US1999910A - Manufacture of cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

April 30,1935.

R. F. MAY 1,999,910

MANUFACTURE OF C IGARETTES Filed Oct. 1'7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1935. R. F. MAY

I MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 17, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 2 15%. 4 m w J W A\.\\\\/ 7 g A M? j April 30, 153 5.

R. F. MAY

MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17, 1934 Dyenar:

April 30, 1935. R. F. MAY

1 MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed 001. 17, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 30, 1935 MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Rowland Frank May, Middlesex, England, as-

signor to Filter Tips Limited, London, England,

a British company Application October 17, 1934, Serial No; 748,745

In Great Britain July 14, 1933 l6 Claims. ihis invention relates to the manufacture oi cigarettes provided with filter tips or like stub portions.

The invention has for its primary ob ect to provide an improved apparatus for producing such cigarettes'onrthe continuous rod principle,

i. e. by applying 'a continuous paper wrapper.

around a filling consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions.

According .to the present invention, an apparatus is provided which comprises means for cutting successive lengths from a continuous tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier by which the lengths of tobacco so cut off are carried laterally out of alignment with the continuous tobacco rod, means for associating filter tips or like stub portions with the lengths of tobacco while disposed in the said carrier, and means for conveying the associated lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions-axially into engagement with mechanism for applying a continuous paper strip thereto for the production of a continuous cigarette rod, the carrier advantageously consisting of an intermittently rotatable drum having parallel bores or chambers for the reception of the lengths of tobacco.

In a preferred embodiment an intermittently rotatable disc having parallel bores or chambers therein is arranged so that at one position the bores or chambers in the disc register with the bores or chambers in the drum so as to bring a length of tobacco and a filter tip or stub portion into alignment, means being provided for axially ejecting the length of tobacco and the filter tip or stub portion from the aligned bores or chambers. I

The apparatus may be adapted to receive and associate together lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions of double the normal length, the cutter of the cigarette rod-forming mecham'sm being arranged to bisect the lengths of tobaccoand the filter tipsor stub portions.

The means for conveying or ejecting the asso-' catable slides and are caused, as by the provision of cam track and roller mechanism, to move clear of the carrier and of eachother onthe return stroke.- Alternatively, the picker devices may be:- mounted upon an endless chain. l

The linear speed of the cigarette rod-forming means is eaterthan the linear speed of the tobacco rod-forming means so as to compensate for the additional length introduced by the filter tips or stub portions and the associated lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions are preferably conveyed into engagement with "the. cigarette rod-forming means in such manner that the'successive associatedlengths are caused to abut against the preceding lengths.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 andS are fragmentary sectionalv plan views illustrating oneembodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV--IV, Figure 5, illustrating one embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure i with one side plate of the picker mechanism removed to show the parts more-clearly;

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig-. ure 5, but with the and r Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention. I

In carrying the inventioninto effect and with reference more particularlyto Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, the, leading length Ia of a continuous tobacco rod l issuing from the collector tube 2 of anysuitabletobaccorod-formingapparatus is cut off by a cutter 3 after being received into a bore or cham- 1 her 4a in an intermittently movable carrier 4, and the length la cut off (Figure 2) is carried laterally by, the movement of the carrier 4 into' a position parallel with the continuous tobacco rod l and in alignment with a plunger 5 by which a filter tip or stub portion 6 is ejected from achamber 7a in a carrier 7 so as to abut against the length Id of tobacco (Figure 3) A picker 8 thereupon comes into engagement behind the filter tip or stub portion 6, the plunger 5 being provided with a slot 50. to accommodate the picker which carries the filter tip or stub por tion 6 and the length la of tobacco-out of the chamber 4a into a guide tube 9 of any suitable continuous rod mechanism whereby a paper strip; is wrapped around the alternating fillings to form a'continuous cigarette rod which is subsequently cut ofi in theusual manner, the cutting mechanism being so timed that each cigarette contains picker mechanism removed; I

tion with a rotary or other cutter 3 at its inlet end in such manner that when alsuitable length I a of tobacco rod I has entered one of the bores 4a of the drum 4 the feediof tobacco is momentarily checked while the drum is moved to present the next bore 4a opposite the outlet from the said collector tube 2. An intermittently rotatable disc I is arranged to co-operate with the end of the drum 4 adjacent the collector tube 2- so that at one position bores la in the disc 1 come-into alignment with the bores 4a in the drum 4. The disc! is adapted to receive filter tips or stub portions 6 inserted from suitableapparatus I9 by aplunger I9a during the period of restofthe'disc I and of the drum 4., A reciprocating plunger 5 is operated to push a filter tip from one of the bores la in the disc 1 into the aligned bore 4a in the drum 4 and which contains a charge of tobacco. preferably is provided with a longitudinal slot 5a in alignment with corresponding slotslb, 412 respectively in the disc I and'in the drum 4 so that-pickers B' may'engage behind the tips 6 for the ejection of the same and of the charges of tobacco in front of the tips from the drum 4. The drum 4 and the disc I may be geared together by the provision of pins To on the disc I co-operating with slots 40 in tliedrum 4.

' The picker mechanism may consist of two longitudinally reciprocatable members I6 provided with vertical slides IDa carrying the picker members 8 and having pins Iilb or rollers co-operating with cam tracks I I a in a member i I disposed between side plates I2 provided with guides-for the members I I3, thecam' tracks Hitbe'ing arranged so thatin the forward movement-the picker 8 descends into the aligned slots db, 'Ib referred to so as toengage behind a 'filter tip or stub portion 6 and when at or near the end of the drum 4 rises and returns to the initial positionin such path that itis clear of the dru1n'4 and of the oppositely movingpicker. To ensure the engagement of the respective pin Iflb or roller with the upper portion of the cam track I Ia on the return stroke, a pivotedmember Iiic is provided, such member I do being normally held in the position shown in Figure 5 by means of a spring Hid so as to be capable of depression by the pin Ilib or roller so as to allow such pin IDb or roller to pass from the lower portion of the cam track into the upper portion thereof. The pickers 8 are diverted outwardly at the upper part,'as shown in Figure 4, so that the lowerpart of one picker may pass over the accommodate the pickers. The members IO'may be'treciprocated by meansof cams (not shown) which may act thereon through double-armed levers I3 or equivalent mechanism and rods'l3a.

The operating'camspreferably are so arranged The plunger 5 that atthe end of the ejecting stroke the speed approximates to the speed of the continuous paper strip M which is wrapped around the filling and preferably also so that before the one picker disengages from the filter tip at the end of the stroke the other picker is commencing its forward and downward movement. In order to ensure accurate alignment of the bores or chambers "Ia, 4a, a positioning pin I5 may be provided to engage in the lower pair of aligned bores before the plunger 5 passes into the upper pair of aligned bores. A stop Iii-may be provided to prevent the tobacco rod from passing out of the drum 4 before its lateral movement'out' of alignment with the continuous tobacco rod.

If desired, the apparatus may be adapted, for instance as shown in Figure 7, so that a double length of the continuous tobacco rod is cut off and moved laterally as before described into alignment with a double length filter tip or stub portion disposed in a chamber "la in the disc I, such filter tip or stub portion being ejected from the disc I by a plunger 5 so as to abut against the length of tobacco, and the associated lengths behaving parts Ba constituting links of an endless chain Iicarried over sprockets I8, 18a and driven in any suitable manner, a part of the chain [7 adjacent the outlet end of the drum i being guided over a sprocket lBb or pulley so that during the-- latter part of its forward stroke the picker is gradually' withdrawn from the guide tube 9.

It will be understood that the intermittent, movement of the drum 4 from one stage positionto another is effected very rapidly and the inser tion of the filter tip and the ejection of the com-' posite charge of filter tip and tobacco from the; drum 4 is so timed that in-efiect the charge of I tobacco severed from the continuous tobacco rod; moves forward at an increased speed substantial-'- ly continuously in a path parallel with the con tinuous tobacco rod, the'requisite forward speed.- of the composite filling being maintained by the. action of the picker devices 8 so that the composite filling is continuous and is moving forward at the requisite speed for reception on the continuo'uspaper wrapper Hiwhich is applied around off in the usual manner by means of a cutting device operating in timed relation .to the mechanism described to produce cigarettes in which.

filter tips are disposed at one end.

In a modification, the intermittently rotatable disc may be dispensed with and the filter tips may be inserted at the opposite end of the drum either.

at a position in alignment withthe collector tube of the tobacco filling machine or at a preceding stage position. In such case the ejection of the composite charge of tobacco and filter tip from the drum may be effected by picker mechanism such asbefore described operating in the reverse direction so as to discharge the filling in a direction opposite to the travel of the tobacco rod emerging from the collector tube. Alternatively,

the ejection may take place in the same direction as the travel of the tobacco rod by'utilizing picker devices having circularor other engaging portions adapted to abut against the end of the tobacco charge.

It'will be understood that the invention is not limited to th'eparticular-details of construction on the continuous rod principle, comprising means for supplying a' continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier having chambers in which the lengths of tobacco are received and carried out of alignment with the continuous tobaccorod, means for inserting filter tips or'like stub portions into the said chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means forsupporting a continuous paper strip out of alignment with said tobacco rod', and means for removing the associated lengths of tobacco and filter-tips or stub portions from the said chambers onto the continuous paper strip 'for the production of a continuous cigarette rod. T

2. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rod principle, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, an intermittentlyrotatable drum having parallel bores or chambers for the reception of the lengths of tobacco and for carrying the lengths out of alignment with thecontinuous tobacco rod,'means .1

for inserting filteintips or like stub portions into the said chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco,means for supporting a continuous paper strip out of alignment with said tobacco rod, and

means for removing the associatedlengths of to-' bacco and filter tips :or stub portionsfrom the said'chambers onto the continuous paper strip for the production of a continuous cigarette rod.

3. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rod principle, comprisingmeans for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from saidtobacco rod, an intermittently rotatable drum having a plurality of spaced bores or chambers adjacent the periphery thereof extending parallel to the axis of the drum for the reception of the lengths of tobacco, an intermittently rotatable disc positioned with its axis parallel tothe' axis of the drum and having a plurality of bores extending 'therethrough parallel 'to the axis thereof, said drum and disc being so associated that a bore of the drum will register'with a bore in the disc,

means for supplying a filter tip or stub portion to the bores in the disc, means for supporting a concutting'means is arranged to cut off lengths oftobacco equal to twice the length of a cigarette, and including means for associating a double length filter tip with each length of tobacco.

5. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rod principle,comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier having chambers in which the lengths of tobacco are received and carriedout of alignment with the continuous tobacco rod, means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions into the said chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means for supporting a continuous paper strip out'of -alignment with said tobacco rod, and means for removing the associated lengths oitobacco and filter tips or stub portions from the saidchambers 6. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes" on the continuous rod principle, comprising means for supplyinga continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco through the slots rod, an intermittently rotatable drum having pare I allel bores or chambers for the reception. ofthe lengths of tobacco and for carrying the lengths.

out of alignment'with the continuous tobacco rod,

means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions into 'thesaid chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means for supporting a continuous; paper strip outof alignment with said "tobacco rod, and means for removing :the associated;

lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stubportions, from the said chambers onto the continuous paper strip for the production of a continuouslcigarette, rod, said drum having slots therein providing ac-:

cess to said bores, and said removing means come prising reciprocating picker mechanism adapted to extend through the slots in the drum.

7. Apparatus'for producing filter tip cigarettes I g on the continuous rod principle, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod,"-

means-forv cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod,fian intermittently rotatable drum having a plurality ofspaced bores-or chambers adjacent the periphery thereof extending parallel to the axis of the drum for the reception of the lengths of tobacco, an intermittently rotatable disc positioned with its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and-having a plurality of bores extend; 1 ing therethrough parallel to the axis thereof, said length of tobacco and the filter tip from the registering bores of the drum and disc onto said paperstrip, saiddrum and disc having slots therein providing access to saidvbores and adapted to register when the bores of the drum anddisc are in .register, and said ejecting means comprising reciprocating picker mechanism adapted to extend through the registering slots toengage the filter tip; l ,7 v

8. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rod principle, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, an intermittently movable carrier having chambers in'which the lengths of tobacco are received and carriedout of alignment with the I continuous tobacco rod, means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions into the said chambers,

so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means for supporting a continuous paper strip out of alignment with said tobacco rod, means for removing the associatedlengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions from the said chambers onto the continuous paper strip for the production of a,

continuous cigarette rod, said carrier having slots providing access to said bores, and said removing means comprising picker mechanism adapted to extendthrough the slots in the carrier andfan endless chain for moving said picker mechanism through said bores;

9; Apparatus zfonlproducing=jfllterz tip; cigarettes onith'eacontinuousrod principle; comprisingmeansz:

fonsupplying aicontinuous ,tobaccosrod; means for. cutting" successive: lengths from saidrtobacco rod; an. intermittently rotatable: drum:having parallel bores or= chambers for-ythex rec'epr tion ofz. the lengths of tobacco andiior: carrying. the lengths out of alignment with the'c'ontinuous:

tobacco. rod; meansfor' inserting filter.- tips or like stub portions into the" said chamberstso: as' to' abut the lengthsrofitobacco, means -for=.s'upporting;. a continuous paper strip? outzof alignment; with-1 saidtob'acco. rod, meansv for: removing'nthe' associated: lengths of tobacco; and-i filtertips' 01:! stub tportio'ns" .from thesaidflchambers onto. the continuous paperf strip" for; the "production: of acontinuous cigarette rod; said drum having: slots -therein providing; access tov saida bores; and-said removing means comprisingpickermechanism adapt'ed to extend through the slotsini, the drum and anendless chain ft'n'lmovingisa'idpicker-mechanism'through said bores;

10: Apparatus for producingfiltei tip'ciga'-- ret'tes on the continuous rod principle, compris- 1 hag-means fonsup'plyinga continuoustob'acc'o rod;-

means for cutting successive lengths from-said:

tobacco rod, an intermittently rotatable drum" having a plurality 'of spaced'bores" or chambers adjacent the periphery thereof extendingiparallel tothe-axis-ofthe'drum for the-reception of thelengthsof tobacco,-.an intermittently rotatable" disc positioned with its axis parallel to the axis 'Of. the drum and having. a pluralityof bores extending. therethrough' parallel' to "the" axis:

thereof, said drum and disc beingsoassociated that a bore of the drum will register with a:.bore in the'disc, means for'supplying a' filter tip: or stub'portion to' thebores-in the disc,.m'eans for supporting a continuous paper 'strip; means for ejecting the length of tobacco andthe filter' tipfiom the=rgisteringsboresof the drum and disc ontdsaidpaper strip,:said drum and -'disc having slots therein providingaccess' to "said" bows and adapted to register" when r the bores :of the drum and disc are in register, and said ejecting means comprising pickermechanism adapted to extend through. the'registering. slots to engage the' filter tip'and an endless" chain for? moving-fsaidpicker mechanism through saidbore's. i

11. Apparatus for: producing filter tip ciga-' rettes on the continuous rod iprinciple cornprisingmeans forsupplying a -contmuous tobacco rod; means for cutting: successive lengths? from the continuous tobacco rod, an intermittently mov able carrier having'chamb'ersin which tlieleng the of tobacco are received and carried out of align ment with the continuous tobacco rod; mesns ror inserting .filter tips or lik'e' stub portionsinto" the" saidchamb'ersso as to abut theleng t-hs of toba'cco, means for supporting-a continuous paper strip out of alignment with 'saidtobacco rod,

and n'iean'sior removing the associated lengths or tobacco and filter 'tips or stub 'por tion's jrom the said chambers onto the continuous paper strip for the productionof a continuouscigare tterodj said carrier having slots providing. access to said bores, and saidremoving. means comprising a' plurality; of picker. devices, ajca'rria'ge for each ,picker, means for, reciprocating each carriagev in a. direction parallel'to the boresin the carrier;

and I cam means for. moving. said: picker devices 1 laterally into anagout; of said. slots. duringvreciprocationof said carriages;

12." Apparatusror producing 'fltrlt'i ii ci arettes on-.-the.- continucus' jrod principle, comprising! means? for: supplying a. continuous; tobacco;.-ro(r;.-

means for: cutting; successive lengths fr0mtQbQCQOrZI'Odp amintermittently rotatable drumhaving parallel boresz or: chambers for the re! ception of the lengths of tobacco and for carrying thedengths .outxof ialignmentwiththe; continuous tobacco-rodg-imeansl for: inserting. filter tips or liherstub portions into the said chambers so as to abut-thelengthsofztobacco; meansfor supporting; at continuous; paper strip outof alignment with saidtobacco: I'Ody; and: means Y for -removing; the

associated; lengths ofitobacco and filter tips on stub portions from thersaidtchambers ontorthe? continuouspaper" strip--for the. production of a continuous-cigarette.rod; said drum. having,- slotstherein providing; access tmsa-id bores; andsald:

removinggmeans comprisinga plurality ofipicke'r:

devices; azcarriage fora each picker device means for: reciprocating; each carriage: in a' directionparallel to athezboresin -theadrum, and=:cam means" for moving said-picker; devicesslaterally into'and out :of :said slots-during- -reciprocation ofsaid carria-gess- 1 1 '13.: ApparatusfOrproducing; filter-tip cigarettesorrthe continuous rod principle; comprising meansfor-supplying; a; continuous tobacc'orrod; means drum and disc being so associated that a. bore of the drumwill register withcaibore in the disc;v

means: for; supplyingra Lfiltertipror stub portion to thebores in the disc, means .,for Su porting a: continuous-paper strip; andmeans -forejecting;

the-length of tobacco. and the filter: tip for the registering bores of I thexdrumiandidisc;onto=saidr paper strip; said drumand disc havingslots:

therein providingaccesstto. said-bores andadapt- 3 ed: to registerfwhen thee boreszofz thedrum 7 and disc: are in register; and; said ejecting means com prisinga plurality of; picker devices, a carriage? for each 1 picker. device; meansefor reciprocating? eachcarriage in a direction parallel tothe-"bores in the-drum andidisc, ,and. cam means .101 moving said lpick'er devices laterallyinto and out of' said slots during reciprocation l of said; carriages;

14"."111'" an apparatus 2 of. the class described, "a

carrier havinga :chamberifor receiving a tobacco" rod section; means for ejectingzsaid' rod section' axially; from:said c-hamber comprising a"-pair of picker devices, a carriage for each picker device;-

means *for slidably mounting-the pickei de'vices-in said carriages; means for-reciprocatingsaid earriages in oppo'sita'directions} and cam means-for shifting the picker devices-- into thechamber when moved in the ejecting directionand" for shifting the} devices out of the chamber" when moved in the opposite direction.-

15ijIn anapparatus' of theclass described, a

axiallyf from said chamber comprising" a' pair of" picker 'devi'cesiai carriage for each picker device;

mea'ns for sli'dably; mountingjthe picker devices in said carriages; meanslforl reciprocatingf said" car'- riagesfinjoppos'it"directions; ,a plate. positioned between saidv'carriagesflorigitudinally of the path M vingachamberfor'receivinga-tobacco rod section; means for ejectin'gi said:' rod section of travel thereof, said plate having upper and lower guide slots provided therein extending parallel to the chambers of the carrier, said plate also having curved slots joining the ends of said parallel slots, and guiding means on said picker devices extending into said slots for guiding the picker devices during the reciprocation thereof.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a carrier having a chamber for receiving a tobacco rod section, means for ejecting said rod section axially from said chamber comprising a pair of picker devices, a carriage for each picker device, means for slidably mounting the picker devices in said carriages, means for reciprocating said carriages in opposite directions, a plate extending between said carriages longitudinally of the path of travel thereof, said plate having upper and lower guide slots provided therein extending parallel to the chambers of the carrier, said platev also having curved slots joining the ends of said parallel slots, guiding means on said picker devices extending into said slots for guiding the picker devices during the reciprocation thereof, and spring controlled means for shifting the guiding means from the lower to the upper slot when the terminal of the lower slot is reached.

ROWLAND FRANK MAY. I

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