Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning whole dried cloves, including a trough, for inputting a quantity of whole dried cloves into the trough, the trough having a top and a bottom, and a fully flighted screw conveyor for transporting a quantity of whole cloves therethrough. The trough further includes a plurality of steam inputs oriented at the bottom of the trough and a plurality of water inputs located at the top of the trough. The trough further includes an output to which the quantity of whole cloves is passed. The combination further includes a cutting apparatus having an input coupled to the output of the trough, a hopper, a first and second converging slotted conveyor belt, and a rotating knife drum which includes a plurality of cutting knives arranged thereon. Additionally, the combination includes a conveyor dryer having a plurality of independently controlled drying chambers and a conveyor belt for providing said cloves through said plurality of drying chambers.

Abstract: A continuous method for processing dry whole cloves into particles suitable for inclusion in cigarettes comprising steps of: a) raising the moisture content of the whole dried cloves by (i) providing said cloves in a heat conducting receptacle, and (ii) simultaneously providing steam and water into said receptacle; b) continuously slicing said moisturized whole cloves into finely chopped particles; and c) drying said clove particles at a variety of different convective air drying rates and temperatures. Apparatuses includes means for conditioning whole dried cloves, including a trough, means for inputting a quantity of whole dried cloves into the trough, the trough having a top and a bottom, and a fully flighted screw conveyor for transporting a quantity of whole cloves therethrough. The trough further includes a plurality of steam inputs oriented at the bottom of the trough and a plurality of water inputs located at the top of the trough.

Abstract: A frame for securely retaining a bundle of elongated members, as for example cigarettes, within a container is provided. The container includes a bottom box panel, a top lid box panel, opposing right and left side box panels, and opposing front and back box panels. The frame is inserted into the container and comprises: a front frame panel portion defined by a left side and a right side, and a top and bottom margin; a left side frame panel connected to the front panel along the left side of the front panel, the left side panel including a left side biasing portion formed therein; and a right side frame panel connected to the front frame panel along the right side of the front panel, the right side panel including a right side biasing portion formed thereupon. The frame is erected and inserted into the box so that the front frame panel is contiguous with the front box panel, the left frame panel is contiguous with the left side box panel, and the right frame panel is contiguous with the right side box panel.

Abstract: A reciprocating cutting apparatus for cutting living plant material. The cutting apparatus includes a frame. A reciprocating cutting assembly is mounted at one end of the frame for cutting the materials. The frame includes structure for synchronizing the feeding of the materials with the cutting assembly. The living plant material is fed into the cutting assembly in the upward stroke and held still on the downward or cutting stroke. The cutting assembly can be adjusted for cutting the desired strip width of living plant material. The cutting apparatus further includes structure mounted on the frame which applies pressure to the living plant material just prior to the living plant material being cut.

Abstract: A method of treating tobacco with a strong acid to inhibit alkaloid loss during drying. The tobacco is then treated with weak base to neutralize the acid. The preferred strong acid is phosphoric. The preferred weak base is ammonium hydroxide. An added benefit of this treatment is burn retardation by ammonium phosphates resulting in cigarette puff number increase.

Abstract: An improved tobacco treating process comprising cooling tobacco in a liquid nitrogen bath, impregnating the mixture with carbon dioxide gas under preselected pressure conditions, releasing the pressure and subjecting the so treated tobacco to drying gases with temperatures at least above about 250.degree. F. with wet bulb temperatures in the range of at least about 150.degree. F. with a maximum of 212.degree. F.

Abstract: An improved tobacco treating process wherein fill value improvement can be obtained with less energy and less carbon dioxide requirements comprising mixing tobacco with finely divided solid CO.sub.2 at controlled preselected parts by weight, impregnating the mixture with carbon dioxide gas under preselected pressure conditions, releasing the pressure and subjecting the so treated tobacco to drying gases with temperatures at least above 250.degree. F. with wet bulb temperatures in the range of at least about 150.degree. F. to a maximum of 212.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying tobacco includes a heater for heating a drying and conveying gas to a predetermined temperature sufficient to dry the tobacco to a predetermined moisture content, a tobacco-gas separator device of the short residence type located downstream of the heater, a first duct establishing gas flow communication between the hot gas outlet from the heater and the entrance to the tobacco-gas separator device, and a tobacco feed device located substantially at the entrance to the separator device for introducing tobacco to be dried into the duct at the entrance to the separator device. In addition, an apparatus of the class described wherein the tobacco to be dried and the drying gas are separately introduced into the separator device.