Method and apparatus for monitoring and evaluating the density of a tobacco stream

A method of forming and processing a stream of fibrous material, particularly a stream of tobacco particles for the making of cigarettes and analogous smokers' products, comprising the steps of building a continuous stream as a function of a plurality of different parameters;

• monitoring the density of the stream at a plurality of different distances from a reference plane which is at least substantially parallel to the stream, including directing X-rays transversely of the stream so that at least some of the X-rays penetrate through the stream and the X-rays issuing from the stream constitute or form part of an image denoting the distribution of density at said different distances from the reference plane;
• generating signals denoting the monitored density at such different distances from the reference plane;
• and varying at least one of said parameters as a function of variations of at least one of said signals.

Apparatus for forming and processing a stream of fibrous material, particularly a stream of tobacco particles for the making of cigarettes and analogous smokers' products, comprising adjustable stream building means including a conveyor defining an elongated path and means for supplying to the conveyor fibrous material which accumulates and forms a continuous stream thereon;

• means for monitoring the density of the stream at a plurality of different locations, as considered transversely of said path, including means for generating signals denoting the monitored density at said plurality of locations;
• and means for adjusting said stream building means in response to deviation of at least one of said signals from a preselected value.

A method of forming and processing a stream of fibrous material, particularly a stream of tobacco particles for the making of cigarettes and analogous smokers' products, comprising the steps of building a continuous stream including delivering fibrous material into an elongated path to thus form successive increments of the stream and moving such increments along the path;

• monitoring the density of the moving stream at a plurality of different distances from a reference plane which is at least substantially parallel to the path;
• and generating signals which denote the monitored density at such different distance from the reference plane.

A method of forming and processing a stream of fibrous material, particularly a stream of tobacco particles for the making of cigarettes and analogous smokers' products, comprising the steps of building a continuous stream;

• monitoring the density of the stream at a plurality of different distance from a reference plane which is at least substantially parallel to the stream, including directing X-rays transversely of the stream so that at least some of the X-rays penetrate through the stream and the X-rays issuing from the stream constitute or form part of an image denoting the distribution of density at said different distances from the reference plane;
• and generating signals denoting the monitored density at such different distance from the reference plane.

Apparatus for forming and processing a stream of fibrous material, particularly a stream of tobacco particles for the making of cigarettes and analogous smokers' products, comprising stream building means including a conveyor defining an elongated path and means for supplying to the conveyor fibrous material which forms a continuous stream thereon;

• and means for monitoring the density of the stream at a plurality of different locations, as considered transversely of said path, including means for generating signals denoting the monitored density at said plurality of locations.