US2320346A - Photoelectric device for cigar machines - Google Patents

Description

June 1, l943- w. c. BROEKHUYSEN 2,320,346

PHOTO-ELECTRIC DEVICEVFOR CIGAR MACHINES 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1939 vENToR d i M .roe/m .sen

A ToRNEY 1 ggg 1|, ,'j/IN June l, 1943. w. c. BRoEKHuYsEN I 2,320,345

PHTO-ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR lCIGAR MACHINES Filed Den. 16, 1939 `4 sheets-shame INVENTORl Wife. C.' e/zz Jen Il, i

June i1, 1943- w. c. xazRoEKl-IUYSENV 2,320,346

PHOTO-ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR CiGAR MACHINES Filed nec. 1e, 195s 4 sheets-sheet s 0' lNvENoR June l,4 1943. w. c. BROEKHUYSEN 2,320,346

PHOTO-ELECTRIC DEVICELFORVCIGAR MACHINES l Filed Dec. 16, 1959 4 sheets-sheer 4 INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1943 l UNITED STATES PATENT oFr-icE William C. Broekhuysen,l Garden City, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New JerseyApplication 23 Claims.

This invention relates to safety devices for Wrapper andbinder dies and for other associated operating mechanism of cigar machines involving danger to a member of the operator's body, usually a hand or arm thereof, especially to safety devices employing an optical control beam, and particularly to such devices when utilizedin electrically controlled cigar *machines the primary object of the invention being toprotect the operator's hands from inilury during the manipulation of the wrapper or binder leaf on a cutting die, or due to overseeing such other mechanisms as a wrapper-applying mechanism, by automatically stopping the machine in case of danger.

In previous photo-electric devices for this purpose, it has been necessary to cut out the Safety device during certain operationsl in each cycle of the machine, and it-is an object of the present inve'ntion to obviate suppression of the photo-electric control at any time. x

A further object of the invention is to provide for its use in conjunction with an intermittently rotating duplex turret, in a cigar machine having a front and a rear die on the turret, without,

interfering with the movement of the turret or of the cutter-head, or with the swing of the wrapper carrier'in taking off the cut wrapper from the die.

In pursuance of this object, a further object of the invention is to provide a novelsystem of reflecting devices by means of which two lightbeams, one above the other, are maintained, immediately in front of the rear die of a duplex turret where cutting and transferring of one wrapper takes place while the operator is laying the leaf for the next wrapper on the front die close to her. As long as the operators hands remain in front ofthese beams, the machine will continue to operate, but interception of either beam when the operator accidentally reaches into the path of moving mechanisms, actuates a relay and immediately stops the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control beam so disposed that if the operator reaches over the die turret to intervene in the otherwise automatic operation of a wrapping orl other mechanism disposed toward the rear of the machine, thus exposing a hand or arm to injury by a moving part of the mechanism, the safety device will operate as already indicated.

Bearing the above objects in mind, the invention consists in the provision of a light source and a photo-electric-re1ay mounted as one unit in a housing at one side of the turret, and of two superimposed' 45 mirrors in a bracket attached to the machine table at the other side of the December 16, 1939, Serial No. 309,508

turret. The beam from the light source, which is placed some distance above the photo-cell,

passes across the dies, is reflected by the upper to the lower mirror, and from the latter Vreturns to the source housing, energizing the| photo-cell therein. The lower beam is maintained just above. the dies, so as to protect the operator against catching her hand between the die and the cutter rollers, or between the die and the wrapper carrier. An interruption of the upper beam stops the machine if she should attempt to reach into other parts, such as the rolling unit, while the machine is in operation.

When the beam is interrupted, the photo-electric relay becomes de-'energized and thus opens a contact in the control circuit of the machine,

thereby stopping the same. The electrical connections are arranged in such a manner that the clutch control circuit is broken upon momentary interruption of the light beam and remains open, even after restoration of the beam, until the operator positively recloses the same by pushing a reset button.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described,and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved photoelectric safety device;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, fromline 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa top view of the same;

Fig: 4 is a top View showing the use'of a bypass bridge for delecting and re-ecting the light beam;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical connections;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of a cigar machine, showing the location of the photoelectric safety device in relation to other parts of the machine Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the cigar machine showing the driving means for the wrapper transfer, the wrapper applying rollers, and the turret.

Referring to Figs. l-3, 6 and 7 of the drawings, 6 is the intermittently revolving duplex wrapper die turret of an electrically controlled cigar machine, such as that disclosed in co-pending apdisclosed safety device is to protect the hands of the die operator. The slide bracket I0, by means of a bolt I2, is attached to an endless chain |3 (Figure 5) running over sprockets I4 one of which, through gears I5, is driven by a rack I6. The latter is attached by a link I1 to a lever I8 having'a roller I9 controlled by acam 20 having acam track 23a on a shaft'ZI which is driven by a chain 22 from the main clutch of the machine, onemember 23 of which is continuously driven by abelt 24 from a motor 25, while theother member 26 is electrically controlled by asolenoid 21. f i

When thesolenoid 21 is energized, it will actuate themember 26 which in tum will cause thehollow drive shaft 23a to commence rotating in a manner similar to that shown in Aco-pending application, Ser. No. 183,405, mentioned above. The various parts of the vcigar machine, such as the Wrapper applying rollers R. and the wrapper carrier T, are driven through suitable connecting (Figure 3) a photo-cell 3,4, anamplier tube 35, atransformer 36, asensitive relay 31, areset push button 38, ahand control switch 38, and other auxiliaries shown in the wiring diagram (Figure 5). In line with the light source 3l, thehousing 28 is provided with atube 46 carrying a double convex lens 4| to concentrate the light of the lamp 3| into abeam 42. The opening in front of the photo-cell 34 is closed by aglass cover 43 attached by aholder 44. Thehousing 23 has acover 45 and, for convenience in mounting and wiring the various parts. is provided with avertical partition 46 and withhorizontal shelves 41. Theupper shelf 41 prevents direct illuminamechanism by the mainhollow drive shaft 23a I (Fig. 5), and said connecting mechanism may be of a type such as that shown in the aforementioned application of Wheeler. From this it foly lows that when thesolenoid 21 operates to disengage themember 26 frommember 23 of the main clutch, thehollow drive shaft 23a will be stopped, thereby stopping the entire machine.

The mainhollow drive shaft 23a has a worm 80 (Fig. 8) mounted thereon which drives theworm wheel 8|. Theworm wheel 8| is xedly mounted on themain shaft 82 which through suitable connecting mechanismI imparts operating movement to the Wrapper carrier T, theturret 6, and the wrapper applying rollers R. Onshaft 82 is mounted abevel gear 83 which throughbevel gear 84 imparts rotary movement to thedrive shaft 85 of the wrapper carrier. Theshaft 85 causes the operating head of the carrier, designated generally by the letter H, to impart the desired intermittent gyrations to wrapper carrier T.

Theturret 6 is intermittently rotated byshaft 86 which in turn is intermittently driven by anindexing device 81. Said indexing device is driven from themain shaft 82. Wrapper applying rollers R are driven through a suitable chain of gears, designated generally by the letter G. from themain shaft 82. Whenshaft 82 is stopped, wrapper applying rollers R, wrapper transfer T, andturret 6 will automatically come `tion of the photo-cell 34 by the light source 3| and theindicator lamp 32.

Inhousing 29 are mountedltwo mirrors 43 and 49, set at 45 one above the other in aholder 56, so that thehorizontal beam 42 received by the upper mirror 48 is reected downwardly to thelower mirror 49, and from the latter horizontally back to the photo-cell 34 inhousing 28. The

front ofhousing 29 is covered by a glass plate 5 I.

The photo-electric relay circuit includes, as shown in Figure 5, the photo-cell 34, theamplifier tube 35, thetransformer 36, thesensitive relay 31 connected in the plate circuit of theamplier 35, and a potentiometer 52 (see Figure 5) for adjustment of the sensitivity. The relay 3 1 operates threecontacts 2 and 3. Under normal operating conditions, the light from the source 3| falls on the photo-cell 34, and therelay 31 is energized. `holding contacts vand 3 closed, andcontact 2 open. As soon as the light beam is interrupted, the relay becomes deenergized,

opening contacts I and 3, andclosing contact 2. Contact I is connected in the grid circuit of theamplifier 35 in such a way that the relay remains de-energized, even though the light beam is restored, until contact is momentarily short circuited by closing thereset push button 38.

Contact 2 is connected in series with theindicator lamp 32, and contact 3 is connected in series with the manual control switches 39 and 53, with the foot control switches 54 and 55, and with the joggingswitch unit 56 in the clutch control circuit to thesolenoid 21. Therefore, as soon as the beam of light is interrupted, theclutch solenoid 21 is de-energized, thereby disengagingclutch member 26 from the continuously'drivenmember 23 and thus stopping the machine which cannot start up again until the operator pushes thereset button 38. On the Vother hand, the photo-electric device is cut out of circuit when, in adjusting the machine, the

vmechanic turns thejogging switch 56a to the inching position, and is automatically restored when he turns this switch back to the running position. Theindicator lamp 32 is dark when the relay contacts are in operating position, and

lights up when the relay is de-energized as in Figure 5.

indicator lamp 32 illuminating abulls eye 33 75 In thejogging switch unit 56, there are two individually operatedswitches 56a and 56h. When 56a is in the position shown, 56h is inoperative. Whenswitch 56a is pushed into the opposite position, shown in dotted lines, the switch mechanism 56h can be used to Jog or inch the'machine along. The control circuit then remains open until the mechanic pushes the switch button 56h and keeps his finger on it, which closes the control circuit and allows the machine to continue running as long as the m'echanic continues to press the switch button 56h.

The hand control switches 39 and 63 are provided for the binder laying operator and thevided for the binder and wrapper laying operators.` These foot control switches control the clutch only when the machine is in zero position. When the machine reaches vzero position, it will automatically come to a stop until bothswitches 53 and 65 are closed. If the operators continue to keep their feet upon thefoot control switches 56 yand 66, the machine will operate continuously. v

A more complete description has been dispensed with in this case for the sake of brevity because the same can be found in co-pending application of H. H. Wheeler, Ser. No. 183,405, filed January 5, 1938, before referred to.

In the wiring diagram, 6i is the main starting switch of the machine which by the plug cord 66 is connected to the line socket of the power line, and from which a cable 63 leads to the motor 25.Wires 60 connect the starting switch 6l to fuses 6l in the connectingbox 52, from which wires lead to the photo-electric apparatus contained inhousing 26 and to the clutch control circuit of the machine. In the photo-electric arrangement shown, the transformer is provided with one primary (220,volt) winding |36 and with threesecondary windings 63, 66 and 65. having potentials of 90, 6.3 and 240 volts, respectively. The 6.3 volt secondary 65 supplies power 2' to the cathode of theamplifier 35, to the light source 3|, which in this case is a 6-8 V. 21 C. P. automobile lamp, and to theindicator lamp 32. The 240 V. secondary 65 furnishes the plate potential, and the 90V. secondary 63 supplies the grid potential, for theamplifier 35. When contact l of the relay, or lthe push-button 38, is closed, the photo-cell 34 is connected between a tap 66 on the 90 V. secondary 63 and its terminal 61, in series with ahigh resistance 68 of 20 megohms. The grid of theamplifier 35 is connected to the plate of the photo-cell 34 through aresistance 69 of 2 megohms. Acondenser 13 is connected across the terminals of therelay coil 31. 'I'he polarity of the transformer windings is f ter-clockwise direction, while the operator holds t thereset button 36 closed until the relay `iust pulls in.

When the light beam is interrupted, the current through photo-cell 34 andresistance 68 is reduced and the grid ofamplifier 35 becomes more negative thereby decreasing the plate current and causing therelay 31 to become inactive. The consequent opening of relay contact I disconnects the photo-cell 34 from tap 66 on the 90 V. secondary 63, and thereby makes the grid even morel negative so that the plate current is reduced to zero and the relay remains inactive until thereset button 36 is pressed.

This lock-out feature may be obtained in several other ways, well known in the art, and the arrangement' described above is not intended to limit the claims to this exact construction.

The binder B usually being much wider thanv the wrapper W of a cigar on the binder die turret 1l (Figure 4) the space between the dies 12 and ieg up the cut wrapper T' `(Figure 7), is'preferg ably such that as the transfer head T assumes its i3 is so small that the operator could not properly manipulate the leaf without interrupting the light beam if the latter were placed outside the path of the much longerbinder cutting rollers 76. To overcome this diillculty, thelight beam 43 is placed a sulcient distance away from the operator, (whose seat is indicated at O in Figure 3) and within the path of the cutting rollers, and

a U-shaped by-pass bridge 'l5 having fourcoacting 45 mirror surfaces i6 in the path of the light beam is attached at the proper height to the roller slide I6, as by abracket 11, and moves with it, so as to deect the light around the cutting rollers. `This by-pass bridge may be made of glass, or preferably of a clear molded material with a high refractive index such as that known as Lucite With this material, which is considerably lighter than glass and has excellent machining properties, polished surfaces at a 45 angle to incident light from the inside are almost totally reflecting, while polished surfaces perpendicular to incident light are transparent, and hence practically no light is lost. Thelight beam 42, with this arrangement, or by the use of an equivalent compound total reflecting prism or of mirrors, is reflected four times, as shown by the arrows, and emerges substantially ln line with the incident beam. Movement of the cutter bracket does not intercept the beam, and protection in front and behind the bracket 'is maintained at all times.

In like fashion, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the invention provides for incapacitation of other operating mechanisms, such as the conventionally shown wrapper-applying rolls R, when an operator undertakes to intervene in the otherwise automatic operation of said rolls, as for example, in an effort to rectify improper passage of a leaf or wrapper element W which has been transferred to the wrapper rolls R after having been cut on one of the dies W and then picked up by the carrier head T, which follows a path indicated by dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 7 from wrapper-receiving position I to position II and returns by a different return path to position I, positions III and IV (Fig. 7) indicating successive locations of carrier T along said return path.

Fig.' 7 illustrates four different locations of the Wrapper carrier in its gyratory operation. Reference character I shows the carrier over the cutting die; II shows the transfer aboutto commence feeding the wrapper to the cigar bunch; III shows the transfer after having fed the entire wrapper to the bunch: and IV shows the transfer returning to its starting position. In returning to its starting position, one end of the carrier travels between the upper and lower light beams to avoid interrupting the continuity of the beam.

In cigar machines, constructed -as in theV Wheeler patent Serial No. Re. 19,677, granted August 20, 1935. having a duplex turret as 6, the timing of the transfer operation and the orbit traversed by the transfer head T preparatory to, and after completion of, theoperation of pickseveral gyratory positions indicated, for proper transfer of the cut wrapper element T to the set of wrapping rolls R the head T'will et vrin Itime intrude upon the path of theoptical control beam 42.

vrt

ting dies I l in both of theirpositions 1 and 8, against undesirable intervention which endangers the operators hand or arm, etc., and the upper acts to incap'acitate each working'element of the machine when the safety of an operator is endangered in any way, lit being understood that the various devices shown and the particular operations described by way of example, are merely illustrative and 'are not intended to exclude the coordination of such an optical control beam as that exemplified with any working device in connection with which the incapacitating devices of the present invention may be embodied.

As a desirable arrangement for varying the angleof themirrors 48 and 49, provision may be made of a set-screw 18, transiixing the back of thehousing 29 and bearing against the holder 50, which takes the form of a bent strap of metal in the instance illustrated. A lock-nut 19 serves to maintain the adjusted position of the set screw, and very delicate and accurate calibration ofthe beam may be eiected by this means.

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. It is not, thereto incapacitate said roller element when an obi `struction is in the path thereof, said incapacitating means comprising devices for maintaining an optical control beam in said path and suitably disposed to guard a part of an operator from injury by said roller element or die at all times when in the path of said beam, while said roller travels in either direction along said path, and means operative at all times during operation of the cigar machine and sensitive to obstruction of said beam. for effecting said incapacitation.

2. In a cigar machine having a tobacco leaf cutting die and a roller element movable relatively to said die to cut a leaf on said die, means to incapacitate said roller element when an obstruction is in the zone of operation thereof, said incapacitating means comprising devices for maintaining an optical control beam in said zone of operatori wherein the presence of a member of the operators" body is dangerous, and connections, responsive to obstruction pf said beam by.

said members presence in said zone, constructed andi'arran'ged' to effect said incapacitation, said to guard the member of an operator from injury from said mechanism, while permitting operating movement of said-mechanism, and means sensitive to obstruction of said beams by said mem-- ber for effecting said incapacitation.

4. In a cigar machine having a tobacco leaf cutting die, and a set of roller elements disposed rearwardly of said die to receive from the die and apply to a cigar bunch a Wrapper which has been cut on said die, means to incapacitate said roller elements when a member of the operators body is in danger of injury by said set of roller elements, said lncapacitating means comprising devices for maintaining a plurality of optical control beams in a path suitably disposed to guard the member of an operator against injury from said set at all times while permitting normal operating movement of said roller elements, and means sensitive to obstruction of said beams by said member for effectin said incapacitation.

5. In a cigar machine having a tobacco leaf cutting die and a working element movable relatively t'o said die to operate upon a cigar component associated with said die, means to incapacitate said working element when an obstruction is in the path thereof, said incapacitating means comprising devices for maintaining at all times during operation of the cigar machine an optical control beam in a path suitably disposed to guard a member of an operator from injury by said working element or die,

while permitting operating movement of said Working element, and means sensitive to obstructionv of said beam by said member for effecting said incapacitation.

6. In a cigar machine having operating mechanisms including a plurality of movable devices working in a Zone of operation wherein the presence of a member of the operators body is dangerous to the operator, actuating mechanism to move said respective working devices in predetermined mechanical cycles within said zone, without manual intervention; means to control said actuating mechanism manually; means traversing a predetermined space and operating Without the volitional control of the operator to incapacitate said actuating mechanism and connectionsi'being operative at all times during v said mechanism, said incapacitating means com-1 prising devices for maintaining at all times during the working of said machine a plurality of optical control beams in a path suitably disposed thereby interrupt the working movements of said devices whenever a member of the operators body is extended transversely in and across said space into said zone, said last-named means being operative at all times during operation of the cigar machine, and means to maintain, said actuating mechanism in said -incapacitated state until it is restarted manually by the operator.

7. In a cigar machinehaving operating mechanism including a plurality of movable devices each Working in a zone of operation wherein the presence of a member of the operators body is dangerous to the operator at times; actuating mechanism to move said respective working devices in predetermined mechanical cycles Within said zones, Without manual intervention:

presence oi an operators hand is dangerous to Y the operator at times: actuating mechanism to move said respective working devices in predetermined mechanical cycles through said danger zones, witl'out manual intervention; means to control said actuating mechanism manually; and means, operating without the volitionai control of the operator, to incapacitate said actuatingr mechanism and thereby interrupt the movements of said devices whenever a member of the operators body is extended in and across said incapacitating means into one of said danger f ing remote from the beam in another zone, to

provide a space in which a working device may function without interruption of the beam.

9. In a cigar machine having a plurality of working devices operating in zones open to entry by a member of an operators bodyone of said devices working in a zone relatively near to the operator, and another in a zone more remote from the operator, safety mechanism traversing a predetermined space and constructed and arranged to incapacitate said devices when said member of the operators body is in danger while extending in and across said space and maintain said devices in an incapacitated condition until manually restarted by the operator, said mechanism including optical instrumentalities constructed and arranged t maintain an optical control beam at one level in one zone and at a higher level in another zone.

l0. A cigar machine having the features claimed inclaim 6, wherein said optical instrumentalities include a set of reflecting devices constructed and arranged to deilect a control beam in such a manner that one portion thereof traverses one zone at a higher level thanl pair of .wrapper cutting dies on a turret rotatable in a zone of operation wherein the presence of a hand of the operator in the path of a moving head is dangerous to the operator at times, actuating mechanism to operate saldrespective operating mechanisms intermittently in predetermined mechanical cycles, without manual intervention, means to control said actuating mechanism manually, and optical control means operable independently of volitional control by the operator to incapacitate said actuating mechanism whenever a member of the operators body is extended in and across said optical control means into said danger zone, said means maintaining said actuating mechanism incapacitated until started by the volitional control of the operator.

14. In a cigar machine having operating mechanisms including a movable wrapper cutting head, a movable wrapper transfer head, and a pair of wrapper cutting dies on a turret all of said mechanisms operating substantially in a zone wherein the presence of a hand of the operator in the path of a moving head is dangerous to the operator at times, actuating mechanism to operate said respective operating mechanism intermittently in predetermined mechanical cycles, without manual intervention, means to control said actuating mechanism manually, and optical control means operable independently of volitional control by the operator to incapacitate said actuating mechanism whenever a member of the operators body is extended in and across said optical control means into said zone of danger, said incapacitatlng means including optical instrumentalities adapted to maintain an optical control beam in said zone of danger normally at all times to guard said member against injury, and connections responsive to interruption of said beam by the presence of said member of the operators body in said zone of danger, to cause said optical instrumentalities to render said actuating means inactive and to maintain said actuating means inactive Vuntil restarted manually by the operator.

15. An optical control system of a cigar machine having a rotary duplex turret, with front and rear dies and mechanism to rotate'said turret intermittently, and having a moving cutter roller and a carrier to transfer a cut element from said turret, said system comprising a light source and a photo-electric relay mounted in a. housing at preserved by a system of reflectors movable with said device.

13. In a cigar machine having operating mechanisms including a movable wrapper cutting head, a movable wrapper transfer head, and a one side of the turret, a reflecting device mounted at the other side of said turret, whereby a portion of an optical beam from said light source is maintained across said dies at one elevation, and another portion is maintained by said reflecting device lat another elevation, so as to guard the operator against catching a hand between one of said dies and the cutter roller and between one of the dies and the carrier, said beams being so disposed as to permit non-interfering working movements of said operating elements, and means for maintaining the machine in a` non-operative condition until restarted manually by the operator after the machine has been automatically stopped by a member interrupting the continuity of the optic beam.

16. In a cigar machine having a binder cutting die, a roller cutter head mounted to move across said die and means to. cause intermittent reciprocation of said cutter head through its zone of operative movement, means to maintain an optical control beam traversing the path of said head, and a U-shaped system of reilectors constructed and arranged to traverse the path of said beam with said head, and adapted to maintain the continuity of said beam.

17. In a cigar machine having potentially dangerous operating mechanism, a safety device for incapacitating said mechanism when a member of the operators body is in danger of `injury by said mechanism and to maintain it in said-incapacitated state until manually started again by the operator, said safety device comprising devices for maintaining an optical control beam in a path suitably disposed to guard said member of the operators body from injury by said mechanism, while permitting operating movement of said mechanism, and means operative at all times during operation of the cigar machine, sensitive to obstruction of said beam by said member, for effecting said incapacitation.

18. In a cigar machine having a set of roller elements for applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch, mechanism for transferring said wrapper to said set of roller elements, means traversing a predetermined space to incapacitate said roller elements when a member of the operators body extends in and across said space and is in danger of injury by operation of said roller elements, and means to continue maintaining the roller elements in an incapacitated condition until restarted manually by the operator.

19. -In a cigar machine having a set of roller elements for applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch, and mechanism for transferring said wrapper to said set of roller elements, means traversing a predetermined space and ready at all times for and across said space and is in danger of injury by operation of said roller elements, said means being constructed and arranged to permit operating movement of said transfer mechanism without setting said incapacitating means in operation and separate means to maintain the roller elements stationary once they have been incapacitated until such time as the roller elements are, by the volition of the operator, 'set into operation again.

20. In a cigar machine having a set of roller elements for applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch, and mechanism for transferring said wrapper to said set of roller elements, means to incapacitate said roller elements when a member of the operators body is in danger of injury by operation of said roller elements, said means being constructed and arranged to permit operating movement of said transfer mechanism Without setting said incapacitating means in operation, said incapacitating means comprising devices for maintaining an optical control beam in a path suitably disposed to guard said member against injury by said roller elements, and removed from the path of said transfer mechanism, and means sensitive to obstruction of said beam by said member for to incapacitate said working devices when a member of the operators body is in danger of injury by any of said working devices while operating in their respective paths,v said incapacitating means being maintained at all times in condition for operation, and including an optical control beam in position to be intercepted by said member of the operators body, said beam having spaced apart beam portions, between which said transferring means is free to move in its normal path without intercepting either of said beam portions, and means sensitive to obstruction of either of said beam portions for effecting said incapacitation.

22, In a machine having a moving part, the

combination of a continuous safety beam of radiant energy which is operative at all times in front of said moving part, means for receiving material from an operator while said means is in front of said safety beam and for transferring said material to a position in back of said safety beam with respect to said operator where the moving part operates upon said material, and means responsive to an interception of said beam of said radiant energy for arresting the movement of the moving part.

23. In a cigar machine having working devices and means to move said devices operatively in a plurality of p'aths within the limits of said machine, said Working devices including a cutting die, a mechanism for applying a wrapper to a cigar element, and means for transferring from l said die to said wrapper-applying mechanism a wrapping element formed on said die, and means to incapacitate said working devices when a member of the operators body is in danger of injury by any of said working devices while operating in their respective paths, said incapacitating means being maintained at all times in condition for operation, and including an optical control beam in position to be intercepted by said member of the operators body, said beam having spaced apart beam portions, between which said transferring means is free to move in its normal path without intercepting either of said beam portions, and means sensitive to obstruction of either of said beam portions for effecting and continuing said incapacitation until such time as the operator terminates manually said incapacitation.

WILLIAM C. BROEKHUYSEN.

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