METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO

摘要

The moisture content of a tobacco stream which contains a fixed quantity of tobacco per unit length is reduced during flow through a revolving drum which is heated by steam, oil or gaseous combustion products. At the same time, the tobacco stream exchanges heat with hot air which is conveyed through the drum counter to the direction of tobacco movement. The tobacco is thereupon cooled and its moisture content is measured to automatically adjust the temperature of heated air and the temperature of the drum when the measured moisture content deviates from a desired moisture content. The heating device for the drum is indirectly adjusted by a thermometer which measures the temperature of heated air. The regulating unit for the air heating device is directly connected with the unit which measures the moisture content of conditioned tobacco.