Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for the Manufacture of Cigarettes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Cigarettes.
We, W. D. & H. O. WILLS LIMITED, of Bedminster, in the City and County of
Bristol, and of 53, 54 and 55, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to me
from abroad by the Bonsack Machine Company, of Salem, Virginia, in the
United States of America), to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cigarette machines, by which the
requisite quantity of tobacco is formed into a cigarette filler, which is subjected
to uniform pressure for a sufficient length of time while being conveyed towards.
its wrapper mechanism to set it in shape and size for the finished cigarette, for
the purpose of facilitating the application of the wrappers and improving the
quality and appearance of the completed cigarette; and the invention consists in
the combination of various mechanical devices and parts, especially those for
forming the tobacco into a continuous filler or rod and for setting the formed
filler before it is delivered to the wrapping mechanism, as hereinafter described.
In cigarette machines as hitherto constructed to apply individual wrappers to
fillers, the filler is shaped and its diameter largely determined by the wrapping
device during the operation of wrapping, and this necessitates the use of a wrapping
belt long enough and of sufficient movement to shape and size the filler before it
applies the wrapper thereto. In such constructions the length of the wrapping helt
and its movement renders the machine slow in operation, or if its speed he
increased the wear of its parts is so increased that it is expensive to keep in
repair and adjustment. Another difficulty in such case is that the wrapping belt
becomes soiled by contact with the tobacco while compressing the same into a
filler of the shape and size desired and when so soiled has a tendency to soil the
wrapper of the finished cigarette. It has also been found that when this com-
pressing of the filler into the desired size and shape takes place in the wrapping
belt, after a given quantity of tobacco to form a filler has been separated from the
mass, the portions which form the ends of the filler are freer to spread or elongate
than the central portions and therefore the ends of the filler do not contain the
same proportional quantity of tobacco as the central portions and the filler is not
of uniform density throughout its length.
In the operation of machines designed to form a continuous cigarette cylinder,
which is afterwards cut, or severed into the desired lengths for individual cigarettes
considerable difficulty has been experienced from the "choking" of the partially
formed and shaped filler in its course through the device which applies the con-
finuous wrapper to it, which arises from the somewhat unequal size of the continuous
filler, and therefore the unequal friction of the same upon the wrapping devices

page_text: "
as the wrapper is being applied. This unequal friction causes the filler to drag
and slip in its passage through the wrapping device and thus
"choke
therein
which would not be the case if the filler were of the proper size, and had given to
it a sufficient amount of " "
seu so as to be of practically uniform sizo throughout
its length.
The principal objects of the present invention are to improve the said machines
in these respects and remedy the difficulties pointed out and produce cigarettes
of a more uniform and pleasing appearance than those hitherto produced and at
a less cost.
In a machine according to this invention after the tobacco has been delivered
to the hopper it is fed to forming wheels, arranged in pairs, preferably in two pairs,
and these wheels are caused to revolve at a uniform speed so as to pass the tobacco
between their peripheries which are grooved to compress the tobacco into cylin-
drical form. The tobacco, as it falls into the hopper is received upon an endless
belt which forms the bottom of the hopper and is caused to travel by passing
over wheels which are rotated by gearing connected to the main shaft. This
bell passes directly under, and in contact with, the meeting peripheries of the
forming wheels, and delivers the tobacco to the cylindrical opening between the
first pair of wheels and supports the partially formed filler in its course between
and through the second pair of wheels. A second feeding belt passes over wheels
which are rotated by gearing connected to the shaft which drives one of the
wheels of the first belt. The second belt is arranged to run above and in contact
with the forming wheels as the first belt runs below them, and operates to compress
the tobacco and feed it between the first pair of wheels and to guide the partially
formed filler.
The shaft which carries the wheel of the first belt nearest the tobacco-feeding
mechanism and over which the second belt runs, is some distance in front of
the centre of the first pair of forming or compressing wheels and because of this
the tobacco being carried along on the lower or filler-carrying belt is first acted
upon by the upper belt and compressed down to the thickness of the forming or
compressing wheels, before it enters between them, and thus causes the tobacco,
so compressed, to enter and be fed between such first pair of wheels. Each of
the forming wheels is preferably provided with a doctor or scraper attached to the
frame, or other rigid part of the machine, and extending to and in contact with
the periphery of its wheel, in such manner as to remove any tobacco which would
tend to adhere to the wheel and also to assist to guide the filler to the next pair
of wheels and to the setting channel beyond the second pair of wheels.
Two pairs of forming wheels may be used but one pair of such wheels will
compress the tobacco into a partially formed filler, in condition to be received
in the setting channel hereafter described.
After the filler has passed through the last pair of wheels it is conveyed through
a tubular channel in which it is set so as to retain its form and size and is
delivered to the cutting off mechanism at the end of this channel. The said
tubular channel is situated in line with the course of the filler and receives the
filler as it is fed onward by the forming-wheels and belts. Its receiving end is
preferably somewhat enlarged to aid in the delivery of the filler thereto, and its
general diameter is that required for the finished filler. The said tubular channel
is provided with a narrow longitudinal slot for the reception and passage of pins.
The filler is conveyed through the said channel by means of these pins which
project from an endless travelling helt or chain and are carried into the channel
through its slot and are inserted into the filler, and as the pins are moved onward
by the movement of the belt they convey the filler through the channel.
conveyer-belt or chain is made up of a series of links or sections, each of which
is provided with a double-pointed spring-actuated pin means for connecting it
to the adjoining link or section, and means for engaging with a sprocket-wheel
for giving the belt or chain motion, and also means for use in connection with
guides for causing the spring-actuated pins to move in and out of the cigarette
The

page_text: filler as well as in a line parallel with the setting channel. The conveyer belt or
chain is mounted upon two double rimmed wheels, one being the sprocket wheel
and the other the supporting wheel, which, in addition to supporting the belt
or chain, supports the forward end of the guide which protudes the pins. This
guide is provided with an opening at its forward end, of a size to fit over the central
portion of the hub of the supporting wheel, which is made in two parte, one rim on
cuch part, so as to permit of its being taken apart for the insertion of its hub
through the guide, the space between the two parts being just sufficient to permit
the wheel to revolve freely within the hole of the guide, and yet support the guide
in the desired position. The guide which protrudes the pins is of such shape
that it causes the pins to enter the filler against the force of their springs and then
permits the springs to exert their force to withdraw the pins when the squared
end of the guide near the centre of the sprocket-wheel is reached by each pin
as the chain or belt is moved around. These links or sections are connected together
by means of links or pivoted bars so that they can readily pass around the sprocket
wheel and supporting wheel.
The pivots which secure the links or sections of the belt or chain togother
are made long enough to form bearings for engaging with the sprocket-wheel and
also to form projections or bearings on which rollers may be placed to work in
connection with the guide which with the rollers may serve only to keep the chain
or belt in a line parallel with the setting channel irrespective of the other guide
which acts to operate the pins.
If it is considerod desirable the delivery end of the channel may be slightly
enlarged from the point where the pins are withdrawn from tho filler, to relieve
the friction upon the filler so that it will move more freely towards the cutting
blade.
The object of passing the partially formed-filler through the filler-setting
channel is to compress and set the filler or to bring it to and set it in the requisito
shape and size for the finished cigarette, so as to render the application of the
wrappers easier and give to the completed cigarette a smoother more uniform and
better appearance than would be the case were the fillers shaped wholly or largely,
during the application of the wrappers thereto. This setting of the filler can
be accomplished by other means than the special setting channel through which
the filler is continuously passing, but whatever means are employed for this
purpose the filler should be kept under pressure long enough to doprive the tobacco
of its power to return to its former condition.
To effect the desired uniform compression, and set of the filler, the channel may
be made of any desired length to keep the filler under continuous and substantially
uniform pressure long enough to set the tobacco so that when the filler leaves the
channel its tendency to enlarge will have been overcome. It is desirable, as
the forming wheels act upon the tobacco for only a short time, that these wheels
should be set close enough together to compress the tobacco into a filler or rod
of slightly less diameter than that of the tube as the filler when relieved from the
pressure of the wheels will at once enlarge. This increased compression by the
wheels will facilitate the introduction of the filler into the channel.
The filler setting channel with means for positively conveying the filler through
such channel, instead of operating in connection with the filler-forming and
tobacco-feeding devices herein described, or either of them, may be employed to
advantage when the filler is partially formed and delivered to such channel by
any other mechanical means or even by hand.
As the continuous formed filler is delivered from the channel it is cut into
cigarette lengths. The cutting mechanism consists of the following devices: In
front of the delivery end of the channel is a blade attached by an arm to a
shaft and revolving with it and shearing just past the end of channel which
acts as a stationary shearing blade. At every revolution of the blade the portion
of the continuous formed filler projecting from channel is severed, and by properly
timing the speed of the feeding devices the filler-forming wheels and the conveyer-

page_text: belt, relatively to each other and to the revolving blade the portion of the filler
projected beyond the end of channel and severed by the blade at each revolution,
will be of the desired length for a single cigarette. A longitudinal movement
on the shaft may be given to the arm, at the instant the cutting blade operates
to sever the filler, this longitudinal movement being equal to the forward movement
of the formed filler in order to give a smooth cut and prevent the end of the
filler from banking up against the cutting blade and in such case the cutting end
of the channel should be slanted off, or a forward movement given it, to correspond
to the forward movement of the cutting blade. If the latter construction be adopted
the cutting end of the channel should be separated from the main channel.
Attached to the aforesaid arm is a plate having its plane at right angles to
the plane of the cutting blade and extending forward from this blade in line with
the filler as it is advanced beyond the end of the tube or channel. This plate
operates to carry or sweep the severed filler to the top or mouth of a trough which
is situated below and at one side of the end of the tube. The said plate is preferably
so arranged that when it passes over the said trough its plane will coincide with
a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the trough, and the
severed filler when it is carried to this point by the plate, will readily drop into the
trough by gravity, provided the speed of the revolution of the arm be not too
great.
The individual fillers are now to be properly delivered from the trough upon
a wrapping belt or apron upon which paper wrappers are placed in proper relation
to be wrapped around the fillers. For this purpose the forward end of the trough
extends over the part of the wrapping belt which receives the wrappers, and
is constructed with a movable bottom, in which a pivotted lever carries
a moveable bottom. A spring serves to return and hold the moveablo
bottom to its normal or closed position. An arm attached to the
shaft from which the cutter is operated is arranged to come in contact
with the upper end of the pivotted lever and cause it to be moved sufficiently to
move the bottom from under the trough and allow the filler to drop upon, or near
to, the wrapper placed upon the belt beneath it. The side of the trough prevents
the filler from moving with the bottom when the latter is removed. The trough
is open upon its upper part where it receives the filler, but, from this point, to
its end, this part may be open or closed as desired, The individual fillers are
delivered upon the moveable bottom of the trough by means of a plunger, attached
to a slide working in suitable ways attached to the frame of the machine, and
this plunger is operated by a pivotted lever connected at one end to the slide and
baving the opposite end provided with a roll working in a cam on the shaft which
operates the outter. The construction and arrangement of this cam, and its
connection with the slide are such that the plunger moves the filler from where
it is received in the trough over and upon the moveable bottom and is so timed as
to properly perform this work.
After the individual fillers have been formed and delivered to the wrapping
belt, as above described, they are wrapped with paper wrappers of suitable size
for this purpose, one of whose edges is provided with paste or other adhesive
material so that the overlapped edges are securely, united together. Any suitable
wrapping belt may be employed, as well as any suitable devices for cutting the
paper wrappers from a continuous roll or strip of paper, gumming their edges and
transferring them to the proper position upon the belt, and mechanism for operat-
ing the belt to cause the wrappers to be properly wrapped around the fillers and
to seal their overlapped edges together. Instead of performing all of the above
named operations by mechanism, they may be done wholly or partly by hand,
for instance, the wrappers may be cut to suitable sizes, gummed and delivered
to the wrapping belt, and the belt may be operated, either by hand or by discon-
nected mechanism. The mechanism for gumming the wrappers delivering them
to the wrapping belt and operating the belt may be of any suitable description,
the cam which operates the pasting rolls being preferably on the main shaft and

page_text: the pivotted lever which carries the pasting rolls being of such shape so as to
work properly in connection with the cam.
Dated this 1st day of June 1807
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Cigarettes.
We, W. D. & H. 0. WILLS LIMITED, of Bedminster, in the City and County af
Bristol, and of 53, 54 and 55, Holborn Vinduct, in the City of London, do hereny
declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to vi
from abroad by the Bonsack Machine Company, of Salem, Virginia, in the
United States of America,) 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 improvements in cigarette machines by which the
requisite quantity of tobacco is formed into a cigarette filler, which is subjected
to uniform pressure for a sufficient length of time while being conveyed towards
its wrapper mechanism to set it in shape and size for the finished cigarette, for
the purpose of facilitating the application of the wrappers, and improving the
quality and appearance of the comploted cigarette. The said invention consists in
the combination of various mechanical devices and parts, especially those for
forming the tobacco into a continuous filler, or rod, and for setting the formed
filler before it is delivered to the wrapping mechanism, as hereinafter described.
In cigarette machines, as hitherto constructed to apply individual wrappers to
fillers, the filler is shaped, and its diameter largely determined, by the wrapping
device during the operation of wrapping, and this necessitates the use of a wrapping
belt long enough, and of sufficient movement, to shape and size the fillor before it
applies the wrapper thereto. In such constructions the length of the wrapping belt
and its movement render the machine slow in operation. If its speed be
increased the wear of its parts is also so increased that it is expensive to keep in
repair and adjustment. Another difliculty in such case is, that the wrapping belt
becomes soiled by contact with the tobacco while compressing it into a
filler of the shape and size desired, and, when so soiled has a tendency to soil the
wrapper of the finished cigarette. It has also been found that, when this com-
pressing of the filler into the desired size and shape takes place in the wrapping
belt, after a given quantity of tobacco to form a filler has been separated from the
mass, the portions which form the ends of the filler are freer to spread, or elongate,
than are the central portions, therefore the ends of the filler do not contain the
same proportional quantity of tobacco as the central portions, and the filler is not
of uniform density throughout its length.
In the operation of machines designed to form a continuous cigarette cylinder,
which is afterwards severed into the desired lengths for individual cigarettes,
considerable difliculty has been experienced from the "choking" of the partially
formed and shaped filler in its course through the device which applies the con-
tinuous wrapper to it, which arises from the unequal size of the continuous
filler, and therefore the unequal friction thereof upon the wrapping devices,
as the wrapper is being applied. This unequal friction causes the filler to drag
and slip in its passage through the wrapping devico and thus "choke" therein,
which would not be the case if the filler were of the proper size, and had given to

page_text: "
it n suflicient amount of "set so as to be of practically a uniform size throughout
its length.
The principal objects of this invention are to improve the said machines in
these respects and remedy the aforesaid objections, and produce cigarettes of a
more uniform and generally better appearance than those hitherto produced, and
at a less cost.
Apparatus made in accordance with this invention is illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings. Figure 1 is a plan of a cigarette machine; Figure 2 is a
front side elevation; Figure 3 is a right-hand end elevation Figure 4 is a cross-
section on the line of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a cross-section on the
line of Figure 1: Figure 6 is a cross section on the line yy of Figures 1
and 2; Figure 7 is a vertical view of the filler-conveying, filler-setting, and filler-
delivering, mechanisms; Figure 8 is an end view of the filler-conveying, setting,
and delivering, mechanisms, on the line zz of Figure 7; Figure 9 is an end
view of the filler-conveying, and filler-setting, tube, and the belt, or chain guide,
as seen from the right-hand side of Figure 7, and Figure 10 is a plan of a section
of the couveyer-belt, or chain. Figure 11 is a plan of the compressing wheels,
lower or filler conveying belt, and the doctors, or scrapers; Figure 12 is a cross-
section of the same devices, or parts, with the upper, or compressing, belt added,
whch parts are shewn in other figures on an enlarged scale; Figures 13, 14 and 15
are cross-sections of the filler delivering trough and wrapping belt on a line almost
over the right-hand edge of such belt as seen in Figure 1, Figures 14 and 15 being
drawn to a larger scale than Figure 13. Figure 16 is an enlarged plan of the lower,
or filler-carrying, belt, and the upper, or tobacco-compressing, belt, the rolls, or
means for holding such belts in position, the compressing wheels, the doctors,
or scrapers, and means for holding the latter in place, the upper belt being broken
away, the better to shew the rolls which holds its lower part against the compressing
wheels Figure 17 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 16, shew-
ing the manner of supporting the belt-rollers, and doctors, or scrapers, as well
as the position of the compressing wheels and belts; Figure 18 is a cross-section
of Figure 16 on the line 3-3 with the front pair of compressing wheels removed
and showing adjacent parts omitted from Figure 12; Figure 19 is a cross-section
of Figure 16 on the line 44. The parts shewn in Figures 5 to 10 inclusive, and
in Figures 15 to 19 inclusive, are drawn to a larger scale than that to which the
same parts are drawn in the other figures.
The machine illustrated in the drawings contains the following principal
parts, viz. tobacco-feeding devices; filler-forming, and filler-conveying, and setting,
devices; cutting-off devides; devices for delivering tho cut-off fillers to tho
wrapping mechanism, and filler-wrapping mechanism. The present invention
relates more particularly to the filler-forming, filler-conveying, and setting, and
filler-delivering, devices.
A is the frame of the machine; B the main, or driving shaft, provided with
driving pulleys C. A part of the tobacco-feeding devices not fully shown in these
drawings, may consist of any suitable mechanism by which tobacco can be fed
in regulated quantity to a hopper, or receptacle, D. The construction of such
devices is immaterial, provided they operate to deliver the desired quantity of
tobacco to the hopper at the proper time, and in the proper condition.
"
After the tobacco has been delivered to the hopper D, it is fed to "forming"
wheels, E, arranged in pairs, preferably in two pairs, and these wheels are caused
to rotate at uniform speed so as to pass the tobacco between their peripheries,
which are grooved to compress the tobacco into cylindrical form. The
tobacco, as it falls into the hopper D, is received upon an endless belt F, which
forms the bottom of the hopper and is caused to travel by passing over the
wheels G, G, which are rotated by gearing connected to the main shaft B. This
belt F passes directly under, and in contact with, the meeting peripheries of the
forming wheels, E. and delivers the tobacco to the cylindrical opening between the
first pair of wheels and supports the partially-formed filler in its course between,

page_text: and through, the second pair of wheels. I is a second feeding belt passing over
the wheels 1, I which are rotated by gearing connected to the shaft which drives
one of the wheels G. This belt is arranged to run above, and in contact with,
the forming wheels E, as the belt Fruns below them, and operates to compress
the tobacco, and feed it between the first pair of wheels E, and to guide the partially
formed filler.
The shaft which carries the wheel G nearest tho tobacco-feeding mechanism,
and over which the belt H runs, is some distance in front of the centre of the first
pair of forming, or compressing, wheels E, and therefore the tobacco, being carried
along on the lower, or filler-carrying, belt F, is first acted upon by the belt H,
and compressed down to the thickness of the forming, or compressing, wheels,
before it enters between them, and this causes the tobacco, so compressed, to enter,
and be fed between the said first pair of wheels E. Each of the forming-wheels
is preferably provided with a doctor, or scraper, J, attached to the frame, or other
rigid part of the machine, and extending to, and in contact with, tho periphery
of its wheel, in such manner as to remove any tobacco which would tend to
adhere to the wheel, and also to assist to guide the filler to the next
pair of wheels, and to the setting channel beyond the second pair
of wheels. This construction is shewn in Figures 11, 12 16 17
and 18 of the drawings. The connection of the doctors, or scrapers,
to the frame is only shewn for one pair, the other pair being attached
in a similar way.
Two pairs of forming wheels E, are shewn in the drawings, but one pair of such
wheels will compress the tobacco into a partially formed filler, in condition to
be received in the setting channel hereinafter described.
After the filler has passed through the last pair of wheels E, it is conveyed
through a tubular channel K, in which it is set so as to retain its form and size,
and is delivered to the cutting-off mechanism at the end of this channel.
The tubular channel K is situated in line with the course of the filler and
receives the filler as it is fed onward by the forming wheels and belts. Its receiving
end is preferably somewhat enlarged as shewn in Figure 9, to aid in the delivery
of the filler thereto, and its general diameter is practically that required for the
finished filler. This tube or channel is provided with a narrow longitudinal slot
for the reception and passage of pins L. The filler is conveyed through the
chanuel K by means of the pins L projecting from an endless travelling belt, or
chain M, which pins are carried into the channel through its slot, and are inserted
into the filler, and as the pins are moved onward by the movement of the belt M
they convey the filler through the channel. The construction and operation of
the conveyer belt, or chain M, and its projecting pins L are as follows:-The
conveyor belt or chain, M, is made up of a series of links, or sections, each of which
is provided with a double pointed, spring-actuated pin L means for connecting
it to the adjoining link or section and means for engaging with a sprocket
wheel N for giving motion to the belt, or chain and also means
for use in connection with the guides 0 and 1', for causing the spring-
actuated pins to move in, and out of, the cigarette filler, as well as in a line parallel
with the setting channel K. The conveyor belt, or chain, is mounted
double rimmed wheels, one being the sprocket wheel N, and the other tho
upon two
supporting wheel Q, which, in addition to supporting the belt or chain supports
the forward end of the guide O which guide provided with an opening at its
forward end of a size to fit over the central portion of the hub of the supporting
wheel Q, which is made in two parts one rim on each party, so as to permit of its
being taken apart for the insertion of its hub through the guide O the space
between the two parts being just sufficient to permit the wheel to rotate freely
within the opening in the guide, and yet support the guide in the desired position
the aforesaid construction is shewn in cross-section in Figure 6. Two of the sections,
or links, of the belt M, are shewn in section in Figure 7 and illustrate the con-
struction of the pins L, and their operation, in connection with the guide O for

page_text: causing them to enter the filler, and then to permit them to be withdrawn there-
from by the action of their springs. The guide O is of such shape that it causes
the pins L to enter the filler against the force of their springs, and then permits
the springs to exert their force to withdraw the pins when the squared end of the
guide O, near the centre of the sprocket wheel N is reached by each pin as the chain,
or belt, is moved around. These links or sections, are connected together by means
of links, or pivoted bars so that they can readily pass around the sprocket wheel N,
and supporting wheel Q. The supporting wheel Q is situated at a suitable dis-
tance from the wheel N and its central portion rotates within and supports one end
of the guide O as herein before explained. The opposite end of the guide O
can be supported by brackets attached to each of its sides and to the upper part
of the belt guide P which in turn can be attached to the channel K, as shewn in
Figure 6.
The pivots which secure the links, or sections, of the belt, or chain, together
are made long enough to form bearings for engaging with the sprocket wheel N
and also to form projections, or bearings, on which the rollers R may be placed to
work in connection with the guide P as shewn in Figure 8. The guide P aud
rollera serve to keep the chain, or belt, in a line parallel with the setting channel K
irrespective of the guide O which only acts to operate the pins L.
If desired the delivery end of the channel K can be slightly enlarged, from
the point where the pins L are withdrawn from the filler, to relieve the friction
upon the filler so that it will move more freely towards the cutting blade.
The object of passing the partially-formed filler through the filler setting channel K
is to compress and set the filler, or to bring it into and set it in practically the
shape and size which the finished cigarette is to have so as to render the application!
of the wrappers easier, and give, to the completed cigarette a smoother, more
uniform and better appearance than would be the case were the fillers shaped
wholly or mainly, during the application of the wrappers thereto.
This setting of the filler can be accomplished by other means than the special
setting channel K, through which the filler is continuously passing, but whatever
means are employed for this purpose, the element of time is necessary that is,
the filler should be kept under pressure long enough to deprive the tobacco of
tendency to return to its former condition.
To effect the desired uniform compression, and set of the filler, by the means
shewn in the drawings, the channel K, may be made of any desired length to
keep the filler under continuous and practically uniform, pressure long enough
to set the tobacco, so that, when the filler leaves the channel it will no longer have
a tendency to enlarge. As the forming wheels E act upon the tobacco for only
a short time it is desirable that these wheels should be set close enough together
to compress the tobacco into a filler, or rod, of slightly less diameter than that
of the tube K, as the filler, when relieved from the pressure of the wheels will
at once enlarge.
This increased compression by the wheels will facilitate the introduction of the
filler into the channel K.
The filler setting channel K, with means for positively conveying the filler
there through instead of operating in connection with the filler-forming, and
tobacco feeding devices herein described and shewn, or either of them, may be
employed to advantage, when the filler is partially formed and delivered to such
channel by other mechanical means or by hand.
As the continuous formed filler is delivered from the chanuel K, it is cut into
cigarette lengths. The cutting mechanism consists of the following devices: In
front of the delivery end of the channel K, is a blade S, attached by arm T to
the shaft U, and rotating with it, and shearing just past the end of the channel K,
which acts as a stationary shearing blade. At every revolution of the blade S the
portion of the continuous filler, projecting from channel K, is severed, and, by
properly timing the speed of the feeding devices, the filler-forming wheels, and
the conveyer belt, relatively to each other, and to the revolving blade S, the portion

page_text: of the filler projected beyond the end of channel K. and severed by the blade at
each revolution, will be of the proper length for a single cigarette.
A longitudinal movement on the shaft U, may be given to the arm T, at the
instant the cutting blade S, operates to sever the filler, and this longitudinal move-
ment should be equal to the forward movement of the formed filler in order to give
a smooth cut, and prevent the end of the filler from banking up against
the cutting blade, and in such case the cutting end of the channel
should be slanted off, or a forward movement be given it, to corre-
spond to the forward movement of the cutting blade. If the latter con-
atruction be adopted the cutting end of the channel should be separated from the
main channel K.
Attached to the arm T, is a plate V, having its plane at right angles to the
plane of the cutting blade S, and extending forward from this blade in line with
the filler as it is advanced beyond the end of the tube, or channel, K, as shewn
in Figures 2 and 6. This plate operates to carry, or sweep, the severed filler to
the top, or mouth, of the trough W, which, as hereinafter described, and shewn in
Figures 6 and 8, ia situated below, and at one side of, the end of the tube K.
The plate V is preferably so arranged that, when it passes over the trough W,
its plane will coiucide with a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal
axis of the trough, and the severed filler, when it is carried to this point by the
plate V, will readily drop into the trough, provided the speed of the revolution of
the arm T be not too great.
The individual fillers are now to be properly delivered from the trough W,
upon a wrapping belt, or apron, upon which paper wrappers are placed in proper
relation to be wrapped around the fillers. For this purpose the forward end of
the trough W, extends over the part of the wrapping belt which receives the
wrappers, and is constructed with a moveable bottom as shewn in Figures 4, 13,
14 and 15, in which the pivotted lever a carries the moveable bottom b. A spring c
serves to return, and hold, the moveable bottom b, to its normal, or closed, position.
An arm d, attached to the shaft U, is arranged to come into contact with the
uppor end of the lever a and cause it to be moved sufficiently to move the bottom b,
from under the trough, and allow the filler to drop upon, or near to, the wrapper
placed upon the belt beneath it. The side e of the trough prevents the filler from
moving with the bottom b, when the latter is removed. The trough W, is open
upon its upper part, where it recoives the filler, but, from this point to its end,
this part may be open, or closed, as desired. The individual fillers are deliverd upon
the moveable bottom of the trough W, by means of a plunger f, attached to a
slide 9, working in ways or guides attached to the frame of the machine, as shewn
in Figures 7 and 8, and this plunger is operated by a pivotted lever h, connected
at one end to the slide, and having the opposite end provided with a roll working
in a cam i, on the shaft U, as shewn in Figure 2. The construction and arrange-
ment of this cam and its connection with the slide 9, are such that the plunger f
moves the filler from where it is received in the trough W, over, and upon, the
moveable bottom b, and is so timed as to properly perform this work.
After the individual fillers have been formed, and delivered to the wrapping
belt j, as herein before described, they are wrapped with paper wrappers of a size
suitable for this purpose, one of the edges of the wrappers having paste, or other
adhesive material, applied thereto so that the overlapped edges are securely united
together. Any suitable, or well known, wrapping-belts, and any suitable or well
known devices for cutting the paper wrappers from a continuous roll, or strip,
of paper, gumming their edges and transferring them to the proper position upon
the belt, and mechanism for operating the belt to cause the wrappers to be properly
wrapped around the fillers and to seal their overlapped edges together may be
employed. Instead of performing all of the aforesaid operations by mechanical
means, they may be performed wholly, or partly, by hand. For instance, the
wrappers may be out to suitable sizes, gummed, and delivered to the wrapping
belt, and the belt may be operated, either by hand, or by disconnected mechanism.

page_text: The mechanism shewn in the accompanying drawings for gumming the wrappers,
delivering them to the wrapping belt, and operating the belt, are practically
like those already known except that the cam which operates the pasting rolls
is on the main shaft, and the pivotted lever which carries the pasting rolls
is shaped so as to work properly in connection with the cam in this position.
We are aware that cigarette machines in which a wheel, or an endless belt
is used provided with pins moving diametrically therewith to withdraw loose
tobacco from a receptacle and carry it into a device which forms the loose tobacco
thus withdrawn into a partially formed filler are known; but in these machines
the partially formed filler is not positively conveyed through such filler-forming
device at a given rate of speed, irrespective of the varying quantities of tobacco
forming the filler, as is the case in the setting device of the present invention;
in fact the partially formed filler in the machines referred to is caused to pass
through the greater portion of the compressing chamber of the filler forming
devices by the pressure of the following particles of tobacco, as they are carried
into the opening of such device by the pins, and therefore the speed of the
different portions of the partially formed filler, in its passage through the filler-
forming device, necessarily varies. In all of the above-named machines, the
filler-forming device is tapering throughout its length and therefore the filler
is not held under a uniform and continuous pressure so as to give it the required
set.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a cigarotte machine, the combination of a filler setting channel, an endless
travelling chain, or belt, provided with spring actuated pins, adapted to be inserted
into, and withdrawn from, the filler-setting channel, and actuated in one direction
by their springs, and a guide to move the said pins in the other direction, whereby
the said pins are caused to enter the filler, and be withdrawn therefrom at the
proper times substantially as herein before explained.
2. In a cigarette machine, the combination of a filler-setting channel, a guide
(such as P,) an endless travelling chain, or belt, provided with spring actuated
pins, to engage with the filler, and with projections (such as R,) and means for
withdrawing the pins and operating the belt, whereby it is caused to move in
the desired path of travel, relatively to the filler-setting channel, by the engage-
ment of its projections with the guide P, and to advance the filler through the
channel by the engagement of the pins therewith, substantially as herein before
explained.
3. In a cigarette machine, the combination of a filler-setting channel, spring
actuated pins adapted to engage with the filler, means for advancing the pins
through the setting channel, and withdrawing them therefrom, & cutting-off
device, situated beyond the setting-channel, for severing the continuous filler into
individual fillers, a wrapping device situated beyond the cutting-off device,
and means for delivering the individual fillers from the cutting-off device to the
proper times substantially as herein before explained.
4. In a cigarette machine, the combination of a filler-forming device, a filler-
setting channel, means adapted to engage with, and positively convey, the filler
through the setting channel, a cutting-off device situated beyond the forward
end of the filler-setting channel, and a wrapping device situated beyond the
cutting-off device, whereby tobacco is formed into a continuous filler which is con-
veyed through the setting-channel to the cutting-off device, and is set in its
course thereto, and is severed into oigarette lengths which are subsequently wrapped
with wrappers, substantially as herein before explained.
5. In a cigarette machine, the combination of a tobacco feeding device, a filler-
forming device, a filler-setting channel, means adapted to engage with, and
positively convey, the filler through the setting channel, a cutting-off devico

page_text: situated beyond the forward end of the filler-setting channel, and a wrapping
device situated beyond the cutting-off device, whereby tobacco is fed, and formed
into a continuous cigarette filler which is conveyed to the cutting-off device, and is
set in its course thereto, and is severed into cigarette lengths which are subsequently
wrapped with wrappers, substantially as herein before explained.
6. In a cigarette machine, the combination of a cutting-off device, a delivering
device provided with a moving part arranged to move in the direction of the
length of the cigarette filler, and a wrapping device, whereby a continuous filler is
severed into cigarette lengths which are then delivered to a wrapping device to
bo wrapped, substantially as hereinbefore explained.
7. In a cigarette machine, the combination of two grooved forming surfaces
arranged to travel in substantially the same plane, means for moving such surfaces
toward each other and two flat surfaces arranged on opposite sides of the
grooved forming surfaces, and means for moving each of the flat surfaces towards,
and into close proximity to, both of the forming surfaces, whereby tobacco is
fed forward and compressed to form a cigarette filler, substantially as hereinbefore
explained.
8. In a cigarette machine, the combination, of shaping wheels arranged to rotate
in substantially the same plane and towards each other, and two endless belts
arranged upon opposite sides of the shaping wheels, whereby tobacco is fed forward
and compressed to form a cigarette filler, substantially as hereinbefore explained.
9. In a cigarette machine, an endless carrier belt and top, or presser, endless
belt, above the carrier belt, combined with shaping wheels mounted to revolve
between the said belts, whereby the tobacco is formed into a filler rod, substantially
as hereinbefore explained.
10. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting a cigarette making
machine substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.