US5143095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cutting tobacco
Assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
•
Filing: 1990-03-16
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Granted: 1992-09-01
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Expires: 2010-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A method of converting particles of tobacco leaves, particularly bales or portions of bales of compacted tobacco leaf laminae, into cut tobacco involves admitting portions of and/or entire bales into a tobacco cutter while the temperature of compacted particles matches or exceeds the room temperature of 18 DEG -25 DEG C. and the moisture content of the particles is between 10 and 17 percent.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Lasch
- 👤 Klaus-Georg Hackmack
- 👤 Reinhard Liebe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:47
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B3/00; A24B3/02; A24B7/00; A24B7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of comminuting tobacco leaves and/or ribs which are condensed into bales or portions of bales, comprising successive steps of (a) imparting to tobacco a moisture content of 10-17 percent and a temperature of at least 18°-25° C.; and (b) introducing the tobacco into a cutter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of comminuting tobacco leaves and/or ribs which are condensed into bales or portions of bales, comprising successive steps of (a) imparting to tobacco a moisture content of 10-17 percent and a temperature of at least 18°-25° C.; and (b) introducing the tobacco into a cutter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) includes imparting to tobacco a moisture content of 11-16 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step (a) includes compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales, and said step (b) includes introducing the bales or portions of bales into the cutter without moisturizing and/or heating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) includes compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales and heating the bales or portions of bales to a temperature of at least 30° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said step (a) further comprises loosening the bales or portions of bales immediately following heating to at least 30° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) includes heating tobacco to a temperature of at least 40° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales and heating the bales or portions of bales to at least 30° C. including subjecting the bales or portions of bales to the action of microwaves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales and heating the bales or portions of bales to at least 30° C. including subjecting the bales or portions of bales to the action of at least one electric high frequency field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises heating and simultaneously moisturizing the tobacco.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step (a) comprises compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales, said heating and moisturizing including introducing steam into the bales and portions of bales and reducing the pressure around the bales and portions of bales below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said steam introducing step includes driving a hollow mandrel into the bales or portions of bales and admitting steam by way of the hollow mandrel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises compacting tobacco into bales or portions of bales and heating the bales or portions of bales to a temperature of 30°-60° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said temperature is between 40° and 50° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said temperature is approximately 40° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step (a) comprises imparting to the bales or portions of bales a moisture content of 13-16 percent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the moisture content of bales or portions of bales is approximately 14 percent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step (b) comprises introducing the bales or portions of bales into a cutter while the temperature and the moisture content of tobacco at least approximate the temperature and the moisture content upon completion of said step (a).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said step (a) further comprises loosening the bales or portions of bales following said heating and moisturizing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said step (b) comprises introducing loosened tobacco into a cutter without appreciable changes of temperature and moisture content of tobacco.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said step (a) further comprises raising the temperature and moisture content of loosened tobacco.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said raising the temperature and moisture content of loosened tobacco includes contacting loosened tobacco with steam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moisturizing cut tobacco which issues from the cutter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said moisturizing step immediately follows said step (b).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said moisturizing step includes raising the moisture content of shreds to a value which is necessary for the processing of cut tobacco into smokers' products.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said moisturizing step includes raising the moisture content of cut tobacco to a value above that which is necessary for the processing of cut tobacco into smokers' products, and further comprising the step of reducing the moisture content of moisturized cut tobacco.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said moisturizing step includes contacting the cut tobacco with steam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of agitating the cut tobacco in the course of said moisturizing step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said agitating step includes conveying the cut tobacco through a vibrating channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said moisturizing step includes conveying the cut tobacco through a rotating drum.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of 1, further comprising the step of contacting the cut tobacco with at least one flavoring agent.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of 1, further comprising the step of contacting the cut tobacco with at least one flavoring agent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30, wherein said at least one flavoring agent is sauce.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of blending different types of cut tobacco.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said blending step comprises mixing cut tobacco leaf laminae with cut tobacco ribs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said blending step comprises blending different types of cut tobacco leaf laminae with cut tobacco ribs.
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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) | 1995-09-01 | 1996-03-02 | 1996-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-03-02 | 2000-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-01 | 2004-03-02 | 2004-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |