Apparatus for continuous preparation of tobacco

Claim 2

Apparatus for freeze drying tobacco in a continuous process comprising in combination a conveyor to transport moist tobacco downstream, means for continuously driving said conveyor to transport said tobacco at a constant rate of speed, a freezing chamber in the path of the conveyor to freeze the moist tobacco thereon, a drying chamber in the path of the conveyor downstream from the freezing chamber, and means to circulate cool dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure through the drying chamber to freeze dry the frozen tobacco.

Claim 3

Apparatus for freeze drying tobacco in a continuous process comprising in combination a conveyor to transport moist tobacco downstream, means for continuously driving said conveyor to transport said tobacco at a constant rate of speed, a freezing chamber in the path of the conveyor to freeze the moist tobacco, a first drying chamber in the path of the conveyor downstream from the freezing chamber, means to circulate cool dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure through the drying chamber to partially freeze dry the frozen tobacco, a second drying chamber in the path of the conveyor, and means to circulate warm dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure through the second drying chamber to further dry the tobacco.

Claim 4

Apparatus for freeze drying tobacco in a continuous process comprising in combination a conveyor to transport moist tobacco downstream, means for continuously driving said conveyor to transport said tobacco at a constant rate of speed, a freezing chamber in the path of the conveyor to freeze the moist tobacco, a first drying chamber in the path of the conveyor downstream from the freezing chamber, means to circulate cool dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure through the drying chamber to partially freeze dry the frozen tobacco, a second drying chamber in the path of the conveyor, and means to circulate warm dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure through the second drying chamber to further dry the tobacco.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 including a moistening chamber in the path of the conveyor and downstream from the second drying chamber to rehumidify the tobacco for handling.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for continuously driving said conveyor.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said conveyor comprises an open mesh endless conveyor belt.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4 including means spaced upstream from said freezing chamber for continuously supplying wetted tobacco to said conveyor.

Claim 9

Apparatus for freeze drying tobacco in a continuous process comprising in combination a tank for containing a body of water and continuously receiving tobacco dumped therein, an open mesh endless conveyor belt with a lower run and an upper run for transporting moist tobacco downstream, said conveyor belt having its upstream end submerged beneath the surface of the water whereby the upper run of the conveyor belt is arranged to lift floating tobacco from said tank and to carry the tobacco to said freezing chamber, means for continuously driving said conveyor, a freezing chamber in the path of the conveyor to freeze the moist tobacco thereon, a drying chamber in the path of the conveyor downstream from the freezing chamber, and means to circulate cool dry air through the drying chamber to freeze dry the frozen tobacco.

Claim 10

Apparatus for freeze drying tobacco in a continuous process comprising in combination a tank for containing a body of water and continuously receiving tobacco dumped therein, an open mesh endless conveyor belt with a lower run and an upper run for transporting moist tobacco downstream, said conveyor belt having its upstream end submerged beneath the surface of the water whereby the upper run of the conveyor belt is arranged to lift floating tobacco from said tank and to carry the tobacco to said freezing chamber, means for continuously driving said conveyor, a freezing chamber in the path of the conveyor to freeze the moist tobacco thereon, a drying chamber in the path of the conveyor downstream from the freezing chamber, and means to circulate cool dry air through the drying chamber to freeze dry the frozen tobacco.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 including a second conveyor arranged to continuously dump tobacco into said tank.

Claim 12

Apparatus for freeze drying moist tobacco by a continuous process at a constant rate of freeze drying including a means for moistening thin shreds of tobacco, a freezing chamber for freezing the moist tobacco, a freeze drying chamber, a tobacco conveying means passing through the tobacco moistening means and the freezing chamber and the freeze drying chamber in one continuous path, said freeze drying chamber being located downstream from the freezing chamber and said freezing chamber being located downstream from said tobacco moistening means, and an air cooling means for circulating within the freeze drying chamber cool dry air, said conveying means transporting the frozen tobacco into thermal communication with the cool dry air.

Claim 13

Apparatus for freeze drying moist tobacco by a continuous process at a constant rate of freeze drying including a means for moistening thin shreds of tobacco, a freezing chamber for freezing the moist tobacco, a freeze drying chamber, a tobacco conveying means passing through the tobacco moistening means and the freezing chamber and the freeze drying chamber in one continuous path, said freeze drying chamber being located downstream from the freezing chamber and said freezing chamber being located downstream from said tobacco moistening means, and an air cooling means for circulating within the freeze drying chamber cool dry air, said conveying means transporting the frozen tobacco into thermal communication with the cool dry air.

Claim 14

Apparatus for freeze drying moist tobacco by a continuous process including a freezing chamber for freezing moist thin shreds of tobacco therein, a freeze drying chamber, a tobacco conveying means passing through the freezing chamber and the freeze drying chamber along a substantially horizontal linear path, means for driving said conveying means at a constant linear speed, said freeze drying chamber being located downstream from the freezing chamber, and an air cooling means for circulating within the freeze drying chamber cool dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure thereby continuously freeze drying at a constant rate said tobacco which passes through said freeze drying chamber.

Claim 15

Apparatus for freeze drying moist tobacco by a continuous process including a freezing chamber for freezing moist thin shreds of tobacco therein, a freeze drying chamber, a tobacco conveying means passing through the freezing chamber and the freeze drying chamber along a substantially horizontal linear path, means for driving said conveying means at a constant linear speed, said freeze drying chamber being located downstream from the freezing chamber, and an air cooling means for circulating within the freeze drying chamber cool dry air at substantially atmospheric pressure thereby continuously freeze drying at a constant rate said tobacco which passes through said freeze drying chamber.