Patent US5238228A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4195647A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4195647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for increasing the volume of tobacco or the like
Assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
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Filing: 1978-08-24
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Granted: 1980-04-01
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Expires: 1998-08-24
Abstract
Abstract Shreds of tobacco are conveyed across a rising stream of saturated steam and in a shower of hot water droplets so that the temperature and moisture content of shreds increase to a value at which the shreds are pliable. The shreds are thereupon introduced into a drying unit wherein they rise and fall while moving across a rising stream containing a mixture of superheated water vapors and hot air to be alternately subjected to more and less pronounced drying action which causes pronounced crimping of the shreds. The dried shreds are immediately cooled to room temperature prior to admission into the magazine of a cigarette maker.
Inventors
- 👤 Waldemar Wochnowski
- 👤 Willi Thiele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:28
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/902; Y10S131/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of increasing the filling capacity of fibers which consist of smokable material, particularly tobacco, prior to confinement of fibers in containers, such as wrappers of cigarettes, comprising the steps of raising the moisture content of and simultaneously heating the fibers to thus increase the pliability of fibers; and thereupon drying the fibers including alternately expelling from the fibers moisture at a higher and lower rate per unit of time in rapid sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of increasing the filling capacity of fibers which consist of smokable material, particularly tobacco, prior to confinement of fibers in containers, such as wrappers of cigarettes, comprising the steps of raising the moisture content of and simultaneously heating the fibers to thus increase the pliability of fibers; and thereupon drying the fibers including alternately expelling from the fibers moisture at a higher and lower rate per unit of time in rapid sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of raising the moisture content includes abruptly raising the moisture content of fibers by at least 25 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said drying step comprises alternately expelling moisture at a first rate which exceeds zero and at a second rate which at least approximates zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said drying step comprises alternately expelling moisture from and slightly wetting the fibers, the amount of moisture which is added in the course of wetting being less than the amount of moisture which is withdrawn from fibers during expulsion of moisture so that the moisture content of fibers upon completion of said drying step is less than prior to said drying step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of raising the moisture content and heating comprises contacting the fibers with flowing steam and with droplets of hot water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said steam is saturated steam and the temperature of said water droplets is between 50° and 90° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of agitating the fibers during contact with steam and water droplets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said drying step comprises contacting the fibers with a fluid stream including a mixture of a hot gas and superheated water vapors, said stream having first and second portions wherein the drying effect of said mixture is respectively more pronounced and less pronounced and said drying step further comprising alternately contacting the fibers in rapid sequence with said first and second portions of said stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said gas is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the starting temperature of said stream is between 150° and 210° C. and the initial moisture content of said stream is between 200 and 400 grams of water per kilogram of dry gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the drying effect of said second portion of said mixture at least approximates zero.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the drying effect of said second portion of said mixture is slightly negative so that the fibers receive moisture from said second portion of said mixture, the drying effect in said first portion of said mixture being more pronounced than the negative drying effect in said second portion so that the overall moisture content of fibers upon completion of said drying step is less than prior to said drying step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein said drying step further comprises conveying said stream upwardly, said second portion of said stream being located at a level above said first portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the drying effect of said mixture in said second portion of said stream approximates zero.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the drying effect of said mixture in said second portion of said stream is negative so that the fibers are wetted in said second portion, the drying effect in said first portion being more pronounced than the wetting of fibers in said second portion so that the moisture content of fibers upon completion of said drying step is less than prior to said drying step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of imparting to the fibers mechanical impulses in the course of said drying step to thereby move the fibers between said portions of said stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of conveying said stream in a predetermined direction at a periodically varying speed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the steps of conveying said stream in a predetermined direction, increasing the cross-sectional area of said stream, as considered in said direction, and conveying the fibers across said stream whereby the fibers alternately rise and fall in rapid sequence during movement across said stream as a result of divergence of the stream in said direction, said second portion of said stream being located at a level above said first portion so that the fibers are subjected to less pronounced drying action while they rise and to more pronounced drying action as they fall in said stream.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the fibers subsequent to completion of said drying step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said cooling step comprises contacting the fibers with cold air.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said cooling step comprises establishing a turbulent layer of a cold gas and conveying the dried fibers through said layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for increasing the filling capacity of fibers which consist of smokable material, particularly tobacco, prior to confinement of fibers in containers, such as wrappers of cigarettes, comprising a conditioning unit including means for raising the moisture content of and for simultaneously heating the fibers to thus increase the pliability of fibers; and a drying unit including means for alternately expelling from the heated and moisturized fibers moisture at a higher and lower rate per unit of time in rapid sequence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for increasing the filling capacity of fibers which consist of smokable material, particularly tobacco, prior to confinement of fibers in containers, such as wrappers of cigarettes, comprising a conditioning unit including means for raising the moisture content of and for simultaneously heating the fibers to thus increase the pliability of fibers; and a drying unit including means for alternately expelling from the heated and moisturized fibers moisture at a higher and lower rate per unit of time in rapid sequence.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said expelling means includes means for alternately expelling moisture at a rate which exceeds and at a rate which at least approximates zero.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said expelling means includes means for alternately expelling moisture at a rate which greatly exceeds zero and at a negative rate which involves a slight increase of moisture content of the fibers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said means for raising the moisture content of and for simultaneously heating the fibers comprises a source of hot water, means for conveying hot water from said source and for sprinkling droplets of hot water onto the fibers, a source of stream, and means for conveying steam from said last mentioned source into intimate contact with the fibers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said last mentioned source contains a supply of saturated steam and said first mentioned source includes means for maintaining the water at a temperature of between 50° and 90° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said conditioning unit further comprises means for transporting the fibers along a predetermined path and means for converting the conveyed steam into a turbulent body in said path.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said expelling means includes a source of a mixture of a hot gas and superheated water vapors, and means for conveying at least one stream of said mixture from said source into intimate contact with heated and moisturized fibers, said stream including first and second portions respectively having a more and less pronounced moisture expelling effect upon said fibers, said expelling means further comprising means for transporting the fibers across one of said portions and for intermittently propelling the fibers from said one portion into the other of said portions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said source includes means for maintaining said mixture therein at a temperature of 150°-210° C. and at a moisture content of between 200 and 400 grams water per kilogram of dry gas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said less pronounced moisture expelling effect at least approximates zero.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said less pronounced moisture expelling effect is a negative effect which entails slight wetting of the fibers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said transporting means comprises a vibratory foraminous conveyor having an upper side, said first portion of said stream being adjacent to said upper side and forming a turbulent layer and said second portion being disposed at a level above said first portion, the velocity of said stream being such that the fibers on said conveyor are caused to alternately rise into said second portion and fall into said first portion of said stream.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the moisture expelling effect of said second portion of said stream at least approximates zero.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the moisture expelling effect of said second portion of said stream is a negative effect which entails slight wetting of fibers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising means for periodically varying the speed of said stream.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a third unit including means for cooling the fibers issuing from said drying unit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said cooling means comprises a source of gaseous coolant, means for transporting dried fibers along a predetermined path, and means for conveying a stream of gaseous coolant from said source and across said path.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 37, further comprising means for reducing the speed of said coolant during travel across said path so that the coolant forms a turbulent layer for said fibers.
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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) | 1983-04-01 | 1983-10-01 | 1984-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-01 | 1987-10-01 | 1988-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-01 | 1991-10-01 | 1992-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |