摘要 |
The moving parts of a tobacco cutting machine and the conveyor or conveyors which transfer tobacco to the cutting machine are driven by a variable speed motor whose speed is regulated in dependency on the volume of tobacco in a duct from which the conveyor or conveyors draw or receive tobacco for transfer into the machine. The height of the pile of tobacco in the duct is monitored by photoelectric cells which transmit signals to a speed regulator for the motor so that the speed of the motor increases and decreases when the height of the pile respectively increases and decreases. The duct receives tobacco from a magazine. Fluctuations of the height of tobacco pile in the duct are due to variations in the rate of tobacco feed from the magazine and/or to changes in size, moisture content and/or temperature of tobacco which is being supplied to the duct. The magazine can supply tobacco to the ducts of two or more discrete cutting machines and the apparatus then includes a distributor which feeds tobacco to all ducts at an equal rate. The outlets of the ducts are sealable by gates which close in response to stoppage of the respective motors. The remaining duct or ducts then receive tobacco at a higher rate which, in turn, results in acceleration of the respective motor or motors.
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