IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Porteous, of Edinburgh, and Henry-
Gibson, of Musselburgh, both in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Porteous and
Henry Gibson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 12th March 1869.
We, JAMES PORTEOUS, of Edinburgh, and HENRY GIBSON, of
Musselburgh, both in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say:-
The first part of this Invention relates to an improved arrangement
and construction of apparatus to be used in coiling twisted or spun
tobacco into rolls, and it consists of a shaft or spindle on which circular
flanges (by preference with openings foruted in them) are placed, the

page_text: distance between these flanges being equal to the length of the rolls
which are to be coiled. On the end of the above-mentioned spindle a
worm or screw is fitted, and this gears into a worm wheel carried on a
stud or cross shaft. To the body of the worm wheel a heart or other
shaped cam is fixed, which acts against an antifriction roller carried on
a horizontal guide rod, this guide rod being jointed to a lever to which
the vibrating action due to the cam is communicated. In lieu of the
cam a double cut screw may be employed for giving the requisite move-
ment to the lever and guide rod. Attached to the upper end of the
vibrating lever is a horizontal sliding bar, to which the reciprocating
movement of the lever is communicated as the cam above-mentioned
revolves. On that end of the sliding bar next to the flanges between
which the tobacco is coiled a tube or eye piece is fitted, through which
the twisted tobacco passes, so that as it is unwound from the bobbin on
which it was wound on the twisting machine the reciprocating move-
ment of the tube or eye piece causes it to be coiled closely and regularly
between the flanges on the main spindle. A pressure roller is applied to
the machine; it is fitted into a frame having a hinged joint, so that it
may rest upon the coil of tobacco between the flanges and preserve, as
far as practicable, an uniform level and circumference in the rolled coil,
thus giving a more finished appearance to the rolls or coils. A friction
guide is also applied for producing the more even rolling or coiling of
the tobacco, and it is situated near the attendant, so as to be brought
into action when required.
The second part of this Invention relates to an improved method of
and apparatus for forming the central part or core of twisted tobacco.
It consists in placing a roller carried on a revolving spindle inside a
hollow cylinder or casing which is formed of sufficient internal diameter
to allow an annular space between the roller and the casing equal to the
diameter of the core to be formed. At one side of the casing an opening
is left, into which the tobacco is fed, and the casing and roller are of
such diameter that during one revolution of the roller the tobacco is
sufficiently rolled, lapped, or twisted together. On the tobacco arriving
by means of the revolution at the opening in the casing it is delivered
automatically on to a travelling band, by which it is carried to a twisting
or spinning machine, where the pieces of the core thus formed are joined
together, and the outer leaves or "wrapper" put on, so as to form an
even and continuous cord.

page_text: The third part of this Invention relatos to an improved arrangement
of mechanism for twisting or spinning tobacco, and it consists. in
arranging two shafts underneath the table of the machine at an angle
with each other, and carrying tooth wheels gearing into each other, so
that as one shaft is driven the other rotates in an opposite direction;
these shafts carrying driving pullies, and on the opposite side of the
table studs carrying drums or rollers are situated. Across the pullics
and drums or rollers bands of leather or other material are stretched, so
that as the pullics revolve the bands are caused to travel. The bands
cross each other and travel in opposite directions. The two upper halves
of the bands lie above the table, and are acted upon at the centre by
pressing rollers or pressing boards, and between the parts of the bands so
acted upon the tobacco passes, which by their action is twisted or spun
together, and advanced forward at the same time to a winding-up barrel
or bobbin..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;
filed by the said James Porteous and Henry Gibson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 10th September 1869..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, wc, JAMES
PORTEOUS, of Edinburgh, and HENRY GIBSON, of Musselburgh, both in
the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain; send greeting:
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said James Porteous and Henry
Gibson, Her special license that we, the said James Porteous and
Henry Gibson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said James Porteous and Henry Gibson, our
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and.
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR

page_text: APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREPOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said James Porteous and Henry Gibson, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Porteous and Henry
Gibson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
The first part of our said Invention relates to an improved arrange-
ment and construction of apparatus to be used in coiling twisted or
spun tobacco into rolls, and it consists of a shaft or spindle on which
circular flanges (by preference with openings formed in them) are
placed, the distance between these flanges being equal to the length
of the rolls which are to be coiled. On the end of the above-mentioned
spindle a worm or screw is fitted, and this gears into a worm wheel
carried on a stud or cross shaft. To the body of the worm wheel a heart
or other shaped cam is fixed, which acts against an antifriction roller
carried on a horizontal guide rod, this guide rod being jointed to a lever
to which the vibrating action due to the cam is communicated. In licu
of the cam a double cut screw may be employed for giving the requisite
movement to the lever and guide rod. Attached to the upper end of
the vibrating lever is a horizontal sliding bar, to which the reciprocating
movement of the lever is communicated as the cam above mentioned
revolves. On that end of the sliding bar next to the flanges between
which the tobacco is coiled a tube or eye piece is fitted, through which
the twisted tobacco passes, so that as it is unwound from the bobbin
on which it was wound on the twisting machine the reciprocating
movement of the tube or eye piece causes it to be coiled closely and
regularly between the flanges on the main spindle. A pressure roller
is applied to the machine. It is fitted into a frame having a hinged
joint, so that it may rest upon the coil of tobacco between the flanges,
and preserve as far as practicable an uniform level and circumference in
the rolled coil, thus giving a more finished appearance to the rolls or

page_text: coils; a friction guide is also applied for producing the more even rolling
or coiling of the tobacco, and it is situated near the attendant, so as to
be brought into action when required.
The second part of this Invention relates to an improved method of
and apparatus for forming the central part or core of twisted tobacco.
It consists in placing a roller carried on a revolving spindle inside a
hollow cylinder or casing, which is formed of sufficient internal diameter
to allow an annular space between the roller and the casing equal to the
diameter of the core to be formed. At one side of the casing an opening.
is left, into which the tobacco is fed, and the casing and roller are of
such diameter that during one revolution of the roller the tobacco is
sufficiently rolled, lapped, or twisted together. On the tobacco arriving
by means of the revolution at the opening in the casing it is delivered
automatically on to a travelling band, by which it is carried to a twisting
or spinning machine, where the pieces of the core thus formed are joined
together, and the outer leaves or "wrapper put on, so as to form an
even and continuous cord.
"
The third part of this Invention relates to an improved arrangement
of mechanism for twisting or spinning tobacco, and it consists in
arranging two shafts underneath the table of the machine at an angle
with each other, and carrying tooth wheels gearing into each other, so
that as one shaft is driven the other rotates in an opposite direction,
these shafts carrying driving pullies, and on the opposite side of the
table studs carrying drums or rollers are situated. Across the pullies
and drums or rollers bands of leather or other material are stretched, so
that as the pullies revolve the bands are caused to travel. The bands
cross each other and travel in opposite directions. The two upper
halves of the bands lie above the table, and are acted upon at the centre
by pressing rollers or pressing boards, and between the parts of the
bands so acted upon the tobacco passes, which by their action is twisted
or spun together, and advanced forward at the same time to a winding-up
barrel or bobbin.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood,
we now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation, Figure 2 a

page_text: part plan, and Figure 3 a side elevation of an improved machine for
coiling twisted or spun tobacco into rolls. The mechanism is carried
upon a framing marked A in all the Figures. At Figure 1 in the
separate framing B is held the bobbin C, on which the tobacco has
been wound up in a tobacco twisting or spinning machine; the dotted
circles a represent the tobacco as rolled on the bobbin; the bobbin C
and framing B are not shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 1 the cord
marked D represents the tobacco leaving the bobbin C to be rolled or
coiled up on the shaft E between the discs or circular plates F. On
passing from the bobbin C the tobacco passes through the adjustable
tubular guide G, this being carried upon the sliding guide bar or rod H,
and as it is wound from off the bobbin C on to the shaft E it is pressed
firmly in place and evenly laid by means of the pressure roller I acting
upon it, this roller I being carried on an adjustable frame K, which is
acted upon by the weight L. In order to guide the tobacco evenly into
place on the shaft E the guide G is moved backwards and forwards at
the required speed by means of the revolving cart or cam M., which is
put in motion from the shaft E by means of the endless screw N gearing
into the tooth wheel O, on the axis of which the heart M. is carried. As
the heart M revolves it bears against the stud rollers P on the guide
rod H, and accordingly reciprocates it backwards and forwards hori-
zontally. In place of arranging the guide rod as shown at Sheet 1 of
the Drawings, the cam or heart may be made to act upon a vibrating
lever, to which the guide rod may be attached; or in place of a cam a
double cut screw, that is to say, a screw having a right-hand and left-
hand thread cut on it may also be used, the screw being revolved by
gearing actuated by the shaft E. As the tobacco collects into rolls on
the shaft E it is tied together at intervals by fibrous material, which is
inserted through the openings in the discs F in a manner already
practised, but the discs F having openings in them do not of themselves
constitute any part of our present Invention. On the shaft Q is carried
a hand wheel R firmly fixed thereto, whilst the worm wheel O is held
thereon by the friction nuts S, but not tightly, in order that the shaft Q
may be turned round within the wheel O, the use of this being that
when the heart M is feeding the tobacco too quickly or too slowly the
attendant by turning the hand wheel may retard or advance the feed
due to the heart M as required, according to the diameter of the twist,
this last arrangement constituting what is herein-before referred to as
the friction brake.

page_text: On Sheet 2 Figure 1 is a part longitudinal section and part front
clevation of the machine which constitutes the second part of our
Invention, namely, that for forming the tobacco into short lengths of
core, which constitute what are known as the core or "fillers" of spun or
twisted tobacco. Figure 2 is a plan of the same, and Figure 1, Sheet 3,
is an end elevation. The machine shown is double, that is to say, it
comprises two cylinders A and B, on which the tobacco is rolled into
short lengths of core or "fillers;" the cylinder marked A is in elevation,
and that marked B in section, these are carried upon a framing C. The
machine is put into motion by means of attendants acting by their feet
on the treadles D, which are coupled by connecting links E to the
cranks on the shaft F. The shaft F is provided with two bevil pinions G,
which gear into bevil wheels H on the lower ends of the vertical shafts I,
these shafts carrying at their upper ends the bevil pinions K, which gear
into the bevil wheels L on the shafts M. The shafts M carry the rollers
or drums N situated inside the cylinders or cylindrical casings A and B,
and between the surface of the rollers or drums N and the inner surface
of the cylinders A and B there is a space a equal in width to the
diameter of the cores or "fillers" to be produced. The tobacco is
passed into the space a at the opening P, more particularly seen at
Figure 1, Sheet 3, and as the rollers or drums N revolve they carry
round the tobacco, roll it together, and discharge it at the opening Q,
whence it passes on to the endless travelling band R, to be deposited at
any place convenient to the attendant of the machine, wherein the short
lengths of core or "fillers" thus produced are joined together and
formed into continuous lengths. 'The travelling band R is put into
motion from one of the pinions K driving a short inclined shaft S, on
which is carried a face wheel T, which gears into the bevil pinion U on
the roller V.. The machine is provided with a table W, on which the
tobacco is laid ready for the attendant to take up in such quantities as
may be required to form the cores. The shafts M revolve in bushes 8,
which are by preference carried in india-rubber cushions d.
On Sheet 2, Figure 3 is a front elevation, and Figure 4 a plan, whilst
Figure 2, Sheet 3, is an end elevation showing the improvements herein-
before referred to as relating to the machine in which the tobacco is
twisted or spun into continuous lengths. The present improvements
are comprised in that part of the machine situated at the left hand

page_text: end of the two Figures 3 and 4, and they consist in those parts by the
action of which either the short lengths of core or "fillers" produced
in the other machine herein-before referred to, and shown at Figures 1
and 2, Sheet 2, of the Drawings, or tobacco in the loose state is spun
or twisted together and formed into continuous lengths or cords. The
spinning or twisting action is effected by the spinner placing the short
lengths of core or "fillers" or loose tobacco, so that they are entered
between the two twisting or spinning endless bands A and B, at the
point in Figure 1. These bands cross each other as more particularly
shown in plan at Figure 4, and the angle at which they cross may vary
from fifty to about eighty degrees from the centre line or axis of the
tobacco, the angle varying according to the diameter of the cord or con-
tinuous length into which the tobacco is to be spun. The belts or
bands A and B are carried upon pairs of rollers C and D as shown in
dotted lines at Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2; one of each pair of such rollers,
namely, the driving roller, is carried upon a revolving shaft a, both of
which shafts are shown in dotted lines at Figure 4 being situated beneath
the table E. As the belts or bands A and B travel in opposite directions
as indicated by the arrows they lap or twist or spin the tobacco together
in the form of a cord and owing to the angular position of the crossed
bands A and B they at the same time advance the tobacco forwards
so that it issues in the lapped, twisted, or spun state at the opposite side
or edge of the bands at the point y. In order however to bind the
tobacco firmly it is covered with "wrappers," that is to say, leaves of
tobacco which are supplied by an attendant stationed at the feeding
end of the machine in quantity as required, and these "wrappers" or
covering leaves are drawn in and rolled over the tobacco as it advances
through the belts or bands A and B. In order to thoroughly consolidate
the tobacco the belts or bands A and B are acted upon at the part
where the tobacco passes through them by pressure rollers c which are
carried in adjustable frames II fixed to the table E at the outer end
by the hinge joint d, and on which the necessary pressure is produced by
the pressure bar I connected to the table E by a stud at, and on which
the pressure is produced by the thumb nut K.
The pressure may
however be produced by substituting a spring or weight for the screwed
thumb nut. The upper half of the lower belt B is also provided with
a pair of rollers as shown at a, a, in the enlarged detail view, Figure 5,
Sheet 2; in this manner a slight hollow in the upper halves of the

page_text: two belts A and B is formed in or between which the tobacco is situated
whilst being acted upon by them as shown at to, Figure 5, Sheet 2. It
is further to be explained that according to the diameter of the cord
into which the tobacco is to be twisted or spun, it may require to be
acted upon by one or more pairs of such travelling belts or bands as
we have herein set forth in connexion with Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2,
of the appended Drawings, therefore at Figures 3 and 4 we have shown
a second set of such belts or bands marked L and M, but as their action
is similar to those marked A and B and herein-before fully described
it is unnecessary to repeat a description of the action in reference
to the belts or bands L and M. The tobacco in Figures 3 and 4 is
marked w, and as it leaves the belts or bands L and M at the point p
it passes through the hollow boss N over guide rollers in the flyer O
on to the bobbin P, the flyer and bobbin O and P respectively do not
however form any part of our present Invention, as they are fully shown
and set forth in the Specification of prior Letters Patent granted to
Henry Gibson, dated the Twenty-sixth day of September 1868, and
numbered 2964. The mechanism now last described is put in motion
by attendants acting upon the treadles Q, which are coupled to cranks
on the driving shaft R, and a greater number of pairs of such driving
treadles than are shown at Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2, may be adopted
as required, or the treadles may be dispensed with and the mechanism
driven by other motive power. The travelling belts or bands A and B,
L and M are put in motion from the shaft R by the bevil gearing S.
which drives the vertical shaft T, the pinion U on its upper end gearing
into a corresponding bevil pinion on one of the shafts a as shown, these
being geared together by the wheel V. The whole of this last-mentioned
gearing is situated below the table E, it is therefore shown dotted at
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2. In place of using the two machines shown
at Sheet 2 as separate and distinct machines, they may be combined
together into one machine as shown in plan at Figure 3, and in part
section and elevation at Figure 4, Sheet 3, of the Drawings hereunto
appended. In the combined machine as now referred to the treadles A
are used for driving the core or filler forming mechanism X, and
the treadles B for driving the lapping, twisting, or spinning mechanism Y
and in this arrangement the table W is made to extend to the rear of
the core or "filler" forming mechanism X, so that the attendants who
are engaged in driving the treadles B may open out the covering leaves

page_text: «
of tobacco or wrappers," and place them on the endless travelling
band P, by which they are delivered forward at the rate required to
the attendant who is stationed at that part of the combined machine
where the wrapper is put on by the twisting or spinning action of the
belts at the point x. In other respects the combined machine being
similar to what is hercin-before set forth in reference to the machines
as separate or distinct from each other need not be further described.
It is further to be understood that in place of employing the lapping
or twisting, or spinning mechanism in combination with a winding up
bobbin which revolves coaxially with the cord of tobacco as it leaves
the crossed travelling bands, the same travelling bands may be employed
in combination with a bobbin which revolves on an axis at right angles
to the axis of the tobacco and which may or may not have a compound
motion also, but it is further explained that the mechanism for winding
up the tobacco as it leaves the crossed travelling bands forms no part
of this Invention.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we
consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First. The use and application of an adjustable weighted or pressure
roller in machines for rolling spun tobacco into coils as hercin-before
set forth and shown at E, Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The friction guide, substantially as herein-before described,
and the parts of which are marked Q, R, and S, in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The arrangement of revolving drum and cylindrical casing
for forming tobacco into short lengths of core or "fillers," as herein-
before described and shown at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, and Figure 1,
Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement of crossed travelling endless bands or belts
for the spinning or twisting of continuous lengths of tobacco, either
by joining together the short pieces of core or "fillers," or by twisting
tobacco in the loose state, and the arrangement of pressure rollers for