US2121370A - Apparatus for treating tobacco - Google Patents

Description

Jun 21, 1938. R. D. .TOUTON APPARATUS FOR TBEATING TOBACCO Original Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www June 21, 193s. R, D, TOUTCN 2,121,370

APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO Original Filed Feb 15, 1953 2 SheecS-Sheef. 2

l mi@ 7770 fyS.

`Patented WJune 21, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO Rush D. Tonton, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by

`mesne assignments, to Wurton Machine Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pa., a corporation of Original application January 6, 1931, Serial No. 506,886, which in turn is a division of Serial No. 428,022, February 13, 1930.

Divided and this application October l2, 1933, Serial No.

19 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating tobacco and more particularly for conditioning tobacco in connection with the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes, etc.

As is well known tobacco is harvested, formed into hands or bunches, air dried and baled for convenience in shipment and storage. The baled tobacco as received by manufacturers, for example, of cigars, is in a dry and brittle condition, in which it cannot be fabricated. The dry tobacco has been heretofore generally conditioned for fabrication by dipping it into water, permitting the water to be absorbed by the tobacco and then fabricating the tobacco while in a moist state, under atmospheric conditions such that the major part of the moisture derived from the con- {ditioning is retained.

In the conditioning of tobacco, it is desirable that the tobacco be given the optimum moisture content, since its workability and subsequent avor depends largely upon avoidance of a deficiency or excess of moisture. However, tobacco isknown to be of hygroscopic nature, though dierent types will vary in hygroscopicity, hence it is necessary for optimum `results to carefully control the conditioning of tobacco and the atmospheric conditions under which it is fabricated.

The methods heretofore used for conditioning tobacco, and especially the method generally used and involving dipping of the tobacco in water, are substantially unsatisfactory, since they do not operate to provide the tobacco with the optimum moisture content, are diicult to control, and deleteriously affect the tobacco in connection with its flavor, color, etc.

Now,it is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus by which tobacco may be conditioned with accuracy and assurance so that lower than that obtaining in the Work room where the tobacco is fabricated. Further, in accordance with my invention motion is imparted' to the tobacco in its conditioning. Desirably the tobacco is conditioned in air substantially satu- (cl. .Tsi-55) rated with moisture at the temperature obtaining and is fabricated in air containing moisture substantially below the saturation point at the temperature obtaining, which is higher than that of the conditioning atmosphere.

In accordance with this invention motion is desirably imparted to the tobacco and humid air is circulated about the tobacco. The tobacco may be continuously or intermittently moved and subjected to streams of humid air during the conditioning period. When, as is desirable, the tobacco is in the form of hands during the conditioning the hands are opened up either manually, or as a result of the movement imparted to the tobacco, or by air circulation, or currents, or as a result of the combined eifect of movement and air circulation or currents.

In carrying the method embodying this invention into practice there is desirably maintained a differential between the temperature of the conditioning room and that of the work room of within about the range 0.5 F.25 F. In the conditioning room the air will desirably contain moisture within about the range 90%-100% relative humidity and the temperature will desirably be within about the range 40 F.80 F. The

desired relative humidity in the conditioning room will be maintained through the admission theretov of suitably conditioned humid air. The Work room will desirably be maintained at a temperature within about the range lit-85 F., depending upon the temperature obtaining in the conditioning room, and the air will desirably carry moisture within about 'the range 50%- relative humidity. s

As illustrative of the practical adaptation of the method embodying this invention, for example, tobacco in hands ismoved continuously or intermittently, the hands being opened up, in a closed room, the air in which is maintained at a temperature of about `65" F. and contains moisture to about its saturation point at the temperavture obtaining. The moisture content of the room is maintained by introducing suitably conditioned air; i. e. air at suitable temperature and relative humidity, the air being introduced, as by a blower, so as to cause circulation about the tobacco, or the air may be introduced in streams adjacent the tobacco and through which the tobacco passes in `its movement. The air introduced will maintain the air in the conditioning room in motion as will the movement of the tobacco. The conditions of moisture and temperature in the conditioning room may be maintained by providing, in addition to the introducwater over a wall, or walls, oithe room, which may be of porous material, and byproviding a heatingmeans, as a steam radiator,.if necessary. The conditioning of the tobacco under the conditions outlined above, depending upon the type y ot tobacco treated, will require from about 4 hours to about 48 hours, though it will be appreciated that under variation of the conditions,

which it will be understood we contemplate as dition under the conditions outlined above, that is, has absorbed 'the requisite amount of moisture, it is fabricated in a work room in which the air is Aat a temperature of about 7 0" F. and, has a moisture content of about 70% relative humidity, at the temperature obtaining.

1 embodiment of the apparatus embodying my in- 'I'he practical adaptation of the method embodying'my invention will appear in greater detail from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a preferred vention.

In the drawings: e Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for conditioning tobacco embodying my invention';

Figure 2-is a side elevation showing details of construction of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the subject `oi? Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing tobacco carrying means;

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing means for automatically terminating the conditioning treatment.

In the' drawings, Figure 1, A indicates a closed room provided with a door B, adjacent to which is positioned air conditioning apparatus as a humidifier or dehumidiiler C, and within which is positioned apparatus D embodying my invention.

In the severalilgures e, e indicateA a pair of suitably mounted shafts, spaced ata distance from each other and each carrying a pair of sprockets f overpwhich pass chains g, from which lugs h extend laterally at intervals and to which in turn are connected strips i, as shown in Figure 4. The chains a and connected stripsiiorm an endless carrier or conveyor which is driven by means of a motor :i connected tothe shaft e through a reduction gearing k.- 'I'he upper reach of the conveyor is depressed toward the lower reach adjacent to the shaft e by passage of the chains under pulleys l carried by a suitably mounted idle shaft, while beyond the pulleys l the upper reach is raised away from the lower reach and supported by suitably supported idle pulleys m, m'.

The stripsi are each provided at intervals with resilient means for holding and supporting hands of tobacco and which comprise lengths oi.' helical wire springs o secured at their ends to the sides of the strip beneath supports p which comprise circular members supported from legs, formed of wire, or embodied in a casting, secured to the side of the strip beyond the ends of the springs '0.

Adjacent to one side of the conveyor formed by the chains g and strips i is positioned' an air box or'manifold q connected to the conditioning apparatus C, which may be of any eilicient type, though it is preferred that it be oi the type in A .2,191,37o' tion of suitably' conditioned humid air, a ilowof whichf the fan forces rather than draws the air, by means of a .conduit r iltted vwith'a butterily valve s. The'air box is also connected 'by conduits t with air distributors 'u oi a length and 4width desirably, though not necessarily, about equal to the lengthand width or the conveyor and positioned respectively above and below the upper and lower reaches 4of the conveyorv and bebeing provided 11i-.theirl lower and upper sides respectively andthe distributor positioned between the reaches being provided with outlets v in both sides, all as shown in Figure 3.

A pipe or conduit w is led from the'air box q and extended transversely of the conveyor adjacent toits line of passage' over sprockets f, the pipe being'provided with nozzles directed toward and in line with the line of Atravel of the tobacco holding and supporting means on the conveyor, as illustrated .in Figures 1 and 3.

It will be understood that the purpose of the conditioningapparatus is to supply'suitably conditioned air at the temperature desired and hence that the apparatus may supply or extract moisture to or from air supplied to it. Likewise, under certain conditions the available vair supply may be required to be cooled, while under other conditions it may be required to be heated to obtain the desired temperature.

'I'l1e'apparatus described may, it desired, be provided with means for varying the relative humidity of the air supplied tothe tobacco, or the amount of humid air, when the tobacco has been fully conditioned. As illustrative, for example, the butterfly valve s in the conduit r leading from the humidier to the air box is provided with an arm y to which is connected a wire z passed over a pairof pulleys 2 and'connected to a frame 3 by which, for example, the smaller guide rolls m are carried beneath the upper reaches 'of chains y. The weight of the frame 3 andv rolls g is counterbalanced by a weight attached to arm y, so that normally the arm is positioned with the butterfiy valve open to the desired extent. As the tobacco takes up moisture, the weight tending to operate arm y will increase and the counterweight is so regulated that when the requisite moisture has been absorbed by the tobacco; the additional weight thereofwlll cause frame 3 to fall against the action of the counterweight and shut oil' the butterfly valve, thus shutting oft the supply of moisture to the tobacco and suspending the conditioning. Alternatively, a valve 5 provided in the water supply pipe 6 to the'humidier is provided with an arm l connected to a pair of sollenoids 8 and 9 connected to a source of power, as a battery I0 and respectively toterminals Il and I2 of a two way switch, the movable element I3 of which -is connected to the source of power and which supports 'a container I4 adapted to hold tobacco I6. The element i3 may, for example, be a lever fulcrumed at apoint i5 and balanced so that it will Contact with the contact i2 and cause the solenoid 9 to be energized when the tobacco in container I4 is unconditioned and so that under the increased weight of moisture absorbed by the4 tobacco when it is conditioned, it will contact with'contact il and cause solenoid I to be energized.4 'I'he solenoid 9, when energized, positionswalve 5 to permit the passage of shut 'oi when the tobacco is fully conditioned,

since the condition of the sample in container I4 is' typical of that of the tobacco on the carrier.

The carrying-.out of the method embodying this invention will, it is believed, be understood in connection with the description ofthe operation of the apparatus above described.

A The froom' A, containing the apparatusabove described, as has- `been indicated, is maintained -at a'temperature within about the range 40 F.-

80" F., and preferably at about 65 F., it being 'contemplated that the tobacco contained in the p room A will be fabricated in a work room, the temperature 6i. which is from 0.5 F. to about F., higher than that in the room A. Desirably the temperature in the work roomyis main' tained about 5 F. above that maintaining in the room A. Hence, if the temperature in the room A is 65' F., the temperature in the work room should be about 70 F. The ,relative humidity 'of the air in Vroom A, containing the conditioning apparatus is desirablywithin about the range 90%100% and the relative humidity is maintained, `desirably at about saturation point, through the continuous introduction of humid air to compensate ior the loss of moisture d ue to theabsorption of moisture from the air by the tobacco under treatment, radiation losses,

etc. The air in the work room will have a higher vtemperature anda relative humidity substantially below the saturation point, say for example, about 70% relative humidity.

Assuming now that the conditions of temperature and relative humidity of the air in the room A is as described above, say relatively saturated with moisture at a. temperature of 65 F. and that hands of dry tobacco l1 have been applied to the carrier or conveyor, as illustrated in Figure 4, from an inspection of which it will be Cil Cil

noted that the butts of the leaves are engaged; by the 4springs o, while the leaves are supported by the supporting means p, the carrier is set in motion by starting motor j, which acts to drive the conveyor slowly in the direction of the arrows, Figure 2. As the conveyor passes over the sprockets f, it will be noted that humid air is projected into the` hands from the pipe u, acting to open the hands or spread the leaves, at the same time passage of the conveyor about sprockets f and down under the roll l causes the hands to be opened up as though .they were gently shaken. In the passage of the tobacco around the roll f, the tobacco hands are subjected to a stream ofconditioned air, issuing from the nozzles :n extending from the pipe w, and directed to strike the hands of tobacco laterally on one side l of the hands. In the continued travel of the conveyor, the leaves or the hands of tobacco on the upper reach of the conveyor are subjected to humid air projected against or intothem through the outlets v from the upper air distributor `u, while at the same time humid air is projected against the butts of the leaves from the outlets on the upper side of the central distributor in. As the conveyor passes around the pulleys f', the leaves are again treated, as though they were gently shaken and in the travel of the conveyor the leaves are again subjected to humid air issuing from the -outlets 'u of the lower air distributor u, whilethe butts are again subjected to humid air issuing from the outlets in the lower side of the central air distributor.

The/ travel of the conveyorthus :carries the tobacco througlijstreams of humid air directed against ih e leaves'and butts and,at the same -time, gives the handsy of tobacco a motion like gentle shaking, which'operates to spread the leaves forming the'hands. 'I'he hands, the butts of which Vare secured -by means oi? the resilient,

helical springs, are not injured and the helical springs adapt themselves tothe holding of hands of `diiil'erent sizes, while the supporting means serve to `,support theseparated leaves, holding the handswithout injury4 to the leaves, which in theinitial; stage of the conditioning treatment are in a dry and brittle` state. -During the treatment of the tobaccol the humid air, as will be understood, 'is supplied to ,the distributors through the conduit r, air box q and conduit t, while thepipe w also receives humid air from the air box. The air conditioner, which is desirably ofthe type having a fan for forcing humid air into and through the apparatus rather than for drawing it therethrough, is adjusted to' maintain the desired relative humidity and dew-point, of the air directed against the tobacco and within the room A. -The intake of the conditioner is desirably from the room A, as indicated at I8, Figure l, and under the conditions above given as desirable, the conditioner is adjusted to eifect complete change of the airinthe room A about three times per minute, though under varying conditions complete change of air in room A may be desirably at the rate of oneto four times or more per minute.

It will be understood that the tobacco in motion inthe air in room A and subjected to the streams of air directed at it from lthe air distributors absorbs moisture.V Under the limitations of conditions of temperature and hence of quantitative moisture content of the air, the tobacco will gradually absorb 'the requisite moisture within a period of from about 4 to about 48 hours, depending upon thetype and hygroscopicity of the tobacco under treatment.v When the tobacco has acquired the desired moisture content, or, in other wordshas been properly conditioned, it is removed from the'4 conveyor, prepared for fabrication as by the removal of the stems, etc'. and then fabricated under the conditions indicated, that is, in air at a temperature desirably about 5 Ffvhigher thanthat obtaining in the conditioning room.

It will be understood that air may be forced into the conditioning room in such a manner as to the tobacco when the tobacco has become iully conditioned. Means embodying such detail of `my invention are illustrated by and have been described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, from an inspection of which it will be notedthat the cutting off of the supply of humid air to the air box q and `hence to the conditioning room A is effected through the medium of a butterfly valve s, which controls conduit 1', the valve being normally open to' permit the passage of a desired amount of humid air and being closed to cut down the air supply through the action of the increased weight of the moisture absorbed by the tobacco when fully conditioned upon the rolls a carried by the frame l, as shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, the supply of humid air may be shut oil' through control of the water supply to the conditioner, as shown in Figure 5, in which a valve on the water supply line is adapted to be shut on' through the increased weight of a sample of tobacco placed in the conditioning room acting to throw the two way switch to energize a solenoid operably connected with the water valvio.l

'I'he apparatus in accordance with this invention will be found to be highly advantageous in connection with the conditioning of tobacco, since complete control of the conditions under which conditioning is carried out is enabled. and at the same time, due to motion, continuous or intermittent, imparted to the tobacco during conditioning the conditioning is effected with uniformity.

when conditioning of the tobacco is eirecd as above outlined, the tobacco will be found to be in an optimum condition for fabrication and may be fabricated without material loss of moisture, since the tobacco during the time required for fabrication is generally cooler than the air in which it is fabricated so that rapid evaporation does not take place, with the result that the fabricated tobacco will be found to have retained to a maximum degree its natural color, flavor and elasticity.

It will be understood that the method embodying my invention involves from the broad stand- .point the treatment of tobacco for its conditioning under regulated conditions of temperature and relative humidity, which bear a relationship to the conditions of temperature and, more particularly, of temperature and secondarily of relative humidity under which they conditioned tobacco is fabricated. Generally, the tobacco will be conditioned in air the wet bulb .temperature of which is lower than that of the air in which the tobacco is fabricated, and under various conditions within the differential range specified, the dew-point in the conditioning room will be below that in the fabricating room. More particularly, in accordance with the method the tobacco will `be conditioned in an atmosphere having high relative humidity, or saturated .with moisture at the temperature obtaining, which air will be at a temperature within about the range 0.5'I lik-25 F. lower than the air in which the tobacco is fabricated. The method according to my invention involves .the relative conditions above outlined and, at the same time, the imparting of movement to the tobacco, which may be .continuous or intermittent, during the conditioning, which may be eifected under the conditions above outlined, or otherwise.

It will be understood that in accordance with my invention if the tobacco is not fabricated immediately ,on completion of its conditioning, it will be maintained in storage under conditions as outlined herein for its conditioning until transferred for fabrication. A

The various novel features of the apparatus` embodying this invention will appear from the claims, from which it will appear that various modiilcations may be made from the particular -apparatus described by way'of illustration without departing from the invention. I have not herein claimed the method embodylpg my invention as such method is claimed in lman, Serial No. 506,886, i'iled January 6, 1931, as

a division of a lioint application with Wurman, Serial No. 428,022, filed February 13, 1930, both of whichljoint applications contained claims for the sole inventions of the applicants. These Joint applications were subsequently converted to sole,

applications of Wurman and the claims defining the sole inventions of Toutou were cancelled from said applications without prejudice.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: f v 1. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means for flxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only, means for supplying humid air to the tobacco and means for periodically inverting the hands of tobacco.

2. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes a conditioning chamber and an endless carrier entirely within said chamber, means for imparting movement to the carrier, means on the carrier for securing hands of tobacco thereto and means for diverting a reach of the carrier out of its normal plane in its movement in one direction whereby a swingingmotion will be given to the tobacco leaves forming the hands.

3. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco lwhich includes an endless carrier, means for imparting movement to the carrier, means on the carrier for flxedly securing hands of tobacco thereto by their butts only with the leaves normally extending at an angle to said endless carrler, means for diverting the hands from the normal direction of extension, and air distributors positioned respectively between the reaches of the carrier and adjacent to one of the reaches, said distributors being provided with means for directing Jets of air into the paths oi' travel of hands of tobacco on the carrier at the place of diversion of the hands.

4. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes a moving carrier for tobacco, means for projecting liets of humid air into the path of movement of tobacco on the carrier, and means operable by a predetermined weight of moisture absorbed bythe tobacco for varying the amount of moisture supplied to the tobacco throughthe medium of said jets of humid air when the tobacco has absorbed the desired amount of moisture.

5. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco,

which includes a support for tobacco, means'for supplying moisture to the tobacco through the medium of humid air and means for automati- V *cally varying the amount of moisture supplied -to the tobacco operable by a predetermined weight of moisture absorbed by the tobacco.

6. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means for flxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only with the leaves normally extending at an angle to said Vmeans, endless carrier means for periodically the leaves normally extending at an angle to the carrier, means for diverting the hands ofv tobacco from their normal direction of extension in the movement of the carrier and means located in .close proximity to the path of travel of the hands secured butt ends, and means for introducing humid air into the chamber.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a conditioning chamber, a pair of endless chains moving in the chamber, transverse bars carried by the chains, means carried by the bars for engaging and holding the butt ends of hands of tobacco for supporting them in suspended position, means for imparting movements to the chains for causing swinging movements to be imparted to the suspended hands of leaves, and means for causing humid air to flow through the chamber and into contact with the swinging suspended leaves.

10. Apparatus for conditioning tobacco which includes means for moving tobacco in hands through a conditioned atmosphere, means for effecting inversion of the hands and means for spreading the leaves of the hands as the hands are inverted.

11. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco which includes means for ilxedly supporting hands of tobacco by their butts only with the leaves normally extending at an angle to said means, conveyor means for periodically diverting said leaves from their normal direction of extension and means for periodically projecting forceful jets ofl air into the hands during the period of diversion from the normal direction of extension, said last mentioned means being positioned in close proximity to the hands so thatthe jets of air strike the hands with suicient force to eifect separation of the tobacco leaves in the hands.

12. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, which includes means for supporting a hand of tobacco by its butt and means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas at the tobacco, the hand of tobacco being positioned relative to the s said means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas so that substantially the full force ofthe jet will be received by the hand when it 55 is directly in line with said means for projecting said jet. i f

18. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco,

which includes a carrier, means for moving the carrier, means for securing a hand of tobacco to the carrier by its butt and means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas into the path of Vmovement of the hand of tobacco on the carrier, the said means for projecting a forceful jet of 'conditioned gas being so positioned with respect to the carrier that the hand will receive substantially the full force of the jet when the hand, in the movement of thecarrier, is directly in line Awith said means for projecting said jet.

14. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the carrier travels in a circuitous path.

1,5. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forceful jet ofconditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobacco on the 'carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand of tobacco laterally againsta side thereof.

16. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobacco on the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand of tobacco at the tips of the leaves.

17. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobacco on the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand of tobacco at its butt end.

18. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco in accordance with claim 13, characterized by the fact that the means for projecting a forceful jet of conditioned gas into the path of movement of the hand of tobacco on the carrier is so positioned that the jet will strike the hand of tobacco against a side thereof progressively along its length.

19. Apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, which includes a carrier, means for moving the carrier, means for supporting hands of tobacco on the carrier by their butts only, means for diverting the hands of tobacco from their normal direction of extension and means adapted to project forceful jets of conditioned air into the path of movement of the carrier, said means being positioned relative to the carrier so that the hands of tobacco on the carrier will receive the full force of the jets when they are directly in line with the means for projecting the jets.

RUSH D. TOUTON.

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