Patent GB-493310-A (GB)
Title: A method of making long filler cigar bunches and mechanism for use therein
IPC: A24C1/02
Filed: 1937-04-16
Abstract: 493,310. Cigar - making machines. INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY CO. April 16, 1937, No. 10873. Convention date, Dec. 22, 1936. [Class 130] Bunch lengths of long filler tobacco delivered to a vertical magazine having a length approximately equal to the length of a cigar bunch and a width substantially greater than the diameter of the bunch are superposed and compressed to a uniform density before thin bunch layers of substantially less thickness than the diameter of a cigar bunch are separated from the tobacco in the magazine by a separating device which moves parallel to the planes of the tobacco leaves. A layer of tobacco leaves is fed along a channel formed by endless bottom and side belts to a corrugated platform 52 where a section having the length and width of a bunch charge is severed by a corrugated knife 53 and held on the platform by arms 58 carried by a cam-operated link 59. The platform is tilted, into the position shown in dotted. lines in Fig. 10. where it rests on a horizontal plate 60 which has been projected over the top of a magazine 17 and the section 1 on the platform is moved on to the plate by a bevelled rake 62 which is notched to receive the arms 58. When the section is on the plate a cam-actuated lever 37 is lowered to permit a pressure plate 18 to be moved downwardly by a weight 34 into engagement with the section on the plate 60; simultaneously the tobacco remaining in the magazine is brought into contact with the plate 60 by a cam-actuated link 44 which permits a slide 40 carrying the bottom plate 25 of the magazine to be raised by a spring 68. The rake 62 strips the section from the plate 60 as it is withdrawn by a cam-actuated block 71 mounted on slide rods 73 and the section rests on the tobacco on the bottom plate which is then moved downwardly by the link 44 while the tobacco is compressed by the weight-operated plate 18. A thin layer of tobacco is separated from the tobacco by a separating plate 93 which is moved through a slot in the magazine by a cam-actuated block 92 mounted on slide rods 91. The quantity of tobacco separated is regulated by adjusting a stop-plate 84, Fig. 2, which engages with a pin 83 on the slide 40 to determine the lower position of the plate 25. The separating plate 93, Fig. 8, has a bevelled slotted front edge in which a knife 99 is mounted on arms 100 pivoted to a bar 95 carrying rollers 96 which are moved in slots 98 in the block 92, while the bar 92 is reciprocated. by a motor M. The slots are inclined inwardly and forwardly so that each half of the knife blade moves forwardly during one stroke and rearwardly during the next stroke, one half moving forwardly as the other half moves rearwardly. The severed charge is ejected from the magazine 17 by a plunger 114, Fig. 10, carried by a camactuated plate 113 mounted on slide rods 115 and delivered to a transfer device formed by hinged plates 122, 123 which are held open against the action of a spring 139 by the engagement of the plate 25 with a projection 126. After ejecting the charge the plunger 114 is withdrawn and the bottom plate 25 elevated to allow the spring 139 to move the plate 123 towards the plate 122 to grip the severed charge and to allow the tobacco in the magazine to be gripped when the plate 93 is withdrawn.. The plates 122, 123 are carried by a bracket 127 mounted on an arm 144 and as the arm is moved downwards by a camactuated link 146 the plates are turned into a vertical position by a fixed roller 142 which engages a slotted arm 141 in the bracket 127. Near the delivery position an arm 129 engages a pin 131 and opens the plates to deliver the bunch charge into the loop of a rolling apron 162, Fig. 2. The loop has a depth approximately equal to the width of the charge separated from the tobacco in the magazine and the thin charge is left substantially intact as the transfer device moves back to its receiving position. The bunch is rolled in a binder by a roller 163 carried by a swinging bracket 150 pivoted to a bracket 151 which is moved along rails 154 by a cam-actuated rod 159 while rollers 165 on the bracket 150 slide in grooves in a plate 166. If the tobacco in the magazine builds up to too great a height the operation of the mechanism delivering the tobacco to the magazine is stopped. Normally, as the plate 18 is moved downwardly by the weight 34 the shaft 26 rocks a lever 191, Fig. 12, raising the notched end of a locking lever 185 to release a spring-pressed lever 181 which lowers an arcuate arm 179 to permit a pawl 169 to engage a ratchet wheel 167 which drives the belts delivering tobacco to the magazine. If the quantity of tobacco in the magazine is excessive no release of the lever 181 occurs and the arcuate lever 179 holds the pawl 169 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent operation of the delivery belts.