R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

D Randall McHone

Richard M Henderson

Roger A Foote

Aubrey L Swofford

Henry H Warren, Jr

David B Coleman

John D Parkman

Harvey E Williams, Jr

Henry H Warren, Jr,

A method of and an appratus for automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample and for then automatically determining the stem content of the tobacco sample are disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a dryer, such as a rotary drum dryer with internal agitating vanes, for applying heat to remove moisture and volatiles from the sample and for reducing the sample to lamina and stem portions. Electronic scales are used to weigh the sample before and after drying to determine and store the 'wet' and 'dry' weights of the sample. Based on the stored wet and dry weights the moisture content is determined. The stem portions are classified into two categories and weighed to determine the stem content by weight of the sample.

Method of and apparatus for drying a tobacco sample and determining the

A method of and an apparatus for automatically taking a cored sample of tobacco from a bale of tobacco and pneumatically transferring the sample to a remotely located receiving station, such as a stem content analyzer, are disclosed. A sample canister with vacuum-operated end closures for use in the pneumatic transfer of the tobacco sample is also disclosed. A compacted, cored sample of tobacco is delaminated and then deposited into an open sample canister which is closed and pneumatically transported to a stem content analyzer where it is opened, upended to deposit the sample into the stem content analyzer, reclosed and pneumatically returned for another sample of tobacco.

Tobacco sample transfer apparatus and method

A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system 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 processing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different-sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line. A microprocessor 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.

Method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

D Randall McHone