US528903A - Island - Google Patents

Description

Y 7 Sheets-Shet 1.

(No Model.)

HQKGARDNER. GIGAR BUNGHNGMAGHINE.

N0. 528,903. Patented NOV. 6, 1894.

l mmc? i ,www

Tm: unnms rrrins co. #novo-uwe.. wAswwnmn, Dv c (No Modem j #f1 sneensf-sheet 2.

H. K. GARDNER. GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 528,903. -Patented Nov.- 6,1894.

` (No Moex.) 'z'sneets-sneet 3'.

n, H..-K.GARDNER. GIG-AR BUNCHIN-G MACHINE.

"Na 528,903. Patented Nov. 6,1894.

*uw 'o A I y v Z50/678%? *671% 'WM s y Zywy TH: NoRms PErERs ca. morauma, wAsmNm'cN4 o. cA v rah m e h S U nu. e h S 7 E E N VD R A nuv ,K H u d 0. ,M 0 m GIGAR BUNGHING' MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

(No Model.)

H. Kv.v GARDNER.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

GIGAR BUNGH'ING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 6, '1894.

@f6 Wwf "ru: Noms Ps1-:us ca, wormmno.. Mmmm v, c

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H. KGARDNER. IGAR BUNHlN-G' MACHINE.

No. 528,903. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

lllll n u m: mams Pneus co.. vuonumo.. wAsnmu-wu, u, c,

7. Pun E N D R A nu L E GIGAR BUNGHING MACHINE.

No'. 528,903. Patented-Nov. 6, 1894.

27am zag; -Z vz er* the invention consists of atrough formed or defined by a plurality of moving belts, each ltention to make the parts first described of vgreater importance than those which follow,

.mechanism which flattens out or irons each .a transferring device, which, in combination .a throat which receives the severed charge Nrrsn STATES HENRY K. GARDNER, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE-ISLAND.

ClGAR-BU'NCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v 528,903, dated November 6, 1894.

Serial No. 481,400. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY K. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have made certain new and useful Improvements in OigareBunching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that classof machines wherein the entire stripped leaf is utilized for the purpose of making cigar bunches as distinguished from those wherein scrap or short tobacce is used.

My invention contemplates the use of stripped tobacco leaf, of full length, which is fed into the machine in an unbroken stream, as distinguished from usinglong filler when the same consists in breaking the leafv to make it fit either some measuring device or the hand.

My invention also contemplates a process of making or producing a filler for a bunch, which I believe to be entirely new with me.

In describing my invention I shall commence at the point where the leaf is first manipulated, but in doing so it is not my iuas they may be of less importance.

The first part of my invention relates to the arrangement of the feeding mechanism and the booking of the leaf, and under this head one drawing the leaf along, which trough begins with a narrowed or contracted section and terminates in a spring pressed ironing stri p of tobacco leaf to the end that each leaf is caused to lay straight and even, rendering the resultant cigar free in draft.

The second part of'my invention relates to with a suitable cutting device, and a plunger which is placed under pressure to determine the amount of tobacco or filler which is to enter into the bunch, the plunger working in and prevents it from spreading, and a forming knife or contour cutter, comprises means whereby a suitable amount of the leaf is cut to give length to the filler, the severed charge f require.

then being movedtoward the forming knife or contour cutter by a plunger which is regulated to accommodate itself in such a way that it it will only pass or convey to the forming knife just a sufficient amount of previously severed charge, and which has previously been determined upon for the'proper weight and size of the resulting bunch.

The next combination or distinctive part of my invention resides in what I call an oscillatory transferer and ejector. This is located directly in front of the forming knife and throat, is mounted in suitable bearings, and is connected with means for giving it an oscillatory movement. It lies above the rolling table and that part which moves in front of or in contact with the forming device has substantially the same contour as the exterior of the cigar to be produced, or a section thereof. The oscillatory transferer is provided with a pocket, so called, which is adapted to receive one side or end of the charge fed through the throat, under the knife, and into the pocket, the rear of the pocket being formed by a movable plunger which brings up against an adjustable abutment, the operative surface of the plunger being shaped reversely to the outer edge of the pocket, so that the pocket will accord with the shape of the forming knife and hold the conformed charge without compression. Means are provided forejecting the charge from the pocket atthe proper time; and a stationary abutment, shaped to the surface of the oscilla- J diameter or density of the bunch by causing A it to recedefarther from the periphery of the oscillatory transferrer, increasing or de'- creasing` the containing capacity Yof the pocket, and causing the charge to be made largeror smaller as the necessities of the case The throat plunger at all times being adapted to exert only acertaiu amount of pressure upon the column of tobacco being fed toward the forming knife, Will force just so much tobacco into the pocket as will ll it without undue compression or crowding.` Thus the power of thethroat plunger, which4 IOO eaeos is variable, determines the quantity of tobacco to be moved into the pocket, and by varying the Weight attached to the plunger the density of the bunch is regulated. The forming knife further comprises means for shaping the charge so that its forward edge will fit the shaped surface of the ejector plunger and at the same time give to the other edge of the charge the proper conformation, so that the resultant charge which is finally ejected into the rolling apron forms in eXterior outline approximately the shape of the cigar to be produced, and this is accomplished without forcing or compressing the filler together to get `this conformation, it being formed by cutting or shaping the charge in contradstinction to pressing it into the desired shape, and this is accomplished prior to the rolling of the filler into the binder. In this regard it might be well to state that with the forming knife I provide two independent; ejectors which eject the gore of tobacco left by the opposing knives and between them.

The object of the mechanism thus brief-ly stated is to first drive or move into the mechanism for forming the bunch a continuous stream or line of stripped leaf, not previously cut, and in a loose and unconned condition, first to a device which will iron out, or, in other words, slightly compact and flatten out the leaves and arrange them as nearly horizontal to each other as may be had by mechanism, this operation having as its desired end the imitation of the operation of placing the ller in the hands of an operator, with the addition of giving a continuous supply of such ller to that part of my machine which operates to substitute the manual act of placing the tobacco in the hand for the purpose of forming the bunch; second, the filler is cut or severed to the desired length, which obviates the waste which is usually brought about in hand work by the workman breaking olf the ends or cutting the ends after the bunch is formed, the knife being so timed with relation to the travel of the leaf through the ironing mechanism that it will sever the stream of advancing leaves so that each will be proportionate or equal to the length of the cigar desired. This severance takes place after the leaf has entered the throat which is adapted to be adjusted to receive the varyi ing length of the charge fed into it through a variable feed mechanism; third, the throat plunger` moves the charge in the throat, the forward edge 0f the charge entering the pocket in the oscillatory transferrer, and a portion of the charge lying in the throat it is rmly held until t-he forming knife has severed a sufficient quantity, this being determined by either the pressure on the throat plunger or by the size of the pocket.v The measured charge now having been con formed it is conveyed to the rolling mechanism where a binder is placed about the charge.

The next part of my invention comprises a device which is an adjunct to the rolling table hereinafter to be described whereby a pouch is automatically formed in the rolling apron to receive the charge from the oscillatory transferer, thejaws of the pouch forminga device gripping the charge of filler and confining it in such a way as to preserve its compactness until the apron has been moved forward, and forminga bight wherein the charge lays, the apron during its forward movement lifting the charge out from the jaws and enveloping it until such time as it reaches the binder which is rolled about the charge in the usual manner. This part of my device also comprises means for distributing the slack in the apron so that the pouch is readily formed.

The rolling means, which forms the next portion of my invention, comprises a carrying table disposed in the segment of a circle and a vibratory arm carrying a bunching roller which engages with a rolling apron, the apron being fast at both ends.

I also provide a reciprocating carriage, so operated that it will be in front ofthe rolling table at the time when the bunch reaches the end of its travel, a spring clip on the carriage grasping the bunch, the carriage then being moved to a desirable distance away from the rolling table and there removed by a second operator who places the bunch within the proper form or mold, the carriage then being moved back in proper time to receive the next bunch from the rolling table.

My invention further includes other points of novelty hereinafter specifically set forth, all of which will be further pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this application: Figure l is a side elevation of the machine, the position of the parts of the machine in this View indicating' that a desired length of filler has been cut and fed into the oscillating transferrer, the throat plunger has been receded, awaiting the presentation of a new length of filler, the pouch forming mechanism beingina position to receive the charge from the transferrer, the rolling mechanism in a position ready to receive the charge from said pouch, and the reciprocating carrier moving toward the front of the rolling table to `receive the rolled bunch. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the parts approximately n the same position, the feeding trough being foreshortened to show the end of same and preserve the size of the parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ironing mechanism enlarged and detached, with a portion of the upper belt removed to disclose the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine with the parts in the same position as in Figs. 1, and 2. Fig. 3' is a sectional elevation taken approximately on the line naw, Fig. 2", showing also the deflector and the knife standard or guide. Fig. 4: is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of the machine detached, showing the oscillatory transferrer, the rolling table, and the forming IIO . rolling apron, of reduced size, and the means for securing it to its controlling mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 5, diagrammatically illustrating the operation of feeding the charge to the pocket in the oscillating transferrer, and showing how it is held by the pocket and the forward portion of the throat while being conformed by the forming knife. Fig. 6a is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the center of the oscillatory transferrer cylinder, showing the means forincreasingordiminishing the depth of the pocket, the ends of the cylinder being broken away. Fig.7 is an enlarged front elevation in perspective of a portion of the table or bed showingthe forming knife, the gore ejectors and grippers, the ejector hub abutment, and certain operating mechanism. Fig. 7a is a bottom planof the forming knife and its shank. Fig. 8 isa-plan view of Fig. 7. Fig.` 9 is a plan view of the front of the throat top and bottom, the gore ejectors and grippers in position, and the hub abutment. Fig. 9JJ is an. enlarged sectional elevation onthe line 0c, rra, Fig. 7, showing one of the gore ejectors and grippers and its connections. Fig. 10 is an enlarged and detached side elevation of the pouch forming and conveying mechanism for the rolling table, and the means for operating the same. Fig. 11 is a plan View of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a side elevation through the rear of the rolling table and its supports, showing the slack distributing device in a position readyto distribute the slack. Fig. 13 is alike view showing the distributer in position for distributing the slack. 1

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I shall first describe the main frame of the machine and the main driving elements.

At 1, 121 are side frames or standards which are tied together by suitable tie bolts as indicated at 2, Fig. 1, the bolts being omitted from the front and top views in order to prevent confusion, and at the top bya bed plate 3 which is secured to the top of the side frame by suitable nuts or screws such as 4. A second frame for supporting the feeding trough and ironing device extends out from the side of the main frame, and comprises a leg 6, and angle-iron top-piece 7 having a bed plate 8 which extends into the main frame to form the support of one end of the rolling table asy shown in Fig. 13, the top piece being otherwise supported in the side frame la.

a Suitable beltshifting device leading from a source of power. Upon the shaft 10 is fixed Y in any suitable manner a pinion 13 which gears with the speed gear wheel 14 on the shaft 15 which is mounted in bearings in the crossbar 16, Fig. 1 of the side frames 1, l".

I shall now describe the mechanism 'for Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that on the shaft l5 is mounted a disk-cam 17, and adjacent thereto a tappet 18, the tappet belng shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, where also the cam groove 19 of the disk-cam 17 can be seen. Upon the shaft 10 is secured a rocker arm 20, its lower leg engaging with the surface of the tappet, Fig. 1, the tappet moving it rearwardly, and as the tappet moves away from the rocker the lower leg is moved inward .by the weight of the upper arm of the rocker and itsl appendages. The rear portions ofthe side frames' 1, 1al near their upper portions are tied together by a cross bar 2l, the end of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the cross bar having ears through which pass the bolts '22, and dependent from this cross bar is a journal bearing 23 also shown in dotted lines, lfrom,

which extends a short shaft or spindle 24. Upon this spindle is secured a gear Wheel 25 which is used in this case as a ratchet wheel, and movably secured upon the shaft 24 is a pawl lever 26 carrying a pawl 27 pivoted thereto, and which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel through its weight. Extending between a'boss 26 on the lever 26 and the upper leg of the lrocker 20 is a connecting rod 28, the lower'part of the connecting rod being secured to a movable crank arm 29 fast upon the short stud 30 which is adapted to `move in a slot 3l formed in the outer portion of the upperleg of the rocker 20. This slot is formed therein for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the throw of the lever 26,

so as to vary the movement of the pawl on the ratchet wheel, and cause lt to engage more or less teeth, and this for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the amount of move ment given ultimately to the feeding belts, so thatby adjusting the stud 30 within the slot 3l the train of tobacco will be given' a movement at each rotation of the power wheel corresponding with the length of the cigar which it is desired toproduce; that is to say,

should it be desired to make a five-inch cigar a charge of filler of the desired length will he cut from the train of leaf, through the instrumentality of the adjustment just before described, and should it be desired to change the length of the cigar, say, for instance, to four and one-half inches, it is only necessary to move the stud inward toward the shaft l0 and secure it at the desired point. This will shorten the throw of the pawl lever 26 and cause the pawl to traverse fewer teeth of the ratchet Wheel both in going -forward and IOO IIO

coming back, and through the instrumentality ofthe hereinafter described mechanism give the train of tobacco leaf a forward n10- tion just sufficient to move four and one-half inches of the train past the knife which severs the charge fromthe train. The sides of the slot can be marked in any suitable way to indicate the amount of adjustment necessary to obtain the desired feed. Although I prefer this form of mechanism I do not limit myself to such,as the variation in feed can be otherwise accomplished.

Secured to one of the side frames in any desirable way and extending upwardly therefrom are two journal blocks'32, 33 which form bearings for a short longitudinal shaft 34, the

shaft 34 carrying outside of the journal block 32 the pinion 35, which gears with the companion pinion 36 located directly below it and fixed toa short shaft 37 journaled in the jour nal block below the shaft 24, Fig. 3, and upon this shaft is a reducing pinion 38 which gears with the ratchet wheel 25. The gearing just before described is of the usual form used in reducing or increasing speed.

Secured upon the shaft 34 by means of its hub 39 is a grooved pulley 40.

From the web or bed plate 8 on the extension 7are the outwardly and upwardly extending journal blocks 4l, 42, 4l being shown in Fig. l and 42 in Fig. 3. Extending between the journal blocks 41, 42 is a transversely extending angle iron43 which is secured to the said journal blocks by bolts 44, and extending between the side` frame l and the angle iron 43 is a flat plate 45 (see Fig. 2) from the sides of which extend upwardly two guide plates 46. On an extension 47 of the bed plate 45 is journaled a small grooved pulley 48, and in the 4cross bar 43 are journaled two upright Spindles49, 50, their upper ends being steadied by a bar 51 which is secured by the bolts 52 to the top of the journal blocks 4l, 42, and upon the upper portion of the spindles 49, 50 are two companion gears 52, 53. Upon the spindle 50 is fast a grooved pulley 54, Fig. 1. A drive chain 55 is rove around the pulleys 40, 54, and plays against the guide pulley 48.

The feeding trough is constructed as follows: The feeding belt or belts 56, 57 are of leather, their inner ends working in pulley blocks 58, 59, their rear ends working in the grooved pulley blocks 60, 6l which are mounted to revolve upon the spindles 62, the spindles being secured in any desirable way to a bracket 64 mounted upon arms 65 which arms are secured to uprights 66 on the ned plate or web 8. The spindles 62, are inclined at an angle so as to form a bight at the rear end of the trough which gradually expands as the belts 56, 57 approach the pulley blocks 58, 59. The object of this bight is to prevent a backward movement of the leaf, and to cause the side belts to get a good hold of the leaf at this point. Mounted upon a shaft 67 journaled in the uprights 66 is a transverse pulley block 68 about which passes a belt 69, which extends forward and passes over acounterpart pulley block 7O fixed to the shaft 37 upon which the reducing gear wheel 38 is fast. The belt 69 is in reality a conveying belt, and

`forms the lower feeding element of the entire `feeding mechanism, .and the side belts 56, 57

are used for the purpose of preventing the stream of leaf from being retarded by too much friction which would oppose the travel of the stream of leaf were the walls of the trough stationary and not movable. `From the bed plate 71, or, in other words, the stationary bottom of the trough, extend two walls 72, 73 which form abutmentsfor the side belts 56, 57, and which `keep the side belts confined, so as to form a trough of a certain definite size againstwhich the belts impinge during the movement of thestream of tobacco. This bed plate 7l can be continuous withthe plate45 asshown in Fig. 3a.

The foregoing sets forth mechanism whereby the stripped leaf `is fed inward or transversely to the line of travel of the cut charge,

i and is securely held during the feeding operation so as not to permit of a disengagement of the leaves from `each other, the feeding being accomplished in an intermittent manner by mechanism under the control of the operator, who can vary the length of travel of the leaftrain at will tovary the length of the cut charge.

My feeding mechanism also embodies means for pressing out or ironing the leaves so as to cause them to lay straight and fiat. Thisis what I call the-second element of the feeding mechanism, as this operation follows the initial movement of the leaf given itby the trough which is the first orprimary element. The first element merely compresses the leaf sufficiently for the purpose of moving the train, leaving it free above. The second elementis contracted vertically, in which contracted section the ironing device is located, and between the first and second elements, andat the mouth of the second is a defiectorwhich enables the train to enter the contracted section without humping or turning the leaves upwardly upon themselves.

l will now describe the ironing mechanism and associated parts. Upon the shaft .34 which nds bearing in the journal blocks 32, 33 is fixed a drawing pulley 74, and in the journal blocks 42, 43 is journaled a short shaft 75 upon which an idler pulley block 76 is secured, and between the pulley blocks 74, 76 extends the ironing belt 77 so called. The device for causing the ironing belt to press upon the stream of tobacco moving it forward after it has emerged from the trough in.` the manner hereinafter to be described comprises a series of interlocking pressure rollers mounted in a suitable frame and asuperposed friction roller which operates through the instrumentality of a spring to force or press the interlocking ironing rollers down upon the ironing belt, while the friction roller ex- IOO IIO

IZO

tending upwardly above the frame takesout the slack in the ironing belt and causes the same to press evenly upon the stream of advancing leaf, while the ironing rollers flatten and press out the leaves lying below them and the ironing belt and between it and the feed ing belt 69. This ironing mechanism comprises the two plates 78, 79 united by the cross bolts 81 into a frame which rests on the gui-de plates 46, in which frame and guide plates there are a number of short shafts or'spindles 80 mounted in segmental bearings, that is to say, the opening at the bottom of the frame plates in which the spindles move permitting the frame and spindles to be lifted by the leaf Without unseating the spindles. These vspindles carry a series of interlocking rollers 81, each roller comprising a hub and concentric and angularprojection, the projection interlocking or lying between the space caused b v each opposing annulus. Above any one or the rollers is located a friction roller 82 mounted on a spindle 83 which lies in an open bearing in the side frames or plates 78, 79 as shown in Figs. 3 and 2, and each end of the `spindle has connected thereto a spiral spring 83, the other end being secured to the bed plate 71. Y Momentum being given to the pawl an ratchet mechanism of the feeding device, and as before described to the two upper and lower drive pulleys 70, 74, through the me` dium of the intervening reducing gearing, will operate the upper and lower belts 69,77, and through the drive belt 55 and connections move the trough belts. The stripped vleaves being placed in the feeding trough,

preferably overlapping each other, they are moved forward by the conveying belt 69 and side belts 56, 67 to the ironing mechanism, the'entrance thereto being guarded by achute or deflector like device as seen in Fig. 3, and

which is a wedge shaped body 85, its mouth lying between the two pulleys 58, 59, and it being secured in place by means of a tongue 86 fastened to the cross bar 51, a plate spring 87 being fastened to the tongue and lying over the entrance to the deflector, so that as the stream or train of leaf advances to the ironing mechanism it is forced downward into the narrowed space lying between the ironing and conveying belts 69, 77, the spring tongue preventing the upturned ends of any particular leaves from rising or becoming bent over themselves, and the sides of the deflector lying closely adjacent to the surfaces of lthe belts 56, 57 enables the leaf to pass smoothly into the deflector while under pressure. As the stream of leaf progresses forward under the ironing belt 77 the spiral springs 83L press the friction roller 82 down uponfthe interlocking roller directly below it and at the same time the spindle 83 of the the leaf and pressing and straightening out each separate leaf of the stream. Should the stream of leaf be too thick as it comes under the rollers it will lift them and the frame against the roller 82 and its springs or the up per belt 77 and press the leaf with just sufiicient force toiron it and'without breaking the leaf.y The roller 82 lying above the lon` gitudinal plane of the rollers 74,76 raises the belt 77, makes it taut and takes out all the slack so that the pressure of the belt upon the leaf at points not aected by the interlocking rollers will be uniform throughout. Thus far the train of leaf has been advanced but to the point where it meets the severing knife, which forms the means for producing 'a charge oftobacco or a filler of acertain definite length which has been previously determined upon.-

I shall now describe the device for severing the train of leaf to form the charge and the means for automatically feeding the charge to the forming knife or cutter, the device for so feeding it forward embracing means for giving to the charge a varying amount of pressure according to the looseness or density of the bunch desired, which pressure acts to move more or less of the severed charge to form a thicker or thinner bunch, which pressure can be adj usted for this purpose.

Extending upwardly from the bed plate 3, Fig. 2 is a slide rest 88 secured to thebed plate by the bolts 89, and within this slide rest is dovetailed a slide 90 carrying on the end thereof a knife blade 91, Fig. 3a. Secured to the outer face of the slide 90 is a pin 92 to which is secured one end of a rocker l93 the shaft 95 is a short crank 97, Fig. 2 to which is secured a connecting rod 98 leading down to the base of the main frame and having a pin or roller 99, Fig. 3 near its lower end, which engages with a cam groove formed on the inner side of a diskcam 100 fast to a shaft 101, the end of the rod being slotted and playing on the shaft 101 or the hub of the disk-cam 100 for guidance. The shaft 101 receives rotation through the fast and loose pulleys 1l, 12 on the shaft 10, through the pinion 13, the large gear 14 fast upon the shaft 15, through the reducing gear wheel 102 fast on the same shaft, to a companion wheel103 fast on the shaft 101, through which acontinuous rotation is given to the disk-cam 100, the roller 99 operating in the cam groove vibrating the connecting rod 98 up and down and oscillating crank 97 and shaft 95 vibrating the rocker arm 93 which vin turn moves the knife slide 90 and cutting blade 91 up and down in the slide rest severing a sufficient charge or length from the train of leaf which has been advanced through thc slide rest which is apertured to receive it as shown in Fig. 3% i y IIO The feeding and ironing belts 69, 77 are connected with the cutting knife by means of a iiexible channel constructed as follows: The stream of tobacco is not severed, however, until the forward portion or end of the same has been moved by the intermittent mechanism before described across the charge receiving throat which will now be described. The throat comprises two walls 89, 89" and 90a on each side, the slide rest 88 and the knife blade 91 itself forming a continuation of the wall 89@l and bridging the space between the two blocks 89a, 89h, and upon both walls is placed a glass plate 112, the glass plate being secured down upon the walls by means of clamps 113 which are adapted to move in slots 114 formed in the bed plate 3, and be secured at any point thereon by means of the screws or bolts 115, the plate 112 confining the cut charge, and being transparent permitting the same to be seen at all periods of its movements.

The slide rest 88 and rocker 93 being adjustable as before described the throat can be widened or narrowed at pleasure so as to accommodate varying lengths of charges, the width of the throat as in Fig. 2 being practically as wide as would ordinarily be used, and if widened still farther, another glass plate can be substituted. 1t will not under ordinary circumstances be necessary to do this, as I propose to make the throat as Wide as the longest cigar required by the trade, and provide a scope of adjustment to all the cooperating parts commensurate with the adjustment made in the throat.

A plunger 116 secured upon a rod 117, supported and operated as hereinafterset forth, works within the throat and preferably stretches across the entire width of the same, the plunger being moved by its operating mechanism forward and forcing the cut charge toward the forming knife. Should it be desired, as hereinbefore stated, to alter the length of the charge after the pawl and ratchet mechanism have been altered, the bolts 115 will be freed and the nuts confining the slide rest loosened which permit the slide rest and its ears on the one hand and the wall 111 on the other hand to be moved to or from the longitudinal axis ofthe rod 117 so as to shorten or widen the throat, the pawl and ratchet mechanism moving the train of leaf forward in accordance with the number of teeth of the pawl wheel operated or passed which causes an increase in the length of the stream or column of leaf passing through the slide rest to the opposing wall of the throat, the entire mechanism being so timed and adapted that the cutting knife will move downward only after the head of the stream has passed entirely across the throat and presented the desired length for severance. It must be here noted that the movement of the connecting rod 98 and its roller 99 in the cam groove of the disk-cam 100 is so timed and proportioned that the knife 91 in its up and down movement will have a rest which would be sufficient for the passage thereunder of sufficient of the train of leaf to enable as long a charge to be cut as desired, so that it is not necessary to change the speed of the movement of the cutting device to get this change in length of the charge, but `the accommodation of these parts is had through the amount of travel given to the feeding mechanism due to the increase in the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel operated upon by its pawl, the knife 91 remaining quiescent whether the minimum or maximum length is to be sev ered from the train of leaf. This change in the size or width of the throat necessitates an increase in the width of the plunger. In the present case this would be accomplished by removing the plunger, unshipping its counections and unscrewing it from the rod 117 and putting in a longer or shorter plunger as the case may require.

Referring now to the plunger and its asso ciated mechanism upon an extension 118 of the bed plate 3 are secured posts 119 between which and posts 120 on the bed plate 3 extend the guide rods 121. A cross head 122 has a movable bearing on the guide rods 121. From the extension 118 extends arectangu lar frame 123 having journal blocks 124, 125 thereon, and in the journal blocks 124 125 is journaled a short shaft 126 upon which are grooved pulley blocks 127,128, the last being larger than the former. To the pulley block 128 is secured at one end a rope or belt 129 to the other end of which is detachably se,- cured a weight 130. To the pulley block 127 is secured at one end a ilexible rope 131, the other end being secured to a stud 132 on the end of the plunger rod 117. The plunger rod is supported at its rear end by the bearing 125, and at its forward end by another bearing 133 on the bed rplate extension 11S. On the rod 117 is fixed a collar 134: directly behind the cross head 122, which collar moves with the rod 117, which movement is had through the weight 130, the two pulleys, and connecting ropes causing the collar to bear against the back of the cross head 122, during certain portions of its movement as will be hereinafter set forth. The weight and pulleys acting on the plunger through the connections before described brings ayielding pressure on the plunger against the severed charge, the weight being sufficient for the purpose of moving the charge through the throat under the forming knife and subsequently into the oscillatory cylinder which will be hereinafter described, and at the same time exerting a varying pressure in accordance with the amount of force exerted upon the plunger rod or plunger itself. This can be varied by varying the weight 130, and by adding to or subtracting therefrom in any desired way suiiicient force will be exerted upon the charge in the throat to feed the desired amount of cut leaf past the forming knife or to give it IOO IIO

its desired density, so that if less leaf is required or a very loose bunch is desired the pressure on the plunger ,will be less than it would be were a more dense bunch required, the plunger acting to feed the desired weight of filler to the forming knife. s

The cross head simply acts as a retractor for the plunger, and during its forward move ment the collar 134 may become separated from the cross head due to the amount of pressure which the plunger is exerting upon the charge, so that in the forward movement of the cross head the collar 134 will follow the cross head until the plunger begins to exert pressure upon the charge, then the cross head will lead the collar in its forward movement. On its rearward movement the cross head strikes the collar and moves the plunger rod in its bearings rearwardly, retracting the plunger and bringing it to the end of its stroke or movement in the throat, after which follows another feed or movement of the leaf train under the knife 91, and a severance thereof, adding an additional charge to that already in the throat.

The means for reciprocating the cross head are as follows: Leading-from the cross head 122 are two links 135 connected at their outer ends to two rocker arms 136 which are fast to a shaft 137 mounted in journal blocks 138 on the rear of theside frames. The arms 136 can be connected by cross bars as at 136e, Fig. 1. Near the bottom of the forward portion of Vthe frame is journaled in bearings 139 a cross shaft 140 from which extends a crank arm 141, to which .is secured a rearwardly extending connecting rod 142, the union of l the connecting rod and crank arm being made close to the shaft in order to get the proper throw to the connecting rod 142. As seen in Fig. 1 the connecting rod 142 is secured to the lower cross bar 136a extending between the arms 136 near-their point of support, and these arms on both sides being connected in the manner before set forth to the cross head, the throw or movement of-the cross head will be greater than the movement of the crank arm 141 on account of the manner of connecting the same.

Leading from the disk-cam 17 is a link 143 at one end of which is a roller 144 which plays in the cam groove 19, the end carrying the roller having a slot 145 (see Fig. 1) which encircles the shaft 15 and supports the link 143 during its actuations by the cam groove. The forward end of the link is secured as shown in Fig. 3 to the crank arm 141. The shaft 15 being connected to the power shaft 10 as before described, and the disk-cam 17 being secured to the same shaft, a rotary moironing device as well as the slide rest 88,

would have to be made adjustable transversely. This would be objectionable, sol have adapted my machine to feeding into the throat a train of leaf of a constant width, and cause the change in the amount of leaf placed in the bunch to be accomplished by varying the pushing force of the plunger.

The successive severed charges moved 1n the throat simply form an accumulation of severed leaves from which is taken (that 1s from the forward portion of the series of charges it forms in the throat) just sufficient to form a bunch or filler of the desired length, through the action of the plunger, each successively presented severed charge taking the f place of the last. In practice the first charge is cut by the forming knife as the series of charges in the throat do not at that timeex-v tend to the knife,but a few repetitions of the feed and charge cutting will place sufficient leaf in the throat to form a series of charges between the plunger (forward movement) and the oscillatory transferrer cylinderA from which the forming knife cuts the conformed filler. are advanced to the forming knife, which will now be described.

IOC

Thus the successive severed charges v -Extending upwardly from in front of the forward edge of the bed plate 3 is a dovetailed slide rest having an outwardly extending web 146, Fig. 7 and ears 147, through which pass the bolts 148 on each side of the slide rest,'the bolts securing the ears and the slide rest to the bed plate 3. From a little below the top of the slide rest extends on both sides a dovetailed projection 149,which serves as av guide for the dovctailed knife shank 150 from which extends a stud 151,the lower portion of the shank having a flanged extension 152. This flanged extension carries two oppositely disposed blades 153, 154 shaped to a longitudinal section of the exterior contour of the cigar, and which are held in place at their ends by thimbles 155 and rivets 157 and Vcentrally by a rivet 1572, the thimbles being order to give the resultant shape to the filler. f

Referring now to Fig. 9 itwill be seen that there is formed at the extreme outer end of the throat 156 in which the plunger 116 moves, a shearing block, comprising on the one hand the bar 157b secured over the end of the throat 156 so as to leave a space between the floor of the throat and the bar 157D, the outer edge of both the throat and the bar being conformed to the shape of the blade 151, and on the other hand by an abutment block 158, (which has a front surface conformed to the shape of the transferrer cylinder hereinafter to be described, and against which the surface of the said cylinder closely opposes) the inner edge of the abutment block conforming to the shape of the blade 154, both the throat, the cross bar 157a and the abutment block 158 forming a shearing block which holds the stock against the shearing action of the knife, and also forms a guide for the knife blades, keeping them in position. The abutment block is rigidly secured to a cross bar 159, which in turn is supported by the side frames 1, 1 of the machine as seen in Fig. 5.

The train of severed charges of tobacco as it is moved forward in the throat by the plunger passes under the cross or shearing bar 157 and into the pocket of the transferrer cylinder hereinafter to be described, there then being a body of tobacco leaf extending from a pocket in the transferrer cylinder through and across the shearing block and under the cross bar 157, and back into the throat to a distance determined by the amount of pressure given to the series of charges, and the amount of leaf fed. Vith the chargein this position the action of the knife in advancing will be to simultaneously cut or conform the charge on the line indicated by the inner end of the abutment block, to wit: the shape of the transferrer cylinder, and also to sever from that portion of the charge directly within the throat and under the cross bar 157a (which will form the front of a subsequent charge) a portion thereof which will conform to one side or the forward side of either the pocket in the transferrer cylinder or the cigar itself, which during the next succeeding motion of the plunger is shoved forwards into the transferrer cylinder, and thus the operation of severance is continued on. On the initial operation ofthe machine it may happen that both sides of the charge are not properly conformed and this improperly formed charge can be discarded, but the successive present-ation of severed charges to the forming knife adapts them in shape to the bunch to be produced, as in the manner just before described, and this without any compression of the filler to get the desired shape, the knife severing the tobacco on the two opposing reverse sides, which results in the proper shape. This operation leaves the dummy blanks or waste stock between the ends of the two opposing blades, as before suggested, and the device for ejecting these dummy blanks after the forming knife has operated will now be described.

lwill describe but one.

Upon the shaft 101 is xedly secured a diskcam 160, and upon the sleeve of this cam or the shaft itself is a slotted connecting rod 161, the slot in the end of the rod surrounding the shaft or sleeve and guiding said rod in its movements up or down. The upper end of the rod 161 is connected to a rocker arm 162 fulcrumed on the side frame 1a at 163, Fig. 2, the rear end of which is connected to an upwardly extending arm 161 by the pin or bolt 165, which in turn is pivotally connected with a cross bar 166 fulcruined in a support 215 on the side frame 1 at 167. The rotation of the shaft 101 causes the roller on the arm or rod 161 to `play in the cam way of the disk-cam 160, which lifts said rod, vibrating the rocker arm 162, lifting the rod 1,64, and cross bar 166. The cross bar 166 is connected with a slide bar 168 moving in a slide way in the rear of the slide rest 145, by means of the pin 169. (See Fig. 1.) The web 146 of the slide rest carries journal blocks 170, through which extend the short shafts or spindles 171. (See Fig. 7.) The rearward ends of these short spindles carry small crank arms 172, which are connected to the slide bar 168 by means of the links or arms 173 and pins 173.

The forward ends of the spindles 171 carry the expansive gripping and ejector jaws, which operate in the double capacity of forming a continuation of the throat in which the severed charge lies while being conformed by the forming knife, and also as means of ejecting the dummy charge or blank after .severance by the forming knife. These jaws com prise the ejecting finger 174 fast upon or cast with the spindles 171, the forward end 175 of which is conformed to the shape of the contiguous portions of the throat 156 and the rear of the abutment block 158, so as to form in a measure a guidefor the blades in their upward and downward movement and a support for the stock, and also to snugly lie therein for the purpose of carrying between it and the movable portion of the jaw, hereinafter to be described, the dummy stock in the same manner as it would be grasped by two fingers, until such a time as the lower portion of the jaw is independently moved to permit the dummy blank to drop out of the grasp of the jaw. As both jaws are alike I The ejector finger 171 of the jaw has upon its rear end a downwardly extending projection 176, upon which is formed a lug 177, which is also provided with asetuscrew 178. The lower and independently movable portion of the ejector is formed in part by the arm 180 which is movably mounted upon the spindle 171 and secured bythe spindle screw 180a and by a finger 178, the forward end of the finger being V shaped as at 179. The upper surface of the linger 178a is dat as shown, and when in the position shown in Fig. 7, (that is when the oscillating transferrer cylinder and its pocket have arrived in front of the throat) will lie flush with the forward end of the throat and fill up the space IIO between it and the abutment block 158, so as to form acontinuation of the throat and a supporting medium for the stock. Between the end 180 of the finger 178, and the ejector linger 174, lies a coil spring 181 by means of which the lower finger 17,8a is kept parallel with the upper finger so as to form a continuation of the throat for holding the charge as above stated. The set screw 178 is used for the purpose of limiting the upward movement of the upper jaw so as to determine its position withinthe knife.

Upon thev web of the slide rest 145 and by means of the bolts 148 are secured outwardly extending stops 182, which are adapted to engage the lug 183on the arm 176. During the downward movement of the front portions of both sections of the jaw the spring 181 keeps both the jaws parallel, the lug 183 strikes the stop 182, and by a continuation of the rotation of the short spindles 171 causes the lower half of the jaw to continue its Vibration, compressing the spring 181, which at the same time distends the jaws, permitting the dummy charge to fallout. The coil spring is used for the purpose of causing both portions of the jaw on their return motion to become parallel keeping them distended and at the same time when the lug 183 is in contact with the stop 182. p

I will first describe the means for operating the forming knife, and then the combined operation of the knife and the ejector jaws.

From the side frames extend journal blocks 184, and from the journal block 184 on the frame 1 rises the standard 185, Fig. 4, to which is pivotally secured by the pin or bolt 186 the cross arm v187, which is pivotally se'- cured to the pin 151 on the knife shank 150, the other end of the cross arm 187 being secured to an upwardly extending link 188, Fig. 1, which is in turn secured to a rocker arm 189, journaled on the pin 190 secured to the side frame 1. This rocker arm is connected by a connecting rod 191, the lower portion of which has a slotted extension 192, through which the shaft 101 passes, and which guides the movement of the rod 191 up and down. On the shaft 101 is secured a disk-cam 193 in the groove, Fig. l of which moves the pin 194 secured to the rod 191. This disk-cam takes its movement as before described by the rotation of the shaft 101, during which the connectingrod 191 is lifted, the rocker armA l is pressed forward under the knives and into the pocket of the transferrer cylinder, and assuming them to be in a position shown in Fig. 7, which is at the end of their upward of the succeeding` charge which lies in the throat and between the upper and lower sections of the transferrer jaws. The movements of the parts are so proportioned and timed that when the blades are in their uppermost position, the ejector jaws are parallel and form a continuation of the throat, and when the blades are at the end of their downward stroke then the ejector jaws carry the dummy blank to below the level of the throat and ont from the blades and separate and discharge the same. After the charge has been formed as before set forth the transferrer cylinder with the formed charge in its pocket is turned so as to present the pocket downward and over the rolling apron as shown in Fig. 5.

The transferrer cylinder 195, Fig. .6 is formed integral with trunnions 196, which have at their outer ends spindle bearings 197 set in the journal blocks 184, (see Fig. 4) the central portion of the cylinder being enlarged as at 197a in which a pocket 198 is formed, the exterior of the enlargement 197a being conformed preferablyto the shape of the cigar and which also conforms to the shape of the abutment block 158a and to the forward blade 153, of which the rear blade 154 is the reverse. At the top of the pocket 198 is secured a cross bar or guide plate 199, which forms both a support and a guide for the rods 200 and 201, connected at the top by a cross bar 202 and suitable nuts 203. Within the pocket 198 and secured to the lower ends of v Athe guide rods is a plunger 204 which preferably should accurately fit the pocket. By reference to Fig. 6ad it will be seen that the lower endof the plunger conforms to one side of the cigar and is Vthe reverse of the lower end of the pocket which represents the contour of the extension or hub of the cylinder. Set screws 205 extend through tapped holes` in the guide bar 199, and between the guide bar and the nuts on the outer guide rods 201 extend spiral springs 206, which may bear against the cross bar 202 at any other point instead of against the nuts 203. These sprin gs lift the plunger on its return stroke, and the set screws 205, in accordance to the amount of their extension from the guide bar 199, regulate the amount of the return movement of the plunger so yas to regulate the depth of the pocket 198, which will result as before stated in a larger or smaller or looser or a denser bunch in accordance with the desire previously determined upon, it being understood that the throat plunger and its moving weight exert a constant pressure upon the charge. There are two separate and distinct IOO IOS

IZO

manipulations which can be had in the machine in this regard which it would be well to state here.

As already stated the pocket can be enlarged and with its enlargement and an equal amount of pressure upon the throat plunger a greater amount of stock can be forced or fed into the pocket in the transferrer cylinder, and thereby the size of the bunch can be increased, and if it is desired to reduce the size of the bunch the pocket can be reduced in size by the set screws which will reduce the amount of stock forced into the pocket and thereby the diameter of the bunch. The other manipulation is in increasing the density of the filler, and consequently the bunch as may be desired by adding weight to the device which moves the throat plunger and retainingthe same size of pocket in the transferrer cylinder, which will cause an added amount of force or pressure to be exerted upon the charge moving into the pocket, thereby condensing it.

The means for oscillating the transferrer cylinder, and operatin g the plunger is as follows: Upon the shaft 15 is secured a wing cam 207, the shaft receiving rotary motion as before described, and upon the spindle eX- tension 197 of the transferrer cylinder is secured a short crank arm 208, which is connected to a rod or bar 209 which has a slotted extension 210, the slot of which works upon the shaft 15 as shown in Fig. 1 for guidance. The extension 210 of the bar 209 carries a pin and roller 211, which is adapted to be brought into contact with the wing cam 207 by means of the spiral spring 212 fast at one end to a pin 213 on the rod 209 and at the other end to a loose sleeve 214 on the shaft 15. Thus it will be seen that if the shaft is rotated the wing cam will be carried around, and when its point of greatest projection strikes the roller 211 of the rod 209, it will lift that rod, vibrate the crank arm 208, and with it the transferrer cylinder 195, the parts being so timed that during the upward movement of the forming knives the ejector cylinder will be oscillated downwardly and forwardly until its pocket is directly over the rolling apron as shown in Fig. 5, a sufficient rest being given to the movement of the knives to permit of these two operations, to wit: the operation of oscillating the cylinder and the movement of the ejecting plunger.

The ejection is accomplished as follows: Secured to the right hand journal bearing 184 is a standard 215, to which is pivotally secured by a bolt 216 a rocking goose neck 217, having on its outer end a roller 218 rotatably mounted on the pin 219. Between the end of the gooseneck and its fulcrum 216 is pivotally secured a rod 220, which extends upwardly and has a slotted extension 221 which plays upon the shaft 101, the lower end of the extension carrying a pin 222 which works in a cam groove in the disk 223 fast upon the shaft 101 as shown in Fig. 3. The

cam in this disk has a very small pitch b'y reason of the fact that the movement of the goose neck is augmented through the variation of the distance between its ends and its fulcrum and the point of securing the rod 220 thereto. )Vlien the cylinder has reached the point shown in Fig. 5 with its pocket downwardly, the gooseneek audits operating elements are so timed as to cause the roller to bear downwardly upon the cross bar 202, which moves the plunger 204 against the stress of the springs 206, forcing the charge down upon the apron (now a shaped filler) and into a pouch formed in a reciprocating carrier jaw, from whence it is brought to the level of the rolling table released, a binder laid upon the table and the apron, upon which the filler is moved, thence along the rolling table to a movable carriage which convoys the rolled filler or bunch to a suitable distance away from the rolling table, where it is taken from the carriage by a second operator who places the rolled filler or bunch into a conforming mold.

The rolling table comprises a block of wood or other desirable material 224 having an upper portion formed to a suitable curve at the front end of which is secured the rollingl apron 225, the rear end being secured to a stirrup 226 (see Fig. 5), which is pivotally secured to a rocking lever 228 mounted on a pin 229 on a lug 230 depending from the bed 231 of the rolling table, the forward end of the lever 228 carrying a cross bar 228% the forward end of the bed 231 being secured to a plate 232, which is in turn secured to a carrier Way 233, which in turn is supported upon brackets 234 secured to the side frames 1, l (see Figs. 4 and 5), the forward end of the apron being held between the plate 232 and rolling table 224. The rear end of the bed plate 231 is supported by outwardlyextending arms 235 upon the rear portion of which is secured a transverse bar 236 which extends between the arms 235, the bar 236 in turn resting upon a supplemental block 237 bolted to the bar 236, the block 237 in turn resting upon a T iron extension 8. (See Figs. 3 and 13.) This secures the rolling table in position and supports its co-operatin g devices. Extending upwardly fromthe arms 235 are pillars 238 between which extends aloosely mounted roller 239, over which the rolling apron passes and against which it bears during certain manipulations of the same. Upon the shaft 140 (see IIO Fig. 3) is mounted a rocker arm 141 from which leads a link 143 to the disk-cam 17, and by means of which the link 143 isvibrated as before described. Secured upon the shaft are two connecting arms 240 tied together by the bars 240, 243 which vibrate forwardly and rearwardlysynchronously with the arms 136 which withdraw the throat plunger, the upper ends of the arms 240 carrying the bunching roller 241 as in Figs. 3, 12, and 13. Below the lever 228 to the arms 240 is secured the cross bar 243 upon which the roller 244 is secured, the lever 228 resting upon the roller 244,

and being caused to engage therewith atl all the charge therefrom, and conveys it downward to below the level ofthe rolling table from which the charge is drawn by the action of the bunching roller. It is very desirable,in this regard, to have means for automatically distributing the slack in the apron so as to permit of a pouch being formed in the apron within the gripper while the charge is being forced from the transferrer cylinder down upon the rolling apronand into the gripping carrier, and this slack distributing operation is performed after the bunching roller has passed under the transferrer cylinder and before the gripping conveyer begins to rise.

The mechanism and the operation thereof are as follows: The arms 240 carrying the bunching roller 241 at the top are operated, as before stated, through the instrumentality of the disk-cam 17, connection being made therefrom to the shaft 140 to which the arms 240 are secured, the disk-cam oscillating the arms 240. The lever 228 has'a downward bend at its rear end as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and in Fig. 5, which is caused to bear on the roller 244 on the rod 243 through the medium of the spring 245, s'o that the forward movement of the arms 240 lifts the rearward end of the lever 228 against the stress of the spring 245, and the rearward motion ofthe arms 240 draws the roller 244 away from the lever 228, and permits the spring 245 tou move the rearward end of said lever downwardly, and the apron being connected with the rearward end ofthe lever 228 as beforedescribed is tightened or loosened in accordance with the direction of the movement of the lever 228. The arms 235 are provided with downwardly extending brackets 246 to which is pivotally secured a frame composed as follows: The arms 247 ,the cross bar 248 at their ends, and upwardly extendingarms 249 at the forward ends of the arms 247, and cross bar 250. The cross bar 248 extends between the arms -247 on both arms 235 and the cross bar 250 extends be- I tween the upright arms 249 on bothsides, the

of the lever 228'is pointed at 255 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and is adapted to engage with the hook 254 on the dog 253. A spring 256 is ysecured to the cross bar 248 and bears'against the hook 254 of the dog 253, tending to press it forward. The rolling apron 225 bears against the cross bar 250, and a spiral spring 257 is secured at one end to a plate '258 on the cross bar 236 of the rolling table bed and at the other end to the arm 249. Depending from the cross bar 236 at a point adjacent to the dog 253 is a small bracket 259 carrying thereon a stop or pin 260, the rounded end of the hook 254 being adapted to engage said pin, and from the arm 247 extends a pin 261v adapted to limit the forward motion of the dog 253. As the arms 240 are moved forward to cause an apron 225 and roller 241 to roll thebinder about the charge and complete the bunch, the apron carries with it a certain amount of slack due to the presence of the "charge within the apron, this slack being in the natu re of a bight which holds the charge during the operation of rolling the binder about it. When the arms 240 recede, carrying back the bunching roller 241, this slack or bight is left at the forward end of the rolling table. The bunching roller in Fig. 12 is shown as on its rearward movement, at which time there will be slack in the apron at'both sides, one forwardly and one rearwardly of the bunching roller. -When the bunching roller has moved as far backas it IOO will go ,then the slack distributing mechan- A ism begins to act; and this commences with the commencement of the forward motion ofthe roller 241. As the arms 240 move forwardly, carrying the roller 241 with them, the roller 244 bears against the. bottom of the lever 228 lifting its pointed end or tooth 255 upwardly until it strikes the hook 254 of the dog 253 which vibrates the frame before de-l scribed on its fulcrum 251, throwing the cross bar 250 forcibly against the apron 225 (as shown in Fig. 13), moving the slack at the forward end of the rolling table and drawing it under the roller 241 to be utilized for the purpose of forming the pouch of the vgripping conveyer as hereinafter described. The length of the arms 249 to which the cross bar 250 is attached being greater from the fulcrum 251 than is the point of attachment of the dog 253v to the cross bar 248, the movement of the cross bar 250 will be accelerated and perform its operation of distributing the slack in much quicker time than the bunching roller 241 moves, that is to say, that the cross bar 250 moves much quicker than the bunching roller 241. The forward movement of the frame causes the curved surface of the hook 254 to strike against the stop 260, and withdraws it from contact with the point 255 of the lever 228, releasing the frame and enabling the spring 257 to drawit back. Now the rolling apron is in position to be moved upwardly by the gripping conveyer as shown in Fig. 5. This takes place before the bunch- IIO Izo

ing roller has passed under the transferrer cylinder, that is to say, simultaneously with the commencement of the forward movement of the arms 240 the slack distributing device has operated and before the bunching roller has passed under the transferrercylinder. During the bunching rollers forward movement the gripping conveyer will have been raised, placing its gripping jaws and the rolling apron directly beneath the pocket in the transferrer cylinder which has been oscillated or moved into the position shown in Fig. 5.

The means for operating the gripping conveyer are shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11. In suitable bearings 262 secured to the side frames on each side (as shown in Fig. l) is mounted to oscillate a shaft 268. Upon the main shaft l5 is secured a disk-cam 264, having the cam gruoove 265 in which a pin 267, Fig. 10 works, the pin being secured to a connecting rod 268, the lower end of which has a slot 269 which works upon the shaft 15, the slot forming a guide for the movement of the connecting rod 268 up and down. Upon the shaft 263 are secured two rocker arms 270, 271, the rocker 270 having a rearward extension 272 which is pivotally secured by a bolt or the like 273 to the upper portion of the connecting rod 268. The forward portions of the rockers 270, 271 have, connected by pins or bolts 274, links 275, which in turn are connected to the oscillating arms or levers 276 by the pins A77 to the levers fulcrumed at 278 to the main frame of the machine. The arms 276 lie within the connecting arms 240 at their upper ends and intercept the path of movement of the roller 241, as shown in Fig. 10, when the forward end of the levers 276 are in the position as shown in that figure. The forward ends of the levers 276 are provided with goosenecks or upwardly extending arms 279, and a rearward bend 280 between which extends the cross bar 281, which unites the forward ends together and upon which is mounted to rotate the roller 282.

Pivot-ally secured to the arms 279 at 288, Fig. 10, are two bell crank levers 284, the vertical arms of which are united by the cross bar 285 upon which is mounted the roller 286, the forward or horizontal arm of the bell crank levers being provided with two downwardly extending rods 287, which pass through the apertures in the cross bar 288, which extends between the brackets 285 of the rolling table, the lower portion of the rods carrying stops 289, said steps being adjustable up and down upon the rods 287 by means of a screw thread formed upon the rods and in the stop. The rearward arm of a bell crank lever 284 carries a spiral spring 290, the lower end of which is secured to a lug 291 on the forward end of the levers 276.

r1`he operation is as follows: By timing the movement of the cam 265 and its operative connections with the levers 276, with the movements of the arms 240 and their operating elements, the rollers 282, 286 of the gripping conveyer jaws will be brought down below the path of movement of the bunching roller 241 prior tothe time when said roller will have begun to move into the space occupied by thejaws ofthe conveyorand while said roller is moving the bunch to the forward end of the rolling table and also during its complete return movement. As before stated the initial forward movement of the arms 240 first operates the slack distributer iu the manner before set forth and before the bunching roller 241 has reached the space occupied by the jaws of the gripping conveyer (when in the position shown in Figs. 5 and l0) the said jaws will have been moved upward by the levers 276 and their operating connections, during which time, and at all times except when in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the two rollers 282 and 286, the one stationary and the other movable, will have been brought together by the stress of the spring 290 which has vibrated the bell crank levers 284 moving the roller 286 toward the roller 282, but during the upward movement of the outer end of the levers 276, and just as the rollers 282, 286 approach the under side of the transferrer cylinder, the stop 289 on the rod 287 strikes the under side of the cross bar 288 which prevents the further upward movement of the bell crank levers 284 and rollers, vibrating said levers forwardly against the stress of the spring 200, and separating the rollers, or, in other words, opening the jaws. By adjusting the stop 289 on the rod 287 the amount of movementof said rod can be limited or increased, thereby increasing or diminishing the amount of space to be created between the rollers 282, 286, and increasing or diminishing the width of the jaw and consequently the size of-the pouch to be formed therein by the ejector plunger. The quicker action of the cam groove 265 draws down the lever 276 and with it the gripping jaws, which frees the stop 289 from contact with the cross bar 288 and permits the spring 290 to move the roller 286 rearwardly to the roller 282 closing the jaws, but prior to this downward movement of the gripping jaws, the plunger 204 of the transfer-rer cylinder has moved the conformed charge therein out of the pocket in the said cylinder down upon the roller apron 225 which extends across the rollers of the gripping jaws forcing the slack of the apron down in between and below the rollers, the plunger 204 being projected completely without the ejector cylinder down into and between the rollers and forming a pouch as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the slack for which has been previously formed by the slack distributing device hereinbefore set forth. Now the downward movement of the gripping conveyer commences, the spring 290 bringing the two ends of the pouch formed in the apron lying over the rollers 282, 286, together, gripping them and forming a pouch IOO IOS

IIS

in which the formed charge-is tightly held, and this movementof the levers 276 is contin ued until the jaws have been moved down below the path of movement of the roller 241. Now the charge is in position to be incased within the binder.

The rolling operation is as follows: The

rearward end of the rolling table 224 is provided with a plate 291 which projects over the edge of tle table, and below this is located a roller 292 mounted in suitable bearings 293 secured to the rear of the rolling table. At this time the rolling apron 225 lies flat upon the plate 291. The roller 241 is now moved forward by the arms 240, and as it approaches the vertical plane of the gripping conveyer, which lies below its path of movement, it engages the rolling apron 225 with its forward surface and begins to pull on the pouch containing the formed charge held by the gripping jaw. A continuation of the forward l movement of the roller 241 withdraws the pouch and its contained charge from the gripping jaw against the stress of the spring 290,

the pouchthen being adjacent to the roller 292, the rolling apron being taut between its forward ends and the gripping jaw, and in fact taut all over. The pocket with its contained charge strikes the roller 292 which lifts it gently and withoutinjuring the charge upon the plate 291, the apron lying flat therein as shown in Fig. 13, and upon which a suitable binder has been placed; the pouch or bight (as it has been otherwise called) then being moved forward, taking with it the charge, which is rolled between the apron, and as it strikes the binder, it is rolled upon or about it in the usual way, the continuation of the movement of the bunching roller 241 bringing the rolled charge down to the conveyor carriage now to be described. f

As has already been stated two operators are usedin the manipulation of this machine,

one for placing the binder upon the rollingV table and the other for taking the rolled filler or bunch from the conveyer carriage which last operator can also supply the feeding trough, or for which purpose a third operator can be used. The second operator or one who takes the bunch from the carriage placesit into a mold, the structure and use of which are well known in the art, and when the mold is full the bunch is then taken and pressed into shape. The means employed for doing this and the operation thereof are as follows: To the brackets 234, Fig. 4, secured to the forward portion of the side frames l and also to a plate 232 secured to the forward portion of the rolling table 224 and extending some distance away from the front of the machine as shown in Fig. 3 is atrack or guide way 233, having a dovetailed guiding surface as shown in cross section in Fig. 5. Upon this way is reciprocated a carriage 294 which has a dovetailed recess for engagement with the way 233. Extending upwardly from about the center of the carriage 294 is a lug 295 and vtwo apertured lugs 298 in which is adapted to play a rod 299, and about the rod lies a coil spring 300 which abuts against the lugs 298. One end of the rod 299 is secured to one end of a non-continuous rope or belt 301 which passes around the roller 302 j ournaled within a recess or opening 303 in the end of the guide way 233, thence rearwardly about the roller 304 journaled on a spindle 305 sei l.

cured in any desirable way to the frame of the machine; thence forwardly to the upright arm 240 which carries the bunching roller 241 to whichthe side belt 301 is secured. The forward movement of the arm 240 at this side of the machine draws the carriage in front of the rolling table. The reverse action is secured by passing another non-continuous drive chain or belt 306 to the other end of the rod 299 as shown in Fig. 3passing it over the roller 307 journaled'within the extension of the guide way 233 from whence it passes toward the rolling table and about the roller 308 journaled on a spindle 309 mounted in the bracket 234 which is secured to the side frame 1, the belt then passing rearwardly to the other of the rocking arms 240 to which it is secured. As the arms move forward the..

belt 301 is drawn rearwardly moving the carriage toward the rolling table, the belt 306 during that movement giving up its length, while the belt 301 takes it up, and during the rearward movement the belt 306 then becomes the prime mover drawing the carriage away from the rolling table, the belt 301 then giving out its length, and in this way the carriage 294 is reciprocated back and forth upon its guide way 233. The spring 300 is used to soften the shock of the strain .on the drive belts in either direction, compressing and giving the belts a chance to move a little after the carriage has ceased to move. A slack is formed in the apron by means of the mechanism shown in Figs. 12 and 13 after the bunching rollerl has passed under the transferrer cylinder and before the gripping mechanism begins to rise. The plunger in the oscillating transferrer cylinder does not commence to eject the charge from the pocket un- -til after the jaws of the gripping device have been raised up and open, in which case the i IOO IIO

Images