Improvements in Machines for Removing the Stems from Tobacco Leaves.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
COMEDIE DI BOLTTOA
Improvements in Machines for Removing the Stems from Tobacco
Leaves.
I, ROBERT WILLIAM COFFEE, of Bedford City, County of Bedford, and State
of Virginia, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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 relates to a Machine for Removing Stems from Tobacco Leaves.
In the machine forming the subject of this invention I provide certain carrying
devices composed essentially of a pair of perforated suction cylinders combined with
suitable driving belts, which latter also form part of the carrying mechanism for
carrying the tobacco leaves through the machine and past the transversely arranged
and travelling endless knife or cutter-band by which the stems are cut out.
I also provide and combine with said carrying mechanism, a series of endless
resilient bands or wires placed close together and arranged in a circular or elliptical
form between certain revolving and guiding rollers for giving them motion, said
endless bands serving to guide the stems of the tobacco leaves past the transversely
moving knife or cutter-band in such manner as to cause them to be cleanly cut or
stripped from the leaves in a rapid efficient and accurate manner.
The tobacco
leaves are to be fed by hand or any suitable mechanical feeding devices.
I will now describe my invention in detail by reference to the drawings hereto
annexed.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing one side of a tobacco stemming machine
illustrating the construction of my invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the machine ;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ;
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.
The frame of the mechanism is designated by numeral 1, and is provided with
bearings for the main shaft 2, which is provided with fast and loose pulleys 3, 4,
for receiving motion from any suitable source of power.
Suitably mounted on one side of the frame of the machine (Fig. 2) are the
suction boxes 5 and 6, which are connected by means of the pipes
with the casing
of an exhaust fan 8, which may be driven by any suitable power and which serves
to exhaust air from the said boxes. The boxes 5 and 6 are provided in their walls
with bearings for the open ends of the suction cylinders 9 and 10, the opposite ends
of which are closed, as will be seen in Figure 4 of the drawings. The shafts 11
which extend through the said suction cylinders are provided with bearings in one
side of the frame and in the inner walls of the suction boxes. The suction cylinders
are provided with numerous perforations through which the air may be exhausted,
so that the tobacco leaves shall be caused to adhere by suction to the said
cylinders.
The shafts 11 are provided with radial spokes 12, carrying segmental shields 13,
to partially cover the inner sides of the perforated cylinders, so as to cause the
suction to take place only at the points where it is desired that the tobacco leaves
shall adhere.
The main shaft 2, of the machine is provided near one end with a sprocket
wheel 14, from which a chain 15 passes over a sprocket wheel 16, journaled upon a
stud 17, attached to a bracket 18, which projects rearwardly from the frame.
19 designates a shaft carrying a roller 20, and a sprocket wheel 21, which latter
engages and receives motion from the chain 15. The roller 20, is connected by a
series of belts or bands 22 with the rear suction cylinder 10, to which a rotary

page_text: motion is thus transmitted. The front suction cylinder 9 is driven by a series of
belts or bands 23, passing over a roller 24, upon a shaft 25, which is provided with
a sprocket wheel 26, over which passes a chain 27. 28, 29, and 30 (Fig. 3) are a
series of guide rollers over which passes a series of endless belts 31, the upper sides
of which are located a short distance below and parallel to the end sides of the belts
or bands 23. The shaft of the guide holder 28, is provided with a sprocket wheel 32
engaging and receiving motion from the chain by means of which the endless bands 31
are thus driven. 33 and 34 are guide rollers, over which pass a series of bands 35;
the shaft of the roller 34 has a sprocket wheel 35 engaging and receiving motion
from the endless chain 15 from which motion is thus transmitted to the bands 35.
The suction cylinders 9 and 10, the belts 23 and 22, the endless baud 31 and the
bands 35 constitute the leaf carrying mechanism of the machine.
The endless knife or cutter-band which is designated by 37, is mounted upon
the supporting wheels 38, (Fig. 4) the shafts of which 39, have adjustable bearings 40.
One of said shafts 39, has at its rear end a pinion 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) meshing with
the pinion 42, upon a shaft 43, to which motion is transmitted by a belt 44 from a
suitably arranged countershaft not shown in the drawings, but which is intended to
be driven from the main shaft of the machine. The endless knife or cutter band
passes through suitable openings or slots in the sides of the frame and the upper side
of said endless knife is located directly beneath the rear suction cylinder 10.
45 designates a shaft journaled in suitable bearings in the sides of the frame
(Fig. 4) and carrying a roller 46, which is located a short distance below the
suction cylinder 10, and directly under the upper portion of the endless knife 37.
The shaft of the roller 46 is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 47, engaging
and receiving motion from the endless chain 27. The course of the latter will be
readily seen by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings. Said endless chain 27
receives motion from the sprocket wheel 48 (Fig. 4) upon the main shaft of the
machine. 49 designates a roller, the shaft of which 50, is journaled in the sides of
the casing and is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel 51, connected by a
chain 52 with a sprocket wheel 53 upon the main shaft from which it receives
motion. The opposite end of the shaft 50 carries a spur wheel 54 (Figs. 2 and 4)
meshing with a pinion 55 upon the end of a shaft 56, carrying the roller 57, which
is located directly below the roller 49. The sides of the frame of the machine are
provided with bearings for the shafts of a series of rollers 58, which are arranged
in the form of an ellipse, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3
of the drawings. One of the rollers 58 is located closely adjoining the roller 46,
directly in front of the latter. 59 designates an approximately elliptical casing, the
upper side of which has an opening 60 in which the roller 46 is located, and through
which the tobacco stems are admitted into the casing between the rear wall of the
latter and the roller 46.
The series of endless bands or wires 61, are mounted upon the rollers 46 and 49,
as will be clearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. These bands or wires are made
of spring metal and are of such length as to be in frictional contact with the
elliptically arranged series of rollers 58, said bands or wires being held in this
position partly by their own resiliency and partly by contact with the outer walls
of the approximately elliptical casing 59. These wires or bands receive motion
from the rollers 49 and 57 and from the rollers 46 and 58, between which they pass
and the slack portion of the said wires is projected upwardly above the endless
cutter 37, over which they pass. The bands or wires 61, may consist either of
ordinary round wires, about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, or they may
consist of narrow flat metallic ribbons or tapes of suitable dimensions. The latter
form has been illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings hereto annexed, but I would
have it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to this construction.
One end of the casing is open as will be seen at 62, (Figs. 1 and 4) and to the
other end of the said casing is connected a pipe 63 (Fig. 2) which in practice
communicates with the discharge 64 of the fan 8. Within the casing 59, near the
open end of the latter is arranged a deflector 65, serving to direct the blast to one

page_text: side of the endless knife or cutter-band. This mechanism is for the purpose of
blowing the tobacco stems out through the open end of the casing without interfering
with the operation of the endless knife or cutter.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto
annexed the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood
by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.
The tobacco leaves are fed by hand or any suitable mechanical devices to the
front suction cylinder 9, to which the leaves are caused to adhere by suction. The
leaves pass between the endless bands or carriers 23 and 31, the former of which
serve to strip them from the suction cylinder 9 and are conveyed to the suction
cylinder 10, to which they adhere. The suction cylinder 10, conjointly with that
portion of the belt 31 which is between the rollers 29 and 30 serves to carry the
leaves in a downward direction towards the endless knife or cutter-band. On
approaching the latter the butt-ends of the stems will pass between the endless
bands or wires 61, which are placed so closely together that the bars or rollers
engaging opposite sides of the stem will crowd the latter in a downward direction
between the endless bands 61 and into engagement with the endless knife or cutter,
which latter severs the stem from the leaf. The tobacco leaves which are stripped
from the suction cylinder 10 by the bands 22, pass between the latter and the
roller 23 onto the endless bands 35, by which the said leaves are carried to the tail
end of the machine where a receptacle may be provided into which they may be
discharged. The stems, passing under the upper portion of the endless knife,
between the latter and the roller 46 are carried through the slot 60 into the
casing 59. The blast of air from fan 8, serves to blow the stems out through the
open end of the casing.
It will be seen that by my present invention, devices for positively grasping
the stems of the tobacco leaves as heretofore proposed are entirely dispensed with.
The endless metallic bands or wires 61, are more in the nature of guides whereby
the stems are guided in the proper direction and subjected to the endless knife or
cutter-band. The portion of the said bands or wires above the rollers 46, which I
have described as being the slack portion of said bands or wires is capable of.
yielding laterally as well as vertically, and the said bands or wires will therefore
readily adjust themselves to the tobacco stems. Those wires which do not engage
the tobacco stems serve to bear against the under surface of the leaf, which is thereby
held smooth and free from wrinkles which is highly important in order to prevent
injury to the leaf by the endless knife or cutter-band.
If desired the shafts of the guide rollers, 56, may be provided with pinions
geared together by intermediate idlers, one of said roller shafts being driven from
the main shaft either direct or through the intermediate gearing. I reserve the
right to this, and to all other modifications which may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
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:
-
51. In a tobacco stemming machine, the stem guiding mechanism consisting of a
series of endless bands or wires mounted upon suitable rollers and adapted to engage
opposite sides of the stems, in combination with leaf carrying mechanism and means
for severing the stems from the leaf, substantially as described.
2.-In a tobacco stemming machine the stem guiding device comprising a series
of endless resilient bands or wires mounted upon suitable rollers and adapted to
engage opposite sides of the stems, in combination with leaf carrying mechanism,
and means for severing the stems from the leaf, substantially as described.
3.--In a tobacco stemming machine, the stem guiding device comprising a series
of endless bands or wires mounted upon suitable rollers in combination with rollers
5 arranged outside of said endless bands or wires and pressing them against the

page_text: supporting rollers, suitable driving mechanism, leaf carrying mechanism and means
of severing the leaf from the stem, substantially as described.
4. In a tobacco stemming machine, the stem guiding mechanism comprising a
series of endless resilient bands or wires mounted upon suitable rollers, in combination
with a series of guide rollers, arranged approximately in the form of an ellipse and
bearing against the outside of said bands or wires, leaf carrying mechanism, and
means for severing the stem from the leaf, substantially as described.
5. In a tobacco stemming machine, the stem guiding devices comprising a series
of endless resilient bands or wires mounted upon suitable supporting rollers in com-
bination with rollers arranged to press the said bands or wires into frictional contact
with the supporting rollers, the guide rollers arranged to bear against the outside of
the resilient bands or wires, leaf carrying mechanism, and means for severing the
leaf from the stem, substantially as described.
6. In a tobacco stemming machine, the endless resilient stem guiding bands or
wires mounted upon suitable supporting rollers, in combination with the casing
arranged between the supporting rollers, the guide rollers arranged to bear against
the outside of the bands or wires, suitable driving mechanism therefor, leaf carrying
mechanism, and means for severing the stem from the leaf, substantially as described.
7. In a tobacco stemming machine, the endless resilient stem guiding wires
mounted upon suitable supporting rollers in combination with the guide rollers
arranged to bear against the outside of said resilient wires, thereby forcing the slack
portion of the latter in an upward direction above the upper supporting roller,
leaf carrying mechanism and means for severing the stem from the leaf, substantially
as set forth.
8. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with the endless resilient
guide wires, the supporting rollers, the stem receiving casing arranged between said
supporting rollers, guide rollers bearing against the outside of the endless resilient
wires, rollers arranged to press the resilient wires into frictional contact with the
supporting rollers and suitable operating mechanism, leaf carrying mechanism, and
means for severing the stem from the leaf, substantially as set forth.
9. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of the endless resilient
guide wires, the supporting rollers, the guide rollers arranged to bear against the
outside of the resilient wires and to force the slack of the latter in an upward
direction above the upper supporting roller, the endless knife or cutter, and leaf
carrying mechanism, substantially as set forth.
10. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of leaf carrying mechanism,
endless resilient stem guiding bands or wires mounted upon suitable supporting
rollers and serving to guide the stems and to force the leaves into contact with the
carrying mechanism and a knife or cutter adapted to sever the stems from the leaves,
substantially as set forth.
11. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of the leaf carrying
mechanism, the endless resilient stem guiding bands or wires mounted upon suitable
supporting rollers, the guide rollers arranged to bear against the outside of the
bands or wires and to force the slack of the same in an upward direction above the
upper supporting roller and into contact with the leaf carrying mechanism, the end-
less knife or cutter and suitable separating mechanism, substantially as set forth.
12. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of the leaf carrying
mechanism having the revolving perforated cylinders, the endless resilient guiding
bands or wires mounted upon suitable supporting rollers, guide rollers arranged to bear
against the outside of said resilient bands or wires and to force the slack of the latter in
an upward direction above the upper supporting roller and into contact with a
revolving suction cylinder, the rollers arranged to press the resilient bands or wires
into frictional contact with the supporting rollers, driving mechanism and an endless
knife or cutter located under the upper portion of the stem guiding bands,
substantially as set forth.
13. In a tobacco stemning machine the combination of the leaf carrying

page_text: mechanism, the endless resilient stem guiding bands or wires mounted upon suitable
supporting rollers, the transverse approximately elliptical casing enclosed by said
endless bands or wires, and having at its upper end a slot to accommodate the upper
supporting roller and to admit the stems, the guide rollers arranged to bear against
the outside of the said bands or wires and the transversely arranged endless knife
or cutter, the upper portion of which is arranged above the upper supporting roller
in the bight or slack of the endless resilient bands or wires, substantially as set
forth.
14. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination of the endless resilient
stem guiding bands or wires, the supporting rollers, the guide rollers, the leaf
carrying mechanism, the endless knife or cutter, the stem receiving casing open at one
end and connected at its opposite end with a blast fan, and the deflector arranged
near one end of said casing, substantially as set forth
15. In a tobacco stemming machine the combination of the supporting rollers,
the endless resilient bands or wires, the guide rollers, bearing against the outside of
said bands or wires, a roller geared to the lower supporting roller and pressing
the said bands or wires into frictional contact therewith, the leaf carrying mechanism,
the endless knife or cutter, and suitable driving mechanism, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 17th day of February 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.