Methods for treating tobacco material, apparatus for treating tobacco material, treated tobacco material and uses thereof
AssigneeBritish American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
InventorsDietmar Franke, Oliver Grüner, Josef Knothe, Thorsten König, Volker Kuhl, Matthias Link, Frank Plückhahn, Ruediger Hartman
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of treating tobacco material comprising intermittently contacting a tobacco starting material with a heated surface to produce a dried treated tobacco material. Also provided is an apparatus for treating tobacco material. The invention also provides treated tobacco material that is seared and dried, as well as products comprising the same.
Claims19
A method of treating tobacco material comprising intermittently contacting a tobacco starting material with a heated surface to produce a treated tobacco material with a moisture content of from 0 to about 10% oven volatiles (OV),
- wherein the contact with the heated surface exposes the tobacco material to sudden and intense heat to cause local searing or scorching of the tobacco and wherein the tobacco material is agitated by a heated screw mechanism, wherein the heated screw mechanism comprises a helical surface encircling a shaft which is rotated, the helical surface being configured to scoop up and lift at least a portion of the tobacco material being treated as the screw mechanism rotates, to carry the tobacco material and then to allow it to fall away from the screw, so that the tobacco material is in direct and continuous contact with the heated surface for a period of up to about 5 seconds,
- wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 135° C. to about 190° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material.
An apparatus for treating tobacco material, comprising a heated surface provided to intermittently contact tobacco material and to heat and dry the tobacco material to a moisture content of from 0 to about 10% oven volatiles (OV),
- wherein the contact with the heated surface exposes the tobacco material to sudden and intense heat to cause local searing or scorching of the tobacco,
- wherein the tobacco material is agitated by a heated screw mechanism, wherein the heated screw mechanism comprises a helical surface encircling a shaft which is rotated, the helical surface being configured to scoop up and lift at least a portion of the tobacco material being treated as the screw mechanism rotates, to carry the tobacco material and then to allow it to fall away from the screw, and wherein the tobacco material is in direct and continuous contact with the heated surface for a period of up to about 5 seconds,
- wherein the heated surface has a temperature of from at least about 135° C. to about 190° C. prior to contact with the tobacco material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.