Apparatus for transporting a stream of particulate material

Abstract

The perforated bottom wall of a suction chamber in the tobacco stream gathering and transporting apparatus of a cigarette rod making machine is designed to guide and support a file of discrete apertured inserts which have undersides serving as abutments for the lower reach of an endless foraminous tobacco stream gathering and advancing belt. Portions of the inserts can be inserted into or removed from one or more grooves provided in the bottom wall and extending longitudinally of a channel which is open from below and has a top wall constituted by the lower reach of the belt as well as by the file of inserts. At least a portion of each insert can be made of a strongly wear-resistant material. An advantage of the inserts is that they render it possible to select the rates of air flow through different portions of the lower stretch of the belt, that they can be made to stand pronounced wear in a high-speed rod making machine, and that replacement of one or a few relatively small inserts often suffices to restore the integrity of a damaged transporting apparatus.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.