CN1199581A - Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus - Google Patents
Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- CN1199581A CN1199581A CN97113145.7A CN97113145A CN1199581A CN 1199581 A CN1199581 A CN 1199581A CN 97113145 A CN97113145 A CN 97113145A CN 1199581 A CN1199581 A CN 1199581A
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- swelling agent
- pressure
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
- A24B3/00—Preparing tobacco in the factory
- A24B3/18—Other treatment of leaves, e.g. puffing, crimpling, cleaning
- A24B3/182—Puffing
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Abstract
An apparatus for impregnating tobacco with an expansion agent includes a chamber for confining a charge of tobacco under elevated pressure conditions. An accumulator connected to the chamber maintains a supply of an expansion agent in fluid form under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure but less than the desired tobacco impregnation temperature and pressure. The expansion agent is forcibly and rapidly moved from the accumulator and introduced into the chamber under conditions such that the pressure and temperature of the expansion agent are increased to the desired impregnation temperature and pressure, preferably including a pressure approaching or above the supercritical pressure thereof.
Description
The present invention relates to the method and apparatus of expanding tobacco, it is by flooding tobacco with a kind of swelling agent under high pressure-temperature, being under the condition that promotes the swelling agent expansion with the relief tobacco.More particularly, the present invention relates to improve the method and apparatus of the heating load and the expanding tobacco of the pressuring expansion agent that is provided to Dilvar zone.
Process for expansion of tobacco is to be used for recovering handling and storing tobacco volume (bulk), density and/or the volume of losing in the process of tobacco leaf.In recent years, become the important component part of the cigarette that many tar contents that comprise low tar and ultra-low tar cigarette are reduced through expanded tobacco.
In the U.S. Patent No. 3,524,451 of for example authorizing people such as Fredrickson and authorize described in people's such as Moser the U.S. Patent No. 3,524,452 a kind of tobacco is contacted with a swelling agent and Fast Heating with the method for volatilize swelling agent and expanding tobacco.The U.S. Patent No. 3,683,937 of authorizing people such as Fredrickson has disclosed a kind of like this method, and it carries out steam soaking stain tobacco earlier, afterwards heating or reduce pressure fast so that expanding tobacco again.
The U.S. Patent No. 4,235,250 of authorizing Utsch, authorize people's such as Burde U.S. Patent No. 4,258,729 and authorize people's such as Sykes U.S. Patent No. 4,336,814 or other patent in be as the swelling agent that makes expanding tobacco with carbon dioxide.In these or method, gaseous state or liquid carbon dioxide are contacted with tobacco to flood, subsequently the tobacco through dipping is carried out Fast Heating with the carbon dioxide that volatilizees, thus expanding tobacco.
The U.S. Patent No. 4,289,148 of authorizing the U.S. Patent No. 4,461,310 of Zeihn and authorizing Zeihn has been described and has been utilized overcritical nitrogen or argon gas to flood tobacco and make expanding tobacco.These swelling agents all are to remove from tobacco in the process that reduces fast pressure, and described tobacco is under the effect of the gas of heating or microwave and expand.These methods need be handled so that expanding tobacco tobacco under the pressure of 000psig surpassing 2000 or 4000psig is the highest surpasses 10.
Authorize the U.S. Patent No. 4 of White and Conrad, 531,529 have described a kind of method that can improve the filling ability of tobacco energy, wherein, with a kind of low boiling and high-volatile swelling agent surpass or near the process conditions of the critical pressure of swelling agent and temperature under the dipping tobacco, such as a kind of halohydrocarbon or hydrocarbon of normally gas phase.Thereby pressure promptly is discharged into atmospheric pressure makes expanding tobacco, make expanding tobacco or make tobacco remain on its swelling state and need not heating steps.The pressure condition of this method is minimum to be 36kg/cm
2(512psi) or higher, still there is not the known upper limit.
Authorize the U.S. Patent No. 4 of Conrad and White, 554,932 have described a kind of fluid pressure treating apparatus, and it comprises that a cylindrical housings and is used for the reciprocating type sliding plug assembly that moves between the charging position of described hull outside and the processing position in described enclosure interior.Described sliding plug assembly is provided with all seals and is used for being close to described housing to form a balancing gate pit.All conduits are set working fluid is introduced described balancing gate pit.This system provides a device that uses in the high pressure material processed such as the tobacco dipping that makes expanding tobacco, it can simplify charging and discharging, and can the time that those are relevant with the locking step with the sealing of using usually reduce to the shortest in high-pressure treatment apparatus.
Authorize the U.S. Patent No. 5 of Kramer, 067,293 has proposed a kind of method and apparatus that is used for handling tobacco-containing material and other biomaterial, and described device has a mechanism that can form dynamic seal (packing), in described dynamic seal (packing), synergistic each all-moving surface seals up a process chamber.The dynamic seal (packing) system that is provided with according to this patent under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, to be included in the tobacco that carries out under supercritical temperature used in the processing of expanding tobacco and the pressure condition be useful in handling.In this patent, continuous processing and batch processing method are all disclosed to some extent.
When used impregnation pressure is substantially on atmospheric pressure, comprise that the process for expansion of tobacco of above-mentioned and other method proposes and must carry out with batch processing mode.But batch processing method is longer required circulation timei, and this part is owing to the high-pressure impregnation agent is introduced and row needs certain hour from all containers.In order to shorten circulation timei, must need one and have suitable high pressure and be heated to the continuous supply source of impregnating agent of a suitable high temperature.
Keep an expensive device of swelling agent supply source needs and the controller with height supercharging of suitable rising temperature.In addition, some efficient process for expansion of tobacco use such as the inflammable swelling agent of high pressure-temperatures such as ethane or propane.For the inflammable problem relevant with these materials reduced to minimum degree, people wish that the total amount of the swelling agent that can store with high temp/high pressure reduces to minimum.
The invention provides a kind of process for expansion of tobacco and device, it can be under the tobacco immersion condition of high pressure-temperature expanding tobacco apace, the total amount of the high temp/high pressure swelling agent stored can be reduced to minimum simultaneously.And method and apparatus of the present invention can improve the utilization rate that is used for compressing and heating the energy of swelling agent.In a word, method and apparatus of the present invention can provide apace in a large number and handle to carry out expanding tobacco through the high pressure swelling agent of heating, and by Lucas J.Conrad and Jackie L.White in application on June 14th, 1993, now be U.S. Patent No. 5,483,977 U.S. Patent application No.08/076,535 described method and apparatus are useful especially, the productivity ratio that this patent can significantly improve high pressure tobacco dipping and expand.Those methods preferably include: be shorter than 20-30 tobacco dipping and the expansion cycles time of second; To for example surpass the high pressure-temperature propane of 2000psig and 200 as described swelling agent; All tobacco batch of materials are preheated; And/or in the high-pressure impregnation district, tobacco is compressed.
Process for expansion of tobacco of the present invention and device supply to a tobacco batch of material impregnation chamber with a kind of compressible expanding tobacco agent from a positive displacement memory, and described memory splendid attire the swelling agent that is in first temperature and pressure.The best splendid attire temperature of described memory surpasses the propane that 100 pressure surpass 500psig.Described memory comprises a piston, it can fast and will be discharged into splendid attire by a fluid supply pipe at the swelling agent of the measured scheduled volume that obtains of first pressure and temperature forcibly and in the impregnation chamber of a collection of tobacco, according to the present invention, the predetermined of swelling agent is greater than the volume of tobacco impregnation chamber.When in the less volume that by force swelling agent is pressed into impregnation chamber, the pressure and temperature of swelling agent all increases to more than first pressure and temperature, and reaches the required pressure and temperature of hot conditions of dipping tobacco batch of material.The total measurement (volume) of described supply pipe and impregnation chamber is preferably less than the volume of memory.
Therefore, the temperature and pressure of the swelling agent that the present invention is used can remain below under the required dipping temperature and pressure, up to the higher temperature and pressure of needs with till flooding described tobacco.And the internal heat that produces by compression can more promptly heat swelling agent than depending on the external heat source, thereby the whole circulation time of tobacco dipping can be reduced to the shortest.The heat that produces in the swelling agent compression process can more effectively offer tobacco.In a word, method and apparatus of the present invention can use littler, more inexpensive high-pressure bottle, and can reduce the explosive danger of high-pressure bottle and the storage problem of high pressure flammable fluid.Can adopt various devices to implement method of the present invention.
In all preferred embodiments, use be to authorize the plunger piston type expanding tobacco agent device that is disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 4,554,932 of Conrad and White.For example the expanding tobacco agent of propane fluid preferably with high temperature and near or the high pressure that surpasses its critical pressure use so that the dipping tobacco makes it to expand and do not need heating.A kind of preferable swelling agent memory of the present invention comprises that one is used for forcibly with the positive displacement piston of swelling agent row from memory.Advantageously, described memory is a form of being arranged to a hydrostatic column, and it has the positive displacement piston that a favourable portion within it moves.When the direction that is positioned at the hole at container one end place when described piston towards one moved, it compressed described swelling agent, and simultaneously swelling agent is discharged in the volume less impregnation chamber and supply pipe.Described piston is preferably in just can be with all swelling agent rows from memory in the one stroke.Advantageously, the volume of cylindrical memory container is at least greater than 50% of the total measurement (volume) of supply pipe and impregnation chamber.
The expansion fluid of best near small part reclaims to come out and recycle from the single-steeping chamber and turns back to described memory, so that use in next impregnation cycles.Advantageously, after tobacco dipping, under pressure swelling agent is discharged into from Dilvar zone with described Dilvar zone and fluid supply line that memory links to each other in.Then, will be collected in the memory from the high pressure-temperature swelling agent of the recirculation of Dilvar zone.The volume that turns back to the swelling agent of memory will be less than the total amount that is discharged into the swelling agent in the Dilvar zone at first.Therefore, the swelling agent pressure in the memory is normally less than the pressure of just expecting.The propane unworn or that reclaim that other can be added is sent into described memory, so that the swelling agent of aequum to be provided under high pressure and hot conditions, so that carry out next tobacco impregnation cycles.
Each following accompanying drawing constitutes the part of the original disclosure of the present invention, in each accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is the schematic sectional view of a kind of preferable tobacco immersion system that uses among the present invention, and wherein various operating position is partly shown in broken lines;
Fig. 2 is the cutaway view of a kind of preferable memory of using in the device shown in Figure 1, and described memory can surpass its temperature and pressure the fluid of supercritical temperature and pressure basically be introduced in the device shown in Figure 1 instantaneously;
Fig. 3 shows a kind of preferred approach of each feature of the present invention of employing; And
Fig. 4 schematically shows a kind of preferable control method that is used for controlling device shown in Figure 1.
The embodiment of various distinct methods of the present invention and device is described below.Though the present invention comprises that in conjunction with those all concrete grammars shown in each accompanying drawing and device are described,, should be understood that, that the present invention is not subjected to their restriction.On the contrary, the present invention includes various modification, improvement and equivalent, this will become more clear will and specifically describing from following discussion.
Fig. 1 schematically shows a kind of preferable dipping method of the present invention and device, it comprises a plunger and a casing device, they generally are the U.S. Patent No.s 4 of authorizing Conard and White according on November 26th, 1985, authorized the U.S. Patent No. 5,483 of Conrad and white on January 16th, 554,932,1996,977, the U.S. Patent No. 5 of authorizing people such as Beard November 28 nineteen ninety-five, 469,872 construct, and these patents quote at this as a reference.For the purpose of brief, the various particular contents that disclosed in ' 932 patent and aforesaid each United States Patent (USP) all no longer repeat at this.But,, can consult ' 932 patent and above-mentioned these patents if will understand detail.
As Fig. 1 schematically shows, preferably at first in a dark zone 10, tobacco is handled, about more than 16% (weight) so that its water content is increased to, preferably about more than 20% (weight).Then, the tobacco that water content is obtained increasing is sent to a feed zone 12, in this feed zone, can utilize Steam Heating that tobacco is heated, then, tobacco is given delivered to a high-pressure impregnation district that preferably is a reciprocating type plunger and housing high-pressure fluid treating apparatus.
Described plunger and housing high-pressure fluid treating apparatus comprise a pressure vessel that is formed by a cylindrical housings or shell 14 and a plunger assembly 16.Described housing 14 and plunger assembly 16 can be made by any suitable material, comprise stainless steel and other similar material.The concrete structure of described housing and plunger and size obviously should be enough to bear the predetermined pressure in the pressure vessel.
Plunger is feeded at 24 places in the position, for example draws for those of reference await the reply as described in the application described, then, moves to the dipping position.Tobacco can take various forms, and comprises tobacco leaf (contain stalk and muscle), removes tobacco leaf bar, cigar or the cigarette chopping filler (the tobacco slice that is cut into or is torn into that is used for cigarette and cigar manufacturing) that obstruct.
Many batches of tobacco material delivered on the plunger assembly 16 compress, make its density be compressed to about 300% or bigger from about 125% loose filling (convert and the have same humidity) density of identical tobacco.Can adopt packed density that calculate based on the 12wt.% water content, every cubic feet of 25-30 pound easily, draw as described above for reference await the reply the application as described in.Thereby can provide tobacco is depressed into the device that can fill between all end members 18 on the plunger assembly 16 substantially and center on the annular space of connecting rod 20.Amount of tobacco is preferably: the volume that its rarefaction records before being loaded on the plunger assembly 16 should be basically greater than the volume of described annular space.
After position 24 place's coupled columns were filled in the row loading, plunger moved to the dipping position.Each end member 18 comprises the seal 30 that can be radially expanded, and described seal is preferably at the above-mentioned elastic seal ring that draws for also being described in applying for reference to awaiting the reply.Sealing ring is preferably made by a kind of deformable elastomeric material, such as vulcanized rubber, and can accept hydraulic fluid with fluid line 32.Hydraulic fluid such as edible oil passes all pipelines 32 under the effect of a hydraulic pressure memory 34.Hydraulic fluid enters an end of plunger by a hole of passing connecting rod 36, and described connecting rod partly is illustrated among Fig. 1, links to each other with at least one end of plunger assembly 16.Hydraulic fluid is crushed on the inner edge of sealing ring 30, thereby all sealing rings are radially outward expanded and seals up balancing gate pit 22 in case stopping leak leaks.
High-pressure fluid supply/recirculation pipe 38 and recovery tube 40 are with a plurality of holes 42 and by housing 14.These holes that can distribute around the outer marginal circumference of housing 14 can be introduced high-pressure fluid and discharge the Dilvar zone 22 that is formed by plunger end member 18 and cylindrical housings 14.One outer manifold 44 is introduced shell 14 round all holes 42 and with all circumferential holes 42 with the fluid expansion agent.The high pressure swelling agent flows through all holes 42, subsequently with having loaded and be compressed in plunger connecting rod 20 tobacco on every side as a plurality of holes in the plunger body of describing in the above-mentioned application of awaiting the reply of drawing for reference and guide groove inflow.A pair of quick action valve 46 and 48 is set is used for fluid imported apace and discharge impregnation chamber 22.These valves can be ball valves, and its aperture is 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches or bigger, look the size of Dilvar zone 22 and different.These valves are are preferably opened and closed automatically by quick-action hydraulic actuating mechanism not shown in the figures.
One swelling agent recovery tube 40 is set to be remained in the Dilvar zone and the propane that is not recycled because the pressure in memory and the chamber equates further to remove.Therefore it can also remove the high pressure swelling agent termly from Dilvar zone 22, comprise that the impurity of moisture etc. can not accumulate in the swelling agent too much.Pipeline 40 is connected in an optional gas recovery area or treatment region (not shown) to reclaim swelling agent or therefrom to recover energy.On unloading one side, the pneumatic unloading nozzle 41 that comes from oilless (oil free) compressor is arranged in the tobacco unload zone.When plunger 16 was shifted to unloading position 26 and moved apart unloading position 26, all unloading nozzles can will direct on the tobacco of plunger assembly 16 such as the fluid of pressure-air or nitrogen.Then, the tobacco that is removed at unloading position 26 places is given and to deliver to one and reclaim skewed slot, in this reclaims skewed slot, according to the moisture in swelling agent, temperature conditions, the tobacco etc., is for further processing by drying and expands with stable, or heat with influence or increase and expand.
At the input side of swelling agent, high pressure gas pipeline 38 be connected in a variable volume, will be in conjunction with the specifically described hereinafter positive displacement storage arrangement 50 of Fig. 2.One evaporimeter 52 or gas-heating apparatus preferably are arranged on the upstream of positive displacement memory 50, are used for heating the fluid expansion agent, and described fluid expansion agent is preferably given the propane of delivering to memory 50 from a swelling agent drainage area 54.Memory 50 also can be heated by various heating element heaters, such as heating jacket or an analog (not shown), is in the memory of heated condition so that the fluid expansion agent remained on.A plurality of high-pressure pumps 56 are positioned at the swelling agent supply side of evaporimeter 52, are used for being in the high-pressure fluid of high pressure, that is, the propane that can reach about 600psig is to delivering to evaporimeter 52 and memory 50.Though only show a pump 56,, can use two or more pumps as required usually, with will be from the drainage area pressure of 54 fluid increase to required pressure limit.
One quick action valve 60 is arranged in the service 38 between evaporimeter 52 and the memory 50.This valve is is also preferably opened and closed by the quick-action hydraulic actuating mechanism that does not show automatically.
Fig. 2 is the cutaway view that a preferable positive displacement piston discharges memory 50, and described memory can store a collection of compressible swelling agent under first pressure, and can discharge swelling agent by force in compression and rising swelling agent temperature.Memory 50 is to be used for fluid expansion agent with a kind of high pressure, high temperature, can reach and surpass 2500pisg, temperature can reach and surpass 200 high pressure-temperature propane such as pressure to be provided to Dilvar zone in the plunger impregnator shown in Figure 1.
Piston or stopper head 76 are made by a kind of suitable material, such as phosphor bronze.One cylindrical dynamic sealing 78 is arranged on around the neighboring of stopper head 76.Moving axially in the process of plunger 72, described seal 78 can provide and keep sealing between the external peripheral surface of the inner surface of cylinder 60 and stopper head 76.Described seal preferably inertia, soft, make by the relatively low material of a kind of frictional force.
Fig. 2 shows and a kind ofly can and surpass the typical seals 78 that keeps sealing function under 200 the temperature at the pressure that surpasses 2500psig, because five independently carbon element packing ring 80-88 be centered around around the periphery of stopper head 76, and can between the inner surface of the neighboring of stopper head 76 and housing 61, provide the sealing contact.Three inner washers 82,84 and 86 that axially are provided with are all the most soft or more yielding like the outer washer 80 and 88 that axially is provided with.These packing rings, moldedly form and supply of commodities are all arranged such as GRAFOIL carbon by the various high-temperature stable carbon that are used for sealing ring material.Obviously also can use material other inertia, that sealing function can be provided between stopper head 76 and housing 61 inner surfaces in the moving of plunger 72.
All packing ring 80-88 are all remaining under the effect of an annular ring 90 under the axial compression state, and annular ring is with the lug 92 of an annular pressing means 94 and axially be pressed against on all packing rings.Described pressing means 94 is fixed in described piston component 72 with a bolt 96, and applies a predetermined biasing force under the effect of all biasing members 98, and all biasing members are the spring washers that supply of commodities is arranged.The pressure that offers all packing ring 80-88 with bolt 96, compression element 94 and annular ring 90 is enough to partly flatten all spring washers 98 usually.The line shaft that puts on all packing ring 80-88 makes all packing rings radially outward expand to active force, forms a sealing function thus between the inner peripheral of the outer peripheral edges of the stopper head 76 that slides and housing 61.
Axle supporting member 99 with the axis hole that is carrying a lining 101 is installed in the outer end of housing 61 with bolster 70.Described axle supporting member comprises a hole 100 at least so that provide equal pressure in cylinder 60 inside on its bar side 102.One hydraulic cylinder or similar electronic device 104 link to each other with axle 70 with connecting rod 103, so that plunger 72 moves in memory 50.Hydraulic cylinder 104 can be any known in prior art, be used for hydraulic power is converted to the hydraulic cylinder of mechanical power.Described connecting rod 103 preferably is arranged on a housing 106 inside, and described housing is collected any swelling agent that leaks out from chamber 74.
In Fig. 2, shown hydraulic cylinder is to be in a position of contracting in fully, so the plungers 72 in the memory 50 also are in the recessed shape attitude, thereby swelling agent completely is contained in the memory 50.Do not illustrate though give among Fig. 2, described memory can comprise one be centered around cylinder 60 to the small part neighboring around heating jacket.Described heating jacket can be any device in prior art, also/maybe can keep one to have the interior fluid temperature (F.T.) of container of all tubular heat exchange elements and analog so that add hot fluid.As those skilled in the art were understandable, described heating jacket also can extend to the whole length of memory cylinder.The volume of described memory can by regulate one be positioned at the retraction of mechanical stopping piece (not shown) on the hydraulic cylinder, restriction hydraulic cylinder and thus the retraction of limits storage piston obtain changing.
Return Fig. 1, in the running, utilize high-pressure pump 56 and 58 swelling agent to be provided to memory 50 to be lower than in Dilvar zone 22 pressure that floods the required impregnation pressure of tobacco with swelling agent.Swelling agent is discharged into an evaporimeter 52 from high-pressure pump 56 and 58.When swelling agent flows through evaporimeter 52, swelling agent is preheated to a high temperature, this high temperature values is preferably lower than the required dipping temperature in the Dilvar zone 22.Be preferably less than required impregnation pressure for the pressure of the swelling agent of delivering to memory 50, that is, approximately less than 75% of required impregnation pressure; Be more preferably less than 50% of required impregnation pressure, be preferably less than 33% of required impregnation pressure most.This carries out main pressurization to swelling agent with regard to allowing having under the situation of tobacco, produces heat by this with heating swelling agent and tobacco material.
When swelling agent was introduced memory 50, valve 60 remained on an opening.Equally, valve 46 remains on a closed condition, thereby makes swelling agent pass through the inside 74 that hole 66 flows into memory 50.Utilize the pressure of the propane piston 72 that bounces back to suck in the described memory to avoid air.
After propane pressure reached the setting pressure of pump 56, valve 60 cut out, and the setting pressure of pump 56 is to be determined by a sensor that links to each other with described pump or a sensor (not shown) that links to each other with described memory 50.
Valve 46 is opened subsequently, and piston 72 moves down under the effect of power, thus swelling agent is discharged memory and is flowed into high pressure gas pipeline 38 and impregnation chamber.The size of memory 50, pipeline 38 and Dilvar zone 22 is like this designs, so that with the volume addition of the volume of pipeline 38 and Dilvar zone 22 time, its total measurement (volume) preferably is significantly less than the volume of memory 50.Therefore, when swelling agent flows out memory 50 and when flowing into Dilvar zone shown in Figure 1, its volume obviously reduces, its pressure and temperature then obviously rises, for example, rise near and surpass the supercritical temperature and the pressure of swelling agent in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.More particularly, when swelling agent when memory 50 flows into impregnation chamber by pipeline 38 because the active force that is applied in the process of piston 72 in the volume that reduces that swelling agent is entered high pressure gas pipeline 38 and impregnation chamber 22, swelling agent is compressed significantly.Because swelling agent is compressed, its pressure and temperature all increases, and for example, for propane, increases to about 2500psig and is elevated to about 200 to about 275 final temperature from 125-175 initial temperature from 600psig.Reduce the required pre compressed magnitude and the amount of preheating of swelling agent because of swelling agent is compressed the compression heat that produces, and also reduced the required amount of preheating of tobacco.
The definite structure of memory and pipeline 38 can change according to various factors, the for example required dipping temperature of the type of used swelling agent, swelling agent and required impregnation pressure, and other similar factor, as long as select the volume of memory and pipeline to such an extent that the pressure and temperature of a certain swelling agent can be increased to overcritical value.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, propane is used as swelling agent, the volume of memory is at least the about more than 150% of pipeline 38 and impregnation chamber volume, preferably about at least 200%, therefore, hydraulic cylinder pushes the expanding tobacco chamber with about 1.5 times of swelling agents to about 5 times or more times chamber volumes.
Therefore, device of the present invention has the economic advantage of processing, and for example, it can use a memory, compares with the storage arrangement of prior art, and the pressure and temperature of the swelling agent that this memory kept is all lower.For example in the memory construction of prior art, be maintained at such as the expansion fluid of propane and be in the memory or surpass supercriticality, that is, the about pressure of 3000psig and approximately surpass 300 temperature.On the contrary, in the present invention, propane can be remained on the pressure and about 100 to 175 temperature that are in about 600psig in the memory, look the pre-warmed degree of tobacco and different, the while can also provide equal immersion condition.
When swelling agent had been arranged from memory, valve 46 cut out and keeps the chamber pressure of plunger to finish up to the dipping cycle.The discharging of swelling agent is preferably with the basic emptying of memory.During dipping, valve 46 cuts out.After cycle, valve 46 is opened so that propane is discharged into memory to recycle from Dilvar zone 22 at the predetermined dipping that floods for one to several seconds with high pressure-temperature propane.Subsequently, valve 48 is opened to carry out final decompression or to discharge propane fully to recycle.Plunger 16 moves to unloading position subsequently discharging through expansion or through the tobacco of dipping from described plunger.Detect the moment that pressure between Dilvar zone and the memory reaches balance with a sensor, valve 46 cuts out subsequently.
As those those of skill in the art are understandable, the amount that is back to the swelling agent of memory 50 will be less than the total amount of the swelling agent that is discharged into Dilvar zone at first, because have some swelling agents to be absorbed by tobacco and also have some swelling agents to be retained in the Dilvar zone after reaching pressure balance.Therefore, the pressure of the swelling agent in the memory 50 will be less than its initial pressure, and for example, if the swelling agent initial pressure in the memory is 600psig, then this moment, pressure will be less than 600psig.In a word, for propane, can be recycled from about 2/3 or more propane of Tobacco plugs and to get back to memory 50, be under the situation of 600psig at the propane initial pressure, and the propane of recirculation can have the pressure of an approximate 475psig.
Subsequently, the propane of the unworn or recirculation of the interpolation in the agent of self-expanding in the future source 54 is introduced in the memory 50.One sensor detects the interior pressure of memory less than required loading pressure.So valve 48 cuts out, valve 60 is opened, and a controller to start all pumps immediately be that propane refills memory with high-pressure fluid.In the employed in the present invention cycle that is used in Dilvar zone shown in Figure 1 22 the dipping tobacco, memory 50 can for example refill in short time of 5-10 second at one section.Propane is caused memory 50 by valve 60 and hole 66, make propane in described memory, be in the starting pressure state of an about 600psig.When chamber pressure reaches the predetermined pressure state, promptly about 600psig, valve 60 cuts out.
As previously mentioned, the propane pressure in the memory is to be used for bouncing back plunger 72, and hydraulic pressure then is to be used for stretching described plunger.This possibility that makes air suck storage arrangement is reduced to minimum.
After impregnation chamber 22 discharges, preferably monitor the pressure of chamber 22 at propane.When the pressure in the Dilvar zone reaches the equalizing pressure of about 475psig, can shut off valve 46 and open valve 48, handle or the recovery area remaining propane is introduced a propane.In addition, hope can regularly discharge in the impregnation chamber all or most propane or other swelling agent so that handle or reclaim by valve 48, rather than is recycled to memory 50, to prevent that water from dividing and other impurity accumulates in propane and other swelling agent too much.
Fig. 3 shows the flow chart of a kind of preferred approach of the present invention.The method of Fig. 3 is preferably according to the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4 of authorizing White and Conrad on July 30th, 1985 of drawing for reference, 531,529, the U.S. Patent No. 5 of authorizing Conrad and White on January 16th, 1996,483,977 and the U.S. Patent No. 5 of authorizing people such as Beard November 28 nineteen ninety-five, 469,872 implement.
See also Fig. 3, what square frame 150 was represented is positive displacement memory shown in Figure 1.Shown in square frame 155, the tobacco that preferably is chopping material form preheats before being preferably in and introducing Dilvar zone.Preheating also of tobacco provides heat for the condition of setting up suitable short period time in Dilvar zone.Tobacco is preferably preheated to be to preheat to surpassing about 140 or higher temperature to surpassing about 125 temperature, being more preferably, and for example preheats to 150 °-160 °F or higher.Preferably to tobacco add moisture with improve preheating before and/or preheat the pliability of tobacco in the process.Preferably adopt about 16% to about 30% or higher moisture among the present invention.
Can preheat tobacco with any method, comprise that heated roller (heated drum), microwave energy and steam spray.It is believed that Steam Heating is preferable, because can also increase its moisture simultaneously more effectively with the heat transferred tobacco.
Subsequently, will be in pre-warmed tobacco be compressed to a steeper as square frame 160 is pointed, all plunger and housing units as shown in Figure 1 perhaps are compressed in any high pressure stabilized seal container that adopts traditional design.Preferably with at least 1.25: 1, the compression ratio that is more preferably to surpass 1.5: 1 compresses tobacco.If according to the initial loose packed density of tobacco, to compress then particularly favourable until 3: 1 or higher compression ratio greater than 2: 1.Tobacco is compressed the density that has increased tobacco, make the density of giving the tobacco of sending into Dilvar zone basically greater than the density before its compression.Thereby from having improved the utilization rate in space in the Dilvar zone in essence.Those skilled persons in present technique field can recognize, loose density of filling tobacco can be according to following factors and great changes will take place: comprise that tobacco is leaf or chopping filler shape, the type of tobacco, water content of tobacco and other factors.The present invention can adopt easily based on water content 12% packed bulk densities that calculate, 20 pounds every cubic feet.Though increasing to a certain extent, the increase meeting of packed bulk density is used for obtaining same expansion degree required cycle time, but, successfully adopted the packed bulk density that surpasses the every cubic inch of 20-30 pound that calculates based on water content 12% in the present invention, and the while still can obtain the dip time less than 20 seconds, and the filling capacity of tobacco is increased above 50-100%.
Then, as square frame 165 is indicated, in Dilvar zone, compressed tobacco is flooded.When with propane when the immersion fluid, the accumulation heat that offers Dilvar zone by propane and pre-warmed tobacco through heating is enough to be provided in Dilvar zone between about 240 °F and about 270 °F, about 260 immersion condition preferably.It has been found that, when heat is by through pre-warmed tobacco with when pre-warmed propane provides, in about 5 seconds even shorter time, just can obtain about 260 °F and 2, the dipping temperature of 500psig and pressure.
As mentioned above, memory 50, be used for propane is caused the high-pressure fluid service 38 of described chamber and the size of chamber 22 all is designed to like this from memory, so that be forced to row under the effect of plunger 72 during when expansion fluid from memory, swelling agent is heated and is pressurized to a required tobacco impregnation pressure, this pressure is preferably approaching or surpass supercritical pressure, and temperature is above about 200 °F.
Obviously, can change the compression degree of propane and other swelling agent, to change because the caloric value of the swelling agent due to the compression.The size that puts on the heat on the propane with compression preferably balances each other with the required size that puts on the heat on propane and the tobacco.Therefore, when the propane fluid is heated to higher temperature, tobacco can be heated to a lower temperature, so that temperature conditions required in the Dilvar zone to be provided.But, should believe that the temperature of propane has a upper limit, surpass this upper limit, the tobacco in the Dilvar zone may sustain damage.In addition, because what use is the immersion fluid of smaller size smaller in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, the quality that can be used to heat the immersion fluid of tobacco is smaller.Therefore, the size that can put on the heat of tobacco has a restriction.Therefore, the volume of the memory twice at least of the total measurement (volume) of impregnation chamber and service preferably.People wish to provide additional heat by the source of tobacco and so on.
Equally also clearly, can such as by in Dilvar zone, adopting a heater, the material in the tobacco Dilvar zone be heated with other method.But, for extremely short circulation timei, to compressing assist to heat and it is believed that and can produce extremely desirable effect through preheating tobacco and mixture through preheating high pressure propane.
Tobacco compressed and dipping is kept 1-2 second to about 20 seconds short time under immersion condition.Shown in square frame among Fig. 3 170, release pressure then.The release of pressure is preferably instantaneous basically to be carried out, and promptly finishes in about 1 second or shorter time.This can achieve the goal by the quick action valve that employing has a big inlet.Then, be immediately compressed tobacco to be taken out from Dilvar zone basically, so that can make expanding tobacco.Tobacco preferably comes in contact by the air with dry air that pressurizes or heating and obtains handling, so that water content is stabilized in expanded form so that help with tobacco for for example about 10-12%.
When swelling agent is the sort of similar swelling agent that discloses in propane or a kind of U.S. Patent No. of authorizing White and Conrad 4,531,529, does not need tobacco heated and make expanding tobacco be fixed on expanded form.And owing to do not adopt the high temperature heating condition, therefore, the material of volatile fragrant agent, sugar and so on is not loss basically.But the present invention also can adopt other swelling agent, comprises that those are to make expanding tobacco or be fixed on expanded form and need comprise the swelling agent of the expansion condition of heating.
Shown in square frame 175, propane caused or recycle get back to memory so that in next tobacco cycle of treatment, use.After a circulation, the propane pressure of memory inside is the low pressure initial pressure, for example, and about 475psig.Then, shown in square frame 180, refilling memory with supply propane, is about 600psig so that make the initial pressure in the memory.When supply propane is added into memory 50, remaining propane is discharged row from Dilvar zone 22, shown in square frame 185.Then, reclaim or transmit remaining propane to handle, shown in square frame 190.Then, when plunger 16 moves to discharge zone 26, expand through the tobacco of dipping, shown in square frame 195.
Fig. 4 shows a kind of preferable control method, and it is used in combination so that expanding tobacco with device shown in Figure 1.In order to make circulation timei shorter, promptly, 20 seconds or still less, people extremely need this or a kind of similar control system that can detect the sensor of all conditions in the processing of expanding that comprises, for person skilled in the art more clearly, control hardware can be pneumatic, electronic, or based on pneumatic or electronic, and can comprise a microprocessor.
See also Fig. 4, in square frame 200, used all suitable sensors, be used for verifying whether plunger assembly is in charging position 24, and checking whether have an amount of tobacco to expect on the throne to be installed.If satisfy these conditions, control then is sent to square frame 205, and tobacco is installed on the plunger assembly 16.One suitable sensing mechanism detects the charging situation of tobacco, and control is sent to square frame 210 then.In square frame 210, drive hydraulic piston 28 so that described plunger is moved in the pressure housing 14.One suitable sensor, the position that detects plunger such as a location test switch or analog is to be in appropriate locations in the housing 14, control then is sent to square frame 215.
In square frame 215, a valve is opened, so that flow of hydraulic fluid goes out hydraulic pressure memory 34, contacts thereby seal 30 is pressed into radially outwardly with housing 14.Hydraulic pressure memory 34 preferably keeps the hydraulic fluid of q.s, so as about 1 second or shorter, preferably basic less than 1 second cycle time in, the pressure of each seal 30 is increased to 3,000psig.One suitable sensor detects the fluid pressure of all seal 30 internal flows, and when described pressure is required pressure, for example, 3,000psig passes control to square frame 220.
In square frame 220, a suitable sensor validates propane drainage area 54 and the valve 60 between the memory 50 are to be in closure state, and described quick-action filling-valve 46 is opened in control then.Control is sent to square frame 225 subsequently, and in square frame 225, hydraulic actuating mechanism stretches plunger 72.So just swelling agent is emitted, swelling agent can be that its pressure and temperature is lower than the propane that tobacco is flooded desirable value in the memory 50 such as being maintained at, for example, and about 600psig of pressure and about 200 propane of temperature.Compression-expansion agent after swelling agent enters Dilvar zone 22, thus it is heated, swelling agent is heated to temperature surpasses 200 °F and make its pressure be about 2500psig.
Control is sent to square frame 230 then, and in square frame 230, valve 46 cuts out.Under these conditions, and especially when the tobacco in the Dilvar zone is preheated, dipping process is quickish, and can finish to the short period time of 15-20 between second at several seconds.Can utilize a timer to control this section period.The time that is used to flood can be regulated according to water content, temperature and the density situation of tobacco in the Dilvar zone 22.
When the time that timer arrival sets, valve 46 will be opened once more, shown in square frame 235.Then, thus propane flows back to memory 50 from Dilvar zone makes plunger 72 retraction.As noted above, the pressure that turns back to the propane in the memory 50 will be less than required blowdown presssure, and promptly about 475psig is to 600psig.
Control is sent to next square frame 240 subsequently, the pressure sensor in the Dilvar zone is compared with the pressure sensor in the memory, till two pressure equate.Control is sent to next square frame 245 immediately, makes propane supply valve closure, opens valve 48 subsequently so that remaining propane flows to a recovery area.Control is sent to next square frame 250 immediately, and in this square frame, the pressure sensor quilt in the Dilvar zone 22 is reading repeatedly, and the described pressure in Dilvar zone drops to a predetermined low pressure, for example, and till 5psig.
At this moment, control is sent to next square frame 255, with shut off valve 48 apace and open propane supply valve 60 apace, thereby supply propane is flowed in the memory 50.Control is sent to next square frame 260 immediately, and wherein a valve is opened, so that discharge all seals 30 of flow of pressurized physical efficiency from plunger.One suitable sensor detects the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in all seals, and when fluid pressure has reached a required low pressure, passes control to next square frame 265.
In square frame 265, the actuation plunger driver is that hydraulic piston 28 is to move to discharge position 26 with plunger assembly 16.Simultaneously, start a compressor so that pressure-air or nitrogen introducing have been moved on the described plunger of position 26, in square frame 270, when plunger arrives the discharge position of described full extension, one suitable sensor detects the position of described plunger, and hydraulic piston 28 changes the direction of motion of plunger immediately at once so that plunger is got back to described charging position 24.Control is sent to next square frame 275 immediately, and in this square frame, a sensor detects the position of the plunger that is in charging position 24, then a collection of new tobacco material is filled on the described plunger.
Control is sent to next square frame 280 immediately, in this square frame, the pressure in the sensor validates memory in required stuffing pressure scope, for example, 600psig.One controller quits work pump 56 and 58, and shut off valve 60 immediately.Square frame 200 next circulation of beginning are got back in control immediately again.
So far the each side of process for expansion of tobacco described herein has been carried out concrete argumentation, particularly discussed and used propane as the impregnating agent that promotes swelling agent in conjunction with preferred means, make dipping temperature near or surpass supercritical temperature and make high pressure near or surpass the situation of supercritical pressure.But various effective process for expansion of tobacco disclosed herein and device also can be used for other process for expansion of tobacco.Expansion fluid and device.For example, the rapid expanding agent compression operation that can produce heat simultaneously can improve substantially and manyly surpasses the productivity ratio of the tobacco dipping method of the expanding tobacco that being beneficial to of carrying out in the container of 100psig carry out subsequently at various its pressure.
Equally, to introduce Dilvar zone apace such as the HTHP immersion fluid of carbon dioxide, and compress simultaneously and heat, can be used for heat is offered swelling agent and tobacco, to shorten before the heating steps that carries out subsequently necessary dipping cycle time significantly.
The present invention has carried out quite detailed description in conjunction with some preferred embodiments.But it is described and by variation, additions and deletions and the improvement of determined spirit of the present invention of appending claims and protection domain to make the various aforementioned specification that do not deviate to the present invention.
Claims (25)
1. device with swelling agent dipping tobacco, it comprises;
One have predetermined volume, be used under high pressure flooding the impregnation chamber of a collection of tobacco with a kind of swelling agent;
One has predetermined volume.The fluid supply line road that is communicated with described impregnation chamber;
One accommodates the memory of the compressible swelling agent that is in first temperature and pressure, described memory comprises a bleed piston, and this piston is suitable for by force first volume that will measure when the described first pressure and temperature state described swelling agent is discharged into described fluid supply line and described impregnation chamber from described memory;
It is characterized in that, the total measurement (volume) of described supply pipe and described impregnation chamber is less than described first volume of swelling agent, therefore, when described swelling agent was supplied to the described impregnation chamber of holding described tobacco batch of material, the pressure and temperature of described swelling agent all was increased and surpasses described first pressure and temperature.
2. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described first pressure and temperature of described swelling agent is at least about 100 temperature with at least about the pressure of 500psig.
3. device as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, when described swelling agent being given when delivering to the described impregnation chamber of holding described tobacco batch of material, the described pressure and temperature of described swelling agent all is increased and surpasses about 6000psig and about 200.
4. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, the volume of described impregnation chamber, described memory and described fluid supply line is all through selecting, therefore, the pressure and temperature that is discharged into the described swelling agent of described fluid supply line and impregnation chamber from described memory all be increased to comprise one near or surpass a temperature and pressure of the pressure of its supercritical pressure.
5. device as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, the volume of described memory is at least greater than about 50% of the total measurement (volume) of described impregnation chamber and described fluid supply line.
6. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described memory comprises that one is used for the positive displacement plunger that portion within it moves.
7. device as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described memory is a columniform container.
8. device as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, the described plunger in the described cylindrical memory container is suitable in a stroke all substantially swelling agents being discharged described memory container.
9. device as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that described plunger is connected in a hydraulic actuating mechanism.
10. device as claimed in claim 1, it also comprises: be connected in the swelling agent supply source of described memory, it comprises that one is in the described swelling agent supply material of predetermined storage pressure a fluid.
11. device as claimed in claim 10, it also comprises: at least one is used for pump that described swelling agent is sent to described memory and is used for increasing its pressure from described supply source.
12. device as claimed in claim 11, it also comprises: one between described supply source and described memory, be used for heater that the described swelling agent that is sent to described memory with pump from described supply source is heated.
13. device as claimed in claim 10, it also comprises:
One can make described memory link to each other with described impregnation chamber fluid and disjunct first valve;
One can make described memory link to each other with described swelling agent supply source fluid and disjunct second valve; And
One controller, it links to each other with described first and second valves, be used for closing described second valve so that described memory and described swelling agent supply source are disconnected be connected, open described first valve so that make described swelling agent flow into described impregnation chamber, when the tobacco batch of material in the described expanding chamber is flooded, close described first valve, and when described second valve remains on closing position, open described first valve, so that after the dipping tobacco, will be recovered to from the swelling agent of described impregnation chamber in the described memory.
14. device as claimed in claim 13, it also comprises; Be connected in described impregnation chamber one fluid, be used for from described impregnation chamber reclaiming the swelling agent recovery tube of swelling agent.
15. a device that is used for high pressure, high temperature swelling agent are introduced a tobacco Dilvar zone, it comprises:
One memory, it is suitable at high temperature and is lower than under the supercritical pressure of described swelling agent the swelling agent supply source is kept being fluid form; And
One part that forms described memory, be used for apace swelling agent is discharged into positive displacement plunger in the Dilvar zone from described memory, the pressure and temperature that described plunger is suitable for discharging the swelling agent of described memory increases to and comprises that one is in or surpasses the pressure and temperature situation of its supercritical pressure.
16. device as claimed in claim 15 is characterized in that, the swelling agent supply source in the described memory comprises the propane that its temperature is maintained at about more than 100, its pressure is higher than about 500psig.
17. a method that is used for expanding tobacco, it may further comprise the steps:
One tobacco material packed into one have in the Dilvar zone of predetermined volume;
The described swelling agent of predetermined is arranged forcibly the memory that accommodates the compressible swelling agent that is in first temperature and pressure from, the swelling agent of described predetermined is to measure when swelling agent is in first pressure and temperature, and described predetermined is greater than the volume of described Dilvar zone; And
The described swelling agent of predetermined is introduced in the less volume of described tobacco Dilvar zone, the pressure and temperature with described swelling agent increases to above first pressure and temperature thus.
18. method as claimed in claim 17, it is further comprising the steps of:
Be positioned at the described tobacco of described Dilvar zone with described swelling agent dipping; And
To from described Dilvar zone, remove and make be subjected to being enough to the expanding effect of condition of described tobacco of described tobacco through the tobacco of dipping through dipping.
19. method as claimed in claim 17 is characterized in that, described charging step comprises: use effective dipping volume of filling described impregnation chamber with respect to the loose packing volume of described tobacco with the compression ratio that was at least 1.5: 1 through the tobacco of overcompression.
20. method as claimed in claim 17 is characterized in that, described swelling agent is a propane.
21. method as claimed in claim 20 is characterized in that, described first temperature and pressure of the described propane in the described memory comprises an about temperature and the above pressure of an about 500psig more than 125.
22. method as claimed in claim 21, it is characterized in that, described introducing step comprises: increase to increase to above 2000psig and with the temperature of described propane at the pressure with described propane and surpass under 200 the situation, described propane fluid is introduced in the described Dilvar zone.
23. method as claimed in claim 17 may further comprise the steps: before in described Dilvar zone that described tobacco material is packed into, described tobacco material is preheated.
24. method as claimed in claim 18 is further comprising the steps of: after in described Dilvar zone, described tobacco material being flooded, swelling agent is directly recycled to described memory from described Dilvar zone.
25. method as claimed in claim 24 is further comprising the steps of: other tobacco material is packed in the described Dilvar zone;
Repeat discharging, introducing and the recirculation step of described swelling agent;
Pack at least one other tobacco material in the described Dilvar zone and described impregnation steps is repeated a circulation at least again; And
Swelling agent is removed from described Dilvar zone and described swelling agent is sent to a recovery area or treatment region.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU20809/97A AU2080997A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-12 | Tobacco expansion process and apparatus |
| EP97107755A EP0878138A1 (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-13 | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
| CN97113145.7A CN1199581A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-16 | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
| JP9128237A JPH10327836A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-19 | Expansion of tobacco and derivative therefor |
| BR9703439A BR9703439A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-06-04 | Tobacco expansion apparatus and processes |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU20809/97A AU2080997A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-12 | Tobacco expansion process and apparatus |
| EP97107755A EP0878138A1 (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-13 | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
| CN97113145.7A CN1199581A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-16 | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
| JP9128237A JPH10327836A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-19 | Expansion of tobacco and derivative therefor |
| BR9703439A BR9703439A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-06-04 | Tobacco expansion apparatus and processes |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN1199581A true CN1199581A (en) | 1998-11-25 |
Family
ID=27506661
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN97113145.7A Pending CN1199581A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-05-16 | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0878138A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10327836A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1199581A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2080997A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9703439A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104336752A (en) * | 2013-08-06 | 2015-02-11 | 李计红 | Method for improving tobaccos |
| CN106539115A (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2017-03-29 | 延安大学 | Air compresses microwave heating air current puffing device and method |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE10041003A1 (en) * | 2000-08-22 | 2002-03-28 | Sueddeutsche Kalkstickstoff | Process for impregnating a carrier matrix with solid and / or liquid compounds with the aid of compressed gases and substances impregnated in this way |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4554932A (en) * | 1983-03-03 | 1985-11-26 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Pressure vessel and method of using same |
| US5095923A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1992-03-17 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Tobacco expansion process using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane |
| AU644736B2 (en) * | 1991-05-20 | 1993-12-16 | Japan Tobacco Inc. | Expanding apparatus for agricultural product or the like |
| US5469872A (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1995-11-28 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
| US5483977A (en) * | 1993-06-14 | 1996-01-16 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Tobacco expansion processes and apparatus |
-
1997
- 1997-05-12 AU AU20809/97A patent/AU2080997A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-05-13 EP EP97107755A patent/EP0878138A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-05-16 CN CN97113145.7A patent/CN1199581A/en active Pending
- 1997-05-19 JP JP9128237A patent/JPH10327836A/en active Pending
- 1997-06-04 BR BR9703439A patent/BR9703439A/en active Search and Examination
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104336752A (en) * | 2013-08-06 | 2015-02-11 | 李计红 | Method for improving tobaccos |
| CN106539115A (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2017-03-29 | 延安大学 | Air compresses microwave heating air current puffing device and method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0878138A1 (en) | 1998-11-18 |
| AU2080997A (en) | 1998-11-12 |
| BR9703439A (en) | 1999-01-05 |
| JPH10327836A (en) | 1998-12-15 |
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