Tobacco stalks humidified and conditioned before rolling - using inclined ascending drum conveyor after wetting stage

摘要

An appts. for increasing the moisture content of tobacco stalks comprises a humidifying device, immediately followed by a conditioning chamber which contains a drum conveyor having its axis in the direction of conveying of the tobacco. The axis of the drum conveyor is inclined upwards and contains helical entraining devices, such as blades or the like. In one embodiment, a revolving drum is used, contg. helical blades, which may be heated. In another embodiment, the drum is stationary and contains a screw conveyor, opt. heated, mounted on a revolving shaft. By wetting the stalks at the bottom of the inclined conveying path, they undergo a long period of humidifying, but at the same time the water continually drips down so that the surface does not become excessively wet. In this way, thorough soaking right through is achieved, so that when they are flattened the fibres do not break apart.