초록 ▼

The moving parts of a tobacco cutting machine and the conveyor or conveyors which transfer tobacco to the cutting machine are driven by a variable speed motor whose speed is regulated in dependency on the volume of tobacco in a duct from which the conveyor or conveyors draw or receive tobacco for tr

The moving parts of a tobacco cutting machine and the conveyor or conveyors which transfer tobacco to the cutting machine are driven by a variable speed motor whose speed is regulated in dependency on the volume of tobacco in a duct from which the conveyor or conveyors draw or receive tobacco for transfer into the machine. The height of the pile of tobacco in the duct is monitored by photoelectric cells which transmit signals to a speed regulator for the motor so that the speed of the motor increases and decreases when the height of the pile respectively increases and decreases. The duct receives tobacco from a magazine. Fluctuations of the height of tobacco pile in the duct are due to variations in the rate of tobacco feed from the magazine and/or to changes in size, moisture content and/or temperature of tobacco which is being supplied to the duct. The magazine can supply tobacco to the ducts of two or more discrete cutting machines and the apparatus then includes a distributor which feeds tobacco to all ducts at an equal rate. The outlets of the ducts are sealable by gates which close in response to stoppage of the respective motors. The remaining duct or ducts then receive tobacco at a higher rate which, in turn, results in acceleration of the respective motor or motors.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of supplying tobacco to at least one cutting station wherein tobacco is comminuted at the rate at which it enters such station, comprising the steps of transporting a stream of tobacco along a predetermined path; accumulating the tobacco of such stream immediately ahead of said station so t

A method of supplying tobacco to at least one cutting station wherein tobacco is comminuted at the rate at which it enters such station, comprising the steps of transporting a stream of tobacco along a predetermined path; accumulating the tobacco of such stream immediately ahead of said station so that the thus accumulated tobacco forms an intermediate supply whose volume fluctuates, particularly as a result of variations in the rate of transport along said path, in temperature, moisture content and/or size of tobacco forming said stream; transferring tobacco from said supply directly to said station at a variable rate; monitoring the volume of tobacco in said supply; and respectively increasing and reducing the rate of tobacco transfer from said supply to said station and respectively increasing and reducing the rate of communition at said station when the volume of tobacco forming said supply respectively increases and decreases so that the rate at which tobacco reaching said station is comminuted varies as a function of changes in the volume of tobacco forming said supply.