Cutting and grinding apparatus, method of manufacture of cut lengths of tobacco, and method for controlling the operation of a cutting apparatus

摘要

A cutting apparatus including a grinder for sharpening knives in the cutting assembly is disclosed. The cutting apparatus includes a mouth for delivering the material to be cut to a cutting position, a cutting drum having at least one knife having a cutting edge, the cutting drum having a drive system and being rotatable about an axis. A grinder is described for removing material from the cutting edge of a knife, the grinder brought into contact with the cutting edge with a movement in a first direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and with a movement in a second direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum, the grinder configured to move in the first direction at a first speed and move in the second direction at a second speed, the first speed different to the second speed.

主权项

1. A cutting apparatus comprising,
a mouth defined by a jaw assembly for delivering the material to be cut to a cutting position at the mouth; a cutting drum having;
at least one knife having a cutting edge, the cutting drum having a driver therefor and being rotatable about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the mouth such that the cutting edge of the at least one knife is arranged substantially perpendicular to the material to be cut; a grinder for removing material from the cutting edge of the at least one knife the grinder comprising a cylinder having a cylindrical surface comprising a substantially constant radius, the grinder being configured to be rotated about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and the grinder being configured to be brought into contact with the cutting edge with a first movement in a first direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and with a second movement in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum, wherein the grinder is configured to execute the first movement in the first direction at a substantially uniform first speed and the second movement in the second direction at a substantially uniform second speed, wherein the first speed is different to the second speed.