US159714A - Improvement in tobacco-cutters - Google Patents

Description

NTTED STATES PATENT EEICEa WRIGHT SMITH, OF FORESTVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOBACCOCUTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.159,714, dated February 9, 1875; application tiled June 8, 1874.

To all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, WRIGHT SMITH, M. D., of Forestville, in the county of Madison, Indiana, (formerly of Beech Grove, Indiana,) have invented an Improved Tobacco-Cutter, to which I have applied the name Smiths Xact, and of which the following is a specication: This invention relates' to that class of cutters which are used by tobacconists for dividing plug-tobacco into pieces of such sizes as may best suit the retail trade.

The present invention consists in a peculiar' gage-scale or measuring-rule applied to the base of the cutter at right angles to a central knife, and reading outward from the latter toward both its ends, so as to measure and indicate to the eye the length to Which a plug or part of a plug lmay extend on each side of the knife. This provides for dividing and subdividing a plug into any desired number of equal pieces without Waste, and with the utmost ease and rapidity.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an elevation of this improved tobacco-cutter. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same.

This tobacco-cutter is composed of a base, A, a pivoted knife-holder, B, carrying a knif'e, k, and a lever-handle, C, which is connected by segmental gears or racks to the free or moving end of the knife-holder, so as to provide for reciprocating the latter with the requisite force.

The gearing is not exposed in the drawing, being concealed by the standards which support the pivots of the handle, and guide the free end of the knife-holder.

The knife 7c may be attached to the holder B in any approved manner. Beneath its cutting-edge a strip, Z, of lead is inserted in the upper surface of the base to constitute the cutting-abutment. To limit the motion of the knife, so as to prevent cutting this lead in two, or Wearing the same, or dulling the knife With unnecessary rapidity, a vertical set-screw, s, is tapped into the handle C, so as to engage With the back of the knife-holder. This constitutes an adjustable stop, and by turning the screw either Way the contact of the knife with the lead may be regulated with facility.

To provide for dividing and subdividing plugs of tobacco into pieces of equal size and value, the base A is extended laterally, and provided on its upper side with a measuring scale or rule, r, at right angles to the knife, and extending therefrom equally on both sides. This scale or rule is by preference divided into inches and parts of inches in the ordinary Way; but it is so numbered as to read outward from the knife on either side, the line of the knife being zero, (0.) By this means, when a plug or part of a plug is placed beneath the knife, its center may be determined with the utmost ease, and it may thus be divided and subdivided into any number of equal parts.

The effect of this provision will be a great saving in tobacco, as Well as in the time occupied in cutting plugs into pieces.

In the illustration the scale or rule r is formed or marked on the. top of a vertical ange or rib, which serves as a guide or gage to facilitate placing the plugs squarely beneath the knife, and is cast with the base.

The lateral extension of the base incident to the employment of the scale or rule adapts the improved cutter to stand steadily, and the scale rib or liange serves to strengthen or stiften the extended base.

I am aware that measuring scales and gages have been shown and described as applied to tobacco-cutters previous to my invention, but only as arranged to measure or indicate the length of a piece cut from a plug, and not to adapt the cutter to divide and subdivide a plug into pieces of equal size, in the manner herein set forth.

The following is claimed as new in this invention, namely:

The graduated scale or ineasuringrule r, arranged at right angles to the knife 7c, and reading outward therefrom on both sides, to provide for dividing and subdividing a plug of tobacco into equal pieces, in the manner herein set forth.

WRIGHT SMITH.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN METGALE, E, B. GHANNEss.

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