US2306380A - Feed for cigar bunch machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNING FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1936 Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNING FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed Aug. 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .M M. SN

ATTORN EY Dec. 29, 1942.

J. P. DURNING FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed Aug. 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f INVEzHgoR M. *7 BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1942 FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES James P. Durning, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2'7, 1936, Serial No. 98,188

25 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines, and more particularly to feeding devices for cigar bunch machines wherein tobacco is fed into mechanism which delivers it into bunch forming machines.

While this device is adapted to feed any kind of tobacco, it finds particular adaptability in the feed of so-called scrap tobacco or short filler tobacco which contains varying proportions of long and short leaves. In feeding this type of tobacco to a bunch forming machine it has, always been a problem to prevent the separation of short leaves from the long; otherwise cigars of varying uniformity will be produced.

It is therefore the chief object of this invention to provide a machine which will feed tobacco of any type to a bunch forming machine and during such feed substantially prevent the separation of leaves because of differences in size.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanism for feeding scrap tobacco in a stream into a bunch forming machine in which the long and short portions constituting the material fed do not separate but maintain a uniform distribution as the scrap is fed to said machine.

In order to accomplish this object there has been provided a hopper containing a supply of tobacco, and means for vibrating said hopper to cause tobacco to flow in a uniform stream from the hopper into a device which routes the tobacco being fed into the bunch machine. By reason of this construction a feed having great compactness, and simplicity is furnished. Because of the arrangement of parts it can be placed low on the machine and be easily accessible for refilling with a minimum of efiort on the part of the operator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tobacco feeding device having a hopper and an electric vibratory device connected thereto whereby the hopper may be vibrated to feed tobacco to a bunch machine whenever the latter requires additional tobacco.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanism controlled by the charge measuring mechanism of the bunch machine for activating a vibratory device for feeding tobacco from a hopper connected thereto whenever tobacco is needed for the operation of the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to furnish a tobacco feeding surface over which distributed tobacco may be fed into a bunch machine by means of a vibrating mechanism attached to said surface.

Another object is to provide a system whereby I the amplitude of vibration during the feeding of tobacco to vary the amount fed, hence it is an additional object to provide mechanism, either mechanical or electrical for performing that function.

It may also be desired to maintain a substantially constant quantity of tobacco in the compression chamber of the bunch machine at all times during its operation in order that cigars of greater uniformity may be produced. Hence, it is a further object of the invention to provide mechanism for accomplishing that purpose.

With these andother objects not specifically stated in view, the invention consists of the combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which show the improved filler feed as applied to a modern scrap bunch cigar machine, such for instance, as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,915,525 to F. C. Gladeck and J. P. Durning, June 2'7, 1933,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved filler feed mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top View from line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial side. elevation showing a modification of the feed delivery;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing another modification of the feed delivery and also a vibratory arrangement of the hopper outlet screen;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the hopper outlet screen showing an arrangement for magnetizing the screen rods for the purpose of picking up nails and other iron objects accidentally present in the tobacco;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail side view of an adjustable vibrator unit;

Fig. 10 is a partial side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing means for controlling the vibrating mechanism of the hopper; and

Fig. 11 is an end View partly in section of a modified drive for operating the screen of Figures and 6.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bed plate 6 of the cigar machine, which is carried by end frames 1, supports stands 9, and a plate l0 whereon is mounted a vibrating device, which may be of a mechanical or electric type. In the structure illustrated this device comprises an electric vibrator I of known construction, which,

however may be of the type shown in U. S. Patent to Flint 1,846,326, issued February 23,1932. To the armature of this vibrator is mounted a hopper la preferably formed as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and provided with an elongated feeding surface over which tobacco is fed in a uniform stream to the bunch making machine. It is to m noted that hopper |2 may be rigidly connected to the vibrator by means of a bracket I3, and resiliently supported, as by a leaf spring l4, secured thereto by a bracket 5. The mountings of hopper 2 may be interchanged, if desired, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case vibrator II is afiixed to the discharge end of the hopper. Hopper I2 is also preferably equipped with screening rods I 6 which limit the-flow of tobacco T to the proper amount.

Due to the action of the vibrator, which is provided with a coil (1 and an armature Nb, and its effect upon materials fed from hopper I2, it is not necessary to mount said hopper so that its feeding surface is limited to a horizontal plane only, The feeding action of the dew'ce imparts a series of uniform hopping movements to the material while thevibrating surface maintains a uniform oblique rectilinear movement in the particular plane in which it is mounted. However, for best results, it has been found that the vibrator should be mounted at an angle, preferably an acute angle, to the plane of the feeding surface; see Figs. 1 and 5. By means of this mechanism a positive forward feed of tobacco is effected even if the surface over which the tobacco moves is tiltedsomewhat below or above the horizontal. It will be seen that the vibratory action of the hopper tends to move the mass of tobacco confined therein up against the rakes 6 so that when the hopper is vibrated the tobacco moves beneath therakes and along the elongated portion of the hopper for discharge to the charge compression chamber, In the modification shown in Figure 6 in which rakes l6 are mounted for transverse movement back and forth across the hopper, it will be seen that when this action takes place the rakes in moving across the face of the tobacco confined thereby will separate tobacco from the face of the mass which is released by this action and joins the stream of tobacco flowing to the chute 1. In this manner the entire face of the tobacco bearing against the rakes will be subjected to a separating action or effect which results in greater uniformity of feeding with a minimum of separation of long from short particles and vice versa.

When the vibrator is operating, the tobacco from the hopper is discharged into a stationary chute l1 which delivers it into a second chute l8 closed by a, pivoted chute |9 which is held against the bottom of chute 18 by means of a weight 25. The tobacco charge in chute I8 is controlled by the quantity of tobacco already present in the horizontal compression chamber .75

2| of the machine in that no tobacco is fed into the delivery chute until the quantity of tobacco in said chamber reaches a point where trip mechanism hereinafter described functions to set the vibratory feed into motion again. The tobacco fed to chute I8 is delivered to the said chamber at the proper moment by the action of a cam lever 22 fulcrumed on a shaft 23 and provided with a roller 24 tracking a cam 25 on cam-shaft 26. The lever 22 is connected by a rod 21 to an arm 28 fast on a shaft 29 to which is pinned the cover plate 30 of chamber 2|, the shaft 29 being supported by the side walls 3| of the said chamber, Fig. 3.

To the arm 28 is pivoted a slotted lever 32 which engages a pin in an arm 33 swingably supported in a bearing 34 and held against a stop 35 by a spring 36. From the forward end of chute |9 a pin 31 extends laterally into the path of the end of arm 33. When roller 24 is moved by cam 25 into its outmost position 24', rod 21 raises the arm 28 into position 28', thereby opening the cover 30 of chamber 2| and at the same time by means of lever 32 turns arm 33 into the dotted position 33', causing the same to engage pin 31 and thereby to depress chute H] which deposits its tobacco charge into the then open chamber 2|. Upon the return of rod 21, spring 36 pulls arm 33 back into its starting position against stop 35, thus permitting weight 20 to restore chute |9 to its closing position by rotation on the shaft 38, which is supported by bearings 3|] on the side walls 3|.

After the cover 35 has then again been closed by the downward movement of rod 21, the chargeforwarding plunger 40 which is tensioned, to produce the desired tobacco density in chamber 2|, by a spring 4| adjustable by a socket 42 slidable by means of a screw 43 on a rod 44 in a block 45, is advanced by a lever 46 controlled, through links 41 and 48 and an arm 49 mounted on a stud 59 in bed plate 6 to produce parallel motion, by a two-arm cam lever 5| having a roller 52 in engagement with a track of cam 25. The rod 53 of plunger 49 at its end has a laterally projecting bracket 54 carrying a screw 55 parallel to plunger rod 53, the screw 55 being engageable with an arm 56 fast on a stud 51 carried in a bearing of stand 8.

When the screw 55 engages the arm 56 as the cam roller 52 moves towards its outer position 52, the stud 57 turns an arm 58 thereby raising a link 59 which rocks a lever 60 swinging a stud 6| in a bracket 62 on bed plate 6. To the stud 6| is fastened an arm 63 provided with a nose upon which rests a lever 64 carrying a roller 65. Lever 64 is fast on a stud 66 mounted in a bracket 61, the latter stud carrying a contact arm 68 engageable with a stationary contact 69 on bracket 67. Thus, as soon a the plunger 46 has advanced to the point at which screw 55 engages arm 56, the arm 63 is tripped by the link 59, permitting the lever 64 to drop, thereby closing the contact 68, 69 and energizing the electric vibrator through the wires 10, 1| and 12.

The hopper |2 will then discharge tobacco into the chute until a cam piece 13 attached to the circumference of cam 25 engages the roller 65, thereby raising the lever 64 into engagement with arm 63 and thus breaking the contact 68, 69. In case there is a suflicient quantity of tobacco left over in chamber 2| to completely fill the measuring chamber 70 before the plunger 40 has advanced to the point of engagement between screw 55 and arm 56, the remainder of the motion of lever 46 is absorbed by the spring 4|, and the lever 64 will remain in engaged position, thus no additional tobacco will be fed during that cycle of the machine.

At the end of each cycle, a cam piece I5, somewhat lower than cam piece I3, is in registration with roller 65 thereby preventing contact of arm 68 during the stoppage of the machine in case the lever 64 i accidentally tripped while the machine is not operating. 7

When the chamber I4, which is pivoted to an arm I6, has been fillled, the descent of a vertical shaft 11 supported in a frame 16 and operated by a cam I9 on shaft 26 causes the knife 86 to cut the charge, whereupon the further descent of arm I6 causes the chamber I4 to swing on a stop pin 8| and to be depressed onto the rolling table 82. There, the charge is delivered onto a rolling apron by the depression of a plunger 83 in chamber I4, which at that time is vertically positioned, whereupon rolling pin 84 carried by a cam-operated arm 85 rolls the tobaccocharge into a binder, thus forming a cigar bunch. Since the action of the vibrating hopper produces a uniform delivery of the scrap mixture T,

and since the tobacco density is continuously regulated by the automatic action of plunger 46, all bunches delivered by the rolling pin 84 are of uniform, homogeneous quality.

In Fig. 4, a modification of the feed delivery is shown. The vibrating hopper I2 discharges into a swinging chamber 86 carried by an arm 81 mounted on a shaft 88 oscillated by a crank 89 operated through a rod 96 from cam lever 22. In its delivery position 86' shown in dotted lines, the chamber 66 takes the place of chamber 2| in Fig. 1, the plunger 46 entering the sam to eject the charge directly into the measuring chamber I4. In order to control the operation of the vibrator I I when used in conjunction with chamber 86, cam I will be of such a length that when arm 56 is engaged by plunger 43 and lever 64 is freed from engagement with latch 63, contacts 68 and 69 will be held open until chamber 86 has been moved from the dotted line to the full line position of Fig. 4, whereupon cam follower 65 runs off cam I5, and the hopper I2 is set into vibration until cam follower 65 engages cam I3, and lever 64 is lifted into latching engagement with latch 63. In its receiving position, the bottom of chamber 86 is closed by a cover 9| hinged to its top wall and held in closed position by a spring 92 pressing against a plunger 93 in a chamber of arm 81, the lower face of the said plunger being connected to an arm 94 extending from cover ill, by a link 95. On descending by the action of rod 96, the arm 94 engages with an edge of ledger bar 96 of knife 86, thereby opening the cover 9I into position 9I' in alignment with the top wall of chamber 86.

The upper face of plunger 93 is connected by a slotted link 91 with a swingable wall 98 mounted within chamber 86, the spring 92 holding the wall 98 in its open position shown in full lines when the arm 94 is free. But when the arm 94 is pushed back by its engagement with bar 96, the link 91 turns the wall 98 into the dotted position 98 in alignment with the top wall of chamber 86, thus forming a continuous rectangular chamber 86 for the travel of plunger 96.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the

on a stud l66a in a U-shaped frame I66, suitably mounted on plate 6, one end of bar 99 being joined to a connecting rod I6I to which reciprocating motion is imparted through a bell crank lever I62 and link I63 by an eccentric I64, thereby rocking the bar 99 and rods I6 to and from the dotted position shown in Fig. 6. This action of the rods, tends to level off the tobacco being fed and effects a more uniform feed by their limiting and spring action because the vibratory movement of the hopper tends to move the tobacco in the hopper against the rods, which thereby govern the flow of the tobacco mass in the hopper and allow it to be released and pass into the stream of tobacco moving over the feeding surface portion of the hopper. The eccentric I64 is rotated by a sprocket I65 driven by a chain I66 from a, sprocket I61 on shaft 23 which has a sprocket I68 driven by a chain I69 from a sprocket II6 on cam shaft 26. If it is desired to rock the bar 99 continuously while the tobacco-feed is in operation, the sprocket I I6 is 'fixed- 1y mounted on shaft 26, as shown, but if it is desired to agitate the rods I6 nly during the actual feeding period of the hopper, that is, while the vibrator is in action, then the sprocket II6 can be connected to shaft 26 through a suitable clutch I59, which may be of the type shown in Fig. 11. According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 11, sprocket II6 will be loosely mounted on shaft 26. Whenever switch members 68, 69 are closed, by means of contacts I 6| engaging rings I62 on the driven portion of the clutch I69 keyed to shaft 26, magnets I66 will be energized to cause the drive to be transferred to the shaft 26 for the duration of the vibratory period of the vibrator. If desired, any other suitable type of clutch can be used, such for instance, as a mechanical clutch.

The tobacco T in Fig. 5 is discharged into a chute III suspended by side arms I I2 from a horizontal shaft II3 supported by brackets IIA attached to frame I8. Within the chute III is mounted, on a shaft H6, a trap plate II6 held by a torsion spring II'I against the rear wall of the chute. To one end of shaft H5 is afiixed a lever II8 adapted to engage with a stop screw II9 supported by a bracket I26 attached to one of the side walls of compression chamber 2 I. The chute III is swung back and forth in synchronism with the cover 36 of chamber 2! by a lever I2I on shaft 29, the latter shaft having an arm I22 connected by a link I23 with a lug I24 on the rear wall of chute III. When the cover 36 is open for the reception of a tobacco charge, the chute is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, in which position the lever H3 rests against stop II9, thereby opening th trap II 6 so that the tobacco charge T will drop into the space between the rear wall of chute III and the open cover 36. When, however, the cover closes by the downward pull of rod 21 due to the action of cam lever 22, the chute II I is swung by screen rods I6 are mounted in a bar 99 pivoted arm I22 into the dotted position III in which the trap H6 is closed by the spring III, the charge T having dropped into chamber 2| as soon as the chute cleared the cover 36 at the commencement of the closing motion.

The hopper outlet screens as shown in either Figs. 1 and 2 or 5 and 6, may be made use of to pick up nails, small pieces of iron and other magnetic objects which have found their way into the tobacco in curing or during transportation or subsequent handling. For this purpose, each of the rods I6 is provided with a solenoid coil I 25 fed by wires I26 from a lighting or power circuit, these coils being connected in series 01" in series-parallel and so arranged as to magnetize the rods I6 alternately to opposite polarities." In the apparatus disclosed in Figs. and 6, coils I25 are secured in place against the bar 99 which preferably is made of iron to provide a good magnetic system by collars I27 of brass or other non-magnetic material, and are protected from contact with the more or less moist tobacco by a guard plate I28 of non-magnetic material held on the rods I6 by the coils. The opposite polarities of adjacent rods set up magnetic fields NS between their free ends, so that nails and other magnetizable objects present in the tobacco T will be attracted to the nearest rod and will be held thereon by magnetic attraction until removed by the operator.

In order to adjust the machine for feeding different quantities of tobacco and also prevent short particles from separating from the advancing stream, means are provided for-adjusting the vibrations of the vibrator. The tobacco in the hopper is placed therein with the long and short particles mixed together. If the hopper is vibrated excessively, there will be a tendency of the smaller particles or short portions to work down to the bottom of the hopper and move out beneath the long particles which are positioned above them and are held back by the rods I6. Therefore, by inspecting the stream of tobacco flowing from the hopper during its feeding operation and adjusting the hoppers vibration to a point where the distribution of particles is substantially that required, the separation of the short from the long pieces can be held to a minimum, and the uniformity of flow of tobacco to the bunch rolling machine will be more satisfactory. In Fig. 9 there is shown one form of adjusting mechanism for a vibrator unit having an armature I32 of laminated construction, a core I38 of similar material and construction, and coils I3'I. The last two elements are afiixed to a bracket I33 which is adjustably mounted upon a shaft I34. When a change in amount of material to be fed is required, bracket I33 i shifted on shaft I34 with the result that the lines of force are lengthened and the strength of the field is diminished accordingly thereby resulting in a change in stroke of the vibrator. If the vibrations are to be varied electrically, electrical-control means, such as rheostat I29 (Fig. 1) can beplaced in the control circuit.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the in- 5 ward movement of the charge-forwarding plunger 40 brings the screw 55 into engagementwith an arm, I40 mounted on a stud I4I, the stud I4I turning an arm I42 thereby raising a link I43 which actuates arm I44 integral with the adjustable magnet I45. lhe magnet I45 is mounted on a stud I46 supported in a lug extending from the plate It. In the above described manner the magnet I45 is swung into registration with a movable armature I41, which constitutes the electric vibrator I45I4'I.

When the vibrator I 45I4I is operating, the tobacco from the hopper is discharged into chute I! which delivers the same into a second chute I8, which as previously described, directs the tobacco into a horizontalcompression chamber 2I. After the cover 30 of chamber 2| has closed, the charge-forwarding plunger 40 advances to the point at which screw 55 engages arm I40, which through'its linkage swings the magnet I 45 into a position predetermined by arm '40 in part or full registration with the movable armature I41. In this position the magnetic field passes either partly or entirely through the movable armature I41 and a varying or maximum vibrating motion of the unit is attained. The flow of current from line wires I49--I50 energizing the vibrator I45-I41 thereby imparts motion to hopper I2 which will continue feeding tobacco until a cam piece I58, attached to the periphery of a cam I48, encounters a roller I51 carried by an arm I56 secured to a stud MI. The tripping of arm I 56, which occurs at the completion of each cycle of the machine, turns stud I4I, whereby through the linkage, swings magnet I 45 to its out position away from movable armature I41, thereby stopping the vibrating motion of hopper I2 and discontinuing the feeding of tobacco to chute I9. When the magnet I45 is in its nonvibrating or out position, as shown in Fig. 10, the magnet registers with the stationary armature I 47a, attached to a bracket I4'Ib carried by plate I0, and therefore the magnetic field passes entirely through the said stationary armature whereby no vibration will be imparted to the hopper I2.

By means of the arrangement above described, it is possible to control the quantity of tobacco fed to the compression chamber to such an extent that a substantially uniform amount is always present therein. This is a most desirable factor in the manufacture of cigars inasmuch as it tends to insure that the mass of tobacco confined in the chamber is approximately non-varying in quantity, and therefore the cigars produced will vary little in uniformity.

Assuming that there is a certain predetermined quantity of tobacco in the chamber 2| and that plunger is moving to feed tobacco into the measuring chamber I4, screw 55 will set the vibratory feed control member I40 so that the required amount will be fed to keep the quantity inthe chamber constant. Thus on each movement of the plunger the magnet I is positioned to cause suflicient vibration of hopper I2 to insure that the chamber 2I contains its predetermined constant amount of tobacco.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the structural details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for feeding tobacco into a cigar bunch making machine, the combination with a hopper having a substantially horizontal rigid bottom adapted to contain a supply of tobacco, of supports for said hopper, oscillatable rake means mounted directly above said bottom for holding and retarding movement of said supply of tobacco from said hopper, a vibrator connected to said hopper, and adapted to impart rapid pulsations to said hopper and the supply of tobacco contained therein for feeding tobacco therefrom into said machine, control mechanism for activating said vibrator and moving said rake means whenever tobacco is needed in said machine, and independently operated means for moving said rake means to and fro transversely of the direction of movement of tobacco from said hopper while said vibrator is operating.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with a hopper for holding a supply of filler tobacco, and provided with a rigid bottom surface over which said tobacco is fed, of" a row of spaced movable elements directly over said bottom surface for retarding movement of said tobacco from said hopper and limiting the removal there from, means for moving said elements over said surface, members supporting said hopper for vibratory movement of the entirehopper, a vibrator secured to said hopper, and means for intermittently setting said vibrator and elements in motion tofeed tobacco in a stream over said rigid bottom surface from said hopper for discharge into said machin'ei,said elements moving to and fro in p aths'transverselyof the path of movement of the hopperbottom'surface.

3. In a cigarbunchmaking machine, mechanism for feeding tobacco comprising a source of supply of short filler tobacco provided with a tobacco receiving andfeedingtable, a device for simultaneously vibrating said source of supply and said table in unison, means above said table movable to and fro independently of the table to retard movement of tobacco fromsaid'su'pply, means for intermittently operating said'vibiatory device to feed tobacco from said sourcealong said table intermittently into a bunch making machine, said operating means including a member for incapacitating said device when sufficient tobacco has been fed to said machine, and means for rehabilitating said device to cause the feed of additional 'tobacco..

4. In a cigar bunchmaking machinathe combination with a source of supply of tobacco provided witha tobacco, receiving and feeding table,

a device for vibratiiig'saidsupply'and table,-

means for intermittently operatingsaid device to feed tobacco on said table intermittently into a bunch making machine, said mean's'jcomp'rising a trip adapted to' be moved when tobaccdis 'to be fed into said machine, 'a limitswitch, means for closing said switch upon forward movement of said trip to institute the feedbf'said'ftob'acco, and cam means for opening saidswitch andstopping the vibration ofsaid device whereby the feed of, tobacco over said table ceases.

5. Ina cigar machine, a chambenla member movable within said chamberfto compress tobacco therein, a hopper containing a supply of tobacco,'means for feeding. tobacco from said hopper into said chamber, said means comprising a vibrator connectedto' said hopper for vibrating said hopper and entire supply'of tobacco, and means for preventing movement ofsaid vibratorand said hopper when suificient tobacco has been fed into said' chamber. v

6. A cigar bunch making machine, comprising a compression chamber, a member movable within said chamber for compressing tobacco therein, means for feeding tobacco into said chamber, said means including a hopper adapted to contain a diminishable bulk supply of tobacco sufficient to form a plurality of cigars, mechanism for vibrating said hopper'and the entire supply of tobacco to feed tobacco into said chamber, means for varying the vibrations of said mechanism for controlling the amount of tobacco fed into said chamber, and means-for preventing movement of said vibrator and said hopper when sufficient tobacco has been fed into said chamber, V

7. In a cigar. bunchmachine, the combination with a source of supply of tobaccocomprisingan openhopper, constructed and arranged to hold a. bulk supply. of tobacco sufficient to form a large number ofcigar bunches, said hopper being feed tobacco in a uniform stream into said chute,

a control for said device, means on said member -coacting. with said control when the tobacco in ;said chamber reaches a predetermined minimum "to set said devicein operation, means for closing said gate. andopening said gate to admittobacco to said chamber from said chute, and means for stopping the vibration of said hopper.

8.. Means for feeding tobacco into a cigar bunch forming machine, comprising a chamber, a chute discharging into said chambena plunger operable in said chamber, an" elongated feeding surface, means for intermittentlyfeedin'g tobacco oversaid surface into said chute, said means comprising an electric vibrating member affixed to. said surface, and meanscooperatinp with said plunger and carried thereby for intermittently setting said vibrating member into operation.

9. In a cigar bunch making machine, mechanismafor feeding tobacco comprising a hopper adapted to containa diminishable bulk supply of tobacco suflicient to form alarge number of cigar bunches, said hopperbeing provided with a rigid bottom surface over which said tobacco is fed into said bunch machine, a vibrator for vibratingsaid hopper with substantially rectilinear pulsations to cause tobacco to be. fed directly: from said supply-along said-surface into said machine in a stream, movable means positioned directly above and depending towards said surface and extending transversely thereof for retarding movement of said supply over said surface and thereby limiting the quantity'of tobacco available: for feeding, meansfor operating said v'ibrator to vibrate said hopper, and: mechanism f'orimparting independent to and fro movement to said movable means in a direction transverse tothe direction of movement of said rigid bottom surface during the operation of said last-named means.

' 10. In a cigar bunch machine tobacco feeding mechanism, a hopper containing a diminishable bulk supply of tobacco, and provided with a surface-over which said tobacco is fed into a bunch machine, an electric vibrator for vibrating said hopper with substantially rectilinear pulsations to cause tobacco on said surface to be fed into said machine in a: substantially thin uniform stream, and axially aligned means-positioned adjacent saidsurface against which said tobacco ismoved by said pulsations for limiting the quantity of tobacco available for feeding, and for removing foreign objects of a magnetizable nature'from said tobacco stream.

11. Ina cigar bunch machine tobacco feeding mechanism; a hopper adapted to contain a supply of tobacco, and provided with a rigid tobacco feeding and supporting surface over which said tobacco is fed to a bunch machine, a vibrator for vibrating said hopper to cause tobacco on said surface to be fed into said machine in a uniform stream, means located adjacent said surface for limiting the quantity of tobacco fed from said supply in said hopper ontosaid surface, said means comprising a plurality of depending fingers mounted directly over said rigid surface in a spaced row and retarding the movement of said supply of tobacco from said hopper, means for operating said vibrator, and means for imparting independent oscillating movement to said fingers in a substantially vertical plane back and forth above said rigid surface in adirection transverse to the vibratory movement of said surface. Y v. l

12. In a cigar bunchimachine tobacco feeding .mechanism, a hopper adapted to contain a diminishable supply of tobacco 'sufficient to form a plurality of bunches, and provided with a surface over which said tobacco is fed to a bunch machine, a vibratorrforlvibrating saidhopper and supply of tobacco: with substantiallyrectilinear pulsations to cause tobacco onsaid'surface to be fed into said machine ina uniform stream, and depending fingers against which the supply of tobacco in said hopper is moved by saidpulsations located adjacent said surface for, retarding the movement of said supply of tobacco from said hopper and limiting the quantity of tobacco fed onto saidsurface, means foroscillating said fingers transversely of the direction of movement of said surface acrossthe front portion ofthe tobacco held, back thereby insaid hopper transversely of the direction of movement of said vtobacco from said hopper, and means for removing foreign materials'of a magnetizable nature therefrom, said means comprising a pluralityof axially aligned .magnets secured to said fingers and constructed and arranged to magnetize said fingers.

l3. In a tobacco feeding mechanisnna hopper containing a bulk supply of tobacco suificient to form a plurality of cigar bunches without addition thereto, and provided witha rigid surface over which said tobacco is fedto a bunch machine, a vibrator for vibrating said hopper to cause tobacco on said surface to, be fed into said, machine in an approximately horizontal stream, a stationary supporting member positioned adjacent said hopper, a pivoted element mountedon said, member, a plurality of separated rods dependingefrom said element directly above said surface and obstructing the free flow of saidrbulk supplylof tobacco from said hopper, andmeans for.rocking said element to and fro independent ofthe vibratory movement of said hopper in a direction, transversely of the direction of movement of said, rigid surface to limit the quantity of tobacco available for feeding over said surface tosaid machine 14. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a hopper containing a supply of tobacco, and provided with a surface over which said tobacco is fed to, a bunch machine, a vibrator for vibrating said hopper to cause tobacco on said surfaceto be fed into said machine in a stream, a stationary supporting member positioned adjacent said hopper, a pivoted element mounted on said member,

a plurality of separated rods depending from said element, means for rocking said element, across the face of said supply of; tobacco'to ,limitthe quantity of tobacco available for feedingover said surface to said machine, magnetizing elements mounted on each of said rods for magnetizing, the same, whereby foreign materials, of a magnetizable nature may be removed from said tobacco stream. w H .3 .15. A cigar bunchmaking machine comprising a chamber provided with a feeding opening and a cover, a feed chute located'over saidopening, and adapted to convey tobacco into-said chamber when said cover is removed from the opening, a member movable within said chamber to compress tobacco confined therein, a hopper containing tobacco located adjacent said chute, anselectric vibrator secured to said hopper, means for moving said cover to open and closed positions, and means carried bysaid member for operating said vibrator to feed tobacco from said hopper whenever the supply in said chamber needs replenishing. I v

16. In a cigar machine, a'chainber, a member reciprocable therein for ,compressing tobacco,v a ate *on said "chamber; means for opening and closing saidgate,a chute positioned abovesaid gate and adapted to discharge tobacco into said chamber, said chute comprising a pivoted 'wall and a trap plate, means for moving said wall mechanism for operating said device when tobacc isto be fed, and means for stopping the operation of said device. T

17. In tobacco handling mechanism for a cigar machine, a pivoted measuring chamber, a retractable, reciprocable member adapted tov reciprocate within said chamber when in a discharge position, a transfer element into which a measured charge of tobacco is ejected byf'said member,'means for, feeding tobacco into said chamber, said means comprising a hopper mounted for substantially rectilinear feeding motionyb, vibrator device securedjtofsaid hopper, and means" for activating said vibrator to feed tobacco from" said hopper into said chamber whenever the'supply therein reaches a predeterminedminimum; 1 Y T l. 18. In a shortfiller cigar bunch making machine, the combination with a tobacco receiving chamber, of a member reciprocable therein to compress tobacco in said chamber, a vibrating feedingdevice including a feeding surface for feeding tobacco ina substantially uniform stream over'said surface to said chamber, connections between said member and device controlled by movement of said'member for maintaining a predetermined quantity of substantially uniformly distributed long and short filler tobacco in said chamber, said connections comprising trip mechanism, and means on said member for setting said trip for feeding to said chamber sufficient tobacco to maintain said quantity therein. 7 T

19. A feed device for a scrap bunch cigar making machine, comprising a tobacco receiving chamber, a vibrating device for feeding tobacco to said chamber, means for tamping tobacco in said chamber, means'for controlling said vibrating device to institute the feed of tobacco in a substantially uniform stream to said chamber whereby a predetermined quantity of tobacco is maintained in said chamber, said means comprising a'trip, and connections between said acoasso structed and arranged'to retard movement of tobacco from said hopper, means for intermittently vibrating said hopper to advance said tobacco supply against said fingers, and means for rocking said fingers transversely back and forth across the path of movement of said tobacco While said hopper is vibrating to effect thereby a substantial separation from the face of the tobacco confined thereby of the pieces of tobacco being fed through said fingers to said device.

21. In a cigar machine, the combination with a tobacco receiving chamber and means operable in said chamber to compress tobacco located therein to a predetermined density, of means for feeding tobacco to said chamber, including a hopper constructed and arranged to hold a bulk supply of tobacco, means for imparting rapid vibratory movement to said hopper to feed a stream of tobacco from said hopper, a plurality of substantially vertical fingers for holding back said tobacco in said hopper located above and arranged to move transversely of the path of movement of tobacco from said hopper, and means for moving said fingers to and fro across the stream during the movement of said hopper to separate tobacco from the face of the bull: supply held back by said fingers.

22. In a cigar machine, the combination with a source of supply of tobacco comprising an open hopper constructed and arranged to hold a diminishable bulk supply of tobacco, said hopper having a substantially horizontal feeding surface with a discharge outlet, and a bunch forming device, of a compression chamber, mechanism for vibrating said hopper to feed a stream of tobacco from said supply along said surface to said chamber, devices located at said outlet and substantially at right angles to said surface for cooperation with said feeding means for limiting the quantity of tobacco fed to said chamber, means for moving said devices to and fro at right angles to the path of movement of said stream, and control means for setting said mechanism and devices in operation when the tobacco in said chamber is decreased below a predetermined quantity.

23. In a cigar machine, the combination with a hopper provided with a substantially horizontal bottom tobacco supporting surface and a discharge opening adapted to contain a supply of tobacco, of a plurality of spaced substantially vertical movable members positioned across said hopper above said surface, means for vibrating said hopper with its entire supply of tobacco to feed said tobacco against said members, and independently operated means operative during the vibration of said hopper for moving said members back and forth above said surface in a direction transversely of the path of movement of said surface to separate tobacco from the face of the tobacco bearing against said members for delivcry from said hopper.

24. In a tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine, a source of supply of tobacco comprising an open hopper constructed and arranged to hold a quantity of tobacco sufiicient to form a large number of cigars, said hopper having side and back Walls and a substantially horizontal receiving and feeding surface positioned to receive tobacco from said source, and feed it to a point of discharge, means for supporting said hopper for substantially rectilinear feeding movement along said surface, a rake bar provided with a plurality of depending fingers located above and extending transversely across said hopper surface and tending to confine said quantity of tobacco therein, a vibrating device arranged to vibrate said hopper and entire supply of tobacco contained therein, means for setting said device into rapid vibration so that tobacco is fed from said supply against said fingers for movement therepast along said surface in a stream to said point, means for moving said fingers transversely of the path of movement while said hopper is vibrating, and means for stopping the vibration of said hopper and movement of said fingers when a desired amount of tobacco has been fed from said hopper.

25. In a tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine, a hopper containing a diminishable bulk supply of tobacco sufficient to form a plurality of cigars, a charge forming mechanism including a reciprocable compressing member, said hopper having an elongated bottom surface, a rake device provided with a plurality of spaced depending fingers located above said surface and transversely thereof for separating said hopper into a first part arranged to hold said entire bulk supply, and a second part constructed and arranged to feed a stream of tobacco from said supply to a point of discharge, means for supporting said hopper for feeding movement, a vibrating device connected to said hopper, means for moving said rake device transversely of said hopper and. transversely of the direction of movement of tobacco therefrom, means for intermittently operating said device to vibrate said hopper and said entire supply of tobacco contained therein rapidly at such a frequency that tobacco held back by said rake fingers on said first part of said surface moves past said moving rake fingers along said second part of said surface in a stream to said discharge point, and means under control of said compressing member for controlling the vibration of said hopper and movement of said rake device.

JAMES P. DURNING.

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