Improvements in Machines for Making Cigarettes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Cigarettes.
I, FRANK JAMES LUDINGTON of Waterbury, Connecticut, United States of
America, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for making cigarettes, and
which are adapted to take from a mass the requisite quantity of tobacco for a
single cigarette, enclose the same in a paper wrapper, and deliver the cigarette
from the machine duly printed or marked and trimmed ready for use.
The better to explain my meaning reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Sheets 1 and 2 are general views of the machine completed, and Sheets 3 and 4
refer to details of the printing appliances and end cutting or trimning mechanism
respectively.
Referring to the general views in Sheets 1 and 2 it will be seen that the machine
consists of a framework A. having a horizontal shaft B. fitted with a gear
wheel D. into which a pinion E. on a stud F. works the said pinion being in
connection with a driving pulley G. through which power is communicated.
The driving shaft B. is equipped with a number of cams by which movement is
given to the different levers and arms worked therefrom and at one of its
extremities it operates a vertical shaft Y. through bevel gear wheels H and I.
This shaft Y. is also fitted with cams to drive certain other levers required in the
operations conducted. Various centres of rotation and oscillation are formed at
different points in the machine but all movements are primarily derived from
either or both of these shafts or their accessories.
In Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) it will be noticed that a table K. with channel L is formed
into which the tobacco is laid by hand and along this channel runs an endless band
which is given an intermittent movement by being made to pass between two
rollers in its path under the table, these rollers being intermittently actuated by a
cam on shaft B.
The tobacco it will be seen passes under the roller M. and along the continuation
of the table and channel until it reaches the rolling table where it is enveloped
by the paper. On the way, however, it is made to spread evenly by the action of
a number of metal pins which are in connection with the lower end of the vertical
spindle N in Fig. 1. This spindle is caused to reciprocate vertically by the
lever O. worked by the cam P. and as it runs in a horizontal guide plate Q. which
is given a lateral motion by the lever R actuated by another cam on the same
shaft Y, the horizontal movement of the pins is made to correspond with that of
the mass of tobacco whilst they are engaged therewith.
A vertically reciprocating presser foot slightly compresses the material and a
vertical comb T in connection therewith settles down on it. As the endless band
underneath it stops at this moment the feed of tobacco ceases, and the amount of
the tobacco which projects beyond the comb (just enough in fact for a single
cigarette) is taken away by a deliverer U which consists of a transverse bar having
a comb V. on one side, and a plain vertical metal plate or guard W. at the other
side. This deliverer receives its motion by connecting levers with the cains
on the driving shaft B. and is arranged to travel from the position shown in the

page_text: plan, towards the comb T used in connection with the presser foot, but at such an
elevation as to be well above the tobacco. After descending to the table level so
that its comb V is in close proximity to the comb T it tears away the aforesaid
projecting tobacco and travelling closely over the table conveys the tobacco to the
position from which it in the first place started.
The tobacco thus delivered remains stationary here, as it is beyond the action of
the endless feeding band which runs through a slot in the table at the line X
and passes backward underneath the table. The above delivered tobacco will only
be removed when the deliverer returning again with a second supply between its
comb V. and guard-plate W pushes the first amount, by means of its guard plate,
off the table.
Beyond the travel of this deliverer that is beyond the extreme end of the table
hitherto referred to is arranged the rolling table. This table is seen at Z in Fig. 2.
(Sheet 1) and its extreme end in the enlarged or detail drawing Sheet 4. and
marked 1. At this point is attached the end of the rolling apron, the other extremity
thereof being attached to a swinging rod which in its orbit passes the apron under
the end of the feeding table above mentioned and it is whilst in this position that
the tobacco is received when pushed by the guard of the deliverer off the table
and the rod returning again causes the apron to roll up the tobacco as it passes
along. Before it leaves the rolling table, however, and whilst still subjected
to the rolling action it is supplied with the paper wrapper by the following
action.
The paper on a large roll A' see Sheet 2. Fig. 3. is fed through the printing
machine shown in detail in Sheet 3. the action of which will be explained
hereafter, and passing under the clamp B₁ it meets the finger piece C which is so
mounted with regard to its horizontal axis D' Fig. 2 Sheet 1. that in addition
to being able to rotate around it it can slide longitudinally thereon, thus it is able
under the action of the actuating cams to be run towards the paper, receiving
this between its upper and lower faces, and clamping it tightly it withdraws
enough paper for one cigarette, and this is parted off by a pair of scissor blades
which act at this moment. The fingers then swing towards a pasting receptacle E'
thus pasting the edge and then turn downwards more or less a half revolution
depositing the paper on the rolling table just in advance of the tobacco which is
being rolled which it envelopes, the fingers being caused to release and retire
as soon as the paper is fairly caught between the tobacco and the rolling apron.
The cigarette being thus pasted and rolled it leaves the rolling table and is
received by the fingers immediately alongside as illustrated clearly in Sheet 4. in
order to have the ends trimmed as will be hereinafter explained. The printing !
cause to be effected as the paper passes from the roll by the mechanism described
hereunder and shown in Sheet 3. of the drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is detail of clutch.
Fig. 2. shows the general position of the driving gear with regard to the
machine.
Fig. 3. is a section shewing the printing mechanism.
Fig. 4. is another view of the printing machinery.
I obtain the necessary motion. off the vertical shaft marked Y in the general
views by attaching thereto a horizontal bevel wheel capable of being thrown in
and out of gear by the following action. Above the horizontal cam is the cap 1
which is so formed as to act as a spindle around which the bevel wheel can rotate.
Upon this cap is formed a stud 2. with a screw at the head, and upon this rides a
clutch 3. which is provided with a pin as shown long enough to pass through the
flange of cap 1. and enter a hole in the bevel wheel so, that when this is in place
the bevel wheel is carried round with the cap by the rotation of shaft Y. By
lifting the clutch and slightly turning it, its pin rests on the top of the cap and the
bevel wheel is free so that the printing gear is out of connection with the machine
and may be actuated by hand (as will be explained further on) for the purpose of
working up the ink. The exact relative position of the mechanism of the printing

page_text: machine to the main movements of the machine is set by the position of the hole
n the cap and in the corresponding hole in the bevel wheel. This horizontal
bevel wheel actuates a vertical one 4. running through a bearing formed in a
oracket 5. which is bolted to the frame of the machine. The motion of the bevel
wheel 4. is through axle 8. carried to gear wheel 9. which in turn actuates
the wheel 10. and this rotates the type roller 11. and by the gut band 12.
rotates the ink roller 13. in an opposite direction. This ink roller has also an
horizontal reciprocating action the better to spread the ink and this is effected by
the lever 14 which is thrown outward by the cam on the side of wheel 15. against
the spring shown above its centre.
The ink is inserted into the ink well 16. which has a plate on the under side
the pressure of which is regulated by the screw 17. This ink well is provided
with a roller 18. which receives an intermittent impulse by means of a pawl 19.
actuated by an eccentric 20. on the shaft of wheel 15. This shaft is provided with
an eccentric 21. which causes the frame 22. carrying the rollers 23 and 24 to have
a reciprocating action whereby wheel 24 is caused to touch roller 18, take a supply
of ink and at the next portion of its movement touch roller 13, and ink it, when
however 24. again returns and touches roller 18. the roller 23. is brought in
contact with 13. and this in turn at the next part of the movement transfers the ink
to roller 25, and from there it reaches 26. and again from this to the type
roller 11. It will be noticed that roller 26. is swung on arms rotating about the
This roller can thus be turned away
axle of 25. and pulled down by a spring 27.
A spring 29
from the type roller 13. and held out of action by the pawl 28.
keeps the frame carrying rollers 23 and 24 up to its bearing against the
actuating cam.
It will be noticed that the motion received primarily by the type roller 13. (from
the outside gearing) is transferred through pinion 30. to roller 25. and from thence
to the cam wheel 15. which by its eccentric pawl works roller 18.
Rollers 23, 24
and 26 rotate only by contact. Two other contact actuated rollers in the head of
the casing work upon the roller 13. The ink by these various rollers is well and
evenly distributed.
Now it will be seen that a cam shaped roller 31. is also actuated by the pinion 30
and the function of this is to feed the cigarette paper when the printing is going on
and this it does by rotating (by contact) the drum 32 just at the moment and during
the time the printing roller is doing its work, but the next instant it is free so that
the paper can be readily drawn out by the reciprocating arm 76 which is for the
purpose of pulling upon the main roll on the extension piece or bracket 7 whilst
holding one end of the
the clamp (which has a vertical reciprocating action)
paper,
thus supplementing the short slow action necessary whilst the printing is
being effected and making up the amount of paper fed forward to the full length of
a cigarette.
By lifting the catch 33. the drum 32, which is on arms swinging from the centre 34.
can be taken out of action as shown in the dotted position. If then the main clutch
on shaft Y. be thrown out and a handle attached to the spindle of the printing
roller, the whole printing system may be rapidly rotated by hand to distribute the
ink evenly without the paper feed going on at the same time.
Referring now to the trimming process the completed cigarette as will be seen in
Fig. 5 Sheet 4. leaves the rolling table I. and by the apron and its accessory
rollers (which are carried by the rocking arms, the centre line of which is shown
dotted and marked 3) it is deposited as explained, into fingers ready to receive it.
The fingers are arranged to constitute two sets marked 4. (see also Fig. 6) of 6 each
marked 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46, on an axle 5. which runs through supporting
brackets 6. bolted to the framework 7 of the conveyor below.
An intermittent motion in the direction of the arrow at the finger 42, is given to
these finger sets so that when the apron is drawn back, a movement of 60° presents
an empty set of fingers ready for the next operation. The cigarettes in the course
of rotation are carried successively to the position of that occupied by finger 4*,

page_text: that is in proximity to the revolving disc trimming knives 8.
These knives receive
rotary motion from the gear wheels 9 and 10, the latter of which is on an axle 11.
carried by the brackets 12. which are attached to the main frame as more clearly shown
in Fig. 2. Sheet 1. At the extremity of this axle a sprocket wheel 13. is driven by
an endless chain from another sprocket wheel 14. see Fig. 1. Sheet 1. which is on
one of the main shafts of the machine. The disc knives are brought into action by
the swinging forward of their framework 15, which it will be seen is practically
continuous in so far as it embraces and is free to revolve about the axle 11, for
although these knives have their own axle 16. they and their accessories have a
radial movement about axle 11. as indicated by the dotted line at axle 16.
At each side of the knives are notched levers 17. carried on brackets 18. attached
to the brackets 6. always being pulled downward by spring 19. but having only
sufficient free movement to cause their notches to envelop the cigarette ends held in
the fingers under them. When the knives are back out of action, it will be seen
they hold these notched levers out of action also by reason of the angle pieces 20
catching in the upward turned ends thereof. Before the knives conie into action
they first allow the notched levers to descend and, therefore, they trim the cigarette
by passing between its supported portions, i.e. between the notched levers and the
fingers.
This forward cutting off, or trimming movement is caused through the fork 21. Figs. 5
and 6 and lever 22 to operate the releasing arm 23. which is mounted on, but not
fixed to an axle and which forces the trimmed cigarette in fingers 4º, out of their
grip whence it rolls down the guide 24. on to the conveyor. In Fig. 9. the
guide 24. is shown, it being notched to allow the releasing arm to travel well
forward; this guide is omitted in the plan Fig. 6. for clearness, but the catch 25. is
shown in both Figs. 5 and 6. its function being to release the cigarette should the
arm 23 have failed to do so.
As the finger sets require to have an intermittent or step by step motion, this is
given by the lever 26. which is operated by a cam on the main shaft. This lever
through the arm 27. turns the axle 28 (to which it is firmly fixed) of course not
affecting arm 23 which is loose on this axle and as will be seen in Figs. 6
and 7 through the lever 29 link 30, arm 31, and pawl 32, gives a step by step
rotating action to the ratchet wheel 33. and of course through its axle 5. to the
finger sets.
These finger sets being stationary whilst the knives are advancing and trimming,
the adjusting horns 34. in Figs. 5 and 9 being also carried forward, are caused to
gently touch the cigarette in finger 42, making certain it is well home in the
fingers.
From Fig. 9. it will be seen that each finger has a lip (held in place by a spring)
capable of slightly opening to release the cigarette when the releasing arm 23. pushes
it away.
The lever 34. attached to the arm 35. which is part of frame 15. is worked by a
cam on the same axle as that working lever 26. as before explained and in each
case the reaction produced by springs as shown.
The relative movements of the different parts have the following sequence :-
Assuming the apron and its accessories have just caused a cigarette to be
deposited in the fingers in position to receive it, the rocking arms in connection
with the apron recoil and the cam operating the arm 26. is turned, forcing the
finger feed forward one step, at which point it rests whilst the cam operating
arm 34. causes the knives to approach the fingers, their contact with the adjacent
cigarette not however commencing until after the notched levers 17 have settled
into position.
Inmediately the knives have done their work, they recede and at the latter end
of their movement lift the notched levers back out of position.
Whilst the knives were coming forward into action, their movement forced the
releasing arm 23. to advance at a quick rate and disengage the cigarette in front of
it where it falls on to the conveyor.

page_text: When the knives have returned to their normal position the rocking arms and
apron have deposited another cigarette into the fingers and the operation is
repeated.
The cigarettes fall successively upon the endless band or conveyor marked F',
see Sheets 1 and 2. whence they are carried to the reciprocating conveyor G₁ at
right angles to the endless band and thereby delivered into the tray H¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A machine for making cigarettes having the following functions, an endless
travelling feed apron, a vertically reciprocating plate with pins for distributing, a
presser foot for consolidating, a reciprocating deliverer, a rolling table, and a paper
feed and cutter, in combination with a multi-armed set of fingers intermittently
rotated, a pair of rotating and reciprocating disc knives, notched levers and clearing
arm, arranged to so synchronize with the delivery of the cigarettes from the rolling
table that these are successively received, pressed home, trimmed, and cleared,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. A machine having the above functions in combination with a printing device
provided with the necessary rollers and action to efficiently distribute the ink but
which is adapted to control the delivery of the paper at the moment of printing by
subsidiary feeding gear which becomes thrown out of action when the main feed
comes into play, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a machine having the above functions and fitted with the printing device
as above, the construction or combination of the parts whereby the printing gear
may be disconnected from the main driving gear, the subsidiary feed thrown out
and the inking gear actuated by hand to work up the ink substantially as described
and illustrated.
4. The construction or combination of parts forming a trimming device for
cigarettes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
5. The construction or combination of parts forming a printing device for use
in connection with the delivery and printing of cigarette papers substantially as
described and illustrated.*
Dated this 12th 1
Tanna 1895
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
45, Holborn Viaduct, London, Agents for the Applicant.