US2367913A - Transfer mechanism for cigar machines - Google Patents

Description

Jan, 23, 1945. H, H. WHEELER v TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 5; 1938 4 Sheets-Shgef. 1

[id [id 1;] 152 INVENTOR H RY H.W

ATTORNEY HEELER Jan., 23, 1945. H. H. WHEELER 2,367,913

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig;

INVENTOR H NRY H.WHEELER ATTORN EY Jan. 23', 1945. H. H. WHEELER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HINRY H.WHEELER A zzw ATTORNEY Jan. 23, 1945. H. H. WHEELER 2,367,913

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filei Jan. 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Shet 4 iNVENTOR HE H.WH LER ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1945 TRANSFER DIECHANI SM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Henry Wheeler, 'Bellerose, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a

corporation of New Jersey Original application 'Ja 183,405. Divided an nuary 5, 1938, Serial No. (I this application January 1, 1942, Serial No. 425,319'

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines, and more particularly to transfer mechanism for transferring bunches and cigars to and from the several manipulating mechanisms of the machine. This invention constitutes a division of my co-pending application-Serial'No. 183,405 filed January 5, 1938, for High speed cigar machines, now Patent No. 2,316,828, issued April'ZO, 1943.

It has been found that in sprocketand chain operated types of transfers heretofore used in cigar machines for the transfer of bunches to the wrapping station, and of cigars from the wrapping station, the chains which were used to operate the transfers have-a tendency to stretch and they, therefore, play an important partin the accuracy of the grippers of the transfers. Obviously, if after continued use a chain were to stretch, the point at which the grippers became operative would not be true, and they would either release or grip prior or subsequent to their predetermined point of operation. Also, dueto the open construction of the transfers considerable dust and dirt and grit accumulate thereon, and have an appreciable effect upon the'wear thereof and the efilciency, as well as giving them an untidy appearance.

According to the present invention, marked improvements have been made in the transfer structure since the chains and sprockets mentioned above have been eliminated, and replaced by simple shafts and suitable pinions thereon; and all driving mechanism has been enclosedso that there is little or no danger that dirt, dust or grit will accumulate on the transfer and, furthermore, exceptional accuracy necessarily results because of the elimination of mechanism which was responsible for this defect.

The invention also consists in the provision of a novel type of elongated article transfer means wherein all of the operating structure is enclosed, thereby preventing the accumulation of dust and dirt on the transfer operating'mechanism.

It is an additional object to provide a new and improved cigar and bunch transfer, having totally enclosed operating parts, and gears for insuring parallel motion of the article holding means thereof in place of sprockets "and chains, which results in more accurate control and permits enclosure of the operating mechanism With a minimum of bulk.

It has been found advisable to prevent waste of Wrappers which are to be applied to bunches in the rolling machines in the event that a bunch is'not fed to the rolling machine for association with the wrapper and hence means have been provided for interrupting the wr apper'feed whenever-a bunch is not located to "receive a wrapper.

It is'a further purpose of the invention to associate with the bunch transfermechanism a 'de vice which'cooperates with the-wrapper feed to prevent th feed 'of wrappers I to thewrapping station whenever the absence of a'bun'ch is d9:- tected in the bunch transfer.

A further object of this invention istofiprovide an electrically controlledmeans' to prevent transfor of wrappers from the die "to carrier when :there is no bunch transferred to the wrapping device, thereby preventing waste of expensive wrappers.

It is afurther'object of therinventionto provide .means for maintaining thegripper'sof the improved cigar and bunch transfersinsuch a'position that cigars. and bunches are-always .heldin a horizontal position.

It is also an object of'the invention to provide means for adjusting the limits of travel .of the bunch and cigar transfer devices, and t-to also provide improved means for .preventingtravel of .these transfers beyond said limits.

It is a further object of the invention topicvide a detecting means located on the bunch transfer which determines the presence :or absence of a bunchin said transfer.

It isa further object of theinvention to provid detecting means for determining the presence or absence of a bunch in a bu'nchtrans'fer and means associated therewith .fonprevc'nting feed of wrappers to the cigar rolling mechanism whenever it is indic'at'ed'th'at a hunch is nonpresent in said "transfer to receive said wrappers. ,7

With these and other objects, not specifically mentioned, in view, theinvention consists of ce tain constructions and combinations which will be set forth more in detail in the specification and then described more fully'in-theclaims hereuntoappended.

'In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, andlinwhichilike characters of reference indicate the same 'cr li'ke.?elements: -Figure 1 is a front elevation of m-yimproved .cigar.rol1ing machine;

.Figure'2 is a side elevationof the same,-on lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Y

Figure '3 is aside elevationonlline -3 3.of Figure 1 showing thecarrier portion of the bunch transfer, with a cigar'bunch in position;

Figure 3a is a side elevation similartofigure 3,"but with transfer empty; as

Figure 3b is'a side elevation similar to Figure (not shown) 3a, showing specific details of the transfer head;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bunch and cigar transfer assembly provided with transfers which transfer bunches and cigars from one manipulating part of the machine to another;

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation of the same, on lines 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation of the same, on lines -6 of Figure 4;

Figure '1 is a top View from line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view on line of Figure Figure 9 is an end elevation of the bunch transfer portion of Figure 5 showing a modified form of bunch transfer; and

Figure 10 is a sectional plan view on line I0-I0 I of Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the improved cigar rolling machine consists of a bunch transfer I I which picks up the finished bunches B from a bunch making machine, which may be either a long or a short filler bunch machine (not shown) and carries them along the path indicated by the arrow I3 in Figure 2 to the rolling device I4 in which a cigar wrapper cut on the diev I5 by the cutting rollers I6 and brought into position by the wrapper carrier I1, guided by cams I8 and I9, is wound around the bunch. The tuck end of the wrapper is placed on the bunch by the tuck needle in the conventional manner, and its flag end, to which a dab of paste has been applied by the pastor 2| on its way to the wrapping device, is expelled from the carrier by a blow-off 22, which may be of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,215,490 granted September 24, 1940, to Henry H. Wheeler. A cigar transfer 23 then transports the wrapped cigar C along path 24 (Figure 1) to reroller 25 in which the wrapper is smoothed and the softened cigar, after being trimmed to size, 'by knives (not shown) and treated by a knurler (not shown) is discharged from the cradle 26 to be collected and given a finishing touch in the hand knurler 21 by the operator.

The construction of the rolling device I4 in the embodiment herein illustrated is similar to that disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. 107,792 filed October 2'1, 1936, by James P. Durning, now Patent No. 2,290,171, issued July 21, 1942; while the wrapper carrier |1 may be of the type described in my co-pending application above referred to. The paster 2| may be similar in construction to that shown in the United States Patent No. 2,012,149, issued August 20, 1935, to Henry H. Wheeler, and therefore, further detailed description of these mechanisms is believed unnecessary.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the machine is driven by a motor 28, controlled by a starting switch 30, through a clutch 29 which is electrically controlled by conveniently located hand switches 3|, 32 and by foot pedal switches 33 and 34, and limit switch I61, the former actuated by the operator of the rolling machine and the latter by the operator of the bunch machine For convenience in installing and subsequent check up, a jogging or inching switch 35 is provided, by which the machine can be advanced step by step through increments of a, cycle, for checking on the timing, and for making other adjustments of the different parts whenever necessary. This mechanism forms no part of this invention and, therefore, further description and disclosure is deemed unnecessary.

The operating units of the 4 machine are mounted on a base plate 36 suitably supported by side frames 31, 38 and by an end frame 39 which are completely covered by metal sheeting 40. The side frames 31, 38 support a cam shaft 4| and fulcrum shafts 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, the inner ends of shafts 42 and 43 being supported in housings 41 and 48, respectively, attached to base plate 36. The side frame 38 also carries the bracket 49 on which the motor 28 is mounted. The metal sheeting which encloses the front and sides of the machine preferably is removably mounted in order, both to enhance the appearance thereof, and provide accessibility to the working parts for repairs, etc.

The-cam shaft 4| has a worm wheel 50 driven by a worm 5| on a hollow shaft 52 supported in the housing 53 of wheel 50. The shaft 52 is connected by a coupling 54 of conventional design, to the hollow shaft 55 of the clutch 29, a solid shaft 56, passing through shafts 52 and 55, being coupled to a shaft 51 supported by the clutch housing 29 and carrying a pulley 58 driven by a belt 59 from the pulley 60 of the motor 28. On the bunch transfer I I is mounted a balance arm I50, (Figures 1 and 2) held by a spring I5I in its up-position I50 in which, on the swinging of the transfer along path I3 (Figure 2), it engages the nose |52 of an arm I53 affixed to a vertical shaft I54 extending from pedestal I4I. In its up-position, the lower end of the balance arm I50 rests on a plunger I55 (Figure 3a, and 31)) carrying a toggle joint I55 which is then in its down-position with transfer fingers I51 located apart for the entry of a cigar bunch B. In entering the fingers I51, the bunch 13 trips the toggle I56, thereby raising the plunger I55 and turning the balance arm I50 into its down-position in which it clears the nose I52 when the transfer arm II is moved through its prescribed arc. In the down or bunch delivery position the tail portion of arm I50 engages stationary member 22a on blow-off 22 (Figure 1) which depresses plunger I55 and opens jaws I51 to release a bunch held therebetween.

When at any time the transfer fails to pick up a bunch, the toggle I56 is not tripped, balance arm I50 remains in its up-position I50, and shaft I54 will be rotated through a given angle by the arm I53. On the lower end of shaft I54 is attached a switch I58 which is held open by the shaft I54 when the arm I53 is in its normal undisturbed position. If, however, as stated above, the shaft I54 is moved by the balance arm I50, switch I58 closes contact I59 which is con nected in series with a timing or limit switch I 60, and with a solenoid IBI, the limit switch being closed by the raising of a spring-tensioned roller I62 through its engagement with a cam piece I63, attached to the periphery of cam 82. The solenoid I6I when energized at the proper moment by the coaction of switches I58 and I60, pulls a lever I64 pivoted on a stud in bracket I65 into the path of the lifter lever I25 actuating the rod I21 which operates the lifter head I28 and transfers the cut wrapper from the die l5 to the wrapper carrier I1, thereby preventing spring I25 from raising the same to. effect such transfer.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that when wrapper carrier I1 is in wrapper receiving position over a die I5. head I28 is lifted to deliver transfer member.

bolt"268. on shaft 255 i 'turnably mounted the nected at one end to rod I21, and provided with a cam follower M4 on its other end tracking a cam 85 which lowers the head after delivery of a Y wrapper.

Thus, there is provided an automatic inspecting mechanism which detects the presence or absence of bunches in the transfer device. By means of this device the feed of wrappers to the rolling or wrapping mechanism is so controlled that a wrapper cannot be transferred from the cutting die for transfer to the wrapping station unless a bunch has indicated its presence in the bunch Obviously, this makes possible an appreciable savings in the wrappers which are an expensive item in cigar manufacture, since it prevents the waste of the wrappers fed to the rolling mechanism whenever a bunch is not transferred thereto for association with the particular wrapper. This structure, therefore, adds much to the efficiency and practicality of the machine, and tends to lower the cost of production of the cigars made thereon.

The cam 82 carries a cam piece I63, the latter opening a limit switch I67, through engagement with a follower E58 carried by said switch and thereby stops the machine at the end of each cycle of the machine. The limit switch IE1 is shunted by a circuit containing the foot switches 33 and 31 3- in series so that the latter can start the machine from zero (provided the manual switche BI and 32 are closed), but, if released during a cycle, cannot stop it until the cycle is completed.

The transfer mechanism of this invention,

=while readily useable on any cigar machine, is

especially well adapted for use on a machine such as shown in my co-pending application, above referred to. Due to the fact that the bunch and cigar transfer mechanism I I and 23, respectively, are mounted to operate in a single pedestal I4I located on the table of the cigar rolling machine,

there is no necessity for changing and adjusting the bunch transfer structure except for the gripper heads since they have been designed to function with either a long or a short fillerbunch forming device. This has also been brought about by the fact that the point of transfer of the bunches from the cigar bunch shaping units of the short filler unit, and the forming device of a long filler machine will occupy the same relation with respect to transfer arm I I regardless of the combination of units used, Whereby'the arm I i remains of constant length in either combination. Neither the short nor the long filler bunch forming mechanisms are shown since they .form no part of this invention.

The construction of the bunch and cigar transfer, which carries the cigar bunches from the bunch machine to the wrapper applying device of the rolling machine, and after wrapping transfers the cigar to the reroller, is shown in Figures 4 to 10.

The rack I49, which is actuated by cam lever 30 on shaft 33 and guided by a flanged wheel 263, engages a gear 264 on a shaft 265 supported in pedestal MI. The guide wheel 253 is mounted on an eccentric stud 266, thus permitting accurate adjustment of the tooth engagement. The shaft 265 passes through the hub of a bevel gear 26'! which is held fast to pedestal MI by a flanged hub of the hollow arm II in which .is journaled a shaft 26!! carrying at its ends :bevel gears 210 and 2'. 'Shaft 265 has a crank :arm 272 which is detachably connected to arm II by means of a spring-tensioned, ball-top plunger 21.3 fitting into a stell socket 214 inserted into the hub flange of arm II. The gear 270 at the inner end of shaft 269 meshes With the fixed gear .261, and the gear 2II at its outer end engages with ,a gear 215 on a horizontal shaft 216 journaled in arm II and carrying the bunch holder 211. The turning of the gear 270, as it rolls on'the stationary gear 261, rotates the horizontal shaft 216 by an angle equal to that through which the arm II is moved by the crank 212, thus keeping the bunch holder .21! in its vertical position'at all times and at any angle of arm I I. There- 'fore, when a bunch or cigar is-t0 be lifted or delivered, the grippers are always properly positioned for correct operation. The arm II has two adjustable stop s-crews2l8, one of which en.- gages with a stop 279 in either position II or II" of the transfer arm, corresponding to the spaced positions B, B (Figure 4) of the cigar bunch, in

the bunch machine turret and in the wrapping ment with a gear 282 on a shaft 283 by a flanged wheel 284 on an eccentric st-ud 285. The shaft 283 passes through the hub of a bevel'gea-r 286, held stationary in pedestal I M by a screw 28?, and carries the transfer arm'23, the stop screws 288 of which engage with a stop 289 at its end position, corresponding to the positions 0 and C (Figure 5) of the cigar in the wrapping device and in the rero-ller, respectively. The arm 23 has the shafts 290 and 129i with the bevelgears 292, 293 and 284, the horizontal shaft 29I having .a cross stud 295 loose inits fork end 29-5 carrying the cigar holder jaw 29? which is held tension by'a spring 298 pressing against pins 299 and 30.0,

and which is opened and closed against a stationary cigar holder plate 530i attached to fork 296,

by a pin 302 in a collar 303 fast on stud 295,-the said pin being controlled by a cam piece 304 attached to arm 23.

Under some conditions it may be necessary to swing a bunch through in transferring it from one position to another. For example, when the transfer is used in a short filler bunch com bination (not shown), the cigar bunch B is turned through a right angle while being transferred from the bunch machine to the rolling machine. The horizontal shaft 216 of the transfer arm II carries a bevel gear 305 (Figures 9 and 10) fixed to said shaft and meshing with a gear 306 on the holder 21! which in this case is loose on a vertical core 301 clamped to the' end of shaft 216. The tooth ratio of gears 305 and 30B is so chosen that gear 305 normally moves one-quarter revolution as gear 305 turns through an are equal to that between the extreme position B-B' of transfer arm II, i. e., the arc'indicated by arrow I3 in Figure 4. As described hereinabove spring overthrow plunger 2'13 operates to prevent movement of gear 305 greater than 90 if for any reason rack I49 swings arm II beyond its set limits of movement.

The shaft I54 of arm I53 is held in position through friction produced by a spring 308 pressing on the clamp 309 carrying the switch I58 which when turned by arm I53, connects the insulated terminals on contact piece I59. The nose I52 is held against a projection on arm I53 by a spring 3I0, permitting the balance arm I50 to continue its forward motion by turning the nose out of the way after the switch I59 has contacted, and to reengage the same on its return motion so as to turn arm I53 back into neutral position.

It is to be noted that the transfer mechanism for conveying bunches and cigars to and from the various operating stations of the machine are substantially entirely enclosed and are extremely simple in construction and operation. This makes possible a more efficient transfer than known heretofore, and insures greater wearing qualities for the parts making up their organization, since dirt, dust and possible abrasives, which are often present in tobacco, cannot get into the working parts of the transfer. Furthermore, the safety of anOPBIfltOr is greatly increased due to the enclosing of all parts so that it is impossible for her to come into contact with said parts. Also, the cleaning of this mechanism can readily be effected without danger of clogging any of the parts since it merely requires a wiping of plain, rounded exterior surfaces.

The mechanism above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims hereunto appended, since the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments thereof. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, a rolling station, a wrapper cutting die, a wrapper carrier, means for delivering wrappers from said die tosaid carrier, a transfer for conveying bunches to said station, mechanism for incapacitating said delivery means, including a control arm yieldably mounted on said transfer, and means coacting with said arm to prevent the operation of said delivery means whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer.

2. Mechanism for interrupting the feed of wrappers to a wrapping unit of a cigar machine, comprising a wrapper carrier constructed and arranged to deliver wrappers to said unit, a device for feeding wrappers to said carrier, a bunch transfer, grippers mounted on said transfer, toggle members controlling said grippers, a pin connected to said members, an arm on said transfer, means yieldably mounting said arm on said transfer to engage said pin, and means located for engagement by said arm to incapacitate said device and prevent delivery of a wrapper to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer.

3. In a cigar machine having a bunch wrapping mechanism, a transfer for transferring cigars from said wrapping mechanism, and bunch forming mechanism, a transfer device for transferring bunches to said wrapping mechanism, a wrapper carrier, a device for feeding wrappers to said carrier, control mechanism for incapacitating said device and preventing feed of wrappers to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer to said wrapping mechanism, said control mechanism comprising a trip carried by said transfer which carries bunches to said wrapping mechanism, an electric control circuit coacting therewith, and means operated by said trip for closing said circuit.

4. In a cigar machine, bunch rolling mechanism, a wrapper cutting die, a wrapper carrier movable between said die and mechanism, a transfer for conveying bunches to said mechanism, means for delivering wrappers from said die to said carrier, means constructed and arranged to prevent delivery of a wrapper to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer, said means comprising a trip arm, an electric circuit, a switch in said circuit arranged to be closed by said arm whenever no hunch is carried by said transfer, a lever controlling the movement of said delivery means, and means for locking said lever against movement.

5. In a cigar machine, rolling mechanism, a wrapper cutting die, a wrapper carrier movable between said die and mechanism, a transfer for conveying bunches to said mechanism, means for delivering wrappers from said die to said carrienmeans constructed and arranged to prevent delivery of a wrapper to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer, said means comprising a trip arm, a switch arranged to be close-d by said arm whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer, a lever controlling the movement of said delivery means, a member movable to lock said lever against delivery movement, and a solenoid controlled by said switch for effecting said movement.

6. In a cigar machine, a rolling unit, a leaf sectioning device, a transfer for conveying bunches to said unit, a carrier for delivering leaf sections from said device to said unit for association with a bunch therein, mechanism for transferring leaf sections from said device to said carrier, means for swinging said carrier to and from receiving and delivery positions, a device mounted on said transfer for detecting the presence or absence of bunches in said transfer, and means projecting into the path of travel of said transfer for incapacitating said mechanism to prevent the feed of a leaf section to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer, said means comprising an electric circuit, a shaft, an arm mounted on said shaft, switch mechanism in said circuit carried by said shaft, said device being arranged to rock said shaft and close said switch to close said circuit whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer.

HENRY H. WHEELER.

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