Rod maker, method for operating the same and air conveyor system

Abstract

A method of operating a rod maker for tobacco processing that includes sifting a tobacco flow in a chamber of the rod maker with a first air flow to separate tobacco ribs from the tobacco flow and conveying the sifted tobacco flow in the chamber by at least one of the first air flow and a second air flow. Moreover, the method includes conveying air out of the chamber via a third air flow and a fourth air flow, where a sum of an air throughput of the third air flow and the fourth air flow is substantially constant, irrespective of a productive capacity of the rod maker. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . A method of operating a rod maker for tobacco processing comprising: 
 sifting a tobacco flow in a chamber of the rod maker with a first air flow to separate tobacco ribs from the tobacco flow;    conveying the sifted tobacco flow in the chamber by at least one of the first air flow and a second air flow; and    conveying air out of the chamber via a third air flow and a fourth air flow,    wherein a sum of an air throughput of the third air flow and the fourth air flow is substantially constant, irrespective of a productive capacity of the rod maker.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an air distributor is arranged upstream of the chamber, and the method further comprises: 
 discharging air into the surroundings from the air distributor.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 varying the air throughput discharged into the surroundings.    
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 adjusting a throttle flap in a discharge pipe of the air distributor to change the air throughput discharged.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 establishing an essentially constant pressure in the chamber.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 one of controlling and regulating the air throughput of the third air flow conveyed out of the chamber.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the one of the controlling and regulating further comprises one of continuously controlling and continuously regulating.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 progressively controlling the air throughput.    
   
   
       9 . A rod maker for tobacco processing structured and arranged to perform the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . A rod maker for tobacco processing comprising: 
 a tobacco sifter;    a suction rod conveyor; and    a device structured and arranged for conveying tobacco to the suction rod conveyor, the device comprising a chamber structured and arranged to receive an air flow for sifting and for conveying,    wherein an air throughput removed from the chamber is substantially constant, irrespective of the productive capacity of the rod maker.    
   
   
       11 . The rod maker according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 an air distributor, arranged upstream of the chamber in a conveying direction of the air flow, comprising a discharge arranged to discharge air into the surroundings.    
   
   
       12 . The rod maker according to  claim 11 , wherein the air throughput dischargeable into the surroundings is variable.  
   
   
       13 . The rod maker according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a throttle flap positioned in the discharge.    
   
   
       14 . The rod maker according to  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a pressure sensor positioned in the chamber.    
   
   
       15 . The rod maker according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 one of a controller and regulator structured and arranged for one of controlling and regulating the air throughput dischargeable into the surroundings.    
   
   
       16 . The rod maker according to  claim 15 , wherein one of the controller and regulator are configured to operate continuously.  
   
   
       17 . The rod maker according to  claim 15 , wherein one of the controller and regulator are configured to operate progressively.  
   
   
       18 . A rod maker for tobacco processing comprising 
 a tobacco sifter;    a suction rod conveyor; and    a device structured and arranged for conveying tobacco to the suction rod conveyor, the device comprising a chamber structured and arranged to receive an air flow for sifting and for conveying the tobacco,    wherein at least part of the air flow is releasable into the surroundings upstream of the chamber with respect to the conveyor direction of the air flow, and an air throughput releasable into the surroundings is variable depending on the productive capacity of the rod maker.    
   
   
       19 . The rod maker according to  claim 18 , wherein the air throughput releasable into the surroundings increases with lower productive capacity.  
   
   
       20 . The rod maker according to  claim 18 , wherein an air distributor is arranged upstream of the chamber in the conveyor direction of the air flow, and the air distributor comprises a discharge arranged to discharge air into the surroundings.  
   
   
       21 . The rod maker according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a throttle flap structured and arranged for changing the air throughput releasable into the surroundings.    
   
   
       22 . An air conveyor system for a rod maker for tobacco processing, comprising: 
 a circulation fan structured and arranged for introducing conveying air into a chamber to sift and convey a tobacco flow; and    a suction fan, connected to the chamber, operable to suction air out of the chamber,    wherein an air throughput conveyed out of the chamber is substantially constant, irrespective of the productive capacity of the rod maker.    
   
   
       23 . The air conveyor system according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 an air distributor arranged downstream of the circulation fan and upstream of the chamber.    
   
   
       24 . The air conveyor system according to  claim 22 , wherein the air throughput conveyed out of the chamber is kept constant by releasing air upstream of the chamber.  
   
   
       25 . The air conveyor system according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a throttle flap positioned in a pipe to discharge air into the surroundings.    
   
   
       26 . The air conveyor system according to  claim 22 , wherein a substantially constant pressure is generatable in the chamber.  
   
   
       27 . The air conveyor system according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 one of a controller and a regulator structured and arranged to control or regulate the air throughput discharged into the surroundings.