US3770112A - Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves - Google Patents

Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3770112A
US3770112A US00181160A US3770112DA US3770112A US 3770112 A US3770112 A US 3770112A US 00181160 A US00181160 A US 00181160A US 3770112D A US3770112D A US 3770112DA US 3770112 A US3770112 A US 3770112A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
sorting
conveyor belt
leaves
valves
hollow body
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00181160A
Inventor
E Asfour
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TECHNICAL DEV CORP CH
TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CORP
Original Assignee
TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CORP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CORP filed Critical TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT CORP
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3770112A publication Critical patent/US3770112A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07CPOSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/36Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C5/361Processing or control devices therefor, e.g. escort memory
    • B07C5/362Separating or distributor mechanisms
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24BMANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B3/00Preparing tobacco in the factory
    • A24B3/16Classifying or aligning leaves
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07CPOSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/342Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/905Feeder conveyor holding item by suction
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/931Materials of construction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, and to a sorting apparatus therefor.
  • the present invention eliminates these difficulties and relates to a method of sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, and is characterized by the fact that the leaf material to be sorted is separated into a number of parallel channels, moved in the longitudinal direction therein, spread out and subsequently supplied to a first sorting station at the entrance of which individual leaves are gripped and passed along on the one hand and, on the other, foreign bodies extracted, whereupon the individual leaves are supplied, in the parallel channels, to second sorting stations where they are examined in respect of their quality, appropriated to different quality classes and supplied to corresponding sorting channels.
  • This invention further relates to a sorting apparatus for the performance of the said method characterized by a separating device into parallel channels of which each is provided with a spreading unit for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction and a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt equipped for gripping individual leaves and a separatingdevice for foreign bodies, and by second sorting stations with an examining member for the quality of the various leaves and a signalling unit controlled by the testing member which indicates the quality class to actuate a classifying device for the leaves.
  • FIGS. 1 through 6 show a side view and, respectively, a plan view of the basic diagram of a sorting apparatus according to this invention
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are an elevation and, respectively, plan view of an embodiment of a spreading device for the leaf material and an embodiment of a pneumatically operating first sorting station of which only the portion associated with one of the parallel channels is represented;
  • FIG. 5 is an elevation in a diagrammatic view of a pneumatically operating second sorting station which is designed, by way of example, for three different sorting channels, and
  • FIG. 6 is an elevation of second embodiment of the first and second sorting stations.
  • the leaves or similar material are sorted in the manner subsequently described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the leaf material 10 is, by way of example, supplied to a separating device 12 via a conveyor belt 1 l or a chute where it is divided into a number of channels 13 disposed in parallel in which it is moved in the longitudinal direction and thereby spread in the same direction.
  • the spreading must be effected in such a manner that the leaf material in each of the channels reaches the sorting stations 14, 15, 16 arranged at the end of each channel 13 if possible in only one layer and without mutual overlapping of the leaves.
  • the number of parallel channels 13 may be increased at will and is so selected that the entire quantity of the leaf material 10 supplied is passed on.
  • each of the first sorting stations 14, 15, 16 is only a single leaf of the spread leaf material supplied and then passed on along the subsequent channel 17. At the same time, possible foreign bodies are there eliminated and removed through the outlets 18.
  • the individual leaves moved in the channels 17 pass into second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 where they are examined in respect of their quality, appropriated to various quality classes and passed, depending on their quality class, into a corresponding separate sorting channel 22, 23, 24.
  • the second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 are by way of example equipped with a testing member for the colour of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member and indicating the colour class for the actuation of the classifying device for the leaves.
  • the signalling member may also be so designed that e.g. two colour classes pass into the same sorting channel.
  • the spreading device in the channels 13 consists of a vibrating conveyor diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • Such vibrating conveyors are known and comprise, by way of example, a motor driven vibrating table 25 with a flat top side provided with three conveyor sections 26, 27 and 28 for each of the channels 13.
  • the leaf material 10 on the steepest conveyor section 26 passes into the less steep conveyor section 27 at a certain adjustable rate where it rises more rapidly in accordance with the lesser gradient of the surface and is then moved into the conveyor section 28 at the greatest speed. This ensures that the leaf material is supplied to the first sorting stations 14, 15, 16 spread in the longitudinal direction and virtually in a single position only.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the design of the first sorting station 16 using a pneumatic separating device for the foreign bodies.
  • the conveyor belt 30 indicated together with its lateral walls 31, 32 forms one of the parallel channels 17 (FIG. 2).
  • This conveyor belt 30 consists of a material impermeable to air but is provided with successive groups 33 of e.g. four holes each, the groups 33 being spaced from one another by an amount which is preferably somewhat longer than one of the leaves to be conveyed.
  • the conveyor belt 30 passes over a drum 34 with a shell permeable to air in the front half of which a hollow body 35 is arranged of which the shell surface 36 is perforated and from which air is removed by suction through the line 37.
  • a hollow body 39 Arranged underneath the slot 38 is a hollow body 39 which may, if desired, be connected to a compressed-air line via the connection 40 and which has its curved side facing the drom 34 provided with air slots 41.
  • An air current may thus be created through these air slots in the upward direction towards the slot 38 which prevents the leaf material supplied to the gap 38 from dropping down into the channel between the drum 34 and the hollow body 39.
  • the air current is so adjusted that foreign bodies supplied to the gap 38 along with the leaf material can pass through the channel and be removed through the outlet 18.
  • the foreign bodies are commonly pieces of wood, twigs, stones or similar bodies which are substantially heavier than the tobacco leaves to be held by the groups of holes 33 so that complete removal of such foreign bodies is ensured if the air current through the air slots 41 is properly adjusted.
  • the air current may also be dispensed with altogether, particularly if the leaf material is light.
  • the hollow body 35 may also be sub divided into several sectors which can selectively be connected to the lines 37. If desired, the hollow body 35 may also be subdivided by an adjustable transverse partition in order that the perforated wall 36 sucks in air through the passing groups of holes 33 only in the upper angular section.
  • a hollow body 42 with a perforated wall 43 can be provided below the horizontal portion of the conveyor belt 30, connected to an underpressure line and air be sucked up via the passing groups of holes 33.
  • the leaves resting on the various conveyor belts 30 pass into second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 of which an embodiment is shown diagrammatically in FIG. and which operates with a pneumatically actuated classifying device.
  • a testing member 45 which determines the colour of the tobacco leaves illuminated by the light sources 46 and 47.
  • optical testing devices selectively responding to the colour of such leaves are known so that a more detailed description can be dispensed with.
  • the testing member 45 operates with a signalling device 48 which is so designed that it supplies different signals depending on the colour of the leaf on the conveyor belt 30 just passing under the testing member 45.
  • valves 49, 50, 51 of a pneumatic calssifying device which here causes appropriation of the tested leaves to the three sorting channels 22, 23, 24 which extend over all conveyor belts 30 of the parallel channels 17 (FIG. 2).
  • the pneumatic classifying device is connected, via the tube 53, to an air pump, and the distributor 52 with the valves 49, 50, 51 enables underpressure to be produced in the hollow bodies 54, 55, and 56 as required.
  • These hollow bodies have their sides facing the drum 57 provided with a perforated wall 58, 59, 60 so that air is sucked up via the groups of holes 33 as they pass by the perforated walls 58, 59, 60 and the associated hollow bodies 54, 55 and 56 are under a pressure below atmospheric.
  • the signalling unit 48 will open the valve 49 alone while the valves 50 and 51 remain closed so that underpressure is created in the hollow body 54 only.
  • the leaf in question is then held on the group of holes 33 on which it rests as soon as this group of holes reaches the area of the perforated wall 58 of the hollow body 54, and drops from the said group of holes as soon as the latter passes within the range of the perforated wall 59 of the hollow body 55.
  • the leaf then drops as predetermined into the sorting channel 24 assigned to the quality class contemplated.
  • the signalling unit 48 will open both valves 49 and 50 while the valve 51 remains closed.
  • the leaf resting on a group of holes is in this case held as it passes the ranges of the perforated walls 58 and 59 and released only then and thus drops into the contemplated sorting channel 23.
  • a leaf belonging in the quality class of the sorting channel 22 is held, after passing the testing member 45 and opening of all three valves 49, 50, 51 by the signalling member 48, throughout its passage over the perforated walls 58, 59, 60 and therefore drops into the sorting channel 22.
  • the signalling member 48 may naturally be so adjusted that the leaves of the said three quality classes are subdivided among only two sorting channels so that a blend of two quality classes is produced in one of the sorting channels.
  • the signalling member 48 may be provided with a counter for each quality class which responds when a leaf belonging in the said quality class passes under the testing member 45.
  • FIG. 6 Another embodiment of the first and second sorting stations per channel 13 and, respectively, 17 is shown in FIG. 6.
  • the leaf material moved in the direction of the arrow on the conveyor plate 28 passes to the gap 38 where it is separated from foreign bodies if any. Passing this gap 38 is the conveyor belt 66 impermeable to air but equipped with groups of holes 65 which is guided by the drums 67, 68, 69 provided with a shell permeable to air.
  • the hollow body 71 continuously connected to an underpressure system which is provided with a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt 66 ensures that the groups of holes 65 passing by this wall engage individual leaves in the gap 38, hold them and that the leaves are then conveyed upwards by the conveyor belt 66.
  • an intercepting device 72 for the foreign bodies falling in the gap 38 Arranged below the gap 38 is an intercepting device 72 for the foreign bodies falling in the gap 38, the connection 73 of the said device enabling an air current to be produced in the upward direction through the gap 38 if so desired.
  • a plate 74 movable in the direction towards the gap 38 and impermeable to air enables the catchment point of the individual leaves by the groups of holes 65 in the conveyor belt 66 to be adjusted.
  • a further conveyor belt 81 Arranged opposite th endless conveyor belt 66 running downwards is a further conveyor belt 81 provided with groups of holes 82 as the conveyor belt 66 and running over the drums 83, 84 and 85 which are provided, similarly to the drums 67, 68 and 69, with a shell impermeable to air.
  • These hollow bodies 86, 87, 88 may be connected to the underpressure system via valves.
  • the two hollow bodies 89, 90 are provided which possess a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt 81 and can also be connected to the underpressure system by means of valves.
  • the classification system is here equipped with four sorting channels 91, 92, 93 and 94.
  • the underpressure valves for the hollow bodies 79, 77 and 80 are opened by the signalling member 48 so that the leaf involved is held by suction by its group of holes 65 until it is located above the sorting channel 91 into which it is dropped.
  • the signalling member 48 opens the underpressure valves of the hollow bodies 79 and 77 only which causes the leaf to drop into the sorting channel 92.
  • the process is the same but the signalling member 48 will also open the underpressure valve of the hollow body 88 so that the leaf is held by the conveyor belt 81 until the sorting channel 94 is reached into which the leaf will then drop.
  • a sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said spreading device comprising a vibrating conveyor having several conveyor surfaces rising in the direction of movement, the steepness of the said conveyor surfaces decreasing in successive conveyor sections, and a last conveying section with a substantially horizontal conveyor surface, and including a common vibrator for all said conveyor surfaces.
  • a sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters which are arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the spaces being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing around a rotating drum at the entrance of the channel involved, the said drum having a shell which is permeable to air and of which the half facing the entrance accommodates a hollow body with a perforated shell and a connecting line for an underpressure system.
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by a subdivision of the hollow body into a plurality of sectors of which each can be connected to an underpressure system independently of the others.
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by a radially arranged adjustable partition arranged in the hollow body, the said partition subdividing the same into an upper and a lower hollow space of which only the upper one can be connected to an underpressure system.
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by a classification device which can be actuated by the signalling device and which comprises a rotating drum around which the conveyor belt passes in a loop of approximately of angle, the said drum having a shell permeable to air, by two sector-type hollow bodies arranged inside the drum and provided with perforated shell surfaces facing the conveyor belt, of which hollow bodies each can be connected, via a line and an electrically operable valve, to a further flat hollow body which has a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt running off the drum and can be connectd to the underpressure system via the electrically operable valve, by control circuits between the valves and the signalling device, and by sorting channels arranged underneath this classification device, the said sorting channels extending transversely over all classification devices of the individual parallel channels.
  • a classification device which can be actuated by the signalling device and which comprises a rotating drum around which the conveyor belt passes in a loop of approximately of angle, the said drum having a shell permeable to air, by two sector-type hollow bodies arranged inside the drum
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the valve for the upper sector-type hollow body to open, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies to open, and that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies and the flat hollow body to open, which results in that the leaves located on each group of holes in the conveyor belt are held by suction only while the group of holes involved passes through the range of the perforated walls of those hollow bodies of which the valves are open and then drop into the sorting channels which are located underneath.
  • a sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said separating unit for foreign'bodies comprising a gap' downstream of the last conveyor surface of the spreading device which is passed by the conveyor belt in the upward direction, and a catching device arranged underneath the gap to accommodate the foreign bodies dropping through the gap.
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by a hollow body arranged underneath the gap, the said hollow body having an adjustable connection to a compressed-air system so designed that an air current of adjustable force can be obtained in the upward direction through the gap.
  • a sorting apparatus characterized by a plate located underneath the gap which causes the conveyor belt to be shielded and of which the distance from the gap is adjustable.
  • a sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the space being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing over drums with shells permeable to air and over guide rolls and has its group of holes in the area where individual leaves are caught and held pass over perforated wall portions of flat or sector-type hollow bodies of which those located in the area between the entrance and the classification device are permanently connected to an underpressure system while the hollow bodies associated with the classification device are connected to the
  • a sorting device characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the flat hollow body located behind the downward running section of the first conveyor belt and the sector-type hollow body located downstream of the first body as well as for the flat hollow body located behind the return section of the first conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open as in the presence of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel with the exception of that for the hollow body located behind the returning lower section of the conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the hollow bodies located behind the second conveyor belt in the range of the section parallel with the first conveyor belt as well as for the flat hollow body which is arranged behind the section of the second conveyor belt moving away from the parallel range, and that the appearance of a signal

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus for sorting leaves, particularly tobacco leaves, has a vibrating type conveyor provided with successive surfaces of different inclination to separate the leaves in the longitudinal direction of their motion. After separation the leaves are passed through a sorting station which separates foreign bodies. The leaves are then passed to a sorting station where they are classified, by an optical device according to color differences.

Description

Q United States Patent 1191 1111 3,770,112 Asfour Nov. 6, 1973 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR 1,879,016 9/1932 Austin 131/146 SORTING TOBACCO LEAVES 2,192,518 3/1940 Eissmannm. 131/149 X 3,252,466 5/1966 Swink 209/1116 X Inventor: Emll Asfollr, Herrllberg/ZH, 3,380,460 4/1968 Fuis 209 111.6
Switzerland 1 1 Assignce? Technical DeYehPment Corporation, Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Pfaalkon, Switzerland Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 181,160 57 ABSTRACT Foreign Application Priority Data Apparatus for sorting leaves, particularly tobacco leaves, has a vibrating type conveyor provided with June Swltzerland "8766/71 successive surfaces of different inclination to separate [52] U S CI 209/75 13 H146 131/149 the leaves in the longitudinal direction of their motion. 2O9/] l 1 After separation the leaves are passed through a sorting [51] Int Cl 807C 5/342 station which separates foreign bodies. The leaves are [58] Fie'ld 73 H1 then passed to a sorting station where they are classi- 131/138 146 B fled, by an optical device according to color differ- 9 I 7 I l 7 R [56] References Cited 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,328,735 1/1920 Harriss 131/149 PATFNIEDNQY s 1913 SHEET 101 2 on b o Fig. 4
mnnguunv s 1975 3770.112
SHEET 2 BF 2 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING TOBACCO LEAVES The present invention relates to a method of sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, and to a sorting apparatus therefor.
In the tobacco processingindustry it has so far been common manually to sort the tobacco leaves supplied in terms of quality, particularly as to their colour. The leaf material is spread on conveyor belts and passes through a number of sorting stations where skilled operators check the colour and manually sort out unsuitable leaves and the unavoidable foreign bodies. This qualitative sorting is time-consuming and costly; on the other hand, it is also inaccurate since there exists no objective criterion for the colour of the leaves and it is left to the operators to eliminate unsuitable leaves. In addition, distinction in this manner made only between good and poor leaves and the classification of the leaf material into different quality groups, by way of example of different colours, is difficult and uncertain just as the provision of blends of certain amounts of different quality groups.
The present invention eliminates these difficulties and relates to a method of sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, and is characterized by the fact that the leaf material to be sorted is separated into a number of parallel channels, moved in the longitudinal direction therein, spread out and subsequently supplied to a first sorting station at the entrance of which individual leaves are gripped and passed along on the one hand and, on the other, foreign bodies extracted, whereupon the individual leaves are supplied, in the parallel channels, to second sorting stations where they are examined in respect of their quality, appropriated to different quality classes and supplied to corresponding sorting channels.
This invention further relates to a sorting apparatus for the performance of the said method characterized by a separating device into parallel channels of which each is provided with a spreading unit for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction and a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt equipped for gripping individual leaves and a separatingdevice for foreign bodies, and by second sorting stations with an examining member for the quality of the various leaves and a signalling unit controlled by the testing member which indicates the quality class to actuate a classifying device for the leaves.
An embodiment of this invention of a suitable sorting apparatus will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing with FIGS. 1 through 6 in which FIGS. 1 and 2 show a side view and, respectively, a plan view of the basic diagram of a sorting apparatus according to this invention;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are an elevation and, respectively, plan view of an embodiment of a spreading device for the leaf material and an embodiment of a pneumatically operating first sorting station of which only the portion associated with one of the parallel channels is represented;
FIG. 5 is an elevation in a diagrammatic view of a pneumatically operating second sorting station which is designed, by way of example, for three different sorting channels, and
FIG. 6 is an elevation of second embodiment of the first and second sorting stations.
According to the present method, the leaves or similar material, particularly tobacco leaves, are sorted in the manner subsequently described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The leaf material 10 is, by way of example, supplied to a separating device 12 via a conveyor belt 1 l or a chute where it is divided into a number of channels 13 disposed in parallel in which it is moved in the longitudinal direction and thereby spread in the same direction. The spreading must be effected in such a manner that the leaf material in each of the channels reaches the sorting stations 14, 15, 16 arranged at the end of each channel 13 if possible in only one layer and without mutual overlapping of the leaves. The number of parallel channels 13 may be increased at will and is so selected that the entire quantity of the leaf material 10 supplied is passed on.
Gripped in each of the first sorting stations 14, 15, 16 is only a single leaf of the spread leaf material supplied and then passed on along the subsequent channel 17. At the same time, possible foreign bodies are there eliminated and removed through the outlets 18.
The individual leaves moved in the channels 17 pass into second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 where they are examined in respect of their quality, appropriated to various quality classes and passed, depending on their quality class, into a corresponding separate sorting channel 22, 23, 24. In sorting tobacco leaves the second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 are by way of example equipped with a testing member for the colour of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member and indicating the colour class for the actuation of the classifying device for the leaves. The signalling member may also be so designed that e.g. two colour classes pass into the same sorting channel.
In a preferred embodiment of the sorting apparatus the spreading device in the channels 13 consists of a vibrating conveyor diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such vibrating conveyors are known and comprise, by way of example, a motor driven vibrating table 25 with a flat top side provided with three conveyor sections 26, 27 and 28 for each of the channels 13. In operation the leaf material 10 on the steepest conveyor section 26 passes into the less steep conveyor section 27 at a certain adjustable rate where it rises more rapidly in accordance with the lesser gradient of the surface and is then moved into the conveyor section 28 at the greatest speed. This ensures that the leaf material is supplied to the first sorting stations 14, 15, 16 spread in the longitudinal direction and virtually in a single position only. Leaves possibly located on the lateral separating walls of the channels 13 are caused to drop into the adjacent channels 13 by the vibrations. Vibrating conveyors having more than three conveying sections or spreading devices of some other type may naturally be employed if it is ensured that the leaf material is supplied to the first sorting stations 14, 15, 16 as evenly as possible in one position only.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the design of the first sorting station 16 using a pneumatic separating device for the foreign bodies. The conveyor belt 30 indicated together with its lateral walls 31, 32 forms one of the parallel channels 17 (FIG. 2). This conveyor belt 30 consists of a material impermeable to air but is provided with successive groups 33 of e.g. four holes each, the groups 33 being spaced from one another by an amount which is preferably somewhat longer than one of the leaves to be conveyed. The conveyor belt 30 passes over a drum 34 with a shell permeable to air in the front half of which a hollow body 35 is arranged of which the shell surface 36 is perforated and from which air is removed by suction through the line 37. Accordingly air is sucked through each of the groups of holes 33 as long as it passes over the drum 34 in the range of the perforated front end 36 of the hollow body 35. Located at the inlet of this first sorting station 16 and moved forward on the conveyor plate 28 is the spread leaf material which then passes to the gap 38 between the conveyor plate 28 and the conveyor belt 30 moving around the drum 34. A leaf is picked up by the individual groups of holes 33 passing through this gap 38 in the upward direction and held by the suction of these holes until the group of holes involved leaves the area of the hollow body 35 at the upper end whereupon the leaves remain in their position on the conveyor belt 30 which continues to move horizontally. Arranged underneath the slot 38 is a hollow body 39 which may, if desired, be connected to a compressed-air line via the connection 40 and which has its curved side facing the drom 34 provided with air slots 41. An air current may thus be created through these air slots in the upward direction towards the slot 38 which prevents the leaf material supplied to the gap 38 from dropping down into the channel between the drum 34 and the hollow body 39. However, the air current is so adjusted that foreign bodies supplied to the gap 38 along with the leaf material can pass through the channel and be removed through the outlet 18. in sorting tobacco leaves the foreign bodies are commonly pieces of wood, twigs, stones or similar bodies which are substantially heavier than the tobacco leaves to be held by the groups of holes 33 so that complete removal of such foreign bodies is ensured if the air current through the air slots 41 is properly adjusted. The air current may also be dispensed with altogether, particularly if the leaf material is light.
Mention is also made of the fact that the rate of revolutions of the drum 34 and thus the speed of the conveyor belt 30 should naturally be so adjusted that the leaf material arriving by the conveyor plate 28 is completely removed. The hollow body 35 may also be sub divided into several sectors which can selectively be connected to the lines 37. If desired, the hollow body 35 may also be subdivided by an adjustable transverse partition in order that the perforated wall 36 sucks in air through the passing groups of holes 33 only in the upper angular section.
In order to fix the individual leaves located on the conveyor belt 30, which is of advantage at elevated speeds, a hollow body 42 with a perforated wall 43 can be provided below the horizontal portion of the conveyor belt 30, connected to an underpressure line and air be sucked up via the passing groups of holes 33.
The leaves resting on the various conveyor belts 30 pass into second sorting stations 19, 20, 21 of which an embodiment is shown diagrammatically in FIG. and which operates with a pneumatically actuated classifying device. Provided in this second sorting device is a testing member 45 which determines the colour of the tobacco leaves illuminated by the light sources 46 and 47. Such optical testing devices selectively responding to the colour of such leaves are known so that a more detailed description can be dispensed with. The testing member 45 operates with a signalling device 48 which is so designed that it supplies different signals depending on the colour of the leaf on the conveyor belt 30 just passing under the testing member 45. These electrical signals actuate the valves 49, 50, 51 of a pneumatic calssifying device which here causes appropriation of the tested leaves to the three sorting channels 22, 23, 24 which extend over all conveyor belts 30 of the parallel channels 17 (FIG. 2). The pneumatic classifying device is connected, via the tube 53, to an air pump, and the distributor 52 with the valves 49, 50, 51 enables underpressure to be produced in the hollow bodies 54, 55, and 56 as required. These hollow bodies have their sides facing the drum 57 provided with a perforated wall 58, 59, 60 so that air is sucked up via the groups of holes 33 as they pass by the perforated walls 58, 59, 60 and the associated hollow bodies 54, 55 and 56 are under a pressure below atmospheric.
If, by way of example, a leaf passes under the testing member 45 of which the colour corresponds to the quality class assigned to the sorting channel 24, the signalling unit 48 will open the valve 49 alone while the valves 50 and 51 remain closed so that underpressure is created in the hollow body 54 only. The leaf in question is then held on the group of holes 33 on which it rests as soon as this group of holes reaches the area of the perforated wall 58 of the hollow body 54, and drops from the said group of holes as soon as the latter passes within the range of the perforated wall 59 of the hollow body 55. The leaf then drops as predetermined into the sorting channel 24 assigned to the quality class contemplated.
However, if a leaf passes the testing member 45 which owing to its colour belongs in the quality class of the sorting channel 23, the signalling unit 48 will open both valves 49 and 50 while the valve 51 remains closed. The leaf resting on a group of holes is in this case held as it passes the ranges of the perforated walls 58 and 59 and released only then and thus drops into the contemplated sorting channel 23.
A leaf belonging in the quality class of the sorting channel 22 is held, after passing the testing member 45 and opening of all three valves 49, 50, 51 by the signalling member 48, throughout its passage over the perforated walls 58, 59, 60 and therefore drops into the sorting channel 22.
If desired, the signalling member 48 may naturally be so adjusted that the leaves of the said three quality classes are subdivided among only two sorting channels so that a blend of two quality classes is produced in one of the sorting channels.
In order to obtain data as to how many leaves of the various quality classes are present in the leaf material, the signalling member 48 may be provided with a counter for each quality class which responds when a leaf belonging in the said quality class passes under the testing member 45.
Another embodiment of the first and second sorting stations per channel 13 and, respectively, 17 is shown in FIG. 6. The leaf material moved in the direction of the arrow on the conveyor plate 28 passes to the gap 38 where it is separated from foreign bodies if any. Passing this gap 38 is the conveyor belt 66 impermeable to air but equipped with groups of holes 65 which is guided by the drums 67, 68, 69 provided with a shell permeable to air. The hollow body 71 continuously connected to an underpressure system which is provided with a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt 66 ensures that the groups of holes 65 passing by this wall engage individual leaves in the gap 38, hold them and that the leaves are then conveyed upwards by the conveyor belt 66. Arranged below the gap 38 is an intercepting device 72 for the foreign bodies falling in the gap 38, the connection 73 of the said device enabling an air current to be produced in the upward direction through the gap 38 if so desired. A plate 74 movable in the direction towards the gap 38 and impermeable to air enables the catchment point of the individual leaves by the groups of holes 65 in the conveyor belt 66 to be adjusted. Arranged within the drums 67, 68 and 69 are sector-type hollow bodies 75, 76, and 77 of which each is provided with a perforated shell and can be connected to the underpressure system in accordance with the hollow body 35 previously described with reference to FIG. 3. Also provided are the flat hollow bodies 78, 79 and 80 of which the wall facing the conveyor belt 66 is perforated and which can also be connected to the underpressure system. While the hollow bodies 71, 75, 78 and 76 are permanently connected to the underpressure system, connection of the hollow bodies 79, 77 and 80 to this underpressure system is effected by valves controlled by the signalling member 48 similar to the valves 49, 50. 51 above described with reference to H6. 5. The signalling member 48 in its turn is controlled by the testing member 45 so as to determine the quality classes of the individual leaves passing underneath it.
Arranged opposite th endless conveyor belt 66 running downwards is a further conveyor belt 81 provided with groups of holes 82 as the conveyor belt 66 and running over the drums 83, 84 and 85 which are provided, similarly to the drums 67, 68 and 69, with a shell impermeable to air. Provided in the drums 83, 84, 85 are sector-type hollow bodies 86, 87, 88 with perforated shells facing the conveyor belt 81. These hollow bodies 86, 87, 88 may be connected to the underpressure system via valves. In addition, the two hollow bodies 89, 90 are provided which possess a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt 81 and can also be connected to the underpressure system by means of valves.
The classification system is here equipped with four sorting channels 91, 92, 93 and 94. By way of example, if a leaf falling into the quality class of the sorting channel 91 passes under the testing member 45, the underpressure valves for the hollow bodies 79, 77 and 80 are opened by the signalling member 48 so that the leaf involved is held by suction by its group of holes 65 until it is located above the sorting channel 91 into which it is dropped. On the other hand, if the leaf passing the testing member 45 is of the quality class corresponding to the sorting channel 92, the signalling member 48 opens the underpressure valves of the hollow bodies 79 and 77 only which causes the leaf to drop into the sorting channel 92. However, if a leaf of the quality class corresponding to the sorting channel 93 passes under the testing member 45. The underpressure valves of the hollow bodies 79, 77 and 80 remain closed but the signalling member 48 opens the underpressure valves for the hollow bodies 86, 89, 87 and 90 and the leaf involved is held by suction, when its group of holes 65 leaves the range of the hollow body 76, by a corresponding group of holes 82 of the conveyor belt 81, thus being taken over and passed downwards until it drops into the sorting channel 93 after passing the perforated wall of the hollow body 90. For a leaf corresponding to the quality class of the sorting channel 94 the process is the same but the signalling member 48 will also open the underpressure valve of the hollow body 88 so that the leaf is held by the conveyor belt 81 until the sorting channel 94 is reached into which the leaf will then drop.
The designs described above with reference to FIGS. 3 through 6 for the first and second sorting stations are naturally only embodiments and any other suitable design of pneumatic, mechanical or other sorting devices may be employed.
What we claim is:
1. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said spreading device comprising a vibrating conveyor having several conveyor surfaces rising in the direction of movement, the steepness of the said conveyor surfaces decreasing in successive conveyor sections, and a last conveying section with a substantially horizontal conveyor surface, and including a common vibrator for all said conveyor surfaces.
2. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters which are arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the spaces being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing around a rotating drum at the entrance of the channel involved, the said drum having a shell which is permeable to air and of which the half facing the entrance accommodates a hollow body with a perforated shell and a connecting line for an underpressure system.
3. A sorting apparatus according to claim' 2 characterized by a subdivision of the hollow body into a plurality of sectors of which each can be connected to an underpressure system independently of the others.
4. A sorting apparatus according to claim 2 characterized by a radially arranged adjustable partition arranged in the hollow body, the said partition subdividing the same into an upper and a lower hollow space of which only the upper one can be connected to an underpressure system.
5. A sorting apparatus according to claim 2 characterized by a classification device which can be actuated by the signalling device and which comprises a rotating drum around which the conveyor belt passes in a loop of approximately of angle, the said drum having a shell permeable to air, by two sector-type hollow bodies arranged inside the drum and provided with perforated shell surfaces facing the conveyor belt, of which hollow bodies each can be connected, via a line and an electrically operable valve, to a further flat hollow body which has a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt running off the drum and can be connectd to the underpressure system via the electrically operable valve, by control circuits between the valves and the signalling device, and by sorting channels arranged underneath this classification device, the said sorting channels extending transversely over all classification devices of the individual parallel channels.
6. A sorting apparatus according to claim characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the valve for the upper sector-type hollow body to open, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies to open, and that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies and the flat hollow body to open, which results in that the leaves located on each group of holes in the conveyor belt are held by suction only while the group of holes involved passes through the range of the perforated walls of those hollow bodies of which the valves are open and then drop into the sorting channels which are located underneath.
7. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said separating unit for foreign'bodies comprising a gap' downstream of the last conveyor surface of the spreading device which is passed by the conveyor belt in the upward direction, and a catching device arranged underneath the gap to accommodate the foreign bodies dropping through the gap.
8. A sorting apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by a hollow body arranged underneath the gap, the said hollow body having an adjustable connection to a compressed-air system so designed that an air current of adjustable force can be obtained in the upward direction through the gap.
9. A sorting apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by a plate located underneath the gap which causes the conveyor belt to be shielded and of which the distance from the gap is adjustable.
10. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the space being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing over drums with shells permeable to air and over guide rolls and has its group of holes in the area where individual leaves are caught and held pass over perforated wall portions of flat or sector-type hollow bodies of which those located in the area between the entrance and the classification device are permanently connected to an underpressure system while the hollow bodies associated with the classification device are connected to the underpressure system via electrically operable valves, and including a second conveyor belt which is provided with groups of holes like the first conveyor belt and passes over drums with shells permeable to air and, in so doing, passes for a length of its path in parallel with and close to the first conveyor belt which is moved in the downward direction, in the range of the classification device has its groups of holes passing over perforated wall portions of flat or sector-type hollow bodies which are connected, via electrically operable valves, to an underpressure system, and by so rting channels arranged underneath the classification device, the said channels extending transversely over all classification devices of the individual parallel channels, and by control circuits arranged between the valves and the signalling device.
11. A sorting device according to claim 10 characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the flat hollow body located behind the downward running section of the first conveyor belt and the sector-type hollow body located downstream of the first body as well as for the flat hollow body located behind the return section of the first conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open as in the presence of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel with the exception of that for the hollow body located behind the returning lower section of the conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the hollow bodies located behind the second conveyor belt in the range of the section parallel with the first conveyor belt as well as for the flat hollow body which is arranged behind the section of the second conveyor belt moving away from the parallel range, and that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the fourth sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open as in the presence of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel and additionally the underpressure valve of a further sector-type hollow body arranged directly downstream of the flat hollow body which has for a result that the leaves located on the various groups of holes in the first conveyor belt are held fast by suction as long as the group of holes involved passes through the range of those hollow bodies of which the underpressure valves are open thus dropping 3,770,1 l2 9 10 into the first and, respectively, second sorting channel of which the underpressure valves are open so that they located underneath, or are taken over by the suction of a group of holes in the second conveyor belt and held fast while the group of holes involved passes through channel located undameath' the range of the perforated walls of those hollow bodies 5 drop into the third and, respectively fourth sorting

Claims (11)

1. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said spreading device comprising a vibrating conveyor having several conveyor surfaces rising in the direction of movement, the steepness of the said conveyor surfaces decreasing in successive conveyor sections, and a last conveying section with a substantially horizontal conVeyor surface, and including a common vibrator for all said conveyor surfaces.
2. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters which are arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the spaces being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing around a rotating drum at the entrance of the channel involved, the said drum having a shell which is permeable to air and of which the half facing the entrance accommodates a hollow body with a perforated shell and a connecting line for an underpressure system.
3. A sorting apparatus according to claim 2 characterized by a subdivision of the hollow body into a plurality of sectors of which each can be connected to an underpressure system independently of the others.
4. A sorting apparatus according to claim 2 characterized by a radially arranged adjustable partition arranged in the hollow body, the said partition subdividing the same into an upper and a lower hollow space of which only the upper one can be connected to an underpressure system.
5. A sorting apparatus according to claim 2 characterized by a classification device which can be actuated by the signalling device and which comprises a rotating drum around which the conveyor belt passes in a loop of approximately 180* of angle, the said drum having a shell permeable to air, by two sector-type hollow bodies arranged inside the drum and provided with perforated shell surfaces facing the conveyor belt, of which hollow bodies each can be connected, via a line and an electrically operable valve, to a further flat hollow body which has a perforated wall facing the conveyor belt running off the drum and can be connectd to the underpressure system via the electrically operable valve, by control circuits between the valves and the signalling device, and by sorting channels arranged underneath this classification device, the said sorting channels extending transversely over all classification devices of the individual parallel channels.
6. A sorting apparatus according to claim 5 characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the valve for the upper sector-type hollow body to open, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies to open, and that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the valves of the two sector-type hollow bodies and the flat hollow body to open, which results in that the leaves located on each group of holes in the conveyor belt are held by suction only while the group of holes involved passes through the range of the perforated walls of those hollow bodies of which the valves are open and then drop into the sorting channels which are located underneath.
7. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said separating unit for foreign bodies comprising a gap downstream of the last conveyor surface of the spreading device which is passed by the conveyor belt in the upward direction, and a catching device arranged underneath the gap to accommodate the foreign bodies dropping through the gap.
8. A sorting apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by a hollow body arranged underneath the gap, the said hollow body having an adjustable connection to a compressed-air system so designed that an air current of adjustable force can be obtained in the upward direction through the gap.
9. A sorting apparatus according to claim 7 characterized by a plate located underneath the gap which causes the conveyor belt to be shielded and of which the distance from the gap is adjustable.
10. A sorting apparatus for sorting leaves and similar material, more particularly tobacco leaves, characterized by a separating device having parallel channels each provided with a spreading device for the leaf material in the longitudinal direction, by a subsequent first sorting station with a conveyor belt designed to hold individual leaves and a separating unit for foreign bodies, and by a second sorting station along said conveyor belt with a testing member for the quality of the individual leaves and a signalling member controlled by the testing member which actuates classification device for the leaves, said conveyor belt per channel being made of a material impermeable to air and provided with perforations grouped into clusters arranged in spaced relationship along the conveyor belt, the space being somewhat larger than the leaves to be held, the said conveyor belt passing over drums with shells permeable to air and over guide rolls and has its group of holes in the area where individual leaves are caught and held pass over perforated wall portions of flat or sector-type hollow bodies of which those located in the area between the entrance and the classification device are permanently connected to an underpressure system while the hollow bodies associated with the classification device are connected to the underpressure system via electrically operable valves, and including a second conveyor belt which is provided with groups of holes like the first conveyor belt and passes over drums with shells permeable to air and, in so doing, passes for a length of its path in parallel with and close to the first conveyor belt which is moved in the downward direction, in the range of the classification device has its groups of holes passing over perforated wall portions of flat or sector-type hollow bodies which are connected, via electrically operable valves, to an underpressure system, and by sorting channels arranged underneath the classification device, the said channels extending transversely over all classification devices of the individual parallel channels, and by control circuits arranged between the valves and the signalling device.
11. A sorting device according to claim 10 characterized by the fact that the signalling device and the control circuits to the valves are so designed that the appearance of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the flat hollow body located behind the downward running section of the first conveyor belt and the sector-type hollow body located downstream of the first body as well as for the flat hollow body located behind the return section of the first conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the second sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open as in the presence of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the first sorting channel with the excEption of that for the hollow body located behind the returning lower section of the conveyor belt, that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open for the hollow bodies located behind the second conveyor belt in the range of the section parallel with the first conveyor belt as well as for the flat hollow body which is arranged behind the section of the second conveyor belt moving away from the parallel range, and that the appearance of a signal corresponding to the quality class of the fourth sorting channel causes the underpressure valves to open as in the presence of the signal corresponding to the quality class of the third sorting channel and additionally the underpressure valve of a further sector-type hollow body arranged directly downstream of the flat hollow body which has for a result that the leaves located on the various groups of holes in the first conveyor belt are held fast by suction as long as the group of holes involved passes through the range of those hollow bodies of which the underpressure valves are open thus dropping into the first and, respectively, second sorting channel located underneath, or are taken over by the suction of a group of holes in the second conveyor belt and held fast while the group of holes involved passes through the range of the perforated walls of those hollow bodies of which the underpressure valves are open so that they drop into the third and, respectively fourth sorting channel located underneath.
US00181160A 1971-06-16 1971-09-16 Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves Expired - Lifetime US3770112A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH876671A CH542003A (en) 1971-06-16 1971-06-16 Method and apparatus for sorting sheet material, in particular tobacco leaves

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3770112A true US3770112A (en) 1973-11-06

Family

ID=4344485

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00181160A Expired - Lifetime US3770112A (en) 1971-06-16 1971-09-16 Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3770112A (en)
CH (1) CH542003A (en)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4094325A (en) * 1975-09-02 1978-06-13 Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for making wrappers for cigar bunches
US4149544A (en) * 1976-02-18 1979-04-17 Service D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Des Allumettes Device for stripping and sorting out plant leaves, particularly of tobacco plants
US4246911A (en) * 1977-11-14 1981-01-27 B.V. Arenco, P.M.B. Device for storing substantially similar tobacco leaf portions in a tape reel or bobbin
US4266675A (en) * 1980-01-04 1981-05-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Optical wood-bark segregator
DE3428966A1 (en) * 1984-08-06 1986-02-06 Institut po Techničeska Kibernetika i Robotika, Sofia/Sofija Method and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves
US4609108A (en) * 1984-01-27 1986-09-02 Institute Po Technicheska Kibernetika I Robotika Tobacco sorting method and apparatus
US6734383B1 (en) * 1999-06-28 2004-05-11 Barco Elbicon, Naamloze Vennootschap Method and device for sorting products according to emitted light
EP1449444A2 (en) * 2003-02-24 2004-08-25 Turatti s.r.l. Belt conveyor for leaves and other products for laying down the same products in a single layer
JP2005095147A (en) * 2004-06-09 2005-04-14 Fulta Electric Machinery Co Ltd Picking table for taking countermeasure against inclusion of foreign material
US20050199252A1 (en) * 2004-03-15 2005-09-15 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. Apparatus and method for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves
US20090107103A1 (en) * 2007-10-31 2009-04-30 Dale Hutchins Methods and Apparatus for Stripping Leaves from a Stalk Cured Tobacco Plant
US20100059420A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2010-03-11 Ken Mills Engineering Limited Material sorting apparatus
WO2011034602A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Key Technology, Inc. Apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina
US20110084003A1 (en) * 2009-10-13 2011-04-14 Bollegraaf Patents And Brands B.V. Apparatus and method for sorting flat material from waste material
CN104585856A (en) * 2014-12-18 2015-05-06 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Tobacco grouping method based on dynamic change of raw material quality
US20150273797A1 (en) * 2007-05-04 2015-10-01 Innovia Films Limited Sealable, peelable film
US20170137227A1 (en) * 2014-06-30 2017-05-18 Qualysense Ag Transport apparatus with vacuum belt
CN108433167A (en) * 2018-04-20 2018-08-24 中国烟草总公司郑州烟草研究院 A kind of cigar coating tobacco leaf method for sorting
CN110419759A (en) * 2019-09-29 2019-11-08 征图新视(江苏)科技股份有限公司 A kind of binary channels great Ye crops high speed sorting deciding grade and level device
JP2020151637A (en) * 2019-03-19 2020-09-24 株式会社タイヨー製作所 Sorting device
CN112105465A (en) * 2019-12-12 2020-12-18 深圳市微蓝智能科技有限公司 Sheet-like article sorting system
DE112021000036B4 (en) 2021-10-27 2024-05-08 Jiangsu University DETECTION METHOD FOR DETECTING A PLASTIC FOREIGN BODY WITH SMALL COLOUR DIFFERENCE IN FINE-CUT TOBACCO BY MEANS OF ONLINE IMAGING OF A PULSED SPECTRUM AND DEVICE THEREFOR

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106418652B (en) * 2016-11-16 2017-10-17 昆明钦瑜机械有限公司 A kind of former smoked sheet selects system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1328735A (en) * 1917-04-12 1920-01-20 James B Harriss Method and apparatus for separating leaves from packages
US1879016A (en) * 1929-12-04 1932-09-27 Lorillard Co P Threshing machine for tobacco
US2192518A (en) * 1938-02-19 1940-03-05 Muller J C & Co Device to straighten out raw tobacco leaves
US3252466A (en) * 1963-09-10 1966-05-24 Research Corp Apparatus and process for cleaning plants
US3380460A (en) * 1965-10-05 1968-04-30 True Grade Inc Tobacco strippers and/or graders

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1328735A (en) * 1917-04-12 1920-01-20 James B Harriss Method and apparatus for separating leaves from packages
US1879016A (en) * 1929-12-04 1932-09-27 Lorillard Co P Threshing machine for tobacco
US2192518A (en) * 1938-02-19 1940-03-05 Muller J C & Co Device to straighten out raw tobacco leaves
US3252466A (en) * 1963-09-10 1966-05-24 Research Corp Apparatus and process for cleaning plants
US3380460A (en) * 1965-10-05 1968-04-30 True Grade Inc Tobacco strippers and/or graders

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4094325A (en) * 1975-09-02 1978-06-13 Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for making wrappers for cigar bunches
US4149544A (en) * 1976-02-18 1979-04-17 Service D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Des Allumettes Device for stripping and sorting out plant leaves, particularly of tobacco plants
US4246911A (en) * 1977-11-14 1981-01-27 B.V. Arenco, P.M.B. Device for storing substantially similar tobacco leaf portions in a tape reel or bobbin
US4266675A (en) * 1980-01-04 1981-05-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Optical wood-bark segregator
US4609108A (en) * 1984-01-27 1986-09-02 Institute Po Technicheska Kibernetika I Robotika Tobacco sorting method and apparatus
DE3428966A1 (en) * 1984-08-06 1986-02-06 Institut po Techničeska Kibernetika i Robotika, Sofia/Sofija Method and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves
US6734383B1 (en) * 1999-06-28 2004-05-11 Barco Elbicon, Naamloze Vennootschap Method and device for sorting products according to emitted light
EP1449444A2 (en) * 2003-02-24 2004-08-25 Turatti s.r.l. Belt conveyor for leaves and other products for laying down the same products in a single layer
US20040184899A1 (en) * 2003-02-24 2004-09-23 Antonio Turatti Conveyor of leaves and other products on a belt for laying the same products as a single layer
US6978555B2 (en) * 2003-02-24 2005-12-27 Turatti S.R.L. Conveyor of leaves and other products on a belt for laying the same products as a single layer
EP1449444A3 (en) * 2003-02-24 2006-06-07 Turatti s.r.l. Belt conveyor for leaves and other products for laying down the same products in a single layer
US7383840B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2008-06-10 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. Apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves
US20050199252A1 (en) * 2004-03-15 2005-09-15 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. Apparatus and method for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves
JP4526308B2 (en) * 2004-06-09 2010-08-18 フルタ電機株式会社 Foreign matter picking stand
JP2005095147A (en) * 2004-06-09 2005-04-14 Fulta Electric Machinery Co Ltd Picking table for taking countermeasure against inclusion of foreign material
US20100059420A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2010-03-11 Ken Mills Engineering Limited Material sorting apparatus
US20110247968A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2011-10-13 Ken Mills Engineering Limited Material Sorting Apparatus
US11254096B2 (en) * 2007-05-04 2022-02-22 Innovia Films Limited Sealable, peelable film
US20150273797A1 (en) * 2007-05-04 2015-10-01 Innovia Films Limited Sealable, peelable film
US8753180B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2014-06-17 Dale Hutchins Methods and apparatus for stripping leaves from a stalk cured tobacco plant
US20090107103A1 (en) * 2007-10-31 2009-04-30 Dale Hutchins Methods and Apparatus for Stripping Leaves from a Stalk Cured Tobacco Plant
WO2011034602A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Key Technology, Inc. Apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina
US8281931B2 (en) 2009-09-18 2012-10-09 Key Technology, Inc. Apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina
US20110067714A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Harry Drewes Apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina
US8910798B2 (en) * 2009-10-13 2014-12-16 Bollegraaf Patents And Brands B.V. Apparatus and method for sorting flat material from waste material
US20110084003A1 (en) * 2009-10-13 2011-04-14 Bollegraaf Patents And Brands B.V. Apparatus and method for sorting flat material from waste material
US20170137227A1 (en) * 2014-06-30 2017-05-18 Qualysense Ag Transport apparatus with vacuum belt
US10124959B2 (en) * 2014-06-30 2018-11-13 Qualysense Ag Transport apparatus with vacuum belt
CN104585856A (en) * 2014-12-18 2015-05-06 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Tobacco grouping method based on dynamic change of raw material quality
CN108433167A (en) * 2018-04-20 2018-08-24 中国烟草总公司郑州烟草研究院 A kind of cigar coating tobacco leaf method for sorting
JP2020151637A (en) * 2019-03-19 2020-09-24 株式会社タイヨー製作所 Sorting device
CN110419759A (en) * 2019-09-29 2019-11-08 征图新视(江苏)科技股份有限公司 A kind of binary channels great Ye crops high speed sorting deciding grade and level device
CN110419759B (en) * 2019-09-29 2020-01-14 征图新视(江苏)科技股份有限公司 Double-channel large-leaf crop high-speed sorting and grading device
CN112105465A (en) * 2019-12-12 2020-12-18 深圳市微蓝智能科技有限公司 Sheet-like article sorting system
DE112021000036B4 (en) 2021-10-27 2024-05-08 Jiangsu University DETECTION METHOD FOR DETECTING A PLASTIC FOREIGN BODY WITH SMALL COLOUR DIFFERENCE IN FINE-CUT TOBACCO BY MEANS OF ONLINE IMAGING OF A PULSED SPECTRUM AND DEVICE THEREFOR

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH542003A (en) 1973-09-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3770112A (en) Method of and apparatus for sorting tobacco leaves
US4018674A (en) Apparatus for automatically grading leaf tobacco
US3773172A (en) Blueberry sorter
US4760925A (en) Refuse sorting apparatus
US3044619A (en) Apparatus for sorting seed material
US4609108A (en) Tobacco sorting method and apparatus
US4934537A (en) Fish sorting apparatus and method
US4889241A (en) Discharge chute with variable slope bottom for fragile article sorting system
US5242059A (en) Method and apparatus for sorting material
JP2000237693A (en) Apparatus for forming single layer from material flow of thick layer continuously supplied
US3164548A (en) Tower type pneumatic separator
JPH0367854A (en) Sorting apparatus
WO1994011281A1 (en) System for stabilizing articles on conveyors
US4431530A (en) Apparatus for extracting foreign bodies and heavy parts from fiber material
US3628648A (en) Compact orienting and singulating system for irregular elongated objects such as potatoes
US3750882A (en) Automatic grader
EP0838273B1 (en) A slide for a sorting machine
CS195842B1 (en) Device for separation of the parts of the non-homogenous mixtures of the hop material
SE437812B (en) SET AND DEVICE FOR FEEDING FORMAL SAY THAT THE ORDER IS SEPARATED BY EACH OTHER
US6056127A (en) Delivery system for sorting apparatus
US3990580A (en) Method and apparatus for sorting sultanas
US5048696A (en) Conveyed item divider/sorter
US2385700A (en) Sorting device
US4127477A (en) High capacity materials separation apparatus
US11311911B2 (en) Separating device