System for producing expanded tobacco

Abstract

A system for producing expanded tobacco, comprises a tobacco expansion apparatus, in which the tobacco is expanded, at least a first tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing at least one suitable chemical solvent other than water to prepare the tobacco for expansion, at least a second tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing only water as a solvent to prepare the tobacco for expansion and at least a first feed unit for introducing tobacco from the at least first tobacco supply unit and the at least second tobacco supply unit into the tobacco expansion apparatus.

1 . A system for producing expanded tobacco, comprising
 a tobacco expansion apparatus, in which the tobacco is expanded,   at least a first tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing at least one suitable chemical solvent other than water to prepare the tobacco for expansion,   at least a second tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing only water as a solvent to prepare the tobacco for expansion and   at least a first feed unit for introducing tobacco from the at least first tobacco supply unit and the at least second tobacco supply unit into the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . A system for producing expanded tobacco, comprising
 a tobacco expansion apparatus, in which the tobacco is expanded,   at least a first tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing at least one suitable chemical solvent other than water to prepare the tobacco for expansion,   at least a second tobacco supply unit for providing tobacco containing only water as a solvent to prepare the tobacco for expansion,   at least a first feed unit for introducing tobacco from the at least first tobacco supply unit into the tobacco expansion apparatus, and   at least a second feed unit for introducing tobacco from the at least second tobacco supply unit into the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco expansion apparatus comprises a tower. 
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first supply unit for providing the tobacco containing a chemical solvent other than water comprises an impregnator where the tobacco is exposed to liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a second supply unit for providing the tobacco containing water as a solvent comprises a silo for storing the tobacco, the silo having an outlet, with a detangling unit for detangling the shreds of tobacco being arranged in the silo. 
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the detangling unit comprises a plurality of slowly rotating small doffers which are arranged essentially over the entire width and height of the silo. 
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the tobacco expansion apparatus comprises a tower. 
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least a first supply unit for providing the tobacco containing a chemical solvent other than water comprises an impregnator where the tobacco is exposed to liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide. 
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least a second supply unit for providing the tobacco containing water as a solvent comprises a silo for storing the tobacco, the silo having an outlet, with a detangling unit for detangling the shreds of tobacco being arranged in the silo. 
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the detangling unit comprises a plurality of slowly rotating small doffers which are arranged essentially over the entire width and height of the silo. 
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco expansion apparatus includes a supply of superheated steam or hot air and an entry section receiving tobacco from the first feed unit, the entry section comprising a Venturi type nozzle. 
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the tobacco expansion apparatus includes a supply of superheated steam or hot air and an entry section receiving tobacco from the first feed unit and the second feed unit, the entry section comprising a Venturi type nozzle. 
   
   
       13 . A method of using the system of  claim 1  to produce expanded tobacco, comprising
 impregnating tobacco in the first tobacco supply unit with a chemical solvent other than water, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the first feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 8 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       14 . A method of using the system of  claim 1  to produce expanded tobacco, comprising
 impregnating tobacco in the second tobacco supply unit with water, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the second feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 15 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       15 . A method of using the system of  claim 2  to produce expanded tobacco, comprising
 impregnating tobacco in the first tobacco supply unit with a chemical solvent other than water, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the first feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 8 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus, and   impregnating tobacco in the second tobacco supply unit with water, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the second feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 15 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       16 . A method of using the system of  claim 1  to produce expanded tobacco, comprising
 impregnating tobacco in the first tobacco supply unit with liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the first feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 8 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       17 . A method of using the system of  claim 2  to produce expanded tobacco, comprising
 impregnating tobacco in the first tobacco supply unit with liquid or gaseous carbon dioxide, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the first feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 8 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus, and   impregnating tobacco in the second tobacco supply unit with water, supplying the impregnated tobacco via the second feed unit to the tobacco expansion apparatus and expanding the tobacco in the tobacco expansion apparatus and removing expanded tobacco having a moisture content of about 2 to about 15 percent from the tobacco expansion apparatus.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising detangling the tobacco in a silo using doffers rotating at a speed of below 100 rotations per minute arranged over the entire width and height of the silo and feeding the detangled tobacco to the tobacco expansion apparatus. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detangling the tobacco in a silo using doffers rotating at a speed of below 100 rotations per minute arranged over the entire width and height of the silo and feeding the detangled tobacco to the tobacco expansion apparatus.