Apparatus and method for metering oral tobacco in portions suitable for consumption

Abstract

An apparatus for metering oral tobacco into portions suitable for consumption including a delivery device to hold and deliver the tobacco and a metering device to receive the tobacco from the delivery device. The metering device includes a shaping component operative to shape and press the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod and a slicing component operative to slice the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight and to discharge the tobacco portions for subsequent processing. Further, a method for metering oral tobacco in portions suitable for consumption, includes the steps of delivering the tobacco, continuous shaping and pressing the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod, slicing the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight, and conveying the tobacco portions to a subsequent processing station.

1 . An apparatus for metering oral tobacco into portions suitable for consumption, comprising:
 a delivery device to hold and deliver the tobacco; and   a metering device to receive the tobacco from the delivery device, wherein the metering device comprises a shaping component operative to shape and press the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod and a slicing component operative to slice the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight and to discharge the tobacco portions for subsequent processing.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaping component is constructed to simultaneously shape and press the tobacco into a plurality of endless tobacco rods. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the slicing component is operative to simultaneously slice the plurality of endless tobacco rods. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of slicing components each assigned to slice one of the plurality of endless tobacco rods. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a storage device to receive the tobacco portions discharged from the metering device, wherein the storage device includes separate receptacles to store at least two tobacco portions of the same endless tobacco rod. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the slicing component comprises one of a blade or wire. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one of a sealed-edge or tubular bag machine to receive and package the tobacco portions discharged from the metering device. 
     
     
         8 . A method for metering oral tobacco in portions suitable for consumption, the steps comprising:
 delivering the tobacco;   continuously shaping and pressing the tobacco into at least one endless tobacco rod;   slicing the endless tobacco rod into pre-defined tobacco portions with respect to shape and weight; and   conveying the tobacco portions to a subsequent processing station.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of continuously shaping and pressing simultaneously shapes the tobacco into a plurality of endless tobacco rods and the step of slicing simultaneously slices the plurality of endless tobacco rods into pre-defined tobacco portions. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of storing the tobacco portions before conveying the tobacco portions to the subsequent processing station. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of slicing comprises one of cutting or shearing. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of delivering includes delivering the tobacco to a central location and the step of shaping and pressing includes dividing the tobacco into a plurality of endless tobacco rods. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of delivering the tobacco portions from the processing station to one of a sealed-edge or tubular bag machine for filling bags. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8 , including processing the steps of delivering the tobacco, shaping and pressing the tobacco, slicing the endless tobacco rod and conveying the tobacco portions in a rectilinear direction 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the processing is in a downward vertical direction. 
     
     
         16 . A combination comprising:
 the metering apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and   a sealed-edge or tubular bag machine coupled for receiving the tobacco portions produced by the metering apparatus.