Improvements in Machines for Making Cigarettes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Cigarettes.
We, W. D. & H. 0. WILLS LIMITED, of Bedminster, in the City and County of
Bristol, and of 53, 54 and 55, Holboru Viaduct, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication from abroad by the Bonsack
Machine Company of Salem, Virginia, in the United States of America,) to be as
follows:
:―
This invention relates to continuous cigarette machines and has for its object to
provide improvements in construction whereby any kind of tobacco employed for
making cigarettes, for instance, granular, curly long or straight out tobacco, can
be used and a tobacco rod formed upon a paper wrapper in the manner of making
cigarettes by hand.
The machine as a whole presents a continuity of parts and an intermittent
operation in the making of cigarettes but for the purpose of description it may be
regarded as being divided into five sections the first section constituting the tobacco
feeding filling and the initial stem or rod moulding part of the machine, the
second section constituting the part in which the moulding of the stem, or rod,
is completed, the third section constituting the paper wrapping and pasting part,
the fourth section constituting the conveyor, and the fifth section constituting the
cigarette cutting part. At the head of the machine and on one side thereof is a
feed-table which is provided with a travelling feed-apron or belt supported upon
rollers journalled in the frame of the machine. Motion is imparted to the feed-
apron from the main power shaft, and its pulleys to a second shaft and from thence
by pulleys and belts or in any other suitable manner so that the feed-apron travels
say one inch and one quarter while the moulding bar of the machine travels or
reciprocates forward and returns say eleven inches, it being the stroke of the
machine for making four cigarettes of the usual length. At the front end of the
feed-table and in contact with the feed-aprou is journalled a brush operated by a
pulley and belt which moves tobacco forward from the front end of the apron upon
the table or plate forming a continuation thereof in windrows containing sufficient
tobacco to make a cigarette stem or tobacco rod of the length of the receiving chan-
nel. Above the table is a hopper detachably secured thereon, to receive granulur
or curly tobacco which gravitates into a disintegrating chamber having teeth on
its surfaces, and in which a rotating picking brush is journalled to revolve in
contact with the teeth to disintegrate or separate the tobaccn.
Below this brush is a comb supported upon a rod in such position that the ends
of the wires or bristles of the brush strike the upper end, or back, of the comb in
its revolutions and free it from any tobacco which may adhere to the brush.
The comb is adjustable upon the rod to regulate the supply of tobacco to the
machine and may be operated and set by a cam or other suitable device. Bolow

page_text: the comb is another brush which removes any tobacco that may lodge between the
teeth of the comb. These two brushes can be driven from the second shaft by
belts and the whole constitutes an automatic feeder. The tobacco is prevented
from being thrown back upon the feed-apron by a vertical guard.
In the use of straight cut tobacco the feed hopper is dispensed with and tho
tobacco is placed upon the feed-apron and properly distributed by hand.
In a modified construction of the automatic feeding device the feed-aprou is
dispensed with and the tobacco is conducted from the disintegrating chamber over
an incline to a vibratory separating and feeding plate which gathers the tobacco
and moves it across the aforesaid table in windrows and in suitable quantity to
form a cigarette-stem or tobacco rod such as in the former construction is formed
by the brush.
The separating and feeding plate is attached to a rod supported upon arms
secured to the ends of a rod and is free to vibrato backwards and forwards to scrapo
tobacco from the table into the receiving channel the plate being depressed and
moved forward, carrying the tobacco by an arm on the rear end of a moulding bar
which engages a cam secured to the rod to which the said plate is attached and is
raised and returned to its normal position by springs. Other suitable feeding
devices may however be used in connection with the remaining portion of the
machine without departing from the spirit of this invention as far as the said
remaining portion is concerned.
The receiving channel is U-shaped in cross-section and in conjunction with the
moulding bar forms a mould in which the tobacco receives its initial compression
by the weight of the bar as the tobacco lies loosely upon the paper in the receiving
channel.
The paper ribbon is rolled upon a reel from which it passes through and over a
guide having flanges over which the paper passes and is held in contact therewith
by a spring which flattens the paper and removes all wrinkles therefrom and serves
to apply tension to tho paper as it is automatically fed into the receiving channel.
The reel is supported in standards and is provided with a tension brake which bears
upon one end of the rod upon which the reel is mounted. The guide is supported
upon brackets attached to the frame of the machine. In the outer end of the
receiving channel is a former around the outer surface of which and against the
inner surface of said channel the paper is drawn into the receiving channel and
resumes the U-shaped form between the two bodies.
On one side of the channel is a guide bar to support and prevent the moulding
bar tilting laterally as it is reciprocated and this is provided with a depending
flange which extends down into the channel and forms a fender to prevent the
paper being torn by the moulding bar in its descent, and the opposite side is
protected by a similar flange or fender attached to lugs on the side of the channel
piece.
The lower edge of the moulding-bar is concave to assist in forming the cigarette-
stem or tobacco rod, and on one side and at each end of the bar is a lug one of
which is provided with an inside projection having an incline at its front end to
engage a cam on the side of the front end of the guide bar to raise the rear end of
the moulding bar out of engagement with the cigarette stem when the said bar
has reached the forward end of the second section of the machine: the front end
of the said bar being raised by an inclined projection on the supporting and guide
bar which is a continuation of the aforesaid guide bar. On the outside of the said
lug is a stud or pin which in the forward stroke or motion, of the moulding bar
moves along under a supporting bar, which holds the moulding bar down in
engagement with the cigarette-stem until the front end of the said bar has reached
the front end of the second section of the machine. The other lug is provided
with an inclined slot with which a pin on an arm engages and by which the
moulding bar is reciprocated by power transmitted from the main shaft of the
machine; and from the outside of said plug projects a stud which engages a

page_text: supporting-bar on the second section of the machine in the manner in which the
stud engages the aforesaid supporting bar on the first section of the machine.
The said supporting bar is provided with a double cam at its rear end, between
the lower side of which and a cam the stud on the first named lug passes under the
said bar, and the front end of the bar is provided with a pointed vibrating switch
pivotally secured to the said bar and returned to its normal position by a spring-
another bar is provided with a double cam at one end a pointed vibrating switch
being pivotally secured to said bar and controlled by a spring. The switches on
the two bars direct the studs to the upper side of said bars on the return stroke
of the moulding bar.
The second section of the machine is also provided with a U-shaped channel
which is a continuation of that first described and is used for completing the
moulding of the cigarette-stem or tobacco rod. This channel is also provided with
Hanges or fenders to protect the paper, and the paper in both sections extends up
on the sides of the channels behind the said flanges; and the guide bar extends
throughout the length of this section and performs the same function as in the
first section.
To the arm carrying the pin which engages in the slot in the second lug is
attached a bar which is connected to a plate which reciprocates upon tracks or
ways and is guided by lugs on the under side of the said plate. The said plate is
connected to a reciprocating rod by an arm and secured by a set screw, and a rod
is connected by a link which is in connection with a crank disc by a pin engaging
a slot in the link. The slotted link and pin being well known means for transmit-
ting motion, require no especial description. The crank disc is secured to a main
power shaft, and upon the said shaft is a fly or balance wheel to which a handlo
may be applied for operating the machine by manual power, and on the outer end
of the shaft is a pulley to which a belt may be applied for the purpose of operating
the machine by a suitable motor. The ordinary crank and pin and a link block
may be used for connecting the shaft with the aforesaid rod which is supported in
brackets and transmits motion to the cigarette-stem or tobacco rod conveyer and
the cutting device as hereinafter more fully described:
The U-shaped channel of the first and second sections of the machine extends
into the third section of the machine and stops at the point at which the paper
folder begins. The rear portion of the channel (that in the third section) is also
provided with flanges or fonders like thoso in first and second sections and in this
as in the former channels the paper passes behind them and is protected thereby.
In the rear end of the third section is a wheel having a grooved periphery and
supported in lugs at such a height as to permit the cigarette-stem or tobacco rod
to pass under the wheel as it emerges from the second section so as to be held
down firmly in the bottom of the channel and immediately after passing this wheel,
the cigarette stem or tobacco rod encounters a shield or concave fender supported
on arms to prevent any protruding pieces of tobacco getting into, or between, the
folds of the paper wrapper as it is turned down by the folder. At this part of
the channel is a downward projecting flange which prevents the paper rising
on that side of the chanuel (which is its natural tendency) as it is being wrapped
or folded around the cigarette stem.
The inner end of the paper folder is curved outward to secure free and smooth
access of the paper and to cast off any small particles of tobacco that may, from any
cause, adhere to the curved portion of the wrapper.
Immediately beyond this curved portion the paste is applied to the inner surface
of the standing or vortical side of the paper wrapper as it moves along the vertical
flange or projection of the folder, between which and the curved portion of the
folder is a alot or channel for the paper to pass through. The paste is supplied
from a receptacle which is provided with a piston and removable graduating
weights to regulate the flow of the paste from a turning plug in a faucet through
a slot in the lower end of the turning plug, but any suitable form of pasting device
may be used instead,

page_text: Beyond the flange of the folder is an open space in the folder in which the
vertical or standing portion of the wrapper to which the paste has been applied is
bent over toward the cigarette-stemni and upon that portion of the wrapper emerg-
ing from beneath the curved portion of the folder aud is pressed down thereon by
an expansible folding portion which is made of thin sheet metal and of such
internal diameter as to embrace the wrapped cigarette-stem closely and press the
pasted portion of the paper wrapper hard upon the body thereof. To provide for
any irregularities in the diameter of the cigarette stem this portion of the folder
is slotted to allow it to expand and prevent tearing the wrapper as the stem and
its wrupper are being drawn through the folder.
The entering end of this part of the folder is also curved outward to prevent
tearing the paper wrapper.
The conveyor constituting the fourth section of the machine consists of an upper
longitudinal bar a lower similar bar connected by means of vertical bars at each
end, an endless belt, on the upper bar, a similar belt on the lower bar, a concavo-
convex sheet metal clamp nearly the length of the conveyor, supported on the
under side of the upper bar upon the belt of the upper bar, and a gripping device
for seizing, drawing the paper ribbon from the reel through the several sections
already described and the wrapped cigarette stem or tobacco rod through the
conveyor, and pushing the latter through the tube of the cutting (the fifth) section
and releasing the wrapped cigarette stem or tobacco-rod when the gripping device
reaches the outer end of the conveyor. The lower bar is secured to the frame of the
machine by lugs, and its upper surface is concave to conform to the lower side
of the lower gripping-jaw, while the upper side of the upper gripping-jaw con-
forms to the lower side of the concavo-convex clamp. The lower gripping jaw is
provided with studs or pins which engage inwardly inclined slots in a plate and the
upper jaw with studs or pins which engage recesses having inclined
upper surfaces which draw the jaws toward each other in the forward
motion of the gripping jaws and grip the wrapped continuous cigarette and
separate the said jaws during the return stroke and cause them to pass freely back
without engaging the continuous cigarette. The jaws are provided with vertical
flanges which embrace two bars as they are reciprocated, and the lower jaw is
placed beneath the upper side of the belt of the lower bar, so that the said belt is
adjacent to and is pressed against the pasted portion of the wrapped cigarette
stem and is drawn forward therewith. The clamp is provided at each end with a
projection which projections work in grooves and prevent the clamp from being
displaced while the upper jaw slides under it, and the said clamp holds the pasted
portion of the wrapper in position while the wrapped cigarette stem is passing
through the conveyer. The aforesaid plate with the inclined slots is attached to
an arm which is secured to the rod mentioned in the description of the second
seotion by a set screw and derives motion from the power shaft.
The fifth section of the machine constituting the cigarette cutting or severing
section consists of a tube having one short section adjacent to the end of the con-
veyor and is separated by transverse slots into sections the length of the cigarettes
to be made. The outer end of the said short section and the corresponding end of
each other section is made slightly flaring to facilitate the entering of the cigar-
ette stem into the said sections. The tube is supported upon transverse bars
secured to a plate and forms guide ways for the bars which support the knives, and
are secured to and reciprocate with a longitudinal bar which is attached to a bar
having a laterally extending projection on its outer end, against which the free
end of a leaf spring rests. The frame formed by the bars is reciprocated to sever
the wrapped oigarette stem or continuous cigarette by a cam which is secured to
a post and is provided with a right angle recess to receive the aforesaid laterally
extending projection. The said com rests upon a plate secured to the top of the
frame of the machine. Within the said post is a thimble through which and the
top of the frame passes a bolt to secure the post in operative position by means of
a nut bearing against the under side of the top of the frame,

page_text: Ine return stroke of the rod T with its arm draws the arm to rearward and
projects the knife supporting frame across the plate F, through the slots b³, in
the tube E', and cuts the continuous cigarette into separate cigarettes.
The upper surface of each of the burs g
provided with a longitudinal groove,
or slot, in which the knife h³ rests, and at the rear end of the knife is a notch, or
are notches, 96, which engages, or engage with the longitudinal bar ³, of the knifo
supporting frame. The knife is incliued at 4º, and ground on one side only, so
that it will bear against the outer end of each section of the tube E' and thus avoid
tearing the paper wrapper as it is thrust through the cigarette-stem. The knives
are adjusted from one notch go to another as they wear.
In Figure 1 the tripping lever G¹ is shewn in its normal position, and in
Figure 27 it is shewn in full lines starting in its travel and in dotted lines moved
forward to the extent of its stroke, and in Figure 27 it is shown in dotted lines at
half its stroke, and in full lines at the end of its stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In cigarette making machines a receiving channel, a table leading thereto,
and a vertically moveable and vibrating feeding plate for supplying stock to the
said channel, in combination with a longitudinally and vertically moveable mould-
ing-bar in the said channel, for vibrating the said feeding plate, and means for
giving vertical and longitudinal motion to the said bar.
2. In cigarette making machines a receiving channel, a table leading thereto,
and a vertically moveable and vibrating feeding plate, for supplying stock to the
said channel, in combination with a longitudinally and vertically moveable mould-
ing-bar in the said channel for vibrating the said plate, means for operating the
moulding-bar, as described, and means for automatically returning the feeding
plate to its normal position.
3. In a cigarette making machine, a feed hopper, having beneath it a disin-
tegrating, or separating, device consisting of fixed teeth and a rotary picker, and
an auxiliary, or eupplemental, rotary brush, in combination with a yielding comb
between the said picker and brush through which the said brush passes.
4. In a cigarette making machine, the combination of a receiving ohannel,
having therein a moulding-bar capable of vertical and longitudinal movements, a
feeding hopper, having beneath it a feeding and disintegrating device, one part
of which is a picking brush, a second brush below the latter, a comb arranged
between the brushes through which the lower brush operates, means for adjusting
the comb, means for conveying the tobacco from the brushes to the channel, and
means for operating the bar in the manner hereinbefore described.
5. In cigarette making machines a fixed receiving channel, means for supplying
tock to tho said channel and a vertically moveable and reciprocating moulding-
bar with depending lugs having projections on one side, and means for, imparting
vertical and reciprocating movements to the said bar, in combination with a guido-
bar, and a supporting bar.
6. In cigarette making machines a receiving-channel, means for supplying stook
o the said channel, a vertically moveable and reciprocating moulding-bar, with
depending lugs having projections on one side, and means for imparting vertical
and reciprocating movements to the said bar, in combination with a guide-bar and
supporting bar the said bar having cam shaped ends.
7. In cigarette making machines the combination of a receiving channel, a
noulding-bar, vertically and longitudinally moveable in the said channel, means
or imparting vertical and reciprocating motion to the said bar, and a supporting
ar having a moveable switch at one end, substantially as herein before described.
8. In a cigarette making machine a receiving channel, a moulding bar, verti-
ally and longitudinally moveable in the said channel, and having depending lugs

page_text: having studs on one side, one of the said lugs having an inclined projection on its
inner side, and means for imparting vertical and longitudinal motion to the said
bar, in combination with a guide-bar having projections for raising the moulding-
bar out of contact with the cigarette-stem.
9. In cigarette making machines a receiving and moulding channel, a moulding
bar vertically and longitudinally moveable in the said channel, means for impart-
ing vertical and longitudinal motion to said bar and a guide-bur, in combination
with separated supporting bars, having cam shaped ends and vibratung switches.
16. uprated bans having can duped ends and no), 18 sically and
longitudinally moveable moulding bar, and means for guiding, supporting and
imparting vertical and reciprocating movements to the said bar, and a recipro-
cating plate attached to one end of the said bar, in combination with a recipro-
cating rod connected to the said plate.
11. In a cigarette making machine, a paper folder of U-shaped section and
provided with a depending Hange on one side to prevent the paper rising while
one of its edges is being folded, a plain vertical flange on the opposite side, and a
fender suspended therein above the tobacco between the said flanges to prevent
particles of tobacco from falling between the over-lapping portions of the wrapper.
12. In a cigarette making machine, a continuous cigarette conveyer consisting
of separated bars, endless belts supported thereby, a gripping device between the
said belts and bars, and means for operating the parts of the gripping device, and
for reciprocating it.
13. In a cigarette making machine, a continuous cigarette conveyer consisting
of parallel and separated bars, endless belts travelling on the said bars, a clamp
supported by one of the said belts, a gripping device between the said belts and
bars, and means for operating the parts of the gripping device, and for recipro-
cating it.
14. In a cigarette making machine, a continuous cigarette conveyer, consisting
of parallel and separated bars, endless belts travelling on the said bars, a gripping
device between the said belts and bars, consisting of the parts and m, and an
operating plate provided with inclined ways, and means for reciprocating the
Baid plate.
15. In a cigarette making machine, a continuous cigarette conveyer, consisting
of parallel and separated bars, endless belts travelling on the said bars, a long
clamp between the upper belt and bar, a gripping device between the said belts
and bars, consisting of the parts and m³, and an operating plate provided with
inclined ways, and means for reciprocating the said plate.
16. In a cigaretto making machine, a continuous cigarette conveyer, consisting
of parallel and separated bars, endless belts travelling on the said bars, a gripping
device between the said belts and bars, consisting of the parts and m, having
vertical side flanges engaging the said bars and provided on their outer sides with
projections, a plate having guide ways which engage the projections, whereby the
parts of the gripping device are brought together and opened; and means for
reciprocating the said plate.
17. In a cigarette making machine, the combination of a continuous cigarette
holder, a reciprocating frame, supporting knives, an oscillating tripping lever, a
reciprocating bar engaging the said lever, and intermediate means for conveying
motion from the reciprocating bar to the said frame.
18. In a cigarette making machine, the combination of a sectional cigarette
holder, a reciprocating frame, supporting knives, a tripping lever supported upon
a post moveable upon its axis, a slotted bar for engaging the tripping lever, a
reciprocating rod, and means for operating the said rod.
19. In a cigarette making machine, a knife-supporting frame having a longitu-
dinal bar, and transverse bars, the latter provided with grooves, in combination
with knives supported in the said grooves, (each knife having a notch to engage
the longitudinal bar) and means for imparting lateral motion to the said frame."

page_text: 20. The arrangement and combination of parts as a
whole constituting
apparatus for making cigarettes substantially as hereiubefore described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated th 24th dove af Wh 1000
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.