Forming sheet from reconstituted tobacco

• US 4,337,783 A
• Filed: 02/03/1981
• Issued: 07/06/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imperial Group Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Imperial Logistics Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Group Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Imperial Logistics Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hooper, John D., Britton, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Application Number:
  US06/231,145
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 131/353, 131/354, 131/355, 131/356, 131/357, 131/370, 131/371, 131/372, 131/374, 131/375
• US Class Current: 131/375
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/14 made of tobacco and a binding agent not derived from tobacco
• 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 method of forming sheet from reconstituted tobacco involves the formation of a high solids content slurry of which the particle size is less than 60 B.S. mesh. The slurry is then extruded through a single pair of rollers onto a wire mesh conveyor, or onto a continuous casting band which is itself supported by one of the rollers. The high solids content reduces the energy costs in drying the extruded sheet and the use of a single pair of rollers reduced the costs of the machinery.

Claims

1. A method of forming a continuous tobacco sheet comprising the steps of

(a) forming a slurry comprising 35-60% by weight of ground tobacco particles having a particle size of less than 250 microns, 4-10% by weight of binder and 30-60% by weight of water,

(b) extruding the slurry between a pair of contra-rotating rollers onto an endless casting conveyor to form an extruded sheet thereon wherein one of the contra-rotating rollers supports the casting conveyor and

(c) drying the extruded sheet on the casting conveyor.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slurry comprises 65% by weight of ground tobacco particles.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slurry comprises 40% by weight of ground tobacco particles.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the binder comprises, by percentage weight of the slurry, 3-6% of a cellulose binder and 0.5-2% of a wet strength agent.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the binder comprises 4-6% by weight of the slurry.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extruded sheet is dried to a moisture content of 18-20%.

7. A method of forming a continuous tobacco sheet comprising the steps of

(a) forming a slurry comprising water and 45-70% by weight of solids content, said solids content including ground tobacco particles having a particle size of less than 250 microns and binder,

(b) extruding the slurry between a pair of contra-rotating rollers onto a conveyor to form an extruded sheet and,

(c) drying the extruded sheet while supported on the conveyor.