WO2014042518A1

WO2014042518A1 - Method for packaging and package comprising processed tobacco

Info

Publication number: WO2014042518A1
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederik Bergwerff; VAN Louis Jean RENNES; Robert George MCCARTHY; Simon Edward CUNNINGHAM
Original assignee: Frederik Bergwerff; Rennes Van Louis Jean; Mccarthy Robert George; Cunningham Simon Edward
Priority date: 2012-09-16
Filing date: 2013-02-19
Publication date: 2014-03-20
Also published as: WO2014042534A3; WO2014042534A2

Abstract

Method for packaging and packaging comprising processed tobacco A method for packaging processed tobacco comprises the steps of: • - packaging the processed tobacco in bales or boxes (5), • - surrounding a number of bales or boxes (5) with a tube shaped liner (13) of poly ethylene with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil, • - cutting a part from the remaining liner (13), • - sealing one end of the liner (13) to create a bag, • - removing excess air and flushing nitrogen into the bag, and • - sealing the other end of the bag. The packaging thus comprises a number of bales or boxes (5) containing processed tobacco, which is/are sealed in a poly ethylene bag with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil bag, with nitrogen inside the bag.

Description

METHOD FOR PACKAGING AND PACKAGE COMPRISING

PROCESSED 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

A method for packaging processed tobacco is generally known. Processed tobacco (and green prized tobacco) e.g. strips, blended strips, threshed strips, loose leaf, cut rag etc are typically packaged in various forms of boxes, cartons and jute bales etc. This packaging does little or nothing to protect the product from the effects of aging and the product may become too dry, stale, mouldy, damaged by beetles, discolored etc. In some instances a controlled amount of aging maybe useful.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to improve the method for packaging processed tobacco. The method according to the invention is characterized by comprising the steps of:

packaging the processed tobacco in bales or boxes,

surrounding a number of bales or boxes with a tube shaped liner of poly ethylene with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil, cutting a part from the remaining liner,

- sealing one end of the liner to create a bag,

removing excess air and flushing nitrogen into the bag, and

sealing the other end of the bag.

Once the tobacco is packaged in bales or boxes it may be grouped into manageable units of three or six etc or alternatively kept as individual packages. The grouped units or individual packages are sealed in a poly ethylene (PE) bag with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) barrier or aluminum foil bag. At the time of sealing excess air may be removed and nitrogen may be flushed into the bag. The product can then be safely stored and transported with little or none of the product degradation issues related to product aging.

The present invention further relates to a package comprising a number of bales or boxes containing processed tobacco. With respect to the package the invention is characterized in that the bale(s) or box(es) with processed tobacco inside is/are sealed in a poly ethylene bag with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil bag, with nitrogen inside the 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 according to the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a device for packaging processed tobacco;

Figure 2 is a side view of the device showing the sealing of a liner at a first end;

Figure 3 shows the device when turning the package;

Figure 4 shows the package on the device after it has been sealed at the other end; and

Figures 5A-5U show the subsequent steps in the packaging method. Detailed description of the drawings

In Figures 1-4 different steps in the method of packaging processed tobacco are shown.

The product in its normal packaging material; is placed inside a PE bag which includes an EVOH barrier or an aluminum foil bag. The excess air inside the bag is removed and nitrogen may be pumped into the bag before sealing the bag. The net effect is to reduce the amount of oxygen in the bag. The actual amount left in the bag can be controlled. Chemical reactions i.e. fermentation in the tobacco will consume the remaining oxygen; leaving more oxygen in the bag will allow this fermentation to continue for longer depending on the desired outcome. The package/s inside the bag may be further protected from the environment with additional cardboard and strapping so that the whole unit can be handled by forklifts, stacking and moving machinery etc in the warehouse and during transportation.

Most of the processed tobacco are packed in carton boxes C48, C96 etcetera. Depending on the size of the boxes up to 260kg of processed tobacco can be stored in the carton boxes. When we take the C48 box as example (size C48 box LxWxH in mm are around 1138x715x755). After the processed tobacco is packed in the C48 boxes the boxes will be stored in the warehouse. They usually store it 3 x C48 boxes high (3 pack) or they store 2- 3 packs on a wooden pallet (6 pack). Depending on the type of processed tobacco it can be store duo to 3 years. During this period the fermentation process continue will take place.

To stop this fermentation process a PE liner which is foreseen of an EVOH barrier or an Aluminum foil bag is placed around the C48 cartons. This can be done around each C48 box, 3 C48 boxes or 6 C48 boxes. Most of the time will be chosen for 3 C48 boxes because of logistic issues.

This handling can be done:

A) manually:

Step 1: the liner will be sealed at the bottom and cut at the right dimension (or other way around);

Step 2: the liner will be pulled over the C48 boxes;

Step 3: the liner will be sealed, flushed (when required) and vacuumed;

Step 4: a bottom and top cover will be placed and tightened by strings; and

Step 5: the C48 boxes (1 pack, 3pack, 6 pack) will be placed on wooden pallet or a slip carton is used (see presentation PT Sadhana).

B) fully or semi-automatic by a device 1, see figure 1:

Step 1: a roller conveyer belt guide the single boxes 5 to a case stacker 7;

Step 2: the case stacker stack the single boxes 3 high (3 pack);

Step 3: a roller converter 9 moves the 3 pack to the bag machine feed station 11. In this station the PE - EVOH liner 13, see figure 2, or Aluminum foil are placed. They are delivered on a roll 15. The roll PE of Aluminum foil is guided through the machine, cut at the right size, sealed 17 at the top and pulled over the 3 pack;

Step 4: semi-automatic, see figure 3: The 3 pack 19 will be lifted up tuned around between 0-180 degree (automatic), the liner 13 will be flushed (when required), vacuumed and sealed (manually); and

Step 5, see figure 4: the 3 pack 19 will be placed at belt conveyer 21 to string station where the bottom, top cover and strings are placed.

In case of fully automatic:

Step 4 will be done fully automatic.

Figures 5A-5U show the subsequent steps in the packaging method from the beginning to the end. In Fig. 5A a box is moved by a belt to under a clamp device, then the clamp is moved down to take the first box, see Fig. 5B. Subsequently the clamp is lifted, Fig. 5C, and a second box moves under the clamp, Fig. 5D. Again the clamp moves down to clamp both boxes, Fig. 5E, and lift them, Fig. 5F, and these steps are repeated once again to claim a third box, Fig. 5G.

Then the boxes are ready for the bagger device, Fig 5H, and moved under the bagger, Fig. 51. Then the liner is dropped to the boxes, Fig. 5J and pulled over the boxes, Fig. 5K. A lid is placed on top of the boxes, Fig. 5L and the boxes are lifted, Fig. 5M. Then the boxes in lifted state are moved to the clamp device, Fig. 5N and clamped by the device while the lifting means are moved down, Fig. 50. Subsequently the boxes are turned, Fig. 5P and sealed at the bottom, Fig. 5Q. The a lid is placed on bottom of the boxes, Fig. 5R, and turned back, Fig. 5S. Then the clamp goes down, Fig. 5T and the bagged boxes are moved under the bagger, Fig. 5U, to be transported from there.

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 the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for packaging processed tobacco, comprising the steps of:

packaging the processed tobacco in bales or boxes (5),

surrounding a number of bales or boxes with a tube shaped liner (13) of poly ethylene with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil, cutting a part from the remaining liner,

sealing one end of the liner to create a bag,

removing excess air and flushing nitrogen into the bag, and

sealing the other end of the bag.

2. Package (19) comprising a number of bales or boxes (5) containing processed tobacco, characterized in that the bale(s) or box(es) with processed tobacco inside is/are sealed in a poly ethylene bag (13) with an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil bag, with nitrogen inside the bag.