Tobacco – Tobacco treatment – With fluid or fluent material
Patent
1995-09-29
1997-10-14
Millin, Vincent
Tobacco
Tobacco treatment
With fluid or fluent material
131290, A24B 304, A24B 312
Patent
active
056761643
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a tobacco curing process and an apparatus for implementing the process.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Tobacco processing includes a treatment known as "curing" by which the tobacco is treated with a solution based on sugar, liquorice and quantities of mineral salts.
This treatment, the purpose of which is to improve the tobacco characteristics, is generally effected using a rotary cylinder containing the tobacco in the form of leaf pieces (strips) which are sprayed with this solution heated to 70.degree.-80.degree. C. and atomized with steam.
The particular temperature conditions and the type of substances used means that during curing, a part of the tobacco leaves compresses together to the cylinder walls, with consequent loss of tobacco leaves.
In the subsequent drying stage, that part of the compressed leaves which separates from the cylinder cannot be dried effectively, so that there is a further loss of tobacco.
To obviate this drawback it has been proposed to use a rotating brush which slides against the inner walls of the cylinder, however this solution has further drawbacks, and in particular: the compressed strips remain attached, and
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
DE-A-3001734 describes a rotary drum provided with an axially arranged steam pipe that is provided with a number of holes bored in the wall of the pipe. Steam is ejected from these holes and is directed upwardly against the inner wall of the drum to remove any tobacco particles which may adhere to this inner wall.
EP-A-0273596 discloses a method for treating particulate material with a liquid additive in a rotatable cylinder involving the use of a pressurized fluid such as steam directed obliquely against the inner wall of the cylinder via nozzles to effect a cleaning action on the inner wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a process which enables the inner walls of the cylinder to be maintained constantly clean without increasing the operating cost or the loss of tobacco leaves.
This object and further ones which will result from the following description are attained according to the invention through a tobacco curing process comprising the steps of: improve the tobacco characteristics, longitudinal axis of said rotary cylinder, during the curing treatment, discrete zones of the inner lateral surface of said cylinder, thus exercising a mechanical scraping action.
To implement the process the invention uses an apparatus comprising a rotary cylinder provided with a feed opening for tobacco strips and a discharge hopper, said cylinder housing a pipe feedable with steam, said pipe being arranged parallel to the cylinder axis and being provided with a plurality of spray nozzles facing the surface of said cylinder wherein said pipe is axially movable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, which represents a schematic side view of an apparatus for implementing the process of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As can be seen from the drawing, the tobacco curing process according to the invention uses a rotary cylinder 1 arranged slightly inclined, it being open at the feed end for the tobacco leaf pieces (strips) and closed at its other end by a discharge hopper 2.
The discharge hopper 2 is provided with a centrifugal fan 3 able to create a slight vacuum within the rotary cylinder 1.
The cylinder 1 is provided at its entry opening with an annular flange 4 on which there is mounted a bracket 5 provided with slide guides for a pipe 6 arranged parallel to the axis of the cylinder substantially at its lateral surface, and provided with a plurality of spray nozzles 7 facing said surface.
The pipe 6 is fed with steam from a boiler 8.
Externally to the cylinder at the opposite end to the bracket there is mounted a further bracket for supporting a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 9, to the rod 10 of which there is pivoted a bar 11 havin
REFERENCES:
patent: 4730627 (1988-03-01), Burcham, Jr. et al.
patent: 4887619 (1989-12-01), Burcham, Jr. et al.
patent: 5425384 (1995-06-01), White
Comas-Costruzioni Macchine Speciali-S.P.A.
Deane, Jr. William J.
Millin Vincent
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