DEVICE AND METHOD FOR NON-INVASIVELY MEASURING AND DETERMINING MOISTURE CONTENT AND DENSITY OF LOOSE AND PACKAGED TOBACCO

WIPO Patent Application WO2000009983

A8

A method and a device which can be used to measure the moisture content and the internal structure of material on a tobacco bale, or of a bulk volume of material such as loose tobacco leaves, by using microwave radiation. A microwave radiation source is located on one side of the tobacco, such as the tobacco bale, and an antenna is located on the opposite side of the bale. The radiation source beam is transmitted through a portion of the bale and is received by the receiving antenna, which then produces a signal. This signal is used to determine the moisture content of that portion of the bale and the mass uniformity of the bale. In addition, the methods and devices described herein can also be used to measure the moisture content of a bulk volume of loose tobacco leaves, for example as these leaves travel through a silo. Also, in a method for analyzing the internal structure of packaged tobacco, the internal structure is analyzed to detect the presence of any foreign objects or matter in packaged tobacco, as well as to confirm the presence of tobacco material throughout the package. The structural data is collected from the received and/or reflected microwaves, which are also analyzed to determine the moisture content. The raw structural data are then analyzed with detection, classification, and/or decision algorithms for analysis of the raw data. Preferably, the data analysis is based on pairs of attenuations and phase shifts obtained by passing microwaves at a plurality of frequencies through the package of tobacco which features foreign matter or objects, collectively termed "foreign components" and/or non-uniformities. This unique method enables achievement of high levels of accuracy and precision in detection and classification of the sample, in general, and of the foreign components and/or non-uniformities, in particular.

MOSHE DANNY S (IL)
GREENWALD ALEXANDER (IL)
KHAZANSKI MICHAEL (IL)

PCT/IL1999/000421

May 25, 2000

July 30, 1999

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MALCAM LTD (IL)
GREENVISION LTD (IL)
MOSHE DANNY S (IL)
GREENWALD ALEXANDER (IL)
KHAZANSKI MICHAEL (IL)

B65B19/30; G01N9/24; G01N22/00; G01N22/04; G01N33/02; (IPC1-7): G01N/

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