Abstract: A botanical cartridge for a smoking device with a die cut sheet of paper coated with oyster shell powder. The sheet is approximately L shaped where the bottom portion of the L shape is folded into an accordion shape and the tall portion of the L shape is rolled into a cylindrical shape with the accordion shape trapped within the cylindrical shape forming a breathable base surface. The tall portion of the L shape has a leading edge and a trailing edge that, when rolled, overlap each other and are adhered together by standard means. A preferred embodiment includes the height of the tall portion of the L shape can vary depending on the amount of botanical material to be inserted in the botanical cartridge.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing smokeless tobacco and/or snuff compositions using steam alone in an open vessel or in combination with pressure and venting to alter organoleptic properties of the smokeless tobacco and/or snuff compositions.

Abstract: Method for conditioning of cellular materials, in particular organic materials, wherein the conditioned material is exposed to the thermodynamic medium. Further into the stream of the thermodynamic medium flowing in the channel (1, 6, 8, 9, 10), using the adjustable diaphragms (4, 5, 7) there are introduced turbulences increasing relative speed between conditioned material and thermodynamic medium. Invention further relates to the apparatus for conditioning of cellular materials, in particular organic materials, comprising inlet gate and supplying channel, conditioning channel and outlet, supplied from the source of the thermodynamic medium. Further the conditioning channel (6, 8, 9) has a spiral shape.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for dispersing fine catalyst powders having nanoscale or microscale particles throughout the tobacco rod portion of a cigarette. A source of vacuum is connected to the filter end of a cigarette through a tube that is sealingly engaged with the filter end of the cigarette. The opposite cut filler end of the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette is placed in the proximity of a predetermined amount of the catalyst powder contained in a container. The vacuum is applied to the cigarette filter in an amount and for a period of time that is a function of the size and quantity of the particles to be drawn into and dispersed throughout the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for dispersing fine catalyst powders having nanoscale or microscale particles throughout the tobacco rod portion of a cigarette. A source of vacuum is connected to the filter end of a cigarette through a tube that is sealingly engaged with the filter end of the cigarette. The opposite cut filler end of the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette is placed in the proximity of a predetermined amount of the catalyst powder contained in a container. The vacuum is applied to the cigarette filter in an amount and for a period of time that is a function of the size and quantity of the particles to be drawn into and dispersed throughout the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conditioning comminuted tobacco material by heating and moistening with water vapor, wherein the comminuted tobacco material free-falls down through a chamber operating in a continuous process and is treated during free-fall with water vapor via nozzles; a hyperbaric pressure is maintained in said chamber.

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing system includes a feed hopper for feeding cut tobacco at a preselected rate to a cigarette rod forming device which in turn feeds formed cigarette rods to a filter tip attaching device. A tobacco recovery system is provided which includes air conveying conduits in flow communication with the rod forming device, the filter tip attachment device and a tobacco dust and useable tobacco particle separator wherein particles of tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles recovered from the rod forming section of the cigarette maker and the filter tip attaching device are separated. The useable particles are re-fed back into the feed hopper. The tobacco dust is transferred to a tobacco dust recovery collector. The tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles separator include a centrifugal curved conduit in combination with a classifying chamber having a bottom outlet for removing useable tobacco and a top outlet for removing tobacco dust.

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing system includes a feed hopper for feeding cut tobacco at a preselected rate to a cigarette rod forming device which in turn feeds formed cigarette rods to a filter tip attaching device. A tobacco recovery system is provided which includes air conveying conduits in flow communication with the rod forming device, the filter tip attachment device and a tobacco dust and useable tobacco particle separator wherein particles of tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles recovered from the rod forming section of the cigarette maker and the filter tip attaching device are separated. The useable particles are re-fed back into the feed hopper. The tobacco dust is transferred to a tobacco dust recovery collector. The tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles separator include a centrifugal curved conduit in combination with a classifying chamber having a bottom outlet for removing useable tobacco and a top outlet for removing tobacco dust.

Abstract: Tobacco is treated to cause its expansion by a process which comprises the steps of subjecting it, in a treatment chamber, to a reduced pressure of not greater than 7 kPa, impregnating the cell structure of the tobacco with isopentane vapour at a temperature in the range of from 70.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. and maintaining the tobacco in contact with the vapour at a pressure of at least 400 kPa, removing excess isopentane vapour from the treatment chamber, contacting the impregnated tobacco with steam to expand the tobacco cell structure, reducing the pressure in the treatment chamber at a rate of at lest 10 kPa/minute, preferably 30 kPa/minute, and then venting the treatment chamber back to atmospheric pressure. The final filling value of the tobacco treated according to this process is directly proportional to the rate at which the pressure in the treatment chamber is reduced following the steam treatment of the tobacco.

Abstract: Processes for producing flavor substances from tobacco are disclosed. The processes involve heating tobacco during a first staged heating to a first toasting temperature to drive off volatile materials; increasing the toasting temperature during a second staged heating to a second toasting temperature and separately collecting, as flavor substances, at least portions of the volatile materials driven off at the first and second toasting temperatures.Another aspect of the present invention involves reducing the moisture content of the tobacco without removing volatile flavor components, such as by freeze drying the tobacco, and then heating the dried tobacco.Preferably the tobacco is heated in a flowing gas stream and at least portions of the volatile materials are separately collected as flavor substances as the gas stream passes sequentially through a moderate temperature trap, a cold temperature trap and a filter capable of collecting submicron sized particles.

Abstract: A tobacco treating process for forming favorable flavor compounds in a moisturized tobacco including the steps of introducing the moistened tobacco into a containing zone; introducing an ammonia source into the containing zone; heating the contained zone when substantially closed to bring the tobacco to a preselected temperature to improve flavor compounds through reaction of the ammonia source and reducing sugars, and/or other tobacco components; and cooling and removing the tobacco from the closed zone.

Abstract: In order to pest control tobacco there is provided in a gas tight tobacco storage room an inert O.sub.2 lacking atmosphere with O.sub.2 between 0 and 5%, CO.sub.2 between 1 and 20% and the balance N.sub.2. This atmosphere is maintained until mortality of the pest. The system for providing this atmosphere includes essentially a generator, which can be a combustion chamber (1) associated with a catalytic chamber (2) (in the case of an open circuit system in which air is drawn from the atmosphere) or a catalytic chamber alone (in the case of a closed circuit system in which air is drawn from the tobacco storage room itself) and a cooling tower (3).The system is generally provided also with an evaporator (5) and a condenser (6) to control the humidity of the inert atmosphere, and a heat exchanger (7) in which the combustion heat is utilized to heat the inert atmosphere at a temperature which speeds up the mortality of the pest.

Abstract: A method of treating leaf tobacco for storage includes removing the stems from the tobacco leaves, tightly packing the leaves in a container that is non-conductive and while the leaves have a relatively high moisture content; subjecting the packed leaves to a heat treatment by exposing the packed container to an electromagnetic field to heat the leaves to a temperature of approximately 180.degree.; subsequently subjecting the packed leaves to a high vacuum to reduce the moisture content thereof and to reduce the temperature of the leaves; the packed container may also be subjected to a low temperature treatment while being subjected to the vacuum.

Abstract: A method for quickly conditioning a mass of tobacco uniformly throughout the mass with steam for the purpose of moisturizing and heating the tobacco evenly throughout.A probe is provided to be inserted within the mass of tobacco for drawing a vacuum while steam is applied to the tobacco mass.A temperature sensor is mounted on the probe to indicate the temperature of inner mass of tobacco.Steam is applied until a desired temperature is sensed at the sensor. The application of steam is continued at that temperature for a period adequate to moisturize and sterilize the tobacco throughout.

Abstract: Dry, compacted masses of tobacco are conditioned by inserting an array of parallel perforated probes into the mass and passing high pressure steam through the probes and probe perforations into the tobacco mass as the probes are inserted and withdrawn. The conditioning apparatus includes a frame supporting a probe array and a ram for moving the array toward and away from a tobacco mass supported by a conveyor. The probes are flexibly mounted to prevent bending, and extend through a stripper plate which is supported from the array by way of a latching mechanism. The stripper plate holds the tobacco mass in place to prevent lifting of the mass upon withdrawal of the probes.

Abstract: An improved process for expanding tobacco wherein tobacco components such as stems, midribs and veins are contacted with an alkaline-hydrogen peroxide solution to effect expansion, washed and then dried and/or roasted to produce an expanded tobacco material highly suitable for use in smoking products. Prior to contact with the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution, the tobacco materials are subjected to a pretreatment step with a multivalent salt solution to prevent clumping and/or interadherence of the tobacco shreds which would otherwise occur during the drying step.