Process for preparing a tobacco blend
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsPierre Wetzel, Frederic Buehler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a process for preparing a tobacco blend, at least two different types of tobacco are thermally treated and blended so as to form the tobacco blend. Thermal treatment as well as blending of the different types of tobacco is performed by introducing the different types of tobacco into a combined thermal treating and blending unit, where thermally treating as well as blending of the at least two different types of tobacco is performed.
Claims15
A process for preparing a tobacco blend, in which process at least two different types of tobacco are thermally treated and blended so as to form the tobacco blend, wherein thermally treating as well as blending of the at least two different types of tobacco is performed by the steps of:
- providing a combined thermal treating and blending unit having an upwardly extending portion;
- introducing a basic process gas into the thermal treating and blending unit to flow through the upwardly extending portion in an upward direction;
- introducing a first type of tobacco into the combined thermal treating and blending unit by means of a first process gas;
- and
- introducing at least a second type of tobacco into the combined thermal treating and blending unit by means of a second process gas;
- and
- thermally treating and blending the at least two different types of tobacco within the thermal treating and blending unit.
Apparatus for thermally treating and blending a tobacco blend having at least two different tobacco components comprising:
- a thermal treating and blending unit including an upwardly extending portion and means to introduce a basic process gas into the thermal treating and blending unit to flow in an upward direction through the upwardly extending portion;
- a first inlet communicating with the thermal treating and blending unit to introduce a first tobacco type into the combined thermal treating and blending unit by means of a first process gas;
- and
- at least a second inlet communicating with the thermal treating and blending unit to introduce a second tobacco type into the combined thermal treating and blending unit by means of a second process gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.