Process for adjusting the moisture content of tobacco
US5383479A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA24B3/04
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A process for reordering tobacco wherein tobacco is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near the equilibrium conditions of the tobacco. As the OV content of the tobacco increases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the tobacco is increased to effect reordering of the tobacco. Also provided is a process for drying tobacco, wherein tobacco is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near or below the equilibrium conditions of the tobacco. As the OV content of the tobacco decreases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the tobacco is decreased to effect drying of the tobacco. Tobacco is reordered or dried according to the processes of the present invention in a continuous manner preferably using a self-stacking spiral conveyor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.