Apparatus for advancing streams of particles of smokable material

Abstract

The conveyor which converts an ascending shower of tobacco particles into a rod-shaped filler ready to be draped into a running web of cigarette paper in a cigarette rod making machine employs an endless permeable belt having a lower reach disposed beneath a suction chamber and at a level above a channel for advancement of the filler toward the wrapping mechanism. The channel and the marginal portions of the lower reach of the belt are flanked by walls which consist, at least in part, of a wear-resistant ceramic material capable of standing long periods of use due to a minimal wear as a result of sliding contact with tobacco particles, even if the belt is driven at an elevated speed to advance tobacco particles past a trimming device and thereupon into the wrapping mechanism of the cigarette rod making machine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A conveyor for flowable particulate material of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a duct defining a path for the flowable material and having walls bounding said path, at least one of said walls consisting at least in part of a ceramic material.  
     
     
         2 . The conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wall is stationary.  
     
     
         3 . The conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wall is a lining having a surface adjacent said path and consisting of said ceramic material.  
     
     
         4 . The conveyor of  claim 3 , further comprising a back support for said lining, said lining being disposed between said back support and said path.  
     
     
         5 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein said lining is bonded to said back support.  
     
     
         6 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein said lining has a thickness in the range of between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein said lining is applied to said back support in accordance with one of undertakings including the application in molten state and spraying.  
     
     
         8 . The conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wall has a surface adjacent said path and having a consistency resembling that of the surface of an orange peel.  
     
     
         9 . The conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein another of said walls is a portion of a conveyor belt arranged to advance particulate material along said path.  
     
     
         10 . The conveyor of  claim 9 , wherein said walls further include a third wall confronting said at least one wall and being disposed at one side of said portion of said belt, said third wall consisting at least in part of a ceramic material.  
     
     
         11 . The conveyor of  claim 10 , wherein said duct includes two additional walls disposed at the other side of said portion of said belt and providing tracks for said portion of said belt.  
     
     
         12 . The conveyor of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said additional walls has substantially trapeziform projections abutting said other side of said portion of said belt.  
     
     
         13 . The conveyor of  claim 10 , wherein said portion of said belt has two elongated marginal portions and said additional walls have surfaces each adjacent and each extending lengthwise of a different one of said marginal portions.  
     
     
         14 . The conveyor of  claim 10 , wherein said belt is located at a level above said at least one wall and said third wall and above said path.  
     
     
         15 . The conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein said walls form part of a cigarette rod making machine.