WO2014042534A2

WO2014042534A2 - Method for packaging and package comprising green leaf tobacco, threshed tobacco and/or cut rag tobacco

Info

Publication number: WO2014042534A2
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederik Bergwerff; Louis Jean VAN Rennes; Robert George MCCARTHY; Simon Edward CUNNINGHAM
Original assignee: Frederik Bergwerff; Van Rennes Louis Jean; Mccarthy Robert George; Cunningham Simon Edward
Priority date: 2012-09-16
Filing date: 2013-09-16
Publication date: 2014-03-20
Also published as: WO2014042534A3; WO2014042518A1

Abstract

Method for packaging and packaging comprising green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco A method for packaging green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco comprises the steps of: - packaging the green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag 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 (when required) flushing nitrogen into the bag, and - sealing the other end of the bag. The packaging thus comprises a number of bales or boxes containing green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag 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 green leaf tobacco, threshed tobacco and/or cut rag tobacco

DESCRIPTION:

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for packaging of green leaf tobacco, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco and to a modified atmosphere package to safely store the 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. The presented method of the invention is characterized by comprising the steps of:

packaging the green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco in bales (jute) or carton boxes;

placing or surrounding a number of bales or boxes of green leaf tobacco, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco in/with a bag or liner that comprises of an Oxygen barrier; and

airtight sealing of the bag or liner.

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.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention the bag or liner is applied by:

surrounding a number of bales or boxes with a tube shaped liner having an

Oxygen barrier;

cutting a part from the remaining liner;

sealing one end of the liner to create a 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 bag or liner with an Oxygen barrier. 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 mass loss, insect (re)infestation, and the negative effects of the fermentation process, water damage, loss of aroma's and overall tobacco quality.

Preferably the Oxygen barrier used in the method is an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or an aluminum foil.

Further, preferably the bag or liner used in the method is a bag or liner comprising poly ethylene or an aluminum foil bag or liner.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention an Oxygen sensor is attached to the inner surface of a transparent part of the liner or bag. Such a sensor is generally known for example in the embodiment of a Presens Oxygen Sensor of PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Regensburg, Germany. This known sensor can be measured in a non-invasive and non destructive manner from outside, through the liner or bag. In this way the condition inside the packages can be controlled during storage of the tobacco and total traceability in the chain is realized. The present invention further relates to a package comprising a number of bales or carton boxes containing green leaf tobacco, threshed and cut rag tobacco. With respect to the package the invention is characterized in that the bale(s) or box(es) with green leaf, threshed and cut rag tobacco inside is/are sealed in a bag having an Oxygen barrier.

In a preferred embodiment the bag is a poly ethylene liner (can be combined with Polyamide PA) and the Oxygen barrier is an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or aluminum foil bag. Optionally the liner can be flushed with Nitrogen. Further, preferably an Oxygen sensor is attached to the inner surface of a transparent part of the liner or 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 can be 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 fermentation in the tobacco will consume the remaining Oxygen in the liner. As a result no mass loss occurs due to the absence of 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 threshed and cut rag tobacco are packed in carton boxes C30, C48, C96 etcetera. Depending on the size of the boxes up to 260kg of tobacco can be stored in the carton boxes. Taken the C48 box as an example (size C48 box LxWxH in mm are around 1138x715x755). After the threshed and cut rag tobacco is packed in the (C48) boxes, the boxes will be stored in the warehouse. They usually store the single boxes up to nine boxes high (depending on the warehouse dimensions) A wooden pallet can be used optional. Depending on the type of tobacco it can be store up to 3 years. During this period the fermentation process continues to take place.

To stop this fermentation process and avoid the mass loss of the tobacco a PE liner which is foreseen of an EVOH barrier or an Aluminum foil bag is placed around the C48 carton boxes or the bales (jute) of the green leaf tobacco.. This can be done around each single C48 box, two C48 boxes, three C48 boxes, four C48 boxes, five C48 boxes or six C48 boxes. Due to logistical issues, packing one or three C48 boxes will be preferable.

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 can be tightened by straps and or glue ;

Step 5: the C48 boxes (1 pack, 3pack„ 6 pack) can be placed on a wooden/carton pallet, a slip sheet or be picked up by the clamps of a forklift.

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 or Aluminum foil is guided through the machine, cut at the right size, sealed 17 at the top and pulled over the 3 pack; subsequently, when required, the bottom cover is placed.

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); subsequently, when required, the top cover is placed.

Step 5, see figure 4: the 3 pack 19 will be placed at belt conveyer 21 and when required moved to the strapping station.

In case of fully automatic:

- Step 4 will be done fully automatic.

This handling describes the packing of three C48 boxes (3 pack). The working principle is also applicable for 1-2-4-5-6 Pack.

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. Instead of packaging a number of boxes containing threshed and cut rag tobacco also a number of bales with green leaves of tobacco plant can be packaged in a big bag having a Oxygen barrier.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for packaging green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco, comprising the steps of:

packaging the green leaves of tobacco plant, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco in bales or boxes (5);

placing a number of bales or boxes in a bag having an Oxygen barrier, or surrounding a number of bales and boxes with a liner having an Oxygen barrier; and

sealing the bag or liner in an airtight manner.

2. Method according to claim 1 in which the bag or liner is applied by:

surrounding a number of bales or boxes with a tube shaped liner (13) having an Oxygen barrier;

cutting a part from the remaining liner;

sealing one end of the liner to create a bag; and

- sealing the other end of the bag.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein before sealing the bag or liner or before sealing the other end of the bag excess air is removed and nitrogen is flushed into the bag.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the Oxygen barrier used in the method is an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier or an aluminum foil.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag or liner used in the method is a bag or liner comprising poly ethylene or an aluminum foil bag or liner.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising attaching an Oxygen sensor to the inner surface of a transparent part of the liner or bag.

7. Package (19) comprising a number of bales or boxes (5) containing green leaf, threshed and/or cut rag tobacco, characterized in that the bale(s) or box(es) with the tobacco inside is/are sealed in a bag or liner (13) having an Oxygen barrier.

8. Package according to claim 7, in which the Oxygen barrier is an ethyl vinyl alcohol copolymer barrier.

9. Package according to claim 7 or 8, in which the bag or liner is a bag or liner comprising poly ethylene or an aluminum foil bag or liner.

10. Package according to claim 7, 8 or 9, having nitrogen inside the bag.

11. Package according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, having an Oxygen sensor attached to the inner surface of a transparent part of the liner or bag.