Patents by Inventor Jon F. Banks

Jon F. Banks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus for deposition of flavorant vapor on tobacco
    Patent number: 3991771
    Abstract: An improvement is provided in an apparatus having an air flow system into which tobacco is injected for treatment with a flavorant and withdrawn after contact with the flavorant carried by the air flow system. The apparatus is provided with a vaporizer for vaporizing molten flavorant into the air flow by spray injecting molten flavorant countercurrently into a flow of heated air. The apparatus is also provided with an analyzer downstream of the vaporizing means for determining the amount of flavorant vapor in the air flow. A regulator is connected to the vaporizer for regulating the amount of flavorant injected into the air flow in response to the determination made by the analyzer of the level of flavorant vapor contained in the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Jon F. Banks
  • Cryogenic threshing of tobacco
    Patent number: 3970091
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating tobacco stems from tobacco leaves which comprises freezing the leaves, subjecting them to flexing to break the lamina free from the stems, and then separating the stems from the lamina. Generally, it is preferable to freeze the tobacco leaves, at a temperature between about 0.degree.C. and -210.degree.C., and to flex the frozen leaves as gently as possible to leave the stem unbroken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Jon F. Banks, Eugene F. Livesay, Reynold W. Martin
  • Deposition of vaporized flavorant on tobacco
    Patent number: RE29298
    Abstract: Tobacco is treated by introducing a tobacco flavorant vapor such as menthol vapor into a conduit .[.an.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.pneumatically conveying the vapor through the conduit. .[.The air in the conduit being maintained at a temperature of from about 75.degree. to 150.degree. F and above the vaporizing temperature of the flavorant..]. Tobacco is injected into the conduit at a point downstream from the vapor injection. The flavorant vapor is uniformly deposited on the tobacco as it is carried down the conduit. A predetermined level of flavorant is maintained in the conduit through which the tobacco and flavorant vapor are pneumatically conveyed. .Iadd.The air in the conduit is maintained at a temperature of from about 75.degree. to 150.degree. F, which temperature is sufficient to prevent condensation of the vaporized flavorant in the conduit prior to adsorption of the flavorant on the tobacco. .Iaddend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1977
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventor: Jon F. Banks