Patent ID: 6321758
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: A24B

Abstract:
A method for transferring uncured substantially whole harvested tobacco leaves from an amorphous mass of harvested uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves contained in a tobacco containing structure to a bulk curing container component for subsequent curing, said method comprising:positioning the bulk curing container component adjacent a tobacco discharging end of a tobacco transferring system, the transferring system having the discharging end, a tobacco receiving end opposite the discharging end, and a generally upwardly facing tobacco conveying apparatus for supporting and conveying the leaves between said discharging and receiving ends;supplying the amorphous mass of harvested uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves from the tobacco containing structure to the tobacco conveying apparatus at the tobacco receiving end of the transferring system in such a manner that the harvested uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves of the amorphous mass are randomly arranged and in a vertically stacked condition on top of one another; andcontinuously operating said transferring system under power such that said transferring system (a) conveys the harvested uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves from the tobacco receiving end thereof to the tobacco discharging end thereof and then subsequently discharges the conveyed uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves from the discharging end thereof to the bulk curing container component with the tobacco conveying apparatus supporting and conveying the harvested uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves supplied thereto in said vertically stacked condition away from said tobacco receiving end at a first speed and (b) separates said uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves supplied in said vertically stacked condition and disperses the uncured leaves along said tobacco conveying apparatus as the leaves are being conveyed thereby to reduce the vertically stacked condition of the uncured leaves so that the uncured leaves are discharged from the discharging end thereof as a substantially continuous stream of uncured substantially whole tobacco leaves in a separated condition moving at a final speed greater than said first speed.