Abstract: A method and apparatus for reordering hot, dry expanded tobacco comprises a first reordering step in which the tobacco moisture content is raised to a first value, an intermediate cooling stage in which the tobacco is cooled to about ambient temperature (20.degree.-25.degree. C.) followed by a final reordering step in which the tobacco moisture content is raised to a final desired value.

Abstract: A charging device for opening and delivering leaf-type material which includes a conveyor having an upper surface along which leaf-type material moves in a downstream direction of travel toward a discharge end, an opening mechanism adjacent the discharge end for establishing an arcuate path of travel along which a plurality of members move for intermittently successively underengagingly contacting and opening the leaf-type material during the movement thereof beyond the discharge end, and at least one mechanism downstream of the opening mechanism for establishing an arcuate path of travel along which a plurality of elements move for intermittently successively contacting and stripping, in opposition to the downstream direction of travel, the leaf-type material, and both the opening and stripping mechanisms being formed by a plurality of arcuately spaced elongated bars carried by end plates rotatable about associated axes in identical directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reordering or remoistening tobacco wherein a circulating treating medium is passed through the tobacco bed. The apparatus is provided with both water and steam nozzles, and controls are provided such that the water input maintains a desired tobacco moisture level, whereas the steam input is controlled to keep the temperature of the circulating treating medium at a predetermined level. The water is in the form of an atomized fine mist at point of contact with the tobacco bed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating a continuous flow of tobacco under pressure include introducing said tobacco to a pressurized chamber through an entrance lock device, impregnating said tobacco with a pressurized gas or its liquid phase within said chamber, and discharging said impregnated tobacco from said chamber through an exit lock device. Liquid impregnant may be applied as a fine spray within said chamber, and subsequent expansion of said tobacco may be performed by decompression, heating, or by decompression and heating in combination.

Abstract: A stream dryer comprises in addition to the control bypass which bypasses the heat source a second ready-use bypass which is in parallel with the control bypass and bypasses the heat source. In the event of short-duration interruptions in working, the supply of steam is interrupted and the circulation of the hot gas is maintained substantially only through the ready-use bypass, so that the temperature of the circulated hot gas substantially does not change when the relatively small heat losses due to surface and exhaust gas losses are compensated. Temperature regulation is effected through the agency of the control bypass in this state of readiness also.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening and pre-conditioning a case or hogshead of tobacco in which the tobacco is a laminated body, comprises a chamber for receiving the laminated tobacco body and device for emitting an air/moisture jet stream in said chamber capable of being reciprocated in a plane parallel to and in close proximity to the tobacco laminae or of being rotated in the plane about an axis normal to the plane to lift one lamina or more progressively from the tobacco body.Additional structure may be provided whereby water may be added to the jet stream and the separated tobacco fed directly to a silo to await cutting without further treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for air drying tobacco leaves is provided. The apparatus comprises a vertical hopper section disposed beneath the discharge end of a tobacco leaf supply conveyor, an air-permeable conveyor to transport supplied tobacco leaves oriented in parallel to a direction of air flow, a drying chamber provided to cover the air-permeable conveyor, drying air circulating means, tobacco leaf layer level sensors, and means for controlling the rate of supply of tobacco leaves according to the signals provided from said sensors. The apparatus can obtain a good drying efficiency for air drying tobacco leaves.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a tobacco as it is conveyed through the apparatus includes a heater for heating the treating and conveying gas, a tobacco-gas separator device for separating the treated tobacco from the treating and conveying gas, a duct fluidity interconnecting the heater with the tobacco-gas separator device, a venturi located in the duct, and a tobacco feed device for introducing tobacco to be treated into the throat of the venturi to be entrained by the treating gas stream between the heater device and tobacco-gas separator device. The separated treating gas is returned to the heater device for reuse in treating more tobacco. The apparatus further includes a venturi which maintains a substantially zero internal atmospheric pressure at the tobacco feed device to prevent the escape of treating gas from the apparatus or entry of ambient air into the apparatus.

Abstract: Increases in filling capacity of 30 to 100% are achieved when tobacco material with a moisture content of 18 to 80% by weight and a temperature of -80.degree. to 100.degree. C. is accelerated to a velocity of at least 20 meters per second by means of a gaseous medium, is subsequently decelerated and is dried in a conventional way. The tobacco material can be accelerated, together with the gaseous medium, in a nozzle of the Venturi type or can be introduced into the fast-flowing gaseous medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating tobacco leaves by impregnating them with liquid carbon dioxide under high pressure. Tobacco leaf containers, in the form of open buckets, are mounted on a turntable which rotates intermittently step by step. In the preferred apparatus, the buckets are mounted in pairs, and when one pair of buckets is at a filling station, the buckets are filled with tobacco. The turntable then rotates to bring this filled pair of buckets to an impregnating station, while another pair of buckets is brought around to the filling station. At the impregnating station, lids are tightly applied and sealed to the buckets, and the impregnating liquid carbon dioxide is introduced, held for a predetermined time, and then released, after which the lids are removed.

Abstract: A tobacco treating apparatus including an outer, rotatable, hollow drum having a tobacco inlet at one end and a tobacco outlet at the opposite end with an inner, hollow drum extending through the tobacco inlet end, generally coaxial with the outer drum and extending a distance longitudinally into the outer drum a distance less than the entire length of the outer drum. The outer and inner drums cooperate to define an annular gas flow-through passageway which is open to an exhaust chamber. Tobacco to be treated is introduced into the inner drum and flows therefrom into the outer drum while a stream of tobacco treating gas is introduced into the tobacco outlet end to flow in counter-current direction to the flow of tobacco through the outer drum so that virtually all of the tobacco is contacted and treated by the gas. The treating gas leaves the outer drum through the annular flow-through passageway and into the exhaust air chamber from which it is exhausted from the apparatus.

Abstract: Tobacco ribs, whose moisture content is at least 38 percent and which are heated to a temperature of at least 60 degrees C., are admitted into a cylindrical chamber containing a centrally located nozzle which is surrounded by a driven impeller having arcuate vanes serving to direct tobacco particles at a uniform rate into a high-speed stream of air or steam which issues from the orifice of the nozzle and leaves the chamber through a tapering outlet to pass through a Laval nozzle and into a dryer. The latter is designed to heat a stream of air to a temperature of approximately 350 degrees C. and to mix such air with the stream which admits the particles of tobacco whereby the particles are heated to a temperature of approximately 80 degrees C. and their moisture content is reduced to or below 20 percent.

Abstract: Drying of tobacco particles in heated rotary drum drier is improved by flowing air through the drum at a flow rate, usually at least 10 ft./sec. (3.25 m/sec), which imparts translational or linear motion to the particles. The translational motion causes the particles to become classified based on size and weight and thereby to cause smaller particles to pass through the drum at a faster rate than larger particles. In this way, smaller particles are less exposed to the drying heat than larger ones, so that overdrying of small particles is avoided and overall filling power is improved.

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.

Abstract: Particles of tobacco which form a continuous stream are heated during transport through a rotary drum-shaped dryer. The inlet end of the dryer receives a continuous current of heated air whose temperature is constant, and the dryer is heated by internal coils for circulating steam whose pressure is constant. The quantity of tobacco particles in the stream is varied in dependency on deviations of measured final moisture content from a desired final moisture content and/or in dependency on deviations of measured initial moisture content from anticipated initial moisture content.

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: This invention relates to a forced air recirculation tobacco curing apparatus which provides support for tobacco bins within the apparatus and is adapted to permit a loading vehicle to drive in and out of the apparatus to load or unload the bins.

Abstract: A continuous stream of moist tobacco particles is withdrawn from a magazine by a carded belt conveyor, and successive increments of the stream are weighed prior to transport past a measuring unit which ascertains the initial moisture content of successive increments of the stream. The signals which are generated by the weighing device are used to regulate the speed of the carded conveyor so as to insure that each unit length of the stream reaching the measuring unit contains identical quantities of tobacco particles per weight. The stream is thereupon transported through a moisture increasing unit wherein the stream is traversed by ascending currents of steam and wherein one or more nozzles sprinkle metered quantities of water onto successive increments of the stream.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for applying treating fluids to tobacco involves a vertically disposed tower or chamber that is provided with tobacco inlet and outlet means, a plurality of cooperating, vertically spaced baffles arranged in alternating fashion and a plurality of spraying devices located within the tower or chamber at points intermediate the inlet and outlet means. Tobacco and treating fluid are introduced into the tower or chamber at controlled flow rates via the tobacco inlet means and spraying devices, respectively, to give tobacco treated with the desired quantities of treating fluid.

Abstract: Tobacco stems are expanded by superheated steam in a U-shaped, tubular expansion device, which is provided with a venturi tube and cooling jackets. The superheated steam under high pressure is ejected toward the venturi tube. The rapid speed of the steam stream creates a Bernoulli flow, namely strong suction force in the venturi tube. By this force, the tobacco stems, which are being continuously supplied into a hopper from a tobacco cutter, are automatically sucked into the expansion device via the venturi tube. Tobacco stems primarily expanded in the expansion device are sent to a cyclone system and further puffed therein.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for increasing the filling power of tobacco lamina filler without the use of exogenous impregnants by contacting the filler with a heat transfer medium such that heat is transferred rapidly and substantially uniformly from the medium to the filler for a total contact time sufficient to stiffen and expand the filler. The filler has an OV value, immediately before treatment, within the range of from about 8% to about 30% and, most preferably, within the range of from about 10% to about 14%. The filler, immediately before treatment, is preferably at ambient temperature and it is preferred that the entire process be conducted at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for drying and expanding cut tobacco by introducing the tobacco into an elongated tubular shaped conduit through which high temperature, high velocity superheated steam is recycled. The conduit has a reduced area section into which the tobacco is introduced and provision is made to allow recycle of steam and hence minimal energy consumption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for moistening tobacco leaves (31) by passing bundles of leaves (31) through a space (7) containing atomized water which bundles according to the invention are passed through said space (7) while being suspended from the base thereof with the leaves hanging downwardly which bundles to this end are clamped with the base of the bundle in spaced apart clamping means (8) which are freely rotatably connected to an endless conveyor chain (2) said clamping means (8) during their passage through the said moisture containing space (7) are rotated by frictional engagement with one or more endless belts (11,11') while the nozzles (21,22) which atomize the water create turbulence in said space (7).

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: A continuous stream of moist tobacco particles is withdrawn from a magazine by a carded belt conveyor, and successive increments of the stream are weighed prior to transport past a measuring unit which ascertains the initial moisture content of successive increments of the stream. The signals which are generated by the weighing device are used to regulate the speed of the carded conveyor so as to insure that each unit length of the stream reaching the measuring unit contains identical quantities of tobacco particles per weight. The stream is thereupon transported through a moisture increasing unit wherein the stream is traversed by ascending currents of steam and wherein one or more nozzles sprinkle metered quantities of water onto successive increments of the stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying tobacco under relatively high absolute humidity drying conditions to increase the filling power of tobacco.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing the build-up of undesirable materials such as tobacco in a bend in a conduit containing a gas stream having water vapor therein.

Abstract: Tobacco ribs which are separated from laminae are contacted by steam at a temperature of approximately 150 degrees whereby the steam condenses on the surfaces of ribs and the thus released heat promotes the penetration of condensate into as well as gradual evaporation of initial moisture and condensate in the interior of ribs to thereby increase the specific volume of the ribs. The ribs are agitated during contact with and are caused to float in steam. Warm water is sprayed onto the ribs during contact with steam. The contact with steam prior to start of expansion takes up approximately one minute, and the ribs remain in contact with steam for another minute to effect expansion by evaporated moisture. The thus treated ribs are immediately rolled, severed and dried. The volume of ribs can be increased still further by contacting the severed ribs, prior to drying, with steam and water to bring about additional evaporation of moisture in the interior of severed ribs.

Abstract: A method and a device for conditioning tobacco leaves or parts thereof in a coil or bobbin in which the tobacco material is conducted towards or away from a stretched belt portion of a reel, wherein a conditioning medium is continuously fed to the windings of the bobbin containing the tobacco material and to at least part of the belt portion extending away therefrom in order to control the tobacco leaf material already during winding on or off respectively of the bobbin so that the aforesaid storage and treatment conditions respectively can be better controlled.

Abstract: Tobacco ribs which are separated from laminae are contacted by steam at a temperature of approximately 150 degrees whereby the steam condenses on the surfaces of ribs and the thus released heat promotes the penetration of condensate into as well as gradual evaporation of initial moisture and condensate in the interior of ribs to thereby increase the specific volume of the ribs. The ribs are agitated during contact with and are caused to float in steam. Warm water is sprayed onto the ribs during contact with steam. The contact with steam prior to start of expansion takes up approximately one minute, and the ribs remain in contact with steam for another minute to effect expansion by evaporated moisture. The thus treated ribs are immediately rolled, severed and dried. The volume of ribs can be increased still further by contacting the severed ribs, prior to drying, with steam and water to bring about additional evaporation of moisture in the interior of severed ribs.