(19)
(11) EP 0 307 070 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
23.05.1990 Bulletin 1990/21

(43) Date of publication A2:
15.03.1989 Bulletin 1989/11

(21) Application number: 88304568.4

(22) Date of filing: 20.05.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: A24C 5/39
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE GB IT

(30) Priority: 22.05.1987 BR 8702630
22.05.1987 BR 8702631
14.07.1987 BR 8703653
28.03.1988 BR 8801548

(71) Applicant: COMPANHIA SOUZA CRUZ INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO
BR-20092 Rio de Janeiro, RJ (BR)

(72) Inventor:
  • Harvey, John Pearce
    Rio de Janeiro - RJ (BR)

(74) Representative: MacLean, Kenneth John Hamson 
Patents Department British-American Tobacco Company Limited Technology Centre Regents Park Road
Southampton S015 8TL
Southampton S015 8TL (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
     
    Remarks:
    A request for correction of the description and claims has been filed pursuant to Rule 88 EPC. A decision on the request will be taken during the proceedings before the Examining Division (Guidelines for Examination in the EPO, A-V, 2.2).
     


    (54) Feeding tobacco


    (57) In accordance with the present process and device the tobacco contained in a reservoir is selectively and pneumatically carried to a separator (20) by means of a flow of air inside a feeding tube (10). Within the air separator (20) the air is removed from the stream of particles of tobacco which continues in a direct even path until it reaches the upper open end of a first column (30) of a first tobacco metering and opening set (40, 50, 60).
    The metered and opened tobacco stream is then pneumatically carried and injected into an upward flow of air in a vertical duct (100) for separation of the stems and heavy fragments. The upward flow of air containing tobacco leaf particles is accelerated and turned downwards then being decelerated within a closed chamber (150) from where the air is partially extracted while the tobacco leaf particles follow their straight downward course, reaching the lower exit mouthpiece (151) of the mentioned closed chamber (150) and from there to the upper open end of a second column (70) of a second tobacco metering and opening set (40a, 50a, 60) with its exit communicating with the entrance to the machine which is usually one for manufacturing cigarettes.







    Search report