JP2017501727A - How to handle tobacco petiole - Google Patents

Abstract

To process tobacco petals for use in tobacco cut fillers, pulverizing tobacco petals to form tobacco petiole segments, adjusting tobacco petiole segments to increase moisture content, and rolling tobacco petiole segments Forming a tobacco leaf pattern flake having a rolled thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. During the rolling process, the tobacco petiole segment is preferably rolled between two rollers rotating in opposite directions at different speeds. [Selection figure] None

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of treating a tobacco petal for use with a tobacco cut filler. It also relates to the production of cut fillers containing tobacco petals that have been treated using such methods.

  Cut fillers for smoking articles are primarily formed from the lamina portion of tobacco leaves that are separated from the leaf stem portion during the threading process. In the past, it has also been proposed to add some tobacco stems back to the cut filler along with the lamina to increase the amount of tobacco material available. However, the main petiole part of the tobacco plant that remains after the tobacco leaf is harvested from the plant can find an appropriate way to process the tobacco petiole material and make it suitable for use in cut filler. It is not generally used because there was no Therefore, the petiole of tobacco material is not utilized and must be disposed of in an appropriate manner.

  It would be desirable to provide a method for treating tobacco petals that would be more suitable for use as a mixing element for cut fillers for smoking articles. It would be particularly desirable if such a method could produce a material that could be treated with tobacco lamina from a tobacco petiole. It would also be desirable to provide a method for treating tobacco petals that is cost-effective to introduce the method by using conventional equipment.

According to the present invention, a method for treating tobacco petiole is provided, the method comprising:
-Crushing the tobacco petiole to form a tobacco petiole segment;
-Adjusting the tobacco petiole segment to increase the water content;
Rolling a tobacco petiole segment having a rolled thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.

  The method of the present invention produces tobacco petiole flakes suitable for use with tobacco cut filler.

  As used herein, the term “petiole” is used to mean the major structural part of a tobacco plant that remains after removal of leaves including stems and lamina. The petiole holds tobacco leaves and connects the tobacco leaves to plant roots and has a high cellulose content.

  As used herein, the term “stem” means a structural part of a tobacco plant that connects the lamina to the petiole, and also means a leaf vein that extends between the lamina parts of the leaves. In the context of the present invention, the term “stem” does not include the term “petiole” and the stem and petiole of tobacco plants are considered as separate parts.

  The “rolling thickness” of tobacco leaf pattern flakes produced by the method according to the present invention comprises a first surface of tobacco leaf that has been in contact with the rolling device, and a second surface of tobacco leaf that has been in contact with the rolling device. Means the distance between. For example, the “rolling thickness” of a rolled tobacco leaf can mean the distance between the upper surface of the tobacco leaf and the lower surface of the tobacco leaf. Thus, the rolling thickness corresponds to the size of the tobacco petal segment that decreases in size during the rolling process. The rolling thickness of the individual tobacco leaf flakes can be measured under a microscope using conventional measuring equipment. The rolled thickness of the individual petiole flakes is measured at a point along the direction of cutting that produces the largest cross-sectional area.

  Surprisingly, when the treatment method of the present invention is used on a tobacco stalk, tobacco stalk flakes having an appearance similar to the tobacco lamina used in the cut filler are provided and can contribute to the taste and aroma of mainstream smoke. Is known. As a result, a proportion of tobacco petiole flakes can be incorporated with tobacco lamina and optionally tobacco stem segments as an acceptable component of cut filler.

  The use of tobacco petal flakes instead of tobacco lamina in cut fillers is generally more cost effective because the petiole is generally available at a lower cost than tobacco lamina. The use of tobacco stalk flakes also has a positive impact on the environment by improving the utilization of tobacco plants, thereby reducing the amount of tobacco material wasted. In addition, the use of tobacco petiole flakes can be advantageous in the manufacture of products with low nicotine content due to the low nicotine content of the tobacco petiole compared to lamina.

  Advantageously, the tobacco petiole can be processed using conventional equipment and techniques. Furthermore, the resulting tobacco petal flakes can be processed together with tobacco lamina in existing main processing lines. Thus, the cost of introducing the method of the present invention, and the resulting incorporation of tobacco petal flakes into the cut filler, is minimized.

  In the method of the present invention, the tobacco stalk is effectively ground in a series of steps that provide tobacco stalk flakes having a thickness close to that of tobacco lamina. Furthermore, a tobacco product can be obtained that contains more petiole material, and the petiole material is more effectively mixed with lamina. The methods of the present invention may be practiced on tobacco petiole from any type of tobacco plant including, but not limited to, Burley tobacco, Virginia tobacco or Orient leaf tobacco. The method can be performed on petiole from a single type of tobacco leaf or on petiole from a mixture of two or more different types.

  The method of the invention is carried out on tobacco petiole from which tobacco leaves and stems have already been removed. In the first step of the method, the tobacco petiole is crushed to reduce its size in order to optimize the subsequent rolling process. The tobacco petiole can be ground into tobacco petiole segments using any suitable method. Suitable methods for crushing tobacco petiole include, but are not limited to, crushing, cutting, slicing, chopping, or slashing. The tobacco petiole is preferably ground into tobacco petiole segments having a length of about 10 millimeters to about 500 millimeters, more preferably about 50 millimeters to about 100 millimeters.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “length” means the dimension of the petiole in the direction of the main axis of the petiole. Tobacco petiole is generally crushed along its length. Alternatively, or in addition to cutting the tobacco petiole along the length, the petiole can be crushed by cutting or splitting each tobacco petal substantially radially, i.e. towards the center. This reduces the cross-sectional area of the petiole segment and exposes the inner surface of the hollow tobacco petiole. The tobacco petiole is preferably ground into tobacco petiole segments having a width of about 5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters. Alternatively or additionally, the tobacco petiole is preferably ground into tobacco petiole segments having a thickness of about 1 millimeter to about 10 millimeters. The “width” and “thickness” of the tobacco petiole segment mean the dimensions of the petiole segment perpendicular to the length described above.

  Optionally, the tobacco petiole may be adjusted prior to the step of crushing the petiole to increase the water content. During the optional conditioning step, the moisture content of the tobacco petiole segment is increased to about 15-35 percent oven volatiles, more preferably about 20-30 percent oven volatiles.

  After the tobacco petal has been crushed into tobacco petiole segments, the tobacco petiole segment is adjusted prior to rolling so that the petiole is sufficiently easy to mold and minimizes the occurrence of breakage, cracks or other damage, and the moisture content Is increased. Adjustment of the tobacco stalk segment can further promote rolling of the segment to the desired thickness and can improve the appearance of the tobacco stalk flakes. During the conditioning process, the moisture content of the tobacco petiole segment is increased to about 15-35 percent oven volatiles and more preferably about 20-30 percent oven volatiles.

  The moisture content of tobacco material is referred to herein as “percent oven volatiles”, which is determined by measuring the percent weight loss from the tobacco petiole by evaporation when the material is dried in an oven at 103 degrees Celsius for 100 minutes. Is done. The water content of the tobacco petiole can be easily determined at any stage of the treatment method using this process.

  The tobacco petiole segment is preferably adjusted by contacting the tobacco petiole segment with water, steam, or a mixture of water and steam. For example, the tobacco petiole segment may be rotated in a cylindrical drum that rotates in contact with opposite flow of steam and water. Tobacco petiole segments may alternatively be adjusted in a humid chamber. In another further method, the tobacco petiole segment may be left immersed for a period of time so that moisture penetrates the inner surface of the petiole.

  After the preparation process, the tobacco petiole segment is rolled to reduce the petiole thickness from about 0.05 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters. The thickness of the tobacco petiole segment is reduced to a level close to the thickness of the tobacco lamina. The tobacco petiole segment is preferably rolled to a thickness of about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.2 millimeters.

  By rolling the tobacco petiole segment to this thickness, the resulting petiole flakes are visually similar to the tobacco lamina and can therefore be incorporated into the cut filler without compromising the appearance of the cut filler. In many cases, tobacco petal flakes are not visually distinguishable from lamina material. Furthermore, by matching the thickness of the tobacco stalk flakes with the thickness of the tobacco lamina, the risk of the stalk flakes protruding from the remainder of the cut filler during transport or storage is minimized.

  By rolling the tobacco petiole segment to a thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters, the cellular structure of the petiole material is at least partially crushed and the plant tissue ruptures on a microscopic scale. The pulverization of the cell structure of the tobacco petiole is clearly visible when looking at the tobacco petiole rolled through a microscope.

  During the rolling step of the method of the present invention, the roller preferably applies a compressive force of at least about 50 tons to the tobacco petiole segment, more preferably at least about 70 tons. Rolling is preferably performed in a single stage rolling process, but in some cases a two stage rolling process may be appropriate. The gap between the rollers can be varied to achieve the desired rolled thickness of the tobacco leaf flakes.

  During the rolling process, the tobacco petiole segment is preferably rolled between a pair of rollers rotating in opposite directions. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tobacco petiole segment is rolled between a pair of rollers rotating in opposite directions at different speeds, i.e. between differential speed rollers. Advantageously, the use of differential speed rollers has been found to facilitate the rolling of tobacco petiole segments to the required thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters. This is believed to be due to the tobacco petiole segment extending as a result of the shear forces that the segment experiences as it passes between rollers moving at different speeds. In fact, when the rollers rotate at approximately the same speed, the leaves are subjected to substantially compressive forces. In contrast, when the roll rotates at different speeds, the leaves are subjected to both compressive and shear loads. The elongation of the tobacco petiole segment, which occurs simultaneously with the compression of the tobacco petiole segment, optimizes the rolling process and allows for a greater overall reduction in petiole thickness. In addition, the use of a differential speed roller allows for finer particle size output.

  It has also been found that the use of a differential speed roller in the rolling step of the method of the present invention produces a rolled tobacco petiole segment that is more similar to tobacco lamina and has an improved appearance. This means that the tobacco petiole segment is not visually distinguishable from the lamina when incorporated into the cut filler.

  Rollers rotating in opposite directions are preferably operated such that the difference in roller surface speed is at least about 5 percent, more preferably at least about 8 percent. This means that the faster surface speed of the two rollers is preferably at least about 5 percent faster than the surface speed of the slower roller. The difference in roller surface speed is preferably less than about 15 percent, and more preferably less than about 10 percent.

  The roller preferably operates at an average surface speed of about 3 meters per second to about 8 meters per second, more preferably about 4 meters per second to about 6 meters per second, and most preferably about 5 meters per second.

  In other embodiments, the tobacco petal can be rolled between a single roller and a substantially planar surface.

  In certain embodiments, the method according to the invention may further comprise the steps of applying a casing solution to the tobacco petiole flakes and heating the tobacco petiole flakes coated with the casing solution.

  The application of the casing solution can advantageously improve the taste and appearance of the tobacco petiole flakes. The casing solution can be applied to the tobacco petiole flakes using any suitable means including, for example, spraying. The casing solution is preferably an aqueous solution containing sugar. In general, sugar will be the main component of the solution, but a suitable wetting agent such as glycerin may also be added. Optional flavor components can also be incorporated into the casing solution as desired.

  During the heating process, the tobacco petiole flakes to which the casing solution is applied are heated to cause a reaction between the casing solution and certain components of the tobacco. This step is responsible for the main creation of the tobacco petiole flavor generated as a result of the reaction between the tobacco compound and the sugar in the casing solution.

  During the heating step, the tobacco petal flakes are preferably heated to a temperature of at least about 50 ° C. Heating of the tobacco petiole flakes can be performed using any suitable means. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco petiole flakes are heated in the dryer by a hot air stream. In order to raise the temperature of the tobacco leaf flakes to a preferred temperature of at least 50 ° C, the hot air stream is preferably at a temperature of about 70 ° C to about 140 ° C, more preferably about 200 ° C.

  After the heating step, the tobacco leaf pattern flakes may be readjusted to increase the water content. This may be advantageous, for example, when further cutting steps are required, as described below, to ensure that the tobacco petal is sufficiently moldable to be cut without damage or breakage. . During the reconditioning process, the moisture content of the tobacco leaf pattern flakes is preferably increased to at least about 20 percent oven volatiles.

  The method according to the present invention may further comprise the step of cutting the tobacco petiole flakes to reduce the size of the segment to an appropriate cut width for use with a cut filler. It is preferable that a cutting process is implemented after the above-mentioned readjustment process. The cut width can be adjusted according to the desired use of the tobacco leaf pattern flakes. For example, for cut fillers intended for use in smoking articles (especially slim cigarettes), smaller and finer cut widths may be preferred over hand-wound or pipe-type tobacco products. The tobacco petiole flakes are preferably cut to a cut width of about 0.3 millimeters to about 1.3 millimeters, more preferably about 0.65 millimeters to about 0.9 millimeters.

  After being cut, the tobacco petiole flakes may optionally be dried to reduce the water content. The water content is preferably reduced to about 10 percent to about 15 percent oven volatiles, more preferably about 12 percent to about 14 percent oven volatiles. Although the drying step can be performed at room temperature, the tobacco petiole flakes are preferably heated at a temperature of about 70 ° C. to about 200 ° C. in a hot air stream. Suitable equipment for drying tobacco leaf flakes includes, but is not limited to, rotary dryers and flash tower dryers.

  Tobacco petiole flakes can optionally be mixed with the tobacco lamina at certain stages of the method of the present invention, such that one or more subsequent steps are performed on the mixture of tobacco petiole and tobacco lamina. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the tobacco petiole flakes can be mixed with the tobacco lamina prior to applying the casing solution so that all subsequent processing steps are performed on the mixed tobacco petiole flakes and lamina. . Alternatively, the tobacco petal flakes can be treated separately on a different production line than the tobacco lamina and the tobacco lamina and stem are mixed together after treatment. If desired, the rolled tobacco stem may be additionally mixed with lamina and petiole.

  As described above, rolling the tobacco petiole segment to a thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters produces tobacco petiole flakes with dimensions similar to tobacco lamina. This advantageously means that the tobacco petiole and lamina mixture can be moved together through at least a portion of the processing equipment and can be conveniently processed together in the same process and conditions as desired. Thus, the processing of tobacco material can be carried out using existing equipment already used for the processing of tobacco lamina. This provides an efficient and cost effective method for treating tobacco petal and lamina mixtures without the need for additional equipment.

  Tobacco petiole flakes produced by the method of the present invention can be advantageously incorporated into cut filler products for use in smoking articles. Tobacco petiole flakes may be incorporated directly into the cut filler together with the lamina or may be further processed before being returned to the cut filler, for example to form a reconstituted tobacco material.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a cut filler containing tobacco petiole flakes, the method comprising the steps of treating a tobacco petiole according to the method of the present invention and the resulting tobacco petiole as described above. Mixing the flakes with tobacco lamina.

  The present invention further provides a tobacco cut filler for smoking articles comprising at least about 0.5 weight percent of tobacco petiole flakes having a rolled thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters. Preferably, the tobacco cut filler comprises at least about 1 weight percent tobacco petal flakes. Preferably, the tobacco cut filler comprises no more than about 30 weight percent tobacco petal flakes, more preferably no more than about 10 weight percent. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the tobacco cut filler comprises from about 0.5 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, alternatively from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent tobacco petal flakes.

  At this level, the inclusion of tobacco petal flakes in the cut filler has a substantially undetectable effect on the taste of the cut filler into which the rolled tobacco petal segments are incorporated. Tobacco petiole flakes are mixed with at least one type of tobacco lamina, puffed tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or combinations thereof to provide a cut filler. The tobacco lamina can include, for example, Burley tobacco lamina, orient leaf tobacco lamina, hot air tube dried tobacco lamina, or a combination thereof. Swelled tobacco and reconstituted tobacco (if present) can be formed of any suitable tobacco type using well-known devices and methods.

  The step of mixing tobacco petal flakes with other types of tobacco material may occur prior to the cutting and drying steps so that the final mixture is cut and dried together in the same batch. Alternatively, mixing may occur after cutting and drying has been performed on the tobacco petal flakes so that mixing is the final step in the production of cut filler.

  Tobacco petiole treated by the method according to the present invention can be incorporated into various smoking articles. In particular, the tobacco petal treated by the method according to the invention can be incorporated into a smoking article as it is or after one or more other operations such as treatment with a casing solution. In some embodiments, the tobacco petiole treated by the method according to the present invention has applications for the production of cut fillers that can be used in tobacco rods of combustible smoking articles such as filter cigarettes, cigarillos or cigarettes. is there. Alternatively, the cut filler may be used to provide a tobacco aerosol generating substrate for a distilled smoking article or an electrically heated smoking system. Alternatively, the cut filler may be used as a hand-rolled or handmade product, or a loose tobacco product for use in pipes.

  A smoking article comprising a cut filler comprising a tobacco petiole treated using the method according to the invention can be packaged in a container, for example in a container formed of one or more folded layered blanks. Suitable containers include, but are not limited to, hinged lid containers and slide shell containers.

  The present invention will be further described by way of example only.

  The method according to the invention is carried out on a tobacco petiole from which most tobacco leaves and stems have been removed. In this context, the expression “mostly removed” is used to mean that a small part or the remainder of the stem may still be present after the stem has been cut.

  The petiole is first ground to produce a petiole segment that is less than 500 millimeters in length.

  In the adjusting step, the tobacco petiole segment is placed in a cylindrical drum that rotates and moves continuously through the petiole segment. Steam and water flowing in opposite directions pass through the cylinder and remain in contact with the tobacco petiole segment until the moisture content of the tobacco petiole segment reaches approximately 30 percent oven volatiles.

  The conditioned tobacco petiole segments are then rolled between rollers rotating in opposite directions to a rolled thickness of 0.15 millimeters to produce tobacco petiole flakes. The roller is operated at a differential speed of 8 percent and applies a compressive force of 80 tons.

  Next, a casing solution in which sugar is dissolved in water is applied to the tobacco petiole flakes. In addition to the sugar, the casing solution contains glycerin that serves as a wetting agent.

  After the casing is applied, the tobacco petiole flakes are heated with hot air at a temperature of approximately 100 ° C. for 4-8 minutes in an apron dryer so that the tobacco temperature rises to approximately 50 ° C.

  After the heating step, the tobacco petal flakes are cooled and reconditioned using methods and equipment similar to the conditioning step described above until the moisture content of the tobacco petal segment returns to approximately 20 percent oven volatiles.

  The treated tobacco petal flakes are then mixed with other tobacco materials including tobacco lamina to form a cut filler mixture.

  The cut filler mixture containing tobacco petal flakes is then cut with a blade set to a standard cut width of 0.9 mm before being transferred to a storage location or directly to the cigarette production line, after which 13 percent of the Dried to moisture levels around the oven volatiles.

  Of course, the moisture level, rolled petiole thickness, cut width, tobacco petiole ratio, and other parameters of the processing process, as described above, are the desired properties and intended use of the final cut filler. It can be changed according to

Claims (15)

A method for treating a tobacco petiole, the method comprising:
Crushing the tobacco petiole to form a tobacco petiole segment;
Adjusting the tobacco petiole segment to increase water content;
Rolling the tobacco petiole segment to form tobacco petiole flakes having a rolled thickness of 0.05 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters.   The method of claim 1, wherein during the rolling step, the tobacco petiole segment is rolled between two rollers rotating in opposite directions at different speeds.   The method of claim 2, wherein the difference in surface speed of the pair of rollers rotating in the opposite direction is at least 5 percent.   4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the tobacco petiole is crushed to form tobacco petiole segments having a length of 10 millimeters and 500 millimeters.   5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein during the conditioning step, the moisture content of the tobacco petiole segment increases to 20-35 percent oven volatiles.   6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conditioning step comprises contacting the tobacco petiole segment with steam, water or a mixture of steam and water.   7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a compressive force of at least 50 tons is applied to the tobacco petiole segment during the rolling step. Applying a casing solution to the tobacco petiole flakes;
The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of heating the tobacco petiole flakes to which the casing solution is applied.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tobacco petiole flakes are reconditioned after heating to increase the moisture content.   10. The tobacco petiole flakes are mixed with the tobacco lamina prior to application of the casing solution, and subsequent steps are performed on the mixed tobacco petiole flakes and laminas. The method described in 1. Tobacco cut filler,
Crushing the tobacco petiole to form a tobacco petiole segment;
Adjusting the tobacco petiole segment to increase the water content;
A tobacco cut filler obtained by a method comprising: rolling the tobacco petiole segment to form the tobacco petiole flake having a rolled thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.   12. The method of tobacco cut filler according to claim 11, wherein during the rolling step, the tobacco petal segment is rolled between two rollers rotating in the opposite direction at different speeds.   13. The tobacco cut filler of claim 12, wherein the difference in surface speed between the pair of rollers rotating in the opposite direction is at least 5 percent.   14. The tobacco cut filler of claims 11-13, wherein during the conditioning step, the moisture content of the tobacco petiole segment increases to an oven volatile content of 20-35 percent.   12. The tobacco cut filler of claim 11, comprising at least 5 weight percent tobacco petiole flakes.