Vibratory pneumatic tobacco feeder

Tobacco feeder (10) consists of a conveyor belt (12), vibrating collecting pan (26), and control flaps (22a-b, 24a-b). Metering tube (16) delivers tobacco to conveyor belt (12), the speed of which varies depending on the number of cigarette making machines in operation. Conveyor belt (12) deposits tobacco on vibrating collecting pan (26) which has an inclined portion (28) to cause the tobacco flow to increase in velocity, thereby decreasing in density, as tobacco moves down the inclined portion (28). Control flaps (22a, 22b, 24a, 24b) direct the flow of tobacco to vacuum tubes (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) depending on which cigarette makers are in operation.