US562772A - District of - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. J. LUMLEY. H CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

v Patented June 23, 1896.

Attorney.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

B. J. LUMLEY. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MAGHINE.

No. 562,772, Patented June 23, 1896.

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Attorney.

5 v E L M flu L u H CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Patented June 23, 1896.

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Witnesses:

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsS 11eet 4.

E. J. LUMLEY. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MAGHINE.

Patented June 23, 1896.

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(N0 mam. 5 SheetsSheet 5. E. J. LUMLEY. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 562,772. Patented June 23, 1896.

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. by which it is operated.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVIN J. LUMLEY, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- EIGHTHS TO CHARLES E. BROOKES, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CONTINUOUS-CIGARETTE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,772, dated June 23, 1896.

Application filed February 18, 1895. Renewed November 25, 1895. $erial 110,570,122. (No model.)

To all whom it Huey concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. LUMLEY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous-Cigarette Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompan yin g drawings.

My invention relates to an improved continuous-cigarette machine; and it consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figures 1 and 1 together constitute a plan View of the machine, parts being broken away, it being understood that Fig. 1 is to be placed at the left-hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a plan and section of the trough. Figs. 3 and 3 together show a side elevation of the machine, parts being broken away, it being understood that Fig. 3 is to be placed at the left-hand end of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the hopper, showing the construction of one of the feed-plates, the one on the opposite side of the hopper being of similar construction. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken through the hopper, stripper, trough, and frame, illustrating the manner and mechanism by which the feedplates are alternately operated -to feed the tobacco onto the wrapper.v Fig. 6 is a broken vertical section through the hopper, stripper, and trough, these parts being on an exaggerated scale, showing the tape in the channel in the trough, the wrapper on the tape, and the tobacco on the wrapper. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the feed-plates viewed from the outer side, showing the means Fig. 8 is a broken horizontal section through one side of the hopper, taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 5, the crank mechanism for operating the feedplates being shown in elevation and the balance-wheel. omitted. Fig. 9 is adetail crosssection of the stripper detached. Fig. 10 is a plan view of so much of the machine as is necessary to illustrate the wrapper-forming mechanism. Fig. 11 is a vertical section,

partly in elevation, illustrating the pasting mechanism and the means for turning one edge of the wrapper over onto the pastingdisk. Fig. 12 is a vertical elevation of the paste-cup. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the wrapper-edge turner. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cutter-operating mechanism, taken on the line 14 14, Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section through the cutter mechanism. Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the cutter-head. Fig. 17 is a top plan view illustrating the cam plates for operating the cutters. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the two cutting-blades in the retracted position. Fig. 18 is a sectional View on the line 18 18, Fig. 18, illustrating the location and extent of the sharpened edge of one of the cutter-blades. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the wrappercarrying tape, viewed from the outer side. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of myimproved cigarette.

Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the frame of the machine. On the frame, at one end, is revolubly mounted an arbor 20, on which is wound a paper strip 21 to form the wrappers for the cigarettes, the proper tension on the arbor being given by a thumbnut 22, bearing against a coil-spring 23 in a well-known manner, as seen in Fig. 1.

B is the hopper, the sides of which incline toward each other in the downward direction, so as to leave a narrow opening along its entire length, the rear end of the hopper being closed by a perpendicular wall, while its front end is closed by an inwardly-sloping wall, all as seen in Fig. 1. For the purpose of regulating the feed of long or short fiber tobacco I employ in the rear end of the hopper an auxiliary end piece 1), adjustable lengthwise therein. This end piece is rendered adj ustable by means of flanges 24 on its upper edge, which engage with the sides of the hopper, and through one of which passes a thumbscrew 25, by means of which the end piece can be securely clamped in any desired position, the lower end of the end piece being provided with a downwardlyprojecting pin 26, adapted to enter one of aseries of holes in the stripper, hereinafter described.

Immediatelybeneath the hopper is a trough C, which consists of a block of any suit-able material set in the frame A, and having a longitudinal segmental channel 27, its upper open portion registering with the opening in the bottom of the hopper, and in the'bottom of the channel 27 is formed a longitudinal groove 28,for a purpose hereinafter described. For some distance beneath the hopper this channel is of a uniform size, somewhat elliptical in shape and larger than the continuous cigarette to be formed, thus permitting a sufficient quantity of tobacco to be forced into it for forming the filler, while the remainder of the channel gradually decreases in size, as at 29, until at the dischargeend the channel is of a size to just permit'the passage of the tape, wrapper, and the filler on the wrapper.

30 represen tstwo paper-deflectors, consisting of metal plates set flush in the sides of the hopper, their lower edges projecting slightly into the channel in the trough. These deflectors serve to direct the edges of the ingoing paper strip into recesses 31, formed in the sides of the hopper, whereby the edges of the wrapper are kept separated to admit the tobacco from the hopper.

Inside the hopper, slightly above the trough and longitudinal therewith, is fixed what I term a stripper D,which consists of a cuneal block, on top of which is secured a metal strip 32, formed with overhanging toothed projections 33, as clearly seen in Fig. 9, and having a series of holes 34 for receiving the pin 26 on the lower end of the adjustable end piece b of the hopper.

On each side of the hopper is secured a bracket E, with which is formed or inwhich is fixed a stud 35. On the stud 35 on one side of the machine is mounted a large sprocketwheel 36, a smaller sprocket-wheel 37, a balance-wheel 3S, anda crank-wheel 39, all these wheels being rigidly secured together in any suitable manner,this mechanism being duplicated on the other side with the exception of the sprocket-wheel 37, each crank-wheel being provided with a headed pin 40, and working in a recess 41, formed in the outer side of the hopper, for a purpose hereinafter described.

F represents feed-plates,eaoh being pivotally connected at one end to the respective sides of the hopperby alink 42. These plates are slightly curved on their lower edges, and are provided with one or more rows of teeth 43, projecting slightly inward and downward, and preferably with a number of other similar teeth 44 set at random. To the back of each plate is secured a box 45, having a longitudinal central slot 46, the box being closed at one end and open at the other, as seen in Fig. 7. In these boxes work the heads of the respective pins 40 on crank-wheels 39, the interior transverse area of these boxes being but slightly greater than the heads of the pins. The pins 40 are so set in the crank-wheels 30 that when the mechanism is in operation they will impart an alternately reciprocating movement to the feed-plates-that is to say,

that as one plate moves down the other will move up and while thus reciprocating, the plates, by reason of their pivotal connection with the pivoted links 42, are oscillated,so that while they serve to feed the tobacco onto the wrapper they also draw it on the moving wrapper in the direction of the contracted portion of the channel 27 in the trough, whereby the filler is compacted.

On one side of the frame forward of the hop per is secured the paste-cup G, in which, near the bottom, is out a horizontal opening g, slightly enlarged for about half its length, as at 47, the remaining portion being of a size to just permit the working of the pasting-disk (hereinafter described) therein, with the exception that at the extremeend it is slightly enlarged, as at 48, to permit the egress of paste on the edge of the disk, all as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

To the paste-cup are secured two brackets 49, in which is revolubly mounted a shaft 50, on the upper end of which is fixed a pulley 51. On the lower end of this shaft is rigidly mounted a pasting-disk 52, adapted to work through opening g in the paste-cup, all as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

Fixed on one end of a shaft 53, mounted in the frame A forward of the paste-cup, is a large sprocket-wheel 54, this wheel being on the same side of the machine as the sprocketwheel 37 and connected with it by a cross sprocket-chain 55. Centrally fixed upon the shaft 53 is a pulley 56, which operates in a slot 57 cut in the frame A, for a purpose hereinafter described. One flange of this pulley is grooved, as at 58, in which works a cord 59, this cord passing upward over pulleys 60, mounted on a support 61, secured to the frame A, thence rearward around pulley 51, to operate the pasting apparatus.

H represents a metal plate secured to the frame A on one side of the slot 57, and provided on one edge with a wrapper-edge turner h, this plate being so positioned that the wrapper-edge turner overlies the slot 57 and is slightly beneath the pasting-disk 52, as shown in the drawings. Theend of the wrapper-edge turner toward the hopper is flaring, as at 62, thus insuring the entrance of the formed filler and its wrapper. From the flaring end one edge 63 of the wrapper-edge turner is extended laterally, forming a projecting lip 64, which operates to turn one edge of the advancing wrapper down onto the filler. In advance of this lip 64, the other edge 65 of the wrapper-edge turner is provided with an overhanging spur 66, which is so positioned as to direct the other edge of the wrapper toward a horizontal plane. That edge of the advancing wrapper turned down by lip 64 passes beneath the pasting-disk 52, while the other edge is so directed by the spur 66 as to contact with the upper surface of the pasting-disk, thus receiving the paste from the disk. In order to avoid the possibility of the edge of the wrapper not contacting with the disk 52, I employ a metal finger 67,

secured at one end to the plate H, its otherend being adapted to lightlycontact with the moving wrapper and press the same on the disk, as seen in Fig. 10. After receiving the paste the wrapper passes beneath a layingbrush 68, secured at one end to the plate H, its brush end 69 hearing on the advancing wrapper and laying the edge which receives the paste smoothly and evenly in place on the edge already turned down by the lip (34, all as clearly shown in. Fig. 10. In the bottom of the wrapper-edge turner is a groove 28, corresponding in shape and size to the groove 28 in the trough and for a like purpose. The wrapper-edge turner, the pasting apparatus, the finger (37, and the laying-brush, taken altogether, comprise what I term the wrapperformer.

In the frame A, between the paper roll and the hopper, is revolubly mounted a flanged pulley 70, having a central groove 28, on which and on pulley 56 on shaft 53 (this pulley also having a like groove 28) is carried an endless tape I, on the outer side of which is a central longitudinal rib 71, which I preferably form of a cord secured to the tape,

this rib, in operation, taking into the various grooves 28, 28, 28", and 28"", and serving to at all. times keep the tape in proper alinement. The tape first passes through the channel 27 in the trough, and on entering it is turned up into about half cylindrical form; and on leaving said channel its shape is about threefourths cylindrical, in which shape it enters the wrapperedge turner; and on leaving the latter it again flattens out and passes over pulley 56 on its return movement.

The cutting apparatus is located at the front end of the machine, and is constructed as follows:

J is the cutter-head, comprising a rectangula-r barj, having in its under side a longitudinal recess 72, in which the cutter-bars are adapted to work. The cutter-bars K are rectangular and fit side by side in the recess 72 in such man ner as to permit their independent longitudinal movement, as seen in Fig. lat. To the side of each bar is secured a cutterblade L, these blades being of a size to project below the surface of the bars, as seen in Figs. ll and 1.8. The meeting end of. each blade is cut out in V shape, and these V portions are sharpened from apoint slightly forward of and extending back to the apex, as seen at 1, Fig. 18*. The blades are so positioned that in the reciprocation of the bars they will slide against each other and will at all times overlap each other.

M are guides secured to the cutter-head,

one on either side of the blades L, and so positioned as to maintain the alinement of the continuous cigarette while it is being cut.

N are rectangular plates secured to the frame A near the front end of the machine, each having recess 0, whose outer edge is straight and parallel with the side of the chine.

plate, and whose inner edge is curved. Pivoted in each of these recesses is a tapering finger 0, whose inner edge conforms to the shape of the inner edge of the recess, the rear end of this finger having a downwardly-projecting pin 73, to the lower end of which is secured a coil-spring 7a, the other end of the spring being secured to the frame of the ma- This spring normally holds the forward end of the finger 0 against the straight edge of the recess 0 at a point a short distance from the end of the recess, as seen 111 the machine underneath the frame A, and

having arearwardly-extending arm 7 6, which carries a head-piece p in a plane above the plane of the arm. The cutter-operating slide is attached to the cutter-head by means of screws 77, passing through plates 78, attached to each end of the cutter-head, the screws passing through longitudinal slots 79 in the frame A and taking into the slide. A coilspring 80, secured at one end to the frame A and at its other end to a pin 81 in the slide P, serves to retract the cutting apparatus after the same has been forced forward to sever the continuous cigarette. A double cam Q, fixed on shaft 53, operates against the head-piece p to force the slide and its attached cutterhead forward against the stress of spring 80.

The mechanism for operating the machine is as follows: In rear of the hopper is mounted, in standards 82 rising from the frame A, a power-shaft R, on one end of which is a beltpulley 83, over which passes a belt 84, leading from any suitable source of power. .On the other end of this shaft is mounted a sprocket-wheel 85, another similar sprocketwheel 86 being mounted on the shaft near the belt-pulley. From these sprocket-wheels 85 and 86 sprocket-chains 87 pass to the sprocket-wheels 36 on the sides of the hopper for operating the feed-plates. Cross sprocketchain 55 leads from sprocket-wheel 37 forward to sprocket-wvheel 5i, and drives shaft 53, and, through the mechanism hereinbefore described, operates the tape and pasting mechanism.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The Wrapper-paper having been drawn from the under side of the roll and laid on the tape I, its end is passed through the channel in the trough, the edges of the paper being di rected by the deflectors 30 into the recess 31. Tobacco is then placed in the hopper and the machine started. By the rotation of the crank-wheels the feed-plates are alternately operated, the teeth carrying the tobacco down onto the wrapper and packing it thereon in such manner that by the time the wrapper has passed from underneath the feed-plates ITO , the filler has been compacted and shaped, the

stripper D in the meantime serving to strip the tobacco from the plates in their upward movement. As the filler and wrapper leave the hopper they are carried by the tape into the wrapper-edge turner, where one of the edges of the wrapper is turned over onto the filler by the lip 64, after which its other edge is turned in the other direction by the spur G6, in which position the last-mentioned edge of the wrapper passes over the pasting-disk 52, and is pressed down over the edge of the disk by the finger 67, receiving paste from the disk. As the disk revolves in the opening g in the paste-cup any superfluous paste that may adhere to it will be readily carried back into the cup through the enlarged portion 47 of the opening, and then scraped from the disk by the contracted portion of the opening 7, paste leaving the cup on the disk only through the portion 48. After the edge of the paper has been pasted it is laid over and pressed on the other edge by means of the laying-brush 68, thereby completely forming the continuous cigarette. After the con tinuous cigarette has been thus formed it passes directly und er the cutter-head,throu gh one of the guides M, and between the blades L, the latter being so timed as to sever the continuous cigarette when a suificient length has passed beyond them. As one of the cams Q comes into contact with the headpiece 17, it operates to force the operatingslide and attached cutter-head forward, in which movement the studs '7 5, secured to the cutter-bars, work against the curved edge of the recesses 0, this movement serving to gradually bring the blades together until they reach the highest point of the curve, in which position they have come together and severed the cigarette. The further forward movement of the cutter-head acts to retract the knives, this movement, owing to the form of the cam Q being faster than that of the advancing continuous cigarette, thus pushing the severed cigarettes forwardfaster than the continuous cigarette advances. lVhen the studs reach the forward end of the reccsses O, the knives are fully retracted, the cam Qleaves the head-piece p, and the spring acts to return the operating-slide and attached cutter-head. During this movement the studs 75 pass down the straight edge of the recesses O and contacting with the ends of the fingers 0 push them aside, and stop at the rear end of the recesses ready to be again operated by the cam Q. The fingers 0, after the studs 7 5 have passed, return to their normal position, which causes the studs in their forward movement to bear against the curved edge of the recesses.

tact with the paper, when they sever it.

Owing to the gradual approach of the cutter-blades, due to the curved edge of the recesses, and also owing to the fact that but a small portion of the V-shaped edge of each blade is sl1arpened,it follows that as the blades contact with the continuous cigarette, they gradually force the paper inward without cutting it, which packs the tobacco tighter in the end of the cigarette, this pressure continuin until the sharpened edges of the blades con- By this peculiar construction and operation of the blades the tobacco in the end of the cigarette, when severed, is packed more tightly than the rest of the cigarette, and the edges of the wrapper-paper are turned inward, so as to partially cover the end, as shown in Fig. 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cigarette-machine, a trough having along the base of its channel a longitudinal groove, in combination with a traveling flexible tape adapted to pass through the trough and provided with a rib designed to travel in said groove and guide the tape.

2. In a cigarette-machine, a tobacco-hopper having a narrow longitudinal opening in its bottom, a trough arranged longitudinally beneath the hopper, the channel in the trough being gradually contracted toward its discharge end, a traveling tape adapted to pass through the trough, links pivoted to the inner sides of the hopper, feed-plates within the hopper and pivoted to said links, and means for reciprocating said plates, whereby the plates are caused to feed the tobacco onto a wrapper on the tape andcompress it thereon.

3. In a cigarette-machine, a tobacco-hopper having a narrow longitudinal opening in its bottom, a trough arranged longitudinally beneath the hopper, reciprocating feed-plates within the hopper, and astripper above the trough adapted to strip the tobacco from the feed-plates in their upward movement.

4. In a cigarette-machine, the combination, with mechanism for forming and moving a continuous cigarette, of two cutter-blades arranged to bear against each other, each blade having'a V-shaped recess the edges of which are sharpened only from the apex to a point a short distance forward of the apex, and means for reciprocating the blades in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN J. LUMLEY. lVitnesses:

lVM. HUNTER MYERS, C. BANKES BROOKS.

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