Tobacco leaf processing
First Claim
1. A process for providing processed material in sheet-like form, the process comprising:
- (a) providing tobacco material wherein at least substantial proportion thereof is provided in essentially whole leaf form; and
(b) providing in essentially dry, substantially non-binding form, binding agent which is capable of being activated; and
(c) subjecting the aforementioned tobacco material to a size reduction action in order to provide divided tobacco material; and
then(d) contacting the divided tobacco material and binding agent; and
then(e) subjecting the divided tobacco material and binding agent to high shear agitation (i) in the presence of sufficient moisture to provide for activation of the binding agent but in the presence of a moisture content of less than 30 percent based on the total weight of moisture, binding agent and tobacco material, and (ii) for a period of time sufficient to at least initiate activation of the binding agent; and
then(f) subjecting the tobacco material so subjected to high shear agitation to compressive treatment by passing the tobacco material, at least once, through the nip of a roller system; and
then(g) forming sheet-like processed tobacco material from the tobacco material which has been passed through the aforementioned roller system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Whole leaf tobacco can be processed to yield a sheet-like product which can be used to cut filler for the manufacture of cigarettes. Whole leaf tobacco including stem is shredded and contacted with a binding agent in dry form. The essentially dry mixture is shear agitated in the presence of moisture less than about 30 percent, based on the total weight of moisture, binding agent and tobacco. The divided tobacco is subjected to the high shear agitation in the presence of sufficient moisture to provide for activation of the binding agent. The sheared mixture is passed through a roller system to provide compressive treatment to the mixture. The processed mixture is further formed into a sheet-like shape. Tobacco material can be provided using low amounts of binding agent, using energy efficient processing steps, and without waste of tobacco material.
29 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A process for providing processed material in sheet-like form, the process comprising:
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(a) providing tobacco material wherein at least substantial proportion thereof is provided in essentially whole leaf form; and (b) providing in essentially dry, substantially non-binding form, binding agent which is capable of being activated; and (c) subjecting the aforementioned tobacco material to a size reduction action in order to provide divided tobacco material; and
then(d) contacting the divided tobacco material and binding agent; and
then(e) subjecting the divided tobacco material and binding agent to high shear agitation (i) in the presence of sufficient moisture to provide for activation of the binding agent but in the presence of a moisture content of less than 30 percent based on the total weight of moisture, binding agent and tobacco material, and (ii) for a period of time sufficient to at least initiate activation of the binding agent; and
then(f) subjecting the tobacco material so subjected to high shear agitation to compressive treatment by passing the tobacco material, at least once, through the nip of a roller system; and
then(g) forming sheet-like processed tobacco material from the tobacco material which has been passed through the aforementioned roller system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A process for providing processed tobacco in sheet-like form, the process comprising:
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(a) providing tobacco material wherein at least a substantial proportion thereof is provided in essentially whole leaf form; and (b) providing in essentially dry, substantially non-binding form, binding agent which is capable of being activated; and (c) contacting the tobacco material and binding agent; and
then(d) subjecting the tobacco material and binding agent to high shear agitation (i) including a cutting action in an amount sufficient to provide divided tobacco material, (ii) in the presence of sufficient moisture to provide for activation of the binding agent but in the presence of a moisture content of less than 30 percent based on the total weight of the moisture, binding agent and tobacco material, and (iii) for a period of time sufficient to at least inititate activation of the binding agent; and
then(e) subjecting the tobacco material so subjected to high shear agitation to compressive treatment by passing the tobacco material, at least once, through the nip of a roller system; and
then(f) forming sheet-like processed tobacco material from the tobacco material which has been passed through the aforementioned roller system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification