摘要:
A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system (52) 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 processsing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor (28) for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator (14) where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, (62, 64, 66, 68) electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line. A microprocessor (200) controls the operation of the apparatus and, based on the weights of the tobacco fractions, calculates the percentage by weight of each tobacco fraction to the total weight of all fractions. The distribution of the weight percentages is indicative of degradation of the leaf tobacco being processed.
摘要:
A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system (52) 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 processsing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor (28) for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator (14) where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, (62, 64, 66, 68) electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line. A microprocessor (200) controls the operation of the apparatus and, based on the weights of the tobacco fractions, calculates the percentage by weight of each tobacco fraction to the total weight of all fractions. The distribution of the weight percentages is indicative of degradation of the leaf tobacco being processed.
摘要:
A method of and an apparatus for automataically determining the stem content of leaf tobacco from a preselected sample of the tobacco including lamina and stem is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a dryer, such as a fluidized bed dryer (20) or a rotary drum dryer (110) with internal vanes, for applying heat to remove moisture and volatile organic compounds from the sample while concurrently agitating it for a period of time sufficient for preliminary reduction of the sample into a mixture of at least partly segregated lamina and stem portions. The mixture is then introduced into a separator (33; 180) for further agitation thereof to remove remaining lamina from the stem portions. The resulting stem portions are classified into at least two categories according to a thickness dimension of the stems. The stems in each category are weighed and compared with the weight of the tobacco sample to determine the stem content of the sample. This information is used to regulate the processing of the tobacco from the bale or of the same grade to maintain a desired amount of stem in each category in the final smoking article being produced. The separator (33;180) includes a container having a wall (37; 190, 192) which is vibratable to cause movement of a plurality of elastomeric balls (47) against the tobacco mixture to thresh the remaining lamina from the stem portions, after which the lamina is discarded. In one embodiment, the stem portions are transferred to a grader (60) which aligns the stem portions and feeds them along preset paths having apertures for discharging stems of less than a predetermined thickness for weighing. After weighing those stem fractions, the width of the apertures is selectively increased to discharge the remaining stems of greater thickness from the grader. In another embodiment, the stems are graded into two sizes by the vibratory separator (180) and are weighed and discharged as in the first embodiment.