EP0845218B1 - Method and apparatus for the treatment of tobacco ribs for producing tobacco cut filler - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves wetting the uncut ribs to a maximum moisture content of roughly 45 per cent, and then drying them to a moisture content of less than roughly 12 per cent. They are then re-moistened to the level used for subsequent processing. The mixture can be heated beforehand to between 30 and 50 degrees C, and drying can be carried out in a steam drier, particularly of the drum- or Burley-type. Re-moistening can take place in a conditioning drum or the last chamber of a Burley drier.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a plant for the treatment of tobacco ribs for the production of cut tobacco for smokable items.

Tobacco leaves, from which smokable items, especially cigarettes, as well as fine cut for The self-made cigarettes are made from sheet material and Ribs that on the one hand have a very different consistency and on the other hand very have different taste properties and therefore both the technique of Tobacco preparation as well as the taste impression of the respective smokable article very much strongly, but influence differently.

To the problems associated with the treatment of ribs as well as those caused by the To avoid ribs caused by flavors, it is customary to avoid the ribs of separate the leaf material and only the leaf material for the production of cigarettes to use. Because of the proportion of the ribs in the total weight of the tobacco leaves however, up to about 30% by weight, this process is a very costly waste of the valuable raw material "tobacco leaf".

It has therefore already been attempted to use whole, tobacco leaves with Shear-reducing processes to a flowable mixture Process sheet material particles and rib particles that are used directly for the production of Cigarettes can be used. This, for example, in DE-A-40 29 566 However, the method described has not yet been implemented in practice because of the taste properties did not meet expectations.

A mixed solution emerges from DE-A-40 29 567, in which whole leaves are in one Shear force crushing process to a mixture of sheet material particles and processing substantially intact rib pieces; the ribs must are then separated off, the sheet material particles being directly the Cigarette production can be supplied. Implementation of this procedure in the Practice has also not occurred because of the taste problem that has not yet been solved.

Another method emerges from GB-A-2,026,298, in which tobacco leaves Particles are crushed, which are suitable for the production of cigarettes. Through a Air separation processes convert the leaf particles into a heavier fraction containing ribs and a lighter, rib-free sheet material fraction separated, the heavier fraction threshed to separate the leaf material from the ribs. The separated sheet material and the originally obtained, lighter fraction blended to be fed to cigarette manufacturing. This process is very expensive, which also applies to the similar process according to US-A-4,696,312.

It is therefore still common practice to have the tobacco leaves in ribs on the one hand and Leaf material on the other hand to dismantle what is usually already shortly after the harvest in Country of origin. Ribs and sheet material are packed separately and transported to the place of use, where the so-called "tobacco preparation" takes place. at This preparation of tobacco becomes the ribs on the one hand and the leaf material on the other treated separately from each other, namely conditioned, i.e. a moisture and Subjected to heat treatment, cut and dried until finally mixed and then together for further processing, usually the application of Flavor materials to be subjected.

The basic principles of this process, through which both fine cut and cigarettes can be produced are published in the book "Tobacco Encyclopedia" by Ernst Voges, 1984, in the article "Cigarette Manufacture I and II", in particular under the Headline "The Production of Cut Tobacco" described.

In this generally customary method, ribs on the one hand and sheet material on the other hand in tobacco preparation on two completely separate processing lines be driven, the so-called "rib line" and the so-called "Sheet line", the respective conditioning devices, cutting devices, Sauceing devices for the application of casing, heating devices and dryers contain. On the rib line is also in front of the for the purpose of rolling out the ribs A rolling mill required to cut the "CRS" (for Cut Rolled Stems) to produce rolled and cut rib pieces which are then immediately in front of the Flavor drum can be added to the sheet material.

Various processes have been developed for processing the tobacco stems alone. DE-A-19 21 072 describes a device for increasing the degree of moisture Tobacco ribs, in which heated sauce (casing) is applied to the ribs then be heated in a heated drum. After the subsequent drying these ribs are rolled.

Furthermore, US-A-3,513,857 shows a method for the treatment of tobacco ribs which softened and warmed with a solution of enzymes and casing and then, e.g. by Rollers or scissors are flattened. Then the ribs are dried and cut. The purpose of this process is to introduce the enzyme solution into Ribs.

There is still a need for a method and an installation for the treatment of Tobacco ribs for the production of cut tobacco, which is a very homogeneous and uniform Ensure preparation of the tobacco ribs.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a method and a system for Treatment of tobacco ribs for the production of cut tobacco, in which the Disadvantages mentioned above do not occur.

In particular, a method and a system are to be proposed that the optimal Preparation of ribs, in particular rib mixes, for the subsequent ones ensure normal rib process.

This object is achieved for the method by the features of the claim 1 and solved for the system by the features of claim 18.

Expedient embodiments are defined by the features of the subclaims.

The advantages achieved with the invention are based on the fact that by over-moistening the Ribbing with a sauce and then over-drying the tube ribs very homogeneously are moistened, which is particularly the case with the use of Rib blends is a great advantage since the individual ribs are usually one have different dampening behavior and thus the usual normal Moisture did not always lead to a homogeneous treatment of the ribs. Also have these ribs have a better cutting behavior if they follow the subsequent rib process, z. B. the CRS method described above, which in turn leads to a less winnowing attack.

The ribs are expediently moist with a maximum of about 40%, in particular with a moisture content of about 35%, because of this the Energy consumption can be further reduced.

The sauce is expediently applied to the uncut ribs before application a temperature between about 30 to 50 ° C, in particular to a temperature between about 40 and 45 ° C, heated to prevent the sauce from penetrating into the Ribs and thus to support homogeneous moisture penetration.

"Over-drying" the sauced ribs means drying on one Moisture value, which is below the usual moisture value of the untreated ribs of around 18 % lies. Particularly good results are achieved with overdrying to a moisture level of less than about 10%, preferably to a moisture of about 8%, reached the sauce to drive into the ribs.

The over-drying of the sauced ribs is advantageously carried out in one Steam dryer, especially a drum dryer or a Burley dryer, such as they are available in the usual tobacco preparation.

In a preferred embodiment, the sauced and over-dried ribs re-moistened, e.g. B. in a conditioning drum or the last chamber of the Burley dryer mentioned, so that they are the optimal for the subsequent rib process Have moisture.

In principle, two different types of ribs can be used for this process, namely untreated ribs, such as those from the producing countries Cigarette manufacturers are delivered, or untreated ribs, which are caused by a Steam treatment to a humidity between about 16% and 20%, especially about 17 % or 18% have been preconditioned.

These preconditioned ribs are made according to a preferred embodiment at least 1.5 h, in particular about 2 h, stored in a closed envelope, so the entire rib mix can reach this moisture value and is therefore a very homogeneous overall condition.

The ribs prepared in this way can either use the CRS process described above or be fed into one of the new rib processes, such as those used in Germany DE-A-195 43 262 or in EP-A-0 774 212 to be discribed.

Fig. 1

ein Flußschema einer Anlage zur Behandlung von Tabakrippen, und

Fig. 2

ein Flußschema einer Gesamtanlage zur Herstellung von Schnittabak aus Rippen, Blattmaterial und Winnowings.

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a flow diagram of a plant for the treatment of tobacco ribs, and

Fig. 2

a flow diagram of an overall system for the production of cut tobacco from ribs, leaf material and winnowings.

1, the untreated ribs are optionally in a conditioning device preconditioned by steaming to a moisture level of about 17% or 18%.

These preconditioned ribs are kept in a closed wrap for about 2 hours stored.

These two steps are optional, i.e. as an alternative you can also use untreated ones Ribs are fed to the first processing step, namely the casing task the sauce heated to a temperature of about 45 ° C is applied to the ribs, which thereby receive a moisture of around 35%. This casing order is placed in one Soßiertrommel.

Subsequent over-drying of the dampened ribs takes place in a drum or Burley dryer and leads to a moisture value of about 8%.

Next, the over-dried ribs in a conditioning drum or the last chamber of the Burley dryer rewetted to about 33% and then the Rib cutter fed.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a plant for producing cut tobacco for smokable article, in which the tobacco ribs prepared according to the invention initially alone further treated and then mixed with leaf material and winnowings, as in the EP-A-0 774 212 is explained. This mixture will then then processed into tobacco strands.

In this method, the ribs prepared in the system according to FIG. 1, the one Moisture of about 33% have been fed to a rib cutter, the preferred one Cutting width is about 0.2 mm.

If necessary, the pre-cut ribs are provided with casing again.

The pre-cut ribs are then subjected to an expansion process, as is known for example from DE-C-37 10 677. Of the Expanding device, the expanded ribs are fed to a separator that separates fluid used for expansion. The separator can do this, for example can be used according to EP-B-0 301 217.

The pre-cut and expanded ribs are then placed on a feed trough, which leads to a mixing container (leaf mixing box), which is also preconditioned Sheet material is fed. This mixing container is a conditioning drum for the sheet material upstream, a moisture in the sheet material for cigarette manufacture of about 17.5% and sheet material for the fine cut production a moisture of about 24% received.

There is a sauce device between the conditioning device and the mixing container intended for the application of casing on the sheet material.

In addition to this rib line and leaf line, a "winnowing line" is provided, which the winnowings that occur during tobacco preparation. This Winnowings are conditioned in a steam tunnel that is filled with water as well Steam works so the winnowings conditioning with a moisture of about 30% to 35% leave.

The conditioned winnowings are stored covered for about 2 hours and then in one Rolled roll, which has a gap width of about 0 mm.

The rolled and conditioned winnowings are then over another Feed channel also fed to the mixing container (leaf mixing box).

The mixture of ribs, leaf material and winnowings from the mixing container is made with a cutting width of about 0.85 mm for the production of cigarettes and one Cutting width of about 0.4 mm cut for the production of fine cuts, the The moisture of the mixture practically does not change.

The cut mixture of leaf material, ribs and winnowings goes into one Preheating drum, where it is moistened and heated with water and steam, so that it leaves the preheating drum with a humidity of about 22%.

This mixture is then dried in a hot air dryer, from which it is mixed a moisture of about 14.5% emerges and then in further steps the Tobacco preparation is fed, for example a cooling and screening drum and one Flavor drum.

As an alternative to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a system without Winnowing line can be used, i.e. only pre-treated ones are used in the leaf mixing box Ribs and pretreated sheet material are mixed and then further processed fed.

Claims (27)

1. A method of treating tobacco stems/ribs for the production of cut tobacco for smokable articles, wherein

   a) uncut ribs are sauced to a moisture content of approximately 45 % at most;

   b) the sauced ribs are overdried to a moisture content of less than approximately 12 %; and

   c) the overdried ribs are remoistened to the processing moisture for the subsequent rib process.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that said ribs are sauced to a moisture content of approximately 40 % at most, in particular to a moisture content of approximately 35 %.
3. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the sauce, prior to its application to the uncut ribs, is heated to a temperature between approximately 30 and 50° C, in particular to a temperature between approximately 40 and 45° C.
4. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sauced ribs are overdried to a moisture content of less than approximately 10 %, in particular to a moisture content of approximately 3 % to approximately 10 %, preferably to a moisture content of approximately 8 %.
5. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the sauced ribs are overdried in a steam dryer, especially a drum dryer or a Burley dryer.
6. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the overdried ribs are remoistened in a conditioning drum or in the last chamber of a Burley dryer.
7. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the untreated ribs are sauced.
8. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that untreated ribs are preconditioned by a steam treatment to a moisture content between approximately 16 % and 20 %, in particular of approximately 17 % or 18 %.
9. The method as set forth in claim 8, characterised in that said preconditioned ribs are stored for at least 1.5 h, in particular approximately 2 h, in a closed cover.
10. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the remoistened ribs are supplied to a CRS process.
11. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the remoistened ribs are precut, blended with conditioned lamina and are then cut and dried jointly with the lamina.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11, characterised in that the ribs are precut with a cutting width of approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.3 mm, in particular of approximately 0.2 mm.
13. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11 or 12, characterised in that said precut ribs are expanded.
14. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that approximately 30 % of precut ribs at most, in particular approximately 5 to 25 % of precut ribs, each percentage referring to the total amount, are added to the lamina.
15. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11 to 14, characterised in that lamina and ribs are cut for the production of cigarettes to a cutting width of approximately 0.5 to 2 mm, in particular to approximately 0.85 mm, while, for the fine-cut production, lamina and ribs are cut to a cutting width of approximately 0.35 to approximately 0.5 mm, in particular to approximately 0.45 mm.
16. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11 to 15, characterised in that subsequent to their cutting, lamina and ribs are brought to a moisture content of approximately 18 % to approximately 39 %, in particular of approximately 19.5 % to approximately 24 %, preferably approximately 22 %, and are then dried to a moisture content of approximately 13 to 16 %, in particular approximately 14 %.
17. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11 to 16, characterised in that conditioned and rolled winnowings are added to the blend of cut ribs and lamina.
18. A plant for the treatment of tobacco stems/ribs for the production of cut tobacco for smokable articles, characterised by:

    a) a saucing means for applying heated casing, sauce, to the ribs;

    b) a dryer for overdrying the sauced ribs; and

    c) a moistening means for remoistening the overdried ribs to the processing moisture of the subsequent rib process.
19. The plant as set forth in claim 18, characterised in that a saucing drum with double-nozzles for spraying heated casing onto the ribs serves as saucing means.
20. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 18 or 19, characterised in that a preconditioning means is disposed upstream of the saucing means.
21. The plant as set forth in claim 20, characterised in that a storage means for the intermediate storing of the preconditioned ribs is provided between the preconditioning means and the saucing device.
22. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that a steam dryer, in particular a drum dryer or a Burley dryer, is used as dryer.
23. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 22, characterised in that a conditioning drum or the last chamber of the Burley dryer is used as moistening means.
24. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 23, characterised by a CRS rib line following the moistening means.
25. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 23, characterised by a rib cutter for the remoistened tobacco ribs that is followed by a bin, a lamina blending box, for their blending with the conditioned and cased lamina.
26. The plant as set forth in claim 25, characterised in that the bin, the lamina blending box, for the blend of ribs and lamina is followed by a cutting means and at least one dryer for the cut blend of lamina and ribs.
27. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 25 or 26, characterised in that a winnowing line with a conditioning means for winnowings and a roll means for the conditioned winnowings is connected with the bin, the lamina blend box.

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