US4244382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for delivering particles of tobacco to shredding machines
Assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
•
Filing: 1979-07-23
•
Granted: 1981-01-13
•
Expires: 1999-07-23
Abstract
Abstract The channel between the convergent tobacco compacting upper and lower chain conveyors of a tobacco shredding machine receives particles of tobacco from one or more vibrating troughs which define paths extending in parallelism with the direction of travel of particles between the chain conveyors toward the cutting station. The troughs can have stepped bottom walls to effect preliminary homogenization and compacting of particles on their way toward the rear portion of the lower conveyor which extends rearwardly beyond the upper conveyor. The quantity of tobacco particles in one or more troughs is monitored by photocells whose signals are utilized to vary the speed of the motor for the chain conveyors, the frequency and/or amplitude of vibratory movements of the trough or troughs and/or the rate of feed of particles to the trough or troughs when the monitored quantity deviates from a desirable range of quantities. The front portion of each trough can be vibrated in such a way that it performs recurrent movements having predominantly vertical components, and the rear portion of each trough can be vibrated to perform recurrent movements having predominantly horizontal components. This is achieved by mounting the front portion on leaf springs which make with the bottom wall of the respective trough a relatively small acute angle, and by mounting the rear portion on leaf springs which make with the bottom wall a relatively large acute angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Willi Thiele
- 👤 Klaus-Georg Hackmack
- 👤 Reinhard Hohm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:13
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B7/00; A24B7/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a method of comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, wherein a stream of tobacco particles is built up at a location remote from a cutting station and the stream is condensed diuring transport toward said station, the improvement which coprises the steps of transporting said stream lengthwise along a first substantially horizontal path; conveying particles of tobacco toward said location substantially in the longitudinal direction of said stream and along at least one second substantially horizontal path having a discharge end at said location, said second path further having a first portion nearer to and a second portion more distant from said location; and agitating the particles in the course of said conveying step, including imparting to the particles in said first portion of said second path a first recurrent movement having a predominantly vertical component and imparting to the particles in said second portion of said second path a second recurrent movement having a predominantly horizontal component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a method of comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, wherein a stream of tobacco particles is built up at a location remote from a cutting station and the stream is condensed diuring transport toward said station, the improvement which coprises the steps of transporting said stream lengthwise along a first substantially horizontal path; conveying particles of tobacco toward said location substantially in the longitudinal direction of said stream and along at least one second substantially horizontal path having a discharge end at said location, said second path further having a first portion nearer to and a second portion more distant from said location; and agitating the particles in the course of said conveying step, including imparting to the particles in said first portion of said second path a first recurrent movement having a predominantly vertical component and imparting to the particles in said second portion of said second path a second recurrent movement having a predominantly horizontal component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein said agitating step comprises vibrating the particles in said second path to thereby orient the particles so that at least the majority of particles which reach said location are substantially horizontal and extend substantially transversely of said stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 1, further comprising the steps of feeding particles into said second path at a variable rate, monitoring the quantity of particles in said second path, and varying said rate when the monitored quantity deviates from a predetermined range of quantities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein said conveying step comprises advancing particles of tobacco toward said location along a plurality of substantially parallel second paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein said second path has a plurality of successive sections with each preceding section disposed at a level above the next-following section so that the particles descend during transfer from a preceding section into the next-following section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a machine for comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, wherein a transporting unit advances a stream of tobacco particles lengthwise from a location which is remote from a cutting station to said cutting station, wherein said unit condenses the stream between said location and said station, and wherein successive increments of the condensed stream are shredded by at least one moving tool at said station, the improvement which comprises conveyor means defining at least one elongated path which is at least substantially in line with said stream, said conveyor means having outlet means at said location and including a first portion which defines a first portion of said path and is nearer to said location and a second portion which defines a second portion of said path and is more distant from said location; means for feeding particles of tobacco to said conveyor means whereby such particles advance toward and enter said location to form said stream; and means for agitating the particles in said path, including means for imparting to the particles ot tobacco in said first portion of said path a first recurrent movement having a predominantly vertical component and means for imparting to the particles of tobacco in said second portion of said path a second recurrent movement having a substantially horizontal component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a machine for comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, wherein a transporting unit advances a stream of tobacco particles lengthwise from a location which is remote from a cutting station to said cutting station, wherein said unit condenses the stream between said location and said station, and wherein successive increments of the condensed stream are shredded by at least one moving tool at said station, the improvement which comprises conveyor means defining at least one elongated path which is at least substantially in line with said stream, said conveyor means having outlet means at said location and including a first portion which defines a first portion of said path and is nearer to said location and a second portion which defines a second portion of said path and is more distant from said location; means for feeding particles of tobacco to said conveyor means whereby such particles advance toward and enter said location to form said stream; and means for agitating the particles in said path, including means for imparting to the particles ot tobacco in said first portion of said path a first recurrent movement having a predominantly vertical component and means for imparting to the particles of tobacco in said second portion of said path a second recurrent movement having a substantially horizontal component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said conveyor means comprises a substantially horizontal trough having front and rear sections respectively constituting said first and second portions of said conveyor means, first elongated elastic elements supporting said front section and second elongated elastic elements supporting said rear section, said first elastic elements making with the longitudinal direction of said path a first acute angle and said second elastic elements making with the longitudinal direction of said path a larger second acute angle, said means for imparting said first and second recurrent movements including means for vibrating said trough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 7, wherein said first angle is approximately 50 degrees and said second angle is approximately 70 degrees.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 7, wherein said trough has a bottom wall making with a horizontal plane an angle of approximately 5 degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said agitating means comprises means for vibrating said conveyor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein aid conveyor means comprises a stepped bottom wall so that the particles which are supplied by said feeding means descend from at least one higher level to at least one lower level during advancement toward said location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 11, wherein said bottom wall includes at least one step which extends substantially transversely of said path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 11, wherein said bottom wall comprises a plurality of successive steps each extending substantially transversely of said path, each next-following step being disposed at a level below the preceding step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said conveyor means comprises at least one trough and said agitating means comprises means for vibrating said trough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said path is substantially horizontal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said path slopes slightly downwardly toward said location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said conveyor means comprises a trough and means for pivotally mounting said trough so that the trough can turn about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of said path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 17, wherein said axis is disposed in the region of said outlet means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of troughs and said agitating means comprises means for vibrating said troughs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 19, wherein said troughs are substantially parallel to and are disposed above each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improvement of claim 6, wherein said feeding means includes means for supplying particles at a variable rate, and further comprising means for monitoring the quantity of particles in at least one portion of said path and means for varying said rate when the monitored quantity deviates from a predetermined range of quantities.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |