IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING TOBACCO, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thomson and James Porteous, both of Edinburgh,
in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Tobacco Manufacturers, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING TOBACCO, AND IN THE
MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
1
Sealed the 10th March 1877, and dated the 27th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thomson and James
Porteous at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November
1870.
ROBERT THOMSON and JAMES PORTEOUS, both of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Tobacco Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANU-
FACTURING TOBACCO, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in manufacturing tobacco and in
the means or apparatus employed therefor, has for its objects to effect the heating
or stoving and pressing of the tobacco in one process and at the same time; and,
further, from the shortness of time required to mature the tobacco in the combined
process, to produce the article ready for sale without the loss of moisture and sub-
stance which obtains under the system hitherto practised.
The apparatus consists of a double-cased box, cylinder, or tube, into the space
between the casings of which steam, hot water, or heated air is admitted, the
tobacco being placed in the form of blocks, rolls, coils, or cakes inside the said box,
cylinder, or tube, when it is subjected to the heat given off from the steam, hot
water, or heated air. While in this position the tobacco is pressed by means of a
ram, piston, or plunger actuated inwards from one end of the box, cylinder, or tube
by a screw, lever, or the mechanical equivalent thereof, the opposite end of the box,
cylinder, or tube being closed by a door firmly secured to resist the pressure; or a
second rain may be applied in lieu of the door. The blocks, coils, or cakes of
tobacco are in this manner pressed and heated at the same time, and may also be
stamped with a name or device by placing corresponding plates between them.
For the purpose of convenience in charging and discharging the tobacco into and
from the heating and pressing box, cylinder, or tube, the latter may be fitted with
truonions, so as to enable it to be readily raised from its bed and moved from one
place to another, or to be tipped as desired.

page_text: Under this process of pressing and storing the "basses" and. pegs hitherto
employed to prevent the rolls or coils of tobacco from coming apart, as also the
whole operation of cording, the rolls previous to pressure, are or may be dispensed
with, while the time necessary for bringing the tobacco to the fit state for sale is
greatly reduced.
Cold water, air, or other cooling media may be admitted between the casings of
the box, cylinder, or tube for the purpose of cooling the tobacco.
Two or more boxes, cylinders, or tubes may be enclosed in one casing through
which the steam, hot water, or heated air circulates; or each box, cylinder, or
tube so enclosed may be provided with a separate heating space, as herein-before
described.
The apparatus constructed under any of the foregoing arrangements may, besides
being used as set forth, also be employed in the damping and "casing" of leaf
tobacco, and in the fermentation of snuff.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Thomson and James Porteous in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th May 1877.
ROBERT THOMSON and JAMES PORTEOUS, both of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Tobacco Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANU-
FACTURING TOBACCO, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,"
Our said Invention, which relates to improvements in manufacturing tobacco,
and in the means or apparatus employed therefor, has for its object to effect tlie
heating or stoving and pressing of the tobacco in one process and at the same time;
and, further, from the shortness of time required to mature the tobacco in the com-
bined process to produce the article ready for sale without the loss of moisture and
substance which obtains under the system hitherto practised.
The apparatus consists of a double-cased box, cylinder, or tube, into the space
between the casings of which steam, hot water, or heated air is admitted, the
tobacco being placed either in the form of blocks, rolls, coils, or cakes inside the
said box, cylinder, or tube, when it is subjected to the heat given off from the steam,
hot water, or heated air. While in this position the tobacco is pressed by means of
a ram, piston, or plunger actuated inwards from one end of the box, cylinder, or
tube by a screw, lever, or the mechanical equivalent thereof, the opposite end of the
box, cylinder, or tube being closed by a door firmly secured to resist the pressure;
or a second ram may be applied in lieu of the door. The rolls, blocks, coils, or
cakes of tobacco are in this manner pressed and heated at the same time, and may
also be stamped with a name or device by placing corresponding plates between
.them.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
At Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is shown a side elevation
of the box, cylinder, or tube employed in our improved method of stoving and
pressing tobacco; Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same showing the blocks, rolls,
coils, or cakes of tobacco in process of stoving and pressing. The cylinder A, sup-
ported on the toes a, is cast with a double shell, and along its sides the longitudinal
stays B are carried, which are slotted at one end to receive the cotters b, which
secure the door C against the end of the cylinder A. To the opposite end of the
stays B is hinged a bracket D, in which works the screw E, the inner end of
which latter fits into a recess formed in the piston or ram head, which bears on the
blocks or cakes G of the tobacco when pressure is exerted by the screw E, as seen

page_text: more particularly at Figure 2. The outer end of the screw E is slotted to receive
the end of a bar or lever for operating it.
At Figure 3 is represented an end view of the said piston or ram head F showing
the handles f, by which it is readily moved from place to place.
Plates J,
having names or devices, are shewn inserted between the blocks or rolls G of the
tobacco for the purpose of leaving on these latter a corresponding impress.
The steam, hot water, or heated air to be employed to stove the tobacco is
admitted to the cylinder A by a pipe attached at the opening H on the top of the
cylinder, and circulates through the space between the two casings of the
cylinder; it is discharged when desired by a pipe attached at the opening K on the
under side of the cylinder, stop-cocks being applied to the pipes to regulate the
admission and discharge.
"Basses" and pegs hitherto employed to preserve the blocks or rolls of tobacco
intact are dispensed with under our said Invention, as also is the whole operation
of cording the said blocks or rolls previous to the pressure, while the effect of the
combined stoving and pressing is to greatly reduce the time necessary for bringing
the tobacco to the marketable condition.
When desired to cool the tobacco cold water or other cooling media may be
admitted between the casing of the cylinder.
Figure 4 is an end view of the cylinder A at the door end showing the mode of
securing the door C by the cotters b.
A modification of our improved cylinder is shown in plan at Figure 5. Under
this arrangement the cylinder A is furnished with a screw E¹ at the door end for
the purpose of exerting pressure on the door C to resist that exerted by the piston
or ram head operated from the opposite end.
It will be obvious that there may be numerous ways in which pressure may be
applied and resisted to effect the same purpose.
The brackets D carrying the screws E are as aforesaid hinged to the stays B, and
are caused to assume a vertical position when the cylinder is being filled or dis-
charged, and the cylinder may be furnished with trunnions to enable it to be readily
raised from its bed for removal, or to be tipped or tilted for convenience in filling
or discharging.
For the production of square or rectangular or other forms of blocks or cakes of
tobacco the box or cylinder is correspondingly shaped, and two or more boxs, cylin-
ders or tubes may be enclosed in one casing through which the steam, hot water, or
heated air circulates; or each box, cylinder, or tube so enclosed may be provided
with a separate heating space, as herein-before described.
The apparatus constructed under any of the foregoing arrangements may, besides
being used as set forth, be employed in the damping and "casing" of leaf tobacco,
and in the fermentation of snuff.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the heating or stoving,
pressing, and maturing of tobacco in one process by subjecting it to pressure in a
double-cased box, cylinder, or tube, between the casings of which a heating medium
is adinitted, substantially as hercin-before described and shown in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Thomson and James Porteous, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventeenth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven
ROBERT THOMSON. (L.S.)
JAMES PORTEOUS.
(L.S.)