US2349320A - Turret shaping machine for cigars - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1944. H. H. WHEELER f 2,349,320

TURRET SHAPING MACHINE FOR CIGARS Filed July 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l V eff/ef ORNEY /7/ May 23, 1.944.`

H. H. WHEELER TURRET SHAPING MACHINE FOR CIGARS Filed July 1e', 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ORNEY May 23,1944 H. H. WHEELER 2,349,320

' TURRET SHPING' MACHINE FOR CIGARS Filed July 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 23, 1944 .,MACN Fon claims frookllyf Y" N, X.; assigner to y Company; a 'col-- application .prima 19ss, seria1 No. 219,509; Y

16 cranes. A(el.litifem rllhis invention relates to cigarmachines and vmore particularly tov machines for forming cigars of the lshortaiiller -typ'e wherein there is provided a series ofL traveling pocketsor-molds-in which bunches are lshaped fprior to beingf formedintocomplete;cigars.-yff- Y The chief objectf; o gthe invention f is Y to-i-mf .prove the operation `of ..machine ldescribed inv-my A(zo-pendingapplication, Serial- No; 21,723, -filed -May 16, 1935, now` Patent No.72,157,537 In theA machine of the `application'rabovereferred Lto,`- raw ciganbunches areftransierred manually from -a` bunch- Arolling apron by anoperatorffat lthe, loading station- 4intoopen fmolds fior-med in ,the-pockets of-the intermittently revolving drum 1orfturret provided fort-thisr purposeand shaping `members on covers :are -thentted--intoythese molds and remain therein ,-during 4at least onehalffrevolution of..the turret. Infonegposition along the path of, travel A`Aof fthe turret-transfer ,arms lift a shaping coverffromone-o the closed molds containing a fully, shapedfcigarand trans'- fer it 'to a diametricallylopposite mold wherein `is located an unshaped cigar.'V y f I,

It is a further` ,object of the yinventior'ito provide improved mechanism for .trimming'the sufvplusmaterial extending from bunches in the frnolds located therein `and to vfurnish means for grieving said trimmers to ,eifect the trimming operation.'V` Q ..f .l

is` an added object of the` invention nto provide an'wimp'roved device for'rtrimming surplus material extending from bunches located inthe molds `and to Aprovide mechanism. for seating bunches in the molds, which mechanism Fmay *f be arranged"to eiecft the rotation; of the Atrimmin'gfdevie.' j "Itis a fu'rther object to provide` pneumatic 'waste tobacceiemoving mechanism 'associated with thetriiii'mers and means fo intermittently directing fluid' into the mechanism fof' 'conqueririg' ff'rom the machine waste tobacco'7 trimmed vfrom'bunches'by the'trimrners. .Y

': `With these and' otherflobjectsnot :spccfcally :mentionedin View, therinvention consists in oeritairr conloinztioiis, "and :constructions whl'cl{#"vv'ill bazliereinafter. fully" describedaandfthen speically set forth in -the claims? hereunto appended. T-In: the. .accompanying drawings 1which"io'rm .partici this. specication, fand .in whichilike characters. 'of reference .indicate thfsamelo :like `ligll is fan Yend elevation partly `in 1 section,

disposalmeansrassociatedtherewith; i

lrolled :and

Fig. `la'is a partial plan view. showinga detail of myinv'ention; Fig.'2y isa'sectional side elevation of the Shaper turret, lon? line 2;-2 "of Fig.' 1,V including' views fromlines 'i' oiFgJl;Y f "Fig.2a is a' cross-sectional view taken on line ZaofFig. 2 showing Vadetairin the construction ofthe coverl gripping mechanism; Fi-g. 2b is .-afpartialside sectional elevation of aturretarm cover. l "'Fi'gl 3 'isi'an enlarged side"elevation' of the improved rotary trimmer, parts broken away, -seenvfrom line 3-#3 of Fig.'1; Figl4'is "an end Yelev'ation,partly in section, of the same, from line 4-4 of Fig. 3; *'Fig; 5 is a horizontal"crosseseotionfas on" line 5--5in Fig.- 3, showing ra 'modified drive' for the rotary trimmer; and f Fig. 6 isa partial plan View, partly section illustrating the cutting mechanism and its relation to the mold pockets and turret supporting casing; and `f "r f `v Fig. `7 is a partial sectional end elevation taken -online 1-1 of-Figure 6. f f ,f f

The drum 29, which carries the bunch shaping -molds 30-in'pockets 23 (Figsfl and 2)' isinterlmittentlyrotated -by'mechanism, similar to that shown in my kco-pending application above relfferred to, -in the `direction 0f arrow I0 insteps vequal `to the angular distance betweenv each pocket. The `bunches :formed on thebu'nch rollin'gf'macliine are inserted' by anv operator into anyl'one of the molds which are open at position I,which corresponds generally to the 12:30 to the 2:30 oclock position of the turretdrum.- By pro- `vidng a plurality of open pockets at the loading position, it Vis possible Zto more .easily flly the molds, and sucient time can be allowed so that danger of injury to the operator is reduced to `a minimum.' The turret is next indexedto posiftion.:1 "-I, which Lapproximates the '3v Yoclocl: position,"where a closing member Alili actuated through slide 64 by rollers running in tracksv 69Y and. 'l0 formedon vthe interior face of the camsl) and =63 xed on drum shaft 50, ismoved partly into the mold to` seat the bunch located therein and is immediately withdrawn. Slide 64 is actuated in'ja` manner similar to that shown in. my patent, No.r2`,157,537 issued May 9, 1939, for Cigarbunch shaping machine. At station IV, orv the 4 oclock position of the turret, which isthe next point 'in' the' indexing thereof, anotherclosing'member 61, similar in construction and operation to member 66, 'ismoved completely into the l"mold/on slides 46 5 to full-"y shape a *bunch .thereimfa'n'd 80 which engage and run in tracks 8| on cams 60 and 63. After covers 3| have been applied to their respective mold pockets, they remain thereon during the travel of the turret through approximately 180, or one-half revolution, as shown in Fig. l. The upper ends of arms 11 lift a cover 3| from one mold 30 while at the same time the lower ends are inserting the previously lifted cover into the diametrically opposite mold. The arms 11 are latched to cams 60, 63 by means described more fully hereinafter, while the latter make one-half a revolution in a counterclookwise direction-,vindicated by arrow I| in Fig. 1, and at the same time because the arms 11 are latched'.thereto, they necessarily must travel through 180Dv in the same direction as indicated by arrow I2. Shaft 50' and cams 60 and 63 mounted thereon are rotated continuously in a counterclockwise direction. At the conclusion of each 180 movement, the arms are again moved radially upward in order to operate successive covers of the molds in a similar manner. f

As shown in Fig. 2, an'ejector plate 58 is slidable within 'the drum 29., and carries ejector pins 51 which are arranged with ejecting surfaces of bunch shaped contour to lift bunches shaped in pockets 23 of the drum. A cam roller 59 on the 40 plate 56 engages the innermost tracks of cam 60 whi-ch serve to control the ejecting movement of the pins 51. All of this structure is similar to that shown and describedy in my co-pending application.

To align the covers 3| properly while they are carried lby the arms 11, the latter are equipped with vgauging devices to hold all covers in the same* axial xposition with respect to the mold pockets 23,` and with'centering'devices to keep them axially parallel in that position. The gauging device consists'of adjusting screws,v I4 inserted horizontally into the ends of arms 11 and coaxial with'the centers of'rollers 34 on the end projections 33 of the covers. These screws, after `5 adjustment to the exact overall length of the covers, are held firmly in position by set screws I5. The centering device consists of bell crank levers I6 pivoted on horizontal pins I1 in the ends of arms 'I1 and held in tension by springs I8 in serted into' axial cavities in arms 11, these springs pressing against the radial arms I62a of levers I6. The axial arms I62'of the levers I 6 are made with axially extending depressions I 60 into which the rollers 34 snap when they have entered the mold cover roller supporting pockets formed by the ends 340 of the arms 11 and the arms |62 of levers I6 with depressions |60, thereby holding covers 3| secured in exact angular position in the arms 11 and relative to the mold pockets while being transferred.

Improved mechanism has been provided for more securely latching the transfer arms 11 to the cams 60 and 63 whilebeing rotated by them.

vThis struct-ure consists of lock levers I9,pivotal1y mounted on pins 20 fixed to the outer surface of the cams, which levers `are formed with depressions 8I0 for locking the rollers 80 when the latter are in their dwell position on the low points of the cam tracks 8| as shown in Fig. 1. It will be `observed that a substantial toggle action is set up by the depressions 8|!) of the locking levers I9 and cam tracks 8| as shown at; Fig. 1 so that during the counterclockwise movement of the 10 arms 11 while latched to lever I9 there can be no possible interruption of the locking operation until roller 25 engages pin 26 and lifts lever I9 out of engagement with rollers 8U. The counterclockwise movement from position V through 180 degrees of travel, therefore, causes roller 80 to be Y forced along a line through the center of depression 8I and pivot 20 so that in effect roller 8U is wedged in depression 8 I0 until released as above stated.A As in my copending application above referred to, as a result of the continued motion of cams 6I) and 63, the high part of the cam surface 8| lifts the transferv arms 11 to the position shown in Fig. l, in which the arms become latched to the cams by the lock levers I9 described above. Since-the transfer arms 11 during the indexing of the turret have been positioned with their cover transferringends in the Ipath of cam rollers 34, at the conclusion of each turret moveyment the4 rollers 34 on a `cover to be removed have been locatedI in the grippers on the upper ends of the arms so that the cover is moved out'- Vwardly and away from its mold pocket with the Aoutward movement of the transfer arms (see Figures 1 and 2) Due to the fact that the transfer arms are rmly latched to the cams'60 and 63, 'during the vcontinued rotation of the cams, the :transfer arms 11 will travel in unison therewith 'through 180, or' until the outer ends of the transyfer arms strike against the abutments 86 mounted on the brackets 53 and rollers 25v engage pins 2B to unlatch rollers 80 from engagement with levers I9. Continued movement of the cams and 63 causes the rollers 8l) to be moved radially, thereby causing the cover pockets of the transfer Iarms to move into alignment with the cover roller cam tracks 81 at which position the transfer yarmsdwell while the drum 29 is indexed forward- -lly. Ther cover 3| which has justbeen moved into a mold by the transfer arms, is then moved circumferentially from the pockets in the ends y,of the arms by the movement of the turret and is -f thereafter controlled by the cam tracks 81. In .the continued-motion of the cams 60 and 93 the 5 .high part of the cam surface 8| lifts the arms 11, thereby carrying the end of the transfer arms which have just discharged a mold covery to the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the pockets at the upper end of the transfer arms lift a 60 `cover, as shown at the top portion of Fig. l, ready f .to repeat the cover transfer operation. When the transfer arms are positioned as shown in Fig.

1, the lock levers I9 engage with the rollers 80, then at the lower dwell points of track 8|, and 65 4latch the transfer arms to their cams so that on further movement of the cam, the transfer arms ,will be again moved 180 from cover receiving to cover applying position. When the cams have completed their next half turn and when the ends of varms 11, which are shown in their up position in Figs. 1 and 2, have come into engagement with abutments 86, the rollers 25 of lock levers I9 engage pins 26 inserted into the stationary frames 54 and 55, thereby releasing the transfer arm rollers 8|) andallowing the cams '69, G3 to turn through the next 180 without the transfer arms. During this free movement of the cams, the rollers of the lock levers I9 may Vrest on or adjacent the rims I9a. of the cams,

leaving an adequate space between the lock levers I9 and and the tracks 8| for the entrance of the rollers 80 at the end of the free half-turn of the cams. The lever I 9 is not solely dependent on spring 2l for its locking action. Pin 2U is so positioned that a toggle action is obtained between lever I9 and roller 80 which is locked in depression 8I0 of lever I9, the roller 89 being forced more firmly against cam track 8|, in direct proportion to the increase in resistance of arm TI. Pin 2,6 is therefore, provided to furnish positive means for lifting lever I9 out of engagement.

In order to secure perfect alignment of the two transfer arms while carrying the mold covers 3I from the top to the bottom of drum 29, the abutments 86 at each side of the drum are made in the form of separate plates, radially adjustable by means of set screws 33 carried by a projection 84 of bracket 53 and by a lug B5 on gear housing 52, respectively. In setting up the machine, these plates are so adjusted that neither arm 'I'I is free to turn before the other has cleared its plate, hence both arms commence their movement from identical angular positions at exactly the same instant.

To prevent dust or tobacco fragments from entering into the working parts of the turret at the runways of arms TI, covers 35 tensioned by springs 39 are hinged to the tops of frames 54 and 55, these covers being opened by the arms Il when the latter are raised in their dwell position, and automatically closed as the arms move away therefrom to transport a cover for application to a mold. In their closed position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, projections 37 of the covers 35 fit into cut-outs 310 in frames 54 and 55, and serve as stops for the arms 'I'I againstany possible angular retrograde movement when arriving in their dwell position prior to their radial outward motion. It will be seen, therefore, that arms 'II in moving counterclockwise, cam covers 35 having projections 31 upwardly to enable the arms to reach the angular position of Figure 1, after which covers 35 and projections 31 move down again to prevent backward movement of arms TI. A further precaution against the entrance of foreign matter is provided by a set of brushes 32 attached to the lower surfaces of the frames 54 and 55, these brushes being in the paths of the inner surfaces ISI of the pocket portions of arms T! (see Figures 2 and 201,) and thus prevent accumulation of tobacco fragments on these surfaces.

For cutting the overhanging ends of the bunches B extending through openings in the end Walls of molds and resting against the bottom edge portion of the openings a, an improved rotary trimmer mechanism, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is placed at the trimming station III. In brackets 38 and 35i on frames or casings 54 and 55 is supported a shaft 49 on which are fast, at the proper distance adjustable to the length of the bunches operated upon, blocks 4I carrying oval-shaped knife blades 42. It will be noted that blocks 4 I, upon which knives 42 are mounted, are shaped more or less like paddles, and due to their proximity to the chute II function after the severing of an end from a bunch of the pocket to eject or flip the cut off portions of tobacco down the chute and in that way constitute an `efficient means for positively disposing of the cut `off bunch ends.' At'one end, the lshaft 40 has aiiixed a ratchet 43 with which engages a pawl 44 carried by an arm 45 loosely mounted on shaft 40 and having on its hub a pinion 46. This pinion meshes with a rack 41 attached to the slides 65 :of the closing member 61 and is so dimensioned that the outward motion of the latter causes the pinion 45 to rotate through 180 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the end shown in Fig. 4. This half-turn is transmitted through pawl 44 to ratchet 43, producing a corresponding half-turn of shaft 49 and knives 42. On the inward motion of the slides and rack 4'I, the counterclockwise motion of the pinion 45 produces a rearward half-turn of pawl arm 45 which does not affect the ratchet which is kept from rearward turning by a stationary spring pawl 48 bearing against its surface and engaging with shallow slots therein at the end of each forward motion. The pawl 44 is held in contact with ratchet 43-by a spring 49 anchored to arm 45, and engages with the ratchet in deep slots at such an angle as to readily pass over the aforementioned shallow slots in its return motion. The pinion, ratchet, and their associated parts are protected by a cover 5I attached to frame 55.

In Fig. 5, a modification of the drive for the rotary trimmer is shown. In this case, the trimming knives 42 are the same as in Figs. 3 and 4, but are continuously instead of intermittently driven,y a spur gear 21 on the drum shaft 50 being used. for this purpose. The latter gear meshes with a pinion 23 loose on a stud 24 in the stationary frame I3 of the cigar machine. A pinion 59 is concentrically attached by a pin 6I to the pinion 28 on stud 24 and a gear 59 meshing with pinion 58 is mounted on the knife shaft 40 which is supported in bearings 52 attached to turret: frames or casings 54 and 55. Thus, the knives 42 are continuously driven at the proper speed while the turret is in operation.

In each of the modifications illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and Figure 5, it will be observed that knives 42 move inwardly and downwardly with a positive shearing action relative to the bottom edge portion 39a of the openings in the end walls of mold pockets 30 and trim the surplus material from the bunches in the pockets.

As shown, the movement of the knives is timed so` that the cutting edge thereof moves between two spaced bunches and downwardly against the particular bunch to be trimmed.

When an operator inserts raw bunches into pockets moved in succession to loading position I, the bunch ends are pressed against edge portions 390; in the end walls of the molds into space S bounded by the ends of the mold turret 29 and the channels 54, 55. Knives 42 which trim the projecting bunch ends rotate downwardly relative to the end walls of the molds against the projecting bunch ends. If no paddles 4I were provided the bunch ends which are moved in the space S between the ends of the mold pockets and the channels 54, 55 might `tend to remain clinging to the channel 54, 55 or to chute TI so that as the mold turret continued its travel, these portions would lodge in space S on channels 54, 55 and clog against the chute TI. Because of the presence of paddles 4I any building-up of trimmed-off ends, either in space S or on chute II is completely eliminated, Vbecause due to the downward rotation of the knives 42 towards the projecting portions of bunch ends, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, each .individual bunch end as soon as it is'trimmed from a bunch is moved positively away from the space between the ends of the turret and the channels and flipped onto chute 1I for delivery into the suction chute 15.

The scrap from the trimmed bunches falls into a chute 'H provided with bowed portion 1Ia for accommodating the knife ends (Figures 1 and 7) removably supported between the brackets 38 and 39 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). To hold this chute in position, it is provided near the inner end of each of its side walls with a small ball Shaped outward projection 12, which projections snap into corresponding depressions in the brackets 38 and 39 when pushed into place, and near its outer end carries posts 13 which t into holes 14 drilled for this purpose into the radial top surface of bracket 53. The movable cutters 42 are so located with respect to the waste discharge chute 1| that as the knives rotate any tobacco trimmings, not removed from the knives by the cutting action, which tend to cling to the knives are thrown by centrifugal force onto chute 1l and discharged into chute 15. In this manner the knives are kept substantially clean at all times.

From chute 1l, the scrap is delivered into a chute 15 (Fig. l), supported in the base frame of the cigar machine and terminated in an elbow 1G. This elbow enters into a box 18 and therein is closed by a valve 19 hinged on a pin 82 turnable by a crank arm 89 actuated through a connecting rod 99 from a crank lever 9| held in engagement with its cam by a spring 92. A tubular extension of the stationary box 18 enters into a closed drawer 93 slidable in the base of the machine and also having entering into it an elbow 94 at the end of a pipe 95 connected with the suction system of the machine. At regular cyclic intervals, when the valve 19 is opened by the action of lever 9|, the scrap accumulated in elbow 16 is drawn by the suction into drawer 93 which is emptied from time to time.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A cigar bunch shaping machine, comprising in combination, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a series of bunch shaping molds, of a plurality of covers traveling with said molds, a mold loading station, a seating member adjacent said station and operative to seat bunches in said molds, a trimmer arranged to cut surplus material projecting from bunches in said molds, a bunch shaping member, and means mounted on said shaping member for rotating said trimmer to cut the surplus tobacco from a bunch located in one mold while said shaper is operating upon a bunch in another mold.

2. In a cigar bunch forming machine, the cornbination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a series of bunch shaping pockets, of a plurality of covers traveling with said pockets, trimmer mechanism for trimming surplus bunch material projecting from said pockets, a device positioned adjacent said trimmer for shaping bunches in said pockets, and means cooperating withv said device during its shaping operation for rotating said knife to cut said surplus from bunches. said means comprising a rack carried by said device, a shaft supporting said knife, a ratchet iixed to said shaftr a pawl lever and pinion loosely mounted on said shaft, said pinion engaging said rack, and a pawl carried on said arm for engagement with said ratchet to rotate said knife during each reciprocation of said rack.

3. A cigar bunch shaping machine comprising in combination a casing, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a plurality of bunch shaping molds from which project surplus bunch ends, said conveyor extending outwardly from said casing and constructed and arranged to provide a space accommodating said bunch ends, a plurality of mold covers coacting with said molds, a rotary trimmer adjacent said molds, means mounting said trimmer for rotation in said space between said casing and said conveyor, means for rotating said trimmer for trimming oi said ends of bunches projecting from said molds into said space, and paddle members carried by said trimmer for positively ejecting cut off bunch ends from said space between said casing and conveyor.

4. A cigar bunch shaping machine comprising in combination a casing, an endlessv traveling conveyor, said conveyor extending outwardly from said casing and spaced therefrom, a plurality of bunch shaping molds carried by said conveyor and provided with end openings through which surplus bunch material projects into the space between said casing and conveyor, a plurality of mold covers coacting with said molds, a rotary trimmer adjacent said molds, means mounting said trimmer for rotation in the space between said casing and said conveyor, means for rotating said trimmer for trimming oi the ends of bunches projecting from said molds, said trimmer comprising a cutter having eccentric cutting edges, and paddle members mounted closely adjacent one side of said cutter and extending along the major axis thereof propelling cut pieces of tobacco from the Zone of trimming.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently movable endless conveyor provided with a plurality of spaced bunch shaping pockets having end walls with openings through which surplus tobacco forming an end of a bunch projects, a conveyor support casing, means mounting said conveyor on said casing constructed and arranged to provide a space adjacent said end walls to accommodate said projecting bunch ends during the travel of said bunches from said loading to said trimming station, a plurality of cooperating pocket covers, a loading station, and a bunch trimming station, and a conveyor support casing, means mounting said conveyor on said casing constructed and arranged to provide a space adjacent said end walls to accommodate said projecting bunch ends during the travel of said bunches from said loading to said trimming station, of rotatable bunch end trimming means mounted in said space and located adjacent the ends of said pockets at said trimming station, and mechanism for continuously rotating said trimming means in said space for trimming the ends of bunches projecting from said pockets, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to rotate said trimming means into trimming engagement with a bunch end between spaced projecting ends of bunches and with a positive shearing action relative to the end wall of the mold enclosing the bunch being trimmed after each stepwise movementI of said conveyor has advanced a bunch to said trimming station. A

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently movable endless conveyor provided with a plurality of spaced bunch shaping pockets having end walls with openings through which surplus tobacco forming' an end of a bunch projects, a conveyor support casing, means mounting said conveyor on said casing constructed and arranged to provide a space adjacent said end walls to accommodate said project'ing bunch ends during the travel of said bunches from said loading to said trimming station, a plurality of cooperating pocket covers, a loading station and a trimming station, and a conveyor support casing, means mounting said conveyor on said casing constructed and arranged to provide a space adjacent said end walls to accommodate said projecting bunch ends during the travel of said bunches from said loading to said trimming station, of a rotatable bunch end trimmer having outwardly curved eccentric cutting edges located adjacent the ends of said pockets at said trimming station, and mechanism for continuously rotating said trimmer in said space for trimming in succession the ends of bunches projecting from said pockets, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to rotate said trimmer into trimming engagement with a bunch end between spaced projecting ends of bunches and with a positive shearing action relative to the end wall of the mold enclosing the bunch being trimmed only after each stepwise movement of said conveyor has advanced a bunch to said trimming station.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination With an intermittently movable endless conveyor provided with a plurality of spaced bunch shaping pockets having side walls and end Walls with openings through which surplus bunch material may project, said end walls being constructed and arranged to act as a ledger plate, a plurality of cooperating pocket covers, a loading station and a trimming station, of a rotatable oval bunch end trimmer having outwardly curved eccentric cutting edges located adjacent the end walls of said pockets at said trimming station, mechanism for continuously rotating said trimmer downwardly with a positive shearing action relative to said end walls of said pockets for trimming in succession the ends of bunches projecting from said pockets, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to rotate said trimmer into trimming engagement between spaced projecting ends of bunches only after each stepwise movement of said conveyor has advanced a bunch to said trimming station, and paddle members mounted on said trimmer and extending along 'the major axis thereof for rotation therewith to remove trimmed 01T bunch ends from said station.

8. A cigar bunch forming machine comprising in combination, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a series of bunch shaping molds having openings through which surplus tobacco forming an end of a bunch can project, a plurality of covers traveling with said molds, a support for said conveyor, means mounting said conveyor in said support, said means providing a space between said conveyor and support accommodating said surplus tobacco projecting from said molds, a mold loading station, a seating member adjacent said station and operative to seat bunches in said molds with an end thereof projecting into said space, a rotatable trimmer extending into said space between said conveyor and support and constructed and arranged to cut surplus material projecting from the ends of bunches in said molds,l and means on said trimmer' constructed and arranged to operate in said space for positively removing trimmed surplus bunch ends from said space.

' 9. A cigar bunch forming machine, comprising in combination, an endless traveling conveyor provided With a series of side by side bunch shaping 4molds, a plurality of covers traveling with'said molds, a mold `loading station, an end trimming station, a rotating trimmer includingeccentric cutting edges relative to the center of rotation of said trimmer, means mounting said trimmer at said station adjacent said molds for r cutting 4surplus material projecting from bunches positioned therein, and means carried by said trimmer and rotating therewith for positivelyy ejecting said cut surplus materials from said station.

10. A cigar bunch forming machine having an endless traveling conveyor provided with a series of bunch shaping molds with bunch end supports formed in the end walls thereof, a plurality of covers traveling with said molds, a mold loading station, a movable trimmer arranged adjacent said molds, means for moving said trimmer downwardly with a positive shearing action relative to said bunch end supports of said end walls to shear surplus material projecting from bunches positioned therein, and means mounted on said trimmer for removing waste tobacco bunch ends cut by said trimmer: from the zone of cutting adjacent said mold end walls. 11i -In a cigar machine provided with a rotatable-turret having a series of bunch shaping pockets moving in a circular path, said pockets having openings through which an end of a bunch may project, a plurality of covers adapted to'be placed in said pockets for shaping bunches located therein, mechanism traveling relative to said turret for moving said'covers from one pocket at one position along said path and applying it to an open pocket at another position on said path, a loading station, a bunch seating device located adjacent said loading station, a bunch end trimming station, means for moving said turret to position bunches at said station for trimming, a rotary trimmer having an eccentric shearing edge, mechanism for imparting a plurality of rotations to said trimmer While a bunch is located at said station with a downward movement relative to said bunch to be trimmed, and a paddle member mounted on one face of said trimmer for positively removing cut portions of bunches from said trimming station after each operation of said trimmer.

12'. A cigar bunch forming machine comprising in combination, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a plurality of side by side bunch shaping molds extending therealong, each of said molds having an end wall with an opening therein through which projects surplus bunch material, a plurality'of bunch shaping covers traveling with said molds and normally closing said molds completely except for a portion of said opening through which said surplus material projects, a bunch loading station, a` bunch end trimming station, a rotary trimmer, means for mounting said trimmer at said trimming station adjacent said end walls of said molds, means for intermittently moving said conveyor to advance filled molds seriatim to said trimming station, and means operating in timed relation to.

the movement of said conveyor for imparting downward and inward rotary movement to said trimmer between spaced bunches in said molds, and towards one of said bunches in one of said molds with a positive shearing action relative to the end wall of said last-named mold to cut surplus material from the bunch therein.

13. A cigar bunch forming machine comprising in combination, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a plurality of side by side bunch shaping molds extending therealong, each of said molds having an end wall with an opening therein through which projects surplus bunch material, a plurality of bunch shaping covers traveling with said molds and normally closing said molds completely except for a portion of said opening through which said surplus material projects, a bunch loading station, a bunch end trimming station, a rotary trimmer, means for mounting said trimmer at said trimming station adjacent said end Walls of said molds, means for intermittently moving said conveyor to advance filled molds seriatim to said trimming station, means operating in timed relation to the movement of said conveyor for imparting downward and inward rotary movement to said trimmer between spaced bunches in said molds and towards one of said bunches in one of said molds with a positive shearing action relative to the end wall of said last-named mold to cut surplus material from the bunch therein, and means shearing action againstv said projecting bunch ends after each movement of said conveyor for cutting surplus material projecting from bunches positioned therein, and plate members secured to said trimmers androtating therewith to eject tobacco as it is cut by said trimmers from bunches in vsaid conveyor.

15. In a cigar machine having an endless conveyor, a plurality of bunch shaping pockets mounted on said conveyor, said pocketshaving openings through which surplus bunch material may project and a bunch end supporting shoulder, a bunch loading station, a trimming station, a rotating trimmer, means for imparting a pluralty of revolutions to said trimmer downwardly relative to said shoulder for trimming said surplus material from said bunches projecting through said openings from said pockets, and paddles mounted on said trimmer and rotating therewith for forcibly expelling the cut oft surplus material tending to lodge in said machine at said trimming station.

y16. A cigar bunch shaping machine comprising in combination a casing, an endless traveling conveyor provided with a plurality of bunch shaping molds having end walls from which project bunch ends to be trimmed, said conveyor extending outwardly from ysaid casing and forming therewith a space accommodating the ends of bunches projecting outwardly from said end walls of said molds, a plurality of separateindependently movable mold covers coacting with said molds, a rotary trimmer, means mounting said trimmer for rotation in said space and shearing coaction with said end walls of molds moved seriatim into trimming relation with said trimmer as the result of the travel of said conveyor, and means for rotating said trimmer and imparting positive shearing action thereto re1- ative to said end walls for trimming oi the ends of lbunches projecting from said molds into said space.'

HENRY H. WHEELER.

CERTIFICATE ola-CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,5br9,52o. may 25 19th.

HENRY H WHEELER It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page L1., sec- `lines 50 to 55.inclusive, and Page 5,

ond column, first column, lines 8 to lh inclusive, claims 5 and 6, strike out the words and comma "a conveyorv support casing, means mounting said conveyor on said casing constructed and arrangedtoprovide a space adjacent said end walls to accomodate said pro jecting bunch ends during the travel of said bunches from said loading to said trim ing station,; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the cas-e in the Patent Office.

signed 'and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D, 19th.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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