Patent GB-535310-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the formation of cigar bunches
IPC: A24C1/02
Filed: 1939-10-13
Abstract: 535,310. Cigar-making machines. INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY CO. Oct. 13, 1939, No. 27840. Convention date, Oct. 27, 1938. [Class 130] A method of making a cigar bunch consists in forming a wide thin bunch charge, rolling the charge from one side spirally upon itself into a loose rounded form, constricting the rolled charge to compact it and reduce it to a predetermined diameter, and then enclosing the reduced charge within a binder. The bunch charge may be formed by mechanism similar to that described in Specification 493,310 and comprising a magazine 23 to which layers of tobacco are fed from a tilting platform 40 ; the tobacco column T in the magazine being compressed by a resilient pad 46 on a weighted plate 24 and bunch length sections being severed by a cam-actuated knife 71 and plate 70 and ejected by a cam-actuated plunger 74 into the pocket 75 of a transfer device 76. This is formed by a bottom plate 77 sliding on the inturned sides 79 of an upper plate 78 secured to a bracket 83 pivoted on a shaft 84 supported by a counterweighted arm 86 pivoted on a shaft 87. The plate 77 is secured to a rack bar 81 slidable in the bracket 83 and connected through gearing 88, 89, 95, 96 to a gear 97 meshing with a gear sector 98 on an arm 99 pivoted on the shaft 87 and actuated from a cam through a link 100. An arm 94 on the bracket 83 carries a roller 101 travelling in a groove 102 in a bracket 103, and friction washers 104 normally prevent rotation of the gear 88, so that downward movement of the link 100 and arm 99 causes downward movement of the transfer device 76 as a whole, until the roller 101 strikes the end of the groove 102. The sector 98 then effects rotation of the gear 88 and the displacement of the rack 82 to slide open the bottom plate 77 and deposit the charge on a rolling apron 111 above the depressed portion 131 of a rolling table 112, Figs. 8 and 10. A bracket 125 supports the rolling pin 126, which is associated with a plate 127 having bearing members fitting loosely over the ends of the rolling pin. The plate 127 is initially vertical, Fig. 8, a pin 135 on a bracket thereon abutting against a strip 138 secured to the bracket 125. In the forward movement of the rolling pin, the apron 111 is loosened to form a loop in which the charge C is rolled from the rear edge, the plate 127 falling into a horizontal position, Fig. 10; the charge is first rolled loosely on the slope 131 of the table 112 and then rolled tightly in a binder L on the raised part of the table. At the front end of the table, the plate 127 is returned to the vertical position by the engagement of the pin 135 with a stationary cam. The tightening and loosening of the apron 111 are affected by an endless chain passing around a sprocket 190 on the shaft of the roller 152 secured to the end of the apron, the chain being engaged by a weighted arm actuated by a cam, Fig. 20 (not shown). In a modification, Fig. 14, the charge is deposited in a loop of the apron 111 over an inclined plate 140 pivoted at 149 and having a lug 141 carrying a pin 142 held by a spring 143 against the rear of the bracket 125 of the rolling pin. As the bracket 125 moves forwards, the plate 140 comes into a vertical position and the charge is rolled in the closed vertical loop formed by the apron, and then over the table 112. To avoid variations in weight in the finished cigars, the plunger 74, Fig. 18, acts as a feeler to check the density of the tobacco column T and actuates means for controlling the thickness of the charges. The plunger plate 73 is secured to a slidable block 155 having a pin-and-slot connection 158 with a cam-actuated lever 157. A latch 162 pivoted on the block 155 engages a pin 165 on an arm 166 secured to a shaft 167, which also carries an arm 168 in pin-and-slot connection with a bar 171. At its forward end, the bar 171 is connected to an arm 177 on a spindle 178 threaded in a hub on the plate 53 at the top of the bracket 34, and the spindle 178 supports the bottom plate 31 by means of a screw 51 and a slide. The charge severing plate 70 is supported by a slide 181 connected by a link 182 to a cam-actuated lever 183, and the slide 181 carries a cam member 184 engaging a roller 185 on the latch 162. If the plunger 74 moves more or less into the magazine, the latch 162 moves the arms 166, 168 correspondingly and the bar 171 adjusts the bottom plate 31 by means of the threaded spindle 178. The lever 183 then actuates the severing plate 70 and the cam 184 releases the latch 162 until the severing plate returns.