Improvements in Cigar Moulds.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cigar Moulds.
I, NAPOLEON DU BRUL, of 165 to 169 East Pearl Street, in the City of
Cincinnati, State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer of Cigar-
making Machinery, 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 relates to that class of cigar moulds in which the cup blocks and
matrice blocks are mounted upon revoluble heads or supports.
The objects of my invention are, First, to provide strong supports for the cup
blocks and matrice blocks. Secondly, to provide ready means for changing the
cup blocks and matrice blocks. Thirdly, to provide means for the central com-
pression of the cigar bunch. Fourthly, to provide a convenient and revoluble
mould which is adapted to be operated by one or more persons at the same time.
Fifthly, to improve the general details of construction of such a cigar-mould.
The features of my invention will be fully set forth in the description of the
accompanying drawings making a part of this Specification, in which:
Fig. 1, is a top plan view of my improved cigar-mould.
Fig. 2, is a section on line -, Fig. 1 part being in elevation.
Fig. 3, is a central vertical section.
Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the compression ring.
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the matrice drum or ring.
Fig. 6, is a detail elevation of one of the supporting heads.
Fig. 7, is an end elevation of one of the cup-block carriers and its cup-block.
In the preferred form of construction the revoluble mould is supported on a
table A by means of hangers B which depend from the supporting frame O, each
portion of which frame is formed with an overlapping flange a resting upon the
table A. Hangers B serve as bearings for supporting the shaft C. D. D' represent
heads upon which the matrice-block segments are mounted and revolved. In the
preferred form of construction the matrices are composed of a series of segments E
having tapering or bevelled sides E¹. These segments are detachably connected to
the heads and provided with matrice-blocks E². Preferably a series of these
segments are united together and are more firmly secured into an endless ring or
drum by means of the V-shaped wedges b glued to the sides of the matrice-blocks,
which strengthens and supports the sides thereof and unites them into a continuous
band. In order to firmly anchor the segments in position and to support the same
vertically against the thrust of the cups, I provide the heads with segmental
flanges c upon which the bases of the matrice-block segments rest.
d represents the grooves cut in the ends of the matrice-block segments.
e represents the lugs on the sides of the heads which enter the grooves d and firmly
anchor the segments in position upon the revoluble heads. F represents an annular
rim projecting laterally from the head D and preferably formed integral therewith.
G represents a series of ears appropriately placed at intervals around said rim.
These ears are preferably bifurcated or formed in pairs. H represents cup-block
carriers. In the preferred form of construction these carriers are each provided
with flanges h. f represents the hooks formed on the ends of the flanges that
engage in grooves i of the cup-blocks I. J represents curved or goose-necked arms
projecting out from the cup-block carriers. Each of the arms is provided with a
boss K which is pierced with an opening. represents axial pins passing through

page_text: the ears G and through the boss K of the cup-block carriers, and upon which the
cup-block carriers are hinged and turn. In order to apply compression centrally
to the cup-blocks, I provide a segmental ring L. This ring is secured by flanges
to the opposite sections of the frame O. The outer face of the cup-block carriers H
are provided with projecting transverse ribs M engaging the face of the ring L.
N represents handles on each of the cup-block carriers by means of which they are
raised and lowered, and the cigar-mould revolved. The supporting frame O is
made in two sections and secured to the table. The flanges of the segmental
ring L are extended to over-lap the abutting ends of the sections ( and are
provided with screw holes through which the screw bolts m are passed to securely
anchor the supporting frame in position on the table. This holds the two sections
of supporting frame and heads in position. The cup-block sections are secured to
the cup-block carriers by means of one or more screws r. When it is desired to
change the style of moulds the screws are removed and the cup-blocks will slide
out endways from the cup-block carriers.
The screws m are removed from the flanges 1, one of the sections of frame O is
lifted out and the nut P is slackened and removed, the shaft C moved endways out of
the hanger B when one of the heads D or D' is moved from the shaft or the shaft
moved endways out of the heads so that the drum or ring E can be removed
and another one inserted and placed between the heads and the parts secured
together again.
MODE OF OPERATION.
The operator who fills the matrices with cigar bunches raises the carrier II up
in the position shown in Fig. 3. When the inatrices of a matrice-block segment
are filled the cup-block carrier is brought back in position and the heads turned on
their shafts and the rib M of the cup-block carrier as it is turned around will bear
against the inner periphery of the segmental ring L and force the carrier down
compressing the bunches, and they are held under compression until the revoluble
mould is turned around far enough to pass out at the opposite end of the segmental
ring when the cup-block carrier is raised and the bunches removed.
By thus applying the pressure centrally upon the cup-block carrier and cup-
blocks forcing the cups into the matrices, pressure is applied uniformly along the
entire length of the bunches and they are held in compression long enough to
become set, forming much more durable, convenient and effective cigar-moulds
than those hitherto employed. A sufficient number of hinged carriers are arranged
around the rim F and an equal number of the segments are located on the heads so
as to give time enough for the bunches to become set by the time the mould has
been revolved so that the first filled mould-section comes opposite to the opening
in the compression ring above the table. By this means the same person who fills
the moulds can take out the bunches as they arrive at this point and roll the
wrapper around them and this can be continued until the sections of moulds are all
emptied when the revoluble mould can be refilled, as before.
This construction of the moulds also permits two persons to work one on each
side of the machine. After the moulds have been once filled by the bunch maker
the person who wraps the bunches can take them from the opposite side and roll
the cigars as the bunches arrive on his side of the table. For this reason the
opening in the top of the compression ring is sufficiently wide to allow two sections
to be opened at one time. As a rule the person who fills the moulds can do that
work twice as fast as the wrapper can take the bunches out and roll them into
cigars, so it is sometimes desirable to have three persons employed, one to make the
bunches and the other two to take out the bunches and roll them into cigars.
That is, one person working on one side of the table can fill two moulds while the
two wrappers on the opposite side of the table take out the bunches and roll them
into cigars.
The lowering of the drum and the hinging of this series of cup-block carriers
below the surface of the cigar-maker's table is of great importance. The bulk of

page_text: the machine being below the surface of the table renders it more compact and
convenient than if set on the table. It enables the operators to see one another
and to see the top of the mould so that they can operate the machine harmoniously
in regard to the speed of each other's work. Besides being less bulky, the machine
when hung below the surface of the table is in a more convenient position for
operation and the machine does not obstruct the light. The operator is also not
obliged to leave his seat but may make his bunches, operate the mould, and if
desired take out the bunches and wrap the cigars from the same position, which
renders the work of making the cigars easier than by the moulds hitherto
constructed.
It is not essential to glue the matrice-block segments together so as to form an
endless drum as each segment may be detachably connected to their respective
supports when the frame O can be formed in one piece.
When the matrice-block segments are, however, glued together to form an
endless band then the sectional frame O is provided only as a convenient means
for taking the machine apart to change the matrice-block segments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A revoluble cigar-mould comprising heads, a series of matrice-block segments
united together to form a continuous band and detachably connected to the heads,
substantially as specified.
2. lu a revoluble cigar-mould the combination of the heads, a series of matrice-
block segments attached to the heads, a series of cup-block carriers hinged to one
of said heads and a ring adapted to compress successively the cup-block carriers,
substantially as specified.
3. In a cigar-mould the combination of the revoluble supporting heads D, D',
provided with engaging lugs on their inner faces and an endless series of matrice-
block segments united together and provided with recesses engaging with the lugs
of the supporting heads, substantially as specified.
4. A support for a revoluble cigar-mould comprising the table A, the frame O,
the hangers B, and the shaft C, provided with revoluble heads; substantially as
specified.
5. A support for a revoluble cigar-mould comprising the table A, the sectional
frame O, the compression ring L, the hangers B, and the shaft C provided with
the revoluble heads; substantially as specified.
6. A revoluble cigar-mould comprising a table, the frame, the hangers, the shaft
and revoluble heads supported on the shaft, a series of matrice-block segments
detachably supported between said heads, and a series of cup-block carriers hinged
upon one of said heads and adapted to register with the matrice-block segments,
substantially as specified.
7. In a revoluble cigar-mould, the combination of the shaft C, the heads D, D¹,
provided with the annular flanges e a series of matrice-block segments supported
on the flanges and means for clamping said heads together, substantially as
specified.
8. In a revoluble cigar-mould the combination of a head, the cup-block carrier
hinged to the head and a cup-block I, detachably connected to said carrier,
substantially as specified.
9. In combination with the cup-block carrier H having flanges h, revoluble head
to which the cup-block carrier is hinged, and the cup-block 1 detachably connected
to the flanges of the cup-block carrier, substantially as specified.
10. A revoluble cigar-mould comprising a cup-block carrier having a handle at
one end and hinged arm at the opposite end, and adapted to receive pressure
between the handle and hinged arm, substantially as specified.
11. The combination, with a table of a revoluble cigar-mould located and seated

page_text: in an opening in the table with its centre below the surface thereof, substantially as
specified.
12. A cigar-mould matrice-block segment, formed with tapering or bevelled sides
and a matrice-block, substantially as specified.
13. A cigar-mould cup-block carrier formed with flanges and hooks, and a cup-
block having grooves receiving the hooks, substantially as specified.
14. A cigar-mould cup-block carrier formed with the hooks and a cup-block
constructed to engage said hooks, substantially as specified.
Dated this 14th day of January 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.