US2722321A - Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1955 R. D. TOUTON APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 12 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

'7 j RUSH D. TOUTON ATTORNEYS Nov. 1, 1955 R. D. TOUTON APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12 1951 INVEN TOR. RUSH D. TOUTON BY Q R ATTO R N EYS 5 R. D. TOUTON 2,722,321

APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. RUSH D. TOUTON ATTORNEYS Nov. 1, 1955 R. D. TOUTON APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO LEAVES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 12 1951 ll II II II III m M m0 RN m m U mm D H s U R ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR STRINGHNG TOBACCO LEAVES Rush D. Touton, Wynnewood, Pa.

Application April 12, 1951, Serial No. 220,615

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-55) This invention relates to stringing tobacco leaves.

As is well known, when tobacco is harvested, the leaves are strung on lengths of string secured at one end to a lath, the free end of the string, after the leaves are strung thereon, is attached to the other end of the lath and the whole then racked up in a curing barn with the g leaves hanging from the string for the curing of the tobacco leaves.

When the tobacco has cured, the laths are taken down, the ends of the string are freed from the lath, the tobacco leaves pushed together and the balance of the string may be wound about the butt portions of the leaves and secured to form hands.

In practice heretofore, the stringing of the tobacco leaves has been accomplished manually by operators who string them by passing a needle, carried by the string at its free end, through the butts of the leaves. This operation is open to a number of objections, chief among which is variation in the number of leaves per lath, unequal spacing of the leaves on the string, wide variation in the number of laths strung per day by different operators, which results in a limited average production, breakage of leaves due to inept operators, loss from falling leaves during curing resulting from improper stringing, difficulty in obtaining requisite labor for a short seasonable occupation, and rising labor costs coupled with decreasing productivity.

As a consequence, there have heretofore been many efforts made to provide mechanism and procedure for the mechanical stringing of tobacco leaves which would give a constant number of pairs of leaves per lath, uniform spacing of the leaves on the string and increased productivity per operator.

This invention relates to an improvement on the apparatus disclosed in the copending patent applications by Arthur E. Palmer 22,596, filed April 22, 1948, now Patent No. 2,649,977 and Rush D. Touton 33,056, filed June 15, 1948, now Patent No. 2,682,341. Generally speaking, the apparatus disclosed in these applications provides economical and uniform spacing of a consistent number of leaves per lath, the leaves being securely held by the string with a minimum of falling leaves. The apparatus provides for securing leaves of tobacco at spaced intervals between a pair of strings which are secured together and to one end of a lath, by successively crossing the strings over and under one another, or crossing one string about the other, between tobacco leaves, the butts of which are successively presented between the strings. More particularly, the strings are so arranged and manipulated that portions thereof will extend at rest for a period between crossings to enable successive tobacco leaves to be presented between them.

The prior disclosed apparatus did not include means for balancing the tension between the strings and, therefore, it frequently occurred that one string would be under greater tension than the other. This resulted in 70 one string being substantially straight and passing along the sides of the successive tobacco stems and the other Patented. Nov. 1, 1955 string providing loops which passed around each tobacco stem. When this occurred, the stems, which shrink upon drying, had the tendency to fall out of the strings. This problem could be in part overcome by increasing the tension on the two strings but a sufiicient increase in tension to be appreciably effective in over.- coming the problem makes loading and handling more difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved string feeding apparatus for intermittently r0.- tating or twisting a pair of strings extending. therefrom and affixed to one end of a lath which, in accordance with the arrangement of the apparatus, permits the insertion of the butts of the tobacco leaves between the strings between crossings thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide intermittently rotating string feeding apparatus which will maintain balanced and uniform cycles of tension on the string feeding therethrough and provideuniform contour of the strings as they pass around the stems of the tobacco leaves.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved guide means assisting the operator in the proper positioning or placement of the butts of the tobacco leaves between the strings between crossing thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide proper string tension during cut-off and fastening of the string to .the lath after. the last butts of tobacco leaves are inserted and secured between the strings of a lath.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus for cutting. off the string, without waste, after the last butts of tobacco leaves are inserted and secured between strings of a lath.

The apparatus according to this invention and the mode of its operation according to the method of the invention and the various objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aside view, partly broken away, of an apparatus embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, showing details of construction of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged showing of a portion of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged showing of the string feeding apparatus shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view of the right hand side of the apparatus shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of the apparatus taken on the trace 77 of Figure l;

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged showings of the side of the string cut-off apparatus, as shown in Figure l, with the apparatus shown in successive operating positions; and

Figure 10 is an end elevation taken on the trace 10-10 0 of Figure 8 showing the cut-off apparatus partly in section.

Referring to the figures there is shown a framework 2 which is provided with a table portion 4 beside which an operator will stand and on which there may be placed tobacco leaves when the operator is operating the machine.

In the upper left hand portion of the framework 2 there is mounted a motor 6 which drives a speed reducer 8 by means of a conventional belt drive 10. The shaft 12 is driven by the speed reducer and, through the bevelled gears 14, drives the horizontal hollow shaft .16 which rotates in bearings 18. Operation of the motor may be controlled by the operator by conventional control means actuated by a push button which may be located on the machine, in a well known manner, convenient to the operator.

Attached to and rotatable with the shaft 16 is the plate 20 carrying spindles for mounting the spools of string 22 and 23. String from the spools is fed through the guide member 24 which is mounted on the shaft 16 and enters the end of the hollow shaft 16 as indicated generally at 26. The strings pass through the hollow shaft 16 from left to right, as viewed in the figures, and emerge from the right hand end of the shaft as shown at 28 and 29. The strings then pass through the string feeding apparatus, indicated generally at 30, which is an intermittently rotating tension controlling device and will be hereinafter described in detail. The strings leaving the intermittently rotating device pass through the slot 32 in the housing 34 and are tied to the end of the lath 36.

The upper end of the shaft 12 is provided with a sprocket 38 driving the chain 40 which in turn drives the sprocket 42 attached to the vertical shaft 44 which is mounted in suitable bearings 45 in the framework 2. The lower end of the shaft 44 mounts a sprocket 46 mounting and driving the conveyor chain 48. The conveyor chain 48 is a closed loop chain which is supported at its other end by the sprocket 47. The sprocket 47 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 49 which is supported in suitable bearings 50. The bearings are afiixed to a bearing mounting member 51 which is mounted on the framework 2 by means of the adjustable mounting means 53 in order to provide adjustment for the tension of the chain 48.

The looped chain 48 is spaced at the central portion of the length of its loop by the sprocket 52 which is rotatably mounted in the sprocket supporting and chain guiding plate 45. The plate 45, which is preferably made of wood, is supported at one end by the shaft and sprocket assembly 44 and 46, and supported at its other end by the shaft and sprocket assembly 49 and 47. The plate 45 provides a filler in the back of the chain and acts as a guard between the chain and the sprockets. The plate further serves to prevent flutter or vibration of the chain between the various chain supporting sprockets. The spacings between the end sprockets 46 and 49 and the center sprocket 52 are such that there is no appreciable sag in the chain between these supports.

The chain 48 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending fingers 51. These fingers provide for the positive spacing and the support of the tobacco leaves as will be hereinafter described. Groups of these fingers are affixed to the conveyor chain 48 for lengths providing for a measure of the spacing of the number of tobacco leaves hung from one lath. There may be a plurality of these groups of fingers afiixed to the conveyor chain as indicated in Figure 2, generally at 55 and 56.

The intermittently rotating and tension controlling string feeding device, shown generally at 30 in Figures 1 and 3, is shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. Rigidly mounted on the right hand end portion of the hollow shaft 16 is the collar 58. The collar is provided with an extending pin which is adapted to engage one end of the spring 62. The collar is also provided with the ex tending screw 64.

Rigidly afiixed to the shaft 16 is the bushing 66. R0- tatably mounted on the bushing 66 is the sleeve member 68. Affixed to the sleeve member 68 for rotation therewith are the member 70 and the opposite end of the spring 62 from that end of the spring engaging the pin 60. The member 72 having a central bore 73 is mounted on the sleeve 68 and is freely movable thereon. The flanges 74 is fixed to the sleeve 68, and mounted between the fiange 74 and the member 72 is the spring 76. The end of the spring 76 in engagement with the member 72 is retained in a central position by the members 77 which are retained under the heads of the bolts 84 and 85. The spring retaining cups 78 and 79 are rigidly mounted on the member 70. The spring retaining cups 80 and 86, and cups 81 and are slidably mounted on and supported by the bolts 84 and 85 which are mounted on the member 72. The spring 82 is engaged by and supported between the two spring retaining cups 78 and 80, and the spring 83 is engaged by and supported between the cups 85 and 81. The floating member 72 is held in a position of equilibrium resulting from the urging of springs 82 and 83 and the opposed urging of spring 76. The cups 80 and 86, and the cups 85 and 81 are urged toward each other by the urging of the springs 82 and 83, respectively.

The member 72 is provided with four outwardly extending string guides 91, 92, 93 and 94. The member 70 is provided at one end thereof with a weight member 88. The member 70 is also provided with the extending bolt 89 which is adapted to engage the pin 64 as a final limit only to limit the rotation of the member 70 and the sleeve 68 with respect to the shaft 16 as will be hereinafter described.

The strings 28 and 29 passing through the tubular shaft 16 emerge from the right hand end of the shaft, the string 29 passes through the guide member 92, then between the cup members 80 and 86, then through the guide member 91 and then, as indicated at 29', passes toward the slot 32 as shown in Figure 3. Similarly, string 28 passes successively through guide 94, between the cup members 81 and 85, through the string guide 93 and then, as indicated at 28', passes toward the slot 32 as shown in Figure 3.

It will be apparent that, as the two strings are drawn through the slot 32 by the motion of the conveyor 48 in a manner hereinafter described, the tension of these two strings will be equalized by the friction applied to the strings as they pass between the pairs of cups 85 and 81, and 80 and 86. For example, should the tension on the string 28 become greater than the tension on the string 29, the guide 93 will be pulled to the right as viewed in Figure 5 reducing the force provided by the spring 83 between the cups 85 and 81. The member 72 will be twisted on the sleeve 68 as a result of this motion and the spring 82 will be compressed in order that the member 72 will remain in equilibrium as a result of balance between the force exerted by the strings, the force exerted by the spring 76 and the force exerted by the two springs 82 and 83. The resulting compression of the spring 82 will increase the force exerted between the members 80 and 86. Thus the tension on the string 29 will be increased, and the tension on the string 28 will be decreased. This action will serve at all times to retain a balanced tension between the two strings and provide auniform rate of feeding of the two strings with balanced tension as they are drawn through the intermittently rotating and tension controlling string feeding device. This provision of uniform tension between the strings will result in each of the strings as finally twisted around the stems providing half of the loop necessary to engage the stern in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4. As previously described, dissimilar string tensions result in one string being relatively straight and the other string providing substantially all of the loop passing around each of the tobacco stems. It will be apparent that this is true for the twist arrangement as well as for the 360 twist arrangement.

As previously described, the shaft 16 is rotating at a continuous speed as a result of being driven by the motor 6. The sleeve member 68 is rotatably mounted on the bushing member 66 and is driven by the shaft 16 only by means of its connection through the member 70, the spring 62 and the collar 58. Assuming the intermittently rotating device to be in the position shown in Figure 3 wherein the strings 28' and 29' are each lying on a horizontal plane, the strings pass through the slot 32, each at an outwardly extreme portion thereof. The strings passing through the outwardly extending string guides 91 and 93, which are spaced apart more widely than the length of the slot, will tend to prevent rotation of the intermittently rotating device, and the spring 62 will be wound up as the shaft 16 rotates, and the spring will exert increasingly greater force upon the member 70 as it is coiled.

As the shaft 16 continues to rotate, the string guides 92 and 93 will rise to a substantially vertical position after which the strings passing through the guides will no longer restrain rotation of the guides but will lie in such a position that the string tension will urge rotation by the guides. At this point, the tension on the spring 62 will have become suflicient in conjunction with the initial tension load applied by the stretched strings to cause the intermittently rotating device to rotate. The intermittently rotating device is substantially a free floating string feeding head which is moved with sufficient initial velocity that it will continue to rotate for 270 thereby returning to the at rest position as shown in the figures. As the intermittently rotating device rotates, the strings 28 and 29' will slide in opposite directions transversely across the slot 32 to the center of the slot where they will cross and then slide outwardly to their previous positions at the extreme ends of the slots.

The pin 64 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 16 may be positioned to be engaged by the bolt 89extending from the member 70 so as to arrest rotation of the intermittently rotating device as rotated an additional 90 from the vertical position or an additional 270 from the vertical position, thereby controlling the provision of a 180 or.360 string twist.

The tension provided by the string upon the intermittently rotating member. 70 as it passes its vertical position is a major factor in the provision of a subsequent 270 rapid rotation by the intermittently rotating member. It will be apparent that the relative diametrical distances between the string guides 91 and between the outer ends of the slot 32 in conjunction with the selected axial spacing between the plane of the slot 32 and the plane of rotation of the string guides will have a major bearing on the force exerted on the intermittently rotatingmember as a result of the string tension at the time the member passes its vertical position. The inertial effect of the counterweight 88 and the torsional force exerted by the spring 62 are also effective in providing the desired rapidity and degree of rotation. It should be noted, however, that the mechanism will pause and then rotate 180 or 360 in the absence of any one of the three above mentioned influences and, with only the slot and free floating head being rotated by the shaft with a pusher pin, the head will pause and rotate 180.

After the device has rotated and come to rest with the strings at the outward extremities of the slot 32, the device will remain stationary until the shaft 16 has rotated sufliciently to cause the intermittently rotating device to rotate again in the manner previously described.

While in the foregoing description reference has been made to the intermittently rotating device as rotating and coming to rest, it will be apparent that, after the device passes through its period of rapid rotation, there will be some hunting or oscillating by the device until it finally comes to rest. A magnet 89, as shown in Figure 3, may be mounted on the interior of the housing 34' adjacent to the position occupied by the counterweight 88. If the member 70 is made of a suitable non-magnetic material and the counterweight is made of magnetic material, it will be apparent that the magnet will serve to dampen these oscillations of the intermittently rotating device. The magnet will also serve to hold the intermittently rotating device in its at rest position for a period of time as measured by the rotation of the shaft 16 somewhat longer than the intermittently rotating device would be held in its at rest position by the restraining action of the strings in the slot. It will be apparent that, if 180 rotation is desired, a magnet may be located, as indicated-at 89',

in order to magnetically engage the counterweight after 180 rotation thereof.

In Figure 1 there is shown generally at 96 the apparatus for tensioning the strings in preparation for cutting thereof after the last butts of tobacco leaves have been inserted and secured between the strings of a lath. This apparatus is shown in detail in Figures 8, 9 and 10. Attached to the rotating shaft 44 above the lower sprocket 46 is the driving disc 104. The housing 106 is supported from the framework 2 by means not shown and serves to retain the string tensioning member 108. One end of the spring 110 is attached to the pin 112 mounted in the housing 106, and the other end of the spring is attached to the pin 114 which is mounted in the string tensioning member 108. The string tensioning member is provided with an extended arm 116 and with an insert portion 118 which is made of fiber, rubber or other suitable material having a high coefiicient of friction and adapted to be engaged by the outer surface of the driving disc 104.

Mounted above and to the left of the string tensioning device is a fixed cut-off knife assembly as shown generally at 97 in Figure 1. The knife blade 120, as shown in Figure 10, is mounted in the supporting member 122 which is attached to the framework 2 by means not shown in Figure 10. The knife blade 120 is positioned in alocation where the operator may, by grasping the two strings 31 and 33, hook the strings over the knife to cut the strings as will be hereinafter described.

In the operation of the device, an operator standing beside the table 4 will grasp a lath from a. conveniently located source of supply and tie to one end of the lath the ends of the two strings 31 and 33 emerging through the slot 32. As the conveyor chain assumes a position with the first support finger of the group of fingers 54 having completed its rotation around the sprocket 42, the operator will hook the strings adjacent to the end of the lath to which they are tied over the first finger and position the lath to extend from the finger upwardly to the left, resting upon the supporting member 89. The conveyor chain will then carry the lath and the string in the direction indicated by the arrow 39 in Figure 3.

The sprocket 46 is made of minimum possible diameter in order that the spread between the fingers 51 is a maximum as the chain passes around the sprocket. As each finger successively passes around the sprocket, the intermittently rotating device, by being properly synchronized with the chain, positions the strings to present an open V, generally indicated by the numeral 96 in Figures 3 and 4, for reception of pairs of stems of tobacco leaves. Inasmuch as the stems of tobacco leaves are generally hemispherically in form, it is the customary practice to place two leaves together with their top faces facing each other. The two stems will then engage each other and will provide a substantially circular form for engagement by the strings. The apex of the angle between the strings 31 and 33 is sufliciently acute, however, to provide between the strings adjacent to the finger against which the tobacco stems are pressed by the operator, a space less than the width of the stems and the desired string pressure against the sides of the stems as the preceeding string 7 crossing is pressed forward. This will be made clear by viewing Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows the strings 31' and 33' in the positions they will assume immediately after having been crossed by rotation of the intermittently rotating device following the insertion of the pair of tobacco stems 98 between the strings. The operator will then place the next pair of tobacco stems between the strings, as indicated at 98', and will press the stems forwardly against the finger 100 to a position substantially that occupied by the stems 98" whereupon the strings will occupy the positions 31 and 33. It should be noted that the next successive conveyor finger,

shown at 100' as the portion of the chain to which it is.

attached reaches the point of tangency with the sprocket 46, will assume a position parallel to the finger 100 and, if the operator has not pressed the tobacco stem 98" forward sufi'iciently against the finger 100, the finger 100 will engage the stem as it passes through the are 103 and carry it forward.

After each of the pairs of tobacco stems are placed between the strings against the moving conveyor finger, continued motion of the conveyor chain will cause the next successive finger to pass around the sprocket 46 immediately after the intermittently rotating spring feeding head has rotated so that, as each conveyor finger arrives at the position of the finger 100 shown in Figure 4, there will exist an open V between the two strings for the reception of the next successive pair of tobacco stems. It should be noted that, as the stems are passed forwardly between the strings, the sliding of the strings against the sides of the stems will groove them sutficiently that the stems will remain suspended between the strings even before the next successive string crossing occurs.

There is imposed an increased tension on the strings immediately prior to the rotation of the intermittently rotating device partly as a result of the increased rate of withdrawal of the strings through the tensioning balancing means and partly as a result of the increased angle through which the strings are drawn around the edges of the slot 32 as the tensioning balancing means approaches the vertical position as has been hereinbefore described. Under this pulsating condition of extreme tension, the stems will be additionally grooved by the strings during the periods of maximum string tension.

It will be apparent that the rate of motion of the conveyor will establish the frequency with which the tobacco stems are placed between the strings, and the spacing between the fingers 51 will establish the spacing between successive tobacco stems engaged by the twisted strings. While the twisting of the strings is shown in Figures 3 and 4 as being a 360 twist, it will be apparent that, as previously described, the twist may equally well be a 180 twist.

The guide plate 102, as shown in Figure l is provided as a gauge to assist the operator in uniformly positioning the upper ends of each of the tobacco stems as the successive tobacco leaves are positioned against the conveyor finger and between the strings. It should be noted that the tobacco leaves may be hung singly as well as in pairs or bunches between successive turns of the strings.

As the operator places successive tobacco leaves in position against the successive conveyor fingers, the previously strung leaves and the lath strip are carried to the left as viewed in the various figures. When the operator has placed the tobacco leaves against the last finger of the group of fingers on the conveyor chain, and while the conveyor chain is still carrying the lath and the leaves of the string to the left, the operator will grasp the two strings 31 and 33, raise them upwardly around the end of the lath and place them over or around the arm 116 of the string tensioning member 108.

As the operator places the strings 31 and 33 over the arm 116, he will move the pin 116 and the string tensioning member 108 to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, against the tension of the spring 110. When the portion 118 of the string tensioning member engages the driving disc 104, the member 108 will be propelled to the right, as viewed in the figures, to the extreme right hand end of the housing 106. This motion will be considerably more rapid than the motion of the chain to the right, as viewed in these figures, due to the fact that the diameter of the driving disc 104 is considerably greater than the diameter of the chain driving sprocket 46. This relatively rapid motion of the arm 116 to the right will carry the arm and the strings 31 and 33 to an extreme position, as shown in Figure 9, while the last tobacco stem has moved a relatively small distance as can be seen by comparing the positions of the stem 101 in Figures 8 and 9.

When the string tensioning member 108 has moved to the extreme right hand position in the housing 106, the inclined lower edge portion 124 of the tensioning member will engage the driving disc, and as a result of rotation of the disc, will be carried upwardly upon the disc and inwardly from the outer periphery of the disc. With the tensioning member in this position, the extended spring 110 will draw the tensioning member back to an at rest position, as shown in Figure 8, by drawing the tensioning member 108 across the top of the disc from a position, as shown in Figure 9, through the position shown in construction lines 108 in Figure 10. The string tensioning member will then be held in an at rest position, as shown in Figure 8, by the tension of the spring 110.

As the arm 116 pulls the strings to the extreme forward position, as shown in Figure 9, a second operator on the opposite side of the machine will grasp the strings 31 and 33 and, raising them, will hook them over the knife blade 120 to cut them. The second operator will then secure the ends of the strings emerging from the string feed to the end of a new latch and position the lath on a machine and begin positioning tobacco leaves between the strings.

At this stage in the process, the strung lath 36 will have assumed a position lying upon the fingers 51, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, and the first operator will, by grasping the lath at its left hand end with his right hand, be able to, by applying pressure of his thumb upon the strings passing around or through the slot in the lath upwardly toward the arm 116, hold the string tension which is created by the string tensioning during the cut-off operation while he secures the cut-01f ends of the string to the left hand end of the lath.

The string tensioning member not only provides increased tension on the strings prior to cut-0E to tighten the assembly of strung leaves but also provides an enforced time delay after the last tobacco stem is inserted in position which permits two twists to occur at the end of the string. These twists will lie between the last tobacco leaf and the portion of the string tied to the lath after cut-off has occurred insuring permanent and posi tive support and positioning of the last tobacco stem.

The excess string and the position of the cut-off substantiallv eliminates the need for the second operator to manually pull the strings through the tensioning device in order to have sufficient string available for securing the strings to the next successive lath. This permits the use of smaller diameter strings which are desirable t increase the cutting action of the strings into the stems of the tobacco leaves, as described in connection with Figures 3 and 4, without adversely affectin the hands of the operator by the same cutting action when the operator has operated the machine for an extended period of time.

Tn the normal operation of this device, two operators will be employed, one standing on either side of the machine, and while the first operator is tying the cut-off end of a string to a lath supporting strung tobacco leaves. as previouslv described. the other operator will grasp the ends of the strings hanging from the string feedin head. tie these strin s to the end of a new lath and po ition the lath with strin s hooked over the first finger of the next successive group of fingers on the chain 43 and commence positioning tobacco leaves between the strings and against successive chain fingers 51 for loadin the next lath strip.

Referring to Fi ure 1 there is provided a limit switch 126 having an arm 128 extending therefrom and positinned so as to be engaged by the end of a lath, such as lath 36, if the lath is not removed from the chain prior to its engaging the limit switch arm. In the normal operation of the apparatus, the conveyor chain 48 will run continuously and, as previously described, as each lath is completely loaded and the string cut off, it will be immediately removed from the conveyor chain. The limit switch 126 is provided, in the event of failure of the operator to remove the lath. The limit switch is connected to the driving motor starting circuit in a conventional and well known fashion to stop the driving motor 6 in the event that the latch strip is not removed from the chain 48 before it engages the limit switch.

This apparatus provides for the rapid and efiicient stringing of tobacco leaves on a lath in such a fashion that the leaves are securely and permanently supported between strings having uniform tension.

The apparatus provides not only for the spacing of the tobacco leaves on the lath, but also provides a pacer, pacing the operator in the speed of his work, and at the same time provides assurance that each tobacco stern, by virtue of the grooves formed in the side thereof, as indicated in Figure 4, will be held securely between the strings. This is true whether the machine is operated with 180 string rotation between tobacco stems or with 360 string rotation between tobacco stems.

The novel method of insuring final string tension and providing simplified procedure of string cut-off, as disclosed herein, aids greatly to the utility of the apparatus.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the details of the structure embodying the invention as disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves to a lath comprising, means mounted on an axis for support of a pair of lengths of string, guide means for feeding strings from said support means in spaced relation, said guide means including means for imparting to said spaced strings intermittent rotation about the axis through at least 180, conveyor means for carrying strings secured to one end of a lath away from said guide means as the spaced strings are rotated about the axis, members affixed to said conveyor at spaced intervals, said conveyor and said members being constructed and aranged to provide for the reception of a tobacco leaf stem between the spaced strings and each of the spaced conveyor members between successive rotations of the strings, intermittently driven means positioned to be engaged by the strings between said guide means and said conveyor for carrying the strings away from said guide means for a limited distance above said conveyor at a rate of motion more rapid than that of said conveyor means.

2. Apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves to a lath comprising, means mounted on an axis for support of a pair of lengths of string, guide means for feeding strings from said support means in spaced relation, said guide means including means for imparting to said spaced strings intermittent rotation about the axis through at least 180, conveyor means for carrying strings secured to one end of a lath away from said guide means as the spaced strings are rotated about the axis, members affixed to said conveyor at spaced intervals, said conveyor and said members being constructed and arranged to provide for the reception of a tobacco leaf stem between the spaced strings and each of the spaced conveyor members between successive rotations of the strings, intermittently driven means positioned to be engaged by the strings between said guide means and said conveyor for carrying the strings away from said guide means for a limited distance above said conveyor at a rate of motion more rapid than that of said conveyor means, and means positioned adjacent to said intermittently driven means for severing the strings at a location between the said intermittently driven means and said guide means.

3. In apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves; a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, a spring support member connected to said shaft, a pair of coil springs secured to said member in spaced relation and having their axes substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft, means for guiding a pair of lengths of string in spaced relation, means connecting said guiding means to each spring to cause said guiding means to rotate with said spring support member and to frictionally engage said lengths of string respectively between the guiding means and the springs to maintain balanced tension on the strings, means to resist the axial force exerted by said spring against the guiding means and means to advance the strings away from the guiding means.

4. In apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves; a shaft having an axial bore adapted to guide a pair of strings, means to rotate said shaft, means mounted at one end of said shaft for support of a pair of lengths of string, a spring support member connected to the other end of said shaft, a pair of coil springs secured to said member in spaced relation and having their axes substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft, means for guiding a pair of lengths of string in spaced relation, means connecting said guiding means to each spring to cause said guiding means to rotate with said spring support member and to frictionally engage said lengths of string respectively between the guiding means and the springs to maintain balanced tension on the strings, means to resist the axial force exerted by said springs against the guiding means and means to advance the strings away from the guiding means.

5. In apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves; a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, a spring support member connected to said shaft, a pair of coil springs secured to said member in spaced relation and having their axes substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft, means for guiding a pair of lengths of string in spaced relation, means slidably engaging said guiding means with said springs including a cup on each spring to frictionally engage said lengths of string respectively between the guiding means and the cups to maintain balanced tension on the strings, means to resist the axial force exerted by said springs against the guiding means and means to advance the strings away from the guiding means.

6. In apparatus for stringing tobacco leaves; a shaft, means to rotate said shaft, a spring support member connected to said shaft, a pair of coil springs secured to said member in spaced relation, means connecting said guiding means to each spring to cause said guiding means to rotate with said spring support member and to frictionally engage said lengths of string respectively between the guiding means and the springs to maintain balanced tension on the strings, spring means to resist the axial force exerted by said springs against the guiding means and means to advance the strings away from the guiding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 16,452 Robinson Jan. 20, 1857 17,496 Dutcher June 9, 1857 1,629,169 Massingham May 17, 1927 2,156,652 Harris May 2, 1939 2,327,252 Dickerson Aug. 17, 1943 2,394,692 Isler Feb. 12, 1946 2,467,113 Deiters Apr. 12, 1949 2,511,473 Kreeger June 13, 1950 2,538,698 McNeill Ian. 16, 1951 2,571,003 Anderson Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 773,608 France Sept. 3, 1934

Images