Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Making Cigarettes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application. 16th Aug., 1995
T
ALL Cant 4906 Accented
Ath July 4806
Date of Application. 16th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1906 Accepted, 4th July,
4806
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Making Cigarettes.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM MAXFIELD, of 104, Oak Street,
Brooklyn, King's County, New York, United States of America.
1, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for the manufacture of cigarettes whereby the
wrapper of paper, tobacco or the like is applied spirally to the filler of tobacco
so that the pasted seam instead of extending longitudinally of the cigarette extends
spirally around the same.
The invention comprises novel means for forming the cigarette; also novel means
for properly disintegrating the tobacco after the same has been placed in its usual
commercial condition upon the apparatus, and for properly limiting and regulating
the amount of the tobacco to be loosened within the apparatus before depositing it
upon that portion of the machine which serves to form the filler and to apply the
wrapper thereto; and also novel mechanism whereby after the machine has applied
the wrapper to the filler of tobacco, the cigarettes are automatically cut off in
suitable lengths from the continuous body of paper or otherwise enwrapped filler of
tobacco which the machine is constantly producing.
In the drawings which represent one embodiment of my invention,
Figs. 1 and 1 jointly represent a plan view of the machine, Fig. 1 being such a
view of the principal part of the apparatus wherein the tobacco is loosened and
afterwards formed into a continuous body comprising a filler enclosed by a wrapper,
while Fig. 1 represents the part of the machine employed more particularly in
cutting such body into cigarettes of suitable lengths, the two figures appearing
separated only for the purpose of illustrating the machine on a sufficiently large
scale.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, the cutting mechanism however being
omitted.
Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the tobacco feeding and disintegrating
mechanism and of connecting portions of the part of the machine employed in
forming the filler and in combining with it the wrapper.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section along line 4, 4, in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section along line 5, 5, in Fig. 1 looking towards the
rollers employed in shaping the cigarette.
Fig. 6 is an end view and Fig. 7 a vertical section along line 7, 7, in Fig. 6 of
electrical mechanism for controlling the movement of a part of the appliances for
disintegrating and feeding the tobacco.
Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation and Fig. 9 a bottom view partly in section of the
mechanisin for cutting the cigarettes to proper lengths while Fig. 10 is an end
elevation of the principal part of the same, and
Fig. 11 is a vertical elevation illustrating the guiding devices for the band knife
employed in afore-mentioned cutting mechanism, looking at the same from the
opposite side from which Fig. 8 is taken.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section along line 12, 12, in Fig. 1, looking towards the
cigarette shaping rollers.

page_text: Figures 1, 14, 2, 3 and 4 are drawn to the same scale, Fig. 11 being drawn to a
smaller scale and all the remaining figures to larger scales.
Corresponding figures of reference throughout the different views refer to corre-
sponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, 20 represents the main frame upon which the operating
mechanism is mounted and which may be of any suitable construction. It is here
represented in the form of a rectangular table, with the larger and central portion
of its top cut out so as to leave only longitudinal side bars 21 and 22 and end cross
bars 23 and 24 connecting therewith, and supported by legs 25, 25. At one end of
this frame the tobacco feeding and disintegrating mechanism is secured to bars 21, 22
and 24 by bolts. 26. This mechanism comprises two upright frames 27 and 28
extending across and beyond the front end of frame 20 and resting with their
projecting ends on a sill 29 on top of a post 30, boing secured there by bolts 31.
The tobacco feeding and disintegrating mechanism comprises the following
parts 32 and 33 are endless belts adapted to travel over horizontal rollers 34, 35
and 36, 36¹ respectively. These rollers are journalled in suitable bearings provided
on upright frames 27 and 28. 37, 38 and 40, 41 are small drums and 39 and 42
larger ones, all provided on their peripheries with pins or other suitable projections
adapted to enter into and to separate when co-acting with each other the small
particles or fibres of the tobacco commonly used in the manufacture of cigarettes.
Motion is imparted to the roller 34 from a pulley 43 on its shaft and which
derives its motion from a pulley 66ª hereinafter referred to. 44 is a cog wheel on
the same shaft, and 45, 46 and 47 additional cog wheels, the latter two mounted on
the shafts of pronged drums 37 and 38 respectively. 49 is a pulley on the shaft of
roller 36. Said roller and pulley receive motion. from any suitable source of
power, and said pulley imparts power through a crossed belt 52 to a pulley 53
provided on the shaft of pronged drum 41, whereby the latter is actuated. A
pulley 54 on the shaft of. pronged drum 42 imparts revolving motion derived from
any suitable source of power to a pulley 55 on the shaft of pronged drum 39
through a belt, 56. From the relative positions of the herein described parts
forming said mechanism it will be seen that the travelling of the belts and the
revolving of the drums and rollers will take place in the directions of the arrows
as indicated particularly in Figures 2 and 3. The pulleys and gearing are so
proportioned that the peripheral speed of rollers 34, 35, 36, 36' and drums 37
and 38 is the same, while that of drums 40 and 41 is slightly less, and that of
drums 39 and 42 much greater.
The tobacco as it is first placed on belt 32 is conducted by said belt into the
space, between drums 37, 38 and is there, as well as when delivered therefrom upon
drum 39, picked or disintegrated by the action of the projections or points on sail
three drums and is then deposited upon travelling belt 33 which conducts it towards
pronged drums 40, 41 and 42 where similar action takes place and the picking or
disintegrating process is completed. 57, 57 are stationary guard rails or flanges
secured to frames 27 and 28 along the path of the upper branch of endless belt 32
for preventing the tobacco from dropping off sideways. There is likewise a device
provided for confining the tobacco on the upper branch of endless belt 33 as the
same approaches the pronged drums 40 and 41. This device is constructed in the
form of a hood 58, extending substantially parallel with said belt and over said
drums, its vertical sides extending close to and below the edges of the upper
branch of said belt, so as to guard against the tobacco passing beyond said edges.
58 is a guide roller which compels the tobacco to enter underneath hood 58:
the upper part of the disintegrating device will supply the tobacco faster to endless
belt 33 than the cigarette forming part of the machine underneath the same can
properly use, I employ in connection with hood 58 a regulating device by the use
of which packing of the tobacco underneath said hood can only take place to a
certain desired extent and whereby the supply of. tobacco to the cigarette forming
part of the machine can be regulated, and which regulating device is so affected by
the tobacco moving on belt 33 towards drums 40, 41 as to interrupt the supply of
As

page_text: tobacco to the picking or disintegrating devices above belt 33, when a surplus of
tobacco has accumulated on said belt and until the same has been properly disposed
of. This regulating device is here shown to accomplish the intermittent movement
of belt 32 by the following means: Near that end of hood 58 underneath which
the tobacco first passes there is provided in its roof an opening 59 and an electric
contact piece 60 shown to be constructed as an elastic gate closing said opening and
so screwed or otherwise attached to the end of said hood as to be capable of a
slight outward movement when tobacco is accumulated and becomes packed
underneath it. 61 is another contact piece adapted to form part of the same
electric circuit as contact piece 60. Outward movement of the latter will bring it
into operative contact with the former, thus establishing an electrical circuit
capable of energizing, by means of conductors 62 and 63, (which are connected
with some suitable source of electrical energy) an electro-magnet 64 provided with
an armature 65. (See Figs. 6 & 7.) 66 is a ratchet wheel on the same shaft with
a pulley 66 from which motion may be imparted to pulley 43 by a belt 66. 67 is
another ratchet wheel on the same axle with a pulley 68 which receives motion
from the main shaft. Said ratchet wheel 67 is mounted on lever 69 which lever is
fulcrumed on axle 70. When wheel 67 is forced towards wheel 66, so as to
make their teeth co-act, the upper belt 32 will be kept in motion through the
instrumentality of pulley 66", belt 66 and pulley 43, while when the two ratchet
wheels are moved apart the travel of said belt will necessarily stop. 71 is a spring
for pormally holding the two ratchet wheels out of operative contact. 72. is a
stationary rail, its channeled surface facing towards lever 69 being adapted to
receive and guide a slide 73 the lower end of which is wedge-shaped and capable
of engaging with the side of lever 69 and of forcing said lever towards ratchet
wheel 66, until the two ratchet wheels come in operative contact with each other
and thereby insure the revolving of roller 34 and with it the travel of endless
belt 32, while upward movement of slide 73 will permit the two ratchet wheels to
separate owing to the action of spring 71, which will cause stoppage in the
movement of belt 32, thus cutting off the supply of tobacco from. pronged
drums 37, 38, 39 and consequently from endless belt 33.
Automatic movement of slide 73 is accomplished by the action of electro-
magnet 64 in conjunction with a cam 74, levers 75, 76, 77 and 78 and spring 79.
Cam 74 revolves continuously around shalt 80 during the operation of the machine,
receiving its motion from any suitable source of power. Lever 75 rocks on fixed
shaft 81 and co-acts with the periphery of cam 74 through friction roller 82.
Through the swinging end of lever 75 passes a pin 83 which serves as a fulcrum
for lever 76. Spring 79 so engages with the lower end of said lever as to
constantly tend to pull the same downward, thus at all times holding friction
roller 82 in contact with the periphery of cam 74. The upper end of lever 76 is
provided with a friction roller 84 which is adapted to engage with and to travel
along two elongated notches 85 and 86 which are provided on the underside of
lever 77 symmetrical with reference to pivot 87 around which said lever is adjusted
to rock, projection 88 between said two notches being located directly underneath
said pivot. The left hand end of lever 77 contains an elongated eye 73 within
which a pin 73 fixedly attached to slide 73 is adapted to travel for the purpose of
making it possible to convert rocking motion of lever 77 into sliding motion of
bar 73. Lever 78 carries armature 65 and is hinged at its right hand end. to a
vertical pivot 89 secured to a bearing 90, being thus capable of swinging
horizontally towards and away from electro-magnet 64, according to whether the
same is energized or not. Near its left hand end said lever carries a friction
roller 91 which when said lever is swung upwards electro-magnet 64 rests
alternately against the elongated projection 92 and the narrower part 92 of
lever 76, thus causing said portions of such lever to travel in contact with roller 91
while lever 76 moves upward and downward actuated by cam 74 and spring 79.
The most elevated positions which cam 74 and levers 75 and 76 occupy while
electro-magnet 64 is energized are indicated in full lines in Figure 6, while their

page_text: lowermost positions under the same condition of the electro-magnet are shown in said
Fig. 6 in broken lines. When electro-magnet 64 becomes de-energized the force of
a spring 93 applied to armature bar 78 will throw the same outward so as to remove
friction roller 91 from contact with lever 76, which will permit the spring 94 resting
against the upper portion of lever 76 to force the same to the right, thus causing
friction roller 84, as soon as lever 76 again assumed its inost elevated position to
enter into notch 86, thus throwing the right hand end of lever 77 upward, and this
will result in the sliding downward of bar 73 until it engages with lever 69, thus
again bringing the two ratchet wheels 67 and 66 into operative contact and thereby
again imparting movement to endless belt 32 and consequently again supplying
tobacco to lower belt 33. As the energizing and de-energizing of electro-
magnet 64 is accomplished in accordance with and by the movement of gate 60, it
will readily be seen that whenever the tobacco on belt 33 begins to pack sufficiently
underneath said gate to force the same upward this will through the instru-
mentalities above described result in an interruption of the supply of tobacco to the
disintegrating device until such condition has been relieved. This relief will take
place promptly and automatically owing to the fact that during the stoppage of
feed belt 32, the movement of belt 33 and with it the discharge of the tobacco
from underneath hood 58 will continue. When the electro-magnet becomes
energized, lever 78 with its friction roller 91 will be drawn towards said electro-
magnet and against lever 76, and while said lever occupies its depressed position
the friction roller will be enabled to engage with the edge of the upper narrow part
thereof, and while directly afterwards said lever 76 is assuming its elevated position
the friction roller will travel along the edge of said lever until it comes to rest upon
the edge of projection 92 whereby lever 76 will be forced towards the left,
bringing friction roller 84 into notch 85, thus throwing upward the left hand
portion of lever 77, withdrawing slide 73 from contact with lever 69 and permitting
spring 71 to throw ratchet wheel 67 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 66 thus
again interrupting the movement of feed belt 32.
95 is a hopper, placed underneath pronged drum 42. A shield 96 placed opposite
the outer surface of said drum serves to conduct the tobacco from drums 40, 41 into
said hopper to be deposited by the same upon the cigarette forming apparatus
hereinafter described.
An endless apron 96ª is supported and travels on the rollers 97 and 98. 99 is a
sprocket wheel on the same shaft with roller 98 and receiving motion through
sprocket chain 100 from a wheel on main shaft 101. 102 is a bracket extending
from bar 21 of the frame of the machine above and to near the central portion of
apron 96. Said, bracket carries a wheel 103 on which the tobacco, paper or other
material 104 from which the cigarette wrappers are to be made is wound. In this
case such material is assumed to be a strip of paper, and the same is shown to
unwind in the same direction in which apron 96" travels.
105 and 106 ure two metal rollers, placed parallel with and in close proximity to
each other and also to apron 96* upon which roller 106 rests. To insure close
contact between said roller 106 and the apron a leaf 107 may be made to extend
from bar 22 of the machine frame close to and underneath the upper branch of said
apron in the vicinity of said roller. The forward end of roller 105 is coue-shaped
and revolubly mounted in a bracket 108 extending from bar 22 of the frame, while
its rear end is likewise mounted in a bracket 109 on bar 23. Roller 106 is mounted
correspondingly in brackets 110 and 111 and carries a cog wheel 112 by which
revolving motion is imparted to it through cog wheels 113, 114 and 115, shaft 116,
pulley 117, belt 118 and pulley 119 mounted on main shaft 101. Roller 106 is
longer than roller 105 extending forward beyond the conical end of the latter, the
rear ends of the two rollers being even. 120 is a disk slightly inclined with
reference to the upper surface of apron 96ª, and so supported by a shaft in
bracket 121 as to bring the most elevated portion of its under surface close to the
roller 106 and near to and underneath the conical end of roller 105. The position
of hopper 95 is such as to cause it to deposit the loose tobacco near the edge of

page_text: apron 96 approximately in line with such most elevated portion of disk 120, so
that as said apron travels it will conduct the loose tobacco in the direction of the
arrow in Fig. 1 towards such portion of the disk, and the tobacco will be guided
by the said disk underneath the conical end of roller 105 and into the space formed
between rollers 105, 106 and aprou 96*. Said rollers are placed at an oblique
angle to the direction of the strip of paper 104.
122 is a trough containing glue or paste into which a roller 123 dips. Said
roller transfers glue from its periphery to an auxiliary roller 124, the periphery of
which applies said glue to one edge of the strip of paper 104 near a point where
the same is made to pass underneath roller 105. Roller 106 imparts revolving
motion to roller 105 by means of gearing 125, 126, 127 shown more particularly in
Fig. 12, wherein the directions in which the gear wheels and said rollers revolve
are indicated by arrows. Revolving motion of glue applying rollers 123 and 124
is secured by means of the co-acting friction rollers 125 and 126 mounted on their
respective shafts, shaft 130 of rollers 123 and 125 carrying a pulley 131 which
receives its motion from a suitable pulley 132 on shaft carrying roller 98. Revolving
movement is likewise transmitted from the same shaft to inclined disk 120 through
a belt 133 passing around idlers 134 and pulley 135.
The operation of the above described cigarette forming portion of the machine
is as follows:-The tobacco after passing underneath the elevated portion of
disk 120 is conducted, owing to the simultaneous movement of apron 96* and
rollers 105 and 106, as described above, along the under sides of and between said
rollers and on top of said apron, towards the point where the strip of paper 104 by
passing underneath roller 105 is introduced into such space. Said strip of paper
owing to the oblique direction under which it is placed with reference to said
rollers will by its contact with said rollers be coiled spirally around the body of
tobacco constantly moving towards it, teuding at the same time to compress such
body prior to the gluing together of its edges which also takes place owing to the
action of said rollers. From the point where filler and wrapper are thus united
they travel together for a considerable distance towards the rear ends of said
rollers, as will be seen more particularly from Fig. 1, and thus an opportunity
is given to the glue to thoroughly unite the edges of the wrapper, and to the
body of the filler to partake of a thoroughly homogeneous condition before
the endless cigarette 136 leaves this part of the machine as indicated in Figs. 1
and 12.
It will be seen that the diameter of the cigarette so produced is determined by
that of the largest circle which can be placed between rollers 105 and 106 and
apron 96. The rollers must rest as closely as practicable upon said apron to keep
the tobacco confined between them, it being however necessary to elevate
roller 105 sufficiently above said apron, say about 1 of an inch to guard against
the glue on the wrapping strip being deposited upon it, while passing underneath
said roller; hence if it be desired to enlarge the diameter of the cigarette this is
accomplished by slightly displacing said rollers laterally with reference to each
other. For such purpose brackets 108 and 109 are secured to the machine
frame by screws 137 passing through suitable slots 138 in the bases of said brackets
whereby lateral displacement of roller 105 is made possible. A corresponding
adjusting arrangement is also illustrated in Fig. 1 with reference to guiding
disk 120, so that its position may be varied slightly if desired.
139 is a
presser foot for confining the paper which is to form the wrapper close to
apron 96
The product resulting from the employment of the cigarette forming portion of
my machine is a continuous body comprising a suitable packed filler of tobacco
enclosed within a spirally wound wrapper; and in order to cut the same up into
cigarettes of proper lengths a suitable cutting mechanism may be combined
therewith.
My preferred form of cutting mechanism is illustrated more particularly in
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 and is constructed as follows:-Near the point where the

page_text: continuous cigarette body leaves rollers 105 and 106 a standard 140 is secured
to bar 23. The upper extremity of said standard is adapted to receive and
to fixedly confine tubes of interior diameters slightly in
excess of the
diameters of cigarettes which the machine is capable of producing. Such
a tube is indicated by 141. The axis of such tube corresponds with the
axis of the cigarette body leaving the forming mechanism so as to receive
such cigarette body readily. 142 is a tube of an interior diameter equal to the
exterior diameter of tube 141 and capable of sliding thereon. 143 is a spiral
spring attached both to standard 140 and tube 142 with its tension so adjusted as
to normally draw the latter towards the former. From the underside of tube 142
two hangers 144 extend downward and are provided at their lower extremities
with suitable bearings for a shaft 145 to the ends of which are fixedly secured
tappet arms 146 and 147. A cam or eccentric 148 is mounted on a vertical shaft
underneath the free portion of tube 141 and the same is kept revolving constantly
by any suitable means. Its periphery, owing to the action of spring 143,
constantly engages with a toe 149 extending downward from tube 142, and it
will be seen that owing to the combined operation of said cam and said spring
tube 142 will receive reciprocating motion, a total revolution of the eccentric
corresponding with one forward and one backward movement of tube 142.
150 is an endless knife adjusted to travel vertically and over two
pulleys 151, 151. About midways between said pulleys the knife also travels in
contact with the periphery of a small idler 152 which is secured to the upper end
of tappet arm 147, and it is by the rocking of this arm that the position of the
band knife in contact with said idler is so deflected intermittently as to pass
across the path of the cigarette body at the end of tube 142 and at each time cut
off a cigarette of a predetermined length.
Rocking motion of tappet arm 147 is produced by means of a projection 153
on the under side of eccentric 148 which at each revolution of said eccentric
comes in contact with tappet arm 146 and thereby imparts to the latter and
consequently to arm 147 such rocking motion. It will be seen that the body of
the cigarette emerges from that end of tube 142 nearest to the endless knife and
that while said tube is being forced towards its extreme position, to the right of that
shown in Fig. 8, the blade of the knife will be deflected by it laterally in the
same direction, and that when rocking movement of tappet arm 147 occurs and
the cutting of the cigarette is thus accomplished, the cutting will take place at
right angles to the cigarette owing to the movements in two directions, and at
right angles to each other, of the operative portion of the blade of the knife at the
same time. The tension of the knife will assist in spring back tappet arm 147, as
soon as projection 153 has cleared tappet arm 146.
The length of the cigarettes to be cut off may be varied, by employing
eccentrics of various eccentricities and such eccentrics should therefore be made
detachable and interchangeable. All the different functions of the machine are
performed automatically and the cigarettes produced by it are of a superior
manufacture in every respect.
While I have shown the rollers 105 and 106 placed diagonally with reference
to apron 96ª, such rollers might be placed parallel to the direction in which such
apron travels and the same results obtained, provided the strip of paper designed
to serve as wrapper be introduced underneath roller 105 in an oblique direction
with reference to said roller.
Dated this 15th day of August · 1005

page_text: αρματα
making Vigarettes.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM MAXFIELD, of 104, Oak Street,.
Brooklyn, King's County, New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same 19 to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following:
statement:
:
My invention relates to machines for the manufacture of cigarettes whereby the
wrapper of paper, tobacco or the like is applied spirally to the filler of tobacco so
that the pasted seam instead of extending longitudinally of the cigarette extends.
spirally around the same.
The invention' comprises novel means for forming the cigarette; also novel
means for properly disintegrating the tobacco after the same has been placed in
its usual commercial condition upon the apparatus, and for properly limiting and
regulating the amount of the tobacco to be loosened within the apparatus before
depositing it upon that portion of the machine which serves to form the filler and
to apply the wrapper thereto; and also novel mechanism whereby after the
machine has applied the wrapper to the filler of tobacco, the cigarettes are
automatically cut off in suitable lengths from the continuous body of paper
or otherwise enwrapped filler of tobacco which the machine is constantly
producing.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification representing one
embodiment of my invention,
Figures 1 and 14 jointly represent a plan view of the 'machine, Figure 1 being
such a view of the principal part of the apparatus wherein the tobacco is loosened
and afterwards formed into a continuous body comprising a filler enclosed by a
wrapper, while Fig. 14 represents the part of the machine employed more
particularly in cutting such body into cigarettes of suitable lengths, the two-
figures appearing separated only for the purpose of illustrating the machine on a.
sufficiently large scale.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, the cutting mechanism however being
omitted.
1
Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the tobacco feeding and dis-
integrating mechanism and of connecting portions of the part of the machine
employed in forming the filler and in combining with it the wrapper.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section along line 4, 4, in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section along line 5, 5, in Fig. 1 looking towards the
rollers employed in shaping the cigarette.
Fig. 6 is an end view and Fig. 7 a vertical section along line 7, 7, in Fig. 6 of
electrical mechanism for controlling the movement of a part of the appliances for
disintegrating and feeding the tobacco.
,
Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation and Fig. 9 a bottom view partly in section of the
mechanism for cutting the cigarettes to proper lengths' while Fig. 10 is an end.
elevation of the principal part of the same, and
Fig. 11 is a vertical elevation illustrating the guiding devices for the band
knife employed in aforementioned cutting mechanism, looking at the same from
the opposite side from which Fig. 8 is taken.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section along line 12, 12, in Fig. 1, looking towards the
cigarette shaping rollers.
1

page_text: Figures 1, 1, 2, 3 and 4 are drawn to the same scale, Fig. 11 being drawn to a
smaller scale and all the remaining figures to larger scales.
Corresponding figures of reference throughout the different views refer to
corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, 20 represents the main frame upon which the operating
mechanism is mounted and which may be of any suitable construction. It is here
represented in the form of a rectangular table, with the larger and central portion
of its top cut out so as to leave only longitudinal side bars 21 and 22 and end cross
bars 23 and 24 connecting therewith, and supported by legs 25, 25. At one end of
this frame the tobacco feeding and disintegrating mechanism is secured to bars 21,
22 and 24 by bolts 26. This mechanism comprises two upright frames 27 and 28
extending across and beyond the front end of frame 20 and resting with their
projecting ends on a sill 29 on top of a post 30, being secured there by bolts 31.
The tobacco feeding and disintegrating mechanism comprises the following
parts: 32 and 33 are endless belts adapted to travel over horizontal rollers, 34,
35 and 36, 36¹ respectively. These rollers are journaled in suitable bearings
provided on upright frames 27 and 28. 37, 38 and 40, 41 are small drums and
39 and 42 larger ones, all provided on their peripheries with pius or other suitable
projections adapted to enter into and to separate when co-acting with each other the
small particles or fibres of the tobacco commonly used in the manufacture of
cigarettes.
Motion is imparted to the roller 34 from a pulley 66* hereinafter referred to.
44 is a cog wheel on the same shaft, and 45, 46 and 47 additional cog wheels, the
latter two mounted on the shafts of pronged drums 37 and 38 respectively. 49 is n
pulley on the shaft of roller 36¹. Said roller and pulley receive motion from any
suitable source of power, and said pulley imparts power through a crossed belt 52
to a pulley 53 provided on the shaft of pronged drum 41, whereby the latter is
actuated. A pulley 54 on the shaft of pronged drum 42 imparts revolving motion
derived from any suitable source of power to a pulley 55 on the shaft of pronged
drum 39 through a belt 56. From the relative positions of the berein described
parts forming said mechanism it will be seen that the travelling of the belts and the
revolving of the drums and rollers will take place in the directions of the arrows
as indicated particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The pulleys and gearing are so pro-
portioned that the peripheral speed of rollers 34, 35, 36, 36' and drums 37 and 38
is the same, while that of drums 40 and 41 is slightly less, and that of drums 39
and 42 much greater.
The tobacco as it is first placed on belt 32 is conducted by said belt into the
space between drums 37, 38 and is there, as well as when delivered therefrom upon
drum 39, picked or disintegrated by the action of the projections or points on said
three drums and is then deposited upon travelling belt 33 which conducts it towards
pronged drums 40, 41 and 42 where similar action takes place and the picking or
disintegrating process is completed. 57, 57 are stationary, guard rails or flanges
secured to frames 27 and 28 along the path of the upper branch of endless belt 32
for preventing the tobacco from dropping off sideways. There is likewise a device
provided for confining the tobacco on the upper branch of endless belt 33 as the
same approaches the pronged drums 40 and 41. This device is constructed in the
form of a hood 58, extending substantially parallel with said belt and over said
drums, its vertical sides extending close to and below the edges of the upper
branch of said belt, so as to guard against the tobacco passing beyond said edges.
58 is a guide roller which compels the tobacco to enter underneath hood 58.
the upper part of the disintegrating device will supply the tobacco faster to endless
belt 33 than the cigarette forming part of the machine underneath the same can
properly use, I employ in connection with hood 58 a regulating device by the use
of which packing of the tobacco underneath said hood can only take place to a
certain desired extent and whereby the supply of tobacco to the cigarette forming
part of the machine can be regulated, and which regulating device is so affected by
the tobacco moving on belt 33 towards drums 40, 41 as to interrupt the supply of
As

page_text: tobacco to the picking or disintegrating devices above belt 33, when a surplus of
tobacco has accumulated on said belt and until the same has been properly disposed
of. This regulating device is here shown to accomplish the intermittent movement
of belt 32 by the following means: Near that end of hood 58 underneath which
the tobacco first passes there is provided in its roof an opening 59 and an electric
contact piece 60 shown to be constructed as an elastic gate closing said opening and
so screwed or otherwise attached to the end of said hood as to be capable of a
slight outward movement when tobacco is accumulated and becomes packed under-
neath it. 61 is another contact piece adapted to form part of the game electric
circuit as contact piece 60. Outward movement of the latter will bring it into
operative contact with the former, thus establishing an electrical circuit capable of
energizing, by means of conductors 62 and 63, (which are connected with some
suitable source of electrical energy) an electro-magnet 64 provided with an
armature 65. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) 66 is a ratchet wheel on the same shaft with
a pulley 66 from which motion may be imparted to pulley 43 by a belt 66. 67 is
another ratchet wheel on the same axle with a pulley 68 which receives motion from
the main shaft. Said ratchet wheel 67 is mounted on lever 69 which lever is
fulcrumed on axle 70. When wheel 67 is forced towards wheel 66, so as to make
their teeth co-act, the upper belt 32 will be kept in motion through the instrumen-
tality of pulley 66", belt 66 and pulley 43, while when the two ratchet wheels are
moved apart the travel of said belt will necessarily stop. 71 is a spring for
normally holding the two ratchet wheels out of operative contact. 72 is a stationary
rail, its channelled surface facing towards lever 69 being adapted to receive and
guide a slide 73 the lower end of which is wedge-shaped and capable of engaging
with the side of lever 69 and of forcing said lever towards ratchet wheel 66, until
the two ratchet wheels come in operative contact with each other and thereby
insure the revolving of roller 34 and with it the travel of endless belt 32, while
upward movement of slide 73 will permit the two ratchet wheels to separate owing
to the action of spring 71, which will cause stoppage in the movement of belt 32,
thus cutting off the supply of tobacco from pronged drums 37, 38, 39, and
consequently from endless belt 33.
Automatic movement of slide 73 is accomplished by the action of electro-
magnet 64 in conjunction with a cam 74, levers 75, 76, 77 and 78 and spring 79.
Cam 74 revolves continuously around shaft 80 during the operation of the machine,
receiving its motion from any suitable source of power. Lever 75 rocks on fixed
shaft 81 and co-acts with the periphery of cam 74 through friction roller 82.
Through the swinging end of lever 75 passes a pin 83 which serves as a fulcrum
for lever 76. Spring 79 so engages with the lower end of said lever as to con-
stantly tend to pull the same downward, thus at all times holding friction roller 82
in contact with the periphery of cam 74. The upper end of lever 76 is provided
with a friction roller 84 which is adapted to engage with and to travel along two
elongated notches 85 and 86 which are provided on the underside of lever 77
synimetrical with reference to pivot 87 around which said lever is adjusted to rock,
projection 88 between said two notches being located directly underneath said pivot.
The left hand end of lever 77 contains an elongated eye 731 within which a pin 73%
fixedly attached to slide 73 is adapted to travel for the purpose of making it
possible to convert rocking motion of lever 77 into sliding motion of bar 73.
Lever 78 carries armature 65 and is hinged at its right hand end to a vertical
pivot 89 secured to a bearing 90, being thus capable of swinging horizontally
towards and away from electro-magnet 64, according to whether the same is
energized or not. Near its left hand end said lever carries a friction roller 91
which when said lever is swung towards electro-magnet 64 rests alternately against
the elongated projection 92 and the narrower part 92" of lever 76, thus causing said
portions of such lever to travel in contact with roller 91 while lever 76 moves.
upward and downward actuated by cam 74 and spring 79. The most elevated
positions which cam 74 and levers 75 and 76 occupy while electro-magnet 64 is.
energized are indicated in full lines in Figure 6, while their lowermost positions
B

page_text: under the same condition of the electro-magnet are shown in said Figure 6 in broken
lines. When electro-magnet 64 becomes de-energized the force of a spring 93 applied
to armature bar 78 will throw the same outward so, as to. remove friction roller 91
from contact with lever 76, which will permit the spring 94 resting against the
upper portion of lever 76 to force the same to the right, thus causing friction
roller 84, as soon as lever 76 again assumed its most elevated position to enter
into notch 86, thus throwing the right hand end of lever 77 upward, and this will
result in the sliding downward of bar 73 until it engages with lever 69, thus again
bringing the two ratchet wheels 67 and 66 into operative contact and thereby
again imparting movement to endless belt 32 and consequently again supplying
tobacco to lower belt 33. As the energizing and de-energizing of electro-
magnet 64 is accomplished in accordance with and by the movement of gate 60, it
will readily be seen that whenever the tobacco on belt 33 begins to pack sufficiently
underneath said gate to force the same upward this will through the instru-
mentalities above described result in an interruption of the supply of tobacco to
the disintegrating device until such condition has been relieved. This relief will
take place promptly and automatically owing to the fact that during the stoppage
of feed belt 32, the movement of belt 33 and with it the discharge of the tobacco
from underneath hood 58 will continue. When the electro-magnet becomes
energized, lever 78 with its friction roller 91, will be drawn towards said electro-
magnet and against lever 76, and while said lever occupies its depressed position
the friction roller will be enabled to engage with the edge of the upper narrow
part thereof, and while directly afterwards said lever 76 is assuming its elevated
position the friction roller will travel along the edge of said lever until it comes to
rest upon the edge of projection 92 whereby lever 76 will be forced towards the
left, bringing friction roller 84 into notch 85, thus throwing upward the left hand
portion of lever 77, withdrawing slide 73 from contact with lever 69 and permitting
spring 71 to throw ratchet wheel 67 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 66 thus
again interrupting the movement of feed belt 32.
95 is a hopper, placed underneath pronged drum 42. A shield 96 placed
opposite the outer surface of said drum serves to conduct the tobacco from
drums 40, 41 into said hopper. to be deposited by the same upon the cigarette-
forming apparatus hereinafter described.
An endless apron 96 is supported and travels on the rollers, 97 and 98. 99 is a
sprocket wheel on the same shaft with roller 98 and receiving motion through
sprocket chain 100 from a wheel on main shaft 101. 102 is a bracket extending
from bar 21 of the frame of the machine above and to near the central portion of
apron 96. Said bracket carries a wheel 103 on which the tobacco, paper or other
material 104 from which the cigarette wrappers are to be made is wound. In this
case such material is assumed to be a strip of paper, and the same is shown to
unwind in the same direction in which apron 96* travels.
105 and 106 are two metal rollers, placed parallel with and in close proximity
to each other and also to apron 96* upon which roller 106 rests. To insure close
contact between said roller 106 and the apron a leaf 107 may be made to extend
from bar 22 of the machine frame close to and underneath the upper branch of
said apron in the vicinity of said roller. The forward end of roller 105 is cone-
shaped and revolubly mounted in a bracket 108 extending from bar 22 of the
frame, while its rear end is likewise mounted in a bracket 109 on bar 23.
Roller 106 is mounted correspondingly in brackets 110 and 111 and carries a cog
wheel 112 by which revolving motion is imparted to it through cog wheels 113,
114 and 115, shaft 116, pulley 117, belt 118 and pulley 119 mounted on main
shaft 101. Roller 106 is longer than roller 105 extending forward beyond the
conical end of the latter, the rear ends of the two rollers being even. 120 is a
disk slightly inclined with reference to the upper surface of apron 96*, and so
supported by a shaft in bracket 121 as to bring the most elevated portion of its
under surface close to the roller 106 and near to and underneath the conical end of
roller 105. The position of hopper 95 is such as to cause it to deposit the loose

page_text: tobacco near the edge of apron 96ª approximately in line with such most elevated
portion of disk 120, so that as said apron travels it will conduct the loose tobacco
in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 towards such portion of the disk, and the
tobacco will be guided by the said disk underneath the conical end of roller 105
and into the space formed between rollers 105, 106 and apron 96*. Said rollers
are placed at an oblique angle to the direction of the strip of paper 104.
122 is a trough containing glue or paste into which a roller 123 dips. Said
roller transfers glue from its periphery to an auxiliary roller 124, the periphery of
which applies said glue to one edge of the strip of paper 104 near a point where:
the same is made to pass underneath roller 105. Roller 106 imparts revolving
motion to roller 105 by means of gearing 125, 126, 127 shown more particularly in
Fig. 12, wherein the directions in which the gear wheels and said rollers revolve
are indicated by arrows. Revolving motion of glue applying rollers 123 and 124
is secured by means of the co-acting friction rollers 125 and 126 mounted on
their respective shafts, shaft 130 of rollers 123 and 125 carrying a pulley 131
which receives its motion from a suitable pulley 132 on shaft carrying roller 98.
Revolving movement is likewise transmitted from the same shaft to inclined
disk 120 through a belt 133 passing around idlers 134 and pulley 135.
The operation of the above described cigarette forming portion of the machine
is as follows:-The tobacco after passing underneath the elevated portion of.
disk 120 is conducted, owing to the simultaneous movement of apron 96* and
rollers 105 and 106, as described above, along the under sides of and between said
rollers and on top of said apron, towards the point where the strip of paper 104 by
passing underneath roller 105 is introduced into such space.
Said strip of paper
owing to the oblique direction under which it is placed with reference to said
rollers will by its contact with said rollers be coiled spirally around the body of
tobacco constantly moving towards it, tending at the same time to compress such
body prior to the gluing together of its edges which also takes place owing to the
action of said rollers. From the point where filler and wrapper are thus united
they travel together for a considerable distance towards the rear ends of said
rollers, as will be seen more particularly from Figure 1, and thus an opportunity
is given to the glue to thoroughly unite the edges of the wrapper, and to the body
of the filler to partake of a thoroughly homogeneous condition before the endless
cigarette 136 leaves this part of the machine as indicated in Figs. 1 and 12.
It will be seen that the diameter of the cigarette so produced is determined by
that of the largest circle which can be placed between rollers 105 and 106 and
apron 96. The rollers must rest as closely as practicable upon said apron to keep
the tobacco confined between them, it being however necessary to elevate roller 105
sufficiently above said apron, say about of an iuch to guard against the
glue on the wrapping strip being deposited upon it, while passing underneath said
roller; heuce if it be desired to enlarge. the diameter of the cigarette this is
accomplished by slightly displacing said rollers laterally with reference to each
other. For such purpose brackets 108 and 109 are secured to the machine frame
by screws 137 passing through suitable slots 138 in the bases of said brackets
whereby lateral displacement of roller 105 is made possible. A corresponding
adjusting arrangement is also illustrated in Fig. 1 with reference to guiding
disk 120, so that its position may be varied slightly if desired. 139 is a presser
foot for confining the paper which is to form the wrapper close to apron 96ª.
The product resulting from the employment of the cigarette forming portion of
my machine is a continuous body comprising a suitable packed filler of tobacco
enclosed within a spirally wound wrapper; and in order to cut the same up into
cigarettes of proper lengths a suitable cutting mechanism may be combined
therewith.
My preferred form of cutting mechanism is illustrated more particularly in
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 and is constructed as follows: Near the point where the
continuous cigarette body leaves rollers 105 and 106 a standard 140 is secured to
The upper extremity of said standard is adapted to receive and to fixedly.
bar 23.

page_text: confine tubes of interior diameters slightly in excess of the diameters of cigarettes
which the machine is capable of producing. Such a tube is indicated by 141. The
axis of such tube corresponds with the axis of the cigarette body leaving the
forming mechanism so as to receive such cigarette body readily. 142 is a tube of
an interior diameter equal to the exterior diameter of tube 141 and capable of
sliding thereon. 143 is a spiral spring attached both to standard 140 and tube 142
with its tension so adjusted as to normally draw the latter towards the former.
From the underside of tube 142 two bangers 144 extend downward and are provided
at their lower extremities with suitable bearings for a shaft 145 to the ends of
which are fixedly secured tappet arms 146 and 147. A cam or eccentric 148 is
mounted on a vertical shaft underneath the free portion of tube 141 and the same
is kept revolving constantly by any suitable means. Its periphery, owing to the
action of spring 143, constantly engages with a toe 149 extending downward from
tube 142, and it will be seen that owing to the combined operation of said cam and
said spring tube 142 will receive reciprocating motion, a total revolution of the
eccentric corresponding with one forward and one backward movement of tube 142.
150 is an endless knife adjusted to travel vertically and over two pulleys 151, 151.
About midways between said pulleys the knife also travels in contact with the
periphery of a small idler 152 which is secured to the upper end of tappet arm 147,
and it by the rocking of this arm that the position of the band knife in contact
with said idler is so deflected intermittently as to pass across the path of the
cigarette body at the end of tube 142 and at each time cut off a cigarette of a
predetermined length.
Rocking motion of tappet arm 147 is produced by means of a projection 153 on
the under side of eccentric 148 which at each revolution of said eccentric comes in
contact with tappet arm 146 and thereby imparts to the latter and consequently to
arm 147 such rocking motion. It will be seen that the body of the cigarette emerges
from that end of tube 142 nearest to the endless knife and that while snid tube is
being forced towards its extreme position, to the right of that shown in Fig. 8, the
blade of the knife will be deflected by it laterally in the same direction, and that
when rocking movement of tappet arm 147 occurs and the cutting of the cigarette
is thus accomplished, the cutting will take place at right angles to the cigarette
owing to the movements in two directions, and at right angles to each other, of the
operative portion of the blade of the knife at the same time. The tension of the
knife will assist in springing back tappet arm 147, as soon as projection 153 has
cleared tappet arm 146. All the different functions of the machine are performed
automatically and the cigarettes produced by it are of a superior manufacture in
every respect.
While I have shown the rollers 105 and 106 placed diagonally with reference to
apron 96, such rollers might be placed parallel to the direction in which such
apron travels and the same results obtained, provided the strip of paper designed
to serve as wrapper be introduced underneath roller 105 in an oblique direction
with reference to said roller.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for making cigarettes, the combination of a travelling apron,
two parallel rollers in proximity to each other and into the space between which
tobacco deposited on the travelling apron is fed and means for conducting a
wrapper underneath one of the rollers at an oblique angle to the direction of such
roller.
2. In a machine, such as referred to in the preceding claim, the combination
with the two parallel rollers adjusted to revolve close to the travelling apron, of
means for guiding the tobacco towards the head of one of the rollers, and into and
along the space between the two rollers, and adjusting devices for varying the
relative positions of the rollers laterally.

page_text: 3. In apparatus such as referred to in the preceding claims, constructing one of
the parallel rollers with a conical end arranged to extend along the body of the
other roller, and providing an adjustable disc suitably arranged in relation to the
rollers and the apron to revolve above the apron and to guide the tobacco into
the space between the rollers, substantially as set forth.
4. In a machine for making cigarettes, the combination and arrangement of parts
substantially as described and illustrated whereby tobacco deposited on a travelling
apron is introduced between suitable rollers and then has a wrapper applied to it
as set forth.
5. Providing in connection with the feeding and disintegrating mechanism of a
machine for making cigarettes a picking device for disintegrating the tobacco and
adapted to be operated intermittingly, a travelling belt upon which the tobacco is
discharged by the picking device, a wall placed along said belt and comprising a
movable portion, and means for causing stoppage of the feed belt by the movement
of such movable portion, substantially as set forth.
6. In a machine for making cigarettes, controlling the supply of tobacco to the
cigarette forming part of the machine electrically through a circuit closer adapted
to be actuated by tobacco that is being fed.
7. In a machine for making cigarettes the combination of a feed belt, a picking
device for disintegrating the tobacco, an electro-magnet, mechanism interposed
between its armature and the feed belt adapted to produce stoppage of that belt,
an endless travelling belt upon which the tobacco is discharged by the picking
device, a wall placed along the said belt and comprising a movable circuit closing
portion and electrical connections between it and the electro-magnet, substantially
as set forth.
8. In a machine for making cigarettes the hereinabove described improved
feeding and disintegrating mechanism with electric controlling apparatus operated
by tobacco being fed as set forth.
9. In a machine, for making cigarettes, the combination, with mechanism for
forming the filler and applying the wrapper, of stationary tube 141, sliding tube 142
mounted thereon and provided with hangers 144, rocking shaft 145 carrying tappet
arms 146 and 147, cam 148 with projection 153, spring 143, idler 152, and endless
knife 150 passing over suitable pulleys and said idler, substantially as set forth.
10. My improved machine for making cigarettes constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 4th day of September 1895.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.