Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Cigars.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Cigars.
I JEAN REUSE of Enghien in the Kingdom of Belgium Sculptor 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 invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the machine
for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 3572 dated the 19th day of February 1894,
which improvements comprise modifications in the general arrangement of the
various parts of the said machine as well as omission and variation of certain of
the parts and regulating devices the object being to simplify and strengthen
the machine and to facilitate regulation or adjustment thereof.
As will be seen by referring to the accompanying drawings, in my improved
machine the driving shaft the centre of action of the manipulators and the shaft
actuated by the crank handle are placed in the same vertical line which is
perpendicular to the base of the machine. The two pairs of manipulators are
arranged obliquely at the same angle relatively to their centre of action which
allows of the rounded extremity of the rear manipulators being made longer while
forming a sufficient opening for the introduction of the core and the withdrawal of
the finished cigar.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine to which my improvements are applied,
the plate W upon which the workman places the covering leaf for introducing it
within the manipulators being removed.
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line A B Figure 1 looking towards
the fly wheel.
Figure 3 is a corresponding section taken on the line A B Figure 1 looking
towards the crank handle.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the fly wheel showing the stop mechanism with which
it is furnished.
Figure 5 is a section taken along the wall of the fixed mould.
Figure 6 is an elevation of Figure 5 partly in section through A B Figure 5 the
point end knife being omitted.
Figure 7 is a plan of the fixed and moveable moulds and of the point end knife.
In these figures the parts corresponding to those of the machine described in the
Specification of the Patent referred to bear the same letters of reference. XX'are
the side standards or uprights of the machine connected together by tie rods Z ZZ.
B is the main shaft carrying the fly wheel C and driven by the pulley A through the
clutch A A D D¹ are two toothed wheels mounted on the shaft B contiguously to
the inner side of the uprights X X'. E E are two toothed wheels gearing with the
wheel D and E E' are two corresponding toothed wheels gearing with the wheel D'.
The plates which in the original machine are carried by the wheels E E¹ have been
dispensed with; the ends of the spindle H₁ rest in cavities formed in the rear
wheels E E' and the ends of the spindle H which are furnished with bearings rest
in cavities formed in trunnions E' E' on the front wheels E E. Hence the angle
of the opening between the manipulators is smaller the diameter of the
wheels E E being less than that of the plates which they formerly carried. The
length of the levers carrying the manipulators is also smaller. These modifications
render the mechanism actuating the manipulators much simpler and more compact
TD 077

page_text: and less liable to get out of order. The journals or trunnions E' E' of the front
wheels E E turn within circular collars E E' fixed to the standards X X'. In
the upper part of each of the collars E³ E' is cut a slot or opening E which forms
a prolongation of the cavity in the trunnion or journal E' when the motion of the,
manipulators is stopped by the action of the stop mechanism of the fly wheel.
The partly toothed eccentric grooved plates are replaced by plates K K capable
of oscillatory motion on pivots J J. These plates are formed with a large
opening into which freely pass the ends of the spindles M M¹ carrying the
manipulators N N' N'N' and acting as pirots for them. These spindles M M¹ rest in
guides I II I³ instead of resting in a groove in the plates K K' and the frout
spindle M cannot now move vertically in its guides I¹ I³. The spindles M M'
extend beyond their supports I 11 12 13 as far as an opening in the standards X X'
into which a plate X³ is inserted from the outside the said plate being loosely
lodged in the thickness of the standards between the ends of the spindles M M' and
a plate X which covers the outer end of the opening in the standards. Through
each of these plates ✗³ are screwed two adjustable screws X X' each of which
can be screwed against one of the lateral extremities of the plate X2. This
permits of accurate adjustment of the longitudinal position of the spindles M M¹
and of the manipulators which they carry. For instance if the screw X³ of the
standard X be turned in the direction necessary to cause it to advance, the plate X'
in the said standard will be pushed against the spindle M which it will push in its
turn so as to bring the other end of the said spindle M' close to the standard X'.
If on the contrary the screw X' of the standard X be turned in the direction
necessary to withdraw it and the screw X' of the standard X' be advanced the
spindle M² will be pushed towards the opposite standard X. By acting on the
screws X*X* the other spindle M and the manipulators which it carries may in
like manner be brought close to one or other of the standards. The openings in
the standards X X' serve moreover to admit of the spindles M M' and the
manipulators being removed.
.
The operation of the manipulators is similar to those of the machine described
in the Specification herein before referred to except in respect of the simultaneous
opening of the two pairs of manipulators for the introduction of the core and the
removal of the finished cigar.
At the moment of disconnection of the pulley and stoppage of the machine the
rear pair of manipulators N' N is open and the front pair N N' is closed. The
following is a description of the mechanism by which the manipulators N N' may
be also opened when the machine is stopped.
Upon the shaft O' actuated by means of the crank handle O are keyed two
cams a portion of the periphery of each of which is eccentrically cut away
and each of which has a notch formed in it at one end of the cut away part of
its periphery while the other end forms a shoulder which, when the machine is
working bears against a stud at the top of the inner side of the plates K, K¹.
When the crank handle O is turned in order to disconnect the pulley A and to stop
the machine, the cams k, k¹ turn likewise and when the uncut away parts of their
periphery which forms a shoulder beyond the notch meets the studs k³ on the
plates K K' motion is imparted thereto by the said cams and the said plates are
caused to oscillate their upper ends moving towards the front of the machine. In
the front of the lower part of the plates K K' is formed a slot the lower part of
which slants upwards and the upper part is concentric to the axis of the said plates.
The opening of this slot at the moment of stoppage of the machine is exactly in
front of the spindle H, the front side of the said slot forming a projection k
towards the bottom of the machine. When the plates K K' oscillate towards the
front of the machine, these projecting parts at the front of the slots k strike
against the spindle H and cause it to enter the said slots and lift it out of the
cavities in the trunnions E2 E2 within the openings E E of the collars E' E' until
the said spindle arrives at the top of the lower part of the said slots. As the
spindle H is raised, it ascends within the slots of the lower arms of the levers N N¹

page_text: of the pair of manipulators n n' the opening of which to the full extent is thus
effected as soon as the spindle arrives at the top of the said slots.
In that part of the periphery of the plate K' which is at the rear of the
machine, is formed a large notch the lower side of which when the spindle H
arrives at the top of the lower part of the slots k is brought against a stud 'fixed
to the side of a lever q₁ secured to the sleevey carrying the pair of levers Q' Q1
which serve to remove the finished cigar from the manipulators. If the turning of
the handle O be continued until the spindle H reaches the extremity of the upper
part of the slots * the plate K continuing its oscillatory motion raises the stud q³
and the lever q and causes backward turning of the sleeve 9 which lifts the
levers QQ out of the manipulators. The sleeve q has a longitudinal rib formed
in it which permits of variation of the opening between the removing levers Q'Q'
One or both of these is or are so mounted upon the sleeve gas to be able to slide
thereon and is or are secured in position by means of a tightening screw. When the
plate Kis brought back by the return motion of the crank handle, a small spring q³,
carried by a stud on the inner side of the standard X, lowers the stud 9, the
lever and the extractor levers Q' Q. At the same time the spindle H is brought
back to the top of the lower part of the slots k k and afterwards it is lowered to
the bottom of the said part; and when the plates K K return to their original
position, the ends of the said spindle H rest again in the trunnions E' E' of the
wheels EE being entirely freed from the plates K K¹.
As will be seen by reference to Figure 4 the stop mechanism of the fly wheel C
has been modified and simplified. In the circular recess formed on the outer face
of the fly wheel C by the rim c' is placed a disc loosely mounted on the shaft B.
In two diametrically opposite points of the face of this disc are fixed two pins c.
These pins each project at one end from the outer face of the disc c and their
projecting ends are connected to the ends of spiral springs of the other ends of which
springs are connected to the inner face of the rim c. The other ends of the said
pins c pass through curved slots c formed in the fly wheel and project from the
inner side of the latter. In front of each of the pins c is a tumbler e turning on
a pin between two stops c c on the inner side of the fly wheel C.. When the
pulley A is disconnected the outer edge of the fork o³ engages with one or other of
the tumblers and lifts it as far as the stop piece c. It then comes into contact
with the projecting part of the pin which it pushes along the slot extending the
spring c until the fly wheel stops. When pushing the pine, the edge of the fork o³
frees the tumbler c which in falling upon the stop e comes behind the said fork and
thus prevents the fly wheel from turning back under the action of the spring.
When the clutch of the pulley A is connected the fork o³ as it moves towards the
standard X passes from between the tumbler c and the pin c³ and the latter is
brought to its normal position by the spring ct.
2 is the knife which removes the excess of tobacco from the point end of the
cigars. In order that this knife may cleanly cut off the tobacco issuing from the
mould I fix against the outer end of the fixed half mould Y two plates 22 one of
which interposed between the plate and the wall of the mould Y extends only
to the front of the knife while the other 2 extends as far as the rear end of the said
knife. The plate has the same thickness as the knife so that when the latter is
lowered between the plate and the wall of the mould it has a shearing action and
cuts off the excess of tobacco neatly. The support for the knife is formed of two
parts & and which parts may be either brought together or separated by means
of a screw 2 in order to accurately regulate the position of the knife which is fixed
by a screw 2 passed through a slot in the part and screwed into the part. The
part Y which is hollowed to form the fixed half mould y' for shaping the point end
of the cigar rests on one of the supports V of the pump V. Its position may be
accurately regulated by means of a screw Y' which permits of its being advanced
and withdrawn and it is secured in position by means of a screw Y* passed through
a slot in the part Y and screwed into the support V. The fixed half mould is
only about one centimetre in length which suffices for the formation of the point

page_text: end and prevents torsion of the point which is frequently produced when the fixed
half mould has a greater length. The front of the piece Y extends beyond the
front manipulators in order to allow sufficient width for the mouth of the conduit vi
which feeds the gum to the point end of the cigar. The part in which is formed
the hollow of the moveable half mould y' for fashioning the point of the cigar can
be adjusted vertically upon a piece 62 turning upon the shaft O' by means of the
screw 6 which connects the said two pieces b and 2 and the vertical position of the
said piece b may be fixed by means of the screw b.
The guide d is pivoted at d¹ to the piece band its upper extremity has a vertical
slot formed in it by which it engages freely over a small screw 6 screwed in the
piece. The position of the guide d relatively to the pin H' which causes its
forward stroke is regulated by means of milled nuts d d on the screw 65. The
lever e which is used to secure the moveable mould y is made of two pieces connected
together by a screw e³ and the position of the front arm of this lever may be
adjusted, relatively to the moveable half mouldy by means of a screw e passed
through a groove formed in the front arm and screwed into the rear arm. A small
crank handle V* secured to the end of the rod V₁ of the piston V2 of the pump V
allows this piston V2 to be moved back when it is required to recharge the pump
with gum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I
claim;
First. The general arrangement of the machine according to which the axis of
the driving shaft the centre of action of the manipulators and the axis of the crank
shaft actuating the clutch of the driving pulley are all placed in one vertical line
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The method of regulating the relative longitudinal position of the
manipulators by means of spindles acting as pivots thereto consisting in causing the
said spindles to rest freely in guides- and in prolonging their ends into recesses
formed in the standards of the machine against plates loosely placed therein and
the position of which is adjustable from the outside of the standards by means of
screws substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement admitting of one pair of jaws being opened while the
other is open and the machine is at rest the said arrangement comprising toothed
wheels driven by the motor shaft and carrying trunnions having recesses formed in
them for receiving the ends of the spindle which governs the opening and the
closing of the closed pair of jaws collars or rings in which the said trunnions turn
an opening or slot in the said collars corresponding to or coinciding with the
recesses in the trunnions when the machine is stopped oscillating plates each having
an eccentric slot formed in the lower part of its periphery and so arranged that the
oscillation of the said plates causes the spindle which operates the closed jaws to
engage in the said slots and lifts it out of the trunnions into the opening in the
collars which surround them substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The mechanism for stopping the machine which consists in furnishing
the outer side of the fly wheel with a disc loosely mounted upon the driving shaft
and across which are fixed at two diametrically opposite points two pins to the outer
extremity of each of which is attached the end of a spiral spring the other end of
which is fixed to the inner wall of the flange or rim of the fly wheel the other end
of each of the said pins passing through a curved slot in the fly wheel and projecting
from the inner face of the same in order to abut, when the driving pulley is
disconnected, against the front of the fork which shifts the pulley upon the shaft of
the machine and to thus stop the forward motion of the fly wheel the recoil of
which is prevented by a tumbler turning against the inner face of the fly wheel and

page_text: engaging with or bearing against the rear of the fork substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement of the knife which removes the excess of tobacco at the
point. end of the cigar according to which arrangement the said knife is lowered
after having cut off the tobacco between the outer wall of the fixed point monld
and a plate secured alongside the said wall at a distance therefrom equal to the
thickness of the said knife substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly. The means of regulation and adjustment of the knife which cuts off the
tobacco at the point end of the cigar the fixed half mould and the moveable half
mould forming the point end of the cigar the guide for the said moveable half
mould and the lever which serves to hold the said moveable half mould stationary
by means of an adjusting and tightening screw substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of October 1894.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.