EP4117459A1 - Procédé et installation de production de tabac reconstitué - Google Patents

Procédé et installation de production de tabac reconstitué

Info

Publication number
EP4117459A1
EP4117459A1 EP21717214.7A EP21717214A EP4117459A1 EP 4117459 A1 EP4117459 A1 EP 4117459A1 EP 21717214 A EP21717214 A EP 21717214A EP 4117459 A1 EP4117459 A1 EP 4117459A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mixture
unit
rolling
tobacco
lamination
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21717214.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Gianfranco GRANZOTTO
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.)
Comas SpA
Original Assignee
Comas SpA
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 Comas SpA filed Critical Comas SpA
Publication of EP4117459A1 publication Critical patent/EP4117459A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
    • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
    • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
    • A24B15/30—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances
    • 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
    • A24B3/04—Humidifying or drying tobacco bunches or cut 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
    • A24B3/08—Blending 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
    • A24B5/00—Stripping tobacco; Treatment of stems or ribs
    • A24B5/10—Stripping tobacco; Treatment of stems or ribs by crushing the leaves with subsequent separating

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and a plant for the production of reconstituted tobacco, both of the conventional type and of the non-conventional type, the latter also referred to as HNB (Heat Not Burn).
  • HNB Heat Not Burn
  • reconstituted tobacco is obtained with the use of tobacco by-products and processing scraps (ribs, small pieces of leaves, powder, etc.) which, properly ground up to be practically reduced to powder and mixed with water, glycerin binders and other liquid additives, allow to obtain an extremely fluid mixture (slurry) having a liquid content of about 70% by weight, which is then poured in the form of a veil on a steel strip and with this transferred to a drying.
  • the evaporation of the liquid fraction of the mixture takes place, so that the solid residue forms a sort of continuous strip of tobacco having approximately the same width as the steel strip.
  • the dried mixture strip is separated from the steel strip and is cut into pieces of various sizes according to the request. These pieces are then transformed into thin filaments which, suitably mixed, are fed to a traditional cigarette packing machine.
  • the reconstituted tobacco is distinguished into conventional or unconventional.
  • WO 2016/050469, WO 2016/050470, WO 2016/050471 , WO 25 2016/050472 describe known techniques for the production of reconstituted tobacco, which however require large plants and involve high energy consumption to carry the slurry, which when it is product is rather fluid, to the consistency of a sheet of tobacco. It is sufficient to point out that a drying oven can reach up to 100 m in length.
  • WO201 9/157576 describes a method for the preparation of strips of reconstituted vegetable material in which, between a pre-lamination phase and the final lamination phase, a remixing of the pre-laminated sheet is provided inside a mixer in order to obtain a homogeneous mass from then submit to the final lamination.
  • W02020/058814 discloses a method for the preparation of reconstituted tobacco in which the solid components of shredded tobacco are mixed with water, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol until a slurry with a liquid content of about 30- 50%, preferably about 35-40%.
  • WO201 6/067226 describes a method a process for preparing reconstituted tobacco comprising: a first drying unit, a grinding unit, a mixing unit for the solid components (i.e. tobacco powder with solid powder of natural binders), a mixing unit for the liquid components (i.e. liquid/nanogel with propylene glycol and glycerin), a unit for mixing the solid mixed components with the liquid mixed components, from one to three lamination units to obtain a 0.15 film -0.3 mm, and a dryer to reduce the moisture content of the film.
  • a first drying unit i.e. tobacco powder with solid powder of natural binders
  • a mixing unit for the liquid components i.e. liquid/nanogel with propylene glycol and glycerin
  • a unit for mixing the solid mixed components with the liquid mixed components from one to three lamination units to obtain a 0.15 film -0.3 mm
  • a dryer to reduce the moisture content of the film.
  • the object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to produce both conventional and non-conventional reconstituted tobacco, with much smaller plants.
  • Another object of the invention is to produce reconstituted tobacco with limited energy consumption.
  • Another object of the invention is to produce reconstituted tobacco using apparatuses that are partly already available on the market, even if never used in this specific technical sector.
  • Another object of the invention is to produce reconstituted tobacco in an alternative way to traditional methods.
  • Another object of the invention is to produce reconstituted tobacco with characteristics suitable for satisfying different market demands. Another object of the invention is to produce reconstituted tobacco by operating at low temperatures and therefore preserving all the aromas of the tobacco.
  • the method according to the invention to produce reconstituted tobacco is characterized by the fact that it includes the carrying out, in sequence, of the following steps:
  • the solid components of tobacco are ground up to bring them to a particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably about 80-180 pm, - the ground product thus obtained is mixed with water, powdered cellulose, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol until a slurry is obtained with a liquid content of about 30-50%, preferably about 35-40%,
  • said mixture is subjected to a first lamination to obtain a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm, - said strip, already subjected to said first lamination, is subjected to a series of further lamination steps, until a strip having a significantly constant thickness of about 90 - 280 pm, preferably of about 140-200 pm, is obtained,
  • Figure 1 shows a general schematic view of a plant for the production of reconstituted tobacco according to the invention
  • Figure 2 shows its feed section if the plant is intended for the production of conventional reconstituted tobacco
  • Figure 3 shows its feed section if the plant is intended for production of reconstituted tobacco of unconventional type (HNB),
  • Figure 4 shows its rib feeding section
  • Figure 5 shows a partial scheme of the plant with two distinct lines of pre-treatment of leaves and tobacco ribs
  • Figure 6 shows its section for grinding, mixing and storage
  • Figure 7 shows a schematic view of it refiner with cylinders
  • Figure 8 shows in plan its stratification section in a different embodiment
  • Figure 9 schematically shows a hot air dryer thereof
  • Figure 10 schematically shows its hot air dryer in a different embodiment.
  • the plant for producing reconstituted tobacco according to the invention comprises several sections designed to operate on the incoming raw materials until they are transformed into a continuous strip of reconstituted tobacco to be sent to the subsequent cigarette packaging operations.
  • the plant according to the invention for the production of reconstituted tobacco comprises:
  • - a unit for shredding the solid components of tobacco, to bring them to a particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably about 80-180 pm;
  • a mixer 80 which is fed with metered quantities of shredded material, with water, with at least one binding agent and with at least one material to form an aerosol, and which is configured to form a mixture with a liquid content of about 30-50 %, preferably about 35- 40%,
  • a first rolling unit 100 to obtain from said mixture a continuous strip having a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm, - a rolling line 116 located downstream of said first rolling unit 100 to bring said continuous strip to a thickness of about 90 - 280 pm, preferably of about 140-200 pm,
  • a dryer 122 located downstream of said rolling line 116, to bring the liquid content of said strip, rolled and exiting said rolling line 116, to about 8-15%.
  • the plant also comprises a mixture forming unit 92 for forming a plurality of portions 97 of said mixture; suitably, therefore, the first rolling unit 100 is configured to form from the portions 97 of said mixture a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm.
  • the plant according to the invention comprises:
  • said grinding section comprises said grinding unit
  • the preparation and pretreatment section of the starting solid products is different depending on whether the plant is intended to produce reconstituted tobacco of a conventional type (fig. 2) or of an unconventional type (fig. 3).
  • a section for the preparation and pre-treatment of the tobacco ribs can also be provided (Fig. 4), to be used for the production of both conventional and unconventional reconstituted tobacco.
  • the preparation and pre-treatment section is intended to feed a plant for the production of reconstituted tobacco of a conventional type (fig. 2), it comprises a tilter 2 of the cartons containing the tobacco by-products, aimed at overturning their content on a feeder 4 of a vibrating conveyor 6, which separates any heavy bodies from the product to be treated.
  • the heavy bodies are collected in a suitable container 8, while the product to be treated is transferred, through a pneumatic conveying line 10, a cyclone 12, a conveyor belt 14, equipped with a metal detector 16 for the removal of any metal bodies, and a pneumatic conveying line 18, to the mill 20, preferably of the cryogenic type.
  • the preparation and pretreatment section for the preparation of reconstituted tobacco of an unconventional type (fig. 3), it comprises a feeding station with a bench 22 for unpacking the bales of tobacco leaves from cartons of about 200 kg, which generally contain them, and the transfer of these to a grinder 24.
  • this grinder 24 is connected, through a pneumatic conveying line 26, to a cyclone 28, in which the transport air is separated from the solid product, which is transferred to a vibrating sieve 30 for the separation of the fine parts from the remaining parts of the product.
  • the outlet of the fine parts is directly connected to the cryogenic mill 20, while the outlet of the remaining parts of the product feeds a traditional twine levering machine 32, which eliminates any twine previously not removed from the bales of tobacco leaves.
  • the outlet of the twine lever machine 32 feeds a classification chamber 34 for the separation of any heavy foreign bodies from the ground tobacco leaves, which through a pneumatic conveying line 36, a cyclone 38, a conveyor belt 40, equipped with metal detector 42 for the removal of any metal bodies, a weighing system 43 (master scale), and a pneumatic conveying line 44, are transferred to storage and mixing silos 45, from which they can then be transported through another line of pneumatic transport 44’, to the cryogenic mill 20.
  • These silos 45 are sized so as to contain the quantities of product necessary to form the batch according to the particular recipe to be prepared.
  • the preparation and pre-treatment section for the preparation of the tobacco ribs to be used for the production of both conventional and unconventional reconstituted tobacco (fig. 4), it comprises a tilter 46 of cartons containing the tobacco ribs, a rib feeder 48 to a vibrating conveyor 50, for the separation from these of any heavy bodies, and a pneumatic conveying line 52 for their transfer to a pin mill 54, where they are ground.
  • the pin mill 54 has its outlet in turn connected, by means of a pneumatic conveying line 56 equipped with cyclone filters 58, to one or more storage silos 60.
  • the output of the silo or silos 60 is at its connected, by means of a screw conveyor 62, to a weighing system 64 (slave scale), which doses the ground ribs in the percentage required by the particular recipe to be prepared, before sending them through the same pneumatic transport line 44’, to the storage and mixing silos 45.
  • a weighing system 64 slave scale
  • the plant according to the invention also includes the mill 20 (fig. 5), which grinds the various products received until it reaches an average particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably about 80-180 pm.
  • the pin mill is traditional in itself and comprises within a closed structure a fixed disc and a rotating disc or two counter-rotating discs, provided with facing and partially interpenetrating pins. Being a traditional apparatus in itself, it has been globally indicated with 20 in fig. 5 and 6 but is not shown in its internal construction characteristics or in its operating modes.
  • the pin mill 20 is designed to carry out cryogenic grinding, that is, grinding in the presence of liquid nitrogen.
  • a cryogenic pin mill 20 is somewhat more advantageous than a traditional mill, essentially due to the different ways in which the products to be ground are treated. In fact, grinding at room temperature can lead to poor quality products while grinding in the presence of liquid nitrogen allows the physical properties and the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of the products to be preserved.
  • the amount of liquid nitrogen used in cryogenic grinding processes is a key part to consider when investigating the pros and cons of the process, and can vary depending on the materials being processed.
  • Liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -175°C is injected onto the product inside the chamber of a screw conveyor 68 which feeds the mill 20 and its residence time in contact with the nitrogen is approximately 2 to 5 sec., which is also the transit time of the product inside the screw that feeds the pin mill.
  • the temperature of the product that leaves the mill 20 is advantageously lower than 10°C, so that the nitrogen vapors, which are released almost instantaneously upon contact with the tobacco to be cooled, go through the entire feeding system of the mill in countercurrent the desired pre cooling effect.
  • the flow of liquid nitrogen in the pre-cooling system and in the mill is controlled by thermocouples, which make the cryomind process fully automatic.
  • the positive factors of cryogenic grinding are:
  • the outlet of the cryogenic pin mill 20 is connected to a fluid bed sieve 70, which has the function of separating the ground product, which comes out of the mill itself and generally has an average particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably of about 80-180 pm, from larger sizes, inevitably present.
  • the fluidized bed sieve 70 therefore has the function of classifying the product and reintroducing the one with fractions greater than 220 pm into the mill 20, after having separated them from those between 20 pm and 220 pm, which through a pneumatic transport 72 are sent to one or more mixing and storage silos 74.
  • the outlet of the mixing and storage silos 74 feeds, through a pneumatic transport line 76, a cyclone filter 78, which has the function of breaking down the dusty air and more specifically to separate the dust, which is then recovered and reintroduced into the cycle, from the air, which can then be expelled.
  • the outlet of the cyclone filter 78 feeds, through a continuous dosing system, preferably with a screw, the mixer 80, which can be of various types, for example of the horizontal tilting type or vertical spiral type.
  • the mixer 80 is fed with metered quantities of ground tobacco, water, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol, and is configured to obtain a mixture with a liquid content of about 30-50%, preferably of about 35-40%.
  • the values of liquid or humidity, indicated in the present description are intended to be determined according to the measuring system on a wet basis.
  • the humidity values are defined as the percentage of water contained in the total mass of the corresponding product and, in other words, as the percentage ratio between the quantity of water and the total mass of the assembly.
  • At least one duct for inlet water, a material for the formation of aerosols (for example glycerin) and at least one binding agent (binder) is connected to the mixer 80.
  • a material for the formation of aerosols for example glycerin
  • at least one binding agent for example glycerin
  • one or more inlet ducts can be provided for other additives required by the particular recipe to be prepared.
  • the plant comprises one or more storage tanks 82 for aerosol formation material and one or more premixers 84, into which said material for aerosol formation can be introduced and, preferably, a plurality of additives dosed in the right proportions to form the liquid to be introduced into the mixer 80.
  • the invention envisages introducing it into the mixer 80, together with the other components of the mixture, including powdered cellulose.
  • the cellulose powder used is made up of an organic fiber obtained from natural cellulose, and not a compound derived from cellulose.
  • the powdered cellulose thus added preferably has a particle size comprised between 50 and 100 pm and is preferably in a percentage comprised between 2% and 10% by weight with respect to the ground tobacco.
  • the added powdered cellulose is predominantly or exclusively of natural origin.
  • the powdered cellulose thus added is not synthetic and is not obtained by chemical treatments.
  • the powdered cellulose thus added does not have a binding function but the function of lowering the specific weight of the finished product and of reducing the solid components of tobacco, thus reducing the costs of the finished product, since cellulose has a much lower cost than tobacco. Furthermore, the addition of cellulose makes the finished product less brittle by increasing the tensile strength, and therefore it is more easily workable, and this is particularly useful in the case in which a pleated sheet of finished product is to be obtained.
  • This powdered cellulose which before its use is contained in bags or big-bags, can be directly introduced into the mixer 80 (fig. 1) and in this case, after being poured into a traditional hopper, it is fed to a cyclone filter 78’, which through a continuous dosing system, preferably of the screw type, introduces it in a metered quantity into the mixer 80.
  • the powdered cellulose can be introduced, again through a cyclone filter 78' and a continuous dosing system, in the pneumatic conveying line 44’ which feeds the mixing and storage silos, from which it is then transferred to the mill 20 (fig. 5) through the pneumatic conveying line 44', together with the other components of the mixture, present in the line itself. From the mill 20 the contents of the mixing and storage silos 45 are then transferred, through the conveyor line 76, to the weighing device placed at the inlet of the mixer 80.
  • preferred materials for aerosol formation include polyhydric alcohols (e.g.
  • glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol and tetraethylene glycol aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxyl ic acids (e.g. methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedium and dimethyl-tetradecandioate), as well as their mixtures.
  • glycerin, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol and tetraethylene glycol can be mixed together to form an aerosol-forming material.
  • the aerosol forming material can also be provided as a portion of the binding agent (e.g., when the binding agent is propylene glycol alginate).
  • suitable combinations of materials for aerosol formation can also be provided.
  • said at least one binder includes at least one of hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), corn starch, potato starch, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin and alginates (e.g. ammonium alginate and sodium alginate).
  • CMC carboxymethylcellulose
  • corn starch potato starch
  • guar gum locust bean gum
  • pectin and alginates e.g. ammonium alginate and sodium alginate.
  • the binder and the added powdered cellulose are defined by materials different from each other.
  • the powdered cellulose mainly serves to form a three-dimensional framework with a high thickening effect, a pseudoplastic behavior and a good capacity to retain liquids, while the binding agent serves exclusively or mainly to bind together the various components to be mixed.
  • the outlet of the premixers 84 is connected to an inlet of a hydrator 86, having other inlets connected to a water supply line 88 and to a compressed air supply line 90.
  • the outlet of the mixer 80 feeds the mixture forming unit 92 to obtain a plurality of portions 97, preferably shaped like loaves/loaves and separated from each other.
  • the forming unit 92 comprises a pair of forming cylinders 96, affected by grooves preferably parallel to the axis of the cylinders themselves and intended to pick up the mixture at the inlet and to supply the portions 97 at the outlet.
  • the unit 92 is also configured for roughing the mixture and for this purpose, preferably, comprises a hopper 94 provided with an internal lump breaker and said pair of forming cylinders 96 on the bottom.
  • a conveyor belt 98 is provided for the transfer of the portions 97 to the first rolling unit 100.
  • the first rolling unit 100 comprises a lobe feeder 102 to homogenize the mixture formed by the portions 97.
  • a further metal detector 104 can be provided, having the function of removing any metal parts, which could still be present in the mixture and could damage subsequent processing units. These metal parts are conveyed along a distinct path to the inlet of the lobe feeder 102 and are collected within a suitable container 106.
  • the lobe feeder 102 comprises a series of lobed feed rollers, between which the portions are made to pass 97 (which come out of the forming rolls 96 of the forming unit 92) so as to be mixed together and homogenized before being pushed between a pair of rolling rolls 108, which are configured to form a continuous strip of thickness about 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm.
  • the lobe feeder 102 causes homogenization of the product which leaves the forming unit 92 and which could have lumps.
  • the lobe feeder 102 also advances the product to push it into the inlet between the pair of laminating cylinders 108.
  • the first laminating unit 100 comprises a homogenization module, preferably defined by the feeder lobe 102, which is positioned immediately upstream with respect to a pre-lamination module which is defined by at least one pair of lamination cylinders 108, which are configured to form a continuous strip with a thickness of approximately 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm.
  • the strip thus obtained has a greater elasticity.
  • the rolling line 116 can be provided directly downstream of the lobe feeder 102.
  • the rolling line receives the single-layer continuous strip having a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably of about 1-10 mm, which comes out of the first lamination unit 100 provided in the lobe feeder 102
  • a layering unit 110 can be provided downstream of the first lamination unit 100 and upstream of the lamination line 116.
  • it is configured to arrange on several layers the single-layer continuous strip, having a thickness of about 1- 10 mm, which comes out of the first rolling unit 100, so as to transform it in a multilayer belt with a thickness of about 2-20 mm, which is then sent to the inlet of the rolling line 116.
  • said stratification unit 110 consists of an upstream conveyor belt 112, the which has the function of depositing the product belt on an underlying downstream conveyor belt 114, preferably belonging to the rolling line 116, arranging it so that it is layered on said downstream conveyor belt 114, for example by multiple folding on itself.
  • the upstream conveyor belt 112 is elevated with respect to the downstream conveyor belt 114 and is equipped with a continuous forward motion with respect to its support structure, and at the same time with an alternating motion with its support structure, parallel to the its longitudinal axis.
  • the layering unit 110 feeds the subsequent and underlying rolling line 116, and depending on the type of plant the upstream conveyor belt 112 of the layering unit
  • the upstream conveyor belt 112 is arranged parallel to the downstream conveyor belts 114 provided in the rolling line 116 (fig. 1), while if the downstream conveyor belts 114 of the rolling line 116 are wider than the product belt exiting the layering unit 110, it is preferable that the upstream conveyor belt 112 is arranged orthogonally to the downstream conveyor belts 114 provided in the rolling line 116 (fig. 8), so that with its movements can distribute the product strip over the entire useful width of the rolling line 116.
  • the alternating movement of the support structure of the upstream conveyor belt 112 of the layering unit 110 causes a stratification of the product belt, which leaves the first rolling unit 100 on the underlying first downstream conveyor belt 114 of the rolling line 116 and the formation of a stratified belt having a width substantially equal to the useful width of the rolling line itself.
  • the rolling line 116 is formed by several rolling stations, each comprising a pair of cylinders 118, which delimit an increasingly narrow passage between them to progressively reduce the thickness of the strip of product being processed.
  • the rolling line 116 is configured to progressively bring the continuous strip to a thickness of 90 - 280 pm, preferably of about 140-200 pm.
  • each rolling station and the next there is a conveyor belt 114 having a length preferably of about 1.5-2 m, which has the function of allowing the product to rest before it is subjected to the subsequent rolling step.
  • the rolling line 116 is then completed with one or more calibration stations, each formed by a pair of calibrating lamination rolls 120.
  • the118 and possibly also the calibrating rolls 120 can be heated, so as to being able to start the drying phase already during lamination.
  • a dryer 122 downstream of the rolling line 116 there is a dryer 122, preferably with air recirculation (Fig. 7), to bring the liquid content of said rolled strip to about 8-15%.
  • the dryer 122 can be divided into two units 124, 126, placed in series with each other. More particularly, the upstream unit 124 is provided for carrying out the first drying phase and is equipped inside with a steel belt or net conveyor belt for transporting the product leaving the rolling line 16; the downstream unit 126 is provided for carrying out the second drying phase and the subsequent cooling phase and is internally equipped with a network conveyor belt.
  • the dryer 122 is advantageously provided at the inlet and outlet with sensors 128, preferably with infrared rays, which monitor the product along its entire length.
  • the tobacco waste containers are placed on the tipper 2, which overturns the products onto the feeder 4, which transfers them to the vibrating conveyor 6.
  • the separation of any heavy bodies from the tobacco by-products takes place: the former are collected in the container 8 while the latter are transferred by an airflow along the pneumatic conveying line up to the cyclone 12, which separates the air from the solid products and lets these fall on the conveyor 14, for their transfer, through the pneumatic line 18, to the cryogenic mill 20.
  • the cartons containing the tobacco leaves are placed in the undressing bench 22, where the individual bales of tobacco leaves are removed from the cartons and sent to the grinder 24, which reduces the leaves themselves to a substantially uniform size between 5 and 10 mm.
  • the ground product is then transferred along the pneumatic conveying line 26 to the cyclone 28, which separates it from the air and makes it fall onto the vibrating sieve 30.
  • shredded tobacco ribs can be transferred to the same cryogenic mill 20, which can be used for the production of both conventional and unconventional reconstituted tobacco.
  • the containers with the ribs are placed on the overturning device
  • the shredded ribs, separated in the cyclones 58 from the transport air, are transferred to the storage silos 60, from which the different types of ribs, coming from different qualities of tobacco, can be picked up and transferred through the screw conveyor 62 to the rib dispenser 64, which doses them according to the particular recipe to be prepared.
  • the ground and dosed ribs in the correct quantities are transferred through the pneumatic line 66 to the cryogenic mill 20.
  • a ground product with an average particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably about 80-180 pm.
  • the ground product which comes out of the fluid bed sieve fed by the cryogenic mill 20, has an average particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably of about 80-180 pm.
  • the product thus ground is sent to the mixing and storage silos 60, from which the products can then be withdrawn according to the needs and transferred to the mixer 80.
  • water, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol are also introduced.
  • compressed air and other additives can also be introduced, including in particular ground cloves.
  • the whole is then mixed together to form a slurry having a percentage of liquids (humidity) of about 30-50%, preferably about 35-40%, by weight on a wet basis, i.e. a rather dense consistency.
  • a percentage of liquids (humidity) of about 30-50%, preferably about 35-40%, by weight on a wet basis, i.e. a rather dense consistency.
  • the mixture thus obtained is transferred to the forming unit 92, from which a plurality of portions 97, preferably shaped like loaves, come out.
  • first rolling unit 100 which is configured to homogenize the mixture and to provide at the outlet a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably of approximately 1-10 mm.
  • This continuous strip which comes out of the first lamination unit 100, is transferred directly to the lamination line 116 or - by means of the stratification unit 110 - is folded on itself to be thus deposited in the form stratified on the inlet belt 114 of the rolling line 116.
  • the stratification is obtained by letting the continuous belt fall on the conveyor belt 112, which is made to advance with respect to its support structure, which is moved by alternating motion, so as to arrange the product belt on several layers on said inlet conveyor belt 114.
  • the support structure of the conveyor belt 112 immediately downstream of the layering unit 110 the product belt is arranged on several layers parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rolling line 116 or orthogonally thereto.
  • the product strip undergoes a thickness reduction, until it reaches the desired thickness in correspondence with the output calibrating cylinders 120, which has a significantly constant value of about 90 - 280 pm, preferably about 140-200 pm.
  • the strip has a liquid content lower than 20% or even 15%, if the laminating cylinders 118 are heated and the removal of the water has already begun during the rolling process.
  • the web of product leaving the rolling line 116 is then subjected to drying in the dryer 122, where its liquid content is brought to about 8-15%.
  • the dryer 122 is air-recirculated, and compared to the dryers traditionally used in reconstituted tobacco production plants it is somewhat more advantageous both in terms of manufacturing complexity and in terms of overall dimensions and in terms of energy consumption.
  • traditional plants treat a very fluid and not very stable product (slurry), unlike the product treated by the plant according to the invention, which is much denser and much more stable. Consequently, while the plants that treat slurry require traditional irradiation and conduction dryers, the plant according to the invention can advantageously use a recirculating air dryer 122 with a network conveyor belt or a combined system of steel conveyor belts for the first drying phase and net conveyor belts for the second drying phase and for the cooling phase.
  • the product is ready to be wound in reels or to be cut into threads of predetermined dimensions, to be used for the packaging of cigarettes.
  • the homogenization of the mixture is carried out mainly or exclusively by means of the lobe feeder 102 and is in any case carried out always and only upstream, preferably immediately upstream of the pre- rolling module, which transforms the homogenized mixture in a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, preferably about 1-10 mm, to be sent in the final rolling line 116.
  • the rolling line 116 receives a strip at the inlet, and not a deformed mixture, allows to guarantee a constant inlet flow, increasing the accuracy of the thickness of the sheet in the subsequent rolling steps and also allows to reduce the number of laminating cylinders 118 of the same line, thus reducing the cost and the overall dimensions of the plant.
  • the plant uses, as an alternative to the molding unit 92 or in addition and to upstream of this, a cylinder refiner 130 which has the task of bringing the solid components of the mixture to a grain size not exceeding 20 pm.
  • the refiner (Fig. 7) comprises inside a closed container a plurality of cylinders 132 arranged in sequence in close proximity to each other, so as to delimit corresponding grinding slots.
  • the lower cylinder 132’ is mounted with the axis outside the plane containing the axis of all the other cylinders 132 and functions as a feeder of the mixture which is taken from the bottom of the container and made to rise upwards so as to pass between the lower cylinder and the one immediately above and then to follow among all the others.
  • one of the fundamental parameters for the success of the refining process is precisely the different speed of the different cylinders 132, on which the passage of the whole mass of mixture that has passed through the grinding slot depends.
  • the pressure between the cylinders is hydraulically controlled.
  • All the cylinders 132 are cooled with cold water which circulates inside each cylinder and in this way contrasts the heat, which develops from the mixture due to the friction due both to the movement of the cylinders and to the rubbing with the product. In this way the temperature of the product mass is reduced until it reaches 25°C.
  • the friction action which is exerted on the mixture by the cylinders 132 of the latter, develops a considerable binding action of the cellulose fibers contained in the tobacco and in particular in the ribs of the latter, and this involves the double advantage of developing the aromatic components of the product and eliminating the need to introduce more fiber into the mixture to obtain the required binding effect.
  • the operation of the plant in this different embodiment provides that the shredded leaves and the shredded ribs coming from the preparation and pre-treatment stations are fed to the cryogenic pin mill 20 in proportionally dosed quantities according to the recipe to be obtained, and are from this leads to a particle size of about 20 - 220 pm, preferably about 80-180 pm.
  • the product is then transferred in the manner already described into the mixer 80, in which a product mixture is formed as described above.
  • the mixture thus obtained is then fed to the cylinder refiner 130, which has the task of bringing the solid components of the mixture to a grain size not exceeding 20 pm.
  • the friction action exerted on the mixture by the cylinders 132 of the refiner 130 develops a considerable binding action of the cellulose fibers contained in the tobacco and in particular in the ribs thereof, and this entails the double advantage of developing, from a on the other hand, the aromatic components of the product and, on the other hand, to eliminate the need to introduce more fiber into the mixture to obtain the required binding effect.
  • fig. 1 schematically indicates the position of the refiner 130 between the mixer 80 and the forming unit 92, but the invention also provides that the refiner 130 can be an alternative to the forming unit 92, and in this case the mixture which it leaves the refiner 130 and is transferred directly to the first rolling unit 100, for the continuation of the processing cycle according to the methods already described.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Compounds Of Unknown Constitution (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de production de tabac reconstitué caractérisé par le fait que : • les constituants solides du tabac sont broyés jusqu'à une taille de particule d'environ 20 à 220 µm, de préférence d'environ 80 à 180 µm, • le produit broyé ainsi obtenu est mélangé avec de la cellulose en poudre, de l'eau, au moins un agent de liaison et au moins une substance pour former un aérosol jusqu'à obtention d'une bouillie ayant une teneur en liquide d'environ 30 à 50 %, de préférence d'environ 35 à 40 %, • ladite bouillie est soumise à une première stratification pour obtenir une bande continue d'une épaisseur d'environ 1 à 20 mm, de préférence d'environ 1 à 10 mm, • la bande déjà soumise à ladite première stratification est soumise à une série d'autres étapes de stratification, jusqu'à obtention d'une bande ayant une épaisseur considérablement constante d'environ 90 à 280 pm, de préférence d'environ 140 à 200 µm, • ladite bande est séchée jusqu'à amener sa teneur en liquide à environ 8 à 15 %.
EP21717214.7A 2020-03-13 2021-03-11 Procédé et installation de production de tabac reconstitué Pending EP4117459A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102020000005503A IT202000005503A1 (it) 2020-03-13 2020-03-13 Metodo ed impianto di produzione di tabacco ricostituito.
PCT/IB2021/052037 WO2021181327A1 (fr) 2020-03-13 2021-03-11 Procédé et installation de production de tabac reconstitué

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4117459A1 true EP4117459A1 (fr) 2023-01-18

Family

ID=70918819

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21717214.7A Pending EP4117459A1 (fr) 2020-03-13 2021-03-11 Procédé et installation de production de tabac reconstitué

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US20230134279A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4117459A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2023518155A (fr)
KR (1) KR20220154750A (fr)
CN (1) CN115348823A (fr)
BR (1) BR112022017829A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA3169936A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT202000005503A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021181327A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202200014227A1 (it) * 2022-07-06 2024-01-06 Comas Costruzioni Macch Speciali S P A Metodo per la produzione di uno strato in materiale ricostituito di origine vegetale
KR20240027484A (ko) * 2022-08-23 2024-03-04 주식회사 케이티앤지 담배 과립의 제조방법 및 이에 의해 제조된 담배 과립을 포함하는 에어로졸 생성 물품
WO2024079646A1 (fr) * 2022-10-12 2024-04-18 Comas Costruzioni Macchine Speciali S.P.A. Procédé et installation de production d'une bande de matériau reconstitué
CN115956699A (zh) * 2023-02-06 2023-04-14 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 一种辊压法薄片烟丝的制备方法及烟丝
WO2024194730A1 (fr) * 2023-03-22 2024-09-26 Comas - Costruzioni Macchine Speciali - S.P.A. Procédé et machine de fabrication d'une bande végétale

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2701224T5 (es) 2014-09-30 2022-03-23 Philip Morris Products Sa Método para la producción de material de tabaco homogeneizado
RU2680562C2 (ru) 2014-09-30 2019-02-22 Филип Моррис Продактс С.А. Способ получения гомогенизированного табачного материала и гомогенизированный табачный материал
PL3760056T3 (pl) 2014-09-30 2024-02-19 Philip Morris Products S.A. Sposób wytwarzania homogenizowanego materiału tytoniowego
BR112017003770B1 (pt) 2014-09-30 2022-02-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. Material de tabaco homogeneizado, método de produção de material de tabaco homogeneizado e artigo gerador de aerosol compreendendo o dito material
WO2016067226A1 (fr) * 2014-10-29 2016-05-06 Recon Inc. Tabac reconstitué par nano-stratification
US20210244069A1 (en) * 2018-02-16 2021-08-12 Ioto International Indústria E Comércio De Produtos Aromáticos Ltd Method and System For Producing of Reconstituted Vegetable Films
EP4316271A3 (fr) * 2018-09-17 2024-03-27 COMAS - COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE SPECIALI - S.p.A. Procédé de fabrication de tabac reconstitué

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT202000005503A1 (it) 2021-09-13
WO2021181327A1 (fr) 2021-09-16
CN115348823A (zh) 2022-11-15
BR112022017829A2 (pt) 2022-11-01
JP2023518155A (ja) 2023-04-28
US20230134279A1 (en) 2023-05-04
KR20220154750A (ko) 2022-11-22
CA3169936A1 (fr) 2021-09-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3852554B1 (fr) Procédé et appareil pour la production de tabac reconstitué
US20230134279A1 (en) Method and plant for processing reconstituted tobacco
CZ452190A3 (cs) Způsob zpracování tabákových listů
US8454795B1 (en) System and method for producing bonded fiber/cellulose products
JPS6147590B2 (fr)
RU2504305C2 (ru) Технология модульной подготовки табака с экструзией
US20100101108A1 (en) Method and installation for screening and drying strand material upstream of a distribution machine in the course of manufacturing wood material boards
US20230165296A1 (en) Method of producing homogeneous sheets of nicotine-free vegetable fibers
US10196775B2 (en) Method for processing grass for manufacturing paper, paperboard and cardboard
JP2022514737A (ja) アルカロイドを含有する材料のシートを製造するための方法および装置
WO1994010864A1 (fr) Cigarette et procede de preparation
KR100792011B1 (ko) 고춧가루 제조 시스템
CN110771939B (zh) 一种片烟混合方法及装置
JP2022513279A (ja) アルカロイドを含有する材料のシートを製造するための方法および装置
RU2315535C1 (ru) Линия производства экструдированных продуктов
CN116491679A (zh) 再造烟叶薄片制造方法和装置
RU19251U1 (ru) Комплекс по переработке водорослей
CN217826710U (zh) 制丝生产系统
WO2024079646A1 (fr) Procédé et installation de production d'une bande de matériau reconstitué
JPH08173038A (ja) 粉末茶の製造装置
CN116442563A (zh) 成形体制造装置、以及成形体的制造方法
KR20180099530A (ko) 담배 로드 형성 기계에 원료 보급을 위한 타바코 가공업의 기계 및 상기 기계의 작동을 위한 방법

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

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

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

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20220930

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

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230518

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: DE

Ref document number: 40086608

Country of ref document: HK

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20231026

GRAJ Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

INTC Intention to grant announced (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20240417

GRAJ Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTC Intention to grant announced (deleted)
INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20240906