Improvements in Cigarette Making Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cigarette Making Machines.
1, ALBERT LEROY MUNSON, of No. 122 Centre Street, in the City, County
and State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates generally to machines for making cigarettes, and
particularly to that class of such machines wherein the tobacco in the form of a
continuous filler is enveloped by a continuous wrapper strip of paper to one edge
of which a line of cement is applied so that when the edges of the strip overlap and
meet they will firmly unite completely enveloping the tobacco filler and thereby
forming a continuous cigarette ready for severance into a series of short lengths or
the well known cigarettes of commerce.
The present improvements are applicable to many forms of continuous cigarette
machines, but particularly to cigarette machines of the kind described in my
previous Specification No. 17704 of 1893.
The present improvements are directed to the more rapid and economical
production of cigarettes, as well as to the perfect shaping of the finished article.
One part of my invention relates principally to the wrapper strip folding devices
whereby said paper strip is manipulated and applied to the continuous tobacco
filler with more certainty and accuracy than in preceding cases. This part of my
invention comprises a former having a detached outwardly yielding portion, so that
while the paper wrapper is closely applied to the filler, any irregular or abnormal
thickness of the filler caused by erratic feeding of tobacco to the machine will not
cause the end wise compression, buckling or disruption of the filler as it passes
through the former, neither will the paper wrapper break from the same cause.
My invention relates also to the provision of means whereby the tobacco filler,
before it is wrapped and covered by the paper strip, may be more perfectly formed
into its ultimate shape, and this form or shape may be varied from that of a perfectly
cylindrical rod to that of an oval shape. A further improvement relates to the
severing devices by means of which the continuous cigarette is separated into short
lengths without buckling or injuring the ends at the point of severance, and by
which the sharpness of the severing knives or cutters is maintained or renewed
without requiring the stoppage of the machine for sharpening.
I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings means for carrying my
improvements into practical effect.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a cigarette machine embodying. my
invention, that part of the machine being shown at which the cigarette former is
situated and the paper wrapper strip is applied to the tobacco filler.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and plan on an enlarged scale, of
the main portion of the cigarette former.
Figs. 5 to 11 are sectional views on the several dotted lines marked on Fig. 4.
Fig. 12 is a side view of that portion of the former as detached, together with
its supporting means, by which an automatic outward yielding movement is
permitted.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of said supporting means.
Fig. 14 is an end view of the two portions of the former when united for joint
operation.
Figs. 15, 16 and 17, are respectively a plan, a side, and an end view of the
movable parts of the former.

page_text: Fig. 18 is an end view of the cigarette severing device.
Figs. 19 and 20, are plans showing the same in two positions. the first just before
the cutting operation begins and while the cutter is being cleaned and sharpened,
and the second, when the cutting of the cigarette has been completed.
Fig. 21 is a plan of that part of a cigarette machine in which the tobacco filler
is shaped and formed.
Fig. 22 is an end view of the same, taken at the point indicated by line o, o in
Fig. 21.
Fig. 23 is a side view of the complete filler forming mechanism, and
Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken on the line r,, in Fig. 21.
It will be understood that in the apparatus illustrated many parts are not
shown, which although essential in a complete cigarette machine, do not form part
of my present improvements. All of these parts are fully shown in my previous
Specification No. 17,704 of 1893, and reference is made thereto for a full and clear
understanding of the ultimate application of my present improvements.
A cigarette machine as described in the said Specification comprises, first, means
by which the tobacco is prepared and fed and delivered in condition to be operated
upon by the filler forming devices, known as the tobacco feeding devices; second,
means by which the tobacco so fed is prepared in the form of an endless filler rod
and at the same time advanced, known as the filler forming device; third, menns
by which a paper wrapper strip is fed from a roll to a position to meet and envelop
the filler rod known as the wrapper strip feeding device: fourth, means by which
the paper wrapper strip is curved and turned over the continuous filler rod to
envelop it known as the wrapper former, or as the cigarette former; fifth, nenns
by which a line of paste is applied along one edge of the paper wrapper strip,
known as the pasting device; sixth, menns by which the continuous cigarette (or
wrapper strip with its enclosed tobacco filler) is carried forward, known na the
cigarette carrier: seventh, means by which the continuous cigarette is sovered into
the short cigarettes of commerce, known as the severing or cutting device.
Referring to the drawings, F indicates the former to which a paper wrapper
strip is furnished from a roll 100, or other suitable source of supply, directed by
roller 2, such former also receiving the tobacco filler rod from the filler forming
devices as shown in Fig. 21.
The roll 2 and the former Fare supported upon a frame 3.
The former comprises a base 4 in which is secured and supported the wrapper
strip guide which is of sheet metal soldered to the base 4. The complete former F
may be secured on the frame 3 by means of a slotted lug 6 projecting from the
base and engaging a pin 7, and by a second lug 8 engaged by a swinging latch 9
as shown in Fig. 2.
or
At its forward end, where the paper strip 1 is received, the former has a flat
bottom plate 10 which guides said strip and the tobacco filler rod as they pass
forward into the former, it is also provided with bent over guiding edges
flanges 11 which overlie the edges of the paper strip. Proceeding towards the
rear end of the folding portion 5 its bottom becomes more and more curved or
concave, as shewn by Figs. 6 to 10, thereby causing the advancing paper strip to
gradually infold and surround the filler rod which "advances with it, the folding of
the paper around the rod being perfectly round or it may be of oval shape
necording as the former is shaped. Near the middle of the former it is covered by
a plate 12 arching over it. As the former decreases in diameter and the edges of
the wrapper strip approach each other the guiding flanges are dispensed with,
and between the plate 12 and the body of the former, glots 13 are made through
which the wrapper strip edges may pass as shown in Fig. 9, leaving a tongue 14
preferably elastic, by which the filler is pressed down, but which can yield slightly
to permit the passage of irregularities or lumps in the tobacco filler rod without
causing its endwise compression or its disruption. At or about the point where the
wrapper strip edges rise through the slots 13 one of the edges of the former is
made upright as is indicated at 15. This edge 15 supports that edge of the

page_text: wrapper strip which is to be outermost on the completed cigarette and serves to
hold it in proper position while operated upon by the paste applying wheel 16.
Just beyond this point the former is provided with an inwardly curled flange 17
which folds down the inner edge of the paper strip 1, which edge projects beyond
the flange 17, and on the opposite side of the former is an analogous flange 18,
which is in effect, a bent down continuation of the edge 15, and which folds down
the paste charged edge of the paper strip 1 over the edge of the strip already
folded down by the flange 17.
The detached and outwardly yielding portion of the former is indicated at 10
consisting of a trough-like, or concave piece, constituting, when in place, a portion
of the former wall and situated at the rear end and most contracted point of the
former, which is cut away on the underside to receive it as shown at 26 in Fig. 3.
The part 19 is held loosely or movably by pins 20 projecting from its side into
slots 21 in the supporting frame 22 which is fixed on the frame 3. Guided by the
slots 21 the part 19 may move freely towards or from the axis of the former and
it is pressed upwards by an adjustable spring 23 seated in the frame 22. The ends
of the spring rest in a groove between the Hanges 25 of the part 19, and flange 27
on the middle portion of the spring engages by a transverso wedge 28, which can
slide in apertures 29 in the fraine 22 and is adjustable so as to increase or diminish
the pressure of the spring 23, by means of a screw 30 which has a round bearing
in an arm 31 of the wedge and engages by its thread the frame 22. This frame 22
is permanently secured in place on the frame 3 and the part 19 and spring 23 may
be removed at will. These parts being entirely detached from the other portion
of the former are always left in position whenever that part of the former is for
any purpose removed from the machine. The drawings show these parts adapted
for forming cigarettes of perfect cylindrical form. In case of forming cigarettes of
an oval form, a new part 19 is dropped into place in the frame 22 the groove or
channel in the part 19 being shaped half oval, the shape of the upper part of the
former being changed to correspond. The final pressure to cause the gummed
edge of the paper wrapper strip to adhere to the opposite side may be applied in
various ways, for instance by the cigarette carrier belts or by means of grooved
rollers. One form of this device is shown at H and consists preferably of a pair
of endless carrying belts 140-141 which receive the continuous cigarette, grasping
and carrying it forward. The lower belt 141 is stretched from a roller 142
thence in contact for some distance with the upper belt 140 and returns around a
roller or driving pulley 144, it also passes over a tension pulley 144ª back to the
roller 142. The upper belt is stretched from a pulley 145, thence along in contact
for some distance with the lower belt 141 and returns around the driving pulley 146,
passing under a tension pulley 146 and over a roller 147 to the pulley 145.
The pulley 145 is mounted on a shaft 130 in the ends of levers 131, the other
ends of which are hung on the shaft 132 carrying the pulley 147. This arrange-
ment enables the pulley 145 to be thrown upward, thereby loosening the tension
on belt 140 and permitting easy access to the forward end of the cigarette former.
Each of these belts is so formed as to provide a longitudinal semi-circular recess
throughout the length of the belt, the recess in one belt co-acting with that of the
other belt to form a continuous grasping and carrying tube. The semi-circular
recesses are formed between flat surfaces of the belts which bear against each other
and prevent too great pressure on the cigarette that is being grasped between them.
For an oval cigarette the recesses in the belts are suitably shaped. Between the
entrance end of the carrier H and its exit end, the two belts 140, 141 are
supported and held with their flat surfaces in contact and their recesses grasping the
continuous cigarette, by a series of rolls 148 mounted in the frames 133 which are
attached to the parts 134, 135. These rolls are so adjusted as to cause the belts
to grasp the cigarette with sufficient firmness to carry it onward without injuring
its shape and at the same time to draw forward the paper wrapper strip through
the cigarette former wrapping and drawing with it the tobacco filler rod delivered
by the filler forming devices. The carrying belts 140, 141, are driven continuously

page_text: at speed suited to that of the filler forming devices, by means of the pulleys 144, 146,
which are driven by any suitable gearing from the motor of the machine.
The pasting device which is the same as that described in my former Specification
is shown in Fig. 2, 125 indicates the paste reservoir, 126 is an interinedinte or
transfer paste roll operating in the paste pot. 125 and transferring the paste taken
from the put to the paste roll 16 which in turn applies it to the paper wrapper
strip.
The improved filler forming devices are shown in detail in Figs. 21 to 24. The
manner of mounting upon the frame of the machine, the method of adjustment,
menns of driving &c., are substantially the same as shown and described in my
previous Specification above referred io.
The filler former is in the form of a trough two sides of which are formed by the
flat portions of the metallic belts ab which are carried by the pullies c d e and
c and d being the driving pullies and ef being adjustable in order to take up slack.
The side belts a bare immediately above a belt moving in unison with them,
which is carried by the pullies BC, the pulley B being the driving and the pulley C
being adjustable.
The side belts a converge, as shown in Fig. 21, and the belt 4 forms a bottom
to the trough consisting of the belts a band which at their rear parts receive the
tobacco from the tobacco feeding device and carry it onward gradually compressing
it and thus beginning the formation of the filler into a rod form, k indicates
Interally projecting curved lips of the belts ab. Each lip forming nearly a quarter
of a circle, so that when the lips of both belts come together at the front end of
the filler former, they form the lower half of a circle, and impart to the lower side
of the tobacco filler a semi-circular contour. Thus the under belt performs no
part in the actual shaping of the filler. Combined with these lipped belts is a
presser roll m for pressing the tobacco filler down between them, this presser roll
being grooved as at n, so as to form the upper half of the filler, which by this
groove and the curved lips & is shaped to a complete circle. As the tobacco filler
passes under the grooved roller m it is stripped from its groove by the stripper p
which plays in the groove and is adjustable by a screw r. see Fig. 23. In unler
to prevent the filler rod, after it has passed from the presser roll m, from clinging
to the curved portions of the belts a 6, I provide a grooved clearing wheel which
at the point where the two belts a diverge, causes the filler to clear itself and to
fall upon the belt which carries it along and delivers it into the cigarette former
where it is, by the forward movement of the wrapper strip, carried through the
final stages of wrapping &c. as hereinbefore described. The pressure roll m and
the clearing rollers are worked at the same surface speed as that of the belts a b.
In order to permit the free bending of the belts a & in the direction of their length
as they pass around the pullies o de and, I slit the lips & as indicated at e with a
number of cuts terminating in round holes te which prevent the slits from extending
with the bodies of the belts. By preference the belts and their lips are formed
from elastic sheet steel n smooth even surface being thus presented to the filler.
A preliminary pressing or compacting roller J the periphery of which may be flat
prevents the loose tobacco from escaping from between the belts and gives them a
firm grasp of the tobacco. The rollers J, m and a are mounted in a suitable
overhanging frame substantially as shown in my previous Specification before
alluded to.
As a continuous cigarette issues from between the belts 140, 141 of the cigarette
carrier it is received and temporarily supported by a short semi-tubular guide 172,
(see Figs. 18, 19 and 20) near the extremity of which is mounted the severing
device I which consists of a revolving cutter 161 mounted in a head 162 arranged
to laterally vibrate and oscillate in a horizontal plane. The head 162 has a journal 164
mounted to swing horizontally in the upper end of a rocking frame 160. This
frame may be rocked and the head 162 may be swung by any suitable mechanism
which forms no part of my present invention. This peculiar combined Interal
and horizontal movement of the cutter head result in causing the revolving cutter

page_text: to sever the continuous cigarette into short lengths while the cigarette is in motion,
and without breaking the paper or buckling the severed ends. For continuous and
efficient operation the revolving cutter must be very keen, but its frequent opera-
tion on the continuous cigarette, usually three hundred cuts per minute rapidly
deteriorate its edges which therefore require frequent sharpening. For this purpose
I have combined with the cutter means whereby the edge is renewed frequently
and thoroughly cleaned preferably after each cut. 40 is a grinder which may be
stationary or rotary and may also vibrate at intervals, and which at all or after
some number of the horizontal swinging movements of the cutter is encountered
by the edge of the cutter as shown by Fig. 19. The grinder 40 is preferably an
emnery wheel mounted in bearings 41 free to turn when it is encountered by the
cutter, or it may be positively rotated and swung at stated intervals to perform
its duty.
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 in respect of a continuous cigarette machine is :-
1. In combination with the cigarette former an automatic outwardly yielding
portion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A tapering former provided with means for folding the wrapper strip, and
having a detached outwardly yielding portion situated at its contracted end,
substantially as described.
3. In combination with means of advancing the cigarette rod, a cutter having a
revolving an oscillating and a vibrating movement and a grinder arranged in the
path of the cutter edge, substantially as described.
4. A filler former wherein two upright travelling belts have their lower edges
curved to form together a half circle, and between them is mounted a presser roll
having its edge concavely grooved to form another half circle, substantially as
described.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1894.