US2488844A - Cigarette tobacco feed - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 41949 C. ARELT CIGARETTE TOBACCO FEED 5. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1943 INVENTOR C//HRL 5 /ft' .C. ARELT CIGARETTE v TOBACCO FEED Filed Feb. 19, 194

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ATTORN EY Nov. 22, l1949 C. ARELT CIGARETTE TOBACCO FEED Filed Feb. 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYfyK/w;

ATTORNEY C. RELT CIGARETTE TOBACCO FEED 5 Sheefs-Sheet 4 Nov. 2.2, 1949 Filed Feb. 19. 1943 INVENTOR (/LS' 119.627'

ATTORNEY Nov. 22, i949 c. ARELT I 2,488,844

CIGARETTE TOBACCO FEED l Filed Feb. 19, 1943 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR (Awww //zr Patented Nov. 22,1949

CIGARETTE TOBACCO FEED Charles Arelt, l:Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to American Machine Y`and Foundry Company, Va corporation of New Jersey Application February 19, 1943, Serial No. 476,408

152C`laims. (Cl. 131-109) 'This invention relates to cigarette machines, and more particularly to mechanisms for feeding ltobacco to the cigarette forming Ydevices thereof.

It has been'found that when tobacco is picked from pin rollers or fed from conveyors and allowed to fall in a shower` or .carpet into a chute which directs the tobacco onto the cigarette paper or web moving into the rod forming mechanisms, inequalities often `result because of the non-uniform feed of tobacco into the chute. These inequalities reflect in the finished cigarettes causing differences in weights and formation of imperfectcigarettes unless some means are provided for controlling the tobacco as it is being fed to the cigarette forming mechanism. According -to this invention I have provided mechanism which `is operative to form and feed an -eX- tremely Yuniform stream of tobacco to a lpointV where it is -pickedfand ydirected onto the cigarette paper or web travelling beneath Ithe chute Yinto which` the picked tobacco is allowed to fallv so that as a result of these operations more uniform cigarettes are produced.

My invention also consists in the provision fof mechanism .which receives tobacco issuing from the carding rollers, .and directs it in a continuous shower onto an inclined surface operative 'to bacco lpicked therefrom and showered into the4 tobacco delivery chute will fall in a substantially uniform carpet onto the cigarette paper or 4belt travelling therebeneath,

It is an object .of my invention, therefore, to provide .a feed for shredded .tobacco or tobacco particles in which such-,tobacco is fed in a loose irregular stream and :subjected to continuous densifying and compacting Aas it moves through a limited space constantly `changing in width, which space is boundedby a concave and an eccentrically mounteddensier also having .rotary movement .within the concave whereby the stream of ytobacco is converted progressively into a stream of substantially uniform density, so that as the result of the movement of the densiler relative to .the .concave thevolume of the stream,

"2 or mat-atthe point of discharge from ythe densifying-concave is substantially uniform.

It is also an object of my invention torprovicle a Inovel tobacco feeding and compaeting mechanism consisting of a concave and a rotary member mounted within the concave, which member in -additien to feeding tobacco as a result of its rotary `movement moves rapidly to and from the concave with a rolling pin action in order-to eifect -a `lateral ldensifying and additional `feeding movement which densies the vstream of tobacco passing-between the surface of the vvmember and the concave with the result 'that the tobacco is formed into a densified stream-0f substantially uniform volume and with the size xof the shreds maintained substantially unchanged as ya result of the operation .of theV 'feeding and densifying member.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a feed for shredded vtobacco consisting preferably-0f a stationary concave and an Ieccentric drum mounted for ccmpountl movement in t concave whereby a loose stream of ytobacco is fed,-compactedfand densied into a substantially uniform stream and wherein due to 'the operation -of the drum as lthe tobacco stream isbeingcompressed and denslied the ltobacco isfal-lowed toexpandsuch that the normal expansion "of lthe compressed tobacco will :insure that at all times during the lmovement of the rtobacco stream it is engaged by both the Yd um and the concave.

As the densiiedtobacco stream travels Aout of the restricted passageway 'fer-med by the -ccncave Athe rotating and eccentrically movingteusfying and feeding drum and the end walls of the tobacco lfeeding mechanism, it is essential that the stream be maintained in Vsubstantiell-y the same condition as .when it leaves the passageway. That is, it -is-desirable that portions of vthetcbacco `do `not adhere-to the drum and vthat little or none of the tobacco escape `from-the passageway intofwhich thestream moves, otherwise the uniformityof the stream may be upset and inferior cigarettes will be formedtherefrom- Due, however, to the fact that'it is difficult to control properly the movement of a stream of tobacco and eliminate 'loss-of particles as a result of the movement `of the-eccentrically mounted drurnfto and from fthe concave, and'themechanism forming the vpassageway into which the densilied stream of tobacco is moved, suitable mechanism is provided for guiding .and otherwise controlling the movement of the tobacco from one passageway into another.

It is :a further objectief my invention .to provide a yieldingly and adjustably mounted member Ywhich has positive eccentric movement with respect to the rotating and eccentrically moving drum which forms an important part of my tobacco feeding and densifying mechanism and so locate the member' that at all times it is constantly in engagement with the drum. In this manner the member performs the several functions of stripping the tobacco from the drum, applying a tamping or compacting force to the moving stream of densified tobacco and also substantially eliminates loss of tobacco from the stream of tobacco as it moves from one passageway into another.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description, it being understood that the above statement of objects is intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and wherein the several reference characters designate the same or like elements:

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a continuous rod cigarette machine tobacco feed embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, as seen from line 2 2 of Figure 1 with a partial sectional showing of inside parts;

Figure 3 is a side elevation taken on line 3-3 f Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings which show a preferred form of the invention selected for purposes of illustration, Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of the several cooperating elements of the cigarette machine tobacco feed consisting of a feed housing designated generally l in which is mounted a feed drum Il and a refuser drum l2 which divides the interior of the feed housing into a tobacco feed chamber F and a tobacco distributing chamber D. rIhe bottom of the feed chamber F is formed by a continuously moving endless belt I4 suitably driven by a pulley I6 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The upper lap of belt i4 runs over a guide plate I8 and an idler roller 2E! which are suitably supported b-y side frames 22 of the tobacco feed mechanism.

'Ihe tobacco mass in feed chamber F, due to the action of belt I4, is fed towards and against the continually rotating feed drum Il thereby filling the carded surface of this drum with tobacco. The layer of tobacco carried by the carded surface of the drum Il is leveled olf to a predetermined thickness when it passes the refuser drum l2. A picker roller 24 mounted adjacent the feed roller ll is provided with a plurality of rows of pins 25, which pins remove the imbedded tobacco from the card clothing of the feed drum and project it into a rapidly revolving fan 26, which acting in conjunction with concentrically mounted stationary concave 28 showers tobacco onto a stationary and suitably inclined surface of a plate 30 down which the tobacco slides by gravity into a space formed between a curved portion of plate 33 and a rotating pressure roller 32. Plate 36 which is mounted on the side walls 52 of the feed housing I0 may be provided with adjustable mounts 3| having slots 33 through which project the set screws 35 in order to allow the plate to be positioned in any desired relation with respect to roller 32 and drum 36. Roller 32 preferably is knurled or otherwise roughened in order to provide for a more positive engagement with the tobacco passing therebeneath. It will be seen, therefore, that the rotation of roller 32 relative to plate 30 forwards the tobacco moving down plate 30 in a more or less loose non-uniform stream, and that in this manner this stream of tobacco is directed into a passage P formed by a stationary concave 34 provided with lugs 39 and secured by screws 37 to the end walls 52 of housing I0.

Concave 34 forms a part of the tobacco stream feeding and densifying mechanism. This mechanism also includes a feeding and densifying drum 36, which preferably is provided with a roughened surface as by knurling. Drum 36, which rotates about a fixed axis centrally located with respect to concave 34, advances the stream or layer of tobacco in the restricted space formed by the inner face of the concave 34, the outer surface of the drum 36, and the end walls 52 in order to limit the travel of the stream of tobacco to a restricted passageway and prevent longitudinal expansion of the tobacco as it moves through the passageway. As the drum is rotated it also has imparted thereto a more rapid eccentric motion by which the tobacco forming the stream moving through the passageway P is subjected to a relatively large number of rapid progressive densifying impacts as the surface of the drum is moved to and from the inner face of the concave so that the tobacco is progressively compressed against the inner wall of the concave and released within the limits of the movement of the eccentric and the distance to the concave. At the same time the stream thus densied is travelled forward in passage P due to the progressive rotation of the drum. The action of drum 36 against the shredded tobacco in passage P is such that the shred size is maintained substantially unchanged as the tobacco is densied and fed through passage P. It will be evident, therefore, that the compound movement of the drum 35 relative to the inner surface of concave 34 tends to eliminate holes or voids and convert the loose irregular stream of tobacco entering passage P into a tobacco mat of Isubstantially uniform density which is forwarded from the passage P into a passageway P1 bounded by a rotating roller 38, preferably provided with a roughened surface, as by knurling, and a stationary concave 40 and end walls 52.

As the advancing edge of the uniform mat of tobacco moves beyond the limits of the passageway P at the lower part thereof, as shown in Figures 2 4, the tobacco mat is subjected to the action of a picker 42 which separates the particles of tobacco moving into the range of action of the pins 45 carried thereby whereupon the tobacco is directed in a substantially uniform carpet onto a hurling screw 43 which advances the tobacco downwardly and in a forward direction onto the cigarette paper or conveyor 44 which is moving towards the rod forming mechanism (not shown).

Drum 36 preferably is rotated at a higher rate of speed in comparison with the rotation of drum 38 so that the tobacco stream moving through and being densied in passage P is advanced more rapidly than when the stream leaves passage P and enters passage P. While the speed of rotation of drum 35 and roller 38 may vary within suitable limits it has been found that if drum 35 is rotated with a peripheral speed of, say three times that of roller 38, satisfactory results are obtained. The vibratory or eccentric movement of the drum can also be varied. In general it is desired to yimpart a rather large number of eccentric movements to the drum in order to obtain` the most favorable feeding and densifying relation with respect to the concave 3d. Due to the combined operation of these members, each eccentric movement of the drum with respect to the stream of tobacco passing through the passage P, and the particular portion of the surface of lthe drum engaging the tobacco, results in a rolling pin like action by the drum upon the tobacco engaged. In other words, because of the rotary motion of the drum and its simultaneous movement to and from the concave the entire line of 'contact along the surface of the drum compacts and moves downwardly that portion of the tobacco layer momentarily engaged and at the same time the rotary motion of the drum assists further in the feed of the stream through passage P. If desired the number of eccentric motions of drum 36 per minute may be directly proportional to the rate of cigarette formation. It has been found that from 800 to i200 oscillations per minute results in very satisfactory densifying although under some conditions higher or lower rates might be used. This combined operation results in endwise compaction of the entire stream within the limits of passageway P and tends to assist further in the formation of a mat having substantially uniform density, and substantially unchanged shred size.

A clearing fan 40 (Figure l) mounted and revolving close to the refuser drum I2 blows off and redirects intochamber F tobacco tending to adherey tothe refuser drum. A removable stem box 58 is'l mounted in front of inclined plate 30. This boxis slidably held by angles 5| fixed to side walls 52 positioned to catch any heavy particles or stems thrown beyond inclined plate 30 in a manner well known in the art and further description of it is deemed unnecessary.

InFi'gure 2 the distributing chamber is shown withv part of the front wall of the feed housing I0 broken away to disclose the relative positions of the tobacco handling and feeding mechanism. As shown, the side walls 52 of housing i0 are mounted on brackets 53 suitably secured to side frames 22,I which valso provide bearings for the several shafts. Picker roller 2e is mounted on a shaft 56| supported in bearing 56 of bracket 53 suitably carried by' one side frame 22, and the other end of shaft 54 is supported by bearing 60 of gear box 62 carried on the other side frame 22. 7dan 23 is fastened to'shaft 64 having one end supported by a vbearing 65 and the other end mounted in a bearing 66 also formed in gear box 62. Shafts 5d, Gil are driven through intermediate gearing (not shown) contained in gear box 62 by means of pulley, belt 'I0 and driving pulley I2 carried on the shaft of motor M supported on bracket 'M fixed to one of the side frames 22 (Figure 2) Pressure roller 32 which is mounted adjacent the top end of concave Se and coacts with inclined-plate 30 in directing tobacco in a loose, irregular stream into passage P is secured to a shaft l'supported in bearings '|8, 30 fastened to side frames 22 by screws 82. A gear 8A fastened to-shaft 'I6 by means of a screw 88 is driven continuously through an intermediate gear 33 loosely mounted on va stud 90 supported by a side frame 22; and meshing with a gear 92 coupled directly to a sprocket 94. Gear 92 and sprocket 94 are mounted loosely on stud 96. Sprocket 04 is tracked by a chain 98 running on a sprocket Ic mounted loosely on a stud |02 carried by one of thefside frames 22. Sprocket |00 is directly coupled to a gear |04 alsomounted loosely on stud |32. Gear |045 meshes witha gear n|06 vfastened to the main drive shaft |08 which c'arriesiafcone pulley H0 (Figure 3)"driven by a beltf III from a suitable source of power (not shown);

The compacting drum 36 which 'with concave 34 and side plates 52 forms the restricted stream densifying and feeding passagelP-is -mounted loosely on a shaft designated generally i539', which is turned down eccentricallyat each end-l to form journal-portions II3 which areiheld 'in bearings H4, H5 fastenedv by screws IIS to'sideV frames22 (Figure 2) as described hereinabove in order to impart a plurality of motions to the drum 36.

Mechanism is provided: for rotating the drum and.

simultaneously with thi'srotation the drum"is also subjected to eccentric motionk to and-from the inner face kof the concave 34. A preferred mechanism for operating' the drum` in the desired manner is shown in Figures 2', 3, and 5; 'although other-devices'rnay be used to accomplish the same purpose.

As illustrated in Figure 5, there is provided a exible coupling designated generally C by means of'which both rotary YandI eccentric' movement is imparted to the drum. Securedv to anend of 'the drum 36 by means of screws I20is a cylindrical member H6 concentric withy the axis of the eccentric portion `I I2 ofthe shaft |09 and .provided with a flange I I3 to the innerf-ace of which is cemented orotherwse secured'the outside `face of a ring |22 of flexible or 'elasticmateriaL :such as rubber. The inner 'face of the ring I22'i`s secured in like manner to the outer surfacexofa cylindrical flanged memberv I 24 .fasten'ed by screws I 26 to a gear |28 which is concentric' with the 'aXis of the journal portions H3 of shaft |00. Gear |20 is loosely mounted for rotation on a`hub formed on bracket |29 which is secured byifscrews lil to a flanged portion of bearing I I5, concentric with the journalv portions I3 of'shaft |09. On the other end of Yshaft '|09 is fastened a pulley |30 driven by means of a belt |32. frompulley" l2 on the motor M.

From the above description it is evident that the densifying'drum 36 receives an eccentric motion from pulley |30 due to the eccentric portions II2 of shaft |09, and a rotaryrn'otion by means of the elastic ringv |22 through itsrconnections with the continuously driven gear |28. Theresultant effect of the concurrent motions of the drum 36 on the tobacco stream moving through the passage P is theformation'ofv a tobacco mat of substantially uniform volume. l

Gear |38 meshes with a ,gear Il23a fixed Aon shaft I3| mounted in a bearing |33 secured'to side frame 22 (Figure 2). Also fixed to shaft I'3I is a sprocket I 34 which is drivencontiriuously by means of a chain |35 from a suitable drive (not shown). 4

The uniform mat of tobacco resulting from the l combined operations of concave 34 anddrum" 33 is delivered into a second passageway P locatedr longitudinally along the drum 36 and is so arranged that its edge |39 is constantly in engagement with the drum regardless of the path the drum may follow during its rotation and eccentric movements. For best results it has been found that edge |39 should lie in a plane passing through the axis of the eccentric portion I I2 of shaft |89. In this way edge |39 at all times follows the eccentric movement of compacting drum 36 and is in engagement with the surface in order to strip tobacco therefrom, and direct it into passage P. Member |38 is provided with a depending portion |42 (Figures 1 and 4) preferably undercut or recessed which overlies the upper edge of concave 40 in order to provide for its proper movement relative to the drum and upper edge of the concave, eliminate any obstruction to the movement of the member |38 or impediment or stoppage in the uniform flow of tobacco from the passage P into passage P', and also act as a seal and prevent escape of tobacco between the edge of the concave and member |38 asit moves from one passage to the other. Member |38 is so formed and mounted that it exerts a yielding compacting force on the tobacco stream tending to maintain the same properly compacted as it travels from passage P into passage P.

In the illustrated embodiment, member |38 is resiliently mounted. Referring to Figures 1-4, an angle |44 fastened to concave 40 by screws |45 extends lengthwise of the concave between the side frames 22, and mounts a number of flat springs |48 secured thereto by screws |58 and washers |52. The other ends of the springs |48 are secured to member |38 by means of screws |54 and washers |56. Member |38 has brackets |58 secured thereto at each end by means of screws |60, and fixed to brackets |58 by means of screws |62 and washers |64 are fiat springs |65 which are located substantially at 90 with springs |48. These springs are also secured to lugs |66 on side frames 22 by means of screws |68 and washers |18 (Figure 4). Also connected to brackets |58 by means of screws |12 and washers |14 are flat springs |16 which are held in slots in eccentric straps |18 by means of screws |88. The eccentric straps |18 envelop portions of the shaft ||2 on which the compacting drum 36 is mounted and, therefore, are constrained to follow closely the eccentric motion thereof. On the driving side of the compacting drum 36 (Figures 3 and 5), it will be seen that bracket |29 has a portion cut away as at |82 to accommodate spring |16 and its movement. Adjustments of the positon of member |38 relative to drum 36 can be made in a suitable well-known manner. For instance, springs |48, |65 and |16 may be provided with longitudinal slots |5|, |69 and |1| respectively in order that adjustments may be made in positioning member |38 thereon relative to drum 36.

The drum 38 is fastened to a shaft |84 mounted in bearings |86 carried by side frames 22. Each of the bearings |86` is provided with a hanged portion |81 which carries concave 4U fastened thereto by means of screws |88. Bearings |88 are fastened to side frames 22 by screws |88 in slots |92 allowing an adjustment by means of adjusting screws |93. Shaft |84 is driven from a suitable drive and source of power (not shown) by means of a chain |94 tracking a sprocket |98 fixed to shaft |84.

The constant rotary movement of concave drum 38 engaging the previously described moving tobacco mat issuing from passage P effects its movement through passage P' in order to subject the advancing edge thereof as it issues from passage P to the action of a picker roller 42 which picks off the tobacco and throws a substantially uniform stream or carpet towards a space between a plate 268 forming a part of the feed chute and one side of a hurling screw 43, which may be of the type shown in Podmore Patent No. 1,907,575, granted May 9, 1933, which imparts a forward speed to the tobacco as it falls through the chute onto the cigarette paper 44 traveling therebeneath into the rod forming mechanism of a cigarette making machine (not shown). The hurling screw 43 is journaled in bearings 2 i8 and 2|8 mounted on the side frames 22, and is rotated by means of a pulley 2 |8 driven by belt 228 from pulley 12 of motor M.

Picker roller 42 is fastened to a shaft 262 mounted in bearings 294 adjustably secured to side frames 22 by screws 286 (Figure 3) which allow for any necessary adjustment because of the provision of slots 288 formed in the bearings for that purpose. A belt 2li] furnishes a continuous drive from pulley 12 of motor M to a pulley 2 2 fastened to shaft 282.

In Figure 1, arrows show the general direction of rotation of the several rotating members operative in feeding tobacco and forming the substantially uniform mat. The wavy arrow applied to drum 36 illustrates substantially the motion of a random point on the surface of the drum.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A tobacco feed mechanism comprising, a substantially vertically positioned stationary, concave, a roll provided with a cylindrical tobacco engaging and feeding surface coacting with said concave and forming therewith a restricted tobacco feeding space, means for feeding tobacco into said space between the top of said concave and roll, means mounting said roll eccentrically relative to the inner surface of said concave, means for simultaneously imparting rotary and eccentric motion to said roll to move it inwardly and downwardly relative to said concave to aid in the feed of said stream through said space and densify said stream of tobacco with substantially a rolling pin action in the direction of movement in passing through said concave to a point of discharge adjacent the bottom of said concave, a doctoring device comprising a yieldingly mounted blade constructed and arranged for continuous engagement with the surface of said roll located adjacent said point of discharge for directing said densied stream away from said roll, and means mounting said device for constant engagement with said roll.

2. In a tobacco feed mechanism, an inclined tobacco receiving surface, means for showering tobacco onto said surface, a concave, an eccentrically mounted roll located in said concave and forming with the inner surface of said concave a curved restricted tobacco feeding space, means for feeding tobacco from said surface into said space, means for rotating said roll, means operative simultaneously with said last-named means for imparting eccentric motion to said roll and causing the surface thereof to move inwardly 3'. In a tobacco feed mechanism, an inclined tobacco receiving surface, means for showering tobaccov onto said surface, a concave, an eccer'itrically mounted roll located in said concavev and'forming with the inner surface of said concave al curved restricted tobacco feeding space, meansfor feeding tobacco from saidsurface into said space, means for rotating said roll, means operativev simultaneously with said last-named means for imparting `eccentric motion to said roll and -causingthe surface thereof to move inward- 1y and'downwardly relative to said inner surface ofsaidc'oncave to feed and densify the stream of'tobacco passing throughsaid space, a second concave located beneath said roll and first-named concave, a roll to effect the feed of said densified stream of tobacco through said second concave toa"point of discharge, means for removing tobacco from the advancing end Aof said stream at saidpoint'of discharge, a tobacco directing v'device ci)m-'prisirigvv a doctor blade located adjacent said second concave, and means vmounting said blade forwconstant coaction with said first named roll forr directing said'stream from said first named roll to said second concave, said blade including affseal'ingportion for preventing escape of tobacco'between said second concave and blade.

4J In a tobacco feed mechanism, a concave, a rotary' drummounted within said concave and forming therewith a restricted space for the passage'of tobacco between said concave anddrum, meansmounting drum eccentrically withinfsaid'concave, mechanismfor feeding a loose stream of tobacco into saidY space bounded by said concave and the surface of said'drum, means for" simultaneously imparting rotary ,and eccentric motion to said drum to effect the feed of said stream of tobaccoV anddensify said stream as itis fed to-a point of discharge, a second concave mounted beneath said drum, a roller mounted'within said second concave, forming with said second concave a stream feeding passage, and means located between said drum and second concave for maintaining said'stream compacted and directing the same from said rst concave into saidV second concave.

5. In atobacco feed mechanism, a concave, a rotary drumV mounted within said concave and forming therewith a restricted space for the passage 'of tobacco between said concave and drum, means mounting said drum eccentrically within said concave, ymechanism for feeding* a: loose stream-of tobacco into said space bounded by said concave and the surface of'said drum, means for simultaneously imparting rotary and eccentric motion to said-drum to effect the feed of said stream'rof tobacco and densify said stream as it is fed to a pointi of discharge, -a second concave mounted beneath said drum, a roller mounted within said second concave and forming with said second concave a stream feedingpassage, a dootor blade located"betweferisai'ddrun';and second concave'for directing said densied stream 'of tobacco from said first concave' into said second concave, andyielding means mounting said blade lli() for'continuous" engagement with said drum during rotation thereof. A

e". In a v--tobacco feed, a concave', a feeding drum spaced from said concave and forming therewith a tobacco passage, means for vfeeding a stream of loose tobacco -to said passage, means for rotating said ldrum at one rate of speed, means for simultaneouslyoscillating said drum at a rate greater than'the rotary movement of said drum for feeding said stream of tobacco and densifying the same as it travels through said passage, a second feeding passage located below' said first-named passage, means for progressing said densied stream at a slower rate of movement through said second passage'in a substantially uninterrupted stream, and means for separating tobacco 'from saidstream as it issues from said second passage.

'7. In a'tobacc'o feed, a concave, a feeding drum spaced from said concave and forming therewith a toba'ccopassage, means for feeding a stream of loose tobacco to said passage, means for rotating said drum at one 'rate of speed,` means for simultaneously oscillating said drum at a rate greater than the rotary movement of said drum for feeding said 'stream of tobacco and densifying thefsame as it travels through said passage, a second feeding passagelocated below said rstnamed passage, a guide' member located adjacent said drum proximate said first and second `passages, means for progressing saiddensied stream ata slower rate o'fmovement through said second passage, and means for separating tobacco from said stream as it issues from said second passage.

v8; In a tobacco feed, a concave, a feeding drum spaced from said concave and forming therewith a tobacco passage, means Vfor feeding a stream of loose tobacco to said passage, means for rotating said drum at one rate of speed, means for simultaneously oscillating saidV drum at a rate greater than the rotary movement of said drum forfeeding said stream of tobacco and densifying the same as it travels through said passage, a second feeding passage located below said rstnamed-passage, a resiliently mounted guide member located' proximate said first and second passages, means mounting said member for constant engagement with said drum, means for progressing saiddensied stream at a slower rate of movethrough said second passage, and means for eparating tobacco from said stream as it issues from said second passage. n

QqIrn a tobacco feed mechanism,a shaft' providedwvith an eccentric portion and end journals, a vdrum looselymounted on said'eccentric portion, a vstationary concave spaced from said drum anidforming withrsaid drum a curved tobacco feeding passage having a tobacco stream receiving opening for receiving a stream of loose non-uniforml pieces of tobacco, and a discharge opening delivering a densifled substantially uniform stream of tobacco, means forA feeding va loose stream of tobacco to said receiving opening comprising an inclined plate, a roller spaced therefrom mounted adjacent the top of said concave, and means for showering tobacco upon said plate for delivery by said'plate and roller to receiving opening of said passage between saidl drum'and concave, mechanism for imparting a piural-i-ty ofcompound movements to said drum relative to said stationary' concave to feed said loose stream through said 'passage and densify the samev in the direction of its travel as it moves therethrough to said discharge opening While maintaining the size of said piecesof tobacco 11 substantially unchanged, said mechanism including driving means for rotating said shaft, a flexible coupling connected to one end of said drum, and means driving said coupling for rotating said drum on said shaft simultaneously with the independent rotation of said shaft.

10. In a tobacco feed mechanism, an eccentrically mounted drum, a concave spaced from said driun and forming with said drum a curved tobacco feeding passage having a tobacco stream receiving opening for receiving a stream of loose non-uniform tobacco, and a discharge opening delivering a densified substantially uniform stream of tobacco, means for feeding a loose stream of tobacco to said receiving opening comprising an inclined plate, a roller spaced therefrom, and means for showering tobacco upon said plate for delivery by said plate and roller to said receiving opening, mechanism for imparting a plurality of compound movements to said drum relative to said concave to feed said loose stream through said passage and densify the same in the direction of its travel as it moves therethrough to said discharge opening, a concave and a roller located adjacent said discharge opening and forming a second passage for said densied stream, and means for driving said last-mentioned roller at a slower rate of speed than said drum to travel said densied stream through said second passage more slowly than through said rst passage.

11. In a tobacco feed mechanism, an eccentrically mounted drum, a concave spaced from said drum and forming with said drum a curved tobacco feeding passage having a tobacco stream receiving opening for receiving a stream of loose non-uniform tobacco, and a discharge opening delivering a densied substantially uniform stream of tobacco, means for feeding a loose stream of tobacco to said receiving opening comprising an inclined plate, a roller spaced therefrom, and means for showering tobacco upon said plate for delivery by said plate and roller to said receiving opening, mechanism for imparting a plurality of compound movements to said drum relative to said concave to feed said loose stream through said passage and densify the same in the direction of its travel as it moves therethrough to said discharge opening, a concave and a roller located adjacent said discharge opening and forming a second passage for said densied stream, means for driving said lastmentioned roller at a slower rate of speed than said drum to travel said densified stream through said second passage more slowly than through said first passage, a chute beneath said second passage, and means for separating tobacco from said stream as it issues from said second passage and delivering the same to said chute.

l2. In a tobacco feed mechanism, spaced members forming a tobacco feeding Zone comprising a concave, and a drum within said concave, means for feeding a loose stream of tobacco into said zone, a second tobacco feeding zone beneath said first feeding zone comprising a second concave and a roller spaced therefrom, means for imparting rotary and eccentric motion to said drum at one speed to feed said stream of tobacco into said second feeding zone, means for rotating said roller at a slower rate of speed relative to the speed of said drum to control the passage of said stream through said second zone, a doctor blade, and means for constantly engaging said blade with said drum to direct tobacco passing from said rst zone in a substantially continuous unbroken stream into said second zone.

13. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, an eccentrically mounted drum, a concave spaced therefrom and forming therewith a tobacco feeding passage, means for feeding tobacco into said passage, mechanism for rotating said drum and for simultaneously causing said drum to move to and from the inner surface of said concave and densify tobacco in said passage and feed said densified tobacco to a point of discharge, a doctor blade extending lengthwise of said drum, a support for said doctor blade, and adjustably mounted springs mounting said blade 0n said support and constructed and arranged to locate the edge of said doctor blade in constant engagement with said drum.

14. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, spaced members forming a tobacco feeding Zone comprising a stationary concave and a tobacco feeding member, means for feeding a loose stream of tobacco into said zone, means for imparting rotary and oscillating motion to said feeding member, a second tobacco feeding zone beneath said first feeding Zone comprising a second concave and a second feeding member spaced therefrom, a movable doctoring device located in the space between said first-named tobacco feeding member and said sec-ond-named concave, said doctoring device being constructed and arranged to form with said tobacco feeding members and said second-named concave a substantially continuous tobacco passage connecting said first and second tobacco feeding zones, means mounting said doctoring device for constant engagement with said first-named feeding member, and means on said movable doctoring device for substantially preventing escape of tobacco from said passage.

l5. A tobacco feed mechanism for a cigarette machine comprising a substantially semicircular stationary concave having a top infeed end and a bottom discharge end, means mounting said concave with said top end located above said bottom end, feeding means provided with a cylindrical surface mounted within said concave and forming with the entire inner face thereof a continuously open restricted substantially semicircular tobacco passage, means for moving said feeding means with a circular motion in feeding a tobacco stream through said passage, and means operative simultaneously therewith for also imparting eccentric motion to said feeding means to cause the cylindrical surface at an entire line of contact along the length thereof to compact and move downwardly a substantial portion of the tobacco stream in said passage engaged by said surface at that line for densifying said stream as it moves through said passage to form a substantially uniform stream for discharge from said passage, said cylindrical surface being constructed and arranged to maintain the size of said shreds of compacted tobacco substantially unchanged during the movement thereof through and out of said passage.

CHARLES ARELT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 68,597 Borgfeldt Sept. 10, 1867 (Other references on following page) Number Number Number Name Date Molins Mar. 7, 1939 Gooch Nov. 28, 1939 Kiesskalt et a1 Nov. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain ,Feb. 28, 1939 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1939 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1939 Germany May 17, 1940

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