Improvements in Packing Mechanism for Cigarettes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, a corporation
duly organized in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, and
having its office at No. 513, West 22nd Street, in the City of New York,
State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Packing Mechanism for Cigarettes and the like.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6, Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for
delivering cigarettes or similar articles in proper position and number to receivers,
such as boxes, in which the articles are to be packed, or to machines of any suit-
able form by which the articles are to be packed, or otherwise handled in certain
quantities.
The invention is especially designed for use in packing cigarettes, the mecha-
nism embodying the present invention being especially adapted for counting
cigarettes and delivering them to the boxes in which they are to be packed,
and the invention aims especially to provide a machine that may be operated at
a high rate of speed without danger of injury to the cigarettes, and especially
to secure the proper and rapid packing of a plurality of rows of cigarettes, with
a considerable number of, cigarettes in each row.
The invention has been made in connection with the production of a machine
for packing twenty cigarettes in two rows of ten cigarettes each, and will be
illustrated and described in connection with such a machine. In machines that
pack such a large number of cigarettes in a row, it is especially important for
operating at a high rate of speed, and without danger of cutting the cigarettes,
that the cigarettes shall be fed to the packing mechanism at a high rate of
speed, so as to secure the passage of ten cigarettes to position with short feeding
intermissions in the operation of the packing mechanism, while at the same time
much feeding pressure upon the fragile cigarettes must be avoided, and great
certainty in the feeding of the cigarettes into the packing mechanism in proper
time relatively to the movement of the packing mechanism, must be secured,
to avoid injury to the cigarettes. For these reasons, it is very desirable that
the cigarettes should be fed into the packing mechanism on an incline, so that
the cigarettes will roll into position in the carrier rapidly, and without substan-
tial pressure thereon, while it is also desirable that the cigarettes should be
delivered by the carrier to the packing box or other receiver or mechanism in
a horizontal position, as this position is best adapted for securing the proper
packing and wrapping of the cigarettes.
As the cigarettes, therefore, are to be delivered on a horizontal plane from a
plane inclined to the horizontal, the most efficient and rapid operation is secured
by a cigarette carrier moving from the inclined position in which the cigarettes
are received, to the horizontal position in which they are delivered. A very

page_text: simple and efficient construction for this purpose, capalle of operating at a very
high rate of speed, is secured by a pivotally-mounted carrier, so that the carrier
swings in the arc of a circle from the receiving to the delivering position, and
vice versa and a carrier having such a movement forms an important feature of
the present invention.
As is well known cigarettes, must be handled with great care, not only on
account of their fragile character and liability to break and bend, but also
because any shock or jar tends to loosen the tobacco at the ends of the cigarettes.
For this reason it is important that the cigarettes shall be dropped as short a
distance as possible in delivering them to the packing box or other receiver, so
that it is desirable that the supports below the cigarettes, which are withdrawn
for the delivery of the cigarettes, shall remain in position to support the
cigarettes, until the cigarettes are carried to, or substantially to, their final posi
tion, and then be withdrawn, to release the cigarettes. One of the important
features of the present invention relates to a construction by which this result
is secured, and consists in mounting the supports so that they move substantially
parallel with the cigarettes or delivering surface while being withdrawn from
position to support the cigarettes. There is thus provided a construction in
which the supports move with the cigarettes to such a point relatively to the
final position of the cigarettes, that the dropping movement of the cigarettes,
after release by the supports, is so reduced that all danger of injury to the
cigarettes from this cause is avoided. In delivering cigarettes onto a plane
surface, so that free movement of the supports outward from beneath the
cigarettes is possible, the supports may move substantially into contact with
the surface upon which the cigarettes are delivered, and then be withdrawn,
so that the cigarettes are practically laid upon the delivering surface. This
result is preferably secured by supports mounted to swing on horizontal pivots,
and the supports being mounted by suspending them from pivots placed at a
considerable distance above the supports, so that, in withdrawing, they swing
away from the ends of the cigarettes in an are of so long radius that their move-
ment is approximately parallel with the cigarettes. The movement of the sup-
ports may be varied, however, and they may be mounted otherwise in any suit-
able manner, so as to secure the movement desired.
It is desirable that the cigarettes be followed into the packing box or other
receiver by a presser plate parallel with the cigarettes, so as to secure the proper
position of the cigarettes in the box, and prevent their piling up therein. If
the supports for the cigarettes move substantially into contact with the deliver-
ing surface before the cigarettes are released, it is possible to use a carrier
having no further movement after the withdrawal of the supports, the top of the
cigarette receiving chamber in the carrier being sufficiently close to the cigarettes
to prevent piling of the cigarettes and perform this function of the presser plate,
but even in such case it is desirable that a light pressure on the cigarettes should
be secured by a further movement of the carrier or presser plate, after the sup-
ports are withdrawn and the cigarettes deposited in the box or other receiver,
and it is especially important that this further movement of the carrier or presser
plate should be employed when the cigarettes are dropped a substantial distance.
A further movement of the carrier independently of the supports, after the sup-
ports are withdrawn for the delivery of the cigarettes, is preferably, therefore,
provided for.
Many of the features of the present invention, including a carrier moving
independently of the supports after the latter are withdrawn as above described.
may be applied in machines in which a single row of cigarettes or other articles
are packed or otherwise handled, or two or more rows are packed or otherwise
handled simultaneously, but certain features of the invention relate to mechanism
in which a plurality of rows of cigarettes or other articles are superposed by
packing or delivering one row, and then another row, upon the same, and so on
for successive rows.

page_text: In such constructions employing a pivoted carrier, it is obvious that a presser
plate occupying a fixed position in the carrier cannot be exactly parallel with
the cigarettes in packing successive rows, as the carrier must move through
different arcs in its successive packing movements. Assuming that the cigarettes
are delivered upon a horizontal surface, the presser plate, if fixed in the carrier,
may be exactly horizontal in packing one row, but will be inclined to the hori-
zontal in packing other rows. It is very desirable that substantial parallelism
of the presser plate with the cigarettes be secured in packing successive rows,
as otherwise there is a tendency to force the cigarettes out of position, which
tends to injure the cigarettes, or interfere, with their proper packing, and this
result is preferably secured by mounting and operating the presser plate in the
carrier in such a manner that a movement of the presser plate independently of
the carrier, shall be secured, sufficient to compensate for the difference in move-
ment of the carrier in packing successive rows. For this purpose, the presser
plate is preferably pivoted in the carrier, and means provided for swinging the
presser plate on its pivot sufficiently to secure the parallelism of the plate with
the cigarettes in packing the successive rows.
The invention includes various other features of improvement in this class
of machines, in addition to those above pointed out, all of which will be fully
described hereafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.
The invention has been made in connection with a machine such as shown and
described in British Letters Patent No. 16397, dated September 13, 1892, in
which cigarettes are counted and delivered into partially-formed boxes within
holders on the packing machine, and the box blank then folded to complete the
box, and inserted in a slide cover, one of the especial objects of the invention
being to provide an improved mechanism for counting the cigarettes, and deli-
vering them to the boxes of such machines, and the invention will be illustrated
and described as thus applied.
Another part of the invention relates especially to mechanism for packing two
or more rows of cigarettes, by delivering a plurality of rows of cigarettes simul-
taneously, as distinguished from delivering the rows successively.
A very simple and efficient construction for this purpose is secured by pro-
viding a pivoted carrier with a single delivering movement, by which both
rows of cigarettes are delivered simultaneously, the horizontal position of the
carrier and presser plate in the delivering position thus being secured simply
by the movement of the carrier, while such a pivoted carrier must, as before
pointed out, necessarily be somewhat inclined to the horizontal or other deliver-
ing position of the cigarettes, if the rows of cigarettes are delivered separately,
as the carrier and presser plate must swing through a greater arc in delivering
the bottom or first row of cigarettes with the presser plate in contact therewith,
than in delivering the top or second row of cigarettes.
This part of the invention, therefore, secures a special result, in connection
with such pivoted carrier machines, in that it enables the presser plate to act
upon the cigarettes in delivering without special devices for securing the par-
allelism of the plate with the cigarettes in both delivering positions, as in
delivering successive rows separately, and the invention includes certain features
of construction and combinations of parts in such machines. While, however,
this part of the invention is especially applicable to such machines in which the
cigarettes are fed into the packing mechanism on an incline, and a pivoted car-
rier is used for transferring the cigarettes from receiving to delivering position,
the invention includes also, broader features, relating especially to the receiving
of a plurality of rows of cigarettes or other articles to be packed, and delivering
these rows of articles simultaneously, by which construction is made possible
an increase of speed over constructions for packing successive rows separately,
as the number of delivering movements of the packing mechanism is lessened,
and the feeding speed of the cigarettes may be decreased, or more time allowed

page_text: for the receiving operation, thus securing greater certainty of operation, and
less liability of injury to the cigarettes or other articles handled.
For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of constructions
embodying all the features of the invention will now be given in connection
with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and show-
ing a part of a packing machine similar to that of Letters Patent No. 16,397
above referred to, with the improvements applied thereto in their preferred form,
and the features forming the invention will then be specifically pointed out in
the claims.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side-elevation of the cigarette-counting and delivering portion
of the preferred form of machine for delivering the rows of cigarettes succes-
sively, with the cigarette raceway partly broken away;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the carrier, on an enlarged scale, showing the
carrier in position to receive cigarettes from the raceway.
Figure 4 is a front view of the same;.
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 of Figure 2, showing the parts in the same
position as in Figures 3 and 4;
Figure 6 is a similar view, showing the carrier in the position of delivering
the first or bottom row of cigarettes to the box;
Figure 7 is a similar view, showing the carrier in the position of delivering of
cigarettes.
Figure 8 is a vertical cross section, on the line 8 of Figure 6; and
Figure 9 is a similar section on the line 9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the cigarette counting and delivering portion
of the preferred form of machine, for delivering a plurality of rows of cigarettes
simultaneously, with the cigarette raceway partially broken away;
Figure 11 is a plan view of the same:-
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the carrier, on an enlarged scale, showing the
carrier in the position of receiving the top or first row of cigarettes from
the raceway, as in Figure 10;-
Figure 13 is a front view of the same.
Figure 14 is a section on the line 14 of Figure 11, showing the parts in the
same position as in Figures 12 and 18;
Figure 15 is a similar view, showing the carrier in the position of receiving
the bottom or second row of cigarettes;
Figure 16 is a similar view, showing the carrier in the position of delivering
the two rows of cigarettes;
Figure 17 is a cross section on the line 17 of Figure 16..
Referring now to said drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 9, A is the cigarette
magazine or hopper, from which the cigarettes are fed by belt B, forming the
bottom of the hopper, the cigarettes being fed by said belt B out of the
hopper A, to and through the vertical raceway 10, vibrating separator 11 being
preferably used to prevent clogging of the outlet from the hopper, and the race-
way 10 extending downward to a point above the rotary table C, having the
holders 12 for the boxes a, which are successively brought into position to
receive the cigarettes y by the rotation of the table, and then carried onward by
the further rotation of the table C, for the later operations of packing.
All these parts may be, and are, shown as of the same construction and
arrangement as fully described and shown in said Letters Patent No. 16,397,
dated September 13, 1892, except that the lower end of the raceway 10 is pre-
ferably changed somewhat in form, as shown and as fully described hereafter.
The roller 13 is preferably used, bearing against the cigarettes in the raceway,
so as to partly support the latter, and allow only the pressure of the cigarettes
below the roller to be applied to the cigarettes as they pass from the lower end
of the raceway 10. This roller is preferably positioned as shown, so that only

page_text: a comparatively small number of cigarettes are below it. In the construction
shown, in which twenty cigarettes are to be packed in a box, the roller will
preferably be positioned so as to provide for only about 20 cigarettes below it,
but this is not essential. This roller 13 also serves as a gate to retard one end
of the cigarettes, in case they reach the roller out of parallelism therewith, and
thus assure the correct position of the cigarettes at right angles to the race-
way 10 as they pass below the roller. The roller 13 may be mounted and operated
in any suitable manner, but is preferably mounted, as shown, in vertical
pivoted arm 14, spring-pressed by a spring 15, to secure the desired pressure upon
the roller, this spring being shown as adjustable by connection to the arm 14
at different points. Any other suitable form of retarding device for securing
the same result may be used, but a roller is preferable.
The cigarettes are received from the lower end of the raceway 10 by a car-
rier D, which moves vertically from its upper position, where it receives the
desired number of cigarettes in a row, to its lower position, in which it delivers
the cigarettes to the box a in a holder 12, and then returns, after such delivery,
to position for receiving another row of cigarettes, to be carried downward and
delivered upon the top of the previous row, the construction shown being
adapted for packing two rows of cigarettes in a box with ten cigarettes in each
row, although it will be understood that the number of cigarettes in a row may
be varied, and only one row, or more than two rows, may be superposed, the
machine being changed accordingly. Certain of the more specific features of the
invention, however, relate to constructions for packing a plurality of rows one
upon the other.
The carrier D is constructed and operated as follows:-The two side plates 16,
forming the body of the carrier, and in which all the parts are mounted, are
carried by bell crank levers 17 pivoted at 18 to the frame of the machine, so
that the carrier swings vertically on this pivot. The side plates 16 are shown
as formed integral with the bell-crank levers 17, and this is preferred, although
it will be understood that they may be formed separately therefrom, and secured
thereto in any suitable manner, and that the carrier may be mounted otherwise
so as to secure the desired vertical movement. The bell-crank levers 17 are
connected by pitman 19 to bell-crank lever 20, mounted at 21 on the machine
frame, and carrying stud or bowl 22, running in a cam groove 23 in a rotating
cam 24 on the shaft 25. This cam groove 23 is formed to actuate the bell-crank
lever 20 for two movements of the carrier D at each rotation of the shaft 25,
so as to pack two rows of cigarettes at each rotation of the shaft, and is so formed
as to actuate the lever 20 with alternately a long and a short throw, so that the
carrier is moved downward further in delivering the first or bottom row of
cigarettes, than in delivering the second or top row. If more than two cigarettes
or other articles are to be superposed, it will be understood that the cam will be
correspondingly changed, to lessen the extent of downward movement of the
carrier D with each successive row.
The side plates 16 of the carrier are placed at a distance apart substantially
equal to the length of the cigarettes, and the plates are connected on the side
next the raceway 10 by a plate 26 formed integral with, or secured to, the plates
in any suitable manner, which plate is curved concentrically with the path of
movement of the carrier, and forms a guard by which the delivery or lower end
of the raceway 10 is closed during the movement of the carrier, so as to hold the
cigarettes in the raceway from the time that the carrier starts its downward move-
ment, until it is returned to position to receive another row of cigarettes. In the
construction shown, the lower part of this guard is formed separately from the
upper part, and pivoted so as to move independently of the upper part with the
presser plate presently to be described. Each of the side plates 16 is provided
with a plate a extending below the edge of the plate 16, and forming a portion
of the side walls of the chamber in which the cigarettes are received by the

page_text: carrier, the cigarettes being received endwise to these plates a, so that they form
endwise positioning plates for the cigarettes.
The side plates 16 are provided with vertical slots 28, in which slides 29 are
mounted so as to move vertically. The construction of the slides, the parts car-
ried thereby, and the operating devices therefor, are duplicated at opposite sides
of the carrier, and a description of one side will apply to both, the same reference
letters being used for corresponding parts. The carrier plate 16 and slide 29 on
each side have an independent relative movement, permitted by the mounting of
the slide in slot 28, and the slide is pressed down in the slot by a spring pressed
bell-crank lever 30 mounted on the carrier actuated by spring 31 connected to
the carrier, this lever bearing on pin 1 projecting inwardly from the slide 29.
Upon pivots 2 in the slide 29 are pivoted to swing horizontally and transversely
to the carrier, the arms 32 which are connected by cross bar 33, and extend
downward below the side plates 16 and plates «, where these arms 32 carry an
inwardly-extending support b, the two supports on opposite sides of the carrier
forming the bottom of the chamber in the carrier, and supporting the cigarettes
during the downward movement of the carrier D. Above the horizontal surface
of the supports b, and formed integral with the supports, or otherwise, as preferred,
are vertical plates or surfaces, which, in the cigarette receiving position of the
supports b, lie directly beneath, and form continuous of, the plates a, so that
these plates a, c, together form a continuous, side wall of the cigarette-receiving
chamber above the supports b. Each pair of arms 32 is pressed inward toward
the side plate 16, so as to hold the support b in position to support the cigarettes
when the carrier is in receiving position, by a spring-pressed pin 3 mounted in
holder. 27.on the slide 29, and enclosing spring 4 bearing upon pin 3, which pin
bears upon the top of the cross bar 33. Upon the slide 29, below the cross bar 83,
is mounted a pivoted catch d, pivoted to swing transversely to the slide 29, and
having its upper end 5 adapted to take under the cross bar 33 in a certain posi-
tion of the parts and its lower end 6 adapted to engage a stationary trip pin 7
mounted in the frame by the side of the carrier. Spring 8 presses the lower
end 6 of the catch d outward, thus throwing the end 5 under the cross bar 33,
and holding the lower end 6 in position to engage the trip pin 7, for, the rocking
of the catch against the pressure of spring 8, to release the cross bar 33. In
the path of movement of the cross bar. 33, is mounted the stationary abutment 34,
shown as formed by a pin projecting inwardly from a fixed part of the machine.
The presser plate e, which lies over the cigarettes, and forms the top of the
chamber within which the cigarettes are received by the carrier, is pivoted in
the side plates 16 at the front of the carrier, that is, next the race-way 10. by
pivots 35, so as to have a rocking movement on the carrier sufficient to bring
its lower surface horizontal in the down position of the carrier D, although the
latter is not horizontal, and thus secure an even pressure upon the cigarettes,
which then lie upon a horizontal surface in the machine shewn. It will be
understood that in any machine in which the cigarettes are delivered on an
inclined surface the moving of the presser plate e will be correspondingly
changed, so as to bring its surface parallel with the surface on which the
cigarettes lie. This presser plate e is connected centrally by a link 36 to a
lever 37, pivoted at 38 to a cross bar 39, connecting the side plates 16, and the
presser plate is drawn up against the cross bar 39 and the underside of the
side plates 16, as shown in Figures 5 and 9, by a spring 40, connecting the
lever 37 and presser plate. Under the rear end of the lever 37, that is, the end
on the opposite side of the pivot 38 from the link 36, is mounted a stationary
abutment 41, by which the lever 37 is actuated against the tension of the
spring 40, to rock the plate e on the pivots 35, as presently to be described.
The first cigarette entering the carrier from the raceway 10 is stopped at the
rear end of the chamber in the carrier by the fixed abutment f, which thus forms
the rear wall of the chamber, and holds the row of cigarettes from passing through
the chamber, and, as the carrier moves downward, the end cigarette of the row

page_text: moves downward along the face of this abutment, and thus into the box. The
face of this abutment is preferably curved on substantially the line of movement
of the carrier, as shown, and the face g of the frame on the opposite side of the
carrier also, is preferably curved similarly, as shown, so that the rear wall of
the carrier and guard plate 26 may move close to these surfaces throughout the
movement of the carrier. The abutment f, also, is preferably made adjustable
toward and from the carrier, so as to secure its accurate positioning, being
shown as adjustable by set screw 9 passing through a slot in the top of the abut-
ment plate.
Returning now to the form of the lower end of the raceway, it is desirable
that the raceway be approximately vertical, so as to secure the proper and rapid
feed of the cigarettes by gravity, while at the same time the pressure upon the
cigarettes on the bottom of the raceway shall be reduced, so as to lessen, as far
as possible, the liability of injury to the cigarettes from their being forced by
the pressure behind them into the path of moving parts of the carrier, and per-
mit them to be readily pressed back by the engagement of the carrier. For this
purpose the extreme lower end of the raceway 10 is curved from the sharp
incline of the main part of the raceway, into approximately a horizontal plane,
from which the cigarettes pass on to the incline of carrier support b, as shown
clearly in the drawings. It will be understood, however that this feature is not
absolutely essential, although preferable, especially with cigarettes and similar
fragile articles
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the carrier D) is in position to receive, and has
just received, the first or bottom row of cigarettes to be deposited in a box a in
one of the holders 12 on rotating table C, which is now stationary. In this
position of the parts, it will be seen that the cam 24 is just about to actuate the
bell-crank lever 20 for its longer throw; the slides 29 are in their lower position
in slots 28; the arms 32, held by spring-pressed pins 3 in position with the
supports beneath the cigarettes; and the presser plate e lies above the cigarettes,
in position with the lower pivoted part of the guard 26, carried by the presser
plate continuous with the upper part of the guard 26.
As the
As the machine continues its operation from this position, and the cam 24
actuates the bell-crank lever 20, the levers 17 are actuated through pitman 19
to move the carrier downward in a curved path about the pivot 18.
carrier commences its downward movement, the bottom of the guard 26 comes in
contact with the last cigarette in the raceway 10, and the guard holds the
cigarettes in the raceway back during the movement of the carrier, so as to pre-
vent their passing out of the raceway until the return of the carrier into position
to receive them. The carrier thus moves downward with the parts in the posi-
tion shown in Figures 1 to 5, until the cross bars 33 on slides 29 strike the abut-
ments 34, which occurs just as the carrier is approaching the limit of its downward
movement, when the cross bars 33 are rocked with arms 32 against the pressure
of springs 4 on pins 3, and the supports thus thrown outward in opposite direc-
tions, and from beneath the cigarettes, so as to release the latter for deposit in
the partially-formed box in holder 12. As the cross bars are thus rocked, the
catches are released, as the cross bars rock out of contact with the upper ends 5
of these catches, and the catches & are then rocked by springs 8, so as to throw
the lower ends G of the catches outward, and the upper ends 5 of the catches
inward, beneath the cross bars 33, so as to hold these cross bars 33 in rocked posi-
tion with the supports 6 swung outward on the return of the carrier. At the limit
of this rocking movement of the cross bars 33 and arms 32, the cross bars 33
come in contact with the underside of the holders 27 on slides 29, thus preventing
the further movement of the slides by the engagement of cross bars 33 with the
stationary abutments 34, after which the carrier, with all parts except the
slides 29 and parts carried thereby, moves downward without the slides, which
movement is permitted by the slots 28 in which the slides are mounted, the

page_text: levers 30, which press upon pins 1, yielding against the tension of springs 31,
and holding the slides firmly in position while the carrier is moving. During
this final portion of the movement of the carrier, after the cigarettes have been
dropped therefrom into the box by the withdrawal of the supports b, the
presser plate e follows the cigarettes, and acts to prevent rebound or piling in
the box, and to assure their proper delivery and packing, the lower surface of
the presser plate e being brought into horizontal position parallel with the
bottom of the box a, by the engagement of the rear end of the lever 37 with
fixed abutment 41, which rocks the plate e downward upon its pivots 35, the
bottom of the carrier being inclined downward toward its front end, in deposit-
ing,the first row of cigarettes in the box, on account of the larger downward
movement of the carrier in depositing the first or bottom row of the cigarettes,
than in depositing the second or top row. The position of all the parts, with
the carrier in its extreme downward position, and the first row of cigarettes y
deposited in the box, and the presser plate e in its horizontal position, acting
upon the top of the cigarettes, is shown in Figures 6 and 8.
As the machine continues its operation, and the cam 24 returns the bell-crank
lever 20 to position, which is preferably done with a quick movement, as shown
by the form of the cam in Figure 1, the carrier is raised with a corresponding
quick action, and the parts return to the position shown in Figures 1 to 5 the
guard 26, during this movement, closing the raceway 10, until the carrier is
fully returned. During the first part of this return movement of the carrier,
the side plates 16 are raised independently of the slides 29, which are held
down by the pressure of springs 31 acting through bell-crank levers 30 upon
studs 1, and the presser plate e is swung upward to its normal position, bearing
against cross bar 39 and side plates 16 by the spring 40, as the lever 37 is moved
away from the abutment 41. As the carrier continues its vertical movement,
and the bottoms of the slots 28 strikes the slides 29, the latter, are raised with
the carrier, and, as the lower ends 6 of catches & strike the trip pins 7, the lower
ends of the catches are thrown inward against the pressure of springs 8, and
the upper ends 5 thrown outward from beneath the cross bars 33, so as to
release the latter, whereupon the springs 4, acting through pins 3 upon the
upper surfaces of the cross bars 33, rock the cross bars 33 and arms 32 upon
their pivots 2, so as to move the supports 6 into position to support the cigarettes,
as they enter from the raceway 10. The cross bars 33 are returned to normal
position before the catches are released by catch pins 7, so that, upon the
release of the catches, they are held in position by the engagement of their
ends 5 with the sides of the cross bars 33, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. All the
parts are thus returned to the position shown in Figures 1 to 5, and the carrier
is ready to receive another row of cigarettes to be deposited in the box
top of the previous row, and this second or top row of cigarettes now passes from
the raceway 10 into the carrier between the plates a, e, and upon the supports b,
the row of cigarettes being stopped by the abutment f, in exactly the same
manner as shown in connection with the previous row in Figure 5.
on
The next downward movement and return of the carrier is performed in
exactly the same manner as just described, except that the lever 20 is actuated
with a shorter throw by the other side of the cam 25, so that the carrier D is
moved downward a less distance, corresponding to the depth of the row of cigar-
ettes, and, in the machine shown, substantially to the horizontal, and the presser
plate e in this movement is rocked on its pivots 35 through a shorter movement
than before, or not at all, as the lever 37 is moved but little by the abutment 41,
or not at all, on account of the shorter movement of the carrier. The position
of all the parts, in packing the top row of cigarettes in the box r, is shown in
Figures 7 and 9, which correspond exactly to Figures 6 and 8, except that these
two pairs of figures illustrate the packing of the different rows of cigarettes.
Referring now especially to Figures 10 to 17, there is shown in these figures
the preferred form of mechanism for packing two rows of cigarettes, by deliver-

page_text: ing both rows simultaneously. This mechanism resembles generally the mecha-
nism shown in Figures 1 to 9, and for giving an understanding thereof it will
be necessary only to describe the parts differing from those of the mechanism
shown in Figures 1 to 9.
The carrier D, instead of being formed to receive only one row of cigarettes,
is formed to receive two superposed rows, and is moved about its pivot 18 from
the inclined position in which it receives the first or top row of cigarettes, to
a higher inclined position in which it receives the second or bottom row of
cigarettes, and is then moved downward, to deliver the cigarettes to the box & in
the holder 12, after which it returns to position for receiving another first or
top row of cigarettes. For the purpose of so actuating the carrier, the cam
groove 23 is formed to move the bell-crank lever 20, for three movements of the
carrier at each rotation of the shaft 25, viz., an upward short movement from the
position of receiving the first top row of cigarettes to the position for receiving
the second or bottom row of cigarettes, a long downward movement for carrying
the two rows of cigarettes to delivering position; and a return movement from
its lowest position to its position for receiving another row of cigarettes. The
form of the cam groove 23 for giving these movements, is shown clearly in
Figure 10, in which the cam is shown as just about to actuate the bell-crank 20,
to move the carrier upward from its lower inclined position to its higher inclined
position for receiving the second row of cigarettes. It will be understood that
if more than two rows of cigarettes or other articles are to be superposed, the
cam will, be correspondingly changed to secure the carrier movements required
for this purpose, by providing for three or more upward movements of the
carrier, corresponding to the distance between the successive rows of cigarettes
in the carrier.
For the purpose of capacitating the carrier to receive two rows of cigarettes,
the pivoted arms 32 carry on each side of the carrier two inwardly-extending
supports 61, b, one above the other, and which form respectively the bottoms
of chambers into which the first and second rows of cigarettes are received from
the raceway 10, and which support the cigarettes during the downward move-
ment of the carrier, these supports b, b, being preferably formed on, and
carried by, the vertical plates e, which are carried by the arms 32, and which,
in the cigarette-receiving & holding position of the, supports b, b, form the side
walls of the cigarette receiving chambers, above the supports bb1 respectively.
In this construction, there is no necessity of providing for movement of the
presser plate e for bringing it into parallelism with the surface on which the
cigarettes are delivered, as is the case in constructions such as shown in
Figures 1 to 9, where the carrier moves through different arcs, in delivering
successive rows of cigarettes. The presser plate, in the construction now being
described, therefore, is preferably not movable with respect to the carrier, and
the guard plate 26 is preferably formed continuous to its junction with the presser
plate e.
The operation of this construction is as follows:--As shown in Figures 10
to 14, the carrier D is in position to receive, and has just received, on supports b¹,
the first or top row of cigarettes to be deposited in the box in one of the
holders 12, on rotating table C. In this position of the parts, it will be seen that
the cam 24 is just about to actuate the bell-crank lever 20 for a short upward
throw, so as to bring the supports below the raceway 10, for the reception of
the second or bottom row of cigarettes thereon, and the slides 29 are in their
lower position in slots 28, with the arms 32 held by spring-pressed pins 3 in
position with the supports b, b thrown inward for the reception and support of
the cigarettes.
As the machine continues its operation from this position, and the cam 24
actuates the bell-crank lever 20, the levers 17 are actuated through pitman 19
to move the carrier upward in a curved path about the pivots 18, and this move-
ment continues until the parts are in the position shown in Figure 15, and the

page_text: carrier is then held in this position until the second or bottom row of cigarettes
is received upon the supports b, as shown in this figure.
The carrier D then moves downward, with the parts in the position shown in
Figure 15, the guard 26 passing and closing the raceway 10, until the cross
bars 33 on slides 29 strike the abutments 34, which occurs just as the carrier is
approaching the "limit of its downward movement, and the cross bars 33 are
then rocked with arms 32 against the pressure of springs 4 on pins 3, and the
supports b, b¹, thus thrown outward in opposite directions, and from beneath the
cigarettes so as to release the latter for deposit in the partially formed box
in holder 12. As the cross bars are thus rocked, the catches dare released, as
the cross bars rock out of contact with the upper ends 5 of these catches, and the
catches D are then rocked by springs 8, so as to throw the lower ends 6 of the
catches outward, and the upper ends 5 of the catches inward, beneath the cross
bars 33, so as to hold these cross bars 33 in rocked position, with the supports b, bl
swung outward, on the return of the carrier. At the limit of this rocking move-
ment of the cross bars 33 and arms 32, which movement is limited to the engage-
ment of the cross bars 33 with the underside of the holders 27 on slides 29, the
further movement of the slides is prevented by the engagement of the cross
bars 33 with the stationary abutments 34, and the carrier I then moves downward
without the slides, which movement is permitted by the slots 28, in which
slides 29 are mounted.
During this final portion of the movement of the carrier, after the two rows of
cigarettes have been dropped therefrom into the box by the withdrawal of the
supports b, b, the presser plate e acts upon the top of the cigarettes, to assure
their proper delivery and packing in the boxes, the lower surface of the presser
plate e being parallel with the cigarettes, throughout the movement, and in the
delivery position of the carrier. The position of all the parts with the carrier
in its extreme downward position, and the cigarettes deposited in the box,
with the presser plate e acting upon the top of the cigarettes, is shown in
Figures 16 and 17.
As the machine continues its operation, and the cam 24 returns the bell-
crank lever 20 to position, which is preferably done with a quick movement,
as shown by the form of the cam in Figure 10, the carrier is raised with a cor-
responding quick action, and the parts returned to the position shown in
Figures 10 to 14, the guard 26, during this movement, closing the raceway 10
until the carrier is fully returned to position for receiving the top row of cigar-
ettes for the next box. During the first part of this return movement of the
carrier, the side plates 16 are raised independently of the slides 29, which are
held down by the pressure of springs 31, acting through bell-crank levers 30
upon studs 1, and the supports are held withdrawn by catches d. When the
bottoms of the slots 28 strike the slides 29, the slides are raised with the carrier
and with levers 30 and springs 31, and, as the lower ends 6 of catches & strike
the trip pins, 7, the lower ends of the catches are thrown inward against the
pressure of springs 8, and the upper ends 5 thrown outward from beneath the
cross bars 33, so as to release the latter, when the springs 4, acting through
pins 3 upon the upper surfaces of the cross bars 33, rock the cross bars 33 and
arms 32 upon their pivots 2, so as to move the supports b, 61, into position to
support the cigarettes as they enter from the raceway 10. The cross bars 33
are returned to normal position before the catches d are released by catch pins 7,
so that, upon the release of the catches, they are held in position by the engage-
ment of their ends 5 with the sides of the cross bars 33, as shown in Figures 12
and 13. All the parts are thus returned to the position shown in Figures 10
to 14, and the carrier is ready to receive another row of cigarettes on the sup-
ports 61, and this row of cigarettes now passes from the raceway 10 into the
carrier upon the supports 61, and is stopped by the abutment f, as shown and
previously described.
The movement of the carrier may be changed so that the cigarettes of the

page_text: bottom row are received first, the carrier returning from the position shown in
Figures 16 and 17 to that shown in Figure 15, and then, after taking the bottom
row, having a short downward movement to take the top row of cigarettes, but
the movement shown is preferred, as the passage of the unfilled supports 6¹ past
the channel 10 on the upward movement, is more liable to injure the cigarettes
than the movement shown, unless special devices be added to avoid this.
It will be seen that the invention provides a very efficient mechanism for
packing cigarettes, and that the machine is capable of operating at a high rate
of speed, without danger or injury to the cigarettes. While, however, the
especial object has been to provide a packing mechanism which will handle
cigarettes and similar fragile articles without injury, and the machine shown has
been constructed especially for this purpose, it will be understood that a similar
machine may be used for packing material or articles of a non-fragile character.
It will be understood that the invention includes many features of construction
which may be used in other forms of machines, and that, under some conditions,
features forming parts of the machines shown may be omitted, while at the same
time providing an efficient packing mechanism of high capacity. For instance, the
presser plate e and its actuating devices may be omitted, and in packing some
articles it may be found of little importance, but in packing many materials
and articles it is preferable to use it. The pivoted carrier forms an important
part of the invention, but the invention includes many features not limited
thereto.
It is evident that many modifications may be made in the constructions and
arrangements of parts of the mechanisms shown as embodying the invention,
and the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or constructions of
the devices shown.
While the part of the invention described in connection with Figures 10
10 17, is especially intended for use in machines for handling rows of cigarettes
or other articles, the broader features thereof are applicable also in machines
in which a single article of any character is received on each support, single
separate articles thus being supported in the carrier in the line of delivery, so
as to deliver one upon the other in vertical delivery, or one behind the other in
horizontal delivery, according to the operation of the machine in which these
features of the invention are embodied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same the same is to be performed (as communi-
cated to me from abroad) I declare that what I claim is:
1. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its receiv-
ing & delivering positions, and adapted to receive a row of cigarettes or similar
articles on a surface inclined in the direction of movement of the cigarettes into
the carrier, supports for the cigarettes in the carrier, and means for withdrawing
said supports to deliver the cigarettes, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its receiv-
ing and delivering positions, &, adapted to receive a row of cigarettes or similar
articles on a surface inclined in the direction of movement of the cigarettes into
the carrier, supports in the carrier having a withdrawal movement substantially
parallel to the surface on which the cigarettes are delivered, a presser plate in
the carrier, and means for actuating said supports, and giving said carrier_a
further movement toward the cigarettes, after the supports are withdrawn, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its receiv-
ing and delivering positions, and adapted to receive a row of cigarettes or similar
articles on a surface inclined in the direction of movement of the cigarettes
into the carrier, supports in the carrier having a withdrawal movement sub-
stantially parallel to the surface on which the cigarettes are delivered, a presser
plate pivoted in the carrier, and means for swinging the presser plate

page_text: independently of the carrier, to bring the presser plate into position parallel
with the delivered cigarettes, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its
receiving and delivering positions, and adapted to receive a row of cigarettes
or similar articles on a surface inclined in the direction of movement of the
cigarettes into the carrier, of means for actuating said carrier with long and short
movements, to deliver superposed rows of cigarettes, supports in the carrier for
the cigarettes, means for withdrawing said supports to deliver the cigarettes,
and a presser plate having a movement independently of the carrier to bring
the presser plate into position parallel with the delivered cigarettes, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its
receiving and delivering positions, and adapted to receive a row of cigarettes
or similar articles, of means for actuating said carrier with long and short move-
ments, to superpose rows of cigarettes, supports for the cigarettes in the carrier,
means for withdrawing said supports to deliver the cigarettes, a presser plate
pivotally mounted in the carrier, and means for moving said presser plate inde-
pendently of the supports, after the latter are withdrawn, to bring the presser
plate in to a position parallel with, & pressing upon, the delivered cigarettes,
substantially as described.
6. The combination with a carrier having an inclined receiving surface for
cigarettes or similar articles, of a raceway adapted to secure the feed of the
cigarettes to the carrier by gravity, and having the bottom surface of its lower
end curved to substantially a horizontal plane, from which the cigarettes are
delivered to the inclined receiving surface, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive cigarettes or similar
articles, and pivoted to oscillate vertically, of a raceway adapted to secure the
feed of the cigarettes to the carrier by gravity, and having the bottom surface
of its lower end curved to substantially a horizontal plane, from which the
cigarettes are delivered to the carrier, and a curved guard plate on the carrier
for closing the raceway during the movement of the carrier, substantially as
described.
S. The combination with a carrier adapted or receive a row of cigarettes or
similar articles on an inclined surface, and an inclined raceway for feeding
cigarettes or similar articles to the carrier by gravity, of a roller pressing against
the cigarettes in the raceway, and acting to support the cigarettes in the upper
part of the raceway, substantially as described.
9. The combination of a packing carrier provided with supports for the
material or articles to be packed, means for withdrawing said supports for
delivery, and a presser plate for the material or articles having a further
movement independently of the supports, after the supports are withdrawn,
substantially as described.
10. The combination of a packing carrier provided with supports for the
material or articles to be packed, means for withdrawing said supports for deli-
very, a presser plate mounted in the carrier, and means for giving the carrier
a further movement independently of the supports, after the supports.
are with-
drawn, and moving said presser plate independently of the carrier, to position it
relatively to the surface on which the material or articles are delivered, substan-
tially as described.
11. The combination of a packing carrier pivoted to swing vertically between
its receiving and delivering positions, and provided with supports for the material
or articles to be packed, means for withdrawing said supports for delivery, a
presser plate pivoted in the carrier, and means for giving said presser plate a
further movement after the supports are withdrawn, and swinging said presser
plate on its pivot in the carrier to bring the presser plate into position parallel
with and pressing upon the delivered material or articles, substantially as
described.

page_text: 12. The combination with a carrier, of slides mounted in the carrier, supports
pivotally mounted on said slides to swing transversely to the direction of move-
ment of the carrier, and spring-pressed into supporting position, and fixed abut-
ments for moving the supports against the spring pressure, for delivery, and hold-
ing the slides stationary while the carrier completes its delivering movement,
substantially as described.
.
13. The combination with a carrier, of slides mounted in the carrier, supports
pivotally mounted on said slides to swing transversely to the direction of move.
ment of the carrier, and spring-pressed into supporting position, fixed abut-
ments for moving the supports against the spring pressure for delivery, and
holding the slides stationary while the carrier completes its delivering move.
ment, catches carried by the slides, and acting to hold the supports withdrawn,
and means for tripping the catches for the return of the supports to supporting
position, after the return movement of the carrier has moved the supports out
of position to engage the delivered material or articles, substantially as described.
14. The combination with the carrier D pivoted to swing vertically, and
slides 29 mounted in the carrier, of supports mounted in said slides, to swing
transversely to the line of movement of the carrier, fixed abutments for with-
drawing the supports, and holding the supports and slides stationary during
the latter part of the delivering movement of the carrier, presser plate e pivoted
in the carrier, lever 37 mounted in the carrier, and connected to the presser
plate, and a fixed abutment engaging said lever 37 during the latter part of
the delivering movement of the carrier, to swing the presser plate in the car-
rier, substantially as described.
15. The combination of the carrier D, pivoted to swing vertically, means for
actuating said carrier with long and short strokes, to superpose articles success-
ively delivered by the carrier, supports in the carrier for the articles, means for
withdrawing the same, a presser plate pivoted in the carrier, and means for
swinging the presser plate in the carrier, to bring the presser plate into position
parallel with the articles delivered at successive movements of the carrier, sub-
stantially as described.
16. The combination with a vertically moving carrier, provided with supports
for the material or articles to be carried, of means for withdrawing said supports
for delivery, and giving said carrier a further movement independently of the
supports, after the latter are withdrawn, substantially as described.
17. Carrier D, having the side plates 16 provided with slots 28, slides 29
mounted to move in said slots, spring-pressed arms 32 pivoted in said slides,
and carrying supports b, spring-pressed catches d for holding the supports when
withdrawn, and abutments for withdrawing said supports and tripping said
catches, to permit the return of the supports, substantially as described.
18. The combination of a carrier having a plurality of supports for holding
separate articles arranged in the line of delivery, and means for withdrawing
said supports for the delivery and packing together of the separate articles, sub-
stantially as described.
19. The combination of a carrier having a plurality of supports for holding
separate articles arranged in the line of delivery, means for withdrawing said
supports for the delivery and packing together of the separate articles, and a
presser plate acting upon the delivered articles, after the supports are withdrawn,
substantially as described.
20. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its
receiving and delivering positions, and having a plurality of supports arranged one
above the other, for holding separate articles, means for, actuating said carrier
and withdrawing said supports for the delivery of the articles superposed, and
a presser plate in the carrier moving toward the articles, after the supports are
withdrawn, substantially as described.
21. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its receiv-
ing and delivering positions, and provided with a plurality of supports arranged

page_text: one above, the other, and each adapted to receive a row of cigarettes or similar
articles on a surface inclined in the direction of movement of the cigarettes into
the carrier, and means for actuating said carrier and withdrawing said supports
for the delivery of the rows of cigarettes superposed, substantially as described.
22. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its receiv-
ing and delivering positions, and provided with a plurality of supports arranged
one above the other, and each adapted to receive a row of cigarettes or similar
articles, and means for moving said carrier intermittently, to bring the successive
supports into position to receive the cigarettes, and carry the superposed rows of
cigarettes to delivering position, and withdraw the supports for the delivery of
the cigarettes superposed, substantially as described.
23. The combination of a carrier pivoted to swing vertically between its
receiving and delivering positions, and, having a plurality of supports arranged
one above the other for holding separate articles, means for actuating said
carrier and withdrawing said supports for the delivery of the articles superposed,
said carrier having a further movement toward the articles independently of the
supports after the latter are withdrawn, and catches for holding the supports
withdrawn, and tripped for the return of the supports, substantially as described.
24. A packing mechanism constructed substantially as described in connee-
tion with Figures 1 to 9.
25. A packing mechanism, constructed substantially as described in connection
with Figures 10 to 17.
Dated this 19th day of January 1899