Patent GB-190002977-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Machinery for Applying Tips to Cigarettes.
Inventor: BEEMAN JOSEPH SAMUEL
Filed: 1900-02-14
Granted: 1901-02-09
Abstract: 2977. Beeman, J. S. Feb. 14. Cigarette-making machines.-Relates to machines for applying strips of cork, paper, tobacco leaf, &c. to the mouthpiece ends of cigarettes which in all other respects are already finished. The cigarettes are contained in a chamber C shown with the front plate removed in Fig. 5. The bottom plate C' is oscillated about its hinges C<2> to prevent jamming of the cigarettes, which pass down the vertical passage C<6> to a trough C<7>. In line with the trough C' is a holder D provided internally with a light spring adapted to grip the cigarette gently. The holder D is intermittently rotated by means of a mutilated toothed wheel engaging with the pinion D<2>. A spring brake D' presses on the holder D. The cigarettes are passed in turn from the trough C<7> to the holder D by means of a reciprocating plunger acting from the right-hand end of the machine. The plunger pushes the cigarette a little further than is necessary, and it is then accurately adjusted so as to protrude from the holder by exactly the required amount by means of a cam-actuated hammer-like lever acting from the left-hand end of the machine. The strips of cork &c. are held in a magazine J, the upper portion of which is furnished with a hinged door J<1>. The top of the magazine is in the form of two plates J<2> having a gap J<3> between them. A light spring J<22> tends to press the strips to the back of the magazine, and two small pointed screws J<23> serve to prevent the topmost strip from carrying the next one with it when it is removed. The magazine is adapted to rise into the position shown in Fig. 5 for the purpose of transferring a strip to the "retainer" G which conveys it to the cigarette. When the magazine has reached its highest point, a piston within it forces up the pile of strips so as to press the top one against the "retainer." The downward movement of the piston after each stroke is limited by a stop, the portion of which is determined by that of a vertical ratchet-bar which is lifted at intervals as the height of the column of strips diminishes. The "retainer" G comprises four segmental portions G<1> cut away at G' and having projections the surfaces of which constitute part of its circumference. The back of the retainer is formed with four flat surfaces G<5> and four projections G<6>, which coact with a stationary pawl during the intermittent horizontal reciprocations of the sliding frame G<10> which carries the retainer, so as to turn the retainer intermittently through angles of 90‹. At the left-hand limit of the stroke of the frame G<10> the retainer is brought into contact with a vertical band or tape H, Fig. 6, which is constantly supplied with an adhesive from the receptacle H<6> by means of a reciprocating brush H<7>. The adhesive having been thus transferred to the retainer, the latter returns to the position shown in Fig. 5, where the topmost strip is picked up. The retainer turns through 10‹, carrying the strip with it, and then moves into its extreme right-hand position, at which point is located the device shown in Fig. 7. The strip is here brought into more intimate contact with the curved surface of the retainer by the action of a spring projection R<3>, and of a block R<2> having a hole R<4> into which enters a pin G<4> projecting from the segmental portion G<1>, so as to perforate the strip and hold it more securely. The projections R<2> and R<3> are cleansed from any adhesive matter which may reach them by means of a vertically-reciprocating brush R<7> which passes over a pad of felt R<6> dipping into water in a tank R<5>. The retainer now turns through another quarter of a revolution, and returns to the position shown in Fig. 5, at which point the strip K is to be applied to the rotating cigarette. Before this point is reached, however, a lifting-finger L<2> carried by the arm L' of a lever L pivoted to the reciprocating frame G<10> is caused to rise, so as to lift one end of the strip from the retainer and bring its under surface into contact with the cigarette. To prevent the strip from turning back on itself, a guard plate is provided against which the strip is lifted. The guard plate moves with the retainer, but comes to rest before the latter has quite reached the position shown in Fig. 5. A plate carried by a cam-actuated lever taps and smooths the strip as it is wound on the end of the cigarette, and the plate may be formed with an extension which is heated by the flame of a small gas burner. A curved plate P serves as a support for the end of the cigarette during this operation. Strips previously coated with an adhesive material may be used, water being in that case applied to the surface of the retainer.