Abstract
In recent years, new components have been used for numerous regulating and control functions: fluidic elements. These are switching and amplifier elements operated by means of low-pressure air and suitable for setting up logic circuits. This new line of technology, fluidics, also may be usefully applied to tobacco processing. This report therefore is intended as a preliminary guidance into the subject. An introductory chapter compiles the necessary basic features of control technics as far as these may be helpful to the understanding of the following description of fluidic elements. The first part of the main chapter deals with fluidics in general. Out of the variety of the different types only the two most important ones are considered: the jet-deflection and the turbulence affected fluidics. Design and functioning of both types are thoroughly discussed. The second part of the main chapter displays some applications in the field of tobacco processing. For the control of tobacco rod filling, emphasis is laid especially on the principle of measurement, whereas signal-controlled processing is only dealt with in short. A detailed description of the further processing of the signal is given for the example of a cigarette end scanner. Inspection at a packer on availability of all materials finds a particularly fine solution when applying turbulence-affected fluidics. In addition, a further example shows level control of fluids in storage tanks. In conclusion, some comparisons of fluidic elements against each other as well as against other control elements are given.