Method of and apparatus for emptying containers for flowable materials such as comminuted tobacco leaves

The contents of successive containers for comminuted tobacco leaves are transferred onto or into a receiver (such as a belt conveyor) at a transfer station where an indexible upright manipulator carries a lifter and an evacuating device including a tilting unit. Successive containers, delivered to the transfer station by a roller conveyor or the like, are lifted by the lifter off the conveyor and the manipulator is thereupon indexed to deliver the lifted container to a location above the receiver. The tilting unit is thereupon caused to tilt the container to thus transfer, by gravity flow, the contents of the container onto an openable intercepting device at a level between the tilter and the receiver. The intercepting device is thereupon opened to permit the intercepted material to descend onto or into the receiver. The manipulator is thereupon indexed to move the emptied container to a position above a further conveyor serving to transport empty containers away from the transfer station. The multi-stage transfer of particulate material from a container above the receiver onto or into the receiver reduces the generation of dust and the likelihood of undesirable comminution of such material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES 
This application claims the priority of German patent application Serial 
No. 198 25 425.3 filed Jun. 6, 1998. The disclosure of the German patent 
application, as well as that of each US and foreign patent and patent 
application mentioned in the specification of the present application, is 
incorporated herein by reference. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for 
manipulating receptacles which contain a particulate material, such as 
fragments of tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco and/or artificial 
tobacco. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in 
methods of and in apparatus for transferring particulate material from a 
series of successive receptacles (e.g., cardboard boxes provided with 
covers or closures in the form of pivotable lids adapted to be moved 
between operative positions in which they overlie the open tops and 
inoperative positions in which they afford access to and permit evacuation 
of the contents of the respective receptacles) into a different receptacle 
or onto a takeoff or removing conveyor. The means for supplying at least 
partially filled receptacles to a transfer station can comprise a roller 
conveyor or another suitable transporting unit. 
As a rule, the contents (such as tobacco particles in a cigarette making 
plant) of receptacles are evacuated by gravity flow. Thus, an oncoming 
receptacle is lifted off a transporting unit and is transferred to a 
position at a level above a stationary container, a container on a pallet 
or another suitable conveyance, or a removing conveyor prior to being 
turned upside down so that its contents can descend by gravity flow. This 
invariably entails a contamination of the surrounding atmosphere by minute 
particles of dust and/or by larger particles, as well as normally 
undesirable comminution (such as breaking) of shreds or analogous optimal 
configurations of the conveyed particulate material. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of 
transferring particulate material from successive at least partially 
filled receptacles into or onto a receiver (e.g., a belt or chain 
conveyor, a pallet or a container) in such a way that the generation of 
dust is less pronounced than by resorting to presently known procedures. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a method which is less likely 
to entail undesirable breakage of the particulate material than the 
presently known methods. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
apparatus for the practice of the above outlined method. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a method which can be 
resorted to for the expulsion of batches of comminued material from a 
succession of receptacles which are delivered at a high frequency and/or 
at a variable frequency without affecting the reliability of transfer 
and/or the quality of the transferred particulate material. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette making 
machine which embodies at least one apparatus for the practice of the 
above outlined method. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
receptacle manipulating device for use in the above outlined apparatus. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide the above outlined 
improved apparatus with novel means for ensuring that he cover or closure 
is invariably out of the way when the contents of a receptacle are to be 
removed by gravity flow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a method 
of transferring particulate material (e.g., a material which includes or 
constitutes shredded and/or otherwise comminuted tobacco leaves) from 
successive containers or receptacles (e.g., cardboard boxes and 
hereinafter referred to as receptacles), which are delivered to a transfer 
station, onto a receiver (e.g., a belt or chain conveyor, a pallet or an 
analogous conveyance, or a large box or the like) at the transfer station. 
The improved method comprises the steps of lifting successive receptacles 
off the delivering conveyor at the transfer station, moving successive 
lifted receptacles to a location above the receiver, and evacuating the 
particulate material from successive receptacles at the aforementioned 
location in a plurality of successive stages. 
The evacuating step can include a first stage of causing particulate 
material to descend relative to the receptacle at the aforementioned 
location at least in part by gravity flow, a second stage of intercepting 
the descending particulate material at a level between the aforementioned 
location and the receiver, and a third stage of causing the particulate 
material to descend at least in part by gravity flow from the 
aforementioned level into or onto the receiver. 
The receptacles can constitute boxes or other types of containers having an 
open top and a closure which is movable relative to the main body of the 
receptacle between a first position in which the closure overlies the open 
top and a second position in which the open top of the respective 
receptacle is exposed. The method of manipulating such receptacles can 
comprise a further step of moving the closures of successive receptacles 
to the second positions prior to the evacuating step. The moving step of 
such method can include indexing successive lifted receptacles about an at 
least substantially vertical axis, e.g., through an angle of about 90 
degrees. Still further, such method can include the additional step of 
transferring successive emptied receptacles from the aforementioned 
location onto a removing means (such as an endless belt or chain 
conveyor); for example, such transferring step can include indexing the 
emptied receptacles from the aforementioned location (above the receiver) 
through predetermined angles (e.g., through angles of 90 degrees). 
Indexing of a manipulator which carries the receptacles from the 
delivering conveyor to the location above the receiver can be carried out 
in the same direction as the indexing of emptied containers from the 
aforementioned location to the removing means. 
The evacuating step can include a first stage of tilting the receptacle at 
the aforementioned location through an angle of about 180.degree. about a 
substantially horizontal axis. 
As already mentioned hereinbefore, the receptacles can be of the type 
having a top portion or top which is open not later than upon completion 
of the moving step. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of 
the method, the evacuating step comprises tilting successive receptacles 
at the aforementioned location about a substantially vertical axis 
(especially through an angle which is at least close to 180.degree.) so 
that the open top portions of the thus tilted receptacles can discharge 
particulate material by gravity flow, intercepting the thus discharged 
particulate material by at least one intercepting member, which can but 
need not form part of the means for moving at least partially filled 
receptacles from the delivering conveyor to the aforementioned location, 
and which is movable between a first position of at least partial overlap 
with the top portion of the tilted receptacle at the aforementioned 
location and a second position in which the intercepted particulate 
material is free to descend from the at least one intercepting member onto 
the receiver, and moving the at least one intercepting member from the 
second position back to the first position. 
The moving step can include indexing successive lifted receptacles through 
approximately 90.degree. about a substantially vertical axis, and the step 
of removing emptied receptacles from the transfer station can include 
indexing successive receptacles through additional 90.degree. upon 
completion of the respective evacuating step to thus transfer successive 
empty receptacles from the aforementioned location onto the aforementioned 
removing conveyor. 
Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus 
for transferring particulate material from successive at least partially 
filled open-top receptacles. The improved apparatus comprises a conveyor 
having means (e.g., rollers) for delivering a series of successive at 
least partially filled receptacles to a transfer station, a receiver for 
particulate material at the trasfer station, means for lifting successive 
receptacles off the conveyor at the transfer station, means for moving 
successive lifted receptacles to a location above the receiver, and means 
for evacuating particulate material from successive receptacles at the 
aforementioned location at least partially under the action of gravity and 
onto or into the receiver in a plurality of successive stages. 
The moving means can comprise means for indexing successive lifted 
receptacles about a substantially vertical axis, and the lifting means can 
be supported by the indexing means. 
The evacuating means can comprise means for tilting successive moved 
receptacles at the aforementioned location about a subsantially horizontal 
axis. The evacuating means can comprise open-and-shut means for 
intercepting particulate material which is being discharged by the tilted 
receptacle at the aforementioned location, and means for opening the 
intercepting means to thus permit gravitational descent of intercepted 
particulate material from the intercepting mans and onto or into the 
receiver. 
The open-and-shut means of the intercepting means can comprise at least two 
(e.g., concavo-convex) intercepting members a least one of which is 
movable relative to another intercepting member between a first position 
in which the intercepting members can intercept particulate material 
descending from the receptacle at the aforementioned location, and a 
second position in which the intercepting members establish a path for 
gravitational descent of intercepted particulate material onto or into the 
receiver. 
The moving means can comprise an upright manipulator which is indexible 
about a substantially vertical axis and preferably carries at least one of 
the evacuating and lifting means. Such apparatus preferably further 
comprises means for indexing the manipulator about the aforementioned 
substantially vertical axis through about 90.degree. from a first position 
in which the lifting means is located above the conveyor for delivery of 
successive at least partially filled containers to a second position in 
which the lifting means is disposed above the aforementioned location. 
Such apparatus can further comprise the aforementioned second conveyor 
which serves as a means for removing emptied receptacles from the transfer 
station. The indexing means of such apparatus can be arranged to index the 
lifting means from the second position at the aforementioned location to a 
position above the second (removing) conveyor. The arrangement can be such 
that the second (removing) conveyor can receive empty receptacles from the 
lifting means in response to indexing of the manipulator through at last 
90.degree. beyond the second position. 
The receptacles preferably employ or cooperate with closures or covers for 
their open tops. Such closures (e.g., in the form of flaps which are of 
one piece with and are pivotable relative to the main portion of a 
box-shaped receptacle for comminuted tobacco leaves) are or can be movable 
between first positions in which they overlie the respective open tops, 
and second positions in which the respective open tops are exposed. The 
lifting means and/or the evacuating means and/or the indexing means can 
include means for moving the closures from their first to their second 
positions during lifting of successive receptacles off the receptacle 
supplying conveyor. 
As already mentioned hereinbefore, the closures can include or constitute 
pivotable flaps or panels, and the lifting means can further comprise 
means (in the form of deflectors or the like) for maintaining the flaps in 
their second positions during movement of receptacles from the 
receptacle-delivering conveyor to the aforementioned location as well as 
during evacuation of particulate material at the aforementioned location. 
The lifting means can comprise supporting members (e.g., supporting means 
which can constitute rollers or other types of rotary supporting devices), 
and means for moving the supporting members beneath the foremost 
receptacles of the series of such receptacles arriving at the transfer 
station. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus 
itself, however, both as to its construction and the best modes of 
utilizing the same, together with numerous additional important and 
advantageous features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon 
perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently 
preferred specific embodimens with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The apparatus which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a first conveyor 3 
(hereinafter called delivering conveyor) having rollers 2 which serve to 
advance a series of successive at least partially filled receptacles 4, 
e.g., cardboard boxes or cartons having open tops and provided with covers 
or closures including pairs of lids or panels 34 pivotable between closed 
or operative positions in which they overlie the respective open tops and 
second or inoperative positions in which the open tops are exposed and the 
lids 34 lie flush against the adjacent outer sides of lateral panels of 
the respective receptacle. The receptacles 4 being delivered by the 
rollers 2 of the delivering conveyor 3 are assumed to be at least 
partially filled with a flowable solid particulate material, e.g., by 
shreds and/or otherwise configurated fragments of tobacco leaves, sheets 
of reconstituted tobacco or the like. 
The conveyor 3 delivers successive foremost filled receptacles 4 to a 
transfer station shown as being occupied by an upright turret- or 
column-shaped manipulator 1 which is indexible through angles of 
90.degree. in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1), namely 
in a direction indicated by the arrows 36 and 37. The manipulator 1 
carries a lifter 9 which is movable up and down between a lower end 
position below the position shown in FIG. 2 by solid lines and an upper 
end position shown in FIG. 2 by dot-dash lines. The lower end position of 
the lifter 9 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 4, and the upper end 
position (corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2 by dot-dash lines) is 
shown in FIG. 5. 
A receiver 6 at the transfer station occupied by the manipulator 1 is 
positioned in such a way that it can receive the contents of an at least 
partially filled receptacle 4 subsequent to lifting of such receptacle off 
the delivering conveyor 3 and following an indexing of the lifted 
receptacle 4 and lifter 9 through an angle of at least close to 90 degrees 
(see the arrow 36 in FIG. 1). The receiver 6 can constitute or include an 
endless belt, band or chain conveyor, a pallet which is reciprocable or 
otherwise movable (e.g., along suitable tracks) in directions at right 
angles to the direction of forward movement of successive receptacles 4 
along the path defined by the rollers 2 of the conveyor 3, or a relatively 
large container which is placed next to the manipulator 1 to receive the 
contents of an at least partially filled receptacle subsequent to indexing 
of the manipulator 1 and lifter 9 through an angle of at least 
substantially 90.degree. (refer again to the arrow 36 in FIG. 1). 
A further conveyor 7 (hereinafter called removing conveyor) has a receiving 
end at the transfer station occupied by the manipulator 1 and serves to 
accept and remove successive empty receptaces 4 delivered by the lifter 9 
and reaching the receiving end of the conveyor 7 in response to renewed 
indexing of the manipulator 1 and lifter 9 through an angle of at least 
close to 90.degree. (see the arrow 37 in FIG. 1). The means for indexing 
the manipulator 1 through angles of at least approximately 90.degree. (in 
the direction indicated by the arrows 36, 37) can comprise a suitable 
electric, fluid-operated or otherwise designed motor 8 and a suitable 
transmission between the output element of the motor 8 and the manipulator 
1. 
The character 12 denotes a carriage which forms part of the lifter 9 and is 
movable up and down along the manipulator 1 by a suitable elevating unit 
11. The latter can move the lifter 9 up and down along an upright frame or 
column of the manipulator 1 and is designed to share the angular 
(indexing) movements of the manipulator about a vertical axis. 
The carriage 12 is movably mounted in a frame 13 of the lifter 9 and can be 
tilted about a horizontal axis 15 by a drive 14, preferably back and forth 
through angles of 180.degree. or thereabout. 
The frame 13 carries an intercepting device 16 including two concavo-convex 
(shovel shaped) intercepting members 17, 18 tiltable relative to each 
other about two horizontal axes between first or closed positions (see 
FIGS. 4 and 5) in which they establish a barrier between a receptacle 4 at 
a location shown in FIG. 4 (namely above and spaced apart from the 
receiver 6) and the receiver, and second or open positions (FIG. 6) in 
which they establish a path for gravitational descent of batches of 
tobacco particles or other particulate material from a level determined by 
the location of the intercepting device 16 in FIG. 6 and the receiver 6 
therebelow. The means for pivoting the intercepting members 17, 18 
relative to each other (or at least one of these intercepting members 
relative to the other intercepting member) between the positions 
respectively shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) comprises hydraulic or pneumatic 
cylinder and piston units 19, 21 arranged to receive signals from a 
suitable control unit, not shown, which latter is preferably designed to 
synchronize the movements of various moving parts 1, 11, 14, 19, 21 and 22 
in a predetermined sequence. The exact construction of the synchronizing 
means forms no part of the present inventon. 
The carriage 12 in the frame 13 of the lifter 9 is equipped with two or 
more supporting rollers 22, 23 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which can be caused to 
engage the foremost receptacle 4 from below and to thereupon lift the 
properly engaged receptacle off the rollers 2 of the conveyor 3 and on to 
the level shown in FIG. 5. Such lifting of a receptacle 4 off the conveyor 
3 to the level of FIG. 5 takes place prior to indexing of the manipulator 
1 (and hence of the lifter 9) about the vertical axis of the manipulator 
through an angle of at least close to 90.degree. so that the thus lifted 
and indexed receptacle 4 is then located above the receiver 6. 
Each of the roller-shaped supporting members 2, 23, is mounted at the free 
end of a lever 26 having a follower (not shown) tracking a cam 24. The 
levers 26 are pivotable relative to the frame 13 about the axes of fixed 
pivot members 27 and can be caused to engage the foremost receptacle 4 
from below prior to upward movement of the frame 13 so that the foremost 
receptacle and its contents are lifted off the conveyor 3 preparatory to 
indexing of the lifter 9 to a position or location above the receiver 6 
(see FIG. 5). The levers 28 (which carry the supporting rollers or members 
22, 23) are attached to a connecting rod 31 (see FIG. 3) receiving motion 
from a driving unit 32, e.g., a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston 
unit. Links 29 connect the levers 29 to the rod 31. 
The carriage 12 is further provided with means 33 for moving the lids 34 of 
the closures or covers between shut and open positions and for maintaining 
the lids in open positions (in which the tops of the respective 
receptacles 4 are exposed to afford access to the contents of the 
receptacles and to permit evacuation of such contents from the respective 
receptacles by gravity flow). The moving means 33 includes rod-shaped 
members provided at all four sides of the carriage 12. The members of the 
moving means 33 are designed to move the lids 34 to their open positions 
(see FIG. 4) during lowering of the lifter 9 toward the foremost 
receptacle 4 on the conveyor 3, during subsequent transfer of such 
receptacle to the location at a level above the receiver 6, and during 
subsequent manipulation of the receptacle in order to transfer the 
contents of the receptacle into or onto the receiver 6. 
The mode of operation of the improved apparatus is as follows: 
The rollers 2 of the delivering conveyor 3 advance a series of successive 
at least partially filled receptacles 4 toward the transfer station 
accommodating the upright manipulator 1. When the foremost receptacle 4 
approaches the manipulator, the lifter 9 is maintained in or close to the 
position shown in FIG. 2 by solid lines (such position of the lifter 
corresponds to that shown in FIG. 4). All that counts is that the lifter 9 
be maintained at a level at which it does not interfere with advancement 
of the foremost receptacle 4 into the range of the supporting rollers 22 
and 23. Such rollers are or can be disposed in pairs; for example, a 
roller 22 and a roller 23 can be disposed at each side of the path which 
is defined by the rollers 2 of the delivering conveyor 3. 
The next step involves a lowering of the lifter 9 by the unit 11, and such 
downward movement of the lifter is shared by the rod-shaped members of the 
moving means 33 which is affixed to the carriage 12. These rod-shaped 
members engage the lids 34 which are maintained in or moved to upright 
positions (or outwardly beyond upright positions) not later than when the 
foremost receptacle 4 arrives at the transfer station. The lids 34 are 
automatically pivoted away from each other and against the outer sides of 
the respective sidewalls of the receptacle 4 which is located beneath the 
lifter 9 (see FIG. 4 which shows the lids 34 in their inoperative 
positions adjacent the respective sidewalls of the receptacle being 
carried by the lifter). The rod-like members of the moving or pivoting 
means 33 thereupon continue to hold the lids 34 in the inoperative 
positions as long as the respective receptacle 4 continues to be carried 
by the lifter 9. 
The downward movement of the lifter 9 is terminated when the supporting 
rollers 22, 23 are ready to engage the bottom wall of the foremost 
receptacle 4 from below, and such engagement of the members 22, 23 is 
effected by the driving unit 32 and the linkages connecting the unit 32 
with the rollers 22, 23. Once the rollers 22, 23 engage the underside of 
the bottom wall of the foremost receptacle 4, the fully exposed top of 
such receptacle is overlapped by and, if desired, spaced apart from 
(below) the pivotable members 17, 18 of the intercepting device 16. The 
illustrated members 17, 18 partially overlap each other above the open top 
of the receptacle 4 being supported by the lifter 9 so that they can 
intercept the entire contents of the adjacent at least partially filled 
receptacle in response to a tilting of the carriage 12, the rollers 22, 
23, and the receptacle 4 about the horizontal axis 15 when the transfer of 
such receptacle from the rollers 2 of the delivering conveyor 3 to the 
location (FIG. 5) at a level above the receiver 6 is completed. The 
receptacle 4 reaches such position in response to lifting of the carriage 
12 from the level of FIG. 4 (or from a level close to such level) to that 
of FIG. 5 by the elevator unit 11, and subsequent indexing of the 
manipulator 1 through 90.degree. (arrow 36) by the motor 8. 
The evacuation of the contents of a receptacle 4 which is being held by the 
rollers 22, 23 includes several stages the first of which can involve a 
pivoting or tilting of the receptacle 4 about the horizontal axis 15 by 
the motor 14. Such tilting can take place while the lifter 9 is maintained 
at the level of FIG. 5 or at an intermediate level (nearer to the receiver 
6) shown in FIG. 6. At such time, the intercepting device 16 is closed 
(i.e., operative) so that the contents of the inverted receptacle are 
intercepted by the members 17, 18. Prior to tilting, the members 17, 18 
can be spaced apart from (i.e., located well above) the top of the 
material in the receptacle 4 being held by the lifter 9, or the members 
17, 18 can be closely or immediately adjacent the material in such 
receptacle so that the tilting of the receptacle upside down need not 
involve any appreciable movement of particulate material downwardly and 
away from the inner side of the bottom wall of the receptacle. 
In the next stage of the evacuating step, the member 17 and/or 18 is 
pivoted relative to the member 18 and/or 17 so th at the members 17, 18 
establish a path (see FIG. 6) for automatic descent of the intercepted 
batch of particulate material by gravity flow. The descending particulate 
material comes to rest in or on the receiver 6, depending upon the nature 
of the selected receiver. 
The manipulator 1 is thereupon indexed (see the arrow 37 in FIG. 1) to 
deliver the emptied receptacle 4 to a position above the conveyor 7. Such 
receptacle is released by the lifter 9 (e.g., by turning the carriage 12 
through 180.degree. and by thereupon retracting the supporting rollers 22, 
23) so that it can descend onto the conveyor 7 for the transport to a 
refilling, discarding (e.g., recycling) or other station, not shown. The 
manipulator 1 is then ready for indexing to the position in which the 
lifter is held at a level above the foremost at least partially filled 
receptacle 4 on the rollers 2 of the conveyor 3. Such indexing of the 
manipulator 1 can involve a single-stage or two-stage indexing of the 
manipulator in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, or a 
single-stage or two stage indexing in a clockwise direction, always 
through angles of 90.degree.. 
The operation of the improved apparatus can be automated to a desired 
exent. Furthermore, the level at which the intercepting unit 16 is caused 
to release a batch of solid particulate material above the receiver 6 can 
be selected or altered as a function of one or more parameters such as the 
brittleness of the particulate material, the distance of the lifter 9 from 
the receiver 6 at the time the intercepting members 17, 18 are caused to 
establish a path for gravitational descent of the batch of particulate 
material, the percentage of dust in the batches of particulate material, 
and/or others. 
Furthermore, the intercepting means need not be mounted on the lifter 9, 
i.e., such intercepting means (or an equivalent intercepting means) can be 
installed on a stationary support (not shown) at a level above the 
receiver 6 but below the path of movement of the lifter 9 from the 
position of alignment with the conveyor 3 to the position of alignment 
with the receiver 6. Moreover, the tilting stage of the evacuating step 
can begin while the lifter 9 is held in a position at a maximum distance 
from the level of the receiver 6, while the lifter 9 descends from the 
level of FIG. 5 to the level of FIG. 6, or after the lifter 9 reaches the 
level shown in FIG. 6. This can depend upon the dust content of the 
particulate material which is being confined in the receptacles 4 on the 
conveyor 3, on the brittleness (moisture content) of the particulate 
material, and/or upon other variables. 
An important advantage of the improved method and apparatus is that the 
percentage of dust escaping into the atmosphere surrounding the 
manipulator 1 can be reduced to a fraction of dust generation by 
conventional apparatus. The same holds true as regards the extent of 
comminution of particulate material during and subsequent to inversion of 
filled or at least partially filled receptacles 4 (i.e., during transfer 
of the contents of a lifted receptacle onto the intercepting unit 16 
beneath the open top of such (inverted) receptacle and/or during dumping 
of intercepted batches of particulate material into or onto the receiver 
6. 
Another advantage of the improved apparatus is its compactness. Thus, by 
mounting the lifter 9 on the upright manipulator 1, one can achieve 
substantial savings in space. The same holds true for the distribution of 
the conveyors 3, 7 and receiver 6 at the transfer station, i.e., around 
the manipulator 1. 
The provision of the moving or pivoting means 33 constitutes an optional 
but highly desirable feature of the improved apparatus. Such moving or 
pivoting means can be omitted if the receptacles 4 are not provided with 
covers or closures, such as the covers including the panels or lids 34. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined 
contribution to the art of manipulating accumulations of comminuted 
tobacco leaves or the like and, therefore, such adaptations should and are 
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of 
the appended claims.