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US 7,694,686 B2Granted
Conditioning process for tobacco and/or snuff compositions
AssigneeU.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC
InventorsFrank S. Atchley, Vernie A. Due, James C. Breslin, Scott A. Williams, Jerry B. Elliot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process is provided for producing smokeless tobacco and/or snuff compositions using steam alone in an open vessel or in combination with pressure and venting to alter organoleptic properties of the smokeless tobacco and/or snuff compositions.
Claims28
A process for producing a conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff comprising:
- preconditioning tobacco and/or snuff by contacting the tobacco and/or snuff with an amount of steam alone effective for raising the temperature of the tobacco and/or snuff to about 215° to about 230° F., wherein the steam is freely vented from the tobacco to obtain a preconditioned tobacco and/or snuff;
- heating the preconditioned tobacco and/or snuff at a moisture content of about 5 to about 40 weight percent in a mechanical extruder, the mechanical extruder having a temperature and conveyance rate effective for providing a pressure of at least about 130 psi;
- and
- venting the heated tobacco and/or snuff after attaining a pressure of at least about 130 psi to obtain a conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff.
1 more element
A process for producing a conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff comprising:
- (a) preconditioning tobacco and/or snuff by contacting the tobacco and/or snuff with an amount of steam alone effective for raising the temperature of the tobacco to about 215° F. to about 230° F., wherein the steam is freely vented from the tobacco to obtain a preconditioned tobacco and/or snuff;
- (b) conveying the preconditioned tobacco and/or snuff at a moisture content of about 5 to about 40 weight percent to a mechanical extruder having a first extruder zone, the first extruder zone having a barrel temperature of about 120° F. to about 130° F.;
- (c) conveying the tobacco and/or snuff of step (b) from the first extruder zone to a second extruder zone having a barrel temperature of about 270° F. to about 280° F., the conveying from the first extruder zone to the second extruder zone effective for providing a pressure of about 130 to about 160 psi;
- (d) conveying the tobacco and/or snuff of step (c) from the second extruder zone to a third extruder zone, the third extruder zone having a barrel temperature of about 270° F. to about 280° F., the conveying from the second extruder zone to the third extruder zone effective for providing a pressure of about 160 to about 230 psi;
- (e) conveying the tobacco and/or snuff of step (d) from the third extruder zone to a fourth extruder zone having a barrel temperature of about 280° F. to about 300° F., the conveying from the third extruder zone to the fourth extruder zone effective for providing a pressure of about 200 to about 260 psi;
- (f) venting the tobacco and/or snuff of one or more of steps (c), (d), or (e) after attaining the pressure of the respective step (e), (d), or (e);
- (g) conveying the tobacco and/or snuff of step (f) from the fourth extruder zone to an extruder/die, the extruder/die having a barrel temperature of about 340° F. to about 350° F.;
- and
- (h) extruding the tobacco and/or snuff of step (g) to provide a conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff having a moisture content of about 10 to about 25 weight percent.
6 more elements
A process for producing a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff comprising:
- contacting tobacco and/or snuff in an open vented chamber with an amount of steam alone effective for raising the temperature of the tobacco and/or snuff to about 215° to about 230° F. to provide a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff, wherein the open vented chamber is freely vented to the atmosphere.
A process for producing a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff comprising:
- contacting tobacco and/or snuff in an open vented chamber with an amount of steam alone effective for raising the temperature of the tobacco and/or snuff to about 215° to about 230° F. to provide a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff, wherein the open vented chamber is freely vented to the atmosphere, wherein the resulting steam conditioned tobacco and/or snuff has a moisture content of about 15 to about 50 weight percent.
A process for producing a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff comprising:
- contacting tobacco and/or snuff in an open vented chamber with an amount of steam alone effective for raising the temperature of the tobacco and/or snuff to about 215° to about 230° F. to provide a steam conditioned smokeless tobacco and/or snuff, wherein the duration of said contacting step is 10 to 60 minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.