Device and method for removing unwanted objects from cut tobacco in a cut tobacco production line

A device for removing unwanted objects from cut tobacco in a cut tobacco production line, comprising:

• a raw cut tobacco feeding and conveying unit, a heavy unwanted object removal unit, a cut tobacco dispersion and recovery unit, a moderate unwanted object removal unit, a cut tobacco humidification unit and a light unwanted object removal unit;
• wherein:
• the raw cut tobacco feeding and conveying unit is upstream of the heavy unwanted object removal unit;
• the heavy unwanted object removal unit is at an upper end of the cut tobacco dispersion and recovery unit and at a lower end of the moderate unwanted object removal unit;
• the cut tobacco humidification unit is downstream of the moderate unwanted object removal unit;
• and the light unwanted object removal unit is downstream of the cut tobacco humidification unit;
• the raw cut tobacco feeding and conveying unit includes a horizontal pneumatic conveying pipe and a raw cut tobacco feeding device, the raw cut tobacco feeding device is on or over the pneumatic conveying pipe and connected to the pneumatic conveying pipe through a feeding air lock, and the pneumatic conveying pipe has a port comprising a pneumatic conveying inlet that is connected to a positive pressure fan;
• the heavy unwanted object removal unit includes a vertical cylindrical heavy unwanted object air selection and separation barrel, wherein the pneumatic conveying pipe has another port connected to a wall of the heavy unwanted object air selection and separation barrel at a middle and/or lower part thereof;
• the cut tobacco dispersion and recovery unit includes a mechanical dispersion device, an inclined guide pipe, a positive pressure air supply pipe, an air separation device and a recovered cut tobacco conveying pipe;
• the inclined guide pipe forms an angle in the cut tobacco dispersion and recovery unit, and has (i) a lower end connected to an outlet of the mechanical dispersion device and the positive pressure air supply pipe and (ii) an upper end connected to a feeding port of the air separation device;
• the positive pressure air supply pipe is connected to a positive pressure fan;
• a discharge port of the air separation device is connected to one port of the cut tobacco conveying pipe;
• the recovered cut tobacco conveying pipe is configured obliquely, and has another port connected to the wall of the heavy unwanted object air selection and separation barrel at the middle and/or an upper part thereof;
• the air separation device includes a lower part having a discharge port configured with a heavy unwanted object discharge air lock;
• and the mechanical dispersion device is connected to a bottom opening of the heavy unwanted object air selection and separation barrel;
• the moderate unwanted object removal unit includes a horizontal pneumatic conveying square tube, an image recognition system, a moderate unwanted object removal system, and a moderate unwanted object dropping barrel;
• wherein the image recognition system includes an image acquisition camera and a light source;
• the moderate unwanted object removal system includes a compressed air blow pipe, a solenoid valve and a detection and identification signal servo controller;
• the pneumatic conveying square tube is connected to an upper opening in the heavy unwanted object air selection and separation barrel;
• the image recognition system is adjacent to the moderate unwanted object removal system and upstream of the moderate unwanted object removal system;
• the image recognition system and the moderate unwanted object removal system are on or above the transverse pneumatic conveying square tube;
• the moderate unwanted object dropping barrel is below or adjacent to the transverse pneumatic conveying square tube and opposite from the moderate unwanted object removal system;
• the moderate unwanted object dropping barrel is configured vertically, and has an upper opening connected to the transverse pneumatic conveying square tube and a lower opening comprising a moderate foreign body discharge air lock connected to a moderate unwanted object discharge port;
• the cut tobacco humidifying unit includes a vertical pneumatic conveying round pipe, humidifying nozzles and a horizontal guide pipe;
• the humidifying nozzles are symmetrically configured on an inner wall of the pneumatic conveying round pipe;
• the pneumatic conveying round pipe has a bottom opening connected to the horizontal guide pipe, and an upper opening connected to an outlet of the horizontal pneumatic conveying square tube;
• and
• the light unwanted object removal unit includes a vertical light unwanted object air selection and separation barrel having an upper port connected to a horizontal light unwanted object conveying pipe and a bottom port connected to a purified tobacco discharging air lock;
• the purified tobacco discharging air lock is connected to a purified tobacco collection device, and the light unwanted object conveying pipe is connected to a light unwanted object collection device, wherein the horizontal guide pipe has a discharge port connected to a side wall of the light unwanted object air selection and separation barrel at a middle and/or lower part thereof.