IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING CIGARS AND OTHER SIMILA: ARTICLES
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, T, JUAN
NEPOMUCENO ADORNO, of Golden Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirty-first day of July, in the fourteenth year of Iler reign.
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, my exors, aduiors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, my exors.
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING CIGARS AND OTHER SIMILA:
ARTICLES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging
me, the said Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof.
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto-annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in making cigars, cigarettes, and similar
articles, consists principally in the employment of machinery of peculiar con-
struction, whereby these articles are made better and with much greater
expedition than by hand labor.
In order that my improvements may be more clearly understood I will first
describe the simplest form of apparatus, or that which is actuated by hand,
and I will then proceed to explain other and more perfect machinery for
making the above-mentioned articles, in which machinery all the various
motions and operations are effected by mechanical means.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, I have shewn plan views and side elevations of
two machines for making cigars, and intended to be actuated by hand labor.
These Figures are drawn the real size of the machines. Figures 1 and 2
represent a machine for making cigars in the Havannah form. It consists of
a wooden block A, on which is fixed an iron frame or standard B. To the upper
part of one of the standards a block C is hinged, in such a manner that it
may be turned back on its pivot when required. Six fluted steel rollers are
mounted in the frame or standard B and block C. Three of the rollers F, G,
others not shown. Four
H, are seen in the side view, and correspond to three
of the rollers are mounted in the fixed part of the frame or standard B, and
the two others in the upper part or hinged block C. The extremity of the
four rollers mounted in the frame B terminate towards E with conical ends,
and are united to the straight roller by universal hinges I, L. The pointed
extremity of the conical ends are supported in sockets in the bracket E, and
the other extremities of the six rollers M, N, project on the other side of the
frame or standard B and block C. These extremities of the rollers being
also fluted act as pinions; and between the six pinions there is another larger
pinion O, so that when a rotatory motion is given to the pinion O by the
handle P, all the six pinions M, N, and six rollers rotate on their axes in the
same direction.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The lock Q, whereby the
block C is securely held to the standard B, is unfastened by the handle R,
which at the same time opens the door of a hopper placed above, but not
shewn in the Drawing. Tobacco in leaf sufficient to make the inner part of

page_text: a cigar is placed in the space between the four lower rollers, and the leaf to
form the outside or wrapper of the cigar is placed obliquely. The block C is
then shut down and secured by the lock Q, and the handle P moved in the
direction the wrapper indicates. By this means all the rollers are actuated,
and the internal part of the cigar is rolled up and becomes enveloped in tho
leaf throughout the length of the rollers H, L. The extraneous part of tho
wrapper towards the extremity E is then cut off, and paste or gum water put
underneath the edge, and the handle again turned twice or thrice, and the
pointed end of the cigar is finished. If it be necessary to put on a second
wrapper, the same operation of enveloping is performed, and the cigar to be
finished requires nothing more than to have the other end cut off square and
even.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a plan view of a similar machine,
with the exception that the fluted rollers are straight, so as to form cheroots
or Mexican cigars instead of Havannah cigars. The frame A is made of
brass, and the two extremities of the rollers, together with the pinion O
attached to the handle D, are mounted in bearings in the side standards.
A pinion (not seen in the Drawings) is mounted on the spindle of the handle,
and rotates between the six fluted rollers, thereby communicating its motion
to them. The operation is the same as in the preceding instance, but as the
Mexican cigars or cheroots do not require a pointed end like the Ilavannah
cigars, they are completed by cutting off the two extremities square anl
even.
Upon referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that from A to B the fluted rollers
diminish in diameter, and likewise the space between the six rollers is dimi-
nished, so that if tobacco be placed in the space between them a conical cigar
will be made, of the same form as the Manilla cigar. In this manner, and
by suitable rollers, any kind of form and shape can be given to the cigars.
Moreover, instead of cutting the ends of the straight cigars or cheroots, they
may be bound with small pieces of ribbon, silk, or other material; this gives
to them a neat and clean appearance, and will be found an improvement. It
will be evident that if anything be placed between the rollers, and a rotary
motion given to them, the inclosed material will become enveloped, whatever
the covering may be, and therefore the rollers may be employed for making
cigarettes, or to ornament them like the cigars with gold or silk bows. This
set of rollers can be used either as an instrument to be actuated by manual
labor, or it may be combined with other mechanism, as will be hereafter
described, so as to perform all the operations by mechanical means.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a machine for cutting wrappers of tobacco or

page_text: paper, and also for cutting the tobacco in small pieces for filling cigarettes.
A, B, are two toothed wheels mounted on separate shafts, and are actuated
by the shaft C, which carries a pulley (not shewn in the Drawing), so as to
allow the application of steam or other power, or a handle can be applied
to the shaft C, so that the machine can be moved by the hand. Upon the
axes D and E, steel washers F, G, H, I, L, are placed, the edges of which,
as shewn in the Diagram, are brought into contact like the edges of two
scissor blades. All the washers are tightened and pressed against each other
by the nut M on the screwed end of the shaft E. On the shafts D and E,
and opposite to each washer, is placed a collar of leather 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
which will press the tobacco or other material against the steel washers,
cousequently, when tobacco, paper, or other or other material is placed
between the two axes D, E, and its steel washers, and motion is given to the
toothed wheels, the tobacco or other material will be cut into perfectly
straight strips or bands with great rapidity. To prevent the strips from
adhering to the washers of leather, a scraper of metal or wood is placed
underneath, for the purpose of guiding the product into a box underneath the
bench in which the frame is fixed.
Fig. 6 is an end view, and Fig. 7 a side view of the same machine. In
Fig. 7 the handle A can be removed and replaced by pulleys, for applying
motive power, if required. B is a cover of iron or other material, and screwed
on a frame to prevent the roller or washer from cutting or injuring the fingers
of the worker. This machine may be applied with any length and diameter
of the washers to cut any width or length of the material subjected to its
action; but for the purpose of cutting tobacco for the inside of cigarettes, fine
circular saws or washers with roughened peripheries are employed instead of
the washers previously described. When motion is given to these saws or
washers, the tobacco is cut in small fragments or reduced to powder, as may
be desired; hence this part of the Invention may be employed not only for
making cigars, cheroots, and cigarettes, but also for making snuff. The
machine can be worked alone or applied as a second part to the known
machine for cutting tobacco by a mechanical knife.
Fig. 8, Sheet II., is a longitudinal vertical section of a cigar machine,
composed of ten rolling apparatus similar to those which have just been
described; Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 10 is a plan or
horizontal view of the same. These rolling apparatus, marked A, A', A",
and so on, are in this machine actuated by the pinions p being made to run
along on the straight rack B, C, instead of being actuated by a handle, as in
Sheet I., and the motion given to the pinion is communicated to the rollers

page_text: which form the cigar. It will be understood that the set of rolling apparatus
already described may be placed on travelling chaius, or on straight rules, or
on the edges of vertical wheels, or on the flange of horizontal wheels, any of
which may give a continued and onward or progressive motion. In the
machine represented in the Figure, travelling chains D, E, moved by axes
and wheels F, G, are employed for the purpose of carrying the rolling-up
apparatus. H, I, represents the frame of the machine mounted 'on four
standards L, M. At the upper part of the right-hand end of the frame there
is a bed and horizontal tunnel N, where- tobacco in the leaf or raw. state is
placed. A plank or piece of wood O is placed on the bod, and by means of a
weight P attached thereto by a chain or string which passes over pulleys, as
seen in the Drawing, is constantly made to act on and press forward the
tobacco. By this means the tobacco is compressed and forced along the
tunnel N to the end thereof, where the cutting press Q descends and cuts it
in quantities necessary for the cigars, and places each quantity in- the upper
groove of the rotating block of iron R. The action of the press Q is produced
by two excentrics S, one on each side of the machine:
I will now describe the operation of this machine. On the main shaft.
there is a fast and loose pulley, adapted for receiving any motive power, or a
handle may be attached, so as to be turned by the hand: The pulley com-
municates its motion to the wheel U, shewn by dots in Fig. 8. This wheel
is provided with teeth on only half its circumference, and the other half is
quite plain and without teeth. This wheel is twice the diameter of the two
small pinions which are mounted on the axles V, F, consequently, when the
toothed segment of the wheel U passes over the pinion V, the eccentric S
is put in motion, and by means of the rods it moves the press Q, which cuts
the tobacco for the inside of the cigars and presses it into the top groove of
the block R, at the same time the tobacco in the lower groove of the same
block is being forced out and delivered to the first rolling apparatus A (Fig. 8),
while the axis T of the block R is stationary; but when the toothed segment
of the wheel U passes over the pinion F, it moves the travelling chain D, and
by the two wheels X, Z, whose diameters are respectively as one to two, gives
motion to the block R and lowers the filled groove, which delivers its tobacco
into another and second rolling apparatus, and brings up the empty groove to
be refilled with tobacco. Thus the alternate motion produced by the same
axis or wheel U, provides for making the insides of the cigars, for rolling, and
for enveloping them with the wrappers. The manual labour which this
machine requires merely consists in furnishing the rolling apparatus A¹ with
the wrapper and giving it the proper inclination, as explained in reference to

page_text: Fig. 2. The wrapper is enveloped from A to A¹. If a second wrapper be
wanted, it is enveloped from A" to A, and for the Havannah cigars, the
sharp ends are made from A to A¹, where, as it travels, the handler of
the hinged block comes against a pin a and opens the block, as shewn at A¹¹¹¹,
and delivers the cigar already finished. When the cigar is not perfectly
delivered at A, it passes under the rack b, where it is ultimately delivered
and falls in the tray c, d, whence it is taken and dried, so as to be made
ready for the market. It will be evident that any of the sets of rollers
A', A, may be removed and replaced by any other set, and consequently
Havannah cigars, Mexican cigars, Manilla cigars, or cheroots can be made
by this machine.
It is necessary to state that cheroots may be converted into Havannah
cigars if after being delivered by the machine the pointed ends are made by
hand, which will give them the form known in the market. The extremities
can be bound with silk, ribbon, or any other material.
Fig. 9 represents an end view of the same machine. A¹, A', are the fast
and loose pullies; B, the wheel, which has half of its circumference toothed;
C, D, the pinions; E, the punch or press, which cuts off the tobacco and
forces it down into the grooves of the rotating block H; D, D', are the con-
necting rods of the eccentrics F and G; I, L, the transferring apparatus;
M, N, the wrapping apparatus, with the hinged block O; P is the travelling
chain; and Q, the tray for receiving the superfluous tobacco.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the machine. N is the tunnel for the tobacco;
Q, the punch or cutting press; C, D, the travelling chain; A, A, A", A¹¹¹, the
wrapping apparatus; H, I, the sides of the frame; L, M, a table or sideboard
on which the tobacco is placed to be arranged by the workpeople; Q¹ is a
wheel, which communicates motion to several of the working parts. It is
almost unnecessary to state that cigars or cigarettes may be made alternatively
in this machine by employing the proper blocks, the cigar passing from one
block to the other to be rolled up and enveloped, or in the travelling rollers
where it can be enveloped by rotatory motion. These two varieties and all
varieties derived from them I also claim.
Fig. 11, Sheet III., is a modification of the above machine, but specially
adapted for making cigarettes. The machine consists of two parts, one which
makes the cigarettes of the Spanish and French form and kind, and consists
of three rotary blocks A, B, C; the other part constitutes the wrapping appa-
ratus D, D¹, D", in which the cigarettes, after being made, can be furnished
with tubes or mouth-pieces made of paper and enveloped in tobacco leaf.
Thus, for making cigarettes, the first part only is required, and the second

page_text: part is merely an addition to them, and is identical in principle to the machine
just described. Motion is communicated to the machine by the wheel E,
which is shewn by dots in Fig. 11, and is provided throughout half of its cir-
cumference only with teeth; this gives an alternating motion to the eccentric
Fand to the pinion and axis G. The latter by means of a lever or arm gives
notion to the pinned wheel E, and by this means actuates the working parts
of the machine. On the board L above, paper in continuous strips is placed;
the width of the strip is the length of the cigarettes intended to be made.
The paper passes over the roller A, and is tightened against it by a small iron
roller A' covered with indian-rubber. These two rollers stretch the paper
which next passes under the knife M, which has an oscillating motion from
right to left given by the rack and wheel N, which received their motion from
the eccentrics F. The edge of the knife cuts the strip of paper and divides it
into pieces of suitable size for one cigarette. The piece of paper arrives over
the top groove of the roller A, and the hopper I being full of small fragments
of tobacco properly cut, the eccentrics move the punch and press O, which
sends the tobacco over the paper and the groove of the roller A. The tobacco
so compressed moulds the paper in the groove, and by the motion of the rollers
passes under the action of a small brush and press, which are moved by the
connecting rods P. Here the loose tobacco is brushed away. The paper is
comprossed into a more finished state under the curved segment or segmental
plate Q, and partially folded thereby, and then it arrives at the bottom of the
roller A, from whence it is transferred to the second roller B. In each of the
grooves of the rollers A, B, and C, are small rectangular bars, which are moved
in these grooves by means of pins connected to the rod T of the excentric F,
so that when one of the bars of the grooves comes against one of the pins of
the excentric rod it will be forced forwards and thereby pushes out the
cigarette from the groove of the roller. When the cigarette is transferred to
the second roller the paper receives a second fold under another curved or
segmental plate R, after which it is carried down to the bottom of the roller
B, to be transferred in a similar manner to a groove in the upper side of
another roller C, where the last fold is given to the cigarette. Here the con-
necting rods S communicate their motion to the two end folders T, which fold
the end of the cigarette, which is finished and perfected under the action of the
segmental compressing plate U. Here the cigarette may be removed from
the groove X at the under side of the roller C, in order to be packed and per-
fectly finished, by ornamenting or otherwise, for the Spanish market; but if
it be required to furnish the cigarettes with pipes, tubes, or mouth-pieces, for
the French market, or to be enveloped in tobacco leaf, every cigarette must

page_text: be transferred from the groove X to one of the wrapping apparatus D, D¹, D",
which are furnished with gummed or pasted paper to form the pipes, or tubes,
or a wrapper of tobacco for the envelope, and the same operation as explained
for cigars is performed on the cigarettes, which, when finished in this manner,
have the appearance of cigars. The tray Z is to receive the loose pieces of
tobacco and prevent them from falling on the ground and being spoiled. A
board or table is also placed at the side of the machine to hold all the
materials necessary for the use of the workpeople.
Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the same machine. A, B, C, are the grooved
rollers; D, D', D", D, are the connecting rods and cranks which move the
rollers; E is the wheel and racks which move the brush and knife that cuts
the paper in strips; F is the press for cutting the tobacco and forcing it into
the grooves; G, G', the end-folding apparatus; this is the first part of the
machine. The second part consists of the travelling chain E, the wrapping
apparatus L, L, and the racks and pinions M, M'. The motion, as already
explained, is given first to the shaft on which the fast and loose pullics N,N',
are mounted. This shaft actuates the half toothed wheel O, and the train of
gearing P, Q, R, and excentrics S, S¹.
Fig. 13 represents a plan or horizontal view of the above. A, A', are the
connecting rods which give motion by their extremities to the connecting rods
B, B'; C, C, are the sides of the frame; D, E, the board which is placed at
the side of the machine for the accommodation of the workpeople.
Having now described my Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would observe, in conclusion,
that I do not intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrangements
herein shewn and described, as they may doubtless be varied without departing
from the nature and object of my improvements; but that which I consider to
be new, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention secured to me by the
berein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the tools, machines, or apparatus shewn in Sheet I., or any mere
modification thereof, for making Havannah, Manilla, and Mexican cigars and
cheroots; such tools, machines, or apparatus being made to consist of an
arrangement or combination of rollers to which rotatory motion is given, for
the purpose of rolling up the tobacco which forms the interior of the cigar, and
then enveloping the same in a leaf of tobacco or piece of paper. I claim the
exclusive use of such tools, machines, or apparatus, whether the same be used
as a tool to be worked by the hand or in combination with other mechanical
parts, so as to cause the tool or machine to perform all the necessary motions
by mechanical means, as shewn in Sheet II.

page_text: Second, I claim binding the extremities of cigars and cheroots with silk,
ribbon, or other material.
Third, claim the machine shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7 of Sheet I., and
composed of washers of different sizes or of circular saws adapted to cut
tobacco, paper, or other material into strips and small pieces for the manu-
facture of cigars, cigarettes, cheroots, and similar articles.
Fourth, I claim the machine shewn in the several Figures in Sheet II., or
any modification thereof, in which a press and punch are employed to make
the insides of the cigars or other similar articles, by forcing the requisite
quantity of tobacco into grooves or spaces provided for the purpose, such com-
pressed tobacco being afterwards enveloped in paper or tobacco leaf by means
of suitable wrapping apparatus. I claim these particular parts in whatever
way they may be combined, arranged, and actuated.
Fifth, I claim the use of the grooved cylinders, hoppers, cutting knife,
rollers of india-rubber, the folders, and folding apparatus, either separately or
combined, when employed for making cigarettes or cigars, as shewn and
described in the several Figures in Sheet III. I also claim in combination
with the same machine, the employment of the wrapping apparatus for making
pipes or tubes for cigarettes and covering them with tobacco leaf.
In witness whereof, I, the said Juan Nepomuceno Adorno, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Juan Nepomuceno Adorno came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her. Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.