Abstract: A method of expanding tobacco involves introducing a steam flow and a tobacco material into a duct having an inlet and an outlet and defining an arcuate flow path. The tobacco is entrained in the steam flow and conveyed along the arcuate flow path and toward the outlet. The presence of the steam results in volumetric expansion of the tobacco as the steam and entrained tobacco travel along the flow path. The steam and entrained tobacco are then collected and separated. As such, an expanded tobacco is provided.

Abstract: A method of expanding tobacco involves introducing a steam flow and a tobacco material into a duct having an inlet and an outlet and defining an arcuate flow path. The tobacco is entrained in the steam flow and conveyed along the arcuate flow path and toward the outlet. The presence of the steam results in volumetric expansion of the tobacco as the steam and entrained tobacco travel along the flow path. The steam and entrained tobacco are then collected and separated. As such, an expanded tobacco is provided.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are provided for processing tobacco for expansion thereof including process and apparatus for forming a batch of tobacco for delivery to a tobacco impregnation apparatus and processes and apparatus for unloading the expanded tobacco and purging expansion agent from the expanded tobacco. The tobacco batch forming and feeding system forms and feeds tobacco batches of predetermined weight which can be readily changed to accommodate different types of tobacco. Expanded tobacco is unloaded directly into an unloading chamber wherein expansion agent is purged from the expanded tobacco. The tobacco unloading chamber includes a purge gas circulation system for circulating the purge gas through the expanded tobacco in the lower portion of the unloading chamber and removing the released expansion agent from an upper portion of the unloading chamber.

Abstract: A tobacco expansion process and apparatus is provided to form a tobacco batch having a predetermined amount of tobacco, contact the batch with steam, load the batch onto a spool assembly, and impregnate the batch with an expansion agent. A double conduit apparatus is provided to load two simultaneously formed tobacco batches onto opposing sides of the impregnation spool. The tobacco batch is formed within a batch forming chamber comprising a vertically adjustable screen to accommodate different operating parameters and/or different tobacco types and/or forms. The batch is directed through a pneumatically separable zone to a precompaction and heating zone. The separable zone is defined by sequentially operating members, at least two of which form barriers to impede seepage of the expansion agent from the impregnating zone. In the precompaction zone the batch is precompacted against a permeable barrier, steamed, and then loaded onto a spool assembly for impregnation with an expansion agent.

Abstract: A tobacco expansion apparatus is provided to form a tobacco batch having a predetermined amount of tobacco, contact the batch with steam, load the batch onto a spool assembly, and impregnate the batch with an expansion agent. A double conduit apparatus is provided to load two simultaneously formed tobacco batches onto opposing sides of the impregnation spool. The tobacco batch is formed within a batch forming chamber comprising a vertically adjustable screen to accommodate different operating parameters and/or different tobacco types and/or forms. The batch is directed through a pneumatically separable zone to a precompaction and heating zone. The separable zone is defined by sequentially operating members, at least two of which form barriers to impede seepage of the expansion agent from the impregnating zone. In the precompaction zone the batch is precompacted against a permeable barrier, steamed, and then loaded onto a spool assembly for impregnation with an expansion agent.