GB569253A - Improvements in and relating to tobacco and methods of treating same - Google Patents

Abstract

569,253. Tobacco. AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO. June 17, 1943, No. 9777. Convention date, June 11, 1942. [Class 130] A method of treating tobacco consists in applying to the tobacco a solution or sol of finely-divided tobacco particles wholly or largely of substantially colloid size to form a coating. Tobacco or tobacco waste is reduced by dry or wet grinding, e.g. in a ball mill, to a colloidal state and mixed with water to form a slurry or suspension. This may be subjected to heat treatment at atmospheric or higher pressure in an autoclave or other apparatus to hydrate and swell the finer particles. The treatment may be effected at normal atmospheric pressure by heating in a reaction flask connected to a reflux condenser. During heating, the liquid may be agitated by shaking or stirring or by bubbling steam through it. The resulting mixture may be sprayed on tobacco leaves or leaf portions on a conveyer belt 1, Fig. 1, by nozzles 2 connected to a tank 5 under pressure. Leaves &c. dropping from the conveyer 1 are inverted by a guide 8 and fall on to a conveyer 9, when they are again sprayed by nozzles 10. In a modification, the mixture is sprayed on tobacco tumbled over in the interior of a revolving drum of the type normally used in " casing " shredded tobacco for cigarettes. The coated tobacco may be stored for 24 or 48 hours before making into cigarettes &c.