Patent GB-113633-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Stripping and Booking Tobacco Leaves.
IPC: A24B5/04
Filed: 1917-01-30
Abstract: 113,633. Marks, E. C. R., (Universal Tobacco Machine Co.). Jan. 30, 1917. Tobacco. - Relates to machines for stemming and booking tobacco, and consists mainly of means for stretching the leaves laterally while cutters co-operating with a leaf-supporting surface divide them longitudinally on both sides of the stem, means for regulating the length of stem cut out of the leaves, and means for facilitating access to the booking-drum. The leaves are placed between feed-rollers A, B, Fig. 8, and are carried between a cylinder and cutting-disks I by series of belts E, G, the upper roller being rocked about the shaft 47 of the cylinder C into and out of contact with the roller A in timed relation to the rotation of the booking-drum M, Fig. 23, so that the leaves are registered thereon. The cylinder C is provided with a circumferential projecting- rib D, Fig. 15, recessed at 49 to accommodate the stem of the passing leaf, and two of the feeding- belts G, H stretch the leaf over this rib while the cutting-disks I separate the stem, the stretching being regulated by adjusting the belts G, H with relation to the rib D, or by adjusting the tension of the belts, or by adjusting the point of contact between the cutters and the rib D. For the latter purpose, the cutters are adjustable in arms 69 of levers 72, Fig. 8, controlled by a spring 74 to press the cutters up to the cylinder C, and the cutters are independently removable for sharpening. When it is desired to cut out only a part of the stems, a cam shaft 37 is thrown into action to rock the cutters I to and from the cylinder C and to operate a cutter 92 to sever the stems transversely at the point where the cutters begin to act on the leaves. For this purpose the hub 35 of the gear-wheel 34, Fig. 14, which serves to drive the feeding-belts and the cylinder C continuously, is mounted on the tubular camshaft 37 through which a rod 38 extends. This rod is slidable manually to operate a spring-controlled dog 40 which is pivoted to it and works in keyways in the hub and the shaft whereby these can be clutched together. Cams 76 rock the cutters I and a cam 83, and a spring 96 acting through a lever 86, rock the cutter 92, the cam 83 and the end of the lever co-acting therewith being constructed so as to ensure a rapid cutting- action of a knife 92 against a block 93. A pivoted finger 98 adapted to be depressed positively by a link 87 connected to the lever 86 and to be raised by a spring 102, serves to deflect the severed stems through a trough formed on the pivoted arm which carries the cutter 92. The stemmed leaves are directed by stripping-plates 103 from the belts E, G to the endless belts K, 0 which carry them around the booking-drum M, Fig. 23, and at the other end of their run pass around a roller 122 carried by an arm 139 pivoted at 141, whereby the belt can be raised out of contact with the drum to the position shown in Fig. 23 to give access to the drum. The roller 122 normally rests in the bottom of a slot 142 in a fixed bracket 143, Figs. 8 and 23, and the opposite forked end 140 of the arm 139 engages with a flattened part of the pivot 141, whereby both ends of the arm 139 are locked against movement away from the drum. To raise the belts K, O, a hand-lever 135 is rocked and acts through a link 134 and a lever 137 pivoted at 132 first to raise the arm 139 vertically until the roller 122 leaves the slot 142, and then to rock the arm on the pivot 141. In a modified form of the machine from which the booking-drum is absent, the upper feeding-belts E and the rollers and parts enclosed by them are mounted in framework pivoted on the shaft of the belt roller 56 so that they can be raised from the lower parts of the machine to facilitate cleaning. The stem-ejecting finger 98 is in this case rocked by a tappet.