Korber Ag

Hauni-Werke Korber & Co Kg.

Werner Hartmann

Henning Moller

Joachim Reuland

Gottfried Hoffmann

The density of a stream of tobacco particles at the underside of a foraminous belt conveyor is monitored by an array of X-ray detectors to generate signals each denoting the density of a different thin layer in successive increments of the stream. Such signals are processed into signals denoting the density of the entire stream, the filling power of tobacco, and the quantity of the surplus in the stream. The processed signals are used to adjust the trimmer which removes the surplus, to adjust the distributor which feeds the particles to the stream, to regulate the hardness of cigarettes and to adjust the quantity of the surplus.

Method of and apparatus for making a stream from particles of the

A continuous stream of tobacco shreds is built at the underside of the lower reach of an air-permeable belt conveyor by conveying tobacco shreds in currents of air which impinge upon the lower reach of the conveyor at a variable angle and at a variable speed. The density of various layers of the stream at a plurality of points at different distances from the lower reach of the conveyor is monitored by a device which directs X-rays transversely across the stream and has a uni- or two-dimensional detector with one or more rows of diodes exposed to X-rays which have penetrated through the stream. The signals which are thereby generated by the diodes denote the monitored density at the plurality of points and are scanned, evaluated and processed to actuate one or more servomotors which vary one or more parameters that influence the orientation of shreds in the stream, the density and/or other characteristics of the stream. Such parameters can include the subatmospheric pressure at one side of the lower reach of the conveyor, the direction of flow, speed and/or quantity of air which transports the shreds to the conveyor, the rate of admission of tobacco shreds into the air current or currents, and/or the position of the trimming device which removes the surplus from the stream. The signals can be used to vary the parameters which influence the characteristics of the entire stream and/or to vary one or more parameters which influence the density and/or other characteristics of one or more layers of the stream.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and evaluating the density of a

A continuous rod-like filler is formed in a cigarette rod making machine on an endless foraminous belt conveyor by depositing a row of spaced-apart batches consisting of a first type of tobacco at one side of the conveyor, holding the batches by suction, and showering tobacco particles of a second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches. The density of successive increments of the filler is monitored by a pneumatic and/or radiation type detector, and the thus obtained density signals are used to generate control signals which regulate the density of the filler as well as control signals which are used to influence the batches, if and when necessary. For this purpose, the density signals can be processed to single out those which are attributable to monitoring of the density of successive batches, and the singled out density signals are then analyzed and used to vary one or more parameters of the batches.

Growing community of inventors

Hamburg, Germany

Werner Hartmann