An Improved Hand Machine for Making Cigarettes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Machine for Making Cigarettes.
I, JOHN EDWARD RICKARDS of 106 New Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Tobacco and Cigarette Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object an improved hand machine for making cigarettes
by which operatives who have hitherto had no experience in the manufacture of these
articles can after a few minutes practice produce them as quick or much quicker than
those who have had long practice in their production by hand while at the same time
I am enabled to produce by a cheap portable machine cigarettes of any length or
thickness with or without mouthpiece and of any kind of tobacco.
In carrying out my invention I form the bed or body of my machine which may
either be of metal or wood so as to be of sufficient weight to stand steady while being
operated or if made light I may screw it down to the bench or table in any convenient
manner.
I form the top surface of the bed of the same width as the length of the cigarette
required and with a recess at one end and an outwardly curved table at the other and
at the centre from which this curve would be struck I pivot by means of a pin a
double hand lever in which is mounted, a revolving spindle which as the hand lever
is brought over runs parallel to the curved face of the body of the machine. At the
one end of the curved table at of the same width I secure the end of a velcanised
linen band and pass it over the table and revolving-spindle leaving a certain amount
to fall into the recess between the revolving spindle and the table, and I secure the
other end by compressing it beetween a raised portion. of the body and a cross bar
which is tightly pressed upon it by means of two or more thumb screws.
The operation of forming the cigarette is then as follows. The tobacco
pressed
down on to the band and into the recess between the body and the revolving spindle
and the cigarette paper is laid upon the band over the curved table so that as the
hand lever is brought over from the one side to the other the tobacco is rolled by the
action of the band onto the cigarette paper which is in turn rolled round it and
fastened by a solution of starch previously applied untill it is rolled off the table into
a cage formed at the end to receive it when finished.
The ends of the revolving spindle are provided with discs so as to prevent the
tobacco at the ends of the cigarettes falling out and in addition to the handle a stay is
provided between the two sides of the lever so as to keep it perfectly true and rigid
while being brought over.
Different lengths of cigarettes may be rolled by different widths of machines and
the size of the cigarette may be readily adjusted in each machine by means of the
revolving spindle which is mounted in the hand lever upon adjustable bearings so as
to allow of it being brought nearer or taken further away from the circular table as
may be required for the smaller or larger cigarettes being rolled while the equivalent
adjustment can be made in the band by means of allowing a larger or lesser quantity
to press into the press which can readily be effected by means of loosening the thumb
screws pressing upon the cross har which keeps the end tightly in position and which
after readjustinent would be retightened.
I may find it preferable to form the circular table of a wheel which would revolve
as the revolving spindle carried the cigarette over in the bulge of the band or instead
of mounting the revolving spindle upon any adjustable bearing I may use inter-
changeable spindles of different sizes, for effecting the same purpose.
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
An Improved Hand Machine for Making Cigarettes.
I JOHN EDWARD RICKARDS of 106 New Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Tobacco and Cigarette manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the samne is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object an improved hand machine for making cigarettes
by which operatives who have hitherto had no experience in the manufacture of these
articles can after a few minutes practice produce them as quick or much quicker than
those who have had long practice in their production by hand while at the same time
I ain enabled to produce by a cheap portable machine cigarettes of any length or
thickness with or without mouthpiece and of any kind of tobacco.
In carrying out my invention I form the bed or body of my machine which may
either be of metal or wood so as to be of sufficient weight to stand steady while being
operated or if made light I may screw it down to the bench or table in any convenient
inanner.
I form the top surface of the bed of the same width as the length of the cigarette
required and with a recess at one end and an outwardly curved table at the other and
at the centre from which this curve would be struck I pivot by means of a pin a
double hand lever in which is mounted a revolving spindle which as the hand lever is
brought over runs parallel to the curved face of the body of the machine.
At the one
end of the curved table and of the same width I secure the end of a vulcanised linen
band and pass it over the table and revolving spindle leaving a certain amount to fall
into the recess between the revolving spindle and the table, and I secure the other
end by compressing it between a raised portion of the body and a cross bar which is
tightly pressed upon it by means of two or more thumb screws.
The operation of forming the cigarette is then as follows.
The tobacco is pressed down on to the band and into the recess between the body
and the revolving spindle and the cigarette paper is laid upon the band over the
curved table so that as the hand lever is brought over from the one side to the other
the tobacco is rolled by the action of the band onto the cigarette wrapper which is in
turn rolled round it and fastened by a solution of starch or other suitable adhersive
previously applied until it is rolled off the table into a cage formed at the end to
receive it when finished.
The ends of the revolving spindle are provided with discs so as to prevent the
tobacco at the ends of the cigarettes falling out and in addition to the handle a stay is
provided between the two sides of the lever so as to keep it perfectly true and rigid
while being brought over. Different lengths of cigarettes may be rolled by different
widths of machines and the size of the cigarettes may be readily adjusted in each
machine by means of the revolving spindle which is mounted in the hand lever upon
adjustable bearings so as to allow of it being brought nearer or taken further away
from the circular as may be required for the smaller or larger cigarettes being rolled,
while the equivalent adjustment can be made in the band by means of allowing a
larger or lesser quantity to press into the recess which can readily be effected by
means of loosening the thumb screws pressing upon the cross bar which keeps the
end tightly in position & which after readjustment would be retightened.
I may find it preferable to form the circular table of a wheel which would revolve
as the revolving spindle carries the cigarette over in the bulge of the band or instead
of mounting the revolving spindle upon an adjustable bearing I may use inter-
changeable spindles of different sizes for effecting the same purpose.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried into
practice I have appended hereuuto a double sized sheet of drawings upon which I
bave fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through same.

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan of same.
Figure 4 is a section & elevation of the adjustable bearing piece e¹.
Figure 5 shews elevation of a modification in the positions of the slots <².
Upon the base B I mount the curved table A upon the pivots a¹ and upon these
pivots I also mount the handle D by the supports d' in which the spindle E is
mounted in the adjustable bearings el the slot d being provided so that the adjustable
bearing may be secured in the desired position with regard to the curved table A
which is effected by the thumb screw e² or the spindles E may be made interchangeable
of different sizes. The slots de may take a direction at an angle to the supports d' as
shewn by d & so that upon adjustment being made the spindle E is at the same
time adjusted backwards or forwards as the case may be or the spindles E may be
mounted in a pivot sliding in the slot D. The table A may be allowed to revolve as
the handle is being brought over to form the cigarette but in case of being required
stationary the screw pin may be inserted through a hole in the frame into the
table A or the curve of the table A may be made in one, with the frane. The
vulcanized band F is attached to the base B at the one end at 2 and after passing
over the table A and spindle E the portion f¹ being left loose for the insertion of the
tobacco it is attached to the other end of the base Bat so as to be capable of
adjustment the cage being provided for the reception of the cigarette when
made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. An improved hand machine for making cigarettes consisting of the movable or
fixed table A in combination with the other parts substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shewn.
2nd. In an improved hand machine for making cigarettes the spindles E made
adjustable or interchangeable substantially as & for the purpose herein set forth and
shewn.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.