Apparatus and methods for cutting rods into lengths for cigarette makers

An apparatus for cutting a longitudinal rod of tobacco-containing material having a thickness and a longitudinal axis and advancing at a first speed in a first direction into lengths, said apparatus comprising:

• a knife wheel having a first knife and a second knife, the first and second knives being mounted in opposition on the wheel, each knife having a blade, each blade having:
• a leading edge having a first length,
• a trailing edge having a second length, and
• a first side and a second side forming a cutting edge for severing the tobacco-containing rod;
• means for rotating the knife wheel at a first rate so that each knife travels in a first path and each blade cutting edge passes through the rod to sever the rod into lengths;
• a sharpening stone surface;
• means for rotting the sharpening stone surface at a second rate which is independent of the first rate and the first speed;
• means for positioning the sharpening stone surface it he path of travel of the first and second blades so that one of the first or second sides of each blade passes along the rotating sharpening stone surface to sharpen the cutting edge;
• a deburring stone having:
• a cylindrical surface having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod,
• a spindle extending from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical surface, and
• means for permitting the spindle to rotate freely;
• and
• means for oscillating the deburring stone surface in an arcuate second path between a first location and a second location at a frequency wherein the second path intersects the first path so that the other of the first or second sides of each blade passes along the deburring stone surface to debur the cutting edge, the cutting edge further comprising a radius such that the first length is shorter than the second length by at least the thickness of the rod and the cylinder has a length so that, for each blade, the leading edge and trailing edge pass along different points of the cylinder length and said other side of the cutting edge travels along the cylinder length.

An apparatus for cutting a longitudinal rod of tobacco-containing material having a thickness and a longitudinal axis and advancing at a first speed in a first direction into lengths, said apparatus comprising:

• a knife wheel having a first knife and a second knife, the first and second knives being mounted in opposition on the wheel, each knife having a blade, each blade having:
• a leading edge having a first length,
• a trailing edge having a second length, and
• a first side and a second side forming a cutting edge for severing the tobacco-containing rod;
• means for rotating the knife wheel at a first rate so that each knife travels in a first path and each blade cutting edge passes through the rod to sever the rod into lengths;
• a sharpening stone surface;
• means for rotting the sharpening stone surface at a second rate which is independent of the first rate and the first speed;
• means for positioning the sharpening stone surface in the path of travel of the first and second blades so that one of the first or second sides of each blade passes along the rotating sharpening stone surface to sharpen the cutting edge;
• a deburring stone having:
• a cylindrical surface having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod, and
• a spindle in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical surface;
• and
• means for oscillating the deburring stone surface in an arcuate second path between a first location and a second location at a frequency wherein the second path intersects the first path so that the other of the first or second sides of each blade passes along the deburring stone surface to debur the cutting edge, said means for oscillating the deburring stone surface comprising:
• a ledge having an aperture for passing therethrough the longitudinally advancing rod, a slot perpendicular to the aperture for receiving a blade, and a pivot point,
• means for moving the ledge about its pivot point and the ledge aperture between the first position and the second position, the motion frequency being timed to the first rate so that as the wheel rotates, each blade cutting edge passes through the aperture to vertically sever the rod, and
• means for securing the deburring stone surface to the ledge disposed proximate to the slot so that, as the wheel rotates, each blade cutting edge passes along the deburring stone surface prior to passing through the slot, said securing means comprising a housing secured to the ledger and means for securing the spindle to the housing so that the cylinder rotates freely about its axis and extends horizontally above the aperture.