US2340914A - Detector for vibratory column cigarette feeds - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944. u. A. WHITAKER DETECTOR FOR VIBRATOBY COLUMN CIGARETTE FEEDS Filed June 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR UNCAS A. HIAKER TORNEY 19446 u. A. WHITAKER I DETECTOR FOR VIBRATORY COLUMN CIGARETTE FEEDS Filed June 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l I I Patented Feb. 8, 1944 DETECTOR FOR VIBRATORY COLUMN CIGARETTE FEEDS .Uncas A. Whitaker, Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application Junefi, 1941, Serial No. 396,856

11 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarette making machines, more particularly to the tobacco feeds thereof. In certain types of cigarette tobacco feeds, the tobacco is fed from a supply to means which form the tobacco into a column or mat of substantially uniform thickness. Tobacco is delivered from one end of said column or mat for formation into the cigarette rod. The tobacco is delivered to the other end of the column from the supply and depending on whether the tobacco is fed to said column faster or slower than it is taken away from the column, the column increases or decreases in height or length. It has been discovered that the height or length of the column thus formed has a substantial effect on the weight of the cigarettes produced, that is, as the column gets longer or higher the tendency is to produce heavier cigarettes. The general object of applicants invention is to produce uniform cigarettes by maintaining the column length more uniform, preferably by fully automatic means.

Since variations in the height or length of the column or mass of tobacco from which portions are separated for the formation of cigarettes produce corresponding variations in the weight of the cigarettes, it is one of the main objects of the invention to control the height of the mass of tobacco from which the tobacco is separated to assure formation of more uniform cigarettes.

In one type of tobacco feed there is employed a vibratory plate or conveyor for advancing a column or mat of tobacco to a concave. The mat may be compacted or confined during its passage over the concave, and the mat of tobacco is advanced on to the concave at a rate such that a column of tobacco of uniform density will be formed on the plate, any holes or voids in the tobacco column on said plate being filled up by the feeding action of the vibratory plate.

Due to non-uniform feeding of tobacco resulting from variations in the characteristics of different grades of tobacco, the dullness of teeth on the card clothing of the feed drum or refuser drum, or othercauses, the tobacco is fed on to said plate too fast or too slow, and the column builds up or diminishes in length. It is believed that the weight of the cigarettes formed by feeding the tobacco from the concave and picking and showering it upon the cigarette paper or conveyor which advances it to the rod-forming mechanism is dependent upon the length of the column, as heavier cigarettes are obtained when the column increases in length and lighter cigarettes when the length of the column diminishes.

It appears that with a greater height or length of column on the vibratory plate the greater weight thereof will correspondingly densify the tobacco on the plate at a point adjacent the concave and thereby increase the weight of the individual cigarettes and with the lesser weight of a shorter column the weight of the cigarettes will be correspondingly diminished.

Another object of the invention is to control the length of the column on the vibrator plate by varying the rate at which tobacco is deposited upon the plate. To this end in the particular embodiment of the invention selected' for exemplification herein the tobacco is showered from a feed drum on to a vibrator plate on which the tobacco is confined by an overlying plate and side guides provided on the vibratory plate so that the column of tobacco is formed as the vibration of the plate advances the tobacco between a concave and an overlying knurled or cormgated roller. The roller serves to compact the tobacco upon the concave and the rapid vibration of the plate serves to fill up the space between the roller and concave and form a. column of tobacco upon the vibratory plate. The tobacco may be picked off the compacted mat issuing from between the concave and the roll by a suitable picker device and showered on to the cigarette paper or other conveyor which transports the showered tobacco to the rod forming mechanism. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which show a suitable embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the mechanism selected to exemplify the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the shields for the pick-up elements being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a modified type of mounting for the pick-up elements of the mechanism which controls the rate of feeding of the tobacco to the vibrator plate;

Fig. 41s a schematic wiring diagram of the control mecehanism connected to the pick-up elements, which serves to control the speed of the feed drum; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction of the control mechanism.

The construction shown in Fig. 1 is somewhat similar to that shown in the co-pending application of C. Arelt, Serial No. 137,021, filed April 15, 1937, and consists of a tobacco hopperl provided with a feed belt ll operating to advance the mass of tobacco supported thereon into the pins of the card clothing on the rotating teed drum I3. The surplus tobacco is removed from the pins of the feed drum I3 by the pins on the card clothing of the refuser drum l6; and the pulley ll of the feed belt II and the bottom of the feed drum II are enclosed within a concave It, the belt ll constituting the bottom or the hopper ill in which the tobaccosupply is maintained. The corrected mat on the feed drum I3 is advanced to the picker roll I! which showers the tobacco T from the feed drum on to the vibrator plate 2 I.

In the embodiment of the invention shown the plate 2| may be rapidly vibrated by an electromagnetic vibrator 23 of the type shown in the co-pending application of C. Arelt, Serial No. 145,236, filed May 28, 1937, and the plate is Supported by resilient strips 25 from a casting 21 resiliently attached to a bracket 23 carried by the frame of the cigarette machine, one end of the casting being supported by rubber cushions 3| while its other end is adiustably sustained by fiat springs 33 from an upright plate" fastened to bracket 23. The plate 2| has imparted to it rapid, oblique vibrations of short amplitude by the action of the magnet 3101 the electro-magnetic vibrator 23 which carries springs 33 attached to an armature 4| which is connected by an adjustable tum-buckle 43 to a bracket 16 bolted to the plate 2|.

The stream of tobacco T delivered to the plate 2| by the picker I9 is formed into a continuous column or layer TC by the vibration of plate 2!. This column is confined between the plate 2|, the overlying plate 41, and the side walls 48 of the plate 2|. It will be noted that the plates II and I! are shown conversing, but will be understood that they may be arranged in diverging or parallel relationship if desired. Moreover the plate 2| may be arranged horizontally, or in an upwardly inclined position, instead of downwardly inclined, as shown. The plate 41 is adjustably mounted as shown in Fig. 1 and is set at the roper distance from plate If to produce a column of tobacco of the proper thickness. The column of tobacco is advanced into a channel between the concave face I! of the bracket I and the knurled or ridged roller 53 overlying the concave 49. Thus as the tobacco is advanced from plate 2| into the spacebetween the concave and the overlying roller a uniform mat of tobacco will be formed substantially free from holes and voids, and this mat will be picked oil by the picker 5! and showered upon the cigarette paper P at the bottom of the chute 61. While an electromagnetic vibrator has been shown for actuating the conveyor plate II, it will be understood that suitable mechanical means may be employed for this purpose.

The plate 41 may be formed of suitable nonconductlve material which may be Bakelite, Celluloid or other suitable substance, and the plate 2| should also be of similar or other suitable non-conductive material. Referring to Fig. 1. it will be noted that both plates have recesses 53 and II, respectively, wherein are disposed the pick-up elements 63 and 66. The elements 63 and 65 may be condenser plates as shown, which are supported on studs 61 formed of suitable insulating material or suitably insulated from their supporting blocks II. The latter are secured to extensions of the side walls of the hopper I. by

bolts ll passing through slots 13 in said extenslons. If desired, the plates 2| and 4'! may be formed of metal and each provided with a section of insulating material in which the recesses and 6| are formed. However the condenser plates should be provided with shields 15 of suit- :ble insulating material supported on the studs Recesses 59 and GI are arranged at positions adjacent the end of the desired length of column between the plates 63 and 65 and will overlie the end of the column. The plates 63 and 66 are connected to a tobacco feed control of the type shown in the co-pending application of U. A. Whitaker, Serial No. 386,487, filed April 2, 1941, which controls a Reeve drive shown in Fig. 4 for varying the speed of the feed drum l3, to keep the end of the column of tobacco on the plate 2! as illustrated in Fig. 1, between the plates 63 and 65. The circuit of the control for the tobacco feed is shown in Fig. 4 and is similar to that shown in Fig. 7 of the above mentioned applicaon.

The circuit of this control unit is of the sooalled universal, or A. C.-D. C. type, in which the power from the line passes through a halfwave rectifier tube 303 and a filter consisting of choke coil 304 and condensers 305. The cathode heaters H: of the various tubes are connected in series across the line in the usual manner (not shown), but it will be understood that the cathodes may be directly heated if desired.

The tuned plate coil 306 of the high-frequency oscillator tube 301 is center tapped, with the tap connected to the positive output terminal of the filter. Tuned grid-coil 308 is inductively coupled to the plate coil and also capacltively, through a small condenser 309. Resistance M0 and condenser 3| l are the usual grid leak and condenser for limiting the oscillation of tube 301 to the straight portion of its plate-current curve. When the tube 301 oscillates, equal H. F. voltages, 180 degrees out of phase, are generated on the two ends of coil 306.

The tuned coil 3l2 is connected in the grid circuit of the H. F. amplifier tube 313, which is of the pentode type. Coil 3l2 is tuned to the ''same frequency as the oscillator and is coupled to both sides of coil 306, through condenser 302 and detector plates 63 and 65. Condensers 3 are inserted in the leads X to plates 63 and 65 to insulate the plates from line or D. C. power. If the capacity of condenser 302, and the capacitance between plates '63 and 65 is balanced, no

I voltage will be impressed on coil 3|2. Thi balance will be maintained while the end E of the tobacco column on plate 2| lies somewhere be tween the dotted positions E and E" (Fig. 4) corresponding to the range within which the col- .umn may vary in length without correcting the rate of feeding of drum I3 to plate H.

A tuned H. F. transformer 336 couples the amplifier tube 3l3 to the double-diode detector tube 331 and indicator tube 3l6. The tuned primary of transformer 33B is connected in the plate circuit of tube 3l3. The tuned secondary is divided into two equal parts, the H. F. voltages across which are rectified separately by the two sections of detector tube 331, condensers 338 and resistors 339. Condenser 340 is a by-pass for H. F. current between the two halves of the secondary of transformer 336. The two rectified voltages appearing across condensers 330 are impressed on the grids of the two output tubes 3" and 3|1a. The grid bias of these two tubes is controlled individually by two potentiometers 34! and 34in connected in series across "C" battery 32!. The polarity of the rectifier-connections is such that when the H. F. voltage increases, the grid oi the light" output tube 3!! becomes more negative, and that of the "heavy" output tube 3I'la les negative. One side of the secondary of transformer 334 is also coupl d to the grid of the indicator tube 3I6 through condenser 324.

Indicator tube 3I6 is of the type in which a triode is combined with an electron-ray indicator. It is biased to zero shadow angle by resistor 3I3 in series with the cathode. Resistor 335 is the grid-leak. The triode plate resistor 3!! is bypassed by a condenser 320. Thus the triode acts as a biased detector, and the whole tube 3I6 as a zero-indicator.

Output tubes 3!! and 3!!a are gas-filled, gridcontrolled rectiflers. Potentiometers 34! and 34Ia are adjusted to a point where, with normal output from the detector tube 331, the grids of tubes 3!! and 3I1a are both at a sufliciently negative potential to prevent the flow of plate current. If the output from the detector tube 33! increases, the grid of the heavy" tube 3!! becomes less negative. At a certain point, plate current starts to flow in this tube, and, once started,- the grid has no further control over it, and it can only be stopped by interruption of the plate current. The coil of a relay 325 is connected in series with the plate of tube 3!!. If the output from the detector tube 33'! decreases, the grid of the light tube 3I'Ia becomes less negative, till plate current starts to flow. Another relay 325a is connected in the plate circuit of this tube 3! la. Push button 328 i for manual interruption of the plate current in both tubes 3!! and 3!!a. A thermal time delay unit 320 prevents the flow of plate current in tubes 3!! and 3IIa till the cathodes are at full emission temperature. Switch 342, which also interrupts the plate current in both tubes 3!! and 3!!a is controlled by a cam 343.

A variable rheostat 330 in series with a fixed resistor 33! and the cathode of amplifier tube 3I3 regulates the degree of amplification of tube 3I3. The shields around the oscillator coils 306 and 308, grid coil 3I2, transformer 336, and around the leads to plates 63, 65 are connected to the negative side of the filter through condensers 332, which by-pass any H. F. .currents, but reduce feed-back and interference from surges in the power line. Condenser 333 is connected across the power line, and condenser 334 between the negative side of the filter and ground, for the same purpose.

The operation of the circuit is as follows:

After all tuned circuits are adjusted to the same frequency (500,000 cycles/second is believed to be a suitable frequency) condenser 302 is adjusted till zero output is obtained from the amplifier, as indicated by tube 3! 6, while the end E of the tobacco column is somewhere below the dotted position E"- (Fig. 4), between plates 63 and 65. Then when the tobacco column attains the desired length between the plates 63 and '65. and the potentiometer 330 is set for maximum amplification, the potentiometers 34! and 34Ia being adjusted just below the tripping points of tubes 3!! and 3!!a. When set this way, heavy tube 3!! will trip when the length of the column increases until its end reaches the dotted E'position (Fig. 4) between plates 63 and 65 and light" tube 3!!a will trip when the length tral position by means of a pair of light springs 350 each of which is anchored to a stationary pin 35!. Therefore armature 344 can only make contact when attracted by one or the other relay.

, If the "light" magnet 325a is energized, contact 345 closes. and if the "heavy" magnet 325 is energized, contact 346 closes, but the two contacts can never close at the same time. Contacts 345 and 346 control a reversing motor 352 on whose shaft is mounted apinion 353 driving a gear 354 (Fig. 7) on the regulating screw shaft 355 of a variable speed transmission 356, such as the Reeves driv fully described in the patent granted to Wilford J. Hawkins on June 28, 1932, No. 1,864,728. through which the motor 351 drives the tobacco feed F. The turning of the motor 352 in one direction will increase, and in the other direction will decrease, the rate of feed of tobacco T being showered on the plate 2! by a proportional amount. From the Reeves drive 356 is driven by chain 358 the shaft of the feed drum !3 shown in Fig. 1, the construction shown in the latter figure being designated in Fig. 4 as F.

Cam 343 is driven continuously from the main drive of the machine (not shown). When one of the tubes 3!! or 3!!a is tripped, energizing its corresponding relay, the latter remains energized, continuing to change the rate of tobacco feed, until cam 343 opens switch 342 and breaks the plate current. The timing of cam 343 is such that switch 342 remains open for 'a suflicient length of time for the effects of the correction to become noticeable between plates 63 and 65. If the correction was insufiicient, a second correction in the same direction will take place when switch 342 recloses.

If too much tobacco is fed, the column will increase in length until it unbalances the circuit of the electrostatic control unit which in turn operates the variable speed drive. Thus in this case the rate at which tobacco is delivered by the tobacco feed is decreased. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the tobacco will be always overfed a little in order to form a full column of tobacco at all times.

In the modified mounting of the pick-up plates I00 and I 02 shown in Fig. 3, it will be observed that they are mounted on suitably insulated studs I03 and I05 carried by slides I04 and I06 which are provided with pointers I08 and H0 riding over graduated scales II2 and H4, the plates being provided with shields H5 and H6 formed of insulating material. The pick-up plates may be adjusted for various predetermined cigarette densities, and the end E of the columnof tobacco will be maintained between dotted positions E and E with reference to the scales which are calibrated. The plates I00 and I02 are mounted in cutouts 59a and 6! a formed in the plates 41a and 2Ia, respectively, similar to the plates 4'! and 2! of the tobacco conveyor shown in Fig. 1. The length of the cutouts 59a.

and 6Ia is sufiicient to permit appropriate adjustment of the condenser plates I00 and I02 7 corresponding to the desired lengths of the column for producing the desired variations in the weight of the cigarettes. The plates I00 and I02 are connected to the circuit of a control unit such as shown in Fig. 4 to vary the rate at which tobacco is fed from a tobacco feed similar to that shown in Fig. 4, to the plate 2ia, depending upon whether the tobacco column TC exceeds or is less than the length of column for which the plates llll and "2 areset.

Referring to Fig. 5, wherein a modified control mechanism is depicted, the same may be arranged on a vibratory conveyor similar to that shown in Figs. 1-4. The pivoted feeler 220 is arranged to rest on the tobacco advanced on the vibrator plate 221. The tobacco delivered 'on plate 2 from a source of supply by mechanism including a feed drum (not shown) similartothat shown in Fig. 1, is advanced upon the plate by the rapid vibration imparted thereto by mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Thetobacco thus advanced on plate 2 is delivered between a concave and overlying roll as shown in Fig. 1, whereby a column of tobacco TC builds up between the plate 22! and the cover plate 241. As this column increases in length it raises the feeler 220, which is connected by a link :22 to a tobacco feed control such as shown in the patent to W. J. Hawkins, et 8.1., 1,864,728, June 28, 1932. The upper part of link 222 is provided with rack teeth (not shown) which actuate a gear train (not shown) to turn a contact arm into position to establish circuits through a reversing switch and thereby drive a controlling motor in either direction which will regulate a Reeves drive similar to that shown in Fig. 4, to decrease the speed of the feed drum and thereby decrease the rate at which the tobacco is delivered to the vibrator plate 22l when the end of the column TC raises feeler 22l, or increase the speed of the feed drum when the column TC diminishes suillciently to permit the feeler 220 to swing downwardly toward plate 22L In short, the construction is the same as though rod l8 of the Hawkins patent were connected to the feeler 220 of Fig. of this application exactly as it is to the feeler I! in said patent.

What is claimed is: I

i. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from the lower end of said column and delivering it to the cigarette machine, a tobacco feed for delivering to said column astream of tobacco to replenish the column and maintain its upper surface at a more or less uniform height, and means responsive to the position of said upper surface of the column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said upper surface within predetermined limits as to height, said means including an electrostatic device adjacent the upper surface of said column and responsive to variations in the height of the column, and connections between said device and tobacco feed to control the operation of said tobacco feed.

2. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from the lower end of said column and delivering to the cigarette machine, a tobacco feed for delivering to said column a stream of tobacco to replenish the column and maintain its upper surface at a more or less uniform height, and means responsive to the position of said upper surface of the column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said upper surface within predetermined limits as to height, said means ineluding pick-up elements arranged adjacent the upper surface of the column and adapted to be electrically coupled by the upper portion of said column, and an electric circuit connected to said elements and responsive to variations in the height of the column.

3. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having a cigarette filler carrying web and a chute for guiding tobacco to said web, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from one end of said column and showering it into said chute at a substantially uniform rate, a tobacco feed for delivering a stream of tobacco on to the other end of said column to maintain the column height, and means responsive to the position of the rear end of said column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said position within predetermined limits, said means including an electrostatic device adjacent said position,-the electrical qualities of which are varied by the proximity of said column end and connections between said electrostatic device and tobacco feed to control the operation of said tobacco feed.

4. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having a cigarette filler carrying web and a chute for guiding tobacco to said web, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removin; tobacco from one end of said column and showering it into said chute at a substantially uniform rate, a tobacco feed for delivering a stream of tobacco on to the other end of said column to maintain the column height, and means responsive to the position of the rear end of said column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said position within predetermined limits, said means including a condenser having spaced condenser plates adjacent said end and to either side of said column, the electrical characteristics of which are varied by the position of the column end.

5. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having a cigarette filler carrying web and a chute for guiding tobacco to said web, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from one end of said column and showering it into said chute at a substantially uniform rate, a tobacco feed for delivering a stream of tobacco on to the other end of said column to maintain the column height, and means responsive to the position of the rear end of said column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said position within predetermined limits, said means including an electric circuit having pick-up elements adjacent said end and to either side of said column, the electrical characteristics ofwhich circuit are varied by the. position of the column end, and instrumentalities for impressing a high frequency electric current in said circuit and on said plates.

6. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having a cigarette filler carrying web and a chute for guiding tobacco to said web, the combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from one end of said column and showering it into said chute at a substantially uniform rate, a tobacco feed for delivering a stream of tobacco on to the other end of said column to maintain the column height, and means responsive to the position of the rear end of said column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said position with predetermined limits, said means including an electric circuit having pick-up elements adjacent said end and to either side of said column, the electrical characteristics of which circuit are varied by the position of the column end, and instrumentalities for impressing a high frequency electric current on said circuit and said pick-up elements.

7. The combination with devices for forming a column of tobacco Of predetermined cross-section, mechanism for removing tobacco from the lower end of said column, a, tobacco feed for delivering to said column a stream of tobacco to replenish the column and maintain its upper surface at a more or less uniform height, and means responsive to the position of said upper surface of the column for controlling the delivery of tobacco to said column to maintain said upper surface within predetermined limits as to height, said means including an electrostatic device adjacent the up per surface of said column and responsive to variations in the height of the column, and connections between said device and tobacco feed to control the operation of said tobacco feed.

8. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a concave, of a rotary device opposite said concave and sufilclently spaced therefrom to provide a channel adapted to admit shredded tobacco, a pair of spaced opposed members arranged to admit shredded tobacco therebetween and extending into the proximity of the inlet end of said channel, means for supplying shredded tobacco between said members, means for vibrating one of said members in a direction toward and away from the other of said spaced members and toward and away from the adjacent end of said channel to fill said channel with shredded tobacco and form a column of tobacco between said members, said device coacting with said concave to advance the tobacco in said channel to the outlet end thereof, a picker for removing the tobacco from the outlet end of the channel and showering it upon a traveling cigarette paper and instrumentalities responsive to variations in the length of the tobacco column formed between said members and operating to control the rate at which said means supplies tobacco to said members to maintain the length of column substantially uniform.

9, In a cigarette machine, the combination with a concave, of a rotary device opposite said concave and sufflciently spaced therefrom to provide a channel adapted to admit shredded tobacco, a pair of spaced opposed members arranged to admit shredded tobacco therebetween and extending into the proximity of the inlet end or said channel, means for supplying shredded tobacco between said members, means for vibrating one of said members in a direction toward and away from the other of said spaced members and toward and away from the adjacent end of said channel to fill said channel with shredded tobacco and form a column of tobacco between said members, said device coacting with said concave to advance the tobacco in said channel to the outlet end thereof, a picker for removing the tobacco from the outlet end of the channel and showering it upon a traveling cigarettepaper and instrumentalities responsive to variations in the length of the tobacco column formed between said members and operating to control the rate at which said means supplies tobacco to said members to maintain the length of column substantially uniform, said means including a source of supply of shredded tobacco, a rotating feed drum for removing tobacco from said source, a

picker for removing and showering the tobacco from said drum on to said vibrating member and said instrumentalities operating to control the speed of rotation of said drum.

10. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a pair of spaced opposed members arranged to admit shredded tobacco therebetween at one end thereof and deliver the tobacco from between said members at the other end thereof, of means for supplying shredded tobacco between said members at one end thereof, means for vibrating one of said members in the direction of its length and toward and away from the other of said members to form a column of shredded tobacco therebetween and deliver said column of tobacco from between said members, and instrumentalities responsive to variations in the length of the tobacco column formed between said members and operating to control the rate at which said means supplies tobacco to said members to maintain the length of said column substantially uniform.

11. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a channel adapted to admit a mat of shredded tobacco, a pair of spaced opposed members at least one of which is movable, arranged to admit shredded tobacco therebetween and extending into the proximity of the inlet end of said channel, means for supplying shredded tobacco between said members including a carded feed drum and a picker roll, means for imparting tobacco forwarding movement to said movable member to coact with the other of said members to form a homogeneous mat of shredded tobacco between said members and forward the same into said channel, a device operating to advance the tobacco in said channel to the outlet end thereof, a picker for removing the tobacco from the outlet end of the channel and showering it upon a traveling cigarette paper, and instrumentalities responsive to variations in the length of the mat of tobacco formed between said members and operating to control the speed of said feed drum to maintain the length of said mat between predetermined limits.

UNCAS A. WHITAKER.

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