An Improved Method of and Machine for Making Cigar Fillers.
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 12th May, 1891--Accepted, 13th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Machine for Making Cigar Fillers.
I, BERNHARD BARON, of 23 South Stricker Street in the City of Baltimore in
the State of Maryland, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
In the description of the said invention which follows, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which,--
Figure is a side elevation of the improved machine with certain parts thereof
removed to show the interior.
Fig. 2 is a similar view except that the reverse side of the machine is shown.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the invention.
Figs. 4 to 15 inclusive are details of the invention on an enlarged scale, and
hereinafter fully described.
Referring to the drawings, A is the frame of the machine having legs a.
B and C are stands erected on the frame A, and D and E shafts supported in the
said stands, carrying the sprocket wheels F and G.
An ordinary link chain belt, not shown, is stretched over the sprocket wheels F
and G, and to this are secured the blocks b. These blocks are each grooved as
shown in Fig. 6 which illustrates two views of one block. The lower portion of
the groove is semi-circular, and the upper part is widened to receive a belt herein-
after described.
'
I represent bars extending between the stands B and C, immediately below the
grooved travelling band formed by the blocks, b, to support the same and retain
its upper part in a straight line.
The means for actuating the grooved travelling band J consist of a spur
wheel, K, on the shaft, E, in gear with a pinion, L, on the main driving shaft M
which is provided with a driving pulley N. The wheel, K, pinion L and the
driving shaft M are shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 7.
The sprocket wheel G together with certain parts hereinafter described is shown
on an enlarged scale in Fig. 5.
It will be understood that the sprocket wheel F is an idler and driven by the
chain to which the grooved travelling band is secured.
O is a table situated over a portion of the grooved travelling band J having a
slot, c, of a width corresponding with the enlarged part of the groove in the band J,
and of any convenient length.
The surface of the table O is flat and horizontal, so that the tobacco leaves from
which the filler is to be made may be scattered over it and remain where placed
without having any tendency to fall to the slot c.
The object of the slot, c, is to provide means whereby the tobacco used in forming
a continuous filler, is introduced in bundles directly into the groove of the band J,
and in order to compress the said tobacco as it leaves the hands of the attendant,
and before it reaches the main compressing mechanism hereinafter described, an
inclined block d, is secured over the slot c at the forward side of the table, as shown
in Figs. 1 and 3.
PP represent brackets bolted to one of the bars I, having studs, e, which carry
sheaves, Q. These sheaves are connected by the rubber belt H herein before
alluded to, which has an outer hollow face, which transverses the enlarged portion
of the groove in the band J, as shown particularly in Fig. 6.
By referring to this figure, it will be seen that the hollow face of the rubber
belt H and the bottom of the groove in the band J form nearly a correct circle,

page_text: hence the compressed continuous filler is practically a round rope composed of
bundles of tobacco leaves which bundles are lapped at their ends as fed by the
attendant, through the slot in the table O to the grooved band J.
In order to admit of adjustment of the rubber belt H as regards its vertical
position within the groove in the band J, the brackets P are slotted to receive the
bolts which hold them to one of the bars I, see Fig. 1..
R is a switch block to detach the continuous filler after its compression, from the
grooved travelling band J. This block consists of a grooved lower plate,, having
a spur, , which enters the groove in the band J and bears closely against its
bottom. To the lower plate, is attached the upper plate, or cover, h, which is
also grooved. Fig. 8 is a top view of the complete switch block, and Fig. 9 a
similar view with the upper plate h, removed. Fig. 10 is an exterior side view of
the switch block, and Fig. 11 a longitudinal central section of the same.
an end view of Fig. 8 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Fig. 12 is
By reference to Figs. 6 and 9, it will be seen that the rear end of the switch
block is tapered to a point. The object of this shape is to admit of a similarly
shaped knife S being applied thereto to cut the continuous filler. This knife is
shown on a small scale in Figs. 1 and 3, and on an enlarged scale in Figs. 4, 13, 14
and 15. Fig. 4 is a top view of the grooved travelling band J, the lower plate, f,
of the switch block R, a section of the knife S and the continuous tobacco filler.
Fig. 13 is an exterior side view of the knife S, and Fig. 14 a view of the same
as seen from the larger end. Fig. 15 is a top view of the knife.
Referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the knife S co-operates
with the tapered end of the switch block to produce a shearing cut, and that
the filler is held in a compressed condition within the switch block while the cut
is made. The action of the switch block in this respect is similar to that of the
hand when holding a rope of tobacco the end of which is to be severed or cut off.
T is a stem adapted to have a sliding movement within a lug, /, on the face of a
stand, erected on or forming an extension of a box, k, which is seated on the
frame A.
The upper part of this stand constitutes a sleeve, m, in which a revoluble shaft, n,
shown only in dotted lines in Fig. 1, is enclosed. To the outer end of this shaft is
attached a loose pulley, U, which is driven by a belt not shown. To the inner end
of the shaft n, is secured a crank disk, s, having a crank pin, p. This pin is united
to the knife stem T by a link
: In the revolution of the shaft n, the knife is made to have a vertical recipro-
cating movement, and at each downward stroke a short filler is cut from the
'continuous one.
9.
A clutch mechanism is employed between the loose pulley and the shaft n, so
that only an intermittent action of the knife is produced, and this action is
regulated so as to increase or diminish the number of cuts per minute and con-
sequently vary the length of the short filler, by means of a system of conc gears
shown in Fig. 7.
But I do not claim any invention in the mechanism for producing the alternate
reciprocating movement of the knife S as the devices used are all of a well known
character.
V is an endless flexible belt to convey the short fillers, as cut from the con-
tinuous filler, to the table W where they are provided with binders. This endless
belt is stretched over the rollers, A' and B' having their spindles & and t¹, supported
in the stand of the machine.
The spindle, s', carrying the roller A' is provided at its outer end with a
sprocket wheel C driven by a chain, a', from the sprocket wheel D' on the
shaft E.
The sprocket wheels C' and D', together with the roller A' and the sprocket
wheels G, are, shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 5.
The endless belt V passes through or traverses a gutter E' which is narrower
than the belt; and in consequence, the said belt becomes curved or hollowed, and

page_text: thereby better adapted to convey the cut fillers, without injuring them, than a belt
having a flat surface.
The table W extends laterally from the sides of the machine and is on a level
with the endless belt V. The operators who apply the binders to the fillers sit
at the table and before each operator is an opening F provided with metallic rails
at the sides, and in this opening, and supported by the rails, is a carriage G¹ having
a roller
I is an apron formed of a piece of canvas, rubber or some other suitable
material attached at its ends to strips b'.
Pockets are formed in the surface of the table W into which the aprons are
depressed to form loops to receive the binders and fillers. The fillers are rolled
up by the lateral movement of the rollers. The mechanism here briefly described
for rolling up the fillers in the binders, in itself forms no part of this invention, it
being commonly in use in cigar making factories.
The machine being in motion, the operation of making a continuous tobacco
filler, and cutting the same into short pieces which are adapted as or constitute the
fillers proper, is as follows:
The tobacco is first reduced to strips by tearing, cutting or stripping the leaf
longitudinally thereof and the material thus prepared is placed in a box K' at the
end of the table O. From this box it is taken by the feeding attendant, and
placed on the table where it is separated into bundles of the proper size which
are inserted into the slot, c, and thence forced directly into the grooved travelling
band J, with their ends lapped.
By the exposure through the slot, of the table, of a considerable portion of
the grooved band J, the feeding attendant is enabled to distribute the bundles so
as to form a continuous filler of practically an uniform density, and to so thoroughly
press the tobacco into the said grooved band, that the rubber belt H will meet
with no unnecessary obstruction in compressing it.
The continuous filler is compressed to a compact rope before it passes from
under the rubber belt H, and in this compressed condition it is guided from the
grooved band J and forced into the switch block R where it is held while its end
is severed by the knife S.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of forming a continuous filler to be afterwards cut into proper
lengths for cigars, herein described, which consists in first grouping a number of
leaves of tobacco parallelly in the direction of their length, to form a bundle of
approximately the diameter of a cigar bunch to be formed, then feeding the bundles
so formed to a compressing mechanism, lapping the end of each bundle onto the
end of the one next preceding it, and successively compressing the bundles so fed,
to form a compact rope, substantially as specified.
2. The method of forming fillers for cigars, herein described, which consists in
first grouping a number of leaves of tobacco parallelly in the direction of their
length to form a bundle of approximately the diameter of a cigar bunch to be
formed, then feeding the bundles so formed to a compressing mechanism, lapping
the end of one bundle onto the end of the one next preceding it, then successively
compressing the bundles so fed, to form a compact rope and then cutting the rope
into short fillers, substantially as specified.
3. In a machine for forming fillers for cigars, the combination of an endless
grooved travelling band, a table having a flat surface, situated directly over the
said band with a slot therein of a width practically the same as the groove in the
travelling band, through which slot, bundles of tobacco leaves are introduced
directly into the said band, and suitable compressing devices which co-operate with
the said grooved band, substantially as specified.
4. In a machine for forming the fillers for cigars, an endless belt having a groove

page_text: therein to receive the bundles of tobacco, combined with a table situated over the
said belt having a slot therein through which the tobacco is introduced directly to
the said belt and an inclined block at the end of the said slot to force the tobacco
as it leaves the hands of the feeding attendant, within the said groove, substantially
as specified.
5. In a machine for forming the fillers for cigars, the combination of an endless
grooved travelling band, devices to press tobacco therein, and a switch block having
an aperture which extends longitudinally of the band and a spur which enters the
groove in the said band to guide the continuous filler formed in the same into the
said aperture, substantially as specified,
6. In a machine for forming the fillers for cigars, the combination of an endless
grooved travelling band, devices to press tobacco therein, a switch block having an
aperture which extends longitudinally of the band and a spur which enters the
groove in the said band to guide the continuous filler formed in the same into the
said aperture, and a knife adapted to have a reciprocating movement across the end
of the said switch block, substantially as specified.
7. In a machine for forming fillers for cigars, the combination of an endless
grooved travelling band, devices to press tobacco therein, a switch block having an
aperture which extends longitudinally of the band and a spur which enters the
groove in the said band to guide the continuous filler formed in the same into the
said aperture, and a triangular knife adapted to have a reciprocating movement
across the end of the said switch block, substantially as specified.
8. In a machine for forming fillers for cigars, the combination of an endless
grooved travelling band and devices for forcing tobacco therein, a hollow block
having a triangular end, and a triangular knife adapted to have a reciprocating
movement across the triangular end of the said block, substantially as specified.
9. In a cigar machine, the combination of a filler forming mechanism, a table,
a conveyer to carry the fillers longitudinally of the said table, and filler rolling up
devices arranged on the said table and laterally of the said conveyer, substantially
as specified.
10. In a machine for forming the fillers for cigars, a travelling band having a
groove in its upper surface, combined with compressing devices to form the upper
side of the said filler, a guide to turn out the continuous filler from the grooved
chain belt, a knife in the rear of the guide having a reciprocating movement to cut
the continuous filler into short pieces, and an endless apron to carry the completed
fillers away from the said forming chain, substantially as specified.
11. In a machine for forming the fillers for cigars, a travelling band having a
groove in its upper surface, combined with compressing devices to form the upper
side of the said filler, a guide to turn out the continuous filler from the grooved
chain belt, and a knife in the rear of the guide having a reciprocating movement to
cut the continuous filler into short pieces, substantially as specified.
Dated him th J...
..: 1801
BERNHARD BARON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.