US3785384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating tobacco
Assignee: Carreras Rothmans Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-11-08
•
Granted: 1974-01-15
•
Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of treating tobacco to cause its cellular structure to expand and/or to cause the fibres to move apart from one another which includes passing it through a high frequency field on a conveyor and beneath an overlying static sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 H Sylvester
- 👤 C Partridge
- 👤 I Goss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:54
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/18; A24B3/182; A24B3/187; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
Tobacco treatment apparatus for treating tobacco in a manner to cause its cellular structure to expand and/or to cause fibres thereof to move apart from one another, said apparatus comprising charged spaced apart electrode means for producing a high frequency electric field, a conveyor for passing the tobacco between said electrode means and through said field, means for delivering a layer of tobacco onto said conveyor, electrically static sheet means overlying said conveyor in spaced relation thereto and in said high frequency electric field, and mounting means mounting said static sheet for floatingly contacting a layer of tobacco disposed on said conveyor and passing through said field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
Tobacco treatment apparatus for treating tobacco in a manner to cause its cellular structure to expand and/or to cause fibres thereof to move apart from one another, said apparatus comprising charged spaced apart electrode means for producing a high frequency electric field, a conveyor for passing the tobacco between said electrode means and through said field, means for delivering a layer of tobacco onto said conveyor, electrically static sheet means overlying said conveyor in spaced relation thereto and in said high frequency electric field, and mounting means mounting said static sheet for floatingly contacting a layer of tobacco disposed on said conveyor and passing through said field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said static sheet means is impervious.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said static sheet means is made from glass fibre coated with silicon-rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said static sheet means is pervious.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said static sheet means is made from a woven glass fibre material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 together with means for compressing the tobacco on said conveyor to provide a tobacco layer of constant thickness prior to entry of said tobacco into said high frequency field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said compressing means is provided by a roller extending transversely across said conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said roller operates at a speed in excess of the speed of the conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 together with a cooling unit for cooling the tobacco after the tobacco passes through the high frequency field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said cooling unit includes means for passing air through the tobacco layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said cooling unit includes said conveyor being of an open mesh construction and a fan for blowing ambient air through said conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which a rotary brush means are provided for cleaning that surface of said conveyor which passes through said cooling unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein means for delivering a layer of tobacco onto said conveyor includes a metering duct from one end of which tobacco is delivered in a uniform layer onto said conveyor, and means for maintaining a uniform head of tobacco in said duct.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said means for maintaining a uniform head of tobacco in said duct comprises said duct having walls, feed means for feeding tobacco to said duct, and light sensitive cell means carried by at least one of said duct walls in an arrangement spaced in the direction of tobacco travel through said duct for controlling the operation of said feed means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which at least certain of said duct walls are transparent and light producing means are provided for directing light through said transparent duct walls onto said light sensitive cells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said device for feeding tobacco to the duct has a variable speed drive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said high frequency electric field is provided by a plurality of said electrodes disposed on each side of said conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a rotary brush means are provided for cleaning that surface of said conveyor which passes through said high frequency field.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means anchors said static sheet means at one end only.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |