Patent GB-249575-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for combing and feeding tobacco for making cigarettes
IPC: A24C5/39
Filed: 1924-10-24
Abstract: 249,575. Ruau, F. F., and Molins. Machine Co., Ltd. Oct. 24, 1924. Cigarette-making machines.-In a feeding mechanism in which tobacco, placed in a trough 4, Fig. 3, is fed by a plain or carded roller 6 to a carded roller 7 from which superfluous tobacco is brushed by a second carded roller 8, the tobacco remaining on the roller 7 is passed beneath a spring-pressed comb 10, is picked from the lower edge thereof by a picker roller 11, and is distributed evenly over the upper surface of a carded roller 12 rotating at a speed preferably less than that of the roller 7. The tobacco thus distributed is pressed on the roller 12 by a plain roller 13, passes beneath a comb 14, and is showered by a picker roller 15 into the forming trough 17 through a funnel 16. A scraper 9 prevents the passage of tobacco between the rollers 6 and 7. The tobacco clinging to the roller 8 is removed by a pair of leather flaps 19 revolving on a spindle 18. The driving mechanism shown in Fig. 1 comprises a pulley 20, driven from the main source of power by a belt 21 and driving, through a ratchet clutch 22, a pinion 26 which, in turn, drives the roller 7 through a train of gearing 27 - - 32 and 32<a>. The pinions 28, 29 are replaceable by others to vary the speed of the feeding mechanism. The picker rollers 11, 15 are driven by a belt 37 passing over pulleys 38, 39, 40, and a pulley 36 -connected to the pulley 20. The spindle 18 is driven by a belt 43 from the pulley 38. The pinion 32 carries a sprocket wheel 33 connected by a chain 34 to a sprocket wheel 35 which rotates the roller 13. The rollers 11, 13, 15 are adjustably mounted on levers such as 46 pivoted at 46a and secured by screws 47 engaging quadrant slots 45. The rollers 6, 8 are driven respectively by a chain and sprocket gearing from the spindle of the roller 12 and by ratchet- and- - pawl mechanism actuated by a connecting-rod connected to a crank on the shaft 53 of the pinions 29, 30. This gearing is on the reverse side of the hopper to that shown. The passage of tobacco through the funnel 16 is assisted by periodic blows imparted to the funnel by one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is displaced periodically against the action of a spring by engagement with pins on the face of a sprocket wheel on the spindle of the roller 12. The back plate 5 of the hopper 4 is pivoted about a spindle 61 and is advanced uniformly, by rotation about this pivot, to maintain a constant level of tobacco in the hopper. This movement is effected by a pivoted quadrant having a toothed edge engaged by a pawl, which is pivoted to a lever, rocked by a link connected to a crank on the spindle of the roller 7, a locking pawl also being .provided. The quadrant may be pivoted directly on the spindle 61, or on a separate spindle carrying an arm bearing against the back plate 5. In addition to its advancing movement the plate 5 may be constantly oscillated by a bar connected to a crank and engaging the top of the plate 5 by means of a toothed rack. Specification 249,794 is referred to.