Importance

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Abstract

A separation device for separating threshed leaf tobacco into (1) lighter particles such as lamina containing little or no stem and (2) heavier particles such as lamina with attached stems or naked stems. The device includes a housing defining a separation chamber. A fan circulation system having an improved variable flow plural flow path arrangement establishes a generally upward air flow through the separation chamber. A tobacco supply inlet is disposed at an inlet side of the separation chamber for receiving a supply of threshed leaf tobacco downwardly therethrough and a threshed leaf tobacco projecting winnower is disposed below the tobacco supply inlet for projecting the supply so that (1) the lighter particles are generally carried upwardly by the air flow within the separation chamber and (2) the heavier particles move generally downwardly through the air flow. An improved system is provided for receiving and discharging the lighter particles carried upwardly by the air flow within the separation chamber. A heavy particle outlet on an outlet side of the separation chamber is provided for receiving heavy particles downwardly therethrough. The inlet and outlet are positioned and constructed such that the separation device can be mounted in side by side relation to a similar separation device having a similar inlet such that the heavier particles moving downwardly through the outlet of the separation device pass downwardly through the similar inlet of the similar separation device.

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First Claim