Abstract: An exhaust fan draws air and entrained tobacco through delivery pipes from a tobacco feeder to the respective dischargers of a group of cigarette making machines, where the tobacco is screened out and the air passes on through exhaust pipes. When a discharger is to release tobacco to its making machine the feeder stops delivery of tobacco to that discharger and, after a delay to clear the delivery pipe, a valve bypasses the air around the discharger so that a constant air flow is maintained. The feeder supplies tobacco in a separate and independently controlled stream to each discharger, and has oscillating vanes to separate and keep the tobacco moving.

Abstract: An exhaust fan draws air and entrained tobacco through delivery pipes from a tobacco feeder to the respective dischargers of a group of cigarette making machines, where the tobacco is screened out and the air passes on through exhaust pipes. When a discharger is to release tobacco to its making machine the feeder stops delivery of tobacco to that discharger and, after a delay to clear the delivery pipe, a valve bypasses the air around the discharger so that a constant air flow is maintained. The feeder supplies tobacco in a separate and independently controlled stream to each discharger, and has oscillating vanes to separate and keep the tobacco moving.

Abstract: Spaced overlapping louver panels on a vibratory horizontal deck levitate and convey particles moving across the deck as they are dried or otherwise treated by gas blown between the panels. The panels have flanges where they overlap, and flat central areas sloping upwardly in the direction of particle flow. Multiple superimposed decks can be used with the particles on them moving horizontally in alternating directions.

Abstract: A bin infeed system for a surge or blending bin or the like including an endless belt trained about a pair of rolls at opposite ends of the bin, a track assembly providing a pair of transversely spaced tracks longitudinally spanning the bin laterally flanking and below the belt movable longitudinally over the upper surface of the upper flight of the conveyor belt and a movable plow assembly including a plow carriage having a carriage frame and wheels rolling on the tracks, and a V-shaped blade member rigidly fixed to the carriage frame and having its apex aligned substantially with the center line of the belt. A pair of wing-like diverter members extend below and from the opposite sides of the carriage providing downwardly and outwardly inclined plate portions of substantially L-shaped cross-section opening toward one end of the bin with the bottom plate portion having a rearwardly inclined front edge.

Abstract: A vibrating discharge apparatus for discharging particulate stored material from a surge or blending bin or the like, having a discharge end, a discharge apron defining an support surface near the bottom of the bin extending in a substantially horizontal plane along a conveyance path to the discharge end. The apron is directed along a downwardly curving convex apron path sloping downwardly from the horizontal plane at the discharge end and comprises a plurality of rigid elongated parallel transversely extending slat members each having a main slat body portion and a thin plate-like lip projecting therefrom to overlie the adjacent slat member.

Abstract: A pneumatic separator for separating lighter particles from heavier stem particles and the like, as in tobacco threshing, including a separating chamber having air circulating in a generally upward path therethrough, an inlet rotary impeller mounted on one side of the separating chamber for thrusting particles to be separated into and across the chamber toward a generally upwardly extending opposite wall of the chamber, an inclined perforated plate member below the level of the impeller for directing larger particles discharged toward or falling onto the inclined plate member for collecting and carrying heavier particles from the chamber, and an air jet impeller located immediately above the inclined plate to discharge an air jet therefrom for directing material into a high arc trajectory into the chamber.