Patent GB-712373-A (GB)
Title: Cigar wrapping machines
Inventor: GILES WILLIAM JOSEPH
IPC: A24C1/30
Filed: 1952-06-25
Abstract: 712,373. Cigar-making machines. TOBACCO MACHINE SUPPLY CO., Inc. June 25, 1952, No. 15958/52. Class 130 In a cigar wrapping machine including a wrapper-supporting die E, Fig. 1, a cigar rolling mechanism incorporating a carriage 2, horizontally reciprocable over the die and a bunch carrier C, Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, including a frame 26, Fig. 4, having a vertical post 66 projecting from the top thereof, a bearing 67 on the carriage in which the post is rotatable about a vertical axis, means on the carrier for rotating a bunch, and means for reciprocating the carriage 2 and revolving the carrier about the vertical axis, the post 66 being tubular and the bunch rotating means including a plurality of parallel rollers 29, 30 and shafts therefor, a countershaft 46 on the frame 26, geared driving connections between the countershaft and the roller shafts and a vertical jack shaft 48 journalled in the post 66, there is provided a geared connection 47 between shafts 46 and 48, as well as means for driving the jack shaft 48. Bunch feeding.-The bunches 8, Fig. 1, may be inserted manually or mechanically into the carrier C, Fig. 4; in the latter case a conveyer D is provided from the moulds 5 on which the bunches are lifted into the carrier by ejectors 7 actuated from an electric motor 21, Fig. 2, through chain gearing 22, shaft 23, gearing 24, cam shaft 20, cam roller 18, lever 16, shaft 17, adjustable link 14, levers 12 and rods 10, Fig. 4. Bunch gripping and rotating mechanism. -The carrier C, Figs. 4 and 5, includes the fluted roller 29 on a shaft 28 'which cooperates with two similar rollers on shafts 31 for holding and rotating the bunch; shafts 31 are rockable so that rollers 30 may be moved to permit the insertion or discharge of a bunch. The rollers 30 are normally held in the gripping position by springs 34 and are opened, by an actuator 35 with spaced arms 37, from the link 14, Fig. 2. Rotation of the rollers and hence the bunch is effected from shaft 20 through pinions 40-45, Fig. 4, countershaft 46, bevel gearing 47, shafts 48 and 50, rack 54 and pinion 53, the rack being reciprocated by a link 56, Fig. 2, and cam lever 57 from a cam on shaft 20. Twin ratchet and pawl mechanism is provided so that gear 45 and hence shaft 28 will only rotate when shaft 46 is turning in one direction. Bunch carrier operating mechanism.- 'The carrier C, Fig. 4, is mounted for rotation on the carriage 2 slidable on rails 1. the carriage being moved through a link 76, Fig. 2, connected to a cam lever 77 journalled on shaft 17; as the carriage is moved from its loading position toward the wrapper die E a roller 80, Fig. 1, on a rack 70 enters a groove on the underside of an actuating slide 82 that is reciprocable in a frame 83, Fig. 2. The corresponding movement of the rack 70 rotates the carrier frame 26, Fig. 4, through a gear 69 loaded by a spring 73, the gear 69 being secured to the post 66 which is journalled in the bearings 67 on bracket 68 forming part of the carriage 2. Rotation of the frame 26 occurs at a point above the head end 4. Fig. 1, of a wrapper G in the die E, whereupon the slide 82 is moved further along to swing the frame back to its original position before the carriage begins its return' movement to the loading position. The slide 82 is driven from the shaft 17, Fig. 1. by a link 84, cam lever 85, roller 86 and cam 87. Wrapper die.-The die E, Fig. 1, comprises a base 90, Fig. 19, which is pivoted to the main frame, a top piece 92 closed by a plate 93, and a vertically movable die lift 94 having a perforted die plate 95 that supports the wrapper G, Fig. 1; the plate 95, Fig. 19, is actuated through a rod 96, plate 98; roller 99, lever 100, shaft 101, Fig. 2, roller 102 and cam 103 and the swinging end of the die is guided by a pin 104, Fig. 19. A knife 107 is provided which co-operates with a pressing mechanism for cutting a wrapper from a tobacco leaf and for holding the latter on the die during such operation. Plate 93 is perforated and top piece 92 and lift 94 have air passages which are connected to a suction conduit H with a cam and lever operated butterfly valve 109, Fig. 2, therein. Within the die lift is. a chamber 112, Fig. 19, into which, near the end of the wrapping operation, a blast of air is directed from a pipe 113 through the top plate 95 to force the flag end of the wrapper out of contact therewith. The pipe 113 is housed for a part of its length in the conduit H and is connected to piston pump 114, Fig. 1, the pump is operated from a cam 117 driven by an electric motor 119, the latter being driven in synchronizm with motor 21. The die is pivoted in one direction by the stub shaft 101, Fig. 2, acting through a cam and roller, cam lever 168, link 167 and lever 163; a spring 171 swings the die in the other direction, which movement is limited by engagement of pin 104, Fig. 19, with the end of its slot 105. Wrapper pressing mechanism.-An arm 121, Fig. 31, pivoted on the main frame incorporates a pair of spring-loaded rollers 123 rockably supported on shafts 124 which co-operate with the knife to cut a wrapper from a leaf; to ensure proper cutting of the flag a V-shaped spring-urged roller 127 on a shaft 128 is used. Wiper pads may be provided for cleaning the rollers. The wrapper is prevented from slipping off the 'die plates by a tension plate 172, Fig. 11, pivoted on bracket arms 174 secured on one of the shafts 33, the plate being spring- urged on to the wrapper; movement of the plate is limited by a stop. The plate embodies a flange 177. Tucking needle.-A tucking needle 135, Fig. 11, which is carried by a rod 136 that is reciprocable and rotatable in a pivoted block 137, Fig. 4, on the frame 26 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by a detent 138, Fig. 11. When the carrier has been moved to its position over the wrapper die the needle 135 is moved into a groove 134 in the die plate and the detent 138 is actuated to release a lever 142 whereby the needle is swung upwardly by a spring 147 and lifts the tuck end of the wrapper. This operation is effected through a crank lever 151, connected by a wire 152 to the rod 136, and actuated by a lever 155, Fig. 2, link 157, a crank 158 pivoted on shaft 17 and having a roller 159 co-operating with a cam. The lever 151 has a lost-motion connection with a link 162, Fig. 11, which is coupled to detent 138 so that as lever 151 is swung longitudinally to move the needle the detent 138 will release lever 142. Since the needle is pressed against the bunch it rotates therewith in the carrier; the needle is withdrawn by a surface 155a, Fig. 1, engaging lever 151. Flag end wrapping mechanism.-The flag is wrapped by a conical heading roller 178, Fig. 2, on a lever 179 which is pivoted on the carrier frame and spring-loaded into engagement with the bunch; an arm 182 on lever 179 limits the lever movement by abutting a stop 183. The arm 182 underlies another arm 184 which is connected to an actuator 186, Fig. 4, that co-operates with a cam on the main frame to move the roller away -from the cigar as the carrier reaches the unloading position, in which latter position the carrier is held by a dog 189 engaging a stud. 192 in the arm 184. The dog 189 is moved out of engagement with the stud by a trip lever on the main frame.. Operation.-A tobacco leaf which is manually placed on the die plate 95 and held thereon by suction is cut to form a wrapper by manually swinging the rollers 123, 127 over the knife 107, the surplus leaf being manually stripped off the die; paste is then manually or automatically applied to the wrapper head. The machine is started, for example by a clutch, not shown, on the camshaft 20, whereupon the bunches are moved by the conveyer to the loading position and the levers 12 and arms 37 are operated to elevate a bunch and simultaneously open the rollers 29 and 30 to receive the bunch, after which the levers and arms are retracted. The carriage 2 moves forwardly under the influence of lever 77 and as it approaches a position above the die the roller 80 coacts with the slide 82 to rotate the carrier; by this time the die plate will have been elevated and the tucking needle aligned with groove 134. Lever 155 now actuates bell crank 151 and successively slides the needle into the groove and releases lever 142 to swing the needle to lift the leaf into contact with the bunch. Rack 54 is operated to rotate the bunch through the fluted rollers and the rearward movement of the carriage is started; simultaneously slide 82 is retracted to return the carrier to its initial position. During these movements the tuck end of the wrapper is wound on and the tucking needle withdrawn by surface 155a. Whilst the rearward movement of the carriage is continued the bunch is rotated by rack 54 at such a speed as to obtain the desired leaf stretch. As the head end of the cigar approaches the head end of the wrapper, the die is swung by lever 163 to orientate the flag relatively to the bunch and compensate for the irregularly curved shape of the flag; at. the same time the latter is drawn upwardly into contact with the flange 177 to which the leaf slidingly' adheres due to the paste thereon. Roller 178 is then released by the trip lever and the flag is guided to and ironed on the bunch head and the carriage continues to the unloading station, whereupon roller 178 is withdrawn and rollers 30 opened so that the cigar falls on to grid plates 199, Fig. 1, just ahead of the leading mould on the conveyer where the cigar may be gripped to facilitate smoothing of the head end and cutting of the tuck end. The finished cigar falls from the guide plates on to another conveyer 200 into a receptacle.