EP0443321B1 - Feuille de tabac et procédé et appareil pour sa fabrication - Google Patents

Feuille de tabac et procédé et appareil pour sa fabrication Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0443321B1
EP0443321B1 EP91100471A EP91100471A EP0443321B1 EP 0443321 B1 EP0443321 B1 EP 0443321B1 EP 91100471 A EP91100471 A EP 91100471A EP 91100471 A EP91100471 A EP 91100471A EP 0443321 B1 EP0443321 B1 EP 0443321B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tobacco
gas
hot
sheet
expansion chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91100471A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0443321A3 (en
EP0443321A2 (fr
Inventor
Uwe Dipl.-Ing. Ehling
Jürgen Nüsslein
Gerald Dipl.-Ing. Schmekel
Wilfried Dr.Dipl.-Ing. Stiller
Werner Dr.Dipl.-Chem. Hass
Volker Dr. Dipl.-Chem. Heemann
Casper Henk Koene
Arno Dipl.-Ing. Weiss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Original Assignee
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British American Tobacco Germany GmbH, BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH filed Critical British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Priority to FI910798A priority Critical patent/FI96658C/fi
Priority to APAP/P/1991/000260A priority patent/AP232A/en
Priority to BR9100733A priority patent/BR9100733A/pt
Publication of EP0443321A2 publication Critical patent/EP0443321A2/fr
Publication of EP0443321A3 publication Critical patent/EP0443321A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0443321B1 publication Critical patent/EP0443321B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A24B3/14—Forming reconstituted tobacco products, e.g. wrapper materials, sheets, imitation leaves, rods, cakes; Forms of such products
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
    • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
    • A24B15/12—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of reconstituted tobacco
    • A24B15/14—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of reconstituted tobacco made of tobacco and a binding agent not derived from tobacco
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S131/00—Tobacco
    • Y10S131/903—Fixing the product after puffing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a tobacco film with increased filling power according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 10 and a device according to the preamble of claim 29 for producing such a tobacco film.
  • the filling capacity of the tobacco film depends crucially on the smallest possible thickness corresponding to a small die gap width of the extrusion die, which is why the entire tobacco starting material must be reliably ground with a maximum grain size. Excessively large tobacco particles in the raw mass of the tobacco starting material can easily clog such an extrusion nozzle, which is why complex control measures or extremely reliable and therefore complex grinding processes are necessary.
  • tobacco films must be produced by means of rollers an extremely strong addition of water to the starting material can be made in the range of 30 to 50%, so that subsequent drying is required. This increases the necessary procedural effort.
  • unwanted organic solvents are often used here, e.g. Methylene chloride.
  • a multi-stage rolling mill or a calender is usually required here as well.
  • a method and a device for reprocessing tobacco is also known from DE-PS 33 39 247.
  • Dust-like tobacco particles and / or tobacco flour with binders and optionally additives are processed to a plastifiable mixture which is extruded into individual, strand-like intermediate products.
  • These strand-like intermediate products are then processed into pieces of film by forming a cylindrical strand from the plasticized mixture in an extruder into a thin-walled, continuously expanding hollow body and dividing it into thread-like, crimping intermediate products.
  • the thread-like, crimped intermediate products are then separated into individual, crimped fiber pieces.
  • the intermediate products have a relatively dense structure, which also differ in the additives from the quality characteristics of natural tobacco.
  • a tobacco reconstitution process in which a mixture of tobacco particles, starch and binders is extruded with the addition of water to give a web-like extrudate, the Extrusion conditions and the recipe are such that when the extrudate leaves the outlet opening of the extruder nozzle it assumes a cross section which is larger than that of the outlet opening of the extruder nozzle, and the extrudate is stretched in its plastic phase in order to reduce its thickness dimensions, the stretching ratio being at least Is 1.5; the stretched extrudate is cut to give particles, each having a cellular structure and an integral skin.
  • the stretching or stretching process is relatively complex. If the tobacco film is torn off, this leads to a loss of time and material during production. Another disadvantage is the high proportion of binder required, which leads to impaired taste and aroma.
  • DE-OS 38 04 459 discloses a tobacco reconstitution process in which a mixture of tobacco particles, starch and binder and water is fed to an extruder, the operating conditions and the recipe being such that the water escapes from the sheet-like extrudate by evaporation, to expand the extrudate. After cooling, the extrudate is cut into particle size.
  • the particles each of which has a cellular interior structure and a skin on two opposite sides, can be used as or in cigarette filling material.
  • a disadvantage of this tobacco reconstitution process is that large amounts of starch and binders are required, which leads to changes in the taste and aroma of the tobacco material.
  • DE 33 28 663 C2 discloses a filling material made of reconstituted tobacco material and a method for its production. Two separate sheets of film are glued together in places, with cavities forming between the two sheets of film glued together. This procedure is complex, fragile and only provides film material with a low filling capacity. In addition, the device for carrying out the known method is complex and complicated.
  • DE 31 47 846 C2 relates to a method or a tobacco material in which expansion is achieved by enlarging the cell structure of the tobacco by reducing the pressure and greatly increasing the temperature.
  • a method or a tobacco material in which expansion is achieved by enlarging the cell structure of the tobacco by reducing the pressure and greatly increasing the temperature.
  • such a method is only possible with natural tobacco material, while it is not suitable for reconstituted tobacco material, since no expandable cell structures are available here.
  • EP 0 198 718 A2 discloses a method in which a reconstituted tobacco material is expanded from tobacco waste during extrusion. The expansion is accomplished by a high extrusion temperature and an abrupt drop in pressure when leaving the extruder in connection with a sufficient film thickness and a proportion of binder of at least approx. 10%. This manufacturing process is obviously based on completely different principles and also results in a completely different product which, due to its high binder content, leaves much to be desired in terms of its taste, burning properties and the like.
  • a method for producing reconstituted tobacco material is also known from EP 0 046 018 A1.
  • this method is based only on stiffening the material and fixing the stiffener.
  • the reconstituted tobacco material is over-dried and then moistened again.
  • the reconstituted tobacco material loses a large part of its flavors and becomes extremely critical in its handling, since it becomes extremely brittle and friable as it dries. This process also results in a product that leaves something to be desired.
  • DE 38 19 534 C1 describes a thin, compact tobacco product without air pockets, in which several strands of material are formed by extrusion, which are then rolled back together to form a single-layer material layer.
  • the object of the invention is to propose a film with increased filling power, the production and enjoyment of which do not give rise to the disadvantages of the prior art listed above, and to provide an apparatus and a method, in particular for producing such a tobacco film .
  • the invention has for its object to produce a film that leaves little or nothing to be desired in the factors of taste, aroma, color, ash and smoke properties, density, elasticity and fragility, so that their properties hardly differ from those of tobacco distinguish; in addition, a method and a device are to be made available with which it is possible to produce such a film in a simple manner.
  • a raw mass of tobacco particles, water, binders and humectants is processed to the film according to the invention, which consists of two relatively gas-impermeable, in particular surface-sealed cover layers on the outer surfaces, the cover layers being connected to one another via a sponge-like structure which contains gas-filled bubbles; gas-filled cavities are formed between the cover layers, these cavities being equipped with a shaggy or furrowed and / or torn surface.
  • the burning behavior of the tobacco film according to the invention is in some cases better than average tobacco.
  • the two relatively gas-impermeable, in particular surface-sealed, top layers make it possible, on the one hand, to generate an extraordinarily high expansion pressure within the tobacco film during the production process and, on the other hand, to maintain the resulting increase in fill force over very long periods of time.
  • a humectant of approximately 1 to approximately 6% by weight, in particular 2 to 5% by weight, of the tobacco film. %, so that the tobacco film can maintain a certain moisture content of approx. 10 to 14% (wet basis) after production and also over longer periods. If this residual moisture were too low, there would be no possibility of extensive further processing of the tobacco foil.
  • the thickness of the film should be between approximately 0.1 mm and approximately 0.4 mm; In particular, film thicknesses between 0.2 and 0.3 mm are advantageous in order to ensure a contribution to the desired natural tobacco characteristics.
  • the binder should not contain more than a maximum of about 2% by weight of starch, so that no unfavorable changes in the taste and aroma of the film can occur.
  • glycerol and / or 1,2-propylene glycol and / or sorbitol are advantageous to use as humectants.
  • the binder carboxymethyl cellulose carboxymethylated and / or hydroxyethylated and / or agar-agar and / or alginic acid and its sodium, potassium and / or calcium salts and / or tragacanth and / or Guar gum and / or pectin and / or locust bean gum and / or gum arabic contains.
  • the cavities that are created in the position of the tobacco film can in principle have almost any size, relative to the film size. As particularly advantageous with regard to a nature-identical burning behavior, the filling power, etc. Characteristics of burning tobacco, however, expansion of the cavities in the direction of the film thickness from approx. 0.1 mm to approx. 5 mm, in the direction of the film width from approx. 0.1 to approx. 10 mm, in particular from 1 to 5 mm, have been found.
  • a raw material which consists of approx. 86 to 98% by weight of tobacco material, a proportion of humectants of approx. 1 to 6% by weight and a proportion of binder from about 1 to 8% by weight.
  • This raw mass is mixed with a water content of approximately at least 20%, in particular 20 to 40%, preferably 30% (all wet basis).
  • the raw mass is extruded at a pressure of approx. 10 to approx. 200 bar, preferably between 50 and 100 bar, to the tobacco film, the extruder having a temperature profile of approx. 30 ° C. to approx. 160 ° C. A temperature profile of 40 ° C. to 140 ° C. is preferably present.
  • the raw mass is pressed at the extruder outlet through a nozzle provided with outlet gaps, which creates the tobacco film.
  • the tobacco film is then strongly heated from both sides in a relatively short time, as a result of which relatively gas-impermeable cover layers are formed.
  • a further strong supply of heat evaporates the water located in the tobacco film in the position between the cover layers, which creates gas-filled cavities and bubbles.
  • the process step for producing the relatively gas-impermeable cover layers and the bubble-shaped cavities can be contracted into one process step, which greatly reduces both the process engineering and the outlay on equipment.
  • Wide slot or ring nozzles can be used as the nozzle tool.
  • a continuous tobacco film tube can be produced, which is advantageously provided with a plurality of cutting knives at the annular nozzle gap, as a result of which the tobacco film is cut into longitudinal strips, which are preferably in the form of endless belts, in particular with a width of approximately 3 up to approx. 5 cm from the nozzle mouth emerge.
  • a tobacco film prepared in this way can be processed particularly effectively and without excessive outlay on equipment.
  • the raw material components which are larger than the outlet gap width of the nozzle or ring nozzle used, should be comminuted according to the outlet gap width, which is ensured, for example, by a mill upstream of the extruder for comminuting the oversized raw material components can.
  • the tobacco film hose with hot air or hot gas both from the outside and from the inside, which can be done, for example, by means of an annular nozzle that surrounds the tobacco film hose , and can be supported by a hot air lance that introduces hot air into the interior of the tobacco film tube.
  • the film tube by the in the invention Device built-in cutting pins divided into longitudinal strips, so it is ensured even without a lance that hot air flows into the interior of the film tube.
  • the air or gas quantities that are supplied can usually be regulated.
  • the control is carried out, for example, by means of valves or adjustable fans. Most of the time, the amount of air or gas supplied from inside and outside will be about the same.
  • the heat supply is controlled so that the tobacco film end product retains a residual moisture of approx. 10 to 20% (wet basis). A lower moisture content of the tobacco film would result in the tobacco film breaking even during the heat treatment or disintegrating into unusable components in a later process step.
  • the endless tobacco film strips are cut into pieces of approx. 5 to 20 cm long immediately after the heat treatment, which are then either cut separately into threads, the cutting width being approx. 0.5 to 1.5 mm, or they are cut with a Leaf tobacco cut together.
  • the gap halves are automatically shifted or rotated against each other from time to time, clogging germs being released by the shear forces that occur.
  • annular nozzle which is preferably the case in the present invention, the inner part of the annular nozzle is adjusted by means of a centering screw so that the tobacco film tube emerging from the nozzle mouth has essentially the same wall thickness everywhere.
  • gas-forming or driving chemicals can also be added to the raw mass, such as e.g. Sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and the like, to cause blistering instead of water vapor or in combination with the water vapor after the skin is formed.
  • an additional layer application or also gas-forming chemicals is preferably dispensed with, because the addition or application of these substances can disadvantageously change the nature-identical characteristics of the tobacco film.
  • a device according to the invention for producing a tobacco film with an extruder is realized in that a nozzle is connected to an extruder, through which the extruded raw material is pressed, in order then to be treated with heat in an expansion chamber.
  • the inner part of the nozzle should be held in a bearing relative to the outer part.
  • the two gap halves of the nozzle can be easily rotated relative to one another, as a result of which constipation germs can be reduced or avoided.
  • the nozzle mouthpiece can be centered to produce a uniformly thick film.
  • the gap width of the nozzle is adjustable.
  • the knife edges and other wear parts of the device are easily replaceable.
  • the expansion chamber must be provided with at least one connection for the supply of hot air or hot gas.
  • the expansion chamber which preferably has a tubular cross section, at least one connection for the supply of hot air or hot gas, which essentially surrounds the expansion chamber in a ring, and a hot gas or hot air supply, which are arranged essentially centrally in the expansion chamber is.
  • the central arrangement in the expansion chamber is less important than the central arrangement of the hot gas or hot air supply within the tubular tobacco film.
  • a particularly trouble-free and effective operation of the device can be achieved if the outlet openings of the annular hot gas supply and the connection for the centric supply of hot air or hot gas are arranged so that they are essentially opposite.
  • the hot gas supplies can also be staggered along the expansion chamber. As a rule, however, it is sufficient to provide an elongated expansion chamber with fewer connections and a central hot gas supply.
  • the central hot gas supply consists of a lance-shaped valve, in which the hot gas outlet has a mouthpiece which has the same, but mirror-inverted, longitudinal symmetry as the hot gas supply surrounding the expansion chamber, whereby the hot gas jet emitted by the central hot gas supply is essentially mirror-symmetrical to the hot gas jet which comes from the ring-shaped hot gas supply, the tobacco film being the mirror surface.
  • the slotted film tube and a clever flow control ensure that sufficient hot air gets into the interior of the film tube even without a central hot gas supply.
  • FIG. 1 shows a tobacco film strip generally identified by the reference number 10. Bubble-shaped elevations 12 can be seen on the surface of the tobacco foil strip 10. These are extremely different in thickness, as can be seen from FIG. 2.
  • the raw mass from which the tobacco film strip 10 is made consists of a proportion of at least approximately 86% by weight of tobacco particles.
  • the necessary mechanical cohesion of the tobacco film 10 is achieved by a proportion of binder of approximately 1 to approximately 8% by weight, in particular 3 to 6% by weight.
  • the thickness of the tobacco film 10 without the cavities is between approximately 0.2 mm and approximately 0.4 mm, in particular between 0.2 and 0.3 mm.
  • the starch portion of the binder should contain a maximum of about 2% by weight of starch, insofar as starch is provided at all.
  • a humectant is used, e.g. from glycerin and / or propylene glycol and / or sorbitol or the like. can exist.
  • the binder can e.g. Carboxymethylcellulose carboxymethylated and / or hydroxyethylated and / or agar-argar and / or alginic acid and their sodium, potassium and / or calcium salts and / or tragacanth and / or guar gum and / or pectin and / or locust bean gum and / or gum arabic.
  • the cavities 12 shown which are delimited by a sponge-like structure 16, generally have an expansion in the direction of the film thickness of approximately 0.1 to 5 mm and in the direction of the film width of 0.1 mm to approximately 10 mm, in particular 1 to 5 mm.
  • the sponge-like structure is formed by smaller bubbles 19 in the base material.
  • the thickness of the relatively gas-impermeable, in particular surface-sealed cover layers 14 is generally extremely small, since the cover layers and the sponge-like structure 16 contribute to the above-mentioned total thickness of the film from 0.2 to 0.4 mm.
  • the cavities 12 located within the sponge-like structure 16 have a shaggy or furrowed and / or torn, jagged surface 17.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 shows a device by means of which the tobacco film according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be produced.
  • the raw mass is mixed with a water content of at least 20 to 40%, preferably 30% (water contents are given in relation to the wet basis).
  • This raw mass is extruded at a pressure of approximately 10 to approximately 200 bar, preferably between 50 and 100 bar, with a temperature profile of approximately 30 ° C. to approximately 160 ° C., preferably of 40 to 140, to the extruder 52 ° C.
  • the raw material is pressed through the outlet gap 62 of the nozzle 54 by the pressure which arises in the extruder, the tobacco film 72 being formed.
  • the tobacco film 72 which is tubular when an annular nozzle 54 is used, is now introduced into an expansion chamber, where it is initially strongly heated from both sides, so that relatively gas-impermeable cover layers are formed. Due to the heating on both sides, there is initially an increase in the diffusion / flow resistance of the cover layers through a quasi surface plasticization.
  • This first heating process in the expansion chamber 80 can be relatively short, or it can be transferred directly to a further strong supply of heat. With this further strong supply of heat in the expansion chamber 80, an evaporation rate of the present liquid phase is produced, the vapor formation gradient of which is sufficient to build up gas pressures between the previously treated cover layers, which are suitable for creating single-layer gas bubble structures between the prepared cover layers.
  • the heat supply can e.g. be carried out via hot air or hot gas and is symbolized by arrow 82 in FIG. 4.
  • the expanded tobacco film 72 emerging from the expansion chamber 80 is placed on a conveyor belt 100 and conveyed by the latter to a knife unit 110.
  • the knife unit 110 processes the tobacco film strips 72, which are preferably in the form of endless belts and which are in particular approximately 3 to approximately 5 cm wide, into film strips 120. These are generally 5 to 20 cm long and can then be added separately or together with tobacco leaves Threads are cut.
  • gas-evolving or driving chemicals can also be added to the raw mass, e.g. Sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and the like. This can be done by adding a minimum of approx. 20 to a maximum of approx. 40% of the water (based on the wet basis).
  • a sealing layer could also be applied to the tobacco film surface immediately prior to the heat treatment in the expansion chamber 80.
  • the nozzle shown in FIG. 5 is an annular nozzle 54.
  • the raw material from the extruder 52 is introduced into this from above, indicated by the arrow 48.
  • the raw mass is pressed through the space between the inner part 60 and the mouthpiece 64 in the direction of the nozzle outlet gap 62 and through it.
  • the corresponding tobacco film 72 is then introduced into the expansion chamber 80. There it is heated by means of hot air or hot gas, which reaches the expansion chamber 80 through the feeds 82.
  • the hot air is directed along the arrows 83 onto the tobacco foil 72, 92, as a result of which the relatively gas-impermeable cover layers arise on the surface of the tobacco foil and immediately afterwards the expansion of the Tobacco foil is caused.
  • the expanded tobacco foil 92 leaves the expansion chamber 80 on the opposite side.
  • FIG. 6 the same schematic arrangement as in FIG. 5 can be seen from FIG. 6, except that it is shown here in more detail and with an internal hot air lance 90.
  • the raw mass from the extruder 52 enters the ring nozzle 54, indicated by an arrow 48.
  • the raw mass is pressed between the mouthpiece 64 and the inner part 60 of the ring nozzle 54 and cut into strips by cutting knives 56.
  • These tubular tobacco film strips are now inserted into the tubular expansion chamber 80.
  • Hot air or hot gas 84 is introduced into the expansion chamber 80 via the connections 82.
  • a lance-shaped part 90 ensures that the hot air or the hot gas is evenly available for the treatment of the inner surface of the tobacco film.
  • the amounts of hot air or hot gas are proportioned by the annular hot gas supply and the centrally attached, lance-shaped hot air or hot gas supply in such a way that the tobacco film 72, which is present in strips, is mechanically loaded only minimally radially inwards or outwards.
  • the flow vectors of the hot air or the hot gas with which the film is applied to form the essentially gas-impermeable skin and to effect the expansion process are directed in the direction of movement of the film through the expansion chamber.
  • the central hot gas supply consists of a lance-shaped hot gas supply 90, in which the hot gas outlet 94 has a mouthpiece which has the same longitudinal section symmetry as the annular hot gas supply 81 and / or the expansion chamber 80, but in mirror-inverted form, whereby the hot gas jet emitted by the central hot gas supply 90 is essentially mirror-symmetrical to the hot gas jet coming from the annular hot gas supply 81; the tobacco foil 72, 92 represents the mirror surface.
  • a tobacco film tube slotted into strips has been extruded and has a wall thickness of 0.2 mm.
  • the film strips were blown with approx. 300 ° C warm air from two hot air blowers via feed lines 82 with volumes of 500 l / min each. From the inside, the film strips were simultaneously blown with essentially the same amount using a hot air lance with a hot air blower and air heated to about 300 ° C.
  • the tobacco film strips entered the expansion chamber 80 with a moisture content of approx. 40% and left them with a moisture content of approx. 14%.
  • FIG. 7 shows the ring nozzle 54 in a preferred embodiment.
  • the tobacco film emerges through the outlet gap 62 of the nozzle 54.
  • the thickness of the tobacco film can be adjusted using screw 67.
  • wear parts 69, 62a, 68 are used which can be replaced relatively easily and quickly.
  • the inner part 60 of the ring nozzle 54 is quick and easy by means of a screw 67 or the like. Removable from the ring nozzle 54 or reinserted.
  • the mouthpiece 62a can be rotated relative to the inner part 60 or 69 using a ball bearing 63.
  • the adjustable mouthpiece 62a is centered by means of adjusting screws 81.
  • the mouthpiece 62a itself is also easily removable by means of screws.
  • FIG. 8 shows a schematic arrangement similar to that in FIGS. 5 and 6, only in this case the expansion chamber 80 is divided into two half-shell-shaped halves 82 and 82a, see FIG. 9, which is on the guide rails 22 in the direction of FIG Arrow 23 are arranged to be moved apart.
  • a tube 20 is attached centrally in the expansion chamber 80 and is fastened to the inner ring part 60.
  • the tube 20 provides an annular hot gas flow 83a in the expansion chamber 80. Due to the hot air flowing through the film strips, the tube 20 heats up and ensures that the film strips are heated from the inside.
  • the tube 20 preferably has a conical end. This conical end of the tube 20 ensures that most of the hot air leaves the expansion chamber upwards. As a result, the film strips are only slightly dried after leaving the expansion chamber 80.
  • Another advantage of the conical design of the end of the tube 20 is the ring nozzle heating by the hot air escaping upwards. If the ring nozzle 54 is not heated, it can lead to faults when the film strips emerge from the nozzle gap.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Claims (35)

  1. Feuille à pouvoir de remplissage renforcé, composée de particules de tabac, d'eau, de liants et d'agents d'hydratation, caractérisée en ce qui suit :
    a) les surfaces extérieures de la feuille (10) sont constituées par deux couches de revêtement (14) amplement étanches aux gaz, en particulier à surfaces imperméabilisées;
    b) une couche (16) à structure spongieuse est intercalée entre les couches de revêtement (14); et
    c) la couche (16) comporte une couche de cavités (12) lenticulaires, remplies de gaz, à surface (17) hirsute, pleine d'aspérités et/ou déchiquetée.
  2. Feuille selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la proportion de particules de tabac est d'au moins de l'ordre de 86 - 98 % en poids, et en particulier d'au moins env. 92 % en poids, rapportée à la masse totale sans eau.
  3. Feuille selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que la proportion d'agent hydratant est de l'ordre de 1 à 6 % en poids, en particulier de 2 à 5 % en poids, et en ce que la proportion d'agent liant est de l'ordre de 1 à 8 % en poids, en particulier de 3 à 6 % en poids.
  4. Feuille selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que le liant est un polysaccharide acide, neutre, basique et/ou modifié.
  5. Feuille selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que les cavités (12) ont une étendue de l'ordre de 0,1 à 5 mm, dans le sens de l'épaisseur de la feuille, et de l'ordre de 0,1 à 10 mm, en particulier de 1 à 5 mm, dans le sens de la largeur de la feuille.
  6. Feuille selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que l'épaisseur de la feuille, compte non tenu de la partie occupée par les cavités (12), est de l'ordre de 0,1 à 0,4 mm, en particulier de 0,2 à 0,3 mm.
  7. Procédé de fabrication d'une feuille à pouvoir de remplissage renforcé et contenant du tabac, selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, possédant les caractéristiques suivantes :
    a) une masse brute contenant une proportion de tabac, une proportion d'agents hydratants et une portion d'agents liants est mélangée à une proportion d'eau dans le rapport de 80:20 à 60:40, de préférence de 70:30;
    b) la masse brute humectée est extrudée sous pression avec une extrudeuse (52), à une température pouvant aller jusqu'à 160 °C, env., de préférence jusqu'à env. 140 °C, et transformée en feuille de tabac (72);
       caractérisé en ce qui suit :
    c) la proportion de tabac présente dans la masse brute est de l'ordre de 86 à 98 % en poids, la proportion d'agent hydratant de l'ordre de 1 à 6 % en poids, et la proportion de liant de l'ordre de 1 à 8 % en poids;
    d) la pression de transformation est comprise entre 10 et 200 bar, environ, et de préférence entre 50 et 100 bar;
    e) la feuille de tabac (72) est soumise à un chauffage énergique, ce qui provoque la formation de couches de revêtement (14) dans une ample mesure étanches aux gaz dans la feuille de tabac; et
    f) par un apport supplémentaire de forte chaleur, l'eau présente dans la feuille de tabac (72) est vaporisée entre les couches de revêtement (14), ce qui crée des cavités lenticulaires remplies de gaz (12), et des soufflures remplies de gaz (19).
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le premier chauffage énergique causant la formation des couches de revêtement (14) étanches aux gaz et l'apport supplémentaire de forte chaleur sont réalisés en une seule étape du procédé.
  9. Procédé selon les revendications 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce que la masse brute est comprimée au travers d'une filière plate ou d'une filière annulaire (54).
  10. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 9, caractérisé en ce que les lames (56) prévues sur la filière (54) découpent la feuille de tabac sortante (72) en bandes (72), qui sont en particulier des bandes continues de l'ordre de 3 à 5 cm de large.
  11. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 10, caractérisé en ce que l'apport supplémentaire de forte chaleur est réalisé avec de l'air brûlant à une température de l'ordre de 200 à 800 °C, de préférence de 300 à 400 °C.
  12. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 11, caractérisé en ce que l'apport supplémentaire de forte chaleur est réalisé par un milieu de densité énergétique appropriée, comme p.ex. un rayonnement infrarouge, des micro-ondes ou des gaz brûlants.
  13. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 12, caractérisé en ce que les courants d'air et de gaz brûlants chauffent la feuille de tabac par les deux côtés.
  14. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 13, caractérisé en ce que l'apport de chaleur est contrôlé de telle manière que le produit feuille de tabac conserve un taux d'humidité résiduelle de l'ordre de 10 à 20 % (base à l'état humide).
  15. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 14, caractérisé en ce pour une feuille de tabac (72, 92) extrudée sous forme de boyau, des quantités d'air et de gaz brûlants autant dire égales sont apportées, tant à l'extérieur qu'à l'intérieur de la feuille de tabac, en vue des opérations de traitement thermique exécutées à l'intérieur de la chambre d'expansion.
  16. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 15, caractérisé en ce que les parties de la filière (54) qui forment la fente se déplacent ou tournent de manière intermittente ou permanente, l'une par rapport à l'autre.
  17. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 16, caractérisé en ce que la filière (54) est soumise de manière intermittente ou permanente à des ultrasons.
  18. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 17, caractérisé en ce que l'étanchéité des couches de revêtement (14) aux gaz est créée par application de fines couches, de part et d'autre de la surface de la feuille de tabac, avant que celle-ci subisse le traitement thermique dans la chambre d'expansion.
  19. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 7 à 18, caractérisé en ce que l'on ajoute à la masse brute des produits chimiques porteurs ou dégageant du gaz, comme p.ex. du bicarbonate de sodium, du bicarbonate d'ammonium ou similaire.
  20. Dispositif pour la fabrication d'une feuille contenant du tabac, pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon les revendications 7 à 19,
    a) comportant une extrudeuse munie d'une filière (54)
       caractérisé en ce qui suit :
    b) la filière (54) est suivie d'une chambre d'expansion (80), à travers laquelle on fait passer la feuille de tabac (72) produite par l'extrudeuse (52);
    c) la chambre d'expansion (80) est reliée à une source de chaleur, de telle sorte que la feuille de tabac (72) qui traverse la chambre d'expansion (80) soit chauffée énergiquement des deux côtés, si bien qu'il se forme des couches de revêtement (14), dans une ample mesure étanches aux gaz, une couche intermédiaire spongieuse (16) présentant des soufflures, et des cavités (12) lenticulaires; et
    d) une source de chaleur est prévue, pour vaporiser entre les couches de revêtement (14) l'eau présente dans la feuille de tabac (72).
  21. Dispositif selon la revendication 20, caractérisé en ce que l'extrudeuse (52) est précédée d'un moulin ou broyeur, pour broyer les grosses particules de tabac.
  22. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 ou 21, caractérisé en ce que la filière (54) est une filière annulaire ou une filière plate.
  23. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 22, caractérisé en ce que la filière (54) est équipée de lames (56), de broches coupantes ou équivalent.
  24. Dispositif selon les revendications 20 à 23, caractérisé en ce que les parties (60, 62a) de la filière (54) qui forment la fente se déplacent, voire tournent de manière intermittente ou permanente, l'une par rapport à l'autre.
  25. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 24, caractérisé en ce que dans le cas d'une filière annulaire, les parties extérieure et intérieure peuvent tourner l'une par rapport à l'autre par l'intermédiaire d'un roulement à billes (63).
  26. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 25, caractérisé en ce que la largeur de la fente est réglable au moyen d'une vis (67).
  27. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 26, caractérisé en ce que la chambre d'expansion (80) présente au moins un raccord d'admission (82) pour l'adduction de gaz brûlant, et en particulier d'air brûlant.
  28. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 27, caractérisé en ce que la chambre d'expansion (80) est reliée à une source de chaleur de densité énergétique suffisante, comme p.ex. un radiateur aux infrarouges ou une génératrice de gaz brûlant.
  29. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 28, caractérisé en ce que la chambre d'expansion (80) présente une section transversale tubulaire.
  30. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 29, caractérisé en ce que la chambre d'expansion (80) se subdivise en deux moitiés (82, 82a) en forme de demi-coques, qui peuvent s'écarter l'une de l'autre sur des glissières (22).
  31. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 30, caractérisé en ce qu'un conduit d'adduction de gaz brûlant (90) est disposé dans l'espace intérieur de la chambre d'expansion (80).
  32. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 27 à 31, caractérisé en ce que le raccord (82) pour l'adduction d'air brûlant enveloppe la chambre d'expansion (80) de manière substantiellement annulaire.
  33. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 27 à 32, caractérisé en ce que l'orifice de sortie (81) du conduit d'adduction de gaz brûlant et l'orifice de sortie (94) du conduit d'adduction d'air brûlant ou de gaz brûlant sont disposés de telle façon à l'intérieur de la chambre d'expansion (80), qu'ils se font pratiquement face.
  34. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 30 à 33, caractérisé en ce que le conduit d'adduction de gaz brûlant présente, a l'intérieur de la chambre d'expansion (80), une adduction de gaz brûlant (90) en forme de fer de lance, avec un bec qui présente, dans le sens de la longueur, une symétrie inverse de celle du bec de l'adduction d'air brûlant (81), ce qui fait que le courant de gaz brûlant envoyé par le conduit d'adduction de gaz brûlant (90) est pour ainsi dire spéculairement symétrique au courant de gaz brûlant provenant du conduit d'adduction d'air brûlant (82) prévu à la périphérie extérieure de la chambre d'expansion (80), la feuille de tabac (72, 92) représentant la surface de réflexion.
  35. Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 20 à 33, caractérisé en ce qu'un tube (20) posé au centre de la chambre d'expansion (80), est fixé à la partie intérieure (60) de la filière annulaire (54).
EP91100471A 1990-02-22 1991-01-16 Feuille de tabac et procédé et appareil pour sa fabrication Expired - Lifetime EP0443321B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI910798A FI96658C (fi) 1990-02-22 1991-02-19 Tupakkakalvo sekä menetelmä ja laite tupakkakalvon valmistamiseksi
APAP/P/1991/000260A AP232A (en) 1990-02-22 1991-02-19 Tobbacco sheet and method and apparatus for the production of a tobbacco sheet.
BR9100733A BR9100733A (pt) 1990-02-22 1991-02-22 Folha de fumo,processo e dispositivo para a producao de uma folha de fumo

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4005656A DE4005656C2 (de) 1990-02-22 1990-02-22 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer Tabak-Folie
DE4005656 1990-02-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0443321A2 EP0443321A2 (fr) 1991-08-28
EP0443321A3 EP0443321A3 (en) 1991-11-21
EP0443321B1 true EP0443321B1 (fr) 1994-09-14

Family

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EP91100471A Expired - Lifetime EP0443321B1 (fr) 1990-02-22 1991-01-16 Feuille de tabac et procédé et appareil pour sa fabrication

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5097851A (fr)
EP (1) EP0443321B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE111312T1 (fr)
DE (2) DE4005656C2 (fr)
HK (1) HK42095A (fr)
ZA (1) ZA911277B (fr)

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DE4117307C1 (fr) * 1991-05-27 1992-06-04 B.A.T. Cigarettenfabriken Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg, De
JPH09511148A (ja) * 1995-01-28 1997-11-11 プリエース、フリードリヒ 喫煙可能なタバコ製品の製造方法
GB0011351D0 (en) * 2000-05-12 2000-06-28 British American Tobacco Co Tobacco reconstitution
US8627828B2 (en) * 2003-11-07 2014-01-14 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Llc Tobacco compositions
BRPI0415741B1 (pt) * 2003-11-07 2013-07-23 composições de tabaco e métodos de fabricação de uma composição de tabaco
US7829071B2 (en) * 2004-03-09 2010-11-09 Interpolymer Corporation Personal care fixative
DE102004059388B4 (de) * 2004-12-09 2006-11-30 British American Tobacco (Germany) Gmbh Zerfaserung von Tabakmaterial
US20080029117A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 John-Paul Mua Smokeless Tobacco
DE102007002687B4 (de) 2007-01-18 2008-10-30 British American Tobacco (Germany) Gmbh Hochdruckformgebung für Tabakmaterial
US20090098192A1 (en) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-16 Fuisz Richard C Extrudable and Extruded Compositions for Delivery of Bioactive Agents, Method of Making Same and Method of Using Same
JP5518720B2 (ja) 2007-10-11 2014-06-11 フィリップ・モーリス・プロダクツ・ソシエテ・アノニム 無煙タバコ製品
US9125434B2 (en) * 2007-10-11 2015-09-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. Smokeless tobacco product, smokeless tobacco product in the form of a sheet, extrudable tobacco composition, method for manufacturing a smokeless tobacco product, method for delivering super bioavailable nicotine contained in tobacco to a user, and packaged smokeless tobacco product sheet
US10765141B2 (en) 2015-01-07 2020-09-08 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Material for inclusion in a smoking article
CN109276448B (zh) * 2018-11-16 2020-07-24 淮阴工学院 艾灸条的全自动生产线
US20230025967A1 (en) * 2019-12-18 2023-01-26 Philip Morris Products S.A. Method to produce a sheet of material containing alkaloids
CN112089086B (zh) * 2020-09-27 2022-05-20 河南卷烟工业烟草薄片有限公司 一种加热卷烟再造烟叶制备工艺

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE4005656C2 (de) 1994-05-26
EP0443321A3 (en) 1991-11-21
ZA911277B (en) 1991-12-24
DE4005656A1 (de) 1991-09-05
DE59102882D1 (de) 1994-10-20
EP0443321A2 (fr) 1991-08-28
HK42095A (en) 1995-03-31
US5097851A (en) 1992-03-24
ATE111312T1 (de) 1994-09-15

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