IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLAY TOBACCO PIPES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Robert Bird and Charles George Roberton, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLAY TOBACCO
PIPES."
Sealed the 20th February 1880, and dated the 23rd August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robert Bird and Charles
George Roberton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd
August 1879.
cr
JOHN ROBERT BIRD and CHARLES GEORGE ROBERTON, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING CLAY TOBACCO PIPES."
This Invention comprises various improvements in tobacco-pipe making apparatus,
such improvements being specially designed to apply to apparatus of the kind
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Richard Golding, and
dated December, 1877 (No. 4607), but also more or less applicable to other
apparatus for the saine purpose.
The improved apparatus is arranged to form ench pipe by two successive
operations, "rolls" or pipe blocks being first made and subsequently moulded into
complete pipes, and in one modification the apparatus is constructed for moulding
one roll and one pipe at each revolution of its main shaft which has on it a number
of cams for moving the various details. The two bottom half moulds for the roll
and pipe respectively are fixed to the framing on opposite sides of a central or
main vertical bar or slide which works in guides and carries the upper half moulds,.
and which is moved and held in position for gripping or pinching the upper and
lower half moulds close together by parts like those described for the same pur-
pose in the Specification herein before referred to; or the main vertical bar may be
nctuated by modified or improved parts hereinafter described.
The roll mould is not adjustable angularly, and the cylindrical portion of its
bowl part is made at right angles or any other suitable permanent angle to the
stein part, any difference of formn of the bowl part of the roll to suit different
angles between the bowl and stem being obtained by suitably shaping the part of
the mould between the stem and the cylindrical portion of the bowl. part.
This

page_text: arrangement allows of the parts for carrying, guiding, and moving the roll plunger
being simplified. The clay is supplied to the machine in short cylindrical blocks
which are placed in a feed channel of sufficient inclination for the blocks to descend
of themselves successively into position at the mouth of the roll mould ready to be
forced into that mould by the plunger. The descent of the blocks is controlled by
a pair of connected escapement bars moved at the proper times so as to allow only
one block to pass at a time.
•
The pipe-mould details are made adjustable for different angles between the
bowl and stem, a frame piece carrying and guiding the stapper being adjustable
about a vertical pin which is in the same vertical line with the point of action of a
vertically moving bar or slide actuated by a cam for moving the stapper. This slide
acts on the horizontal arm of a bellcrank centered on the adjustable frame piece and
formed with a vertical arm which acts on the stapper block. A similar bellcrank
may be used for moving the roll, plunger instead of the toggle-link-arrangement
described in the Specification herein before referred to. On the neck of the stapper
there is a spring block, which being compressed when the stapper enters the mould
springs on the return out of the stapper and prevents the bowl of the pipe from
coming with it. Also, further, to prevent the clay adhering to the stapper a slight
lateral movement is given to its point when at the inner end of the stroke, for
which purpose the stapper is jointed or hinged to its block and a projection on it.
encounters a fixed projection which causes the lateral movement. The stapper may
also have an air hole bored through it, with a small valve fitted at its end to admit
air into the bowl as the stapper is being withdrawn.
An important part of the present improvements relates to the wiring, and by it
the parts are nucli simplified and the action rendered more certain and satisfactory.
A single wire is used for each roll and remains in the roll until the same has been
subjected to the second or final moulding operation. The wire is, entered from
the stem end and is in the roll mould whilst the clay is being forced in to form the
roll, the point of the wire being then supported by two angular projections, one in
each half mould. The roll being formed on the wire adheres to it, and is by it
easily and simply lifted from the roll mould and transferred to the pipe mould, the
wire being on a frame which after rising and moving horizontally clear of the
moulds is turned through a semicircle, and is afterwards moved horizontally back
and lowered again. These movements effect the transference of the roll to the
pipe mould, and also that of the second wire from the pipe mould back to the roll
mould, one roll being remoulded into a pipe whilst the next roll is being formed.
The wire frame is carried and turned in a manner similar to that described in
the Specification hereinbefore referred to, but instead of the wire holders being
acted on directly by the cam-actuated levers these levers are connected to blocks
sliding on fixed guide rods and made with grooves with which projections on the
wire holders engage. Each lever is acted on by two cams or a double cam so as
to-be moved positively in both directions, and the part the cams immediately act on
is connected to a slot on the lever, which slot is curved to allow of the length of
travel of the wire being altered without altering its outermost position.
The cams
for moving the wire into and out of the roll mould are shaped so as to make the
wire to approach the mould, and after a slight pause to enter the mould after it is
closed, the wire receiving a little oil from pads in contact with which it moves.
The cams for moving the wire into and out of the pipe mould are shaped to make
the wire withdraw a little before the stapper advances, and advance a little on
the withdrawal of the stapper to ensure the perforation extending into the bowl.
The wire is next withdrawn a certain distance which loosens it in the pipe, the
wire being slightly tapered if necessary to insure this loosening. As soon as the
pipe is lifted out of the mould it is taken hold of by the delivering fingers, and the
wire is then completely withdrawn; a hooked finger, as formerly, preventing the
bowl from turning down. The hooked finger and its actuating details are arranged
inore compactly than formerly, as are also various other parts, for the purpose of
getting the moulds closer together and of reducing the distance through which the

page_text: roll has to be moved when being transferred to the pipe mould.
A shield or guide
may be provided to check any centrifugal tendency of the roll and its wire when
being transferred. The delivering fingers are carried and actuated to some extent
as formerly, but the parts are arranged so that the fingers do not open to drop the
pipe on the endless delivery band until the swinging movement of the arm is quite
completed, a catch being provided to hold the fingers closed, which catch is released
at the proper time by a piece which also then insures the opening of the fingers.
The arm may be brought directly over the mould as formerly, but by arranging it
with the fingers opening to one side the distance to which the upper half mould
has to be lifted may be advantageously reduced.
The knife for removing superfluous clay is carried by a slide connected to a spring
and pushed into action by a bar which engages with it by means of a latch catch,
the bar being disengaged by encountering an incline on reaching the inner end of
its traverse and allowing the spring to draw the knife back quickly.
Provision is made for oiling the roll half moulds, a bar being moved horizontally
by means of a cain and lever so that its end having brushes projecting upwards and
downwards passes between the half moulds when open, the brushes getting their
supplies of oil from stationary pads which they brush. in passing. A stationary
-oiling brush or pad is also provided in a position to be touched by the face of the
bowl part of the roll when being entered into the pipe mould, the oil being applied
in this way instead of oiling the stapper.
The main vertical bar of the machine is, according to one modification, actuated
directly by a single eccentric or cam, or by a double cam or pair of cams, the bottom
end of the vertical bar being made with cheeks which pass down on each side of
the cam or cams, and are slotted for the passage of the main or cam shaft. Anti-
friction rollers are fitted between the cheeks above and below the cam or cams for
the latter to act on. Or by another modification the main vertical bar has jointed
to its bottom end a lever having a long and short arm, to the former of which a
weight is connected or attached, whilst the latter is connected to a piece which
transmits the action of the cam or cams. The weighted lever is designed to
avoid a breakage in the event of anything accidentally preventing the complete
closing of the moulds. In ordinary circumstances the weight rests on a support and
practically forms the fulcrum to the lever, being sufficient for the strains occurring
in ordinary working; but when an obstacle prevents the complete closing of the
mould the weight rises and the strain on the parts cannot exceed what corresponds
to it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Robert Bird and Charles George Roberton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th February 1880..
JOHN ROBERT BIRD and CHARLES GEORGE ROBERTON, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MAKING CLAY TOBACCO PIPES."
Our said Invention comprises various improvements in tobacco-pipe making
apparatus, such improvements being specially designed to apply to apparatus of
the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Richard Golding
and dated 5 December, 1877 (No. 4607), but also more or less applicable to other
apparatus for the same purpose.
Our improved apparatus is arranged to form each pipe by two successive
operations, ""rolls" or pipe blocks, being first made and subsequently moulded into
complete pipes, and in one modification the apparatus is constructed for moulding
one roll and one pipe at each revolution of its main shaft which has on it a number
of cams for moving the various.details. The two bottom half inoulds, for the roll
and pipe respectively, are fixed to the framing on opposite sides of a central or main
vertical bar or slide which works in guides and carries the upper half moulds, and
which is moved and held in position for gripping or pinching the upper and lower
half moulds close together by parts like those described for the same purpose in
the Specification hereinbefore referred to; or the main vertical bar may be actuated
by modified or improved parts hereinafter described.
And in order that our various improvements and the manner of performing our
said Invention may be most readily understood we will proceed to particularly
describe the same with the aid of five Sheets of explanatory Drawings which are
hereunto appended. In these Drawings the same. reference letters and numerals
are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a sectional elevation of
the machine; Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of two modifications of the clay-block
feeding apparatus; Figure 4 on Sheet 2 is a vertical section of the machine as
at right angles to Figure 1, and Figure 5 on Sheet 3 is a corresponding sectional
plan.
The Figures on Sheets 4 and 5 of the Drawings represent the various cams and
certain other details, and will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.
The machine is driven by means of a first-motion shaft 1 (Figure 1), placed
horizontally on the base or bed framing 2, and having on it a fly wheel 3 and
pulleys 4 for a driving belt. The shaft 1 has also on it a worm, which gears with
a wormwheel on a second-motion-or main shaft 6 which.is.carried horizontally at
right angles to the shaft 1, and has fast on it the several cams or wipers A, B, C, D,
E, F, G, H, I, J, K, shown in Figures 6 to 16 on Sheets 4 and 5 of the accom-
panying Drawings, and which impart to the various moving parts their necessary
motions in proper order. The part of the framing above the base 2 comprises two
hollow standards 7, 8, down on which there is bolted a casting 9 partly forming
tables for the bottom half moulds, and formed with guides for the central vertical
bar or slide 10.
In the modification shown in the Drawings the vertical bar 10 is arranged and
moved similarly to what is described in the Specification hereinbefore referred to.
The malleable iron bar formerly used is, however, dispensed with, the gripping
details being applied directly to the bar 10 itself. The bar 10 is raised by à lever
facted on by a cam F (Figure 11), and descends to its lowest position, or nearly
so, by its own weight, when the cam F allows it to do so; and when it has
descended as far as it will go by its own weight a block 11 (Figures 9, 10) which
in plan is shaped like three sides of a parallelogram is by a weighted lever 12

page_text: moved in between the bottoms of the guides and the tops of bushes or collars on a
horizontal pin 13 fitted across the bottom of the bar 10. The pin 13 is formed
with an eccentric part which fits and can turn in an eye in the bar 10, and a lever
14 fixed or formed on the pin is acted on by a cam E at the proper time to turn
the pin, and by the wedging action of its eccentric part strain down the bar 10
with considerable force, so that the bar may then grip or pinch the upper and lower
half moulds firmly together. Another part of the same cam E, by means of a bell-
crank lever e, ensures the turning back of the eccentric pin 13 and the releasing of
the block 11 when this has to be withdrawn, which is done by the cam D to allow
the bar 10 to rise.
The roll mould, of which the lower half 15 is seen in Figure 5, is not adjustable
angularly as in the former machine. The cylindrical portion of its bowl part is
made at right angles (or it might be any other suitable permanent angle) to the
stem part, any difference of form of the bowl part of the roll to suit different angles
between the bowl and stem being obtained by suitably shaping the part of the
mould between the stein part and the cylindrical portion of the bowl part. This
arrangement allows of the parts for carrying, guiding, and moving the roll plunger
16 being simplified. The parts for moving the roll plunger 16, as represented in
the Drawings, are like the corresponding parts in the former machine, the cam A
(Figure 6) being the one acting on them, and it is unnecessary to minutely describe
those parts here. We may also remark that other parts not herein described are
substantially the same as corresponding parts of the former machine.
The clay is supplied to the machine in short cylindrical blocks 17 (Figure 2),
which are placed in a feed channel 18 of sufficient inclination for the blocks to
descend of themselves successively into position at the mouth of the roll mould
15, 19, ready to be forced into that mould by the plunger 16. The descent of the
blocks 17 is controlled by a pair of connected escapement bars or gates 20, 21,
carried by arms centered upon the channel piece 18, and moved at the proper times
so as to allow only one block to pass at a time. For this purpose a rod 22 jointed
to the lower gate piece 20 passes through a hole in a plate fixed to the holder 23
of the upper half-mould 19, and when this holder rises it acts on a nut screwed on
the rod 22. A spring 24 returns the parts when the holder 23 descends.
simplified modification of the feed regulator is shown in Figure 3, and in this a
single curved retaining piece 25 is employed, being found to answer quite well in
practice.
A
with
The pipe-mould details are made adjustable for different angles between the
bowl and stem, a frame piece 26 carrying and guiding the stapper 27, being
adjustable about a vertical centre pin (indicated by a dotted circle as below the
stapper point in Figure 5) which pin is in the same vertical line, or nearly so,
the point of action of a vertical moving bar or slide 28 actuated by a cam J
(Figure 15) for moving the stapper 27. This slide 28 acts on the horizontal arm
of a bellcrank 29 centered on a downwardly projecting part of the adjustable frame
piece 26, and formed with a vertical arm which acts on the stapper block 30.. A
similar bellcrank may be used for moving the roll plunger instead of the toggle-link
arrangement shown in Figure 1. On the neck of the stapper 27 there is a spring
collar, which being compressed when the stapper enters the mould springs on the
return out of the stapper and prevents the bowl of the pipe from coming with it.
Also, further, to prevent the clay from adhering to the stapper 27 a slight lateral
movement may be given to its point when at the inner end of the stroke, for which
purpose the stapper may be jointed or hinged to its block 30, a projection on it
encountering a fixed projection which causes the lateral movement.
The stapper
27 may also have an air hole bored through it, as shown in Figure 1, with a small
valve fitted at its end to admit air into the bowl as the stapper is being with-
drawn.
An important part of our present improvements relates to the wiring, and by it
the parts are much simplified and the action rendered more certain and satisfactory.
A single wire 31 is used for each roll and remains in the roll until the same bas

page_text: been subjected to the second or final moulding operation. The wire 31 is entered
from the stem end and is in the roll mould.15, 19, whilst the clay is being forced
in to form the roll, the point of the wire being then supported so as to resist the
pressure of the clay by two thin angular projections, one in each half mould, the
small indentations formed by such projections being subsequently closed up by the
second moulding operation. The roll being formed on the wire 31 adheres to it
and is by it easily and simply lifted from the roll mould 15 and transferred to the
pipe mould 32, the wire 31 being fixed to one of two holders 40, 41, sliding on rods
forming part of the wire frame 33, which, after rising and after the wires are moved
horizontally clear of the moulds, is turned through a semicircle and is lowered again
after the wires have been moved horizontally back again. These movements effect
the transference of the roll to the pipe mould 32, one roll being remoulded into a
pipe whilst the next roll is being formed. The wire frame 33 is carried and turned
in a manner similar to that described in the Specification hereinbefore referred to,
but instead of the wire holders being acted on directly by the cam-actuated
levers b, k, these levers are connected to blocks 34, 35, sliding on fixed guide
rods 36, 37, and made with grooves with which projections 38, 39, on the wire
holders 40, 41, engage. The projections 38, 39, are in the form of semicircles, so
that whilst the holders can move outwards and inwards independently of each
other the projections 38, 39, are certain to engage properly with the blocks 34, 35,
when being turned half round, at which time the blocks 34, 35, are of course
directly opposite to each other. Each lever b, k, is acted on by two cams or by a
double cam B, K, (Figures 7, 16), so as to be moved positively in both directions..
The cams B, K, act directly on frames 42, 43, which are connected by links to short
arms 44, 45, formed on the bosses of the levers b, k, and the connecting pins are
adjustable in slots in the arms 44, 45, which slots are curved in such a way as to
allow of the length of travel of the wires being altered without altering their
outermost positions. The cam K for moving the wire 31 into and out of the roll
mould 15, 19, is shaped so as to make the wire to approach the mould and after a
slight pause to enter the mould after it is closed, the wire receiving a little oil from
pads in contact with which it moves. The cam B for moving the wire 31- into and
out of the pipe mould 32 is shaped-to make the wire withdraw a little before the
stapper 27 advances, and advance a little on the withdrawal of the stapper to insure
the perforation extending into the bowl. The wire is next withdrawn a certain
distance, which loosens it in the pipe, the wire being slightly tapered, if necessary,
to insure this loosening. As soon as the pipe is, lifted out of the mould it is taken
hold of by the delivering fingers 47, and the wire 31 is then completely withdrawn,
a hooked finger 48, as formerly, preventing the bowl from turning down.
The hooked finger 48 and its actuating details are arranged more compactly than
formerly; as are also various other parts for the purpose of getting the moulds
closer together and of reducing the distance through which the roll has to be moved
when being transferred to the pipe mould. The cam H (Figure 13) by which the
booked supporting finger 48 is moved acts on a bellerank lever h which, by means
of a slot acting on a twisted part of a vertical spindle 49, turns that spindle... The
spindle-49, by means of a pair of pinions,-turns a spindle 50 having on it the boss
of the finger 48, and this boss is raised at the proper time by a fork 51 fixed to the
part 52 holding the upper half mould. The fork 51 does not act directly on the
boss of the finger 48 but moves between stops on a tube 53 sliding on a vertical
spindle; and a fork on this tube acts on the finger boss, this arrangement allowing
the upper half-mould to be raised some distance before the pipe is raised. Figure 17
shows the fork details in horizontal section. A shield or guide. may be provided to
check any centrifugal tendency of the roll and its wire when being transferred from
-the roll mould to the pipe mould.
The delivering fingers 47 are carried and actuated to some extent as formerly,
but the parts are arranged so that the fingers do not open to drop the pipe on the
endless delivery band until the swinging movement of the arm 54 is quite com-
pleted. A cam-G (Figure 12) acting on a bellcrank lever g.gives the movements to

page_text: the arın 54 and delivering fingers 47, and some details connected therewith are.
shown enlarged in Figures 18 and 19. The lever g by means of a slot acts on a
twisted part of the central spindle 55 so as to give the swinging movements to the
arm 54, and at the end of its upward stroke acts on the bottom boss 56 of the
tube 57 so as to lift that tube and make its top act on the cranks 58 and close the
fingers 47 upon the pipe. When the tube 57 is in its highest position a spring
catch 59 on the boss 56 enters a notch in the spindle 55 and prevents the tube from
descending when the lever g begins to descend, and the fingers 47 are consequently
kept closed. On the lever g reaching its lowest position, however, the arm 54
being by that time swung outwards again, a ring 60 connected by links to the
lever g releases the catch 59 and at the same time insures the opening of the fingers
and dropping of the pipe by forcing down the tube 57. The arm 54 is represented
as arranged for being brought over the mould 32 as formerly, but it might be
arranged with the fingers opening to one side, which would admit of the distance.
to which the upper half-mould has to be lifted being advantageously reduced.
The knife 61 for removing superfluous clay is carried by a slide 62 connected to a
pair of springs 63, and is pushed into action by a bar 64 moved by a lever i which
is loose on a rocking shaft 65; and is connected to a frame 66 which is acted on by
a cam I (Figure 14). The bar 64 is made with a latch catch 68 which projects down
into a notch in the knife slide 62 when moving inwards, but on reaching the inner
end of the stroke the end of the bar 64 encounters an incline 69 which lifts and dis-
engages it, and then the knife 61 returns quickly by the action of the springs 63.
The clay removed by the knife falls down an opening 70 and is led by an inclined
channel 71 to any convenient receptacle.
Provision is made for oiling the roll half-moulds 15, 19, a bar 72 being moved
horizontally by means of a lever 67 fast on the rocking shaft 65, so that its inner
end, having brushes 73 projecting upwards and downwards, passes between the half
moulds when open, the brushes 73 getting their supplies of oil from upper and lower.
pads. Oil from a reservoir passes through a regulating stopcock and drips on the
upper pad, and part of it finds its way by the brushes to the lower pad. The
rocking shaft 65 is moved by means of a short lever m fast on it and connected to
the frame 42 which is moved by the cam B, as herein before described. A stationary
oiling brush or pad 74 (Figure 5) is also provided in a position to be touched by the
face of the bowl part of the roll when being entered into the pipe mould, the oil
being supplied in this way instead of oiling the stapper.
This
To insure a sufficiency of clay for forming each roll the clay blocks 17 are made
of a size slightly in excess, and an outlet is provided for superfluous clay.
outlet consists of a small hole, indicated at n in Figure 5, in the bottom half-moüld
15 near the point of the stem, and the clay issues through the hole into a box 75
and passes thence by an inclined channel 76, supposed to be removed, but indicated
by dotted lines.
The main vertical bar 10 of the machine may according to one modification be
actuated directly by a single eccentric or cain, or by a double cam or pair of cams,
the bottom end of the vertical bar being made with cheeks which pass down on
each side of the cam or cams, and are slotted for the passage of the main or cam
shaft 6. Antifriction rollers are fitted between the cheeks above and below the
cam or cams for the latter to act on. Or, by another modification, the main vertical
bar 10 has jointed to its bottom end a lever having a long and a short arm, to the
former of which a weight is connected or attached, whilst the latter is connected to
a piece which transmits the action of the cam or cams. The weighted lever is
designed to avoid breakage in the event of anything accidentally preventing the
complete closing of the moulds. In ordinary circumstances the weight rests on a
support and practically forms the fulcrum to the lever, being sufficient for the.
strains occurring in ordinary working; but when an obstacle prevents the complete
closing of the moulds the weight rises and the strain on the parts cannot exceed
what corresponds to it.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of per-

page_text: •
forming the same, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what we believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The simplification of the parts connected with the roll mould by giving a per-
manent position to the plunger and to the cylindrical portion of the bowl part of
the mould, as herein before described.
2. The clay-block feeding apparatus, hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The improved adjustable arrangement of the pipe-mould carrying details
combined with the parts for moving the stapper, as herein before described.
4. The arrangement for giving the stapper a lateral movement to facilitate its
separation from the clay, as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved mode of wiring hereinbefore described.
6. The improved arrangement of the wire holders and parts by which the move-
ments are imparted thereto, as herein before described.
7. The modification of the parts working the delivering fingers so that these
fingers do not open prematurely, as hereinbefore described.
"
8. The improved arrangement of parts for moving the knife, as herein before
described.
9. The improved oiling arrangements hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Robert Bird and Charles George
Roberton, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
J. K. BIRD.
(L.S.)
CHAS. G. ROBERTON. (L.S.)