Method of and apparatus for treating accumulations of fibers of tobacco or other smokable material

US4878506A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Korber AG · DE

Inventors

• Peter Pinck · Bargteheide, DE
• Heinz-Christen Lorenzen · Bargteheide, DE
• Uwe Heitmann · Hamburg, DE
• Wolfgang Siems · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 1988
• Grant date: Nov 7, 1989
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S131/906
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

The tobacco stream which is formed at the underside of a foraminous conveyor and carries a surplus of tobacco particles is transported past a trimming device which removes the surplus to convert the stream into a filler which is thereupon wrapped into a web of cigarette paper. The mass flow of tobacco particles in the untrimmed stream is monitored by a detector which utilizes infrared light, and the signals from such detector are used to change the position of the conveyor relative to the trimming device so as to ensure that the mass flow of tobacco particles in the filler remains within a desired range. One or more additional detectors monitor the mass of flow tobacco particles in the filler upstream and/or downstream of the wrapping station, and the signals from such second detector or detectors are used to correct the position of the conveyor relative to the trimming device and/or to change the position of the trimming device relative to the conveyor.