Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Cigarettes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Cigarettes.
A communication from abroad by The GARCIA-RABELL TRADING COMPANY, a
Company incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, of
No. 105, Water Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, all in the
United States of America.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents; 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 certain new and useful improvements in machines for
the manufacture of cigarettes.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. is a side view partly in section, of the folding and crimping mechanism
of a cigarette machine embodying the improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view;
Fig. 3 is a front end view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide and tube
detached; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the paper folders
detached; Fig. 6 is an inner edge view of the folders detached, one series of the
folders being shown inverted; Figs. 7 to 17 are cross-sectional views taken re-
spectively on the dotted lines 7 to 17 of Fig. 2; and looking in the direction of
the arrow S. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a section of the tobacco filler and its
wrapper strip,, illustrating the successive steps in the process of folding and
securing the edges of the strip around the filler; Figs. 18 to 18 are cross sections
taken respectively on the dotted lines 7-7, 9-9, and 12-12, of Fig. 18; Figs. 19
to 21 are views illustrating a modification, and Fig. 22 is a plan view of another
modification.
The improvements pertain to the devices for applying and securing the wrapper-
strip to the tobacco rod or filler, in connection with any suitable means for preparing
and feeding the loose tobacco and for compressing and molding it into a continuous
rod and delivering it upon the wrapper strip preparatory to being enclosed therein,
and any suitable cutting devices may be used. Many of the features are equally
serviceable in cigarette machines in which the edges of the wrapper strip are
folded and secured by paste. The general arrangement and operation of the main
parts which co-act to enclose the tobacco filler in the wrapper strip and to fold
together and permanently unite the edges of the latter will first be set forth.
A continuous filler or tobacco rod 1, is fed upon a paper wrapper strip 2, which
preferably, though not necessarily, is supported upon and carried forward with
the filler through the folding devices, by an endless carrier belt 3. The belt,
wrapper strip, and filler then pass together into a cylindrical folding chamber 4,
within a tube 5 (Figs. 1 and 4) provided at its forward or receiving end with a flaring
or bell-shaped mouth piece 6, by which the belt and wrapper strip are gradually
folded closely around the filler into tubular form.
A guide 7, (Fig. 4) having a tapering central channel 8, for the passage of the

page_text: filler, and two converging side channels 9, 9, adapted to receive the edges of
the wrapper strip, extends into the mouth piece 6, in position to direct the said
edges, standing at first vertically, as in Fig. 7, through an elongated opening or
slot 10 in the upper side of the tube 5, and in between a series of folding blades.
These folding blades are of peculiar construction and arrangement, and are so dis-
posed with relation to the slot 10, that the standing edges of the wrapper strip are
first brought closely together side by side (Figs. 7 and 18*), are then gradually
doubled over upon themselves (Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 18"), and thereafter again
folded over toward or upon the body of the cigarette rod (Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 18º).
The carrier belt 3 now preferably leaves the cigarette rod and the latter continues
on alone through a guide tube 12, (Figs. 1 and 13) into an opening 13 of which
extend the co-operating serrated edges of crimping wheels
between which the folded edges of the wrapper strip pass (Fig. 14) and are
14, 15,
crimped and thus interlocked to form a permanent union, as will be understood.
The crimped fold is thereafter conducted under a presser wheel 16 extending into
an opening 17, in the guide tube 12, (Figs. 1 and 15) and is thereby pressed
down and flattened upon the body of the cigarette rod to form a finished seam.
During the passage of the cigarette rod through the guide tube 12, the carrier
belt 3 continues outside of and below the latter and preferably in contact there-
with (Fig. 13, and dotted lines Fig. 1) and again joins the cigarette rod as it
emerges from the rear end of the guide-tube, and then passes on with it through
a chamber 18, (Figs. 1 and 17) in a block 19 arranged at a convenient distance
from the guide-tube 12, and in which chamber the cigarette rod may be subjected
to a slight pressure to give the article the desired finish. The cigarette rod is then
cut into cigarettes.
The construction of the entire machine will now be described in detail.
On a bed plate 20, is a support or bearing block 21, having in its upper portion
a semi-circular groove 22, forming a seat for the tube 5, which is detachably and
adjustably secured therein by clamping plates 23, 23, bolted to the block and
engaging and conforming to the sides of the tube adjacent to their edges.
The bell-shaped mouth piece 6, as preferred is removably fitted upon the front
end of the tube 5, and its inner wall, at the contracted end, conforms to the
interior diameter of the tube so as to present a smooth and unbroken surface
therethrough.
The guide 7, made of sheet metal bent as shown to form the tapering channel S,
and converging side channels 9, 9, is suspended partly within the mouth piece, by
an arm 8 carried by the latter, and to the lower end of which arm the guide may
be attached by solder or otherwise.
The construction and relative arrangement of the devices for folding the edges
of the wrapper strip together, as preferred, has two guide plates 24, 24, imme-
diately in rear of the mouth piece 6, and bolted upon the plates 23, 23. These
guide plates are separated slightly and are each provided with a rib 25, arranged
within the slot 10 of the tube 5, and which may, and preferably does, project into
the interior of the latter to an extent equal to the thickness of the carrier belt 3.
The under face of the rib is concave in cross-section and at its forward end the rib
is bevelled off, as at 26, Fig. 5. These bevelled portions 26, 26, of the ribs occupy
positions above and about in line with the inner ends of the channels 9, 9, of the
guide 7, and facilitate the entrance of the edges of the wrapper strip in between
the plates, and operate to bring said edges gradually into close contact.
In rear of the guide plates 24, 24, are folding plates 27, 28, the inner adjacent
portions 29, 30, of which overlap and are so shaped on their opposing faces as to
form in effect an intermediate passage of spiral form. Thus, the under side of
the portion 29, is of gradually increasing concavity in cross-section, and terminates
at its edge in a rib 31, of slightly increasing depth from front to rear (Fig. 6)
while the opposing portion 30 of the plate 28, is likewise provided with an edge
rib 32, the upper face of which is inclined upward, so that as the edges of the
wrapper strip pass between the two ribs 31, 32, they are folded over the rib 32

page_text: (Fig. 9) by the rib 31 until the edges are formed into a substantially U-shaped
bead or fold.
From the contracted groove 33 the bead, which is in a substantially vertical
relation to the main body of the partially completed cigarette rod, passes from
the rib 32 and into the inverted U-shaped mouth of a final folder 36, the channel
through which is of substantially spiral form, gradually changing from the
vertical at its mouth, (Fig. 10) to the horizontal at its rear end (Fig. 12).
The wall of the tube 5, is cut away at 11, (Figs. 1 and 4) and the adjacent portion
of the block 21, (Fig. 1), is likewise cut away to provide a passage 11 so that the
carrier belt may pass readily from the tube 5 and away from the cigarette rod,
which, as stated, moves along through the guide tube 12, the belt meantime
passing under the latter and through a passage 37, in a support 38, in which the
guide tube 12 is secured, as best shown in Figs 1 and 16. As the cigarette rod
leaves the guide tube 12, it again meets the belt and passes therewith through the
chamber 18, as before described.
The forward end of the guide tube 12, (Fig. 1) preferably extends into close
proximity to the end of the tube 5, so that the cigarette rod may be properly
supported in its passage from one tube to the other.
As a preferred crimping device, a crimping wheel 14, with a serrated or other-
wise roughened peripheral edge, is mounted in bearings in the end of a lever 40,
pivoted at 41, in a standard 42, rising from the support 38, and this wheel co-acts
with a wheel 15, on an inclined shaft journalled in bearings in a standard 49,
resting on the base 20, and bolted adjustably thereto. The upper side of the
wheel 15, is bevelled off at the edge and serrated or roughened to form a crimping
surface 15, the effective portion of which occupies a substantially horizontal
plane immediately below the wheel 14, the two wheels entering the tube 12
through the opening 13, in a position to engage the opposite sides of the folded
edges of the wrapper strip (Fig. 14) and effectually crimp the same, the com-
paratively sharp edge of the wheel 15. passing readily between the body of the
cigarette rod and the folded edges and forming a support for the latter during the
crimping operation.
The wheel 14 is positively driven by a shaft 43 connected thereto by a universal
joint 44, while the wheel 15 is free to revolve in its bearings, and the wheel 14,
is pressed toward the wheel 15, by a spring 45, acting on the rear end of the lever 40,
a thumb screw 46, screwing through a threaded bearing 47, of the standard 42,
serving as an adjustable stop to limit the downward movement of the wheel 14, as
required. A stop nut 50 on the screw 46, when properly adjusted thereon, insures
a ready and correct re-adjustment of the parts when for any reason the position of
the screw in its support has been disturbed. The crimping wheel 15, may in some
instances be positively driven.
The presser wheel 16 is journalled in the free end of an arm 51, pivoted at 52
to the standard 42, and a spring 53, arranged to bear on the arm, serves to force
the wheel down through the opening 17, of the tube 12, upon the crimped fold of
the cigarette rod with a yielding pressure, thus insuring the proper flattening of
the fold to make a finished seam.
The support 38, is preferably divided horizontally. Fig. 16, the upper part 67
being hinged to the lower part, and the guide tube 12 is divided on the line w, so
that the part 67 and the standard 42 and connected devices may be swung over
to expose the channel and permit ready access to or the insertion and removal of
the tobacco rod or paper strip. The parts are held in place in operation by a
pin 69 passing through hollow projections 70 on the two parts 38, 67, see
i. 22.
In the modification shown in Figs. 19 to 21, the slotted tube 5, is made in short
sections, and the folding devices or blades are formed integral therewith, instead
of being separate and detachable as in the construction before described. When
in use these sections are arranged end to end so as to constitute in effect a
continuous tube with an unbroken interior surface.

page_text: Some kinds of tobacco in some cases may not constitute a sufficient support for
the final pressure upon the seam, as in crimping if but one wheel 14 is used. In
such case a firm support may be had by a blade 60 supported by a bracket 61, in
the channel of the guide tube 12, and extending below the wheels 14, 16, see
Fig. 22, and dotted lines Fig. 14. In Fig. 22 there are plates 63, 64, 65, 66, which
fold over the edges of the paper strip prior to the action of the crimpers.
Where paste is to be used instead of crimping a suitable pasting device is
substituted for the crimping wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me from abroad by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube, of folding devices
extending into the slot of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, and
means for uniting said edges after being folded, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube having a bell shaped
mouth piece, of folding devices extending into the slot of the tube for folding the
edges of a wrapper strip, and means for uniting said edges after being folded,
substantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube having a bell shaped
mouth piece, of a guide, substantially as described, extending into the mouth
piece, folding devices constructed substantially as set forth and extending into. the
slot of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, and means for uniting
said edges after being folded, substantially as set forth.
4th. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube, of folding devices
extending into the slot of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, means
for uniting the said edges after being folded, and a carrier belt arranged to
operate, substantially as set forth.
5th. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube, of folding devices
extending into the slot of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, and
crimping devices for uniting said edges after being folded, constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as set forth.
6th. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube, of folding devices
extending into the slot of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, a
guide tube having openings through the walls thereof, crimping devices extending
into one of the openings of the guide tube, and a presser device extending into the
other of said openings, substantially as set forth.
7th. The combination with a longitudinally slotted tube having a bell shaped
mouth piece, the guide therein, and the folding devices extending into the slot
of the tube for folding the edges of a wrapper strip, of a guide tube having openings
in its wall, crimping devices extending into one of said openings of the guide tube,
a presser device extending into the other opening thereof, and a carrier belt
arranged to pass through the first named tube and along the exterior of said
guide tube, substantially as set forth.
8th. The combination with a supporting block having a semi-circular recess in
its upper portion, of a slotted tube seated therein, and clamping plates bolted to
the block and engaging and conforming to the exterior of the tube at their inner
edges, substantially as set forth.
9th. The combination with the slotted tube having an opening in its wall near
one end; folding devices extending through the slot in the tube for folding the
edges of a wrapper strip, and a carrier belt adapted to travel through the tube
and a pass out to the exterior thereof through said opening, substantially
as set forth.
10th. The combination with the slotted tube and the folding devices extending
therein, said tube having its wall cut away to form an opening, a guide tube in
line with said slotted tube, and carrier adapted to travel through the slotted tube

page_text: and to pass out therefrom through said opening and under and in contact with
the exterior surface of the guide tube, substantially as set forth.
11th. The combination with the slotted tube, of a guide having a central
channel and two converging side channels, guide plates having ribs extending
into the slot of the tube and provided with bevelled faces, and folding devices all
constructed, substantially as set forth.
12th. The combination with the slotted tube, of guide plates having ribs
bevelled at their forward ends and extending into the slot of the tube, folding
plates having overlapping portions with oppositely disposed edge ribs, and a
final folder having a spiral channel therethrough, all constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as set forth.
13th. The combination with the folding devices, of a guide, crimping wheels
co-operating therewith to engage the folded edges of a wrapper strip passing
through the guide, and a yielding support for one of said wheels, substantially
as set forth.
14th. The combination with the folding devices, of a guide tube, crimping
wheels, one of which is journalled in a stationary support and the other in
a pivoted lever, and an adjustable stop for said lever, substantially as set forth.
15th. The combination with the folding devices, of crimping wheels, one of
which is mounted on an inclined shaft and is provided with a bevelled crimping
face, and means for positively driving one of the wheels, substantially as
set forth.
16th. The combination with the conducting channel, of an upper hinged plate
supporting the operating devices substantially as described.
17th. The blade 60 supported within the channel in respect to the folding and
crimping devices, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of November A.D. 1898.