Patents Assigned to Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.
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Patent number: 10342250Abstract: A system and method for curing or drying tobacco leaves are described herein. The method includes flowing a first combustion gas generated by a first heat source through a first flue pipe provided inside a first barn to heat air inside the first barn to cure a first batch of tobacco leaves disposed inside the first barn; transferring at least a portion of the first combustion gas generated by the first heat source to a second flue pipe provided inside a second barn adjacent the first barn to heat the second barn and start curing a second batch of tobacco leaves disposed inside the second barn; and flowing second combustion gas generated by a second heat source through the second flue pipe to continue curing the second batch of tobacco leaves after the second barn is heated.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Fabio Italo Paolo Fedetto, Hanif Mahomed Mahomed
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Patent number: 9462754Abstract: A tobacco production system is provided for producing useable tobacco material having chemical and physical properties acceptable to tobacco industry stakeholders, by growing tobacco entirely in a directly seeded system, under an intensive biomass growing system, mechanically harvesting above-ground portions of the plant a plurality of times during the growing season, curing tobacco leaves and stalks together, and processing the cured tobacco material to obtain cured leaf material suitable for use in tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, snus, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, reconstituted tobacco material, and other manufactured tobacco products.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO COMPANY, INC.Inventors: G. Lea Scott, Joshua F. Warren
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Publication number: 20130048000Abstract: A tobacco production system is provided for producing useable tobacco material having chemical and physical properties acceptable to tobacco industry stakeholders, by growing tobacco entirely in a directly seeded system, under an intensive biomass growing system, mechanically harvesting above-ground portions of the plant a plurality of times during the growing season, curing tobacco leaves and stalks together, and processing the cured tobacco material to obtain cured leaf material suitable for use in tobacco products including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, snus, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, reconstituted tobacco material, and other manufactured tobacco products.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventors: G. Lea SCOTT, Joshua F. Warren
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Patent number: 7762265Abstract: An apparatus is configured to control the distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press. The apparatus includes a housing. A plurality of ducts extend from the housing to the charger. Each duct is configured to direct a portion of the air flow from the housing to the charger. A plurality of nozzles are spaced around the perimeter of the charger. Each nozzle is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts. Each duct may include a flow controller that is selectively openable and closable to direct the portion of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger. A method of controlling distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press includes providing an air flow and selectively directing portions of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert E Hicks, Joseph A. Frady, S. Keith Garbett
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Patent number: 7383840Abstract: An apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves includes a conveyor to convey a flow of tobacco leaves. The flow of tobacco leaves includes acceptable and unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles. An air flow source lifts and accelerates the flow of leaves and particles to a speed at which the leaves and particles are separated. A duct contains the lifted and accelerated flow. A scanning device scans the flow in the duct and generates a signal upon detection of an unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle. A rejection device responds to the signal and forces the unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle from the duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: G. A. John Coleman
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Publication number: 20060201526Abstract: An apparatus is configured to control the distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press. The apparatus includes a housing. A plurality of ducts extend from the housing to the charger. Each duct is configured to direct a portion of the air flow from the housing to the charger. A plurality of nozzles are spaced around the perimeter of the charger. Each nozzle is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts. Each duct may include a flow controller that is selectively openable and closable to direct the portion of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger. A method of controlling distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press includes providing an air flow and selectively directing portions of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2005Publication date: September 14, 2006Applicant: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventors: Robert Hicks, Joseph Frady, S. Keith Garbett
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Patent number: 7018096Abstract: A temperature probe includes an elongated longitudinal tubular shaft having a hollow interior, an insulating structure mounted on the elongated shaft, and a heat conducting structure constructed of a metallic material coupled to the insulating structure. A thermocouple is coupled to the heat conducting structure and extends into the hollow interior of the elongated shaft. A control device is electrically communicated to the thermocouple and is operable to determine a temperature from the thermocouple. When the heat conducting structure is disposed within a mass of packed product, the heat conducting structure transmits thermal energy from the mass to the thermocouple and the insulting structure thermally isolates the heat conducting structure from the tubular shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: Larry D Benjamin
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Publication number: 20050199252Abstract: An apparatus for scanning and sorting tobacco leaves includes a conveyor to convey a flow of tobacco leaves. The flow of tobacco leaves includes acceptable and unacceptable leaves and undesirable particles. An air flow source lifts and accelerates the flow of leaves and particles to a speed at which the leaves and particles are separated. A duct contains the lifted and accelerated flow. A scanning device scans the flow in the duct and generates a signal upon detection of an unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle. A rejection device responds to the signal and forces the unacceptable leaf and/or undesirable particle from the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2005Publication date: September 15, 2005Applicant: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: G. A. Coleman
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Publication number: 20040213323Abstract: A temperature probe includes an elongated longitudinal tubular shaft having a hollow interior, an insulating structure mounted on the elongated shaft, and a heat conducting structure constructed of a metallic material coupled to the insulating structure. A thermocouple is coupled to the heat conducting structure and extends into the hollow interior of the elongated shaft. A control device is electrically communicated to the thermocouple and is operable to determine a temperature from the thermocouple. When the heat conducting structure is disposed within a mass of packed product, the heat conducting structure transmits thermal energy from the mass to the thermocouple and the insulting structure thermally isolates the heat conducting structure from the tubular shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: Larry D. Benjamin
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Patent number: 6467488Abstract: A method is provided for cutting tying elements of successive tobacco leaf bundles, wherein the butt ends of the leaves of each bundle are grouped and secured together by a transversely extending tying element disposed in surrounding relation to the grouped together butt ends. The method comprises moving successive bundles along a predetermined path past a cutting station with the grouped butt ends of successive bundles disposed transverse to the path within a predetermined transverse position within the path. A liquid jet configuration is established at the cutting station and moved through a repetitious path having a transverse extent greater than the transverse extent of the tying elements within the transverse position of the butt ends of the bundles. The moving jet configuration is directed onto the butt ends of successive bundles during the movement thereof along the predetermined path through the cutting station to transversely cut the tying elements thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: G. A. John Coleman
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Publication number: 20020129825Abstract: A method is provided for cutting tying elements of successive tobacco leaf bundles, wherein the butt ends of the leaves of each bundle are grouped and secured together by a transversely extending tying element disposed in surrounding relation to the grouped together butt ends. The method comprises moving successive bundles along a predetermined path past a cutting station with the grouped butt ends of successive bundles disposed transverse to the path within a predetermined transverse position within the path. A liquid jet configuration is established at the cutting station and moved through a repetitious path having a transverse extent greater than the transverse extent of the tying elements within the transverse position of the butt ends of the bundles. The moving jet configuration is directed onto the butt ends of successive bundles during the movement thereof along the predetermined path through the cutting station to transversely cut the tying elements thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO COMPANY, INC.Inventor: G. A. John Coleman
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Patent number: 6305552Abstract: An apparatus for separating tobacco stem particles from a mixture containing such particles and tobacco stalk particles obtained in a threshing and separating process employed in a tobacco stemmery includes a hollow drum having a longitudinal axis, the hollow drum being mounted for rotational movement about its axis and the axis being disposed at a slight angle with respect to the horizontal so as to establish a higher inlet end and a lower outlet end of the hollow drum. A mixture handling structure is constructed and arranged with respect to the inlet end of the hollow drum to feed a supply of a mixture containing tobacco stem particles and tobacco stalk particles obtained in the threshing and separating process into the inlet end of the hollow drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.Inventor: G. A. John Coleman