Abstract: An inhomogeneous stream of tobacco particles is homogenized by feeding the stream onto a vibrating support having openings through which the particles descend onto a conveyor serving to transport the thus homogenized stream in a direction counter to that of advancement of the inhomogenized stream toward and on the support. The homogenizing operation can be repeated by positioning a second vibratory apertured support to receive the once homogenized stream from the conveyor and by positioning a second conveyor beneath the second support.

Abstract: A hygroscopic commodity, such as a continuous stream of shredded tobacco, is transported past one or more sources of electrical energy and past one or more monitoring devices. One of the sources can expose the stream to the electric field of a capacitor in a high frequency oscillator circuit, and the other source can expose the stream to infrared waves or microwaves. The moisture in the stream influences the phase and/or the damping of oscillations of the electrical energy, and the monitoring device of devices ascertain the changes of such characteristics of the electrical energy and transmit corresponding signals to a processing circuit which processes the signals into moisture signals.

Abstract: The ratio of different types of tobacco in a tobacco stream which is conveyed past a trimming device is monitored by monitoring the distance of the trimming plan from the conveyor for the stream while the mass flow of the stream is maintained at a constant value. Variations of the distance of the trimming plane from the conveyor are indicative of variations of the ratio of different tobaccos in the stream, and such variations are further indicative of fluctuations of filling power of tobacco which forms the stream.

Abstract: Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are heated microwaves, or in an to a temperature not less than 50.degree. C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding machine without previous cooling and/or breaking up. The moisture content of the shreds is raised to between 12 and 13.5% for admission into a cigarette maker, or such moisture content is raised well above the optimum value for further processing in order to increase the filling power of the shreds. The shreds are thereupon dried to reduce their moisture content to between 12 and 13.5% prior to conversion into the filler of a cigarette rod. Two or more different types of shreds can be mixed prior to admission into the cigarette maker.

Abstract: Cigarettes are produced by gathering shredded tobacco into a stream which is moved longitudinally and is draped into a web of cigarette paper to form a rod which is subdivided into cigarettes of desired length. In order to impart to the cigarettes predictable characteristics, particularly hardness, draw resistance, number of puffs per cigarette, nicotine content, carbon monoxide content and tar content, the operation of the trimming device which removes the surplus from the stream prior to draping is regulated as a function of third signals which are generated on the basis of first signals denoting the monitored density of the stream, second signals denoting the monitored or calculated filling power of tobacco, and a number of functional equations which denote predetermined regular relationships between the parameters denoted by the first and second signals and the aforementioned characteristics of cigarettes.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.

Abstract: Apparatus for puffing, drying or moisturizing tobacco has a conveyor defining an elongated channel with an inlet and an outlet for particles of tobacco. The conveyor is vibrated so that the particles advance toward the outlet, and the bottom wall of the conveyor has orifices which serve to discharge jets of hot air or steam into the channel in such orientation that the jets of admitted fluid medium are inclined to each other, to the direction of advancement of tobacco particles and/or to the vertical. The orifices receive fluid from a chamber which is provided beneath the bottom wall and is connected to a source of steam or hot air.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.

Abstract: Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are dielectrically heated by microwaves, or in an electric high-frequency field, to a temperature not less than 50.degree. C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding machine without previous cooling and/or breaking up. The moisture content of the shreds is raised to between 12 and 13.5% for admission into a cigarette maker, or such moisture content is raised well above the optimum value for further processing in order to increase the filling power of the shreds. The shreds are thereupon dried to reduce their moisture content to between 12 and 13.5% prior to conversion into the filler of a cigarette rod. Two or more different types of shreds can be mixed prior to admission into the cigarette maker.

Abstract: Fragments of tobacco ribs are puffed in an elongated tunnel which is vibrated to advance the particles from the inlet toward the outlet. The particles in the tunnel are contacted by streamlets of supersaturated or superheated steam at such temperature and pressure that the temperature of the particles is raised to between 100.5.degree. and 120.degree. C. To this end, steam is admitted at 2.5 to 25 bar absolute pressure and at a temperature of between 126.degree. and 400.degree. C. The thus heated particles of tobacco ribs are thereupon dried.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for ascertaining the filling power of tobacco which forms a continuously moving stream by subjecting spaced-apart portions of the stream to the deforming action of two rollers in such a way that the deforming action of the downstream roller exceeds the deforming action of the upstream roller. The extent of deformation of tobacco below the two rollers is ascertained by monitoring devices serving to generate signals for transmission to a dividing circuit which forms the quotient of such signals. The quotient is indicative of the filling power of tobacco. The signal at the output of the dividing circuit can be modified by taking into consideration the moisture content and/or the temperature of tobacco and/or by involution of such signal with an exponent ensuring that the signal denoting the filler power is furnished in units suitable for immediate use in a machine which increases and/or regulates the filling power of tobacco.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling moisture from a continuous stream of tobacco which passes through a conditioning zone defined by a hollow rotary drum-shaped dryer has a control unit employing a computer whose output signal is indicative of the quantity of moisture to be expelled from tobacco per unit of time during travel through the dryer in order to ensure that the final moisture content of tobacco will match a predetermined value. The signal which is generated by the computer is used to regulate a valve in a conduit connecting the conditioning zone with a source of steam. The rate of steam admission or the pressure of admitted steam increases when the quantity of moisture which is contained in tobacco entering the dryer per unit of time decreases and vice versa. This ensures that the total quantity of moisture in the conditioning zone remains at least substantially constant even though the moisture content and/or the quantity of tobacco in the stream entering the dryer varies within a wide range.

Abstract: Particles of tobacco which form a continuous stream are heated during transport through a rotary drum-shaped dryer. The inlet end of the dryer receives a continuous current of heated air whose temperature is constant, and the dryer is heated by internal coils for circulating steam whose pressure is constant. The quantity of tobacco particles in the stream is varied in dependency on deviations of measured final moisture content from a desired final moisture content and/or in dependency on deviations of measured initial moisture content from anticipated initial moisture content.

Abstract: A continuous stream of moist tobacco particles is withdrawn from a magazine by a carded belt conveyor, and successive increments of the stream are weighed prior to transport past a measuring unit which ascertains the initial moisture content of successive increments of the stream. The signals which are generated by the weighing device are used to regulate the speed of the carded conveyor so as to insure that each unit length of the stream reaching the measuring unit contains identical quantities of tobacco particles per weight. The stream is thereupon transported through a moisture increasing unit wherein the stream is traversed by ascending currents of steam and wherein one or more nozzles sprinkle metered quantities of water onto successive increments of the stream.

Abstract: A continuous stream of moist tobacco particles is withdrawn from a magazine by a carded belt conveyor, and successive increments of the stream are weighed prior to transport past a measuring unit which ascertains the initial moisture content of successive increments of the stream. The signals which are generated by the weighing device are used to regulate the speed of the carded conveyor so as to insure that each unit length of the stream reaching the measuring unit contains identical quantities of tobacco particles per weight. The stream is thereupon transported through a moisture increasing unit wherein the stream is traversed by ascending currents of steam and wherein one or more nozzles sprinkle metered quantities of water onto successive increments of the stream.

Abstract: Bulk weight of a stream of tobacco leaves which are transported toward a destalking machine is ascertained by equalizing the stream and determining the density of the equalized stream. Signals which denote the density of the stream are used to regulate the rate of admission of compressed classifying air into the destalking machine wherein compressed air separates tobacco leaf laminae from tobacco ribs.

Abstract: Tobacco ribs which are separated from laminae are contacted by steam at a temperature of approximately 150 degrees whereby the steam condenses on the surfaces of ribs and the thus released heat promotes the penetration of condensate into as well as gradual evaporation of initial moisture and condensate in the interior of ribs to thereby increase the specific volume of the ribs. The ribs are agitated during contact with and are caused to float in steam. Warm water is sprayed onto the ribs during contact with steam. The contact with steam prior to start of expansion takes up approximately one minute, and the ribs remain in contact with steam for another minute to effect expansion by evaporated moisture. The thus treated ribs are immediately rolled, severed and dried. The volume of ribs can be increased still further by contacting the severed ribs, prior to drying, with steam and water to bring about additional evaporation of moisture in the interior of severed ribs.

Abstract: The moisture content of tobacco, particularly greenleaf tobacco, is reduced to an accurately determined value by conveying a continuous tobacco stream through three successive sections of a transporting system wherein the tobacco is contacted by air currents. In accordance with a first embodiment, a relatively hot current of air is conveyed countercurrent to the direction of tobacco transport in the first section of the transporting system; in the second section, the flow of hot air is concurrent with the direction of tobacco transport; in the third section, the tobacco is contacted by relatively cool air having a relatively high moisture content. The air which is conveyed through the third section can be withdrawn from the first section, and the temperature of air in the second section is regulated as a function of deviations of moisture content of partially or completely conditioned tobacco from a desired moisture content.

Abstract: Shreds of tobacco are conveyed across a rising stream of saturated steam and in a shower of hot water droplets so that the temperature and moisture content of shreds increase to a value at which the shreds are pliable. The shreds are thereupon introduced into a drying unit wherein they rise and fall while moving across a rising stream containing a mixture of superheated water vapors and hot air to be alternately subjected to more and less pronounced drying action which causes pronounced crimping of the shreds. The dried shreds are immediately cooled to room temperature prior to admission into the magazine of a cigarette maker.

Abstract: Tobacco ribs which are separated from laminae are contacted by steam at a temperature of approximately 150 degrees whereby the steam condenses on the surfaces of ribs and the thus released heat promotes the penetration of condensate into as well as gradual evaporation of initial moisture and condensate in the interior of ribs to thereby increase the specific volume of the ribs. The ribs are agitated during contact with and are caused to float in steam. Warm water is sprayed onto the ribs during contact with steam. The contact with steam prior to start of expansion takes up approximately one minute, and the ribs remain in contact with steam for another minute to effect expansion by evaporated moisture. The thus treated ribs are immediately rolled, severed and dried. The volume of ribs can be increased still further by contacting the severed ribs, prior to drying, with steam and water to bring about additional evaporation of moisture in the interior of severed ribs.