Smokeless tobacco products and processes

Abstract

An improved pouching machine is provided. The improved pouching machine comprises a feed hopper with a first and a second end and a feed screw with a plurality of pins extending from the circumference. The feed screw is connected to a first shaft and the first shaft is connected to a motor to rotate the first shaft. An agitator screw is positioned adjacent to the feed screw and has a plurality of pins extending from the circumference. The agitator screw is connected to a second shaft.

1 . An improved tobacco pouching machine, said improved machine comprising:
 a feed hopper having a first end and a second end;   a feed screw having a plurality of pins extending from the circumference, said feed screw connected to a first shaft, said first shaft being connected to a motor to rotate said first shaft; and   an agitator screw positioned adjacent to said feed screw, said agitator screw having a plurality of pins extending from the circumference, said agitator screw being connected to a second shaft.   
   
   
       2 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel defined on one end of said second shaft, said wheel being in contact with the outer diameter of said first shaft such that when said first shaft rotates, said wheel rotates said second shaft in an opposite direction. 
   
   
       3 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a band positioned on the circumference of said wheel, said band providing a frictional interaction with said first shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 3 , wherein said second shaft rotates at a ratio of about 1:6 to 1 as compared to the feed screw. 
   
   
       5 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 1 , wherein said pins extending from said circumference of said agitator screw have a pitch that is neutral to the pitch of the pins extending from said circumference of said feed screw. 
   
   
       6 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 1 , wherein said pins extending from said circumference of said agitator screw have a pitch that is opposite the pitch of the pins extending from said circumference of said feed screw. 
   
   
       7 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen positions between said agitator screw and said feed screw. 
   
   
       8 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 1 , wherein said agitator screw has a diameter of about three inches. 
   
   
       9 . An improved tobacco pouching machine, said improved machine comprising:
 a feed hopper having a first end, a second end, a top and a bottom;   a first rotatable screw positioned near the bottom of said feed hopper;   a second rotatable screw positioned above said first rotatable screw; and   a pulley system connecting said first screw to said second screw, such that when said first screw rotates, said second screw rotates in an opposite direction.   
   
   
       10 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 9 , wherein said first rotatable screw has a plurality of pins extending from an outer diameter. 
   
   
       11 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 10 , wherein said second rotatable screw has a plurality of pins extending from an outer diameter. 
   
   
       12 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 11 , wherein said pins extending from said outer diameter of said second rotatable screw have a neutral position as compared to said pins extending from said outer diameter of said first rotatable screw. 
   
   
       13 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 9 , wherein said second rotatable screw rotates at a ratio of about 1:6 to 1 as compared to the first rotatable screw. 
   
   
       14 . The improved tobacco pouching machine of  claim 9 , further comprising a screen positioned between said first and said second rotatable screws. 
   
   
       15 . A method for preventing packing of tobacco in a tobacco hopper, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a feed screw with a plurality of pins extending from an outer diameter of said feed screw;   providing an agitator with a plurality of pins extending from an outer diameter of said outer diameter; and   rotating said feed screw and said agitator screw in opposite directions to move tobacco through said hopper.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing a screen between said feed screw and said agitator screw. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pitch of the pins of the agitator screw are neutral as compared to the pitch of the pins of the feed screw. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pitch of the pins of the agitator screw is opposite the pitch of the pins of the feed screw. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the diameter of said agitator screw is about three inches. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said feed screw further comprises first shaft extending outside of said tobacco hopper, and said agitator screw further comprises a second shaft extending outside of said tobacco hopper. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said second shaft has a wheel defined on said second shaft. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the outer circumference of said wheel is in contact with at least a portion of an outer circumference of said first shaft. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of rotating said feed screw and said agitator screw in opposite directions to move tobacco through said hopper is accomplished by the interaction of said wheel with said first shaft. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising a band positioned on the circumference of said wheel, said band providing a frictional interaction with said first shaft.