Improvements in Cigarette Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cigarette Machines.
We, JOHN PLAYER & SONS LIMITED, of Castle Tobacco Factory, Nottingham,
Tobacco Manufacturers, and ROBERT GEORGE SCHWARZ of 108 Piccadilly
London, Engineer, 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 to certain improvements in the construction of cigarette
machines already the subject of Letters Patent No. 8230 of 1890 and particularly
in respect of the improvements in the receiving channel 27, which we now replace
by one of a lute shaped section, and further in respect of the cutter characterised
in Claim 9. in the shape of an eccentric disc, which under these improvements,
is now fitted with a brake arrangement so as to insure a steady and uniform
motion.
A further improvement is an arrangement for printing the continuous roll of
paper, in which the tobacco is wrapped, with two or more colors, as for instance
with blue letters on a gold ground, or the like.
The arrangement for printing in several colors in cigarette machines necessitates
a particularly exact and uniform guiding of the paper while being printed and
conveyed through the machine. For this purpose a special arrangement is provided
for effecting a uniform tension of the roll of paper while unreeling or feeding to the
double or multiple printing arrangements which are connected with each other, in con-
junction with a special arrangement for drawing the paper along. This drawing
arrangement is driven by the rollers over which an endless tape runs, thus effecting
the feeding of the paper into the machine and the propulsion of the newly
wrapped tobacco to the cutting mechanism so that it may be cut up into single
cigarettes.
By this improved combination of mechanism the exact and reliable working
required when printing in several colors is ensured in the simplest manner; this
arrangement may be fitted with equal advantage to various other constructions of
cigarette making machines.
These improvements are set out and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
Sheet 1. Figures 1 to 6. represent the lute-shaped channel receiver and the
arrangement for the brake and cutter.
Sheet 2. Figures 1 and 2. represent the printing arrangements and motion for
steady feeding.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4. on Sheet No. 1. of the drawings, of a
chaunel of lute-shaped section, ensures the paper which is conveyed through the
channel by the endless tape being held in its proper position. on the introduction
of the tobacco preparatorily to being wrapped, and a displacement of the paper is
prevented owing to the tubular shape of the channel. This lute-shaped section of
the channel, (into which the paper is fed in a form corresponding to the shape of a
section of the groove) moreover ensures a reliable and exact working of the
machine with regard to the uniform gumming down of the paper edges, which are
conveyed over the laterally bent edges of the circular groove.
As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 4, the insertion groove 27. slopes át' the upper
end of the sides towards the interior, thus producing a lute-shaped section. The
groove is covered by the hook-like bars n' the cheeks n¹¹ of which are arranged so

page_text: that they project slightly beyond the edges n¹ and in this way produce in the
channel a groove or clearance for the endless tape O. as well as for the cigarette
paper. Moreover sufficient space is left between the sloping sides of the
channel 27. and the bars n n¹ to receive the outward-bent edges m of the cigarette
paper and protect them from a direct contact with the tobacco roll, whereby a
displacement of the paper is avoided and a uniform gumming of the paper edges is
facilitated.
Fig. 2. Sheet 1. shows more particularly the tube shaped section of tube in its
relation to the feeding mechanism or apron, already the subject of Letters Patent
No. 8230 of 1890 and therein fully described.
The brake arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Sheet 1. for the eccentric
cutter-disc is intended to ensure a uniform action of the cutter-disc, as these quick
moving parts have more or less momentum and owing to the eccentric shape of the
cutter would be liable to run jerkily or irregularly, which in turn would have an
injurious influence on the cutting action. The brake applied to a brake-disc on the
cutting spindle, prevents any racing or jerky motion of the cutter from continuing
for any length of time.
As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6. the cutter 154. is fitted eccentrically between
the cutter head 152 and the fastening disc 155. and the brake disc a is fitted to the
latter. On this brake-disc, the brake-block F. rests, with the lever b which at b¹
is connected by an articulated joint with the lower arm of the lever. This lever is
fastened by means of the pin g to the tapper g' of the carriage 162. In order to
exert, by means of the brake, the necessary pressure on the brake-disc, a spiral
spring e is fitted to the upper and lower arm of the lever b and this spring, at the
same time, prevents any racing and jerks of the eccentric cutter.
The cutter head, with the brake arrangement, is keyed between the bearings k k¹
of the carriage 162. upon the revolving spindle 153. On the carriage 162. there is
also the cylindrical bearing 163. through which, in the centre, an elliptically shaped
opening is made transversely. Into this opening, the end-pin of lever 165 is made
to gear, thus imparting to the carriage 162. by means of the cam-disc L. the
necessary speed for its reciprocating motion. The arrangement shown in Figs. 1
and 2. Sheet 2. represent a side and front view respectively. The roll of paper a
contains as a core or centre, a disc b divided into several sections, into the centre
hole of which a cone c is inserted, by means of which it is fixed on the spindle d of
the unreeling stand f. Two plates g, with cruciform incisions, secure the paper
against lateral displacement. Now as soon as nut e on the wormed end of spindle d
is tightened, the tone c is forced into the centre-hole of the divided disc b and
effects a radial displacement of the sections, whereby the layers of paper in the roll
are pressed tightly against each other so as to ensure uniform unrolling.
From the unreeling apparatus the paper strip a runs to the first printing
apparatus marked A. Sheet 2. in which it is printed with the ground
or first
colour. The printing arrangement itself, shown in Fig. 2. Sheet 2. is of known
construction. The roller h. to which by means of the eccentric k in conjunction
with the lever and pawl i and ratchet-wheel m a jerky motion is imparted, takes
up the printing ink from the ink well n and transfers it to the oscillating roller o
which again transfers it to the roller p. Rollers r and s, in conjunction with the
oscillating roller t effect the distribution of the ink and the inking of the printing
roller w, between which and the pressure roller & the strip of paper runs through
towards a chamber E. in which there are several brush rollers Z. Z. which effect
the drying of the ink or (as the case may be) the putting on of gold bronze, for
gold printing.
From this part the paper is conveyed to a second printing apparatus, marked B
on Sheet 2. arranged like the one first described, in order to be printed with the
second colour, the drawing of the paper through these two or more printing
arrangement is effected by means of the peculiar "drawing arrangement," consisting
of the guide rollers a¹ borne on a double-armed lever, the feed roller b' and its
counter pressure roller c'. The double-armed lever d' revolves ou the pin or

page_text: stud y, but is held fast by a powerful spring e¹ connected with it and which is fitted
between two pins, so that lever d' with two guide rollers, can only yield to a sudden
strong pull. The feed-roller b¹ is borne on a one-armed lever g' revolving on its
pin or stud, and is enabled by means of the spring i fitted to it, to exert an elastic
pressure on the counter roller c¹. This latter, on one of its end faces, has a cog-
wheel hi which gears into another of the same size k' on the conveying roller for the
endless tape n. Hereby the motion of the paper strip is made to correspond
exactly with that of the tape, as the two rollers c¹ and l'are of equal size and
revolving at the same speed.. The rollers 6 c¹ which seize the paper strip shortly
after its egress from the final printing apparatus, draw it with perfect uniformity
through the printing mechanisms, thus ensuring a perfectly exact register or
position of the various coloured impressions to each other, and in consequence of
their connection and mutually controlled motion with regard to the conveying
roller of the endless tape, an equally exact position with regard to the cutting off
arrangement of the machine, so as to effect the cutting of the various cigarettes
from the tobacco rod at the proper distances, with regard to the impression and the
margin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the cigarette making machine protected by Letters Patent No. 8230
of 1890 an alteration consisting in the substitution of a lute-shaped channel or
groove for the U-shaped one, the paper being folded in a form corresponding to the
section of this channel, preparatorily to being introduced into it, for the purpose of
preventing, by means of the tubular form, a one-sided displacément of the paper,
and to ensure a uniform preparation of the gummed edges.
2. In the cigarette-making machine protected by Letters Patent No. 8230
of 1890, the arrangement of a brake for the eccentric cutter 154. acting upon a
brake-disc on the cutter spindle, in order to ensure steady and uniform motion of
the eccentric cutter.
3. In cigarette-making machines an arrangement for printing in two or more
colours, characterised by the conjunction of a paper-strip tension arrangement by
means of a divided disc b and the conical centre-piece c, the successively arranged
sets of printing apparatus, and the arrangements for drawing the strip of paper
along, consisting of an oscillating lever di which is held by a spring el as well as
the two "conveying" or "feed" rollers 6 and e' which latter are driven at an
exactly equal speed of revolution by the tape conveying roller so as to effect an
invariably uniform passage of the strip of paper through the printing apparatus,
in exact correspondence with the motion of the conveying tape n¹.
Dated the 17th day of January 1896
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.