EP2609817A1 - Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac - Google Patents

Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2609817A1
EP2609817A1 EP11010300.9A EP11010300A EP2609817A1 EP 2609817 A1 EP2609817 A1 EP 2609817A1 EP 11010300 A EP11010300 A EP 11010300A EP 2609817 A1 EP2609817 A1 EP 2609817A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
leaf
tobacco
stem
leaves
flattened
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP11010300.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
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 Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Priority to EP11010300.9A priority Critical patent/EP2609817A1/fr
Priority to BR112014016110A priority patent/BR112014016110A8/pt
Priority to EP12813771.8A priority patent/EP2797439A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2012/005393 priority patent/WO2013097949A1/fr
Priority to ARP130100007 priority patent/AR089624A1/es
Publication of EP2609817A1 publication Critical patent/EP2609817A1/fr
Priority to PH12014501280A priority patent/PH12014501280A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • A24B5/00—Stripping tobacco; Treatment of stems or ribs
    • A24B5/14—Flattening machines for leaves or stems
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B5/00—Stripping tobacco; Treatment of stems or ribs
    • A24B5/16—Other treatment of stems or ribs, e.g. bending, chopping, incising

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for processing tobacco.
  • the invention relates to a method of processing partially cured tobacco.
  • tobacco needs to be cured and dried after it has been harvested to develop its desired aroma and flavour.
  • tobacco leaves have a green color.
  • the color of the tobacco leaves change slowly to yellow, a process which is referred to as yellowing.
  • the metabolism of at least some of the cells is still active, and when the tobacco leaf reaches a yellow color, most cells have died.
  • flue-curing processes it has been found that the cells mainly die from dehydration, while for air-curing processes, it has been found that the cells mainly die from starvation.
  • this is not mutually exclusive, as, depending on the conditions of the curing processes, cells may die either of dehydration or starvation in different types of curing processes.
  • the curing process continues after the yellowing process until the tobacco is dried and has a brown color. In this state, the tobacco leaf is relatively dry and, therefore, may be brittle.
  • the stem typically is removed before or during threshing of the tobacco leaf, as the stems are often excluded from the tobacco blends.
  • This stem removal process is typically performed either before curing and drying, or after curing and drying. Where the stems are removed after curing and drying, the removal process is typically a standard threshing process.
  • the removal process is often performed by the tobacco farmer in a labor intensive process. In addition, this has to be carried out relatively carefully to avoid damaging the tobacco leaf and, regardless, the leaf will at least be damaged where the leaf is cut to separate the lamina from the stem. Because of this, proper yellowing may not occur in at least some of the leaf, as the cells of the leaf are damaged and do not have the necessary metabolic function to allow the yellowing process to progress normally.
  • tobacco leaves are in a wrapped up configuration during the yellowing process.
  • the tobacco goes through the yellowing process as individual leaves or whole plants.
  • lamina separated from the stem goes through the yellowing process separately.
  • the cells in the tobacco leaf are not damaged prior to yellowing, which allows the yellowing process to proceed while the cells of the leaves are still alive.
  • live cells are not necessary, as the remaining drying process does not rely on cell metabolism.
  • the majority of cells are either already dead or have provided the necessary metabolic activities required during the yellowing process.
  • the tobacco leaf is not yet fully dried, such that the leaf is not brittle.
  • the leaf particularly the lamina, is less likely to break and is therefore less likely to produce tobacco dust.
  • the moisture content would be relatively high such that water would be squeezed from the leaves. Further processing and storing of the leaves with this moisture may degrade the quality of the leaves. Flattening the leaves after they are yellow, and therefore after they have had the chance to at least partially dry, allows the leaves to be somewhat pliable, but at the same time prevents excessive water from being released from the leaves due to the flattening.
  • the tobacco leaf is preferably initially a green tobacco leaf.
  • the cells of the leaf are still alive during the curing in the first curing step, and most of the cells of the lamina will die by the time the yellowing process is complete for the tobacco leaf.
  • the cells in the yellow tobacco leaf typically still comprise a significant amount of water, therefore the tobacco leaf is not brittle.
  • the flattening of the stems in the flattening step relates to processing at least the stem of the integral tobacco leaf, such that the structure of the stem is broken down and its thickness is significantly reduced.
  • the unprocessed stem may have a wood-like structure.
  • the stem is compressed, such that the woody stem material is broken down and the stem is substantially flat.
  • the lamina of the tobacco leaf may also be flattened together with the stem. Damage to the lamina is not as critical as prior to the yellowing process because active cell metabolism is no longer needed.
  • the stem In a typical prior art process for tobacco that has been dried as whole leaves without flattening the stem, the stem is usually separated from the leaf. Some of the stem material is sometimes used in a tobacco blend after separately treating the stem material.
  • a potential benefit of the flattening process of the present invention is that the structure of the flattened stems is broken up in a manner such that all or most of the tobacco leaf (including the stem) may then be used in the tobacco blend. In some cases, all of the flattened leaf is then used in the tobacco blend, whereas in other cases a portion of the stem is still removed from the leaf before the leaf material is used in the tobacco blend. In this way, the amount of stem material in the tobacco blend may be adjusted depending on the desired taste and flavour of the tobacco blend.
  • a further benefit of flattening the stem is that the moisture of the stem of the tobacco leaf can easily evaporate, such that the tobacco leaf can dry quicker. Furthermore, during flattening, some of the moisture of the stem may be pressed out of the stem.
  • a tobacco leaf with a flattened stem is more flexible, such that it can easily be wrapped up. It is known in the prior art to wrap up tobacco leaves before drying. Typically, these processes require holding means to hold the leaves in a folded or rolled up configuration. These holding means may be problematic, as they are often made of non-tobacco material and, therefore, have to be removed at a later stage. However, when the tobacco leaf of the inventive method with the flattened stem is optionally wrapped up, no (or fewer) holding means are necessary, which can make the folding or rolling up process more efficient.
  • the yellowing stage takes between about 40 and about 80 hours, preferably between about 48 and about 72 hours. These durations are preferred for the usual types of tobacco leaves. However, depending on the type of tobacco leaf and the curing method, the yellowing may require more or less time. During the yellowing process, the chlorophyll in the leaf is slowly degraded.
  • the green tobacco leaves typically comprise mostly water, for example more than about 95% water by weight, or more than 98% by weight water.
  • the leaves are at least partially dried, reducing the water content to between about 50% and about 90% by weight, more preferably between about 70% and about 90% by weight, and most preferably to between about 70% and 80% by weight water.
  • the yellowed leaves are then subjected to the flattening step.
  • the leaves are subjected to a second curing step that comprises a drying process.
  • the drying process takes between about 24 and about 48 hours.
  • the tobacco leaf is preferably between about 10% and about 15% water by weight, more preferably about 12% water by weight, and is in a condition to be packed and transported.
  • the leaf is flattened to a height of less than 1.5 mm.
  • the stem of the leaf is flattened to a height of less than 1.5 mm.
  • the flattening height is set by adjusting the height of a roller gap through which the tobacco leaf is conveyed. Alternatively, it can be set by adjusting the minimal gap between two press plates between which the tobacco leaf is pressed.
  • the leaf is flattened to a height of less than 1 mm.
  • the stem is flattened to a height of less than 1 mm. A lower height of the stem may enable a quicker drying process.
  • the leaf, and in particular the stem of the leaf is flattened to a height greater than about 0.5mm. Maintaining at least this minimal flattening height may prevent excessive damage to the lamina of the leaf. In other embodiments, the flattening height is greater than the thickness of the lamina portion of the leaf, or at least about 0.2 mm greater than the thickness of the lamina portion of the leaf. Alternatively, the whole leaf, including some or all of the lamina, may be flattened.
  • the leaf is laid down on a surface, preferably with the tip of the leaf pointed up, for the yellowing process. After yellowing, the leaf may then be flattened as described further below. After flattening, the leaves may are then folded, cut, or both folded and cut, and may be subjected to further curing in order to dry the leaves, as further described below.
  • the leaf is folded before the curing process.
  • the leaf is folded in a green state before it is cured and reaches a yellow color.
  • the yellowing of the leaf occurs in a folded configuration and the leaf is unfolded before the flattening step.
  • the leaf may be unfolded during the yellowing step.
  • the leaf is folded by wrapping up the leaf, and more particularly spirally wrapping up the leaf.
  • the curing of the tobacco leaf during yellowing of the leaf is carried out as sun-curing.
  • the leaf is arranged on trays, for example bamboo trays, and subjected to the sun.
  • the leaf may be air-cured during yellowing. This is particularly applied for Burley tobacco.
  • the leaf is flue-cured during yellowing. This applies particularly for Virginia tobacco.
  • the inventive method may be applied to a variety of tobacco types, in particular Kasturi, Virginia, Burley or Oriental tobacco.
  • the tobacco leaf is subjected to a roller that flattens at least the stem.
  • the tobacco leaves are in particular individually subjected to the roller.
  • two rollers are used, which engage opposite sides of the stem.
  • the rollers have parallel rotation axes.
  • the rollers may be of the same diameter.
  • the rollers are cylindrical bodies, wherein the outer surface of the roller is engaging the unfolded tobacco leaf, in particular the stem of the tobacco leaf.
  • only one roller may be used, which flattens the stem together with an opposed stationary plate.
  • the tobacco leaf may be subjected to a press that flattens the stem.
  • a layer of tobacco leaves with little or no overlap between the leaves may be provided to the press.
  • the press comprises a press plate that can be moved towards a stationary plate.
  • the leaf may be arranged on a stationary plate of the press, and a moveable press plate may be lowered, such that at least the tobacco stem is flattened.
  • the roller gap in particular the distance between the rollers, or the minimum distance between the plates of the press is smaller than the thickness of the stem, and greater than the thickness of the lamina of the leaf.
  • the gaps between rollers or plates may be any of the flattening heights discussed above.
  • a single leaf is flattened at a time.
  • several leaves may be flattened simultaneously.
  • the leaves may be arranged such that there is little or no overlap between the leaves when the leaves are flattened.
  • leaves are arranged to overlap one another and are flattened together.
  • the tobacco leaves are optionally subjected to a further drying process.
  • the flattened yellowed leaf is folded before it is dried.
  • the leaf may be wrapped up, particularly spirally wrapped up.
  • the leaf may be optionally cut.
  • the leaf may be cut while the leaf is in a folded configuration. This provides the benefit that the cutting process may be facilitated, as in the wrapped-up leaves, several layers of the leaf are closely adjacent to each other, such that with only one cut through the folded leaf, a long cut can be provided in the tobacco leaf.
  • the cutting step may be performed before or after the optional drying step.
  • the tobacco leaf is flattened when it comprises a reduced amount of water, as described above.
  • this moisture content is lower than the usual moisture content of the green leaves, it prevents that excessive water is squeezed from the leaves.
  • a degradation of the quality of the leaves due to free moisture in between the leaves during processing and storing can be avoided.
  • the flattened tobacco leaf is sun-dried.
  • the leaf or the cut leaf pieces are arranged on a tray, preferably a bamboo tray.
  • the flattened whole or cut leaf pieces may also be dried using hot air.
  • the flattened stem material may at least partially remain in the blend, as it is softer in its structure than non-flattened stem material.
  • unprocessed stem material is typically used in tobacco blends at low levels, or not used at all.
  • the amount of stem material in the blend can be beneficial because a larger percentage of the leaf can be used, and the stem material comprises less nicotine.
  • the total yield of the material that can be used for the blend is 90% or higher of the tobacco leaf when the stem is flattened according to the invention. On the contrary, when the stem is removed from the leaf, lower yields are typically obtained.
  • the invention also relates to cured tobacco processed with the method as described above.
  • the cured tobacco may for example be in the form of processed full tobacco leaves, processed tobacco leave parts or a tobacco blend which is ready for smoking and which may comprise further ingredients.
  • Fig. 1 shows a flattening apparatus.
  • the tobacco is harvested from tobacco fields. Soon or immediately after the green tobacco leaves are reaped, the leaves are subjected to a yellowing process for two to three days until they have a yellow color, but are still flexible and moist.
  • the leaves are then subjected to a flattening apparatus, as shown in figure 1 .
  • the tobacco leaves 1 are arranged on a conveying means 2, in particular a conveyor belt, and are fed into a rolling device 3 that comprises an upper roller 4 and a lower roller 5.
  • the tobacco leaves 1 are fed individually into the rolling device 3.
  • the distance between the outer surface of the upper roller 4 and the outer surface of the lower roller 5 forms the roller gap 6, through which the leaves are conveyed and, at the same time, flattened.
  • the roller gap 6 is preferably less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 1 mm. Thus, the stems of the tobacco leaves 1 are compressed to the height of the roller gap 6.
  • the speed of the conveying means 2 and the rolling device 3 is preferably synchronized.
  • the tobacco leaves 1 are conveyed at the same speed on the conveying means 2 and in the rolling device 3.
  • the conveying speed is preferably about 40 meters per minute.
  • the tobacco leaves are wrapped and cut.
  • the tobacco leaf pieces are then dried, preferably by spreading them on trays in the sun.
  • the drying process usually takes one to two days, which is an improvement to drying tobacco leaves or leaf pieces that comprise unflattened stems or stem pieces where the drying process would usually take two to three days.

Landscapes

  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
EP11010300.9A 2011-12-30 2011-12-30 Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac Ceased EP2609817A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11010300.9A EP2609817A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2011-12-30 Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac
BR112014016110A BR112014016110A8 (pt) 2011-12-30 2012-12-28 método de achatamento de folhas de tabaco
EP12813771.8A EP2797439A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2012-12-28 Procédé d'aplatissement de feuilles de tabac
PCT/EP2012/005393 WO2013097949A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2012-12-28 Procédé d'aplatissement de feuilles de tabac
ARP130100007 AR089624A1 (es) 2011-12-30 2013-01-02 Metodo para aplanar hojas de tabaco
PH12014501280A PH12014501280A1 (en) 2011-12-30 2014-06-06 Method for flattening tobacco leaves

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11010300.9A EP2609817A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2011-12-30 Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2609817A1 true EP2609817A1 (fr) 2013-07-03

Family

ID=47557018

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11010300.9A Ceased EP2609817A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2011-12-30 Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac
EP12813771.8A Withdrawn EP2797439A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2012-12-28 Procédé d'aplatissement de feuilles de tabac

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12813771.8A Withdrawn EP2797439A1 (fr) 2011-12-30 2012-12-28 Procédé d'aplatissement de feuilles de tabac

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (2) EP2609817A1 (fr)
AR (1) AR089624A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR112014016110A8 (fr)
PH (1) PH12014501280A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2013097949A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015101558A1 (fr) * 2013-12-31 2015-07-09 Philip Morris Products S.A. Procédé de traitement d'une feuille entière de tabac
CN106690398A (zh) * 2016-12-20 2017-05-24 昆明船舶设备集团有限公司 一种烟叶摊铺、展平、单层化的方法及装置

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112450477A (zh) * 2020-11-12 2021-03-09 河北白沙烟草有限责任公司保定卷烟厂 一种片烟发酵方法
CN114668168B (zh) * 2022-03-30 2023-01-10 红塔烟草(集团)有限责任公司 烟叶剔片设备

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB191424439A (en) * 1914-12-21 1915-06-24 Oscar Hammerstein Improvements in the Treatment of Tobacco.
DE722929C (de) * 1939-07-14 1942-07-24 Koelner Werkzeugmaschinenfabri Verfahren zum Nutzbarmachen der Rippen von Tabakblaettern
DE879819C (de) * 1950-12-30 1953-06-15 Quester Fa Wilh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Weiterverarbeiten von Buendeln aus Tabak u. dgl.
US3927682A (en) * 1973-10-27 1975-12-23 Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Air-curing process of tobacco leaf
US4201229A (en) * 1976-07-22 1980-05-06 Service D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Des Allumettes Process for treating a flow of tobacco leaves
WO2009076699A1 (fr) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 British American Tobacco Australasia Limited Procédé d'obtention de produits du tabac

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB191424439A (en) * 1914-12-21 1915-06-24 Oscar Hammerstein Improvements in the Treatment of Tobacco.
DE722929C (de) * 1939-07-14 1942-07-24 Koelner Werkzeugmaschinenfabri Verfahren zum Nutzbarmachen der Rippen von Tabakblaettern
DE879819C (de) * 1950-12-30 1953-06-15 Quester Fa Wilh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Weiterverarbeiten von Buendeln aus Tabak u. dgl.
US3927682A (en) * 1973-10-27 1975-12-23 Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Air-curing process of tobacco leaf
US4201229A (en) * 1976-07-22 1980-05-06 Service D'exploitation Industrielle Des Tabacs Et Des Allumettes Process for treating a flow of tobacco leaves
WO2009076699A1 (fr) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 British American Tobacco Australasia Limited Procédé d'obtention de produits du tabac

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015101558A1 (fr) * 2013-12-31 2015-07-09 Philip Morris Products S.A. Procédé de traitement d'une feuille entière de tabac
CN106690398A (zh) * 2016-12-20 2017-05-24 昆明船舶设备集团有限公司 一种烟叶摊铺、展平、单层化的方法及装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PH12014501280A1 (en) 2014-09-08
EP2797439A1 (fr) 2014-11-05
BR112014016110A2 (pt) 2017-06-13
WO2013097949A1 (fr) 2013-07-04
AR089624A1 (es) 2014-09-03
WO2013097949A8 (fr) 2014-01-16
BR112014016110A8 (pt) 2017-07-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN101946975B (zh) 一种制作金黄色烟丝的加工工艺
KR102270943B1 (ko) 담배 재료 내의 하나 이상의 담배 특이 니트로사민을 감소시키는 방법
JP5911888B2 (ja) バーレー種タバコ茎を処理する方法
EP2609817A1 (fr) Procédé d'aplatissement des feuilles de tabac
IL255926A (en) A method of making a cut tobacco filling
KR102329410B1 (ko) 담배 식물 재료 내 매트릭스-결합 니코틴-유래된 니트로사민 케톤을 감소시키는 방법
EP0651951A2 (fr) Procédé pour la production d'un mélange de remplissage de cigarette
EA000060B1 (ru) Способ и устройство для обработки табачных листьев при изготовлении резанного табака
US20160316813A1 (en) Method of treating tobacco stalks
WO2015101558A1 (fr) Procédé de traitement d'une feuille entière de tabac
CN110913708B (zh) 用于制造截切烟丝的方法
CN105520186B (zh) 通过改善打叶复烤叶片结构和形状优化烟丝结构的方法
US9095172B2 (en) Method of processing tobacco leaves
CN110678089A (zh) 一种烟草梗和/或叶脉的改进处理方法
CN109105944A (zh) 用于电加热不燃烧的香烟气雾产生载体及其制备方法
US6571801B1 (en) Tobacco treatment process
WO2016174013A1 (fr) Substance aromatisante contenant du clou de girofle
CN112165868B (zh) 用于制造应用在hnb烟草制品中的烟草材料的方法以及hnb烟草制品
US20140020695A1 (en) Method of manufacturing cut stem, cut stem manufacturing apparatus, and cut stem
EP3019039B1 (fr) Composition de tabac sans fumée et son procédé de fabrication
CN211746888U (zh) 一种加热不燃烧卷烟制备装置
CN113170916B (zh) 一种基于红茶加工的烟叶调制方法
WO2023145126A1 (fr) Procédé de production de matière première de tabac, et matière première de tabac
CN114938860A (zh) 制备梗丝的方法、梗丝、烟丝组合物及应用
CN116439398A (zh) 一种具有咖啡香果甜韵风味的烟叶制备方法及应用

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED

18R Application refused

Effective date: 20130725