Multiple tobacco comminuting machines - feeding common output conveyor at constant flow rate by adjusting output of one machine

摘要

A bank of typically 4 identical comminuting machines is fed with moistened tobacco which is shredded by the machines and delivered to a common discharge conveyor which passes each machine serially. The conveyor feeds the tobacco to a dryer which reduces the moisture content prior to cigarette making. It is necessary to feed the dryer at a constant speed to simplify its design. Therefore the flow rate of the downstream end of the shredded tobacco conveyor is monitored and compared with a predetermined standard. If any deviations are detected the operating speed of the most downstream comminuting machine is altered accordingly to maintain a constant combined flow rate.