BG60896B1 - Method and trough for storing and drying of leaves of plants, in particular of tobacco leaves - Google Patents

Abstract

The method and tray facilitate the collection, sorting and drying operations of the plants, in particular tobacco. The tray (2) consists of a groove (20) whose shape and dimensions may be adapted to the shape and dimensions of the picking sheet (1), each at its end ends with an end plate (21). With handles (25 and 26) it facilitates the transfer of the troughs, carried out on a case by mechanical means. Other means (24, 27 and 28) allow the troughs accumulate one on top of each other so that they either lie close together, or distant.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention first relates to a storage method for drying plant leaves, and to an apparatus allowing this method to be carried out, the method and apparatus being more particularly adapted for drying tobacco leaves, and in particular for the leaves of tobacco called oriental.

The device can also be used over time

I picking for a pre-sorting of leaves according to their size and / or their quality.

50896

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When picking, the tobacco leaves are usually arranged in round-shaped wicker baskets, with the leaves arranged as wheel spokes, with the handles arranged in the center of the basket. For drying, the leaves are taken one by one from the basket and threaded onto a long metal needle (B.sub.Guberka), making a hole in the part of the leaf close to the stem. They are then transferred and pressed together on a rope to form a single strand of about 120 to 140 cm in length, containing from 500 to 1000 leaves, depending on the type and size of the leaves.

These strings then attach to the edges of racks ordered in fresh air or indoor, depending on local climatic conditions and / or the degree of drying achieved by the tobacco.

During drying, the strings are usually displaced to change their exposure to the sun and to allow each string to receive approximately the same amount of sunlight.

After reaching the degree of drying of the leaves, the rows are picked up and stacked on top of each other to begin their fermentation process, which continues later when the leaves are removed, and the fermentation leaves will be removed from the suspension line and reordered. small bales

This method of known and applied suspension of tobacco leaves

I f

for a long time;

however, it does contain a number of drawbacks

First, during the collection of

..... Ί technique requires a large amount of operations.

tobacco and before the leaves are arranged in the fields, the usual sorting of the leaves according to their size, respectively by the height of the

sprouting on the tobacco plant, arranging the leaves in the basket for collection, picking them up from the basket and stringing the leaves on the needle, and finally transferring the piles of leaves to the rope. Each of these operations takes time, requires people, and most of all generates orders for tobacco leaves each time. When the leaves are arranged in rows, if it is relatively easy to reach one or more leaves to remove from the levels by tearing, controlling, or when some leaves are poorly sorted or show signs of disease, it is difficult to replaced on a string, which requires it to detach from one string and re-stitch the leaves in question. On the other hand, since the string is flexible, it is difficult to envisage mechanized means for carrying them, as well as for operations for changing the position during drying, said drying being possible only by positioning the two ends of the string at the same height. Finally, when opening the strings to make small tobacco bales, most of the ropes are cut several times, which leaves debris or pieces of sofa in the tobacco balloon, these parts of the rope being contaminated with tobacco , able to change it hard to remove in subsequent operations

Because the rope is relatively fragile, it can break the taste and production that is broken, requiring the restoration of all the leaves it has worn again and increasing the risk of finally finding residues from the rope in tobacco

One embodiment described in the patent of the sheets for drying them horizontally is one row (xu in which the leaves are arranged in lattice cabinets. Due to the vertical arrangement of the pile sheets it is difficult to 5

US-A-3,166,348 shows a tobacco storage device reaching for and removing from a pile one particular leaf on which, for example, traces of disease have been found. Moreover, given the stuffing of the device, the latter is difficult to manipulate and cannot in any case serve also when picking tobacco leaves; in fact, it is only for storage for drying.

US-A-3,167,227 discloses a device allowing the picking of agricultural products, in particular tobacco leaves, consisting of a single flexible part supported at its opposite ends by horizontal support parts, thus forming one groove between the two supporting ones parts. The collected leaves here are located horizontally mentioned groove only during the field work and can not remain there for a long period as for drying TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the invention is to provide a method of storing tobacco leaves during the drying operation, as well as a device provided for this operation, to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular to facilitate the collection and sorting operation during picking, then to facilitate the transfer of the leaves during drying, allowing these operations to be carried out by mechanized means, and finally each leaf can be reached and replaced by an individual but during drying. Another goal

Ϊ ^d of the invention is finally the release completely of the string forming a single string to avoid the presence of residues in the tobacco.

of the characteristics of a method

a first to third patent claims, as well as a storage trough having said characteristics of the fourth to eleventh patent claims. The applications of said troughs are described in claims 12 and 13.

□ WRITING THE FIGURES Attached

The invention is best explained by the description which they have followed with the figures, of which:

Figures. ΙΑ, 1B and 1C are, in cross section, three possible embodiments of a storage bin according to the invention;

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are perspective views of the embodiments of the preceding figures / drawings;

Figures 3A and 3B are embodiments of means provided for stacking on one another and for moving them.

EXAMPLES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1A, 1B and 1C distinguish between tobacco leaves 1? maintained in storage bins 2 according to three of all possible embodiments of said bins. Tobacco leaves 1 have an elongated shape, with a ratio of width to length for a variety called

oriental is in the order of 1 to

2.

Leaves ^ defend

the high part of the plant ^ usually have a length of order from 3 to 5 s | Y, • while these ^ defends half the height of the plant ^ can to reach 15 crrt, the intermediate lengths being

received at the leaves of the lower part of the plant.

According to the prior art, a hole is drilled through each leaf, through which a string passes to form a string. According to the technique of the invention, the tobacco leaves 1 are stacked in storage pans 2, supported by a chute 20, on which they rest with part of their outer edges. The cross-section of the chute 20 can take various forms, for example

V is a tip-shaped corner preferably of the order of 60 [deg.] As shown in Figure 1A, or a semi-rectangular shape as shown in Figure 1B, or consisting of several parallel bars or beams, with the shape taken ^ approximately the shape of the leaves 1 as shown in Figure 1C. Each end of the chutes 20 is closed by one end plate 21, usually rectangular, attached to the chutes 20 by known means, depending mainly on the materials used, both for the chutes and the end plates 21.

During the loading of the tray 2 it is preferably arranged in such a way that the groove 20 is horizontal or at an angle to the ground, depending on the stability of the tray 2 and the leaves inside it, but preferably in the order of 45 °, with the open part of the chute 20 pointing upwards, the first sheet 1 being pressed through one of its sides to one of the end plates 21, and the subsequent sheets being placed in a vertical position, respectively inclined, touching the previous one and the bottom of the hive 20.. The trough 2 is filled ^ while the leaves 1 ^ located in the groove 20 ^ are slightly pressed between the two end plates 21.

The choice of the transverse shape of the chute, as well as its dimensions ^ may be made taking into account the peculiar shape and size of the collection leaves; for example, the V-shape of Figure 1A is but suitable for variable size sheets and of approximately circular shape, the groove shown in figure IB is more elongated but variable size leaves, while the groove of figure 1C is best suited for leaves of sufficiently constant size. In all cases, it is obviously possible to be able to use several trays 2 at a time, with grooves 20 whose transverse shapes and / or sizes are different to best fit the shapes and sizes of the assembled sheets in a row tobacco plants.

The length of the trough 2, respectively, of the chute 20 _? is chosen in such a way that the full tray can be easily stacked, therefore this length is in the order of 1 to 1.5 meters, so that the ordering mass is in the order of ten kilograms.

The dimensions of the end / plates 21, in particular the height above the open part of the chute 20 "are sufficient so that all the leaves placed in the chute are placed in the gauge of the trough.

The limitations of the materials used, both for the main in which I could pour 20 and for the end plates 21 ^, consist of the use of non-rusting material that would adorn the leaves and give them undesirable taste and which do not flake, to avoid finding such residues in tobacco.

In addition, the trough must be relatively strong to withstand many manipulations and to withstand sunlight without destroying it.

Therefore a stainless steel grid, B. galvanized steel, galvanized steel or aluminum or synthetic material ^ or metal coated with a synthetic material for making the chute 20 is selected in one of the embodiments of Figures 1A or 1B, while the bars or beams forming the chute 20 of Figure 1C may be of one of the materials listed above, or in this case of wood. The end plates 21 are also of one of these materials, and the attachment of the groove 20 to its end plates 21 is subsequently adjusted.

In the case where a grate is selected to produce the chute 20, this grille is preferably constructed with wide openings to facilitate air circulation during drying. As can be seen from Figures IA, IB, 2A and 2B, the free lateral edges of the chute 20 may be provided with longitudinal reinforcing members 22 consisting of bars or beams connecting the two end plates. For the embodiment of Figure 1C or 2C, one or more transverse fasteners 23 may be provided. These different fasteners 22 or 23 serve mainly to improve the stability and strength of the pan.

Other additional devices may also be provided on each tray as shown in Figures 3A and 3B; for example, the lower or upper edges of each end plate 21 may be provided with means 24, for example, as shown in Figure 3A, at least one bar located on each side of one end of the end plates, extending further along said end so that they can fit between them opposite the end of another trough, which allows the troughs 2 to stack on top of each other. They may also be provided with gripping means, such as grips 25 that allow one tray to be easily manipulated, or in such a case that allow it to be gripped by mechanized means, such as a fork lift. It is also possible, as can be seen from Figure 3 ^, to provide handles 26 allowing the mounting of the troughs + a 2 on the stand 27, consisting of, for example, two vertical stairs, the handles 26 being terminated for steps 28 arranged in such a manner that it is possible to adjust the distance between two troughs to optimize the air circulation conditions between the troughs and the sun exposure conditions of said troughs.

The device 24 or equivalent means allowing the accumulation of the trays 2 ^ is preferably used when the trays 2 are also used in the tobacco harvesting field; by placing on one another the trays that differ in shape and / or size of the chute, it is possible to carry out a direct first sorting of the leaves according to their thickness and size. The same storage device is used / during the drying phase when it is necessary to restrict air circulation by squeezing the troughs against each other. The stand 27 containing the means 28 ^ for adjusting the relative positions of the troughs between them is preferably used in a drying installation and through a Phase when some amount of air is required to circulate between the troughs. Due to the strength of the trough 2, it is perfectly possible to expose the leaves to the sun not only horizontally, as for a string on a rope, but also at any desired angle of exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method and apparatus according to the invention make it easier to harvest both the tobacco and its drying, improving the means of storing the tobacco, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the leaf routing, and can easily reach certain leaves inside the tray, in order to remove or add it without tearing, and to allow easy arrangement of the troughs by means of mechanized means of transport. The invention finds application to tobacco leaves, but it can also be used for other plant products.

Claims (13)

Patent Claims A method of storing plant leaves (1) in at least one storage trough (2), characterized in that said storage trough (4) contains a chute (20), whose longitudinal axis is usually located in a noticeably horizontal plane, said sheets arranged perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the pile, adhering to said chute and two end plates (21) of said storage trough, each leaf being freely accessible to be removed or inserted into storage trough. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is applied in a drying installation consisting of a plurality of storage trays, means (24, 26, 27) arranged in the installation and on the trays to allow them to be adjusted the relative positions of said storage bins. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used for drying tobacco leaves. A storage trough for applying the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a groove (20) usually of a concave shape, the longitudinal axis of which is generally arranged in a noticeably horizontal plane and provided with both end with end plates (21) _? parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chute 5. A storage trough according to claim 4, characterized in that openings are arranged along the walls of the chute (20) ₍ to facilitate air circulation. Warehouse pan according to one of the claims 4 or 4 5, characterized in that the shape and dimensions of the chute are approximately adapted to the shape and dimensions of the leaves. Storage container according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises longitudinal (22) or transverse (23) fasteners. Storage container according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it is provided with carrying handles (25, 26). The storage trough according to claim 8, characterized in that said carrying handles (26) are adapted for gripping the trough by mechanical means. / Storage container according to one of Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said carrying handles (26) are adapted to allow the said trough to be mounted on a supporting structure (27). Storage container according to one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it contains means (24) for storing a plurality of said trays. Use of a plurality of storage bins according to one of claims 4 to 11 for the picking and pre-sorting of tobacco leaves, the bins having grooves of different shapes and / or sizes available for one pre-sorting of the tobacco leaves . Use of storage bins according to one of claims 4 to 11 in a tobacco leaf drying plant comprising at least one rack (27) containing means <28, which allows adjusting the relative position between the bins.