System, apparatus, and method for preparing a quantity of tobacco for primary processing

摘要

A system, apparatus and method is proposed according to which a tobacco mass is proportioned for primary processing. The system and method provide for a controlled selection handling and proportioning of the tobacco mass, and for conditioning of the tobacco mass before further primary processing. The apparatus provides for conditioning an entire tobacco mass or for selected proportioning of the tobacco mass into smaller predetermined portions prior to conditioning. The system and method allow for blending different types of tobacco masses while utilizing the proportioning apparatus on selected tobacco masses.