Abstract: A method of and an appratus for automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample and for then automatically determining the stem content of the tobacco sample are disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a dryer, such as a rotary drum dryer with internal agitating vanes, for applying heat to remove moisture and volatiles from the sample and for reducing the sample to lamina and stem portions. Electronic scales are used to weigh the sample before and after drying to determine and store the "wet" and "dry" weights of the sample. Based on the stored wet and dry weights the moisture content is determined. The stem portions are classified into two categories and weighed to determine the stem content by weight of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring the basis weight and moisture content of a wet reconstituted tobacco web is disclosed. A specimen of the wet web is placed on a cutting surface of the apparatus and smoothed flat. A cutter is automatically positioned by a joy stick over the specimen and a test sequence is initiated. The cutter cuts out a sample of known area and transports the sample to a scale for weighing the sample in its wet and dry states. After the wet weight of the sample is entered into a computer, a heater dries out the sample while it remains on the scale. When the sample is dried, its dry weight is entered into the computer. Based on the wet and dry sample weights and the known sample area, the basis weight and moisture content of the reconstituted tobacco web is calculated by the computer. A disposal device removes the spent sample from the scale by suction and discards it into a waste receptacle.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for automatically taking a cored sample of tobacco from a bale of tobacco and pneumatically transferring the sample to a remotely located receiving station, such as a stem content analyzer, are disclosed. A sample canister with vacuum-operated end closures for use in the pneumatic transfer of the tobacco sample is also disclosed. A compacted, cored sample of tobacco is delaminated and then deposited into an open sample canister which is closed and pneumatically transported to a stem content analyzer where it is opened, upended to deposit the sample into the stem content analyzer, reclosed and pneumatically returned for another sample of tobacco.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system for diverting a sample of leaf tobacco from an operating tobacco processing line, supplying the tobacco to a degradation analyzer and returning the tobacco to the processing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different-sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line.