US3556111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for conditioning tobacco or the like
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1968-01-10
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A stream of Burley tobacco is relieved of nitrogen by intensive heating so that its moisture content drops below an optimum moisture content for further processing. A valve which regulates the admission of moisture to successive increments of the thus heated stream is regulated in dependency on the results of measurements of the moisture content downstream of the point of moisture admission and in dependency on the extent of differences between the thus determined moisture content and the optimum moisture content. The valve can be further regulated in dependency on variations of parameters which influence the moisture content of tobacco upstream of the point of moisture admission, such as changes in the weight of successive increments of the stream and changes in the drop of temperature of air which is used to cool the stream after the intensive heating but prior to moistening. The temperature drop may also be used to simultaneously regulate the intensity of the heating.
Inventors
- 👤 Waldemar Wochnowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:48
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of treating fibrous materials, particularly of conditioning Burley tobacco subsequent to expulsion of nitrogen by intensive heating, comprising the steps of conveying through a wetting zone a stream of fibrous material whose moisture content is below a predetermined optimum content; admitting to successive increments of said stream moisture at a variable rate while such increments travel through said wetting zone; measuring the moisture content of the thus moistened increments; measuring the rate of admission of fibrous material into said wetting zone; and regulating the admission of at least some moisture entering said wetting zone as a function of changes in the measured moisture content and as a function of changes in said rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of treating fibrous materials, particularly of conditioning Burley tobacco subsequent to expulsion of nitrogen by intensive heating, comprising the steps of subjecting a stream of fibrous material to an adjustable heating action during travel through a heating zone to reduce the moisture content of said fibrous material below a predetermined optimum content; conveying the thus heated fibrous material through a cooling zone; passing through said stream in said cooling zone a cooling gas so that the latter withdraws heat from said fibrous material; measuring the temperature of said gas prior and subsequent to passage through said stream; adjusting said heating action as a function of changes in the difference between the temperatures of said gas prior and subsequent to passage through said fibrous material in said cooling zone; conveying successive increments of the thus cooled stream through a wetting zone; admitting to successive increments of said stream moisture at a variable rate while such increments travel through said wetting zone; measuring the moisture content of the thus moistened increments; and regulating the admission of at least some moisture entering said wetting zone as a function of changes in the measured moisture content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of comparing the measured moisture content with said optimum moisture content, said regulating step comprising regulating the admission of at least some of the total amount of water entering said wetting zone as a function of changes in the difference between said optimum content and said measured content.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said regulating step comprises regulating the admission of some of the total amount of fluid entering said wetting zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the steps of regulating the admission of the remainder of said total amount of fluid as a function of variations in the difference between the temperatures of said gas prior and subsequent to passage through the stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus for treating fibrous materials, particularly for conditioning Burley tobacco subsequent to expulsion of nitrogen by intensive heating, comprising transporting means for advancing a stream of fibrous material along a predetermined path; adjustable heating means adjacent to a first portion of said path for reducing the moisture content of fibrous material in said stream to below a predetermined optimum content; cooling means adjacent to a second portion of said path and arranged to convey a current of cooling gas across said stream so that the gas is heated in said second portion of said path in response to exchange of heat with said fibrous material; detector means for measuring the differential in temperature of said gas prior and subsequent to exchange of heat with said fibrous material; adjustable wetting means operative to admit moisture to successive increments of said stream in a third portion of said path; moisture detecting means arranged to meAsure the moisture content of successive increments of said stream downstream of said third portion of said path; and adjusting means for adjusting said wetting means as a function of the results of measurements by said moisture detecting means and as a function of the results of measurements by said temperature detector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said transporting means comprises channel means receiving successive increments of the moistened stream, said moisture detecting means comprising capacitor means having plate means in said channel means and said adjusting means comprising a source of high-frequency AC voltage connected with said plate means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjusting means further comprises high-frequency generator means, a high-frequency oscillating circuit coupled with said generator means and including said source and connected with said capacitor means, and vacuum tube voltmeter means receiving voltage impulses from said oscillating circuit and having an output for signals to said wetting means, said oscillating circuit further comprising means operative to effect periodic changes in the reactance of said circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said adjusting means comprises rated value setting means for producing signals indicating the optimum moisture content of said stream, and synchronizing means connected with said moisture detecting means and said rated value setting means and arranged to effect adjustments of said wetting means as a function of differences between the results of measurements by said moisture detecting means and said optimum moisture content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising an operative connection between said detector means and said heating means for adjusting the latter as a function of the results of measurements by said detector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said adjusting means comprises rated value setting means for producing signals indicating said optimum moisture content and synchronizing means receiving signals from said detector means, said setting means and said moisture detecting means and being arranged to produce an output signal for adjustment of said wetting means as a function of the results of measurements by said detector means and as a function of differences between the signals from said setting and moisture detecting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said wetting means comprises fluid admitting conduit means and valve means controlled by said adjusting means for regulating the rate of fluid admission through at least a portion of said conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said wetting means comprises additional adjustable valve means in said conduit means and further comprising means for regulating said additional valve means as a function of a variable parameter measured upstream of said third portion of said path and influencing the moisture content of increments entering the range of said wetting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for treating fibrous materials, particularly for conditioning Burley tobacco subsequent to expulsion of nitrogen by intensive heating, comprising transporting means for advancing a stream of fibrous material whose moisture content is below a predetermined optimum content along a predetermined path; adjustable wetting means operative to admit moisture to successive increments of said stream in a predetermined portion of said path; weight detecting means for measuring the rate at which said fibrous material enters said portion of said path; moisture detecting means arranged to measure the moisture content of successive increments of said stream downstream of said portion of said path; and adjusting means for adjusting said wetting means as a function of the results of measurements by said moisture detecting and said weight detecting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said transpOrting means comprises channel means receiving successive increments of the moistured stream, said moisture detecting means comprising capacitor means having plate means in said channel means and said adjusting means comprising a source of high-frequency AC voltage connected with said plate means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said adjusting means further comprises high-frequency generator means, a high-frequency oscillating circuit coupled with said generator means and including said source and connected with said capacitor means, and vacuum tabe voltmeter means receiving voltage impulses from said oscillating circuit and having an output for signals to said wetting means, said oscillating circuit further comprising means operative to effect periodic changes in the reactance of said circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjusting means comprises rated value setting means for producing signals indicating the optimum moisture content of said stream, and synchronizing means connected with said moisture detecting means and said rate value setting means and arranged to effect adjustments of said wetting means as a function of differences between the results of measurements by said moisture detecting means and said optimum moisture content.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said wetting means comprises fluid admitting conduit means and valve means controlled by said adjusting means for regulating the rate of fluid admission through at least a portion of said conduit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said wetting means comprises additional adjustable valve means in said conduit means and further comprising means for regulating said additional valve means as a function of a variable parameter measured upstream of said third portion of said path and influencing the moisture content of increments entering the range of said wetting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |