An Improved Machine for Cutting Cake Tobacco.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct.. 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Cutting Cake Tobacco.
I, JESSE SELLARS, 30 Dairy House Road. Litchurch, Derby, in the County, of
Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention has for its object an improved machine for cutting cake tobacco
whereby the cake of tobacco falls by its own gravity to the cutting apparatus and
which is designed to take up as little space as possible.
In order to illustrate the manner of carrying out my invention I have annexed to
this Complete Specification the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures
and letters of reference marked thereon I now refer :-
Fig. 1 is a plan of my machine looking down.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line a b.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line e d.
1 cast or form of suitable metal a frame or stand A having four legs B, B¹, B², B³,
on the upper part of this frame or stand I arrange a hopper or feed box C a portion
of which C may be cast solid with or fixed to the frame A, the part D is made to
slide, being slotted at E for that purpose, and may be adjusted to suit any thickness of
cake by means of the clamp screw F.
In connection with the frame or stand A and running longitudinally therewith I
fix two bars or spindles G, G on which slide the cutter head H in which is fixed by
any suitable means the knife 1 for operating on the tobacco, this blade is caused to
pass to and fro immediately below the hopper C a space being left between the bottom
edge of the hopper and a plate J upon which the cake of tobacco falls by its own
weight, this space being the gauge of the thickness of the cut. To vary the cut I
provide sheets of tin or other suitable material which may be dropped on to the
plate J, having projections fitting into corresponding recesses in the plate J.
I prefer to fix the knife obliquely as shown so as to case the cutting and I may if
desired provide a knife with two cutting edges so as to cut off a flake of tobacco at
each backward or forward stroke, but the machine shewn is designed more particularly
for a knife with only one cutting edge.
To operate the cutter head and knife I, I pivot a link K to the cutter head H by
means of lugs L cast thereon, and again I pivot this link at a point M to the shorter
arm N of a bell crank lever, the longer arm of which is cranked laterally at O passing
through the side of the frame and formed into a handle P, this bell crank lever
being pivotted at Q the pivot passing through the bottom of the two legs B, B3 of
the frame or stand A. By these means the leverage to cause the cut is divided
between the front and back of the machine and any undue strain on the frame
is avoided.
The tobacco when cut passes under the blade and through the opening or slot R
into a drawer or receptacle S underneath.
The machine may be screwed down or clamped to a table or counter in any well
known manner.
When the machine is not in use the handle P falls down and draws the link K and
short arm N of the bell crank lever under the frame, thus the whole machine takes
up a very small amount of space.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for cutting cake tobacco the feeding of the said cake by its own
gravity.

page_text: 2. The sliding adjustable jaw D as and for the purpose described.
3. The combination of a bell crank lever N, O, P with the link K operating the
cutter head H and blade I as and for the purposes described.
4. The machine substantially as described herein and illustrated by the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 20th day of Antahan 1000