Method for processing at least two starting materials

Abstract

A method is provided for processing at least two starting materials into a final processed product where a predetermined moisture interval is provided for each starting material. The method comprises subdividing each moisture interval into two or more moisture classes and measuring a moisture content for each starting material prior to processing. Each starting material is then assigned to one of the two or more moisture classes and processed depending on the assigned moisture class. A moisture measurement of the final processed product is determined and one or more processing steps are adapted based on the measuring results for the final processed product to achieve a homogeneous moisture distribution in the final processed product.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for processing at least two starting materials into a final processed product, wherein a predetermined moisture interval is provided for each starting material, the method comprising:
 subdividing each moisture interval into two or more moisture classes;   measuring a moisture content for each starting material prior to processing;   assigning each starting material to one of the two or more moisture classes, wherein each of the two or more moisture classes comprises a range of values for the moisture content of the starting material within the moisture interval;   processing each starting material depending on the moisture classes;   determining a moisture measurement of the final processed product; and   adapting one or more processing steps based on the measuring results for the final processed product to achieve a homogeneous moisture distribution in the final processed product.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the processing of the starting materials individually and separately includes achieving a target moisture of the starting materials. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the moisture measurement of the final processed product measures at least one of: (1) an average moisture content; and (2) a spatial homogeneity of the moisture content. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein processing parameters for at least one processing step are corrected depending on the moisture measurement of the final processed product. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one processing step is additionally provided depending on the moisture measurement of the final processed product. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one processing step is omitted depending on the moisture measurement of the final processed product. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the starting materials comprise at least one of: (1) different tobacco varieties; (2) a tobacco variety from different bales; and (3) another preform. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising conditioning the starting materials according to parameters that are selected depending on the moisture classes to bring the starting materials to a target moisture, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of duration, moisture, and temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the conditioning of the starting materials is corrected according to the moisture measurement of the final processed product. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the conditioning of the starting materials depends on at least one of an average moisture content and a spatial moisture distribution measured for the final processed product.