Method of and apparatus for building a tobacco stream

摘要

A homogeneous tobacco stream is built upon an air-permeable conveyor in a channel which is adjacent to one side of the conveyor and is bounded by two sidewalls. Particles of tobacco are admitted against the concave side of an arcuate guide wall, whose discharge end is adjacent to the channel and remote from the one side of the conveyor, together with streams of compressed air which accelerate the particles of tobacco and transport them toward and beyond the discharge end of the guide wall. The concave side of the guide wall has three guide faces each of which directs a discrete partial stream of tobacco particles against a different portion of the one side of the conveyor whereon the particles are retained by suction. The guide faces are staggered with reference to each other, as considered transversely of the direction of transport of tobacco particles at the one side of the conveyor, and terminate at edge faces beyond which the respective partial streams are propelled by inertia as well as under the action of the air streams. The partial streams of tobacco are directed against the two marginal portions of the one side of the conveyor adjacent to the respective sidewalls and against the central portion of the one side. Such partial streams impinge upon conveyor portions which are staggered with reference to each other, as considered in the direction or movement of the conveyor.