IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS." A communication from abroad by Oscar
Hammerstein, of New York City, in the County and State of New York,
United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Oscar Hammerstein, of New York City, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to several improvements in machinery for forming tobacco
into fillers for cigars, and for covering such fillers in an appropriate mould with a
leaf of tobacco, commonly known as the "binder; also to machinery for laying
the binder, and feeding it to a cigar machine. The Invention comprises a new
arrangement of parts for conveying the tobacco from a hopper into a chamber,
which I term the receiving chamber; a new arrangement of said receiving chamber,
whereby the tobacco is prevented from clogging in the outlet therefrom; a new
mechanism for conveying the portions of tobacco that remain in the receiving
chamber back into the hopper; a new construction of intermediate mould for
transferring the filler from the receiving mould to the main cigar mould, said
intermediate mould being provided with mechanism for receiving and applying the
binder, and other features of improvements, which are hereinafter more fully
described. As to the hopper I provide the same with two plungers, one reciprocating
in a vertical, the other reciprocating in a horizontal direction, so that by means of
these plungers the charge of the desired extent may in the proper manner be
deposited in the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is provided with a
rotating finger or fingers, or with stationary fingers for disturbing or separating
the tobacco, so as to prevent it clogging; and the receiving mould is attached to a

page_text: frame, which, when the said receiving mould is in its lowermost position, carries a
pipe in line with the receiving chamber to permit the tobacco which is still in the
receiving chamber to be forced through said pipe back to the hopper. The
receiving mould discharges into an intermittently rotating intermediate mould,
which has four, more or less, distinctive mould cavities, each of which has a sliding
bottom and a folding cover, for the purposes hereinafter specified.
The mechanism for imparting motion to the several instrumentalities that make
up the machine is also regarded as constituting part of this Invention.
Another object of the Invention is to provide an attachment to the afore
mentioned or any other cigar machine for feeding the binders to the mould, into
which the fillers are pressed, and to this end the Invention consists in mechanism
for holding the binders between two surfaces of suitable fabric, such as an apron or
aprons, and in then conveying them to their proper place above the mould, and in
providing means for cutting a sufficient length of tobacco, as is necessary for
a binder, all of which mechanism and means will be hereinafter more fully
described.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved
machine for making cigars; Figure 2 is a detail vertical central section through
the lower part of the feed hopper; Figures 3, 4, and 5, are detail face views of the
cams for actuating the slides in the hopper, the valve in the air pipe, &c.; Figure 6
is a detail top view of portion of the air pipe; Figure 7 is a face elevation of the
machine; Figure 8 is a detail vertical transverse section of the lower part of the
feed hopper, and longitudinal section of the receiving chamber, which is charged by
said hopper; Figure 9 is a vertical section through the end of the receiving
chamber, and through the jointed and vertically reciprocating receiving mould;
Figure 10 is an elevation of the side which is opposite to that shown in Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a sectional view showing the receiving mould discharging into the
intermediate mould, and the latter into the main cigar mould; Figure 12 is a side
view of the intermediate mould; Figure 13 is also a side view of the intermediate
mould, showing it connected with the operating mechanism; Figure 14 is a detail
horizontal section on the line c, c, Figure 11; Figure 15 is an enlarged vertical
longitudinal section of the intermediate mould; Figure 16, an enlarged detail cross
section of one of the chambers thereof; Figure 17 is a top view of one of said
chambers; and Figure 18, a bottom view thereof; Figures 19, 20, and 21, are
detail cross sections of the intermediate mould, showing it in different positions
with reference to the main cigar mould; Figure 22 is a detail sectional view of the
receiving chamber, showing it with stationary wires; Figure 23 is a vertical
section of one form of machine for laying the binder; Figure 24 is a perspective
view of another form of machine for laying the binder; Figure 25 is a vertical
cross section of said machine, showing it on the cigar machine: Figure 26 is a top
view thereof; Figure 27 is a longitudinal section on the line K-K, Figure 20.
In the accompanying Drawing the letter A represents the frame of the machine.
In this frame is hung the main operating shaft B, which is revolved in the direction
of the arrow shown in Figure 10 by suitable mechanism. On the table C which
is supported by the frame A rests the supporting bracket a of the receiving
chamber D, as I term it, and above this receiving chamber is secured upon it the
hopper E. In Figure 2 the lower part of this hopper in its relation to the
receiving chamber is more clearly shown. Also in Figure 8 it will be seen that
the receiving chamber D has an inlet opening at the side, which opening can be
closed by means of a horizontally sliding plunger F, which plunger moves below
an opening in the bottom of the hopper E, above which opening is a vertically
reciprocating plunger G. The tobacco is put in the hopper E, when the plunger G
is lifted, and the plunger F brought below the opening B in the bottom of the
hopper, as shown by full lines in Figure 2. A vibrating scoop H is then moved in
the hopper from the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to the position
shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and sweeps a certain quantity of tobacco into
the opening b upon the slide F and below the plunger G. The plunger G is there-

page_text: upon moved down, and at the same time the plunger F is moved away from the
receiving chamber D, so that the charge of tobacco will by the plunger G be
deposited in front of the horizontal plunger F between the same and the chamber D.
Finally, the horizontal plunger F is moved towards the chamber D, and crowds ali
the tobacco that constitutes the charge into the receiving chamber D. By this
means I am enabled to supply the receiving chamber with the necessary charges from
time to time, and also to have it properly sealed against the escape of air through the
inlet opening, so that the tobacco may subsequently be blown from the receiving
chamber into the receiving mould I by a blast of air or other gas. Where it not
for these two plungers and the arrangement shown it would be very difficult not
only to measure the charge of tobacco, but also to properly seal the receiving
chamber so as to prevent the air that is blown into it from passing out through the
crevices or through the opening by which the tobacco entered it, instead of affecting
the tobacco for filling the receiving mould in the manner desired. The scoop H,
plunger G, and plunger F, are moved by the following mechanism :-The scoop H
is mounted on a shaft which at its end carries a crank d, as shown in Figure 1, and
which by a rod e connects with a link f, which by a cam g that is mounted upon
the shaft B receives vibratory motion in one direction and by a suitable spring h
in the opposite direction, so that thus the rotation of the shaft B causes the scoop H
to be gradually moved, when the cam g touches the link towards the path of the
plunger G, and afterwards to be suddenly withdrawn by the spring from said
path and returned to its normal position, which is shown by full lines in Figure 2.
The vertically reciprocating plunger G is attached to a rod i which extends through
a vertical slot of the hopper, as indicated in Figure 1, and connects by a suitable
rod j with a lever k that is pivoted to the frame A, said lever being connected by
another rod with a tappet m that is vibrated by the cam g of the shaft B, as
indicated in Figure 4. A suitable spring n serves to raise the lever and the
slide and plunger G as soon as the cam g is out of contact with the tappet. It
will be seen that by this arrangement the cam g first depresses the lever f so as
to swing the scoop H into the dotted position shown in Figure 2, and immediately
afterwards causes the tappet to be moved downwards and the slide G to
descend in manner described. The horizontal slide F connects by a link o with
a bell crank p from which a rod q extends to a lever that carries a friction
rollers that is in contact with the edge of a cam t which is mounted upon
the shaft B. This cam, which is more clearly shown in Figure 3, has a circular
edge with a large radius, another circular edge with a small radius, and curves
that join these two parts of its circumference, so that when the friction roller
or pin s is in contact with the small curve that is concentric to the shaft B,
as in Figure 3, the rod q will be drawn down and the plunger F withdrawn
from under the opening b, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, but when
the pins is in contact with the larger circle of the cam t, the plunger F will be
moved towards the chamber D and beneath the opening b, as shown by full lines
in Figure 2. These operations of the two plungers, above described, are so timed
that when the slide G is down in its lowermost position the slide F is away from
beneath the opening b, the position of both said parts being as shown by dotted
lines in Figure 2. But when the plunger G is raised the cam g having left contact
with the tappet m, the larger part of the cam t comes beneath the pin 8, as in
Figure 1, and lifts the rod q, causing the plunger F to move into the position which
is shown by full lines in Figure 2. The chamber D has two openings, as shown in
Figure 8. One of these openings is the discharge opening, and communicates with
the interior of the receiving mould I, as in Figure 9, whereas the other opening of
the receiving chamber communicates with a pipe J that connects in suitable manner
with a blowing apparatus, through which a violent current of air can at any
desired time be blown into the receiving chamber D. This pipe J I term the air
pipe; in it is a suitable valve for obstructing or permitting the passage of the air
as may be desired. This valve is fitted upon a spindle that carries a crank u (see
Figure 6), and this crank connects by a rod v (see Figure 1) with a lever w that

page_text: with
rests upon a disc x, which is mounted upon the shaft B, and more clearly shown in
Figure 5, and which has two projecting toes. Whenever one of these toes arrives
under the lever wit elevates the same and causes the valve in the air pipe J to
open; whenever the toe recedes from under the lever w the latter drops and causes
the valve to close. I have so arranged the position of these toes on the disc
reference to the cams g and t that the valve in the pipe J will be suddenly opened
to allow a sharp jet of air to be passed into the chamber D as soon as the plunger F
assumes the position which is shown in Figure 2 by full lines, thereby discharging
the contents of the chamber D into the mould I, which at that time is in line and
communication with the chamber D, as shown in Figure 9. The mould I being
now charged with tobacco descends, being moved downwards by the instru-
mentalities f, g, and h², hereinafter described, and when in its lowermost position
a pipe L, which is attached to the head y of the mould I, arrives in line with the
discharge opening of the chamber D, and at that time the next toe of the cam
causes the valve to be opened and another jet of air to be blown into and through
the chamber D and pipe L. The pipe L enters the upper part of the hopper E, as
shown in Figure 7, and by the means last described whatever tobacco remains in
the chamber D after the mould I is filled will re-enter the hopper E, and will
therefore neither be wasted nor remain in chamber D to be in the way of the next
succeeding charge.
It will be perceived from the foregoing that the chamber D receives two charges
of air while the plunger F that charges it with tobacco closes its tobacco supply
opening, the first charge of air serving to feed the supply mould I, the next charge
of air serving to discharge the remnants of tobacco through the pipe L back into
the hopper E. The receiving mould D, in order to prevent the clogging of tobacco
therein under the influence of a violent current of air that is blown into it, is
provided with rotating stirring apparatus, which is composed of one or more
wires a that are mounted upon a shaft be that is hung in pipe J, as in Figure 8,
or otherwise so hung as to be capable of revolving the wires a² within the
chamber D. These wires may either be of ordinary curved form, such as indicated
in Figure 8, or they may be S shaped, or of other suitable form. They are revolved
by revolving the shaft bª through a belt c³ that passes around a suitable pulley on
the shaft B. The wires a² rotating within the chamber D keeps the leaves of
tobacco that are fed into said chamber duly separated from each other, so that they
may all be blown in proper manner by the air into the receiving mould I, whereas
without such arms or wires there would be danger of clogging the discharge
opening of the chamber D with tobacco when the air was blown into said chamber.
In Figure 22 is shown a modification of the wires a³. Here they are shown to
be firmly fixed in one end of the chamber D, cach rod or wire having one end
fastened in the chamber, and the other end free capable of vibrating. The spring
rods a², shown in Figure 22, act to separate the tobacco or other substance as it
is blown out from the chamber D, and keep from becoming lumpy or clogging
in the neck of the chamber D. The receiving mould I is a jointed mould composed
of three pieces, to wit:-A central piece d, and two wings e², as clearly shown in
Figure 11, and on a still larger scale in Figure 19. This mould I is attached to a
head or vertically reciprocating carrier or slide y, which is part of a reciprocating
framing that receives up and down motion by rod connection g² with an
eccentric h that is mounted upon the shaft B, so that by the rotation of the shaft B
the frame f is moved up and down, and with it the carrier or slide y and the
mould I that is attached thereto, likewise the pipe L, of which the lower end joins
the carrier y. The mould I is fitted upon a suitable dovetail-formed or other
projection of the head y, so that the said mould can be taken off the head y and
another mould of a different size or form be substituted in its place, thereby
enabling me to make on the machine cigars of different sizes and forms. A suitable
catch, shown in Figure 9, serves to lock the mould I to the head y. As the
mould I is carried down away from the chamber D pins that project from the
wings e and that enter curved grooves in the stationary part of the machine
•

page_text: (see Figures 10 and 11) are, in said grooves, moved outwards so as to cause the
wings ea to open at the proper time, permitting the central portion d² of the mould I
to force the contents of said mould into the intermediate mould M, as indicated in
Figure 11, and also in Figure 19. This intermediate mould M is a structure of
entirely original and peculiar kind, which I will now endeavour to describe.
The
Around a stationary circular plate, or rather pair of plates 2 (see Figure 15) is
placed a cylindrical shell which is capable of revolving around the discs k² and
held in place thereon, and which carries four, more or less, removable mould
chambers, or cigar chambers as I may term them, which are marked m² in the
Drawings. Each of the chambers m² is formed of two rigid side plates and of a
vertically movable bottom plate n². Such bottom plate is in each mould chamber
by spring o2 drawn inwards or towards the axes of the discs ³, so that normally
and under the influence of its spring o² each slide will be in a position to form
part of the chamber m² to which it may pertain. Intermittent rotary motion in
the direction of the arrow, shown in Figures 11 and 12, is imparted to the shell ²
and thereby also to the mould chambers m³ which are carried by the same.
mechanism for imparting such intermittent rotary motion to the shell 2 is by
preference a bell crank lever p³ (see Figure 10) connected by link to a lever q²,
that is by a spring 72 held in contact with the edge of a cams that is mounted
upon the shaft B. A pawl t2 is pivoted to the bell crank p² and catches into
proper projections of the shell 12. When the lever q² is in contact with the larger
portion of the peculiarly formed cam 82, as in Figure 10, its pawl will be vertically
above the axis of the shell 1º. In this position, which is the position shown in
Figures 10 and 11, the ring will remain as long as the lever q² is in contact
with the larger circle of the cam 82. But as soon as the lever q² is, by the spring 2
during the rotation of the shaft B, brought against the smaller circle of the cam s²
the pawl will be drawn down into contact with the projection or tooth that is at
the right hand side of the ring 12, as shown in Figure 13, and will take hold of
this next projection or tooth, remaining stationary however as long as the lever q
is virtually in contact in contact with the small circle of the cam 82, as shown in
Figure 13. As soon as the lever q³ is pushed off this smaller circle by the nose of
cam 82 (see Figure 13) the pawl is lifted and the cylinder thereby turned in
direction of the arrow, shown in Figure 12, to the extent of 90°, thereby bringing
a new mould chamber m² under the reciprocating mould I, and carrying the filled
mould m³ that was formerly under I to the left hand side for discharge into the
main cigar mould N that is placed there for the reception of the contents of the
mould chambers m².
I have shown four mould chambers m² on the intermittently rotating mould M,
but their number may be varied at pleasure, in which case the stroke of the pawl t³
will also be proportionately varied, so as at each movement to bring an empty
mould chamber under the reciprocating mould I. In each of its several positions
the mould ring with its chambers is locked by a locking bolt u² (see Figure 12)
that moves along one of the plates, and springs under the influence of a suitable
spring into a notch of the ring as soon as such notch arrives in line with the
bolt. This bolt is also shown in its locked position in Figure 15.
When the pawl
is swung down to take hold of a new tooth a cam edge on the hub 3 of the bell
crank p bears against a lever we that engages a projection of the bolt u2 and draws
the bolt out of the notch of the ring 1 so as to permit the turning of the ring 1
by means of the pawl in manner stated. There are as many notches in the inner
These notches
edge of the ring las said ring is provided with mould chambers.
are shown at x in Figure 12, and each of them in turn receives the bolt u*.
It will be readily understood that as the reciprocating mould I containing a
charge of tobacco approaches the mould chamber m², which is directly beneath it
(the wings e opening), the contents of the mould I are deposited into said mould
chamber m², in manner clearly indicated in Figures 11 and 19. It will also be
readily understood that when afterwards the mould I is lifted out of the mould
chamber m², and the ring & carrying such mould chamber is turned, the contents

page_text: of said mould chamber can be brought in line with the proper cavity of the main
cigar mould N, which is placed in a vertical position ju a suitable carrying chamber
or clasp O opposite the intermediate mould M, as shown in Figure 11. Springs a³
bearing against the back of the mould N crowd it against the front edges of its
containing chamber O (see Figure 14) and hold it stationary, yet allowing it to be
moved downwardly in manner hereinafter described. As soon as the mould
chamber m² which contains its charge of tobacco arrives opposite and in line with
a cavity of the main cigar mould N, the bottom n² of said mould chamber m² is
moved towards the mould N far enough to push the contents of such chamber into
the appropriate cavity of the main cigar mould. This is clearly indicated in
Figures 11 and 21.
Thus the charges that are originally deposited within the
reciprocating mould I are transferred to the main cigar mould N. This main cigar
mould receives rectilinear motion intermittently by projecting noses b³ that are on
the sides of the mould chambers m² and engage in recesses that are cut into the
mould N, as is more clearly shown in Figure 21. In this Figure the mould N is
shown in position for receiving a charge from one of the mould chambers m³ by the
outward motion of the bottom 2 of said chamber, the nose 6s being in its proper
recess c. Now after the mould chamber m² has been emptied and rotation of the
ring in the direction of the arrow is resumed, the nose ³ will move the mould N
down a little way sufficiently far to bring the recess c³, which is next above the
cavity last filled with tobacco, into the path of the next succeeding nose 63 that is on
the mould chamber m², which next moves towards the cigar mould N to deposit its
charge into the latter. The bottom n² of each mould chamber is moved outwards for
discharging the contents of the mould chamber by means of a sliding bolt d³ which
is held in appropriate guides e³ that connect the stationary discs 2 (see Figure 15).
The bolt d or pair of bolts, two being shown in Figure 15, for moving each
bottom n², receive their motion from cranks f³ of a shaft gs that is hung in the
discs. This crank shaft g³ connects with a lever h³ that is tilted at the proper
time by a pin 3 on the cam s², so as to vibrate it and move the bolts din proper
manner. After having thus been moved outwards to discharge the contents of the
mould chamber m², the spring of draws the bottom n back into its normal position,
and is assisted in this by another spring j³ that is attached to the lever h³ in
manner indicated in Figure 10. The bolts 3 should be quite as long as the
diameter of the disc 2, so that in their normal position when they are not active,
they will not interfere with the motion of the ring around the discs ². The
normal position of a bolt 3 is clearly shown in Figure 19.
"
1 have already shown what becomes of the charge of the mould I that is forced
out of the chamber D, and that the contents of the chamber D are successively in
proper form placed into the cavities of the main cigar mould N. It only remains
to show how I apply the binder or covering leaf of tobacco to and around the filler
or inner portion of the cigar. That part of the tobacco that is blown from the
chamber D into the mould I is the filler. The mould I contains therefore only the
filler. But before the filler is deposited in the proper mould chamber m² of
the intermediate mould M, a leaf of tobacco which is to form the "binder is
placed over and across the mould chamber m2, as shown in Figure 16. This leaf is
bulged or bent down by the filler, which the mould I forces into said mould
chamber m, as shown in Figure 19, and its two ends, that is to say, the two ends of
said binder, project beyond the two sides of the mould chamber after the mould I has
been lifted off the latter. On its way to the main mould N, the mould chamber m²
thus filled is brought beneath a swinging cap P which folds one end of the binder
over the filler (see the dotted position in Figure 11). The cap P is a sheet metal
or other plate properly curved and pivoted to one side of the mould chamber m² to
which it pertains. It is moved at the proper time by having an extension or tail
piece come in contact with a stationary projection that is supported by the
cross bars e (see Figures 15 and 20). After leaving contact with this projection le³,
the cap P is drawn off the mould chamber by a suitable spring 13. While the
cap P still holds one end of the binder on the filler, the mould chamber in its

page_text: motion towards the main cigar mould N, arrives under a stationary blade m³ (see
Figures 20 and 21) that is secured rigidly in the framework of the machine, and
with which the loose end of the binder comes in contact, so as to be folded over the
cap P, as clearly shown in Figure 20. It is when the two ends of the binder have
been folded that the spring withdraws the cap from the face of the chamber m²,
leaving the binder on the filler in proper position to be inserted into the cavity of
the main cigar mould N.
I have now faithfully described the entire operation of the cigar making machine,
and all those parts thereof which I deem to be necessary, but it is quite clear I
desire it to be particularly understood that many of the details of the Invention
may be varied without materially departing from the spirit thereof. Instead of the
mechanism for imparting motion to the different portions of the machinery which I
have described, other mechanism may be employed; the proportions of the parts
may be varied, but the main feature of the Invention can still be retained by so
varying the proportions, operating mechanism, or immaterial details. I have said
that the cap P is pivoted to the mould chamber m², but I prefer not to pivot it
directly to said mould chamber, as it is wiser to employ a connecting link n³ (see
Figure 12), so as to give to the cap not only the vibrating, but also a sort of lifting
movement which will carry it clear of the mould chamber m2, over which it is to
move.
"
In Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26, is represented an attachment to this or any other
cigar machine for feeding the "binder to the mould chambers m³, or to the
chambers of the mould N, in case the latter is used horizontally. In these Figures
the letter N represents an ordinary cigar would, into which the tobacco constituting
the filler is pressed either by the reciprocating jointed mould I, described above, or
by any other means. This mould N has a suitable connection with means for
imparting rectilinear motion to it, so that one cavity after the other can be brought
in line with the filling mechanism, or in its stead a mould m² may be employed.
M2 and N2 are two plates which overlap the mould N on opposite sides of the
cavity to be filled, and upon which the binder is placed, so that it partly rests in a
cavity of the mould which is to be filled, all as indicated in Figure 27. One of the
plates Mis movable, and the other N2 is stationary, and after the filler has been
put into the binder in the cavity of the mould, the plate M is moved horizontally
over the filled cavity, so as to fold the end of the binder upon the filler within
said cavity. After the plate M has thus lapped the end of the binder over the
filler, the mould N is moved in the same direction sufficiently far to bring its filled
cavity under the plate N, and by this motion the end 80 of the binder is lapped
over the filled cavity and over the filler to complete the enclosure of the filler by
ineaus of the binder. On a chamber m² of an intermediate mould M, the swinging
cap P and folding plate m³ above described will be used in lieu of the plates M³
and N.
This branch of the improvement relates to mechanism for supplying the binder
to the mould N or M, whenever a cavity of said mould is in position to be filled by
the mould I.
To this end 1 take the stripped leaves a, a, of tobacco and place them either
lengthwise or crosswise, as may be required for different kinds of cigars, upon an
apron A, Figure 24, the ends of which apron are attached to two rollers B and C³.
These rollers are hung in a suitable frame D². The leaves of tobacco are placed
upon the flat part of the apron A which is between the two rollers B³, C2, so that
oue leaf overlaps the other, as shown, and the apron is then wound upon one of
said two rollers, say the roller B, winding the leaves of tobacco around said rollers
together with the apron. When the apron carrying the tobacco has been fully
wound as far as the frame D* will permit around one of the rollers B2, the rollers
are taken away from the frame Daud hung onto a bracket E2 which projects from
the table C of the tobacco machine, which is the table upon which the mould N
would be placed, as clearly shown in Figure 25. The filled roller B is hung in
the upper part and the empty roller in the lower part of the said bracket, as

page_text: shown. Part of the apron is now drawn forward and around a roller F which is
placed in posts that project from the bracket E, as shown. The operator now,
whenever a new cavity of the mould N is brought in position to be filled, turns the
roller C² by means of a suitable crank, and winds the apron A² gradually from
the roller B upon the roller C². In so doing the tobacco leaves a, a, will be
gradually fed in a horizontal direction upon an adjustable plate H that is attached
to the adjustable bracket E2, and thence upon the mould N so as to cover the
cavity thereof, as indicated in Figure 26. The filler is now pressed into the mould
cavity either by means of an upper jointed mould I, such as is shown above, or by
other means. A knife L² pivoted or held in posts he that projects from the plate H²
is swung or moved down, and cuts along the edge of the plate H detaching that
portion of the binder as which lies on the mould N from that portion which still
lies on the plate H. The knife L is either moved down by hand or may be
moved down by a projection of the jointed mould I that carries the filler into the
mould N. Thus the operation continues and a binder is supplied to each mould
cavity of mould M or N, as the case may be. If the leaves a, a, are originally
placed upon the apron A² so that one laps over half of the other there will be a
double thickness of binder supplied to the mould N or M. By this mechanism I
utilise good tobacco for binders without requiring special attention to be given to
the length of each particular leaf of tobacco, since by placing the leaves a to the
apron and overlapping them it will be immaterial as to where the binders are cut
off from the general supply by means of the knife L, the proper length being
invariably supplied to each inould cavity. When a mould N or M. having a shorter
or longer set of cavities is substituted for that to which the machine has once been
adjusted it is only necessary to shift the adjustable bracket E2, and with it the
plate H and knife I accordingly, so that the edge of plate H2 will reach or nearly
extend to the ends of the mould cavity.
The modification shown in Figure 23 may be employed with advantage, and
consists in substituting for the removable apron A2, which is shown in the
remaining Figures, two continuous aprous A³, A, the lower of which, A³, is longer
than the other, so that the operator can place the leaves as of tobacco upon the
outer projecting portion of the apron A³, whereupon the tobacco will, between the
two said aprons, which are close together and parallel to each other, be fed
forward upon the plate H2 with the saine effect as is done by the mechanism
shown in Figures 24, 25, and 26. In this case the plate H2 carrying the knife L²
is attached to the adjustable frame E³, in which the rollers of the aprons have their
bearings.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
1st. The hopper E containing vertically reciprocating plunger G in combination
with the horizontally reciprocating plunger F and receiving chamber D,
substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. The combination of the hopper E with the vibrating scoop H, vertically
reciprocating plunger G, horizontally reciprocating plunger F, and receiving
chamber D, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination of the hopper E which has an aperture 6 with a receiving
chamber D placed out of line with said aperture, and with two plungers, one of
which crowds the contents of the hopper into and through the aperture, whereupon
the other crowds it into the receiving chamber, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the scoop H and its crank d, and link e, with the
lever f, cam g, and with the slide G, and the connections thereof with the tappet m
all arranged so that the cam g will move the scoop and the slide G in succession,
substantially as specified.
5th. The combination of the plunger F with the link o, bell crank p, rod 2,
lever, having pin s, with a rotating cam t for operation, substantially as
described.

page_text: 6th. The combination of the plunger F with the plunger G, and with mechanism
for moving them at right angles to one another, so that when the plunger G
descends, the plunger F will move away from beneath the plunger G, and so that
when the plunger G ascends, the plunger F will move under the path of the
plunger G, substantially as specified.
7th. The combination of the receiving chamber D and air pipe J with the charging
plunger F, and with mechanism such as described, for twice opening the valve of
the air pipe while the chamber D is closed by the slide F, so as to permit the
charge of the chamber F first to be blown into the mould I and the remnant next
into the hopper E, substantially as described.
8th. The vertically reciprocating receiving mould I in combination with the
chamber D, and with the air pipe J, and with the vertically reciprocating pipe L,
and hopper E for operation, substantially as specified.
9th. The air pipe J leading into the chamber D, in combination with a valve
and with the mechanism u, v, w, and x for opening said valve twice whilst
the chamber D is closed by its slide F, substantially as herein shown and
described.
10th. The combination of a receiving chamber D, of a cigar mould with the air
pipe J, and with the wire or wires a² arranged within said chamber D, substantially
as described.
11th. A cigar machine constructed to blow the filler by a current of air into a
receiving mould, which deposits it into another, mould having the binder laid over
its mould cavity, substantially as herein shown and described.
12th. The combination of the receiving mould I with the intermediate
mould M, and main cigar mould N, all arranged for operation substantially as
described.
13th. The combination of the cylinder 1, carrying mould chambers m³ with the
supporting discs k, and with mechanisin for imparting intermittent rotary motion
to the cylinder, substantially as described.
14th. The mould chamber m2 constructed of side wings and reciprocating
bottom n², fitted upon a cylinder 2 in combination with the reciprocating bolt d³
for moving the bottom n and ejecting the contents of the mould chamber,
substantially as described.
15th. The mould chamber m², combined with the swinging cap P and fixed
blade m³, substantially as described.
16th. The combination of the mould chamber m² on the ring 1, with the hinged
cap P, spring 3, and stationary projection for moving the cap, substantially as
specified.
17th. The combination of the mould chambers m³, and their carrying cylinder /²,
with the pawl t, bell crank p³, lever q, and actuating cam 82, substantially as
specified.
18th. The main cigar mould N constructed with the recesses or notches c³, for
the purpose of being moved by the intermediate mould M, substantially as
described.
19th. The combination of the intermediate mould M, with mechanism for
imparting intermittent rotary motion to it, and with the projecting noses b³, and
with the main cigar inould N, having notches c³, substantially as described.
20th. The intermittently rotating ring or cylinder 13 carrying mould chambers m²
in combination with mechanism for moving it, and with the bolt u² for locking
it in its terminal positions, and with the lever n² for unlocking it, substantially as
described.
21st. The mould chamber m² provided with movable bottom n² in combination
with the spring of for holding said bottom normally in such position as to enable
the mould chamber to receive its charge, substantially at described.
22nd. The main cigar mould N placed in a housing O, and held there by friction
springs a³ in combination with the rotating mould M, which is provided with
means for moving the main cigar mould N, and with a plunger or plungers for

page_text: discharging its contents into the cavities of the main cigar mould N, substantially
as specified.
23rd. The combination of the mould chamber m² having a movable bottom n,
and secured on rotary ring 12 with the reciprocating slide d³ and oscillating crank
shaft g³ for operation, substantially as herein shown and described.
24th. In a cigar machine, the combination of the receiving mould N or M with
an apron or aprons holding the leaves of tobacco for the binders under pressure
between two flexible surfaces, and with mechanism for carrying said binders
directly to said mould substantially as described.
25th. The combination of the binder carrying apron or aprons holding the leaves
of tobacco under pressure between flexible surfaces with the mould Ñ or M, and
with the detaching knife L2, all arranged so that the apron will push the binder
over the mould, and the knife detach as much of the binder as is on the mould
from the remainder, substantially as described.
26th. The combination of the adjustable bracket E carrying plate H with the
binder carrying apron, and with the knife L2 and mould N or M, substantially as
specified.
27th. The apron A² fastened to rollers B, C, that are adapted to be hung in
the frame D2 and in the bracket E2 for operation in receiving, holding under
pressure, and then conveying directly upon the cavity of the mould of a cigar
machine the binders for the cigars, substantially as described.
28th. The combination of the apron A and its carrying rollers B, C, with the
loose roller F, plate E, mould N or M, and knife L³, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, A.D. 1881.