Nov. 27.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2583

into the tubes, and a pair of strikers for removing the filled tubes from the nozzles. (21.) The combination with a shaper-case, an intermittently operated conveyer for delivering tobacco thereto, a knife working close to the side of the shaper-case, a shaper, means including a lever for operating the shaper, a pair of nozzles to which the shaped tobacco is delivered, means for supplying tubes to the nozzles, a clamping-device operated by the shaper-operating lever, a pair of rammers for forcing the tobacco through the nozzles, and a pair of strikers for removing the tubes from the nozzles. (22.) The combination with a shaper-case of a shaper working therein, a pair of nozzles to which the case delivers, a pair of rammers for forcing the tobacco through the nozzles, and means operated from the rammer-operating mechanism for supplying tubes to the nozzles. (23.) The combination with a shaper-case of a shaper working therein, a pair of nozzles, a pair of alternately operating rammers, a hopper provided with two delivery-channels, and means operated from the rammer-operating mechanism for alternately carrying tubes from said outlets to the nozzles. (24.) The combination with a hopper for cigarette-tubes having a delivery-channel down which the tubes fall, said channel being wide enough to hold a single vertical row of tubes, of a bar having surfaces at different levels, a cut-off operating to separate the lower tube from the row and to support the row, said cut-off being operated when the higher surface of the bar is beneath the channel, means for transferring the tube from the higher surface to the lower surface of the bar, filling-devices, and means for operating the bar to transfer the tube thereon from the hopper to the filling-devices. (25.) The combination with a hopper, of a reciprocating plate one of the ends of which extends into the hopper, a wall forming with said plate a channel which is wide enough to hold a single vertical row of tubes, a bar having surfaces at different levels, a cut-off operating to separate the lower tube from the row and to support the row, said cut-off being operated when the higher surface of the bar is beneath the channel, means for transferring the tube from the higher surface to the lower surface of the bar, filling-devices, and means for operating the bar to transfer the tube thereon from the hopper to the filling-devices. (26.) The combination with a hopper, of a pair of reciprocating plates one end of each of said plates working in the hopper, a pair of walls, said walls co-operating with the plates to form channels wide enough to hold a single vertical row of tubes, a pair of bars having surfaces at different levels, a pair of cut-offs operating to separate the lower tube from each row and to support the rows, said cut-offs coming into operation when the higher surface of the bar is beneath the channel, means for transferring the tubes from the higher surface to the lower surface of each bar, filling-devices, and means for alternately reciprocating the bars from the hopper to the filling-devices. (27.) The combination with a hopper, of a pair of reciprocating plates, one end of each of said plates working in the hopper, a pair of walls, said walls co-operating with the plates to form channels wide enough to hold a single vertical row of tubes, a pair of bars having surfaces at different levels, a pair of movable frames having projections which enter the channels and form cut-offs, means carried by the bars for operating the frames to withdraw the cut-off projections when the higher surface of the bar is under the channel, thus allowing the row of tubes to drop, means for operating the frames to cause the cut-off projections to enter the channels and to separate the remaining tubes of the row from the lower one, means for transferring the tubes from the higher surface to the lower surface of each bar, filling-devices, and means for alternately reciprocating the bars from the hopper to the filling-devices. (28.) The combination with a shaper-case, of a shaper, means including a lever for operating the shaper, delivery nozzles attached to the shaper-case, a pair of rammers, a pair of bars having surfaces at different levels, connections between each bar and the corresponding rammer, a hopper having two delivery-channels beneath which the bars reciprocate, cut-off mechanisms operated by the bar, an agitating-mechanism, and means for operating the rammers. (29.) The combination with a shaper-case, of a shaper, means including a lever for operating the shaper, delivery-nozzles attached to the shaper-case, a pair of rammers, a pair of bars having surfaces at different levels, connections between each bar and the corresponding rammer, a hopper having two delivery-channels beneath which the bars reciprocate, cut-off mechanisms operated by the bar, an agitating-mechanism operated by the shaper-lever, means for operating rammers, and a tube-clamp. (30.) The combination with a shaper-case, of a shaper, means including a lever for operating the shaper, delivery-nozzles attached to the shaper-case, a pair of rammers, a pair of bars having surfaces at different levels, connections between each bar and the corresponding rammer, a hopper having two delivery channels beneath which the bars reciprocate, cut-off mechanism operated by the bar, an agitating-mechanism operated by the shaper-lever, means for operating the rammer, a tube-clamp thrown into operation by the shaper-lever, and a pair of strikers for removing the filled tubes from the nozzles. (31.) The combination with cigarette-forwarding devices, of a rotating cigarette-carrier provided with pockets, a knife operating with the carrier, and a straightening-device which operates on the cigarettes before they are delivered to the carrier. (32.) The combination with cigarette-forwarding devices, of a rotating carrier having pockets for the cigarettes, a knife co-operating with the carrier, and a rotating hub provided with blades which operates to straighten the cigarettes before they are delivered to the carrier. (33.) The combination with cigarette-carrying tapes, of a rotating straightening-device having projections operating to lift the cigarettes from the tapes, whereby they become straightened. (34.) The combination with cigarette carrying tapes, of a rotating lifting-device provided with blades or their equivalents which operate to lift the cigarettes from the tapes. (35.) The combination with cigarette-carrying tapes, of a straightening-device provided with lifting-projections, said device working between the tapes and operating to lift the cigarettes therefrom and deliver them thereto after the cigarettes are straightened. (36.) The combination with cigarette carrying tapes of a rotating straightening-device provided with lifting-projections, said device being located between the tapes, a carrier also rotating between the tapes, and a cutter co-operating with the carrier. (37.) The combination with a pair of carrying-tapes of means for evening the cigarettes on the tapes, a straightening-device, and cutting-devices. (38.) The combination with cigarette-carrying tapes, of means for the evening the cigarettes on the tapes, a straightening-device, a carrier, a cigarette-shifting mechanism operating in connection with the carrier, and a cutter. (39.) The combination with cigarette-carrying tapes, of means for evening the cigarettes on the tapes, a straightening-device, a rotating carrier, a cigarette-shifting mechanism operating in connection with the carrier, and a rotating cutter. (40.) The combination with a belt having forwarding projections, of tapes overlying the same, a rotating straightening-device having lifting-projections, a rotating carrier provided with pockets, means for retaining the cigarettes in the pockets, a shifting mechanism co-operating with the carrier, and a cutter. (41.) The combination with a belt having forwarding-projections, of carrying-tapes overlying the belt, a pusher operating to even the cigarettes, a straightening-device consisting of a rotating hub having lifting-projections located between the tapes, and a cutting-mechanism. (42.) The combination with a belt having forwarding-projections, of carrying-tapes overlying the belt, a pusher operating to even the cigarettes, a straightening-device consisting of a rotating hub having lifting-projections located between the tapes, a rotating carrier having pockets, a shifting-mechanism, means for rotating the cigarettes in the pockets, and a cutter. (43.) The combination with a rotating carrier having pockets, of a shifting-mechanism located at each end of the pockets, so that either end of the cigarettes may be acted upon, means for retaining the cigarettes in the pockets, and a cutter. (44.) The combination with a rotating carrier provided with pockets, of a cam located at one end of the pockets, a vibrating shifter located at the other end of the pockets, and a rotating cutter. (45.) The combination with cigarette-carrying tapes, of a rotating straightening-device having lifting-projections located between the tapes, a carrier having pockets also located between the tapes, a cam at one end of the pockets for acting on one end of the cigarettes, a vibrating shifter located at the other end of the pockets for operating on the other end of the cigarettes, and a cutter. (46.) The combination with a belt having forwarding-projections, of tapes overlying the same, a pusher, a rotating straightening-device having lifting-projections lying between the tapes, a carrier having pockets, a cam located at one end of the pockets for operating on one end of the cigarettes, a vibrating shifter located at the other end of the pockets for operating on the other end of the cigarettes, and a rotating cutter. (47.) The combination with a belt, of a pair of tapes overlying the same, a pair of pushers, one on each side of the belt, for operating on the cigarettes, a rotating straightening-device having lifting-blades lying between the tapes, a carrier having pockets, a cam located at one end of the pockets for operating on one end of the cigarettes, a vibrating shifter located at the other end of the pockets for operating on the other end of the cigarettes, and a cutter.

(Specification, 19s.; drawings, 7s.)

No. 15609.—6th November, 1902.—GEORGE HENRY AIREY, of 3, Rue Cernuschi, Paris, France, Gentleman. Improvements in loading and unloading vessels.

Claims.—(1.) Means substantially as described for loading and unloading vessels; the said means comprising a mast erected on the delivering vessel; a pulley near the top of the said mast; a downwardly sloping tube near the said pulley; a drum at the top of the said mast; a drum at the bottom