IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MOULDING CIGARS cis
Year: 1885

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by William James Fox, of No. 118, West 124th Street,
New York, Cigar Manufacturer, and George James Taylor, of No. 739, Grand
Street, Jersey City, Locksmith, both in the United States of America.]
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MOULDING CIGARS to be
as follows:
This invention relates to machines for moulding cigars.
"
5
t
The object of the said invention is to produce a machine for making cigar
bunches whereby a number of cigar bunches may be kept in moulds under pressure
until they are severally required for use when the machine may be operated so as
to open the moulds one at a time as the contents are required.
.
The improvement consists in the combination in a machine for pressing cigar
bunches, of a series of moulds, a propellor for moving the moulds along, a mould
opener and closer, and a presser independent of the propeller and the mould opener
and closer, and exerting pressure on the moulds after they are closed, so as to keep
them under pressure until they are successively required for use. The moulds are
opened one at a time to receive the cigar bunches to be pressed: After receiving
the cigar bunches they are moved along under pressure until such time as the
cigar manufacturer attending the machine requires to use them. The moulds are
moved to a position convenient for the attendant of the machine and are there, one
at a time, opened so that he may remove the bunches. The cavities of the moulds
which receive the cigar bunches extend lengthwise of the mould sections. "The
mould sections are provided at their ends with flanges which enter guides in the
machine, and the mould sections are propelled in a direction transversely to their
length; their end flanges sliding along the guides aforesaid as the mould sections
are moved.
.:

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Moulding Cigars.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce a machine for making cigar bunches
whereby a number of cigar bunches may be kept in moulds under pressure until
they are severally required for use when the machine may be operated so as to open
the moulds one at a time as the contents are required.
The improvements consist in the combination in a machine for pressing cigar
bunches of a series of moulds, a propeller for moving the molds along, a mold
opener and closer and a presser independent of the propeller and the mold opener
and closer and exerting pressure on the molds after they are closed so as to keep
them under pressure until they are successively required for use. The molds are
opened one at a time to receive the cigar bunches to be pressed. After receiving
the cigar bunches they are moved along under pressure until such time as the cigar
manufacturer attending the machine requires to use them. The molds are moved
to a position convenient for the attendant of the machine and are there, one at a
time, opened so that he may remove the bunches. The cavities of the molds
which receive the cigar bunches extend lengthwise of the mold sections. The
mold sections are provided at their ends with flanges which enter guides in the
machine and the mold sections are propelled in a direction transversely to their
lengths; their end flanges sliding along the guides aforesaid as the mold sections
are moved.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a front view of a machine embodying
my improvement, but certain parts are omitted to enable me to exhibit parts which
otherwise would be hidden; Figure 2 is a side view of the machine; Figure 3 is a
vertical section of the machine taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line xx
Figure 1, extending from the front to the rear of the machine; Figure 4 is a
horizontal section of the machine taken at the plane of the dotted line y y
Figure 3, and looking upwards; Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the machine
taken on the plane of the dotted line zz Figure 3 looking downwards. Figure 6
is a perspective sectional view of certain parts of the machine; Figure 7 is an end
view of a machine embodying my improvement in a modified form; Figure 8 is a
longitudinal vertical section taken on the plane of the dotted line v v Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section of this machine taken at the plane of the
dotted line ww Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a certain part
comprised in the machine shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9; and Figure 11 is a per-
spective view of certain parts comprised in this machine. Similar letters of
reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
I will describe the form of machine shown in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The
frame of the machine may be of any suitable construction. As shown it consists
essentially of two side pieces A and connecting cross pieces A¹ A*.

page_text: These parts may be made of iron or other material. B B¹ designate a number of
molds which may be made of wood and severally consist of a bottom section B and
a seperable top section B¹. The bottom section of each mold has flanges a at the
ends and the top section B¹ has similar flanges a¹ at the ends. The body portion
of the top section of each mold enters the body portion of the bottom section. The
molds B B¹.in this example of my improvement are arranged in two tiers. Those
in the lower tier rest upon a frame Chere shown as of rectangular form, and their
ends extend over the longitudinal bars of this frame. The molds in the upper tier
are supported by a frame C¹ which is similar to the frame C. The ends of these
molds which are in the upper tier lap over the longitudinal bars of the frame C₁.
The frames C¹ Care supported by the side pieces of the frame to which they may
be secured by screws, bolts or other suitable means. In the operation of this
machine the molds have their top sections separated from the bottom sections at
the front of the machine, one at a time. When a mold is thus opened any cigar
bunch contained in it is removed and is then ready to have a wrapper applied to it.
When the wrapper is applied to complete the cigar the cigar is rolled. A fresh
cigar bunch is then inserted in the mold and then the top section is lowered upon
the bottom section. This mold and all others in the lower tier behind it are then
moved backwards a distance equal to the width of one mold. The rearmost
mold of the lower tier is then moved up into line with those in the upper tier.
Then the foremost mold in the upper tier is moved forwards off the supporting
frame Cand is opened by lowering the bottom section on to the frame C. While
the molds are thus disposed pressure is applied to all of them except the one which
is open.
While the foremost mold is open the pressed cigar bunch which it
contained is removed, wrapped and rolled.and. a fresh bunch is inserted in its place.
The operation is then repeated. It will be obvious that all the molds except the
foremost are subjected to pressure while the operator is removing from the foremost
the bunch it contained and inserting a fresh bunch. I preferably employ a
cutter D D¹ and operate it so that it will cut a finished cigar to the standard
length while the molds are being adjusted as explained. Having now given a
general idea of the nature and operation of the machine I will describe the various
combinations of parts which are involved in it. In beginning the description of
the various combinations of parts I will assume that the foreinost mold has been
lowered into the lower tier. It will then be supported in jaws E E' by which it
was previously opened and transferred from the upper tier to the lower tier These
jaws E. El slide up and down along guides consisting of rods E bolted to the cross
pieces A of the frame. The jaws E are opposite each other and arranged in the
same horizontal frame. They are connected to bars b having grooves in their
outer sides fitting the rods E. These bars are united at the lower end by a cross-
bar 6. The jaws E¹ are also opposite each other and in one horizontal plane.
They are connected to bars c which are united at the lower end by a cross-bar c¹
having grooves in their ends fitting the rods E. From the jaws E¹ extend clips c*
which embrace the bars b of the jaws E. The jaws E, their bars b and the cross-
bar b¹ may be made in one metal casting and the jaws E¹, their bars c and the
cross-bar c¹ may be made in another metal casting. The end flanges of each mold.
in turn are slid into horizontal grooves in the jaws E E¹. The means for operating
these jaws will be described hereafter.
Assuming that the foremost mold has had a cigar bunch. inserted in it, and that
it has been closed and is located in the lower tier, I will now describe the means
whereby it is moved rearwards. When it occupies the position just mentioned it
is over a carriage F sliding horizontally upon shoulders & ou the frame C. A bar e
projecting upwards from the front of this carriage impinges against the front of
the middle portion of the bottom section of the foremost mold. This bar is not as
long as the distance between the adjacent sides of the jaws E¹, hence it can p 193
between these jaws. When the carriage moves rearwardly the bar e pushes the
foremost mold rearwardly a distance equal to its width. The foremost mold in
this movement pushes all the molds that are in the lower tier behind it the same

page_text: .
distance which it is moved. The rearmost mold in the lower tier is thus moved
off the frame C. and on to the platform G of an elevator. The carriage F has at
the rear a curved tail piece F1. A cam F' upon a rotary shaft H operates upon
the tail piece F¹ and moves the carriage F rearwardly. A spring FS connected to
the carriage and to the frame C moves the carriage forward to its normal position.
In making the forward movement the carriage does not affect the molds.
.
The shaft H is shown as provided at one end with a crank H¹ whereby it may
be rotated.
·
The platform G of the elevator has extending from it bars G¹ which work in
slideways in the side pieces A of the main frame of the machine.
The bars G¹ of the elevator are provided with spring fingers G2, which, when the
rearmost mold of the lower tier is forced upon the elevator platform, impinge upon
the end flanges of the bottom section of the said mold, thereby holding the mold
upon the platform.
The elevator platform is raised by levers I fulcrumed to the front bar of the
frame C and connected by links 11 with the elevator platform. These levers I
which raise; the elevator platform derive their motion from the action of cams J
mounted on the shaft H as I shall fully explain hereafter. When the levers I are
relieved from the action of the cam the elevator platform descends by reason of its
gravity, and the gravity of the said levers I and the links I. When the elevator
platform is raised to its highest position it carries the mold which happens to be
upon it into line with the molds which are in the upper tier. The elevator plat-
form after being raised to this position dwells there for a time owing to the cams J
from which it derives motion having a position which is concentric with the
shaft H on which they are mounted. While the elevator platform dwells in its
raised position the mold which it bears is pushed forwards off it into the frame C¹.
This operation is performed by a push piece K which is made in the shape of a bar
adapted to bear against the rear side of the mold and pivotally connected to a
lever K. The lever K¹ is fulcrumed to the cross pieee A¹ of the main frame of the
machine and oscillated in one direction by a cam L mounted on the shaft H and
in the other direction by a spring L¹. Euch mold which is pushed off the elevator
platform on to the frame O₁ is moved a distance equal to its width. In making
this movement it causes all the molds in the upper tier to move a distance equal to
the width of a mold. Owing to this the foremost mold. of the upper tier is moved
forward so that its end flanges will enter the grooves in the jaws E E¹, the latter
having previously been both raised into the proper position to receive them. The
jaws E E¹ as here shown are raised by springs and lowered by levers, actuated
by cams.
The cross bar b¹ belonging to the jaws E has connected to it a lever M which is
depressed by a cam M mounted on the shaft H for the purpose of drawing the said
jaws down."
When this cam M' releases the lever M the latter is impelled upward
by a spring M' and then elevates the said jaws E. The cross bar C¹ belonging to
the jaws El is connected to levers N. The levers are rigidly connected together by
a cross bar N¹. They impinge against the cams J which are mounted on the
shaft H. When the cams J act on these levers N the latter are depressed and they
lower the jaws E¹. When, the levers are released from the cams J a spring N³
acting upon a cross bar N* which is connected to the levers operates to raise the
levers and the jaws E¹. I have shown a spring N impinging against the cross
bar c' belonging to the jaws E' for the purpose of aiding the spring N³ in raising
these jaws and the levers which are connected to their cross bar c¹. The cross
bar N connected to the levers N extends under the levers I by which the elevator
platform G is elevated and hence the cams J by depressing the levers N also allow
the levers I to descend. When the levers N rise they also raise the levers I.
Immediately after, the foremost nold has been pushed into the jaws E E¹ the
cams J operate to depress the levers N and consequently to lower the jaws E¹.
The bottom section of the foremost mold will thus be separated from the top
section of such mold and lowered to the level of the bottom sections of the molds

page_text: in the lower tier, while the top section of said foremost mold will be left on a level
with the top section of the molds in the upper tier.
.
00¹ designate pressure frames which are hung at the rear ends upon pins g g
extending respectively from the cross bar A¹ of the main frame of the machine and
from the frame C¹. These frames can be swung up and down upon the pins g g¹-
as fulcrums. Near the forward ends these frames have pivotally connected to them,
rods P which fit in slideways in the side pieces of the main frame of the machine
and have at the lower ends laterally extending lugs h. Springs Q fastened to the
Bide pieces of the main frame of the machine and impinging against the under side
of the lugs h rise the rods P. and consequently the pressure frames 0 0¹ so as to
relieve the molds from pressure and permit them to be moved along. Levers Q
fulcrumed to the side pieces of the main frame of the machine impinge upon the
upper sides of the lugs h and when depressed by cams Q which are mounted upon
the shaft H pull down the rods P and thereby forcibly draw down the pressure
frames O O upon the molds.
The pressure frames are forced down upon the molds at the same time that
the jaws E' carry down the bottom section of the foremost mold.
The machine is now in a state of rest so that the operator can remove the pressed
cigar bunch from the open foremost mold, wrap it and roll it and insert a fresh
bunch in the mold. All the operation described and accomplished with a single
rotation of the shaft H.
The first movement of the shaft after the insertion of a fresh bunch into the.
open foremost mold, causes the jaws E to descend so as to lower the top section of
this mold upon the bottom section thereof and to bring it to a level with the top
Bections of the molds in the lower tier. The succeeding movement of the shaft
during this next rotation causes a repetition of the movements which I have
previously described.
The cutter D D¹ consists of a stationary knife D and a movable knife D'. The
stationary knife D is affixed to one end of a trough-like holder D² in which a cigar
may be laid with its pointed end against a guage which is adjustable to suit
different standard lengths of cigars, and its blunt end projecting past the stationary.
knife. The movable kife is supported upon a fulcrum el so that. its sharp edge
may swing past the adjacent edge of the stationary kife. A portion of the movable,
kite extending past the fulcrum is pivotally connected to a rod D² which slides
between studs 12 and is provided with a laterally extending lug j. A toe k;
extending from the shaft H operates upon this lug when the shaft is rotated so as
to pull the rod D2 rearward and cause the mold knife to descend and cut off the
portion of the cigar projecting beyond the stationary knife. The toe k, after having
done this work passes beyond the lug j and releases the rod D2 whereupon a
spring D³ raises the movable knife to its normal position. The operation is to
place each finished cigar in the trough like bolder D when he inserts a fresh cigar
bunch in the foremost mold and then the finished cigar will be cut at the same.
time, the top of the foremost mold is brought down upon the bottom section.
thereof.
The movable knife D' may be operated by the hand of the operator at any time.
if desirable.
I will now explain, the machine shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. The frame
of the machine is substantially like the one before described. The molds B B¹ are
like those which I have already described. For this machine there are to be two,
attendants who will occupy positions at the ends. The bottom and top sections of
the molds are separated at one end of the machine and their sectious travel along
while separated to the other end of the machine. Here they have bunches inserted,
in them. After the insertion of the bunches into them they are closed and while
closed they travel along to the rear end of the, machine where they are separated.
Then the pressed bunches are withdrawn and wrappers are applied and rolled on.,
There are always-two series of molds in this machine as in the. other, but in this
machine one set have their sections closed and the other set have their sections

page_text: separated and the upper sections of the latter travel above, and their lower sections
below the set of molds which have their sections closed. With this preliminary
explanation I will proceed to a detailed description.
The set of molds which are closed are supported by and travel along a frame C².
The bottom sections of the molds of the other set are supported by and travel along
a frame C. They are guided by lips or ribs projecting upward from the frame C.
The top section of the last mentioned molds have their end flanges supported by
rails C. They travel along these rails and are guided by lips or ribs
upwards from these rails.
projecting
At the front end of the machine is a carrier S having two grooves m; one being
arranged on each side of the machine.
These grooves m are in the same horizontal plane. One end of this carrier is
very clearly shown in Figure 11. Both ends are similarly constructed. It will be
seen that the grooves are formed by bending bars n down and back under the main
bar of the carrier. The ends of these bars n are bent outwards and downwards and
enter vertical grooves formed in the inner surfaces of the side-pieces of the main
frame of the machine. The carrier S is capable of moving up into a position where
its grooves m will be in line with the end flanges of the top sections of the set of
molds which have their top sections separated from their bottom sections so that
the one of these top sections which is nearest to the carrier can be pushed forward
to cause its end flanges to enter the grooves of the carrier. The carrier can then
be lowered to carry the top section which is engaged with its grooves down to a
level with the set of molds which have their top and bottom sections fitted
together.
G designates an elevator which is capable of being lowered to such position that
its upper surface will be coincident with the upper surface of the frame C and of
being raised to such position that its upper surface will be coincident with the
upper surface of the frame C¹. The elevator G is provided with bars G¹ fitting
with grooves in the inner surfaces of the side pieces of the main frame of the
machine. The elevator platform G is provided with spring fingers G* whereby the
end flanges of the bottom section of a mold moved on to the elevator, will be held
there against accidental displacement. Between the bars G¹ of this elevator a
cross-bar G³ extends. This bar G³ has connected to it a lever I. The lever I is
supported by a fulcrum n². It is depressed by a cam J mounted on a shaft H for
the purpose of lowering the elevator. A spring N³ fastened at one end to the
lever I and at the other end to the frame C raises the said lever and thereby raises
the elevator whenever the cam J releases the lever.
At the rear end of the machine there is a carrier S' which in construction and
operation is like the carrier S. Its component parts are similarly lettered. It is
intended to receive the top section of the rearmost mold having its top section
fitted to its bottom section and then to separate the same from the bottom section
and raise the same to the level of the top sections of the molds that have the top
sections separated from the bottom sections.
At the rear end of the machine is an elevator G' constructed like the elevator G
and operating similarly.
This elevator G is furnished with spring fingers G³ like the spring fingers G³
heretofore described. From the elevator G extend downwardly bars Go working
in grooves in the side pieces of the main frame of the machine and connected by a
cross-bar G7. A lever I supported by a fulcrum n³ is connected to the cross
bar G. A pin o extending laterally from the lever I enters a slot o¹ in the lever I',
hence when the lever I is depressed by the cam J the lever I will be similarly
depressed. A spring N³ fastened at one end to the lever 12 and at the other end to
the frame C aids in raising the levers I I' whenever the cam J releases them.
A lever T extends between the carrier S and the elevator G, and a lever T¹
extends between the elevator G and the carrier S¹. These levers are slotted near
the ends to receive pins p extending laterally from the elevator and carriers so as
to allow of their play through arcs of circles.

page_text: When the elevators are raised by the levers I Is the carriers will, through the
levers T T¹, be lowered and conversely when the elevators are lowered the carriers
will be raised.
I will assume that the elevators have been raised and the carriers have been
lowered. The elevator G and the carrier S will then be ready to deliver the bottom
and top section of a mold N and the elevator G and carrier S¹ will be ready to
receive the bottom and top section of a mold.
When the parts are in this position, the bottom mold section on the elevator G
will have received a cigar bunch and it and the corresponding top mold section will
have been brought together. While the parts are thus disposed, a push piece K-is
moved rearwards and forces the mold sections from the elevator G and carrier S on
to the frame C¹. All the molds on this frame C¹ will by this operation be moved
a distance equal to the width of one mold, and the rearmost mold will have its
bottom section forced on to the elevators G₁ and its top section forced into the
cam S. After this has been done the elevators descend and the carriers rise. The
pressed cigar bunch contained in the bottom section of a mold supported by
the elevator G¹ will now be removed, rolled and wrapped. The elevator G' and
the carrier S¹ will then be ready to deliver the bottom and top sections of the
mold which they support and the elevator G and carrier S will be ready to receive
the bottom and top sections of a mold. A cigar, bunch will now be placed in the
bottom section of the forward mold.
At this time push pieces K' move forward and push the mold sections which
are supported by the elevator G* and carrier S¹ forward a distance equal to their
width.
The top top sections of molds supported by the rails C will all be moved
correspondingly forward and the foremost mold will have its top section forced into
the carrier S and its bottom section forced on to the elevator G so as to be ready
for another cigar bunch.
The push piece K has affixed to it two slider bars which work in horizontal
grooves in the side pieces of the main frame of the machine. Its slider bars have.
levers K¹ pivotally connected to them.
These levers are fulcrumed at g to the side pieces of the main frame of the
machine below the points where they are connected to the slider bars and at their
lower ends they are actuated by cams L on the shaft H, so that their upper
ends will move the push piece rearwards when the cams L release the levers K¹
springs L connected to the said levers and to the side pieces of the main frame of
the machine force the push piece forward.
The push pieces K work in recesses formed in the inner surfaces of the side
pieces of the main frame of the machine.
They have diverging arms whose ends project inwardly so as to be capable of
abutting against the mold sections supported by the elevator G and carrier S, when
the said elevator is raised and the said carrier is lowered. These push pieces K³
are similarly constructed. One is clearly illustrated in Figure 10. Levers K³
fulcrumed at between their ends to the side pieces of the main frame of the
machine are at the upper ends pivotally connected to these push pieces K² and at
their lower ends are actuated by cams L' on the shaft H so as to force the push
pieces K2 forwards. Springs Ls connected to the levers K³ and to the side pieces
of the main frame of the machine move the levers in the reverse direction when
permitted by the cams L' and consequently move the push pieces K² rearwards.
Above the moulds which are located upon the frame C is a pressure bar O¹.
This is pivotally connected at or near one end to a pin gland is pivotally connected
to links or rods P which extend from it to levers Q. The levers Q¹ are actuated
to draw the pressure bar O' downwards by cams Q on the shaft H. Springs Q
raise these levers and consequently the pressure bar whenever the cam permita
them to do so. The pressure bar is drawn down when the elevator platforms G. G¹
are lowered and the carriers S S¹ are raised.
The shaft H may be rotated by a hand crank or otherwise,

page_text: At the rear of the machine I intend to employ a cutter like the one comprised
in the machine first described.
5.
It is obvious that the jaws E E¹ in the machine first described, and the elevators
and carriers in the other machine constitute mold openers and closers; that the
push pieces in such machines constitute propellers for, moving the along and that
the pressure bars constitute pressers.
By the use of one of my machines great uniformity in the manufacture of cigar
bunches and consequently of cigars may be attained. Owing to the perfection of
the bunches which it is. possible to attain with the use of such machine, the
minimum quantity of tobacco for the wrapper may always be employed, and hence
a saving in this respect. Labor is saved in making cigars, with the machine
because the operation of the machine may be effected by the act necessary to trim
off the end of the cigars with the cutter. A saving of space and expense results
from the use of the machine as compared with large blocks of molds and presses.
In consequence of the exactness with which my machine will operate on the molds
the latter will be more than ordinarily durable. As each bunch is kept pressed by
my machine until the operator wants to use it, the shape given it by the mold
will be preserved. The work done with the machine will closely approximate
hand work.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In a machine for pressing cigar bunches the combination of a series of
molds, a propeller for moving the molds along, a mold opener and closer, and a
presser independent of the propeller, and the mold opener and closer exerting
pressure on the molds after they are closed to keep them under pressure
substantially as specified.
Second. In a machine for pressing cigar bunches the combination with mold
supports, of mold sections having cavities extending lengthwise of them between
the ends, and having flanges at the ends adapted to be received by said supports
and sustained thereby, a propeller for moving the mold sections along in a direction
transverse to their length a mold opener and closer, and a presser independent of
the propeller and the mold opener and closer exerting pressure on the molds after
they are closed to keep them under pressure substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of March 1886.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,