An Improved Cutting Machine for Cigarettes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cutting Machine for Cigarettes.
I, WILLIAM GOODACRE PLAYER, of Castle Tobacco Factory, Nottingham, in the
County of Nottingham, Tobacco Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (communicated to me by Robert G. Schwarz, of Zollenstrasse, 15,
Dresden) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to an improved cutting device for cigarettes and is
designed for use as an attachment to what are known as continuous cigarette
machines," that is to say machines in which the cigarette is first formed in one
continuous length, and which is afterwards cut up by mechanism co-acting with
the forming mechanism into convenient lengths for smoking.
In carrying the invention into effect a suitable sliding carriage or frame is
mounted upon the frame of the cigarette machine, upon which sliding frame is
mounted a suitable knife caused, at predetermined intervals in the working of
the machine, to come into contact with and cut the continuous cigarette, the knife
during its cutting action travelling in the same direction and at a rate of speed
coincident with the speed at which the cigarette length is propelled by the forming
mechanism. After cutting, and when free of the cigarette, the knife is returned to
its original position ready for the next cut, the knife during its travel describing
horizontally an approximately elliptic arc.
In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are appended
in which:
Fig. 1, is a side view of the cutting device, the knife being indicated in its
lowest position.
Fig. 2, is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a back view.
Fig. 4, is a detail of construction of a part of the machine.
Fig. 5, is a plan of a cam for actuating the knife and carriage supporting same.
Fig. 6, is a detail view showing the lever for actuating the knife.
1, is a shaft which may be either the main or any other suitable shaft of the
cigarette machine, and upon which is mounted the cam 2, shown clearly in Fig. 5.
It will be seen from the drawings that the cam 2, has a vertical circumferential
face 3, and the barrel or body of the cam has in addition a peripheral nose piece
or projecting portion 4.
In contact with the cam face 3, is a roller 5, secured to the vertical rod or
lever 6, which lever is pivotally connected at 7 to the L shaped bracket 8, secured
by bolts or screws to the floor, see Fig. 3. The upper part of the lever 6, has
upon it a pin or stud 9, tapped into the end of the rod and which pin passes into
the bracket 11, which bracket as shown by the sectional view in Fig. 4, has a boss
cast or otherwise formed upon it, the said boss having a horizontal hole 12, formed

page_text: therein, and a hole 13, for the passage therethrough of the pin 9, the edges of
which hole are rounded off where in contact with the pin so as to permit of its free
radial movement.
The bracket 11, is secured by screws 14 to the underside of the carriage 15,
to which carriage is imparted, by the cam and lever aforesaid, a horizontal
reciprocal movement. The carriage 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a
plate supported by arms 17, 18, 19, upon the ends of which are cast or otherwise
secured bosses 20, 21, 22 having horizontal holes formed therein for the passage
therethrough of supporting bars or guides 23, 24, carried by the brackets 25,
26, 27, 28 secured to the side members of the top of the main frame X, and it is
upon these bars that the carriage 15 travels.
Secured to the central plate of the carriage 15, upon its upper side is a guide 29
for the cigarette, and at a convenient distance in advance of the guide is a plate
intended to support the end of the continuous cigarette 30 during the action of
cutting. The cigarette is supported before reaching the guide upon a belt 31,
passing over a pulley 32, actuated by the counter-shaft 33, in its turn receiving
motion through the bevel gears 34, 35, one of which, 34, is secured to the main
shaft 1, see Fig. 2. The forward end of the belt is supported by the pulley 32,
for which a bracket 37 is provided and which may may secured by bolts or the like
to the main frame.
To permit of the free travel of the carriage 15, the central plate is cut away
at 38, Fig. 2.
At the side of the carriage 15, are two arms projecting outwardly and having a
pin 39 passing therethrough which pin supports one end of the swing bracket 40,
forked at its inner end to receive a pulley 41 mounted upon a spindle 42, for
which bearings 43, 44 are formed upon the forked ends and at the outer end of
which spindle is secured the knife 46. Upon the bracket 40, is formed a down-
wardly extending lug or projection 47 within which is formed a radial slot 48
through which passes a bolt or stud 49, serving to effect the attachment to and
adjustment of the bracket 40, with regard to the lever 50, which lever 'has at its
lower end a roller 51, held by a spring 52 in contact with the nose piece 4, upon
the barrel of the cam 2, and by which the vertical movement of the knife is
effected. Motion is imparted to the knife by means of the sheave 53 over which
passes a cord or belt 54 transmitting motion therefrom to the smaller sheave 41,
upon the knife spindle. The sheave 53 is mounted upon a spindle 55 for which
bearings 56, 57 are formed in a bracket 58 secured to the main frame X. The
spindle 55 has also mounted upon it a sheave 59 receiving motion from the shaft 1,
by means of the belt 61 passing over the sheave 60 secured thereto and which
sheave is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, as being secured to the end of the cam 2.
will be seen from the foregoing that the knife has through the carriage 15, and
its operating mechanism a horizontal reciprocal motion, and that it has also
a vertical reciprocal action through the lever 50 in contact with and operated by
the nose piece upon the cam barrel, and the swing bracket secured to and operated
by the said lever.
It
Although certain definite forms and positions of parts have been described and
illustrated, it is obvious that the arrangement and construction of the said parts
may be varied to suit different machines to which the invention may be applied.
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:
a
which
is imparted al
upon
of the
1. In
carriage
machine for cutting continuous cigarettes, a
suitable guides to
reciprocal movement
same speed as the rate of travel of the cigarette, and having a knife secured thereto,
which by suitable mechanism is caused to act intermittently and cut the cigarette
into suitable lengths for smoking, substantially as herein described and shown by
the appended drawings,

page_text: 2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a machine for cutting
continuous cigarettes, all acting constructed and arranged, substantially as herein
described and shown by the appended drawings.
Dated this 18th day of July 1898
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.