IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING CIGARETTES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Manuel José Lopez-y-Munoz, of Havana, in the
Island of Cuba, at present residing at No. 91, Guildford Street, Russell
Square, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
CIGARETTES,"
Sealed the 27th April 1866, and dated the 17th February 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Manuel José Lopez-y-
Münoz at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th February 1866.
I, MANUEL JOSÉ LOPEZ-Y-MUNOZ, of Havana, in the Island of Cuba, at
present residing at No. 91, Guildford Street, Russell Square, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
MAKING CIGARETTES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for making
cigarettes. The tobacco for making the cigarettes is placed in a hopper in
which is an agitator consisting of arms mounted on an axis, to which a
rocking motion is given by a connecting rod and a crank on the main axis
of the machine. The bottom of the hopper is closed by a roller in which is
a cavity of a size to hold the quantity of tobacco required to make a cigarette.
This roller is turned round at suitable intervals by means of a star wheel on
Price 8d.]

page_text: its axis resting in contact with a wheel on the main axis; this wheel for the
greater part of its circunferencc is plain, and the remaining parts are
furnished with teeth, the plain part of the wheel holds the roller stationary;
the teeth when they come up cause it to revolve, and at each revolution it
drops the quantity of tobacco required to make a cigarette. The tobacco
so dropped falls on the end of a continuous strip of paper which passes
between feed rollers to move it forward from time to time as required. These
feed rollers are actuated by a train of wheels connecting them with a star wheel
which in turn is moved at intervals by a wheel on the main axis in the same
way as the star wheel of the dropping roller already described. The end of
the strip of paper immediately after it has been fed forward is pressed down
between four small rollers, so that the end of the paper assumes a U-form,
and the rollers are so placed as to retain it in this form. This pressing down
of the paper between the rollers is effected by a plunger or former which is
moved up and down by means herein-after described. The paper being thus
prepared the tobacco is dropped into it by the dropping roller; the plunger or
former then descends two or three times on to the tobacco in the paperto press
it down. One of the pressures of the plunger or former is somewhat prolonged
to hold firmly the end of the paper from which the cigarette is to be made, and
shears then cut off the length of paper to be used in making the cigarette.
One of the shear blades is stationary, and the paper is in contact with it or
nearly so; the other blade is connected by a rod or link with acrank, on the axis
of which is a pinion, and a toothed segment fixed to a wheel on the main axis
rotates this pinion and gives a forward and backward motion to the shear
blade at the time required. When the paper is thus cut off the plunger or
former rises. The four small rollers between which the paper lies are now
all caused to rotate in the same direction, and this causes them to roll up the
paper and the tobacco within it. These rollers are all geared by pinions
with a star wheel revolving in contact with a wheel on the main axis, and
teeth on this wheel rotate the star wheel, and, consequently, the rollers geared
with it from time to time, as described in reference to other parts. Whilst
the rolling up of the cigarette is in progress the plunger or former descends
several times and compresses it, thereby assisting in the operation. All these
motions of the plunger or former are produced by pins or teeth on a wheel on
the main axis coming against an arm on an axis, which is thus caused
partially to revolve; on this axis are other arms pressing down upon levers,
which at one end are centred to the frame, and at the other are connected by
joints with the plunger or former. Each pin or tooth produces in passing
the descent of this instrument a greater or less distance as may be required,

page_text: and a spring afterwards causes it to rise. When the cigarette is rolled up
and whilst it is firmly held by the plunger or former, the ends are flattened
down by instruments, one at each end; these instruments are mounted on
centres beyond the ends of the cigarette, and by turning on these centres their
ends descend on to the paper and crease it down. The downward motion is
given to them by an axis which is partly rotated at the proper time by a pin
on one of the wheels on the main axis coming against an arm fixed on the
first-mentioned axis, and then other arms on the same axis press down levers
with which these folding instruments are linked. Other instruments are also
employed in folding over the paper; these turn up and dent in the ends.
flattened by the first instruments, so as to complete the cigarette. These latter
instruments are mounted on axes to which a semi-rotation is given at the time
required; for this purpose there is on each axis a pinion gearing with a rack,
and the racks are moved by levers on an axis, which in turn is actuated by a
pin on one of the wheels on the main axis, which in coming round strikes an
arm on the said axis. Springs bring back the parts when the action is
complete. When the cigarette is rolled up the two forming rollers on one
side of it recede from the other two forming rollers, being mounted on aswing
frame to enable them to do so. The two frames holding the forming rollers
are locked together during the making of the cigarette by notched levers
catching on to the swinging frame, but when the cigarette is finished these
levers are caused by a cam on the main axis to free the frame, and a pin on
one of the wheels on the main axis then strikes a projection on the swinging
frame, and gives the movement required. When the forming rollers are thus
separated a downward movement of the plunger or former pushes out the
finished cigarette.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Manuel José Lopez-y-Munoz in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MANUEL
JOSÉ LOPEZ-Y-MUNOZ, of Havana, in the Island of Cuba, at present residing
at No. 91, Guildford Street, Russell Square, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant

page_text: unto me, the said Manuel José Lopez-y-Minoz, Her special licence that I, the
said Manuel José Lopez-y-Munoz, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Manuel José Lopez-y-Munoz, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
CIGARETTES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Manuel
José Lopez-y-Münoz, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Manuel José Lopez-y-Münoz, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for making
cigarettes. The tobacco for making the cigarettes is placed in a hopper in
which is an agitator consisting of arins mounted on an axis, to which a rocking
motion is given by a connecting rod and a crank on the main axis of the
machine. The bottom of the hopper is closed by a roller in which is a cavity
of a size to hold the quantity of tobacco required to make a cigarette. This
roller is turned round at suitable intervals by means of a star wheel on its
axis resting in contact with a wheel on the main axis; this wheel for the
greater part of its circumference is plain, and the remaining parts arefurnished
with teeth. The plain part of the wheel holds the roller stationary; the teeth
when they come up cause it to revolve, and at each revolution it drops the
quantity of tobacco required to make a cigarette. The tobacco so dropped
falls on the end of a continuous strip of paper which passes between feed
rollers to move it forwards from time to time as required; these feed rollers
are actuated by a train of wheels connecting them with a star wheel, which in
turn is moved at intervals by a wheel on the main axis in the same way as the
star wheel of the dropping roller already described. The end of the strip of
paper immediately after it has been fed forwards is pressed down between
four small rollers, so that the end of the paper assumes a U form and the rollers
are so placed as to retain it in this form. This pressing down of the paper

page_text: between the rollers is effected by a plunger or former which is moved up and
down by means herein-after described. The paper being thus prepared the
tobacco is dropped into it by the dropping roller. The plunger or former
then descends two or three times on to the tobacco in the paper to press it
down. One of the pressures of the plunger or former is somewhat prolonged
to hold firmly the end of the paper from which the cigarette is to be made,
and shears then cut off the length of paper to be used in making the cigarette.
One of the shear blades is stationary, and the paper is in contact with it or
nearly so; the other blade is connected by a rod or link with a crank, on the
axis of which is a pinion and a toothed segment fixed to a wheel on the main
axis rotates this pinion, and gives a forward and backward motion to the shear
blade at the time required. When the paper is thus cut off the plunger or
former rises. The four small rollers between which the paper lies are now
all caused to rotate in the same direction, and this causes them to roll up the
paper and the tobacco within it. These rollers are all geared by pinions
with a star wheel revolving in contact with a wheel on the main axis, and
teeth on this wheel rotate the star wheel, and, consequently, the rollers geared
with it from time to time, as described in reference to other parts. Whilst
the rolling up of the cigarette is in progress the plunger or formor descends
several times and compresses it, thereby assisting in the operation. All these
motions of the plunger or formerare produced by pins or teeth on a wheel on the
main axis coming against a an arm on an axis, which is thus caused partially to
revolve; on this axis are other arms pressing down upon levers, which atone
end are centred to the frame, and at the other are connected by joints with
the plunger or former. Each pin or tooth produces in passing the descent of
this instrument a greater or less distance as may be required, and a spring
afterwards causes it to rise. When the cigarette is rolled up, and whilst it is
firmly held by the plunger or former, the ends are flattened down by instru-
ments, one at each end; these instruments are mounted on centres beyond the
ends of the cigarette, and by turning on these centres their ends descend on
to the paper and crease it down. The downward motion is given to them by
an axis which is partly rotated at the proper time by a pin on one of the
wheels on the main axis coming against an arm fixed on the first-mentioned
axis,and then other arms on the same axis press down levers with which these
folding instruments are linked. Other instruments are also employed in
folding over the paper; these turn up and dent in the ends flattened by the
first instruments, so as to complete the cigarette. These latter instruments
are mounted on axes to which a semi-rotation is given at the time required;
for this purpose there is on each axis a pinion gearing with a rack, and the

page_text: to do so.
The two frames holding the forming rollers are locked together
during the making of the cigarette by notched levers catching on to the
swinging frame, but when the cigarette is finished these levers are caused by
a cam on the main axis to free the frame, and a pin on one of the wheels on
the main axis then strikes a projection on the swinging frame, and gives
the movement required. When the forming rollers are thus separated a
downward movement of the plunger or former pushes out the finished
cigarette.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the loose pulley A, the driving pulley
B being immediately behind it (see Figure 3), the spindle C, on which the
pulleys are fixed, resting on bearings on standards D, and on a similar standard
not seen in the Drawing; these standards, which are bolted to the bed plate
of the machine, also support the feeding drum E. The paper is represented
by the line P. This drum has two brass checks at the sides to keep the
paper straight; when necessary a rolling guide, Figure 4, may be placed in
the frame as a support to the paper after leaving the drum and before
getting to the rollers. At the end of the shaft C (Figure 1 and Figure 3)
a toothed pinion F is fixed. This pinion gears into the large wheel G
(Figures 5 and 6), through which most of the motions of the machine are
transmitted. This large wheel is placed on a shaft H (Figure 6 and
Figure 5); one end of this shaft works in a bearing on the bracket T
(Figure 10), the other end is supported by the bracket K (Figure 1). The
brackets K and T are bolted to the bed plate which is not seen in the
Drawing). On the shaft H is a wheel L (Figures 1 and 7), on a segment
of the periphery of which are cut as many teeth M as necessary, five being
found sufficient in practice; these teeth cause the pinion N (Figure 7) to
rotate as long as they gear into the wheel; during the remainder of its revo-
lution the pinion N remains at rest, the concave surface of its teeth sliding
over the circumference of the wheel till again acted on by the teeth M.
An end view of this wheel and pinion is represented in Figure 1, and also
the toothed pinion O which gives motion to a similar toothed pinion P, this
again transinitting motion to the pinion Q. The pinion N and the toothed

page_text: pinion O are placed on a shaft R (Figure 8); this shaft has two journals cut
in it, which work in bearings s on the brackets K and S (Figures 1 and 9). The
pinion Q, which is represented on Figure 11, is attached to the spindle U; the
bearings on this spindle are placed in the frames I and J (Figures 1 and 2).
On the spindle U (Figure 11) there is also another small toothed pinion V,
which gives motion to the roller W through a pinion X placed at the end of the
shaft; the journals at the end of the roller W work into bearings formed at
the end of the lever Y,Y, (Figures 1 and 2). The pins A' are fastened into the
frames I and J in such a position that the pins pass through holes in the upper
end of the levers Y, Y. There are two circular springs Z, Z, and two nuts
a, u, on the pins b, b. By screwing these nuts backwards or forwards the
rollers U and W (Figure 11), are kept sufficiently close to allow the
cigarette paper to pass through after being unrolled from the drum E
(Figure 1). The paper on the drum is just of sufficient width to form
the length of a cigarette. The spindle U (Figure 11) has the part that
touches the paper enlarged throughout its length, whereas the roller W is
enlarged only about of an inch in length in the centre to allow any im-
perfections or lumps on the surface of the paper to pass between the rollers.
These rollers U and Wintroduce the quantity of paper necessary to make one
cigarette, causing it to pass between the two blades of the shears c and d
(Figure 12) and over the bridge e (Figures 13 and 14), when it passes on
to the roller (Figure 15). A wheel (Figures 2, 6, and 16) is attached to
the shaft H; on this wheel are placed sundry teeth at opposite segments of
the periphery, the remainder of the circumference being smooth to allow the
pinion (Figure 16) to slide on it; this pinion is fastened to an adjustable
plate (Figure 10)by a screw and spindle on to the bracket T, so that the
pinion m may be raised or lowered to the required point. The pinion /
puts in motion the four rollers f, g, h, i, by means of properly constructed
pinions, Figures 13 and 15. By the combination of these pinions the rollers
move in one and the same direction. The two rollers fand work in
bearings in the moveable piece u (Figure 15); this moveable piece is hinged
on to the side frames I and J, and fastened by the screw pins o. At each end
of this piece is placed a pin p, on the top of which the spring catch y fails
(Figure 1), and keeps the piece n, from moving till the springs are lifted by
the tappets and s on the wheels and L (Figures 1 and 2) respectively.
When the springs are lifted the tappets and s move the picces n outwards,
thereby separating the rollers fand from the rollers g and i. The object of
this is to allow the cigarette to drop down after its manufacture is complete.
Immediately the tappets release the piece n it falls into its former position

page_text: and the springs retain it there till the wheels j and L make one revolution.
2
The rollers and i work in close proximity, but not in contact, and f, g,
which are above are separated sufficiently to allow the cigarette to revolve
freely during the process of "rolling." The bridge e (Figure 13) is firmly
screwed to the side frame I and J; the bearings for the rollers g and i are
placed in this bridge, see Figures 1 and 13. Upon this bridge the paper after
leaving the feeding rollers moves on to the roller f, which is grooved; while
the paper is entering this roller rotates in an upward direction on the side
where it receives the paper, the grooves on its circumference prevent the paper
from becoming stationary or passing through the space between the rollers
and until it comes in contact with the rollers and i. The stamper t
(Figure 17) is furnished with a rack u at the upper end; this rack works in
slides attached to the hopper w, and receives motion from the pinion
(Figures 2 and 18); this pinion is attached to the spindle y, which moves in
bearings in the frames I and J. Fastened at one end of the shaft, close to
the outside of the frame J, there is a lever receiving motion on being struck
by the teeth on the circumference of the large wheel, Figure 5. On the end
of the shaft y (Figure 18), close to the side frame I, there is a cam 1, which
is pressed back to its place (after the lever at the other end has ceased to be
acted upon by the wheel, Figure 5) by the pall and spring 2 and 3. Inside
the frame I and on the shaft y there is a ratchet 4 (Figure 19), which being
caught by the catch 5 prevents the spring from raising the cam 1 too high,
and keeps the stamper in its proper position; this catch is fastened by a screw
to the side frame I.
Figure 20 is a Drawing of the feed spindle which measures off the quantity
of chopped tobacco necessary to make one cigarette, the chopped tobacco
being placed in the hopper 10. In the sides of the hopper casing near the
bottom are two bearings in which the spindle revolves; one end of the spindle
is hollowed out 8 (Figure 20) and works against a screw 9 (Figure 1), the
point of which goes into the hole in the spindle. This screw works through
a collar 10 (Figure 1) that is screwed to the side frame I. By means of this
screw the feed spindle can always be kept up to its work. Near the other
end of the spindle there is a bearing working in the side frame J and passing
through it has an angular pinion 11 (Figures 5 and 20) fastened to it; this
pinion slides along the ring 12 (Figure 5) till put in motion by the teeth 13
which are fixed to the wheel (Figure 5). There is a recess cut in the feed
spindle large enough to hold the proper quantity of tobacco which falls into it
from the hopper, the sides of this recess are brought to a knife edge and run
obliquely to the axis; by this arrangement the fibre of the tobacco is cut off

page_text: gradually, and prevents too much strain on the machine. When the angular
pinion 11 (Figure 20) is put in motion the feed spindle revolves and the
tobacco is emptied on the paper (which is ready to receive it) between the
twisting rollers f, g, h, i, (Figure 2). The spindle, Figure 20, completes the
revolution and rests in its original position, where it is again filled. To ensure
the filling of this feed cylinder, and to prevent the tobacco from sticking, a
spindle 14, Figure 1, with a number of prongs or pins attached is placed in
the upper part of the hopper, in the sides of which bearings are cut for the
ends of the spindle to work in; vibratory motion is given to this agitator by
means of a crank 15 and eccentric 17 connected by the rod 16 to one or
other of the moving shafts. When a sufficient length of paper has passed
over the twisting rollers the knife or shears, Figure 12, cut it off close to the
bridge e. These shears are composed of two steel plates c and d, and are
joined together at one end by a pin 18 screwed on to a bracket T, Figure 10
outside the frame J. The plate d has no motion, but is placed in holes
through the side frames I and J. The moveable knife c working on the
centre 18, Figure 10, receives its motion through a connecting piece 19
(Figure 2), one end of which screws on to the recess 20 (Figure 12), the
other end is attached to a moveable slide 21; this slide is fastened to the
standard 22 by two screws 23, which allow a free reciprocating motion. In the
centre of the slide 21 there is a slot 24 in which a crank piu 25, Figure 21,
works; this pin is attached to a crank 26 and a shaft 27. There is a bearing
on the standard 22 in which one end of the shaft 27 works, the other end is
supported by a bracket 28; the bracket is screwed to the outside of the frame I.
On the shaft 27 there is also a collar 29, with a recess cut in its periphery, this
recess is for the purpose of receiving a roller 30 (Figure 22) attached to the
end of a lever 31, the fulcrum for the lever is the pin 32 screwed into the
bracket, 28. The lever is pressed close to the circumference of the collar 29
by the spring 33. Motion is communicated to this shaft from the large wheel
(Figure 5) by the quadrant 34 to the pinion 35. As the large wheel rotates
the quadrant 34 causes the shaft 27 to revolve once, and gives a reciprocating
motion to the knife c;after the paper is cut the knife is drawn back, and is held
in that position by the roller 30 at the end of the lever 31, being pressed by
the spring 33 into the recess in the collar 29. The edges of the shears are
ground to such an angle that the paper is cut off clean. Figure 23 is a shaft
which has two bearings in the side frames I and J ; at one end of this shaft a
lever 37 is attached and overhangs the large wheel, Figure 5, which on
revolving the tappet 38 strikes the lever and moves the shaft 36. Inside the
bearings of this shaft, and close to each frame, are placed the levers 39 and 40,

page_text: On
the ends of which press on to the lever 41. As the mechanism of both these
paper folders are the same it will suffice to describe the one seen in Figure 2.
One end of the lever 41 is attached by a screw pin to the frame J, the other
end having jaws for the joint of the connecting piece 44 to move freely, the
piece being kept in its place by a pin through the jaws. Below and pressing
up the lever 41 is a spring 43, which is also screwed to the frame J.
Figure 13 the connecting pieces 44 are seen fastened by pins to the 45 folders.
The piece 45 is fastened by means of a screw pin 47 to a small bracket 49
which is fixed on to the bridge e. At one end of this folder is a projecting
piece which as the levers are pressed down come on the ends of the cigarette
(after the rollers have twisted it) and press the loose paper together. On the
rim 12 of the wheel, Figure 5, there is a tappet 51, this strikes on the
escapement 52 (Figures 24 and 25), which is shown in its proper position by
the dotted lines in Figure 2; this escapement is attached to a lever 53, and
can be adjusted to any angle by means of a screw set in the side. The lever 53
is fastened to the spindle 54 (Figure 24). The spindle works in bearings on
the side frame I and J ; at the end of the spindleopposite to the escapement is a
lever 55 (Figures 1 and 24), the end of which is pressed up by the springs 56
(Figure 1); these springs are screwed to the edge of the frame I. At equal
distances inside the frames and on the spindle 54 are placed the levers 57
and 58 (Figures 2 and 24); each of these levers are provided with slots in
which the pins attached to the racks 59 (Figures 26 and 27) work. These
racks are fixed in moveable slides by the screws 61 to enable them to be set
in various positions. A moveable back 63 is screwed to the piece 64; this is
provided with slots and screws 62, as seen in Figure 26, for fastening the back
and slide to the side frames I and J, a slot being cut in the frames to allow
the screw to be set at different heights. The rack puts in motion a pinion
and shaft, the bearings for which are attached to the slide frame 64
(Figure 26). 65 shows the folding levers which are attached to the pinion
spindle; one of these is seen in position at Figure 2.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The feeding drum having a
supply of paper of the width necessary to make the cigarette wound tight on
it, and the driving pulley being put in motion by some motor, the end of the
paper
is drawn out by the workman and placed between the feeding rollers
the rollers draw in the paper, which then passes between the shears or
knives over the bridge, thence on to the twisting rollers; the stamper now
descends and presses the paper into the space between the four twisting
rollers; the stamper immediately is pressed up by the spring at the end of the
shaft, when the feed spindle revolves, and empties its contents of chopped

page_text: tobacco on to the paper; the shears then cut the paper off, and the stamper
comes down two or three times and arranges the tobacco of an equal thickness
along the paper. All the rollers then make one revolution, and the stamper
makes about 15 short strokes (the length of the teeth on the large wheel
regulating the length of its movement). By the united action of the rollers
and the stamper the paper containing the tobacco has been rolled into a
cylinder and pressed tight. The movements of the rollers and stamper are
now arrested, and the two top folders (attached to the bridge) move down
and press the loose ends of the paper firmly against the bottom rollers. The
stamper again moves on to the top of the cigarette, and is retained there for
a space of time (by means of a broad tooth on the large wheel) while the
two bottom folding levers (attached to the racks) come up and turn the ends
of the cigarette paper (already pressed together) over. The moveable piece
(containing the two outer twisting rollers) is then raised up, and the cigarette
falls down finished. To prevent it sticking to the rollers the stamperis moved
down at the same moment; the moveable piece then falls back and the
operation is repeated, the machine turning out about 25 cigarettes per minute.
The arrangements as described may be modified in many ways.
In witness whereof, I, the said Manuel José Lopez-y-Munoz, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
MANUEL J. LOPEZ-Y-MUNOZ. (L.S.)