Abstract: A row unit for a seeding machine includes a seed reservoir and a seed meter assembly having a metering member with a seed side facing the seed reservoir and a non-seed side opposite the seed side. The metering member is operable to selectively move seeds from the seed reservoir. A pump provides a pressure differential between the seed side and the non-seed side for adhering the seeds to the metering member. A conveyor has an inlet for receiving the seeds and an outlet configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine. The conveyor includes a belt movable from the inlet to the outlet. A pneumatic seed displacer includes a nozzle disposed adjacent the metering member for concentrating air. The nozzle is configured to eject the air towards the metering member for directing the seeds from the metering member to the conveyor.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a medical image indicator. More particularly, it concerns the multipurpose medical image indicator including more than one of fluorophores and MRI contrast agent/CT contrast agent and method for manufacturing same. Responding to a demand for non-invasive and effective way of marking lesions, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing the multipurpose medical image indicator including a provision of rubber material fluid composition; a mixing of the rubber material fluid composition and fluorophores; and a transfiguring and drying of the mixture and the multipurpose medical image indicator manufactured according to the method. Further, the present disclosure provides a ligation device for endoscope including the multipurpose medical image indicator.

Abstract: A method of and control system for controlling transport of fibrous material travelling in dune or dune and layer flow mode conveyed by a pneumatic fluid flow through a transport line of a pneumatic conveying system, such as a cut tobacco conveying system in a device for feeding cut tobacco to a tobacco processing device. The transport velocity of a dune or layer and the velocity of pneumatic fluid passing the dune or layer in the transport line are determined. A difference between the determined dune or layer transport velocity and the determined passing fluid velocity is controlled by controlling the pneumatic fluid flow in the transport line. An optical sensor and a computer program product for use with the method and system are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing charges of high OV moist smokeless tobacco (MST) includes a rotary metering device. The rotary metering device includes a lower disk, a metering disk, a plurality of cavities in the metering disk; and at least one vacuum housing located around the periphery of the lower disk and in communication with the plurality of cavities. A vacuum is applied to the cavities to aid in the filling of the cavities and an air discharge mechanism ejects a charge of the MST from each cavity at a discharge station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina is described and which includes a separation conduit which receives a source of post-threshed tobacco lamina and other contaminants for inspection and sorting, and wherein a source of pressurized air causes the tobacco lamina to move along the separation conduit past an inspection station where it is optically inspected to identify undesirable tobacco lamina or other contaminants; and a downstream reject station is provided which responds to a sorting signal provided by the inspection station and which removes unwanted or undesirable tobacco lamina and other contaminants from an air stream so as to provide a resulting product which is substantially free from contaminants or other defects.

Abstract: A separator for pneumatically transported particulate material comprises a separation surface through which, in use, a vacuum is drawn, for separating the particulate material from a gaseous medium in which it is transported and an inlet (30) for feeding a stream of the pneumatically transported io particulate material to the separation surface. The inlet (30) is moveable to sweep the particulate material over the separation surface, which may be a cylindrical sieve drum (2) mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A rotary airlock (18) for pneumatically transported particulate material is comprises a plurality of radial vanes (32) mounted for rotation about a central axis.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco material feeder of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus has a reservoir (2) of shredded tobacco material; a first separation chamber (20) and a second separation path (28) for dividing the shredded tobacco material into normal particles and separation material having larger particle sizes than the normal particles in a process when the shredded tobacco material is fed from the reservoir (2) toward a tobacco band of the apparatus; a sieve conveyor (34) for receiving and transferring the separation material discharged from the second separation path (28), and separating the separation material into large particles having large particle sizes and medium particles having smaller particle sizes than the large particles; and a cyclone (48) for receiving the medium particles from the sieve conveyor (34), the cyclone (48) separating returnable components corresponding to the normal particles from the medium particles, and returning the returnable components to the reservoir (2).

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing method and machine, whereby a shredded tobacco stream is fed along a channel extending through at least one carding unit and having at least one output portion closed by a suction conveyor belt and for feeding a mat of tobacco onto the suction conveyor belt; and the shredded tobacco stream is cleaned, upstream from the carding unit, to remove relatively heavy parts, such as lumps of tobacco and/or woody tobacco parts and/or any foreign bodies, from the shredded tobacco stream.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco supply device for a cigarette manufacturing machine includes a separation throat (20) diverging from a gravity chute (18) through which shredded tobacco is let fall down, and an extension (68) extending from the outlet (20b) of the separation throat (20) and forming an air confluent nozzle (69) in cooperation with the trough bottom (38) of a fluid bed trough (36). The air confluent nozzle (69) produces a transport flow by joining together primary and secondary air jets J1 and J2 used for winnowing the shredded tobacco, and the transport flow causes a shred mixture obtained by the winnowing to be conveyed along a conveyance surface (38) toward a tobacco band.

Abstract: A distributor or hopper is part of a cigarette production machine and serves for dressing the tobacco in the provision of a continuous tobacco strand. An integral part of a distributor is a metering system which prepares the tobacco for the production of the tobacco strand. To separate out undesirable constituents, such as foreign bodies, stalks or ribs, from the tobacco, at least one sifter (15) is provided. The latter precedes the metering system of the distributor in the working direction, in particular is arranged outside the distributor, so that sifted tobacco is introduced into the distributor.

Abstract: A device for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco, wherein the device comprises at least one separating means adapted to detach a tobacco portion from a tobacco block and at least one portioning means adapted to portion the tobacco block, at least one transport means adapted to transport the tobacco block towards the separating means, wherein the portioning means and the transport means are coupled such that the transport means transports the tobacco block in a number of transport steps, and at least one filling means adapted to fill a cigarette tube with the detached tobacco portion. The device further comprises at least one blocking means adapted to block the transport means after each transport step until the at least one filling means has been operated.

Abstract: A separator for pneumatically transported particulate material comprises a separation surface through which, in use, a vacuum is drawn, for separating the particulate material from a gaseous medium in which it is transported and an inlet (30) for feeding a stream of the pneumatically transported io particulate material to the separation surface. The inlet (30) is moveable to sweep the particulate material over the separation surface, which may be a cylindrical sieve drum (2) mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A rotary airlock (18) for pneumatically transported particulate material is comprises a plurality of radial vanes (32) mounted for rotation about a central axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves includes a conveyor to convey a flow of tobacco leaves. The flow of tobacco leaves includes acceptable and unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles. An air flow source lifts and accelerates the flow of leaves and particles to a speed at which the leaves and particles are separated. A duct contains the lifted and accelerated flow. A scanning device scans the flow in the duct and generates a signal upon detection of an unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle. A rejection device responds to the signal and forces the unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle from the duct.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the separation of foreign bodies from a material flow, in particular a tobacco stream. Method is characterized in that at least a portion of the material from the material flow is conveyed into the area of a foreign-body detection device in the form of a partial material flow, whereby foreign bodies are identified by the foreign-body detection device in the partial material flow and subsequently removed from the partial material flow, whereby the partial material flow is formed by a separation step by an air flow upstream from the foreign-body detection device. Apparatus is characterized in that a material flow conveyor and a separation device arranged diagonal to the material flow conveyor are provided by which a partial material flow can be separated from the material flow. A foreign-body detection device is arranged after the separation device and after this, a foreign-body separation device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for obtaining the continuity of the uniformity of the structure and density of a stream of transported loose material, particularly organic plant material, and particularly tobacco material. According to the inventive method, a previously loosened material is compacted during transportation between conveyors, then, the compacted material is comminuted to a form suitable for further processing, and at least one intermediate element, preferably a bracket (5, 6), and thereby also the stream of the compacted material, is vibrated directly before the comminution process. A device according to the invention comprises at least one intermediate vibrating element, preferably this being at least one bracket (5, 6), located transversely to the direction of motion of the material.

Abstract: During the production of cigarettes, but in particular in the region of a cigarette-packaging machine, a comparatively large amount of tobacco accumulates as waste. This is specifically removed by arranging suction-extraction elements and/or conveying-away elements for tobacco particles (19) in the region of elements and subassemblies of the machines with increased accumulation of tobacco. The air with tobacco particles (19) which has been extracted by suction is led through a tobacco separator (45), which has a separating element (48) for receiving the tobacco particles. From time to time, these are removed from the tobacco separator (45) and recycled into the production process.

Abstract: Size reduction equipment is added at the feed end of a cigarette maker to take separated winnowers and other overages from a tobacco feed to the maker, cut or shred the overages to appropriate size and reintroduce the cut or shred overages into the lamina stream from a tobacco feed hopper for the cigarette maker. The winnowers may be pneumatically or mechanically conveyed back into the feed stream in the cigarette maker.

Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the undersides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.

Abstract: Apparatus for making one or more rod-like fillers of shredded tobacco for use in the making of cigarettes or the like employs one or two pneumatic conveyors having endless foraminous belts trained over pulleys and including elongated stretches below communicating parts of a common suction chamber. A shower of intermixed tobacco shreds and smaller particles including tobacco dust and coarser particles is directed against the under sides of the elongated stretches. The shreds are attracted to and advance with the respective belts to form streams which are ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into cigarette paper or the like. At least some smaller particles penetrate through the respective belts into the corresponding parts of the suction chamber. The contents of the suction chamber are evacuated by suction and are returned to the undersides of the elongated stretches of the belts for classification.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette rod making machine employs a zig-zag sifter which receives a mixture of tobacco ribs and shreds from a reservoir by way of a duct or an elevator conveyor. The shreds leave the uppermost stage of the sifter and are conveyed, by a Coanda separator, into an upright gathering duct which discharges shreds for delivery onto the concave surface(s) of one or more guides serving to direct one or more streams of shreds against the underside(s) of one or more foraminous belt conveyors which advance the stream(s) past one or more trimming devices serving to remove the surplus and to thus convert each stream into a rod-like filler which is ready to be draped into a web of cigarette paper. The removed surplus is returned into the reservoir or directly into the zig-zag sifter.

Abstract: A shower of tobacco particles is fed into the upper end of a downwardly sloping and downwardly tapering funnel-shaped part of a conveyor wherein the particles gather into a flow of interlaced particles. Successive increments of the flow are acted upon by one or more jets of air issuing from at least one nozzle which loosens successive foremost increments of the flow prior to admission into a tobacco filler rod forming unit in a cigarette rod making machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for pneumatically conveying filter rod sections from a sender to a remote cigarette filter tipping machine has a first switching device which receives filter rod sections from a single outlet of the sender, a second switching device which delivers filter rod sections to a single inlet of the tipping machine, and at least two conduits connecting the switching devices. The first switching device can direct filter rod sections into the receiving end of either one of the conduits while establishing a path for the evacuation of piled-up filter rod sections from the other conduit. The second switching device can connect the inlet of the tipping machine with the discharge end of either of the two conduits while connecting the discharge end of the other conduit with a source of compressed air in the event of clogging of the other conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and transporting cigarette rejects in a cigarette manufacturing process comprises a receptacle having a receiving opening and an insertion opening for receiving rejects, a conduit having a first end and a second end and communicating with the insertion opening, and means for providing a fluid flow in the conduit for transporting the rejects. A method of collecting and transporting cigarette rejects in a cigarette manufacturing process comprises directing the rejects into a fluid stream whereby such rejects may be transported transporting the rejects in the fluid stream to a predetermined location in the cigarette manufacturing process, and separating the rejects from the fluid stream.

Abstract: A device for creating a spread-out stream of tobacco fibers includes a concave-curved guide track along which the fiber stream of tobacco fibers are conveyed. The guide track has a generatrix based on a uniform generating curve. At least one air jet has an air flow opening interrupting the guide track so that air exiting the air flow jet acts in a conveyance direction of the fiber stream for spreading out the tobacco fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating particles contained in threshed leaf tobacco includes a plurality of separating chambers, each including a separation chamber and having a fan system for establishing a generally upward air flow. A covered, high speed conveyor of projects the tobacco across the upward flow of air in each chamber in conjunction with additional make up air from the covered, high speed conveyor. Lighter particles of tobacco are carried upward and exit the chamber via a separating mechanism. Heavier particles of tobacco fall onto an integral conveyor and are discharged from the chamber onto another covered, high speed conveyor connecting it to the next chamber. The separating chambers are mounted in line in a configuration to suit the tobacco being processed.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting rod-shaped tobacco smoke filters which contain and/or carry particles of charcoal and/or other solid particulate tobacco smoke filtering and/or flavoring material. A sender directs a series of successive filters lengthwise into a pneumatic conduit wherein the filters advance toward a receiving station. A section of the conduit has an arcuate shape and advances successive filters from a lower level to a higher level. The underside of the section has an elongated arcuate opening which is overlapped by a cover in such a way that any solid particles which became separated from the filters can be expelled into a neighboring chamber due to fluid pressure in the section as well as under the action of gravity and/or centrifugal force.

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing system includes a feed hopper for feeding cut tobacco at a preselected rate to a cigarette rod forming device which in turn feeds formed cigarette rods to a filter tip attaching device. A tobacco recovery system is provided which includes air conveying conduits in flow communication with the rod forming device, the filter tip attachment device and a tobacco dust and useable tobacco particle separator wherein particles of tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles recovered from the rod forming section of the cigarette maker and the filter tip attaching device are separated. The useable particles are re-fed back into the feed hopper. The tobacco dust is transferred to a tobacco dust recovery collector. The tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles separator include a centrifugal curved conduit in combination with a classifying chamber having a bottom outlet for removing useable tobacco and a top outlet for removing tobacco dust.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring harvested tobacco leaves from an amorphous mass of harvested tobacco leaves to a bulk curing container component for subsequent transfer to a bulk curing site. According to the method, the bulk curing container component is positioned adjacent a tobacco discharging end of a tobacco transferring system. The transferring system has the discharging end, a tobacco receiving end opposite the discharging end, and a generally upwardly facing tobacco conveying apparatus for supporting and moving the leaves between the discharging and receiving ends. The amorphous mass of harvested tobacco leaves is supplied to the tobacco conveying apparatus at the tobacco receiving end of the transferring system in such a manner that the harvested tobacco leaves of the amorphous mass are randomly arranged and stacked on top of one another in a generally vertical direction.

Abstract: A hopper is connected with a machine for manufacture of tobacco industry products including a tangential separator sequentially feeding an entry stock of the hopper. The distribution between portions of tobacco streams including a large proportion of short tobacco fibers and portions including a large proportion of long tobacco fibers of the tobacco stream set apart in advance in the entry stock is essentially longitudinal when the stream arrives on a transfer belt of the hopper. By imposing a change of direction on the tobacco stream as well as a reduction of speed of displacement of this stream, this longitudinal distribution is transformed into a transverse distribution. A spiked or barbed roller, placed at a right angle to this latter stream, homogenizes the distribution, making it possible for the distribution to be regular between short fibers and long fibers in the tobacco stream arriving through the chimney for the manufacture of the tobacco rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring harvested tobacco leaves from an amorphous mass of harvested tobacco leaves to a bulk curing container component for subsequent transfer to a bulk curing site. According to the method, the bulk curing container component is positioned adjacent a tobacco discharging end of a tobacco transferring system. The transferring system has the discharging end, a tobacco receiving end opposite the discharging end, and a generally upwardly facing tobacco conveying apparatus for supporting and moving the leaves between the discharging and receiving ends. The amorphous mass of harvested tobacco leaves is supplied to the tobacco conveying apparatus at the tobacco receiving end of the transferring system in such a manner that the harvested tobacco leaves of the amorphous mass are randomly arranged and stacked on top of one another in a generally vertical direction.

Abstract: An elongated channel for the assembly of successive increments of a continuous tobacco stream and for lengthwise transport of the tobacco stream in a cigarette making machine is composed of a foraminous belt having a lower reach overlying the channel and located beneath a suction chamber, and of two additional belts having recessed surfaces which flank the channel. Those tobacco particles which enter the recesses in the surfaces of the additional belts form part of densified sections of rod-like fillers of discrete cigarettes and the recesses further serve to receive the teeth of one or more driven pulleys which are employed to move the additional belts lengthwise.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, incorporating particulate smoke-modifying agent in a smoking material rod, wherein said agent is introduced into a flow of filamentary smoking material to the suction band of a rod making machine, the location of introduction being in the vicinity of the suction band of said machine.

Abstract: A first stream of contaminated air containing solid impurities including reusable tobacco particles is exhausted from a machine for the making of smokers' products and is caused to pass first through a first filter which separates therefrom all of the impurities, and the thus decontaminated air is caused to pass through a cooler and back to the machine. The separated impurities are caused to pass through a second filter which segregates therefrom the reusable tobacco particles, and such particles are reintroduced into the machine. The first stream of contaminated air can receive a second stream of contaminated air from a second machine, and such second stream is introduced into the first stream ahead of the first filter.

Abstract: A continuous pneumatic tobacco conveyance system is described which automatically controls the rate at which tobacco is fed into the conveyance system and automatically controls the velocity of the tobacco which is pneumatically conveyed. The system utilizes a plurality of programmable logic controllers for analyzing the velocity of the tobacco in the system and the amount of tobacco required and currently existent in cigarette making machine. The system compensates for correct airflow and velocity of the tobacco in the pneumatic piping by controlling the rate at which tobacco is fed into the conveyance system and controlling the airflow required to move the tobacco at a continuous velocity by adjusting a flow control valve attached to a vacuum source.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette rod maker has a chamber bounded at least in part by a concave guide for a flow of fragments of smokable material in a stream of transporting fluid, such as air. The stream contains a surplus which is withdrawn from a centrally located zone of the chamber by a stationary apparatus having at its underside an inlet for the entry of surplus fluid and containing a nozzle which conveys the surplus fluid to a suction pipe serving to convey the surplus from the chamber.

Abstract: A mixture of tobacco leaf lamina and stem is separated in an apparatus having a first separation chamber in which the mixture is projected through an air stream by a first impeller and an intermediate mixture segment is projected back through the air stream from the bottom of a return impeller on the opposite side of the chamber. A stem segment is discharged directly from the lower part of the first separation chamber into a second separation chamber in which the mixture is projected across the chamber through a second air stream, and a second mixture segment is projected from beneath a return impeller back through the second air stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating lighter particles such as lamina containing little or no stem from tobacco particles contained in threshed leaf tobacco which comprises a plurality of tobacco particle separating units, each including a separation chamber each a fan system for establishing a generally upward air flow therein. A tobacco particle projecting mechanism is provided in each chamber for projecting tobacco particles across the generally upward air flow therein with each having structure for directing tobacco particles in cooperating relation therewith to be projected thereby. Mechanisms are provided for receiving the lighter particles carried upwardly by the air flow, the heavier particles moving downwardly within the air flow within each chamber and discharging the particles therefrom.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating lighter particles from heavier particles in a mixture thereof utilizing a separation chamber for continuous movement of particles therethrough. The chamber has a pair of opposite sides one of which is a projecting side and one of which is a receiving side, the projecting side of the chamber having an inlet opening for receiving the lighter and heavier particles of the mixture with the receiving side of the chamber having an outlet opening disposed generally across from the inlet opening.

Abstract: In a machine for simultaneously producing two continuous cigarette rods from respective layers of tobacco, shredded tobacco is fed by an air current along an upfeed duct, closed off at the top by a first and a second suction conveyor, in such a manner as to form two substreams mainly consisting respectively of light and heavy tobacco particles and directed respectively towards the first and second conveyor. Each of the two substreams impinges, along the upfeed duct, on respective deflecting and mixing elements, which deflect part of each substream towards the other substream so as to feed two substantially identical final secondary streams onto the suction conveyors.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating lighter particles from tobacco particles contained in threshed leaf tobacco includes a plurality of tobacco particle separating units, each including a separation chamber and having a fan system for establishing a generally upward air flow therein. A tobacco particle projecting mechanism is provided in each chamber for projecting, in cooperation with additional air flow provided at the projecting side of the separation chamber, tobacco particles across the upward air flow therein with each having structure for directing tobacco particles in cooperating relation therewith to be projected thereby. Mechanisms receive the lighter particles carried upwardly by the air flow, the heavier particles moving downwardly within each chamber and discharge the particles therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of heavy and light particles from material which includes means for fluidising and agitating the material to cause heavy particles to sink from the acceptable material and comprising a deck adapted to receive material at a reception end and means for vibrating said deck to cause the material to move longitudinally along it to a discharge end, said deck having a number of longitudinally extending troughs separated by peaks and means for providing an upwardly directed air flow in the troughs characterised by means for causing two or more stratified material separation zones in each trough to classify the material two or more times.

Abstract: An exhaust fan draws air and entrained tobacco through delivery pipes from a tobacco feeder to the respective dischargers of a group of cigarette making machines, where the tobacco is screened out and the air passes on through exhaust pipes. When a discharger is to release tobacco to its making machine the feeder stops delivery of tobacco to that discharger and, after a delay to clear the delivery pipe, a valve bypasses the air around the discharger so that a constant air flow is maintained. The feeder supplies tobacco in a separate and independently controlled stream to each discharger, and has oscillating vanes to separate and keep the tobacco moving.

Abstract: A centrifugal discharger, particularly for cigarette manufacturing and/or packing machines, for disposing of waste fibrous and/or sheet material inside a fluidtight bin; wherein a centrifugal separator presents a cylindrical lateral wall, the bottom portion of which is fitted in fluidtight manner inside the bin, and communicates with a chamber in the bin via a tangent discharge conduit and a number of through holes for mutually compensating the pressure in the centrifugal separator and the bin.

Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine wherein the flow of loosely intermingled tobacco shreds, tobacco ribs and foreign objects (such as nuts, bolts, pieces of wire and/or particles of plastic material) is classified to segregate the ribs and foreign objects from the shreds. The ribs are thereupon separated from foreign objects in a sifter and are comminuted in a rotary cutter prior to being readmitted into the flow downstream of the classifying location(s). Successive increments of the flow are converted into successive increments of a stream which carries a surplus of shreds and is trimmed for conversion into a filler which is ready to be wrapped into cigarette paper. The comminuted ribs are admitted into the flow at a location such that they are confined in the central portion of the filler.

Abstract: A method of separating objectionable particles from host tobacco material which includes fluidizing the tobacco material with a fluidizing air stream to allow heavy unwanted particles to fall, to cause light unwanted particles to rise and be air transported away and to leave a carpet of acceptable material.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating longer tobacco particles from shorter tobacco particles has an elongated vibratory trough for the advancement of a stream containing a mixture of shorter and longer particles from a delivering conveyor to a collecting receptacle. The upper side of the bottom wall of the trough is formed with longitudinally extending depressions which receive and align the particles of the advancing stream, and the bottom wall is formed with one or more transversely extending slots which extend across the depressions and permit shorter particles to descend into a second trough from which the shorter particles return into the distributor of a cigarette rod making machine. The properly aligned longer particles advance across the slot or slots and enter the receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding batches or a continuous stream of tobacco particles into the magazine of the distributor in a cigarette or cigar rod making machine has a container which can receive a stream of gaseous carrier medium for tobacco particles from a shredding machine or from another source and has several outlets for the carrier medium. The outlets discharge the carrier medium in different directions and contain sieves which intercept the tobacco particles. The thus accumulated particles can descend into the magazine, either continuously or at intervals, depending upon whether or not the tobacco discharging opening of the container is temporarily closed by a pivotable or otherwise movable closure.

Abstract: Smaller and larger fragments of tobacco ribs are sifted out of a mixture of tobacco ribs and tobacco shreds before the shreds are converted into a rod-like filler which is ready to be draped into a web of cigarette paper. The larger ribs are comminuted and are mixed with smaller ribs prior to readmission into the flow of shreds in such a way that the readmitted ribs are located in the inner portion of the rod-like filler so that they are less likely to puncture the wrapper and that they contribute to hardness of the filler.

Abstract: An apparatus for metering a measured amount of tobacco to, for example, a cigarette making machine to provide a uniform feed of tobacco to the cigarette making machine thereby reducing variations of the tobacco in the cigarettes made by the cigarette making machine. The apparatus includes a first conveyor for receiving a supply of tobacco, a second conveyor located downstream of the first conveyor for receiving tobacco from the first conveyor. A vacuum device is associated with the second conveyor for retaining a selected metered amount of tobacco on the second conveyor. An excess tobacco receiving device is located adjacent the second conveyor for receiving excess tobacco removed from the second conveyor. A metered tobacco removing device is also located adjacent the vacuum device downstream from the excess tobacco receiving device for removing the selected metered amount of tobacco from the second conveyor for use in, for example, a cigarette making machine.

Abstract: Fibrous materials are opened from a metered flow thereof using an opening roller and are subjected to a controlled and adjustable further opening operation to input desirable properties to the fibers. The invention is particularly described with respect to cut tobacco fibers and glass fibers.