Device and method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging

An apparatus for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging, comprising:

• a feeding element configured to feed tobacco;
• and
• a device configured to form and discharge at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging, wherein the device comprises
• a wiping element,
• a base plate and two slide elements operatively disposed in a guide in the base plate,
• a portioning chamber, and
• a discharging element,
• wherein the wiping element is arranged to wipe the tobacco received from the feeding element into the portioning chamber,
• wherein the portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing a compressed tobacco portion, and wherein the portioning chamber is displaceable relative to the wiping element between a filling position and a dispensing position and vice versa, and wherein the portioning chamber is defined by the two slide elements spaced apart from each other and guided within the guide in the base plate, and a downwardly directed outlet opening defined within the guide in the base plate proximate the dispensing position, wherein a diameter of the outlet opening is slightly larger than a diameter of the compressed cylindrical tobacco portion, and wherein the two slide elements are movable linearly towards and away from each other to vary the volume of the portioning chamber, and wherein the two slide elements comprise ends facing towards each other, each end having a semicircular contour in plan view, whereby, when the slide elements are pulled apart, the portioning chamber is slot-shaped in plan view, and when the slide elements are pushed together, the portioning chamber is cylindrical to form a compressed cylindrical tobacco portion, and
• wherein the discharging element is configured to discharge the compressed tobacco portion from the portioning chamber and is disposed in an area of the dispensing position.

An apparatus for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging, comprising:

• a feeding element configured to feed tobacco;
• and
• a device configured to form and discharge at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging, wherein the device comprises
• a wiping element,
• a base plate and two slide elements operatively disposed in a guide in the base plate,
• a portioning chamber, and
• a discharging element,
• wherein the wiping element is arranged to wipe the tobacco received from the feeding element into the portioning chamber, and wherein the wiping element is arranged on the base plate and above the portioning chamber, and wherein the wiping element is movable relative to the base plate and wherein the wiping element is rotatable in both directions about an axis extending perpendicular to the base plate
• wherein the portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing a compressed tobacco portion, and wherein the portioning chamber is displaceable relative to the wiping element between a filling position and a dispensing position and vice versa, and wherein the portioning chamber is defined by the two slide elements spaced apart from each other and guided within the guide in the base plate, and wherein the two slide elements are movable linearly towards and away from each other to vary the volume of the portioning chamber, and
• wherein the discharging element is configured to discharge the compressed tobacco portion from the portioning chamber and is disposed in an area of the dispensing position.

An apparatus for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging, comprising:

• a feeding element configured to feed tobacco;
• and
• a device configured to form and discharge at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging, wherein the device comprises
• a wiping element,
• a base plate and two slide elements operatively disposed in a guide in the base plate,
• a portioning chamber, and
• a discharging element,
• wherein the wiping element is arranged to wipe the tobacco received from the feeding element into the portioning chamber, and wherein the wiping element is arranged on the base plate and above the portioning chamber, and wherein the wiping element is movable relative to the base plate and wherein the wiping element comprises a turnstile having at least one chamber for receiving the tobacco fed by the feeding element wherein the portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing a compressed tobacco portion, and wherein the portioning chamber is displaceable relative to the wiping element between a filling position and a dispensing position and vice versa, and wherein the portioning chamber is defined by two slide elements spaced apart from each other and guided within the guide in the base plate, and wherein the two slide elements are movable linearly towards and away from each other to vary the volume of the portioning chamber, and
• wherein the discharging element is configured to discharge the compressed tobacco portion from the portioning chamber and is disposed in an area of the dispensing position.

A method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging, comprising:

• feeding tobacco via a feeding element,
• forming a tobacco portion by wiping the tobacco with a wiping element into a portioning chamber positioned in a filling position,
• displacing the portioning chamber relative to the wiping element from the filling position towards a dispensing position,
• compressing the tobacco portion by varying a volume of the portioning chamber defined by two slide elements spaced apart from each other and guided within a guide in a base plate, and wherein the two slide elements are movable linearly towards and away from each other to vary the volume of the portioning chamber, and wherein, when the slide elements are pushed together, the portioning chamber is bounded laterally by the slide elements and at the bottom by the base plate, and, wherein, when the slide elements are pulled apart from one another, the portioning chamber is bounded laterally by the base plate and the slide elements,
• displacing the compressed tobacco portion in the portioning chamber into the dispensing position, and
• discharging the finally compressed tobacco portion with a discharging element disposed in an area of the dispensing position from the portioning chamber.