US2050717A - Wrapping and banding machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR X FRANCIS X NHL 0 0,514)

Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fi/ZIVCZS X f 710C612 BY tf, 4 ATTORN s Aug. 11, 1936.

F. x. MALOCSAY 2,050,717 I WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 1 2, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet s INVE OR Mm zsx l" a I ATTORNEYS Aug. 1 1, 1936.

F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1954 6 Shets-Sheet 5 iirwamf WJYlPPfR 67 62 3 if A L :4 0 52 53 87 8 73 i I I L 1 1 1 1 I 76 WWW INVENTOR I F. X. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BAND INC: MACHINE Aug. 11

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 llII Filed March 12, 1954 INVENTOR TTONEYS Patented Aug. 11, 1936 were STATES FFEE WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Application March 12, 1934, Serial No. 715,124

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of banding and wrapping cigars, and more particularly to the wrapping of transparent wrappers and bands around cigars.

It is among the general objects of the present invention to provide an improved wrapping and banding mechanism, which will be entirely automatic in its operation.

In some of my prior applications for example,

-. in the wrapping and banding machine described in Serial No. 653,609, filed January 26, 1933, I have shown similar mechanisms for accomplishing similar objects, i. e. mechanisms, adapted to fold and secure a wrapper and a band simultaneously around a cigar, and many of the mechanisms and appurtenances to be mentioned and described are alike in both machines. There is, however, this difference in the methods of wrapping and banding a cigar:--Accrding to the prior inventive concept the cigar was wrapped directly into the wrapper and the cigar band was applied over it, encircling the wrapper; according to the present concept the cigar band is secured directly to the cigar and the wrapper covers the band, so that the latter may be seen and read through the transparent wrapper. This difference in objected aim and results obtained calls for modifications of the folding and wrapping means and the improvements proposed and described hereinafter are directly concerned with effecting these deviating results in the most eificient, simplest and most economical manner. Some of these modifications which are not directly concerned with the wrapping and handing operations themselves, but with the feeding of the wrapper and band material to a common wrapping and banding position, are shown in my copending application, filed February 2'7, 1934, Serial No. 713,116, but the improvements described hereinafter are confined to the wrapping and banding operations and mechanisms themselves.

The machines themselves, both in the last mentioned as well as in the present application, follow the same principles in the general arrangement, to wit: The wrapper feed rollers are located at the rear of the machine, while the band magazine and band feeding device is positioned on the opposite or front side of the machine, separated from each other by the rectilinear cigar feeding and delivery path toward which both devices feed a wrapper and a band respectively, in such a Way that the band is put underneath the Wrapper by means of a reciprocating gripper; thus. both the band and the neath into said combined wrapper and band by a reciprocating vertical plunger and carried upwardly a little way into the'banding and Wrapping position properly, which then remains stationary during the rest of the wrapping, banding and end-sealing operations, and when these are finished, it can be foreseen that the result will be a cigar wrapped into a transparent wrapper with the band being visible through the latter.

Considered more in detail it is among the ob jects of the present invention to provide awrapper-and-band-applying device which willapply a wrapper over a band and both in unison over a cigar in a wrapping and banding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby cigars are fed separately and in spaced relationship into this position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper and band applying device which will fold a band and a superimposed wrapper over three sides of a cigar from above while carrying the cigar together with the wrappings into a wrapping and banding position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will complete the banding and wrapping operations from this point on without moving said cigar.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the cigar, before it is pushed into its hand and wrapper, is exactly adjusted in an axial or longitudinal direction so that the overreaching ends of the wrapper will be of equal and suitable lengths.

Another similar object of the invention is to provide novel centering means whereby the cigar,

before it is pushed into its band and wrapper,

is exactly adjusted in a direction normal to its own axis, so that it will meet the band and wrapper in the proper place.

A further object of the invention is to provide wrapping means adapted to fold band ends and Wrapper ends around the fourth or underside of the cigar simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, before the wrapper ends are folded into place, the ungummed end of 5 the band is tucked inwardly against the body of the cigar.

Another object of the invention, corollary to the last named, is to provide means whereby, before the final folding of the wrapper ends, the gummed and moistened end of the band is pressed against the above mentioned end, so that the band is positively sealed before the wrapper is closed over it.

Another object is to provide novel and adjustable actuating means for both band folding and tucking devices.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the device will appear as the nature of the improvements are better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrange ment, and correlation of instrumentalities herein fully described and illustrated in the ac-' companying drawings wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests apractical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter therefore is to be understood from an illustrative rather than a restrictive standpoint. It will be also understood that the various features of the present invention disclosed may be separately applicable despite their cooperation herein shown.

This invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is -a top plan view of a complete banding and wrapping arrangement, showing the cigar feeding and discharge table, the wrapper feed mechanism (with the wrapper roll omitted) on the right-hand or rear side of the table and the band feed mechanism on the left-hand or front side of the table. In the center is shown a spread-out wrapper with a band underneath, which has just been fed over a cigar,.coming from the cigar feeding rack, shown in the upper part of the top plan view. Cigar and band are indicated in dotted lines.

The folding and wrapping mechanism itself, which is supposed to be located just above said wrapper, is not shown in this view.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation (sectional in parts) of this folding and wrapping mechanism, viewed from across the table, with the band and wrapper feed devices omitted, and showing the vertical plunger in the act of elevating a cigar, carrying the band and wrapper on its top into the wrapping position.

r Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation, taken along the line'33 of Fig. 2, also depicting the cigar feeding mechanism and the devices for actuating the cigar holding and wrapping and banding'r'neans themselves.

Fig. 4 is a view partly sectional similar to' Fig. 2,.but taken just behind the operating parts shown in full in the upper half of Fig. 2, at the same time showing the'plunger having elevated the cigar fully into its stationary wrapping position.

Fig. 5 is a fractional view of the last illustration, showing the mechanism of the tucking finger which presses the gummed end of the band against the cigar.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view, partly in section, which shows the wrapping jaws and the fold= ing finger which pushes the ungummed end of the band into closing position.

Fig. '7 is a fractional plan view of the band folding plates with the wrapping jaws shown in cross-section, the view being taken along the line 'l--'| of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8 to 11 are similar views, more or less shown diagrammatically, and illustrating con-- secutive steps of the banding and wrapping operations.

Similar characters denote throughout the different views.

Referring more in detail to the figures listed, we see in Figs. 1 and 2, the cigars C, supported on the plate F advanced in spaced formation to a position beneath the wrapping mechanism D and beneath the wrapper W together with the band B, just over the plunger 3 when the latter is in its lowest position.

The cigars are originally fed automatically from a hopper, not shown in the drawings, but located at the upper end of the table I (above what is shown'in the'drawing of Fig. 1)., The type of this mechanism is fully described and illustrated in my former Patent No. 1,653,641, filed December 27, 1927, as also in the copending applications, Serial No. 492,437 (Cigar banding machine) filed October 31, 1930, or in Serial No. 519,347 (Cigar handling machines), filed March 2, 1931'.

Thecig ars are first advanced in close formation by advancing bars to a separator (not shown) from which point they are advanced in spaced formation by the feed racks 22, as shown. The spaced cigars are prevented from rolling or being disturbed, while not supported by the reciprocating and temporarily lowered feed racks, by a feeler arm (not especially shown) which keeps them under tension during these intervals.

The actuating mechanism of the feed racks 2--2 is best shown in Fig. 3. The racks are mounted on a reciprocating frame 4, slidably supported on the plate 5, secured to a vertically reciprocating stem 6, guided in the bearing 1, forming a'part of table frame I. Stem 6 is slottedand carries a roller 8 within its slot which is engaged by the fingers through an aligned and corresponding slot la in the bearing 1. The fin ger 9 is adjustably fastened to the cam lever ID, the latter being loosely mounted on shaft I l and lifted periodically by another cam (not shown) against the tension of spring 12, while at the same time the slidable frame 4, which properly carries the feed racks, reciprocates the same in a horizontal direction toward and away from the wrapping mechanism by means of a connecting rod and eccentric (not shown in the present application). In Fig. 3 the feed racks are shown in their lowered position, having released their sideward pressure against the cigars by dropping downwardly 'and'moving in an arc toward the left end of the machine underneath the following cigar and rising again sothat their upwardly extending ears [3 register again with the spaces between the cigars. When now they move again to the right, they will advance the spaced cigar another step, placing again the leading cigar in line with the wrapping mechanism D and over the elevating plunger 3 (see Figs. 2 and 8), the reciprocating and plunging motions being so regulated and activated that they are in perfect synchronism with the time it takes to band and Wrap one cigar after the other.

similar parts While the cigars thus are advanced step by step from the hopper toward the wrapping mechanism, the heads of the cigars which, looking at the top plan view in Fig. 1, are to the right, follow a rail 3 which runs parallel with the feed racks 22 to the point where the cigars commence to be spaced. From this point the rail is adjusted to form a slight angle (about e" per foot) with the racks, terminating at the wrapping mechanism D where it is nearest to the feed rack. As the cigars are advanced they are gradually shifted endwise to the left so that when they arrive above the elevating plunger 3 they are in proper relation to the band and wrapping T mechanism D, eliminating thereby the necessity of providing a movable finger, moving each cigar endwise to a fixed gauge, which might damage the delicate end (on the left side) by any pressure applied thereto.

With the cigar properly gauged into the right position above the elevating plunger (see Fig. 8) the latter lifts the cigar to a location between the universal centering jaws l5, l6, which are then in their open position. Then the jaw !5, moving to the right, and the jaw IE, moving to the left, will hold the cigar in a light yielding grip, centering it regardless of its width, with the band and wrapper having arrived above it, where they have been fed into this position by the wrapper feed and band feed mechanism, mentioned before and described in the copending application, Ser. No. 713,116.

Universal centering jaws In former applications, i. e. Ser. No. 653,609, centering jaws were shown which substantially perform the same function. The arrangement to be disclosed hereinafter is, however, different, more simplified and effective. Jaw I6 is substantially the same as in former devices, except that it has openings Hia through which the feed racks 22 can pass, while the jaw I5 is entirely suspended above the path of the cigar feed, so as to ofier no obstruction in the path of the cigars, especially when exceptionally long cigars are to be wrapped, and also to facilitate the placing of the band over the cigar in any desired position in relation to the length of the latter. (See Fig. 3.) Jaw I6 is essentially a vertical one-armed lever, pivoted with its lower end on frame I (not shown) and a short distance from the upper end a horizontal connecting rod i8 is linked to the stud l7, provided on the jaw lever l6, while the other end of the rod is linked at l9 to the upwardly extending end of bell crank 20, fixedly secured on rocking shaft 2|. The suspended jaw i5 is essentially a horizontal swing, suspended at two points 26 and 23 with one end formed as a T-shaped jaw and projecting beyond the suspension point 23. At the latter point member I5 is hung from link 22, pivotally suspended from a stud 24, secured in the main bracket 25, while the rear end is hung at point 26 from the downwardly extending arm 21 of the big bellcrank 28 which is pivotally suspended from another stud 29, secured in main bracket 25. The formerly mentioned bell brank 20 to which jaw It was linked, and the bell crank 28 to which jaw I5 is linked are coupled together by the vertical connecting rod 3!, linked at its lower end to the free end of the bell crank 20 by means of the stud 32 and at the top end to the free end of the bell crank 28 by means of the stud 39. It should be apparent then, that if the rocking shaft 2| is turned in a counterclockwise sense (which movement is eifected :by the tension of a spring, not shown) jaw lever l6 which can swing about its lower pivotal point, is drawn to the left, while jaw l5, forming the end of the doubly suspended swing is pushed to the right, thus clamping the elevated cigar between them. This arrangement assures a perfect centering of the cigar relative to the band, regardless of any variation in width or thickness of the cigars to be banded and wrapped. If, however, the shaft 2| is rocked in a clockwise sense (which movement is brought about by a cam device (not shown)) then jaw 15 is pulled to the left, and jaw i6 is pushed to the right, away from the cigar which is thus released and can thence be elevated by the plunger 3 and pushed into the band and superimposed wrapper in properly adjusted relationship.

While, however, the cigar is still held between the jaws i5 and H5 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the band and wrapper is supported loosely above the cigar, the ungummed end of the band resting on the reciprocating gripper I53 (which is shown in detail and described in the copending application, mentioned before) while the free gummed end rests on the upper edge of the T' shaped jaw l5. The top view of band and wrapper, showing its relative position to the cigar is shown in Fig. 1. While in this position, just before the jaws open again, the upper vertically moving plunger 35 reaches its lowermost position, resting on the wrapper, band and cigar under the tension of springs 3535' (Figs. 2 and 3) whereas the wrapping jaws 36 and 3'? are still in their opening position. The lateral edges of the wrapper are meanwhile supported on the blades 33 and 34 (Fig. 3).

The plunger 3 moves now further upwards, carrying the cigar, band, wrapper and upper plunger 35 with it, while the lower jaws l 5 and I6 open up, as Fig. 9 indicates. As in further progress the cigar with band and wrapper enters between the wrapping jaws 36 and 3'1, the protruding lateral edges of the wrapper, as well as the ends of the band, are bent downward and then the jaws move inwardly toward the cigar, folding wrapper and band smoothly against the sides of the cigar until the cigar with band and wrapper, together with the upper plunger 35 reaches its extreme ultimate upper position where it is to remain stationary for the rest of the operations. Fig. shows this, except that this view in its lower part anticipates a further progress, inasmuch as so far the elevating plunger 3 has not released its support of the cigar yet while the tucking finger 42 is still in its lower and non-contacting position. When the elevating plunger reaches its uppermost position, the left hand folding plate 38 moves a little to the right, just enough to bear underneath the wrapping jaw 35, as Fig. 1-0 indicates. Therewith the end of the brake member 39 (shown more plainly in its relative position and inter-connection on Figs. 3 and 4), which moves simultaneously with member 38, begins to exert a pressure against the inner surface of the upper vertical plunger slide 43 (Figs. 4 and 10) to prevent the same from moving downward under the tension of springs 35 when the supporting plunger 3 is lowered. As the jaws 36 and 3? are tightly gripping the halfwrapped cigar with the ends of the wrapper and band loosely hanging downward, it is clear that when the elevating plunger is now lowered, the cigar will remainsuspended with its under side free to be operatedupon. The folding plate 38,

as explained before,'abides. for a moment underneath jaw 36, but the hook-shaped member 4| whose mechanism will be explained in detail later, moves now inwardly, pressing against the downwardly hanging edge of the wrapper and causing thereby'also the band end to assume a position inclined toward theunderside of the cigar (shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 10). Simultaneously with the lowering of the plunger 3, the tucker 42, which is situated in-one of the free gaps of the three-formed plunger 3 (see Fig. 5) moves upward, pressing against the ungummed and uplifted end of the band, as shown in full lines (Figs. and 5). The left hand folding plate 36 moves then further to the right, folding the gummed (and moistened) end of the band, together with the wrapper edge against the underside of the cigar, the tucker 42 slipping out of the Way, as it is withdrawn from its contacting position by the continued downward motion of the plunger 3. At the same time the hook-shaped member 4| is moved back to its normal position by its bellcrank 43, as explained later (see Fig. 6). As the folding plate 38 reaches its extreme right-hand position, the right-hand folding plate 49 moves to the left to fold the remainingdownward hanging edge of the wrapper, and as it continues to move to the left, now in union with the receding wrapping plate 38, the beveled edges of the two plates close up (being beveled in opposite directions) while the edge of the wrapper slips out upwardly from between them. Then both plates 38 and 49tmoving to the left, to the position shown in Fig. 11, complete the closing of the band and wrapper sides.

End-creasing and delivering device When the wrapping jaws 363'| close upon the folded wrapper sides, the lugs 45 provided at both ends of the jaw plates (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9) tuck in the overhanging wrapper ends so that they are creased approximately in the form of an X. In unison with the folding plate 49 travel three other members, i. e., the horizontally suspended bar 44 (see Figs. 3, 9, 10 and 11) and the creasing jaws 46 and 41. The bar 44 is bent in such a way that when folding plate 49 reaches the position shown in Fig. 11, the bar comes to rest on the upper face of cigar C which it slightly contacts. Jaw 41 passes beneath the projecting ends of the wrapper while jaw 46 passes above them. When folding plate 49 reaches its extreme left position, jaw 41 moves up while jaw 46 descends. When at this moment the wrapping jaws 36 and 3'! open up, removing thereby the lugs 45, the upper creasing jaws 46, moving down shearlike over the lower creasing jaw 41, makes a perfect bellowfold of the collapsed overhanging ends. As Fig. 7 indicates, the creasing jaws are so located that they operate within a gap in the wrapping jaws 36, 31. The creasing jaws are actuated to perform the described motions by cam and lever devices, but as these end-creasing elements do not form a claimed part of this invention and said devices are more fully described in the mentioned applications, they are omitted in the drawings.

When the jaws 36, 37 open up at the end of the bellow-folding operation, the cigar is still held securely in place by folding plate 49 and the bar 45, resting on top of it. The jaw 31, carrying member 45 with it, is lifted up by lever 43 (see Fig. 6) while the upper plunger 35 is raised by lever 48 (Fig. 3) then the cigar is carried out of the wrapping mechanism D by the wrapping plate 49' and the bar 44 moving to the right. From this point the wrapped and banded cigar is carried still further to the heat-sealing means by mechanism not shown or claimed herein.

Summing up, while the wrapping jaws 36, 31, the upper plunger 35, the left and right folding plates 36 and 49, the lower plunger 3 and the creasing jaws 4 6, 4'!- are substantially alike the corresponding parts, shown and described in prior applications, the tucking element 42 and the folding finger 4|, for placing the band directly on the cigar, inside the wrapper, the suspended centering jaw l5 and the cigar feeding and gauging mechanism are'claimed as novel improvements.

Band-folding member 41 The function of this member 4! is to direct the ungummed end of the band into the path of the tucker 42. It is substantially shaped like a hook, with a forked prong at the end andpivotally fastened on a stud 56, the latter being a fixed or integral part of the movable jaw 31. A cushion spring 5|, seated in a little socket in the jaw plate tends to keep member 4| in its normal position, in which its end prong does not protrude into the space between the wrapping jaws 363'|. Any outward swing of the member 4| in the opposite direction is limited by the stop 52, a little bracket secured by the screws 53-53 to the jaw plate (see Figs. 2 and 6). Looking at Fig. 6, one sees that the jaw 37 is hung from the shaft 64. The latter, as Fig. 2 indicates, is journalled in the U-shaped and curved frame 63 which itself with its free ends is rotatably linked to two members 90, fixedly seated on shaft 9|. The lower part of the jaw is also freely hung at E3 in a similar way, and if there were so far nothing else to support the jaw casting, it is apparent that normally it would tend to drop downward. This drop however is limited by the fixed stop 66, forming an integral part of the frame, on which the upper plunger 35 slides. The jaw carries a roller 65 (see Figs. 2 and 3) with which it comes to a rest on the stop 66, and when it is drawn inwardly by the counter-clockwise rocking of shaft 89 and the jaw controlling links 88, the roller glides along the surface of the stop 66. Any lifting of the jaw however has to be effected'by the bell crank 43 in a manner presently described. This bell crank, carried on a stud 56, which is secured in the main bracket 25, is connected by stud 51 and the connecting rod 58 to a cam lever, actuated by a cam on the main cam shaft (shown in prior applications). Rigidly secured to the free end of the bell crank 43 by the stud 59 is the upright member 60 which with a forked top end BI is adaptedto embrace the stud 62, the latter forming a rigid portion of the frame 63 from which the wrapping jaw 31 is hung. When therefore the bell crankis swung in a counter-clockwise sense, the forked member 60 will engage the stud 62, lifting upthe frame 63 and thereby the whole jaw 31 together with the band-folding member 4|.

An angular bracket 54, carrying a leaf spring 55 which acts as a cushion, is fixedly attached to the member 4|. Another bracket 61 which has a downwardly curved nose 69, adapted to contact the leaf spring, is attached by screws 68 .to the forked member 6!). If now the jaw has droppedas far as it can, arrested by the stop 66, the bell crank 43 (which has permitted this downward motion by its own clockwise movement and the lowering of forked member 60) continues its clockwise movement still a little further, thereby pressing with the nose 69 upon the spring 55 and swinging the member 4| inwardly against the tension of spring 5i. This sets the folding prongs at the end of the memher in action, thereby pushing the ungummed band end into the path of the tucker member 42.

Operation of tucking finger 42 The arrangement of the tucker finger, mentioned in connection with Figs. 8, 9 and 10, is best understood from Figs. 2, 4 and-5.

On the vertically moving frame 70, slidably mounted on bar H and guide 12, is secured by bolts 92-92 the cigar-elevating three-forked plunger 3. Bolted thereto is a bracket or bar 93, carrying a stud M on which is pivotally mounted the bell crank 15, having a stud it? at one end, which by a link it is connected to stud 18 of the vertically slidable tucker member 32, said member being provided with slots iii-J3, engaging the guide pins 88-89 on plunger 3, over which it can reciprocatingly slide up or down, being normally kept in a lowered position by its own weight. The outwardly protruding arm of the bell crank carries a spring 84 whose lower end is attached to the free end of the spring-tensioned control arm 8!, pivoted on stud 82, secured in bracket 83, which latter forms a fixed part of guide member 12. Both the bell crank and the control arm 8| are provided each with a lateral lug 86 and 94 respectively, adapted to serve as abutments for controlling stops, presently to be described.

When the plunger 3 is in its lowest position, the cigar-supporting surface is slightly lower than the cigar-feeding level, so that the feeding racks 2-2 can easily shift the cigar, to be wrapped and banded, onto the top of the plunger. At this moment the controlling arm 8! and the protruding arm of the bell crank 15 will be about in the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. 'I'hereupcn the plunger moves upwardly into the cigar-centering position, shown in Fig. 2, and the arm 8! and bell crank 15 assume the position shown in full lines. At this moment, about, the lug 94 comes into contact with the adjustable abutting screw stop 85. Further upward movement of the plunger 3 will first stretch the spring 84, as the upward swing of the control arm 8! has come to a stop, thereupon the spring begins to tilt the bell crank 15 in a counter-clockwise sense, and consequently the slidable tucker member 42 begins to travel upwards, quicker than the plunger itself does, until it touches the underside of the cigar. Thereupon it moves in unison with the elevating plunger 3, but before the latter has quite reached its highest position, the lug 8B of the bell crank comes into contact with the downwardly extending stop 8?, fixedly attached to the feed table F, rocking the bell crank '55 in a clockwise direction during the remaining upward movement of plunger 3. The tucker finger 12, thus drawn away from the cigar, permits the member 4! to swing the un gummed band end over the tip of the tucker finger. As soon as however the plunger begins its downward course, while the cigar is held suspended by the wrapping jaws 3631, as explained, the tucker finger 42 upon release of the stop 81, moves quickly upward under tension of the spring 84 and presses the ungummed end of the band fully against the underside of the cigar, as can be seen in Fig. 5. As the plunger continues its descent, the pulling action of spring 84 ceases, allowing the control arm 8| to move down, away from screw stop 85 whereupon the tucker 42 returns to its lowered position in its relation to the plunger. The member. 6! simultaneously has returned to its retracted position, and after the completion of the banding and wrapping operation the cigar which now rests upon the plate 49 and is held in place by the feeler bar at, is removed sideways to a heat-sealing device, as mentioned before.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of many that can be employed-to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cigar banding and wrapping machine, comprising means to convey a cigar with a loose band, provided with moistened adhesive and a loose wrapper superimposed over the band into a banding and wrapping position and means to adhesively close the band next to the cigar, around the latter, and to securely close a wrapper over both, while the cigar is held stationary during these operations.

2. The combination with a cigar banding and wrapping machine comprising a cigar feeding device, adapted to convey cigars, originally adjacently arrayed, in a rectilinear path and with intermittent stops toward a wrapping and banding position; of a cigar spacing device, adapted to separate and evenly space said cigars from a predetermined point before they reach said position, and a single guiding rail, running alongside the rectilinear path at a small angle and adapted to gradually shift the cigars endwise into a centering alignment with the predetermined wrapping and banding position.

3. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine, the combination with a cigar feeding device, comprising means to deliver cigars in spaced relationship into a wrapping and banding location; of

a cigar centering device adapted to adjust the position of the leading cigar when delivered into said location, said device comprising a jaw, serving as a stop to limit the forward motion of said cigar and consisting of an upright onearmed lever, pivotally fastened at the lower end and contacting with its free end the front side of the leading cigar, and another jaw contacting the rear side of said cigar and arranged in such, a way that it does not interfere with the cigarspacing and delivering means, said jaw consist ing essentially of a horizontal swing suspended over the cigar spacing and delivering device and formed at the free end in the shape of a clamping jaw, positioned opposite to the first jaw, and means to make the jaws converge yieldingly to each other until they contact the cigar, irrespective of its thickness.

4. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine for applying a gummed band about a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, the

combination with a pair of wrapping jaws adapted to fold said Wrapper, with the band underneath it, around three sides of the cigar; of a spring controlled hook-shaped folding finger cooperatively connected with one of said wrapping jaws and adapted with its hook-shaped end to automatically fold a portion of the adjacent free lateral edge of the wrapper together with the adjacent end of the band underneath the fourth side of the cigar for further wrapping operations, means to reciprocate this same wrapping jaw in a vertical direction and mechanical means to control the action of the folding finger in such a way that it performs said function when the Wrapping jaw is lowered and contacts with the wrapper, and becomes inactive when the wrapping jaw is raised.

5.- In a cigar banding and-wrapping machine for applying a gummed band about a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, the combination with a cigar elevating plunger adapted to carry a cigar with a band and wrapper, superimposed upon each other in the order named,

into a stationary banding and wrapping position,

and a pair of wrapping jaws adapted to fold said wrapper and hand against three sides of the cigar and means to deflect one band end over the edges of the fourth side; of a tucker device, adapt edto press said deflected band end firmly'against said fourth side, said device being slidably guided in a vertical slide on the cigar elevating plunger, and of means to elevate the tucker device within said' vertical slide independently from the upward travel of the plunger.

6. In a cigar banding and wrapping machine for applying a gummer band about a cigar and enclosing the banded cigar within a wrapper, the combination with a cigar elevating plunger adapted to carry a cigar with a band and wrapper, superimposed upon each other in the order named, into a stationary bandingand wrapping position, and a pair of wrapping jaws adapted to fold said wrapper and band against three sides of the cigar and auxiliary means to bend one end of the cigar band toward the middle of the fourth side of the cigar; of a tucker device adapted to press said band end firmly against said side, said device being slidably guided in a vertical slide on the cigar elevating plunger, and of means to elevate the tucker device within said vertical slide independently from the ratio and speed of the plunger.

FRANCIS X. MALOCSAY.

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