Patent ID: 7185658

Claim:
Apparatus for producing tobacco products with handling elements and subassemblies for handling the tobacco products, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of receiving elements, at least one tobacco separator ( 45 ), and a chute, wherein the plurality of receiving elements include a first conveying element, a first suction-extraction element including suction lines, and at least one additional receiving element selected from the group consisting of: a second conveying element, a second suction-extraction element, and a collecting element, the plurality of receiving elements being arranged and positioned substantially adjacent to the handling elements and subassemblies for the purpose of receiving tobacco particles ( 19 ) caused to accumulate on account of the handling of the tobacco products by the handling elements and subassemblies, wherein at least one of the first and second conveying elements and the suction lines conveys the tobacco particles ( 19 ) away from the handling elements and subassemblies, wherein, at least one of the first and second conveying elements and the suction lines feeds the tobacco particles ( 19 ) to the at least one tobacco separator ( 45 ), which separates off, and collects, the tobacco particles ( 19 ), wherein the chute permits the removal of the tobacco particles ( 19 ) from the tobacco separator ( 45 ); and wherein at least one of the first suction-extraction element and the second suction-extraction element includes a suction based suction-extraction element ( 32 ) arranged and positioned substantially adjacent to a magazine ( 13 ) in a packaging machine ( 10 ) for the tobacco products, for forming groups ( 15 ) of the tobacco products, with the suction-based suction-extraction element ( 32 ) operating to extract the tobacco particles ( 19 ) by suction.