Tobacco stripper nip roll

A stripping roller rotatably mountable to a tobacco stripping machine, the combination comprising:

• a generally elongate axial center support means rotatably connectable to the stripping machine;
• power means connected to the machine to rotatably drive the components of the machine;
• a first generally cylindrical portion mounted generally symmetrically about the support means;
• a transition area adjacent the first cylindrical portion mounted about the support means;
• a nose portion having a first end and a second end forward of the cylindrical portion with the second end being adjacent the transition area, the nose portion being generally symmetrically mounted about the support means having a periphery that describes in longitudinal cross-sectional configuration a generally non-linear radially decreasing path about the center support means from the transition to the first end;
• the roller is further detachably mounted to the stripping machine by the center support means so that it is easily removable for cleaning;
• the sleeve mounts about a rotating shaft and is removably fastened thereto by fastening means;
• the sleeve further comprises fastening means receiving apparatus into which the fastening means are selectively releasably secured to permit the roller to be easily removed for cleaning;
• and
• the fastening means receiving apparatus further comprises a pair of opposing notches.

A stripping roller rotatably mounted to a tobacco stripping machine, the combination comprising:

• a generally elongate axial center support means rotatably connected to the stripping machine;
• power means connected to the machine to rotatably drive the components of the machine;
• a first generally cylindrical portion mounted generally symmetrically about the support means with a first diameter and having a first end and a second end, the first end being adjacent the machine;
• a transition area adjacent the first cylindrical portion mounted about the support means defined a longitudinally arcuate periphery having a first end adjacent the base portion and a second end distant therefrom;
• a nose portion having a first end and a second end, the second end being adjacent and forwardly of the cylindrical portion's second end, the nose portion further being generally symmetrically mounted about the support means and having a non-linear periphery of longitudinal cross-sectional configuration that is tangential at the second end of the nose portion to the second end of the transition;
• the first end of the nose portion has a second diameter which is less than the first diameter of the cylindrical portion;
• the support means further comprises a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve passing through the center of the roller;
• the roller further comprises a polyurethane foam interior which is bonded to the support means and a uniform surfaced water-resistant polyurethane skin-like exterior;
• the roller is further detachably mounted to the stripping machine by a rotating shaft so that the roller may be easily removed for cleaning;
• and
• the sleeve further has a pair of opposing notches therein adjacent the cylindrical portion and the machine.

In a tobacco leaf stripping machine having at least a pair of counter-rotating stripping rollers mounted to the frame to form a nip along a first axis into which tobacco leaves are fed, tobacco stalk infeed means mounted to the frame above the nip to receive a stalk of tobacco and move it into the frame along a second axis directing the downwardly extending tobacco leaves into the nip, the improvement comprising:

• at least one stripping roller having a first nose portion with a first end and a generally cylindrically shaped second portion with a base end having a first diameter interconnected at a transition, the first end being forwardly and distal of the transition, the nose portion further having a periphery that describes, in longitudinal cross-sectional configuration, a generally non-linear radially decreasing path from the transition to the first end such that the first end has a second diameter less than the first diameter;
• the support means further comprises a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve passing through the center of the roller;
• the roller is further detachably mounted to the stripping machine by a rotating shaft so that the roller may be easily removed for cleaning;
• and
• the sleeve further has a pair of opposing notches therein adjacent the cylindrical portion and the machine.

In a tobacco leaf stripping machine having at least a pair of counter-rotating stripping rollers mounted to a frame to form a nip along a first axis into which tobacco leaves are fed, tobacco stalk infeed means mounted to the frame above the nip to receive a stalk of tobacco and move it into the frame along a second axis directing downwardly extending tobacco leaves into the nip, the improvement comprising:

• at least one stripping roller having a first nose portion with a first end and a generally cylindrically shaped second portion with a base end having a first diameter interconnected at a transition, the first end being forwardly and distal of the transition, the nose portion further having a periphery that describes, in longitudinal cross-sectional configuration, a generally non-linear radially decreasing path from the transition to the first end such that the first end has a second diameter less than the first diameter;
• the support means further comprises a generally hollow cylindrical sleeve passing through the center of the roller;
• the roller is further detachably mounted to the stripping machine by a rotating shaft so that the roller may be easily removed for cleaning;
• at least one notch in said sleeve;
• and
• means for cooperating engagement with said notch, said means including a pin extending from said shaft.