GB1344185A - Method and apparatus for controlling the quantity of tobacco flowing at the output of a cutting system - Google Patents

Abstract

1344185 Apparatus for cutting tobacco HAUNI-WERKE KORBER & CO K G 11 May 1971 [11 May 1970 17 Dec 1970] 14248/71 Heading A4C [Also in Divisions G1 and G3] Tobacco cut by four cutters A... D, Fig. 2, is fed on to a common take-off path 118 and at at least one point on this path the quantity of tobacco flowing is measured and the measurement used to control at least one of the cutters so as to keep the total flow (to a dryer 144) constant. As shown the measurement is made at 151 after the controlled machine D, but alternatively Fig. 1 (not shown) the measuring device is in advance of the controlled machine D. The measuring device also keeps constant the flow (weight) of tobacco delivered per unit time and comprises a conveyor pivoted at its leading end and supported by a spring at its other end. Deflections cause movement of a potentiometer whose output is multiplied with that from a tachogenerator coupled to the measuring conveyor and the product controls the conveyer speed. The signal for controlling the cutter D is taken from the potentiometer or from the tachogenerator. Alternatively in Fig.4 (not shown) the device 151 for keeping the weight per unit time constant does not provide the controlling signal, but this is provided instead by photodetectors (381 a...c) which sense the level of tobacco in a hopper preceding the device 151. The detectors operate via a delay device. CUTTERS. Each cutter, such as 1d, Fig.1a, comprises a revolving drum 10 having cutter blades 15 to which the tobacco is fed by compressing conveyers 111 and 112 whose speed and separation (at the cutting end) is adjustable. For cutter D the control signal controls the speed, with feed back signals from a tachogenerator 124 and from a potentiometer 127 responsive to the conveyor separation. FEEDING Tobacco is fed to the cutters from a common conveyor 108 and any surplus not picked off by the cutters is returned to the source 141 by conveyors 153, 154, 156, and this surplus is measured at 133, compared with a reference 131 and the difference used to control the speed of a feeder conveyor 142.