Method and apparatus for conditioning tobacco

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said indirect heating action is substantially uniform throughout said conditioning zone.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first mentioned adjusting step comprises changing the temperature of said fluid.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said adjusting step further comprises changing the temperature of said second fluid in accordance with said second signal.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said indirect heating action is changed in dependency on changes in temperature of said second fluid as a function of time.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the tobacco which issues from said conditioning zone prior to said measuring step.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying to said conditioning zone moist tobacco at an at least substantially constant rate.

Claim 13

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby such stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value and for adjusting the heating action of one of said heating means in dependency upon the heating action of the other of said heating means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby such stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value and for adjusting the heating action of one of said heating means in dependency upon the heating action of the other of said heating means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said conveyor comprises a tubular member which surrounds said conditioning zone and said first heating means is arranged to heat said tubular member, said tubular member having an intake end for admission of tobacco and a discharge end for evacuation of tobacco and for admission of said hot fluid.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said regulating means comprises discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means and said second regulating unit comprises adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid as a function of said deviations.

Claim 17

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said meAsuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means, said measuring means being connected with said second regulating unit to effect changes in the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations and said second regulating unit comprising detector means for producing signals indicating the temperature of said fluid, said first regulating unit being responsive to said signals to adjust said first heating means as a function of changes in the temperature of said fluid.

Claim 18

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said meAsuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means, said measuring means being connected with said second regulating unit to effect changes in the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations and said second regulating unit comprising detector means for producing signals indicating the temperature of said fluid, said first regulating unit being responsive to said signals to adjust said first heating means as a function of changes in the temperature of said fluid.

Claim 19

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining a elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means and said first and second regulating units respectively comprising first and second detector means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the temperature of said conveyor and the temperature of said fluid, said first regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for adjusting said first heating means to thereby change the temperature of said conveyor in response to said signals, said second regulating unit including adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations.

Claim 20

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining a elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means and said first and second regulating units respectively comprising first and second detector means for producing first and second signals respectively indicating the temperature of said conveyor and the temperature of said fluid, said first regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for adjusting said first heating means to thereby change the temperature of said conveyor in response to said signals, said second regulating unit including adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations.

Claim 21

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means and said first and second regulating units respectively comprising first and second detectors for producing signals respectively indicating the temperature of said conveyor and the temperature of said fluid, said second regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid as a function of signals from said first detector and in response to said deviations.

Claim 22

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating means and said first and second regulating units respectively comprising first and second detectors for producing signals respectively indicating the temperature of said conveyor and the temperature of said fluid, said second regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid as a function of signals from said first detector and in response to said deviations.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said feeding means includes a measuring device for admitting to said conveyor tobacco at a constant rate.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said measuring device comprises means for weighing unit lengths oF said tobacco stream, an adjustable second conveyor for supplying tobacco to said weighing means, and means for adjusting said second conveyor in response to deviations of the measured quantity of tobacco from a predetermined quantity.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for cooling the tobacco which issues from said conditioning zone.

Claim 26

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating menas and said second unit comprising detector means arranged to produce signals indicating the temperature of said fluid, said second regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations; and means including a differential circuit for transmitting to said first regulating unit signals from said detector means for adjustment of said first heating means in dependency on changes in temperature of said fluid as a function of time.

Claim 27

Apparatus for conditioning tobacco, comprising a conveyor defining an elongated conditioning zone; feeding means for delivering to said conveyor a stream of moist tobacco whereby said stream advances in a predetermined direction through and beyond said conditioning zone; first adjustable heating means for heating said conveyor to thereby subject tobacco in said conditioning zone to a first heating and moisture-expelling action; second adjustable heating means for conveying through said conditioning zone a hot fluid counter to said direction to thus subject tobacco in said zone to a second heating and moisture-expelling action; measuring means for determining the moisture content of tobacco after the tobacco issues from said conditioning zone; and regulating means connected with said measuring means and operative to adjust said first and second heating means in response to deviations of that moisture content which is detected by said measuring means from a predetermined value, said regulating means comprising discrete first and second regulating units for said first and second heating menas and said second unit comprising detector means arranged to produce signals indicating the temperature of said fluid, said second regulating unit further comprising adjusting means for changing the temperature of said fluid in response to said deviations; and means including a differential circuit for transmitting to said first regulating unit signals from said detector means for adjustment of said first heating means in dependency on changes in temperature of said fluid as a function of time.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 19, further comprising means for controlling the transmission of signals from said circuit to said first regulating means so that the latter receives signals only when such signals indicate sudden changes in the temperature of said fluid.