Improvements in or connected with Cigarette Making Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1897
Completo Crocification Ice ...
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Cigarette Making Machines.
We, W. D. & H. O. WILLS LIMITED, of Bedminster, in the City and County of
Bristol, and of 53, 54 and 55, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, (which has been communicated to us from
abroad by The Bonsack Machine Company, of Salem, Virginia, in the United
States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates generally to mechanism for making tobacco cigarettes,
but particularly to mechanism by which the tobacco is taken in the desired
quantity from an irregular, disarranged or undistributed mass and is brought into
a web like condition of substantially uniform thickness and consistency, and is
then removed from the web condition and showered, thrown or otherwise de-
posited upon a receiving surface in such quantity and arrangement or disposition
that when properly compressed it will produce short fillers adapted for single or
individual cigarettes, which may be either conical or straight; or, by a modifica-
tion of the mechanism the tobacco will be brought into condition to produce a
long, or continuous filler, adapted to be enclosed in a long wrapper strip, and then
cut into lengths for cigarettes.
:
In producing the short fillers for individual cigarettes, the surface which re-
ceives the tobacco, as it is removed from the web condition, consists of a series of
compartments in each of which a quantity of tobacco, called a parcel sufficient
for a single cigarette filler, is deposited and so arranged or disposed by means
of devices interposed between the compartments and the web from which the
tobacco is taken, that each parcel will have when compressed, the desired shape
either for a conical or a straight cigarette.
For producing the continuous filler, adapted to be enclosed in a continuous
wrapper strip or ribbon, the surface upon which the tobacco is received is not
divided into compartments, but is a plain moving surface on which the tobacco
is deposited to form a stream of substantially uniform quantity at any cross-
section, the quantity being such that when the stream is brought together and
compressed, it will form a long rod of the size and shape designed for a continuous
cigarette filler. The construction by which the tobacco is taken from the web
condition and brought into the disposition for compressing into a continuous filler,
may be regarded as simply a modification of the construction for disposing the
tobacco in parcels adapted to form short fillers and will be so described herein-
after.
The construction and operation of the mechanism for producing and delivering
parcels for short fillers for individual cigarettes will first be described and after-
wards the modified construction for arranging or disposing the tobacco for a con-
tinuous filler will be fully set forth.
A hopper is supported upon the frame of the machine, and is adapted to receive
obacco to be operated upon to form cigarette fillers. Cylinders or rolls are
arranged to rotate in the hopper, one of these cylinders being designated the feed

page_text: cylinder and the other cylinder the filling cylinder. These cylinders are arranged
so that their adjoining surfaces will be quite near each other, and they revolve
upon their axes in the same direction,--which causes their contiguous surfaces
to move in opposite directions. The surface of the feed cylinder is roughened
which may be done by providing 'it with rows of teeth which preferably incline
in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder. The surface of the filling cylinder
is also preferably provided with short teeth or other roughened surface, the teeth
being inclined in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cylinder.
The feed cylinder is connected with the 'driving mechanism so as to rotate con-
tinuously, but the filling cylinder is arranged to rotate intermittently, preferably
having a peripheral speed, when moving, greater than that of the feed cylinder
for the purpose hereinafter set forth. There is also a brush roll arranged to
operate in connection with the filling cylinder to remove; therefrom any particles
or fibres of tobacco which may be retained thereon. A stripper roll provided
with teeth 'arranged to' operate between the teeth of 'the feed 'cylinder, rotates in
connection therewith. The feed cylinder occupies the bottom part of the hopper,
the upper part of its periphery being in position to receive and support the mass
of tobacco as it is placed in the hopper while its lower part is in close proximity
with the wall of the hopper which is preferably curved concentrically with the
surface of the said feed cylinder and operates to carry any tobacco, which drops
upon the bottom of the hopper from the feed cylinder, or from the stripper roll,
back into the mass. The filling cylinder is arranged above and somewhat in
front of the feed cylinder, and preferably in such relation thereto that the teeth
of their contiguous surfaces are nearly in contact. The brush roll is preferably
situated near the upper surface of filling cylinder, and the stripper roll is situated
in front of the feed cylinder. Above the stripper roll is preferably situated a
presser of comb-like construction secured to the end walls of the hopper and
provided with teeth arranged to act between the rows of teeth of the feed
cylinder and press upon the tobacco and prevent its uneven removal by the
stripper roll.
The moving parts above described may be connected to the prime motor and
driven as follows: --The main shaft is driven from a pulley, and the brush roll
is secured to rotate with this shaft, while on its opposite end a pulley is con-
nected by a crossed bolt to a pulley on the shaft of the stripper roll, a pulley on
the opposite end of this shaft being connected by a belt to a pulley on the shaft
from which the feed cylinder and the filling cylinder are driven through a feed
regulating device, the construction and connection of these parts being
follows:
as
The last named shaft carries a coned pulley which is preferably connected by
a crossed-belt to a second coned pulley fixed to an adjustably suspended shaft
carrying a pinion, the said suspended shaft turning in sleeves on the free ends of
arms fixed to a rock shaft, journalled in the frame of the machine. The said
- suspended shaft is made adjustable to give and maintain the desired tension on
the belt which drives the coned pulleys, and this adjustment is controlled by a
spring attached at one of its ends to a suitable bar or the like while its other
end is secured to an arm fixed to the aforesaid rock-shaft, the latter carrying
a gear wheel and pinion, said pinion engaging and driving a gear wheel on a shaft,
journalled in the frame of the machine, which shaft carries a sprocket wheel
connected by a chain belt to a second sprocket wheel arranged to revolve on a
stud. Mounted on an eccentric on the hub of the second sprocket wheel, is a
pawl so arranged in relation to a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft which carries
the filling cylinder, that each revolution of the sprocket wheel, will give the free
end of the pawl, which engages the successive teeth of the ratchet wheel, a forward
thrust to intermittently rotate the filling cylinder, a retaining pawl being provided
to prevent reverse rotation. The feeding cylinder is driven from a pinion mounted
on the hub of the said sprocket wheel, and said pinion engaging with and
driving a gear wheel mounted on a stud carrying a pinion, which latter drives a

page_text: gear wheel fixed to the shaft, on which the feed cylinder is mounted. The driving
connections of the feed and filling cylinders with the hub of the said sprocket
wheel are such that the filling cylinder is rotated' intermittently, while the feed
cylinder is rotated continuously, and the speed of the surface of the filling
cylinder when it is in motion is preferably somewhat greater than that of the
feed cylinder, which two conditions of operation are considered desirable.
The belt which connects the conc pulleys is moved along the surface of the
said pulleys in order to increase or decrease the speed of the aforesaid suspended
shaft, and the speed of the rotation of the feed and filling cylinders through their
connections with the said suspended shaft, such movement of the belt being
effected by means of any device adapted for this purpose, such as a screw-threaded
nut carrying arms arranged to push or pull against the belt, the said nut being
moved by a' screw-threaded shaft.
The function of the devices thus far described is to measure from the tobacco
in the hopper certain definite and determined quantities thereof and to dispose
cf it in a uniform web-like condition on the surface of the feed cylinder and
between the teeth thereof, and to uniformly remove it therefrom and shower or
deliver it upon a receiving surface for the purposes hereinafter more fully des-
cribed, and the operation of these devices is briefly as follows:-
:
Fibrous tobacco adapted for cigarettes, generally in an irregular, disarranged or
undistributed mass, is placed in the hopper, which by its shape causes it to rest
upon the surface of feed cylinder, and as this cylinder rotates its teeth draw or
comb a surplus of tobacco from the mass and carry it to the filling cylinder and
into the bite of the feed and filling cylinders. The filling cylinder, during each
of its short periods of rest from rotation, forms a stationary guide which operates
to press or force the fibrous tobacco down between the teeth of the feed cylinder
as the tobacco is carried forward by the continuous rotation of the latter cylinder,
so as to more fully and uniformly fill the teeth than would be done were the
rotation of the filling cylinder continuous, while any undesired quantity or surplus
of tobacco which has been carried forward between the cylinders is swept or
forced backward towards the main mass by the quick short rotation of the filling
cylinder. The periods of rest and movement of the filling cylinder are of very
brief duration; but are sufficient on the one hand to enable the teeth of the feed
cylinder to become fully filled, and on the other hand to prevent too much surplus
tobacco from passing the bite of the cylinders, and the web or sheet of tobacco
from being too much condensed. The result of this operation is to form the
tobacco into a web of substantially uniform consistency and thickness on the
surface of the feed cylinder, the thickness of the web being substantially equal
to the projection of the teeth of the cylinder, and its width equal to the length
thereof. After the web of tobacco has been thus formed it is advanced by the
rotation of the feed cylinder underneath the compresser comb, and thence to
the stripper roll, whose teeth intermesh with those of the feed cylinder, and co-
acting with the compresser teeth uniformly remove the tobacco therefrom and
shower it down in a light fibrous condition suitable for cigarette fillers.
As the speed of the feed cylinder and the stripper roll are continuous and the
tobacco is continuously presented to the stripper roll in a web of substantially
uniform thickness and consistency, the stripper roll operates to remove from the
feed cylinder and shower down uniform quantities of tobacco.
The feed cylinder furnishes a continuously travelling surface provided with
projecting teeth which can be filled with tobacco to form a web of substantially
uniform thickness and consistency and the filling cylinder provides an inter-
mittently travelling surface so arranged relatively to and co-operating with the
surface of the feed cylinder, as to fully and uniformly fill the teeth of the latter
with the desired quantity of tobacco, while the stripper roll operates to remove
the web of tobacco from between the teeth of the travelling surface of the feed
cylinder, and uniformily shower it upon any receiving surface placed beneath it.
It is not essential that these travelling surfaces be cylindrical; they may be of

page_text: any suitable shape provided they co-operate to produce the above described
results.
We will now describe the preferred form of the mechanism or devices by which
the tobacco, as it is uniformly removed from the stripper roll is received and
divided into parcel's upon a receiving surface in the desired quantity and shape
for short fillers for individual cigarettes, and the devices or mechanism by, which
such parcels are discharged or removed from the receiving surface and delivered
to mechanism by which they are compressed to their final shape and thus pre-
pared to be associated with wrappers to form completed cigarettes.
Beneath the stripper roll lies an endless apron or belt, preferably running
parallel with the axis of the roll, and passing over drums journalled in attach-
ments properly secured to the opposite ends of a piece fixed to the main frame
of the machine. This apron is divided into a number of equal compartments by
transverse partitions in length substantially equal to, or slightly longer than,
the length of the fillers desired and centrally secured to the body of the apron in
any desired manner, but preferably by screws counter sunk in cleats on the under-
side of the apron which screws pass through the apron, and are then screwed
into the partitions. The apron may be of leather or any suitable flexible material,
and the partions and cleats may also be of any suitable material, such as wood,
brass, aluminium, or the like. This compartment apron is arranged to un
between side guides, which operate to prevent the tobacco from falling out of
the ends of the compartments while the free and unobstructed edges of the apron
preferably run in narrow grooves.
The shape of the partitions is preferably such that the bases of the partitions
are sufficiently broad to receive the clamping screws, while their sides converge
to form thin edges so that only very limited surfaces will be presented for the
lodgment of fibres or particles of tobacco. A small brush roll may be employed
to remove any fibres of tobacco which may be retained upon the edges, and deposit
them in the compartments. If desired this roll may be arranged to revolve by
any suitable connection to the driving mechanism.
Inasmuch as the discharge of the parcels of tobacco from their compartments
and their delivery to mechanism for compressing them to filler form is dependent
upon the movement of the compartment apron, it is important that the apron
be driven in exact unison with the compressing devices and especially that no
slip of the apron on its drums be permitted. For this purpose, the drums are
provided with longitudinal grooves to receive the cleats on the apron, which con-
struction will operate substantially like a sprocket wheel and chain belt, and will
make the advance of the apron positive and exact.
In order to give the desired form to the parcels of tobacco in the apron com-
partments, a deflecting surface is arranged above the partitions of the
apron, the
lower edge of such surface or plate running in a diagonal direction relatively to
the width of the apron or the length of the compartments.
This deflecting
surface or plate is conveniently secured to the guide at the side of the apron
which guide is preferably made removable for the purpose of applying other
deflecting plates of different form and direction, and extends from one end of the
stripper roll towards, but preferably not entirely to, the opposite end thereof,
thereby gradually exposing more of the width of the apron in the direction of
its movement. As the tobacco is showered down by the stripper roll, it falls upon
the deflecting surface and is deposited upon the exposed portion of the apron,
or in the ends of the compartments which are not covered by the deflecting
surface, until the end of the deflecting surface is passed, when the tobacco may
be deposited along the entire length of the compartments. This construction
and operation will deposit parcels of tobacco of equal quantity in each compart-
ment, but the parcels will be larger at one end of the compartment than at the
other and will gradually decrease in size, thereby adapting them to form fillers
for conical or tapered cigarettes for which this construction is more especially
designed.

page_text: A concave guide may be situated beneath the stripper roll, which causes the
fibres of tobacco, as they are removed from the feed cylinder, to be carried by
the stripper teeth from beneath the stripper roll and thrown against the aforesaid
inclined deflecting surface, instead of being showered directly from the stripper
roll, so that the tobacco throughout the whole length of the deflecting surface
falls or slides down such surface and is deposited upon the apron and in the
compartments in parcels which contain an equal quantity of tobacco throughout
their length and are thereby adapted to form short straight cigarette fillers, or
fillers of uniform diameter as distinguished from conical fillers.
It is desirable for the purpose of maintaining the shape of the parcels of tobacco,
as well as to conform to the desired movements of the filler compressing mechanism,
to discharge each parcel from its compartment and deliver it in a single mass,
rather than in a shower or in driblets, and for this reason it is preferred that the
discharging devices be intermittent in their operation; it is also desired that no
incomplete parcels, such as may be deposited in the compartments in starting or
stopping the machine, be delivered to the compressing mechanism, and the follow-
ing devices are provided for accomplishing these results. A spout or chute is
situated below the apron drum, and leading from the said apron to the compress-
ing mechanism, the mouth or upper opening of this spout being alternately closed
and opened to each compartment by any suitable devices, such as a swinging door
fixed to a journalled shaft and operated by a rotating cam, through an armi fixed
to the said journalled shaft and held in position by a spring attached to a locking
arm situated at the opposite end of the said shaft, the cam being fixed to a sleeve
arranged to rotate on a stud as hereinafter more fully described. The door is
curved, so that when in its closed position the edges of the compartments of the
apron will sweep over its interior surface and in such proximity thereto as to
remove the parcels of tobacco therefrom. Between the free end of the door and
any one of the partitions which has passed this point, is an opening through which
the parcels can be successively raked out by the moving partitions and discharged,
in case they are incomplete or for any reason it is impracticable to deliver them
to the compressing mechanism and the door can at any time be swung into and
locked in position to effect and maintain this discharge, by throwing down a
pivotted handle which will bring a part connected with the handle in contact
with a shoulder stop in connection with the door, and by thus locking the door
in position, a continuous discharge of the parcels through the opening is effected.
When it is desired to bring the devices into position to discharge the parcels into
the spout and thus deliver them to the compressing mechanism the handle is
thrown backward and the door is unlocked from its closed position and brought
under the control of the cam, as above described the rotation of the cam being
so timed relatively to the movement of the apron that when the parcel of one
compartment, and only one, rests on the door, it will be swung open, by a spring
aided by gravity, into such position that the parcel will be discharged at once
or in a single body into the spout and be delivered to the compressing mechani m.
It is important to the proper discharge of the parcels from their several com-
partments that the side guides opposite the ends of the drum be cut away or
provided with recesses to give clearance to the ends of the parcels so that they
will not drag on the walls of the guides or the fibres of tobacco he pinched
between the ends of the partitions and the walls of the guides, it being essential
that the ends of the parcels be free to fall by gravity as the apron passes around
the drum.
It is preferred that the chute, through which the parcels fall as they pass from
the discharging mechanism to the compressing mechanism, be slightly narrower
at its lower than at its upper end in order that the tobacco at the ends of the
parcels may be "evened up" and somewhat concentrated so that the ends of the
completed cigarettes will be well filled, which is important. This is easily effected
by making the edge walls of the chute to gradually and slightly converge toward
the bottom of the chute.

page_text: The filler compressing mechanism may be of any construction and operation adapted
to receive the parcels of tobacco and compress them to the desired extent for cigarette
fillers for example it may consist generally of a series of moulds mounted in a
holder arranged on a shaft to rotate horizontally and intermittently, the moulds,
being composed of two main parts, a stationary part and a sliding part, and means
for operating the latter to open and close the moulds to receive and compress the
tobacco to filler form, also, of a surface. or hopper; for receiving the parcels of
tobacco, a pusher or plunger to bring the parcels underneath the open mould and a
vertically moving plunger to push the parcels up between the face of the pusher
and a guide and into the moulds, and means for actuating these devices at the
proper times relatively to the movements of the moulds, the pusher being operated.
through a roller, by the cam face of a wheel, and the plunger being operated by
a vertical slide by a roller running in a groove in the opposite face of the wheel.
As heretofore stated, it is essential that the parcel-discharging and delivering
mechanism be driven in exact unison with the compressing mechanism so that
the successive parcels of tobacco shall always be delivered to the latter mechanism
at such times as the devices thereof are in position to receive and operate upon
them in their proper order of succession. To effect this, the drum which drives.
the compartment apron, is driven through positive and exact operating connec-
tions from the shaft which drives the compressing mechanism, these connections,
being as follows:-
.
A countershaft journalled to the frame of the machine is driven by a bevelled
gear wheel engaging with a corresponding bevel gear wheel on a shaft which
drives the cam wheel of the compressor mechanism, the countershaft carrying
a sprocket wheel connected to and driving by a chain belt, a sprocket wheel fixed
to a sleeve rotating on a stud and carrying a pinion and the cam which drives
the aforesaid delivery door, the pinion engaging with and driving gear wheel
affixed to the shaft of the drum which as before described drives the compartment
apron.
The compressing mechanism is driven from the shaft, which carries one of the
coned pulleys through gear wheels, the latter being fixed to the shaft which
carries the cam wheel which drives the compressing mechanism from the prime
motor of the tobacco measuring and distributing mechanism, but instead of this
connection the compressing mechanism may be driven from a separate motor,
provided the compartment apron be driven from the same motor.
This invention is not limited so far as it relates to the intermittent movement
of the filling cylinder in connection with the feed cylinder to the special con-
struction of these cylinders or to the special connections for driving them herein
described as these can be varied without affecting the principle of the construction
and operation; nor is the invention limited to the construction and operation of
the series of compartments for receiving parcels of tobacco for cigarette fillers to
the special means for depositing the proper quantity of tobacco in such compart
ments or for discharging the same therefrom, nor to the special means of moving.
the compartments from the parcel receiving into the parcel-discharging positions
or to any special mechanism or devices for compressing the parcels into final
filler form, inasmuch as the important features of this part of the invention are
that the tobacco be so disposed in the compartments as to form. parcels of tobacco
of the desired quantity and shape for short cigarette fillers, and that the move-
ments by which the parcels contained in the compartments are advanced, dis
charged, and successively delivered shall be in perfect and exact unison with
those of the compressing mechanism for the reasons herein before fully set forth.
The modification herein before referred to by which the tobacco after it has been
removed from its web condition is deposited upon a moving receiving surface
to form a stream, which when compressed will form a continuous filler rod of a
size and shape to be wrapped in a long or continuous paper strip for a continuous
cigarette which can be cut up into smokable lengths is as follows:-
1.
: h
The arrangement of the hopper, the feed and filling cylinders, the clearing

page_text: roll and the stripper roll, are the same as in the previously described mechanism
for forming parcels of tobacco for individual fillers; and all these parts or devices
can be driven by substantially the same connections from the prime motor. In
both constructions, the tobacco may be taken from an irregular disarranged or
undistributed mass placed in the hopper, and by the operation of the same devices
in both cases, formed into 'a web of substantially uniform thickness and con-
sistency on the surface and between the teeth of the feed cylinder and is uniformly
removed therefrom by the stripper roll, and hence there is no necessity of again
describing this part of the construction and its operation.
The modification referred to relates to those parts of the mechanism which
operate after the stripper roll removes the tobacco from its web condition, and
consists in taking away from the mechanism; the apron divided into compart-
ments, the devices interposed between this apron and the stripper. roll the means
for driving the apron and discharging the parcels from the compartments and
delivering them to compressing mechanism, and in substituting in the preferred
form of the modified construction, for the above named devices, a device situated
below the stripper roll to receive the tobacco therefrom and scatter it over the
surface of an endless apron moving at right angles to the axis of the stripper
roll, devices for uniformly showering or dropping the tobacco, as it is discharged
from the forward end of the apron, into a chute or spout, and depositing it upon a
meving receiving surface, passing beneath the lower end of the chute to form a
stream containing the proper quantity and disposition of tobacco for a continuous
cigarette filler.
The scattering device consists of a roll or cylinder mounted on a shaft journalled
in a bracket attached to the frame and arranged to rotate in a chamber which may
be regarded as a front extension of the hopper. This roll is situated below and
out of engagement with the stripper roll so as to receive the tobacco as it is
removed from the web condition on the feed cylinder and showered downward
by the stripper roll and the peripheral surface of the scattering roll is provided
with wings or projections extending along its length and between which the
tobacco is received, and which assist to scatter it. This roll is preferably rotated
at a greater speed than the stripper roll and operates to scatter the tobacco by
throwing it upward and forward to a considerable distance and to break up and
separate into individual fibres any bunches or small masses which may be re-
moved by the stripper roll, and by scattering the tobacco over a wide area to
deposit it in substantially a uniform sheet upon an endless apron, which is
Fituated beneath and extends forward of the scattering roll and moves substanti-
ally at right angles to the axis of this roll, and forms the bottom of the chamber,
and passes over a rear driven drum and a forward roll while its upper leaf is
supported by a table preferably slightly inclining upward towards its front end
over which the apron runs. The width of the apron is substantially equal to the
length of the stripper and scattering rolls and its edges run close to the interior
side walls of the chamber, so that any fibres or particles of tobacco which may
be scattered against the side walls will be guided down upon and carried forward
by the apron.
Near the forward end of the apron is situated a downwardly extending chute
together with the devices for showering or dropping the tobacco as it is uniformly
discharged from the forward end of the apron into the chute and depositing it
in a stream adapted for a continuous filler upen any suitable moving receiving
surface which will convey it to devices for pressing it into a filler rod, or which
may constitute a part of such pressing devices. The devices for showering or
dropping the tobacco into the chute, as it is discharged from the forward end of
the apron, consist of a plain roll, a toothed roll partially surrounded by a casing,
and a picker roll, these rolls being mounted on shafts to revolve in a bracket
secured to the frame of the machine. This chute is secured in place by any
suitable means but preferably it is removeably secured, by clamping its front
upper edge against an extended projection of the casing, by means of a clamping

page_text: piece secured by a stud or screw to the said casing, and turned into and out of
clamping position by a handle. The chute is further supported on the ends of
arms in contact with its end walls, these arms being secured by end bolts to
hangers attached to the frame bracket.
A convenient surface for receiving the tobacco as it is discharged from the
bottom of the chute, and advancing it in a stream, is an endless plain belt, and
this belt may be employed to co-operate with two vertical converging side belts"
to compress the stream of tobacco as it is advanced, into a continuous filler rod
of the shape desired. There may be an attachment to the bottom of the chute,
with its lower edges projecting between the two side belts, to deliver the tobacco
to the bottom belt.
As the tobacco is preferably delivered when the side belts
are in a converging position, it is desirable to have the bottom or lower edges
of the chute conform to the convergence of the side belts, and the attachment
above referred to is for this purpose and is made adjustable to conform to belts
of greater or less convergence. This attachment consists of parts or plates fixed
at their upper edges to the side walls of the chute, and having their lower edges
extending below the bottom of the chute proper; and these lower edges are
adjusted by screws threaded through rigid cleats and taking against the walls of
the chute. By turning the screws in opposite directions at the opposite ends of
the chute, the lower edges of the attachment will be readily adjusted to conform
to different convergencies of belts or other receptacle into which it is desired to
deliver the tobacco. The belt which constitutes a receiving surface for the
tobacco and the side belts, are preferably of thin sheet steel or brass, and form
a trough-like structure, in which the stream of tobacco is advanced by the simul-
taneous movement of the three belts, the stream being gradually compressed by
the convergence of the side belts, and at the place of greatest convergence, a
wheel may be situated to operate between the side belts and press the contracted
stream of tobacco vertically into a continuous rod-like filler.
This part of the invention is not limited to the special construction of the
devices above described for taking the tobacco from the web condition on the
feed cylinder and depositing it upon a moving receiving surface, to form a stream
for a continuous filler; and especially, it is not limited to any special receiving
surface, or special compressing devices to form the stream into a rod-like filler,
as the main features of this part of the invention consist in taking the tobacco
from its web condition, scattering it to more evenly and uniformly distribute it,
and to uniformly deliver it upon a moving receiving surface to form a continuous
stream containing the desired quantity of tobacco to be compressed by any
suitable means into a rod for a continuous 'filler.
The moving parts connected with the modified construction, as shown in the
drawings, are connected and operated as follows:-The picker roll is driven by
a belt passing over a pulley on the shaft picker roll shaft, and over a pulley on
the shaft of one of the coned pulleys, which is before described as being driven
from the main motor. The scattering roll is driven by a belt passing over a
pulley on its shaft, and over a pulley on the shaft of the picker roll. The drum
at the rear of the apron, and the toothed roll at the front of the apron, are driven
from a sprocket wheel, on the shaft of the feed cylinder, by means of a chain belt
engaging with a sprocket wheel on the said shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft
of the rear apron drum and a sprocket wheel on the shaft of toothed roll, the
chain belt being kept under proper tension by a pressure roller, while the plain
roll is driven by gear on the shaft of the toothed roll, engaging with gear on the
shaft of the said plain roll.
A simplified construction for disposing the tobacco, as it is removed from the
web on the surface of the feed cylinder upon a receiving surface in a stream adapted
to form a continuous filler, is as follows: The chute is arranged in such relation
to the stripper roll that the tobacco as it is removed from the web condition, is
showered down the chute and delivered upon a belt, or upon any other suitable
receiving surface, forming a stream which, when compressed, is adapted to form

page_text: a rod-like filler for a continuous cigarette. It will be seen that the simplified
construction differs from that above described in omitting the scattering roll,
the apron and the special rolls for showering the tobacco into the chute, and the
means of driving these parts, but retains the chute and the receiving surface.
In the aforesaid arrangements as described, the various moving parts are driven
by connections with the driving pulley situated at the top of the machine. Instead
of this arrangement, the power may be applied to any other part of the machine,
as to a main pulley fixed on the shaft of one of the cone pulleys, and by suitable
connections, all the moving parts may be driven from this shaft, which application
of power may be more convenient in certain types of machines. It is immaterial
to the principle and operation of the above described mechanism, at what point
the power is applied, or by what means it is distributed, provided the various parts
are caused to operate, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 26th day of March 1897
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Cigarette Making Machines.
We, W. D. & H. O. WILLS LIMITED, of Bedminster, in the City and County of
Bristol, and of 53, 54 and 55, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to us from
abroad by The Bonsack Machine Co., of Salem, Virginia, in the United
States of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates generally to mechanism for making tobacco cigarettes,
but particularly to mechanism by which the tobacco is taken in the desired
quantity from an irregular, disarranged or undistributed mass and is brought into
a web-like condition of substantially uniform thickness and consistency, and is
then removed from the web condition and showered, thrown, or otherwise de-
posited, upon a receiving surface in such quantity and arrangement or disposition
that when properly compressed it will produce short fillers adapted for single or
individual cigarettes, which may be either conical, or straight; or, by a modifica-
tion of the mechanism, the tobacco will be brought into condition, to produce a
long, or continuous, filler, adapted to be enclosed in a long wrapper strip and then
cut into lengths for cigarettes.
In producing the short fillers for individual cigarettes, the surface which re-
ceives the tobacco, as it is removed from the web condition, consists of a series of
compartments in each of which a quantity of tobacco, called a parcel, sufficient
for a single cigarette filler, is deposited and so arranged or disposed, by means
of devices interposed between the compartments and the web from which the
tobacco is taken, that each parcel will have, when compressed, the desired shape
either for a conical, or a straight cigarette.
For producing the continuous filler, adapted to be enclosed in a continuous
wrapper, strip or ribbon, the surface upon which the tobacco is received is not
divided into compartments, but is a plain moving surface on which the tobacco
is deposited to form a stream of substantially uniform quantity at any cross-
section, the quantity being such that, when the stream is brought together and
compressed, it will form a long rod of the size and shape designed for a continuous
cigarette filler. The construction, by which the tobacco is taken from the web
condition and brought into the disposition for compressing into a continuous filler,

page_text: may be regarded as simply a modification of the construction for disposing the
tobacco in parcels adapted to form short fillers and will be so described herein-
.after.
In order that this invention may be well understood we will describe. with
reference to the accompanying drawings the manner in which it can be performed.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a part of a cigarette machine embodying our
invention, certain parts being shewn, in section.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the parcel-forming apron or belt divided into com-
partments as seen from horizontal section along line 2-2 of Figure. 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevation as seen from the left-hand of Figure 1, the fillér-
compressing mechanism being omitted.
Figure 4 is a cross-section along line 44 of Figure 1 looking towards the
right.
:
.3.
Figure 5 is an end elevation as seen from the right hand of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is an enlarged end view of the parcel-discharging mechanism, certain
parts being broken away and others shewn in section.
Figure 7 is a vertical section along line 7-7 of Figure 6, to shew the con-
struction and operation of the parcel-discharging mechanism, certain parts being
omitted and certain parts being shewn in dotted lines on either side of the
section lines.
Figure 8 is a side elevation as seen from the left-hand of Figure 6.
Figures 9 and 10 are detail views of the compartment apron; and
Figure 11 is a sectional view of a slight change in the mechanism shewn in
Figure 4 for delivering the tobacco to the compartment apron.
All the above named figures on Sheets I to V inclusive of the drawings relate
to the. automatic feed mechanism by which the tobacco is first formed into a web
and is then removed from the web condition and delivered to a series of com
partments forming parcels adapted for individual or short fillers. The following
described figures, on Sheets VI to IX inclusive of the drawings, relate to a
modification of the construction shewn on. Sheets I to V inclusive, in which the
same mechanism is used to bring the tobacco into web-like condition, but after-
wards the tobacco, instead of being delivered into compartments to form parcels
as it is removed from the web, is delivered upon a plain moving receiving surface'
forming stream adapted for a continuous cigarette filler.
Figure 12 is a front elevation of the modified mechanism.
Figure 13 is a cross-section through the line 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a side elevation as seen from the right-hand of Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a side elevation as seen from the left-hand of Figure 12.
Figure 16 is a sectional view on line 16-16 of Figure 15 of a preferred form of
mechanism for compressing the stream of tobacco into a continuous filler rod
after it has been delivered upon the receiving surface, and
Figure 17 is a simplified construction for delivering and disposing the tobacco
un a moving receiving surface in a stream for a continuous filler.
The construction and operation of the mechanism shewn on Sheets I to V
inclusive for producing and delivering parcels for short fillers for individual
cigarettes will first be described, and afterwards the modified construction for
arranging or disposing the tobacco for a continuous filler will be fully set forth.
Referring to the drawings on Sheets I to V inclusive, A is a hopper supported
upon the frame of the machine and forming the upper part thereof, and adapted
to receive tobacco to be operated upon to form cigarette fillers. B and C are
cylinders or rolls constructed and arranged to rotate in the hopper, the cylinder B
being termed the feed cylinder, and the cylinder C the filling cylinder. These
cylinders are arranged so that their adjoining surfaces will be quite near each
other, and they revolve upon their axes in the same direction, which causes their
contiguous surfaces to move in opposite directions. The surface of the feed
cylinder B is provided with rows of teeth which preferably incline in the direction
of the rotation of the cylinder which is indicated by the arrow on Figure 4. The

page_text: surface of the filling cylinder C is also preferably provided with short teeth or
other roughened surface, the teeth being inclined in a direction opposite to the
direction of rotation of the cylinder. The feed cylinder B is connected with the
driving mechanism so as to rotate continuously, but the filling cylinder is
arranged to rotate intermittently, preferably, having a peripheral speed, when
moving, greater than that of the feed cylinder, for the purpose hereinafter set.
forth.
There is also shewn in the drawings a brush roll D arranged to operate in,
connection with the cylinder C to remove therefrom any particles or fibres of
tobacco which may be retained thereon. A stripper roll E, provided with teeth"
arranged to operate between the teeth of the feed cylinder, is arranged to rotate.
in connection therewith. The situation and relative arrangement of these
cylinders or rolls is clearly shewn in Figure 4, in which the cylinder B occupies
the bottom part of the hopper, the upper part of its periphery being in position
to receive and support the mass of tobacco as it is placed in the hopper while its
lower part is in close proximity with the wall of the hopper, which is preferably
curved concentrically with the surface of the said feed cylinder, and operates to
carry any tobacco, which drops upon the bottom of the hopper from the cylinder B
or roll E, back into the mass. The filling cylinder C is arranged above and
somewhat in front of the cylinder B, and preferably in such relation thereto that
the teeth of their contiguous surfaces are nearly in contact. The brush roll D is.
preferably situated near the upper surface of the cylinder C, and the stripper
roll E is situated in front of the cylinder B. Above the stripper roll is preferably
situated a presser of comb-like construction secured to the end walls of the hopper
and provided with teeth arranged to act between the rows of teeth of the feed
cylinder and press upon the tobacco and prevent its uneven removal by the
stripper roll.
As shewn in the drawings, the moving parts above described are connected to
the prime motor and are driven as follows: is the main shaft driven from
pulley, and the brush roll 1) is secured to rotate with this shaft, while on its
opposite end the pulley c is connected by the crossed belt d to the pulley e on
the shaft of the stripper roll E, the pulley f on the opposite end of this shaft
being connected by belt to the pulley h on the shaft i. The feed cylinder 1)"
and the filling cylinder Care driven from the shaft i through a feed regulating
device, the construction and connection of these parts being as follows:-
The shaft i carries a coned pulley which is preferably connected by the cross-
belt k to a second coned pulley fixed to an adjustably suspended shaft m carrying
a pinion n, the said shaft m turning in the sleeves o on the free ends of arms
fixed to the rock-shaft g, journalled in the frame of the machine. The said
shaft m is made adjustable to give and maintain the desired tension on the
belt to drive the coned pulley 1, and this adjustment is controlled by the spring r
attached at one of its ends to the bar s, while its other end is secured to an arm t
which in turn is fixed to shaft g, the latter carrying a gear wheel and pinion v.
the said pinion engaging and driving a gear wheel to on a shaft journalled "
in the frame of the machine, which shaft carries a sprocket wheel y connected.
by a chain belt 2 to sprocket wheel a² arranged to revolve on a stud 2. Mounted
on an eccentric on the hub of sprocket wheel ², is a pawl d² so arranged in.
relation to a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft f which carries the filling.
cylinder C, that each revolution of the sprocket wheel a², will give the free,
end of the pawl, which engages the successive teeth of the ratchet wheel, a
forward thrust to intermittently rotate the cylinder C, a retaining pawl g² being;
provided to prevent reverse rotation. The feeding cylinder B is driven from a
pinion h² also mounted on the hub of the sprocket wheel a² and said pinion
engaging with and driving a gear wheel mounted on a stud carrying a
pinion, which latter drives a gear wheel 12 fixed to the shaft m² on which the
cylinder B is mounted. The driving connections of the cylinders B and C with'
the hub of the sprocket wheel a² are such that the cylinder C is rotated inter-
i

page_text: mittently, while the cylinder B is rotated continuously; and the speed of the
surface of cylinder C when it is in motion is preferably somewhat greater than
that of the cylinder B, which two conditions of operation are considered desirable.
The belt which connects the cone pulleys and is moved along the surface
of the said pulleys in order to increase or decrease the speed of the shaft m,
and the speed of the rotation of the cylinders B and C through their connections
with the shaft m, by means of any device adapted for this purpose, such as a
screw-threaded nut n² carrying arms of arranged to push, or pull, against the belt,
the said nut being moved by a screw threaded shaft p² as shewn in Figures 1
and 4.
The function of the devices thus far described is to measure from the tobacco
in the hopper certain definite and determined quantities thereof and to dispose
of it in a uniform web-like condition on the surface of the cylinder B and between
the teeth thereof, and to uniformly remove it therefrom and shower, or deliver,
it upon a receiving surface for the purposes hereinafter more fully described, and
the operation of these devices is briefly as follows:
-
Fibrous tobacco adapted for cigarettes, generally in an irregular, disarranged
or undistributed mass, is placed in the hopper, which by its shape causes it to
rest upon the surface of feed cylinder B, and as this cylinder rotates its teeth
draw or comb a surplus of tobacco from the mass and carry it to the filling
cylinder and into the bite of the feeding and filling cylinders. The filling
cylinder, during each of its short period of rest from rotation, forms a stationary
guide which operates to press or force the fibrous tobacco down between the
teeth of the feed cylinder, as the tobacco is carried forward by the continuous
rotation of the latter cylinder, so as to more fully and uniformly fill the teeth than
would be, done were the rotation of the filling cylinder continuous, while any
undesired quantity or surplus of tobacco which has been carried forward between
the cylinders is swept or forced backward towards the main mass by the quick
short rotation of the filling cylinder. The periods of rest and movement of the
filling cylinder are of very brief duration, but are sufficient, on the one hand,
to enable the teeth of the feed cylinder to become fully filled, and on the other
hand, to prevent too much surplus tobacco from passing the bite of the cylinders,
and the web or sheet of tobacco from being too much condensed. The result
of this operation is to form the tobacco into a web of substantially uniform
consistency and thickness on the surface of the feed cylinder, the thickness of
the web being substantially equal to the projection of the teeth of the cylinder,
and its width equal to the length thereof. After the web of tobacco has been
thus formed it is advanced by the rotation of the feed cylinder underneath the
compresser comb B₁ and thence to the stripper roll E, whose teeth intermesh with
those of the cylinder B and coacting with the compresser teeth uniformly remove
the tobacco therefrom and shower it down in a light fibrous condition, suitable
for cigarette fillers.
As the speed of the feed cylinder and the stripper roll E are continuous and
the tobacco is continuously presented to the stripper roll in a web of substantially
uniform thickness and consistency, the stripper roll operates to remove from the
feed cylinder and shower down uniform quantities of tobacco.
The cylinder B furnishes a continuously travelling surface provided with pro-
jecting teeth which can be filled with tobacco to form a web of substantially
uniform thickness and consistency, and the cylinder C provides an intermittently
travelling surface so arranged relatively to and co-operating with the surface of
cylinder B as to fully and uniformly fill the teeth of the latter with the desired
quantity of tobacco, while the stripper roll E operates to remove the web of
tobacco from between the teeth of the travelling surface B and uniformly shower
it upon any receiving surface placed beneath it. It is not essential that these
travelling surfaces be cylindrical; they may be of any suitable shape provided
they co-operate to produce the above described results.
We will now describe the preferred form, as shewn in the drawings, of the

page_text: mechanism or devices by which the tobacco, as it is uniformly removed from the
stripper roll is received and divided into parcels upon a receiving surface in
the desired quantity and shape for short fillers for individual cigarettes, and the
devices or mechanism by which such parcels are discharged or removed from the
receiving surface and delivered to mechanism by which they are compressed to
their final shape and thus prepared to be associated with wrappers to form
completed cigarettes.
Beneath the stripper roll E lies an endless apron or belt G, preferably running
parallel with the axis of the roll E, and passing over drums HH journalled in
attachments A³ A properly secured to the opposite ends of a piece I, fixed to the
main frame of the machine. This apron is divided into a number of equal com-
partments by transverse partitions J, in length substantially equal to, or slightly
longer than, the length of the fillers desired, and centrally secured to the body
of the apron in any desired manner, but preferably as shewn in detail in Figures 9
and 10, by screws 72 countersunk in cleats 2 on the underside of the apron which
screws pass through the apron and are then screwed into the partitions J. The
apron may be of leather or any suitable flexible material, and the partitions and
cleats may also be of any suitable material, such as wood, brass, aluminium or
the like. This compartment apron is arranged to run between side guides a³, a³
and b, b, which operate to prevent the tobacco from falling out of the ends of
the compartments, while the free and unobstructed edges of the apron preferably
run in narrow grooves c', c, as seen in Figure 4.
The shape of the partitions J is preferably such as is shewn in cross section
in Figure 10, in which the bases of the partitions are sufficiently broad to receive
the clamping screws while their sides converge to form thin edges as rt, so
that only very limited surfaces will be presented for the lodgment of fibres or
particles of tobacco. A small brush roll, as R conveniently fixed on the walls A+,
as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 7, may be employed to remove any fibres of
tobacco which may be retained upon the edges and deposit them in the com-
partments. If desired this roll may be arranged to revolve by any suitable con-
nection to the driving mechanism.
Inasmuch as the discharge of the parcels of tobacco from their compartments
and their delivery to mechanism for compressing them to filler form is dependent
upon the movement of the compartment apron, it is important that the apron be
driven in exact unison with the compressing devices and especially that no slip
of the apron on its drums be permitted. For this purpose, the drums H and H
are provided with longitudinal grooves K to receive the cleats 2, which construc-
tion will operate substantially like a sprocket wheel and chain belt, as seen in
Figures 1 and 7, and will make the advance of the apron positive and exact.
In order to give the desired form to the parcels of tobacco in the apron com-
partments, a deflecting surface L is arranged above the partitions J of the apron G,.
the lower edge of such surface or plate running in a diagonal direction relatively
to the width of the apron or the length of the compartments. This deflecting
surface or plate is conveniently secured to the guide which guide is preferably
made removeable for the purpose of applying other deflecting plates of different
form and direction, and extends from one end of the stripper roll E towards, but
preferably not entirely to, the opposite end thereof, thereby gradually exposing
more of the width of the apron in the direction of its movement, as seen in plan
in Figure 2. As the tobacco is showered down by the stripper roll, it falls upon
the deflecting surface and is deposited upon the exposed portion of the apron, or
in the ends of the compartments which are not covered by the deflecting surface,
until the end of the deflecting surface is passed, when the tobacco may be
deposited along the entire length of the compartments. This construction and
operation will deposit parcels of tobacco of equal quantity in each compartment,.
but the parcels will be larger at one end of the compartment than at the other
and will gradually decrease in size, thereby adapting them to form fillers for

page_text: conical or tapered cigarettes for which this construction is more "especially
designed.
A slight change in the construction above described is shewn in Figure 11 of
the drawings, in which a concave guide M is situated beneath the stripper roll E
which causes the fibres of tobacco, as they are removed from the feed cylinder B
to be carried by the stripper teeth from beneath the stripper roll and thrown
against the inclined deflecting surface L, instead of being showered directly from
the stripper roll, as in the construction where the concave is omitted, as shewn in
Figures 2 and 4 so that the tobacco throughout the whole length of the deflecting
surface L falls or slides down such surface and is deposited upon the apron and in
the compartments in parcels which contain an equal quantity of tobacco through-
out their length and are thereby adapted to form short, straight cigarette fillers,
or fillers of uniform diameter as distinguished from conical fillers:
It is desirable, for the purpose of maintaining the shape of the parcels of
tobacco, as well as to conform to the desired movements of the filler compressing
mechanism; to discharge each parcel from its compartment and deliver it in a
single mass, rather than in a shower or in driblets, and for this reason it is
preferred that the discharging devices be intermittent in their operation; it is
also desired that no incomplete parcels, such as may be deposited in the compart-
ments in starting or stopping the machine, be delivered to the compressing
mechanism, and devices are shewn in Figures 1, 6, 7 and 8, on Sheets I and V
for accomplishing these results. In these figures, N is a spout or chute situated
below the drum H and leading from the said apron to the compressing mechanism,
the mouth or upper opening of this spout being alternately closed and opened
to each compartment by any suitable devices, such as a swinging door operated
by suitable mechanism. As shewn in the drawings, the door is fixed to a
shaft P journalled in the attachment A, and operated by a rotating cam R
through an arm S fixed to shaft P and held in position by a spring Tattached
to a locking arm U situated at the opposite end of the shaft P, as shewn in
Figure 8, the cam R being fixed to a sleeve V arranged to rotate on a stud W,
as hereinafter more fully described. The door O is curved so that, when in its
closed position, the edges of the compartments J will sweep over its interior
surface and in such proximity thereto as to remove the parcels of tobacco there-
from. Between the free end of the door O and any one of the partitions J which
has passed this point, as seen in Figure 7, is an opening X through which the
parcels can be successively raked out by the moving partitions and discharged,
în case they are incomplete or for any reason it is impracticable to deliver them
to the compressing mechanism, and the door O can at any time be swung into
and locked in position to effect and maintain this discharge, by throwing down
the the handle 3 pivoted to the attachment A which will bring the part 2 in
contact with the part 2, which is provided with a shoulder stop w², and by thus
locking the door O in position, as shewn in Figure 7, a continuous discharge
of the parcels through the opening X is effected. When it is desired to bring the
devices into position to discharge the parcels into the spout N and thus deliver
them to the compressing mechanism, the handle 2 is thrown backward and the
doer is unlocked from its closed position and brought under the control of
the cam R, as above described and shewn in Figure 8, the rotation of the cam
being so timed relatively to the movement of the apron & that when the parcel
of one compartment, and only one, rests on the door, it will be swung open by
the contraction of a spring T aided by gravity, into the position shewn in dotted
lines in Figure 7, and the parcel will be discharged at once or in a single body
into the spout N and be delivered to the compressing mechanism.
It is important to the proper discharge of the parcels from their several com-
partments that the side guides and 5 opposite the ends of the drum H be cut
away or provided with recesses to give clearance to the ends of the parcels,
so that they will not drag on the walls of the guides, or the fibres of tobacco bé
pinched between the ends of the partitions J and the walls of the guides 64 65, it

page_text: being essential that the ends of the parcels be free to fall by gravity as the apron
passes around the drum.
It is preferred that the chute N, through which the parcels fall as they pass
from the discharging mechanism to the compressing mechanism, be slightly
narrower at its lower than at its upper end, in order that the tobacco at the ends
of the parcels may be "evened up and somewhat concentrated so that the ends
of the completed cigarettes will be well-filled, which is important. This is
easily effected by making the edge walls of the chute to gradually and slightly,
converge toward the bottom of the chute, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 6.
The filler-compressing mechanism may be of any construction and operation
adapted to receive the parcels of tobacco and compress them to the desired extent
for cigarette fillers. In Figure 1, at the left-hand and near the bottom thereof,
is shewn a part of a mechanism for this purpose. This mechanism, as shewn
in Figure 1, consists generally of a series of moulds a³, mounted in a holder 63
arranged on a shaft to rotate horizontally and intermittently, the moulds being
composed of two main parts, a stationary part d³ and a sliding part e³, and means for
operating the latter to open and close the moulds to receive and compress the
tobacco to filler form; also, of a surface or hopper f³ for receiving the parcels of
tobacco, a pusher or plunger g³ to bring the parcels underneath the open mould
and a vertically moving plunger h³ to push the parcels up between the face of the
pusher and a guide and into the moulds, and means for actuating these
devices at the proper times relatively to the movements of the moulds, the
pusher being operated through a roller & by the cam face of the wheel ³ and
the plunger being operated by a vertical slide m³ operated by a roller running
in a groove in the opposite face of wheel ³.
As hereinbefore stated, it is essential that the parcel-discharging and delivering
mechanism be driven in exact unison with the compressing mechanism, so that
the successive parcels of tobacco shall always be delivered to the latter mechanism
at such times as the devices thereof are in position to receive and operate upon
them in their proper order of succession. To effect this, the drum H which drives
the compartment apron G, is driven through positive and exact operating con-
nections, from the shaft A which drives the compressing mechanism, these con-
nections, as shewn in the drawings, heing as follows:-
A countershaft 3 journalled to the frame of the machine is driven by a bevelled
gear wheel o³ engaging with a corresponding bevel gear wheel p³ on a shaft A²,
the countershaft carrying a sprocket wheel connected to and driving, by a
chain belt, a sprocket wheel 3 fixed to a sleeve V rotating on a stud W and
carrying a pinion and the cam R, the pinion 3 engaging with and driving
gear wheel w³ affixed to the shaft of the drum H, which, as before described,
drives the compartment apron G.
As shewn in the drawings, the compressing mechanism is driven from the
shaft i, which carries the coned pulley through the gear wheels and y. the
latter being fixed to the shaft A2, thus driving the compressing mechanism from
the prime motor b of the tobacco measuring and distributing mechanism, but
instead of this connection the compressing mechanism may be driven from a
separate motor, provided the compartment apron G be driven from the same
motor.
This invention is not limited so far as it relates to the intermittent movement
of the filling cylinder C in connection with the feed cylinder B, to the special
construction of these cylinders, or to the special connections for driving them
herein described and shewn in the drawings, as these can be varied without
affecting the principle of the construction and operation: nor is the invention
limited to the construction and operation of the series of compartments for re-
ceiving parcels of tobacco for cigarette fillers to the special means for depositing
the property quantity of tobacco in such compartments or for discharging the
same therefrom, nor to the special means of moving the compartments from the
parcel-receiving into the parcel-discharging positions, or to any special mechanism

page_text: or devices for compressing the parcels into final filler form, inasmuch as the
important features of this part of the invention are that the tobacco be so disposed
in the compartments as to form parcels of tobacco of the desired quantity and
shape for short cigarette fillers, and that the movements by which the parcel's
contained in the compartments are advanced, discharged, and successively delivered
shall be in perfect and exact unison with those of the compressing mechanism
for the reasons hereinbefore fully set forth.
The modification herein before referred to, of the above described mechanism is
fully shewn in Figures 12 to 17 of Sheets VI to IX inclusive of the drawings,
by which the tobacco after it has been removed from its web condition is deposited
upon a moving receiving surface to form a stream, which when compressed will
form a continuous filler rod of a size and shape to be wrapped in a
long or
continuous paper strip for a continuous cigarette which can be cut up into
smokable lengths.
Referring to the drawings on Sheets VI to IX, it will be seen that the con-
struction and arrangement of the hopper A, the feed and filling cylinders B
and C, the clearing roll D and the stripper roll E, are the same as in the previously
described mechanism for forming parcels of tobacco for individual fillers; and
that all these parts or devices are driven by substantially the same connections from
the prime motor b. In both constructions, the tobacco may be taken from an irregular
disarranged or undistributed mass placed in the hopper, and by the operation
of the same devices, in both cases, formed into a web of substantially uniform
thickness and consistency on the surface and between the teeth of the feed
cylinder B, and is uniformly removed therefrom by the stripper roll E, and hence
there is no necessity of again describing this part of the construction and its
operation.
The modification referred to relates to those parts of the mechanism which
operate after the stripper roll removes the tobacco from its web condition, and
consists in taking away from the mechanism as shewn in Sheets I to V inclusive,
the apron G divided into compartments, the devices interposed between this apron
and the stripper roll E, the means for driving the apron and discharging the
parcels from the compartments and delivering them to compressing mechanism,
and in substituting, in the preferred form of the modified construction, for the
above named devices, a device situated below the stripper roll to receive the
tobacco therefrom and scatter it over the surface of an endless apron moving at
right angles to the axis of the stripper roll, devices for uniformly showering or
dropping the tobacco, as it is discharged from the forward end of the apron, into
a chute or spout and depositing it upon a moving receiving surface passing beneath
the lower end of the chute to form a stream containing the proper quantity and
disposition of tobacco for a continuous cigarette filler.
By referring again to Sheets VI. to IX inclusive, we will now point out and
more fully describe these substituted parts and the connections and means by
which they are driven.
1 represents a scattering device, which, as shewn, consists of a roll or cylinder
mounted on a shaft 2 journalled in a bracket attached to the frame and arranged
to rotate in a chamber 3 which may be regarded as a front extension of the
hopper A. This roll is situated below and out of engagement with the roll E,
so as to receive the tobacco as it is removed from the web condition on the
cylinder B and showered downward by the roll E, and the peripheral surface of
the roll 1 is provided with wings or projections 4 extending along its length and
between which the tobacco is received and which assist to scatter it. This roll
is preferably rotated at a greater speed than the stripper roll E, and operates to
scatter the tobacco by throwing it upward and forward to a considerable distance,
and to break up and separate into individual fibres any bunches or small masses
which may be removed by the stripper roll, and by scattering the tobacco over a
wide area to deposite it in substantially a uniform sheet upon the endless apron 5.
The apron 5 which is situated beneath and extends forward of the scattering

page_text: roll 1 and moves substantially at right angles to the axis of this roll, and forms
the bottom of the chamber 3, and passes over a rear driven drum 6, and a forward
roll 7, while its upper leaf is supported by a table 8, preferably slightly inclining
upward towards its front end over which the apron runs. The width of the apron
is substantially equal to the length of the rolls E and 1, and its edges run close
to the interior side walls of the chamber 3, so that any fibres or particles of
tobacco which may be scattered against the side walls will be guided down upon
and carried forward by the apron.
Near the forward end of the apron 1 is situated the downwardly extending
chute 9, together with the devices for showering or dropping the tobacco as it
is uniformly discharged from the forward end of the apron into the chute and
depositing it in a stream adapted for a continuous filler upon any suitable moving
receiving surface which will convey it to devices for pressing it into a filler rod,
or which may constitute a part of such pressing devices. The devices as shewn,
for showering or dropping the tobacco into the chute as it is discharged from the
forward end of the apron, consist of a plain roll 10, a toothed roll 11, partially
surrounded by a casing 12, and a picker roll 13, these rolls being mounted on
shafts to revolve in a bracket secured to the frame of the machine. This chute is
secured in place by any suitable means, but preferably it is removably secured, as
shewn in the drawings, by clamping its front upper edge against an extended
projection 14, of the casing 12, by means of clamping piece 15, secured by a stud
or screw to said casing, and turned into and out of clamping position by handle 16,
as shewn in Figures 12 and 13. The chute is further supported on the ends of
armis 17, in contact with its end walls, these arms being secured by end bolts to
hangers 18 attached to the frame bracket.
A convenient surface for receiving the tobacco as it is discharged from the
bottom of the chute 9, and advancing it in a stream, is an endless plain belt 19,
shewn in full lines in Figure 13, and this belt may be employed to co-operate
with two vertical converging side belts 20 to compress the stream of tobacco as
it is advanced, into a continuous filler rod of the shape desired. These three belts,
with one set of wheels around which the belts pass, are shewn in dotted lines
in Figure 15, where an attachment to the bottom of the chute is shewn with
its lower edges projecting between the two side belts to deliver the tobacco to
the bottom belt. As the tobacco is preferably delivered when the side belts are
in a converging position, it is desirable to have the bottom or lower edges of the
chute conform to the convergence of the side belts, and the attachment above
referred to is for this purpose and is made adjustable to conform to belts of greater
or less convergence. This attachment, as shewn, consists of the parts or plates 22
fixed at their upper edges to the side walls of the chute and having their lower
edges extending below the bottom of the chute proper, and these lower edges are
adjusted by screws 23 threaded through rigid cleats 24 and taking against the
walls of the chute. By turning the screws in opposite directions at the opposite
ends of the chute, the lower edges of the attachment will be readily adjusted to
conform to different convergencies of belts, or other receptacle into which it is
desired to deliver the tobacco. The belt 19 which constitutes a receiving surface
for the tobacco and the belts 20 are preferably of thin sheet steel or brass, and
form a trough-like structure, in which the stream of tobacco is advanced by the
simultaneous movement of the three belts, the stream being gradually compressed
by the convergence of the side belts, and at the place of greatest convergence a
wheel, as the wheel 21, may be situated to operate between the side belts and press
the contracted stream of tobacco vertically into a continuous rod-like filler. This
construction is shewn in Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings.
This part of the invention is not limited to the special construction of the
devices above described for taking the tobacco from the web condition on the feed
cylinder and depositing it upon a moving receiving surface, such as the belt 19,
to form a stream for a continuous filler; and especially, it is not limited to any
special receiving surface or special compressing devices to form the stream into

page_text: a rod-like filler, as the main features of this part of the invention consist in taking.
the tobacco from its web condition, scattering it, to more evenly and uniformly
distribute it, and to uniformly deliver it upon a moving receiving surface to form
a continuous stream containing the desired quantity of tobacco to be compressed
by any suitable means into a rod for a continuous filler.
The moving parts connected with the modified construction, as shewn in the
drawings are connected and operated as follows:-The picker roll 13 on the
shaft 25, is driven by a belt 26 passing over a pulley 27, also on the shaft 25 and
over a pulley 28 on the shaft i of the coned pulley which is before described as
being driven from the main motor b. The scattering roll 1, mounted on the
shaft 2 is driven by a belt 30 passing over a pulley 31 on the shaft 2, and over a
pulley 32 on the shaft. 25 of the picker roll 13. The drum 6 at the rear of the
apron and the toothed roll 11 at the front of the apron are driven from a sprocket
wheel 33 on the shaft m² of the feed cylinder. B, by means of a chain belt 34
engaging with a sprocket wheel 35 on the shaft of the roll drum 6 and a sprocket
wheel 36 on the shaft of the roll 11, the chain belt being kept under proper
tension by a pressure roller 37, as shewn in Figure 15, while the roll 10 is driven
Ly gear 38 on the shaft of the roll 11, engaging with the gear wheel 39 on the
shaft of the roll 10.
A simplified construction for disposing the tobacco, as it is removed from the
web on the surface of the feed cylinder B, upon a receiving surface in a stream
adapted to form a continuous filler, is illustrated in Figure 17 on Sheet VII of
the drawings, in which the chute 9 is arranged in such relation to the stripper
roller E that, the tobacco as it is removed from the web condition is showered
down the chute and delivered upon the belt 19, or upon any other suitable re-
ceiving surface, forming a stream which, when compressed, is adapted to form
a rod-like filler for a continuous cigarette. It will be seen that the simplified
construction differs from that above described in omitting the scattering roll I,
the apron 5, and the rolls 10, 11 and 13, and the means of driving these parts,
but retains the chute 9 and the receiving surface 19.
As shewn in the drawings, the various moving parts are driven by connections
with the driving pulley b, situated at the top of the machine. Instead of this
arrangement, the power may be applied to any other part of the machine, as to
a main pulley fixed on the shaft of the cone pulley j, and by suitable connec
tions all the moving parts may be driven from this shaft i which application of
power may be more convenient in certain types of machines. It is immaterial
to the principle and operation of the above described mechanism, at what point
the power is applied, or by what means it is distributed, provided the various parts
are caused to operate substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
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. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a continuously travelling feeding surface provided with teeth
and an intermittently travelling filling surface, the said feeding and filling surfaces
being arranged so that their continuous surfaces, will travel in opposite directions,
for the purpose herein before set forth.
2. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described of a continuously travelling feeding surface provided with teeth
and an intermittently travelling filling surface, the said filling and feeding surfaces
being arranged so that their contiguous surfaces will travel in opposite directions
and the speed of the filling surface, when in movement, will be greater than that
of the feeding surface, for the purposes herein before set forth.
3. In cigarette making mechanism the combination substantially as herein-
before described of a continuously rotating feed cylinder provided with teeth and
an intermittently rotating filling cylinder, the cylinders being arranged so that

page_text: their contiguous surfaces will rotate in opposite directions, for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
4. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination, substantially as herein before
described, of a continuously rotating feed cylinder provided with teeth and an inter-
mittently rotating filling cylinder, the cylinders being arranged so that their con-
tiguous surfaces will rotate in opposite directions and the peripheral rotative speed of
the filling cylinder will be greater than that of the feeding cylinder, for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth.
5. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a feed cylinder having its surface provided with teeth, and a
tobacco receiving hopper, in which the cylinder is arranged to rotate, having its
bottom curved concentrically with the surface of the cylinder and in such proximity
thereto that the fibres of tobacco deposited upon the bottom will be carried up-
ward by the revolution of the cylinder.
6. In cigarette making mechanism, a series of compartments adapted to contain
parcels of tobacco of shape and size for forming the desired cigarette fillers, in
combination with means for delivering to the compartments the desired quantity
of tobacco and disposing the same therein in the desired shape for the parcels
and means for discharging the parcels from the compartments.
7. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a series of compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco
for cigarette fillers, and means for delivering thereto, and disposing therein,
quantities of tobacco of shape and size to form parcels adapted upon compression,
to form conical, or tapered, fillers.
8. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a series of compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco
for cigarette fillers, and means for delivering thereto, and disposing therein,
quantities of tobacco to form parcels of the shape and size adapted, upon com-
pression, to form straight cigarette fillers, that is, fillers of uniform diameter
throughout their length.
9. In cigarette making mechanism, an endless apron or belt divided by trans-
verse partitions into compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco of shape
and size for forming cigarette fillers.
10. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described of an endless apron, divided by transverse partitions into com-
partments of substantially the length of the cigarette fillers desired, means for
delivering tobacco to such compartments in quantity and disposition to form
parcels for cigarette fillers and means for discharging the parcels from the
compartments:
11. In cigarette making mechanism, in combination with an endless apron
divided by transverse partitions into a series of compartments adapted to contain
parcels of tobacco in shape and size for cigarette fillers, means for advancing such
compartments and means for discharging the contents therefrom, and side guides
to retain the tobacco in the compartments.
12. In cigarette making mechanism, in combination with an endless apron
divided by transverse partitions into a series of compartments adapted to contain
parcels of tobacco in shape and size for cigarette fillers, means for advancing such
compartments and means for discharging the contents therefrom, and side guides,
to retain the tobacco in the compartments and recesses in the side guides at or
near the place of discharge, to give the desired clearance to the parcels, substantially
as herein before described.
13. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination of a series of compart-
ments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco for cigarette fillers, means for shower-
ing tobacco, a deflecting surface arranged diagonally above the compartments
operating to deliver the showered tobacco in larger quantities to one end of the
compartments than to the other and means for advancing the compartments;

page_text: whereby the parcels formed therein are adapted for conical or tapered cigarette
fillers.
14. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination of an endless apron
carrying a series of compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco for cigarette
fillers, means for advancing the apron, means for showering tobacco and a de-
flecting surface arranged diagonally above the compartments and operating to
deliver the showered tobacco in larger quantities to one end of the compartments
than to the other, whereby the parcels are adapted for conical or tapered cigarette
fillers.
15. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of mechanism for showering tobacco, a series of moving com-
partments for receiving the showered tobacco, a deflecting surface, or plate,
arranged diagonally between the showering mechanism and the compartments and
means for directing the entire shower of tobacco upon the said deflecting surface
substantially throughout its entire length, whereby the showered tobacco will
be thrown upon the deflecting plate and will be delivered therefrom into the com-
partments to form parcels adapted for straight cigarette fillers.
16. In cigarette making mechanism the combination of a stripper roll, such
as E, a concave guide, such as M, arranged beneath the stripper roll, a series of
compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco for cigarette fillers, means for
advancing the same and a deflecting surface, such as L, arranged diagonally between
the guide M and the series of compartiments, whereby the tobacco will be delivered
from the diagonal deflecting surface to the compartments to form parcels adapted
to form straight cigarettes.
17. In cigarette making mechanism transverse partitions of a series of com-
partments adapted to receive showered tobacco for cigarette fillers, the said parti-
tions having broad bases to receive screws or similar securing devices and side
walls converging to a thin or narrow edge, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth.
18. In cigarette making mechanism means for securing vertical transverse
partitions such as J, to an endless apron such as G, to form a series of compart-
ments, which means consist in clamping the apron between cleats such as s², and
the partitions, by means of screws, passing through the cleats, the body of the
apron and into the partitions, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
19. In cigarette making mechanism the combination of an endless apron pro-
vided with transverse cleats such as 2 and a drum for driving an apron such
as H, provided with longitudinal grooves, such as K, adapted to receive the cleats,
whereby the apron will be advanced without slip.
20. In cigarette making mechanism for intermittently discharging parcels of
tobacco from a series of moving compartments, the combination of a door, as 0,
means for bringing the parcels of each compartment successively to rest upon the
door when in its closed position, means for opening the door, to discharge each
parcel as it is brought to rest upon it and mechanism for closing the door before
the next succeeding parcel is brought into discharging position.
21. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a series of moving compartments adapted to contain and
advance parcels of tobacco for cigarette fillers, mechanism for discharging the
complete parcels from the compartments and delivering them to mechanism for
compressing them to filler shape, and mechanism for discharging the incomplete
parcels, whereby they will not be delivered to the compressing mechanism.
22. In cigarette making mechanism for discharging parcels of tobacco from a
series of moving compartments to a compressing mechanism, the combination of
à door, as O, devices for retaining the door closed to the compressing mechanism
for an indefinite period and an opening, such as X, disconnected from the com-
pressing mechanism through which the incomplete parcels can be discharged.
23. In cigarette making mechanism the combination with a series of com-
partments containing parcels of tobacco and arranged to pass around a drum, such

page_text: as H, of a door, such as 0, so curved in its closed position that the ends of the
compartment partitions will sweep over the said door and discharge the parcels
through an opening, such as X, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
set forth.
24. In cigarette making mechanism the combination with mechanism for dis-
posing tobacco in parcels adapted for cigarette fillers and mechanism for com-
pressing the same into filler form, of a chute, such as N, narrower at its lower,
than at its upper end through which the parcels descend, for the purpose of evening
up and concentrating their ends.
25. In cigarette making mechanism the combination with a series of compart-
ments for successively conveying and delivering parcels of tobacco for cigarette
fillers and mechanism for successively compressing the parcels to filler form as
they are delivered thereto, of means for actuating the conveying and delivering
compartments in positive and exact unison with the compressing mechanism,
for the purpose herein before set forth.
26. In cigarette making mechanism the combination with mechanism for
successively compressing parcels of tobacco to filler form and mechanism for
successively delivering the parcels of tobacco thereto, of means for positively actuat-
ing the compressing mechanism, such as the shaft A2 and its connections, and means
for actuating the delivering mechanism positively connected and operating in unison
with the main motor of the compressing mechanism, such as, gear wheels, chain
belt and sprocket wheels, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
27. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of means for bringing an irregular, disarranged, or undistributed.
nass of tobacco to a web-like condition of substantially uniform thickness and
consistency, and means for removing the tobacco from the web in substantially
uniform quantity, and depositing it upon a moving receiving surface in a con-
tinuous stream containing the desired quantity and disposition of tobacco for a
continuous cigarette filler.
28. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a hopper, feed and filling travelling surfaces, such as the
cylinders B and C, by which tobacco placed in the hopper is formed into a web
on the feed surface, a stripper roll, such as E, a chute such as 9, and a moving
receiving surface such as the belt 19, by which the tobacco is uniformly taken
from the web and showered down the chute and upon the receiving surface to
constitute a stream adapted in size and shape to form a continuous cigarette
filler.
29. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a device such as the roll 1, for scattering tobacco, means for
delivering substantially uniform quantities of tobacco to the scattering device, a
moving surface such as the apron 5, on which the scattered tobacco is deposited
in a sheet-like condition and means for bringing the tobacco from the sheet-like
condition into a continuous stream upon a receiving surface, such as the belt 19,
the said stream being of the desired quantity and shape for forming a continuous
cigarette filler.
30. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described, of a scattering roll, provided with wings such as 4, means for
feeding tobacco to such roll, an endless apron arranged beneath, and extending
forward of, such roll at substantially right angles thereto, devices for uniformly
showering or dropping the tobacco as it is discharged from the apron, and a chute
into which the tobacco is dropped and by which it is guided upon a receiving
surface to form a continuous stream adapted for a continuous cigarette filler.
31. In cigarette making mechanism, the combination substantially as herein-
before described of devices for bringing tobacco into a web-like condition, means
for removing the tobacco from the web, such as the stripper roll E, a scattering
roll, such as 1, arranged to rotate at a greater speed than the stripper roll, and out

page_text: of engagement. therewith, an endless apron arranged to move beneath and forward
of the scattering roll and forming the bottom of a chamber, a downwardly pro-
jecting chute, such as 9, situated near the discharge end of the apron, devices for
showering, or dropping, the tobacco uniformly, as it is discharged from the apron,
into the chute and upon a receiving surface, such as the belt 19, to constitute a
continuous stream of tobacco of size and shape adapted for a continuous cigarette
filler.
32. In cigarette making mechanism, a chute, such as 19, provided with adjust-
able sides, whereby shape or capacity of the exit opening at its bottom can be
altered.
33. In cigarette making mechanism, a chute, such as 19, provided with side
pieces extending below the bottom of the chute proper and secured to the walls
of the chute and means, such as the screws 23, for adjusting the lower edges of the
side pieces to alter the size or shape of the chute, exit.
34. In cigarette making mechanism, means for securing a chute, such as 19, in
position to receive. and direct tobacco, which means consist in clamping the upper
edge of one of the sides of the chute to the frame of the mechanism or an attach-
ment thereto, and supporting the end walls of the chute by means of arms, such
as 17, which are also secured to the frame, or some attachment thereto.
Dated this 20th day of January 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.