US3916915A - Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3916915A
US3916915A US328486A US32848673A US3916915A US 3916915 A US3916915 A US 3916915A US 328486 A US328486 A US 328486A US 32848673 A US32848673 A US 32848673A US 3916915 A US3916915 A US 3916915A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
tobacco
chamber
cavity
accordance
coring
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
US328486A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Richard E G Neville
John A Garrett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AMF Inc
Original Assignee
AMF 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 AMF Inc filed Critical AMF Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3916915A publication Critical patent/US3916915A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • A24B3/02—Humidifying packed raw tobacco

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Apphcamm Pnonty Data A process and the apparatus for moistening a body of Feb. 18, I972 UI'lltBd Kingdom 7668/72 tobacco at least one elongated cavity the elongated wall of which is unsupported, by placing the U.S. A of tobacco in an enclosed chamber providing [51] Int. Cl. A24B 1/02 Suction and steam to the chamber one f which i Fleld 131/133 135, R, plied to at least one end of the cavity, and maintaining 131/140 R, 140 A the suction and steam until the body of tobacco has received a predetermined sufficient quantity of mois- References Clted ture from the steam.
  • This invention relates to a process for the conditioning of tobacco, and apparatus for accomplishing the same.
  • a process for moistening a body of tobacco comprising the steps of placing the body of tobacco within an enclosed chamber, evacuating the chamber and introducing steam into the chamber while applying suction at least at one end of an elongated cavity formed in the body of tobacco, said tobacco being unsupported at the elongated surface of said cavity, until the tobacco has received a sufficient quantity of moisture.
  • the body of tobacco is cored prior to placing the body within the chamber.
  • a vacuum may be applied to the cored hole or holes simultaneously with or prior to the introduction of steam into the chamber.
  • the method comprises forming the cavity in the body of tobacco by removing a core, sealing one end of the cored hole, connecting the other end to the vacuum pump and drawing steam through the body of tobacco via the cored hole.
  • the core can be removed from the body of tobacco whilst inside or outside the chamber by means of an open ended and sharp edged corer tubepressed into the tobacco and then withdrawn with the core, by means of a trapanning cutter or by inserting a core mould during packing, which is removed before processing.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating an enclosed chamber in which a vacuum is applied at the bottom of an enclosed tobacco body in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 in which a vacuum is applied at the top of an enclosed tobacco body
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a form of the novel apparatus designed to achieve a more continuous process
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 3 and a coring station.
  • a body of tobacco 9 having a cored hole 10 rests on a flat trolley 11 placed in a closed chamber 12.
  • the trolley 11 is provided with a central well 13 connectible with suction or a vacuum source (not shown) by conduit means or pipes 14, 15 and 16.
  • the lower end of the cored hole cavity 10 communicates with the well 13 which has the additional purpose of collecting tobacco scraps to prevent their entering the pipe 14.
  • the upper end of the cored hole 10 is sealed by a heavy impervious blanket l7 laid on top of the body 9, the blanket being held in close contact by the vacuum applied to the core 10.
  • the chamber 12 is also provided with a valved pipe 19 which may be connected to a source of vacuum to at least partially evacuate the.
  • valved pipe 19 may alternatively be connected to atmo-- sphere for venting the chamber 12 after the process has been completed.
  • the body of tobacco 20 is placed on a flat trolley 21 having no aperture therein which is disposed in the chamber 12.
  • the tobacco body 20 is provided with a core 22 the upper end of which is enclosed by a funnel-shaped housing 23 connected by conduit means or pipes 24 and 25 to a vacuum source (not shown).
  • the housing 23 may have downwardly projecting spikes 26 serving to secure the funnel in position on the tobacco.
  • An impervious ring-type blanket 27 provides a seal between the upper surface of the tobacco 20 and the housing 23. Steam enters the chamber through inlet pipe 28.
  • the chamber 12, in this instance, also may be provided with the valved pipe 19, as shown.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates further modified apparatus designed to achieve a more continuous process.
  • a tobacco body 33 provided with a cored hole or elongated cavity 32 is disposed on , a trolley 36 which, similar to the trolley 11, has an opening providing communication between the bottom of the opening 32 and a vacuum well 30 which, in this instance, is fixed.
  • An impervious blanket 34 corresponding to blanket 17 of FIG. 1, closes the top of hole 32.
  • the chamber 35 is of a bell form which can be lifted for loading or unloading.
  • An inlet pipe 31 is provided at the bottom of the chamber 35.
  • the trolley 36 is run on a track 37 and can be moved to the chamber 35 from a coring station (not shown) where descends to effect a single or multiple coring of the tobacco 33.
  • the chamber 35 also may be provided with a valved pipe 38, corresponding to the valved pipe 19 of chamber 12, as shown.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 3 where the trolley 36 and track 37 are replaced by a conventional perforated conveyor belt 39 running over a plate or base 40.
  • the belt 39 with or without chains, extends from a coring station 41 to a processing station 42 where a chamber 43 is lowered by any suitable and conventional elevator means, as diagrammatically shown over the belt in sealing engagement therewith at seals 44.
  • the plate 40 is provided with an aperture 45 (or apertures) over which a body of tobacco 46 is conveyed by the belt 39 for alignment with a well (or leaf trap) 47 disposed below the level of the upper run of the conveyor belt 39 and communicating with vacuum equipment 48 via a pipe 51. Steam is fed to the chamber 43 by the inlet pipe 49 and an aperture 50.
  • the vacuum equipment 48 may also be coupled by the pipe 51 and an aperture 52 in the plate 40 with the chamber 43. This connection of vacuum to the chamber 43 is provided with a control valve as indicated.
  • the chamber 43 also may be provided with a valved pipe 59 for vent
  • the coring station 41 diagrammatically illustrates a single or multiple coring head 53 arranged to be hydraulically mechanically or pneumatically driven in a vertical direction.
  • Each head 53 carries open ended and sharp edged coring tube 54.
  • steam may be fed in or vacuum applied by flexible hoses (not shown) connected to the bell shaped chamber 35 or 43, respectively.
  • valved pipes 19, 38 and 59 may be provided pressure relief or limiting means to prevent excessive positive or negative pressures from building up in the chambers 12, 35 and 43, respectively.
  • the core of tobacco may be ejected from the corer into the trolley well in FIG. 1 or into a separate container within the chamber in FIGS. 2 and 3 where it is also conditioned.
  • An advantage of the elongated core hole is that resistance to the flow of steam is considerably reduced compared with the resistance caused by a probe as mentioned above, in which case the process time can possibly be reduced.
  • a further advantage is that a larger hole can be produced by coring without further compressing the tobacco which again reduces the resistance to flow.
  • a typical bale of tobacco weighing 448 lbs. having a density of -25 lb/cu. ft. can be conditioned by means of the apparatus described above in the following manner:
  • the tobacco is first cored vertically through the bale and then placed on the trolley with the cored hole communicating with the vacuum source, as shown. After wheeling the trolley into the chamber the latter is closed by airtight doors (not shown) and a vacuum applied. After about 4-5 minutes when the pressure is down to about 27 inches of mercury, steam is let into the chamber while vacuum is maintained. After 6 minutes the steam is shut off and the chamber vented for a period of 2 minutes. A total conditioning time of about 12 minutes is achieved.
  • the holes may be symmetrically arranged and can be connected to the vacuum source by making the well (FIGS. 1 and 3) suitably shaped to communicate with the bottom of the cored holes while still adequately supporting the tobacco or by having a sufficiently large funnel (FIG. 2) to embrace the upper. ends of the holes.
  • the steam back time may be 3 minutes.
  • the total conditioning, including one-half minute for venting, can be as little as 5 minutes.
  • the cored holes may be connected to the steam supply and to the chamber via valves, so that the cored holes can be isolated from the chamber during evacuation of the chamber or only when steam is admitted.
  • Apparatus for moistening a cored body of tobacco having an elongated cavity opei" at both ends and with its elongated wall unsupported comprising:
  • conduit means for providing suction and steam to said chamber, one of said conduit means communicating with said chamber and the other of said conduit means communicating with the other end of the cavity in the body of tobacco;
  • conduit means including control means for maintaining flows therethrough until the body of tobacco has received a sufficient amount of moisture.
  • flow impervious means provided at one side of the body of tobacco for closing said one end of the cavity opposite from the end of the cavity communicating with said other conduit means.
  • said support means includes a well which flow connects said other conduit means and said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.
  • a flow impervious blanket disposed over the body of tobacco and encircling said funnel shaped member.
  • said support means being a flat trolley closing the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco.
  • said chamber being a bell-type member which is raised to receive a body of tobacco and to remove a body of tobacco which has been moistened;
  • said other conduit means including a fixed well.
  • said support means being a trolley movable into and out of said chamber;
  • said trolley having an opening therethrough aligned with and flow connecting said fixed well and the end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco positioned in said chamber.
  • a flow impervious blanket disposed over the top of the body .of tobacco closing the end of the cavity thereat.
  • said support means being a fixed plate with a plurality of openings therethrough;
  • conduit means each connected to a different one of said openings through said fixed plate
  • said chamber being a bell-type member disposed on said plate
  • a perforated conveyor arranged to move bodies of tobacco to and from said chamber, each being positioned on said plate in said chamber with said other end of the cavity at the bottom of the body of tobacco in communication with the opening to which said other conduit means is connected.
  • said conveyor being an endless belt.
  • said endless belt moving the cored bodies of tobacco from said coring means to said chamber.

Landscapes

  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
US328486A 1972-02-18 1973-01-31 Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor Expired - Lifetime US3916915A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB766872A GB1413846A (en) 1972-02-18 1972-02-18 Tobacco moistening method and apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3916915A true US3916915A (en) 1975-11-04

Family

ID=9837527

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US328486A Expired - Lifetime US3916915A (en) 1972-02-18 1973-01-31 Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3916915A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS4896797A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
BR (1) BR7300993D0 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
CA (1) CA976830A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
DE (1) DE2307758A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
FR (1) FR2173985B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
GB (1) GB1413846A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
IT (1) IT985548B (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2086446A (en) * 1936-03-28 1937-07-06 Thermal Engineering Corp Process for treating tobacco
US2864381A (en) * 1956-02-01 1958-12-16 Imp Tobacco Co Ltd Method for conditioning tobacco
US3262458A (en) * 1964-02-06 1966-07-26 Vacudyne Corp Method and apparatus for conditioning tobacco

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2086446A (en) * 1936-03-28 1937-07-06 Thermal Engineering Corp Process for treating tobacco
US2864381A (en) * 1956-02-01 1958-12-16 Imp Tobacco Co Ltd Method for conditioning tobacco
US3262458A (en) * 1964-02-06 1966-07-26 Vacudyne Corp Method and apparatus for conditioning tobacco

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA976830A (en) 1975-10-28
FR2173985A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-10-12
BR7300993D0 (pt) 1973-10-25
DE2307758A1 (de) 1973-08-23
FR2173985B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1977-04-15
IT985548B (it) 1974-12-10
JPS4896797A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-12-10
GB1413846A (en) 1975-11-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2815621A (en) Method and apparatus for filling open mouth receptacles
US4724888A (en) Method and apparatus for the production of flaskless foundry molds
US4144836A (en) Apparatus for the vacuum impregnation of boards or panels of porous material
US3916915A (en) Tobacco moistening method and apparatus therefor
US4471790A (en) Tobacco mass treatment method
US1987304A (en) Method of treating grain with fluids
US3924645A (en) Tobacco moistening method
GB1224700A (en) Apparatus for producing press-moulded articles
US2789325A (en) Core blowing apparatus
US3898996A (en) Tobacco moistening method open cores
US2738119A (en) Vacuum filling apparatus
US3124142A (en) Tobacco moistening process and apparatus
US1767539A (en) Process of making composition boards and the like and apparatus therefor
US2591026A (en) Method and apparatus for wetting baled tobacco
US5887639A (en) Method and apparatus for manufacturing gas-hardened molds
US1958863A (en) Treating tobacco leaf
US1693989A (en) Method of and apparatus for treating tobacco
US3427952A (en) Processing of coffee
US1105510A (en) Briqueting apparatus.
JPS5853349A (ja) 鋳型造型方法及びその装置
USRE21046E (en) Apparatus fob producing molds
US2106440A (en) Apparatus for the forming of thick paper articles, such as barrels, tubs, plates, and the like
US2790215A (en) Sand blowing apparatus
US1750656A (en) Method of casing tobacco
US1504108A (en) Bleaching and sweating apparatus for dehydrating materials