Abstract: A leaf removal assembly including a frame comprising a front plate having a feed opening, a leaf stripping assembly mounted on said front plate in front of said feed opening and an upper sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of upper socket grippers extending radially outward of the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. The leaf removal assembly further includes a lower sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly of the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. At least one of the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel may be adjustably attached to the frame. A process for separating a leaf from a stalk comprising at least one leaf is also included.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for shredding tobacco sheets, especially tobacco sheets formed of reconstituted tobacco particles with guar and sugar comprises rotating opposing sets of cutter discs in a partially overlapping relation so as to establish a nip. The cutter discs have notches at spaced locations along a peripheral portion of the cutter discs. Adjacent pairs of cutter discs are spaced apart by a spacer disc with a stripper plate interposed between adjacent pairs of spaced apart cutter discs. A tobacco sheet which is fed into the nip of the sets of cutter discs is shredded by the discs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco-derived pyrolysis oils and derivatives thereof, such as isolated components and mixtures obtained from such pyrolysis oils. Advantageously, the tobacco-derived pyrolysis oils disclosed herein can exhibit desirable sensory characteristics. Further, tobacco-derived pyrolysis oils disclosed herein can exhibit desirably low concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene. The disclosure also provides methods for obtaining such tobacco-derived pyrolysis oils and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for refining materials such as a tobacco material. The apparatus includes a disc assembly rotatably coupled to a drive arrangement. The disc assembly includes a disc body having first and second lateral surfaces each having a refining arrangement disposed thereon. First and second stationary refining arrangements are positioned in opposing relationship to the first and second lateral surfaces so as to form first and second refining zones. The disc assembly further includes first and second gear members. The first gear member is engaged with the drive arrangement, and the second gear member is engaged with the disc body. The first and second gear members are arranged to engage each other such that interaction therebetween rotatingly drives the disc body. The first and second gear members are configured to resist wear associated with interaction therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing whole tobacco leaves with stem, veins, and lamina material. The whole tobacco leaves are tipped, in order to receive tips and butts. The tips and butts are then separated. The separated tips are further processed by cutting or shredding, in order to receive light and heavy tip material. Once the light tip material is separated from the heavy tip material, the light tip material is dried, before it is finally packaged.

Abstract: A storage receptacle for smoking material may open on two opposite sides. A first end of the storage receptacle may have teeth which extend from the first end of the storage receptacle. A second end of the storage receptacle may have one or more cavities which store a pipe, a lighter and/or a cleaning pick. A first cover and a second cover may be removed from the first end and the second end of the receptacle, respectively. The first cover may have teeth, and the first cover may be rotated relative to the first end of the receptacle to grind, to divide and/or to separate the smoking material into smaller sizes using the teeth. Threads may connect the first cover to the first end and the second cover to the second end. A sieve cylinder may have a screen which collects the smoking material having smaller sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for refining materials such as a tobacco material. The apparatus includes a disc assembly rotatably coupled to a drive arrangement. The disc assembly includes a disc body having first and second lateral surfaces each having a refining arrangement disposed thereon. First and second stationary refining arrangements are positioned in opposing relationship to the first and second lateral surfaces so as to form first and second refining zones. The disc assembly further includes first and second gear members. The first gear member is engaged with the drive arrangement, and the second gear member is engaged with the disc body. The first and second gear members are arranged to engage each other such that interaction therebetween rotatingly drives the disc body. The first and second gear members are configured to resist wear associated with interaction therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing cut tobacco material, whereby a tobacco initial material is heated and placed under pressure and once heated and placed under pressure, the material is fed through a shearing gap and expanded and defibrated. It further relates to a device for producing cut tobacco material with a pressure chamber, which has a tobacco material inlet at the low-pressure end and a tobacco material outlet at the pressure end and a conveyor system for conveying the tobacco material from the inlet to the outlet, and the tobacco material outlet has a gap through which the material passes and expands, and the gap has walls which can be moved towards one another. It further relates to a smoking article containing such a cut, defibrated tobacco material product and the use of a plug screw feeder-extruder with a shearing gap outlet for defibrating tobacco material.

Abstract: Size reduction equipment is added at the feed end of a cigarette maker to take separated winnowers and other overages from a tobacco feed to the maker, cut or shred the overages to appropriate size and reintroduce the cut or shred overages into the lamina stream from a tobacco feed hopper for the cigarette maker. The winnowers may be pneumatically or mechanically conveyed back into the feed stream in the cigarette maker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing tobacco, in which tobacco leaves are threshed to form a mixture of free lamina, clean stem pieces from which lamina has been completely or substantially completely removed and uncleaned stem pieces which have useful pieces of lamina attached thereto. This mixture is sifted to separate the clean stem pieces from the unclean stem pieces. The unclean stem pieces are subjected to additional threshing by recycling the unclean stem pieces to the thresher. A sieve may be used to carry out the method and as a part of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating tobacco fine cut in which the cut tobacco is preheating and moistening is moistened to a moisture content of a maximum of 18 to 18.5%, after which it is supplied without any further drying to a screening and cooling step resulting in a moisture content of a maximum of 17-17.5%.

Abstract: A process to improve the smoke quality and mechanical properties of reconstituted tobacco is accomplished by adding tobacco materials to an aqueous solution containing ammonium salts and urea. The resulting first tobacco slurry is then pressurized under steam pressure to at least 60 psi for a period of from 1 to 5 minutes then depressurized rapidly to ambient. The depressurized tobacco is then formed into a second tobacco slurry wherein the soluble components within the tobacco is removed. The resulting tobacco residue is then prepared into a reconstituted tobacco sheet and the extract is then concentrated to a solids level of at least 30 percent by weight of solids which is added back to the reconstituted tobacco sheet for further processing into smoking articles.

Abstract: A process for improving smoke quality and mechanical properties of a cast reconstituted tobacco sheet is accomplished by adding tobacco materials to an aqueous solution containing ammonium salts and ammonium hydroxide. The resulting first tobacco slurry is then pressurized under steam pressure to at least 60 psi for a period of from about 1 to 5 minutes then depressurized rapidly to ambient. The depressurized tobacco is then formed into a second tobacco slurry. The resulting tobacco residue is then cast into a reconstituted tobacco sheet for further processing into smoking articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a plant for the treatment of tobacco leaves for the production of cut tobacco for smokable articles, in which stems or winnowings, on the one hand, and the lamina material of the tobacco leaves, on the other, are conditioned separately from each other. The conditioned, non-rolled stems are precut and the conditioned winnowings are rolled and individually respectively or also jointly blended with the conditioned and uncut lamina material; the resulting blend is then cut and dried.

Abstract: Lamina and stem components of tobacco leaf are fed simultaneously to a milling machine such that there is produced a fluent mixture of lamina and stem particles. The mixture, with little or no further particle size reduction can be fed to a cigarette making machine.

Abstract: Whole tobacco leaf is fed to a milling machine such that there is produced a mixture of lamina flakes and intact stem lengths. The lamina fraction, with little or no further particle size reduction can be fed to a cigarette making machine. The stem fraction can be discarded or processed according to conventional methods.

Abstract: Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are heated microwaves, or in an to a temperature not less than 50.degree. C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding machine without previous cooling and/or breaking up. The moisture content of the shreds is raised to between 12 and 13.5% for admission into a cigarette maker, or such moisture content is raised well above the optimum value for further processing in order to increase the filling power of the shreds. The shreds are thereupon dried to reduce their moisture content to between 12 and 13.5% prior to conversion into the filler of a cigarette rod. Two or more different types of shreds can be mixed prior to admission into the cigarette maker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary drum (22) cutting machine for cutting or shredding lamina material such as tobacco leaf, comprising a support frame (10), means for compressing and feeding material to be cut, as a plug, to a mouth (14) mounted on the support frame, a cutter carriage (20) movably mounted on a track (23) on the support frame, a cutter drum (22) mounted for rotation on said cutter carriage, and drive means (26,27,51,52,28) arranged to move the cutter carriage between an open inoperative position with the cutter drum away from the mouth to a closed operative position to cut or shred material as it issues from the mouth.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.

Abstract: Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and condensed, and the condensed strips are dried and cooled in vacuo prior to packing. The separated ribs are heated and are thereupon introduced into containers. The containers are then admitted into a vacuum chamber for cooling and drying of the ribs therein prior to packing.

Abstract: A tobacco threshing system of the present invention comprises a housing, a threshing rotor arranged in the housing, and a threshing basket which covers a lower portion of the rotor. The threshing basket includes a plurality of arcuated plates arranged to have threshing gaps therebetween. The tobacco threshing system further comprises an apparatus for adjusting the threshing gaps. The apparatus includes a drive shaft, a plurality of first sliders mounted on the drive shaft, and a plurality of second sliders mounted on the drive shaft to be located between the first sliders. Each of the first sliders has a first right-handed thread portion on one end thereof and a left-handed thread portion on the other end thereof. Each of the second sliders has, on its two ends, second right- and left-handed thread portions to be screwed to the first right- and left-handed thread portions of the adjacent first sliders. The arcuated plates are connected to the first sliders and/or second sliders.

Abstract: Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are dielectrically heated by microwaves, or in an electric high-frequency field, to a temperature not less than 50.degree. C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding machine without previous cooling and/or breaking up. The moisture content of the shreds is raised to between 12 and 13.5% for admission into a cigarette maker, or such moisture content is raised well above the optimum value for further processing in order to increase the filling power of the shreds. The shreds are thereupon dried to reduce their moisture content to between 12 and 13.5% prior to conversion into the filler of a cigarette rod. Two or more different types of shreds can be mixed prior to admission into the cigarette maker.

Abstract: A system for controlling the lamina size, in a material treatment process for tobacco leaves. The system comprises measuring means for measuring the production ratio of the lamina larger than a given size in the raw material treatment process in which the tobacco leaves which have been provided with a water content and temperature by a humidity controller are stripped into laminae and ribs by means of rib removing machines capable of changing a mechanical impact force applied upon the tobacco leaves by changing the rotational speed of grid or threshing gear and are then separated by means of separating machines; and operational control means for receiving measurement signals from said measuring means as a feedback signal for searching a rotational speed of grid or threshing gear which provides an optimum lamina size by a hill-climb method using the rotational speed of grid or threshing gear of the rib removing machines as manipulation factor.

Abstract: A process for converting cigarette tobacco winnowings into usable form for cigarette making, comprises crushing the winnowings, which have a moisture content compatible with cigarette making, effecting a first sieving operation on the resulting crushed winnowings, and effecting a second sieving operation on the smaller fraction resulting from the first sieving operation to remove particles unsuitable for direct use. Any larger fraction resulting from the first sieving operation may be subjected to cutting and thereafter a third sieving operation.Suitable apparatus for converting cigarette tobacco winnowings having a moisture content compatible with cigarette making into usable form for cigarette making, comprises crushing rollers (11, 12) to which the winnowings are fed, a sieve (18) arranged to receive the crushed winnowings from the crusher, and a second sieve (19) provided to separate the tobacco usable for cigarette making from tobacco dust.

Abstract: Tobacco feed material suitable for cigarette formation is formed by blending shredded tobacco stem material and shredded tobacco lamina material while in partially-dried form and drying the blend to the final moisture content.

Abstract: A tobacco bale tipping apparatus (10) delaminates tobacco bale (12) into slabs of tobacco. The slabs of tobacco are separated into right hand and left hand wedges (14) by conveyor belts (27) and (26) and by weight chains (24). The wedges (14) are tipped by knives (20) which are adjustable toward or away from the conveyors to accommodate tobacco leaves of various lengths.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing baled tobacco leaves to separate the lamina portions of the leaves from the stem portions. The bale is cut symmetrically, crosswise to its length, into three or preferably five separate sections, of different characteristic types. A center section is cut from the middle of the bale. On each side of the center section a second section is cut; and two end sections are preferably cut, one at each end of the bale. The different types of sections have different lamina-to-stem ratios, and are processed differently. The second sections are coarsely threshed, to dislodge the larger lamina portions of the leaves from the stem portions therein, and the coarsely threshed material is separated into a first light fraction (comprising mostly lamina) and a first heavy fraction (enriched in stem content). The center section can be combined with the light fraction and can be dried and packed without the necessity of further threshing.

Abstract: Freshly cut tobacco leaves are processed wherein the processing includes particle size reduction and drying immediately upon harvesting.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving the knives relative to their rotary holder in a tobacco cutting machine has a crankshaft which is rotatable and is rotated once during several successive revolutions of the holder. The crankshaft is the input element of a step-down transmission whose output element is a ring gear meshing with pinions for transmission of motion to discrete displacing units, one for each knife. The ring gear is rotated at intervals by a gear which is coaxial with a freewheel. The latter is rocked back and forth by a lever which is pivoted by the crank pin of the crankshaft by way of a rod-like connector. One end portion of the connector is coupled to the lever by an adjusting device which can change the extent of pivotal movement of the lever and hence the extent of rotation of the ring gear whenever the lever is pivoted in one of two directions.

Abstract: A device for cleaning or refining herbage or herbal substances which operates to separate out twigs, seeds or other roughage by an agitating and straining process. The device includes a cylindrical main body internally divided into a pair of chambers by a fixed strainer or wire screen with a pair of removable end caps enclosing the chambers at each end of the cylinder. A plurality of metallic balls, preferably four, are loosely confined within one of the chambers within which the herbage to be refined is introduced. Vigorous shaking of the device will cause refined herbage to pass from the chamber containing the balls, through the strainer or screen and into the other chamber where the refined herbage may be collected in one of the end caps.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for obtaining a smoking product from tobacco leaves. The leaves, or leaves and stalk together when immature plants are used in the process, are ground or otherwise pulverized to liberate the liquid portion of the leaves from the plant material. The liquid portion of the leaves is treated to remove water-soluble proteins and nicotine and the solid portion of the leaves is treated to remove water and insoluble protein material, nicotine and green pigment material. The residues obtained after separation of the water-soluble and -insoluble protein, nicotine and green pigment material are recombined to yield a processed tobacco which is suitable for use in cigarettes as a tobacco filler or other products of tobacco manufacture.

Abstract: A method and a device for stretching a tobacco leaf or portions thereof, which is distinguished in that each tobacco leaf is deposited on an omnidirectionally elastic, substantially flat carrier, pressure is exerted on the leaf on the side remote from the carrier and subsequently adequate tensile force is exerted around the leaf in a plane of the carrier in order to stretch the leaf by friction with excessive tensile force without the risk of damage of the leaf, since only the friction between the leaf and the carrier is responsible for the stretching effect.

Abstract: A combination herb storage, grinder and pouring container includes a grinding and pouring cup having grinding elements. A cap is removably attached to the grinding and pouring cup. An herb storage receptacle is nested within the cup and cap. The receptacle defines an herb storage compartment having grinding elements extending therefrom so as to be disposed adjacent to the grinding elements of the cup, so as to selectively grind herbs placed between the storage receptacle and the cup. Preferably, the cup and cap are removably locked to one another, and an airtight and watertight seal formed between the cap, cup and storage receptacle.