Abstract: Tobacco shreds are drawn from a magazine by a pneumatic conveyor pipe which delivers the shreds into the lower chamber of an air separator whose upper chamber is separated from the lower chamber by an air-permeable partition and is connected with the inlet of a suction generating device serving to draw an air stream through the pneumatic conveyor pipe. The velocity of the air stream in the pipe is maintained at a constant value by a flow restrictor which is installed in the inlet of the suction generating device and is adjustable by hand or by a servomotor receiving signals from a device which ascertains the velocity of air in the pipe by comparing the velocity of air in the second chamber with the velocity of air in the inlet of the suction generating device. The air separator has an outlet for periodical admission of batches of tobacco shreds from the first chamber into a duct which delivers the shreds into the distributor of a cigarette rod making machine.

Abstract: Shredded tobacco is supplied from a storage reservoir to one or more cigarette making machines by way of discrete pneumatic conveying pipes. The reservoir receives fresh tobacco at regular or irregular intervals so that the quantity of tobacco in its interior is constant. The contents of the reservoir are maintained in suspension so that at least the major part of the supply of tobacco shreds forms a fluidized bed which is located directly below the intakes of the conveying pipes. When a machine requires a batch of tobacco shreds, the respective pipe is connected to a suction generating device so that it draws air from the region between the underside of the fluidized bed and the upper side of the bottom wall of the reservoir whereby the ascending current of air entrains tobacco particles directly from the fluidized bed.

Abstract: Shredded tobacco is supplied from a storage reservoir to one or more cigarette making machines by way of discrete pneumatic conveying pipes. The reservoir receives fresh tobacco at regular or irregular intervals so that the quantity of tobacco in its interior is constant. The contents of the reservoir are maintained in suspension so that at least the major part of the supply of tobacco shreds forms a fluidized bed which is located directly below the intakes of the conveying pipes. When a machine requires a batch of tobacco shreds, the respective pipe is connected to a suction generating device so that it draws air from the region between the underside of the fluidized bed and the upper side of the bottom wall of the reservoir whereby the ascending current of air entrains tobacco particles directly from the fluidized bed.