US694625A - Cigar-bunching machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 694,625. Pat nted Mar. 4, I902.

m M. GARDNER. CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 20, 1901.)

(No Model.) 5'Sheets8heet l.

WITNEIEEEE'. INVENTDR'.

MICHAELYM. GARDNER;

. 6. BY I I 1- AT T Y5.

' c. m: NORRIS vzrzns 00.. n qu-ro-umo. msnmmon. a

No. 694,625. ,Patenfed Mar. 4, I902.

m. m. GARDNER.

CIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

. (Application filed June 20, 19o 1.1; (No Model.)

All

WITNEES E:

. I NV E N T u R,

. WM MICHAEL M.GABDNER.

' A TYE.

No. 694.625. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

v M. M. GARDNER.

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSEEZ' F 5 INVENTEIR'. g D MICHAEL M. GARDNER. I 4/ m c/i/% n4: Noam: PETERS co., vum'ouryoi. WASHINGTON; a. c.

'No. 694,625. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

- M. M. GARDNER.-

CIGAR BUNCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 20, 1901.| (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A 4. I j Li's, I0. 6 c3 *Z i a c J Z\ k I FEEL WITNEEEEE INVENTEIR.

MICHAEL M. GARDNER. ,02 Mm I a 44- jww BY TYS- aams'nzrgnglcau vnomumo" WASHINGYDN, n c

-No. 694,625. Patented Mar. 4, I902.

M. M. GARDNER. CIGAR BUNCI'I'ING MACHINE.

(Applicntionflled June 20, 1901.

5 Sheets-Sheet. 5.

(No Model.)

INVENTEI'RI WITNESSES.

'm: NORRIS Pzrzns 120., PROTO'LITHO. WASHINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

MICHAEL M. GARDNER, OF EDGEVVOOD, RHODE ISLAND.

. ClGAR-BUNGHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming art of Letters Patent No, 694,625, dated March 4, 1902. Application filed June 20, 190T. Serial No. 65,273. (No model) To all whom it may concern/r r Be it known that 1, MlOHAEL M. GARDNER, a citizen of the-United States of America, and

a resident of Edgewood,in the town of Gran 7 so called, and of the type in which the entire stripped leaf of tobacco is used for the fill-' A cigar-bunch-' in g machine of this class is clearly illustrated ers of the cigar-bunches.

and described in United States Patent No: 528,903, granted to Henry K. Gardner November 6, 189i. In that machine the suitably-prepared leaves of tobacco are superposed in a traveling trough, so as to form a comparatively thick layer or continuous strip or ribbon which is fed to a yielding ironing device adapted to flatten out or iron the strip of tobacco-leaves, so that the latter will lie straight'and even and at the same time being substantially uniform in thickness. The thus-treated strip is intermittently'fed into a contiguous magazine a suitable distance corresponding with the length of cigar to'be produced therefrom and severed. The severed portion or section is'then advanced in said magazine-chamber, together with other previously-severed sections then lying side' by side, by means of a yieldingly-mounted plunger, so as to press the front portion of the horizontal column of'sections intoa suit; ably-shaped open chamber or charging-pocket formed in the charging-head followed by severing or shearing ofi the charge of fillers in the head from the said column of sections lying in the magazine. The charge of fillers is then discharged from the head into the usual bight formed in the bunch-rolling apron, the action of the latter being to properly roll the binder around the charge of fill ers, thus completing the bunch.

As before stated, my invention has relation to a cigar-bunching machine capable of producing bunches from the whole or stripped leaves of tobacco, or long fillers, as they are termed, wherein the flattened strip or ribbon of tobacco iscut transversely across into sections having the desired length andadapted later to be converted into bunches in the same machine. The specific improvement forming the subject of the present application for patent resides in the new and novel mechanism for severing the strip ofsuper posed leaves of tobacco into sections without waste, and means for transferring the sections singly from the cutter or knife to an adjacent magazine or chamber in which aplunger is mounted, whereby the action of the latter forces the sections into suitable filler receiving or charging pockets, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

An objection or disadvantage inherent in the patented machine before referred to, as well as in other analogous machines of the class adapted to produce bunches from a continuous strip of tobacco, is that in cutting the sections from the strip a considerable amount of scrap-or waste stock is produced, that is if the sections are to form bunches having a reduced diameter at the ends-as, for example, if the resultant cigars are to have a Perfecto shape. In the. said Gardner machine the forward end of the column of fillers is forced from the throat or magazine into the charging chamber or pocket and severed from said column. The knife and mechanism for effecting the cutting operation are so constructed and arranged that a substantially V- shaped piece, or gore,as itis termed, is pro- The ver-j tically-reciprocating cutter or knife employed for this purpose may be made of suitable thin 1 sheet-steel and having two or more deep l0ngitudinally-extending V-shaped grooves 01" serrations formed therein. The size and depth of these grooves determine toa great extent the shape of the end'portions of the bunches subsequently formed from the sections. As

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thus devised it will be apparent that the sections are produced without waste. After each section has been thus produced or severed it is next fed ahead or transferred to another plane, as desired, so as to disengage its rear end from the then stationary knife in order that the follower or plunger may force said section sidewise past the cutter into the magazine containing previously-cut sections. The sections are thus produced without waste, since the serrations formed in the forward end are parallel with those formed in the rear end, or, in other words,the apex of the V at the outer end of the section corresponds with the base or bottom of the V formed in the rear end.

In the accompanying five sheets of drawings, illustrating the portions of an organized cigar-bunching machine embodying my improvement, Figure 1 is a plan view in reduced scale. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, enlarged, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 1, showing the cutting-01f knife, &e., in the normal position preparatory to severing the section from the strip or ribbon of tobacco. Fig. 3 is a correspondingsection taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view in partial section of the cutter-operating cam, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the cam employed for transferring the section when severed, so as to register with the magazinechamber, said figure corresponding with line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the knife. Fig. 6% is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 7 is a plan view of it. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views corresponding with Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, but showing the severed section disengaged from the knife and transferred to a lower plane, said Fig. 9 also showing the plunger in the act of forcing ahead the column of sections in the magazine. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the knife, showing the relation of the latter to the strip of tobacco while the knife is severing it and also showing the rear portion of the column of previously-cut sections lying in the magazine; and Fig. 11 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showinga modification of the transferring device. In this arrangement the principle of the well-known four-motion feed used on sewing-machines is employed.

I would state. that while Fig. 1 is in general a plan view of the said cigar-bunching machine patented to Henry K. Gardner it also, shows the improved stock severing and transferring devices forming the subject of the present application for patent.

In the machine as shown in Fig. l the suitably-stripped leaves of tobacco are taken by the attendant from the table or bench b and placed in the traveling trough B in a superposed manner, the leaves overlapping one another and forming a continuous rope, which passes into a space 0 formed between the adjacent surfaces of the upper and lower traveling belts 0. These latter, &c., also constitute an ironing device 0 for pressing and flattening the rope of tobacco into a continuous strip or ribbon t. A continuously-revolving barrel-cam D, combined with suitable intermediate mechanism, and driving-chain d are employed for operating the feeding and ironing devices. After the forward portion of the flattened strip of superposed leaves has been advanced and severed by the cutting device A the sections thus cut are forced singly by a suitable plunger E into a glass-covered magazine m, communicating with the tiller receiving or charging pockets of a cylinder G, a cutting-off device F being employed to sever the charge thus pressed into the pocket from the column of filler-sections in the magazine. The charge of fillers is later discharged from the cylinder onto a flexible apron, which is employed not only for applying the binder to the charge of fillers, but also to roll the whole into shape, thus completing the bunch. None of the foregoing devices, however, constitutes the improvement described and claimed in this application, except the device A for severing the strip of tobacco into sections having the desired length. In my said device (see Figs. 2, 3, &c.) the continuouslyrevolving shaft u, mounted in framesf f,

has secured thereon the cam L for vertically reciprocating the strip-severing knife or cutter K and also the cam M for transferring the sections of fillers singly from the plane of the traveling feeding-trough to a lower plane, thereby disengaging the last-cut section from the knife and placing it in position to be acted upon by the plunger, one of the functions of the latter being to remove the section sidewise from the section-carrier S into the stationary magazine registering therewith.-

The front rolls a c, carrying the upper and lower bolts 0 of the ironing device 0, revolve in a suitable frame or housing secured to the bed f of the machine. is formed a space 0 for the strip t of tobacco in direct communication with the fixed short guide or throat c c, terminating at the back of and at right angles with the vertical knife K, soon to be described. Said throat is also in direct communication with the open space or chamber 0 of the section carrier or transferrer S. This latter is mounted to reciprocate vertically in a stationarygibbed frame b secured to the base e and supported by the leg or side framef. Extending horizontally from the vertical head 1) of the carrier S is a ribbed arm b reduced in thickness to form, in connection with the thin cover or plate b the said space a and having its length and width -such that the forwardportion of the strip or ribbon 15 may be readily introduced therein and severed to form a filler-section t. A diagonal brace b is employed for supporting the free end of the cover b.

The carrier S is 'reciprocated vertically by means of the grooved cam M, secured to the revolving shaft u. The lower portion of the carrier has an extension b provided with a roll r in engagement with said cam-groove.

Between said belts front point portions 7c.

Thelower portion of. the member b has an elongated opening b therein, through which the shaft freelypasses. As thus arranged it is obvious that the carrier is properly guided while being actuated by the cam. The knife-. holder at is mounted to reciprocate in a gibbed frame g, substantially as described with respect to the section-carrier. The holder has an opening therethrough to freely receive the outer portion of the said throat or trough 0 The holder extends below the supporting-frame e and is reduced inwidth at at, its lower end having an opening 03, through which the said shaft to extends. A grooved cam L, secured to this shaft, is employed for actuating the holder, the latter carrying a roll r. in continuous engagementwiththe cam-groovein 'a well-known manner. The knife K is secured to the holder a and maintained inposition by means of the clamp a The end thrust is resisted by a plate 5 and adj listing-screw s, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The knife or cutter K is, as drawn, substantially W shape cross-sectionally. It may be made of sheetsteel or other suitablematerial and having longitudinally extending corrugations or grooves, the form of the knife transversely being such that in severing the strip 6 of tobacco acorrespondingly irregular shape is produced in the ends of the sections t of fillers. The lower or cutting end of the knife is formed so as to produce a shearing effect that is, the end or edges 10 of .the outer or opposite sides are beveled and adapted to engage the strip of tobacco in advance of the These latter (being two in number, as drawn, see Figs. 6, 6%, and 7) next simultaneously engage the strip, fol-' lowed by the cutting action of the two converging rearwardly-extending edges k termiuating at the apex k of the center member, the latter being the last portion of the knife to enter the stri The continued action of the knife quickly and completely severs the section i from the then stationary strip of fillers. In this position it will be apparent that the knife is interposed between the adjacent end ofthe section and that of the strip from which it was severed. 1 may add that the ends of the upper and lower sides or walls of the chamber. c contiguous to the knife have a corrugated form corresponding with the latter. A portion of the lower wall or base may consist of a removable steel plate kflthus forming a shear-plate for the knife.

' turn secn red to a revolving shaft u.

1 serves to maintain the roll against the cams When the bar is retracted, the knife then being elevated and the strip fedinto the; chamber 0 the rotation of the cam will raise the. bar sufficiently to force the points of the the last-cut section of fillers from the carrier S and in the act of forcing it sidewise in the magazine to be later converted into bunches. Fig. 10 shows the relationof the parts while the knife is in action, the carrier S then being stationary.

As before stated, the function of the carrier is to separate or remove the filler-sections 25 from the knife, whereby they can be readily pressed into the magazine. It will be seen, Fig. 10, that the section must be fully disengaged from the knife before it can be transferred to the magazine. This may be effected by dropping it to a lower plane, as before described, or the section may first be carried endwise sufficiently to clear the knife, followed by transferring it to the magazine. In the latter case the section is not necessarily transferred to a different plane or level. In any event one of the objects sought to be attained is to withdraw the severedsection from the knife, (the latter meanwhile closing the feeder-passage,) so that the section can be readily transferred to the magazine intact. Fig. 11 shows a device well adaptedto this purpose. The knife K, its holder (1, 850., are constructed and actuated substantially as before described. The section-chamber cfllhowever, is stationary and forms pract-ically a continuation of thestrip guide or channel 0 butadapted to be divided tra'ns versely by the moving knife. The length of the chamber a is equal (in this case) to the length of the filler-section plus the thickness of the knife from point to base of its V or corrugation. The base 6 forming also the lower side of the section-chamber, may have one or more narrow slits e therein for the passage of small spurs '0 secured to a.

guided movable bar 12', carrying a roll of in continuous engagement with the cam 1), 111.

surface.

spurs 12 into the tobacco. After the knife has severed the section the cam forces the spring-pressed bar endwise or outwardly the desired distance, thereby carrying the se'ction-beyond theinflnence of the knife. The

further combined action of the cam and spring dropsthe bar sufficiently to withdraw the Aspring spurs from the section, after-which the plun 'gerE may transfer the section from said chamber into the magazine, as before dcscribedw 1 I prefer to use a knife or cutter K having a form substantially as shown, although cut-f. ters having a different form transversely maybe used, the shape of the cutter in any event being made with respect to the amount of stock necessary or essential to be cut from the ends of the sections t and without'anywa'ste Whatever. Obviously the form of the knife determines to a great extent the shape of the bunch to be produced and also to some degree the quantity of tobacco composing it. It will be seen that the sections when pressed into the magazine would form a practically continuous or integral column of fillers adapted to be cutlongitudinallyinto narrowersections to form bunches, as desired. The said narrow sections will have less stock in the end portions than in the body or intermediate part that is, if the sections are of the same widthand irrespective of the location of the lines of division. Moreover, the sections in such case will be practically alike in size, weight, and density. Owing to the fact that the fillersections are severed successively by the same knife K, it is clear that the points of the Vs of the forward end of the section will be exactly opposite the bottom of the Vs formed in the rear end. The same relative arrangement is maintained when knives havinga different form cross-sectionally are used.

\Vhile I have shown and described a knife having a specific form and also specific devices for actuating the knife and for transferring the filler-sections 25 into the magazine, I do not desire to thus limit myself to them, as the same principle or functions may be attained by other means differing somewhat in construction and manner of operation.

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

1. In a cigar-bnnching machine, the combination with means for feeding the suitablyprepared leaves of tobacco arranged in the form of a strip or ribbon t, and a magazine m, of an intermittingly-operating knife K for severing said strip into filler-sections t, the form of said knife transversely being serrated or zigzag, thereby producing filler-sections having correspondingly shaped ends and adapted later to be converted into bunches Without waste, and means for transferring the cut filler-section away from the said ribbon and knife into said magazine,substantially as described.

2. Ina cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the feeding trough or chamber, means for feeding therethrough the tobacco arranged in the form of a strip or ribbon t, and a magazine on, of the mechanically-actuated knife K having an irregular form transversely arranged to sever the said strip into filler-sections having irregular-shaped ends, the counterpart of said knife, means for disengaging the severed sections singly from the knife and means for transferring them into said magazine, substantially as described.

3. In a cigar-bunching machine, a feeding chamber or trough for the superposed leaves or ribbon i of tobacco,the magazinem arranged at right angles with said trough, a mechanically-actuated charging cylinder or member normally communicating with said magazine, in combination with an intermittingly-operating initial cutting-knife K having an irregular form transversely located contiguous to the mouth of said trough for severing the said ribbon into filler-sections 25 having the shape of their ends the counterpart of the said knife, mechanism for transferring the severed sections singly from the knife into the said magazine and into the said cylinder, and a mechanically-actuated secondary cutter or knife interposed between the magazine and cylinder, all constructed and arranged whereby the charge in the cylinder, as cut longitudinally from said filler-section has an approximate shape of the cigar, substantially as described.

at. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the feeding-chamber c for the superposed leaves or ribbon t of tobacco, a magazine 171 located in a lower plane than the feeding-chamber and a suitably mounted and controlled plunger E, of the reciprocating corrugated knife K for severing said ribbon into filler-sections without waste, a reciprocating section-carrier S suitably timed with respect to said knife having a chamber 0 therein adapted to receive the sections singly and to register with the magazine, whereby the said plunger is capable of discharging the section from the carrier into the magazine.

5. A knife for severing a strip of superposed leaves of tobacco into sections having a predetermined length, the said knife having an irregular or corrugated form crosssectionally and further having the rear portion of the cutting edge of the two outer sides or wings of the knife somewhat lower than the intermediate cutting edges h thereby not only producing a shearing effect but also adapting the said wings to engage the strip of tobacco in advance of the said intermediate portion of the knife.

6. In a cigar-bunching machine, the combination with the feeder member 0 for the strip 25 of fillers and a section-carrier adapted to receive the forward portion of said strip from the feeder, of a knife having a corrugated form cross-sectionally adapted to pass between the adjacent ends of said feeder and carrier in severing said portion of the strip resting in the carrier to form a filler-section, a holder having said knife secured thereto and provided with an opening for the feeder member, means for intermittingly reciprocating the holder, and means for transferring the filler-section from the carrier.

Signed at Providence, Rhode Island, this 18th day of June, 1901.

MICHAEL M. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

GEO. II. REMINGTON, STEPHEN O. HARRIS.

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