JP2013529459A - Tobacco expansion method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes providing tobacco in a substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) having an atmospheric pressure, wherein a pressure cylinder (12) is provided in the chamber (3, 4, , 24, 25, 26, 27) and further including a piston (14) and moving the piston (14) of the pressure cylinder (12) to provide chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) relates to a method for inflating tobacco, comprising the step of changing the pressure within the pressure to a pressure different from atmospheric pressure When tobacco is provided in the substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27), the first lock (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) of the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27). 5,6) are shifted to create a first opening in the chamber and to insert tobacco into the opening through the first opening. After inflating the tobacco in the chamber, the second lock (7, 8) of the chamber is shifted to create a second opening in the chamber, and the expanded tobacco is discharged from the chamber through the second opening. To do. The invention further relates to a tobacco expansion device.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for expanding tobacco and a tobacco expansion device.

  In the prior art, a method for inflating cigarettes is known which involves placing a wet chopped tobacco in a stream of transport medium that travels at high temperatures and speeds. Typically, the carrier medium is air or saturated or superheated steam that simultaneously dries and expands tobacco. In such an inflator, since the tobacco is carried by the same medium, the ratio between the carrying medium and the tobacco cannot be freely adjusted, and this ratio is suitable to allow tobacco transportation and drying. Had to choose in a different way. A further disadvantage of the expansion of tobacco using a carrier medium is that it requires a relatively large amount of space. Furthermore, pressurization significantly above or below atmospheric pressure is not possible. An example of such a method well known in the prior art can be found in US Pat.

  Furthermore, the expansion of stationary cigarettes is well known from US Pat. No. 6,057,056, in which the tobacco to be treated is placed in a perforated container placed in a chamber having an airtight cover. Gas from the compressor is placed in the chamber. The piston valve is immediately removed to relieve pressure from the chamber. By suddenly releasing the pressure, the gas trapped in some of the tobacco components under pressure can cause the tobacco to expand.

  However, the above-described method requires a relatively complex fluid system for pressure build-up and release, and cannot operate at high throughput.

US Pat. No. 5,251,649 US Pat. No. 1,789,435

  Therefore, there is a need to provide a tobacco expansion device that requires less space and has high throughput and high expansion efficiency.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco expansion method and a tobacco expansion apparatus that require less space and can expand tobacco with a high throughput rate and high expansion efficiency.

  This is made possible by the method of inflating tobacco, where the tobacco is provided in a substantially hermetically sealable chamber having atmospheric pressure. A pressure cylinder is in fluid communication with the chamber. According to the invention, the pressure cylinder further comprises a piston. The piston in the pressure cylinder is moved to change the pressure in the chamber to a pressure different from atmospheric pressure. The feature of changing the pressure to a pressure different from atmospheric pressure by moving the piston allows the pressure in the substantially hermetically sealable chamber to be quickly changed relative to atmospheric pressure. Thus, in contrast to prior art stationary tobacco expansion where the initial pressure increase is slowly brought about by the compressor, the present invention allows the pressure in the chamber to be quickly increased or decreased. This allows more efficient tobacco processing. In particular, tobacco expands as the moisture in the tobacco changes phase from liquid to gas. It is believed that the amount of tobacco expansion increases with the rate of pressure change. The higher the rate of pressure change, the greater the volume of expanded tobacco.

  Preferably, providing the tobacco in a substantially hermetically sealable chamber displaces the first lock of the chamber to create a first opening in the chamber and then through the first opening. Inserting the tobacco into the chamber. After inflating the tobacco in the chamber, the method includes shifting the second lock of the chamber to create a second opening in the chamber. In yet another step, the tobacco expanded through the second opening is discharged from the chamber. This allows tobacco to be fed through the chamber by using the first opening as the inlet opening and the second opening as the discharge opening. Thus, the method can be applied in an automated factory environment with a designated tobacco flow direction. Therefore, the tobacco expansion method with high throughput can be implemented.

  It is preferable to reduce the pressure in the chamber to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by movement of the piston. Thus, the tobacco contained in the chamber can be immediately expanded without a prior pressure increase in the chamber.

  Alternatively, the method includes the step of increasing the pressure in the chamber to a pressure above atmospheric pressure by the movement of the piston, and then rapidly reducing the pressure to atmospheric pressure. Later, when the pressure is quickly reduced to atmospheric pressure, the tobacco expands.

  Preferably, the pressure in the chamber is maintained at a high pressure for a period of time. Preferably, the high pressure is between a pressure about 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure and a pressure above atmospheric pressure to about 8 bar. Preferably, the high pressure is maintained for about 30 minutes to about 24 hours, and more preferably the high pressure is maintained for about 8 hours to about 24 hours.

  Preferably, the chamber temperature is raised before the pressure is reduced. Preferably, the temperature is raised between about 5 degrees Celsius and about 250 degrees Celsius, more preferably between about 25 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius.

  Maintaining the tobacco at a high temperature, high pressure, or both high and high pressure for a predetermined time facilitates the impregnation of the tobacco with the treatment medium. Good impregnation of tobacco with the treatment medium increases the efficiency of subsequent expansion.

  It is preferable to use piston movement to quickly reduce the pressure in the chamber to atmospheric pressure.

  Alternatively, the pressure is reduced from a pressure above atmospheric pressure to a pressure below atmospheric pressure by piston movement in the cylinder.

  Preferably, the pressure can be reduced to atmospheric pressure by opening the bleed valve, which is preferably provided in the cylinder. Thus, the tobacco is inflated by the pressure drop caused by opening the bleed valve. Alternatively, the bleed valve is provided in the chamber.

  Preferably, the pressure drop is between about 0.01 bar and about 10 bar, more preferably between about 0.1 bar and about 5 bar, most preferably from about 0.5 bar to about 3 bar. The range between.

  Preferably, the time to produce a pressure drop, for example, from atmospheric pressure to lower than atmospheric pressure or from overpressure to atmospheric pressure is between about 0.01 seconds and 5 minutes, more preferably The range is between about 0.05 seconds and 0.2 minutes, most preferably between about 0.1 and about 0.5 seconds.

  Preferably, the first opening is at the top of the chamber and the second opening is at the bottom of the chamber, and gravity can be used to transport tobacco through the expansion device.

  Preferably, the processing medium is injected into the chamber via an injection valve. The treatment medium may be any medium that facilitates tobacco expansion. Preferably, the treatment medium comprises at least one of saturated steam, superheated steam, air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, or water. Preferably, when the treatment medium is saturated steam, the saturated steam is about 184 degrees Celsius under a pressure of about 10 bar. Preferably, when the treatment medium is superheated steam, the superheated steam is between about 120 degrees Celsius and about 250 degrees Celsius, and more preferably, at a pressure between about atmospheric and about 4 bar. The temperature is between about 160 degrees and 250 degrees centigrade. In particular, the medium is suitable for reducing the oxygen concentration in the chamber before a predetermined temperature or pressure is created in the chamber. Reducing the oxygen concentration in the chamber can reduce or prevent the negative effects of the expansion process from the tobacco perspective.

  Preferably, the method according to the invention first injects the processing medium into the chamber through the injection valve, then exhausts the processing medium through an air vent valve mounted in the chamber or cylinder and injects the exhausted processing medium The method further includes circulating the processing medium and flowing the chamber by supplying the valve. Thus, further circulation ensures that substantially all of the tobacco is exposed to the treatment medium, so that the treatment medium can process tobacco more efficiently. In addition, this makes it possible to remove the remaining oxygen from the chamber more efficiently.

  Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of providing at least two substantially airtight sealable chambers on the rotating member, each of the at least two substantially airtight sealable chambers having at least one It has a loading position, at least one pressure position, and at least one discharge position. According to the present invention, the at least one loading position, the at least one pressurization position, and the at least one discharge position may be coincident, the chamber loading, chamber pressurization (or decompression) at the same physical position, And discharging tobacco from the chamber. Alternatively, at least one of the at least one loading position, the at least one pressure position, or the at least one discharge position does not coincide with the other positions. For example, a method according to the present invention includes loading a first blend of tobacco into a first chamber at a first loading position, and the same first chamber with a second blend of tobacco at a second loading position. And then pressurizing the first chamber at the first and second pressurization positions, depressurizing the chamber at the third pressurization position, and a single match with the first load position. Discharging tobacco expanded at a discharge position from the first chamber.

  Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises the steps of rotating the rotating member and maintaining the tobacco in one of the chambers at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure during rotation of the rotating member. Thereafter, when the chamber is in the discharge position, the tobacco is discharged from the chamber. The rotating member provides the advantage that one or several loading positions can be defined that provide a means to allow the chamber to be easily filled with tobacco. While the rotating member is rotated and the chamber containing the cigarette moves from the loading position to the discharging position, the tobacco filled in the chamber at the loading position can be maintained at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure for a certain period of time. By subsequently filling the chamber at the loading position and discharging the tobacco at the discharge position, a substantially continuous tobacco expansion process can be performed, improving the throughput and efficiency of the tobacco expansion method.

  Furthermore, the method according to the present invention may include placing the pressurized chamber in a parking position that maintains the chamber at a predetermined pressure and temperature for an extended period of time. Preferably, the parking position of the chamber is, for example, outside the rotating member in the storage means. In that case, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of lowering the pressure chamber from the rotating member into the parking position in the storage means and mounting the pressure chamber on the rotating member from the parking position in the storage means. In addition. Preferably, the storage means houses a plurality of storage members, for example from about 2 chambers to about 100 chambers. Thus, even when tobacco is impregnated in the chamber for a long time, continuous expansion of the tobacco can be performed efficiently.

  In one embodiment, the substantially hermetically sealable chamber is pressurized by a separate cylinder provided for each of the substantially hermetically sealed chambers. This is advantageous as long as the pressure in the chamber can be continuously controlled even during rotation of the rotating member. Furthermore, a cylinder provided for each of the substantially hermetically sealable chambers can be connected in a reliable and easy manner to the corresponding substantially hermetically sealable chamber.

  Alternatively, the substantially hermetic sealable chamber filled with tobacco is pressurized in the pressurization position by a fixed cylinder in communication with the substantially hermetic sealable chamber in the pressurization position. Thus, all substantially hermetically sealable chambers of the rotating member can later be pressurized with only one fixed cylinder. Alternatively, in some pressurization positions, several stationary cylinders pressurize a substantially hermetically sealable chamber.

  Preferably, the cylinder and chamber are separated by a screen that is permeable to fluid but not permeable to tobacco. Thus, it can be ensured that the tobacco is outside the cylinder or fluid communication duct or tube connecting the cylinder and the chamber. In particular, a screen is provided in the chamber proximate to the fluid communication opening that connects the cylinder with the chamber.

  The present invention also includes at least one substantially hermetically sealable chamber, in communication with the at least one chamber, includes a piston, and changes the pressure in the at least one chamber to a pressure different from atmospheric pressure. And a pressure cylinder adapted to the tobacco. It is possible to subject the tobacco in at least one substantially hermetically sealable chamber to different pressures and to inflate the tobacco in a quick and reliable manner. Preferably, the tobacco expansion device includes a lock that is slidable or pivotable to allow opening and closing of the chamber for opening and closing the substantially hermetically sealable chamber. Accordingly, the chamber can be easily opened to allow the chamber to be filled with tobacco and the expanded tobacco to be discharged from the chamber.

  In particular, the tobacco expansion device includes a number of substantially hermetically sealable chambers, each of which is later placed in a loading position where tobacco can be filled into the respective chambers through a loading lock. To be adapted. Tobacco inflator can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 12, 24, 50 or more chambers or any other number A chamber can be included. The chambers can have different sizes, but are preferably uniform in size.

  Preferably, the volume of the chamber is between about 0.001 cubic meters to about 10 cubic meters, more preferably between about 0.01 cubic meters to 2 cubic meters, most preferably from about 0.1 cubic meters to about 1 cubic meter. Between.

  Further, each of the chambers is adapted to be disposed in a discharge position that can discharge tobacco from the respective chamber through a discharge lock. Thus, the ability to place each of the chambers in the loading position and further in the discharge position allows an efficient and nearly continuous tobacco expansion process to be performed. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a fixed means for filling the cigarette near the chamber at the loading position and to place a fixed discharging means near the chamber at the discharge position.

  Preferably, a number of substantially hermetic chambers are provided on a rotating member adapted to rotate. Thus, rotation allows the chamber to be later placed in the loading and discharging positions.

  Alternatively, however, the substantially hermetically sealable chamber can also be provided on a linearly movable member.

  Furthermore, the tobacco expansion device includes storage means for the pressurized chamber in the parking position as described above.

  Preferably, the treatment medium is injected through an injection valve that makes it possible to divide the amount of the injection medium into an appropriate amount. Preferably, the injection valve provides a recirculation function.

  In order to provide a recirculation function, the pressure piston is provided with an air vent opening having an air vent valve, and the processing medium is jetted through the jet opening in the chamber. Similarly, air or processing medium already in the pressure cylinder can be discharged from the pressure cylinder.

  In another embodiment, a circulation opening can be provided in the chamber itself.

  Furthermore, the tobacco expansion device can be provided with a bleed valve which can be arranged in the cylinder or in the chamber, but is preferably arranged in a fluid communication duct between the chamber and the cylinder. The bleed valve can be opened to cause a sudden pressure change in the chamber and pressure cylinder, in particular high pressure air or processing medium can be suddenly released from the chamber and pressure cylinder. Alternatively, the pressure reduction is achieved by quickly retracting the pressure cylinder piston. The bleed valve and the bleed valve can be implemented as the same valve.

  During use, the tobacco expansion device is preferably operated according to the following two modes of operation: “pressurization mode” and “vacuum mode”.

  In the “pressurized mode”, the cigarette chamber load lock is first opened and tobacco is inserted into the chamber. The load lock is then closed and steam is injected into the chamber through the injection valve while the air vent valve in the pressure cylinder is opened. Thus, the vapor initially fills the chamber while replacing the air in the chamber and flows through the screen, through the communication duct, into the pressure cylinder, and through the vent valve. Once the air previously contained in the chamber and pressure cylinder has been completely replaced by steam, the steam injection can be stopped. Optionally, a recirculation step can be performed by circulating the steam exhausted through the vent valve to the injection valve to ensure that all tobacco in the chamber is fully exposed to the steam.

  The piston of the pressure cylinder, which is initially in the retracted position, is then moved to provide a high pressure in the chamber. The retracted position refers to a position where the volume of the cylinder connected to the chamber is maximum or at least relatively large. Throughout this process, the injection valve, vent valve and bleed valve are closed. However, alternatively or additionally, the pressure in the chamber can also be brought about by injection of high-pressure steam through the injection valve.

  The tobacco is maintained at high pressure for a period of time so that all of the tobacco is exposed to steam at high pressure.

  The pressure is then suddenly released either by piston movement or by opening the bleed valve. Sudden pressure release causes a rapid phase change of the moisture in the tobacco from liquid to vapor, which causes the tobacco to expand. Alternatively, a sudden pressure release is obtained by retracting the piston and simultaneously opening the bleed valve.

  In the last step, a discharge lock is opened at the bottom of the tobacco chamber and the expanded tobacco is discharged.

  In “vacuum mode”, tobacco is fed into the chamber through the load lock, while the piston of the pressure cylinder is in the forward position, initially allowing the smallest volume in the pressure cylinder.

  Then, as already described above, the loading lock is closed and steam is injected through the injection valve and discharged through the air vent valve. After optional steam recirculation, both the steam injection valve and the vent valve are closed, the piston of the pressure cylinder is retracted, the volume in the pressure cylinder suddenly increases, and the pressure significantly below atmospheric pressure is In the cylinder and tobacco chamber. This pressure allows the tobacco to expand.

  Thereafter, for repressurization, the bleed valve is opened, and the pressure in the chamber and the pressure cylinder is increased again to the respective ambient atmospheric pressure. Additionally or alternatively, piston movement of the pressure cylinder can be performed for the repressurization process. Finally, the chamber discharge lock is opened and the expanded tobacco is discharged.

  The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is an elevation front perspective view of a tobacco expansion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a tobacco expansion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  A tobacco expansion device 1 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a rotating member 2 that can rotate about a rotation axis 3 disposed substantially vertically at a generally central position of the rotating member 2.

  The dashed line in FIG. 1 shows the portion of the tobacco expansion device that is normally hidden because it is inside the tobacco expansion device or on the back of the tobacco expansion device.

  In this embodiment, the rotating member 2 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape and circular flat upper and lower surfaces. The rotating member 2 can be driven by any suitable driving means such as a servo motor or a stepping motor.

  The rotating member 2 is provided with cigarette chambers 3 and 4 disposed in a radially outer region of the rotating member 2 when viewed from the rotating shaft 3. The tobacco chambers 3 and 4 extend from the upper surface of the rotating member 2 to the lower surface.

  In particular, the tobacco chambers 3, 4 include a loading opening on the upper side of the rotating member 2. The loading opening can be closed by loading locks 5, 6 which are pivotally mounted on one side of the loading opening. In FIG. 1, the load lock 5 of the tobacco chamber 3 is open and the load lock 6 of the tobacco chamber 4 is closed.

  Furthermore, the tobacco chambers 3, 4 comprise a discharge opening on the underside of the rotating member 2, which is closed by pivotable discharge locks 7, 8, both shown closed in FIG. 1. be able to.

  The tobacco expansion chambers 3, 4 can be substantially hermetically sealed when the load locks 5, 6 and the discharge locks 7, 8 are closed. Only fluid communication ducts 9, 10 connect the chambers 3, 4 to the lower parts 11, 13 of the pressure cylinder 12. The pressure cylinder 12 includes a piston 14 that moves through the upper portion 15 and the lower portions 11, 13 of the further pressure cylinder and can change the pressure in the pressure cylinder 12.

  FIG. 1 shows a split pressure cylinder including a rotating cylinder portion and a fixed cylinder portion. The pressure cylinder 12 includes a lower part 11, an upper part 15 and a piston 14, but the tobacco chamber 8 is connected only to the upper part or the lower part 13 of a split pressure cylinder without a piston. During use, the fixed upper part 15 and the piston 14 of the split pressure cylinder 12 are aligned with the lower parts 11 and 13 in the rotating member 2.

  Furthermore, even if the upper part 15 and the piston 14 are not connected to the lower parts 11 and 13 of the pressure cylinder 12, the communication ducts 9, 10 can be maintained so that the pressure in the chambers 3 and 4 can be maintained at a level different from the atmospheric pressure. A valve can be provided inside. This makes it necessary for the piston 14 and the respective actuation means to be provided only at the positions shown, while the rotation of the rotary member 2 around the rotary shaft 3 causes the respective lower parts 11, 13 of the pressure cylinder to become pistons. The advantage of being able to align with 14 is given.

  However, alternatively, a full pressure piston can be provided for each of the chambers 3, 4.

  Each of the chambers 3, 4 includes an injection opening through which a medium such as steam can be injected into the chambers 3, 4 under the control of the injection valves 16, 17. Air vent valves 18, 19 are provided on the lower parts 11, 13 of the pressure cylinder 12 so that the air that replaces the steam injected through the injection valves 16, 17 can be discharged. A bleed valve may be provided at a position similar to the air vent valves 18 and 19. Alternatively, the bleed valve and vent valves 18, 19 are the same valve.

  In one embodiment, the vent valves 18, 19 are in fluid communication with the injectors 16, 17 via the recirculation pipe, and the medium discharged through the vent valves 18, 19 is transferred to the injectors 16, 17 and again to the chamber. 3 and 4 can be recycled.

  In FIG. 2, a horizontal cross section through the tobacco expansion device is shown. Further tobacco chambers 24, 25, 26, 27 not shown in FIG. 1 are provided in the rotating member 2. The chambers 24, 25, 26, 27 are in fluid communication with the lower parts 20, 21, 22, 23 of the pressure cylinder 12 via communication ducts 28, 29, 30, 31, respectively. Although the number of chambers for tobacco expansion in the rotating member 2 may be any number, only two chambers 3 and 4 are shown in FIG. 1 for clarity. In an actual manufacturing environment, a larger number of chambers, such as 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 or 24, is desirable because it allows for increased tobacco throughput.

  During use, tobacco is dispensed into the tobacco chamber at the tobacco chamber 3 location. At the same time, the already expanded tobacco is discharged from the tobacco chamber at the location of the chamber 24. When the chamber 3 is filled with a specified amount of cigarette, each loading lock 5 is closed, and the pressure in the chamber 3 is changed to a pressure different from the atmospheric pressure. The rotating member 2 is then rotated by 60 degrees in the clockwise direction, the loading lock of the chamber 24 is opened, and the tobacco is fed into the chamber 24. In parallel, the tobacco is discharged from the chamber 25. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, chamber 3 is in the loading position and chamber 24 is in the discharge position. Furthermore, the chamber 3 is in a pressurized position.

  The pressure in the chamber 23 is released by retraction of the piston or by opening the bleed valve. The discharge lock is then opened. Thus, after the rotating member has been rotated by 60 degrees, one tobacco chamber can be filled while another chamber is emptied. This allows the operation of the method for inflating tobacco in a tobacco expansion device with high throughput and efficiency.

1: Cigarette expansion device 2: Rotating member 3: Rotating shaft 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27: Tobacco chamber 5, 6: Loading lock 7, 8: Discharge lock 9, 10: Fluid communication duct 12: Pressure cylinder 11, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23: Lower part of pressure cylinder 14: Piston 15: Upper part of pressure cylinder 16, 17: Injection valve 18, 19: Air vent valves 28, 29, 30, 31: Communication duct

Claims (13)

A method for inflating tobacco material comprising:
Providing the tobacco in a substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) having atmospheric pressure, wherein a pressure cylinder (12) is provided in the chamber (3, 4, 24). 25, 26, 27) and further comprising a piston (14),
Moving the piston (14) of the pressure cylinder (12) to change the pressure in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) to a pressure different from atmospheric pressure;
Providing the tobacco in the substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27),
The first lock (5, 6) of the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) is shifted to form a first opening in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27). Generating a part;
Inserting the tobacco through the first opening into the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27);
Further including
After inflating the tobacco in the chamber, the method comprises:
Shifting the second lock (7, 8) of the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) to create a second opening in the chamber;
Discharging the expanded tobacco from the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) through the second opening;
The method of further comprising.   The step of changing the pressure includes the step of lowering the pressure in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by the movement of the piston (14). The method according to claim 1.   Increasing the pressure in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure by the movement of the piston (14), and then reducing the pressure to the atmospheric pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein:   The method of claim 3, wherein the step of reducing the pressure to atmospheric pressure is enabled by opening a valve.   5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting a treatment medium into the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) via an injection valve (16, 17). The method of crab. Injecting the processing medium into the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) through the injection valve (16, 17);
Discharging the processing medium through an air vent valve (18, 19) or a fluid communication duct (9, 10) mounted in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) or cylinder (12); When,
Supplying the discharged processing medium to the injection valves (16, 17);
The method of claim 5, comprising circulating the processing medium through the chamber. Several substantially airtight chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) are provided on the rotating member (2), the method comprising:
Providing said cigarette in one of said chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) in a loading position;
Rotating the rotating member (2);
Maintaining the tobacco in one of the chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) at a pressure different from atmospheric pressure while rotating the rotating member (2);
Discharging the tobacco from the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) when the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) is in a discharge position;
The method according to claim 1, comprising:   A separate cylinder provided for each of the substantially hermetically sealable chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) provides the substantially hermetically sealable chambers (3, 4, 24). 25, 26, 27). The method according to claim 7, comprising the step of pressurizing.   The substantially cylinder filled with tobacco in the pressurized position by a fixed cylinder (12) in communication with the substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) in the pressurized position. 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises the step of pressurizing the hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27).   The cylinder (12) and the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) are separated by a screen that is permeable to fluid but not permeable to tobacco. Item 10. The method according to any one of Items 9. A substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27);
The chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) communicates with the piston (14), and the pressure in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) is atmospheric pressure. Are adapted to change to different pressures, a pressure cylinder (12);
Enabling opening and closing of the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) to open and close the substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27); A lock (5, 6, 7, 8) slidably or pivotally attached to
A cigarette inflating device.   Comprising a number of substantially hermetically sealable chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27), each of said chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) being said respective chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) adapted to be later placed in a loading position where tobacco can be filled, and said respective chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26. The tobacco expansion device according to claim 11, wherein the tobacco expansion device is adapted to be later placed in a discharge position from which the tobacco can be discharged from 26, 27).   A number of said substantially airtight sealable chambers (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) on a rotating member (2) adapted to rotate, characterized in that 13. A tobacco expansion device according to item 12.

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