Patent US3834137A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3834137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for harvesting and treating tobacco
Assignee: Long Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-02
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for selectively priming and removing tobacco leaves from a stalk without damage and automatically transferring such leaves onto a relatively large tobacco rack in a random haphazard manner, after which a plurality of frames, each of which includes multiple tines, are attached to the rack so that the tines pierce the tobacco leaves to hold such leaves in position. Thereafter the rack is rotated to an upright position to form a substantially uninterrupted column of tobacco leaves which is placed in a curing barn so that air under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and pressure is caused to flow through the columns of tobacco leaves for curing the same.
Inventors
- 👤 W Long
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:08
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B1/00; A24B1/08; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/16; A01F; A01F25/00; A01F25/04; A01F25/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
The method of harvesting and treating tobacco leavs comprising the steps of mechanically removing leaves from a predetermined portion of the stalk of tobacco plants while the plants are in a field, conveying said leaves upwardly and rearwardly from said plants, discharging said leaves randomly into an elongated bulk tobacco rack having a side wall substantially wider than the length of mature tobacco leaves and disposed in a generally horizontal plane when the rack is in a first position, distributing said leaves substantially evenly throughout said rack with the flat surfaces of the leaves generally parallel with said side wall and the stems of said leaves being disposed in a plurality of different directions, attaching a plurality of pin frames to said rack with each of said pin frames having at least one row of spaced tines penetrating said tobacco leaves, rotating said rack substantially 90* to a second position so that the side wall of said rack and the flat surfaces of the leaves are located along generally vertical planes and the tines of said pin frames support the tobacco leaves in an uninterrupted column, moving said rack into a curing barn having means for moving air under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and pressure through the column of leaves in the rack to treat and leaves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
The method of harvesting and treating tobacco leavs comprising the steps of mechanically removing leaves from a predetermined portion of the stalk of tobacco plants while the plants are in a field, conveying said leaves upwardly and rearwardly from said plants, discharging said leaves randomly into an elongated bulk tobacco rack having a side wall substantially wider than the length of mature tobacco leaves and disposed in a generally horizontal plane when the rack is in a first position, distributing said leaves substantially evenly throughout said rack with the flat surfaces of the leaves generally parallel with said side wall and the stems of said leaves being disposed in a plurality of different directions, attaching a plurality of pin frames to said rack with each of said pin frames having at least one row of spaced tines penetrating said tobacco leaves, rotating said rack substantially 90* to a second position so that the side wall of said rack and the flat surfaces of the leaves are located along generally vertical planes and the tines of said pin frames support the tobacco leaves in an uninterrupted column, moving said rack into a curing barn having means for moving air under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and pressure through the column of leaves in the rack to treat and leaves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of automatically locking said pin frames on said rack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of supporting said pin frames intermediate their ends after said pin frames are attached to said rack.
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) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |