Improvements in Machines for Separating the Stems from Tobacco Leaves.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14 h Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Separating the Stems from Tobacco
Leaves.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON CABLE, of No. 225 West 123rd Street, in the City
and State of New York, United States of America, Jeweller, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
Heretofore tobacco has been principally stemmed by hand, the stem being held
while the leaf portions at each side of the stem have been torn off commencing at
This
or near the point of the leaf and tearing towards the butt of the stem.
operation is expensive and the leaves are liable to injury by careless handling.
The object of the present invention is to accomplish the same work with rapidity
and with less injury to the leaf portions.
In the machine the tobacco leaves are placed upon a suitable feeding belt and
fed into the machine point first, and the leaves are caught by bars having
downwardly projecting pins, and such bars are upon endless chains over pulleys,
so that the bars carry the leaves along over a small platform and beneath a
brush that serves to spread out the leaves, and there is a revolving cylinder
having upon its surface parallel ranges of guide fingers, the bars of which are
in the same direction as the stems of the leaves, and the stems of the leaves
by the slight tension to which they are subjected, pass between these guides or
fingers and the leaf portions rest upon such guides or fingers, and there are in
the cylinder and adjacent to the guides or fingers clamping hooks that engage the
stems of the leaves and hold them. These clamping hooks are so constructed and
actuated that they are projected from the surface of the cylinder, partially revolved
to pass over the stems, and then drawn inwardly towards the axis of the cylinder
by the action of springs so as to firmly hold the stems, and there is a knife that is
brought up to cut off the stem in front of the clamping hooks, so that the
point of the leaf containing the thin portion of the stem can be lifted up by a
stripping mechanism such as a chain belt with projecting flexible wiping devices,
and the leaf portions torn off from the heavier portions of the stem, the leaf being
passed over the belt and delivered while the stem is carried on by the cylinder in
its revolution until the clamping or gripping devices are liberated and the stem
allowed to fall away.
It is to be understood that the surface of the cylinder is cylindrical or nearly so,
but such cylinder is channelled or made hollow for the reception of the mechanism
that operates the clamping hooks and the knife, and there are cams and rack bars
and pinions or other suitable mechanism for giving motion to the clamping hooks
and knife, and the bars with pins that are carried by the endless chains and pulleys
are constructed in such a manner that the pins are withdrawn by the action of
springs after they have carried the leaves to the clamping or gripping devices.
In consequence of the tobacco when stripped being moist and sticky, it is
advantageous to employ a rotary brush and water to wash the surface of the cylinder
and the clamping devices as they travel beneath such brush.
The aforesaid guides or fingers are moved towards or from the surface of the
cylinder, so that such fingers may not interfere with the proper tearing of the thin
leaf portions from the stems; and it is advantageous for the platform to be pivotted
at the edge that is distant from the cylinder, so that the edge of the platform
adjacent to the cylinder will be raised and lowered by the action of a cam.
Dated this 14th day of February 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Separating the Stems from Tobacco
Leaves.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON CABLE, of No. 225 West 123rd Street, in the City
and State of New York, United States of America, Jeweller, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Heretofore tobacco has been principally stemmed by hand, the stem being held
while the leaf portions at each side of the stem have been torn off commencing at
or near the point of the leaf and tearing towards the butt of the stem. This
operation is expensive and the leaves are liable to injury by careless handling.
The object of the present invention is to accomplish the same work with rapidity
and with less injury to the leaf portions.
In the machine the tobacco leaves are placed upon a suitable feeding belt and fed
into the machine point first, and the leaves are caught by bars having downwardly
projecting pins, and such bars are upon endless chains over pulleys, so that the bars
carry the leaves along over a small platform and beneath a brush that serves to
spread out the leaves, and there is a revolving cylinder having upon its surface
parallel ranges of guide fingers, the bars of which are in the same direction as the
stems of the leaves, and the stems of the leaves by the slight tension to which they
are subjected, pass between these guides or fingers and the leaf portions rest upon
such guides or fingers, and there are in the cylinder and adjacent to the guides or
fingers clamping hooks that engage the stems of the leaves and hold them. These
clamping hooks are so constructed and actuated that they are projected from the
surface of the cylinder, partially revolved to pass over the stems, and then drawn
inwardly towards the axis of the cylinder by the action of springs so as to firmly
hold the stems, and there is a knife that is brought up to cut off the stem in front
of the clamping hooks, so that the point of the leaf containing the thin portion of
the stem can be lifted up by a stripping mechanism such as a chain belt with pro-
jecting flexible wiping devices, and the leaf portions torn off from the heavier
portions of the stem, the leaf being passed over the belt and delivered while the
stem is carried on by the cylinder in its revolution until the clamping or gripping
devices are liberated and the stem allowed to fall away.
It is to be understood that the surface of the cylinder is cylindrical or nearly so,
but such cylinder is channelled or made hollow for the reception of the mechanism
that operates the clamping hooks and the knife, and there are cams and rack
bars and pinions or other suitable mechanism for giving motion to the clamping
hooks and knife, and the bars with pins that are carried by the endless chains
and pulleys are constructed in such a manner that the pins are withdrawn by
the action of springs after they have carried the leaves to the clamping or gripping
devices.
In consequence of the tobacco when stripped being moist and sticky, it is advan-
tageous to employ a rotary brush and water to wash the surface of the cylinder and
the clamping devices as they travel beneath such brush.
The aforesaid guides or fingers are moved towards or from the surface of the
cylinder, so that such fingers may not interfere with the proper tearing of the thin
leaf portions from the stems, and it is advantageous for the platform to be pivoted
at the edge that is distant from the cylinder, so that the edge of the platform
adjacent to the cylinder will be raised and lowered by the action of a cam.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a general elevation of the machine at one side thereof, the feeding and
delivery belts being broken off.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the parts with the frame and gearing removed.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a section in larger size showing parts of the cylinder and the belts as
more fully explained hereafter.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the knife, fingers and actuating device for the hooks with
a portion of the cylinder in section in a plane parallel to the axis.
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing detached parts of the fingers, hooks and stripper
belt, the latter being in section to show its relative positions to the fingers.
Fig. 6 is a section of one of the chain pulleys and chain and elevation of one of
the conveying bars.
Fig. 7 shows the cams at one end of the cylinder.
Fig. 8 is a section and Fig. 9 a plan view of the cam that raises the platform.
Fig. 10 is an elevation of one end of the knife.
Fig. 11 is a plan of some of the clamping hooks, and Fig. 12 is a section through
the shafts of the clamping hooks, and Fig. 13 is a partial plan view of the cylinder,
the guide fingers with conveying bars and the position of the leaves and stems
to the fingers by dotted lines.
The framework made use of is to be of any suitable size and character adapted
to the other parts of the machine, the side frames A being connected by the cross
bars or columns 2 and upon the frame are bearings for the axis B' of the cylinder B.
This cylinder B may be of any suitable material. I have however represented the
same as of wood with the surface properly recessed for the reception of the parts
hereafter designated.
The belt C passes around suitable rollers, one of which is shown at C' and this
feeding belt C is of any suitable material, preferably of cross bars united at their
ends by chain links and upon this feed belt the tobacco leaves are to be laid,
preferably by hand and in ranges, a range of such leaves occupying the width of
the belt or nearly so and being laid with their points towards the roller C' and in
such position that the said leaves may be carried into the machine by the conveying
bars next described.
Endless chains D D are passed around the pulleys D' D', the shafts 4 and 5 of
which are supported in suitable bearings in the frame A, and the shaft 5 is preferably
driven by a gear wheel 6 receiving its motion from the gear 7 on the axis B' of the
cylinder B so that the chains D are moved progressively as the cylinder B and the
parts therewith connected are rotated by any suitable power. The conveying
bars E pass across from one endless chain D to the other and they are attached at
their ends to such chains and they are parallel to each other and parallel to the
axis of the cylinder B and they are adapted to seize and draw along the tobacco
leaves.
Each of these conveying bars E is made of two parts as illustrated in Figs. 3
and 6, there being holes through the conveying bar E for the passage of the pins 10
that are connected to the secondary bar 11 so that by moving the secondary bar 11
the pins can be drawn up and their points will be within the bar E and a move-
ment is given to the secondary bar 11 to project or withdraw the pins 10 by any
suitable means. I have shown the springs 12 as tending to draw the secondary
bar 11 towards the conveying bar E and thereby project the point of the pin
below the conveying bar E and studs 13 fastened to the secondary bar 11 and
passing through holes in the conveying bar E and acted upon by the cam 14 so
that as the conveying bars pass along with the chains D and arrive in succession at
the chain drum D' the cams 14 (one at each end of the conveying bar) act against
the studs 13 and press the secondary bar upwardly drawing the pins up into the
conveying bar so that such pins will no longer retain their hold upon the tobacco
leaves as such leaves are delivered as hereafter indicated, and during the other
portions of the movement of the endless chains and conveying bars the pins
project from the surface of the conveying bars E and when such conveying bars E
pass around the chain pulleys D' and act above the feeding belt C such pins stick
into the ends of the tobacco leaves as they lie in a range upon such feeding belt C
and such pins carry in the range of tobacco leaves above the platform F and
beneath the tension brush G, which tension brush is raised as the conveying bars

page_text: pass beneath it and falls upon the leaves to straighten them to a moderate extent
as such leaves are drawn along upon the platform F and beneath the said tension
brush G.
The tension brush G has a shaft 15 forming a head piece for such brush, and
this shaft 15 is free to turn in bearings upon the frames A and there is an arm G¹
and weight by which the brush is turned in order that the brush may press with
the desired force upon the tobacco leaves as they are drawn along beneath it. This
weight can be set at a greater or less distance from the shaft 15 to exert more or
less force or a spring may be employed in place of the weight. There is an arm 18
projecting from the shaft 15 towards the axis B₁ of the cylinder B and around such
axis B is a cam 19 preferably a shell cam which acts against the end of the arm 18
to hold up such arm and to hold up the ends of the tension brush during the time
that the conveying bars E pass along beneath the same and such cam 19 passing
from beneath the arm 18 as the conveying bars move beyond the brush, allows the
brush to drop and rest upon the tobacco leaves as aforesaid.
The platform F is pivoted at 20 adjacent to the feeding belt C and the other end
of such platform is raised by the cams 21 upon the cylinder B, and this cam 21 is
a segment of a circle and holds the platform up at the proper time for the guide
fingers hereafter described to pass along beneath the edge of such platform F and
this cam 21 is provided with arms 22 passing into the cylinder B and acted upon
by screws 23, as seen in the section Fig. 8, so that such cam 21 may be projected
more or less from the surface of the cylinder and hence such platform F will be
raised to whatever extent is desired for properly holding the tobacco leaves as they
pass between the tension brush G and the platform F and are drawn along by the
pins of the conveyor bars E; and in order to render these conveyor bars and pins
more efficient the cylinder B is grooved at 25 so that the pins of the conveyor bars
pass into such grooves and the conveyor bars are pressed firmly against the surface
of the cylinder B by the action of the endless chains and pulleys, as illustrated
in Fig. 3.
By holding the ends of the leaves firmly by the conveyor bars E against the
surface of the cylinder B and applying a tension to the leaves by the brush G and
platform F as such leaves are drawn along between the platform and the tension
brush, the stems of the leaves are under tension and lie upon the surface of the
cylinder B while the thin portions of the leaves are held up by the guides or
fingers H next described, which guides or fingers are sufficiently far apart for the
stems to pass in freely between them and the fingers are in two or more ranges
across the cylinder, the ranges being parallel with the conveying bars E while the
fingers themselves are at right angles to the ranges, so that the stems draw in
between such fingers. I prefer to use two ranges of such fingers and hooks for
holding the stems down upon the surface of the cylinder. These parts being con-
structed and operating as next described.
As before mentioned, there are two ranges of guides or fingers H and these
guides or fingers point backwardly and the forward ends are curved downwardly
and connected to the cross bars 27 28 and the guide fingers which are connected
to the cross bar 28 are longer than those that are connected to the cross bar 27 in
order to provide the necessary space for the introduction of a knife I which is
used for cutting off the stems near the forward ends of the leaves as hereafter
stated, in order that the points of the leaves containing the thin membrane of
the stems may be raised up and delivered with the other thin portions of the
leaves.
Beneath each guide finger is a clamping hook I' and such hook is at the end of a
shaft 30 occupying a radial position in the cylinder B, and to this shaft an endwise
movement is given and also a quarter rotation and the end of the hook is made as
a cutting edge, the object being to clamp, the stems as they lie between the guide
fingers and upon the surface of the cylinder B and the parts are constructed as
hereinafter described so that at the time the stems are drawn forcibly down between
the guide fingers H, as heretofore stated, the books I' are close up against the

page_text: under sides of such guide fingers and then such hooks receive a quarter rotation
and are turned from one guide finger to the next and cut through the leaf portions
of the tobacco above the stems and then the shafts of the hooks are moved
towards the axis of the cylinder B in order that the hooks may clamp the tobacco
stems against the surface of the cylinder and hold such stems while the tobacco
leaves are being drawn off from such stems and delivered from the machine. The
mechanism for giving to the shafts 30 a quarter rotation and for moving the clamping
hooks towards and from the surface of the cylinder B may be of any desired
character and I have represented two ranges of these clamping hooks one for each
range of guide fingers and as the construction and mode of operation of the devices
that give motion to these ranges of guide fingers are the same in both ranges it is
only necessary to describe one of such rauges. The shafts 30 pass through the
bars or supports 32 that are permanently fixed in the cylinder B and parallel with
the axis thereof and they also pass through the cross bars 33 the ends of which
project through slots in the plates 34 that are at the ends of the cylinder B, and
these cross bars 33 and the parts carried by them, together with the ranges of
shafts 30, are moved away from the axis of the cylinder B by stationary inclines 36
upon the frames A that push the cross bars 33 away from said axis as the parts
rotate, and there are springs 37 around some of the shafts 30 which give end
motion to the shafts 30 and move the cross bars 33 and draw the clamping hooks I¹
towards the surface of the cylinder B when such cross bars 33 are not otherwise
acted upon.
•
The cross bars 33 are made in two parts, or with openings, within which are the
pinions 40 upon the shafts 30 and against the sides of the bars 33 are the rack
bars L connected to such cross bars 33 by the screws 41 passing through slots in
such rack bars, and adjacent to the pinions 40 are teeth upon the rack bars, so that
when such rack bars receive an endwise motion the pinions and the shafts 30 and
clamping hooks receive a quarter rotation first in one direction and then in the
other, but the rack bars L being fastened to the cross bars 33 move bodily and
laterally with such cross bars 33 and upon the frame A are inclined planes or
cams 42 and 50 that give to the rack bars L end motion first in one direction and
then in the other direction and there are upon the rack bar I, offsets or latches 43,
which when the parts are in the position represented in Fig. 4 hold the cross bar
and rack bar with the clamping hooks projected, but as soon as the inclines or
cams 42 give end motion to the rack bar L the latches 43 slide off their supports
and allow the springs 37 to force the cross bar 33 towards the axis of the
cylinder B and in so doing the shafts 30 are drawn endwise through the bars 32
and the clamping hooks are brought down upon the stems of the tobacco over
which such clamping hooks have been turned by the one quarter rotation given to
them by the end movement of the rack bar turning the pinions 40.
The cross bars 27 and 28 to which the ranges of guide fingers H are fastened
are held in position by screws 45 passing through slots in the respective cross bars
so that the cross bars are free to be moved bodily towards and from the axis of the
cylinder B and the springs 46 tend to draw the cross bars inwardly, and such cross
bars are moved outwardly along with the clamping hooks, because when such
clamping hooks have received their quarter rotation they are in line with each
other or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 11, and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and
the point of one hook reaches to the shaft of the next hook, hence they form a
nearly continuous line of clamping hooks beneath and at right angles to the guides
or fingers H and when the shafts 30 of such clamping hooks receive an endwise
movement outwardly the clamping hooks acting against the inner faces of the
guide fingers lift such guide fingers away from the surface of the cylinder and
move the cross bars 27 and 28 outwardly. In these cross bars 27 and 28 are
notches 47 and there are holding fingers 48 upon the bars N, and these bars N are
supported near their ends by the end plates 34, and such bars N can be moved
endwise in order that the fingers 48 may come beneath the under edges of the
respective cross bars 27 28, as seen in Fig. 4, and thereby hold the cross bars and

page_text: guide fingers in their projected positions, or when such bars N receive an end wise
movement the fingers 48 coincide with the notches 47 and allow the springs 46 to
draw the respective bars 27 28 inwardly and the cams 42 and 50 upon the frame A
give end motion at the proper times to the bar N first in one direction and then in
the other.
It is generally preferable to introduce rubber strips 52 at the surface of the
cylinder B and adjacent to or in line with the ranges of shafts 30 so that the
tobacco stems will be held by the clamping hooks I against the surfaces of these
rubber strips 52 and in order that the knife I may be made to operate at the
proper time such knife I is fastened to a stock 1, the end pieces 54 of which
project through the plates 34, and there are cams 55 upon the frame A near the
chain pulleys D' so that such knife I is projected and cuts off the tobacco stems
when such knife arrives at the pulleys D' or nearly so, and then such knife is drawn
in again in consequence of the cams 55 being V-shaped. It is preferable to make
use of adjusting screws 56 to regulate the position of the edge of the knife 1, and
such knife may be easily removed for grinding when necessary, and it is
advantageous to make use of serrations on the knife and an end clamping piece
held by the screw 57 for retaining the knife in the stock I. It will be noticed in
Fig. 5 that the cross bar 28 is bowed outwardly at places to give the necessary
space for introducing the adjustable screws 56.
The successive operations of the parts before described will be apparent,
presuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2.and that the leaves of
tobacco are held at their ends by the conveying bars E and that tension is applied
by the brush G, so that the stems are drawn down between the guide fingers H and
as the cylinder B moves in the direction indicated by the arrow the inclined cams 42
first act to give end motion to the rack bar L and the pinions 40 and shafts 30 are
rotated bringing the front range of clamping hooks 1¹ over the stems as they lie
between the guide fingers H. The latches 43 cease to hold the bar L and the
springs 37 now act to force the cross bar 33 downwardly and move the shafts 30
endwise and clamp the stems by the hooks I'. The cams 42 now act upon the
cross bar N moving the fingers 48 into line with the notches 47 so that the
springs 46 pull down the front range of guide fingers H, the knife I and stock I'
are moved by the cams 55 and the stems separated at their forward ends and by
this time the second range of clamping hooks has been brought into action in the
same way as the first range to take an additional hold upon the stems, and then the
second range of guide fingers upon the cross bar 27 is brought down towards
the surface of the cylinder B so that such guide fingers no longer hold up the thin
portions of the tobacco leaves and the stems are securely held and carried around
with the cylinder B while the leaves are removed by the devices hereafter
described; and I remark that it is preferable to make use of a rubber roller P
running in contact with the stems and pressing them towards the surface of the
cylinder B so that such stems cannot escape during the operation of pulling off
the leaves from the stems and the cams 36 and 50 that restore the parts to their
normal position act upon such parts after the stems have passed between the roller P
and the surface of the cylinder B and the stems fall away after their rear ends
have passed the rubber roller P.
The devices heretofore described for supplying and drawing the tobacco leaves
through the machine are not necessarily limited to any particular stripping and
delivery devices, but I prefer to make use of an endless belt R passing over suitable
pulleys, one of which is shown at R' and this endless belt is made of ranges of
wipers 60 hinged together and these wipers are preferably made with hollow
projecting teeth, as represented in Fig. 3, and sectionally in Fig. 5.
In order to strip the leaf portions from the stems it is necessary to raise up such
leaf portions and tear them away from the stems as closely as possible to avoid loss
of tobacco. To effect this object the projecting delivery wipers are made with
nearly parallel sides at the ends to scrape against the sides of the stems in
separating the leaves from the stems without cutting such stems, and the spaces

page_text: between the wipers are sufficiently wide to prevent the stems becoming wedged
into such spaces, and it is preferable to have the wipers in line or nearly so with the
fingers H, so as to act at each side of the stems as such stems lie between the
fingers.
If the surface of the cylinder B is recessed beneath each finger in the ranges of
fingers, then the wipers 60 may be in line with the fingers, but when the fingers H
lie upon the surface of the cylinder B the wipers should be slightly out of line with
the fingers, as seen in Fig. 5, to act adjacent to the sides of such fingers in raising
up the leaves and separating them from the stems.
By rotating the endless belt R in the direction indicated by the arrows the
ends of the wipers raise up the tobacco leaves and strip them from the stems, and
the leaves rest upon the endless belt and are carried by the same out of the machine,
and in order to prevent the leaves being unnecessarily torn by remaining in contact
with the pins of the conveying bars E or adhering to such conveying bars E I make
use of a rotary brush S with which the bars E come into contact and between
which and the endless belt the tobacco leaves are discharged. This rotary brush
should receive a rotation so that the surface speed will correspond or nearly so to
that of the delivery belt.
The tobacco is generally in a moist condition at the time the stem is removed,
and hence the parts of the machine are liable to become sticky or adhesive.
I prefer to make use of a rotary brush T and water vessel U beneath the platform F,
such brush being moistened by the water and acting to remove from the guide
fingers and the clamping hooks any particles of tobacco or gummy material that
may adhere to them and at the same time the surfaces of the cylinder B and other
parts are brushed and kept clean and in a moist condition and as an additional
protection to avoid any stems adhering to the surface of the cylinder B, the
rubber V is provided at the end of a spring arm 62 upon a shaft 63 with an arm 64
to a cam 65 upon the shaft of the cylinder B so that such rubber V is brought into
contact with the surface of the cylinder at the proper time for scraping or rubbing
off any pieces of stems that may adhere to the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. The combination in a machine for stemming tobacco leaves, of means for
feeding in the leaves, means for seizing and carrying forward the stems and means
for tearing off the leaf portions.
Second. The combination with a revolving cylinder and means for supplying the
leaf tobacco to the same, of one or more ranges of fingers projecting from the
surface of such cylinder for supporting the leaves as the steins are drawn down
between the fingers, a range of clamping hooks beneath the fingers, and mechanism
substantially as specified for giving to such clamping hooks a partial rotary motion
to pass the ends of the hooks over the stems and for forcing the clamping hooks
towards the surface of the cylinder to hold such stems, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with a feeding belt and a revolving cylinder, of conveying
bars, endless chains and pulleys for such conveying bars, a platform between the
feeding belt and the cylinder and a tension brush acting in connection with the
platform for applying the necessary detaining force to the tobacco leaves as they
are drawn into the machine, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a tobacco stripping machine, the cylinder B, in combination with the
conveying bars, the endless chains and pulleys for the same, the pins projecting
through the conveying bars and secondary bar to which the pins are attached, and
means for moving the secondary bar and withdrawing the pins, the platform
intervening between the feeding belt and the cylinder, a tension brush above the
platform, a weight for applying the proper tension to the brush and an arın and
cam for raising such brush as the conveying bars pass beneath the same, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: Fifth. In a tobacco stripping machine, the combination with the revolving
cylinder for carrying the tobacco leaves through the machine, of a range of fingers
projecting above the surface of the cylinder for holding up the thin portions of the
leaves, a range of clamping hooks contiguous to such fingers and shafts for the
same, pinions and a rack bar for giving a partial rotary motion to such clamping
hooks to turn them over the stems and springs for applying pressure by the hooks
upon the stems, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination in a machine for stemming tobacco, of a revolving
cylinder for conveying the tobacco through the machine, a range of fingers projecting
from the surface of such cylinder for holding up the thin parts of the leaves and
allowing the stems to pass in between the fingers, a range of clamping hooks
contiguous to the fingers and mechanism for partially rotating such hooks and for
moving the same to clamp the stems, and a knife for separating the advancing
ends of the stems in front of the clamping hooks, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with the cylinder for
carrying the leaves through the machine, of a range of fingers projecting from the
cylinder, a bar within the cylinder for supporting such fingers, springs for drawing
the fingers towards the cylinder, a range of clamping hooks adjacent to the fingers,
shafts for such hooks, cross bars for supporting the shafts, pinions and a rack bar
for partially rotating the shafts and hooks, stationary cams at the ends of the
cylinder for moving the rack bar, springs for forcing the hooks towards the surface
of the cylinder and latches for holding the cross bar and clamping hooks when the
latter are raised from the surface of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the cylinder B, of the guide fingers projecting
from the surface of the cylinder, a cross bar within the cylinder to which the guide
fingers are connected, springs for moving the cross bar and drawing the guide
fingers towards the surface of the cylinder, holding fingers for the cross bar and a
bar and cam for sustaining and giving motion to the holding fingers, substantially
as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the cylinder B, guide fingers projecting from its
surface and a cross bar supporting such fingers, of clamping hooks adjacent to the
fingers and mechanism substantially as specified for giving motion to the clamping
hooks, a knife in front of the clamping hooks, knife stock and cams for giving
motion to the knife and causing the same to cut the advancing ends of the stems,
substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the cylinder B and feeding belt, of the platform F
pivoted to the frame of the machine and with the moving end adjacent to the
cylinder, a cam for raising such platform, a tension brush over the platform and
pivoted upon the frame of the machine, an arm and cam for moving the same,
conveying bars, chains and pulleys for moving the conveying bars over the platform
and in contact with the cylinder, guide fingers upon the cylinder, clamping hooks
adjacent to the guide fingers and mechanism substantially as specified for giving
motion to the same, and a knife in front of the hooks for severing the stems adjacent
to the clamping hooks, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination in a machine for stemming tobacco leaves, of a
cylinder and fingers projecting from such cylinder and between which the sterns
pass, clamping hooks adjacent to the fingers and mechanism substantially as
specified for giving motion to such hooks and causing them to hold the stems, a
knife adjacent to the clamping hooks for severing the stems, and a delivery belt
with wipers acting to remove the leaves from the stems as such stems remain in
contact with the cylinder, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. In a machine for stemming tobacco, the combination with the cylinder
for carrying the leaves through the machine and hooks for holding the stems, of a
delivery belt running adjacent to the surface of the cylinder and having ranges of
wipers acting to raise and convey away the tobacco leaves, substantially as set
forth.
Thirteenth. In a machine for stemming tobacco leaves, the combination with the

page_text: cylinder for conveying the leaves through the machine, and hooks thereon for
holding the stems, of an endless belt and ranges of wipers running contiguous to the
surface of the cylinder for delivering the leaves from the machine, and a rotary
brush between which and the belt the leaves pass as delivered, substantially as set
forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the revolving cylinder in a machine for
stemming tobacco leaves, of clamping hooks upon such cylinder, for holding the
stems, a delivery belt running contiguous to the surface of the cylinder for
removing the leaves from the stems and discharging such leaves, and an elastic
roller acting with the revolving cylinder for passing the stems away from the leaves,
substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with the revolving
cylinder for conveying the tobacco through the machine, of guide fingers projecting
from the surface of the cylinder, clamping hooks adjacent to the fingers and
mechanism substantially as specified for moving the hooks and holding the stems, a
delivery belt running adjacent to the surface of the cylinder for removing the
leaves from the stems, and a water vessel and brush for cleaning the surfaces of
the cylinder, clamping hooks and guide fingers, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd November 1893.
BREWER & SON,
Agents.