Tobacco leaf feed for cigar - uses spaced suction rollers to remove portions from strip unwound from roll

摘要

For making cigars, small portions of tobacco leaf (C) are detached from a backing layer (3) as it is unwound from a roll (1). These pieces are then removed by a feed which applies them to the outside of a cigar being manufactured. The pieces are secured to the coiled backing layer by adhesive, and the feed overcomes the strength of the adhesive to detach them. The roll is rotated against two freely rotating suction wheels (4,5) with a small suction chamber (6) between. These are positioned so that their pressure against the strip is sufficient to lift the leaf portions and detach them. They are then conveyed onwards horizontally above a suction conveyor (8).