IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU- FACTURING CIGARS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Vincent Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
August 1865. A communication from abroad by John Prentice, of the
City of New York, in the United States of America.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING CIGARS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the details on an existing
cigar-making, machine in which four rollers are employed for rolling up,
the filling, and lapping the wrapper around the filling. The rollers above дrc
capable of being opened for. the introduction of the filling, and the lower rollers
have the like action for dropping out the cigar.
The improvements adapted to this machine are as follows:-An endless
apron passing around a tension roller and extending over a bed to one of the
operating rollers is used to carry in the wrapper, whereby it is presented to
and wrapped evenly around the filling. The shaft is stopped at an arm that
hangs from a sleeve and stud secured to the main frame. To the end of this
sleeve near the frame is the arm, which at this end of the machine forms the
bent lever for drawing back the shaft and roller for introducing the filling,
and allows much more room for the operator to spread out and guide the
wrapper as it passes in, and at this end is formed into the head of the cigar.

page_text: A heading die or mould of the tapering shape intended to be given to the
end of the cigar is located between the rollers, and is open on the top, being
formed in a plate of metal, from the surface of which a small volute rises to
finish the end. Contiguous to the end of this mould is a cutter for removing
the surplus portions of the wrapper. This cutter may be a revolving shear,
moving with one of the rollers against the end of the mould, but a reciprocating
die acted upon by the lever and cam that is revolved by the gears from the
shaft is preferred. This die or punch, by vibrating rapidly, cuts off the
surplus portions of the wrapper, and allows the mould to finish the head
perfectly. The mould is on an arm, whose fulcrum is at or near one or both
sides of the frame, and the mould is kept up by a spring, and a loose link to
the cross bar pulls the mould down slightly as the lower rollers are opened
to drop the cigar. In order to prevent the niould from holding the cigar
between itself and the upper rollers, it is important that the cigar should be
pressed endwise into the mould in order that the head may be properly con-
solidated. This is accomplished by imparting to the roller an endwise
movement as the rolling of the cigar continues, the movement being derived
from a worm on the roller shaft taking into a pinion koyed to a shaft, on the
upper end of which is a hand wheel with a friction spring to its side. This
spring causes the pinion to remain stationary, and the revolution of the worm
in its teeth causes the roller and shaft to move gradually endwise, and thereby
crowd or press the cigar head into its mould, and the roller is slidden endwise
back to its place as the cigar is dropped out by turning the hand wheel and
pinion.
The chief points of novelty in the improved machine are,―
First, the combination of the feeding apron with the rollers for the purpose
specified above.
Second, fitting the bent lever on a sleeve, and sustaining the shaft by
the same, so as to give force to the operator in guiding the wrappers as
specified.
Third, combining the mould which forms the head of the cigar with the
rollers as set forth.
Fourth, employing the die or cutter applied with the mould to remove
the surplus portions of the wrapper and cut the head of the cigar as set
forth.
C
Fifth, mounting the mould on an arm so that it may be drawn down
for delivering the cigar as specified.
Sixth, arranging the reciprocating cutter or die in the manner specified and
astuating the same as set forth.

page_text: Seventh, giving to the roller an endwise movement for passing the head of
the cigar into the mould as specified.
Eighth, the arrangement of the worm pinion and friction hand wheel for
moving the roller back to its normal position as specified.