US1832119A - Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 17, 1 931. I p, E HQHN ET AL 1,832,119 MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACO AND SEPARATING FOREIGN BODIES AND'DUST Filed Jan. 50. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 17, 1931. HOHN AL v 1,832,119

MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARATING FOREIGN BODIES AND DUST Filed Jan.,3Q, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :LZZ T IJ I Nov. 17, 1931.

NI. P. E. HOHN ET AL MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARA'IING FOREIGN BODIES AND DUST 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. '30. 1929 'Nov. 17, 193.1.

M. P. E. HOHN ET AL MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARATING FOREIGN BODIES AND DU ST Filed Jan. 30. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WM a W Z3; 74

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Patented Nov. 1931 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE MAX PAUL ERNST HOHN AND GUSTAV FRITZ HALANK, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY,

MULLER & CQ., OF DRESDEN, GERMANY MEAN S FOR EOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARATIN G FOREIGN BODIES AND DUST Application filed January 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,101, and in Austria and Hungary November 16, 1928.

Tobacco in the form in which it is used, in particular for the manufacture of cigarettes, generally contains impurities such as sand, small stones and often particles of iron such as nails and the like from which it must first be freed. Moreover in the handling of the tobacco before it passes into the cigarette machines, a considerable quantity of dustis formed which alsdinust be removed. It is absolutely essential however that the tobacco should be thoroughly loosened before it can be worked. The separate leaves of raw tobacco are disposed in superposed layers and packed in large bales under high pressure. On being treated, separate bunches of the compressed leaves are loosened and then the bunches must be sub-divided into separate leaves. In the cutting of the tobacco in the tobacco cutting machine the tobacco leaves are again highly compressed so that the cut tobacco itself consists of still closely adhering fibres due-t0 the compress1on.

The loosening of the bunches of raw tobacco leaves is necessary in order to obtain separate leaves which can be mixed with leaves of other kinds of tobacco before the mixture is transferred to the tobacco cutting machine. With already cut tobacco the loosening of the lumps and balls in .the cut tobacco coming from the tobacco cutting machine is absolutely necessary as otherwise the tobacco cannot be treated in cigarette inachines where a tobacco rope or rod of uniform thickness and of uniform properties is essential.

The invention refers to means or apparatus equally-suited for treating raw tobacco and cut tobacco in which in addition to the removal of foreign bodies the separation of dust is effected.

The invention consists in the provision of a suction or air pressure conduit into which the tobacco asses and in which are provided baffle or pro ecting surfaces on which the tobacco is loosened, extensions from the conduit being provided the bottom of which lies beyond the direct air stream, while the conduit terminates in a sack-like or box-like housing in which is disposed a moving sieve moving across the path of the air, a twochambered seal being connected to the outlet opening for the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco.

It is possible by means of the apparatus to loosen the tobacco thoroughly without affecting the previously naturally moist tobacco leaves or fibres and to remove all the impurities as also dust practically completely.

The installation is shown applied to the treatment of cut tobacco in the accompanyin front elevation respectively the separator for removing foreign bodies located in the feed line.

Figs. 7 and 8 show in vertical section and in plan respectively the separator located in the conduit. in front of the sacklike dust separating chamber. Fig. 9 illustrates the I travelling sieve in the sack-like dust separator arranged as a drum. Fig. 9a shows in perspective the drum sieve shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs '1 and 2, A denotes a tobacco cutting machine, B the tobacco delivery, 0 the separator for foreign bodies, D the feed line or conduit formed with projecting surfaces, E the separator located in front of the dust separator, F the dust separator and G the collector or receiver for the cleaned and loosened tobacco.

To the outlet of the tobacco cutting machine denoted by A is connected the guide channel 1 of the tobacco delivery arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The cut tobacco flows downwards along the bottom 2 of this channel which extends into the open hopper 3. The hopper, as shown in Fig. 2, is of a breadth suited to the breadth of the discharge outlet, the width of the hopper being somewhat greater than that of tension 8 arranged as a branch closed by,

the discharge outlet. To the hopper is connected the branch 4 which opens into the compressed air supply pipe 5. The width of this branch 4 is suited to the width of the discharge outlet of the tobacco cutting machine. This branch bends away towards the left as shown in Fig. 4 so that the tobacco fibres fed through the branch 4 into the compressed air supply pipe are deflected and pass into the air supply pipe in the direction of flow. In other words this arrangement permit-s an easy flow of the. cut to bacco into the compressed air pipe. The air stream flows thus in the direction of the arrow i. e. from right to left.

At the pointwhere the branch 4'leaves the hopper 3 is provided a throttle valve 6 which serves in known manner to regulate the suction action on the tobacco.

On the wall 7 of the hopper 3 opposite the delivery channel 1 is provided an exmeans of a flap or valve 9. Within the hopper 3 is provided a flap or valve 10 which is hingedly mounted at 11 and is so adjustable that at one time (see the full line in Fig. 3), it shuts off the branch 4 leading to the air supply pipe 5 or at another time (see the dotted position in Fig. 3) shuts off the extension 8. The flap or valve 10 is operated by means of a handle 12 which projects outwardly through a slot 13 in the wall of the hopper.

As is clear with the flap 10 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, a sliding surface is provided for the cut tobacco com-- ing from a channel for the tobacco to pass to the'extension 8. The flap is arranged in this position preferably at the beginning of the operation of the tobacco cutting machine. After the first cutting operation which is generally unsatisfactory has been completed the flap 10 is turned into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 whereupon the extension 8' is cut off, and the branch 4 is freed so that the out tobacco may pass into the compressed air supply conduit 5'. The cut tobacco of little value which passes into the extension 8 can be removed and put back into the tobacco cutting machine.

This arrangement also permits of the cut tobacco being passed into a receiver and not into the compressed air supply conduit. Such a method is at present necessary. In this :cFase the flap 10 is positioned as shown in It then forms a slidingsurface for the cut tobacco and at the same time shuts off the compressed air supply conduit. In this case however the flap 9 which turns about the hinge 14 at the end of the extension 8 is also opened so that the tobacco can now flow through the extension 8 into a receiver beneath it. c In the air conduit 5 is interposed a chamber 15 having a diameter considerably in excess of that of the air conduit. Although this chamber is disposed substantially in the flow of the air stream the arrangement is such that the hopper-like bottom 16 is outside the main flow. In consequence the specifically heavier foreign bodies such as small metal particles or the like so often found in cut tobacco are deposited onthe bottom 16 after such a change in the speed of flow of the air has occurred that the light tobacco but not the heavy foreign bodies are entrained by the air stream.

The chamber 17 in which the foreign bodies collect is connected to the hopper bottom 16.

gradually tapering nozzle 22 connected to the chamber passes into the upper part of the pneumatic conduit 5. The inclined surfaces may be fixed or as shown in the drawings may be hingedly mounted so as to regulate the extent of reduction of the speed of flow into the chamber.

The conduit 5 itself which is arranged in a housing 23 as an upwardly extending conduit is formed as a pipe of rectangular cross section having surfaces acting as baffle surfaces to the cut tobacco drawn through the pipe in the direction of the arrow. Naturally these baffle surfaces can be formed in any other manner than by the s nuous form of the pipe for example, separate baflles may be disposed in a pipe having rectilinear walls.

To the upper part of the conduit 5 extending from the housing 23 is connected the branch 24 (Figs. 7 and 8) serving as a further separator of foreign bodies through which the air flows in the d rection of the arrow.

Opposite the outlet of the rising pipe 25 is a movable wallv 26 by the adjustment of which the chamber 27 which is substantially triangular in profile can be reduced or increased and the extent of reduction in the speed of the flow can thus be regulated. The chamber 27 is of considerably greater cross section than condu t 25 so that a considerable fall in the speed of flow takes place at this point and any heavy foreign bodies still entrained by the tobacco can fall and pass through the discharge opening at the bottom. Near this discharge opening is pro vided another movable wall 29 the object of which is the same as the wall 26 namely the reduction or increase in the dimensions of the chamber 27.

To the outlet 30 of the portion 24 of the conduit is connected a dust separator F which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists essentially of a sack-like or box-like housing 31. The

interior of the housing is naturally under the pressure existing in the conduit and it is therefore closed at its lower end by an air seal through which the collected tobacco can be intermittently withdrawn. Within the housing 31 and over the'pulleys 32 extends a travelling sieve 33 in the form of an endless band. Opposite the outlet 30 of the conduit is disposed a hopper shaped extension 34. The flow of air between 34 and 35 is substantially limited by the surfaces enclosed by 34 and 35 which can be made larger or smaller according to the conditions. In this region the air passesthrough the sieve carrying the impurities contained in the tobacco (dust, tobacco fibres, jute fibres from the packing etc.) while the tobacco settles in the chamber 36 the lower surface of which is closed by the flap 37 To the chamber 36 is connected the chamber 38 the lower surface of which is closed by a flap 39.

The flaps of the air seal are operated as follows After a certain quantity of tobacco has collected over the flab 37 in the chamber 38, flap 39 is closed and the tobacco in the chamber 36 dropped into the chamber 38 by opening the flap 37. The flap 37 is now' again closed and the flap 38 opened to allow the tobacco to flow into a container located beneath it.

In the separator shown in Fig. 9 the travelling band sieve is replaced by a drum sieve 41. We claim:

1. Means for loosening tobacco and sepa;

rating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet, bafiie surfaces located Within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travel ling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and 'air sealing means for permittingthe discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

2. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet, a wide delivery hopper located at the inlet of said conduit, said hopper merging into the conduit in the direction of flow of the air stream, baflfle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit,

a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

3 Means for loosening tobacco and sepa' ratlng foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the.

the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

4. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet. baffle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separatingmeans connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, said separating means including a chamber, a hopper shaped bottom to said chamber, and a discharge outlet provided in said chamber. a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit. I

5. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies nd dust comprising apneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in astream from an inlet to an outlet, bafile surfaces located within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, said bafile surfaces constituted by the sinous form of the conduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

6. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet,

'bafiie surfaces located within said conduit means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit, said travelling sieve in the form of an endless band, and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

7 Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet, battle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit. separating means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit,said travelling sieve formed as a drum and air sealing means for permit-' ting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

8. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodie and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the toacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet, battle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out of the main stream, a' terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the condult so that it presents to such outlet an approximatel vertical surface allowing the tobacco striklng the surface to fall,

a suction outlet located behind such surface, and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of,the vcleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

9. Means for loosening tobacco and sepa rating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatlc conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an. outlet, I

baffle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to beimpacted by the tobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located a out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travellingsieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from the'conduit, said air sealings means comprising inclined walls disposed in V-shape to one another and forming superposed chambers and a pair of sealing flaps sealing such chambers.

tures.

MAX PAUL ERNST HOHN. GUSTAV FRITZ HALANK.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa-

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