Method of and apparatus for drying a tobacco sample and determining the moisture content thereof

A method of automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample in a drum having an internal space and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of:

• automatically weighing a tobacco sample having a moisture content to be determined;
• automatically storing the wet weight of the sample;
• automatically charging the sample to the internal space of the drum;
• rotating the drum about its axis of rotation;
• heating the tobacco sample in the drum to dry the sample to a substantially zero moisture content;
• emptying the dried sample from the drum;
• automatically weighing the dried sample;
• automatically storing the dry weight of the sample;
• and
• automatically calculating the moisture content of the sample based on the stored wet and dry weights thereof.

A method of automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample in a drum having an open end, an internal space and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of:

• automatically weighing a tobacco sample having a moisture content to be determined;
• automatically storing the wet weight of the sample;
• tilting the drum about a tilt axis transverse to the axis of rotation to a first position with the open end of the drum oriented upwardly above the horizontal for receiving the sample;
• automatically charging the sample to the internal space of the drum;
• tilting the drum about the tilt axis to a second position with the axis of rotation of the drum oriented substantially horizontally for rotating the drum;
• rotating the drum about its axis of rotation;
• heating the tobacco sample in the drum to dry the sample to a substantially zero moisture content;
• tilting the drum about the tilt axis to a third position with the open end of the drum oriented downwardly below the horizontal for emptying the drum;
• and
• rotating the drum in the third position about its axis of rotation;
• emptying the dried sample from the open end of the drum;
• automatically weighing the dried sample;
• automatically storing the dry weight of the sample;
• and
• automatically calculating the moisture content of the sample based on the stored wet and dry weights thereof.

Apparatus for automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample comprising:

• a first scale means for automatically weighing a tobacco sample having a moisture content to be determined and for automatically storing the wet weight of the sample;
• a drum having an axis of rotation, only one open end, and an internal space for receiving the tobacco sample;
• means for automatically transferring the tobacco sample from the first scale means to the drum after weighing the sample;
• means for rotating said drum about its axis of rotation;
• means for heating the tobacco sample in the drum to dry the sample to a substantially zero moisture content;
• a second scale means for automatically weighing the dried tobacco sample and for automatically storing the dry weight thereof;
• means for automatically transferring the dried tobacco sample from the drum to the second scale means;
• and
• means for receiving the stored wet and dry weights of the sample and for automatically calculating the moisture content of the tobacco sample based thereon.

A method of automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample in a drum having only one open end, an internal space and an axis of rotation, comprising the steps of:

• automatically weighing a tobacco sample having a moisture content to be determined;
• automatically storing the wet weight of the sample
• automatically charging the sample to the internal space of the drum through said open end;
• rotating the drum about its axis of rotation;
• heating the tobacco sample in the drum to dry the sample to a substantially zero moisture content;
• emptying the dried sample from the drum through said open end;
• automatically weighing the dried sample;
• automatically storing the dry weight of the sample;
• and
• automatically calculating the moisture content of the sample based on the stored wet and dry weights thereof.