Abstract: A web material feeding apparatus has a suction plate 24 provided near an outlet of a reservoir box 2. The suction plate 24 can be shifted in the direction across a feeding path for tip paper C, by operation of a motor 76. The feeding apparatus also has a sensor unit 96 provided at the upstream side of a receiving drum 12. The sensor unit 96 supplies a detection signal to a controller 120. When the controller 120 detects meandering of the tip paper C on the basis of the detection signal supplied from the sensor unit 96, the controller 120 actuates the motor 76 to shift the suction plate 24 to thereby correct the meandering of the tip paper C.

Abstract: A web material feeding apparatus has a suction plate 24 provided near an outlet of a reservoir box 2. The suction plate 24 can be shifted in the direction across a feeding path for tip paper C, by operation of a motor 76. The feeding apparatus also has a sensor unit 96 provided at the upstream side of a receiving drum 12. The sensor unit 96 supplies a detection signal to a controller 120. When the controller 120 detects meandering of the tip paper C on the basis of the detection signal supplied from the sensor unit 96, the controller 120 actuates the motor 76 to shift the suction plate 24 to thereby correct the meandering of the tip paper C.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco feeding apparatus includes an optical sensor (40) for detecting stagnation of shreds in a secondary separator (20). The optical sensor (40) senses the interior of the secondary separator (20) in the width direction thereof, by transmitting and receiving detection light propagated through a stagnation-prone region of the secondary separator which is lower in level than an air locker (18). If the detection light is blocked by stagnant shreds, a controller (58) detects the stagnation based on a detection signal from the optical sensor and operates an alarm device (60). Also, the controller (58) actuates an air vibrator (62) to remove the stagnation of shreds.