Improvements in Machines for Cutting Olgar and Cigarette Wrappers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Olgar and Cigarette
Wrappers.
I, NAPOLEON DU BRUL, of 165-169 E. Pearl Street, Cincinnati, in the State of
Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described .:
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present invention relates to machines which employ a cutting die over which
the tobacco leaf is placed, and upon which it is held smooth by means of atmospheric
pressure induced by exhausting the air from beneath some or all of the leaf's area,
and a suitable pressure-device which bears above the leaf upon the cutting edge of
the die while one of said parts moves relatively to the other and effects the cutting
action.
My present invention consists in novel features of construction in such a machine,
whereby it is better adapted to perform its several functions, as well as to perform
new functions not attainable with machines of this class as formerly constructed,
and whereby the construction of the machine as a whole, is improved.
My invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine, Figure 1^ being a detail.
view on an enlarged scale of a part shown in Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a front elevation.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation.
Figure 4 is a top plan.
Figure 5 is a central vertical section from front to rear through the table, suction
chamber, cutting die, and device for applying cutting pressure to said die.
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate a modified form of die or cutter and of the
surrounding platen, together with the suction chamber, which die or cutter and
surrounding plater may be substituted for or made interchangeable with corresponding".
parts shown in Figures 1 to 5; Figure 6 being a plan of such modified parts,
Figures 7 and 8 a longitudinal and a transverse section respectively of the same, and
Figure 9 being a side elevation of the die or cutter separate from the surrounding
parts.
'
1 represents the legs or frame, which may be of any suitable construction, but
which I prefer to provide with front brackets, 2, to support a trough, 3, for scraps of
leaf, and with rear brackets, 4, to support an air-trunk, 5, which has to do with the
suction apparatus to be hereinafter described. The frame may also be provided with
a horizontal lateral shelf, 6, to hold material from which the wrappers are to be cut,
or for other convenient purpose, and an inclined lateral shelf, 7; upon which to place'
a cigar-mold containing the fillers which are to be wrapped. 8' represents the table,'
and 9 is a shelf, supported by brackets, 10. But these features may be varied at will..
without departing from my present invention.
11 represents the platen which surmounts and covers a suction chamber, 12,
mounted upon the table, 8, and 13 is a die mounted in the suction chamber. so that
the latter surrounds it, and protruding slightly through the platen so that the leaf
may be cut upon it. 14 is an oscillating arm pivoted in any suitable manner 'upon
the table, as, for instance, between set-screws, 15 and 16, in the upper and lower
ends of a standard, 17, which is secured to the table. 18 is a pressure device of
i
:
$

page_text: improved novel construction, to be presently described, and 19 is the customary
handle by which the arm, 14, may be moved when it is desired to effect this by
hand.
A 1
According to one of the features of my present invention I make the cutting die,
13, hollow, that is to say, without a supporting block or filling, the object of this
being to provide a well or pocket into which the wrappers may drop or be forced as
they are cut. I thus provide for cutting in rapid succession and collecting a number
of wrappers, which may afterwards be successively withdrawn and utilized in the
usual manner, or removed in bulk to any place of use. In order to avoid creating a
vacuum in the die I maintain it in communication with the outer atmosphere by
making one or more, openings, such, for instance, as an opening, 21, in the bottom of
the well of the die, which admits normal atmospheric pressure to said die at all times
and avoids the development of vacuum in the latter, which might occur and cause
the leaf to sag and interfere with the smoothness of the cut. The opening, 21, or
such other openings as may be employed, are of sufficient width to avoid stoppage
of the air by the wrappers as they accumulate within the die.
There are several other advantages in employing the form of die described. For-
instance, it avoids the drying out of the tobacco wrapper by the air suction, which
is very desirable in the manufacture of certain classes of cigars. A further advantage
is, that it permits the work to be classified, that is to say, it provides for employing
cheap labor to cut out the wrappers while the time of the skilled labor need only be
employed in applying the wrappers.
A further feature of my present invention relates to means for holding the tobacco
leaf during the cutting operation, for which purpose I provide perforations, 22, in
the platen, 11, outside of the die, and thus obtain ample holding force to insure
the smooth and accurate cutting of the wrapper. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, a
pipe, 23, connects, the suction chamber, 12, with the air-trunk, 5. Any other suitable
connections for developing pressure in the chamber, 12, may, however, be employed.
The pressure device, 18, comprises two independently mounted rollers, 24 and 25,
bearing upon the respective sides of the cutting edge of the die, and made
independently yielding in a vertical direction to cause them to press uniformly on
every point of the cutting edge as they pass over the leaf and thus insure perfect
cutting. The rollers also overlap each other in such a manner as to fully cover
those parts of the edges which extend more or less in a direction transverse to the
travel of the rollers. Each roller may be made slightly rounding or convex in order
to avoid contact with the leaf, except at the point of cutting. The manner of
mounting the rollers will be understood upon reference to Fig. 1, wherein
26 represents a box which receives the spindle, 27, of a hanger, 28, and in said hanger
is, mounted the journal, 29, upon which the roller is fixed by adjustable collars, 30 (see
Fig. 5). The spindle, 27, has a reduced portion, 31, surrounded by a spring, 32,
which is confined between the upper end of the bore in the box and the shoulder, 33,
formed on the spindle. Upon its upper end the spindle is threaded to receive
jamb-nuts, 34, by which the roller-mounting may be adjusted to different heights.
Aside from the advantages named as incident to these rollers, it is obvious that
they can be moved longitudinally upon their axes after they have become indented
from wear, and can be interchanged so as to bring new surfaces into play, or when
worn to a great extent a roller can be replaced at small cost.
.
While I have shown this form of pressure device mounted upon a swinging arm,
it is quite obvious that it could be mounted upon a reciprocating carrier which slides
from side to side, or the same effect could be produced and many of the advantages
attained by having the pressure device fixed and making the cutting die with its
surrounding parts slide relatively beneath the rollers.
To operate the swinging arm, 14, or any other form of carrier which may be
employed to carry the rollers, said carrier is provided with an arm; 35 (see Fig. 5),
which is connected by links or equivalent connections, 36 (see Fig. 3), with the upper
ends of a pair of bell-crank levers, 37 and 38, fulcrumed respectively at 39 and 40,
and having their horizontal arms connected by rods or eqvivalent connections, 41,

page_text: with pedals, 42 and 43. The carrier or arm, 14, may thus be reciprocated from side
to side by pressing the pedals alternately.
While I have described the open die in which the wrappers are accumulated as
they are cut, it is obvious that the remaining features of my present invention are by
no means restricted to use in combination with a die of this character, but are
applicable to machines in which are employed other forms of dies or cutters.
I have shown one other arrangement of die or cutter, 13, in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9,
from which it will be seen that said die, 13, may be supported by arms, 13ª, upon the
base of the suction chamber, 12, instead of resting upon said base, as in Figs. to 5,
so that the die is thereby in communication with the surrounding suction chamber, 12,
which corresponds in all essential details with the suction chamber disclosed in
Figures 1 to 5. In this modified form, the opening formed in platen, 11, to receive
the die or cutter, 13, is so constructed as to leave a space or spaces, 11ª, close up to the
outside of the die in order that air may be exhausted through said space or spaces
from beneath the leaf resting upon the platen. I find it convenient to make
spaces, 11, by serrating the edge of the opening through which the die projects so
that the intervening points are thereby adapted to bear against the die without
materially diminishing the air suction, and hold the die in place. With my modified
arrangement of die or cutter shown in Figs. 6 to 9, 1 employ an inner platen or
supporting block, 44, constructed so as to have an outer rim or edge, 45, fitting
snugly to the inside of the die, 13, and affording a support for the edge of the
wrapper in such a way as to prevent said edge from being drawn down by the air
suction and becoming curled or folded. This has been found to be a fruitful source
of inconvenience in dies or cutters when air is exhausted within them, as a wrapper
thus curled upon the edge tends to fold during the wrapping operation and prevents
quick work. This block is also provided with exhaust opening, 46, through which
the air is exhausted through the interior of the die or cutter to hold the leaf firmly
in place. The supporting rim, 45, is enlarged at one end as shown at 47 to afford a
support for that end of the wrapper which is first applied to the bunch. The absence
of openings in the part 47 enables the opérator to get hold of this end more
conveniently and start it around the bunch. Moreover, said end is not subjected to
the drying current of air, and, therefore, will not break during its application. The
opposite end, 48, of the cutter is of such shape as to give an enlargement and leave
plenty of room for trimming or shaping said end of the wrapper to suit the point of
cigar which is being made.
The block, 44, is preferably made of a frame, 45, which fits within the die and
forms the rim, 45, and a central portion, 49, which is mounted upon cross-ribs, 50, of
said frame, being either secured thereto or cast integral with said ribs. These ribs
also carry downwardly-extending rods, 51, which work through the base, 8,
and have nuts, 52, which act as adjustable stops, while said rods are surrounded
by springs, 53, confined between the base, 8, and the ribs, 50, and serving to hold up
the block at all times on a level with, or slightly above the cutting edge, with a
pressure which permits the block to yield to cutting pressure, applied by means herein-
before described. 23 represents a suction outlet which has been referred to.
By constructing the die or cutter and surrounding parts as above described, with
reference to Figs. 6 to 9, an operator is enabled to cut and apply the wrappers with
great dispatch. The wrapper is held after being cut so as to permit it to be rolled
around the cigar while on the platen. Moreover, the simplicity of construction of
the die-block or inner platen is such that the cutter is particularly adapted for
cutting wrappers which are to be pasted around the bunch throughout their length,
as in the case of a cheroot, which may be lighted at either end without unwrapping.
For such work as this the inner platen or block will not become clogged up, as
would be the case with perforated platens or blocks, and even if it should be clogged
in the course of time it may be very quickly cleansed. Furthermore, the employ-
ment of the air exhaust both inside and outside of the cutting die permits the leaf
to be quickly stretched and held in position, adding very much to the rapidity of the
operation.

page_text: While I have associated in the description the particular form of supporting
block and surrounding platen shown in Figures 6 to 9, it is obvious that either of
these features is applicable to the machine described in Figs. 1 to 5, as well as to
other forms of co-operating parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be carried out, I declare that what I
claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is :
1. In a cigar or cigarette wrapper-cutter employing air exhaust for holding the
leaf, a die in combination with a surrounding platen, which is perforated, and means
for limiting the air exhaust to the platen outside of the die, substantially as herein_
explained.
2. A wrapper-cutter having a perforated platen outside thereof whereby material
to be cut is held by the exhaustion of air outside of the cutter, as explained.
3. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a cutting die, a platen surrounding
said die, and perforated to permit exhaustion of air from its surface, for holding
material to be cut, and means for admitting normal atmospheric pressure to the die
to avoid suction on the material within the entting edges, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a hollow die having constant com-
munication below its cutting edge with the atmosphere, a perforated platen outside
of said die, and a suction chamber beneath the platen, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a cutting die and a pair of overlapping
rollers mounted above the respective cutting edges of the die and having
independent vertical and axial adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
6. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a suitable carrier and a cutting die
with means for producing a relative movement between them, rollers bearing upon
the respective edges of the die, and independent hangers in which said rollers, are
journaled and which are provided with independent stems working in the carrier,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a suitable carrier provided with a
vertical bore, a roller, and a hanger in which the roller is journaled, and which is
provided with a shouldered stem working in the bore of the carrier, said stem
being provided with a spring between its shoulder and the end of the bore, and
being provided with an adjusting means upon its end above the carrier, substantially
as explained.
8. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a die having a supporting block
constructed to permit the exhaust of air through it, a platen surrounding the die,
constructed to permit exhaust of air outside of the die, and means for exhausting air
from the outside and also from the inside of the cutting die during the cutting
operation, substantially as explained.
9. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a cutting die, a perforated supporting
block within the die, a platen surrounding the die, also having air passages therein, a
suction chamber communicating both with the inside of the die and with the
perforations of the platen outside of the die, and suitable means for exhausting. air
from said suction chamber, as explained.
10. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a cutting die and a supporting block
within said die, comprising an outer frame and an inner portion spaced apart from
the frame so as to leave a passage for the exhaust of air as explained.
11. A supporting block or inner platen for a wrapper-cutter, the same comprising
an outer frame which fits within the die so as to form a supporting rim for the edge
of the leaf, and an inner portion spaced apart from the said rim so as to leave an ai

page_text: exhaust passage between them, but separated from said rim or frame, substantially as
explained.
12. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a die, a rim or frame fitting neatly
within said die and having ribs, 50, and the inner plate spaced apart from the outer-
rim or frame so as to leave a passage for exhaust of air and supported upon said ribs,.
substantially as explained.
13. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a suitable die, à supporting block
comprising the rim or frame, having the transverse ribs and the plate supported upon
said ribs within the rim or frame so as to leave a space surrounding said plate,.
rods, 51, extending downwardly from said ribs and working in a suitable support, and
springs surrounding the rods resting on said support and engaging beneath the ribs to.
support the block, as explained.
14. In a wrapper-cutter, the combination of a suitable die and a filling-block
or inner platen for said die, having a passage for the exhaust of air and having
at one end a non-perforated portion, 47, substantially as and for the purpose.
set forth.
15. A cigar wrapper-cutter having a frame fitted within it to support the edge-
of the wrapper to be cut, and one end of said frame being larger than the sides..
thereof to prevent the corresponding end of the wrapper being held by suction, and
a suitable support for the interior portion of the wrapper with an exhaust opening, as-
explained.
Dated this 24th day of April
NAPOLEON DU BRUL.
Harris & Mills,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents..