A rotary drying apparatus for drying a fibrous or granular material is described. The apparatus provides a first substantially cylindrical drum (5) having a first drum inlet for introducing fibrous or granular material into the drum and a first drum outlet, a second substantially cylindrical drum (6) having a second drum inlet and a second drum outlet through which process gas and dried fibrous or granular material is discharged after passing through the first drum and then the second drum, the first drum and the second drum each having an axis of rotation at an angle to the horizontal and each being arranged to rotate about their respective axes. There is provided a plenumn (8) located between the first and second cylindrical drums and arranged in fluid communication with the first drum outlet and the second drum inlet, the plenum having an air inlet fan (11) located at a plenum inlet and arranged to urge process gas from the plenum into the first and second cylindrical drums.
A drying apparatus for drying a fibrous material is described. The apparatus provides a drying apparatus for drying a fibrous or granular material comprising, a heater arranged to heat a first gas stream and a fibrous material, the first gas stream arranged to enter the drying apparatus at an inlet, the gas stream including steam. A separator is provided for separating a said fibrous material from the first gas stream to form a second gas stream, and a fan and a duct are arranged to recirculate the second gas stream to the process heater steam injection apparatus. A flow variation apparatus is arranged to vary the flow of gas in a first gas stream and improve the drying function due to increased heat and mass transfer between the gas stream and the tobacco product.
F26B 3/10 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air the gas or vapour carrying the materials or objects to be dried with it
F26B 17/10 - Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by fluid currents, e.g. issuing from a nozzle
Apparatus for dividing the flow of particulate product and drying process gas from a process gas fluid flow in a pneumatic conveying drying process is disclosed. The fluid flow of the process gas conveys gas and particulate product towards a separating apparatus, for separating particulate product from the process gas fluid flow. A flow division apparatus is described comprising a process gas inlet communicating with a clean gas outlet by means of a fluid flow path, and a divider apparatus. A separation apparatus comprising two or more separators (2,4) being arranged downstream of the process gas outlet and the divider apparatus being arranged in the fluid flow path such that, in use, process gas flowing along the fluid flow path from the process gas inlet to the process gas outlet and to the said separation apparatus passes through the divider apparatus. A divider plate (10) is provided downstream from a process gas inlet, for dividing the process gas flow and such that the process gas flow is divided between the said two or more gas solids separators. Divider apparatus comprising a rotatable bar (8) and a scraper (12) is described, allowing multiple separators to be used whilst avoiding accumulation of the product on a leading edge of the divider apparatus.
A cutting apparatus including a grinder assembly for grinding and sharpening the knives in the cutting assembly is disclosed. The cutting apparatus comprises, a mouth defined by a jaw assembly for delivering the material to be cut to a cutting position at the mouth, a cutting drum having at least one knife the, or each, knife having a cutting edge, the cutting drum having drive means therefor and being rotatable about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the mouth such that the cutting edge of the at least one knife is arranged substantially perpendicular to the material to be cut. A grinder is described for removing material from the cutting edge of the at least one knife, the grinder being configured to be brought into contact with the cutting edge with a movement in a first direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and with a movement in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum, wherein the grinder is configured to execute the movement in the first direction at a substantially uniform first speed and the movement in the second direction at a substantially uniform second speed, wherein the first speed is different to the second speed.
A24B 7/12 - Cutting tobacco by machines with revolving knives with several knives which act one after the other with cutter axes transverse to the feeding direction
A drying apparatus for drying a fibrous material is described. The drying apparatus comprises a heater arranged to heat a first gas stream and a fibrous material, the first gas stream is arranged to enter the drying apparatus at an inlet, the gas stream including steam, a separator for separating a said fibrous material from the first gas stream to form a second gas stream. The drying apparatus further includes a heat exchanger arranged to condense and separate a steam component and a water component from the second gas stream, and a compressor arranged to compress the steam component and return the steam component to the inlet. In an alternative the compressor is arranged to compress the second gas stream directly and before the heat exchanger arranged to condense and separate a steam component and a water component from the second gas stream, and return the steam component to the inlet. A method of drying is also described. The invention as disclosed seeks to recover the energy content of the exhaust from the drying apparatus and return this to the dryer for re-use.
F26B 17/10 - Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by fluid currents, e.g. issuing from a nozzle
A cutting apparatus for producing a controlled strand length effect using a tobacco cutting machine fitted with standard, non-profiled knives is disclosed. The cutting apparatus comprises a mouth defined by a jaw assembly for delivering the material to be cut to a cutting position at the mouth and a cutting drum. The cutting drum is provided with a least one knife the, or each, knife having a cutting edge. The cutting drum comprises drive means and is rotatable about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the mouth such that the cutting edge of the at least one knife is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the material to be cut. A grinder is provided for removing material from the cutting edge of the at least one knife, wherein the grinder is configured to be brought into contact with the cutting edge with a movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum and with a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cutting drum. The cutting apparatus allows the maximum length of strands of cut tobacco to be limited, by employing standard plain knives combined with a special mode of operation of a cutting machine knife grinding system.
A24B 7/12 - Cutting tobacco by machines with revolving knives with several knives which act one after the other with cutter axes transverse to the feeding direction
B24B 3/36 - Sharpening cutting edges, e.g. of toolsAccessories therefor, e.g. for holding the tools of cutting blades
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