Apparatus for distributing tobacco

Claim 1

A PNEUMATIC TOBACCO DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM COMPRISING A FEED-IN STATION, A PLURALITY OF DISCHARGERS EACH HAVING A TOBACCO INTAKE OPENING, A SUCTION INLET AND AN OUTLET DOOR NORMALLY OPENED WHEN THE DISCHARGER IS FILLED WITH TOBACCO, A FEED PIPE LEADIING FROM THE FEED-IN STATION TO SAID DISCHARGERS AND INCLUDING A MANIFOLD AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSPORTING CONDUITS CONNECTED TO SAID INTAKE OPENINGS OF THE DISCHARGERS, AT LEAST ONE FAN CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION INLETS OF SAID DISCHARGER CREATING SUCTION THEREIN AND IN SAID TRANSPORTING CONDUITS, A VALVE BETWEEN EACH DISCHARGER SUCTION INLET AND THE FAN FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING THE ASSOCIATED TRANSPORTING CONDUIT TO SUCTION, AND A NONRETURN VALVE IN EACH TRANSPORTING CONDUIT BETWEEN THE DISCHARGER INTAKE OPENING AND SAID MANIFOLD AND A NORMALLY BIASED TO CLOSE SAID CONDUIT, SAID NONRETURN VALVE BEING OPERATIVE TO OPEN SAID CONDUIT UPON PRESENCE OF SUCTION THEREIN AND BEING MOVED BY SAID BIAS TO CLOSE THE CONDUIT AND PREVENT DRAWBACK OF AIR THROUGH THE DISCHARGER TO THE MANIFOLD AND OTHER TRANSPORTING CONDUITS BY REASON OF SUCTION IN SUCH OTHER CONDUITS WHEN THE ASSOCIATED DISCHARGER OUTLET DOOR IS OPEN.