Improvements in Machinery for Making Cigarettes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1886
Complete Left, 9th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Cigarettes.
Wo, MAURICE FREDERICK FITZGERALD, of 37 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, in the
County of Antrim, Ireland, Civil Engineer, and MARCUS GOODBODY, of Greenville,
Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, Tobacco Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object to construct and combine machinery in an improved
manner for feeding and preparing tobacco, for enclosing it in a band of paper,
and for dividing the long paper tube enclosing the tobacco into short lengths to form
cigarettes.
In carrying ont the Invention a band of paper to form the tubular envelope of the
continuous cigarette is drawn off a roll, to which a suitable drag or tension is applied,
and is led through the apparatus by an endless carrying band driven in any convenient
way from the first-motion shaft of the machine. The tobacco having been previously
cut is put into a feeding hopper from which it is delivered in a regular manner by a
pair of driven rollers down upon the paper band; and whilst being carried forward on
the paper band the tobacco is subjected to the action of a series of combs or forks
which arrange its particles and prepare it so that it will become packed in the paper
tube or envelope in a regular and uniform manner. The combs are at the lower ends
of stems pivotted on a lower bar which receives a vibratory and a longitudinal
reciprocatory motion from a rotating eccentric or crank; whilst the upper parts of the
comb stems pass through guide holes in an upper bar fixed to the stationary framing
but adjustable in position so as to modify its action on the combs as may be found
desirable. In an arrangement which is believed to answer the purpose the lower bar
is horizontal when in is mean position whilst the upper or guide bar is inclined
upwards towards the hopper, with which arrangement the comb nearest the hopper has
a largo vertical motion and a small horizontal one, whilst the comb at the forward end
of the series has a small vertical motion and a large horizontal one, the intermediate
combs having intermediate motions. The tobacco during its passage under the combs
is confined by a trough the underside of which is closed by the carrying band with
the paper band on it; and whilst the sides are close the top of the trough is formed
with slits for the teeth of the combs to work through. The trough is adjustable in

page_text: height to suit the stream of tobacco passed through it according to the desired size,
weight, and hardness of the cigarettes.
As the paper band with the prepared tobacco on it leaves the opening at the front
end of the trough it is gradually acted on by shaping devices which turn up the sides
and make the edges overlap so as to enwrap the tobacco, gum or other suitable
adhesive being applied to fix the edges together. Or if one or both edges have been
previously gummed, moisture is applied to make them adhere. The carrying band
passes with the paper band through the shaping devices, and over a bottom shaping
guide piece in which there is a groove gradually taking the shape of about two thirds
of a cylinder corresponding in size to the intended size of the cigarette. The sides of
the carrying band are turned outwards over the lips of the groove in the bottom
shaping guide piece by upper adjustable guide pieces; and to maintain a proper
circumferential tension on the cigarette and prevent lateral displacement of the carrying
band it is by preference made with piped or thickened edges which are kept at the
outer edges of the upper guide pieces as they cannot get in between those guide pieces
and the bottom guide piece. There is a middle guide piece between the two upper
guide pieces, which presses on the top of the tobacco to prevent it from rising up.
The edges of the paper band are by preference, folded down by means of rollers; and
after passing the first roller which folds down the inner edge of the paper band the
gum or water for causing the edges to adhere is supplied by means of a small pipe and
wick from a reservoir, and then the second roller closes down the outer edge; forming
the paper band into a complete tube, which filled with tobacco issues in a continuous
manner from the front end of the shaping devices.
For cutting the continuous tobacco-filled tube into lengths to form cigarettes a
small rapidly rotating knife of a spiral or volute-like form is used this knife being
carried on a small shaft parallel to the path of the cigarette. The knife is driven by
suitable gearing at a rate corresponding to the longitudinal motion of the cigarette
but the motion is communicated through a small toothed or frictional clutch with
which the boss carrying the knife is put into gear by a spring at suitable intervals
according to the length of cigarette required. The knife is made with such a helical
or screw twist as to produce a square cut without any interruption to the onward
movement of the cigarette. On a cut being made by the knife a catch drops into a
notch or recess in the knife boss and takes the boss out of gear from the driving clutch
holding it stationary at the same time. The catch is lifted at the proper times by
tappets or cam projections on a wheel fixed to a roller which rests on and is turned by
the cigarette as the cigarette moves forward under it. When a change is wanted
in the length of the cigarettes the roller is changed as is also the tappet wheel if
required.
1 1.
T
11
.
1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Making Cigarettes.
We, MAURICE FREDERICK FITZGERALD, of 37 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, in the
County of Antrim, Ireland, Civil Engineer, and MARCUS GOODBODY, of Greenville,
Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland, Tobacco Manufacturer, 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, that is
to say :-
This Invention has for its object to construct and combine machinery in an
improved manner for feeding and preparing tobacco, for enclosing it in a band, of
paper, and for dividing the long paper tube enclosing the tobacco into short lengths
to form cigarettes.
In carrying out the Invention the tobacco is subjected to a combing operation whilst
being fed or conveyed from a hopper towards the place where it is enclosed in the
paper band. The paper band is carried through the apparatus by an endless band
which is acted on and guided so as, with the aid of rollers, to make the paper band
enwrap the tobacco and form a continuous tube filled with tobacco. For cutting the
continuous tobacco-filled tube into cigarette lengths a small rapidly rotating knife
is employed this knife being made with such a helical or screw twist as to
produce a square cut without any interruption to the onward movements of the
cigarettes.
And in order that the said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing cigarette making machinery as made with the
improvements.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a plan of the machinery as
with some parts removed. Figure, 2, is a sectional side elevation corresponding to
figure, 1. Figure, 3, on sheet, 2, is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the
preparing combs.
Figure, 4, is an enlarged transverse vertical section of one
arrangement of the rollers for closing the paper around the tobacco; and figure, 5, is
a similar view of another arrangement for the same purpose and which is the one
adopted in the modification of the machine shown in figures, 1, and 2. Figures, 6,
and 7, are vertical sections as at right angles to each other of certain parts for guiding
and controlling the carrying band; and figures, 8, and 9, are a plan and a transverse
vertical section of the modification of cutting apparatus adopted in the machine shown
in figures, 1, and 2. In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals aro
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The form or arrangement of the framing of the machine may be varied, but as
shown in figures, 1, and 2, it consists mainly of two parallel side frames made with
parts, A, B, of different heights and with legs, C, and connected at the ends by
transverse end frames, D, E. At one end of the machine there is supported on the

page_text: side frames, A, a hopper, H, into which the tobacco to form the cigarettes is put, this
tobacco having been finely cut and steamed or otherwise suitably prepared so as to be
in a soft and elastic condition. The hopper, H, is made with an opening in its bottom
and partly in its inner side, and this opening is partly closed by a feeding
drum, 10, which is upon a transverse horizontal shaft, and has fixed on its circumference
a number of circular rows of pins or wires such as are used in carding machinery.
The feeding drum, 10, carries the tobacco out through the part of the opening which
is in the inner side of the hopper, H, and the passage for it can be altered if required
by adjusting a sliding door, 11, fitted to the inner side of the hopper, and held by a
pinching screw.
The
The tobacco drawn out of the hopper, H, by the feeding drum, 10, is cleared from
the drum by a plate, 12, of hard brass or steel, the edge of which is cut in deep slots
so as to enter like a comb between the rows of wires on the drum, 10. By the
plate, 12, the tobacco is guided towards a set of teeth consisting of pointed wires stuck
in a sheet of rubber which is fixed to a board or plate, 13, held but capable of
adjustment in grooves in a fixed part. The tobacco is drawn through the teeth of the
board, 13, and at the same time loosened and freed from knots by a set of combs, K,
(of which one is shown separately in figure, 3,) which draw the tobacco along until it
falls over the end of the board, 13. To prevent the tobacco from escaping sideways
the combs, K, and the board, 13, are arranged in a box having a bottom, 14, and
sides, 15; and the sides are formed with inclined pieces, 16, at their forward ends to
cause the stream of tobacco to become narrower after it leaves the combs.
combs, K, receive a peculiar motion from an eccentric, 17, on a transverse horizontal
shaft, the eccentric rod, 18, being fixed to a pair of bars, 19, and with them, jointed
to blocks fitted to work in inclined guides, 20, fixed on the frame bars, A. The
backs, 21, of the combs, K, are jointed to the bars, 19, and stems, 22, fixed to the
comb backs extend upwards and are capable of sliding through small bosses, 23,
jointed to a pair of upper bars, 24, which are adjustably fixed in an inclined position.
The combs, K, radiate each from its upper boss, 23, and their motions vary in
consequence of the varying distances of the comb backs, 21, from the bosses. The
eccentric, 17, imparts to the bars, 19, combined longitudinal and angular reciprocating
motions, which acting on the combs, K, centered as described in the upper bosses, 23,
make the combs move with motions depending on their respective positions, the
combs nearer the hopper, H, having larger vertical motions and smaller horizontal
motions whilst those further from the hopper have smaller vertical motions and larger
horizontal motions. Theso motions can be modified if required by adjusting the
various parts; thus a different inclination can be given to the guides, 20, or to the
upper centre bars, 24; and the same or sufficiently similar motions can be obtained by
other dispositions of the various parts;-thus for example, the comb backs, 21, may be
elongated and have fixed to their outer ends bars or stems extending downwards to
centre bosses in adjustable bars placed underneath. To prevent the tobacco, some of
which may get caught between the teeth of the combs, K, from sticking in and
clogging them, narrow longitudinal bars, 25, (shown in figure, 2, but not in figure, 1,)
fixed to or formed in one piece with a transverse har at their front ends are placed so
as to extend backwards between the dents of the combs which dents strip themselves
of tobacco in rising up between these bars.
A band, L, of paper to form the tubular envelope of the continuous cigarette is
drawn off a roll, 26, to which a suitable drag or tension is applied, by means of a
weighted cord passed round the roller or a pulley on it, or in any other convenient
way; and this band, L, is led through the apparatus by an endless carrying band, M,
which passes round two pulleys, 27, 28, one 27, of these being carried by a pair of
swinging bars, 29, which can be adjusted by means of a rod and a screw nut, 30), so as
to keep the band, M, sufficiently distended. The other pulley, 28, of the endless
carrying band, M, is upon a shaft, 31, carried in bearing in the side frames and
suitably driven in any convenient way. The endless band, M, carrying the paper
band, L, passes over the bottom, 14, of the box in which the combs, K, work and the

page_text: paper band receives the tobacco as it falls off the inner end of the board, 13, and
carries it forward to the part of the apparatus where the second part of the operations
is perforined.
•
As the paper band, L, passes onwards with the tobacco on it it is gradually acted on
by shaping devices which turn up its sides and make its edges overlap so as to enwrap
the tobacco, gum or other suitable adhesive being applied to fix the edges together.
Or if one or both edges have been previously gummed moisture is applied to make
them adhere. The carrying band, M, passes with the paper band, L, over a bottom
shaping guide piece, N, (shown enlarged in figures, 5, 6, and 7.) in which there is a
groove which from its entrance end gradually assumes the shape of about two thirds
of a cylinder corresponding in size to the intended size of the cigarette. The sides of
the carrying band, M, are turned outwards over the lips of the groove in the bottom
shaping guide piece, N, by upper adjustable guide pieces, P; and to maintain a
proper circumferential tension on the cigarette and prevent lateral displacement of the
carrying band, M, it is made with piped or thickened edges which are kept at the
outer edges of the upper guide pieces, P, as they cannot get in between those guide
pieces and the bottom guide piece, N. The upper guide pieces, P, which rest on the
sides of the carrying band, M, are adjusted more or less apart so as by acting on the
thickened edges of the band to keep it properly stretched transversely by two screw
spindles, 82, with milled heads, made with right-hand and left-hand screw threads
tapped into the guide pieces, P; and these guide pieces are prevented from getting
displaced by a transverse bar, 33, formed with vertical arms, centered on a transverse
shaft, 34, above. In order to prevent the tobacco from springing up out of the groove
in the bottom piece, N, downward pressure is applied to it just as it is being carried
into that groove, by a block, 35, made with a concave bottom and supended by a link
from the strap of the eccentric, 17, the eccentric giving the block, 35, an up-and-down
motion which makes it intermittently press the tobacco a little downwards as it moves
along. The entrance end, 36, of the bottom piece, N, is shown as inclined with its
bottom nearer the feeding hopper, H, which form is suitable for a thin or soft carrying
band;
but for a stiff carrying band the end, 36, is better to be inclined the opposite
way as indicated by the dotted line.
The edges of the paper band, I., become turned up as the band with the carrying
band, M, enters the groove of the bottom piece, N; and they pass along between the
upper guide pieces, P, and are turned down one after the other by two rollers or
disks, Q, R, (shown enlarged in Figure, 5.) These rollers, Q, R, are fixed on inclined
spindles, 37, 38, which have pulleys, 39, 40, on them driven by a cord from a
pulley, 41, on a transverse shaft, 34, hereinbefore referred to. Gum or other suitable
adhesive is applied to the outer side of the paper edge first turned down by the
roller, Q; or if the edge has been previously gummed it is moistened. The gum or
water is supplied from a vessel, 42, through a pipe, 43, and by means of a wick to the
edge of the first roller, Q; and the vessel, 42, is kept heated by means of a gas
jet, 44, so that the gum may dry rapidly after being applied to the paper band, L.
The first roller, Q, lays down one edge of the paper band, L, and applies
gum or moisture to the outside of that edge, and then as the band passes on
the other edge is laid down by the other roller, R, and the joint is thereby
completed.
The groove in the bottom piece, N, instead of being made deep as shown in
figures, 5, 6, and 7, may be made shallow as shown in figure, 4; and the acting
surfaces of the rollers, Q, R, may be shaped to correspond to larger portions of
the circumference of the cigarette. Also the rollers, Q, R, may be placed nearer
together and the first one, Q, may be driven by bevil wheels, 45, all as shown
in figure, 4, the other roller, R, either turning by friction as the cigarette passes
along in contact with it or being driven from the other roller, Q, by skew
teeth.
The completed tobacco-filled tube or cigarette issues continuously from the forward
end of the shaping devices, N, P, and passes onwards to the apparatus in which it is
cut into cigarette lengths. One modification of the cutting apparatus is shown

page_text: enlarged in figures, 8, and 9, figure, 8, being a plan and figure, 9, a transverse vertical
section. The cigarette leaving the carrying band, M, as that band turns round its
forward pulley, 28, passes through a guide tube, T, fixed to a small frame, 46, which
is itself fixed to the side frames, B; and the cigarette issuing from the forward
end of the fixed guide tube, T, enters a movable guide tube, 47, fixed to a
frame, 48, movable on the frame, 46, but pressed backwards by springs, 49. The cut
is effected between the two tubes, T, 47, each cigarette after it has been severed being
pushed out through the forward tube, 47, by the succeeding cigarette. In the
modification shown the cutting instrument is made with two diametrically opposite
cutting blades, S, each of which is of a sickle-like form as seen in end elevation
(figure 9) but made with a helical twist (figure 8) the cutting action being effected by
the inner edge of each blade. The cutting blades, S, are fixed on a tube or sleeve, 50,
which is loose on a shaft, 51, carried in bearings in the end frame piece, E, and in the
frame, 46, and also passing with the sleeve, 50, through the cross bars of the movable
frame, 48. The shaft, 51, which rotates continuously and rapidly when the machine is
at work, has fixed at its inner end a boss, 52, formed with a ratchet like clutch face at
its front end to engage with a similar clutch face formed on the inner end of the
sleeve, 50; and the sleeve, 50, is pressed by a spring, 53, always tending to make it
engage with the clutch boss, 52, of the rotating shaft, 51. The sleeve, 50, with the
cutting blades, S, is however made to rotate only at intervals depending on the desired
length of the cigarettes; and each time it moves it makes half a turn during which
one of the blades, S, makes a cut. The motion of the sleeve, 50, is stopped by a
catch lever, 54, the end of which engages in one of two peculiar grooves, 55, formed
in the sleeve near its front end, the catch lever, 54, being on one end of a spindle, 56,
to which a spiral spring is applied and which has on its other end a lever, 57,
arranged to be acted on by projections or tappets, 58, on a wheel, 59, fixed on
the shaft, 31, of the pulley, 28, which carries one end of and drives the carrying
band, M. The tappets, 58, must of course divide the circle or circumference on which
they are placed equally; and if a size of cigarette is wanted which does not correspond
to such equal division with one size of the pulley, 28, a differently and suitably sized
pulley, must be substituted. When a tappet, 58, acts on the lever, 57, and causes tho
catch lever, 54, to release the sleeve, 50, the spring, 53, instantly causes the sleeve to
engage with the clutch boss, 52, of the shaft, 51, and to receive a half turn in
consequence. This half turn carries one of the cutting blades, S, through the
continuous cigarette, and the cut is made square across, or almost so because of
the helical form of the blades, S, the helical pitch and the gearing driving the
shaft, 51, and the gearing driving the shaft, 31, being all relatively propor-
tioned in a suitable manner for that purpose. Before the sleeve, 50, completos
its half turn the catch lever, 54, again enters a groove, 55, and in consequence
of a suitable inclination given to the end of the groove makes the sleeve move
out of gear from the clutch boss, 52. Whilst the cut is being effected the blade, S,
moves forward the tube, 47, and frame, 48, which return by the action of the
springs, 49.
The helical cutting apparatus may be arranged in a variety of ways but so as in all
cases to cut the continuous cigarette squarely across or almost so without interrupting
its continuous onward motion; and if found desirable cutters operating simultaneously
on opposite sides of the cigarette may be used. Instead of the cutter rotating inter-
mittently as described it may be arranged to rotate continuously being made of a
suitable pitch, and with the cutting edge at a suitable distance from its axis but not
extending for a larger portion of a convolution than may be found necessary. The
helical cutter may be arranged with its axis inclined to the axis of the cigarette tube
so as to make its cutting edge as nearly as possible at right angles to the cigaretto.
When an intermittently acting cutter is used, instead of the clutch arrangement for
turning it as hereinbefore described, the sleeve, 50, carrying it may be connected
to the continuously rotating shaft, 51, by a helical or volute spring which becomes
wound up during each interval in which the catch lever, 54, prevents the rotation
of the sleeve, and which acts quickly when the catch lever releases the sleeve.

page_text: In this modification the helical pitch or form of the cutting blade or blades, S,
must of course be adapted to the speed with which the spring turns the sleeve.
The machine may be driven by power but in the drawings, figures, 1, and 2, it is
shown with gearing arranged to be worked by hand, there being at the delivery end of
the machine and a little to one side a handle, V, attached to a wheel, W, which
is fixed on a short longitudinal shaft, 60, and which gears with a pinion, 61, on the
shaft, 51, which works the cutters. The shaft, 60, by bevil wheels, 62, drives the
shaft, 31, of the band pulley, 28; and the shaft, 31, by equal spurwheels, 63, indicated
by dotted circles in figure, 2, drives a shaft, 64, which by equal spurwheels indicated
by dotted circles, 65, 66, drives, the shaft, 34, which has on it the pulley, 41,
for driving the rollers, Q, R. The shaft of the eccentric, 17, is driven by means of a
pinion, 67, on it and in gear with one of the spurwheels, 63; and the feeding
drum, 10, is driven by means of a cord, 68, passing round pulleys, 69, 70, on its shaft;
and the shaft of the eccentric, 17. The carrying band, M, may be made of any
suitable material; we have however found parchment to be a good material
for the purpose, the thickened edges being formed by doubling over the edges of the
parchment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine for making
cigarettes substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a cigarette making machine the providing of mechanism substantially such as
is hereinbefore described for subjecting the tobacco to a combing operation preparatory
to its being enclosed in the wrapping paper.
3. The combination of the carrying band having thickened edges with the lower
and upper shaping devices and guides, (N, P) arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described.
4. The combination of one or more helical cutting blades with actuating and
controlling details arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Seventh day of April 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.