Abstract: A method of treating tobacco leaves for separating the lamina from rib, includes: collecting the leaves in mannochi, and subjecting them to a shredder, where portions of the lamina of each leaf are torn from the remaining part of the leaf, separating portions of lamina from the remaining part of the leaf, by air, in at least one classification chamber, directly transferring portions of torn lamina to subsequent drying and packaging processes, passing the remaining parts of the leaf through a multi-stage beating line, in each of which progressive separation of portions of the lamina from the remaining part of the leaf is caused or to obtain at the exit of said beating line, an almost total separation of the lamina from the rib, transferring the separated portions of lamina to subsequent drying and packaging processes, transferring the pieces of rib exiting the beating line to the packaging.

Abstract: Method for producing homogeneous sheets of nicotine-free vegetable fibers includes: crushing up solid components of a raw material containing the nicotine-free vegetable fibers to bring them to a particle size of about 20-220 ?m, mixing the crushed-up product thus obtained with water, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol, until a mixture is obtained with a liquid content of about 30-50%, subjecting the mixture to a first lamination to obtain a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, subjecting the strip which has already been subjected to the first lamination to a series of further lamination steps, until a strip having a remarkably constant thickness of about 90-280 ?m is obtained, and drying the strip to a liquid content of about 8-15%.

Abstract: A method for producing reconstituted tobacco includes: grinding the solid components of tobacco to a particle size of about 20-220 ?m, mixing the ground product with powdered cellulose, water, at least one binding agent and at least one material to form an aerosol until a slurry with a liquid content of about 30-50% is obtained, subjecting the slurry is subjected to a first lamination to obtain a continuous strip with a thickness of about 1-20 mm, subjecting the strip, already subjected to said first lamination, to a series of further lamination steps, until a strip having considerably constant thickness of about 90-280 ?m, drying the strip until its liquid content is brought to about 8-15%.

Abstract: A tobacco curing process including the steps of advancing the tobacco in strip form within a rotary cylinder, spraying the strips with an atomized mixture of substances able to improve the tobacco characteristics, spraying with a steam jet, during the curing treatment, discrete zones of the inner lateral surface of said cylinder, thus exercising a mechanical scraping action.