Patent GB-189815034-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Cigar-making Machines.
Inventor: BIRKBECK HENRY
Filed: 1898-07-08
Granted: 1899-07-08
Abstract: 15,034. Birkbeck, H., [Keyes, F. R.]. July 8. Cigars.-Relates to a machine for rolling cigar bunches into wrappers. Standards 11 erected upon the base-plate A of the machine carry a slide 12 which is reciprocated by means of a rack 13 and a pinion 14 driven, through intermediate gearing, by the main shaft 3. A carriage bed 19 is pivoted at 20 upon the slide. Roller shafts a are journalled in uprights upon the bed and are connected together and to the shafts band c by belt and toothed gearing, the shaft 10 acting as the driver. The shaft 10 is coupled to the driving-shaft 3 by universal joints 6 and 9 connected by telescopic shafts 7 and 8. Three bunch rollers are provided which each consist of a shaft, a roughened centre part secured to the shaft, and a series of discs spaced apart by washers &c. The shaft c which carries the presser roller 27 is journalled in a frame 28 secured upon a sleeve 25 carrying the shaft b. This frame is provided with an arm 29 connected to a treadle &c. device so that the whole may be raised for the insertion or removal of a bunch or cigar. A wrapper stretcher 34 is provided across which the wrapper is drawn from the table. The wrapper table is adjustably secured upon a stud 36. A lever 39 mounted upon the frame A is connected to a reciprocating bar 41 secured to the part 42 by a bolt and slot joint 43. A rod secured to the carriage bed passes through a slot in the lever 39, and by adjusting the position of the bolt 43 in the slot the swing of the carriage is adjusted according to the required shape of the cigar. A header or tip-former 46 is mounted upon the carriage, and is given a tapping motion by means of an eccentric on the shaft 52. The shaft 52 is driven from the driving-shaft 3 through intermediate belt gearing, universal joints being provided in the countershaft. Another form of header or tip-former is described in which a concaved roller is employed to shape the head or tip of the bunch during the operation. A paste tank 61 is erected upon the carriage bed, and is provided with a valve chamber having a grooved plunger-valve, the groove being adapted to coincide with the discharge port of the tank to receive paste and then to be rotated and reciprocated to eject the paste through a conduit 65 on to the face of the header or on to the bunch tip or wrapper, or both. A lever 66 provided with a roller is attached to the plunger valve, and operates the same through a cam. The wrapper is nicked while being wound upon the bunch by means of a cutter operated by the header or tipformer mechanism or by other means. Upon a standard 96 tuck-cutting knives 107 and 102 are provided which are operated by means of a double crank receiving its motion from a draw-bar connected to the slide 12. A gauge 99 is provided to determine the length of the cigar. A finger 113 holds the wrapper against the tuck to start the winding, and receives an intermittent motion from a sliding rod 112 through a lever 111 and a link 109. The shaft is journalled in a sleeve s which is kept by the spring t in a position such that the pinion 14 engages the rack 13. A locking-cam on the table engages the sleeve and brings the pinion out of engagement so as to stop the table. By means of a treadle mechanism the sleeve can be totally disengaged, and the table retracted by means of a spring. In another form of the machine, both the carriage and the wrapper table are movable. The carriage bed is reciprocated by a rack and pinion, and the carriage body is pivoted upon the bed and is swung about its pivot and upon a guide-way by means of an eccentric. The wrapper table is mounted upon a guide-track and receives motion about a pivot by means of links &c. connecting it to the carriage. A wrapper grip is provided which is released when near the end of the travel by means of a finger on the carriage, and a wrapper stretcher which moves with the wrapper is also employed. Cylindrical rollers are used for rolling the bunches. A wedging-lug on the carriage is employed to operate a rocking shaft which opens the paste valve. The Provisional Specification states that the invention relates to machines of the character described in Specification No. 4700, A.D. 1895.