Tobacco/paper sorter method and apparatus
AssigneeAMF Incorporated
InventorCharles D. Hansen, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method and apparatus therefor for separating paper particles from reclaimed shredded tobacco comprising propelling shredded tobacco with paper particles randomly mixed therein into a path of flight above an endless belt coneyor and in the direction of movement of the conveyor so that the shredded tobacco showers down and forms a blanket on the conveyor and the longer flying paper showers down atop the tobacco blanket, the conveyor moving the tobacco past scanning means and propelling the tobacco along a path of flight to receiver means, the scanning means detecting paper particles atop the tobacco, and pneumatic reject means responsive to the scanning means for diverting detected paper particles from the path of flight from the conveyor to a receiver for reject particles.
Claims9
The method of removing paper particles randomly mixed in reclaimed shredded tobacco from defective cigarettes, comprising the steps of
- creating a shower of the shredded tobacco with paper particles to form a blanket of shredded tobacco with paper particles exposed on top of the formed blanket,
- electro-optically scanning the blanket of shredded tobacco to detect exposed paper particles;
- propelling the scanned blanket of shredded tobacco along a path of flight;
- and
- pneumatically diverting detected paper particles from the path of flight.
Apparatus for removing paper particles randomly mixed in reclaimed shredded tobacco from defective cigarettes, comprising
- means for providing a supply of reclaimed shredded tobacco with randomly mixed paper particles;
- an endless belt type conveyor;
- means for receiving for said supply means and propelling shredded tobacco with paper particles along a path of flight creating a shower of shredded tobacco and separated paper particles;
- the shower forming adjacent one end of said conveyor a blanket of shredded tobacco with paper particles exposed on top of the formed blanket;
- electro-optical means adjacent the other end of said conveyor for scanning the formed blanket of shredded tobacco and detecting the exposed paper particles;
- said conveyor conveying the formed blanket past said electro-optical scanning means and propelling the scanned blanket along another path of flight;
- and
- pneumatic reject means diverting detected paper particles from the other path of flight thereby removing the paper particles from the reclaimed shredded tobacco.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.