Method and apparatus for processing tobacco

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustment of treatment of tobacco at said second station takes place in direct response to variations of said equalizing action, and further comprising the step of delaying such adjustment until the leading end of the tobacco stream which leaves said section subsequent to a variation of said equalizing action reaches said second station.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the treatment of tobacco at said first station in direct response to variations of said equalizing action.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of building up at said section a supply of tobacco arriving from said first station, said step of subjecting the tobacco stream to said variable equalizing action comprising withdrawing tobacco from said supply at a selected one of a plurality of different rates.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 4, wherein said monitoring step comprises scanning said supply and said step of adjusting the treatment of tobacco at said first station comprises changing the output of treated tobacco at said first station when the quantity of tobacco in said supply is without a predetermined range.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the treatment of tobacco at said first station includes comminuting tobacco at a variable rate and said step of adjusting the treatment of tobacco at said first station comprises changing the quantity of comminuted tobacco leaving said first station.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of feeding to said first station tobacco at a rate exceeding the tobacco requirements of said first station so as to establish a fluctuating surplus of tobacco which is not comminuted at said first station, measuring the quantity of tobacco forming said surplus, and changing the rate of feed of tobacco to said first station in dependency on the fluctuations of said surplus.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the treatment of tobacco at said second station comprises admixing to said tobacco stream at least one second type of tobacco at a rate which varies proportionally with variations of said equalizing action.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the treatment of tobacco at said second station comprises changing the moisture content of tobacco.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the treatment of tobacco at said second station comprises storing the tobacco of said stream to form a floating store of tobacco and withdrawing tobacco from such floating store at a rate which varies proportionally with variations of said equalizing action.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the treatment of tobacco at said second station comprises contacting successive increments of said tobacco stream with at least one flavoring agent at a rate which varies proportionally with the variations of said equalizing action.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the treatment of tobacco at least at one of said stations independently of said variations.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising the step of placing the instrumentalities for carrying out adjustments of said equalizing action into close proximity of instrumentalities for carrying out independent adjustments of tobacco treatment at said one station.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for processing tobacco, a combination comprising transporting means defining an elongated path wherein tobacco is conveyed in the form of a stream, said path including an intermediate section; at least one first adjustable tobacco treating unit adjacent to said path upstream of said section; at least one second adjustable tobacco treating unit adjacent to said path downstream of said section; an adjustable equalizing unit provided at said section and arranged to subject the tobacco of said stream to a variable equalizing action so that each unit length of the tobacco stream downstream of said section normally contains a fixed quantity of tobacco; detector means adjacent to said path between said first unit and said equalizing unit for producing first signals indicative of the rate of tobacco transport to said equalizing unit; control means for adjustIng said first unit in response to said first signals so as to maintain said rate within a predetermined range; main set value selector means actuatable to generate second signals; first adjusting means for adjusting said equalizing unit in response to said second signals to thereby change the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the tobacco stream downstream of said section; and second adjusting means for adjusting said second unit in response to said second signals.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for processing tobacco, a combination comprising transporting means defining an elongated path wherein tobacco is conveyed in the form of a stream, said path including an intermediate section; at least one first adjustable tobacco treating unit adjacent to said path upstream of said section; at least one second adjustable tobacco treating unit adjacent to said path downstream of said section; an adjustable equalizing unit provided at said section and arranged to subject the tobacco of said stream to a variable equalizing action so that each unit length of the tobacco stream downstream of said section normally contains a fixed quantity of tobacco; detector means adjacent to said path between said first unit and said equalizing unit for producing first signals indicative of the rate of tobacco transport to said equalizing unit; control means for adjustIng said first unit in response to said first signals so as to maintain said rate within a predetermined range; main set value selector means actuatable to generate second signals; first adjusting means for adjusting said equalizing unit in response to said second signals to thereby change the quantity of tobacco per unit length of the tobacco stream downstream of said section; and second adjusting means for adjusting said second unit in response to said second signals.

Claim 17

A combination as defined in claim 14, further comprising time delay means interposed between said main set value selector means and said second adjusting means for delaying the transmission of said second signals so that the adjustment of said second unit takes place substantially simultaneously with arrival of the foremost changed quantity of tobacco per unit length of said stream into the range of said second treating unit.

Claim 18

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said control means is responsive to said second signals so that said first unit is adjusted in response to either of or both said first and second signals.

Claim 19

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said equalizing unit comprises means for accumulating a supply of tobacco which is being transported to said section and means for withdrawing from said supply tobacco for transport toward said second unit.

Claim 20

A combination as defined in claim 17, wherein said detector means comprises means for monitoring the quantity of tobacco in said supply.

Claim 21

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said first unit comprises at least one tobacco shredding machine whose output of shredded tobacco is adjustable in response to said first signals.

Claim 22

A combination as defined in claim 19, further comprising a source of tobacco leaves and feeder means for delivering a stream of tobacco leaves from said source to said transporting means for introduction into said shredding machine.

Claim 23

A combination as defined in claim 20, wherein said feeder means is arranged to deliver to said transporting means tobacco leaves in quantities corresponding to the requirements of said shredding machine plus a surplus of tobacco leaves, and further comprising recirculating conveyor means for returning said surplus to said source in the form of a stream, signal generating weighing means for monitoring the quantity of tobacco leaves per unit length of said surplus stream, and regulating means for controlling the rate of withdrawal of tobacco leaves from said source by said feeder means in response to signals from said weighing means.

Claim 24

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second treating unit comprises a source of a tobacco type other than tobacco which is being transported to said metering unit, an adjustable equalizing device arranged to withdraw from said source tobacco of said other type for delivery to said path downstream of said section, and adjusting means for adjusting said equalizing device in response to said second signals.

Claim 25

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second treating unit comprises means for changing the moisture content of tobacco.

Claim 26

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second treating unit comprises means for storing the tobacco supplied thereto by said transporting means.

Claim 27

A combination as defined in claim 14, further comprising auxiliary set value selector means actuatable to adjust at least one of said treating units independently of said main set value selector means.

Claim 28

A combination as defined in claim 25, wherein said main set value selector means and said auxiliary set value selector means are closely adjacent to each other.

Claim 29

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second treating unit comprises means for intimately contacting the tobacco of said stream with at least one liquid agent.

Claim 30

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said second adjusting means is arranged to adjust said secOnd treating unit with a delay required for transport of the foremost changed quantity of tobacco into the range of said second unit and to the extent required to insure that the condition of tobacco leaving said second unit is the same prior and subsequent to generation of a second signal.

Claim 31

A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said metering unit comprises a tobacco weighing device.