Patent ID: 6832681
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: A24B,B65G

Abstract:
An elevator for separating and distributing a plurality of whole freshly harvested tobacco leaves comprising a load, at least a portion of the load comprising a plurality of clumps of agglomerated tobacco leaves, the elevator having:an inclined frame longitudinally extending between a lower end and an upper end; the frame carrying at least one deck portion extending substantially between the lower end and the upper end; an endless conveyor adapted to travel over said at least one deck portion in an upward direction and under said at least one deck portion in a downward direction, the endless conveyor being adapted to carry the tobacco leaves to the upper end and discharge the tobacco leaves from the upper end; and a declumper attached to the frame and positioned above the conveyor, the declumper being adapted to buffet the clumps of tobacco leaves to separate the whole tobacco leaves in the clumps from each other, the declumper including a rotatable declumper axle positioned transversely to the conveyor and at least one nose element projecting radially outwardly from the declumper axle, said at least one nose element including a blunt end distal to the declumper axle and adapted to push the tobacco leaves apart without puncturing the tobacco leaves, whereby the conveyor is adapted to elevate the load to the upper end so that the elevated load may fall from the upper end and the tobacco leaves may separate from each other.