Patent ID: 8281931
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: A24C,H04N

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for the post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina, comprising: a separation conduit having a proximal and a distal end, and an intermediate portion, and further having an internal facing surface which defines an internal cavity extending between the proximal and distal ends; a first source of pressurized air delivered to the proximal end of the separation conduit and which forms an air stream; a selectively moveable wall having opposite sides, and which is mounted within the separation conduit, and which further, when moved, adjusts the air speed of the air stream traveling on one side of the moveable wall, and does not pass through the moveable wall; a second source of pressurized air delivered to the internal cavity at a location near the intermediate portion of the separation conduit; a guide portion made integral with the separation conduit and which is located downstream of the intermediate portion, and upstream of the inspection station, and wherein the guide portion facilitates, at least in part, the movement of a source of tobacco lamina being carried by the air stream generated by the first source of pressurized air to move away from the internal facing surface of the separation conduit, and wherein the second source of pressurized air is delivered at a location near the guide portion; a conveyor for depositing the source of tobacco lamina and other contaminants into the internal cavity at a location between the proximal and distal ends of the separation conduit, and wherein the first source of pressurized air creates the air stream carrying the tobacco lamina and some contaminants in the direction of the distal end, and the remaining contaminants move, under the influence of gravity toward the proximal end of the separation conduit; an inspection station located downstream of the intermediate portion of the separation conduit, and which optically inspects the air stream carrying the tobacco lamina and any contaminants and which identifies defective tobacco lamina and any contaminants in the air stream passing through the inspection station, and generates an electrical signal; and a reject station operably coupled in signal receiving relation relative to the inspection station and downstream relative thereto, and which ejects the previously identified defective tobacco lamina and any contaminants from the air stream passing through the reject station and wherein the reject station is maintained at a substantially ambient pressure.