IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN MAKING CIGARS AND CIGARETTES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR USE IN MAKING CIGARS AND CIGARETTES Communicated to him from
abroad by Oscar Hammerstein of New York City, in the County and State of
New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN MAKING CIGARS AND CIGARETTES "
[Communicated to him from abroad by Oscar Hammerstein of New York City,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America]
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for holding the wrappers
of cigars and cigarettes in place on the table before and at the time such wrappers
are being applied as coverings to cigars or cigarettes, and consists essentially in
the employment of a hollow and movable table, having a perforated upper face, in
connection with suction apparatus that communicates with the hollow space in
said movable table. The table is by preference of more or less oval form and has
its upper face constructed of a plate of sheet metal or other material through
which are drilled series of small openings. Below this perforated portion the
table is hollow, having an elongated space in which there is by preference,
a vertical rib or ribs for the support of the perforated portion to prevent it
sagging down under the influence of suction. The suction pipe which is in con-
nection with suitable exhaust apparatus is furnished with a number of branches
each of which communicates with a table and is provided with a valve which can
be operated by a treadle or by other means. The upper end of each branch pipe
passes through and extends somewhat above a stationary platform on which the

page_text: table rests and the portion of the pipe which extends above the platform enters
a circular hole in the bottom of the table and communicates with the space in said
table.
In operation the attendant places the wrapper for a cigar or cigarette upon the
perforated part of the table and opening the valve the suction will cause the
wrapper to be held tightly to the table and the bunch, or filling part of the cigar
or cigarette, can then be placed upon one end of the wrapper and, being rolled
along, the wrapper will be caused to be wound upon it in proper manner, the
suction meanwhile holding so much of the wrapper as is not yet wound around the
bunch, flat upon the table. While operating, the attendant can turn the table
around the end of the pipe so as to always have the bunch properly before him,
thus making it unnecessary for the attendant to partly walk around the table in
laying the wrapper around the bunch of tobacco.
Instead of placing the table around the projecting end of the pipe any other
manner of swivelling the table to said pipe and at same time allowing communi-
cation between the space of the table and the pipe may be substituted without
departing from the Invention.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the,
27th, August 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN MAKING CIGARS AND CIGARETTES
A communication to me from abroad by Oscar Hammerstein, of New York City,,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America.
ว
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for holding the wrappers
of cigars and cigarettes in place on the table before and at the time such wrappers,
are being applied as coverings to cigars or cigarettes, and consists essentially in the
employment of a hollow and movable table, having a perforated upper face, in
connection with suction apparatus that communicates with the; hollow space, in
Baid movable table.
The Invention also consists in further details of improvement that are herein.
after specified
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which figure 1
is a plan or top view of the improved machine for making cigars and cigarettes.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the swivelled suction plate thereof. Figure 3,
a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, the line c. c, figure 1, indicating the
plane of section. Figure 4, a vertical transverse section taken on the plane of the
line k. k figure 1. A represents the suction pipe which is in communication with
suitable apparatus for drawing air through it. From this pipe A project, at proper
intervals, branches B, each of which branches communicates with a table C.
A suitable valve that can be raised or lowered at will by a treadle or otherwise, is
contained in each branch B as indicated at a. in figure 3. The table C is by
preference, of about the form shown in figures 1 and 2, that is more or less oval
and has its upper face constructed of a sheet metal plate b. Although other
material may be employed through which plate are drilled series of small openings
that are indicated at d. Below this perforated portion d. the table C is hollow,
having an elongated space e. that is clearly shown in figures 3 and 4, and in this
space there is by preference, a vertical rib or ribs f. for the support of the
perforated portion of the plate b. to prevent it sagging down under the influence
of suction. The upper end of each branch pipe B passes through a stationary
platform D and extends somewhat above said platform as shown in figure 3. and
this portion of the pipe B which extends above the platform D enters a circular
hole in the bottom of the table C and communicates with the space e. that is in
said table, all as clearly indicated in figure 3. The table C rests on the
platform D.
The attendant places the wrapper for a cigar or cigarette upon the perforated
part of the table and opens the valve a, when the suction will cause the wrapper
to be held tightly to the table C. The bunch, or filling part of the cigar or
cigarette, is then placed upon one end of the wrapper and, being rolled along, the
wrapper will be caused to be wound upon it in proper manner, the suction mean
while holding so much of the wapper as is not yet wound around the bunch, flat
upon the table. While operating, the attendant can turn the table around the
end of the pipe B, so as to always have the bunch properly before him, thus
making it unnecessary for the attendant to partly walk around the table in laying
the wrapper around the bunch of tobacco.
Instead of placing the table C around the projecting end of the pipe B as shown

page_text: in figure 3 any other manner of swivelling the table. C to said pipe B. and at the
same time allowing communication between the space e. of the table and the
pipe B may be substituted without departing from the invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is
1. The swivelled table C having perforated top plate and space e. below said top
plate, combined with the pipe B, which communicates with said space e aud
constitutes the centre around which the table can be turned substantially as
described..
2. The table C having perforated top plate b. and space e. below said top plate,
in combination with the rib f. substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The table C having holes in the top plate, in combination with the suction
pipe B and apparatus for creating suction, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
'
.
4. The combination of the table O, having perforated top plate, with the suction
pipe B, and with the supporting platform D substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 'twenty seventh day of August A.D. 1883.