Slurry Patents (Class 131/372)
  • Patent number: 10660364
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article is provided, including an aerosol-generating substrate including a rod, the rod including a gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material circumscribed by a wrapper. The gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material includes one or more plasticisers and at least about 5 percent by weight triethyl citrate on a dry weight basis. The one or more plasticisers may be selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, sugars, and polyhydric alcohols. The sheet of homogenised tobacco material may be crimped or otherwise textured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Anu Ajithkumar, Irene Chetschik, Jean-Pierre Schaller
  • Patent number: 9237769
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a tobacco composition suitable for use as a smokeless tobacco composition, the process including: providing a slurry comprising water and a tobacco material, the slurry comprising at least about 75% by weight water, based on the total weight of the slurry; heating the slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient to pasteurize the tobacco material; adding an amount of a base to the slurry sufficient to raise the pH of the slurry to at least about 8.5, thereby forming a pH-adjusted slurry; and continuing to heat the pH-adjusted slurry to a temperature of at least about 60° C. for a time sufficient for the pH of the slurry to drop at least about 0.5 pH unit following the adding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: John-Paul Mua, Luis Rosete Monsalud, Jr., Darrell Eugene Holton, Jr., James Neil Figlar
  • Patent number: 9016286
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method for adding tobacco dust in production process of the papermaking tobacco sheet and its equipment. The tobacco dust is added in 5-30% weight at four process points such as the pipeline from the slurry stabilization box to the slurry flow box, the long-net of the papermaking machine, the position from the vacuum couch to the first press, and the coating position on the papermaking machine. This invention adopts a method for adding the tobacco dust in production process of papermaking tobacco sheet, which has well improved its physical performances including the filling capacity of the papermaking tobacco sheet and solved smoking problems of the papermaking tobacco sheet, such as worse inherent quality, heavy stemy note, insipid tobacco aroma and etc. In addition, this method has also offered a good way to well utilize tobacco dust resource in sizes of 2 mm-100 mesh, which is abnegated in cigarette production, to save resource and to reduce the cigarette cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianfu Liu, Xinliang Tan, Jianshan Fu, Dafeng Yin, Changjian Deng, Gang Chen
  • Publication number: 20150007839
    Abstract: A procedure and machine for reconstituting powders of vegetal origin by lamination process, in which the machine includes a lamination device, a set of frontal and posterior drag rolls, a hot air insufflator, a thermal chamber and a conveyor, so that the vegetal mass is pressed by laminating rolls to obtain a pellicle of vegetal material that is deposited over the conveyor circulating inside a terminal chamber for drying the formed pellicle of vegetal material, which can be reinserted in industrial process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Gilson Luiz Torrens, Bianca Iodice
  • Patent number: 8807142
    Abstract: A class of molecularly imprinted polymers that specifically recognizes and binds to nitrosamines members of which class are useful, for example, in analysis and separation of nitrosamines from biological fluids. Such molecularly imprinted polymers are also useful in methods of treating and manufacturing tobacco products and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
    Inventors: Sumita Bhattacharyya, Kevin McAdam, Anthony Rees, Börje Sellergren, Christine Widstrand
  • Patent number: 8286642
    Abstract: Improved delivery of additive materials to mainstream smoke produced by smoking articles is provided through the use of a temperature sensitive powder containing an additive material, such as a flavor component, in a smoking article such as a cigarette. The temperature sensitive powder is subjected to heat which causes the temperature sensitive powder to release at least a portion of the additive material into mainstream smoke. The temperature sensitive powder encapsulates the additive materials and other portions of the smoking articles, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration during storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Beverley C. Woodson, Deborah J. Newman
  • Publication number: 20120118310
    Abstract: A meltable smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material and a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. An associated process is also provided. The process includes melting a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. to form a molten lipid composition, mixing a tobacco material with the molten lipid composition to form a molten smokeless tobacco composition, and cooling the molten smokeless tobacco composition to form a solidified smokeless tobacco composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Verdin Cantrell, Gong Chen, Thaddeus J. Jackson, Matthew William Benford
  • Publication number: 20120037175
    Abstract: A meltable smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a particulate tobacco material and a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. An associated process is also provided. The process includes melting a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. to form a molten lipid composition, mixing a particulate tobacco material with the molten lipid composition to form a molten smokeless tobacco composition slurry, and cooling the molten smokeless tobacco composition slurry to form a solidified smokeless tobacco composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Verdin Cantrell, Gong Chen
  • Patent number: 7900639
    Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco material incorporates an exogenous tocopherol or derivative thereof, such as in the amount of at least about 0.1 weight percent. A tobacco blend can be formed by combining reconstituted tobacco material incorporating such an additive with one or more additional tobacco materials, such as burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, and flue-cured tobacco. A smoking article, such as a cigarette, contains such a reconstituted tobacco, as part of the smokable material, as part of tobacco paper wrapping material, or as part of a reconstituted tobacco-containing filter element. The invention also provides a method of forming reconstituted tobacco material wherein a tocopherol or derivative thereof is added to the tobacco material, either by adding the tocopherol to an aqueous extract or water insoluble pulp formed during the reconstituted tobacco process or by adding the tocopherol to the solid reconstituted tobacco sheet after the aqueous extract and pulp are recombined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Thomas Albert Perfetti, Curtis Dillard McGee, Jr., James Fitzgerald Best, Jr., Paul Andrew Brinkley, Sharon Pitts Dunlap, Charles Hugh Risner
  • Patent number: 7690387
    Abstract: A tobacco smoking mixture and/or a cigarette wrapper with high-temperature ammonia-release agents therein are provided, wherein the high-temperature ammonia-release agents are present in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter formed during smoking of the cigarette. The high-temperature ammonia-release agents are capable of reducing the cyotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter by evolving ammonia at temperatures greater than about 200° C., wherein the ammonia can interact with the particulate matter. Additionally, the high-temperature ammonia-release agents can be formed by heating an aqueous mixture of an iron precursor compound, an ammonia source compound and an acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A Fournier, John B. Paine, Douglas A. Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20080245379
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method for adding tobacco dust in production process of the papermaking tobacco sheet and its equipment. The tobacco dust is added in 5-30% weight at four process points such as the pipeline from the slurry stabilization box to the slurry flow box, the long-net of the papermaking machine, the position from the vacuum couch to the first press, and the coating position on the papermaking machine. This invention adopts a method for adding the tobacco dust in production process of papermaking tobacco sheet, which has well improved its physical performances including the filling capacity of the papermaking tobacco sheet and solved smoking problems of the papermaking tobacco sheet, such as worse inherent quality, heavy stemy note, insipid tobacco aroma and etc. In addition, this method has also offered a good way to well utilize tobacco dust resource in sizes of 2 mm-100 mesh, which is abnegated in cigarette production, to save resource and to reduce the cigarette cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: CHINA TOBACCO HUNAN INDUSTRIAL Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianfu Liu, Xinliang Tan, Jianshan Fu, Dafeng Yin, Changjian Deng, Gang Chen
  • Publication number: 20080216854
    Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco sheet having a high content of aerosol former therein is manufactured by preparing an aqueous slurry containing a tobacco material which is formed into a sheet. The moisture content of the sheet can be reduced to less than about 50% by weight before incorporating an aerosol former such as glycerin, which can be at a temperature below about 40° C., followed by drying the sheet. The sheet can be trashed, blended with natural tobacco strips, and shredded into a cut filler of a smoking article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Juan G. Nicholls, Richard G. Uhl, Raquel M. Olegario
  • Patent number: 7308898
    Abstract: A bandcast tobacco sheet for use in a cigarette includes from about 5 to 15% by weight of wood pulp, from about 15 to 40% by weight of binder and from about 15 to 40% by weight of tobacco. A humectant may be included up to 30% by weight and an additive, such as menthol, may be added to up about 30% by weight. A bandcast tobacco sheet is used in elongated strips along the outer surface of a tobacco rod between the tobacco rod and an inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Luis Monsalud, Jr., Joseph T. Wanna, Douglas R. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20040177856
    Abstract: A bandcast tobacco sheet for use in a cigarette includes from about 5 to 15% by weight of wood pulp, from about 15 to 40% by weight of binder and from about 15 to 40% by weight of tobacco. A humectant may be included up to 30% by weight and an additive, such as menthol, may be added to up about 30% by weight. A bandcast tobacco sheet is used in elongated strips along the outer surface of a tobacco rod between the tobacco rod and an inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Luis Monsalud, Joseph T. Wanna, Douglas R. Hicks
  • Patent number: 6499490
    Abstract: A leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof is used as a dispersion medium, which is mixed with powder of a heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan and a dispersion interference-preventing agent including an organic acid. The resultant mixture is stirred to disperse the powder of glucan into the dispersion medium, thereby preparing a slurry having an increased viscosity. This slurry is formed into a sheet, which is then heated and coagulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Saito, Yuriko Anzai
  • Patent number: 6216706
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying reconstituted tobacco sheets includes positioning a steam box below an endless conveyor belt. A slurry is cast onto the conveyor belt and conveyed over a steam box before entry into a drying apparatus. The steam box functions to pre-treat the slurry so as to increase the rate by which the slurry may be dried. The steam box includes the use of a perforated plate which encloses an upper portion of the steam box and which functions to uniformly distribute steam to the underside of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar, Joao Gomes
  • Patent number: 5947128
    Abstract: A process to improve the smoke quality and mechanical properties of reconstituted tobacco is accomplished by adding tobacco materials to an aqueous solution containing ammonium salts and urea. The resulting first tobacco slurry is then pressurized under steam pressure to at least 60 psi for a period of from 1 to 5 minutes then depressurized rapidly to ambient. The depressurized tobacco is then formed into a second tobacco slurry wherein the soluble components within the tobacco is removed. The resulting tobacco residue is then prepared into a reconstituted tobacco sheet and the extract is then concentrated to a solids level of at least 30 percent by weight of solids which is added back to the reconstituted tobacco sheet for further processing into smoking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Jide Adedeji
  • Patent number: 5908034
    Abstract: A process for improving smoke quality and mechanical properties of a cast reconstituted tobacco sheet is accomplished by adding tobacco materials to an aqueous solution containing ammonium salts and ammonium hydroxide. The resulting first tobacco slurry is then pressurized under steam pressure to at least 60 psi for a period of from about 1 to 5 minutes then depressurized rapidly to ambient. The depressurized tobacco is then formed into a second tobacco slurry. The resulting tobacco residue is then cast into a reconstituted tobacco sheet for further processing into smoking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Jide Adedeji
  • Patent number: 5724998
    Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco sheets manufactured from tobacco dust and binder are described herein. More particularly, the tobacco dust has a mean particle size in the range of from about 60 mesh to about 400 mesh to afford reconstituted tobacco sheets having about 80% to about 90% tobacco content with improved quality and survivability. The reduced particle size of the tobacco dust allows an increase in the solids content of the slurry without an increase in slurry viscosity. The increased solids content reduces the drying load of the cast sheet thereby allowing an increased production rate. The reconstituted tobacco sheets may be prepared from a slurry comprising tobacco dust and binder that may be subjected to a means for removing air trapped within the slurry before casting the slurry into sheets. An apparatus for determining the amount of air trapped within the slurry prepared according to the process of the present invention is also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Grant Gellatly, Gus Keritsis, Susan E. Wrenn
  • Patent number: 5584306
    Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco sheet having improved homogeneity and wet and dry tensile strength are produced by a process including mixing a water-soluble polysaccharide and a humectant under a first high shear; subjecting the resulting aqueous binder composition to a second high shear mixing operation; mixing the resulting aqueous binder composition with tobacco dust under a third shear, the third shear being lower than the first and second shears to form a slurry; casting the slurry onto a supportive surface such as a stainless steel conveyor belt; drying the cast slurry to form a reconstituted tobacco sheet; and recovering the reconstituted tobacco sheet for use such as cut filler for cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventors: Emory Beauman, Patrick Cowling, Diane L. Leister, Roy H. Roope
  • Patent number: 5533530
    Abstract: The process of the present invention involves extracting components from a tobacco material or other plant material using a solvent having an aqueous character to provide separately an aqueous tobacco extract and a water insoluble tobacco portion. The insoluble tobacco portion is refined and a slurry is produced. The slurry is formed into a predetermined shape, e.g., a formed web. The formed web can be pressed to reduce the moisture content. The tobacco material preferably has a moisture content of at least about 50 percent by weight. The material is contacted with an aqueous mixture of an aerosol precursor material. The ratio of liquid having an aqueous character to aerosol precursor material is typically from about 25 to 75 percent by weight. Immediately after the introduction of the aerosol precursor material, the web is dried at a preselected temperature so that the aerosol precursor material is dispersed evenly throughout the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Young, Thomas W. Brown, Sara W. Devine, Thomas A. Perfetti
  • Patent number: 5499636
    Abstract: A novel cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system comprising a tobacco rod having filled and untilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and untilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a novel process comprising the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: James D. Baggett, Jr., David A. Clark, Patrick C. Cowling, Richard G. Uhl, Susan E. Wrenn
  • Patent number: 5360024
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods of increasing the viscosity of a dispersion containing an alginate by subjecting the dispersion to high shear, such as the shear in a laboratory valve homogeniser. The viscosity of the dispersion increases within the range of two fold to five hundred fold.The method of increasing viscosity is useful in tobacco reconstitution or tobacco substitut processes, especially where either low levels of binder are required or improved taste characteristics over cellulosic binders, for example, are important.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventor: Colin C. Greig
  • Patent number: 5339838
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a reconstituted tobacco material. The process includes contacting tobacco material with a liquid having an aqueous character to provide a mixture (slurry). The slurry is then contacted with a pectin release agent. The tobacco material having released tobacco pectins is then formed into a predetermined shape. The formed slurry having released tobacco pectins is subjected to conditions sufficient to crosslink the released tobacco pectins (e.g., contacting with a crosslinking agent). The formed slurry having crosslinked tobacco pectins is dried to provide a reconstituted tobacco material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Young, Edward Bernasek, Aju N. Lekwauwa, Walter R. D. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5327917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a reconstituted tobacco material. The method includes contacting tobacco material dispersed in a liquid having an aqueous character with a humectant or binding agent or both under high shear mixing conditions at a temperature of at least about 35.degree. C. to provide a mixture. The mixture is then contacted with a pectin release agent, preferably at a pH of about 5 to about 9, while maintaining the high shear mixing conditions to provide a tobacco material having released tobacco pectins. Preferably, the tobacco material having released tobacco pectins is then formed into a predetermined shape and subjected to conditions sufficient to cause the released tobacco pectins to undergo crosslinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Aju N. Lekwauwa, Walter R. D. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5325877
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for collecting dispersed plant material particles during the formation of a reconstituted plant material, such as a reconstituted tobacco material. The process involves extracting components from a plant material using a solvent having an aqueous character. As such, an aqueous plant material extract and a water insoluble tobacco portion are provided. At least a portion of the aqueous extract is separated from the insoluble portion. The insoluble portion is formed into a desired shape (e.g., a sheet-like shape). Excess solvent is removed from the formed insoluble plant portion. The removed solvent has plant material particles dispersed therein and is collected. A portion of the excess solvent is removed from the dispersed plant material particles. The dispersed plant material particles are then collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Young, Edward J. Stephen Sohn, Lila H. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5322076
    Abstract: A tobacco-containing paper is provided using a reconstituted tobacco material as a component thereof. A reconstituted tobacco material, provided using papermaking techniques from a refined tobacco pulp, is refined into a pulp form and provided as a slurry in water. The slurry is combined with inorganic filler (e.g., calcium carbonate particles) and cellulosic pulp (e.g., wood pulp). The resulting slurry is then employed to provide a paper using papermaking techniques. The tobacco-containing paper has many desirable physical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Brinkley, Cynthia L. Davis, Mark L. Raker, James S. Thomasson
  • Patent number: 5148821
    Abstract: Smokable and/or combustible tobacco material is provided by altering the character of tobacco material.Tobacco material is extracted using a solvent to provide a tobacco extract within the solvent and an extracted tobacco material. The extracted tobacco material is separated from at least a portion of the extract and solvent. The extracted tobacco material is subjected to pyrolysis conditions to provide a pyrolyzed material. The pyrolysis conditions can include a temperature of from about 300.degree. C. to about 1250.degree. C. and a non-oxidizing atmosphere.The pyrolyzed material can then be formed into a predetermined shape such as by extrusion, casting and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Freddie W. Best, Jackie L. White
  • Patent number: 5143097
    Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco has phosphate salts incorporated therein. Tobacco is extracted with water to yield an insoluble portion and an aqueous portion containing water soluble tobacco components. The aqueous portion is contacted with diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate and adjusted to a pH of about 6.5. The extract then is applied to the insoluble portion which has been formed into a sheet-like shape. The resulting tobacco composition is dried to yield a reconstituted tobacco material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Stephen Sohn, Harvey J. Young, Edward Bernasek
  • Patent number: 5129408
    Abstract: A combustible smokable filler material includes an agglomerated matrix of an inorganic component (e.g., particles of calcium carbonate) and an organic component (e.g., an alginate). The smokable filler material also includes a binding agent, and an aerosol forming material. Tobacco extracts and/or pieces of tobacco laminae can be incorporated into the smokable filler material, and/or the smokable filler material can be blended with tobacco cut filler. Cigarettes are provided by wrapping the smokable filler material in a paper wrapping material. A typical paper wrapping material has a porosity of less than about 5 CORESTA units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Stephen W. Jakob, Ernest G. Farrier, James L. Resce
  • Patent number: 5099864
    Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco material is provided by forming a slurry of tobacco dust in water and providing the slurry at a near neutral pH. The slurry is contacted with diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate, and the slurry is maintained at about 140.degree. F. for about 1 hour. The pH of the slurry then is increased to about 8, and the slurry is maintained at about 180.degree. F. for about 5 minutes. The slurry then is subjected to shear treatment, cast as a sheet, and dried. The resulting reconstituted tobacco material is useful as cut filler for cigarette manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Young, George W. Fearrington, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5078156
    Abstract: A sheet tobacco producing apparatus comprises a mixer, a kneader, a crusher, and a shaping machine. The mixer mixes tobacco chips with auxiliary substances including water, to produce wet round pieces. The kneader has a pair of rollers for kneading the wet round pieces to form a sheet intermediate. The crusher crushes the sheet intermediate to form crushed wet round pieces. The shaping machine has a pair of rollers for forming a final sheet product from the crushed pieces. Since the tobacco raw material is deformed from the sheet intermediate which is obtained after once kneaded, to round pieces again, it is easy to take the material iinto the gap between the rollers of the shaping machine, whicn increases the manufacturing speed of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Furuya, Shinji Kaneda, Masaaki Kobayashi, Kenichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 5016656
    Abstract: A cigarette including a tube of tobacco having a circumferential wall fabricated of a tobacco material with ridges and grooves from in the circumferential wall extending longitudinally of the tobacco tube, a wrapper of combustible material circumscribing the outside peripheral surface, and a filter rod attached at one end of the tobacco tube. Also, a method of making a cigarette includes forming a sheet of tobacco material, forming corrugations in the sheet of tobacco material and forming the corrugated sheet into a cylindrical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew McMurtrie
  • Patent number: 5007440
    Abstract: Processed smokable materials are provided by forming a slurry of combustible material (e.g., a carbonaceous material) in an aqueous liquid. The slurry then is contacted with a foaming agent which includes a mixture of a surfactant and a polymeric film-forming agent. The slurry is agitated to provide a slurry of decreased density. The slurry so provided then is formed into the desired shape and dried. The processed smokable material which results is useful as cut filler for cigarette manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Amy L. Robinson, Chandra K. Banerjee
  • Patent number: 4972854
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing tobacco sheet material comprising the steps of acoustic mixing with ultrasonic vibration a slurry containing tobacco components and forming sheets of tobacco material by casting the slurry after acoustic mixing. Additionally, the slurry is mixed with subsonic vibration and low shear mixing before the slurry is acoustic mixed. The slurry may include sized tobacco stems, sized tobacco dust and extract solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard C. Kiernan, Bernard A. Semp, John M. Whitman
  • Patent number: 4724850
    Abstract: Tobacco extender material is provided in strand form by contacting tobacco material and/or carbonized material in substantially dry form with a binding agent in substantially dry form, and then subjecting the mixture to a high rate of shear agitation in the presence of a relatively low moisture content. The material so processed is further processed using dry forming techniques in order to provide strands of reconstituted tobacco material and strands of carbonized material. The strands of tobacco extender are useful in the manufacture of cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: William H. Graves, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4700727
    Abstract: Lettuce and leafy vegetables are processed and enzymatically treated with proteolytic or amylolytic enzymes under predetermined temperature and pH conditions for the production of tobaccoless smokes and edible products such as pita-like pockets and chips which may be treated with desired flavoring and coloring ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Challenger Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Puzant C. Torigian
  • Patent number: 4674519
    Abstract: A process for making a cohesive tobacco composition in which tobacco pectins within the tobacco itself serve as the binder by contacting dry tobacco particles with a solution, which contains an agent to destroy the alkaline earth metal cross-links of the tobacco pectins, under a high shear condition. A reconstituted tobacco sheet is made by forming the resulting mixture into a sheet and drying. In one embodiment ammonia and tobacco volatiles contained in vapors from the sheet drying step are recovered and recycled into the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Gus D. Keritsis, Donald B. Knudson, Jr., Jerome S. Osmalov, Robert B. Seligman
  • Patent number: 4421126
    Abstract: A process for employing tobacco fines in a system for preparing reconstituted tobacco is disclosed. The tobacco fines are incorporated into concentrated extract before the extract is recombined with the reconstituted sheet or into an aqueous carrier. The slurry of fines in extract or other carrier is passed through a homogenizer and then is applied as a coating to the sheet. The further drying and shredding are done in the conventional way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Grant Gellatly
  • Patent number: 4391285
    Abstract: Smoking articles comprising a high density, relatively low porosity coherent mass of combustible tobacco-containing material having at least one passage extending therethrough are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the smoking article is a cylinder having at least one passage axially therethrough. The smoking article may further comprise a plug of ignitable material in passage blocking position at one end of the passage, said plug being such as to permit puff induced air flow therethrough. At least one additional plug may be similarly disposed at the opposite end of the passage or at an intermediate point in the passage. By adjusting the density, the surface area and/or the porosity of the mass available for combustion, the per puff delivery of tar by the smoking article upon combustion may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Philip Morris, Incorporated
    Inventors: George H. Burnett, Warren E. Claflin, Harry V. Lanzillotti, A. Clifton Lilly, Jr., John F. Nienow, Thomas S. Osdene, Alline R. Wayte
  • Patent number: 4333484
    Abstract: An improved smoking material affording reduced particulate matter and puff count yet having the flavor and aromatic qualities of natural tobacco, which comprises cellulosic material having incorporated therein a metal salt from the group consisting of calcium salts, magnesium salts, iron salts, and aluminum salts of various organic or inorganic acids. A process for producing such a synthetic smoking material is also disclosed. The process preferably comprises forming an aqueous slurry of the cellulosic material, preferably in the form of loose and slightly beaten cellulose fibers, adding the metal salt to the slurry, casting the same and thereafter drying, conditioning and slitting or cutting the resulting sheet to produce a low tar filler material. A preferred embodiment of the invention resides in foaming the slurry prior to casting the same to form an expanded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventor: Gus D. Keritsis
  • Patent number: 4325391
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for combining a liquid baseweb and dry comminuted tobacco to produce a homogeneous mix of baseweb/tobacco which is shapable prior to the slurry being in its equilibrium state, and the shaped dried product resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Otto K. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4319593
    Abstract: A process for making cast film from all-tobacco material which includes mixing particles of tobacco materials, adjusting the water content of said mixture, refining the tobacco slurry to a CS freeness of about -500 ml to about -900 ml, passing the slurry as necessary through a colloid mill, diluting the so treated slurry with water and casting the slurry on a non-porous surface. The cast film is then dried, remoistened and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: American Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Dallas O. Pinion, William W. Sadler
  • Patent number: 4306358
    Abstract: An apparatus for the drying of a slurry being conveyed on a movable support including a steam producing arrangement below the movable support forming a steam atmosphere. A film of condensed vapor is produced above the slurry caused by heat transfer through the movable support, and an air drying arrangement is adapted to propel a stream of air across the slurry surface so as to entrain the vapor therein and to remove it from the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank C. King, Jr.