EP0774213B1 - Method and device for the processing of tobacco leaves for the manufacturing of tobacco cut filler - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves veins and leaf material being separated for conditioning, cutting and drying. The veins and the leaf material are then mixed for conditioning and drying together. The tobacco veins before or after the cutting and-or the leaf material, after conditioning are provided with a casing. The veins before cutting are conditioned at a humidity of approximately 24%. The conditioned veins before cutting are stored for at least 1.5 hours, approximately 2 hours, in a closed casing. The veins are cut with a cut width of approximately 0.2 mm. The cut veins are expanded.

Description

The invention relates to a method for treating tobacco leaves for the manufacture cut tobacco for smokable articles according to claim 1 and a plant for the treatment of tobacco leaves for the production cut tobacco for smokable articles according to claim 9.

Tobacco leaves, from which smokable items, especially cigarettes and fine cut for The self-made cigarettes are made from sheet material and Ribs that have a very different consistency on the one hand and very different ones on the other Have taste properties and therefore both the technique of tobacco preparation as well as the taste impression of the respective smokable article very much strongly, but influence differently.

About the treatment of ribs and the flavors caused by the ribs To escape related problems, it is quite common for the ribs separate from the leaf material for the manufacture of cigarettes only the leaf material to use. Because of the proportion of the ribs in the total weight of the tobacco leaves however, up to about 30% by weight, this process is very expensive Waste of the valuable raw material "tobacco leaf".

It has therefore already been attempted to use whole, tobacco leaves with Shear-reducing processes to a flowable mixture of sheet material particles and rib particles to process directly for the production of Cigarettes can be used. This is described, for example, in DE-40 29 566 A1 However, the method has not yet been implemented in practice because of the taste properties did not meet expectations.

A mixed solution emerges from DE 40 29 567 A1, in which whole leaves in one shearing process using a shear force to form a mixture of sheet material particles and processing substantially intact rib pieces; the ribs must then be separated, with the leaf material particles directly can be fed to the manufacture of cigarettes. An implementation of this procedure is also not in practice because of the unresolved taste problem he follows.

Another method is known from GB 2,026,298 A, in which tobacco leaves are closed Particles are crushed, which are suitable for the production of cigarettes. Through a Air separation processes convert the leaf particles into a heavier fraction containing ribs and separated a lighter, rib-free sheet material fraction, the heavier Fraction is threshed to separate the leaf material from the ribs. The separated sheet material and the lighter fraction originally obtained are mixed to be fed into the manufacture of cigarettes. This method is very expensive, which also applies to the similar process according to US-A 4,696,312.

It is therefore still common practice to have the tobacco leaves in ribs on the one hand and Leaf material on the other hand to dismantle what is usually already shortly after the harvest in Country of origin. Ribs and sheet material are packed separately and transported to the place of use, where the so-called "tobacco preparation" takes place. With this tobacco preparation, the ribs on the one hand and the leaf material on the other treated separately from each other, namely conditioned, i.e. a moisture and Subjected to heat treatment, cut and dried until finally mixed and then together with the further processing, usually the application of flavor materials, be subjected.

The basic principles of this process, through which both fine cut and cigarettes can be produced are published in the book "Tobacco Encyclopedia" by Ernst Voges, 1984, in the article "Cigarette Manufacture I and II", in particular under the heading "The Production of Cut Tobacco" Cut tobacco).

A disadvantage of this generally customary method is that ribs on the one hand and sheet material on the other hand in tobacco preparation on two completely separate ones Processing lines must be driven, the so-called "rib line" and the so-called "sheet line", the respective conditioning devices, cutting devices, Sauceing devices for the application of casing, heating devices and dryers contain. On the rib line is also in front of the for the purpose of rolling out the ribs Cutting process required a rolling mill to the "CRS", ie the rolled and cut rib pieces to produce, which are then immediately in front of the flavor drum be added to the sheet material.

Both the investment costs for these two separate lines and the operating costs for the operation of these two lines are high.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a method and a system for Treatment of tobacco leaves for the manufacture of cut tobacco for smokable articles to create the specified genera, in which the disadvantages mentioned above are not occur.

In particular, a method and an installation are to be proposed which are simple and therefore both in terms of investment costs and in terms of Operating costs allow inexpensive way to produce cut tobacco processed into cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or into fine cuts can.

Appropriate embodiments are defined by the respective subclaims.

The advantages achieved with the invention are based on the fact that only a relatively small one Part of the previously used "rib line" must be used, namely a short rib line with a conditioner and a rib cutter while on the rolling mill, the humidification and heating devices and the dryer for the ribs can be dispensed with. The savings made possible both Investments as well as operating costs, especially for the staff, are considerable.

In addition, the measures claimed enable a more homogeneous mixing of Leaf and rib material, so that a very uniform taste impression is created.

Furthermore, there is a higher raw tobacco yield because of the severe shortening the rib line there is much less dust, i.e. the valuable raw material "Tobacco leaf" is used much more effectively. Also contributes to that on the short Ribbed line no dryer is required, which is known for tobacco degradation contributes.

At the same time, this is associated with a further cost saving, since it is usually Winnowing and dust collected, processed and then again tobacco preparation are fed. Because of the extremely low winnowing and dust accumulation on the short rib line is eliminated.

The tobacco ribs and / or the leaf material are usually provided with a casing. Although the corresponding sauce device is in principle at any suitable point in the Tobacco preparation can be arranged and both the ribs as well Sheet material can be loaded with casing, it has proven to be particularly useful emphasized if only the sheet material is provided with the casing. The Casing is preferably applied after sheet conditioning by means of a sauce device.

It has proven to be useful if the ribs on a before cutting Moisture from about 22% to about 26%, in particular from about 24%, are conditioned. The specified values for moisture are% by weight on a wet basis. The Moisture determination method is oven drying, 3 hours at 80 ° C.

The invention Moisture values in comparison with a rib moisture of about 30%, as mentioned in the "Tobacco Encyclopedia", a significant improvement because on the one hand the relatively high moistening is problematic and on the other hand this one required, low humidification also reduces the effort of subsequent drying. In addition, you can only stand the slightly dampened ribs longer can be changed without noticeably changing their properties, while the storage time of Ribs with a moisture content of around 30% is severely restricted.

It has proven to be useful if the conditioned ribs before Pre-cutting covered for at least 1.5 hours, especially about 2 hours, i.e. in a closed wrapping should be stored to ensure even moisture guarantee.

The ribs can also be provided with a casing. This can either before the rib conditioning or after leaving the cutter using a sauce device respectively.

The ribs are especially cut with a cutting width of about 0.1 to about 0.3 mm of about 0.2 mm.

If possible - in modern cigarettes there are increasing expansions for cost reasons Used tobacco, which take up a larger volume per unit of weight - the ribs should be expanded. This is conveniently done after cutting the ribs, whereby an expansion device can be used, such as is known from German Patent No. 37 10 677.

While the short rib line according to the invention for both cigarettes and Fine-cut works essentially with the same values when conditioning of the leaf material between fine cut and cigarettes. So For the production of cigarettes, the leaf material is heated to a moisture content of around 17 conditioned to about 25%, especially 17.5%, while for manufacturing of fine cut the leaf material to a moisture of about 23 to about 25%, in particular of about 24% is conditioned.

Also when cutting the sheet material again there must be a fine cut and the production of cigarettes. In the preparation of The leaf material of cigarettes must have a cutting width of about 0.5 to 2 mm, in particular of about 0.85 mm, can be cut while for the production of Fine cut the cutting width in the range from about 0.35 mm to about 0.5 mm, in particular should be around 0.45 mm.

The mixing ratio between cut sheet material and cut ribs can depend on the requirements of the smokable item to be manufactured can be varied. For example, cheaper product variants will become higher ones Add rib portion. The rib portion is usually used for branded cigarettes of 30%, based on the total mass, not exceeded, in particular it lies in the Range from about 5% to 25%.

After cutting, the ribs and sheet material are mixed, conditioned, that is warmed and moistened, preferably in a so-called preheating drum with water and water vapor works to a humidity in the range of about 18 to 39%, in particular from about 19.5 to about 24%, preferably about 22.5%.

The mixture is then dried, advantageously in a hot air dryer, which brings the moisture of the mixture to about 14%.

Then the usual further processing of the material takes place depending on the Purpose, i.e. cigarette or fine-cut manufacture.

Fig. 1

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Anlage zur Herstellung von Schnittabak für Cigaretten, und

Fig. 2

eine etwas modifizierte Ausführungsform der Anlage nach Fig. 1.

The invention is explained below by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a plant for the production of cut tobacco for cigarettes, and

Fig. 2

a somewhat modified embodiment of the system of FIG. 1st

1 processes ribs on the one hand and sheet material on the other hand, those in a preliminary stage, not shown, often in the country of origin of the tobacco leaves, have been separated from each other and now the rib line on the one hand and the leaf line on the other hand be fed to this plant. The optional units are included indicated by dotted rectangles.

The ribs go into a sauce device in which they are cased, and then into a steam tunnel serving as a conditioning device, which is filled with water as well as water vapor works so that the ribs conditioning with a moisture left by about 24%.

The conditioned ribs are stored covered for about 2 hours and then one Rib feeder fed. The preferred cutting width is 0.2 mm.

If necessary, the sliced rib particles are again coated with a casing provided, usually only one of the two sauce devices is required.

Then the conditioned, cut and cased ribs mixed with leaf cut that has run through its own leaf line.

This sheet line has a conditioning device formed by a steam drum on, in the leaf material for cigarette manufacture a moisture of about 17.5% and Sheet material for the fine cut production a moisture of about 24%.

Behind the conditioning device is a sauce device for the conditioned Sheet material are provided, which is a mixing container for the sheet material (sheet mixing box) is connected downstream.

The conditioned sheet material passes from the sheet mixing container to a sheet cutter, that for the production of cigarettes with a cutting width of about 0.85 mm and for the production of fine cuts to a cutting width of about 0.45 mm is set. The moisture of the leaf material changes practically in the leaf cutter Not.

The cut sheet material and the cut are placed behind the sheet cutter Ribs mixed together, the proportion of ribs in the mixture at about 14% ribs, based on the total mixture.

The mixture of sheet material and ribs goes into a preheating drum, where it is moistened with water and steam and heated so that it is the preheating drum leaves with a humidity of about 22%.

This mixture is then dried in a hot air dryer, from which it is mixed a moisture of about 14% and then the further steps of tobacco preparation is supplied, for example a cooling and screening drum and a flavor drum.

The modified embodiment according to FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment 1 only in that the conditioned, rolled and cut Ribs are still subjected to an expansion process, such as from German Patent No. 37 10 677 is known. From the expanding device the expanded rib pieces become a separator that is used for expansion separates used fluid, transported. For this purpose, the separator can, for example European Patent No. 0 301 217 can be used. Then these cut and expanded ribs mixed with the cut sheet material, so that the following processing steps described above the sheet material and the expanded ribs are subjected together.

Claims (11)

1. A method of treating tobacco leaves for the production of cut tobacco for smokable articles, wherein:

   a) the stems separated from the tobacco leaves are conditioned and cut to a cutting width of 0.1 to 0.3 mm, in particular 0.2 mm;

   b) the lamina material of the tobacco leaves is conditioned and cut;

   c) the tobacco stems prior to or after cutting and/or the lamina material, in particular after conditioning, are provided with casing;

   d) the non-rolled, cut stems and the cut tobacco material are blended; and

   e) the stems and the lamina material are then jointly conditioned and dried.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stems are conditioned prior to cutting to a moisture content of 22 to approximately 26 %, in particular 24 %.
3. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the conditioned stems, prior to cutting, are stored for at least 1.5 hours, in particular 2 hours, in particular in a closed environment.
4. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cut stems are expanded.
5. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein for cigarette production the lamina material is conditioned to a moisture content of 17 to 25 %, in particular 17.5 %, or for fine-cut production the lamina material is conditioned to a moisture content of 23 to 25 %, in particular 24 %.
6. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a maximum of 30 % pre-cut stems, in particular 5 to 25 % pre-cut stems, relative to the quantity as a whole, are added to the lamina material.
7. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein for cigarette production the lamina material is cut to a cutting width of 0.5 to 2 mm, in particular 0.85 mm, or for fine-cut production the lamina material is cut to a cutting width of 0.35 mm to 0.5 mm, in particular 0.45 mm.
8. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the blend of lamina material and stems is conditioned to a moisture content of 18 % to 39 %, in particular of 19.5 % to 24 %, preferably 22 %, and then dried to a moisture content of 13 to 16 %, in particular 14 %.
9. A plant for the treatment of tobacco leaves for the production of cut tobacco for smokable articles, comprising:

   a) a conditioning means and a cutting means for the stems of the tobacco leaves separated from the lamina material, wherein the cutting means is suitable for cutting the stems to a cutting width of 0.1 to 0.3 mm;

   b) a conditioning means and a cutting means for the lamina material of the tobacco leaves;

   c) a saucing means for casing the stems, said saucing means being connected upstream of the conditioning means for the stems or downstream of the stem cutting means, and/or a saucing means for casing the lamina material, said saucing means being disposed between the conditioning means for the lamina material and the lamina cutting means;

   d) a blending means for blending the non-rolled, cut stems and the cut lamina material;

   e) a conditioning means for the blend of conditioned, non-rolled, cur stems and conditioned, cut lamina material; and

   f) at least one drier for the blend of lamina material and stems.
10. The plant as set forth in claim 9, comprising a preheating means, in particular a preheating drum, for the blend of lamina material and stems, said preheating means being connected downstream of a drier, in particular a hot air drier.
11. The plant as set forth in any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein an expansion device is provided for the cut stems, said expansion device being connected downstream of a separator for the air used in expansion.

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