IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Sprague Winsor, of Providence, County of
Providence, State of Rhode Island, one of the United States of America, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Sprague Winsor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1877
JOSEPH SPRAGUE WINSOR, of Providence, County of Providence, State of Rhode
Island, one of the United States of America "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
MAKING CIGARS"
This Invention relates to improvements in machines for making cigars by
mechanical means, and by power without manual labor, except such as is requned
to feed and supervise the same
The object of this Invention is to so construct and arrange a machine for making
cigars, that the same may be driven by power at a high speed, an adjustable
quantity of filling tobacco may be delivered automatically to the rolling devise and
there deposited, and the binder may be fed and automatically rolled around the filling,
the rolled cigar discharged, and all the motions necessary to form and deliver the
cigar may be performed automatically and successively The said machine has
preferably six olleis 01 1olls
The said Invention comprises, first, the combination with a hopper of an inclined
shelf and feed 10ll provided with longitudinal knives or seriated plates, and a
smaller hopper airanged to receive the tobacco delivered by the feed roll
It also comprises thin metal macerators provided with seated or toothed ends,
preferably beveled on one side, and arranged to compress and consolidate the
tobacco by operating on one side of a charge of the same, also the combination
with the said small hopper of spring pressed macerators, arranged and operating
for the purpose described
It also comprises the combination with a crank of a vertically reciprocating slide
arranged to operate the macerators
It also comprises the combination with the macerators and the small hopper of
the reciprocating knife plate arranged to close the aperture of the hopper, also a

page_text: carrier box arranged to receive the tobacco in combination with the said small
hopper and the 1ollers
It also compuses the combination with the knife plate of levers, and a cam
arranged to impart reciprocating motion to the said knife plate, so that the same
will be under the hopper when the caller box is not under the same, and be
withdrawn when the said carrier box is under the hopper
It also comprises the combination with the said carrier box of levers and a cam
arranged to reciprocate the caller box and place it at the proper time under the
said small hopper and over the 1ollers
It also comprises a follower arranged and operated to pass through the said
carier box to deliver the tobacco between the rolls at one time, and pass between
the rolls to discharge the tobacco when the rolling is completed, also the com-
bination with the follower of a rod, a level, and cams arranged to impart motion to
the follower
It also comprises the construction and arrangement of the rolls to roll the tobacco,
so that the two upper rolls will open to receive the tobacco and close as soon as the
follower is withdrawn, also the combination with the follower and the rolls
arranged to roll tobacco into a cylindrical roll, and so that the upper and lower rolls
are opened and closed as required, and the combination with these rolls of radial
slides arranged to support the said tolls, also the combination of slotted levers with
the rolls and cam ananged to open and close the said rolls, and the combination
with the rolls arranged to open and close of rods arranged to transmit rotary motion
to the said rolls
It also comprises the combination of gear wheels, a cam, and a hinged bell crank
arranged to place the latter in and out of gear, and the combination with the
rollers of stopping devices by which the said rollers are stopped when the charge is
placed between or discharged from the same, and the combination with the driving
pulley of devices by which the rollers are turned and stopped, and the tobacco is
delivered to the rolls and discharged from the same
It also comprises the combination with the main shaft provided with a pinion of
cams and a crank for operating the quick moving parts, and a countershaft secuied
to the canying cams for operating the other parts of the machine
The follower passes downward through the cane box and delivers the tobacco
between the six rolleis, and as soon as it is withdrawn the two upper rollers are
placed together and all the rollers 10tate, and so 10ll the tobacco into a roll The
binder oi wrapper is inserted before the tobacco is placed between the rolls, one edge
being gummed, the whole is wound together by the rotation of the rolls into a
cylinder held within the binder
In front of the machine at a convenient height a table is placed on which the
binders are gummed, and the operative places one of the gummed binders over
the rolls as soon as the follower has passed between the rolls and pushed out the
cylinder of tobacco which has been rolled to be used for the next cigar, the carrier
box now delivers the charge to the rolls over the binder, and the follower pushes it
between the 1olls where the tobacco and binder are formed into a round filling
which is discharged by the follower on the endless apion, and delivered in a suitable
receptacle from which it is taken, and the outside wrapper is put on either by hand
or by suitably arranged mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Sprague Winsor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th August 1877
JOSEPH SPRAGUE WINSOR, of Providence, County of Providence, State of Rhode
Island, one of the United States of America "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
MAKING CIGARS "

page_text: This Invention relates to improvements in machines for making cigars by
mechanical means, and without manual labor, except for feeding
The object of this Invention is to so construct and arrange a machine for making
cigais, that the same may be driven by power at a high speed, an adjustable
quantity of hlling tobacco may be delivered automatically to the rolling devico and
there deposited, the binder may be fed and automatically rolled around the filling,
and the rolled cigai discharged, and all the motions necessary to form and deliver
the cigar may be performed automatically and successively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE D
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved cigar machine, paits of the fiame
being broken away to show the mechanism inoze clearly
Figure 2 is a top view of the said machine with parts of the table, and of the
upper mechanisın removed to show more clearly the mechanism beneath the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the said machine shewing the parts in the
position they occupy at the moment when the cigar is discharged from the rolls
Figure 4 is an end view of the hopper showing a lever and pawl by which
intermittent relative motion is imparted to the feeding roll
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the said hopper and feeding roll
Figure 6 is an elevation of the main driving mechanism shewing the means
employed to impart intermittent motion to the rolls.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing the position of a cam and level by
which the follower is operated in full lines in one position, and in dotted lines in
another position
Figure 8 is also a sectional elevation showing this cam and lever in the position
they occupy when the said follower has delivered a charge to the rolls
Figure 9 shows the cam by which honzontal motion is imparted to the lever that
operates the said follower
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation showing the mechanism for operating the knife
plate, and Figure 11 is a sectional clevation showing the cain and lever for
operating the reciprocating cairiei box
Similar letters indicate the same parts throughout the Diawings
a is the hopper provided with the inclined shelt b, c is the feed roll provided
with a number of longitudinal knives or projecting plates, the edges of one half of
which are seated and the other half straight, the feed roll a delivers the tobacco
from the hopper a to the sinaller hopper d Alternate or intermittent motion is
imparted to the feed roller c by means of the lever pawl and ratchet shown in
Figure 4 The knife eis reciprocated by means of the lever e¹, and closes the lower
aperture of the hopper d, and the vertically reciprocating spring pressed macerators f
compress and consolidate the tobacco in the hopper d, as soon as the reciprocating
carrier box g has alived under the hopper d, the knife plate c is withdiawn and
the macerators force the tobacco into the carier g, which being operated by the
lever g¹ is carried forward and directly over the rolleis h, k, the two upper rollers at
this time are sufficiently apart to admit the tobacco, the lower rollers being close
together to retain the same The follower now passes downward through the
caller box and delivers the tobacco between the six rollers h, and as soon as it is
withdrawn the two upper rollers are placed together, and all the 1olleis rotate and
so 10ll the tobacco into a roll, the binder or wrapper is inserted before the tobacco
is placed between the rolls, one edge being gummed, and the whole is wound
together by the 1otation of the rolls into a cylinder held within the binder, which
forms the interior of the cigar and only requies the wrapper to complete the same.
As soon as the cylinder is finished the upper and lower rolls separate, and the
follower i passes down between the 1olls and pushes the cylinder out on the endless
apion or care by which the same is delivered to a suitable receptacle The same
operation is continued as long as tobacco is supplied and the machine is kept

page_text: in motion, all the operations are performed automatically at the precise moment
required by simple mechanical means
Motion is imparted to the machine by means of a belt passing over the pulley k
to the shaft of which the pinion k¹ is secured, this pinion gears into the larger gear
wheel, to the shaft of which the cam is secured during a certain part of its
rotation, this cam comes in contact with the bell crank m, to the upper end of
which the gear wheel m¹ is secured, so that when the cam comes in contact with
the arm m the gear wheel m³, which ordinarily rotates the pinion n, becomes
disengaged, and intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the pinion n as will be
clearly seen by reference to Figure 6 The main driving shaft and the shaft of the
large gear wheel Z extend across the whole width of the machine, and from theso
shafts nearly all the motions are communicated to the several parts by means of
cams and cranks.
The six rollers halo supported in bearings; the two central rollers have
adjustable but stationary bearings, and the upper and lower rollers have adjustable
sliding bearings in the radial slides o, o, which are operated by cams and slotted
lovers, so that at the proper time the upper rolls are separated to receive the
charge of tobacco and again closed, whilst at another time both the upper and
lower sets of rollers are moved apart to allow of the entrance of the follower to
discharge the rolled cylinder of tobacco
To allow the desued freedom of motion to the rollers, and at the same time drive
the same at exactly the same speed, I provide one end of the 1ollers with a squnio
or other suitable projection which may enter a coupling sleeve on the connecting
rods p, p, the other end of the rods p, p, being also provided with sleeves by which
they are connected with the shafts of the gear wheels q, q, any other flexible
connection may be used to so connect the rollers and the gear wheels.
The geal wheels I are arranged around a gear wheel placed on the same shaft
with the gear wheel n, so that when the gear wheel n engages with the gear wheel n¹
the six gear wheels q turn around on the central gear wheel driven by the pinion n,
and thus turn the rollers all at the same speed
The rotation of the 1olls is stopped when the charge of tobacco is placed
between the rolls, and also when the iolled cylinder of tobacco is discharged, and
to iegulate this at the proper time the cam 1s arianged to come in contact with
and lift the lower end of the hinged aim m, and so disengage the gear wheel m¹
from the pinion n, as is shown in broken lines in Figure 6
The follower performs two important functions, that is to say, first, it delivers
'the charge of tobacco between the iolls at the precise moment when the caller g 18
over the centre of the rollers, and the two upper rollers have been moved apait,
and second, when the tobacco has been sufficiently rolled and the binder secured it
passes between the rollers and deposits the rolled cylinder on the endless apion?
passing under the rollers, this second movement is made during the time the
iollers are open to allow the follower to pass through
Figures 7 and 8 clearly show the position of the said follower, Figure 7 shows
the follower in full lines at rest, and in dotted lines extending through the rollers;
Figure 8 shows the position of the follower when it has just placed the tobacco
between the rolls The level ³ is shown as occupying these different positions and
its relation to the cam 26 and 27 is clearly illustrated The vertical rod ¹ to which
the followers secured is provided with a long pin 2, whereon the lever 2³ IS
arianged to slide vertically, and the bent end of the lever 23 is provided with a hole
through which the end of the bent lever passes, the upper part being provided
with a pin which slides on the cam 25, this cam 2, diawn to an enlarged scale in
Figure 9, imparts such motion to the lever, that at the proper time the said lever
is allowed to pass by the cam o engage with the cam 26 oi the cam 7, as is required
at that time to move the follower the requisite distance
All the levers operated by cams are so held against the same by means of coiled
springs or their equivalent as to follow the configuration of the said cains, and thus
transmit the desued motions to the various parts of the machine.

page_text: The reciprocating knife plate e 18 operated through the lever e¹, e³, and cam e², as
shown in Figure 10, and the reciprocating box or canier is operated through the
lever g³, the hinged aim or lever gl and cam g², as shown in Figure 11
The opening and closing of the rolls h at the proper time is effected by means of
the slotted levers h¹, h³, operated by the compound cans h³, as shown in Figures 1
and 3
The spring pressed macerators f consist of thin metal plates, then lower edges
being seriated and the teeth bevelled at the ear they are arranged to reciprocate
vertically in the small hopper d near the edge of the larger hopper a, and their
action on the tobacco is such as will turn the same over and partially form a
cylindrical inass by pressing always on one side of the small hopper, which side is
purposely rounded, so as to facilitate this consolidating and rolling action
The macerators f are operated by means of the crank f¹ secured to the main
driving shaft from which the connecting 1od få extends to the vertical slide f³, to
whose upper end extends an arm to which the macerators are secured and by which
the same are vertically reciprocated To allow the macerators to act singly and
yield to the tobacco, spings are so secured to them that each macerator will press
on the tobacco more or loss according to the quantity under the same
The feed 1ollo is 10tated by means of a ratchet wheel secured to the same, and
a pawl operated by the mechanism by which the macerators are operated, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 4, so that each time the macerators are lifted the feed roll c 1s
partially rotated
In fiont of the machine at a convenient height is placed a table on which the
binders are gummed, and the operator or attendant places one of the gummed
binders over the rolls, as soon as the follower has passed between the rolls and
pushed out the cylinder of tobacco which has been rolled, to be used for the next
cigar, the carrier box now delivers the charge to the rolls over the binder and the
follower pushes them between the rolls where the tobacco and binder are formed
into a round filling which is discharged by the follower on the endless apron, and
delivered in a suitable receptacle fiom which they are taken, and the outside
wrapper is put on either by hand or by suitably arranged mechanism
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First The combination with the hopper a of the inclined shelf and feed roll
provided with the longitudinal knives oi serrated plates as above set forth and for
the purpose specified
Second The combination with the hopper a and the feed roll of the smaller
hopper d, arranged to receive the tobacco delivered by the feed roll, as above set
forth and for the purpose specifiod
Thud The thin metal macerators provided with seriated or toothed ends,
preferably bevelled on one side and arranged to compress and consolidate the
tobacco by operating on one side of a charge, and in combination with the hoppei d
and the reciprocating knife plate, as above described and for the purposes
specified
Fourth The combination with the crank f¹ of the vertically reciprocating slide
aranged to operate the said macerators, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The carrier box constructed and arranged to receive the tobacco, and in
combination with the hopper d and the rollers, and operating as above set forth and
for the purpose specified
Sixth The combination with the knife plate e of the levers e¹ and e³, and cam e³,
arranged to impart reciprocating motion to the said knife plate, so that the same
will be under the hopper d when the carrier box is not under the same, and will be
withdrawn when the said carrier box is under the said hopper, as above set forth
and for the purpose specified
Seventh. The combination with the carrier box of the levers g¹ and g³ with the
cam g³ arranged to reciprocate the said carrier box and place it at the proper time

page_text: under the hopper & and over the rollers, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified
Eighth The follower arranged and operated by the mechanism described to pass
through the carrier box to deliver the tobacco between the rolls at one time, and
pass between the rolls to discharge the tobacco when the rolling is completed, as
above set forth and for the purpose described
Ninth The combination with the carrier box reciprocating between the hopper d
and the rolleis h of the follower, and the devices for imparting motion to the same,
as above described and for the purpose specified
Tenth The combination with the said follower of the rolls, constructed and
arranged to roll tobacco, and so operated by the means described that the two
upper rolls are 1otated, and will automatically open to receive the tobacco and close
as soon as the follower is withdrawn, as above described
Eleventh The combination with the rolls of the radial slides arranged to support
the said rolls, as above set forth and for the purpose specified
Twelfth The combination with the gear wheel of the cam, the hinged bell
crank and the gear wheel m¹ arranged and operating to adjust the said wheel in
and out of gear with the punon n
as above set forth and for the purpose
specified
Thu teenth The combination with the rollers and the diving pulley of means by
which the said rollers are turned, and by which they are stopped when the
change of tobacco is placed between or discharged from the said rollers, as above
set forth
Fourteenth The combination with the main shaft provided with a pinion of the
cams 2 and the crank f for operating the quick moving parts, and the countershaft
cairying the gear wheel and cams l¹, 2³, h³, g³, and c³, for operating the other parts of
the said machine, as above set forth
Fifteenth A cigar-making machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined, as shewn in the accompanying Diawings and operating as above set
forth
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sprague Winsor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven,
JOSEPH S WINSOR (Ls)