US1864765A - Leaf stemming machine - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1932 R. E. RUNDELL'ETAL 1,864,765 BEST VILBLE SQP? LEAF STEMMING MACHINE yFild Feb. 18, 1931 Sheets-sheet 1 f3 j] *of 00010160 vZ2 J5 I- f4 ff I; ASV

June 28, 1932. R. E. RUNDELL- E'r AL LEAF STEMMING MACHINE Filed Feb, 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-Gf] INVENTO June 28, 1932. R. E. RUNDELL. ET AL LEAF s TEMMIN'G MACHINE Filed Feb.- 18. 1931 NVENTOR Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrglcE RUPERT E. HUNDE-LL, OF ROCKVILLE CENTER, AND GUSTAF E. HAGQUIST, OF BROOK- LYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAB MACHINERY COMPANY,

A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY :im STEMMING naomi:

Application mea February 1s, 1931. straal No. 516,789.-

There are machines in use in the cigar 10 making industry that cut out the stems and book expensive cigar wrapper tobacco, but in their use the leaves must e spread out and kept spread out by hand during the stemming operation. Their output is restricted .15 by this necessity, too restricted to be economical in stemming the much cheaper filler tobacco. They webs apart as 1n manual stemming. I

There are also machines in use 1n the cigarette making industry that scrape or mill the webs of leaves off their stems, and they operate much faster than the cigar wrapper stemming and booking machines, but in their use the webs of the leaves unavoidably become crumpled during the stemming operation. They do not tear the Stems'and webs apart as in manual stemming. The crumpling of the leaf webs is not detrimental in cigarette manufacture, for the reason that they are cut into shreds after stemming. But cigar fillers are not shredded, and to iirst stem and then de-crumple leaf webs stemmed in such machines would cost as much if not more than hand stemming.

In manually stemming tobacco, the operator seizes the stem at a point near its tip with one hand, breaks it of at that point, seizes the web with the other hand, and then separates the hands in divergent directions to rapidly tear the stem and and web apart toward the butt of the leaf, as a person might tear a piece of paper into two pieces. This tearing action is unlike the cutting, scraping or milling action of any machine heretofore known, and it must be effected in a direction toward the butt of the leaf, for the reason that in tearing the stems and webs apart in this way the branch ribs or veins are readily torn from the midrib or stem with the web, While in tearing the web from the stem do notte'ar the stems and in the opposite direction the tearing web will 'follow the angularly disposed branch ribs without-breaking them ofi` the stem, and thus eifectually block the stemming operation.

A maj or object of the invention is the ro duction of a machine which is capable o automatically spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, and then automatically tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts, in simulation of manual stemming, but much more rapidly, to avoid or overcome the mechanical and economic difficulties heretofore encountered in preparing tobacco for cigar fillers. Another major object of the invention is the production of such a machine in which the leaves to be stemmed are passed through a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, to cause outgoing air to spread them out. Still another major object of the invention is the production of such a machine in which outspread leaves are passed through stemming devices including stem holding means `and web holding means traveling in divergent directions, to effect the separation of the stems and webs. With these major objects, and certainr minor objects not specifically mentioned, in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations whichv willV be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In lthe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Fig. l is a front elevation partly broken away of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the machine shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan View on the line 3---3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail view in front elevation, partly in section, of the suction web-holding roll shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail view in front elevation of the stem holding means shown in Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a sectional View on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the stem holding means illus- .trated in Figs. 1 and 6 showing the operation thereof; Fig. 10 is a detail view in front elevation illustrating the operation of the knives shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a sectional side elevation of a modified web holding and stem holding mechanism for carrying out the invention; Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views in front elevation illustrating the operation of the devices shown in Fig. 11; Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are detail views showin the operation of the mechanisms illustrate in Fig. 11.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts to thereby remove the stems in a manner similar to hand stemming. Iny the best constructions said mechanism includes a suctionchamber having air exhausting connections and means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out. The best constructions also 1nclude means for transporting the Ithe out- .'spread leaves.y from the suction chamber alsl to the stemming devices. Preferably the stemming devices include stem holding means, web holding lmeans, `and means for causin said stemholding means and said web holding means totravel in divergent directions. Preferably saiddevices includey gang grippers for holding thestem-s of the leaves despite variationsl in the lateral position at which the stems are received bly the devices. The best constructions furt e r include a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism.

The' various means referred to maybevaried widely in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustratethe invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theleaves L to be stemmed are hung on spring clips 11 on a leaf transport conveyer l2 running over sprockets 13. Each transport clip when arriving at the stemming station, engages with a stationary inclined cam surface 14 which opens the clip after the stem S has been gripped by a leaf support having a clamp 15 fastened to an arm 16 carried by a vertical rod 17 slidable in bearings 18.

An arm 19 guided by the stationary verti.

cal rod 2() moves the rod 17 up and down by means of a cam operated rod 2l. When in its lowermost position, the clamp 15 enages with a stationary vertical cam 22 held y an arm 23 extending from bearing 18, thereby opening the clamp and releasing the leaf as it passes into the leaf spreading and stemming mechanism.

As the leaf is lowered on rod 17, it is guided cleans the leaves.

by the flaring lips 24 into the mouth of a narrow chamber 25, constructed in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the leaf is supported at either sidehof which are air exhausting connecting pipes 26 to a suction fan or similar air exhausting means, the two halves of chamber 25 having between them grooved strips 27 resiliently supported by parts 27a, 27?), 270 and spaced from the edges of the chamber to admit air along the central portion of the leaf. The shallow or constricted shape of the chamber perpendicular to the plane along which the leaf is passed gives the air passin from the center to the outside ofthe cham er increased force and velocity along the web and toward the edge of the leaf, thus forcibly un'cuiling and spreading out the webvand edges of the leaf and at the samel time subjecting the moving and waving web to a powerful cleaning action. Belts 28 running inner runs of belts 28 running in the of the strips 27. As theleaves pass t rou h the chamber 25, they `are spread out` flat by the suction which acts in the direction of the arrows. Emanating frombetween the rollover rollers 29,and V 30 carry the leaf L through chamber 25, the l ooves ,l

ers 30 the leaves are guided by belts31 run- ,l

ning over rollers 30 and 32. As shown in Fig; 1 the outlet edesof the chamber are cut to a broad inverte V contour in order to ive the air sucked at this position a lateral eaf spreading component instead of too much of a vertical movement which might `permit wrinkling of the leaf transversely.y i

The suction chamber and means for passingl the leaves throu leaves have grit field dirt, clay and the like stuck to the-we j,"which in practice is very difficult to thoroughly remove In the present device, due to the combined spreading,

gh it also thoroughlyV As iswell known, tobacco y loo waving and longitudinal movements of :the leaf all of which loosens the `dirt and to the i strong suction action to which the` loosened ydirt is exposed, thorough cleaning results.

Accordingly, applicant obtains the valuable result of better cleaning than heretofore with no additionalmechanism and no` additional time consumed, by the same means that spread the leaf and present it for stemming.

` The rear lset of the rollers 29 and 30. is held in stationarybearings 33, while the front set is supported iny slidable bearings 34 which are held' in tension against the rear rollers vby springs 35. Similarly, while the rear roller 32is journaled in a stationarybearing 36, the front roller 32 is hung fromshaft 37 of the front roller 30 by arms 38 which are tensioned against the rear roller by springs 39 pulling the shaft 40 towards the supporting frame of the machine. The rear rollerv 25 shaft 41.

46 connected with the suction pipe 26. The

sleeve 44 is mounted on a shaft 47 carriedby the drum 45 and has a gear 48 at one end of its circumference. Toward the rear, the drum 45 has an opening 49 through which l5 the suction communicates with the perforations of cylindrical sleeve 44. The tip of the leaf, having been taken along by the motion of sleeve 44, is by the suction held fast to this sleeve 44 as soon as the latter comes opposite the opening 49 and is thus carried to the point where the leaf is securely gripped between the sleeve and a loop of a conveyer belt 50 running over rollers 5l, 52 and 53, the roller 51 being driven by chain 54 from main The conveyor 50 delivers the stemmed leaves L from the machine in a perfectly flat condition, ready to be stacked for subsequent treatment. Thus the suction on sleeve 44 holds the web outspread and 80 flat and out of the range of the grippers while the stem is being gripped and the belt 50 and sleeve together hold the tip against being pulled back by the pull on the stem.

On main shaft 41 is mounted stem hold- 85 ing means which includes a cylinder 55, F igs.

6 and 7, having a series of inclined axially spaced circumferential flanges 56 and carrying axial plungers 57. Each plunger has a row of inclined pins 58 corresponding in `number with the number of grooves 56 and extending to'the surface ofthe drum 55 through radial slots 59 cut into flanges 55.

These pins 58 form with the slotted flanges `a transversely extending gang of grippers which grip the stem despite feeding of the leaf with the tip a substantial distance to either side of central position. This constitutes an important feature of applicants device, since it makes possible mechanical tip first feeding of the leaf without the careful manual grinding of the stem required by most types of 'stemmers such as those of the stemming and booking machines previously mentioned. This also provides for efficient ripping of laterally offset crooked and roken stem portions, which prior devices have commonly failed to take out. The foregoing applies also to the modified form illustratedin Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive. The

60 plungers 59 have rollers 60 by which they` bear against a stationary cam 61 attached to bearing 62 of shaft 41. Springs 63 bearing against a disk 64 mounted on shaft 41 press the rollers 60 vagainst the surface of 65 cam 61. A gear 65 mounted on shaft 41 meshes with gear 48 of cylinder 44. The inclination of the flanges isin the opposite direction to that of the pins 58, so that the pins make nearly equilateral acute angles with the sides of the flanges towards which they are pointed, thus producing a double wedge effect on a stem held between them.

As the leaf L on sleeve 44 comes nearest contact with cylinder 55 in the horizontal plane Vpassing through the centers of shafts 41 and 47, the plunger 57 in that plane at the time, drops into the track of cam 6l, thereby causing its grippers 58 to move in the slots 59 across the opposed flange 56. This action is repeated by every plunger 57 as it arrives in the horizontal plane, and as soon as the stem S of leaf L becomes thick enough to penetrate between the flanges and pins 56, thepin 58 presses the stem against the inclined side of the flange and thereby.

grips it as shown in Fig. 8. Since this action is taking place continually as the leaf travels around cylinder 44, the ystem S is gripped anew as every plunger passes through the contact plane so that even a broken stem such as that shown in Fig. 8 is perfectly removed from the leaf, thev cam 61 being so arranged that a number of gripper pins 58 in tandem are in engagement with the stem at the same time. Thus, in Fig. 8, the end S of the stem is held fast by one of the grippers 58 in the row just opposite .the contact plane, while the next section S lis gripped by one of the grippers 58 in the contact row. Since the gripper cylinder 55 is rotated in the opposite direction from sleeve 44 the .stem and the web are carried along divergent' paths tearing out the stem from tip to butt in a manner simulating hand stemming. y

The distance between the suction sleeve 44 and the gripper cylinder 55, at the outside diameter of the flanges 56, is adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the leaf portion and so much of the small end of the stem as it is desired to leave in the leaf. Thus a portion `of the stem larger than the distance between sleeve and flanges Will project into the grip of the gripping means regardless of whether the leaf lies front side up or down on cylinder 44 as shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 9, which gives a sectional top view of the gripping device showing the double wedge effect L lies with its back on sleeve 45 and its stem y S is pressed in between the flanges 56 so that pin 58 grips the stem through the pressed in portion of the leaf instead of by direct engagement as when the front of the leaf is towards the sleeve 44 and its back with the stem protruding is towards the cylinder 55. Both the cylinder 44 and the drum 55 `have rotating brushes, 66 and 67, in engagement with their surfaces for the purose of stripping from them the stemmed eaves L and the stems S, respectively, and of cleaning them of dust and tobacco scraps.

The stem S, when pulled away from the leaf L on cylinder 44 by the rotation of drum 55, pulls it along or bellies it to a greater or less degree. In case the leaf fails to tear out, the abnormally bellied leaf engages with a horizontally reciprocating knife set at a proper angle or preferably with the divergng edges of two coacting rotary knives 68 and 69 driven in opposite directions by belts 70 and 71 from a double pulley 72. The knives 68 and 69, entering between the gripped stem S and the tightly stretched leaf L, as shown in Fig. 10, rip the leaf close to the stem and thus restart the normal tearing action. Preferably the knives are so set that they do not act till abnormal resistance to tearing is encountered. The stems S ,ejected from the drum by the brushes 67 drop into a chute 73 which deposits the same into a receptacle provided for the purpose.

Since the portions of the stcm near the tip are unobjectionable and add to the weight of filler tobacco and the size of thestem portion to be left in varies with tobaccos andcigar manufacturers requirements, it is desirable that the operator be able to select the thickness at which the stemming means starts tearing out the stem. For this purpose as shown in Fig. 2 the sleeve 44 and gripper cylinder 55 are made relatively adjustable towardfor away from each other by mounting bearing blocks 85 journalling the shaft 47 of the sleeve 44 and supporting suction box therein for horizontal movement in a slideway in the frame 84, its position being accurately adjustable by means of a cap vscrew 86 threaded in the frame and rotatably secured by a groove and pin 87 to the block.

In order to adjustably position the roller 52 to cause the belt 50 to grip various sizes and types of leaves at variable distances from the tearing point and in order to widen the apex between the belt and sleeve 44 when desirable, this roller is adj ust-ably supported. As shown in Fig. 2 this is accomplished by securing to a bracket 89, on the frame 88 by means of a screw passing through a slot in a supporting piece 90. This supporting piece carries at its outer end a pivoted lever 91 supporting at one end the roller 52, and engaging at its opposite end a set screw 92 by which the roller 52 can be swung out from the sleeve 44. By means of the slotted connection ofy piece 90 to the bracket the roll may be moved further in to the bight of the sleeve 44 and cylinder 55.

In Figs. 11 to 17, a modification of the stem stripping unit is shown, use being made of a carded drum for gripping the stems. The leaf L delivered by the belts 31 onto the suction cylinder 44 is tightly pressed against the said cylinder by two endless belts 74 running over rollers 75, these belts being so placed on cylinder 44 that the stem S of the leaf comes in the space between them. Into the latter space is placed a carded drum 76 mounted on a shaft 77 supported in bearing 78, the drum 76 having stem impaling pins 79 extending to within a leaf thickness or small stem thickness toward the surface of cylinder 44 and arranged in staggered circumferential rows, the pins in each row being but little more than one stem thickness apart. The drum 76 is rotated in the same direction as cylinder 44 so that their adjoining surfaces move in op Josite directions as indicated by arrows. oacting with the carded drum 76 is a second drum 8O mounted on shaft 81 in bearing 82, the shaft 81 being eccentric with respect to shaft 77. In the circumference of drum 80 are mounted as many horizontally projecting pins 83 as there are horizontal rows of pins 79 on drum 76, the pins 83 projecting across all of the pins 79 in each of the horizontal rows. The eccentricity of the shafts 77 and 81 is such that the pins 83 on the side towards cylinder 44 lie at the foot of pins 79 and on the side away from cylinder 44 they lie at the top of the carding pins. space between the cylinder 44 and carded drum 76, Fig. 15, the pins 79 engage the stem S as soon as the arriving stem becomes thick enough to protrude a sufficient distance from the leaf, the stem becoming impaled and caught on the nearest pins. As more and more of the pins 79 take hold of stem S, Fig. 16, the latter is carried partly around drum 76 which is rotated with a slightly greater surface speed than cylinder 44 so as toexert a pulling` action on the stem which is thereby stripped from the leaf L while the latter is held against cylinder 44 by the belts 74. As the drum 76 turns around, the horizontal pins 83, due to the eccentric mounting of drum 80, rise higher and higher between the carding pins 79 until, near the far side of drum 76, Fig. 17, they reach the tops of the carding pins and thus push the stem from the drum.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their-buttS-.W Y 2. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed,`of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts, and a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism.

3. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices re- When a leaf enters the ceiving outspread leaves from Lsaid mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, and a leaf transport supplying leaves to said support.

4. The combination With mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts, said mechanism including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, and means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out.

5. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said mechanism including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, and coacting belts for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out.

6. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said lmechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said mechanism including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and means for transporting the outspread leaves from said chamber to said devices.

7. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said mechanism including a suction chamber having spaced walls terminating at their outer edges in oppositely disposed kair exhausting connections, shafts outside said Walls, and coacting belts operated by said shafts and having operating runs between said Walls for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out.

8. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said devices including stern holding means, web holding means, and means for causing said stem holding means and said web holding means to travel in divergent directions.

9. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said devices including stem holding means, suction web holding means, and means for causing said stem holding means and said suction web holding means to travel in divergent directions.

11. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, said devices including an apertured cylindrical suction box, a perfora-ted sleeve rotating on and co-acting with said box to hold the Webs of leaves, and stem holding means rotating in the opposite direction.

12. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart towardtheir butts, said devices including an apertured cylindrical suction box, a perforated sleeve rotating on and co-acting with said box to hold the webs of leaves, a belt ressing against said sleeve, and stem holding means rotating in the o posite direction.

13. The combination Wit mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts, said devices including stem holding Ameans comprising a rotating cylinder provided with axial slots, and spring-pressed and cam-controlled gang grippers Working in said slots.

14. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, and a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, said support including means for supporting a leaf by its butt.

15. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, and a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, said support including a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, and means for lowering said gripper to eiect leaf delivery to said mechanism.

16. The combination with mechanism for 5 spreading out leaves from Which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, and a leaf support de- 10 livering leaves to said mechanism, said sup port including a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, an arm carrying said gripper, a rod carrying said arm, means for lowering said rod to effect leaf delivery to said mechanism, and means for releasing said gripper When in its lowermost position.

17. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which `their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, a leaf support delivering leaves kto said mechanism, and a leaf transport supplying leaves to said sup ort, said transport including a traveling chain provided With a plurality of spring clips for carrying leaves by their butts.

18. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from Which their stems are to be removed, of stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and tearing their stems and Webs apart toward their butts, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, and a leaf support supplying leaves to said support, said transport including a traveling chain provided With a plurality of spring clips for carrying leaves by their butts, and a stationary cam in the path of said clips for releasing them as leaves are deliverd.

19. The combination With mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and Webs.

20. The combination With mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, and a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism.

21. The combination With mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out,

stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and .Webs, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, and a leaf transport supplying leaves to said support.

22. The combination With mechanism for spreading out leaves from Which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and Webs, said passing means including coacting Ibelts running through said chamber.

23. .The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means .for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and Webs, said mechanism including means for transporting outspread leaves from said chamber to said devices.

24. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from ,said mechanism and separating their stems and Webs, said chamber including spaced walls terminating at their outer edges in oppositely dis osed air exhausting connections, and sai passing means including .shafts outside of said walls and coacting belts operated by said shafts and having operating runs between said Walls.

25. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, said chamber including spaced walls terminating at their outer edges in oppositely disposed air exhausting connections, and said passing means including shafts outside of said Walls and beyond the same, and coacting belts operated by Isaid shafts for passing leaves through said chamber and thence to said devices.

26. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said cham; ber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, and a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, said support ncluding means for supporting a leaf by its utt.

27. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, said support including a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, and means for lowering said gripper to effect leaf delivery to said mechanism.

'28. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separatingtheir stems and webs, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, said support including a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, an arm carrying said gripper, a-rod carrying said arm, means for lowering said rod to effect leaf-delivery to said mechanism, and means for releasing said gripper when in its lowermost position.

29. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, a leaf support delivering leaves to said mechanism, and a leaf transport supplying leaves to said support, said transport including a traveling chain provided with a'plurality of spring clips for carrying leaves by their butts.

30. The combination with mechanism for spreading out leaves from which their stems are to be removed including la suction chamber having air exhausting connections,l of means for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them lout, stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said mechanism and separating their stems and webs, a leaf support delivering leaves to .said mechanism, aleaf transport supplying leaves to said support, said transport including a traveling chain provided with a plurality of spring clips for carrying leaves by their butts, and a stationary cam in the path of said clips for releasing them as leaves are delivered.

31. The combination with a leaf support,

of a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, means for producing a relative movement of said support and saidchamber to cause leaves to enter said chamber and be spread out by outgoing air, and stemming devices receiving outspread leaves from said chamber and tearing their stems and webs apart toward their butts in simulation of manual stemming.

32. The combination with a leaf support, of a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, and means for producing a relative movement of said support and said chamber to cause leaves to enter said chamber and be spread out by outgoing air.

33. -The combination with a leaf support, ofa suction chamber having air exhausting connections, and means for moving said support toward said chamber to cause leaves to enter said chamber and be spread out by outgoing air.

34. The combination with a leaf transport,

of a leaf support receiving leaves from said transport, a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, and means for producing a relative movement of said support and said chamber to cause leaves to enter said chamber and be spread out by outgoing air.

35. The combination with a leaf transport having a plurality of spring clips for holding leaves by their butts, of a leaf support receiving leaves from said clips, means for releasing said clips as leaves are delivered to said support, and means for lowering said support to carry ay leaf away from saidtransport.

36. The combination with a leaf transport having a plurality of spring clips for holding leaves by their butts, of a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt and receiving leaves from saidl clips, means for lowering said gripper to carry a leaf away from said transport, and a stationary cam for releasing said gripper when in its lowermost position.

37. The combination with a leaf transport including a traveling chain having a plurality of spring clips for` holding leaves by their butts, of a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a lea-f by its butt and receiving leaves from said clips. a stationary cam for releasing said clips as leaves are delivered to said support, and means for lowering said support to carry a leaf away from said transport.

38, The combination with a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, an arm carrying said gripper, a rod carrying said arm, and means for lowering said rod to lower a leaf in said gripper with its tip lowermost.

39. The ,combination with a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, of reciprocating means for lowering said gripper to lower a leaf carried thereby with its tip lowermost.

40. The combination with a leaf support, of a suction chamber below said support and having air exhausting connections, and means for lowering said support to cause a leaf carried thereby to enter said chamber tip first and be spread out by outgoing air'.

41. The combination with a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, of a suction chamber below said support and having air exhausting connections, means for lowering said support to cause a leaf carried thereby to enter said chamber tip first and be spread out by outgoing air, and means for releasing said gripper when the leaf has entered said chamber.

42. The combination with a leaf transport having a plurality of spring clips for holding leaves by their butts, of a leaf support having a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt and receiving leaves from said transport, a stationary cam in the path of said clips for releasing them as leaves are delivered to said support, a suction chamber below said support and having air exhausting connections, means for lowering said support l to cause a leaf carried thereby to enter said chamber tip first and be spread out by outgoing air, and a stationary cam for releasing said gripper when the leaf has entered said chamber.

43. The combination with a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing a leaf therethrough to cause outgoing air to spread it out.

44. The combination with a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of a pair of coacting belts for passing a leaf therethrough to cause outgoing air to spread it out.

45. The combination with a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing a leaf therethrough to cause outgoing air to spread it out, and additional means for transporting the outspread leaf away from said chambe-r.

46. The combination with a suction chamber having air exhausting connections, of means for passing a leaf therethrough to cause outgoing air to spread it out, and coacting belts for transporting the outspread leaf away from said chamber.

47. The combination with stemming devices acting on a leaf to tear its stem and web apart toward its butt, of rotating knives as-` sociated therewith to aid the tearing action when abnormal resistance occurs.

48. A leaf'support for stemming machines, comprising a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, an arm carrying said gripper, a rod carrying said arm, means for reciprocating said rod, and means for releasing said gripper at one end of its movement. Y

49. A leaf support for stemming machines, comprising a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, an arm carrying said gripper, a rod carrying said arm, means for lowering said rod, and a stationary cam for releasing said gripper when in its lowermost position.

50. A leaf support for stemming machines, comprising a gripper for supporting a leaf by its butt, of means for lowering said gripper, and means for releasing said gripper when in its lowermost position.

51. Leaf spreading mechanism for stemming machines, comprising a suction chamber having spaced walls terminating at their outer edges in air exhausting connections, shafts outside of said walls, and coacting belts operated by said shafts and having operating runs between said walls to pass leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out.

52. Leaf spreading mechanism for stemming machines, comprising a suction chamber having spaced walls terminating at their outer edges in air exhausting connections, shafts outside of said walls and beyond the same, and coacting belts operated by said shafts and having opera-ting runs between said walls for passing leaves through said chamber to cause outgoing air to spread them out and for transporting the outspread leaves away from said chamber.

53. Stemming devices for stemming machines, comprising stem holding means, suction web holding means, and means for causing said stem holding means and said suction web holding means to travel in divergent directions to tear apart the stems and webs of leaves toward their butts.

54. Stemming devices for stemming machines, comprising an apertured cylindrical suction box, al perforated sleeve rotating on and coacting with said box to hold the webs of leaves, and stem holding means rotating in the opposite direction to cause the stems and the webs of the leaves to be torn apart toward their butts.

55. Stemming devices for stemming machines, comprising an apertured cylindrical suction box, a perforated sleeve rotating on and coacting with said box to hold the webs of leaves,`a belt coacting with said sleeve to aid suction in holding the webs of leaves, and stem holding means rotating in the opposite direction to cause th'e'stems andv the webs of the leaves to be torn apart toward their butts.

56. A stem holding device for stemming machines` comprising a rotating cylinder having axial slots in its periphery, and spring-actuated and cam-controlled gang grippers working in said slots.

57. A stem holding device for leaf stemming machines, eomprising a rotating cylinder. stem impaling pins carried by said cylinder. and means for pushing stems ott' of said pins when separated from the webs of leaves.

58. A stem holding device for leaf stemlll ming machines, comprising a rotating cylinder, stem impaling pins carried by said cylinder, and eccentrically rotating means for pushing stems off of said pins when separated from the webs of leaves.

59. A stem holding device for leaf stemming machines, comprising a rotating cylinder, stem impaling pins carried by said cylinder, and a series of fingers working between pins and eccentrically rotating with respect to said cylinder for pushing stems olf of said pins when separated from the webs of leaves.

60. The combination with Imeans for transporting an outspread leaf, of stemming devices receiving the leaf from said means including stem holding means and web holding means traveling in divergent directions to tear its stem and web apart towards its butt, and also including relatively movable mounts for said stem holding means and said web holding means to cause said stem holding means to hold and tear out predetermine stem portions only.

61. In a stemming machine, the combination with stem gripping means, of leaf supporting means operating tosupport the stems of the leaf in the range of action of said stem holding means, and means for relatively adj usting one toward and away from the other to cause said gripping means to selectively grip stem portions of greater than selected thicknesses, without gripping stem portions of less than the selected thicknesses.

62. Tobacco leaf cleaning means comprising means for lowering a leaf tip foremost, a chamber through which the leaf is lowered with the stem near the center of thechamber, and means for drawing air in near the center of the chamber and out at either side to clean and spread the leaf as it is lowered through the chamber.

63. In a' stemming machine, the combination with means for transporting a tobacco leaf, of pneumatic means for simultaneously spreading the leaf and cleaning both sides thereof.

64. Cleaning and spreading means for tobacco leaves comprising means for supporting the leaf along the stem and mechanism for directing streams of air from the stem portion across the web of the leaf toward each edge thereof.

65. In a device for preparing tobacco leaves for use, the combination -with devices for supporting a tobacco leaf, of means for producing a stream of air acting transversely of the leaf across the web, said means including mechanism for confining the air close to the surface of the web.

66. The combination with means for lowering a pendent tobacco leaf, of devices for stemming said leaf including a gang of lateraliy spaced grippers for gripping the stem despite lateral variations in the position at stem holding means to tear the stern from the web, said web holding means including a rotating cylindrical element and a belt having a loop coacting with said element to grip the web be ond the tearing position and means for a justing the position of said loop relative to said tearing point.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL. GUSTAF E. HAGQUIST.

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