APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING INHOMOGENEOUS MATERIAL SUCH AS TOBACCO

摘要

2058290 9014020 PCTABS00002 A method and apparatus for separating particles having a larger area-to-weight ratio from those having a smaller area-to-weight ratio in a series of steps including moving the mixed particles transversely across a moving gas stream to entrain therein a large proportion of those particles having a larger area-to-weight ratio. An illustrated embodiment is an apparatus comprising a number of modular threshing (4, 8A-C) and classifying (6, 10A-B, 12) units connected by conveyors within housing (20A-G). When used to separated lamina from stem of tobacco leaf, the lamina is entrained in the gas flow and removed on transverse conveyors (16A-D). The stem is removed from an exit (18). The design of each threshing unit is such that all or part of the casing may be slidably removed to reveal the thresher's interior.