Patent GB-255156-A (GB)
Title: An improved machine for stripping tobacco leaves
IPC: A24B5/06
Filed: 1925-04-17
Abstract: 255,156. Phillips, M. G. P. April 17, 1925. Tobacco.-A machine for stripping tobacco leaves comprises a stripping device provided with teeth or serrations, the interspaces each receiving the stem of a leaf, means for supporting a number of leaves and presenting the stems to the stripping device, and means for simultaneously drawing the stems lengthwise through the stripping device. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the sup. port for the leaves is a continuously or intermittently operated belt 41 on which the leaves are placed by hand or mechanically with their butt ends overhanging the inner edge. The belt passes over pulleys 62, 63. the shaft 62a of the pulley 62 being driven from the main shaft 71 through chain-driven countershafts 75, 80, bevel gears 85, a shaft 87, and sprocket gearing 88, 89. The stems are gripped by bars 23, 24 normally held in contact by springs 24a. The bar 23 is carried by the forward ends of bodies 17, 18 forming a carriage movable on rails 9, 11 towards and away from the belt 41, by means of links 33 connected to levers 31 pivoted at 30 on the frame. The levers 31 are connected by links 32 to cranks 29 on a shaft 28 driven by chain gearing from the shaft 80. The bar 24 ;s connected by members 24b to bell-crank levers 25 pivoted to the bodies 17, 18 and aarrying rollers for engagement with fixed cams 27 in order to separate the bars 23, 24 in the rearmost position of the carriage. Projections 36 on the levers 25 then engage with recesses 35 in spring-controlled trip levers 34 depending from the bar 23. The stripping device comprises a serrated bar 38 and a straight-edged bar 16, the stems of the leaves passing through the spaces between the bottom of the teeth and the edge of the bar 16. The bar 16 is carried by the forward ends of bodies 12, 14 forming, a carriage movable on rails 8, 10 towards the belt 41 by brackets 40 on the bodies 17, 18 carrying the gripper bar 23. The serrated bar 38 is carried bv bell-crank levers 37 pivoted on the bodies 12, 14 and held by springs 38a in the normal position. At the end of the forward movement, spring catches on the bodies 12, 14 engage the brackets 40, so that the devices return together until thei catches are disengaged by projections on the rails 8, 10. The leaves are thus brought over a table 90, and the subsequent move. ment of the gripping devices draws the stems through the stripper, the leaves falling on the table. At the end of this return movement, the stripping bar 38 is moved away from the bar 16 by the engagement of pins 39 on the bell-crank levers 37 by the upturned ends 58 of members 57 on the bodies 17, 18. The table 90, on which the stripped leaves fall, is provided with slats secured to shafts 92 which can be turned to allow the leaves to fall into a receptacle beneath. The shafts 92 are connected by levers 93 to a bar 94 having an offset end engaged by a sliding bar 95 connected bv a bell-crank lever to a sliding bar, the upturned end of which is engaged by the body 17 in its rearmost position. The stems may be severed by a swinging knife 125, Fig. 16, or a pair of shears, disposed transversely of the line of movement of the grippers and arranged to come behind the stripper when the latter is in its rearmost position. the knife 125 is secured to a bar 126 connected by bell-crank levers and links 128 - - 131 to a lever 132. the end of which projects into the path of a lever 133 pivoted to a bracket 134 upon a bar 135 extending between the vertical limbs of the body 18. On the forward movement of the body 18, the lever 133 rides over the lever 132, but on the return movement it causes the knife 125 to move up over the rear face of the stripping member 16. In modifications, the gripping device may comprise roughened or rubber-covered rollers, which may be rotated in addition to or instead of their travel to and from the belt. The leaves may be fed to the belt 41 by a box 103, Fig. 9, within which are rotating helices 111. the leaves being placed on an inclined plate 121 and blown into the box 103 through a slot 120 by compressed air, steam, or hot air from a pipe 123. According to the Provisional Specification, when the stems have been drawn through the stripper to the desired extent, a rotary brush engages the leaves upon the table and sweeps away those portions of leaves which, owing to the stalk being broken, are not engaged by the gripper.