The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 1984
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1981
Roger Z de la Burde, Powhaton, VA (US);
Francis V Utsch, Midlothian, VA (US);
Patrick E Aument, Richmond, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A process is provided for expanding tobacco by means of overwetting the tobacco to a moisture content of at least 20%, preferably from 20% to about 80%, and then overdrying the tobacco in a period of a few seconds in a turbulent steam atmosphere to a moisture content of less than 7% to achieve increased filling power. The overwetted tobacco is preferably dried to a moisture content of less than 7% within a time period of less than 5 seconds. It is preferred that the tobacco be dried to a moisture content of less than 5%, and even more preferred that it be dried to a moisture content of less than 3%. The turbulent steam drying atmosphere preferably comprises at least about 60% steam. Typically, the tobacco is bulked for from about 1/4 hour to 4 hours after it is overwetted to allow the moisture to be distributed within and absorbed by the tobacco cellular structure of substantial portions of the tobacco. Subsequent to overdrying, the tobacco is typically remoisturized to a processing moisture content of about 12%.