GB425951A - Improvements in and relating to mechanism for spreading out or opening tobacco leaves, particularly for the removal of the stems therefrom - Google Patents

Abstract

425,951. Tobacco-stemming machines. TRIGGS, W. W., 57, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.-(International Cigar Machinery Co. ; 5520, 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.) Dec. 2, 1933, No. 25167/34. Divided out of 425,187. [Class 130] In mechanism for spreading out tobacco leaves, particularly for the removal of the stems, the leaves are gripped by the butt ends only, to pull them through devices which spread the leaf webs laterally from the stems towards the edges, and means are provided for preventing lateral displacement of the trailing leaves or their tips from a central position while being pulled through the spreading devices. The machine is similar to that described in Specification 411,111. The leaves to be opened are placed on a table 13, over which they are fed by belts 12 and a chain 15. At the forward end of the table, the butt end of each leaf is lifted by a cam-actuated block 49, and engaged by one of the grippers 46 carried by cross-bars extending between a pair of endless chains 31 travelling on sprockets 30, 41. The grippers carry the leaves butt end foremost, through the suction chambers 51, 60 of the leaf-opening mechanism, which are connected to suction pipes 53. Within the chambers 51, the leaves pass between pairs of revolving corrugated wheels which assist in the opening or spreading. On leaving the chambers 51, the stem or central portion of the leaf is pressed on the pins of a carded belt 59, and as the tip of a leaf passes from beneath the roller 58, the suction in the chamber 60 is cut off by valves 61 in the pipes 53, to prevent displacement of the tip from central position. The valves 61 are actuated by a rod 62 connected to a lever 63 actuated by a cam 65 on a shaft 35. The roller 58 is carried by an arm 255 on a shaft 256 having an arm 258 connected by a link 260 to a lever 261 actuated by a cam on the shaft 26, the roller 58 being lifted periodically to allow the grippers 46 to pass. The opened leaves emerging from the chambers 60 pass to leaf-conveying mechanism comprising an endless perforated belt 67 on each side of the path of the leaf stems. The belts 67 travel over slotted or perforated suction chambers 68 connected to suction pipes 69.