An Improved Cigarette Trimming and Pressing Machine for Hand or Mechanical Operation.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cigarette Trimming and Pressing Machine for Hand
or Mechanical Operation.
I, EMIL GEORGII, of 14 Wagenburgstrasse, Stuttgart in the Empire of
Germany, Cigarette 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 :-
This invention has for its object a small machine for trimming or cutting off
cigarettes of any form and size at both ends at one operation, and simultaneously
pressing the same into any desired form. Pressed cigarettes are at present very
much desired, and as the making of cigarettes on a machine or by hand usually
takes place in the circular form, they have to be subsequently pressed into the
desired shape. Further, the tobacco projecting beyond the paper tube must be cut
at both ends even with the edge of the tube. The machine hereinafter described
effects both the cutting off and the pressing simultaneously.
This machine is shown in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a side elevation ;
Figure 2, an end elevation; and
Figure 3, a plan; whilst
Figures 4-6 show on a larger scale the clamp piece in which the cigarettes are
held during the cutting and pressing.
The machine consists essentially of an endless chain or band A. passed over two
rollers B B, which chain is kept in constant movement by means of hand, foot or
mechanical driving arrangements and on which chain are fixed a number of clamp
pieces C with lids or covers C¹ which can be folded back. In these clamp pieces,
in which a round, oval, rectangular or any other desired pressing form or mould
may be inserted, the cigarettes are placed by hand, the cover C¹ shut down and the
cigarettes conveyed under two circular knives D, which cut off even with the paper
tube the tobacco projecting at both ends. Simultaneously the cigarettes in the
clamp pieces on passing under the knives are either left circular or are pressed
into a rectangular, oval or any other desired shape, and subsequently fall
automatically out of the clamp piece into a receptacle arranged at the end of the .
machine.
In the drawing, a small cutting off machine for hand work is shown, in which
the driving of the chain A takes place by means of transfer gearing and F from
the knife shaft d having a crank &, the gear wheel F being mounted on a spindle 6¹
on which also a toothed roller B₁ engaging in the chain A is mounted. Beneath
the knife discs Da preferably elastic pressure roller H is mounted in the horizontal
arm i of a revoluble bell-crank lever J lying under the chain A and vertically
adjustable, the other vertical arm of the said bell-crank lever being capable of
being adjusted by means of set screws which are mounted in lugs L on the
machine frame G. On the clamp pieces C passing under the knife discs D, their
covers C having been first closed by encountering a pin m' fixed on a support
or bracket M mounted on the frame A, the cover C₁ and the clamp piece Care
powerfully pressed together by the rollers E and H lying between the knives D,
and whilst this is taking place, the cutting off of the cigarette at both ends is
effected.
For retaining the cover C¹ of the clamp piece C on the cigarette before these

page_text: parts are pressed together by the rollers E and H, a spring m mounted on the
pin m is provided, the end part of which rests on the cover C¹. In the clamp
piece C and its cover C¹ removable internally grooved insertion pieces o c¹ are
arranged which on the compression of the clamp piece press the cigarettes Z
into the desired form corresponding to the section of their grooves (see
Figures 4-6).
The cigarettes are inserted by hand in the opened clamp piece C. On passing
the rear roller B', the covers C³ open automatically and the cigarette falls
automatically out of the clamp piece into the receiver or collecting vessel z placed
beneath. In order, after passing the front roller B that the cover C¹ of the clamp
piece C which hangs down during its transport on the 'under side of the chain A,
may remain open, a pin n is shown arranged at the side of the front guide roller. B
of the chain A so that as soon as the clamp piece C reaches the upper part of the
roller B an arm c³ arranged on one side of the cover C' and extended over the
hinge encounters this pin and opens the cover C'.
With the object of enabling the chain A to be kept taut in spite of the wearing
away of the chain links, the spindle b of one roller B is mounted in the arms p
of two bell-crank levers P mounted in the frame G, the other arms p' of which
lever P may be adjusted by means of set screws which are screwed into lugs L'
of the frame G.
The frame G is fixed by means of a clamp G' and fixing screws g on a work
table bench or the like.
Instead of the endless chain A, any other suitable endless band of leather, fabric
or the like may be employed on which the clamp pieces are fastened.
The speed of the chain may be regulated according to the skill of the workman
engaged in inserting the cigarettes in the clamp holders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A machine for pressing cigarettes into any desired form and simultaneously
trimming or cutting off the tobacco projecting at both ends of the same,
characterised by a number of clamp pieces provided with covers being fixed on an
endless chain or band travelling over two rollers and having a constant movement,
said clamp pieces and also their lids being provided with removable insertions of
various sizes and internally of round, oval or other form on which the cigarettes
are laid and the covers automatically closed, the closed clamp then passing
laterally between two knives and between two pressure rollers whereby the cover
and the clamp piece are strongly pressed together and the cigarettes thereby
compressed into the desired form whilst simultaneously the tobacco which projects
laterally beyond the clamp piece is cut off at both sides, substantially as herein-
before set forth.
2. The general construction and combination of parts taken as a whole, forming
the improved cigarette trimming and pressing machine, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.