Abstract: The position sensor now widely adopted in controlling the moving equipments in tobacco primary processing lines was of on-and-off type,it was low in positioning accuracy and its controlling distance was not adjustable.Therefore,the equipments in primary processing line where position or distance control was needed were upgraded by rangefinders.Taking tobacco silo,tobacco slicer and distributor vehicle as examples,the running distance or position of moving equipments was controlled by calculating the measured data with the algorithms of absolute distance,relative distance,effective distance range of laser rangefinder.The results of practical application indicated that the material entering the silo was in proportion with the material input ranging from 30% to 100%; the error of slicing width in slicer was controlled within ±5 cm; the rate of accurate positioning of distributor vehicle was up to 100%.