Improvements in Tobacco Stemming Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Tobacco Stemming Machines.
A communication from THE UNIVERSAL STRIPPING MACHINE COMPANY, of Rich-
mond, County of Henrico, and State of Virginia, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
:
This invention is in the nature of an improved mechanical means which operate
to remove the blade or laminae of a tobacco leaf from the stem by, what is known,
in the state of the art, a wiping action, effected by suitable stripping surfaces.
This invention comprehends generally, certain arrangements and combination
of parts embodying seven differentially operating parts, which engage with and
operate on the leaf at predetermined intervals to positively and effectively remove
the blade portions, from the stem without injuring the stock.
The several parts can be classed as follows: First; An automatic feeding
mechanism; Second; A leaf carrier and delivery means that receives the leaves
from the initial feeding mechanism; Third; A wiping mechanism to which the
leaves are carried and through which they are partially drawn by the carrier
means; Fourth; A supplemental leaf drawing means; Fifth; A stem deflector
and take-off mechanism; Sixth; Means for discharging the good leaf particles
as they are removed from the stem; and Seventh; Separator devices for gathering
any stem and leaf portions that are broken off as the leaf is fed to and beneath
the wiping mechanism and adapted to discharge such broken leaf and stem par-
ticles to a point different from that to which the good leaf portions are deposited.
In the drawings hereunto annexed, which form a part of these specifications;
Figure 1, is a perspective view of the complete machine as seen from the front
or feeder side.
Figure 2, is a similar view from the opposite side of the machine.
Figure 3, is a partial cross section of the machine illustrating the general
arrangement of the wiping mechanism, the rotary carrier, the stem take-off apron
and the stem deflector devices.
Figure 4, is a detail face view of a portion of the rotary carrier illustrating
the rotary cleaner, the scraper and the chain mechanism for dislodging the stem
from the open clamps.
Figure 5, is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
Figure 6, is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.
Figure 7, is a detail view illustrating the supplemental brushing devices for
cleaning the butt end of the stems.
Figure 8, is a detail view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, illustrating one of the
stems clamped in position.
Figure 9, is a cross section of the leaf feeding mechanism.
Figure 10, is a detail top plan illustrating the manner of driving the supple-
mental rolls from the main drive shaft.
Figure 11, is a diagrammatical section illustrating the manner in which endless
belt wiping surfaces operate to strip the leaf from the stem.

page_text: .
21
Figure 12, is a detail view of the same on an enlarged scale.
Figure 13, is a horizontal plan partly in section on the wiping line of the
belts, said belts being shown freed of card teeth or corrugated surfaces to the
better illustrate the invention.
Figure 14, illustrates a pair of rolls having wiping surfaces of card clothing
fixedly secured.
Figure 15, is a view of a modified construction of the rotary carrier mechanism
hereinafter referred to.
Figure 16, is a transverse section of the said .carrier.
Figure 17, is a view of a further modification of the said carrier mechanism.
Figure 18,. is a detail view illustrating the blast devices and the separator
or take-off belts.
Figure 19, is a detail sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 20, is a diagrammatic plan of the take-off or separator belts.
Figure 21, is a section on the line 21-21 of Fig. 9.
Figure 22, is a section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 9.
...
The various objects of this invention, briefly set out, are as follows;
First, to provide means for stripping the blade portions of the leaf from the
stem, in an automatic, expeditious and thorough manner; the structural arrange-
ment of which embodies a combination of parts capable of being economically
manufactured, easily manipulated, and by which the stemming operation can be
effected with little or no waste of the stock.
Second, to provide in a machine of the character stated, a very simple leaf
carrying mechanism, for delivering the leaf to the wiping mechanism in such
manner whereby to effect a positive separation of the blade portion from the stem
and the ready removal of the said separated portions from contact with the wiping
surfaces; the said carrier mechanism also being constructed to deliver the leaves
to the wiping surfaces so that the butt end or more tenacious portion of the
leaf is subjected to a wiping action of greater pressure than that which the. tip
or more fragile portion receives.
Third, another object of this invention lies in providing a stripping mechanism
having co-acting wiping surfaces, operative under a yielding or varying force,
whereby the pressure upon the leaf will gradually diminish from the entrant to
the exit end, and in which a varying pressure in transverse direction (i.c. the direction
of rotation of the wiping surfaces) is also produced, which is automatically
governed in accordance to the varying thicknesses of the leaves which pass between
the wiping surfaces, without affecting the resiliency of the card teeth when the
wiping surfaces are of card clothing.
Fourth, the providing in a leaf stemming machine, a feed mechanism for
delivering the leaf from the hands of the "operator" to the carrier mechanism,
which delivers the leaf to the stripping mechanism adapted to feed the leaf to
the carrier at a speed limited only by the speed that the operator" delivers
thereto by hand.
}
Fifth, another object of this invention is to provide supplemental means
designed to draw the tip end of the stem through the wipers at a greater speed
than can be effected by the main drawing devices, the said supplemental draw-
ing mechanism having the triple function of effecting a very rapid stripping
action on the tip end of the leaf, holding the several stems as they are drawn
up in quick succession properly separated as they are released from the main
carrier and for moving them in position to be engaged by the deflector mechanism
which ejects the stripped stems to one side on suitable take-off devices.
The machine disclosed in the accompanying drawings is operated by unskilled
labor, three persons being needed when running the machine to its full capacity
and the said three will hereinafter be designated as the "helper," meaning the
one who untwists the tobacco leaf bunches and places them in convenient, reach
of the "operator," the one who delivers the leaves to the feeding mechanism,
and the "stemmer" who removes the stem particles by hand from such unstemmed

page_text: portions of the leaf as are broken off before and during the stripping operation
and discharged at one end of the machine by the separator devices, hereinafter
referred to, and which form an essential feature of this invention.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals and letters indicate
like parts in all the figures, 1 designates a portion of the frame, which extends
practically at right angles from the main frame and has a bed or table portion 11,
of suitable height and forms the support for the leaf bundles which are placed
thereon by the "helper" when untwisted by him.
The feed mechanism proper consists of a pair of endless belts 4-5, mounted,
driven and held in such relation to each other, that portions thereof act as
opposing or compressing co-acting surfaces, held in frictional contact to close
onto the leaf stem butts and convey them to the rotary carrier presently referred
to.
To provide a quick and convenient delivery of the tobacco leaves, the feeding
belts have their entrant portion disposed in a horizontal plane, of convenient
height, as best shown in Figs. 9 and 1, by reference to which it will be seen the
front guide pulley of the belt 5, is in a plane slightly below the front pulley of
the belt 4, and disposed a short distance in advance of the said front pulley for
belt 4, whereby a short rest portion is provided, on which the operator" places
and guides the butt end of the leaf stems into the entrant end of the co-acting
or gripping portions of the belts 4-5.
In practice the receiving portion of the belt 5, is in a plane below the side
member X, of the frame 11, and the said belts 4 and 5, are made to run a
little to the inside of the member X, whereby to admit the leaf being fed into
the entrant end of the belts with their ends Y, projecting slightly beyond the
inner edges thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 21 so that sufficient portion of the
stem butts will extend beyond the said inner edges of the belts as they pass
into the clamping space of the carrier, to admit of a quick and positive clamping
of the tobacco leaves without engaging the belts; the side beam X, forming,
as it were, a guide against which the butt end of the stems are placed by the
6 operator."
The belts 4 and 5 are passed upward at an angle of about 45 degrees and over
a guide roll 7, the portion 40 and 50", engaging a series of guide rolls 16,
arranged in arc form, to create a constant tension of the top or inclined portion
of the gripper belts, while the portions 41-51, which are arranged to pass close
to the clamp space of the rotary carrier, are held in a tight frictional contact by
a presser plate 18, concaved on its outer face to maintain sufficient pressure to
prevent the body of the leaf from deflecting the butt end of the stem before it
has been closed upon by the clamps on the rotary carrier.
3 indicates an upwardly inclined table portion which forms a support and guide
for the body of the leaves as they are drawn upward over the guide roller 7.
To facilitate the upward travel of the body of the leaf, a supplemental endless
elevating belt 8, is provided which passes over the roller 7, and a suitable guide
pulley below the bed 11, and the said belt has spurs or pins 8", which engage
the leaves and positively prevent them from bending down by their weight, the
several leaves being also, thereby pulled apart from their adhering or matted
condition as they are carried upward to the roller 7.
"
The operation of the parts so far described in detail, is as follows:
The untwisted leaf bundles are laid on the table by the " helper adjacent the
operator" who takes a desired quantity of leaves at a time, and delivers them
in close relation to each other, into the gathering or entrant end of the belts 4-5,
it being understood the butts of the stems are held up close against the gage
member X. The leaves as they are gripped by the belts 4-5, are carried up
over the guide roll 7, from whence they pass down vertically in a plane with
the edge or rini of the rotary carrier-the butt ends of the leaves during this
movement projecting into the space between the solid part of the rim and the

page_text: open clamp members of the carrier, and carried therein, the clamps of the carrier
firmly closing on the stem butts as the leaves reach a point near the end of the
contacting portions 41-51, the carrier then drawing the leaves away from the
belt portions 41-51, as they are released therefrom.
To hold the leaves in a proper position to engage with the rim of the carrier
as they are pulled over the roll 7, a guide plate A, is provided, as clearly shown
in Fig. 2, which prevents the displacement of the leaf before the same has been
caught by the feed mechanism.
While it is preferred to arrange the feed belt mechanism as shown and
described, for the reason that it provides for the convenient handling of the
leaves by the "operator" and a very speedy delivery of the said leaves to the
feed belts, this invention is not necessarily confined to such exact construction
of feed belts, as the same may be readily modified or changed without departing
from the gist of this part of the invention, which lies in the feeding of the leaf
to the rotary carrier by passing the stem butts tangentially of the rim and in a
plane therewith.
The stripper mechanism, the construction of which is best shown in Figs. 3,
11, 12, 13, comprises a pair of endless belts 20-20, held to travel in the same
plane and having flexible co-operative faces, which may be either rubber or
leather, having clearly defined longitudinal corrugations as shown in Fig. 15,
or the said faces may, and preferably are, formed of card clothing, and when of
leather or rubber the faces have wiping portions of gradually reduced impacting
faces, as clearly seen in Fig. 15, whereby to wipe against the stem with greater
engaging surfaces at the entrant than at the exit end thereof.
Each belt 20 is mounted on an inner roll b, and an outer roll c, and the said
rolls have a fixed relation to each other. The belts are each preferably formed
of a single endless flexible body having card teeth arranged in uniform longi-
tudinal rows, the two belts being, however, so mounted that the rows of card
teeth on
one belt alternate with the teeth rows on the other belt. The
belts 20-20, are relatively so arranged that under ordinary conditions the ends
of the teeth on one belt do not penetrate between the teeth on the other belt as
they pass the wiping line, they being so arranged as to produce a staggered"
passageway as indicated in Fig. 23, so that the stem, as it is drawn lengthwise
of the wiping line, receives a series of successive wipes from opposite directions
and is also crowded between the teeth to effect a more complete wiping action on
th stem with danger of penetrating or tearing the separated leaf particles.
By providing stripping means in the nature of endless belts, the wiping sur-
faces are sufficiently increased to permit any leaf particles that might adhere
thereto, becoming dislodged by centrifugal or gravity force; it also admitting
the employment of agitator devices when desired, for positively jarring off any
adhering particles from the belts as indicated in Figure 11.
The belts 20-20, are loosely mounted on their respective rolls, the term
"loosely" being used in contradistinction to "fixedly," which describes the manner
that the card clothing is secured to the rolls in the type shown in Fig. 14, it
being understood, however, that the belts are mounted on their respective rolls
with sufficient tightness to be properly moved with them by frictional contact.
By mounting the belts on the rolls in the manner stated, it has been found,
from practical experience, that results are thereby obtained not produced by
wiper rolls such as have heretofore been employed. This is best explained as
follows:
In the practical operation of the machine the belts move at a high speed,
which causes the wiping portion Z, of the belts on the upper part of the down-
going side of the inner roll, to be thrown out of contact with that part of the
roll, by centrifugal force, by reason of which and the suction of air created under
the belt parts %, a cushion or space is formed, which, together with the centri-
fugal outward thrust of the upper wiping surfaces of the said belts produces.
as it were, a yielding back rest for such wiping portion, clearly not attainable

page_text: where the belts are so tightly held on the rolls to move positively on a fixed line
of rotation therewith.
Thus, by reference to Fig. 12, it will be readily observed, that as the wiping
surface has a yielding base its entire length, that is, from the entrant to the exit
end of the belts, said face or surface will yield or give proportionately to the
thickness or character of the leaf or stem being drawn there between, the pressure
being the greatest at the entrant end by reason of the maximum back pressure
or thrust of the belt by the thickest portion of the leaf and stem, and the least
back thrust at the exit end, on account of the thin or fragile part of the stem
being drawn therethrough.
Such form of stripping mechanism is also adapted to impart a wiping action
of varying efficiencies in the direction of the length of the stem, and thereby
overcome the impact or shock on the leaf or stem to a minimum as it is engaged
by the wiping surfaces, and overcoming, as it were, the danger of the leaf or
stem breaking off at the beginning of the wiping action; it also providing rubbing
surfaces of variable lengths in the transverse line of the front rolls, which sur-
faces are automatically increased and diminished proportionately to the thickness
of the leaf or stem it engages.
Furthermore, by securing the card teeth to a flexible base, the said teeth will
engage with the leaf or stem with an increased yielding or flexible condition;
this prevents the teeth from bending out of shape, and by reason of the increased
resiliency or yielding back pressure of the said teeth, mutilation or breaking
of the teeth is reduced to a minimum. Thus, by reason of the said belts having
a cushiony back rest, the leaf stem will be engaged first by a wiping of easy
pressure, gradually increasing as the surfaces pass to a line with the horizontal
axis of the inner belt rolls.
This form of stripping mechanism permits the use of teeth arranged in parallel'
rows and by reason of the self-adjusting yielding action, the co-acting surfaces
will give in the plane of the wiping line (that is from the entrant to the exit
end) according to the character of the leaf and stem being drawn therebetween
by the rotary carrier and supplemental rolls presently described, thus providing
for co-acting stripping surfaces, the wiping or pressure action of which is auto-
matically governed by the character of the leaf and stem being stripped, thus
presenting a wiping surface of varying efficiencies in any direction.
THE ROTARY CARRIER LEAF DELIVERY MECHANISM.
To provide for separating all parts of the leaf from the stem in an expeditious,
uniform and effective manner, means are employed in the nature of a rotary
carrier, adapted to not only deliver the leaf to the stripper mechanism, but also
carry it edgewise between the wiping surfaces of the stripper belts at the same
time that it draws the leaf stem through the wiping surfaces of the said belts,
and which will also so deliver the leaf to the stripping belts that the butt end
of such portions of the leaf where the blade adheres the more tenaciously to the
stem will be subjected to a wiping action of greater force and duration than that
which the thinner or less tenacious portion of the leaf is subjected to, said vary-
ing wiping action proportionately changing according to the varying thicknesses
of the leaf and stem portions being acted upon.
The improved rotary carrier, delivery and stem drawing mechanism also
comprehends certain novel means for clamping the leaf butts, whereby the capacity
of the machine, of which the said carrier forms a part, is materially increased
and the out-put of the machine limited only by the ability of the " operator
who supplies the leaves to the initial feeding mechanism by hand.
"3
The rotary carrier, comprises an outer annular disk 23 mounted loosely on a
shafts, fixedly held in its supports; and the said disk 23 is so disposed that its
peripheral edge will move in a plane with the contacting point of the wiping faces
of the stripping belts, its vertical axial line being at or slightly in advance of
the tentrant end of the stripping belts.

page_text: To provide for a quick and accurate delivery of the tobacco leaves to the
stripper belts, said disk has automatical operating clamping devices, which are
operatively so arranged as to receive and clamp the butt end of the leaf and
convey it longitudinally edgewise and through the contacting faces of the stripper
belts at the same time that it draws the stem therebetween. For this purpose
the disk 23, is equipped with a series of radially disposed hinged clamp blades 25,
operating to close against the face of the disk at the peripheral edge thereof.
These clamp plates 25, may be of any number and equi-spaced about the disk
rim, but when employed in combination with the improved leaf feeding
mechanism, herein before described, the rotary carrier disk has the clamp blades 25,
arranged side by side and in such close relation as to form practically a con-
tinuous annular clamping rim consisting of blades equivalent to hinge members.
Each clamp blade 25, is pivotally hung in suitable brackets fixedly connected to
the rotary car 23, as best shown in Fig. 5, and at the inner end each clamp blade has
a bearing roller 25, adapted to move successively into engagement with the cam
flange 26 (see Fig. 8) and an inthrow plate 27 (see Fig. 5), the cam flange 26,
and the inthrow plate 27, being fixedly supported upon the disk 23", which in
turn is fixedly held on the shaft S, by a clamp nut fitted to the head of the said
disk 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
In the practical arrangement of the complete machine, the cam 26, and the
inthrow blade 27, are of semi-circular shape, the cam or ring portion 26, being
disposed at the lower half and the blade or ring portion 27, on the upper half
of the disk portion 23, the two parts 26-27 being however, relatively so arranged
that the roller bearings of the clamp members engage with the cam ring 26,
and are thereby moved and held to a closed or clamping position at a point about
in a plane with the horizontal axis of the disk 23, and at the front or entrant
end of the carrier, they being held closed during the engagement of the roller
bearings with the cam flange 26 and being opened as they pass from the cam
flange 26 and held to their open position by the inthrow blade 27, which is
projected forward in the plane in advance of the cam flange so that the bearing
rollers 25 of the several cam blades can pass thereunder.
The exit end of the cam flange and the entrant end of the inthrow member
are adjacently arranged and at a point about diametrically opposite the exit end
of the in throw blade and the front end of the cam or ring portion 26.
While in the practical application my rotary carrier is constructed to receive
the leaves from a feed mechanism adapted to convey the leaves thereto in a sub-
stantially continuous manner, it is obvious that the said rotary carrier leaf
delivery mechanism may be positively fed by seating the leaves between the
clamping portions thereof by hand.
One of the important advantages of combining the rotary carrier leaf delivery
with the stripping mechanism of the carrier described is, that it accomplishes
substantially the same action for the passing of the stem between the stripper
belts, as is capable of being produced by hand manipulation, that is to say, by
taking hold of the leaf at the butt end and drawing the leaf and stem between
the wiping surfaces.
This action of the rotary carrier is best explained as follows: As the carrier
moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the leaf as it separates
from the initial feeding belt drops to a vertical position and is delivered at a point
near its extreme butt end into the entrant end of the wiping surfaces of the
stripper belts, from which point (indicated by 7) the leaf is drawn forward verti-
cally in a horizontal direction to the point indicated by Y¹, and during such
movement receives no appreciable draw or pull action upward between the stripper
belts.
This operation effects, as it were, a continuous wiping action on the butt or
more tenacious end of the leaf during the passing of the stem from the point Z',
to the point Y, thereby insuring a positive and complete separation of the
blade particles from the stem or the butt end. After the leaf passes the point Y¹,

page_text: it is drawn upward, it being obvious that as it is thus pulled up by a rotary
lifting action, the speed at which the leaf is drawn through the wiping surfaces
will be a differential one from the point Y¹ to Y2, gradually increasing from the
point Y¹ to Y, (see Fig. 15).
While the form of rotary carrier just described is preferred when the machine
is constructed with an initial feeding mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, it is manifest
other forms of rotary carrier may be employed particularly so for machines of
smaller capacity and to which the stock can be fed by hand, as will be clearly
understood by reference to Figs. 15, 16 and 17.
In this form the rotary carrier has a solid clamping rim surface 75, and
a continuous annular flexible clamping rim 76, opposing the rim 75, as in Fig. 16.
In this form the flexible rim 76, at proper time is opened away from the rim 75,
to permit the ready projecting of the leaf butt over the face 75, which operation
is accomplished by a turn back roll 77, held on the arm 78, of the fixedly held
disk 79, which disk has other arms 78d, which carry presser rolls 80, the purpose
of which is to keep the flexible rim pressed tightly against the rim 75.
desired in this latter form of carrier, the both sections 75-76, may be made
flexible as shown in Fig. 17.
If
The supplemental stem drawing means comprises a pair of rolls 28-28, having
yielding co-acting faces preferably of rubber. These rollers are horizontally
disposed and are mounted on head blocks secured on the outer extremity of short
shafts 28°, journaled in bearings 29, of the main frame, and the said rollers pro-
ject over the wiping line of the stripper belts with their contacting faces in a
vertical plane of the said wiping line, the extreme front ends thereof being held
to lap the rim or edge of the rotary carrier as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 10,
said ends being made slightly converging, whereby to permit of the free guiding
of the stems there between as they are pulled up by the rotary carrier.
Although the rolls 28-28, are horizontally disposed they are inclined at a
sufficient angle forwardly from the rear end to move the stems toward the exit
end of the stripping belts, as it is being drawn therethrough by the said rollers,
it being obvious that the higher the front ends of the rollers 28 are set, the
greater will be the speed at which the stems are carried to the discharging point.
The rollers 28-28, rotate toward each other and while serving as a means
for pulling the outer or tip portions of the stems through the stripping belts,
they also act as a feeder to aid in moving the stems into position to be engaged
by suitable stripper mechanism which pulls the butt ends of the stems out of
contact with the clamping portions of the rotary carrier, as will hereinafter be
more fully described.
The rolls 28, receive motion from the shafts 29", geared with the main drive
shaft 18 and have knuckle coupling members 28", as clearly shown in Fig. 10.
To provide a simple and effective means for discharging the stripped stems as
they are moved upward by the rolls 28, the clamps on the carrier are arranged
to open almost immediately after the stem is positively engaged by the supple-
mental rolls, so as to leave the butt ends of the stems free to be deflected side-
wise onto the off-take apron 30, which is driven by a belt 31, in turn driven
by a shaft 32, which rotates one of the endless wiping or stripper belts, as clearly
shown in Fig. 1. The receiving end of the apron 30, is held in close proximity
to the rolls 28, and is projected to receive the stem lengthwise as it is dropped
thereon and to cause the stems to positively fall in the said longitudinal direction
as they are released from the rolls 28, the transversely running endless chain
belt 33, is provided which passes over end sprockets 34-35, and a single drive
sprocket wheel 36, on the shaft 37, journaled on the upwardly extending
bracket 38, see Fig. 2 and driven by a belt 39, in turn driven by the stripper
belt drive shaft 40.
1
The chain belt 33, has a series of laterally projecting fingers 33", as best shown
in Fig. 4, which travel close to the periphery of the feed wheel and are adapted
to engage the stems as they are released from the clamp and be thereby drawn

page_text: may
or pulled from the feed wheel onto the apron 30, which discharges the said stems
onto a deflector 34", as shown in Fig. 3, or if desired, in engagement with the
supplemental mechanism for brushing off any remnant of the leaf which
adhere to the extreme butt end of the stem, as shown in Fig. 7, in which a¹,
indicates a bridge piece to properly guide the butt end of the stem; 61, a pair
of draw rolls, and c', a pair of stripper rolls which travel in the same direction
as the draw rolls 61 but with more rapidity, whereby to brush off the leaf particles
as the stem is drawn therethrough.
THE BROKEN LEAF STEM SEPARATING MEANS.
In the practical application of various forms of automatically operating tobacco
stemming machines, great difficulty has been experienced in properly separating
the perfectly stripped leaf portions from the broken stems and their adhering
leaf particles.
In other forms of leaf stemming machines, the broken stems and leaf particles,
usually the lower or tip portions, and sometimes the entire unstemmed leaf, is
discharged at the same point and mixed with the perfectly separated leaf por-
tions. This mixing of the imperfectly separated leaf portions with the good leaf
separations is very objectionable as it requires a careful assorting of the product
by hand, thereby entailing considerable expense and waste of time and also
decreasing the value of the good leaf separation by reason of the small stem
particles likely to remain mixed therewith, even after a careful assorting.
In this machine, means are provided for positively gathering, holding and
separating the broken leaf and stem portions, which will assist the leaf carrier
in properly feeding the leaf stripper mechanism, and in which air blast devices
are employed, whereby the perfect leaf separations are blown in one direction
while the broken leaf and stem particles together with the unstemmed leaves,
are conveyed and discharged at such point that commingling of such leaf portions
with the perfectly separated leaf portions is made impossible.
The separator means comprises a pair of endless belts 21-21, the construction
and operation of which is best shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20, by reference to which
it will be seen, the belts 21 are mounted at the front end on a pair of horizontal
pulleys 80-80, journaled slightly in advance of the entrant end of the stripper
belts, their rear ends passing over horizontal pulleys 81-81, projected over a
take-off or chute board 82, which conveys the broken stems and adhering leaf
particles to the "stemmer as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
33
The forward pulleys 80-80, are somewhat separated to provide a throat for
the convenient entrance of the hanging leaf, but said belts are brought sufficiently
together at or near the front end of the wiper belts to frictionally engage the
leaf sufficiently to carry it off to the rear of the machine, but not enough to retard
the drawing action of the rotary leaf carrier. To provide for closing up the
belts at a point near to or from the entrant end of the stripper belts, an idler
guide pulley 83, is employed, journaled on a bracket 84, having transverse and
longitudinal adjustment, see Fig. 20.
The carrier belts 21 are driven at a speed uniform with the speed at which the
leaves are drawn through the wiping surfaces and for such purpose the
belts 21-21, are suitably geared with the main drive shaft of the machine. In
its complete form the separator mechanism also embodies a blast mechanism
adapted to blow off the perfectly separated leaf particles as they drop from the
wipers, and said mechanism includes a blast fan 90, having a discharge tube 91,
the mouth of which ejects the blast transversely of the machine at a point between
the stripper and carrier belts, as clearly shown in Fig. 19, by reference to which
it will be seen that opposite the tube 91, is located a throat way 92, into which
the good leaf particles are blown onto an off-take slide board.
In operation, should any portion of the leaf or stems become broken at a point
below the wipers, the same, by reason of the belts 21, frictionally holding the
lower end thereof, will be conveyed to the rear end of the machine and discharged,

page_text: it being manifest that as the leaf is drawn upward the danger of breaking of
the stem diminishes as the tip end thereof is drawn in between the wipers.
It will thus be seen that by providing separator devices of the character stated,
the lower end of the leaf will be properly guided as it is drawn forward between
the wipers and also held with sufficient force to prevent its being blown sidewise
from the machine.
To keep the clamping surfaces of the rotary carrier clear of adhering leaf
particles and also to provide for positively holding the extreme butt end of the
stem from being drawn out as the leaf is pulled through the wipers by the carrier,
the inner face of the said carrier rim is formed with deep annular grooves 36ª,
as indicated in Fig. 8, in which the said extreme end of the stem is squeezed and
held by the clamps.
To keep the annular grooves of the rim of the rotary carrier clear of adhering
leaf particles, a fixedly held scraper 87, is provided, which engages the
grooves, 36, (see Fig. 5), and to likewise keep the grip faces of the hinged clamps
clear of adhering leaf particles, a metallic rotary cleaner 38, is provided journaled
just below the scraper 37, the perimeter of which is held to rotate within the
open clamping space Y. As the said cleaner rotates within the said space Y, its
front face (which is formed with ribs 38, having rubbing surfaces on an angle
parallel with the inclination of the inner face of the clamps when held to their
open position) knocks off any adhering broken stem particles.
The cleaner is driven by the belt pulley 40%, in turn driven by the pulley 41,
on the shaft 41", in turn driven by the belt 42, from the drive shaft, as shown
in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stripping mechanism, a leaf carrier
having grips to engage the leaf, and feed devices for bringing the leaves into
line with the carrier grips, and means on the carrier for setting the feed devices
to a leaf releasing position.
2. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination a stripping mechanism, a
leaf carrier having leaf grippers, and a feed mechanism for bringing the leaves
singly in line with the grips, arranged to be moved to a leaf releasing position
by the engagement therewith of the grips.
3. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination a stem wiper mechanism,
a rotary leaf carrier for feeding the leaf to and drawing it from the wiping
mechanism, said carrier having peripheral automatically opening and closing
grippers, and intermittently operated leaf feeding means arranged to deliver the
leaf with its butt end in the path of the carrier grips substantially as shown and
described.
4. In a tobacco stemming machine of the character described, in combination
with the wiping mechanism and the rotary carrier, said carrier having peripherally
arranged leaf grips and means for automatically opening and closing them at
predetermined intervals, of a leaf feed having intermittently operated means for
delivering the leaves singly with their butt ends in line of the path of the carrier
grips, and a rest against which the leaf butts are temporarily held locked, as
specified.
5. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine of the character described, the com-
bination with the wiping mechanism and the rotary carrier, said carrier being
adapted to engage the stem of the leaf and pull it through the wipers, and
mechanism adapted to engage the stem as the carrier clamps release it and dis-
charge said stem to one side of the machine, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination the following elements,
to wit, a stripping or wiping mechanism, a carrier adapted to grip the leaf stems
and carry the leaf to the wipers and draw the same therethrough, means for dis-

page_text: charging the separated leaf particles to one side of the machine, and mechanism
for engaging the stripped stem and discharging it to the opposite side of the
machine for the purposes described.
7. A tobacco leaf stemming machine, comprising in combination, a stripper
or wiping mechanism, a.leaf carrier adapted to convey the leaf to the wipers and
draw the same therethrough, and means for discharging the separated leaf at a
point below the stripper or wiping mechanism to one side of the machine, auto-
matically operated devices for gathering the stripped stem at. a. point above the
strippers and discharging it to the opposite side of the machine, substantially
as shown and described.
1
8. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with the stripping
mechanism and an initial leaf feeding and. stem drawing means, of supplemental
draw rolls adapted to engage the stem as it is drawn through the wipers to relieve
the initial stem drawing mechanism, substantially as shown and for the purposes
described.
9. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination, the stripper mechanism
and means for feeding the leaf there between and drawing the butt end of the stem
therethrough, of supplemental drawing devices adapted to engage. the said butt
end of the stem, and complete the action of drawing the balance, of. the stem
between the wipers.
10. In combination with the wiper mechanism, and the rotary stem conveyor
and drawing disk. of supplemental rolls adapted to engage the stem and simul-
taneously move the stem laterally and vertically between the wipers.
11. The combination of the wiper mechanism, and the rotary leaf. carrier sub-
stantially as shown, of a pair of supplemental rolls having co-acting faces, said
rolls being arranged at an angle to the wiping line of the strippers and adapted
to engage the stem as it is partially drawn up from the strippers and complete
this drawing action as specified.
12. In a tobacco stemming machine, a wiper mechanism, comprising a pair of
card clothing endless belts having co-acting opposing surfaces, the card teeth
being in clearly defined. longitudinal rows, the rows of one belt alternating with
the rows of the opposing belt.
13. In a tobacco stemming machine, a wiper mechanism, comprising a pair, of
card clothing endless belts. having co-acting opposing surfaces, the card teeth
constituting such surfaces being in clearly defined longitudinal rows.
14. The combination in a machine as described, with the wiping mechanism,
the supplemental rolls and the rotary carrier, said carrier having its stem clamp-
ing means arranged to disengage from the stem as the supplemental rolls take it,
of means for deflecting the stem as it passes from the supplemental rolls and con-
veying it to one side of the machine.
15. In combination with the wiping mechanism, the supplemental draw rolls,
a rotary carrier, said carrier being arranged to release the stems as they are
gripped by the supplemental rolls, of means for deflecting the stripped, leaf
particles to one side of the machine, and devices for discharging the stems as they
leave the supplemental rolls to the opposite side of the machine.
16. The combination with the wiping mechanism, the carrier and the supple-
mental rolls, said carrier having its grippers arranged to release the stems as
they are engaged by the supplemental rolls, of a take-off apron movable outward
from the supplemental rolls, and devices for deflecting the stems into the apron
as they leave the said rolls.
17. The combination with the wipers, the rotary carrier and the supplemental
rolls arranged substantially as described, of an endless apron 30, and the trans-
verse traveling stripper chain 33. having fingers to engage the stems as they
pass up from the supplemental rolls, as specified.
18. In a machine as described, the combination with means for deflecting and
discharging the stripped stem lengthwise to one side of the machine, of supple-
mental stripper means adapted to receive the stem from the discharging means
.

page_text: and operating to clean any leaf particles adhering to the stem butt, substantially
as shown and for the purposes described.
19. In a machine as described, the combination with the stem discharging
apron 30, of the draw rolls b', and the combined stripper and draw rolls cc,
for the purposes described.
20. In a machine as described, the combination with the pivotal clamp mem-
bers forming a part of the rotary carrier, of a cleaner 38, and means for revolving
it within the clamping spaces of the carrier, substantially as shown and described.
21. In a machine as described, the combination with the rotary carrier pivotal
clamp members, of a rotary cleaner 36, said cleaner having a portion running
adjacent to the inner or gripping surfaces of the clamp members, said surface
being parallel with the said inner surface of the clamp members, and means for
rotating the said cleaner, substantially as 'shown and described.
''.
22. In a machine as described, the combination with the rotary carrier pivotal
clamp members, of a rotary cleaner 38, said cleaner having a portion running
adjacent to the inner or gripping surface of the clamp members, said surface
being parallel with the said inner surface of the clamp members, means for
rotating the said cleaner, and a scraper mechanism for cleaning the fixed gripping
faces of the carrier, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the pur-
poses described.
23. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine of the character described, the com-
bination with the wiping mechanism and means for feeding and drawing the leaf
therethrough, of a separator movable in close relation to the strippers and
normally adapted to engage and grip the outer portion of the leaf and thereby
convey it away from the grippers in case the stem is broken, substantially as
shown and described.
24. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of a stripper mechanism
and a stem feeder and drawer, of a leaf engaging member movable in close rela-
tion to the wipers in a direction different to the line of pull on the stem and
normally adapted to engage the leaf and thereby convey it away from the wipers
in case the stem is broken during the drawing or stripping action, as set forth.
25. A tobacco stemming machine, having in combination with the stripper
and leaf feeding and stem drawing mechanism, means for frictionally engaging
the outer portion of the leaf as it is being stripped and adapted to convey it away
from the strippers and from the perfectly separated leaf particles, substantially
as shown and for the purposes described.
26. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine of the character described, in com-
bination with the stripper and leaf carrier and stem drawing mechanism, of means
for removing the perfect leaf separations in one direction and the broken or im-
perfect particles simultaneously in another direction, substantially as shown and
described.
27. In a tobacco stemming machine of the character described, the combination
with the stripping and leaf feed and stem drawing mechanism and the drive
gearing therefor, of a separator comprising a pair of endless bands held to travel
in line with the lateral movement of the stein through the wipers, the gearing
for operating the said belts including a short shaft and having a drive pulley,
and gear connections joining such pulley with the carrier drive gearing, all being
arranged substantially as shown and described.
28. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with the stripper and leaf
carrier and stem drawing mechanism, arranged substantially as shown, of endless
separated belts movable longitudinally of the machine, having co-acting faces in
line with the line of lateral movement of the stem and leaf, the wipers, and means
for adjusting the extent of the frictional contact of the belts and their points of
contact relatively to the entrant end thereof, substantially as shown and for the
purposes described.
29. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination with the stripper or wiping
mechanism, the leaf feeding and stem drawing devices, of an air blast arranged

page_text: to discharge in front of the wiping faces of the strippers, whereby to blow off
the perfectly separated leaf particles, substantially as shown and described.
30. In combination with the stripping or wiping mechanism, and the leaf feed
and stem drawing devices, arranged substantially as shown, of a separator
mechanism comprising a pair of belts adapted to grip the lower portion of the
leaf by frictional contact but with force insufficient to retard its being drawn
therethrough by the stem drawing 'means, and an air blast having its throat dis-
charge at a point between the wiper and the said separator belts, whereby to blow
off the perfectly separated leaf particles, as they are removed from the stem by
the strippers, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.
Dated the 4th day of April 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.