Patent US3932946A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3932946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular tobacco handling and curing system and method
Assignee: Research Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-18
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1993-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A tobacco handling and curing system and method is provided and in one aspect includes a curing container of generally rectangular solid configuration of which four side walls are generally imperforate and a pair of opposed side walls are perforate for the passage of curing gas therethrough. Such container may include one or more perforate interior transverse walls parallel to the opposed walls; adjustable edge baffles for the perforate side walls; and means carried by a pair of imperforate side walls to assist in handling the container. In another aspect of the present invention, novel curing mechanism is provided to receive a plurality of the containers and to direct gas therethrough at predeterminable temperature, humidity and volume.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:31
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B1/00; A24B1/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S432/00; Y10S432/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A curing or drying container for tobacco in intact or cut strip for use in a multiple container curing station, said container being of generally rectangular solid configuration comprising two pairs of opposed generally imperforate side walls forming gas flow directing means and the side walls of a curing station and a pair of opposed gas permeable perforate side walls for the passage of curing or drying gas therethrough, at least one immovable interior transverse perforate wall parallel to the opposed perforate walls, and means releasably securing one of the opposed imperforate walls to the others to thereby form an access opening for the container said two pairs of opposed imperforate side walls are heat insulating and wherein said pair of perforate side walls and said interior transverse wall are provided with peripheral baffles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A curing or drying container for tobacco in intact or cut strip for use in a multiple container curing station, said container being of generally rectangular solid configuration comprising two pairs of opposed generally imperforate side walls forming gas flow directing means and the side walls of a curing station and a pair of opposed gas permeable perforate side walls for the passage of curing or drying gas therethrough, at least one immovable interior transverse perforate wall parallel to the opposed perforate walls, and means releasably securing one of the opposed imperforate walls to the others to thereby form an access opening for the container said two pairs of opposed imperforate side walls are heat insulating and wherein said pair of perforate side walls and said interior transverse wall are provided with peripheral baffles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said two pairs of opposed imperforate side walls and the pair of opposed gas permeable side walls form a cube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the insulating walls comprise a pair of spaced panels with insulating material therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the are a pair of spaced parallel interior transverse perforate walls dividing the interior of the container into three compartments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the interior compartments are of uniform volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including materials handling means projecting from one pair of the opposed pairs of imperforate side walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said materials handling means comprise lifting lugs mounted substantially at the center of gravity of said side walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are slidably mounted to peripheral walls of said side walls and interior wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the permeable walls comprise screen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the permeable walls comprise spaced rod members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1216442A
Cited
US2035838A
Cited
US2109409A
Cited
US3337967A
Cited
US3399680A
Cited
US3855451A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |