Year: 1888

page_text: I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark of
53 Chancery Lane London W.C., Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad
by The Universal Cigar Rolling Machine Company of Jersey City, State of New
Jersey United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:- -
This invention relates to machines by which the wrapper of a cigar is rolled around
the bunch or filling.
One object of the present invention is to improve the thimble within which the
point of the cigar is formed, so that any excess of wrapper beyond the point
proper of the cigar may be avoided. Another object is to provide means to apply
gum or paste to the tip of a cigar while the wrapper is being rolled upon said cigar.
Also to provide improved means for holding the wrapper upon the butt end of a
cigar while said wrapper is being rolled upon a cigar.
The invention consists in a chamber or receptacle for containing paste, gum, or
the like, which chamber is in communication with the point-receiving thimble of a
cigar rolling machine, in combination with said point-receiving thimble and with
means for forcing the gum or the like from said chainber upon the cigar point in the
thimble.
In machine-made cigars, one principal difficulty has been to form a firm and
symmetrical point. Ordinarily, when the wrapper is wound on the bunch it will
be applied with a greater or less degree of looseness just at the point and afterwards
when the cigar is dry an objectionable protrusion will appear which reduces the
value of the cigar. The invention, in this respect, consists in making the point-
receiving thimble of the cigar rolling machine in sections and in applying a cutter
to one of the sections and in making one of the sections movable so that the
thimble can be opened and closed by the operator and any protruding portion of
the wrapper cut off, and connecting it with a paste chamber. The invention also
consists in the employment of another knife near the thimble for cutting off the
superfluous part of the wrapper; also in certain peculiar means for opening and
closing the thimble and moving the cutter thereon, in connection with a paste
chamber,as hereinafter described.
The Invention also consists in the details of improvement and the combinations
of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth."

page_text: .
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification, in which figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken, of a cigar rolling
machine containing the improvements. Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan view
of a portion thereof, shewing the point-receiving thimble and part of the gum
chamber. Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line c c, figure 1. Figure 4 is
a vertical cross-section on the line kk, figure 1. Figure 5 is a sectional detail view
on the line ¹k, of figure 1. Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the flexible
finger R, and figure 7 is a detail horizontal section shewing the thimble open.
A represents the frame of the machine, B the curved plate or table on which the
wrapper is to be placed, D the roller under the curlb of said table, E the thimble for forming
the point of the cigar, and F G the rollers which, being parallel with the roller C, serve to
roll the cigar. H is the pivoted frame in which the top roller F is hung, whereby said
roller may be swung outward from the rollers D G, a the latch, carried by the
frame H, for holding said frame in the locked position, e the sliding shaft which,
carrying a pinion conveys motion to the rollers D, F, and G. The thimble E,
instead of being made in one piece, is made in two pieces of which one g is fixed
or rigidly attached to the frame A while the other part his movable so that it can
either be placed in the position shewn in figure 4 for making the perfected thimble
or in the position shown in figure 7 for opening the thimble. The movable part h
of the thimble E and the knife ho may be reciprocated quickly. For this purpose,
the part of the thimble and the knife are carried by a lever a that is pivoted to
the frame A (see figure 3). The lever a' is connected by a link with an
eccentric on a shaft that is journaled in the frame A. The shaft 4 also carries
a number of teeth that are engaged by teeth on a sliding shaft hung in the
frame A. The teeth g h form a clutch when brought together thereby locking the
shaft to the shaft. The shaft carries a pinion that meshes with a gear
wheel u on the sliding shaft e. The shaft e also carries an arm m in which the
shaft is journaled so that as the sliding shaft e is moved longitudinally the shaft i
will be moved therewith so as to throw the teeth in and out of gear. When
the parts are in the position shewn in figure 1 and the shaft e turned, the shafts f
will also be turned and the movable part of the thimble E be reciprocated, through
the medium of the eccentric e, link 6, and lever at. To the arm m is secured a
rod that passes freely through bearings in the frame A. The rod * carries a
cam o at one end that passes behind the lever a and which is adapted to engage
the same. When the shaft e is drawn outward to disengage the teeth g, h, the
cam o will be drawn into contact with the lever a', as in figure 1, so as to hold the
part of the thimble E from moving. When the shaft e is moved to engage
the teeth g so as to reciprocate the part h, the cam o' is moved away from the
lever a to permit the part hand lever a¹ to move to cut any protruding ends of the
wrapper.
So far as the thimble E is concerned, the same, when the machine is in operation,
will be held open at first, as in figure 7, for the purpose of receiving the end of
the bunch and the first winding of the wrapper. After the wrapper has been wound
around the bunch, the part of the thimble is moved into the closed position, as
in figure 1, and at the same time the knife moved along so that any part of
the wrapper which may protrude beyond the point of the thimble will be cut into.
When the thimble has thus been closed it entirely embraces the point of the cigar
and after the protruding portion of the wrapper is detached from the cigar, the cigar
is once more rolled so as to produce a perfect point. An extra knife can be placed
outside of the thimble, to cut off the superfluous part of the wrapper. Instead of
making the part of the thimble E stationary and the part movable, both
parts g and may be made movable in which case each may have a knife or
cutter .
The pasting arrangement is constructed as follows:-I is a chamber or receptacle for
receiving gum paste or the like to be applied to the point of the cigar which chamber
is suitably carried by the frame A and preferably extends parallel with the rollers D,
F, G, as shewn in figure 1. The chamber I is preferably in substantially the form

page_text: i
of a tube which has an opening i in the top for the admission of paste and the like.
This opening may be kept closed by a lid placed over the same, which lid may be
held in place by a screw clamp that engages ledges m on the chamber I, as shewn in
figure. But the opening in the chamber I may be kept closed in any other suitable
manner. At one end the paste chamber I communicates preferably through a small
tube n with an aperture or passage-way o in the stationary part of the point-
receiving thimble E, as clearly shewn in figure 3. The tube is carried by a
a removable cap n that is fitted on and covers one end of the chamber I, see figures 2
and 3. By this construction, the cap n and tube n may be removed for cleaning
etc. By turning the cap n while on the chamber I, the tube n will be swung into the
passageway o. The inner end of this aperture or passageway o should come about in
line with the tip or point of a cigar when said tip is in the thimble E so that paste or
the like that passes through the passageway o may pass to the tip of the cigar. The
paste or the like from the chamber I is to be forced from said chamber through the
tuben and passageway o in small quantities, or as needed by the tips of the cigars,
and may be forced through said passageway to the tips of the cigars in any desired
manner, but I prefer the following construction as being simple and effective and as
giving the requisite amount of paste to each cigar tip. J is a piston or sliding head
that is placed within the chamber or receptacle I and that preferably closely fits the
interior of said chamber but has free movement therein. As shewn in figure 4, the
upper side of the piston J is cut away slightly or flattened so as to pass along the flat
plate j. This construction also prevents the piston turning in the chamber when being
operated. But it is evident that the chamber I and the piston J may be of any other
shape than that shewn in the drawings. To the piston J is secured a screw-rod or the
like L that projects from one end of the chamber I, see figure 1. The screw-rod L
outside of the chamber I passes through a sleeve p that has internal screw threads to
engage the threads on the rod I. To the sleeve p is secured a ratchet or toothed
wheel which is adapted to be engaged and actuated by a dog that is carried by
a cranks projecting from a rock shaft M suitably journaled in bearings in the frame A.
As the shaft M is rocked in its bearings the dog will be forced to turn the wheel
the distance of one or more teeth, thereby also turning the sleeve p and moving the
rod-Land piston J. forward a slight distance. The shaft M carries a crank N that is
adapted to be engaged by a pint on a wheel a carried by the shaft e.
q
The improved finger for holding the wrapper upon the end of the cigar, is con-
structed and operated as follows:-0 is a short shaft that is journaled so as to have
longitudinal and rotary movement in a small frame P that is carried by the shaft. F2
of the roller F, and by a rod in the frame H, see figure 1. The frame P is adapted
to have lateral movement along the rod and shaft F2, and may be retained in the
desired position by a set screw a² carried by said frame and adapted to bear upon the
rod v.
R is a finger adapted to hold the wrapper of a cigar against said cigar. Said
finger is carried at one end of the shaft O, and is connected to said shaft by a spiral
spring S, see figure 1. By this means, the finger R is adapted to conform to the
shape or size of a cigar end while holding the wrapper against said cigar at the saine
time it is securely carried by the shaft O and will turn with said shaft. As shewn
in figure 1, the finger R is adapted to be passed between the rollers D, F, G. The
shaft carries a pinion b², that gears with a pinion d² on the shaft F which pinion is
adapted to be turned by the shaft F². The pinion & limits the longitudinal movement
of the shaft O in its frame P by coming in contact with the sides of said frame. The
lateral movement of the frame P may be limited by suitable means or by a stude
carried by the shaft F which stud passes into a slot in the pinion d² whereby said
pinion will be turned with said shaft.
The pasting improvements operate as follows:-The frame H carrying the roller F
is thrown back and a cigar bunch is placed upon the rollers D, G, with its point in
the thimble E contiguous to the end of the passageway o. The corner of a wrapper
is then placed against the larger end of the cigar and the frame swung down so as to
bring the finger R against the wrapper to hold said wrapper upon the cigar while the
roller F contacts the cigar. The operator now moves the shaft e outward so as to

page_text: carry the pin t on the wheel u out of line with the crank N. The cigar is now rolled
in the usual way, by turning the crank f. When the wrapper has been wound around
the cigar and when it is about to be wound around the point of the cigar, the shafte is
pushed inwards whereby the pin t is brought in line with the crank N. As the shaft e
now continues to rotate, the movable part of the thimble E will be reciprocated, as
shewn, while the pin t will contact the crank N and rock the shaft M thereby causing
the dog to turn the wheel 9 and sleeve a slight distance, say the distance of one or
two teeth. As the sleeve p is thus turned, the rod L will be caused to advance slightly
thereby pushing the piston J against the paste or the like, contained in the chamber I.
As the piston is thus moved forward it will force a small amount of paste or the like
through the tube n and passageway o and against the tip of the cigar.
As the cigar
continues to rotate, the paste will be distributed upon the cigar tip and wrapper at the
tip evenly and uniformly, so that when the cigar is removed from the roller the
wrapper will have had paste applied to it, thereby dispensing with the necessity of an
operator applying paste by hand, after the cigar was rolled, as has heretofore been
done. It will be noticed in the drawings that the thimble E is separate and indepen-
dent from the means for holding and rolling the cigar bunch. If now any excess of
paste were forced into the thimble, it would not cover the body of the cigar. but
would pass out of the thimble and drop below, thereby pasting the point only of the
cigar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with a point-receiving thimble of a
chamber or receptacle, for containing paste or the like, that is connected with said
thimble for supplying paste to a cigar tip, substantially as described.
2. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with a point-receiving thimble of a
chamber for containing paste or the like connected with said thimble and means
substantially as described for forcing paste from said chamber to the thimble in the
desired quantity, as specified.
3. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with a point receiving thimble of a
chamber for containing paste or the like, connected with said thimble and a piston
within said chamber for gradually forcing the paste from said chamber to the thimble,
substantially as described.
4. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with a point receiving thimble, of a
paste chamber connected with said thimble a piston within said chamber for gradually
forcing paste from said chamber to the thimble and with means substantially as
described for moving said piston, as specified.
5. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination of a point-receiving thimble and a
paste chamber connected with said thimble, of a piston within said chamber, a
screw-rod carried by said piston, a sleeve p engaging said rod and a rock shaft
connected with said sleeve for gradually advancing the piston within the chamber,
substantially as described.
6. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination of a point receiving thimble with a
paste chamber connected with said thimble a piston within said paste chamber, a screw
rod connected to said piston, a sleeve p for turning said rod, a rock shaft connected
with said sleeve for turning said sleeve, the crank N on said rock shaft, the pin t
and the shaft e carrying said pin, all arranged and operating substantially as
described.
7. In a cigar rolling machine, the point-receiving thimble having a passage
way communicating with its inner wall, combined with a paste chamber connected
with said passageway and a piston within said paste chamber for forcing paste
through the passage-way, substantially as described.
8. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with rollers for rolling a cigar,
of a shaft O, finger R, and spring S, connecting said finger to said shaft, substantially
as described.

page_text: 9. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with rollers for rolling a cigar, of
the shaft O having the pinion 63, finger R carried by said shaft, and the pinion d', and
means for turning the same, substantially as described.
10. In a cigar rolling machine, the rollers for rolling a cigar combined with the
shaft having pinion 2, finger R, and spring S, connecting the finger R to the
shaft O, and with the pinion d meshing with the pinion 6, shaft F, and the
independent frame P, supporting the shaft O, whereby said shaft may have
longitudinal movement, all arranged for operation, substantially as described.
11. In a cigar rolling machine, a paste chamber combined with means substantially
as described, for passing paste from said chamber to and upon the tip of a cigar,
substantially as specified.
12. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with rollers for rolling a cigar
of the shaft O and a flexible finger connected to, and carried by, said shaft, substantially
as described.
13. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination with rollers substantially as described,
for rolling the cigar, and a separate and independent point-receiving thimble detached
from said rollers, and of means, substantially as described, for supplying the separated
thimble with paste for the cigar tip, whereby the tip only of the cigar will be supplied
with paste, substantially as specified.
14. In a cigar rolling machine, the combination of means substantially as described,
for rolling a cigar, and a point receiving thimble, the stationary part of said thimble
having a passage way o with a paste chamber I having a removable cap nº, the tube n
carried by said cap, and with means substantially as described, for pressing paste from
the chamber I to the thimble E, substantially as specified.
15. In a cigar rolling machine, the point-receiving thimble E constructed with the
movable portion / combined with a paste chamber for passing paste to the thimble
substantially as, and for the purpose, horein shewn and described.
16. In a cigar rolling machine, the point receiving thimble E constructed with the
movable portion having knife he attached thereto, combined with a paste chamber
for passing paste to said thimble, substantially as herein shewn and described.
17. The sectional thimble E, combined with two movable knives and with a paste
chamber connected with said thimble, substantially as described.
18. The sectional thimble having movable part combined with the eccentric e¹
for reciprocating the part h substantially as described.
19. The sectional thimble E having movable part / combined with the lever a',
link, eccentric e, shaft, and means substantially as described for turning said
shaft, as specified.
20. The combination, with the thimble E having movable part h, of the lever a*,
link eccentric e, shaft, clutchy, shaft, and sliding shaft e, geared to the
shaft, substantially as described.
21. The combination of the thimble E, having movable part h and lever a*, with the
sliding shaft e rod n' and cam of on the rod n*, substantially as described.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.