Method and apparatus for detecting and removing foreign material from a stream of particulate matter
US4657144A · kind A · utility
73Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1985 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S131/905
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and removing foreign material which may be found in a stream of particulate matter, such as tobacco. The tobacco is allowed to fall in a cascade past an optical detector. The turbulence of the falling motion brings a large proportion of the particles in the cascade into the field of view of the detector. When foreign material is detected, a signal is generated to activate a fluid blast directed at the portion of the cascade in which the foreign material is located.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.