DE69209546T2 - Improvements in conditioning of cut bales - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to devices for cutting tobacco bales and feeding them to a processing device. An example of such a device is shown in our European patent No. 01 59 836, in which cut parts of tobacco bales are mechanically conveyed from a cutting knife by means of a pushing device to a conditioning station.

EP-A-0095866 also describes a device for cutting tobacco slices from a bale held on a platform and a conveyor device for removing the cut slices.

In some practical applications of these conditioning systems, it is necessary to combine additional materials with the cut product before it enters the conditioning process. If the stroke length of the impact device between the cutter and the conditioner is increased to make room for the additional material, the device takes up more space and also the cutting cycle time increases, reducing the throughput capacity.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for processing tobacco bales comprising a cutting device for successively cutting slices from a bale, a pusher device for moving the cut slices away from the cutting knife and a conveyor for receiving the slices from the pusher device and feeding them to a further processing device, characterized by further feeding devices above the conveyor for the addition of loose tobacco or other material between the successive slices.

Preferably the bale is supported on a lifter which is raised in stages as the slices are cut from the top and the lifter may be designed to be lowered slightly in suitable synchronization with the movement of the cutting knife (as in e.g. EP 0159 836) to improve the cutting operation. Alternatively the slices may be cut from the bale vertically with the bale being turned on its side prior to cutting.

The combination of the conveyor with the pusher makes it possible to have a specific and controllable loading space for any additional loose tobacco without the need for a long mechanism to operate the pusher.

The invention also extends to a method of processing a bale of tobacco which comprises cutting successive slices from the bale, loading each cut slice onto a conveyor, placing a controlled amount of loose tobacco onto the conveyor, and transporting the cut slice and loose tobacco on the conveyor to a conditioning device. Preferably, the amount of loose tobacco, the size of the slice and the rate of delivery of the slices are controlled by a control device which also controls the speed of movement of the conveyor so that the relative flow rates of the relatively solid materials and the loose material can be adjusted to suit the conditioning process.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a side view of a cut bale conditioning system according to the invention. A cutting knife 1 is so designed to cut a slice 3 from the top of a bale (not shown). A pusher 2 pushes the slice into a tunnel 4, the bottom of which is formed by a conveyor belt 6, so that the slice is loaded onto the end A of the conveyor.

A feed chute 7 is arranged in the upper cover of the tunnel through which loose tobacco is fed between successive discs onto the conveyor, the loose material and disc then being fed into the conditioner 5. As can be seen from the drawing, the inclusion of the conveyor has the additional advantage of avoiding extending the stroke of the ram from the tunnel entry point A to the exit point B.

In operation, the system is controlled so that as the discs are fed, the addition of loose tobacco is introduced through the chute 7 and therefore the ratio of loose tobacco to discs can be varied to suit the process used. If necessary, the throughput of the discs can also be increased compared to that of known systems because the stroke of the ram can be kept short and therefore the time required to return it for the next disc is minimized.

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for processing tobacco bales comprising a cutting device (1) for successively cutting slices from a bale, a pusher (2) for moving the cut slices away from the cutting knife, and a conveyor (6) for receiving the slices from the pusher and delivering them to a further processing device (5), characterized by further delivery devices (7) above the conveyor for adding a controlled amount of loose tobacco or other material between the successive slices. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device comprises a substantially horizontal blade and a lifting device which is designed to rise progressively as slices are cut from the top and to descend slightly in synchronization with the movement of the cutting blade in order to assist the cutting process. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device has a substantially vertical blade so that the slices are cut vertically from the bale. 4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising control means for controlling the amount of loose material, the size of the disc, the delivery speed of the discs and/or the speed of movement of the conveyor, whereby the relative flow rates of the various Materials can be adjusted to suit the conditioning process. 5. A method of processing a bale of tobacco comprising sequentially cutting slices from the bale, loading each cut slice onto a conveyor, adding a controlled amount of loose tobacco onto the conveyor, and transporting the cut slice and loose tobacco on the conveyor into a conditioner.