Abstract Tobacco is shredded or strip form is turgor conditioned prior to sublimation drying to produce tobacco of high specific volume with minimal alteration of the chemical characteristics and intercellular structure of the tobacco by establishing a high vacuum around the tobacco to remove rapidly air and water vapor from within the cells and intercellular spaces of the tobacco, supplying liquid water to the evacuated tobacco and raising the ambient pressure to drive the water into the cells and intercellular spaces of the tobacco. Apparatus for carrying out the method includes sealable containers for tobacco, means for evacuating the container, means for introducing water into the evacuated containers and means for pressurizing the container to or above atmospheric pressure. The containers are disposed an a conveyor and brought into sealing engagement with a closure member which is connected to the evacuating means and the water and pressure supply. The actuation of the various means in the sealing means is brought about by a sequence timer in the system.
Apparatus for the rapid turgor conditioning of cured tobacco comprising a plurality of sealable containers for shredded tobacco, a closure member for said containers including connections to evacuation means, to liquid water supply means and to pressurizing means, conveyor means for moving said cOntainers into sealing engagement with said closure member, and sequencing timer means for successively actuating the connections of said closure member when in sealing engagement with a container to said evacuation means, said liquid water supply means and said pressurizing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for the rapid turgor conditioning of cured tobacco comprising a plurality of sealable containers for shredded tobacco, a closure member for said containers including connections to evacuation means, to liquid water supply means and to pressurizing means, conveyor means for moving said cOntainers into sealing engagement with said closure member, and sequencing timer means for successively actuating the connections of said closure member when in sealing engagement with a container to said evacuation means, said liquid water supply means and said pressurizing means.