Improvements in Machines for Making Oigarettes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Oigarettes.
1, FRANK JAMES LUDINGTON of Waterbury, Connecticut, United States of
America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
inauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for making cigarettes, and
which are adapted to take from a mass the requisite quantity of tobacco for a single
cigarette, enclose the same in a paper wrapper, and deliver the cigarette complete
from the machine, and this invention is in addition to and provides for improve-
ments in connection with the machine described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 10694, June 23rd 1891.
In that invention the completed cigarette is deposited into receiving fingers
which are given a certain orbit of movement which brings the cigarette into con-
nection with the swinging and stationary cutters whereby its ends are trimmed and
it is deposited upon the endless band or conveyor. In that invention also the
printing or embossing of the paper is effected as it passes under the presser. By
means of this invention, however, I effect the printing or embossing before the
pressor is reached in a manner to be herein described, and the above mentioned
operation of receiving, trimming, and depositing the cigarette, I effect by the
following arrangement, the better to explain which reference is made to the under-
mentioned drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is a side elevation.
Fig. 2. a plan.
Fig. 3. detail of operating gear for receiving fingers.
Fig. 4. enlarged detail of a finger.
Fig. 5. plan of adjusting horns, and
Fig. 6. side view of frame of machine to show relative position of the new
nechanism.
Referring to Fig. 1. it will be seen that the cigarette leaves the rolling table 1.
and by the apron and its accessory rollers (which are carried by the rocking arms,
the centre line of which is shown dotted and marked 3) it is deposited as explained
in my Specification above referred to into fingers ready to receive it. In this case,
however, the fingers are arranged to constitute two sets marked 4. (see also Fig. 2)
of 6 cach marked 4', 4, 4, 4, 4, and 4, on an axle 5. which runs through
supporting brackets 6. bolted to the framework 7 of the conveyor below.
An intermittent motion in the direction of the arrow at the finger 4 is given to
these finger sets so that when the apron is drawn back a movement of 60° presents an
empty set of fingers ready for the next operation. The cigarettes in the course of
rotation are carried successively to the position of that occupied by finger 4', that
is in proximity to the revolving disc trimming knives 8. These knives receive
rotary motion from the gear wheels 9 and 10, the latter of which is on an axle 11.
carried by the brackets 12. which are attached to the main frame as more clearly
shown in Fig. 6. At the extremity of this axle a sprocket wheel 13. is driven by
an endless chain from another sprocket wheel 14 (Fig. 6) which is on one of the
main shafts of the machine. The disc knives are brought into action by the
swinging forward of their frame work 15. which it will be seen is practically
continuous in so far as it embracos and is free to revolve about the axlo 11, for
although these knives have their own axle 16. they and their accessories have a
radial movement about axle 11 as indicated by the dotted line at axle 16.

page_text: At each side of the knives are notched levers 17. carried on brackets 18. attached
to the brackets 6. always being pulled downward by springs 19. but having only
sufficient free movement to cause their notches to envelop the cigarette ends held
in the fingers under them. When the knives are back out of action, it will be seen
they hold these notched levers out of action also by reason of the angle pieces 20
catching in the upward turned ends thereof.
Before the knives come into action they first allow the notched levers to descend
and, therefore, they trim the cigarette by passing between its supported portions,
i.e. between the notched levers and the fingers.
This forward cutting off, or trimming movement is caused through the fork 21.
Figs. 1 and 2. and lever 22 to operate the releasing arm 23. which is mounted on,
but not fixed to an axlo and which forces the trimmed cigaretto in fingers 4º, out
of their grip whence it rolls down the guide 24. on to the conveyor. In Fig. 5.
the guide 24. is shown, it being notched to allow the releasing arm to travel well
forward; this guide is omitted in the plan Fig. 2. for clearness, but the catch 25.
is shown in both Figs. 1 and 2. its function being to release the cigarette should tho
arm 23 have failed to do so.
As the finger sets require to have an intermittent or step by step motion, this is
given by the lever 26. which is the same as that marked 170 in my former Specifi-
cation, and is operated by a cam as herein described. This lever through the
arm 27. turns the axle 28 (to which it is firmly fixed) of course not affecting arm 23
which is loose on this axle and as will be seen in Figs. 2 & 3 through the lever 29
link 30, arm 31, and pawl 32, gives a step by step rotating action to the ratchet
wheel 33. and of course through its axle 5. to the finger sets.
These finger sets being stationary whilst the knives are advancing and trimming,
the adjusting horns 34. in Figs. 1 and 5. being also carried forward, are caused
to gently touch the cigarette in finger 4', making certain it is well home in the
fingers.
From Fig. 4. it will be seen that each finger has a lip (held in place by a spring)
capable of slightly opening to release the cigarette when the releasing arm 23.
pushes it away.
The lever 34. attached to the arm 35. which is part of frame 15. is worked by a
cam on the same axle as that working lever 26. as before explained and in each
case the reaction is produced by springs as shown.
The relative movements of the different parts have the following sequence :--
Assuming the apron and its accessories have just caused a cigarette to be
deposited in the fingers in position to receive it, the rocking arms in connection
with the apron recoil and the cam operating the arm 26. is turned, forcing the
finger feed forward one step, at which point it rests whilst the cum operating
arm 34. causes the knives to approach the fingers, their contact with the adjacent
cigarette not however commencing until after the notched levers 17 have settled
into position.
Immediately the knives have done their work, they recede and at the latter end
of their movement lift the notched levers back out of position.
Whilst the knives were coming forward into action, their movement forced the
releasing arm 23. to advance at a quick rate and disengage the cigarette in front of
it where it falls on to the couveyor.
•
When the knives have returned to their normal position the rocking arms and
apron have deposited another cigarette into the fingers and the operation is
repeated.
The printing I cause to be effected as the paper passes from the roll by the
mechanism described hereunder and shown in Sheet 2. of the drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is detail of clutch.
:-
Fig. 2. shows the general position of the driving gear with regard to the
machine.
Fig. 3. is a section showing the printing mechanism.
Fi & in another view of th

page_text: I obtain the necessary motion off the vertical shaft marked Y in my Specification
No. 10694 of 1891 by attaching thereto a horizontal bevel wheel capable of being
thrown in and out of gear by the following action. The nut which stood above the
horizontal cam is replaced by the cap 1. which is so formed as to act as a spindle
around which the bevel wheel can rotate. Upon this cap is formed a stud 2. with a
screw at the head, and upon this rides a clutch 3. which is provided with a pin as
shown long enough to pass through the flange of cap 1. and enter a hole in the
bevel wheel so that when this is in place the bevel wheel is carried round with the
cap by the rotation of shaft Y. By lifting the clutch and slightly turning it, its
pin rests on the top of the cap and the bevel wheel is free so that the printing gear
is out of connection with the machine and may be actuated by hand (as will be
explained further on) for the purpose of working up the ink. The exact relative
position of the mechanism of the printing machino to the main movements of the
machine is set by the position of the hole in the cap and in the corresponding hole
in the bevel wheel. This horizontal bevel wheel actuates a vertical one 4. running
through a bearing formed in a bracket 5. which is bolted to the frame of the
machine at the angle which carried the arins 142 and 117 in my former Specification
the bolt 6. being the centre of rotation of the said arms.
The reciprocating arm marked 76 in the former Specification is retained and as
shown in Fig. 3. which is a side elevation (with casing removed) of the printing
mechanism and shows it in position at the extreme end of the framing formerly
occupied by the standard carrying the paper roll. The paper being now carried by
the extension piece or bracket 7.
The motion of the bevel wheel 4. is through axle 8. carried to gear wheel 9.
which in turn actuates the wheel 10. and this rotates the type roller 11. and by the
gut band 12. rotates the ink roller 13. in an opposite direction. This ink roller has
also an horizontal reciprocating action the better to spread the ink and this is
effected by the lever 14 which is thrown outward by the cain on the side of wheel 15.
against the spring shown above its centre.
The ink is inserted into the ink well 16. which has a plate on the under side the
pressure of which is regulated by the screw 17. This ink well is provided with a
roller 18 which receives an intermittent impulse by means of a pawl 19. actuated by
an eccentric 20. on the shaft of wheel 15. This shaft is provided with an eccentric 21.
which causes the frame 22. carrying the rollers 23 and 24 to have a reciprocating
action whereby wheel 24 is caused to touch roller 18, take a supply of ink and at
the next portion of its movement touch roller 13, and ink it, when howover 24.
again returns and touches roller 18. the roller 23. is brought in contact with 13. and
this in turn at the next part of the movement transfers the ink to roller 25, and
from there it reaches 26. and again from this to the type roller 11. It will be
noticed that roller 26. is swung on arms rotating about the axle of 25. and pulled down
by a spring 27. This roller can thus be turned away from the type roller 13. and
held out of action by the pawl 28. A spring 29 keeps the frame carrying rollers 23
and 24 up to its bearing against the actuating cam.
It will be noticed that the motion received primarily by the type roller 13. (from
the outside gearing) is transferred through pinion 30. to roller 25. and from thence
to the can wheel 15. which by its eccentric pawl works roller 18. Rollers 23, 24
and 26 rotate only by contact. Two other contact actuated rollers in the head of
the casing work upon the roller 13. The ink by these various rollers is well and
evenly distributed.
Now it will be seen that a cain shaped roller 31. is also actuated by the pinion 30
and the function of this is to feed the cigarette paper when the printing is going on
and this it does by rotating (by contact) the drum 32 just at the moment and
during the time the printing ruller is doing its work, but the next instant it is free
so that the paper can be readily drawn out by the reciprocating arm, 76 before
mentioned. By lifting the catch 33. the drum 32. which is on arms swinging from
the centre 34. can be taken out of action as shown in the dotted position.
If then the main clutch ou shaft Y. be thrown out and a handle attached to the

page_text: spindle of the printing roller, the whole printing system may be rapidly rotated
by hand to distribute the ink ovenly without the paper feed going on at the
same time.
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 :--
1. In a machine for making cigarettes in which the rolled cigarettes are delivered
from the rolling table, the combination therewith of a multi-armed set of fingers
intermittently rotated, a pair of rotating and reciprocating disc knives, notched
levers and clearing arm; arranged to so synchronize with the delivery of the
cigarettes from the rolling table that these are successively received, pressed home,
trimmed, and cleared, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a machine for making cigarettes and in which the strip of paper is drawn
from a spool and delivered to a feeding device adapted to take the requisite quantity
of paper from the strip, the combination therewith of a printing device provided
with the necessary rollers and action to efficiently distribute the ink but which is
adapted to control the delivery of the paper at the moment of printing by subsidiary
feeding gear which becomes thrown out of action when the main feed comes into
play, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a machine for making cigarettes the construction or combination of the
parts whereby the printing gear may be disconnected from the main driving gear,
the subsidiary feed thrown out and the inking gear actuated by hand to work up
the ink substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 1st day of November 1894.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
45, Holborn Viaduct, London, Agents for the Applicant.