A method of and an apparatus for expanding tobacco, particularly tobacco impregnated with solid carbon dioxide are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an arcuate, generally C-shaped duct for conveying the tobacco material in a hot gaseous medium to sublimate the solid carbon dioxide and expand the tobacco. The duct has a non-circular cross-section, preferably a rectangular cross-section, with a high width-to-depth ratio and an increasing depth from the inlet to an intermediate portion of the duct then a decreasing depth from the intermediate portion to the outlet of the duct. A winnower device infeeds the tobacco material into the duct adjacent the throat of a venturi section connected to the inlet of the conveying duct. A tangential separator with an adjustable baffle at the inlet thereof for controlling velocity in the separator is used to separate the expanded tobacco from the gaseous medium.
申请公布号
US5908032(A)
申请公布日期
1999.06.01
申请号
US19960694963
申请日期
1996.08.09
申请人
R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
发明人
POINDEXTER, DALE BOWMAN;BARNES, RUSSELL DEAN;BEARD, HOYT STURDIVANT;GUY, KEITH ROWAN;LAURENCE, RICKY HARRIS;RICHARDSON, HAROLD EUGENE;STEWART, TONY DEAN;WILHELM, DOUGLAS EDWIN