IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO

Abstract: In this manner an optimally configured conditioning gas stream can be mixed and distributed evenly over the maximum surface area of a slice of unconditioned tobacco in a conditioning cylinder. The gas stream consists of a mixture of air, steam, water droplets or other absorbable fluids required to bring the tobacco to the desired condition in the cylinder. An apparatus for conditioning tobacco comprises a cylinder conditioner (10) mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, and an opening unit (12) mounted at the inlet end of the cylinder for rotation therewith, said opening unit having pins (14) projecting towards the axis of rotation for supporting portions of un-opened layers of tobacco e.g. bale slices (S), within the unit on initial entry thereof, and for effecting opening of the tobacco on rotation of the unit, the distal ends of the tines defining a frustoconical section which narrows in the direction of tobacco feed.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO This invention relates to an apparatus for conditioning tobacco taken from bales prior to a further treatment or processing. Direct cylinder conditioning is widely used in the tobacco industry to open and condition compressed bales of threshed or stripped tobacco. The process involves sliding the bale either vertically or horizontally into slabs or slices which are then transported directly to the cylinder for opening and conditioning. Conditioning cylinders which are used for conditioning of sliced bales of tobacco typically take the form of a cylinder mounted for rotation about a slightly inclined axis, being supported by means of two track rings and cooperating support rollers. The moisture and heat for the opening process in the cylinder are provided by water and live steam sprays, mounted at the inlet end of the cylinder, protruding through a diffusion plate perpendicular to the axis of rotation, or in the recirculating duct which conveys vapour from the outlet of the cylinder back to the inlet where it passes through the diffusion plate back into the main body of the cylinder. Within the body of the cylinder there are inwardly projecting radial pms of nominal mean length of 100 mm. The remainder of the internal geometry is configured with tfte pms either linearly or helically displaced along the lengrh of the cylinder, or with a combination of pins and paddles. An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which an optimally configured conditioning gas stream can be mixed and distributed evenly over tne maximum surface area of a slice of unconditioned tobacco in a conditioning cylinder. The gas stream consists or a mixture of air, steam, water droplets or other absorbable fluids required to bring tne tobacco to the desired condition in the cylinder. According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for conditioning tobacco comprising a cylinder conditioner mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, and an opening unit mounted at the inlet end of the cylinder for rotation therewith, said opening unit having means projecting towards the axis of rotation for supporting portions of un-opened layers of tobacco e.g. bale slices, within tne unit on initial entry thereof, and for effecting opening of tne tobacco on rotation ot tne unit, the distal ends of projections defining a solid revolution which narrows m tne direction of tobacco feed. Preferably tne projecting means are in the form of tines, the ends of which describe a frusto-conical section. In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above and otner aspects of the present invention an embodiment will now be described, by way o± example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in whicn: FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view oi an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a detail cross-section or tne line 2-2 of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-section of tne perforated cone of Figure 1. In the drawings tne basic cylinder of a cylinder conditioner is shown at 10 in schematic outline only, and is arranged to rotate in known manner per se about an inclined axis 11 (Figure 2) inclines to the horizontal leg 3-5°. An opening unit 12 is ritted to the inlet end or tne cylinder 10 to rotate therewitn. An inlet tunnel 13 for a tobacco slice is arranged at tne smaller miet end or tne frusto-conical inlet section 12, to feed slices of tobacco from means (not shown) which produces such slices from bales of raw tobacco material. The unit 12 is contained within a stationary jacKet 14 which is partitioned to provide an air supply compartment 15 and a steam supply compartment 16. A truεto-cαnical wall 21 of the unit 12 serving as guide means for the opened tobacco is perforated so that air and steam from the compartments 15 and 16 can enter the unit 12 and pass thence to the cylinder 10 mixing as they so pass. As best seen m Figure 3, the perforations in the wall 21 of the unit 12, are formed as louvres having triangular or semi-elliptical cross section with tne edges of the louvre overlapping the parent wall edge, as indicated at X. By this means the air and steam flow is directed towards the cylinder 10 and particles of tobacco are substantially prevented from falling into tne perforations. Any particles which do fall into the perforations are ejected by the fluid flow towards the cylinder 10. A series of bars 17 are provided along generators of the unit 12, between the junction with the cylinder lυ ana the inlet end of the inlet section. The bars 17 mounted between rings 18 of dif erence diameters, each support a series of pms or tines 19 whicn are progressively shorter from the cylinder to the inlet end, so that, as best.seen in Figure 2, the tops of the pins 19 of a bar, wnen it is at the lowest position during rotation of the cylinder and unit, lie in a generally horizontal line as indicated at 20. Thus when a slice of tobacco as indicated at S nas been fed into the inlet section 12, as the unit rotates the slice is supported at the bottom of the unit on tήe tops of the pms 19. On rotation of the unit with the cylinder the tobacco is agitated by the pins gradually releasing small parts of the tobacco which can then fall between the pins and progress to the cylinder 10; while the remaining bulk of the slice remains in the unit 12 on the pins 19. Thus the progress of the material of the slice is impeded until it is adequately opened for furtner conditioning. Arrangement of the tines such that their tops lie in a generally horizontal line, creates the situation of a very long transit time for tobacco supported by the pin tips. However, once the tobacco has opened sufficiently to pass between the pins, the speed advance into the main body of the cylinder is increased due to conical guide means. Stainless steel sheet, the holes m which being such as to form a louvre-type configuration thereby ensuring directionality of flow toward the cylinder and preventing the passage of tobacco particles back into a surrounding jacket where the mixing vapour is formed, the high afflux velocity achieved by the perforations driving out any particles that enter tne perforations. By selection of the angle of the cone rrustum and length of tines transit times for these particles can be changed. The dimensions of the frusto-conical section generated by the pins are selected m relation to the dimensions of bale slices so that the minor diameter is greater than the width of the slice of tobacco required to enter the cylinder conditioner and the major diameter of wmch is equal to the nominal diameter of the cylinder as determined by the volumetric throughput of tobacco to be conditioned. The axial length of the frusto-conical section is preferably up to twice tne length of tne longest bale slice to be opened. o The number of bars supporting the p s is determined by the requirement of ensuring that the circumferential distance between bars is less than tne width of the slice to be opened. Since the axis of tne wall 21 or tne opening unit is inclined together with the cylinder, the wall may be cylindrical e.g. of a diameter equal to ttxe diameter of tne cylinder. However-, to increase the speed of flow after opening, the wall is frusto-conical.

Claims: CLAIMS ; 1. Apparatus tor conditioning tooacco comprising a cylinder conditioner (10) mounted for rotation aoout a generally horizontal axis and an opening unit (12) mounted at the inlet end of the cylinder for rotation therewith, said opening unit naving means (19) projecting towards tne axis or rotation supporting portions of un-opened layers of tobacco e.g. bale slices (S), witnin the unit on initial entry thereof, and for effecting opening of tne tobacco on rotation of the unit, the distal ends of tne projections denning a solid of revolution which narrows in the direction of tobacco feed. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, wherein the distal ends of the projecting means define a frusto-conical section. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wnerein the projecting means are pms or tines (19). 4. Apparatus as claimed claim 3, wϋerem said pms or tines are arranged on bars (17) extending axially of the unit. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wnerein said Pars (17) are inclined to diverge from the axis in the direction of feed. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim . wnerein tne bars are (17) supported at their ends on rings (18) of different diameters. 1. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 - 7, wherein exteriorly of said projections tnere is provided a frusto-conical guide (21) which widens in the direction of feed, wnereby the opened tobacco which nas been opened by tne projecting means passes radially between them, travels down the slope of the conical guide into the cylinder conditioner. 8. Apparatus as claimed in laim 7, in wnicn tne axis of rotation is inclined to the horizontal so that the opened tobacco, after being guided down the conical guide, progresses by gravity along the cylinder. . Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wnerein tne projections have lengths which increase along the unit (12) in the axial feed direction such tnat tne distal ends of tne projections, as they arrive at the lower part of tne unit, lie a generally horizontal line. 10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, 8 or , wherein a steam jacket (15) is provided to surround the guide (21), the latter being provided with perforations through which steam passes from tne jacket. 11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wnerem the perforations are provided by a louvre-type configuration to guide steam in a direction to assist the tobacco feed. 12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the perforations have a triangular or semi-elliptical shape racing the direction of tobacco feed.

Inventors: SPICER JOHN WILLIAM, SPICER, JOHN, WILLIAM
Applicants: GBE INTERNATIONAL PLC
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A24B3
IPC codes: A24B3