US546452A - Cigarette-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

' W. A. HULSE.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 1'7, -l 895.

ANDREI? BSRAHAM. PHOYO-UTHCLWASHIN GTON. D12.

- NIT-ED STATES PATENT O FICE.

WILLIAM A. HULSE, or RooHEsTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BONSACK MACHINE COMPANY, OF VIRGINIA.

CIGARETTE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,452 dated September 17, 1895.

Original application filed February 12, 1892, Serial No.421,254. Divided and this application filed March 21, 1893. Serial No. 467,032. (110 model.) Patented in New $outh Wales May 2,1892, No. 3,771; inVictoria May 26, 1892,110. 10,173; in Canada June 24, 1892,1Io. 39,191; in England Jul 11, 1892,110. 12,736, and in Spain August 8,1892,No.18,505.

To aZZ whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HULSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Cigarette-Machines, (for which the following Letters Patent have been granted, viz: in Great Britain, No. 12,736, dated July 11, 1892; in the Dominion of ,Canada, No. 39,191, dated June 24, 1892; in New South Wales, No. 3,771, dated May 2, 1892; in Victoria, No. 10,173, dated May 26, 1892, and in Spain, No. 13,505, dated August 8, 1892,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same, this application being a division of an application filed by me on the 12th day of February, 1892, and serially numbered 421,254.

The present invention relates to improvements in that class of machines in which a continuous web or strip of paper is wrapped around a tobacco-filler and its opposite edges united to form a continuous or long cigarettecylinder composed of a tobacco-filler inclosed in a paper wrapper, which is to be cut up into suitable lengths for marketable cigarettes.

In an application filed by me on the 12th day of February, 1892, and serially numbered 421,254, of which this application is a division, I described and claimed, broadly, devices by which a wrapper-strip is brought to encircle a tobacco filler, the opposite edges of such strip being turned outwardly or inwardly and being folded or rolled together and secured into a seam by pressing, crimping, or indenting such edges between a two-part pressure device, one part of which is arranged to operate inside of the wrapper to resist the pressure of the other part arranged to operate on the outside of the wrapper. 1

The present invention differs frornthat of my said former application in that it describes and claims mechanism or devices by which the wrapper-strip is folded around the filler and its opposite edges are turned inwardly and folded or rolled together upon the inside of the wrapper and are secured together into a seam by pressing, crimping, or indenting them between a two-part pressure device, one

part being arranged to operate inside the wrapper to' resistthe pressure of the other part arranged to operate on the outside of the wrapper.

I will now proceed to describe a combination of deviceswhich I have invented and which are substantially the same as those shown in Figs. 11 to 17, inclusive,-0f my said former application, by which the wrapperstrip is brought to encircle the filler, the opposite edges of said strip being turned inwardly and folded or rolled together and secured into a seam by the devices hereinafter described. A preferred form of mechanism embodying my improvements is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the construction shown and described being such that it can easily be applied to cigarette-machines now in practical use-as, for instance,-the Bonsack machine described and shown inLetters Patent No. 247,795, dated October 4, 188l-by taking off the wrapping-tube of such machine (designatedby G in Fig.1 of the drawings of said patent) and substituting therefor my mechanism without changing materially the other parts of the vBonsack machine. It follows, therefore, that the mechanism shown and described in the said Bonsack patent for preparing the tobacco, for forming the same into a rod or filler, and delivering it upon the wrapping-strip, aswell as the mechanism for delivering the complete cigarette-cylinder to the cutting-oft devices and cutting it into short lengths, or any other well-known forms of mechanism or devices for performing these several operations, may be used in connection with my improvements.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improvements attached to the frame of a cigarettemachine. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged or detailed sectional view of the parts shown between the lines 00 as and y y of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

9, and 10 are sectional views through the 5 lines 4 and 5 of Fig. 2 and through the lines 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Fig. 3, respectively, showing the position of the various parts at the respective points on which such sections are taken.

By reference to the figures of the drawings, A represents a tubular structure (hereinafter called a tube) through which the tobacco filler and the wrapper B are advanced or fed and by means of which the wrapper is graduallybrought from a fiat into a tubular shape to encircle or surround the filler. This tube is shown as attached to a cigarette-machine by any convenient means, as by supports X, connected to the frame Y of the machine. The tube is conveniently made from two semicircular parts, the lower part being designated by O and the upper part by D, the said parts being united in any convenient way to form a channel or passage-way B, through which the wrapping-strip and filler are advanced simultaneously, the wrapping-strip being gradually brought from a flat into a tubular form to encircle or surround the filler.

The parts 0 and D are secured together by means of solder or brazing or connecting bands or pieces in such manner as to leave slits or openings a a between the parts 0 and D, through which the edges of the wrappingstrip and endless band E can project. The lower part C extends rearwardly beyond the part D and gradually recedes from its semicylindrical into nearly a fiat shape, its edges being folded over to form guides D Z) for the edges of the wrapper, these guides preferably extending somewhat beyond the junction of the parts C and D to or near the beginning of the slits a a. The rear end of the part 0 is provided with a friction-roller F, over which the wrapper-strip and the band E pass. This roller'is journaled in side pieces 0, secured to the edges of the part 0, on whose upper face is the passage-way for the wrapper-strip I and upon its under face a similar way for the band E. After passing over the roll F the band E passes underneath the part 0 till it reaches an opening II, where it enters the tube A. The paper strip passes over the roller F above the band E and enters the rear end of the part 0, its edges running in the guides b I), and as it is advanced it is gradually brought into semicircular shape, and as it enters the mouth of the tube it comes in contact with the upper surface of the band E. The band E passes through the tube and over a pulley I, located beyond the forward end of the tube and journaled in attachments to the frame of the machine, conveniently as shown in the drawings of the said Bonsaek patent, and operates to advance or draw the paper strip and the filler deposited thereon through the tube. The parts C and D are preferably tapered, so as to form a tapered or grad ually-contracted space or channel B for the purpose of compressing the tobacco filler to such degree that as it passes out at the forward end of the part D and the pressure is released therefrom it willexpand sufficiently to fill the sealed wrapper. The part 0 preferably extends beyond the forward end of the part D and is preferably formed into a tube J, through which the band E and the cigarette-cylinder pass. As the wrapper-strip carrying the filler is advanced through the tube A by means of the continuous movement of the band E it is gradually wrapped or folded into tubular shape, and its opposite edges, having passed out through the slits act, are gradually brought toward each other and are turned inwardly and rolled or folded upon each other, and are then secured together to form a seam upon the inside of the wrapper without the application of paste or other adhesive material.

The devices by which these operations are performed are as follows: A shallow longitudinal groove or depression 2' is formed on the upper surface of the part D, as seen in Fig. 5. Strips of thin metaljj, conforming to the upper surface of the part D, are secured thereto at their rear ends, their forward ends being left free or unattached. The upper edges 7; of these strips at their forward ends are turned inwardly into the groove 2', and the strips are preferably so constructed that their forward ends will press slightly upon the surface of the tube, but will easily spring upward and outward to permit the passage of the edges of the wrapper-strip and the band E between them and the surface of the tube, as seen in Fig. 5. The function of these strips is to guide the edges of the wrapper and turn them inwardly into the groove 1' as the strip is advanced along the tube and to prevent the body of the wrapper-strip from crumpling or wrinkling as its edges are turned inwardly. After the edges of the papcrstrip have passed the forward ends of the stripsjj they are further advanced past the projections m of the bands Z, as shown in Fig. 6, and are still further advanced toward the center of the tube and pass into a slit 0, opening into a guideway formed in the part D, in which is located a strip of metal 92, gradually curved around a small core 17, secured to the wall of the guideway, by which the inwardlyprojecting edges of the wrapper are gradually folded or rolled upon each other and partly around the core 1), as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The free end of this corep is tapered and projects into a tapered cham ber 0', whose exit is near the pressure-roller Q, and as the partly folded or rolled edges are advanced along the tapered end of the core and to the exit of the chamber they are still further rolled together to produce the desired number of thicknesses of paper for the seam, as shown in Fig. 9, and are delivered to the pressure device. The bands or piecesl are secured to the part 0 by solder or otherwise, and are also secured to the part D for the purpose of giving rigidity and stiffness to the part D to prevent it from springing down ward too much under the action of the press ure-roller N, hereinafter described.

The construction, arrangement, and opera tion of the pressure devices by which the inwardly-turned and engaged edges of the wrapper are compressed, crirnped, or indented and incorporated into a sealed seam, without the application of paste or other adhesive material, when the tiller of tobacco is present are as follows: The pressure device is composed of two main operative parts, one part having a wheel N, journaled in a piece N, arranged to slide in suitable ways in the support X, secured to the main frame Y of the machine and driven by a pulley P, as seen in Fig. 2, which pulley is in turn driven byacross-belt P, which passes over a positivelydriven pulley I, over which the band E passes and by which it is driven, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the size and arrangements of the parts being such that the periphery of wheel N is caused to travel at the samev speed as the band E, and consequently the paper strip B is advanced through the pressure device at the same speed with the periphery of the wheel N, which bears upon its engaged edges. The pulley I is driven by a beveled gear R, attached to its shaft, which meshes with a corresponding gear, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings of the said Bonsack patent hereinbefore referred to. The second part of the pressure device, as shown in the drawings, is a small roller Q, journaled in a recess formed in the upper surface of the part D. The shaft of this roller is arranged at right angles to the line of the advance of the wrapper and filler and its face is directly in the path of the folded edges of the wrapper, and the roller is revolved by the friction or pressure of the opposing parts. The periphery of the wheel N is arranged to bear directly over the face of the roller Q, and this wheel is preferably adjustable by means of a screw g, passing through the top of the support X and connected by a spring h in such manner that the piece N, carrying the wheel N and the pulley P, can be moved up and down to bring the desired pressure upon the seam, the spri'n g h operating to compensate for any variations in the thickness of the seam. The periphery of the wheel N is serrated or roughened in any desired manner, so that as it is forced down upon the engaged edges of the wrapper and the pressure is resisted by the roller Q,

located within the wrapper and operating as an anvil to resist the pressure of the wheel N, the engaged edges of the wrapper will be pressed into close contact and will beindented or crimped and incorporated and embodied into each other suficiently to form a strong and reliable seam, without the application of paste or other adhesive material, to hold the tobacco filler in place and to resist any pressure which may result from the expansion of the filler when released from pressure. When the wrapper edges are pressed together to form the seam, the filler is encircled or surrounded by the wrapper, and one part of the pressure device, the wheel N, is located to operate outside of the wrapper to give the necessary pressure, while the other part, the roller Q is located within the wrapper to resist the pressure of the wheel N, and the inwardly-turned engaged wrapper edges pass between the pressure-producin g and pressureresisting partsand are incorporated into a finished seam, which coincides with the interior of; the wrapper. It is also seen that at this point, and when the engaged edges of the wrapper are being incorporated into a scam, the tobacco filler occupies a chamber which is enclircled by the wrapper, which chamber in the drawings is the part of the channel B not occupied by the wrapper and belt, and that a two-part pressure device, one part arranged to operate outside of the wrapper and the other inside thereof, is essential to accomplish this result. It is observed that instead of the roller Q the smooth plainsurface of thepart D may be used for the anvil or resisting part of the pressure device and that in such construction no enlargement of the part D would be required to seat the roller Q. This roller, however, as it moves under pressure with equal speed with the wheel N, reduces the liability of tearing the paper as it is advanced.

The tobacco filler should be sufficientl y co rnpressed so that when it passes from under the forward end of part D and is released from pressure it will expand to fill the wrapper and produce a smooth cigarette, and this can be readily efi'ected by giving the proper taper to the tubular channel B. It is also remarked that the roller Q can be made verysma-ll as compared with the channel B B, and consequently butlittle expansion of the tobacco filler will be required to take upthe slack and completely fill the wrapper.

When the completed cigarette-cylinder has passed beyond the end of the tube A, it may be delivered to the cutter and severed into smokable lengths by the mechanism set forth in the said Bonsack patent or by any other well-known means. i

As I am, so far as I am aware, the first to devise means to produce a continuous or long cigarette having a longitudinal wrapper-seam formed upon the interior of the wrapper by turning the edges of the wrapper inwardly and folding or rolling such edges together and securing them without the application of paste, I do not wish to limit my invention to any special means or mechanism foradvancing or feeding the tobacco filler and wrapperstrip to the seam-forming mechanism, or to any special devices for wrapping the strip of paper around the filler, or to any special devices for turning the edges of the wrapping-strip inwardly or for folding or rolling suchedges together, as all these operations are old and can be carried out by a great variety of wellknown devices and mechanisms. My invention relates, essentially, to the sealing of the engaged wrapper edges into a seam when such edges have been turned inwardly and brought into engagement at a point where the wrapper surrounds or incloses the filler.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a machine for making cigarettes composed of a tobacco filler inclosed in a paper IIO wrapper and having a longitudinal seam formed without paste or other adhesive material, the combination substantially as set forth, of devices for advancing the cigarette wrapper and a filler inclosed therein with the edges of the wrapper turned inwardly and engaged with each other, and a two part pressure device, one part arranged to operate outside of the wrapper, and the other part inside thereof and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, the two parts co-operating to secure the inturned engaged edges of the wrapper while it encircles the filler into a flattened longitudinal seam.

2. In a machine for making continuous cigarettes, the combination substantially as set forth, of devices for simultaneously advancing a continuous wrapper and a tobacco filler inclosed therein, devices for folding the wrapper around the filler with its opposite edges turned inwardly and folded or rolled together, and a two part pressure device, one part being arranged to operate outside of the wrapper, and the other part inside thereof and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, the two parts co-acting to incorporate the inwardly turned and folded edges of the wrapper while it encircles the tiller into a flattened longitudinal seam.

3. In a machine for making cigarettes composed of a tobacco filler inclosed in a paper wrapper and having a longitudinal seam formed without paste or other adhesive material, the combination substantially as set forth, of devices for advancing a cigarette wrapperand lillerinclosed therein, devices for folding the wrapper around the filler with the opposite edges of the wrapper turned inwardly and folded or rolled together, and a two part crimping or indenting device, one part arranged to operate outside of the wrapper, and the other part arranged to operate inside thereof and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, the two parts co-acting to crimp or indent the inwardly turned engaged wrapper edges into a longitudinal seam.

at. In a machine for making cigarettes composed of a tobacco filler inclosed in a paper wrapper and having a longitudinal seam formed without paste or other adhesive material, the combination substantially as set forth, of devices for advancing a cigarette wrapper and filler inclosed therein, devices for folding the wrapper around the tiller, devices for turning the opposite edges of the wrapper inwardly, devices for folding or rolling the inwardly turned wrapper edges together, and a two part crimping or indenting device, one part arranged to operate outside of the wrapper, and the other part inside thereof and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, the two parts co-acting to crimp or indent the inwardly turned engaged wrapper edges into a seam.

5. In a machine for making a continuous cigarette composed of a tobacco filler inclosed in a paper wrapper, the combination substantially as set forth, of a chamber adapted to receive the tobacco filler and to be encircled by the wrapper, devices for turning the opposite edges of the wrapper inwardly and folding or rolling them together, and a two part pressure device, one part consisting of a wheel arranged to operate outside the Wrapper and having its periphery serrated or roughened, and the other part arranged to operate inside of the wrapper and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it.

(3. In a machine formaking continuous cigarettes composed of a tobacco filler inclosed in a paper wrapper, the combination substantially as set forth, of a chamber adapted to receive the tobacco filler and to be encircled by the wrapper, devices for turning the opposite edges of the wrapper inwardly and folding or rolling them together, and a two part pressure device, one part consisting of a wheel adj ustably arranged to operate outside of the wrapper, and the other part consisting of a frictionally driven roller arranged to operate within the wrapper and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it.

7. In a machine for making continuous cigarettes, the combination substantially as set forth, of a tube, mechanism for advancing a tobacco filler and a wrapper through such tube, mechanism for folding the wrapper around the filler, mechanism for turning the opposite edges of the wrapper inwardly and seam forming mechanism, consisting of devices for folding or rolling theinturned edges of the wrapper together, and a two part pressure device, one part being located on the tube to operate on the inside of the wrapper and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, while the other part is located to operate on the outside of the wrapper, the two parts 00- acting to press the engaged edges of the wrapper together when the filler is inclosed therein and to incorporate such edges into a longitudinal seam.

8. In amachine for making continuous cigarettes, the combination substantially as set forth, of a tube, an endless band adapted to carry or advance the continuous wrapper and a tobacco filler deposited thereon through the tube, devices for folding the wrapper around the filler, devices for turning the opposite edges of the wrapper inwardly and seam forming mechanism comprising devices for folding or rolling the inturned wrapper edges together, and a two part crimping or indenting device, one part being located outside of the wrapper, and the other part inside thereof and of such form as to permit the filler to pass it, the two parts co-acting to crimp or indent the inwardly turned and engaged wrapper edges into a longitudinal seam.

9. In a cigarette machine comprising devices for feeding a continuous wrapper and a tobacco filler superposed thereon, folding the wrapper around the filler and turning its edges inwardly and securing them into a seam on the inside of the wrapper, the combina- ICC tion, substantially as set forth, of the part D tially as set forth, with the part D havinghaving groove I formed therein, of metal groove I formed therein of a tapering core stripsjj secured at one of their ends to the 10 and tapering chamber 0", the rear end of part D and provided with inwardly projectthe core 19 being attached to the wall of the 5 ing edges k k, for the purpose set forth. groove 2' while its free end projects into the 15 10. In a cigarette'machine comprising dechamber r for the purpose set forth.

vices for feeding a continuous wrapper and WILLIAM A. HULSE. filler superposed thereon and bringing the op- Witnesses: posite edges of the wrapper into engagement ROBT. F. GAYLORD,

I0 with each other, the combination, substan- ERNEST HOPKINSON.

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