Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for separating tobacco mixture into lighter and heavier fractions

US4475562A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
16References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 16, 1981
Grant dateOct 9, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 16, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07B11/06
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A tobacco leaf mixture containing lighter and heavier fractions is fed into one side of a housing while an airstream flow is introduced at the other side of the housing and in an upwardly directed flow course so as to cause it to entrain the lighter fraction of the mixture therein, with the heavier fraction falling to the bottom of the housing. A suction lift is maintained at the top of the housing to increase the velocity of the lighter fraction containing air flow outwardly from the housing. The lighter fraction containing air flow is then delivered to a separator unit to recover the lighter fraction. The lighter fraction can, for example, be the laminae material from which shredded cigarette tobacco filler is made.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.