Tobacco – Tobacco treatment
Patent
1987-07-02
1990-12-18
Millin, V.
Tobacco
Tobacco treatment
131306, 131327, 131305, 131117, A24B 307, A24B 318
Patent
active
049779079
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a slicing machine particularly for the cutting of laminated material such as tobacco which for reasons of ease of transport and storage tobacco in the form of lamina or whole leaf is formed into relatively high density blocks, (most commonly known as cases, hogsheads or bales).
When the tobacco is required for processing into cigarettes the blocks of tobacco are required to be opened into individual leaves or lamina with the least damage to the tobacco as possible. The process of separating the tobacco has been achieved in various ways, the principle means being as follows:
1. A batch process whereby the tobacco block is inserted into a chamber and subjected to a steaming process whereby the tobacco is heated and moistened by condensation. The tobacco block is then opened by feeders utilising a tumbling and doffering action and finally conditioned in a relatively large rotating cyclinder where further moisture is added.
2. A continuous opening machine where blocks of tobacco are conveyed onto rotating doffers and steam probes as described for example in U.K. Pat. Nos. 1,364,839; 1,136,438 and 2,007,962 and then delivered to a relatively large rotating cylinder where further moisture is added.
3. A continuous opening and conditioning machine whereby steam jet knives rotate above a block of tobacco with the laminations horizontally disposed as described in patent application Ser. No. WO82/02324.
4. Dry slicing the block either (a) parallel with the strata or (b) at right angles to the strata and then adding moisture within a relatively large cylinder. This process is commonly known as direct cylinder conditioning (DCC).
The invention described below is preferably associated with the process described in (4) above.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to increase the output potential of a dry case slicing machine whilst maintaining continuity of product flow.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a slicing machine comprising a support surface onto which the block of material to be sliced is placed, a cutter assembly for movement in cutting a plane transversely of said support surface, said cutter assembly being movable between upper and lower positions (K,K1), pusher means for moving the block of material in stepwise fashion towards said cutting plane, said pusher means being movable from a rearmost position (A) in a forward direction during successive slicing operations to a forwardmost position (A1) close to the cutting plane, characterized by means for retaining and supporting the last slice of the block movable between a non-retaining position and a retaining position, means for actuating said retaining and supporting means between said positions, said pusher means thereby being movable towards its rearmost position as soon as the last slice is in a retained and supported situation.
Further according to the invention there is provided a method of slicing a block of material comprising
a. supporting said block on a support surface
b. pushing said block to a first position by pusher means,
c. effecting a first slicing operation in a downward direction the produce a slice standing on its narrow edge,
d. pushing said block by continued advancing movement of said pusher means to a second position whilst simultaneously pushing the first slice of the block off the support surface,
e. effecting successive slicing and pushing off of the resulting slices until the last slicing operation for that block has taken place,
f. retaining the last slice of the block in position on its narrow edge,
g. withdrawing the pusher means, and
h. releasing said last slice after said pusher means has commenced its return movement.
The last slice of a block of tobacco may be released independently of the block re-loading cycle.
Preferably the cutting machine can retain the last slice when cutting a block of tobacco and release the slice at the same pre-determined interval as the preceding slices of the particular block. Simultaneo
Ray Eric T.
Vigg Peter A.
Creighton Wray James
GBE International plc
Millin V.
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