Abstract: A process and an apparatus for expanding and drying tobacco by means of vapor and/or hot gas are described, in accordance with which the tobacco is metered into an interior space (4) delimited by at least two flat jets (3, 3'). The flat jets flow into the channel from mutually opposing slotted nozzles (2, 2') and are directed towards one another at an acute angle and take up and consequently accelerate the tobacco suddenly. After the velocity acceleration by the flat jets, the tobacco is deflected by means of transverse flow, accelerated again, expanded and dried.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and an apparatus for blowing cut tobacco material, wherein a stream of a carrier gas and entrained tobacco ribs is surrounded in a flow channel section at least at one point by a hot gas stream separately introduced and accelerating the afore-mentioned mixed stream. The acceleration is preferably effected at several successive points. The cover stream is introduced through annular jets, the cross-section of the flow channel remaining constant along the entire extent of the flow channel section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out the volume-expansion (puffing) of disintegrated tobacco, wherein said tobacco is impregnated with an impregnating medium containing water and/or orthophosphoric acid and/or the sodium or ammonium salts thereof and/or ammonium sulphate to an initial moisture content of at least about 35% by weight, and is then reduced to a final moisture content of about 10-13% by weight with the aid of a heating medium containing gaseous water vapor, the overall duration of the method being at least about 10 seconds.

Abstract: A smokable, coherent sheet of disintegrated vegetable materials and/or tobacco waste, said sheet being provided with a water-insoluble film on one surface and being obtained in that the vegetable materials and/or tobacco waste are pressure-formed with binding agents and water, the share of which is lower than that of the dry substance employed, between forming elements, the formed, coherent and still moist sheet is coated at a moisture content of 30 to 50% with a solution or suspension having at least one water-soluble, modified pectin from the group of low-esterified pectin with an esterification degree of below 40% and/or amidified, low-esterified pectin with an amidation degree of over 15%, the modified pectin is contacted with bivalent and/or trivalent metal ions and the coated sheet is dried, with the concentration of the modified pectin on the sheet surface being at least 0.5 percent by weight, as referred to the dry weight of the finished product.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of increasing the volume of cut tobacco ribs by impregnating tobacco ribs with an impregnating agent, which contains at least water, up to a water content of at least 45% by weight, heating the impregnated tobacco rib parts with a gaseous heating and transport medium containing steam and having a temperature of from approx. 105.degree. to approx. 250.degree. C., said tobacco rib parts being transported through an expansion zone and a drying zone a pneumatic transport system. The impregnated tobacco rib parts are kept in the expansion and drying zones for a period of at least approx. 10 seconds and are dried to a final moisture content of at least 12.5% by weight.

Abstract: Smokable, substantially homogeneous, flake-like or leaf-like products of approximately equal thickness, and containing tobacco and/or tobacco substitutes, are disclosed, together with a process and apparatus for obtaining said products. The apparatus comprises a belt for transporting a wetted mixture of tobacco particles, means for distributing the wetted mixture to the belt, a second belt in close confronting relationship to the transport belt and movable in the same direction but at a different speed, the second belt being adapted to spread the mixture on the transport belt and form a layer, means downstream from the second belt and adapted to be in contact with the layer of wetted mixture for at least partially cutting the layer into irregularly shaped particles, means downstream of the cutting means for removing such particles from the transport belt, and means for drying and separating the irregularly shaped particles.

Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco product and process of making same. Process comprises disposing a mist, tobacco-containing mass on a transport surface, compressing the moist mass between the transport surface and a counterpart surface to form a substantially flat sheet, pressing the moist flat sheet with an element having separating forms so as to partially separate the sheet into essentially individual leaf-shaped members, removing the members from the transport surface, and drying the members to a desired final moisture content.