Apparatus for advancing streams of particles of smokable material

Abstract

The conveyor which converts an ascending shower of tobacco particles into a rod-shaped filler ready to be draped into a running web of cigarette paper in a cigarette rod making machine employs an endless permeable belt having a lower reach disposed beneath a suction chamber and at a level above a channel for advancement of the filler toward the wrapping mechanism. The channel and the marginal portions of the lower reach of the belt are flanked by walls which consist, at least in part, of a wear-resistant ceramic material capable of standing long periods of use due to a minimal wear as a result of sliding contact with tobacco particles, even if the belt is driven at an elevated speed to advance tobacco particles past a trimming device and thereupon into the wrapping mechanism of the cigarette rod making machine.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the making of rod-shaped products which contain flowable particulate material, such as fragments of tobacco leaves, artificial tobacco and / or reconstituted tobacco. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for advancing and simultaneously influencing (such as reshaping, condensing, changing the speed of and / or changing the direction of advancement of) streams or flows of particles of smokable material.[0002] A modern cigarette making machine (e.g., the machine known as PROTOS which is distributed by the assignee of the present appication) comprises a conveyor which gathers particles of tobacco leaves and / or other combustive tobacco smoke producing material (such particles will be referred to as tobacco particles) into at least one rod-like filler ready to be trimmed and thereupon draped into a running web of cigarette paper or other suitable wrapping material. To this end, the conveyor includes a duct defining an elongated...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor which is constructed and assembled in such a way that all stationary parts which come into extensive contact

Problems solved by technology

A drawback which is common to presently known conveyors of the above outlined character is that the stationary walls which come in contact with tobacco particles are subject to extensive wear due to continuous pronounced uninterrupted frictional engagement with the advancing stream of comminuted tobacco.

This affects the useful life of the conveyor.

Moreover, such pronounced frictional engagement can exert adverse influence upon the the consistency and/or configuration of the growing tobacco stream in the duct.

This material exhibits a satisfactory resistace to wear; howeve

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