Method and apparatus for the production of tobacco rods

Claim 2

In an apparatus for producing a cigarette rod of constant density including conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path, means for equalizing the filler stream to form a rod stream, said equalizing means including a detector located adjacent to the filler stream for measuring the quantity of tobacco therein and for producing a signal varying therewith, suction means arranged to produce a current of air traversing the filler stream in a portion of said path to densify the filler stream against said conveying means, means for detecting the pressure in a portion of said suction means, adjustable vent means for varying the pressure in said suction means, and means connecting said pressure detecting means with said vent means to obtain and maintain such a pressure in said suction means that the density of tobacco in The filler stream is maintained between allowable limits, said connecting means having adjustable means responsive to said signal for determining the value of said pressure.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod of substantially constant density including conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path, means for equalizing the filler stream by removing said excess to form a rod stream, detector means adjacent to the filler stream for measuring the quantity of tobacco therein and for producing a signal varying therewith, suction means arranged to produce a current of air traversing the filler stream in a portion of said path to densify the filler stream against said conveying means, adjustable means for varying the pressure in said suction means, and means responsive to said signal to adjust said adjustable means so that the density of tobacco in the filler stream is maintained at a constant level.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod of substantially constant density including conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path, means for equalizing the filler stream by removing said excess to form a rod stream, detector means adjacent to the filler stream for measuring the quantity of tobacco therein and for producing a signal varying therewith, suction means arranged to produce a current of air traversing the filler stream in a portion of said path to densify the filler stream against said conveying means, adjustable means for varying the pressure in said suction means, and means responsive to said signal to adjust said adjustable means so that the density of tobacco in the filler stream is maintained at a constant level.

Claim 5

In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said adjustable means comprises vent means having a member movable between a plurality of positions in each of which said member establishes a different pressure in said suction means.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod stream of substantially constant density, conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod stream and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path; means for subjecting the moving filler stream to the densifying action of an air current passing transversely across said path and through the filler stream, comprising a suction chamber adjacent to one side of said path, a suction generator, and a conduit connecting said suction generator with said chamber; adjustable pressure regulating means for varying the densifying action of the air current, comprising a valve arranged to control the flow of air through said conduit between said chamber and said suction generator; testing means for measuring the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the moving filler stream and for comparing the measured quantity with a preselected quantity; adjusting means for adjusting said pressure regulating means when the measured quantity differs from said preselected quantity so that the densifying action of the air current remains constant; trimming means for removing said excess from the filler stream so that the thus trimmed filler stream forms a rod stream; gauge means for measuring the pressure of the air current after the current has passed through the filler stream and for comparing the measured pressure with a predetermined pressure, said gauge means being connected with said conduit between said valve and said chamber; and an operative connection between said gauge means and said adjusting means for effecting adjustment of said pressure regulating means when the measured pressure differs from said predetermined pressure.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod stream of substantially constant density, conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod stream and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path; means for subjecting the moving filler stream to the densifying action of an air current passing transversely across said path and through the filler stream, comprising a suction chamber adjacent to one side of said path, a suction generator, and a conduit connecting said suction generator with said chamber; adjustable pressure regulating means for varying the densifying action of the air current, comprising a valve arranged to control the flow of air through said conduit between said chamber and said suction generator; testing means for measuring the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the moving filler stream and for comparing the measured quantity with a preselected quantity; adjusting means for adjusting said pressure regulating means when the measured quantity differs from said preselected quantity so that the densifying action of the air current remains constant; trimming means for removing said excess from the filler stream so that the thus trimmed filler stream forms a rod stream; gauge means for measuring the pressure of the air current after the current has passed through the filler stream and for comparing the measured pressure with a predetermined pressure, said gauge means being connected with said conduit between said valve and said chamber; and an operative connection between said gauge means and said adjusting means for effecting adjustment of said pressure regulating means when the measured pressure differs from said predetermined pressure.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said trimming step is performed upon such portions of the tobacco filler Stream which are traversed by said current of air.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the steps of measuring the pressure of air current after the current has passed through the tobacco filler stream, determining the presence and absence of differences between the measured pressure and a predetermined pressure, and adjusting the pressure of the air current when the measured pressure differs from said predetermined pressure.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said step of pneumatically compressing the filler stream comprises conveying said current of air by suction across the path of the tobacco filler stream.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod stream of constant density, conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod stream and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path; means for subjecting the moving filler stream to the densifying action of an air current passing transversely across said path and through the filler stream; adjustable pressure regulating means for varying the densifying action of the air current; testing means for measuring the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the moving filler stream and for determining the presence and absence of differences between the measured quantity and a preselected quantity; adjusting means for adjusting said pressure regulating means when the measured quantity differs from said preselected quantity so that the density of tobacco in the filler stream is maintained at a constant level; and trimming means for removing said excess from the filler stream so that the thus trimmed filler stream forms a rod stream.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for producing a tobacco rod stream of constant density, conveying means adapted to form a tobacco filler stream containing tobacco in excess of that required in the rod stream and to advance the filler stream in an elongated path; means for subjecting the moving filler stream to the densifying action of an air current passing transversely across said path and through the filler stream; adjustable pressure regulating means for varying the densifying action of the air current; testing means for measuring the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the moving filler stream and for determining the presence and absence of differences between the measured quantity and a preselected quantity; adjusting means for adjusting said pressure regulating means when the measured quantity differs from said preselected quantity so that the density of tobacco in the filler stream is maintained at a constant level; and trimming means for removing said excess from the filler stream so that the thus trimmed filler stream forms a rod stream.

Claim 15

In an apparatus as defined in claim 9, gauge means for measuring the pressure of the air current after the current has passed through the tobacco filler stream and for determining the presence and absence of differences between the measured pressure and a predetermined pressure, and an operative connection between said gauge means and said adjusting means for effecting adjustment of said pressure regulating means when the measured pressure differs from said predetermined pressure.

Claim 16

A machine, such as that used in the manufacture of cigarettes, using compressible material to form a product, comprising a conveyor for said material, a trimmer for the material on said conveyor, feed means spaced from said trimmer along said conveyor for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required for said product, adjustable means intermediate said trimmer and said feed means for varying the density of the material conveyed to said trimmer, said trimmer being adapted to separate said material into a first portion of predetermined cross-section and a second excess portion, means for utilizing said separated first portion to form said product, means for detecting the quantity of said material in said first portion, and means for controlling said adjustable means in accordance with the quantity of material detected to maintain said quantity constant.

Claim 17

A machine, such as that used in the manufacture of cigarettes, using compressible material to form a product, comprising a conveyor for said material, a trimmer for the material on said conveyor, feed means spaced from said trimmer along said conveyor for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required for said product, adjustable means intermediate said trimmer and said feed means for varying the density of the material conveyed to said trimmer, said trimmer being adapted to separate said material into a first portion of predetermined cross-section and a second excess portion, means for utilizing said separated first portion to form said product, means for detecting the quantity of said material in said first portion, and means for controlling said adjustable means in accordance with the quantity of material detected to maintain said quantity constant.