Abstract: A sealable and peelable film comprising a four layer coextrudate comprising a core layer contributing predominantly towards the thickness of the film, a first sealing layer provided on one side of the core layer and a second sealing layer, or alternatively a laminating layer, provided on the other side of the core layer, and the film comprising a peeling layer in between the first sealing layer and the core layer and/or in between the second sealing layer, or alternatively the laminating layer, and the core layer, and wherein the peeling layer is adjacent the first sealing layer and/or the second sealing layer and/or the laminating layer, and wherein the relative thickness of the peeling layer and its adjacent sealing and/or lamination layer (p:s/l ratio) is from 1:10 to 5:1.

Abstract: A dispersion machine for removing impurities from a fiber which includes a housing, a feed port and a discharge port arranged on the housing, and several processing components arranged in the housing wherein the processing component includes a connection portion and a scraping portion. When the processing component moves, the scraping portion is adapted to contact the fiber and moves relative to a surface of the fiber so as to remove impurities from the fiber surface. A feed screw rod and a discharge screw rod for processing material are also arranged in the housing to repeatedly feed material, discharge material and remove impurities form the fiber surface. The dispersion machine can be used to remove impurities from fiber in the papermaking field, textile field and the like, so as to obtain a raw material with a low impurity content.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the separation of foreign bodies from a material flow, in particular a tobacco stream. Method is characterized in that at least a portion of the material from the material flow is conveyed into the area of a foreign-body detection device in the form of a partial material flow, whereby foreign bodies are identified by the foreign-body detection device in the partial material flow and subsequently removed from the partial material flow, whereby the partial material flow is formed by a separation step by an air flow upstream from the foreign-body detection device. Apparatus is characterized in that a material flow conveyor and a separation device arranged diagonal to the material flow conveyor are provided by which a partial material flow can be separated from the material flow. A foreign-body detection device is arranged after the separation device and after this, a foreign-body separation device.

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 process for manufacturing reconstituted tobacco with reduced nitrogenous content by submitting cured tobacco material, including whole leaf, stems, scraps, fines and lamina, as well as burley leaf and stem, to an extraction with a solution containing sodium acetate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof. The extraction process, in addition to denitrifying the tobacco material, also produces reconstituted tobacco paper with characteristics similar to flue cured tobacco leaf.

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 cooling and screening drum for tobacco materials comprising a material inlet, a rotary drum including lifting webs running longitudinally along the inner wall, a cross-flow cooling system and a material outlet, the lifting webs being configured inclined obliquely to the inner wall contrary to the direction of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: Tobacco leaf stem is separated into large-stem and small-stem fractions, the large-stem fraction is cut in a stem cutter and the small-stem fraction is shredded in a mill, whereafter the cut and shredded materials are mixed.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying tobacco includes a plurality of vertical lift, single-pass, closed loop apparatus projecting a stream of mixed tobacco components across a classifying chamber of each module, and a portion thereof directly into the infeed apparatus of the next downstream module. A common porous conveyor extending through the modules of the closed loop air stream removes tobacco heavies. A second lower reversible conveyor removes overflow and dust or other particles falling out of suspension and deposits same in the heavier discharge or in another collection point. The modules as well as the infeed apparatus are interchangeable.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating lighter particles such as lamina containing little or no stem from tobacco particles contained in threshed leaf tobacco which comprises a plurality of tobacco particle separating units, each including a separation chamber each a fan system for establishing a generally upward air flow therein. A tobacco particle projecting mechanism is provided in each chamber for projecting tobacco particles across the generally upward air flow therein with each having structure for directing tobacco particles in cooperating relation therewith to be projected thereby. Mechanisms are provided for receiving the lighter particles carried upwardly by the air flow, the heavier particles moving downwardly within the air flow within each chamber and discharging the particles therefrom.

Abstract: A mixture of unsatisfactory fragments of tobacco ribs and shreds of tobacco leaf laminae and/or tobacco ribs which are bonded to each other and/or are clumped together and/or crimped is treated to loosen the coherent and/or clumped shreds and/or uncrimp individual shreds and to thereupon separate the fragments of ribs from the thus liberated and/or straightened shreds. The treatment involves heating the mixture with steam, thereafter cooling (if necessary) the mixture, and thereupon pneumatically separating the shreds from the fragments of tobacco ribs. The heating operation can take place simultaneously with moisturizing of the mixture and can be carried out in a rotary or vibratory conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying tobacco includes a plurality of vertical lift, single-pass, closed loop apparatus projecting a stream of mixed tobacco components across a classifying chamber of each module, and a portion thereof directly into the infeed apparatus of the next downstream module. A common porous conveyor extending through the modules of the closed loop air stream removes tobacco heavies. A second lower reversible conveyor removes overflow and dust or other particles falling out of suspension and deposits same in the heavier discharge or in another collection point. The modules as well as the infeed apparatus are interchangeable.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating longer tobacco particles from shorter tobacco particles has an elongated vibratory trough for the advancement of a stream containing a mixture of shorter and longer particles from a delivering conveyor to a collecting receptacle. The upper side of the bottom wall of the trough is formed with longitudinally extending depressions which receive and align the particles of the advancing stream, and the bottom wall is formed with one or more transversely extending slots which extend across the depressions and permit shorter particles to descend into a second trough from which the shorter particles return into the distributor of a cigarette rod making machine. The properly aligned longer particles advance across the slot or slots and enter the receptacle.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cigarette filling comprising tobacco and a partly fibrous herbal or spice additive, comprising processing the additive to form a sheet material thereof, cutting that sheet material into generally leaf sized portions, blending the cut sheet material with tobacco in the desired ratio of additive to tobacco, and subsequently cutting, drying or otherwise treating the blended material to form a cigarette filling. The invention is particularly but not exclusively concerned with the use of cloves as the additive.

Abstract: An inhomogeneous stream of tobacco particles is homogenized by feeding the stream onto a vibrating support having openings through which the particles descend onto a conveyor serving to transport the thus homogenized stream in a direction counter to that of advancement of the inhomogenized stream toward and on the support. The homogenizing operation can be repeated by positioning a second vibratory apertured support to receive the once homogenized stream from the conveyor and by positioning a second conveyor beneath the second support.

Abstract: A separation device for separating threshed leaf tobacco into (1) lighter particles such as lamina containing little or no stem and (2) heavier particles such as lamina with attached stems or naked stems. The device includes a housing defining a separation chamber. A fan circulation system having an improved variable flow plural flow path arrangement establishes a generally upward air flow through the separation chamber. A tobacco supply inlet is disposed at an inlet side of the separation chamber for receiving a supply of threshed leaf tobacco downwardly therethrough and a threshed leaf tobacco projecting winnower is disposed below the tobacco supply inlet for projecting the supply so that (1) the lighter particles are generally carried upwardly by the air flow within the separation chamber and (2) the heavier particles move generally downwardly through the air flow.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system for diverting a sample of leaf tobacco from an operating tobacco processing line, supplying the tobacco to a degradation analyzer and returning the tobacco to the processing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different-sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line.

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 system for controlling the lamina size in a raw material treatment process for tobacco leaves comprising measuring means for measuring the production rate of the laminae 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 number 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 water content, temperature and rotational number of grid or threshing gear which minimize the production rate of the laminae not larger than a given size by a hill-climb method using the water content and temperature provided by the humidity controller and the rotational number of gr

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the stem content of a mass of plant leaves including a size reduction and classifying mechanism for separating the leaves into a stem and lamina portion and a means for introducing the leaves into the reduction and classifying mechanism. A dryer is utilized to reduce the moisture to a proper content for separation and classifying. The separated stem and lamina portions are transported to a scale mechanism which weighs the separated stem and lamina portions to permit calculation of the stem content of the leaf mass.

Abstract: A pneumatic separator for separating lighter particles from heavier stem particles and the like, as in tobacco threshing, including a separating chamber having air circulating in a generally upward path therethrough, an inlet rotary impeller mounted on one side of the separating chamber for thrusting particles to be separated into and across the chamber toward a generally upwardly extending opposite wall of the chamber, an inclined perforated plate member below the level of the impeller for directing larger particles discharged toward or falling onto the inclined plate member for collecting and carrying heavier particles from the chamber, and an air jet impeller located immediately above the inclined plate to discharge an air jet therefrom for directing material into a high arc trajectory into the chamber.

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: A method and apparatus for threshing ribs from tobacco leaves and the like. The method comprises a basket having a grid in which a threshing gear formed with a rotary drum including teeth on its periphery is accommodated in such a manner that the outside portion of the gear is disposed spacedly adjacent to it, supplying raw material to the space between the threshing gear and the basket from one side of the axial direction by an air flow at a predetermined speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of the gear, rotating the gear and basket at different peripheral speeds and discharging raw material toward the crossing direction of the axis. The apparatus comprises a casing, a threshing gear formed with a rotary drum having teeth, a basket having a grid and surrounding the gear, the gear and basket being rotated at different peripheral speeds, a material supply port, a feed duct and a discharge opening.

Abstract: A new system for controlling the proportion of leaf vein in a tobacco raw material treating process is provided. In general, the process involves feeding a raw leaf tobacco to a humidity controller to impart thereto moisture and temperature necessary for the removal of leaf vein, then peeling off the leaf tobacco into lamina and leaf vein by leaf vein removing means and subsequently separating the lamina and leaf vein from each other by winnowing means.

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: Tobacco leaf is processed into a form suitable for use in the manufacture of cigarettes by first cutting the leaf into strips, air classifying the strips into a lamina fraction and a stem fraction, threshing the stem fraction to separate lamina associated with the stem, and cutting the lamina strips and the separated lamina into shreds. The stem also may be processed for blending with the lamina shreds.

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: A process for improving the fill power of reconstituted tobacco including the steps of wrinkling the tobacco and then shattering the wrinkled tobacco material. The wrinkling is accomplished by simultaneously steaming and tumbling the tobacco, and the shattering is accomplished by a selective milling of the wrinkled tobacco material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing veins from the lamina in a bulk strip of tobacco wherein the stems have been removed. The veins are removed by running the bulk strip through a hammermill and then through a separating screen for separating the veins from the lamina.

Abstract: A portable batch type herb processing machine has a housing sized to fit on a counter top and is easily carried by a single person. Leafy portions of herbal material are separated from stems, seeds and twigs by introducing the herbal material into a selectively expandable stripping chamber where the leafy material is sheared from the stems, seeds and twigs. An upwardly directed air stream carries the light leafy material through a selectively expandable conduit into a collection chamber where the leaf material may be removed for further processing or use. The air stream can then be selectively increased to flush the stems, seeds and twigs through the conduit into the collection chamber for removal therefrom. The expandable stripping chamber and conduit may be selectively detached to provide access to the interior of the machine.

Abstract: Tobacco is graded by size by separating a sample into size fractions using a rotary drum screen. The sample is characterized by two distribution curves, one for a finer portion and the other for a coarser portion. The crossing point of logarithmic plots of the percentage by weight vs. particle size distributions of the two portions provides a precise and sensitive descriptor, which can be termed as a "percent desirable fraction," for grading the size characteristics of threshed or cut tobacco.