Improvements in Machines for Cutting or Trimming the Butt Ends of Cigars.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting or Trimming the Butt Ends
of Cigars.
We, CHARLES PHILIP YOUNG and JOHN HENRY THOMAS, citizens of the United
States, residing at York, in the County of York, and State of Pennsylvania, gentle-
men, 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:-
Our invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements upon that class
of cigar cutting machines employed to sever the butt ends of the cigars, after the same
have been properly shaped and wrapped.
The invention has for its objects mainly to so construct and operate the cutter
or knife, whereby the return or retrograde movement of the same which takes place
in the inachines now in use when the operating handle is released, is entirely obviated,
this reverse movement of the knife, it is well known, after serving to disturb the
filling at the ends of the cigars and at times breaking the wrappers thereon, especially
when the knife is somewhat dull.
Another object we have in view is to so construct and improve the cutter that the
delay and inconvenience caused by the necessity of frequently removing the same for
the purpose of sharpening is to a great measure done away with, as will more fully
herein after appear.
Our invention is also designed to provide cigar butt-cutting or trimming machines
with an extremely simple attachment, whereby the machines may be readily adapted
for trimming cigars of various sizes and shapes, so that the ends thereof may always
be cut off perfectly square and even, whatever the dimensions of the cigar may be, as
will be fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims
appended.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification :
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the cutter end of the machine.
Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional view of the machine, on the line 2 of figure 1, a
portion of the base being broken away.
Figure 3 a plan view of the machine complete.

page_text: Figure 8 detail view of the cutter.
Figure 5 a detail view of the ratchet-wheel; and
Figura 6 a detail sectional view of the gage-plate for regulating the length of the
cigars.
In these drawings the letter A designates the base of the machine, which is of the
usual construction, being provided with a trough or groove a near one of its longitu-
dinal edges for the reception of the cigars to be trimmed, and a throat plate B at one
end. (designates the gage attached mijustably to the base of the machine in the
cigar trough a, whereby the length of the cigars may be regulated at will. The throat
plate B is constructed as usual with the throat 6 (the lower alge of which is sharpened
to assist the cutter in severing the end of the cigar), and the stops e for limiting the
movement of the operating lever. Journaled in a bearing d secured to the base A,
and in an aperture in the throat plate B, is a short rock-shaft 1), the outer end of this
shaft projecting a short distance from the face of the said throat plate. Surrounding
this shaft D, between the bearing d and the throat plate, is a helical spring E, which
is attached to the shaft at one end and has its other end resting upon the base A, the
tendency of this spring being to restore the operating handle when released by
the operator to its normal vertical position, as well as to hold the rotating cutter II
firmly against the throat plate B. The letter F designates the operating lever which
is keyed to shaft 1). This operating lever is provided with a lug which strikes
against the stops or abutments e cupon the throat plate, and thereby limits the
movement of the lever.
Mounted loosely upon the rock-shaft D and resting close up against the face of the
throat plate is the rotating cutter H, which, in this instance, consists of four radial
hook-shaped cutting blades h, all the cutting edges of which are preferably curved and
directo alike. Also mounted loosely upon the rock-shatt D, between the cutter and
operating lover, is a ratchet wheel I, provided with a squared projection i on its inner faco
which engages a similar aperture in the cutter, whereby the ratchet wheel and outter
aro caused to rotate together. In order to rotate the ratchet wheel and cutter, a spring
pawl J is secured to the operating lever, this pawl engaging with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel as shown.
To prevent a reverse movement of the ratchet wheel, is secured upon the face of the
throat plate, outside of the radius of the cutter, another spring pawl K which
also ongages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. When the operating lever is
brought down to a horizontal position the cutter will be rotated one fourth of a
revolution, (through the medium of the pawl J and ratchet wheel I,) this being
sufficient to carry one of the radial curved blades past the throat b, and thus sover the
projecting and of the cigar. The instant the lover is released the helical spring will
carry it back to its vertical position, ready for another operation, the cutter and ratchet
wheel being prevented from being carried back with the lever by means of the
stationary spring pawl K on the throat plate. It will be observed that the cutter is
rotated continuously in one direction only, the radial blaules being used one after
another, at each successive oporation of the lever, until they all become dull. By this
construction frequent removal of the cutter for sharpening purposes is not only
obviated, there being four blades to become dull before removal is necessary, but the
reverse or retrograde movement of the knifo (necessary to all reciprocating cutters) is
ontirely obviated.
The adjustable gogo () consists of a plate 1 having its lower surface proferably
rounded to fit the said groove, and provided with a longitudinal slot a through
which is passed the securing screw 6, this screw entering suitable screw threaded
apertures in the base. By means of this sorow the gago may be secured at any
desired point along the groove a us is evident. Formed integral with the said plate II
and rising vortically from its forward ond, is a vortically slotted extension or
standard D, and secured adjustably to the face of this portion D' by means of a set
screw is a plato E, tho said set screw passing through the vertical slot in tho
standard D and tapped into the plate E' as shown.
Formed integral with the said plate E' and projecting forwardly from it is a rest E",

page_text: the upper face of this rest being preferably forwardly inclined, and its underside
rounded to fit the groove C. By means of this adjustable rest E¹¹ the center line of
the cigar may be kept parallel with the base A, thus ensuring at all times a square and
even cut, whatever be the shape and dimensions of the cigars to be trimmed.
For a thick cigar the rest would have to be lowered and vice versa. When the cigars
are placed in the groove the tip ends of the same rest upon the rest E" and abut
against the plate E, thus not only determining their length but also cutting them off
square.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In a cigar cutter, the combination with the base and throat plate, of the spring
actuated rock-shaft, the operating lever attached thereto so as to rotate with it, a
rotating cutter mounted loosely upon the rock-shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted loosely
upon the rock-shaft and engaging the said cutter, and the pawls, substantially as
described.
2nd. In a cigar cutter the combination with the base and throat plate, of the rock-
shaft journaled in the throat plate, the revolving cutter provided with radial cutting
blades and mounted upon the rock-shaft close up to the throat plate, and means for
rotating this cutter, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination with a slotted plate D' provided with a vertical extension D"
at its forward end, of a plate E¹ adjustably secured to the face of the said plate E'
being provided with a forwardly extending rost E", substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.
ALLISON BRUS.,
Agents for the Applicants.