Patent US3690328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3690328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wet processing of tobacco stems
Assignee: AMF Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-20
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-04-20
Abstract
Abstract In this invention tobacco stems and/or fragments of stems, and/or portions of tobacco leaves containing stems and veins are water soaked or wet softened by water and or steam to completely soak the stems and veins and dissolve part of their soluble organic and inorganic constituents. The wet softened stems and veins are then fed to a refiner where they are mechanically opened by crushing or rolling. Thereafter, the opened stems and/or veins are fed to a drier where the moisture content is reduced to the level of the cut tobacco with which they are to be mixed.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodolfo Quarenghi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:15
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B5/00; A24B5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of processing stems separated from cut tobacco to modify their woody rigid structure, comprising the steps of: raising the moisture content of the stems to at least 80 percent by soaking said stems in room temperature water for between 30 and 60 minutes, and then steam soaking said stems, opening the stems mechanically, draining the opened stems to a moisture content of 80 percent, and drying the drained stems to the moisture content of cut tobacco.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of processing stems separated from cut tobacco to modify their woody rigid structure, comprising the steps of: raising the moisture content of the stems to at least 80 percent by soaking said stems in room temperature water for between 30 and 60 minutes, and then steam soaking said stems, opening the stems mechanically, draining the opened stems to a moisture content of 80 percent, and drying the drained stems to the moisture content of cut tobacco.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of steam soaking said stems raises the temperature of the stems to between 125* C and 130* C in less than 60 minutes after the completion of said room temperature water soak by said steam soak.
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) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |