Process for expanding tobacco
USRE32014E · kind E · reissue
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1984 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
This invention relates broadly to an improved process for expanding tobacco and involves certain modifications of the basic process for expanding tobacco comprising the steps of (1) contacting the tobacco with liquid carbon dioxide to impregnate the tobacco with the liquid carbon dioxide, (2) subjecting the liquid carbon dioxide-impregnated tobacco to conditions such that the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid carbon dioxide and (3) thereafter subjecting the solid carbon dioxide-containing tobacco to conditions whereby the solid carbon dioxide is vaporized to cause expansion of the tobacco. The present invention pertains, in one embodiment, to an improvement in the basic process which involves controlling the moisture content of the tobacco which is employed in the first step of the basic process. A second embodiment of the present invention involves draining off excess liquid carbon dioxide, under controlled conditions, after the first step of the basic process and prior to the second step of the basic process. The present invention pertains, in a third embodiment, to an improvement which involves controlling the output moisture of the product which is recovered from the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.