Improvements in the Mode of and Means for Binding Rolled Tobacco under Compression.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of and Means for Binding Rolled
Tobacco under Compression.
I JOHN EDWARD RICKARDS of 90 Gough Road Edgbaston Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in the mode of and means for
binding tobacco leaves under compression previous to being cut or after being cut
by which means I dispense with the necessity for the usual moulds and presses
which have hitherto been necessary for the production of a round stick of tobacco
while by my improved mode any crease indentation or mark is obviated the stick
being finished round. Further a greater amount of moisture can be left in the stick
without affecting the color of the tobacco and this I effect as hereafter described
by means of sheets of metal which I call "opax."
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practise I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements and the mode of carrying the
same into effect.
Figure 1 shews a view of the rolling of a stick of tobacco when the tobacco
leaves used for the wrapper are laid parallel.
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the leaves rolled in a diagonal manner for the
cover or wrapper.
Figure 3 is a view of the stick when rolled & under compression.
Figure 4 shews a modification in the means for securing the metal wrap around
the stick.
In carrying my invention into effect the leaves B are first rolled around the
tobacco A either by hand or by means of one of my improved machines as set forth
in my Patents 11443 A.D. 1889 4630 A.D. 1890 and 10074 A.D. 1890 until the
usual stick of tobacco as known to the trade is produced but instead of subjecting
these sticks to the operation of molds and presses as hitherto I bind them under
compression by means of the sheets of metal E which I specially form of such
softness and flexibility that it is capable of being easily rolled up without breakage
and as readily flattened out again to a smooth surface by simply smoothing the
hand over it. These metal sheets consist of an alloy such as two parts lead and
one part tin or it may consist preferably of equal parts and is subjected to a process
by which it is coated with a deposit of tin nickel or electro plate which cannot in
any way affect the color of the tobacco while the color of the metal is of an opaque
white from which I term it "opax." This coating process is effected after the metal
has been rolled into sheets and cut to the required sizes. The stick of tobacco being
rolled either by hand or machine is then rolled within the metal sheet E until it
takes the form as shewn at Figure 3 after which it is bound around at e¹ with any
suitable binding material or may be secured by any suitable spring clip such as
shewn at F Figure 4. The stick is then allowed to remain in the metal for the
requisite time suitable for the particular class of tobacco under manipulation until
it sets when it is ready for cutting and has a perfectly natural color. A slight
amount of heat may be given to the tobacco while in the metal if required and in
the manufacture of "dark" tobacco having a greater quantity of added moisture
the tobacco may be kept in the metal and baked and afterwards allowed to cool and

page_text: .
set. The metal would be of various gauges for various sized sticks of tobacco and
tubes of the metal may be formed around the tobacco after it has been cut so that
by pressing the tobacco along the tube at one end will enable a piece of the stick to
be obtained from the other end.
In case of becoming very creased the metal may be readily re-rolled while in
case of damage it can be melted up and re-used over again.
Having now particularly ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The improvements in the mode of and means for binding rolled tobacco under
compression substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon
the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 16th der of April 1894
J. E. RICKARDS.