IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTUre of 'BUNCHES' OR 'FILLERS' FOR CIGARS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF TOBACCO THEREFOR.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTUre of
'BUNCHES' OR 'FILLERS' FOR CIGARS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF TOBACCO
THEREFOR. A communication from abroad by Adolph Pearl, of
Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of America.
"
-
Sealed the 21st February 1871, and dated the 15th September 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th September 1870.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture
OF 'BUNCHES' OR 'FILLERS' FOR CIGARS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF TOBACCO
THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention consists in a machine in which the

page_text: The object of this part of the Invention is to provide for the more
expeditious and uniform distribution of the moisture throughout the
leaves and to relieve them of any excessive moisture; and to this end
it consists in a machine the principal clement of which is an apron of
unsized paper or other suitable absorbent material, which is unrolled
and rolled from one on to another of two rollers, and caused to roll up
the leaves within it as they are presented to it on a suitable feed board,
after having been moistened by sprinkling or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th March 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'BUNCHES' OR 'FILLERS' FOR
CIGARS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF TOBACCO THEREFOR," being a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Adolph Pearl, of Brooklyn, in the State
of New York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
"
The first part of this Invention consists in a machine in which the
"bunches" or "fillers of cigars are pressed into shape between or
within metal dies which are the counterpart of the form of the cigar
to be produced, and so constructed with cutting edges, or so furnished
with cutters, that by the act of closing the dies the cutting edges or
cutters are caused by a shears-like action to trim off from the sides of a
"bunch" all the superfluous tobacco which has not been inclosed_within
-the dies, leaving the bunch so perfectly shaped that without any further
manipulation or other treatment, but that of drying in some degree, it
is ready to receive the wrapper which when applied produces a more
perfectly shaped cigar than is made with a bunch produced or shaped
by the usual means. The dies are constructed with cutting edges
whereby they are caused to operate together, and one portion of the
die is constructed with a device for discharging the bunch after it has
been formed.
The second part of the Invention relates to drying or partly drying
and at the same time retaining the shape of the "bunches" produced,
either by the machine which constitutes the first part of the Invention
or by any other means. It consists in the employment for this purpose
of a mould made of or lined with porous material and of an internal
configuration which is the counterpart of the form of the cigar to be
produced and of slightly conical shape externally. The mould is divided
longitudinally into two or more parts or sections to provide for the
introduction and removal of the bunch, and is permanently open at one
of its ends to facilitate the drying of the bunch by evaporation. A
number of these moulds are used in combination with a table or rack,
having in it numerous holes of suitable size for the insertion of the
closed moulds thereinto and for retaining the moulds in a closed
condition during the drying operation.

page_text: "
The third part of the Invention relates to the preparation of leaf
tobacco for the "bunches of cigars or for the "binders" of such
bunches, or for the wrappers. The leaves used in what is known as a
"book filler" and those used for the "bunches" made with what are
known as "strip fillers," and “ scrap fillers," are previously to being
used, moistened with water. This is generally done by sprinkling them
and placing them one upon another in a pile, to allow the moisture to
be as uniformly absorbed as possible throughout all parts of every leaf,
but there is much difficulty in obtaining the proper degree of moisture
and in getting it uniform.
The object of this part of the Invention is to provide for the more
expeditious and uniform distribution of the moisture throughout the
leaves, and to relieve them of any excessive moisture, and to this end
it consists in a machine, the principal element of which is an apron of
unsized paper or other suitable absorbent material which is unrolled.
and rolled from one on to another of two rollers, and caused to roll up
the leaves within it as they are presented to it on a suitable feed board,
after having been moistened by sprinkling or otherwise.
The first part of the Invention is illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3,
of the accompanying Drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the
machine for shaping and trimming the bunches; Fig. 2 is a transverse
vertical section of the same in the planes indicated by the line a, a, in
Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the same parallel with
Fig. 1.
A is a bed block forming the base portion of the machine and
connected with side frames B, B. This bed block is made of cast iron
or other suitable material and has its upper surface inclining downwardly
in a rear direction with a longitudinal cavity a in its top, within which
is fitted a lower die C, made up of the cutters b, b, and a discharging
block c that forms the bottom of the die and is free to be worked
upwards for the purpose of discharging the "bunch " " or "filler" after
it has been pressed and trimmed by the machine, but such construction
may be changed and the die otherwise be made to open to effect the
discharge. D is the upper die also formed with cutting edges and
arranged to operate with a shear cut against the cutters or cutting edges
b, b, of the lower die. These dies C and D are the counterpart of the
form of the cigar to be produced. The discharging block c of the lower
die is made adjustable within the latter relatively to the cutting edges

page_text: thereof by means of screws d. d. The upper or moving die D, is secured
and also made adjustable by set screws e within or under a platen E
hinged as at to the side frames of the machine and operated by a lever
F and link G. The platen carries at its rear end a toe H which as the
lever F is raised to open the dies acts upon a lever I to lift, through a
rod or pin g, the discharging block c. The upper die D and its cutting
edges are so arranged that when the platen E is brought down, the
cutting edges of the die will act, one in connection with one of the
cutters b, and the other in connection with the other cutter b, so as to
form two pairs of shears. There may if desired be several pairs of lower
cutters with interposed dies, and a corresponding number of dies and
cutters on the platen.
"
In the operation of the machine the tobacco is introduced between
the upper and lowe dies in any suitable manner, but preferably in the
form of a " bunch or "filler" prepared without that regard to com-
-pactness-and-particularity-as-regards-shape, which is necessary under the
ordinary process of cigar making. The roughly prepared bunch or filler
is laid in or over the lower die C, and the upper die D is brought down
to close with the lower die for the purpose of giving to the bunch or.
filler its requisite form and compactness, and whereby the cutters or
cutting edges of the dies are caused by a shears-like action to trim off
from the sides, of the "bunch" all the superfluous tobacco which has
not been inclosed within the dies, leaving the bunch so perfectly shaped
that without any further manipulation or other treatment but that of
drying in some degree, it is ready to receive the wrapper which when
applied produces a more perfectly shaped cigar than is made with a
bunch produced or shaped by the usual means. After the bunch has
been formed, pressed, and trimmed as described, it is allowed to remain
within the dies while another bunch is being got ready for insertion;
this slight retention in the machine serves to make the bunch retain
its form when removed. The finished bunch is removed from the lower
die by the action of the toe H on the lever I, which lifts the discharging
block c for such purpose when the lever F is raised. The cutters b, b,
of the lower dies project above the top surface of the bed block and are
suitably bevilled to cause the superfluous tobacco in the act of trimming
to be discharged on either side clear of the dies.
One advantage of this first part of the Invention is that labor of a
less skilled order is required to make the bunches.

page_text: The second part of the Invention is illustrated by Figures 4, 5, 6, 7,
and S of the Drawing, in which Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view of a
mould used in carrying out this part of the Invention, the mould being
represented closed; Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 6
an interior or face view of the divided portions of the mould when
opened Figures 7 and 8 represent an outside longitudinal view and
transverse section of a modification of the mould.
In Figures 4, 5, and 6, A', A¹, represent a mould made in two parts
and formed of or lined with any suitable porous material or composition
of materials to facilitate the drying by absorption of the bunch contained
within it. A compound of sawdust and any suitable adhesive substance
will answer the purpose. The mould is of an interior configuration
which is the counterpart of the form of the cigar to be produced, and is
externally of a slightly conical shape so that when inserted with its
smallest end downwards through a suitably sized hole in a table or rack
it is kept closed and acts upon the bunch as herein-before described.
The mould is made in parts to facilitate the introduction and removal of
the bunch and is formed of two longitudinal divisions A¹ and A' which
have their proper relative positions secured to them by a dowel k in
either division being made to fit a hole 7 of corresponding shape in the
other division, the whole in the table or rack within which the mould
when closed is inserted, and tapering configuration of the mould on its
exterior further serving to adjust the divided holes or portions of the
mould, which is left open at its one end to facilitate the drying of the
bunch within it.
In Figures 7 and 8 the mould A' is represented as divided into more
than two parts and as united by an elastic band m at its closed end,
whereby a very effective distribution of the closing pressure on the
"bunch" is produced, and on drawing the mould out of the hole in the
table or rack it readily springs apart to release the "bunch." By thus
employing porous moulds open at their one end and constructed and
fitted to a perforated table or rack as herein described, the bunch may
be pressed, shaped, and dried at one and the same time ready and in
proper form for the wrapper or finishing process.
The third part of the Invention is represented in Fig. 9 of the Drawing
which is a sectional elevation of a machine for the purpose of pre-
paring leaf tobacco for the bunches of cigars or for the binders of such

page_text: bunches or for the wrappers. To secure the uniform moistening of the
leaves or equal distribution and absorption of the moisture produced by
damping them as herein-before referred to, and to relieve them of any
excessive moisture the leaves are passed up or over a feed board or
boards M. on to an apron or aprons N of unsized paper or other suitable
absorbent material, which is unrolled and rolled from one on to another of
two rollers O and P on either side of the machine, each apron N being
caused to roll up the leaves within it as they are presented to it from
the feed board. The one (O) of the rollers in each pair on either side
of the machine is driven by belt from below or otherwise, and each
apron N is suitably guided by additional rollers Q and R, the one Q of
which is arranged over the lower apron roller O and has its bearings
in vertical slots & made in the side posts of the machine to make it act
as a presser on the apron as the tobacco leaves pass thereon or between,
and to provide by the lifting of the roller Q for variation in the apron
on the roller O as it is drawn on or off the roller P, which latter also has
-its-bearings-in-vertical-slots made in the side posts. After a proper
amount of tobacco has passed on to the apron, and rolled up within it
as the same is carried round the roller O, and the requisite distribution
and absorption of the moisture has taken place the apron N is unwrapped
from the roller and the tobacco leaves removed uniformly moistened as
required and free from all excessive moisture which will have been
absorbed by the aprons.
8
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim as the Invention secured to
me by Letters Patent as aforesaid.
First. The machine shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, for making bunches
or fillers of cigars or any modification of such machine composed of dies
which are the counterpart of the cigar to be produced and having
cutters with a shear like action as herein set forth.
Second. The combination of the two fixed cutters b, b, forming part
of the die C, the die D with its cutters or cutting edges carried by a
follower or platen, and the moveable block c arranged between the fixed
cutters as described.
Third. The combination of the toe H, the lever I, the discharging
block c, and the fixed cutters b, b, of or forming part of the die C, for
the purpose herein set forth.
'

page_text: Fourth. The combination of a mould or moulds A¹ of the character
and construction specified, and a perforated table or rack for the purpose
or purposes herein-set forth.
Fifth. The process substantially as herein described of preparing leaf
tobacco for the bunches of cigars, or for the binders, or for the wrappers
thereof by passing the leaves after being moistened between an apron of
unsized paper or other suitable absorbent material, as and for the purpose
or purposes herein set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the apron or aprons N, the feed table or
tables M, the apron rollers O, P, and the guide rollers Q, R, as described
with reference to Fig. 9 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.