IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE, AFTER TREATMENT AND EXPOSITION FOR SALE OF TOBACCO, AND THE PREPARATION OF A COMPOSITION FOR FUMIGATING PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THERFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Prior, Accountant, of 89, Amiens Street, in the
City of Dublin; for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
MANUFACTURE, AFTER TREATMENT AND EXPOSITION FOR SALE OF TOBACCO,
AND THE PREPARATION OF A COMPOSITION FOR FUMIGATING PURPOSES, AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THERFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Prior at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1880.
ALEXANDER PRIOR, Accountant, of 89, Amiens Street, in the City of Dublin.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE AFTER TREATMENT AND
EXPOSITION FOR SALE OF TOBACCO, AND THE PREPARATION OF A COMPOSITION FOR
FUMIGATING PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
The objects of this Invention arc,-
(u.) Better arrangements for pressing, stoving, and packing.
(6.) The abolition of the use of ropes, and of pegs and ties.
(c.) The obviation of wasteful ends.
(d.) Retaining the pressure when once it has been imparted to the tobacco
during the manufacture, transit, storing, and retail sale.
(e) Arrangements for exposing for sale and for cutting out retail, by which
means the tobacco is more effectually advertised.
(f) The manufacture out of the substitute used instead of ropes of a composition
to be used for fumigating nurseries and greenhouses and like purposes, such
composition being during the manufacture of the tobacco impregnated with
nicotinian juice and essence.
The class of tobacco to which this Invention more particularly relates is that
known as twist, roll, coil, or target.
Hitherto no effective substitute has been found for ropes used to encircle roll and
like tobacco during the manufacture, and prevent lateral expansion when under
pressure, and rolls, except when in the hydraulic or screw press, have not been
under pressure without the use of an expensive cage to retain the pressure. Pegs
and ties have been used to prevent the coils of twist in the roll falling apart in
transit or store after manufacture.

page_text: Not being under pressure after leaving the manufacturers' hands, roll tobacco
generally deteriorates in quality and loses by evaporation.
The used up ropes in the manufacture are of little or no value or worth.
Roll tobacco has been pressed in plain cylinders with followers, such cylinders
being used as a substitute for ropes; but in this method the twist along the
periphery of the roll has been found abraided and over lapped, owing to rubbing
and chafing along the cylinder as the tobacco sunk under pressure.
The process and machinery which constitute this my Invention consist as
follows:-
(a.) I use a rod or bar with two external wooden or metal discs held to the bar
by a suitable nut head and nut or like contrivance. On and around this rod I
wind the twist; or having previously formed a roll by aid of a rolling machine or
otherwise (one-of-the-discs_being_removed), I place the roll on the rod. Several
rolls may be so formed or placed on one rod or bar. Such rolls are separated from
each other by metal discs divided into two or more parts so as to allow of their
being withdrawn without disturbing the central rod. These divided discs act as
heat conductors in the stoving process hereafter referred to.
(b.) Encircling the periphery of the tobacco, being the rolls, I place a pad or
cushion composed of and filled up with any fibrous or granulated substance or
pulp or plastic matter capable of absorbing the nicotinian juices and essences
expressed from the tobacco, and of yielding under pressure to the same extent as
the tobacco does, and of combustion afterwards. A material such as dried
compressed sawdust, or chaff, cotton fibre, or cotton waste, is suitable for use. A
cushion of such material is placed round the roll or rolls of tobacco described under
head a, and the roll or rolls is then placed in a cylinder of the usual type, or is
encircled by rings, or chains, or by a novel typo of cylinder, boing a cylinder
composed of two or more sets of bars, each set being bound by a hoop and arranged
vertically around the roll, the bars of one set advancing into the spaces between
those of the other set with a sort of telescopic motion as pressure is applied, and
the whole forming when extended a vertically slotted cylinder, such slots being
filled by the advancing bars when under compression.
As before stated under head a, on tho top and bottom of the roll, fixed to and
fitting on the central rod, I place undivided wooden or metal discs, the disc below
being held by a head if a metal rod is used, or by a peg if of wood, and the
disc above sinking down after the tobacco as pressure is applied, and being secured
to the central rod after pressure by a nut, cotter, or peg. The tobacco being so
secured, it is stoved by placing the roll in a framework, the lower portion of which
is a steam jacketted semi cylinder, and the upper portion carries a series of gas jets
which play upon the metal discs which separate the rolls from each other. The
edges of such discs are swelled or flared out to better conduct the heat. The
heating may be further facilitated by flat spikes or strips of metal, such as copper,
placed in the sides or ends of the roll, and withdrawn afterwards. A handle may
be fitted to the central rod, so that the roll may be turned occasionally so as to
subject different portions in succession to steam and gas heat. Or the tobacco may
be stoved by placing the cylinder containing the tobacco in a hot chamber. The
pressure may be increased or released by placing the tobacco in a hydraulic press
and adjusting the nut or equivalent securing means on the central rod as required.
When the stoving is completed the divided discs which separate the rolls aro
withdrawn and further pressure is applied, so as to bring the rolls close together.
After a suitable interval the cylinders are finally removed, as also the absorbent
packing pads and paper if it has been used. The rolls of tobacco are now found to be
pressed firmly together, held by the end discs and the central rod, and when covered
with canvas the rolls will bear carriago to any distance and storage for a long timo
without detioration.
(c.) The ends of twist tobacco, especially in coil or target tobacco, are unsalcable
from their irregular form. To obviate their loss or waste I substitute a small
portion of an elastic material, such as corkwood, for the end of the tobacco. This I

page_text: pin to the roll. The result is that after pressure the end proper of the tobacco is
left of a regular forin and saleable. After the manufacture the corkwood is
reinoved.
(d.) This portion of my Invention is described under hend (b).
(e.) The package of tobacco as received by the retailer from the manufacturer,
under retained pressure, is placed in a vertical position in a frame so as to revolve
upon the central rod as an axis while the twist is being unrolled and cut, which
Jatter operation is performed by a knifo on a platform in connection with the
frame, carried and adjusted by a screw.
(f) The granular or fibrous absorbent and combustible material used as the
packing and substitute for rope is found after the operation of pressing to be
strongly charged with tobacco juices and essences, and it is thus a new article of
manufacture, which can be used as produced for fumigating purposes, or it can be
pressed between thin layers of paper, or otherwise prepared for the uso intended.

page_text: ALEXANDER PRIOR, Accountant, of 89, Amiens Street, in the City of Dublin.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE AFTER TREATMENT AND
EXPOSITION FOR SALE OF TOBACCO, AND THE PREPARATION OF A COMPOSITION FOR
FUMIGATING PURPOSES, AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
-The-objects of this Invention are,―
(a). Better arrangements for pressing, stoving-and-packing..
(b). The abolition of the use of ropes, and of pegs and ties.
(c.) The obviation of wasteful ends.
"
(d). Retaining the pressure when once it has been imparted to the tobacco
during the manufacture, transit, storing, and retail sale, and the reduction of the
area of tobacco surface exposed to evaporation.
(e). Arrangements for exposing for sale and for cutting out retail, by which
means the tobacco is more effectually advertised.
(f). The manufacture out of the substitute used, instead of ropes, of a com-
position to be used for fumigating nurseries and greenhouses and like purposes,
such composition being during the manufacture of the tobacco impregnated with
-nicotinian-juice and essence.
The class of tobacco to which this Tavention more particularly relates is that
known as twist, roll, coil, or target.
Hitherto no effective substitute has been found for ropes used to encircle roll
tobacco during the manufacture, and prevent lateral expansion when under
pressure, and rolls or coils, except when in the hydraulic or screw presses, have not
been maintained under compression, except by the aid of an expensive frame or
cage to retain the pressure. Pegs and ties have been used to prevent the folds of
twist in roll or target falling apart during or after manufacture.
Not being under pressure after leaving the manufacturers' hands, and having its
surface exposed to atmospheric changes, the tobacco generally deteriorates in
quality, loses by evaporation, and becomes mouldy.
The ropes when used up are of little value or worth.
Roll tobacco has been pressed in plain cylinders with followers, such cylinder
being used as a substitute for ropes; but in this method the twist along the
periphery of the roll has been found abraided and overlapped, owing to rubbing
and chaffing along the cylinder as the tobacco sunk under pressure.
During the stoving all gaseous and steamy matter passes away and the tobacco
essences contained in this have not been utilized.
The process and machinery which constitute this my Invention consist as
follows:-
(a). I use a rod or bar with two external wooden or metal discs held to the
bar by a suitable nut head and nut or like contrivance. On and around this rod
I wind the twist; or having previously formed a roll by aid of a rolling machine
or otherwise (one of the discs being removed), I place the roll on the rod. Several
rolls may be so formed or placed on one rod or bar. Such rolls are separated from
each other and from the external discs if wooden by metallic discs, generally
wrought, or sheet iron divided into two or more parts, so as to allow of their being
withdrawn without disturbing the central rod. These divided dises act as heat
conductors in the stoving process hereafter referred to.
(b). Encircling the tobacco I place a pad or cushion composed of any fibrous or
granulated substance or pulp or plastic matter capable of absorbing the nicotinian
juices and essences expressed from the tobacco, and of yielding under pressure to
the same extent as the tobacco does, and of combustion afterwards, such cushion or

page_text: wad being covered with or enclosed in calico or paper. A material such a dried
coin pressed saw dust, or chaff, cotton fibre, or cotton waste, is suitable for use.
A cushion of such material is placed round the roll or rolls of tobacco described
under head a, and the roll or rolls is then placed in a cylinder of the usual type, or
encircled by rings or chains, or by a novel type of cylinder, being a cylinder
composed of two or more sets of bars, each set being bound by a hoop and
arranged vertically around the roll, the bars of one set advancing into the spaces
between those of the other set with a sort of telescopic motion as pressure is
applied, and the whole forming when extended a vertically slotted cylinder, such
slots being filled by the advancing bars when under compression.
As before stated under head a, on the top and bottom of the roll, fixed to and
fitting on the central rod, I place undivided wooden or metallic discs, the disc
below being held by a head if a metalic rod is used, or by a peg if of wood, and
the disc above sinking down after the tobacco as pressure is applied, and being
secured to the central rod before removal from the press, by a nut, cotter, or peg.
The tobacco being so secured, it is placed in a framework, the lower portion of
which is a steam jacketted semi cylinder, and the upper portion carries a series of
gas jets which play upon the projecting edges of the metallic discs which separate
the rolls from each other. The edges of such discs are swelled or flared out to
better conduct the heat. The heating may be further facilitated by flat strips or
spikes of metal, such as copper, placed in the sides or ends of the rolls, and after-
wards withdrawn. A handle may be fitted to the central rod, so that the roll may
be turned occasionally, so as to subject different portions in succession to steam and
gas heat. Or the tobacco may be stoved by placing the cylinder containing the
tobacco in a hot chamber. Pressure may be increased or released by placing the
tobacco in a hydraulic press, and adjusting the nut, or equivalent securing means,
on the central rod as required. When the stoving is completed, the divided discs
which separate the rolls are withdrawn and further pressure is applied, so as to
bring the rolls close together. After a suitable interval the cylinder or cylinders
are finally removed, also the absorbent packing pads and paper if it has been used.
The rolls of tobacco are now found to be pressed firmly together, held by the end
discs and the central rod, and when covered with canvas they form a package of
tobacco that will bear carriage to any distance and storage for a long time without
deterioration.
(c.) The end of the twist in that portion finishing the roll or coil (especially in
the latter) is unsalcable, or rendered less valuable from its irregular form. To
obviate this loss or waste I substitute a small portion of an elastic material, such
as cork wood for the end of the tobacco. This I pin to the roll or coil. After the
manufacture the cork wood is removed, and the tobacco is found to be regularly
ended as if cut off at the point.
(d.) This portion of my Invention is described under head b.
(c.) The package of tobacco as received by the retailer from the manufacturer
under retained pressure is placed in a vertical position in a frame, so as to revolve
upon the central rod as an axis, while the twist is being unrolled and cut, which
latter operation is performed by a knife on a platform in connection with the
frame carried and adjusted by a screw.
(f) The granular or fibrous absorbent and combustible material used as the
packing, and substitute for rope is found after the operation of pressing and stoving
to be strongly charged with tobacco juices and essences, and it is thus a new
article of manufacture, which I call "nicotinian fumigating composition," and can
bo used as produced for fumigating purposes or it can be pressed in thin cakes
between sheets of paper, or otherwise prepared for the use intended.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of my Invention, I will
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into
practical effect, and for that purpose I have hereunto attached three Sheets of
Drawings illustrative of my Invention, and such Drawings are marked with letters
and Figures of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation,

page_text: Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a complete separate roll with pad arrangement
for getting out the end folds of the twist from under the heavy retained pressure
without tearing the tobacco.
Figure 9 is an end view of fastening shown at Figure 8.
1
Figure 10 is a plan illustrative of my Invention for exposing for sale and cutting
out tobacco in retail, the top undivided disc being removed.
Figure 11 is an elevation of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a sectional elevation in further illustration of stoving apparatus, 2
according to iny Invention.
Figure 13 is an end sectional elevation of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a plan of rings held by a wooden cross, and is an end elevation of
part of Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a part plan showing the small tool to assist in getting the folds of 2
twist out, and away from the disc without tearing..
Figure 16 is a plan of a coil of target, or coil tobacco, showing how the wasteful
ends are done away with.
Figure 17 is a view of cork or plastic pad used in my Invention.
Figure 18 is a view of calico bag filled with sawdust suitable for adjusting itself a
under pressure to fill up spaces.
(a.) Reference to Figures 1, 1ª, and 1. A is a rod or bar with two external
wooden or metal discs B, B', held to the bar by suitable nuts and washers C, C¹;
on or round the rod A. I place or roll the tobacco D. In the Drawings three rolls
are shown on the rod A. According to my Invention these rolls are separated
from each other, and in some cases from the discs B by the metal discs E, which are
divided laterally or radially into two or more parts, so as to permit of their being
withdrawn from the rolls D without disturbing the central rod A. The rolls are
formed on the rod A in this manner. The sections of the discs E are attached to
one another by a clamp or binder E', in the manner shown at Figures 14 and 1³.
The sections of the disc E being countersunk on their edges to receive the clamp,
as shown. By this or a similar mechanical contrivance the discs E are held
attached, and in the same plane, as if they were in one piece instead of sectional,
and they are prevented from turning round on the bar A by flattening the bar A
longitudinally, the central hole of the discs E being made to correspond. The bar A
with the discs E, E, so arranged and carrying the end discs B, B1, is mounted on
bearers or journals, and the twist tobacco is wound on simultaneously, or separately
forming the three rolls shown. In winding on the twist a handle is attached
to the end of the bar A, as shown at Figure 2. According to another method I
form the rolls by hand, or by a rolling machine, and afterwards the discs being removed
for the purpose I place them on the bar A, the aperture left by the withdrawing
the spindle after rolling allowing for the entrance of the bar A. In forming the roll
no pegs or ties are used, but sometimes thin iron skewers may be necessary to hold
the roll together in its folds. When placed on the rod A these if used are with-
drawn. The rolls so formed may have placed near their centres and amongst the
folds a piece of parchment, thin wood, or tin plate bearing characters expressive of
size, quality, or other particulars, as may be desired, the object of which is hereafter

page_text: explained under head (6). The rolls are thus placed on the rod A, and separated
from each other and from the discs B, B', by the metallic divided discs E, which
discs E being made in sections can be afterwards withdrawn from the rolls D
without disturbing the central rod A. The discs E act as heat conductors in the
stoving process. F is an ordinary pressing cylinder, and H is a hydraulic press, the
headstock of which is provided with an aperture through which the central rod A
projects, which aperture gives access to the rod A. for the purpose of securing the
pressure. This is done by tightening a nut or inserting a cotter before the packago
is removed from the press. Pressure may be thus applied to succossive packages ag
quickly as they can bo placed in the press, the pumps worked, and the securing nut
or pin adjusted; thus one press with this arrangement does the work of many
under the old arrangement. The improvements under this part of my Invention
are hereafter under other heads more fully and further explained and set out.
(b.) Before the pressing operation already described 1 place, encircling the peri-
phery of the tobacco D, a pad or cushion J composed of any fibrous or granulated
absorbent substance capable of yielding under pressure to the same extent as the
tobacco, and of absorbing the nicotinian juices and gases, and of combustion with
minimum heat afterwards. The rolls D so encompassed by this pad J are further
encircled outside the pad by the cylinder F (see Figure 1), or by rings or chains, or
a novel type of cylinder F, Figure 2, hereafter referred to. When this latter type
of cylinder is used the pad J is bound by a strong girth of canvas or woollen cloth.
After pressure in the manner described the stoving is effected by placing the
package under compression in a framework K, Figures 2 and 3, the lower portion
of which is a steam jacketted semi cylinder, and, the upper portion carries a serios
of gas jets L which play upon the metal discs E, the edges of which are flared out
at c. To better conduct the heat the heating may be further facilitated by tho
insertion of the flat spikes & into the tobacco. M is a handle for occasionally
turning the tobacco so that steam and gas heat may act alternately upon it. When
stoving is completed the divided discs E are drawn out, and pressure is again
applied and secured in the manner already described. The pressing operasion is
repeated from time to time and each time secured, and when fully pressed for the
requirements of the manufacture the cylinder F and the pad J are removed, and
the rolls are found to be retained in firm compression between the discs B, B',
connected by the rod A, and when covered with canvas will bear carriage to any
distance and storage for a long time without deterioration, the surface exposed to
the atmosphere being greatly reduced.
Reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7. The pressing cylinder may be composed, as illus-
trated, of two or more sets of bars, each set being bound by a hoop and arranged
vertically round the roll, in manner as shown at Figure 2, the bars of one set advancing
into the spaces between the bars of the other set with a sort of telescopic notion as
pressure is applied, and the whole forming when extended a vertically slotted
cylinder, such slots being filled in by the advancing bars when under compression.
Reference to Figures 8 and 9. In these Figures a complete separate roll in section
is shown under heavy retained pressure. g, g, is a pad of granulated or other
suitable substance capable of easy removal with a probe or spike, which is allowed
to remain after the divided discs are withdrawn, and permits the twist, after removal
in parts of the pads g, to be got out without tearing.
(c.) To obviate loss from the unattractive, unsaleable, and wasteful form of the
ends of the twist tobacco, especially coil tobacco, a sinall wedge shaped finger or
pad S, Figure 17, is placed at the end of the twist completing the circle of the roll
or coil (see Figure 16). This finger pad S may be of such substance as the band
pad round the roll, already described, or it may be of cork wood. When removed
the tobacco is found to be of regular and sharp termination. When the thick
centre bar A is used it is guttered vertically, as shown at T, Figure 16, for the
commencements of coiled tobacco, with a similar result as the terminal pad.
(d) already described under head (b). For the purpose of removing or easing

page_text: the pressure when required the thin pads g before referred to (see Figure 8 and 12)
inay be used. These are formed of seeds, peat, or a short grained substance that
will stick. pretty solid under pressure, yet easily yield to a spike or probe, and can
be removed as required to perinit of the folds of twist being unwound.
(c.) References to Figures 10 and 11. The package of tobacco D is placed in a
vertical position in the frame N, as shown in plan at Figure 10 and elevation at
Figure 11. The package revolves on the centre rod A as an axis, and a length as
required is unrolled from the bulk D and cut off in suitable pieces by the knife P
upon the adjustable platform R. Near the centre of the roll and embedded
between the folds of the twist, being previously placed there in the roll in the
operation described under head (a) is a piece of parchment, thin wood, or tin plate
bearing in perforated or sunken characters the name or makes of the size and
quality of the roll and the name-of-the-manufacturers. On reaching this point in
the unrolling operation the retailer is reminded of ordering a similar roll from
same manufacturers.
(f) For the substance of the band pad J and of other pad or pads used in the
manufacture, I select a material that will be a good base for a fumigating com-
position, keeping in view that it should absorb the juice and gasses hitherto wasted
and afterwards burn with as least possible heat. The pad I sometimes use several
times in the manufacture, and when sufficiently charged with tobacco essences I
send it out for fumigating purposes. I also use this substance, but especially
that employed at the end of rolls as an anti moth composition for uso in linen
rooms, drawers, and like places.
Reference to Figures 12, 13, 14. is a star shaped casting designed to retain in
their place the seini rings, which when together form a plate and can be removed
in halves as it becomes necessary from time to time to unwind the tobacco for
sale, or the semi rings i may be retained in their place by a cross k, see Figure 14.
In this case complete instead of semi rings may be used, the pieces of the cross
being sawn off as it becomes necessary to remove each ring. These rings i or the
end pad y (Figs. 8 and 12) are only used in the case of heavy retained pressure to
obviate the difficulty of getting off the tobacco in such case.
Reference to Figure 15. Z is a raiser or wedge used to lever out the tobacco, as
shown.
In some cases in stoving and manufacturing the tobacco I uso complete enamelled
iron discs to retain the tobacco and send the same out to retailers to be returned
when the tobacco is sold.
Having now fully described the nature, object, and purposes of my Invention
and shown how the same may be carried out into practical operation, what I
claim as my Invention and secured to be by the hercinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Under part (a) I claim―
First. Pressing, stoving, and packing twist or like tobacco on a central rod
(without the necessity of withdrawing the rod during or after the operation)
between two discs such as B, B1, and using the moveable divided discs such as E
and spikes such as in the pressing and stoving, the finished tobacco being kept
on the central rod A between the discs B, B', as herein described, and in manner
such as illustrated at Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Providing a central aperture in the headstock of a hydraulic press to
admit the end of the rod A and permit it being secured in the manner described
and illustrated at Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. Stoving twist or like tobacco by the alternate action of steam and gas
heat on the edges of discs separating or enclosing the rolls of tobacco as herein
described and illustrated at Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Under part (b) I claim,—
First. Encircling the periphery of the rolls or coils of tobacco with a pad or
cushion of fibrous or granulated substance for the combined purposes of preserving
the outer portion of the tobacco from overlapping and chafing by contact with the

page_text: Drawings.
Under part I claim,—
As a new article of manufacture a fumigating composition being a granular or
fibrous absorbent which has been impregnated with nicontinian juice during the
process of manufacturing twist or like tobacco.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Prior, havo hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundrod and eighty.
ALEXANDER (L.S.) PRIOR.