GB1278014A - Apparatus and method for dividing cut tobacco into portions of predetermined weight - Google Patents

Abstract

1278014 Cutting tobacco IMPERIAL TOBACCO CO OF CANADA Ltd 11 Feb 1970 [3 March 1969] 6691/70 Heading A4C [Also in Division A2] Apparatus for dividing cut tobacco into sections of predetermined weight comprises a vertical conduit 50, Fig.1 means for feeding loose tobacco of substantially uniform density to the upper end of the conduit, a conveyer (55), Fig.2 (not shown) means for driving the conveyer to conduct a layer of tobacco of substantially uniform density and cross-section from the conduit along a horizontal path, and means 62, Fig.7, for cutting predetermined lengths from the layer. A wiper blade 65 removes a cut length transversely from the conveyer for feeding to packaging means 91, Fig.1. The cutting means comprises a vertical cutter 64, Fig.7 transverse to the conveyer (55) at the downstream side of an arcuate tobacco presser plate 71 urged downwardly relative to cutter 64 by springs 75. The cutter 64, plate 71 and a wiper blade 65 are vertically reciprocated by a cylinder (80), Fig. 5 (not shown) controlled via a one-way valve 84 operated by movement of the cutter head assembly 60, the wiper blade 65 being reciprocated by a cylinder (81), (Fig. 5), across the downstream side. of cutter 64 between the cutter and a tobacco stop plate 61, Fig.3, in the lowered position of assembly 60, cylinder (81) being controlled via a one-way valve (85), (Fig. 5), having an operating arm (88) engaged by a blade carrier (76). Valves 84, (85) are supplied with compressed fluid via a slide valve 83, Fig.6 (not shown) controlled by a solenoid (83<SP>1</SP>). Wiper blade 65 pushes the cut lengths of tobacco into a conduit (90), Fig.4 (not shown) to a packer 91 from which packages pass to a weigher 93, Fig. 1, which controls the speed of conveyer 55 to maintain the package weight constant.