Abstract: The transportation of a tobacco layer, in which the tobacco lamina or leaves are horizontally oriented, on a vertically-reciprocating conveyor surface to a cutting machine wherein tobacco shreds are formed from the tobacco in the layer is assisted, so that the orientation and juxtaposition of the tobacco in the layer is maintained to the cutting machine. Confining movable side walls are located at each side of the vibrating conveyor to engage the side edges of the tobacco layer. The movable side walls are moved in the direction of movement of the tobacco layer during transportation of the tobacco layer on the conveyor surface.

Abstract: A tobacco metering, conveying and separating system (10) is provided for feeding cut tobacco from a source thereof (12) to a cigarette-making machine at a substantially lower rate, with consequential decrease in tobacco degradation than in conventional systems. A continuous air flow is used in the conveyor pipe (32) and a rotary air lock (50) is used to discharge tobacco from the tobacco-air separator (34).