Method and apparatus for defoliating a succession of tobacco bales or the like

摘要

The method transfers each bale (B, B') which has been previously unwrapped onto a support (1), and removes the leaves from the bale in successive layers on the supporting surface side. The removal of the surface layers is achieved by one or more eccentric rotary members (E1 to E4) rotating about axes perpendicular to the bales' direction of travel. The supporting surface is inclined at six degrees to the horizontal. The eccentric elements rotate at different speeds, i.e. 35-70 rpm for the first, 80-160 rpm for the second, 35-70 rpm for the third and 80-160 rpm for the fourth.