Patent GB-428196-A (GB)
Title: Process and apparatus for drying the tobacco contained in finished cigarettes
IPC: A24C5/60
Filed: 1934-11-05
Abstract: 428,196. Drying cigarettes. UNIVERSELLE CIGARETTENMASCHINEN - FABRIK J. C. MULLER & CO., 48, Zwickauerstrasse, Dresden, Germany. Nov. 5, 1934, No. 31734. Convention date, Aug. 21. [Classes 34 (i) and 34 (ii)] A process for drying the tobacco contained in finished cigarettes consists in conducting a current of drying air in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes while they are in containers. In the con - struction shown, cigarettes arranged vertically in containers 24 are carried through a drying chamber 1. A pipe 6 leads from the bottom of the chamber to a suction fan 3, the pressure side of which is connected to a pipe 7 leading to a regenerating device 2. The pipe 7 has an open end located in a chamber 8 and adapted to be closed by a flap 9 and has a branch pipe 10 connected to a member 11 located in the middle of the regenerator. The bottom of the regenerator is connected to a pipe 12 leading to the top of the chamber 1, the pipe being adapted to be closed by a valve 14. A pipe 15 leads from the regenerator to a device 4 for pre-heating the drying air. This device is provided with air inlet apertures through which fresh air is induced. A pipe 19 leading from the pre-heater discharges into a pipe 20 leading to a cooling device 5, which is connected by a pipe 21 to the suction pipe 6. When the cigarettes are being dried valves 14, 57 and flap 9 are opened, and valves 23, 58, 59 are closed. The fan 3 draws air downwardly through the containers 24, formed each with a side of wire gauze, and returns it to the regenerator where it is dried and heated before passing again through the containers. The movement of the containers through the drying chamber is controlled by a motor which through the medium of a crank and connecting rod causes the oscillation of a lever 29 connected to a push rod 26. This rod is provided with a catch 27 which engages over a conveyer band 25. Each container in turn is placed on the band 25 which is set in motion and conducts the container past an open flap 33 into a lock chamber 32. The container displaces to one side the catch 27 which springs back and is actuated by the rod 26 to push the container into the drying chamber 1 after the flap 33 has been closed and the flap 34 opened. The chamber has a grating 35 over which the container is pushed by succeeding containers, being eventually thrust on to a conveyer 39 in a chamber 36, past an open flap 37. When the flap 37 has been closed and the flap 38 opened the container is removed from the chamber 36 and the positions of the flaps are reversed. The regenerator 2 is housed in the chamber 8 into which air delivered by the fan 3 enters through the end of pipe 7. The air passes through apertures 42 to an annular space 43 surrounding a heating element 44 and hence through a hollow cylinder 45 containing silica gel or like substance which abstracts the moisture from the air. Two sleeves 50, 51 are provided in the space 43 and are capable of being raised or lowered whereby the air may flow through the upper or lower half of the cylinder 45. The air passes to the pipe 12 when the valve 14 is opened and is returned to the drying chamber. When the regenerator is saturated and requires to be freed from moisture, the air valve 57, flap 9 and valve 14 are moved into the closed position, and valves 58, 59 are opened. Air is sucked in by the fan 3 through the openings in the pre-heater 4 where it is heated and passing through pipes 21, 6, 7, is conducted through pipes 10, 11 and through heating member 44 to the annular channel 43. The sleeves 50, 51 are adjusted so that the heated air can pass through the whole of the cylinder 45, leaving the regenerator by pipes 15, 16, the pipe 16 opening to atmosphere. The circulation of the air continues until it has withdrawn sufficiently the moisture from the regenerator. Thereupon valves 58, 59 are closed and valve 23 opened. The air from the regenerator now passes along pipe 22 to the cooling device 5, which has been set in operation, and returns to the regenerator, circulation continuing until the air has been sufficiently cooled. The apparatus is then in readiness for drying the cigarettes, on adjustment of the valves. The supply of current to the motor which advances the containers through the drying chamber is controlled by a mercury switch 55 adapted to be actuated by a hinged arm 54 fitted in the pipe 6. If the flow of air is interrupted the arm 54 hangs vertically and opens the switch to stop the motor. The driving motor and the fan motor are connected so that when the former is switched off the fan motor is also stopped, whereby excessive drying of the cigarettes is prevented during a check in the advance of the containers. The valve 57 in the pipe 6 can be used to control the extent to which the cigarettes are dried.