Importance

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Abstract

The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel (10) comprise conveyor means (16) for delivering a parcel (10) of tobacco to a separating location (20) and a rotatable tine assembly (32) mounted on an axis (24) extending at right angle to the conveyor means (16) and parallel the layering of the parcel (10). The rotatable tine assembly (32) includes a plurality of tines (26) which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly (32) and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means (10). The tines (26) are adapted to enter the parcel (10) at an entering location (34) in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel (10) and to accelerate a layer (36) away from the parcel (10) for effecting separation of the layer (36) of tobacco from the parcel (10). The axis of the tine assembly (32) is arranged at a distance above the parcel (10) such that the line from the axis of the tine assembly (32) to the entering location (34) forms an angle between 14 and 24 with the horizontal and the peripheral speed of the tine assembly (32) is about three to five times the linear speed of the conveyor means (16).

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First Claim