US1975719A - Tobacco treating method - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 2, 1934. G. D. HARRIS 1,975,719

TOBACCO TREATING METHOD Filed Nov. 5. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l TUF .1 f/'e-f amg@ Oct. 2, 19,34. G. D. HARRIS 1,975,719

TOBACCO TRETING METHOD Filed Nov. 5, 1951 s sheeheet 2 gmc/nto@ Oct. 2, 1934- G. D. HARRIS 1,975,719

TOBACCO TREATING METHOD Filed Nov. 5. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Maf (anlrallz'y 1716x7110.

, 55 difculties Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1o claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial Nos. 322,432 and 322,433, both of which were filed November 28, 1928, which are now Patents:#l,853,423 dated 5April 12, 1932, and #1,853,860 dated April 12,

1932, respectively.

The present invention relates generally to the treatment of materials with humidied gas'and more particularly has reference to the casing of tobacco to render the same pliable so that it may be subjected to mechanical operations without damage thereto.

In carrying out the present invention, materials such as leather, other fibrous material, and

especially tobacco, are subjected to the action of humidifled air or other gas at desired temperatures to cause the material to assimilate moisture from the air or other gas which is passed in contact with the material. When treating tobacco to cause the same to assimilate moisture, the leaves of tobacco are generally arranged in what is'known to the trade as a ,hand A hand of tobacco comprises a number of leaves assembled in a bundle or mass secured together by tying the stems of the assembled leaves so as to allow the leaves to be in an unconned association free to move. Conditioning of the tobacco in leaf form is carried out before the leaves of tobacco are subjected to operations known in the trade as stripping.

Heretofore, leaves of tobacco were conditioned prior to stripping the leaves from the stem, and prior to carrying out the other operations necessary to convert the leaves into commercial tobacco products, by dipping the leaves of tobacco into a. body of water to cause the leaves to absorb thewater and thereby become pliable. After dipping the leaves in the body of water, it was necessary to shake the leaves or whip them, so as to remove the excess moisture. Another method resorted to in the prior art for moisteningthe leaves of tobacco prior to subjecting them to operations for the production of tobacco products comprised spraying the tobacco leaves with moisture in a nely divided condition. 'Ihis process was disadvantageous because of the fact that the tobacco leaves became spotted, due to the particles of .water which were sprayed thereon. In this instance, it was also necessary to shake or whip the hands of tobacco to remove excess moisture after they had been sprayed. In carrying out the prior art processes for moistening tobacco to render the same pliable, many disadvantages were incurred. One of the primary involved in treating tobacco according to the prior art methods was the reduction in the quality of the tobacco leaves, especially those employed for cigar wrappers` by the darkening of the leaves due to the action of the water particles thereon. Another outstanding dsadvantage was the reduction in the quality of the tobacco leaves by the spotting of the leaves with the particles of water with which they were contacted and by the non-uniform assimilation of moisture in the leaf.

Until applicant entered the fleld, the prior art processes described above were employed extensively with the resultant inherent disadvantages. Applicant seeks to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art by effecting the moistening of the tobacco leaves by subjecting the leaves to the action of a gas which is humidified with moisture. Most satisfactory results are obtained in accordance with applicants process when the gas is substantially completely saturated with moisture while it is passed in contact with the tobacco leaves. A

Tobacco conditioned in accordance with my invention is of much higher .quality than the tobacco conditioned in accordance with the prior art processes. Tobacco conditioned in accordance with this invention is of such a flexible character that it may, without breaking or injury, be folded, compacted, and compressed in the hand and thereafter be smoothed out into a flat form exhibiting no fractures or breaks and with the individual leaves complete and intact. lA product of this nature was long sought in the tobacco art, especially for use as cigar Wrappers and other instances where tobacco of the higher quality is desirable. 1

The product resulting from my mode of procedure is characterized by the permeation with throughout all parts of the individual moisture leaves, including the stem, the blade or lamina, and the petiole connecting the blade with the stem; such permeation with moisture being interiorly of the various leaf parts as distinguished from moisture upon the'surfaces of the leaf, such 1 surface moisture tending to discolor or spot the leaf, resulting in leaves of decreased commercial value. l

A primary object of this invention is to effect the casing of tobacco leaves by subjecting them to the action of a gas containing Water vapor.

Another object of this invention is to eect' the moistening of materials by i'lrst subjecting them to the action of a gas cooled to a relatively low temperature, and then subsequently after the material has reached a low temperature, subjecting it to the action of a humidified gas at a higher temperature.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide methods and apparatus for treating tobacco in which hands of tobacco are'suspended and in which the hands of tobacco are subjected to cooled gas owing alternately in one direction, and in the opposite direction tccool the tobacco and equalizethe moisture content therein, and subsequently subjecting the so treated tobacco to the action of a humidied gas. A

Still another object of this invention is to provide methods and apparatus for treating tobacco in which hands of tobacco are suspended and in which the hands of tobacco are subjected to cooled gas flowing in one direction, and in the opposite direction to cool the tobacco and equalize the moisture content therein, and subsequently subjecting the so treated tobacco to the action of a humidifed gas flowing in one direction with respect to the tobacco, and at a later stage flowing in the opposite direction.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention, tobacco or other material to be treated is 'placed within the products chamber of a treating apparatus constructed as herein described, and a circulation of air is caused to ow through the chamber containing the tobacco or other material. In the rst stages of treatment, the tobacco or other material is subjected to a gas, the temperature or" which is below atmospheric. This gas may either be dry or of varying degrees of humidity, and in some instances, may be substantially completely saturated with moisture. In any event, the cool gas is caused to circulate iirst in one direction through the treating chamber, and subsequently in the opposite direction to insure the access of the air to all portions of the material undergoing treatment.

After the tobacco or other material has been cooled to the desired temperature, a gas at a higher temperature having a relatively high moisture content is passed through the chamber containing the tobacco or other material. In order to insure the thorough assimilation of moisture by the tobacco or other material undergoing treatment, the humidied air at the higher temperature is caused to ow first in one direction through the treating chamber, and subsequently in the opposite direction. While in some instances the gas at the higher temperature may contain varying quantities of moisture, it is preferable when treating tobacco, for instance, to have the warmer gas substantially completely saturated with moisture.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a material treating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the apparatus shown in Figure` 1 Figure 3 is another vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the upper conditioning chamber of the apparatus shown in the preceding gures, and illustrates the construction of the water vapor generator.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuit employed for controlling the operation of the apparatus herein described.

In accordance with the present invention, materials, and especially tobacco, are treated to cause the same to take up moisture to render them pliable. In the treatment of tobacco prior to subjecting it to the various manipulations to form it into cigars and other tobacco products, it is necessary to cause the tobacco to take up suicient moisture to render it pliable so that when subjected to the subsequent manipulations, it will not be fractured or damaged in any way. This prior treatment for causing the tobacco to take up moisture is known in the art as casing. As pointed out hereinbefore, casing of tobacco as practiced in the prior art caused the tobacco leaves in most instances to become impaired. The present invention provides a process and apparatus for treating of tobacco in order to case the same without the attendant disadvantages inherent in the prior art processes. This invention as hereinbefore intimated is also of advantage in the treatment of other materials to cause them to take up moisture.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that I have shown an apparatus capable of carrying out the present invention. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, the apparatus consists of a housing or y(chamber 1, the interior of which is divided by upper and lower partitions 2 and 3, respectively, to form a products chamber 4 between the partitions, a humidifying chamber 5 above the uppermost partition, and a gas return duct or flue 6 beneath the lower partition. Vertical walls 7 and 3 connect the free ends of the partitions 2 and 3, and as shown in the drawings, are spaced from the walls of the chamber 1 to provide passages 9 and l0 between the walls of the chamber l and the partitions through which the conditioning gas is circulated.

It will be noted that the partitions 2 and 3 are provided with a plurality of apertures 11 and 12 through which the conditioning gas fiows in its passage through the material treating chamber 4. Suitable fans 13 are mounted in openings provided in the uppermost portion of the vertical partitions 7 and 8 and are adapted to be driven by motors or other power sources 14 to cause a circulation of the gas through the conditioning chamber above the partition 2 and through the material treating chamber 4.

Partition 2 constitutes the roof of the products chamber 4 and the oor of the humidifying chamber 15 formed between the partition 2 and the upper portion of the room or chamber 1. Partition 2 is so connected with the walls of the chamber 1 and the vertical partitions '7 and 8 as to form a water tight joint therebetween, or, if desired, a tank may be positioned on the partition 2 in which is contained a body of water or other suitable liquid. In order to retain the body of water in the tank formed above the partition 2, a plurality of tubes 16 are positioned in tition 2.

the apertures 11 formed inthe partition 2. As clearly shown in Figure 2, tubes 18 extend to a sumcient height to prevent any oi the water maintained in the tank from-nmning down Ainto the products chamber 4. This construction while preventing any of the water in the tank' from dripping into the products chamber 4, nevertheless, permits the tree flow of conditioning gas through the partition 2.

Water is introduced into the tank formed on the partition 2 through a supply conduit 17. The ilow of water through the conduit 17 is regulated by a valve 18 positioned in the conduit and which is controlled by a iloat 19 for maintaining a deilnite level of water in the tank. When the level ot the water falls in the tank, the iloat 19 is lowered, opening valve 18 and permitting additional water to be supplied to the tank until the level lifts the iloat 19 to close on the valve 18. With this construction. the level of water in the tank will never exceed a predetermined height and likewise there will always be sufcient water in the tank to cover the heating elements to be described hereinafter.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the gas circulated through the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is humidiiled by means o1' vapor generated by heating the body of water tained in the tank constructed on the upper In the drawings I have shown an a gement of heating elements in the tank formed on the iticn 2 whereby the water` may be hated to eect the generation o! vapors. For purposes oi illustration, the heating elements have f1 shown in the form ci electrical heatunits. The electrical heating units or elemen m clearly sh in Figures 2., sand i are so positioned in the tank formed on the upper partition 2 as to 'be ed from the bottom thereci and yet to, he completely submerged beneath 'the water :fx-'t in the tank. As clearly illustrated, the heat elements 2u are tained on suitable ledges or supports 2l and are conn with an electrical circuit whereby electrical energy may be supplied to the elements 20 in order to generate suicient heat to vaporize the water maintained in the tank. The electrical circuit including the heating elements 20 will be described more in detail hereinafter in connection with the operation/and control of the apparatus.

Electrical heating elements 20 are connected in an electrical circuit including a moisture controlling device, so that the heating effect produced by the elements 20 may be controlled in accordance with the humidity of the gas being humidied, by vapor generated by the action of heat produced in the heating elements 20 in the oi water maintained in the tank above the partition 2. In Figure 5, I have shown the connections oi the heating elements 20 with an electrical power line 22. Conduits connecting each side of the heating elements 20 lead to a panel 23 on which'is mounted a circuit making and breaking device for controlling the connections of the heating elements 20 with the power line 22. A moisture controlling device 24 diagrammatically shown in Figure 5 is so connected through a relay with the circuit maker and breaker mounted on panel 23 as to make the circuit connecting the heat-ing elements 20 with the power line 22 when the humidity falls below the satin-ation point. and to break the circuit when the humidity reaches the saturation point. This apparatus which is merely tically illustrated in the drawings is o1 the conventional type employed in similar apparatus of this character.

With the apparatus described, it will be appreciated that the gas circulating in the apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention will be maintained substantially completely saturated. Of course, a manually controlled starting switch 25 may be included in the circuit for shutting ofi the opration o1' the apparatus or for starting the same after if. has been shut oil.

As hereinbeiore described, the fans i3 may be operated by means of an electrical motor 14 or other suitable source of power. It is within the concept of the present invention to cause the fans to rotate in-one direction at one stage of treatment and to rotate in the opposite direction at another stage .of treatment to cause the air circulated thereby to ilow in the opposite direction. In the several figures of the drawings, particularly Figure 5, I have shown means whereby the direction of rotation of the fans may be electrically controlled. In Figure 5, the motors 14 for driving the fans 13 are 'shown connected in a circuit with the power line 22, which circuit also `includes a reversing switch 26. For purposes of illustration, the motors have been shown to be of a simple type in which simply the direction of flow of direct current would cause the reversal of the rotation of the motors. For instance, when the switch 26 is in one position, the current will ow from say the negative terminal of the switch 26 clockwise through the circuit including the two motors 14, as shown in Figure 5, and thence return to the positive terminal of the switch 26. When the switch is thrown to the other position, the current will flow from the negative terminal counterclockwise through the circuit shown in Figure 5 and thereby cause the motors i4 to operate in the opposite direction. In this instance, a switch 27 is also provided for breaking the circuit including the motors 14. While a simple diagrammatic arrangement of the motors in an electrical circuit has been shown, it is, of course, within the contemplation of this invention to cause rotation of the fans when driven with other types of motors. Of course, if the reversal cannot be eifected electrically, v suitable mechanical reversing means may be resorted to.

In order to carry out the present invention in which cooling of the conditioning gas is effected in certain stages of operation, I have provided in the ducts or ow channels 9 and 10, suitable heat exchange coils 28, through which a temperature modifying medium may be circulated. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the draw ings, means are provided for supplying a. cooling medium to the heat exchange elements 28, through a cooling medium supply conduit 29. Cooling medium supply conduits 29 have an automatically controlled valve 30 mounted therein. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, valves 30 are adapted to be controlled by means ot an electrical solenoid 31 which is arranged in an electrical circuit including a thermostat 32. The automatically controlled valves 30 are so constructed that when the solenoids 31 are not energized. the valve will be in one position, preferably a position which will prevent the flow of the cooling medium through the heat exchange elements 28. When the temperature reaches a predetermined point, the thermostat 32 will be moved to complete the circuit between the solenoid 31 and the power line 22, energizing the solenoids 31 and be "shifted templated to :provide Va. switch whereby the `circuitfincludingthe .thermostat 32 and the solenoids 31 maygbebrokemmanually. Such a' switch has been :indicated by reference numeral 34l onthe drawings. f y

Any condensation which falls from thecooling coils 28 is caught inv drip pans 35 and discharged `from 'the apparatus.

.In casing. tobaccovin accordance with the present invention, the tobacco'is placed in the products chamber 4 of the apparatus shown inthe drawings in any desired manner, for instance, such as .diagrammatically shown in Figures 2 and 3. After the tobacco has been placed in the products chamber4, the doors shown in Figure 1 may be closed and then the apparatus may be placed in operation. In accordance with one mode of treatment, the cooling elements 28 are placed in operation by opening the valves 33 to admit the supply of cooling medium thereto. 'I'hermostatic element 32 is so adjusted as to cause the valves 30 to remain open until a certain definite temperature is established in the treating apparatus.

Tobacco to be Vcased in accordance with the present invention is subjected in the products chamber 4 to the cool air circulated by the fans 13 in the manner shown by the arrows in Figure 2. In flowing through the apparatus, the air ows cyclically through the products chamber 4 through the apertures in the partition 3, then through ducts 6 and 9 and 10 upwardly into the conditioning chamber 15 in which the body of heated water is maintained. In flowing through the ducts 9 and 10, the conditioning gas comes in contact with the heat exchange elements 28 through which the cooling medium is owing and is thereby cooled. The air then flows over the body of water and down through the tubes 16 into the products chamber containing the tobacco or material to be treated.

In this preliminary precooling stage of treatment, it is not absolutely essential to have the body of water in the tank mounted on the partition 2 heated to eiect the generation of water In the treatment of tobacco, especially tobacco leaves in hand formation, it is preferable to suspend the hands of tobacco as shown in the drawings. Ater the cool air has been caused to ow through the apparatus in the manner just described, that is, vertically downwardly through the products chamber, it will be found that after a given time, the outer portions of the leaves of tobacco will be cooled, whereas the inner portions will not be cooled quite as much. Also the moisture content will not be uniform. In order to remedy this situation, the reversing switch 26 in the circuit controlling the operation of the fans 13, is actuated so as to cause the fans to rotate in the opposite direction. Upon rotating in the opposite direction, the flow of the air through the 'treating apparatus is reversed so that the air ows upwardly through the tubes 16 over the body of water maintained in the tank associated with partition 2, then downwardly through the tion, the moisture contentof the leaves hel conditioning gas to reach andcblt'lie'innerportions subjecting ,the of Yt'oba'cco inthe chamber 4` to'cool 'air' flowing inon'e direction and subsequently to' cool "air flowing in theoppositefdirecthroughout will become substantially'un'iform.

` At this point it should be noted that if found desirable, any number of reversals of `ilow of the cooling gas in its circulation through the apparatus may be resorted to. In any event, the treatment and the number of reversals of -flow are carried to such a point that the temperature of the leaves of tobacco .will be reduced to a desired point and will be uniform throughout the leaves.

It is also within the scope of this invention to place the water vapor generators in operation during the preliminary cooling stages. For instance, instead of circulating a cool gas having a relatively low moisture content through the apparatus as just described, it is also Within the scope of this invention to condition the cool gas so that it may have any desired degree of humidity, and if desired, the degree of humidity may be raised to such an extent that the gas will be substantially completely saturated with moisture. Of course, when the cool gas is substantially completely saturated with moisture, the circulation of this gas through the products chamber 4 may be reversed as hereinbefore described, either once or any number of times, to insure the desired uniform cooling effect on the hands of tobacco.

After the preliminary cooling stage in which the tobacco is cooled to a predetermined temperature and in which the moisture content is substantially uniform throughout all portions of the leaves, the tobacco is subjected to a gas which is substantially completely saturated with moisture and which is at a temperature higher than lthat of the cool tobacco. In this stage of operation, the valves 33 in the cooling medium supply and discharge conduits leading to andfrom the heat exchange elements 28 may be closed so as to dispense with the cooling elect of the coils 28. Also, the switch 34 may be opened so as to prevent the actuation of the solenoids 3l which are unnecessary in this stage of treatment.

In this stage of treatment, however, it is essential for the proper casing of hands of leaf tobacco, that the gas circulated through the treating apparatus be lsubstantially completely saturated with moisture.

In carrying out the second stage of treatment, therefore, the electrical circuit including the heating elements 20 is completed so that current will flow from the power line 22 through the heating elements 20. When placed in operation, the heating elements 20 heat up the body of water maintained in the tank mounted on the partition 2, and when the body of water is heated sufciently, vapors are generated and arise from the body of water and are diffused into the gas passing over the body of water and down through the tubes 16.

In the first stage Aof treatment,` the conditioning gas may be circulated by the fans 13 through the apparatus as shown by the arrows in Figure 2. The circulation of the gas is continued until after a time the temperature of the gas after passage over the body of heated water, approaches the temperature o! the body of water. When this condition is reached, it will be found that the gas after passing over the body of water willbe subl tantially completely saturated with water vapor.

After the gas has become substantially completely saturated with water vapor, it then passes in contact with the leaves of the tobacco hands supported in the treating chamber 4. By exposing the hands of tobacco in the chamber 4 to a gas which is substantially completely saturated with water vapor, the v.tobacco leaves absorb the moisture from the substantially completely saturated gas and the water vapor absorbed from the gas is taken into the interior of the tobacco leaves, thereby rendering them sufficiently pliable so that they may be subsequently handled and manipulated without danger of fracture or damage thereto.

In this stage of treatment, 'as well asin the cooling stage of treatment, it has been found that the conditioning gas does not have access to the interior of the hands of tobacco leaves when flowing only in one direction. Therefore, it is contemplated to reverse the ilow of the conditioning gas in this stage of treatment as well as in the cooling stages. Therefore, after the gas which is substantially completely saturated with moisture has been forced through the products chamber 4 in one direction for a period of time, the reversing switch 26 may be operated to cause the fans 13 to. rotate in the opposite direction and force the gas which is substantially completely saturated with moisture through the chamber 4 containing the tobacco in the opposite direction. For instance, if the gas is caused to flow first vertically downwardly through the chamber 4, the exterior of the tobacco leaves and the butts of the hands will be permeated with moisture, whereas the interior of the leaves will not have the same degree of moisture therein as the exterior of the leaves. Consequently, upon the reversal of flow, there is a tendency for the gas which in this instance would flow vertically upwardly through the products chamber, to open out the leaves of the hand and thereby have access to the interior portions of the leaves.

It will be found that after the tobacco has been subjected first to the moisture saturated gas owing in one direction and then to the same gas flowing in the opposite direction for a suflicient time, it will become suiciently permeated with moisture. It may be advisable, however, in certain instances, to subject the tobacco in the second stage of treatment to the substantially completely moisture saturated gas flowing through the conditioning chamber 4 a plurality of times in one direction, and a plurality of times in the opposite direction. In other words, the direction of now of the moisture saturated gas flowing through the chamber is reversed a plurality of times.

In some instances it may be found advantageous to reverse the flow of the gas after relatively long periods of treatment, and in other instances, it may be found that better results are obtained by reversing the gas after relatively short periods of flow in any one direction. In any event, the substantially completely moisture saturated gas is passed in contact with the leaves for a period of time sumcient to eiect the complete casing of the tobacco leaves.

After the casing of the tobacco leaves has been completed, the cooling coils may be again placed in service in order to reduce thc temperature of the gas therein which is circulated in contact with the tobacco to therebyl reduce the temperature of the tobacco to substantially that of the room or chamber in which it is to be removed so that the moisture content of the cased tobacco -will not be aii'ected on its' removal to its point of destination.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that I have provided a process for casing tobacco in which the same may be moet efiiciently accomplished and with the most satisfactory results.

While the present invention has been described as particularly applicable to the casing of tobacco, especially leaf tobacco, I wish it to be clearly understood that other material, such as leather and other brous substances, or any other material requiring moistening, may be treated to advantage.

I claim:

1. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of ,tobacco vertically in a treating chamber, passing a cool gas vertically in contact with the tobacco in one direction, subsequently causing the cool gas to flow in the opposite direction to equalize the temperature and moisture content throughout the tobacco, and then exposing the cooled tobacco to humidified air to effect the assimilation of moisture from the air into the tobacco.

2. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of tobacco vertically in a treating chamber, passing a cool gas vertically in contact with the tobacco in one direction, subsequently causing the cool gas to flow in the opposite direction to equalize the temperature and moisture content throughout the tobacco, and then exposing the cooled tobacco to air which is substantially completely saturated with moisture to eiect the assimilationof moisture from the air into the tobacco.

3. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of tobacco vertically in a treating chamber, passing a cool gas vertically in contact with the tobacco in one direction, subsequently causing the cool gas to ilow in the opposite direction to equalize the temperature and moisture content throughout the tobacco, and then exposingthe cooled tobacco to humidified air flowing in one vertical direction with respect to the tobacco leaves, and at a later stage causing the humidified air to ilow in the opposite direction with respect to the tobacco to effect the assimilation of moisture from the air into the tobacco.

4. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of tobacco vertically in a treating chamber, passing a cool gas vertically in contact with the tobacco in one direction, subsequently causing the cool gas to flow in the opposite direction to equalize the temperature and moisture content throughout the tobacco, and then exposing the cooled tobacco to air substantially completely saturated with moisture flowing in one vertical direction with respect to the tobacco leaves, and at a later stage causing thevair substantially completely saturated with moisture to flow in the opposite direction with respect to the tobacco to effect the assimilation of moisture from the air into the tobacco.

5. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of tobacco in a treating chamber, causing a humid gas at a relatively low temperature to flow in contact with the tobacco until the temperature of the tobacco has been lowered and is equalized throughoutY the entire portion thereof. and then passing a humid gas at a higher temperature vertically over the tobacco in one direction, and then later causing the humid gas at the higherl temperature to flow in the opposite `direction with. respect to the tobacco to insure the uniform assimilation of bacco from the air.

6. A method of casing tobacco comprising suspending hands of tobacco in a treating chamber, causing a gas substantially completely saturated with moisture at a relativelyilow temperature to flow in contact with the tobacco until the temperature of Ythe tobacco has been lowered and is equalized throughout the entire portion thereof, and then passing a gas substantially completely saturated with moisture at a higher temperature vertically over the tobacco in one direction, and then later causing the gas substantially cornpletely saturated with moisture at the higher temperature to flow in the opposite direction with respect to the tobacco to insure the uniform assimilation of moisture in the tobacco from the air.

7. A method of casing tobacco comprising susmoistureY in the to- `pending tobacco vertically in a treating chamber,

passing a'stream of humidied cooled gas vertically overY the tobacco in one direction, subsequently changing the direction of flow of the cooled humidied gas to equalize the temperature of the tobacco and to equalize the moisture content therein, anct then passing a humidied gas at a higher temperaturein one vertical direction with respect toV the tobacco, and subsequently causing the humidied gas at the higher tempera.-V

ture to ow in the opposite direction to insureY the assimilation of moisture in the tobacco leaves.

8. A method of casing tobacco comprising sus. pending tobacco vertically in a treating chamber, passing a stream of humidied cooled gas verti cally over the tobacco in onerdirection, subsequently changing the'direction of flow of the cooled humidified gas to equalize the temperature of the tobacco and to equalize the moisture content therein, and then passing a gas substantially completely saturated with temperature in one vertical direction with respect to the tobacco, and subsequently causing the gas substantially completely saturated with moisture at the higher temperature to ow in the opposite direction to insure the assimilation of moisture in the` tobacco leaves. 'f

9. A process for casing tobacco comprising circulating a gas in a closed circuit including a; conditioning zone and a zone containing tobacco which has been precooled, passing the gas over the surface of a body .of liquid, heating the liquid to vaporize the same, and controll'mg the rate at which heat units are supplied to the liquid body to effect substantially complete saturation of the gas withv'apor and to maintain the temperature of the gas above the temperature of the precooledtobacco, passing the gas while substantially completely saturated with vapor in contact with the precooled tobacco, the saturation of theV pending hands f tobacco loosely withina treating chamber, passing afcool gas vertically down- Ywardlylthrough the leaves of the suspended tobacco hands, subsequently causing the cool gas tio flow vertically upwardly through the chamber, and to'cause the leaves of the hands of tobacco to spread, thereby equalizing the temperature and moisture content throughout the leaves of tobacco, and subsequently passing a stream of humidied air at a higher temperature vertically downwardly through the chamber containing the suspended hands of tobacco leaves, and nally passing a stream of humidiiled gas, the temperature of which is higher than that of the cool gas, vertically upwardly through the chamber to eiect the assimilation of moisture throughout the leaves of tobacco.

GORDON DON HARRIS.

moisture at a higher..

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