US2929384A - Cigarette making machine - Google Patents

Description

March 22, 1960 Filed May 3. 1955 O. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR OSWALD ERIC-H EISSMANN ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1955 INVENTOR OSWALD ERICH EISSMANN JM ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN 2,929,384

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR OSWALD ERIGH EISSMANN ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 3, 1955 FIG. 5

INVENTOR OSWALD ERIGH EISSMANN BY mvw ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3, 1955 Q2 N Al. m: t; o: +2 wt @8 5 NR 8 ATTORNEY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 3. 1955 March 1960 0. E. EISSMANN 2,929,384

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 568 FIG. I0 568 21 366 210 566 f 210 566 T 218 He |4 220 212 9 212 /2, g 2- 216 258 m5.

INVENTOR ERICH EISSMANN 240 BY 242 242 WJM 208 208 ATTORN EY March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN 2,929,384

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. l6

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m 164 K 1:1?) I,

INVENTOR OSWALD ERICH EISSMANN ATTORNEY BY J March 22, 1960 o. E. EISSMANN CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 3, 1955 INVENTOR OSWALD ERICH EISSMANN l iii; ZZ

vliiw4w ATTORN EY 2,929,384 Ice Patented Mar. 22, 1960 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Oswald Erich Eissmann, Richmond, Va., assignor to American Machined; Foundry Company, a corporation .of New Jersey Application-MayB, 1955Serial No. 505,605

13'CIaims. (Cl. 131-94) This invention relates to a'method and anapparatus for making cigarettes and is particularly well suited -for making cigarettes of the type described in my co-pending applications Serial No. 325,764, filed December 13, 1952, 1 and Serial No. 498,012, filed March 30, 1955, of which this application is a continuationdn-part.

-An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying into effect the method of making cigarettes provided for in my co-pending application Serial No. 498,012.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved clamp for holding a cigarette when a plunger is inserted into one end of the cigarette.

Another object is to'provide an improved plunger inserting mechanism for axially densifying the filler in a cigarette length. A further object is to provide im- -proved apparatus for densifying cigarettes axially.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for making filter tip cigarettes with hol- "low mouthpieces.

Another object is to provide a mouthpiece machine which may be readily adapted to handle dilferent length cigarettes and mouthpieces.

It is an object of this invention to provide a filter tip attaching machine wherein filter tip material is fed in continuous form to the filter tip attaching I apparatus wherein the filter plug material does not have to be pre- .glued to maintain its shape.

A further object is to provide a plug feed for a'cigarette making machine wherein the plug material is fed from a continuous source of supplyand shaped and applied directly to a cigarette to fo'rm a mouthpiece cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plug feeding device for a filter tip attaching machine wherein'the plug material is allowed to expand after it'has been inserted into the cavity at the end of a cigarette.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the cigarette machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the mouthpiece cigarette 'ma- "chine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevationof the same as seen from'line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is also a sectional end elevation, but taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed side elevation, partly in'sccticn of ".the' cigarette transfer device.

Fig. 7 =isan'endelevationof the'sametaken on line m-l ef Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional end elevation illustrating-the ciga- 2 rette carrying turret inconjunction with 'its clamping aws.

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevationofithe same.

Fig. 10 is a plan'view'of one pair' of a plurality of cigarette clamping jaws carried by the turret.

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of one pair of clamping jaws in closed position.

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of one-pair of clamping jaws in open position.

Fig. 13 is an enlargedsectionalcnd"elevationof a clamp jaw actuating shaft.

Fig. 14 is a partial side elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the clamp jaw and transfer finger actuating mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a partial detailed side elevation of the cigarette aligning device of the transfer mechanism.

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the same taken on line 17--17 of Fig. 16.

Figs. 18-22 are sectional side elevations illustrating the successive steps of making single filter tip cigarettes by compressing the tobacco axially from both ends of a double length cigarette held by a pair of clamping jaws then inserting a filter plug in the hollow space formedin the end of the cigarette and then cutting said double end cigarette in half.

Fig. 23 is a sectional side elevation of a single filter tip cigarette thus created.

Fig. 24 is a detailed end elevation 'of'a single filter tip carrier sleeve.

Fig. 25 is a partial detailed side elevation of a single clamping jaw of the cigarette carrying turret.

My invention is adaptable to be used with a machine making either one or two cigarettes at a time. Similarly, the features of my invention may be used with either a continuously or intermittently operated machine. To facilitate illustrating the machine, I have shown how the invention may be used to make double length cigarettes in a machine that is operated intermittently.

The cigarette making machine I have used to illustrate the invention consists of a suitable housing 30. This housing 30 accommodates a cigarette feed'drum'F, a cigarette transfer device D, a cigarette carrying turret T and a pair of filter plug carrying devices E. The entire machine is driven by means of a suitable 'm'otorMR (Fig. 3) mounted in the base portion of housing 30.

The motor MR carries a pair of pulleys 32 which through a pair of belts 34 drive a pair of pulleys 36 'mounted on the main drive shaft 38 which is supported by suitable bearings in'the housing 30. A bevel gear '40 is mounted to one end of the main driveshaft 38 which drives a bevel gear 42 mounted on a shaft 44 supported by a suitable bearing in housing 30. A gear 46 (Figs. 3 and 5) is also secured to shaft 44 which meshes with a gear 48 which in turn meshes with a gear 50 mounted on a horizontal shaft 52 supported by a suitable bearing bracket 54 secured to housing 30.

Gear 48 is mounted on a shaft 56 supported in suitable hearings in housing 30. A spiral gear 58 is also secured to shaft 52 which meshes with and drives a spiral gear 60 mounted on a shaft 52 which carries a pulley 64 (Figs. 2, 4, and 5) which in turn continuously drives a cigarette catcher or collector belt 66.

Shaft 52 is supported by'suitable-bearingsprovided in the housing 30. A gear'68 (Figs. 3and'4) is alsosecured to the main drive shaft 38 which meshes with a gear which in turn drives a gear 72 mounted ona shaft 74 supported by suitable bearingsin the housing 30. Gear 70 is rotatably supported by a studshaft '76 held by the housing 30.

A bevel gear 78 is also fastened-to =s1iaft 74 *which meshes with and drivesa bevel gear 80 mounted ona shaft 82 supported by a bearingTbrac'ltet-M attached the housing 30. A cam or driving worm 86 is also secured to shaft 82 which engages with a roller carrying indexing disc 88 such as manufactured by the Ferguson Machine 8: Tool Co., Inc., and known as a roller gear indexing drive 87 (illustrated in Catalog No. 104 of above mentioned company).

The indexing disc 88 is mounted to one end of a suitable hollow shaft 90 while the other end of the latter forms a flange 92 which by means of a plurality of bolts 94 is connected to a flange 96 of the cigarette carrying turret T. The latter is provided with a second flange 98 (Figs. 1 and 9) which by means of suitable bolts 100 is connected to a flange 102 integral with a hollow shaft 104 supported by suitable hearings in the main housing 30.

A gear 106 (Figs. 1 and is mounted to the free end of shaft 104 which through a pair of intermediate gears 108 and 110 drives a gear 112 which is mounted on a shaft 114 also supported by suitable hearings in the main housing 30. The disc 116 is adjustably secured to one end of shaft 114 of the filter carrying devices E which partially passes adjacent the side of the turret T while partially passing adjacent the other side of the latter is situated another disc 118 which is adjustably mounted on a shaft 120 supported by suitable bearing in the main housing 30.

Shaft 120 carries a gear 122 which is driven through a pair of intermediate gears 124 and 126 by means of a gear 128 mounted on the hollow turret driving shaft 90 (Figs. 1 and 4). To the latter is also secured a gear 130 which meshes with and drives a gear 132 mounted on a shaft 134 which in turn supports and drives the cigarette transfer mechanism D. Integral with gear 132 is a gear 136 which meshes with and drives a gear 138 mounted on a shaft 140 to which is mounted the cigarette feeding drum 142 generally designated F.

The intermediate gears 108 and 110 which drive the disc 116 are pivotally supported by suitable stud shafts 109 and 111 respectively and the intermediate gears 124 and 126 which drive the disc 118 are loosely mounted on stud shafts 125 and 127 respectively. The latter as well as stud shafts 109 and 111 are held by the main housing 30.

The intermittent movements of the machine are created by the roller gear indexing drive 87, the indexing disc 88 of which is mounted on the turret shaft 90 and engaged by the continuously rotating cam worm 86 as described heretofore.

In order to positively lock the mechanisms and keep them in proper position and aligned in the interval between their rotary motion each of the shafts 114 and 120 to which are mounted the filter carrying devices E are provided with an index locking disc 144 and 146 respectively. Each disc 114 and 146 at their periphery carry a plurality of equally spaced rollers 148 and 150 respectively.

During the interval of rest between the intermittent rotary motion of disc 144, the rollers 148 are engaged by a segmental wedge lug 152 which is secured to the end of a continuously rotating shaft 52 as illustrated in Fig. 5. During the interval of rest between the intermittent rotary motion of disc 146 the rollers 150 are also engaged by a segmental wedge lug 154 which is mounted on a shaft 156. The latter carries a gear 158 which is continuously driven by a gear 160 secured to the continuously rotating shaft 82 (Fig. 4). Shaft 156 is supported by a suitable bearing bracket 162 attached to the main housing 30.

The cigarettes to be fed into this filter mouthpiece cigarette machine are double length cigarettes C (Fig. 8) and are deposited by hand or by a suitable conveyor (not shown) into the equally spaced grooves 143 of the intermittently rotating cigarette feed drum 142 from which they are, one by one, transferred by the cigarette transfer mechanism D into individual pockets P carried by the turret T. The cigarette transfer mechanism D consists of a pair of suitable drums 164 (Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7) which are secured to the intermittently rotating shaft 134.

Each drum 164 carries a plurality of concentrically arranged and equally spaced cigarette transfer pins 166, the head ends of which slightly protrude from the face 168 of each drum 164 while the other end of each pin is in contact with the face of a cam plate 170 (Fig. 6) loosely and independently rotatably mounted on drum 164. Each pin 166 is provided with a suitable tension spring 172 which surrounds said pin and which is confined between an inner face of the drum 164 and a suitable collar 174 on said pin and thus keeping the other end of the latter in steady engagement with the face of the aforementioned cam plate 170. It is self-evident from the drawing (Fig. 6) that when the other ends of the transfer pins 166 ride onto the high portion 176 of the face of the cam plate 170 the head ends of the same will protrude a considerably greater extent from the face 168 of the drum 164.

The two drums 164 of the transfer mechanism D are so arranged and spaced on their shaft 134 that their faces 168 partially overlap the end faces of the fluted feed drum 142 so that at the transfer point or station A (Fig. 8) a pair of transfer pins 166, one from each of the two drums 164, advance towards each other and engage the ends of the double length cigarette and hold the latter firmly between them. As mentioned heretofore, the projecting of the transfer pins from their respective drums is achieved as the other ends of said pins ride onto the high portion 176 of the cam plate 170.

The latter of each drum by means of a suitable bracket 180 secured to the periphery of the same carries a stud 182 (Figs. 6 and 15) which through a link 184 is connected to the free end of an arm 186 (Figs. 3 and 15) mounted on a shaft 188 supported by a pair of suitable bearings in the main housing 30. An arm 190 is also secured to shaft 188 which through a link 192 is connected to a lever 194 mounted on a sleeve 196 loosely supported by a shaft 198 the function of which will be described later on.

Shaft 198 is supported by suitable bearings in the main housing 30. The lever 194 is pivotally secured to the free end of a connecting rod or crank arm 200 which at its other end carries an eccentric bearing 202 which engages with the continuously rotating main drive shaft 38. The eccentric bearing 202 through crank arm 200 imparts rocking motion to the lever 194 which in turn through link 192, arm 190 and shaft 188 transmits the same to the two arms 186, each of which, by means of a link 184 is connected to its respective cam plate 170 freely mounted on each drum 164.

The rocking of said cam plate is so timed and synchronized that as soon as a double length cigarette carried by the feed drum 142 has come to rest at the transfer station, an opposing pair of transfer pins 166 which have reached said station at the same time are projected towards the end of said cigarete causing the latter to be gripped and held by the head ends of said pair of opposing pins. The projecting of said pins is effected by the rocking of the cam plate 170 causing the high portion 176 of the same to be moved under the bottom ends of the pins during the period of rest between the intermittent motion of the pin carrying drum 164 and the cigarette carrying drum 142.

Upon continuation of the intermittent motion of drum 164 the pair of pins continue to ride on the high portion 176 of the cam 170 and thus holding the picked-up cigarette and carrying the same towards the intermittently rotating turret T (Fig. 8) where at a second transfer station B the cigarette is deposited into one of the pockets P of said turret. The release of the cigarette from the transfer pins 166 is also effected by the rocking of the cam plate 170 during the rest period of drum 164, as the high portion 176 is moved from beneath the bottom end of that particular pair of pins and the tension springs 172 cause said bottom ends to come again into contact with the even face of cam 170.

The intermittently rotating turret T consists of a housing 204 (Figs. 8 and 9) provided with a pair of end flanges 96 and 98 which as mentioned heretofore are secured to flanges 92 and 102 respectively. The latter being an integral part of the hollow driving shaft 90, while flange 102 is an integral part of the hollow shaft 104. The housing 204 of turret T on its periphery carries a :plurality of equally spaced pockets P (Figs. 8, 9, 10, l1, 'and 12) each of which consists of a supporting bracket 206 to each of which is replaceably secured two spaced stationary jaws 208 which operate in conjunction with two replaceable movable or swingable jaws 210 each of which is mounted on the free ends of suitable lugs 212 projecting from a sleeve member 214 (Figs. 11, 12, and

13) to the bore of which by means of rivets or pins 215 (Fig. 14-) on one end is secured another sleeve 216.

By replaceably mounting the clamping jaws 208 and 210 on the turret T it is easy to quickly change the jaws to handle a different length or diameter cigarette and simultaneously move the adjustable plug carrying discs 116 and 118 in or out on their respective shafts. The replaceable inserts 330 of the discs 116 and 118 would likewise be replaced to accommodate the different cigarettes. It will also be noted that similar adjustments would be made with respect to the actuating means for the transfer and the compressing plungers.

The sleeve 2H engages with a torque shaft 218 supported by a pair of spaced bearing lugs 220 which are integral with the supporting bracket 206. The torque shaft 218 is provided with an enlarged annular portion 224 (Fig. 9) which carries a pin 222 the projecting ends of which engage with one end of the sleeve 216 (Fig. 9). Integral with torque shaft 218 is also a lug 226 (Figs. 9, l3 and 14) which is provided with 2 pairs of flat parallel surfaces 228 designed to engage with a pair of parallel inserts 230 when the movable jaw is in either extreme closed or open position.

Inserts 230 are secured to the inner wall of sleeve 216. To each protruding end of shaft 218 is also secured a cam lever 232 each of which carries a cam roller 234 each of which engages with a cam track 236 of a cam 238. As illustrated in Fig. 9 one cam 238 is loosely and rotatably mounted to each side of the turret housing 204 so that the intermittent rotation of said turret housing has no influence on either of the two cams 238.

Each earn 238 also carries a stud 240 (Figs. 8, 9, and 15) each of which by means of a link 242 is connected to the free end of an arm 244 both of which are secured to the shaft 188 (Figs. 3 and 15) which transmits rocking motion to the transfer pin cam 170 mentioned heretofore. The turret housing 204 which carries the pockets P rotates intermittently and the jaws of said pockets are held open or closed depending with which part of the tracks 236 of cams 238 the cam rollers 234 and arms 232 of each individual pocket engage at a given moment.

However, the precise opening and closing of each jaw as it reaches the transfer or inserting station B or the discharge station K respectively is accomplished by the rocking of the cams 238 during the interval of rest of said turret housing. The action of the rocking of the transfer pin earn 170 and the jaw actuating cam 238 is synchronized in such a manner as to effect the release of the cigarette arriving at the transfer station B and an immediate gripping of said cigarette by said jaws as soon as the latter is released, the jaw arriving at half open position at said transfer station.

contacts each end of the cigarette they effect the proper Each transfer mechanism drum 164 is provided with-as many spring fingers 248 as transfer pins carried bycach drum, said fingers being integral at their base forming a star-shaped spring member 250 (Figs. 6, 7, and.8)- .suitably secured to the hub of each face 168 of each (If-111C two drums 164. Each finger 248 is provided withahole 252 which permits the head end of each transfer pin 166 to protrude through its respective finger. As mentioned above the jaws of the pockets P on the turret T are closed by means of cams 238 in conjunction with cam rollers 234, cam levers 232 and the torque shaft 218.

The torque shaft 218 and the therewith uniquelyconnected sleeve 216 and sleeve member 214 are employed for the purpose of avoiding breakage in case of a jam in the pockets or jaws. The movable as well as the stationary jaws 210 and 208 respectively are provided with slightly round or beveled edges 254 (Fig. 12) at.their joining surfaces thus preventing the possibility of creating a lengthwise crease on the paper shell of a clamped cigarette in case the latter should be slightly oversize.

The half round channel 256 in each of the jaws 208 and 210 is provided with suitable circumferential grooves 258 (Fig. 25) to improve the gripping qualities of the jaws and prevent lengthwise movement of the cigarette within the jaws when a pair of stepped compression plungers 260 enter the ends of the cigarette C during the dwell period at a station following the transfer station B. The stepped compression plungers 260 are of substantially: the same design and construction as those disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 325,764 mentioned above.

Both plungers enter the ends of the cigarettes simultaneously and compress the tobacco within the double length cigarette from the ends towards the center of the same, as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, during the dwelling period of the turret at the compressing station G (Fig. 8). Each stepped plunger 260 carries a slideable collar 262. one end of which is provided with an inclined or conical face 264 (Fig. 18) employed for the purpose of partially entering with the plunger into the ends of the cigarette during compression action. This not only smoothens the end edges of the paper shell of the cigarette but also holds the end of the shell against the edges of the jaws which hold the cigarette.

Each of the conical collars 262 carries a pin 266 which engages with a suitable slot 268 provided in each stepped plunger 260. Each of the latter is also provided with a tension spring 270, which surrounds each plunger and is confined between the rear face of its respective conical collar 262 and another collar 272 rigidly secured to the plunger. The springs 270 are employed for the purpose of holding the collar 262 in clamp-like contact with the paper shell ends against the inside surface of the jaws 210, as shown in Fig. 19, during the compression operation in order to straighten out the shell edges before they reach the filter plug inserting station.

Each of the two stepped plungers 260 are integral with an extension rod 274 and 276 respectively (Figs. 1 and 2) each of which is slideably supported in suitable bearings of the main housing 30. A lug 278 (Figs. 1 and 2) is adjustably secured to rod 274 and carries a stud 280 which by means of a link 282 is connected to the free end of an arm 284. The arm 284 is secured to a shaft 286 supported by suitable bearing brackets 288 fastened to the ma n housing 30 (Fig. 2). Shaft 286 and'arm 284 are intermittently oscillated by means of an arm 290 which by means of a link 292 is connected to the free end of a lever 294 which on its opposite end is pivoted to a crank arm 296 mounted on the continuously rt tating shaft 82 (Figs. 2 and 4). r

The lever 294 by means of a link 298 is also connected to a stationary pivot 300 held by a suitablezbraeket 302 (Fig. 2) secured to the main housing-30. L'Eltis linkage arrangement effects a reciprocating movement ably secured to rod 276. Shaft 310 and arm 308 are intermittently oscillated by means of an arm 314 projecting from the hub of the latter.

The free end of arm 314 by means of a link 316 is connected to the free end of a lever 318 which on its opposite end is pivotally attached to a crank arm 320 which is mounted on the continuously rotating shaft 52. The lever 318 by means of a link 322 (Fig. 2) is also connected to a stationary pivot 324 held by a suitable bracket 326 secured to the main housing 30.

After the tobacco within the cigarette has been compressed by the plungers 269 as illustrated in Figs. 18, 19, and 20 at the compressing station G (Fig. 8), the cigarette is intermittently advanced by the turret T until it reaches the first filter plug inserting station H. At this station a filter plug N is pushed from the filter plug carrying disc 11% by means of a reciprocatory plunger 328 into one end of the paper shell of the cigarette as illustrated in Fig. 21.

As described heretofore, the filter plug carrying disc 118 also rotates intermittently and in synchronism with the cigarette carrying turret T. The disc 118 adjacent its periphery is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced plug holder bushings 330 (Figs. 4, 5, 8, 21 and 24) the inner bore 332 of each of which is provided with suitable ribs or ridges 334 (Fig. 24). These ribs effect a radial compression upon the filter plug N carried by the same so that after a filter plug is pushed from the bushing 330 into the end of the cigarette by the plunger 328, the filter plug has the tendency to expand again and properly seats itself in the end of said cigarette.

In order to facilitate the entry of the filter plugs into the ends of the cigarette the inner bore 332 of the bushings 330 is of a slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the paper shell of the cigarette. The filter plugs N may be fed into bushing 330 one at a time or directly from a continuous source of supply of filter material.

In the latter case, the mouthpiece material M is advanced from a reel or reels or other suitable source through a conventional forming device 115 which shapes it into mouthpiece diameter. From the device 115 it is advanced into the mouthpiece carrying inserts 330 of mouthpiece wheels 116 and 118. When the desired length of mouthpiece material has been placed in the insert, a suitable knife 117 severs the mouthpiece in the insert from the mouthpiece material. Suitable means such as feed roliers 119 may be provided for advancing the mouthpiece material through the former into the mouthpiece wheels 116 and 118.

The feeding of mouthpiece material could also be done in two or more stages. For example, a continuous strip of cardboard or thick paper M1 may be fed from a reel through a conventional forming device 115a, such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,801,638, which forms it into a tube and from there it is advanced into the inserts of the mouthpiece wheels 116 and 118 by rollers 119a, corresponding to the band 7 of U.S. Patent 2,801,638, where the leading end is severed by knife 11701. The reel for the material M1 is mounted on the frame of the machine in a manner similar to the mounting for reel M as shown in Figure l. A similar device may be positioned adjacent the next stopping point of the mouthpiece wheel as outlined before wherein filter material M, fed from a continuous source 115, is inserted inside the previously cut tube of cardboard M1.

The combined mouthpiece assembly consisting of the tube with a filter mounted therein would then be pushed into the end of the cigarette as described herein to form a hollow mouthpiece filter tip cigarette.

One of the advantages of this arrangement is the elimination of pre-gluing the formed filter material to maintain it in the shape of a plug. It will be noted that after the filter material has been shaped into plug form it is deposited into the inserts of the plug wheel where it is maintained in plug form until such time as it is doposited inside the cavity formed at the end of a cigarette. This arrangement has the advantage that the compressed plug material can then readily expand inside the end of the cigarette to hold itself fast in the end of the cigarette without the necessity of employing an adhesive for this purpose.

The intermittently reciprocating plunger rod 328 is slideably supported in suitable hearings in the main housing and carries an adjustably mounted lug 336 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) which by means of a link 338 is connected to the free end of an oscillating arm 34!) secured to the intermittently oscillating shaft 286 which also through arm 284 activates the compression plunger rod 274 mentioned heretofore.

After a filter plug N has been inserted by plunger 328 into one end of the cigarette the latter by means of the intermittent rotary motion of the turret T is advanced to the second plug inserting station I (Fig. 8) where a filter plug N by means of a reciprocating rod 342 is pushed from the filter plug carrying disc 116 into the opposite end of the cigarette. Disc 116 is of exactly the same construction and design as disc 118 and is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced plug holder bushings 330 adjacent its periphery which are identical to the ones carried by the disc 118 and described above.

The disc 116 of course is also intermittently rotated and synchronized with the step by step motion of the turret T. The plug inserting plunger or rod 342 may be stepped to slightly push the filter further in the cigarette than the hollow tube, to form a hollow filter tip mouthpiece. This plunger 342 is slidably supported in suitable bearings of the main housing 30 and carries an adjustably mounted lug 344 which, by means of a link 346 is connected to the free end of an intermittently oscillating arm 348. The arm 348 is mounted on the oscillating shaft 310 which also through arm 308 activates the compression plunger rod 276. Therefore the two plug inserting rods 328 and 342 have substantially the same reciprocating motion with a long dwell as the two compression plunger rods 274 and 276 described heretofore.

After the second filter plug has been inserted the cigarette is advanced by the turret to the cutting station S (Fig. 8) where a rotating cutting knife 359 enters into the space 352 between the two pairs of cigarette carrying jaws and cuts the double length cigarette C into two individual cigarettes R as illustrated in Fig. 22. Each of the two pairs of jaws of this particular pocket P of the turret now holds one complete cigarette R with a filter plug as shown in Figs. 22 and 23.

The rotating disc knife 350 is mounted on a shaft 354 (Figs. 3, 8 and 15) which is rotatably supported at the free end of an oscillating arm 356 mounted on the sleeve 196 to which, as mentioned heretofore, is also secured the turret and transfer cam rocking lever 194 actuated by the crank arm 200 (Fig. 15). To the knife shaft 354 is also fastened a pulley 358 which through a belt 360 is continuously driven by a pulley 362 secured to the continuously rotating shaft 198 (Figs. 3 and 15 After the double length cigarette C has been cut into two individual cigarettes R at the cutting station S, the cigarettes are carried by the jaws and the turret to the ejecting station K (Fig. 8) where an opening of the movable jaws 210 is effected by the rocking of the cams 238 described above and the individual cigarettes R are deposited into a suitable inclined chute 364 (Figs; 2and B) which guide said cigarettes onto the continuously running delivery belt 66.

In order to facilitate ejecting the finished cigarettes from the jaws and to prevent adherence of said cigarettes to said jaws at the ejecting station, each stationary and movable jaws 203 and 210 respectively are provided with ejector bars 366 (Figs. 8, 9, ll, and 12) each of which is secured to a headed stud 368 slidably supported by its respective jaw and provided with a suitable tension spring 370 employed for the purpose of normally keeping bar 366 in a suitable recess in the jaw so that said bar is even and flush with the inner gripping surface of its jaw when in retracted position.

The stationary jaw supporting brackets 206 as well as the movable jaw supporting lugs 212 are provided with suitably shaped ejector actuating fingers 372 mounted to the same and arranged in such a manner that each finger mounted to its respective supporting lug 212 passes through an opening of the opposing supporting bracltet and bends into an L-shaped form a predetermined distanee behind the headed studs 368 of the opposing stationary jaw on bracket 266.

Each finger 372 mounted on the latter passes through an opening in the jaw. Supporting lug 212 of the opposing movable jaw 210 bends into an L-shaped form a predetermined distance behind the headed stud 368 of said movable jaw on lug 212. it is self-evident that the tension springs 370 keep the ejector bars 366 flush with the inner channel 256 of the cigarette gripping portion of the jaws. The bars 366 remain flush when in closed position (Fig. ll) and also during the initial opening as well as during a partial closing of said jaws as illustrated at the cigarette transfer station B in Fig. 8.

However as the jaws open to their fullest extent the fingers 372 mounted on the movable jaw supporting lug 212 engage with the headed studs 368 of the ejector bars 366 in the stationary jaws 208 and elevate said bars 366 from the inner surface of said jaw and thereby positively ejecting any cigarette which might adhere to the stationary jaw 208 at the ejecting station K. At the same time all headed studs 368 of the ejector bars 366 in the movable jaws 210 during their final opening stage contact the fingers 372 which are mounted on the stationary jaw supporting bracket 206 and all ejector bars 366 are lifted from the inner surface of the movable jaws 210 in Figs. 8 and 10. Thus the jaws of all pockets P on the turret T are positively cleared of cigarettes after passing the ejecting station K (Fig. 8).

The invention hereinabove 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 embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for use in the manufacture of cigarettes comprising a conveyor, pairs of opposed clamping jaws mounted on said conveyor for clamping cigarette lengths along their sides, said jaws having a cylindrical opening formed along their length which is substantially of cigarette diameter and shape when the jaws are in clamping position, the adjoining axial edges of said jaws having a slight bevel to prevent forming a crease in the cigarette length when the jaws are brought into clamping position around a cigarette, a stepped plunger for axially compressing the tobacco in the cigarette length, said plunger being positioned along the path of travel of said conveyor, actuating mechanism for moving said stepped plunger in time with the movement of said conveyor for axially compressing the tobacco in a cigarette length held in said jaws, mechanism for inserting a plug into the end of said cigarette from which said plunger is withdrawn in time with the movement of said conveyor,

"and mechanism for opening said "jawsrrto: discharge a cigarette which :has had the tobacco therein axially com pressed and a plug inserted into the end of the cigarette.

2. A machine for use in the manufacture of cigarettes comprising a conveyor, pairs of clamping jaws mounted on said conveyor for clamping cigarete. lengths along their sides, said jaws having a cylindrical. opening formed along their length which is approximatelyof the same diameter and shapeof the cigarette length when the jaws are in clamping position, circular grooves formed around the inside of said cylindrical opening for increasing the friction between said clamping jaws and the sides of a cigarette held in said clamping jaws, a stepped plunger positioned adjacent the path of travel of said conveyor, actuating mechanism for moving said stepped plunger into the ends of a cigarette held in said clamping jaws to axially compress the tobacco in the cigarette, a plug conveyor moving in time with said clamping jaws to position a plug opposite to the end of a cigarette length held in said clamp, and means for pushing a plug from said plug conveyor into the opening formed in the end of the cigarette length by said stepped plunger as it is held in said clamping jaws.

3. Mechanism for axially compressing the tobacco in a cigarette comprising a clamp for surrounding the sides of a cigarette, stepped plungers, a spring tensioned sleeve slideably mounted on said stepped plunger-s and having a tapered end which is adapted to partially extend inside of the paper to force the end of the cigarette paper up against the internal circumference of the clamp to clamp the paper between the sleeve and the clamp when said stepped plungers are inserted from opposite ends inside the ends of the cigarette length, and means for inserting a plug into each of the openings formed by said plunger after the plunger and sleeves are withdrawn.

4. A machine for use in the manufacture of cigarettes comprising a drum, pairs of clamping jaws mounted on said drum, means for opening and closing said jaws, a feed for delivering a cigarette length into each of said jaws when they are open, a stepped plunger movable in time with the movement of said conveyor for entering and withdrawing from the end of a cigarette held between said clamped jaws to axially compress the tobacco therein, a plug conveyor for positioning a plug in front of the end of the clamping jaws holding the cigarette length con taining the axially compressed tobacco, said plug conveyor having ridges formed therein extending longitudi nally in the direction of the axis of the plug to slightly indent the sides of the plug to permit the reduction of the diameter of the plug prior to its insertion into the open end of the cigarette length, and means for receiving cigarettes discharged from said clamping jaws.

5. A machine for making cigarettes comprising a conveyor, clamping jaws for clamping the sides of a double length cigarette, means for rotating said conveyor past a double length cigarette receiving station and past a cigarette discharging station, and a compressing station positioned adjacent the path of travel of said conveyor between the cigarette receiving and cigarette discharging stations, and having stepped plungers for axially compressing from opposite ends the tobacco in a cigarette held by said jaws each time it passes said compressing station.

6. A machine for use in the manufacture of cigarettes comprising a conveyor drum, clamping jaws mounted on said drum. means for opening and closing said jaws, a feed for delivering a cigarette length into each of said jaws when they are open, a stepped plunger movable in time with the movement of said conveyor for entering and withdrawing from the end of a cigarette held between said clamped jaws to axially compress the tobacco therein, a plug conveyor for positioning a plug in front of the end of the clamping jaws holding the cigarette length containing the axially compressed tobacco, said "11 plug conveyor having means provided to reduce the diameter of the plug so that said reduction of the diameter permits the insertion of the plug into the open end of the cigarette length, and means for receiving cigarettes discharged from said clamping jaws.

7. Mechanism for axially compressing the tobacco in a cigarette from opposite ends comprising a clamp for surrounding the sides of a double length cigarette, stepped plungers, a sleeve slideably mounted on said stepped plungers and having a tapered end which is adapted to partially extend inside of the paper to form the opposite ends of the cigarette paper into a round shape, and means for inserting plugs into the openings formed by said plungers after the plunger and sleeves are withdrawn from opopsite ends of the double length cigarette.

8. Mechanism for axially compressing the tobacco in a double length cigarette comprising a clamp for surrounding the sides of a cigarette, stepped plungers, a sleeve slideably mounted on each of said stepped plungers and having a tapered end which is adapted to partially extend inside of the paper, means for moving said sleeves up against the opposite ends of a cigarette Wrapper to form the ends of the cigarette wrapper into a round shape, and means for inserting a plug into the openings formed by said plungers after the plunger and sleeves are withdrawn.

9. Mechanism for axially compressing the tobacco in a double length cigarette comprising a clamp for surrounding the sides of a double length cigarette, plungers for axially compressing the tobacco in a cigarette from opposite ends simultaneously, a sleeve slideably mounted on each of said plungers and having a tapered end which is adapted to partially extend inside of the paper, means for moving said sleeves relative to said plungers into en gagement with the end of the cigarette paper, to form the end of the cigarette paper into a round shape when the plungers are inserted into the ends of the double length cigarette to axially compress the tobacco therein, and means for inserting a plug into each of the openings formed by said plungers after the plungers and sleeves are withdrawn.

10. A mechanism having the features provided for in claim 9 and wherein said clamp has the surface thereof formed to increase the friction between the clamp and the surface of a cigarette engaged thereby to prevent the cigarette from moving relative to the clamp when held thereby.

11. A machine for making mouthpiece cigarettes comprising a turret, detachable clamping jaws mounted in said turret, means for bringing said clamping jaws into and out of clamping position with respect to a cut length of cigarette rod, a plunger for axially compressing the tobacco in said cigarette rod, a filter plug conveyor for conveying a filter plug into axial alignment with the axis of a cigarette held in said clamping jaws after the tobacco therein has been axially compressed by said plunger, means for ejecting said plug into the cavity formed by said plunger in the end of a cigarette, means for adjustably mounting said filter plug conveyors to permit the filter plug conveyor to be moved to a position where it travels in a path which will bring each of the plug holders in said filter plug conveyor into axial alignment with a cigarette held in the clamping jaws mounted on said turret.

12. A cigarette mouthpiece machine which comprises a turret, clamping jaws mounted on said turret, plungers for axially compressing the tobacco in cigarettes as they are held in the jaws mounted on said turret to form a cavity in at least one end of the cut length of cigarette rod, a cigarette advancing device for moving a supply of cut lengths of cigarette rod along a predetermined path, a cigarette transfer for transferring one cigarette at a time from said conveyor into the pockets of the clamp ing jaws mounted on said turret, said transfer having fin= gers for engaging the ends of a cigarette, a plug conveying wheel, plug holding elements formed on said wheel, means for mounting said plug conveying wheel so that the plug holding elements carried thereby move a filter plug into axial alignment with a cigarette held by said clamping jaws, and ejecting plungers for pushing the aligned filter plug from the holding elements into the cavity formed at the end of a cigarette held in said jaws.

13. Apparatus for securing hollow filter tip mouthpieces to cigarettes comprising an endless conveyor, cigarette holding members mounted on said conveyor for conveying cut lengths of cigarette rod along a predetermined path of travel, mouthpiece securing mechanism coacting with said cut lengths of cigarette rod holding members to secure mouthpieces to the ends of cut lengths of cigarette rod as they are conveyed by said cigarette holding members, a source of supply of thin cardboard material, means for shaping the leading end of said cardboard material into a hollow tube, a mouthpiece conveyor for receiving the leading end of said hollow tube, a knife for severing a length of mouthpiece from the leading end of said hollow tube, a source of filter material, means for delivering said filter material inside of said hollow mouthpiece, a severing knife for severing a filtering charge from the leading end of said filtering material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,099 Tone June 30, 1908 1,543,876 Rundell June 30, 1925 1,876,027 Schussler Sept. 6, 1932 1,967,610 Edwards July 24, 1934 1,999,911 May Apr. 30, 1935 2,002,886 Edwards et a1 May 28, 1935 2,039,298 Davidson May 5, 1936 2,150,512 May Mar. 14, 1939 2,166,486 Edwards July 18, 1939 2.609720 Barnard Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 313,428 Great Britain June 10, 1929 352,082 Great Britain July 6, 1931 404,354 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1934 688,854 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1953

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