Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention relates to the detipping of cigarettes at high speed without degradation of the tobacco in the tobacco rod and regardless of the intial orientation of the filter tip and the tobacco rod in the apparatus. Cigarettes are fed onto a conveyor belt so that they are traveling in a direction perpendicular to their longitudinal axis. A rolling belt disposed above the conveyor belt straightens bent cigarettes and rolls uneven cigarettes. The cigarettes are then fed onto a fluted rotating drum and aligned on the drum by means of an optical sensor and an air jet so that the filter tip portion of each cigarette is adjacent either side of the drum. Rotating knives are properly oriented so they engage the cigarettes only at the point where the filter tip is connected to the tobacco rod and cut off the filters of the cigarettes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing tobacco filler by cutting whole tobacco leaves, including stems, is provided. The leaves, with stems in, are cut to produce strands of lamina and strands of stem and lamina. The strands are carded to disentangle them and then put through a separator to separate the strands of lamina, for use as filler, from strands of stem and lamina. The strands of stem and lamina can be carded again to disentangle may remaining strands of lamina that there may be, and the strands can then be passed through another separator. The process can be repeated several times if necessary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the separation and classification of tobacco into two fractions, e.g., into heavies and lights. A stream of fluid is employed to produce a stratified bed of the tobacco, preferably in cooperation with vibration of the tobacco, in which the tobacco is supported by the fluid and is stratified as a function of particle size, density and weight. The stream entrains the tobacco particles located at the top of the stratified bed and removes them to a suitable receptacle, where they are received and collected.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controllably dispensing paper tissue from a spirally wound roll on a hollow core. The apparatus is comprised of holding means having a vertically oriented front panel, a floor and two side retaining members. The paper roll is supported on the floor such that the core is disposed horizontally and perpendicularly to the side members. A paper engaging means, supported by the holding means, and adapted for reciprocal motion in a linear path, advances the paper through an opening when moved in one direction, and does not move the paper when moved in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A tobacco leaf mixture containing lighter and heavier fractions is fed into one side of a housing while an airstream flow is introduced at the other side of the housing and in an upwardly directed flow course so as to cause it to entrain the lighter fraction of the mixture therein, with the heavier fraction falling to the bottom of the housing. A suction lift is maintained at the top of the housing to increase the velocity of the lighter fraction containing air flow outwardly from the housing. The lighter fraction containing air flow is then delivered to a separator unit to recover the lighter fraction. The lighter fraction can, for example, be the laminae material from which shredded cigarette tobacco filler is made.

Abstract: Tobacco in cigarettes rejected in the cigarette manufacturing operation is recovered by subjecting the cigarettes to a series of ripping actions which open the wrappings to expose the tobacco and a series of screening operations which result in effective recovery of 99+% of the tobacco and with almost no presence of wrappings residue material in the recovered tobacco, the wrappings material being separated to a different collection end point than the recovered tobacco.

Abstract: The removal of so-called zip-tape from reclaim tobacco is achieved by use of an elongate vibratory conveyor having grooves extending longitudinally therewith and of longitudinal depth profile preselected from groove-containment of the reclaim tobacco, except for the zip-tape content thereof. Rollers having surface affinity for the zip-tape are arranged in overlying relation to the conveyor surface and groove rises, and are disposed in acute angle relation with the conveyor feed direction. The rollers are supported for joint movement with the conveyor so as to be maintained in fixed relation to the conveyor surface during vibration. Zip-tape encountered by the surfaces of the rollers is withdrawn from the conveyor grooves and is displaced successively transversely of the conveyor for collection aside the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering printing ink from a tubular cannister filled with ink to a printing unit. The cannister is received in a tubular casing, and an air-operated plunger is forced through the cannister to feed ink from the cannister through a pipeline to a printing unit.