Patent GB-325799-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic filler feed for cigar machines
IPC: A24C1/02
Filed: 1928-10-26
Abstract: 325,799. Marks, Sir G. C., (International Cigar Machinery Co.). Oct. 26, 1928. Cigar-making machines. - A tobacco - feeding mechanism for cigar machines is of the type having a gear mechanism which is controllable to effect the driving or stopping of the feeding mechanism, and in which the advancing filler tobacco engages and moves a yielding member exerting a densifying effect upon the tobacco and the yielding member actuates a controlling mechanism including a single trip mechanism which acts upon the gear mechanism to stop the feeding of the tobacco, as described in Specification 299,409. According to the invention, the controlling mechanism including the trip mechanism is arranged immediately adjacent to and grouped about the gear mechanism and coacts directly with a part of the gear mechanism. In the mechanism shown, tobacco is fed by a belt 26 passing over a plate 30 and beneath star wheels 37, 51 and adjustable guides 50 carried by a bracket 44 to a space formed by a platform 60 and adjustable guides 61 and provided with the yielding charge-arresting member 70. The feed belt 26 passes over pulleys 27, 28, an adjustable pulley 29, and a drum 13 on a shaft 12, which is driven through gear mechanism comprising planetary gears 19, 20 on the shaft 12, meshing with planetary gears 17, 18 carried by a sprocket 16 loose on the shaft 12 and driven through a chain 15. The gears 17, 18 are integral or secured together and revolve freely on their shafts 21; the gear 19 is keyed to the shaft 12, while the gear 20 is integral with a toothed wheel 22 loose on the shaft 12 and normally engaged by a pawl 23 forming part of the trip mechanism described below. The star wheels 37 are carried by a bracket 38 adjustable about a shaft 39 and are driven from the shaft 39 through chain gearing 42. The shaft 39, which carries the small star wheels 51, is driven from the shaft 12 through chain gearing 53 and toothed gearing 56, 59. The tobacco on the platform 60 advances against the prongs of the charge-arresting member 70, which is carried by an arm 75 pivoted at 93 to a rod 92 and to a frame 94 swing- ing on a shaft 95 carried by the frame 10. The arm 75 is also connected by a rod 74 to an arm 73 on a shaft 72 carrying a weighted arm 71. A projection 79 on the arm 71 bears against an adjusting screw 78 on a weighted arm 91 pivoted on a stud 82, the adjustment of the screw 78 determining the forward travel of the member 70 and thus the volume of tobacco in each charge. When the pressure of tobacco against the member 70 is sufficient to overbalance the weighted arm 71, the projection 79 depresses the arm 81 and releases a lever 84, which is thrown by a spring 86 against an arm of the pawl 23, releasing the wheel 22 and stopping the shaft 12. A charge of tobacco is then cut off by a knife 63, sliding between a shear plate 64 and a shear blade 65, the member 70 is pulled down by the rod 92, the cut charge is removed by transfer fingers 69, and the member 70 is raised again into tobacco arresting position. The trip lever 84 is re-set by a roller 96 on one of the studs of the planetary gears 17, 18. If the lever 84 fails to work, for instance owing to breakage of the spring 86, the feed is stopped by means of a cam 98 on the sprocket 16 acting upon a pin 97 on the pawl 23. The nose 100 of a pivoted latch 101 catches the pawl and retains it until the feed is restarted.