What roles do brush rollers play in the tobacco industry?

　　Can a brush roller be used in the tobacco industry? Many people might wonder about this, especially as consumer demand for health continues to rise. Meanwhile, tobacco products have become an essential indulgence for certain enthusiasts. Yet, the tobacco industry has long been actively researching and exploring ways to minimize harmful substances to the lowest possible level.
　　Every stage of tobacco production, from cultivation to the manufacturing of cigarette products, deserves careful attention and thorough research. Currently, one of the biggest headaches for cigarette industry technicians is controlling impurities—factors that directly impact product quality. Unfortunately, contaminants in tobacco are virtually everywhere: they can sneak into the process at every step, from field harvesting and curing to farmer grading and bundling, packaging and storage, and even re-drying after leaf removal. To address this issue, the cigarette industry has introduced countless inspection systems, air-sorting equipment, and manual controls at various stages, effectively minimizing impurities. However, during the leaf-stripping process itself, impurities often arise due to inherent limitations in the machinery—and these unavoidable contaminants can subtly compromise the final product quality.
　　I. The Positive Role of the Brush Roll on the Leaf-Beating Line:
　　The leaf-stem re-drying system is a comprehensive process that integrates steps such as leaf-stem separation, impurity removal, mold elimination, and moisture balancing. However, to ensure the seamless operation of this system, an extensive network of conveying equipment has been deployed along the entire production line—acting as the central "transport backbone" that links all processing stages. On this primary conveyor line, tobacco leaves undergo rigorous cleaning at various process points through exposure to high temperatures and humidity. Unfortunately, this process inadvertently causes surface dust, as well as internal chemical compounds like total sugars, reducing sugars, and nicotine, to adhere to the leaf surfaces and even stick firmly to the belt itself. Recognizing these challenges early on, researchers developed a solution specifically designed to tackle the issue: they installed brushes beneath the belt conveyors to effectively remove contaminants from the belt surface. Currently, no superior alternative exists for this innovative solution, and most manufacturers still rely on materials like plastic or fiber-based products to produce similar systems.
　　The second function: During the transport of tobacco leaves by the belt conveyor, differences in moisture levels and gaps at the conveyor’s interface often cause the leaves to scatter. By installing brushes, any detached leaves are gently tossed back onto the belt and directed toward the next processing step.
　　II. Negative Impacts of Various Brush Rollers on Processing Quality and Processes
　　Impact on the process: Because the brush roller utilizes a spiral cleaning principle during manufacturing, tobacco leaves falling onto it can easily get caught inside the brush, leading to material blockages. Meanwhile, if the brushes are too soft, they fail to clean the conveyor belt thoroughly; if they’re too hard, they risk damaging the belt—and in both cases, they also increase the resistance during material transport.
　　Impact on quality: The materials and processes used in the brushing process cannot guarantee that no particles will detach. When these detached brush fibers fall into the tobacco leaves, they may melt onto the leaf surface or even mix into the tobacco flakes after being baked by the re-drying and re-tobacco-leaf machine. This results in a type of foreign matter embedded within the tobacco leaves, directly affecting their intrinsic quality.