Patent GB-498238-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to stemmer for tobacco leaves
IPC: A24B5/04
Filed: 1937-07-12
Abstract: 498,238. Tobacco-stemming machines. INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY CO. July 12, 1937, No. 19308. Convention date, Sept. 5, 1936. [Class 130] A tobacco-stemming machine includes a pair of rotatable cutting discs 24 arranged in adjacent planes in substantially face-toface relation, and means for supporting a leaf or the stem thereof so that the leaf stem may be advanced or drawn between the cutting edges of the discs along a line passing through or adjacent to the axes of the discs while the leaf webs are cut from the stem by the cutting edges. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the discs 24 are formed of thin spring steel, of slightly dished form with a serrated cutting edge. The discs are mounted on horizontal shafts 25 inclined to each other and rotatable in sleeves 26 supported by brackets 27 on vertical shafts 28 and driven by means of pulleys 40 and belts 41. For the introduction of a leaf butt, the cutters may be separated by means of a treadle 36 connected by links &c. 29 ... 32 to the shafts 28. The leaves are supported on a table 10 by a leaf support 11 having inclined side portions and a central perforated portion 12 beneath which is a suction chamber 13 connected to a fan 16, so that the stems are held down by suction. To hold the leaves in outspread condition while being stemmed, a leaf spreading device comprises a blower box 47 connected to the outlet of the fan 16. The bottom of the box is formed by a stem guiding bar 48 provided with slots and holes for directing an air blast towards the leaf stem ; the blast is then directed outwardly by a baffle plate 51 on the blower box. The blower box is carried by an arm 57 pivoted on a shaft 58 to facilitate introduction of a leaf. When a leaf has been placed on the support 11 and is held by the suction plate 12, the cutting discs 24 are separated by means of the treadle 36, the leaf is adjusted so that the butt end of the stem extends beyond the guide plate 23, and the treadle is then released, so that a spring 61 returns the cutting discs into engagement with the sides of the stem. The operator then effects stripping by pulling the butt end of the stem and the leaf portions fall down a plate 62 into a receptacle. To prevent the tips of the leaf stems from being thrown downwards by the cutting discs, a tip support comprises a thin rotating disc 66, Fig. 6, on a shaft 68 supported by brackets 71, and thin guide plates 67 secured to the brackets 71. In a modification, Fig. 7, the leaves are advanced automatically to the stemming device and the cutting discs are automatically separated. The leaves are advanced by pairs of gripper fingers 90 carried by arms 91 pivoted on transverse bars 89 carried by sprocket chains 72 ; the gripper fingers are normally closed by springs and are opened by the engagement of rollers 92 with cam bars 94, 95 at the receiving and delivery ends of the machine. The spreading device comprises a blower box in two stationary halves 104 between which the gripping devices pass. The cutting discs are separated, to allow the gripping devices to pass and to position the stem between the discs, by means of a cam 97 engaging a roller 98 on an arm 99 on a shaft 33a carrying a lever 100 to which the rod 31 is connected. The cam 97 is driven in timed relationship with the chains 72.