Patent GB-277931-A (GB)
Title: Method of and apparatus for treating tobacco leaves
IPC: A24B5/08
Filed: 1927-06-08
Abstract: 277,931. M³ller, J. C. Sept. 21, 1926, [Convention date]. Tobacco.-A method of treating tobacco leaves consists in reducing the mid-rib by shaving tools to approximately the thickness of the leaf without dividing the leaf. The moist leaf is stretched longitudinally and transversely and is led with its rib outermost over a supporting roller opposite to a tool fitted with shaving cutters by which the projecting rib is removed. The leaf is then rolled on to a resilient table on which the leaves are collected into a pile. In the machine shown, the moistened leaf is placed on a table 1 and passes beneath a pivoted presser foot 2 and an endless belt 5 running on rollers or pulleys 6 - - 9, the rollers 7, 8 being driven from the main shaft 13. The roller 6 is carried by one arm of a bell-crank lever 22, the other arm of which carries a roller 25 engaging in a cam groove 26 in a driving wheel 14 on the shaft 13, so that the roller 6 and belt 5 are periodically lowered on to the table 1. A brush roller 27 in front of the roller 6 is driven from a pulley 32 by a crossed cord 31 and removes sand &c. from the leaf. The rear end of the table 1 is narrow and supports only the centre part of the leaf, the sides being gripped and stretched laterally by pairs of transversely moving belts 36, 37, Fig. 6, provided with resilient fingers 40 of rubber or the like. The belts 36, 37 run on rollers carried by brackets clamped to bolts 43 and movable to set the belts at a right angle or other angle to the rib of the leaf. The leaf then passes on to the horizontal portion 46<1> of two belts 46 running on rollers 47 - - 51, the roller 51, Fig. 11, having a central enlargement 51<1> which raises the mi-d-rib. Above the roller 51 and belts 46 are two belts 52 running on rollers 7, 50 - - 54, the roller 7 having a central recess 7<1> in which runs the belt 5. Between the rollers 7, 51 the central part of the leaf passes under a curved guide 55 carried by a resilient support. Adjacent to the roller 51 is a rotating member 57 carrying cutter blades 59 which shave down the mid-rib, the shavings passing into a suction pipe, 61. The member 57 can be adjusted axially to bring different parts of the cutter into operative position, and the cutters can be adjusted for wear by means of wedges. The leaf passes over the flight 46<2> of the belts 46 and downwards between guides 125, 126 into the path of a reciprocating carriage provided with rollers 74, 75 by which the leaf is rolled on a table 109. Rollers 79 on the carriage run between rails 80, 81, the carriage being reciprocated by a chain 82 passing over sprockets 84, 85, and a pinion 87 on the spindle of the sprocket 84 being actuated by a toothed sector 88 on a lever 90 connected to a crank-pin 93 on the pinion 14. The rollers 74, 75 are rotated by a rack 94, on the rail 80, engaged by pinions 95, 96 on the spindles of the rollers. The leaf is held on the table by bands 97, 98 wound respectively on the rollers 74, 75 under spring tension and secured at their other ends to rollers 101, 102, arms 105, 106 on the spindles of these rollers being connected by springs 107, 108 to the frame. The table 109 is supported by lazytongs 110 - - 113 pivoted at 114, the arms 110, 111 being connected by a spring 116 and preferably being extended at 119, 120 and provided with rollers 121, 122 bearing against the table. When a sufficient pile of leaves has accumulated, the lazy-tongs are secured by a pivoted hook 123 and the leaves are removed.