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:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
May. 27, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Ashok Kumar, Richmond, VA (US);
Joao Gomes, Midlothian, VA (US);
Assignee:
Philip Morris Incorporated, Richmond, VA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A24B 3/14 ; A24B 1/512 ; F26B 3/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A24B 3/14 ; A24B 1/512 ; F26B 3/00 ;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for drying reconstituted tobacco sheets includes positioning a steam box below an endless conveyor belt. A slurry is cast onto the conveyor belt and conveyed over a steam box before entry into a drying apparatus. The steam box functions to pre-treat the slurry so as to increase the rate by which the slurry may be dried. The steam box includes the use of a perforated plate which encloses an upper portion of the steam box and which functions to uniformly distribute steam to the underside of the conveyor belt.