Process for producing tobacco structures

• US 3,894,544 A
• Filed: 12/03/1973
• Issued: 07/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laszlo Egri
• Original Assignee: Laszlo Egri
• Inventors: Egri, Laszlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rein, Melvin D.
• Application Number:
  US05/421,242
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 131/17,2,15,136,140-144
• US Class Current: 131/370
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 3/14 Forming reconstituted tobacco products, e.g. wrapper materials, sheets, imitation leaves, rods, cakes; Forms of such products delustering A24C1/40

Abstract

A process and device for the production of coherent tobacco structures of coarse comminuted tobacco materials, in particular ribs and wastes, wherein the starting tobacco material is comminuted in a coarse grinding device to a particulate size of approximately 150-200 Mu m; moistened with a liquid, consisting of an alkali and/or silicic acid sol, in a weight ratio of approximately 1:1.1 to 1:1.5 tobacco to liquid; kneaded in a mixing device to form a dough-like mass which is then shaped to form leaf-like structures; and applied in dosed amounts to a plastic transport belt whereupon the separate portions are spread under pressures up to a maximum of approximately 20 kg/cm2 (approx. 284.4 psi) to form individual flakes by means of a plastic spreading belt which runs in the same direction as the transport belt, but at a somewhat slower speed.

Claims

1. A process for the production of coherent tobacco structures of coarsely comminuted tobaccO materials, in particular ribs and wastes, which are moistened and kneaded to form a dough-like mass which is then shaped to form leaflike structures, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of:

a. comminuting the starting tobacco material to a particulate size of approximately 150 to 200 Mu m;

b. moistening the comminuted tobacco by mixing with a liquid in a weight ratio of 1;

1.1 to 1;

1.5 tobacco to liquid;

c. kneading the moistened tobacco material to form a dough-like mass;

d. directly applying the dough-like mass to a transport belt in individual, separate portions to form spaced pieces; and

e. then spreading the portions on the transport belt under relatively low compression pressures up to a maximum of approximately 20 kg/cm2 to form individual flakes by means of a spreading belt which runs in the same direction as the transport belt and at a speed slightly slower than the transport belt.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the moistening liquid comprises a liquid which softens the tobacco material and which is selected from the group consisting of an alkali, and a silicic acid sol.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the spreading belt is of plastic.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the transport belt and/or the spreading belt is driven by several small rollers driven by the same motor and whose mutual spaced relation can be adjusted.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco flakes are separated from the belt by external heating and/or treatment with a lubricant.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, glycerin, silicon oil and combinations thereof.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the tobacco flakes are transferred from the transport belt to a plastic conveyor belt and then dried thereupon.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the size of the portions is selected such that tobacco flakes are formed which can be directly used as a cigar filler without subsequent comminution.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the size of the portions is selected such that tobacco flakes are produced which can be mixed to form cigarette tobacco without subsequent comminution and can be fed into a conventional cutting machine for cigarette tobacco.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the kneaded mass is extruded through a perforated plate and is subsequently reduced in size to form pieces approximately 3 mm in diameter and approximately 5 mm in length.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the size of the portions is selected such that tobacco flakes are produced which have an area of about 1 cm2.