Apparatus for regulating the configuration of the upper surface of a supply of tobacco in a distributor for use in cigarette makers or the like

Tobacco processing apparatus, particularly a distributor for use in cigarette making machines or the like, comprising a substantially upright magazine arranged to store a supply of tobacco and having an inlet and an outlet below said inlet, said magazine comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two spaced-apart side walls, means for feeding tobacco to said magazine via said inlet, said feeding means being adjustable to feed varying quantities of tobacco, as considered in a direction from one of said side walls toward the other of said side walls;

• means for receiving tobacco from said outlet;
• means for simultaneously monitoring different portions of the upper surface of the supply of tobacco between the walls of said magazine, including at least two level detectors spaced apart from each other, as considered in said direction, and arranged to transmit first signals denoting the vertical levels of the corresponding portions of the upper surface of the supply of tobacco between the walls of said magazine;
• means for evaluating said first signals including means for generating second signals denoting the difference between the vertical levels of said portions of said upper surface;
• and means for adjusting said feeding means in response to said second signals so as to reduce said difference.