NL2011464C2

NL2011464C2 - Method for packaging and package comprising green leaf tobacco, threshed tobacco and/or cut rag tobacco.

Info

Publication number: NL2011464C2
Application number: NL2011464A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Frederik Bergwerff; Louis Jean Rennes; Simon Edward Cunningham; Robert George Mccarthy
Original assignee: Frederik Bergwerff; Louis Jean Rennes; Simon Edward Cunningham; Robert George Mccarthy
Priority date: 2013-09-18
Filing date: 2013-09-18
Publication date: 2015-03-19

Description

Method for packaging and package comprising green leaf tobacco, threshed tobacco and/or cut rag tobacco DESCRIPTION:

Technical filed of the invention

The invention relates to a method for packaging processed tobacco and to a controlled atmosphere package to safely store dried tobacco and maintain tobacco quality.

Background of the invention

After purchasing the tobacco from farmers, processors and tobacco suppliers continue further processing. The first step is the storage of the green leaf tobacco for a period of approximately nine months. After the storage the lamina and midrib of the tobacco leaf are separated and processed in a tobacco threshing factory (GLT). The resulting products can be indicated as threshed tobacco and consist of lamina, short stem, long stems, stem fiber and small lamina that are mixed accordingly to the additional products such as diet, gress and recon.

After the threshing process, these resulting products are (after another storage period of 18 -24 months) blended, tipped and conditioned in order to create cut rag tobacco: one of the elements used to create the end products like: the cigarettes, cigarillo’s, cigars, pipe tobacco, hand rolled.

Currently, chemical treatments (Phosphine) and cold storage are used on green, threshed and cut rag tobacco to control for (re)infestation and discoloration. However, these treatments need to be executed on a continuous basis, leading to high costs and increased hazard to the environment. Additionally, beetles are becoming resistant against the Phosphine treatments and mass loss of the tobacco occurs. A method for packaging green leaf of tobacco plant, threshed or cut rag tobacco is generally known, green leaf, threshed and cut rag tobacco are typically packed and stored in bales (jute), and carton boxes (C30, C48 or C96 ). This packaging method does little or nothing to protect against the mass loss of the tobacco. Moreover, (re)infestation after the phosphine treatments, mold development, discoloration, reduced or superfluous moisture contents, reduced flavors and aromas and water damage are still present. This negatively affects the tobacco quality. It is known that during storage the mass of the tobacco decreases for about 2%, depending on the type of tobacco.

Summary of the invention

The objective of the presented invention is to improve the current applied packaging method for green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco. To this end the method according to the invention comprises the steps of: surrounding an inner box with a bag having an oxygen barrier; placing an outer box over the inner box surrounded by the liner bag, filling the inner box with processed tobacco, closing the inner box, sealing the liner bag, and closing the outer box.

Surprisingly, it has been found that when the threshed and cut rag tobacco is stored in a low Oxygen environment, no mass loss occurs.

During the execution of a controlled atmosphere treatment, the tobacco was placed in a treatment room in order to kill insects by bringing back the Oxygen level close to 0% for which the optimal temperature conditions were set on 38C. The threshed tobacco comes out of the GLT process at a temperature of 42C. Therefore it was assumed that additional heating in the treatment room was unnecessary, also because the temperature usually rises because of the fermentation process. As soon as the threshed tobacco was placed in the treatment room, the temperature started to decrease. After investigation it was observed that the fermentation process of the tobacco is stopped when placed in a low Oxygen environment.

Instead of storing the tobacco in controlled atmosphere rooms, a possible and cheaper solution is to store the threshed and cut rag tobacco in liners that consist of an Oxygen barrier. As the fermentation process is stopped, no discoloration of the tobacco occurs. Additionally, it was found that the mass loss of tobacco (% dependent on the tobacco type) is prevented by this way of packaging. The same advantages can also be realized by storing green leaf tobacco before it is processed.

It has to be noticed that from EP 0 639 502 A a method is known for packaging finished tobacco products in a liner and that from US 2011/0042249 A a single package of cigarettes packaged in a foil having an Oxygen barrier to maintain flavor and moisture content of the finished products. However, in finished products no fermentation of the tobacco occurs. Additionally there is no mass loss. So, one could not have expected that packaging with an Oxygen barrier would also be advantageous for storing green leaf tobacco, threshed and cut rag tobacco. Moreover, a cigarette is a total different product than green leaf, threshed and cut rag tobacco.

One of the advantages of this method is that there is no contact between tobacco and plastic. Contact between tobacco and plastic is not wanted because it appeared that plastic has influence on the condition and taste of the tobacco. A further advantage is that the moisture contained in the tobacco can be absorbed by the board of the inner box. This reduces the risk of mold by condensation.

The oxygen barrier keeps the ambient conditions inside the liner at the same level. The product can then be safely stored and transported with little or none of the product degradation issues related to product aging.

Preferably, the bag used in the method is a poly ethylene liner bag with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or an aluminum foil bag.

In case the oxygen level is too high sachets with oxygen absorbers are placed into the liner bag.

In case the humidity is too high sachets with humidity absorbers are placed into the liner bag. The amount depends on the humidity of the tobacco, type of tobacco and the season. The oxygen absorber sachet and the humidity absorber sachet can also be combined in one sachet.

At the time of sealing excess air may be removed and nitrogen may be flushed into the liner bag.

The present invention further relates to a package for green leaf tobacco, threshed tobacco and/or cut rag tobacco comprising an inner box containing processed tobacco, and a liner bag that surrounds the inner box and of which the opening is sealed.

With respect to the package the invention is characterized in that the liner bag comprises an oxygen barrier, and that the package further comprises an outer box in which the inner box surrounded by the liner bag is present.

An embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized in that the liner bag is a aluminum foil bag.

Another embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized in that the oxygen barrier is an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier. Preferably the liner bag comprises poly ethylene. A further embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized in that sachets with oxygen absorbers are in the liner bag.

Again a further embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized in that sachets with humidity absorbers are in the liner bag.

Still a further embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized in that nitrogen is inside the liner bag.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be further elucidated below on the basis of drawings. These drawings show an embodiment of the packaging method and a package according to the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a first step of the method in which the liner bag is placed over the inner box and the outer box is placed over the inner box with liner;

Figure 2 shows a second step of the method in which the inner box with liner is filled with processed tobacco;

Figure 3 shows a third step of the method in which the inner box is closed and sachets are placed in the liner bag;

Figure 4 shows a fourth step of the method in which the liner bag is sealed; and

Figure 5 shows the finished package after the outer box is closed.

Detailed description of the drawings

In the figures subsequent steps of the method for packaging processed tobacco in a package according to the present invention are shown. Figure 1 shows a first step of the method in which a liner bag 1 is pulled over an inner box 3 and the inner box with liner bag is placed in an outer box 5. To stop this fermentation process in the package the liner is a PE liner which is foreseen of an EVOH barrier.

Subsequently the inner box 3 is filled with processed tobacco 7. This is illustrated in figure 2. After the filling the inner box is closed and sachets with oxygen absorbers 9 are placed in the liner bag on top of the inner box. This is illustrated in figure 3. Alternatively the sachets can also be placed in the inner box. The amount of sachets depend on size / volume of the inner box and of the type of tobacco. The oxygen absorbers have the capability to absorb the remaining oxygen and bring the O2 level down. Beside the oxygen absorber sachets 9 humidity absorber sachets 11 can be placed in the liner bag 1. The amount depend on the humidity of the tobacco, the type of tobacco and the season. The oxygen absorber sachet and the humidity absorber sachet can also be combined in one sachet.

In the fourth step shown in Fig. 4 the liner bag 1 is sealed with a sealing equipment 13. Eventually, before sealing the liner bag Nitrogen can be injected into the liner bag. By inserting Nitrogen into the liner bag 1 the Oxygen level inside the liner bag will go down. The remaining O2 level in the liner bag 1 is absorbed by the oxygen absorbers 9 who are in the sealed liner.

Then the outer box 5 is closed and the package 15 is finished. This is illustrated in figure 5. Because the tobacco are stored in a PE liner which is foreseen of an EVOH barrier the ambient condition in the liner will remain the same.

Although the present invention is elucidated above on the basis of the given drawings, it should be noted that this invention is not limited whatsoever to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the context defined by

Claims

A method for packaging green tobacco leaves, threshed tobacco and / or cut rag tobacco, comprising the following steps: surrounding an inner box (3) with a foil bag (1) provided with an oxygen barrier; arranging an outer box (5) over the inner box surrounded by a foil bag; filling the inner box with processed tobacco (7); closing the inner box (3); melting the foil bag (1); and closing the outer box.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil bag used in the method is an aluminum foil bag.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the oxygen barrier used in the method is an ethylvinyl alcohol-polymer barrier.

Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the foil bag used in the method contains polyethylene.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, before the film bag (1) is melted shut, bags with oxygen-absorbing agent (9) are put into the film bag.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, before the foil bag (1) is melted shut, bags with moisture-absorbing agent (11) are put into the foil bag.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before the film bag (1) is melted shut excessively oxygen is removed and nitrogen is flushed into the film bag.

Packaging (15) for green tobacco leaves, threshed tobacco and / or cut rag tobacco comprising an inner box (3) with processed tobacco (7), and a foil bag (1) surrounding the inner box, the opening of which has been sealed shut, characterized , that the foil bag (1) comprises an oxygen barrier, and that the package further comprises an outer box (5) in which the inner box (3) with the foil bag (1) around it is present.

9. Packaging as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the foil bag is an aluminum foil bag.

A package according to claim 8, characterized in that the oxygen barrier is an ethyl vinyl alcohol-polymer barrier.

A package according to claim 10, characterized in that the foil bag contains polyethylene.

A package according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that an oxygen-absorbing agent is present in the foil bag (1).

A package according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterized in that moisture-absorbing agent is present in the foil bag (1).

A package according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that nitrogen is present in the foil bag (1).