Abstract: A bag for enclosing a cushion is disclosed. The bag comprises a tubular sleeve having first and second end pieces coupled to first and second longitudinal ends thereof, a plurality of reinforcing straps encircling a circumference of the tubular sleeve, and at least one handle extending between the plurality of reinforcing straps. The at least one handle is configured to lay flush against the tubular sleeve during shipping. Methods for packaging and shipping a cushion in the bag include roll packing a cushion into a cylindrical shape, disposing the cushion in a compressed form into the bag, and shipping the bag to a customer without inserting the bag in any other container. Methods of unpacking the cushion from the bag includes uncoupling the first end piece from the tubular sleeve, opening the tubular sleeve along a longitudinal length thereof, and unrolling the compressed cushion to an expanded form.

Abstract: A system and a method for on-line analysis of a structure of dried shredded tobacco are provided. The system includes a shredded tobacco structure on-line analysis module, a shredded tobacco filling capacity prediction model module, and an early-warning module. The shredded tobacco structure on-line analysis module includes a sample extraction unit, a sample analysis unit and a shredded tobacco filling capacity data acquisition unit. The shredded tobacco filling capacity prediction model module includes a model parameter screening unit and a model construction unit. An early-warning threshold is provided in the early-warning module, and when a deviation of a predicted shredded tobacco filling capacity from a standard value exceeds the early-warning threshold, an alarm is given. The new system is an intelligent system with functions of shredded tobacco structure analysis, shredded tobacco filling capacity prediction, and abnormality early-warning determination and analysis.

Abstract: An automated product diverter for a reciprocally movable conveying device generally provides a stationary base; a reciprocally movable conveyor bed supported by the stationary base; a product diverter that moves in an arc along a product transporting surface of the reciprocally movable conveyor, and an actuator carried by the stationary base and which operatively communicates with the diverter arm, and the reciprocal movement of the conveyor bed and the diverter arm is isolated from the actuator carried by the stationary base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method comprising a device (1) having at least two separating surfaces (2, 2?) for separating planar and three-dimensional solids, which can be light, medium, and heavy, wherein the device can be installed and integrated into existing system for separating different material streams, such as garbage and waste. The bulk goods (3) to be separated and fed first to a first separating surface (2), and then to a second separating surface (2?) in succession, whereby a high degree of separation between light and heavy bulk goods (3) is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel (10) comprise conveyor means (16) for delivering a parcel (10) of tobacco to a separating location (20) and a rotatable tine assembly (32) mounted on an axis (24) extending at right angle to the conveyor means (16) and parallel the layering of the parcel (10). The rotatable tine assembly (32) includes a plurality of tines (26) which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly (32) and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means (10). The tines (26) are adapted to enter the parcel (10) at an entering location (34) in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel (10) and to accelerate a layer (36) away from the parcel (10) for effecting separation of the layer (36) of tobacco from the parcel (10).

Abstract: Dosing machine for controlled dosage of pasty products, of the type with an agitator associated with a feed that includes an auger extension forming a compression feed chamber including a distributor with a plurality of distribution holes, a dosing device with on a fixed plate a corresponding first plurality of holes coinciding with the distribution holes and a corresponding second plurality of holes, parallel to the first and moved to one side on the plate, above the fixed plate a mobile dosing structure is installed that has an alternating drawer movement on the fixed plate with a reciprocal movement device for moving the dosing structure from a position above the distribution holes to a position above the second plurality of holes moved to the side of the auger and vice-versa, the dosing structure includes corresponding dosage chambers associated with the control dosing volume and density.

Abstract: The invention describes a tobacco substitute composition comprising leaves of coffee plants having no detectable amount of nicotine or nicotine related compounds; the method for the preparation of the said composition and the tobacco-like articles prepare from the said composition. The said composition is useful in the manufacture of smoking products such as cigarettes, cigars and pipe material as well as in the manufacture of chewable tobacco-like products. The said composition may be use without any tobacco at all or in combination with different tobacco amounts, thus providing tobacco products having variable amounts of nicotine and useful in controlling the nicotine contents and in methods to reduce or quitting the use of tobacco products.

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: 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 slicing machine comprises a frame having a support surface (10) onto which the block of material to be sliced is placed, a cutter assembly (14) for moving in a cutting plane transversely of said support surface, said cutter assembly being movable between upper and lower positions (K, K1) and a pusher (11) for moving the block of material in stepwise fashion towards said cutting plane, said pusher being movable from a rearmost position (A) in a forward direction during successive slicing operations to a forwardmost position (A1) close to the cutting plane. A pivoted retainer (22) is pivotally connected to the frame and movable between a non-retaining position and a retaining position for retaining and supporting the last slide of the block. The retainer is actuated by a pneumatic rotary actuator. The pusher moves toward its rearmost position as soon as the last slice is in a retained and supported situation.

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: A system for controlling the lamina size, in a material treatment process for tobacco leaves. The system comprises measuring means for measuring the production ratio of the lamina larger than a given size in the raw material treatment process in which the tobacco leaves which have been provided with a water content and temperature by a humidity controller are stripped into laminae and ribs by means of rib removing machines capable of changing a mechanical impact force applied upon the tobacco leaves by changing the rotational speed of grid or threshing gear and are then separated by means of separating machines; and operational control means for receiving measurement signals from said measuring means as a feedback signal for searching a rotational speed of grid or threshing gear which provides an optimum lamina size by a hill-climb method using the rotational speed of grid or threshing gear of the rib removing machines as manipulation factor.

Abstract: Packed tobacco leaves are pretreated by microwave generators with control sensors preliminary to separation.

Abstract: Apparatus for slicing tobacco bales for conditioning in which the bales are moved from a conveyor (2) onto an adjacent lift device (16) by a first pusher (6), and are then sliced by a slicing blade (20) which is moved horizontally into engagement with the top of the bale and slices the bale while the lift device is dropped slightly to assist in cleaving the bale. The lift is then actuated to raise the bale ready for the next slicing operation, after the previous slice has been ejected by a second pusher (22).

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method is proposed according to which a tobacco mass is proportioned for primary processing. The system and method provide for a controlled selection handling and proportioning of the tobacco mass, and for conditioning of the tobacco mass before further primary processing. The apparatus provides for conditioning an entire tobacco mass or for selected proportioning of the tobacco mass into smaller predetermined portions prior to conditioning. The system and method allow for blending different types of tobacco masses while utilizing the proportioning apparatus on selected tobacco masses.

Abstract: Packed tobacco leaves are pretreated by microwave generators with control sensors preliminary to separation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to delaminate farmer's bales of tobacco. The apparatus includes a bed and a delamination chamber and is carried on wheels for portability. Within the delamination chamber, a farmer's bale is gripped by structure which feeds the bale at a uniform, controlled, and selected rate. The structure may include combinations of rollers, belts, or the like. Delamination is accomplished by engaging the bale with a delamination knife in a direction parallel to the lamina and slicing the bale into portions of suitable size for further processing.

Abstract: A charging device for opening and delivering leaf-type material which includes a conveyor having an upper surface along which leaf-type material moves in a downstream direction of travel toward a discharge end, an opening mechanism adjacent the discharge end for establishing an arcuate path of travel along which a plurality of members move for intermittently successively underengagingly contacting and opening the leaf-type material during the movement thereof beyond the discharge end, and at least one mechanism downstream of the opening mechanism for establishing an arcuate path of travel along which a plurality of elements move for intermittently successively contacting and stripping, in opposition to the downstream direction of travel, the leaf-type material, and both the opening and stripping mechanisms being formed by a plurality of arcuately spaced elongated bars carried by end plates rotatable about associated axes in identical directions.

Abstract: A tobacco bale tipping apparatus (10) delaminates tobacco bale (12) into slabs of tobacco. The slabs of tobacco are separated into right hand and left hand wedges (14) by conveyor belts (27) and (26) and by weight chains (24). The wedges (14) are tipped by knives (20) which are adjustable toward or away from the conveyors to accommodate tobacco leaves of various lengths.

Abstract: Burlap-clad bales of turkish or other oriental small leaf tobacco are passed between two upright steam applicators each having a plurality of individual steam jet openings. The openings cause injection of steam through the outer burlap cover and penetration into the loosely packed bale along the grain of the bale. The outer burlap cover is then removed and the bale opened by placing the same on a vibrating conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing strips cut from tobacco leaves, comprising a first conveyor, an intermediate conveyor provided with means for detecting the strip length, a third conveyor on which a carrier of synthetic plastics material can be moved, means for the supply of glue and means periodically interrupting the supply of the plastics carrier. Above the first conveyor there are provided detection means, cutting means, and means for removing tobacco strips from the conveyor.