carries cement upon its peripheral surface into engagement with one side of the tip end 38 of the cigar 36 as shown in FIG. 5. While the cigars 36 are engaged by discs 122 and 124, they are not rotated or otherwise disturbed in regard to their position upon the conveyor belt 34.

To provide further means for applying cement to the tip ends 38 of the cigars 36, the machine also includes a bracket structure 132, best shown in FIG. 5, which extends upwardly from one of the vertical posts 12, for example, and includes a pair of legs 134 having bearings 136 which rotatably support a shaft 138. The legs 134 are connected to a horizontal member 140 which also supports a supplementary reservoir 142 terminating at its lower end in a wick 144 or other suitable means by which cement similar to that contained in reservoir 118 is fed sparingly to disc 146 on shaft 138. The disc 146 is vertically above disc 122, and another disc 148 also is fixed to shaft 138 so as to be vertically above disc 124.

Shaft 138 has a pulley 150 connected thereto and a belt 152 passes around pulley 150 and pulley 116 on shaft 26, whereby it will be seen that shaft 26 simultaneously drives shafts 126 and 138 in opposite directions due to the fact that belt 152 is crossed as shown in FIG. 3. Hence, the opposing discs 124 and 148, and 122 and 146 respectively are driven in opposite directions, thereby insuring desired feeding of the cigars 36 relative to the cement applying discs 122 and 146 by the cigars being engaged at opposite ends thereof by the pains of opposed discs described above. Preferably, the peripheral surfaces of cement applying discs 122 and 146 are slightly conical so as to conform to the conventional tapered tip end 38 of the cigars 36 and thereby insuring greater engagement of opposite surfaces of the tip ends 38 by the peripheral surfaces of the discs to apply cement to opposed portions of the tip end 38.

It will be seen that the cement applying mechanism, from FIG. 3, is forward of the mouthpiece applying mechanism relative to the direction of movement of the cigars 36 by conveyor belt 34. Only a limited amount of cement is applied to the tip ends 38 of the cigars and, by the time said tip ends are fed so as to be opposite the guide member 64, the leading cigar to which a mouthpiece has not been applied is clamped by means now to be described.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that a clamping lever 154 is pivotally supported intermediately of its ends by a pintle 156 carried by bracket post 158. The lever extends through a slot 160 formed in plate 40 and the inner end of the lever rotatably supports an actuating roller 162 which is engaged by the upper surface of drive link 88 during the oscillations thereof as it is driven by crank disc 82. Hence, as the link 88 is pushing the plunger 92 forwardly to engage the tip 48 of a mouthpiece 46 and thereby push the socket 50 of the mouthpiece onto the tip end 38 of a cigar, the inner end of clamping lever 154 having a roller 162 thereon is elevated from the full line to the broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 4, whereby the outer end thereof is depressed. Such outer end of lever 154 has a suitable pressing foot 164 fixed thereto, said foot being substantially parallel to the upper surface of the cigars 36 when the foot is depressed into the clamping or broken line position shown in FIG. 4.

The clamping effected by pressing foot 164 preferably is relatively firm and holds a cigar 36 firmly against the upper surface of conveyor belt 34, whereby when the plunger 92 is moved forwardly to push a mouthpiece 46 onto the tip end 33 of the cigar to which cement has previously been applied, said cigar will be held firmly against longitudinal movement and the full stroke of the plunger 92 will result in the socket 50 of the mouthpiece 46 being moved onto the cigar tip 38 sufficiently tosubstantially fully receive the tip 38 therein and the cement somewhat acts as a lubricant in this process and facilitates such insertion of the cigar tip within the socket 50 thereby further minimizing the possibility of damage to the cigar 36.

The lever 154 preferably is designed so that the inner end thereof which carries the actuating roller 162 is heavier than the outer end which carries the pressing foot 164, whereby said inner end will cause the roller 162 to ride by gravity upon the upper surface of the drive link 88. Hence, when the drive link is moving in non-feeding direction relative to plunger 92, it Will cause the inner end of clamping lever 154 to lower, thereby elevating the end carrying pressing foot 164 so as to release the cigar clamped by the latter whereby when the conveyor belt 34 next goes in feeding direction, the cigar which has just been released by the pressure foot will be moved away from said pressure foot by the conveyor belt.

In order that the positioning of the cigars 36 upon the conveyor belt 34 may be facilitated, the conveyor platform 22. is provided with a stop or positioning bar 166 which is mounted adjacent the outer edge of platform 22 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Adjustable position ing of the bar 166 is afforded by providing any suitable means such as a pair of transversely extending slots 168 within the platform 22, said slots receiving clamping bolts 176 or the like and appropriate means such as wing nuts, not shown, may be tightened upon said bolts against the underside of platform 22, thereby positioning the bar 166 parallel to the outer edge of platform 22 and in any adjusted position desired so that it may slidably be engaged by the outer ends of the cigars 36 and be guided thereby while moved along in feeding direction by conveyor belt 34.

Further adjustment is also provided in the machine, particularly to adapt the same to cigars of various lengths in that the crank pin 86 may be adjusted radially within the slot 84 of crank disc 82, thereby varying the stroke of the plunger 92. Further, although not illustrated herein, suitable feeding means for furnishing the cigars to the feeding end of conveyor belt 34 may be provided in order that a minimum amount of manual operations are required to finally effect the placing of mouthpieces upon the tip ends of the cigars by the machine comprising the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the machine illustrated and described hereinabove affords automatic means for applying preformed mouthpieces, in sequence, to a row of cigars fed to the applying mechanism by conveyor belt 34. A suitable amount of cement is applied to the tip ends of the cigars prior to the mouthpieces being pushed onto said cigar tips automatically. During the mouthpiece applying operation, the cigars are individually clamped against the conveyor belt 34 which at that moment is stationary in the cycle of its step-by step feeding movement. A maximum amount of duplication of function is afforded in the machine for effecting the various movements of the inter-related parts, whereby a minimum of actuating mechanism is required. Adjustments of the various means in the machine to adapt it to cigars of various sizes are readily accessible and adjustment may be effected easily. The machine is substantially fool-proof in operation as well as being fully automatic. Further, the mouthpieces are applied uniformly in succession to the cigars and the finished products are arranged with the mouthpieces positioned in uniform manner, the flat, tip ends of the mouthpieces being preferably substantially horizontally. After the mouthpieces have been applied to the cigars, their discharge from the exit end of the conveyor belt 34 for subsequent operations, such as the application of cellophane wrappers thereto, takes place.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A machine for applying mouthpieces to the tips of cigars each having a transverse surface on the outer end thereof and comprising, in combination, conveyor means operable to feed cigars along a predetermined path in side by side relationship transversely to said path and the tip ends thereof all being disposed toward one side of said path, guide means adjacent said one side of said path to receive successively mouthpieces having sockets in one end and arranged to hold said mouthpieces with the socket ends thereof toward said cigar tips, feed means operable to hold a supply of said mouthpieces and feed the same successively to said guide means with the socket ends thereof foremost, plunger means operable sequentially to engage the opposite end of the mouthpiece Within said guide means and move the same axially toward said conveyor means to force the socket end of said mouthpiece onto the tip of a cigar upon said conveyor means, positioning means mounted stationarily adjacent the opposite side of said path in opposition to said guide means and operable to be engaged by the transverse surface of the outer ends of cigars while said mouthpieces are being pressed onto the tip ends thereof, thereby to prevent axial movement of said cigars during such pressing of mouthpieces thereon, and drive means connected to said feed means and plunger means and operable to actuate the same in sequence to insure the presence of a mouthpiece in said guide means when said plunger moves toward said conveyor means.

2. The machine set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said positioning means comprising an abutment extending longitudinally along said conveyor means and transversely intersecting the axes of cigars carried by said conveyor means, and means adjustably securing said positioning abutment relative to said conveyor means for adjustment in a direction parallel to the axes of cigars engaged thereby, whereby said abutment may be adapted to be engaged by the outer ends of cigars of various but uniform lengths to insure an even overall length of cigars with mouthpieces attached to the tip ends thereof.

3. The machine set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said mouthpieces having flat tip ends and said machine including positioning means within said guide means engageable with the flat tip end of a mouthpiece during movement thereof from said feed means to said guide means and operable to orient said flat tip end relative to said guide means, whereby the tip ends of mouthpieces applied to successive cigars are similarly positioned relative to said conveyor.

4. A machine for applying mouthpieces to the tips of cigars each having a transverse surface on the outer end thereof and comprising, in combination, endless conveyor means having a substantially unobstructed upper surface and operable to receive and move cigars along a predetermined path in side by side close relationship transversely to said path and the tip ends thereof all being disposed toward one side of said path, guide means adjacent said one side of said path to receive successively mouthpieces having sockets in one end and arranged to hold said mouthpieces with the sockets ends thereof toward said cigar tips, nieans operable to hold a supply of said mouthpieces and feed the same successively to said guide means with ,the socket ends thereof foremost, plunger means operable sequentially to engage the opposite end of said mouthpiece when positioned within said guide means and move the same axially toward said conveyor means to force the socket end of said mouthpiece onto the tip of a cigar upon said conveyor means, positioning means mounted stationarily adjacent the opposite side of said path in opposition to said guide means and operable to be engaged by the transverse surface of the outer ends of cigars while said mouthpieces are being pressed onto the tip ends thereof, thereby to prevent axial movement of said cigars during such pressing of mouthpieces thereon, drive means connected to said feed means and plunger means and operable to actuate the same in sequence to insure the presence of a mouthpiece in said guide means when said plunger moves toward said conveyor means, and clamping means operable sequentially above said conveyor means adjacent said guide means and movable toward said conveyor means, said clamping means having a substantially fiat surface engageable with the upper surface of said cigars and clamp the same as successively positioned opposite said guide means to receive a mouthpiece upon the tip end thereof.

5. A machine for applying mouthpieces to the tips of cigars and comprising in combination, a conveyor belt supported by rotatable means and one surface of said belt being operable to support and feed cigars along a predetermined path in side by side relationship transversely to said path and the tip ends thereof all being disposed toward one side of said belt, guide means positioned adjacent said one side of said conveyor belt to receive successively mouthpieces having sockets in one end and arranged to maintain said mouthpieces with the socket ends thereof toward said cigar tips, a rotatable shaft supporting a feed drum having radial sockets spaced around the same to receive mouthpieces and feed the same successively to said guide means and discharge them thereinto, drive means connected to said shaft and one of said rotatable supporting means for said conveyor belt, whereby movement of said shaft drives said drum and belt simultaneously, and plunger means operable sequentially to engage the opposite end of the mouthpiece within said guide means and move the same axially toward said conveyor belt to force the socket end of said mouthpiece onto the tip of a cigar upon said conveyor belt.

6. A machine for applying preformed mouthpieces to the tips of cigars and comprising in combination, conveyor means operable to feed cigars along a predetermined path in side by side relationship transversely to said path and the tip ends thereof all being disposed toward one side of said path, guide means positioned adjacent said one side of said path to receive successively mouthpieces having sockets in one end and arranged to maintain said mouthpieces with the socket ends thereof toward said cigar tips, a drum supported rotatably and having radial means thereon respectively to receive mouthpieces and feed the same successively to said guide means, plunger means reciprocable sequentially to engage the opposite end of the mouthpiece within said guide means and move the same axially toward said conveyor means to force the socket end of said mouthpiece onto the tip of a cigar upon said conveyor means, a crank operable continuously, a link connected at opposite ends to said crank and plunger and operable to reciprocate said plunger, and means operable by said link to move said drum in feeding direction.

7. The machine set forth in claim 6 in which said last mentioned means includes a rotatable shaft supporting said drum, a notched index member fixed to said shaft, and a projection on said link operable during the movement thereof to engage the notches of said index member successively to advance said drum in feeding direction.

8. The machine set forth in claim 6 also including clamping means supported relative to said conveyor means adjacent said guide means and operable sequentially to clamp a cigar against said conveyor means, said clamping means being actuated by said link.

9. The machine set forth in claim 8 further characterized by said clamping means comprising a lever pivotally supported intermediately of its ends, one end having clamping means thereon engageable with cigars and the other end being engageable by said link during the oscillation thereof by said crank to move said one end of said lever into clamping position.

.10. A machine for applying mouthpieces to the tips of cigars and comprising in combination, a conveyor belt supported by rotatable means and one surface of said belt being operable to support and feed cigars along a predetermined path in side by side relationship transversely to said path and the tip ends thereof all being disposed toward one side of said belt, guide means positioned adjacent said one side of said belt to receive successively mouthpieces having sockets in one end and arranged to maintain said mouthpieces with the socket ends thereof toward said cigar tips, means to feed said mouthpieces successively to said guide means, plunger means operable sequentially to engage the opposite end of the mouthpiece within said guide means and move the same axially toward said conveyor belt to force the socket end of said mouthpiece onto the tip of a cigar upon said conveyor belt, means supported adjacent said conveyor belt ahead of said guide means in the path of movement of said cigars and operable to apply cement to the tips of said cigars prior to the same having the mouthpieces applied thereto, said means comprising a cement reservoir and means rotatable therein to apply cement to the tips of said cigars, and means interconnecting said rotatable cement applying means and said rotatable supporting means for said conveyor belt, whereby said cement applying means is driven by said conveyor belt.

111. The machine set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said rotatable cement applying means comprising discs respectively mounted above and below said conveyor belt and respectively engageable with opposite sides of the tip ends of said cigars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,552 Heining Sept. 10, 1901 1,830,446 Schunemann Nov. 3, 1931 2,150,512 May Mar. 14, 1939 2,244,142 Clausen June 3, 1941 2,253,169 Clausen Aug. 19, 1941 2,827,904 Halstead Mar. 25, 1958

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