# US 4,392,501 A · Method of processing fresh tobacco leaves

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- Number: US 4,392,501 A
- Document ID: US4392501A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/280,189
- Filed: 1981-07-06
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1981-07-06
- Assignees: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
- Inventors: Richard P. Newton; Patrick H. Harper; Vernon L. Geiss; John N. Jewell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392501A

## CPC

- A24B 3/00: Preparing tobacco in the factory
- A24B 7/00: Cutting tobacco
- A24B 15/20: Biochemical treatment
- A24B 15/24: by extraction; Tobacco extracts
- A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF

## Abstract

Freshly cut tobacco leaves are processed wherein the processing includes particle size reduction and drying immediately upon harvesting.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing freshly harvested tobacco having from 65% to 90% moisture comprising the steps of:
(a) reducing the particle size of the harvested tobacco into a preselected size; and
(b) drying the tobacco, said steps being completed without the natural curing of the tobacco.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein reducing the particle size includes the steps of removing the midribs from tobacco lamina then cutting into a preselected size.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein reducing the particle size includes the steps of cutting the tobacco lamina into a preselected size and after the drying step, the midribs are removed from the cut tobacco.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the moisture of the tobacco in the reducing of the particle size step is from 65 percent to 90 percent by weight.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the drying of the tobacco reduces the moisture of the tobacco to from 3 percent to 20 percent by weight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein drying includes freezing the tobacco; storing the tobacco at a temperature of at least -15.degree. C.; and, subliming the frozen tobacco.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein drying includes air drying, in a controlled environment of from 60.degree. F. to 100.degree. F. at a relative humidity of at least 50 percent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein drying includes high absolute humidity drying, said high absolute humidity drying being performed at at least 165.degree. F. wet bulb, and at least 280.degree. F. dry bulb.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 including a treating step between the reducing and drying steps, said treating step including means to remove selected components from the tobacco.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, said treating step including subjecting the tobacco to microbial treatment for removal of selected components from the tobacco.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, said treating step including subjecting the tobacco to extracting means for removal of selected components from the tobacco.