Method of and apparatus for ascertaining the density of a stream of fibrous material

US5103086A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Korber AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Siems · Hamburg, DE
• Matthias Overath · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 1990
• Grant date: Apr 7, 1992
• Expiry date: May 17, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A24C5/3412
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

The density of a trimmed stream of tobacco particles on a radiation-permeable conveyor is ascertained by directing a first beam of infrared light against the trimmed stream so that the light must pass through the stream and through the conveyor prior to reaching a detector which transmits to an evaluating circuit signals denoting the density of the trimmed stream. Such signals are corrected, when necessary, by signals which are generated by a second detector serving to monitor the intensity of infrared light which has passed only through the conveyor, and the corrected signals are used to regulate the operation of a trimming device which converts an untrimmed stream into the trimmed stream. Signals from the second detector indicate the extent of permeability changes of the conveyor as a result of accumulation of solid and/or liquid substances in or on the conveyor, and such signals can further serve to warn the operators that the conveyor is damaged and/or to modify the intensity of light which is caused to pass through the stream and through the conveyor and/or to modify the intensity of light which passes only through the conveyor.