CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINERY

摘要

The invention is concerned with an apparatus and a method for the treatment of cut tobacco in a cigarette-making machine in which a stream of tobacco strands carried in a stream of air is subjected to microwave-radiation energy by passing it through a radiation chamber. Suitably, the wavelength of the microwave energy is in the range from 10 to 100 cms. and the stream of air carrying the tobacco is directed through the chamber at a substantial distance from the chamber walls where the energy level is low. The path of the tobacco strands through the chamber is defined by a pair of confronting end walls having straight inlet and outlet portions at their ends, and an arcuate portion therebetween that is convex toward a wave-guide that terminates in an outlet communicating with the interior of the chamber. The straight portions serve as microwave-retaining filters and the confronting walls are transparent to the passing of microwaves therethrough. A rotating fan is positioned to the passing of microwaves therethrough. A rotating fan is positioned in the chamber between the confronting walls and the energy inlet and serves to cool the adjacent arcuate wall. Tobacco leaving the chamber is formed into a filler stream and into a rod from which cigarettes may be cut.