Casting apparatus and method for the production of a cast sheet of a material containing alkaloids

A casting apparatus to cast a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the casting apparatus including:

• a casting box apt to contain a slurry to be cast to form the sheet;
• a slurry supply element defining a feeding channel apt to introduce the slurry into the casting box in a supply direction;
• path diverting fins positioned within the feeding channel, the path diverting fins being apt to come into contact with the slurry inside the feeding channel, wherein the path diverting fins comprise a plurality of curved fins arranged in at least one row and wherein the curved fins of a same row have equally oriented concavity;
• a movable support;
• and
• a casting blade apt to cast the slurry contained in the casting box onto the movable support so as to form the cast sheet.

A method to cast a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the method comprising:

• providing a casting box;
• providing a casting blade connected to the casting box;
• providing a movable support facing the casting blade;
• providing a slurry supply element defining a feeding channel;
• providing path diverting fins positioned within the feeding channel;
• introducing the slurry into the casting box along a supply direction trough the feeding channel;
• casting the slurry on the movable support by means of the casting blade;
• and
• adjusting an orientation of the path diverting fins with respect to the supply direction depending on parameters of the slurry or of the cast sheet.