Patent US4254781A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4254781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for delivering particles of tobacco to shredding machines
Assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
•
Filing: 1979-03-14
•
Granted: 1981-03-10
•
Expires: 1999-03-14
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 have stepped bottom walls to effect preliminary homogenization and compacting of particles on their way toward the rear portion of the lower chain conveyor which extends rearwardly beyond the upper chain conveyor. The quantity of tobacco particles in one or more troughs is monitored by one or more 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 tobacco particles to the trough or troughs when the monitored quantity deviates from a desirable range of quantities.
Inventors
- 👤 Willi Thiele
- 👤 Klaus-Georg Hackmack
- 👤 Reinhard Hohm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:17
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B7/00; A24B7/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 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 and is transported lengthwise toward a cutting station, and wherein the stream is condensed during transport toward said station, the improvement which comprises the steps of transporting the 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; and agitating the particles in the course of said conveying step, including 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 2
Dependent Claim
141 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 and is transported lengthwise toward a cutting station, and wherein the stream is condensed during transport toward said station, the improvement which comprises the steps of transporting the 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; and agitating the particles in the course of said conveying step, including 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 3
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 4
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 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein said second path is elongated and 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 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a machine for comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, at a cutting station, the combination of a transporting unit arranged to advance a stream of tobacco particles lengthwise along a first substantially horizontal path from a location which is remote from said cutting station to said cutting station and to condense the stream between said location and said station; conveyor means defining at least one elongated second substantially horizontal path which is at least substantially in line with said stream, said conveyor means having outlet means at 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; means for agitating the particles in said second path, including means for vibrating said conveyor means 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 second path; and means for shredding the particles of the stream at said station, including at least one moving tool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a machine for comminuting particles of tobacco, such as ribs of tobacco leaves, at a cutting station, the combination of a transporting unit arranged to advance a stream of tobacco particles lengthwise along a first substantially horizontal path from a location which is remote from said cutting station to said cutting station and to condense the stream between said location and said station; conveyor means defining at least one elongated second substantially horizontal path which is at least substantially in line with said stream, said conveyor means having outlet means at 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; means for agitating the particles in said second path, including means for vibrating said conveyor means 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 second path; and means for shredding the particles of the stream at said station, including at least one moving tool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said conveyor means comprises at least one trough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said path slopes slightly downwardly toward said location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 5, 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 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein said axis is disposed in the region of said outlet means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of troughs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvement of claim 5, 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 second path and means for varying said rate when the monitored quantity deviates from a predetermined range of quantities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 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; means for feeding particles of tobacco to said conveyor means whereby such particles advance toward and enter said location to form said stream, said conveyor means comprising 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; and means for agitating said particles in said path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 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; means for feeding particles of tobacco to said conveyor means whereby such particles advance toward and enter said location to form said stream, said conveyor means comprising 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; and means for agitating said particles in said path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 12, wherein said bottom wall includes at least one step which extends substantially transversely of said path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 12, 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 18
Dependent Claim
153 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 comprising a plurality of troughs substantially parallel to and disposed above each other; 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 vibrating said troughs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
153 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 comprising a plurality of troughs substantially parallel to and disposed above each other; 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 vibrating said troughs.
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) | 1984-03-09 | 1984-09-08 | 1985-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-09 | 1988-09-08 | 1989-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-09 | 1992-09-08 | 1993-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |