IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TWISTING OR SPINNING TOBACCO
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Cope, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Tobacco Manufacturer, John Hignett, of the same
Place, Tobacco Manufacturer, and George Lauder, also of the same
Place, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Cope, John
Hignett, and George Lauder at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th October 1869.
We, THOMAS COPE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Tobacco
Manufacturer, JOHN HIGNETT, of the same Place, Tobacco Manufac-
turer, and GEORGE LAUDER, also of the same Place, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR TWISTING OR SPINNING TOBACCO," to be as follows :—
Our improvements consist,―
First. As means for spinning tobacco in the use of a pair of rotating
rolls so disposed that they perform three different functions in the
spinning or manufacture of the so called twist tobacco. These functions

page_text: are (a) producing during the formation of a rope of tobacco a motion
of rotation around its own axis, (b) producing a motion of translation of
the rope of tobacco in the direction of its own axis, and (c) producing
the required amount of compression of the filler at the point where the
wrapper is wound on. The said rolls are mounted in framing in such t
manner that their axes lie in two parallel or nearly parallel planes, but
cross each other at near half the length of the rolls. By preference
we support one roll in fixed pedestals, and the other in a movable
frame, the object being to allow the movable roll to be pressed towards
the one rotating in fixed bearings with a force proportioned to the work 1
to be done. Suitable gearing is provided to drive the rolls at the same
or nearly the same surface speeds and in the same direction of rotation.
Second. Of a self-winding reel to work in combination with the
above described rolls. The said reel and rolls are connected by suitable
gearing, so as to cause one revolution of the twisted rope of tobacco ]
while passing through the rolls to correspond to, or nearly so, one revo-
lution of the reel.
Third. Of a travelling groove to feed or carry forward the filler of
tobacco to the above described rolls. The said groove may be formed
in a band, or in the periphery of a drum, or on the face of a disc, or by
placing two, three, or more bands alongside each other, and in some
cases for the purpose of squeezing the filler into less compass we employ
a pressure roll.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Cope, John Hignett, and George Lauder in 2
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
COPE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Tobacco Manufacturer,
JOHN HIGNETT, of the same Place, Tobacco Manufacturer, and GEORGE
LAUDER, also of the same Place, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
g

page_text: and grant unto us, the said Thomas Cope, John Hignett, and George
Lauder, Her special license that we, the said Thomas Cope, John
Hignett, and George Lauder, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Thomas Cope, John Hignett, and George
Lauder, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TWISTING OR SPINNING TOBACCO,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Cope,
John Hignett, and George Lauder, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Cope, John Hignett, and
George Lauder, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying two Sheets of illustrative Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our improvements consist,-
First. As means for spinning tobacco in the use of a pair of
rotating rolls so disposed that they perform three different functions in
the spinning or manufacture of the so called twist tobacco. These
functions are (a) producing during the formation of a rope of tobacco,
a motion of rotation around its own axis, (b) producing a motion of
translation of the rope of tobacco in the direction of its own axis, and
(c) producing the required amount of compression of the filler at the
point where the wrapper is wound on. The said rolls are mounted in
framing in such manner that their axes lie in two parallel or nearly
parallel planes, but cross each other at or near half the length of the
rolls. By preference we support one roll in fixed pedestals, and the
other in a movable frame, the object being to allow the movable roll
to be pressed towards the one rotating in fixed bearings with a force

page_text: the spinning rolls b at the same or nearly the same surface speeds and
in the same direction of rotation. The core or filler of tobacco p¹ is fed
in the proper quantity to the rolls 6 by hand or by the means hereafter
described, and such rolls transmit the necessary motion of rotation to
give to the said core or filler the required strength and firmness. The
wrapper p' is fed from the timber feed board shewn on the Drawings
between the rolls at about the point where the rolls cross each other,
and it is at this point during the time the wrapper is being wound
around p' that the rolls give the final pressure to finish the rope or
length of tobacco p. The speed of rotation of the reel i, it will be
apparent is in proportion to the speed of the rolls, so that the twist
given by the rolls to the rope or length of tobacco is maintained, and
the bobbin is so adapted as to wind on the said rope or length of tobacco
at the same rate as it is delivered by the rolls. The reel may however
be adjusted to impart a slightly increased twist to the rope or length
of tobacco. It will be obvious, the rolls 6 instead of being cylindrical
may be made with concave surfaces, that is to say, with their least
diameter at about the middle of their length, or of other convenient
form, and that instead of being placed the one over the other they may
be placed alongside or at any intermediate position between, over, and
alongside.
On Sheet B. our improved mechanism for feeding or carrying forward
the filler of tobacco to the rolls is delineated. In all the views on
this Sheet 6 are the twisting or spinning rolls, and p¹ the core or filler
or the loose leaves to form the core or filler of tobacco. Fig. 3 exhibits
a top view of a travelling feed band q carried by two pullies r. Fig. 4
is a plan view, and Fig. 5 a transverse section of a feed discs formed
with a groove t on its face. Fig. 6 is a plan view, and Fig. 7 a side
elevation of a feed drum or pulley u preferably made of considerable size,
formed with a groove on its periphery. Fig. 8 is a plan, and Fig. 9
a transverse section at the line A, B, of a feed arrangement with three
bands to carried on pullies x, and together forming a trough or groove
in which to place the leaves; y is a pressure roll free to rotate in fixed
bearings and adapted to compress the loose leaves just before they receive
the twist from the spinning rolls b.
In all the above feed arrangements the parts in and by which the feed
grooves or trough are formed may be driven so as to supply the core or
filler or the leaves to form the core or filler at the speed at which they

page_text: are transmitted by the rolls, or they may be left free to rotate with the
said core or filler or leaves. And in all of them the attendant feeds and
adjusts the leaves to and in the grooves or trough by hand.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and particu-
larized the same by details which we have found to answer well in 5
practice, we claim, the within described mechanism or any modification
thereof operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Cope, John Hignett, and:
George Lauder, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the 1
Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
Witness,
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
THOMAS COPE.
(L.S.)
JOHN HIGNETT.
(L.S.)
GEORGE LAUDER. (L.S.) 1