US3842846A - Microwave expansion of tobacco - Google Patents

Microwave expansion of tobacco Download PDF

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Publication number
US3842846A
US3842846A US00325594A US32559473A US3842846A US 3842846 A US3842846 A US 3842846A US 00325594 A US00325594 A US 00325594A US 32559473 A US32559473 A US 32559473A US 3842846 A US3842846 A US 3842846A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tobacco
zone
water
percent
microwave field
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00325594A
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English (en)
Inventor
T Laszlo
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Philip Morris USA Inc
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Philip Morris USA Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Philip Morris USA Inc filed Critical Philip Morris USA Inc
Priority to US00325594A priority Critical patent/US3842846A/en
Priority to CA189,705A priority patent/CA1002417A/en
Priority to ES422139A priority patent/ES422139A1/es
Priority to GB125474A priority patent/GB1431124A/en
Priority to IT47759/74A priority patent/IT1008705B/it
Priority to AU64623/74A priority patent/AU472845B2/en
Priority to CH73574A priority patent/CH566728A5/xx
Priority to JP49008452A priority patent/JPS5238117B2/ja
Priority to FR7401705A priority patent/FR2214420B1/fr
Priority to BE140048A priority patent/BE810009A/fr
Priority to NLAANVRAGE7400795,A priority patent/NL169676C/xx
Priority to DE19742402658 priority patent/DE2402658B2/de
Priority to SU1988697A priority patent/SU533322A3/ru
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3842846A publication Critical patent/US3842846A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B3/00—Preparing tobacco in the factory
    • A24B3/18—Other treatment of leaves, e.g. puffing, crimpling, cleaning
    • A24B3/182—Puffing
    • A24B3/187—Puffing by electrical treatment
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S131/00—Tobacco
    • Y10S131/902—Inorganic chemical agents employed in puffing tobacco

Definitions

  • lmpregnants used in such processes include water, organic solvents, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and combinations of the last two. Of these the simplest and most desirable in terms of cost, availability and absence of need for removal from the product following puffing is water.
  • water to puff tobacco stems in conjunction with applying energy in various forms to cause rapid heating and hence expansion is described in detail in US. Pat. Nos. 3,409,022; 3,409,023 and 3,529,606.
  • the energy required for the heating of the liquid to vaporize same is deposited at the outermost surface of the cut "tobacco and only reaches the impregnating liquid by thermal conduction through the tobacco cell walls. Accordingly, the rate of vapor generation is controlled by the rate of energy delivery at the tobacco surface and by the thermal conductance of the cell wall. Generally to effect vaporization at the requisite rate, a high rate of energy delivery at the tobacco surface is required so that in effecting energy transfer in both aforementioned expansion processes, the outer surface of the tobacco reaches an unnecessary, and in many cases, harmfully high temperature.
  • the present invention relates to the application of a microwave field to tobacco leaf containing moisture while the latter is in an environment saturated or nearsaturated with water vapor to therewith cause a significant degree of puffing or expansion of the tobacco.
  • the exposure of the tobacco to such form of energy is very short so that a high through-put is possible thereby providing an effective and commercially optimal manner of expanding tobacco.
  • the energy coupling occurs preferentially between the field and certain liquids in some solids.
  • the solid structure does not heat up at all, or only through conductance from the heated liquid. Under these circumstances, not only will the greater fraction of the invested energy be used for the heating (vaporization) of the liquid but the temperature of the solid will lag considerably behind that of the liquid.
  • leaf tobacco in whole leaf or cut filler form is impregnated with a suitable aqueous liquid impregnant such as water alone or a salt solution to provide a' total basis weight of liquid of at least 20 percent and the impregnated tobacco is then introduced into a water vapor containing zone wherein the tobacco is exposed to microwave energy, i.e., a microwave field, to vaporize the water in the tobacco at a rate and pressure which expands the cell walls of the tobacco and causes puffing of the same.
  • microwave energy i.e., a microwave field
  • the treatment of the tobacco is effected in a suitable microwave applicator on a continuous basis involving transporting the tobacco through the applicator in a predetermined period of time on a suitable traveling belt.
  • the same can be provided with connection to a source of saturated steam and further it is preferable that the temperature condition in the zone be equilibrated to a temperature in the range of about C. to C.
  • any condensate consequent therefrom, as well as from the presence of steam in the applicator can be and preferably is removed.
  • the achievement of puffing of leaf in the manner provided by the present invention is believed to occur for the following reasons.
  • the competing routes for re lease of pressure resulting from vaporization of moisture within the cell wall are expansion and diffusion to the surroundings.
  • the first is a function of. the overall pressure difference, the latter a function of the water vapor partial pressure difference.
  • the external water vapor partial pressure must be substantially increased without increasing the total external pressure as by saturation of the surrounding atmosphere.
  • a desirable lower limit is 40 percent water vapor by volume pressure).
  • microwave fringing field applicator of known construction can be employed, being used in conjunction with a thermally resistant glass or low loss factor glass hood enclosure which defines the zone wherein the puffing is effected with suitable connections for inlet and outlet of steam being provided on the hood.
  • Tobacco leaf either in whole or cut filler form treated in accordance with the present invention, has enhanced puffed characteristics on the order of up to 50 percent or more expansion of the puffed product over the raw tobacco, while at the same time such treatment is carried out in shortened time periods on a continuous basis to thereby provide a commercially feasible manner of puffing leaf tobacco with a microwave field.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagramatic depiction of the apparatus and process by which leaf tobacco can be expanded in accordance with the principles of the present inventlon.
  • FIG, 2 is a microwave fringing field applicator which is employed in the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 for generation of a microwave field.
  • the present invention is concerned with the puffing of tobacco leaf and while it will be described in embodiments thereof as used for puffing cut tobacco leaf filler, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to the puffing of leaf tobacco in whole leaf form.
  • the leaf tobacco to be puffed first must be treated with a suitable aqueous liquid to impregnate the tobacco so that it has a moisture content, expressed as oven-volatiles" in the range of about 20 to 60 percent total weight basis.
  • a suitable aqueous liquid to impregnate the tobacco so that it has a moisture content, expressed as oven-volatiles" in the range of about 20 to 60 percent total weight basis.
  • Tobacco contains about 2 percent of volatile matter other than water which is lost in the test for oven volatiles (O.V.), but from a practical standpoint, at moisture levels above l percent in tobacco O.V. may be regarded as substantially equivalent to moisture and is used herein in that context.
  • the O.V. test is used because of its ease and rapidity in preference to water analysis.
  • the impregnant should amount to about 40 percent of the total basis weight of the tobacco.
  • the tobacco is ready for processing in the apparatus depicted in FIG. I, the tobacco in whole leaf or cut filler form being deposited in a feed bin or hopper 12 designed to continuously feed tobacco to the processing apparatus.
  • the apparatus includes a belt conveyor 14 which in one form can be comprised of a resin impregnated woven glass fabric and which transits an endless course through the microwave field applicator depicted generally at 16.
  • the belt conveyor 14 is made of woven glass fabric impregnated with a polymer of low loss factor, the belt thus being substantially electrically non-conductive and not subject to heating to maximize the amount of thermal energy generated in the tobacco.
  • the microwave applicator unit 16 includes a microwave field generating component 18 known as a fringing field applicator and manufactured by Genesys Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.
  • the microwave applicator unit 16 further includes the customary cut-off tubes 20 which function to confine the presence of the microwave field to the zone in which the tobacco is to be treated and which zone is defined by a hood like enclosure 22, the hood enclosure 22 being preferably provided in the form of a low loss factor glass hood or enclosure having in association therewith a microwave field reflecting element in the form of a metal cage.
  • the microwave applicator unit 16 has the temperature condition in the zone thereof defined by hood enclosure 22 equilibrated to a temperature in the range of about C. to about l50C.
  • the puffing of tobacco in accordance with the present invention involves the provision of a water vapor containing zone inside the microwave applicator and for this purpose as well as for the purpose of equilibrating the temperature therein, saturated steam is introduced into the hood enclosure 22 by way of a suitable steam line connections 24, 26 there also being provided outlets (not shown) for carry off of any steam condensate as well as water removed from the tobacco.
  • a certain quantity of excess steam will escape enclosure 22 through cutoff tubes 20.
  • tobacco is delivered from the hopper 12 onto the traveling conveyor belt 14 and is transported through the microwave applicator wherein the tobacco is exposed to the microwave field and the liquid impregnant is evaporated with the pressure thereof and the rate of evaporation ex panding the tobacco cell walls and thus puffing the tobacco.
  • the present invention provides that the puffing of the tobacco can be effected in a very short period of time and without unduly heating the tobacco by employing a microwave field.
  • the conveyor belt 14 is designed to operate at a speed to transport the tobacco through the oven so that the total time exposure of the tobacco to the microwave energy is within the range of about 0.05 to about 5.0 minutes, but preferably in a time in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 minutes.
  • the power density of the microwave applicator is preferably in the range of about 0.01 to about 2.5 kw but preferably 2.0 to about 2.5 kw.
  • the microwave field frequency can be any one of the four bands available for the commercial purposes of treating vegetable material as provided under existing FCC regulations, such frequencies being 22,000; 5800; 2,450 and 915 MH although it will be understood that any frequency within the range of 915-22,000 MH would be suitable for the practice of the present invention with frequencies at the higher end of the range being preferred.
  • the maintenance of a water vapor containing zone wherein puffing takes place is an important part of the present invention and as has already been indicated the saturation of the zone defined by the hood enclosure 22 preferably is effected by using saturated steam.
  • the degree of water vapor saturation within the zone should be such as to provide a relative humidity therein in the range of 40-100 percent, relative humidities of somewhat higher values being preferred.
  • the fringing field applicator 30 depicted in FIG. 2 is as indicated a conventional type manufactured by the Genesys Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif, and is connected to a microwave power source at the wave-in connection 32 and at the wave-out end to a dummy load connection 34.
  • the tobacco from hopper I2 can be levelled on the conveyor belt 14 in known manner, as for example per use of a rotary brush mechanism, to provide a smooth bed of uniform thickness.
  • the product as it reaches the end of the conveyor belt travel at the right end of FIG. 1 can be removed for further processing in known manner.
  • the same can be blended with regular cut tobacco leaf filler for cigarette filler purposes or it can be used in its entirety as a cigarette filler.
  • the puffing of the tobacco results in reduction of the moisture content of the tobacco below a desired level, it may be desirable to reestablish a particular desired moisture content in the puffed tobacco, as for example to provide a tobacco moisture content of about 8 to 15 percent.
  • EXAMPLE 1 A cut, bright filler tobacco containing 40 percent O.V. was fed to the conveyor belt. after the apparatus of FIG. 1 had been brought to equilibrium temperature condition with steam. Three runs with varying parameters gave the results shown in Table I below.
  • EXAMPLE 3 Ten pounds of cut filler tobacco containing approximately 60 percent O.V. was fed to the conveyor belt and passed through the apparatus (already brought to temperature with steam) at rates to give exposure varying from 2 to 15 seconds, at power density from 2.0 to 2.5 kw. Expansion of the product compared at about 11 percent O.V. is 30 to 50 percent.
  • EXAMPLE 4 Cut bright filler containing 40 percent O.V. was treated according to the process of Example 1, with particular attention being given to keeping the stream of filler uniform. Power density was 2.0 kw., feed rate 20g/min., exposure time 4.5 sec. Expansion was found to be 43 percent.
  • microwave energy generation may be used in the process of the present invention.
  • salt solutions can be employed as the impregnant.
  • Water-soluble salts in general will give improved microwave coupling efficiency and thus somewhat better expansion than water.
  • the salts must be chosen with regard to their effect on smoking characteristics since they will remain in the tobacco.
  • Acceptable salts include Na, K, Ca, or Mg citrates, acetates, sulfates and the like.
  • Aqueous ammonia though not a salt also could be used.
  • a process for puffing tobacco which comprises treating tobacco leaf with a water impregnant to provide said tobacco leaf with a moisture content, in the range of about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the total weight of the impregnated tobacco leaf, introducing said impregnated tobacco leaf into a treating zone, flowing steam through said treating zone to saturate said zone with water vapor to give a partial pressure of at least 40 percent and subjecting said tobacco while in said zone to a microwave field to vaporize the water in said tobacco leaf at a rate and pressure which expands the cell walls of said tobacco causing puffing of the same.
  • microwave field is of a power density of between about 2.0 kw to is in cut filler form.

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  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
US00325594A 1973-01-22 1973-01-22 Microwave expansion of tobacco Expired - Lifetime US3842846A (en)

Priority Applications (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00325594A US3842846A (en) 1973-01-22 1973-01-22 Microwave expansion of tobacco
CA189,705A CA1002417A (en) 1973-01-22 1974-01-08 Microwave expansion of tobacco
ES422139A ES422139A1 (es) 1973-01-22 1974-01-09 Un procedimiento para hinchar tabaco.
GB125474A GB1431124A (en) 1973-01-22 1974-01-10 Microwave expansion of tobacco
IT47759/74A IT1008705B (it) 1973-01-22 1974-01-16 Procedimento per gonfiare tabacco in foglie o trinciato impiegando micro onde
AU64623/74A AU472845B2 (en) 1973-01-22 1974-01-17 Microwave expansion of tobacco
CH73574A CH566728A5 (fr) 1973-01-22 1974-01-18
JP49008452A JPS5238117B2 (fr) 1973-01-22 1974-01-18
FR7401705A FR2214420B1 (fr) 1973-01-22 1974-01-18
BE140048A BE810009A (fr) 1973-01-22 1974-01-21 Procede d'expansion du tabac
NLAANVRAGE7400795,A NL169676C (nl) 1973-01-22 1974-01-21 Werkwijze voor het doen zwellen van tabak.
DE19742402658 DE2402658B2 (de) 1973-01-22 1974-01-21 Verfahren zum blaehen von tabakgut
SU1988697A SU533322A3 (ru) 1973-01-22 1974-01-21 Способ увеличени объема табака

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00325594A US3842846A (en) 1973-01-22 1973-01-22 Microwave expansion of tobacco

Publications (1)

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US3842846A true US3842846A (en) 1974-10-22

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US00325594A Expired - Lifetime US3842846A (en) 1973-01-22 1973-01-22 Microwave expansion of tobacco

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US3842846A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5238117B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU472845B2 (fr)
BE (1) BE810009A (fr)
CA (1) CA1002417A (fr)
CH (1) CH566728A5 (fr)
DE (1) DE2402658B2 (fr)
ES (1) ES422139A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2214420B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1431124A (fr)
IT (1) IT1008705B (fr)
NL (1) NL169676C (fr)
SU (1) SU533322A3 (fr)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414987A (en) * 1981-08-20 1983-11-15 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco lamina filler
WO1984000284A1 (fr) * 1982-07-06 1984-02-02 Philip Morris Inc Procede pour accroitre le pouvoir de remplissage du tabac
US4458700A (en) * 1982-04-15 1984-07-10 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco lamina filler having a low initial moisture content
US4485829A (en) * 1983-02-07 1984-12-04 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco
US4532945A (en) * 1982-09-21 1985-08-06 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing and maintaining the filling power of tobacco
US4821747A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-04-18 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Process for treating tobacco and similar organic materials
US4922933A (en) * 1987-02-13 1990-05-08 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco separation or delamination method
US5031644A (en) * 1989-12-29 1991-07-16 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco expansion process and product
US5095923A (en) * 1991-04-11 1992-03-17 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco expansion process using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
CN101099598B (zh) * 2007-07-27 2011-11-09 陈明功 微波膨化烟梗的工艺方法
CN102907759A (zh) * 2011-08-03 2013-02-06 北京航天试验技术研究所 微波烟丝膨胀方法
CN102907758A (zh) * 2011-08-03 2013-02-06 北京航天试验技术研究所 真空微波烟丝膨胀方法
CN105725250A (zh) * 2016-04-28 2016-07-06 湖北省烟草公司恩施州公司 一种使用热蒸汽加湿雪茄烟叶的加湿机及使用方法
CN105852198A (zh) * 2016-05-31 2016-08-17 云南中烟新材料科技有限公司 一种提高微波膨胀烟梗产量和品质的装置及其使用方法

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH662478A5 (de) * 1983-04-23 1987-10-15 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg Verfahren und einrichtung zum blaehen von tabak.
AU586864B2 (en) * 1986-06-03 1989-07-27 Philip Morris Products Inc. Processing continuously-extruded tobacco-containing material

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4414987A (en) * 1981-08-20 1983-11-15 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco lamina filler
US4458700A (en) * 1982-04-15 1984-07-10 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco lamina filler having a low initial moisture content
WO1984000284A1 (fr) * 1982-07-06 1984-02-02 Philip Morris Inc Procede pour accroitre le pouvoir de remplissage du tabac
US4497330A (en) * 1982-07-06 1985-02-05 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco
US4532945A (en) * 1982-09-21 1985-08-06 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing and maintaining the filling power of tobacco
US4485829A (en) * 1983-02-07 1984-12-04 Philip Morris Incorporated Process for increasing the filling power of tobacco
US4944316A (en) * 1986-04-23 1990-07-31 Oskar Stuhl Process for treating tobacco and similar organic materials
US4821747A (en) * 1986-04-23 1989-04-18 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Process for treating tobacco and similar organic materials
US4922933A (en) * 1987-02-13 1990-05-08 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco separation or delamination method
US5031644A (en) * 1989-12-29 1991-07-16 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco expansion process and product
US5095923A (en) * 1991-04-11 1992-03-17 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Tobacco expansion process using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane
CN101099598B (zh) * 2007-07-27 2011-11-09 陈明功 微波膨化烟梗的工艺方法
CN102907759A (zh) * 2011-08-03 2013-02-06 北京航天试验技术研究所 微波烟丝膨胀方法
CN102907758A (zh) * 2011-08-03 2013-02-06 北京航天试验技术研究所 真空微波烟丝膨胀方法
CN102907758B (zh) * 2011-08-03 2014-11-05 北京航天试验技术研究所 真空微波烟丝膨胀方法
CN105725250A (zh) * 2016-04-28 2016-07-06 湖北省烟草公司恩施州公司 一种使用热蒸汽加湿雪茄烟叶的加湿机及使用方法
CN105852198A (zh) * 2016-05-31 2016-08-17 云南中烟新材料科技有限公司 一种提高微波膨胀烟梗产量和品质的装置及其使用方法
CN105852198B (zh) * 2016-05-31 2018-05-18 云南中烟新材料科技有限公司 一种提高微波膨胀烟梗产量和品质的装置及其使用方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU472845B2 (en) 1976-06-03
JPS5238117B2 (fr) 1977-09-27
IT1008705B (it) 1976-11-30
FR2214420A1 (fr) 1974-08-19
GB1431124A (en) 1976-04-07
DE2402658B2 (de) 1976-06-24
BE810009A (fr) 1974-05-16
NL7400795A (fr) 1974-07-24
JPS49102900A (fr) 1974-09-28
AU6462374A (en) 1975-07-17
CH566728A5 (fr) 1975-09-30
NL169676C (nl) 1982-08-16
CA1002417A (en) 1976-12-28
SU533322A3 (ru) 1976-10-25
ES422139A1 (es) 1976-04-16
FR2214420B1 (fr) 1977-12-16
DE2402658A1 (de) 1974-08-01

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