US1975718A - Art of casing tobacco - Google Patents

Description

G. D. HARRIS ART OF CASING TOBACCO Oct. 2, 1934.

Original Filed Nov. 2s, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ.

OC. 2, 1934. G D HARR|$ y 1,975,718

ART OF CASING TOBACCO Original Filed Nov. 28. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gva/wanton Oct. 2, G D. HARR|$ I 1,975,718

ART OF CASING TOBACCO Original Filed NOV. 28. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 al ZI:

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I v gwventof bali/29 6612's Y Cooling Calls a/wy af/ f/v/e/a/s Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE ART O1? CASING TOBACCO Original application November 28, 1928, Serial No. 322,432. Divided and this application May 12,

1931, Serial No. 536,910

6 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 322,432, filed November 28, 1928 which is now Patent #1,853,423 dated April 12, 1932. This invention is a process of and apparatus for casing tobacco, but in a broad sense, the invention is useful for conditioning material and products other than tobacco, such as gloves in the course of their manufacture, as well as for humidifying other` substances and products generally.

The invention will be described more particularly for conditioning tobacco while in the dry leaf condition, known in the trade as a hand, and comprising a number of `dried leaves assembled in a bundle or mass secured by tying in one way or another the stems of the assembled leaves, so as to leave free and unconfined all the dried leaves for substantially the length thereof. The conditioning of the tobacco in leaf form is prior to the operations known as stripping.

According to my invention, the bunches or hands are permeated with moisture, each leaf being conditioned by moisture penetrating the stern and the petiole and diffused into the bres vof the blade thereof; in fact, the moisture penetrates into all parts of the individual leaves, changing the physical characteristics from a dry condition (wherein the tobacco when handled tends to break or crumble easily), to a pliable and exible condition susceptible of handling without risk of fracture so desirable, or even necessary, in the subsequent manipulation by hand or machinery for conversion into a desired tobacco product. Leaf tobacco conditioned in accordance with my invention is of such a flexible character that it may without breaking or injury, be folded, compacted and compressed within the hand, and thereafter be smoothed out into a fiat form, exhibiting no fractures or breaksand with theindividual leaves complete and intact, a condition sought after in this art for many reasons, chiefly because of the capacity for economically working the leaves into products, such as cigars, or the like.

The product resulting from myimode of procedure is characterized by the permeation with moisture throughout all parts of the individual leaves, including the stein, the blade or lamina, and the petiole connecting the blade with the stem; such permeation with moisture being interiorly of the various leaf parts as distinguished from moisture upon the surfaces of the leaf, such surface moisture tending to discolor, or spot the leaf, resulting in leaves of decreased commercial value.

In the casing of wrapper tobacco by the ordinary method, the shaking incident to opening the. hands, and the so called Whipping or shaking to remove excess moisture after dipping, tends to fracture the leaves to'reduce the yield. This in- 60 vention renders unnecessary this method, and effects a great saving in Wrapper tobacco, though it is useful with other types of tobacco. A larger percent of light colored wrappers are produced by this method than any heretofore known to me, and moreover, as above stated, the tobacco is free from water `stain effecting a further saving to the manufacturer.

Broadly stated, my invention in the process as well as apparatus consists in exposing dry tobacco in leaf form to the influence of air substantially saturated With moisture at varying desired operating temperatures.

My invention consists, further, in the steps (a) of exposing dry leaf tobacco to the action of 7'5 air saturated with moisture at a desired operating temperature, and (b) changing the temperature of the saturated air, either by increasing such temperature or decreasing such temperature, While continuing the exposure of the leaf tobacco to operating air saturated with moisture, with the result that the tobacco cased within a treatment or products chamber may bebrought out at substantially the saine temperature as that of the room in which the apparatus is located, thereby eliminating the loss of moisture from the tobacco, which occurs when the temperature of the tobacco and the temperature of the atmosphere in the room equalize.

In a practical mode of procedure, leaf tobacco is supported in one position or another within a products chamber, i. e., each hand is suspended downwardly from the tied end of the bundle, or is supported to extend upwardly from the tied end of the bundle, it being desirable for the leaves to be unconned for practically the length thereof, to the end that the leaves in a free condition may assimilate moisture carried into the presence of the leaves by air flowing within the products chamber.

The owing air is saturatedA with moisture, i. e.; the air is charged with water vapor to attain substantially one hundred per cent humidity, the saturated air being at a desired operating temperature. It is preferred for humidification l of the operating air to generate water vapor separately from, or independently of, the flow of air, which air is used as a carrier for conveying moisture into the presence of, and into contact with,

the tobacco leaves.A Such generation of water E vapor in one form of apparatus is attained by heat acting directly on water and to' the exclusion of air, the heat units being radiated from coils or electric heaters into a water bath for effecting the vaporization of the water, whereby Water vapor passes or ows from the Water bath. The Water vapor is picked up by, or charged into, the flowing air, the effect of which is primarily to saturate the icwing air with moisture, and, secondarily, to heat the iiowing air to a determined temperature. Such steps of air humidiiicationl and air heating are conducted concurrently at one stage of the treatment, the heat and moisture imparted to the air being derived from a single source, i. e., warm water vapor.

The saturation of the gas with moisture may be accomplished, for instance, in accordance with any of the methods and by the apparatus described in my copending applications, Serial No 81,606, filed January 16, 1926; No. 101,868, filed April 14, 1926; No. 112,988, led June 1, 1926; No. 204,157, filed July 8, 1927; and No. 204,507, iiled July 9, 1927.

It may be stated, as a general proposition, that in my process, viewed in a broad aspect, the temperature of the operating air is a vital factor, i. e., one salient feature is moisture saturated air at any desirable operating temperature. At an early stage in the tobacco conditioning operation, it is preferable to use moisture saturated air at a selected temperature, say of sixty degrees (60) or seventy degrees (70) F. At a subsequent stage, the temperature of the operating air is changed without variation in the moisture content of such air, the latter being still in a moisture saturated condition. Such change in the temperature may require an increase or a decrease; increased temperature may be desirable, more heat is supplied to bring the operating air to the outside room temperature, or if a lower .temperature is desirable, the operating air is cooled to bring it substantially to the outside room temperature by the action thereon of a cooler positioned in the path of iiow of the operating air.

In one form of my apparatus, Wat-er vapor emanates from a bath into a humidifying chamber or duct contiguous to the tobacco-containing chamber (products chamber), and air is circulated mechanically for effecting the ow from the humidifying chamber or duct into the prodnots-chamber, so as to set up a recirculation Within the specified chambers, the effect of which is to charge the iiowing air with water vapors in the one chamber and to give off moisture to the tobacco in the other chamber.

In humidfying tobacco, I utilize air saturated to approximately one hundred per cent (100%) humidity, the operating air being maintained at substantially the temperature of the water, and air so conditioned flows into contact with dry tobacco hands present within the products-chamber. The exposure of tobacco in dried lleaf form to the action of moisture saturated air is attended by an assimilation of moisture present in the air by the dry tobacco. The moisture permeates the stems and -petiole of each leaf and is diffused to all parts of the tobacco leaves, including their blades or laminae, and imparting the desirable flexibility or pliability to the individual leaves of each bunch.

The direction of flow of the mechanically circulated air possessing a high moisture content is from the humidifying chamber to the productschamber and thence back to the humidifying chamber, the circulated air thus carrying moisture to the dried tobacco for assimilation thereby.

Owing to the bunched condition of theA tobacco leaves, it is found that the leaves on the-outside of the bundle, and the free end portions of all the leaves, will attain a certain moisture content, Whereas leaves on the interior of the bundle will not assimilate moisture so readily. Accordingly, it is preferred to reverse the direction of ow of the conditioned air after it shall have been circulated for a given time in one direction. The effect of the reversal of the air ow is to apply pressure upon the partially humidifled-leaves of each bundle, and thus to spread or disperse such leaves and to open up the bundle, whereby the leaves on the inside of the bundle are exposed to contact more fully with the conditioned air. The treatment is thus facilitated and all the leaves comprised in the bundle are charged uniformly and thoroughly with moisture.

A form of apparatus for carrying into practice the process of conditioning tobacco in leaf form is shown in the accompanying drawings, Wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the machine, and f Figure 3 is a vertical cross section thereof.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the upper conditioning chamber of the apparatus shown in the preceding gure and illustrating the construction of the water vapor generator.

Fig. 5` is a diagrammatical representation of the electrical circuit employed for controlling the operation of the apparatus herein described.

Referring to the drawings, A is a housing of appropriate dimensions, the interior of which is divided by horizontal partitions a, b, near the top and the bottom to form a products-chamber B, a humidifying chamber or duct C, and a return flue or chamber D. The housing is further divided interiorly by vertical walls c, d, to produce vertical return flues E, F, the latter having communication at their lower ends with flue or chamber D, whereas at their upper ends said vertical flues connect with the humidifying chamber or duct C. As shown, the iioor or partition a of chamber B is perforated, at a1, for the free ow of conditioned air out of chamber B into return ue or chamber D, hence the downiiowing air divides and thence passes upwardly within the return iiues E, F, and thence flows into the humidifying duct or chamber C, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

Partition b constitutes the roof of productschamber A and the floor of humidifying duct or chamber C. The partition b is a water-tight,

tank supported in the housing, said tank comprising a tank chamber G, the upper part of which is open for substantially the Width and length of the housing, and said water tank having free and unobstructed communication with i into the products-chamber B. The tubes act to prevent the downflow of liquid water from the water tank into the products-chamber, but the main purpose of said tubes is to distribute the moisture saturated air within the productschamber in a manner to conduct such air into contact with all the tobacco hands, which hands are distributed in spaced order throughout the length, width, and depth of said products-chamber.

Air is circulated mechanically Within the apparatus by the motion of appropriate fans or blowers, two of which are shown at I, I. Said fans are mounted within the air conditioning chamber C, above the partition b, and adjacent the return ilues E, F; said fans having shafts i extending horizontally to the outside of the housing, and said fans are driven through belts and pulleys from motors i', supported on the roof of the housing, although the location of the fans and the driving mechanism therefor may be altered and modified by a skilled constructor.

According to my invention, water vapor is generated by heat in the presence of, and in contact with, water present in the tank G, the resultant water vapor rising from the water and passingv ment of the invention illustrated herein, l'. have elected to disclose heaters which utilize electrical energy, and to this end the water vapor generator embodies a series of heating elements or units J) which are in the nature of electrical resistances each suitably encased from the access thereto of water and moisture. The heater units are immersed in the water of tank G, wherein they are supported as by ledges g rising from the tank bottom b, and said heater units are shown as arranged in relatively spaced order, crosswise of the tank floor. Electrical current lis supplied and controlled by appropriate appliances. For example, the heater units are electrically connected with bus-bars y' insulated from the housing and the tank, and ranging lengthwise of the apparatus, so as to constitute a source of common supply for all the heater units employed. Said busbars are associated with a control panel J supported on the housing in an accessible position, said panel having the required electrical equipment such as a switch i', for the manual control of current to the bus-barsand the heater units.

Another control panel K is provided at the opposite end of the housing from panel J", said panel K being equipped with a manually operable switch lc for the control of current to the motors i for driving the fans I, I. Provision is thus made for heat control through switch i', and for air control (circulation) through switch lc. lt is desirable to control automatically the moisturel saturation of air by charging such air with the water vapor generated by the vaporization of water through the heat emanating from the submerged heater units J. The temperature of the conditioned air, and the saturation (more or less) of such air by water vapor, is indicated by wet and dry bulb thermometers, mounted onv control panel K in a position admitting of ready inspection and access. For controlling automatically the moisture of the air, the Wet bulb thermometer L is in the form of an instrument (hygrodeik) connected with the units of the submerged heater J for arresting the service of said heater in the generation of water vapor when the instrument indicates a determined moisture content say one hundred per cent (100%) saturation of the operating air, said instrument being inuenced by, or responsive to, the moisture present in the air.

The dry bulb thermometer L on panel K' indicates the temperature of the moisture-saturated air. In this invention, no air heaters are provided for heating the 'air to a determined temperature, but in recirculating the air by the action of the fans I, I', the air is charged with water vapor, emanating from the water present in the tank, and, accordingly, the air in the cycles of its recirculation is heated to substantially the temperature of the Water in the tank by absorption of the water vapor. The temperature of the air is indicated by the dry bulb thermometer, whereas the moisture saturation of the air is indicated by the hygrodeik.

Provision is made -for replenishing the supply of water in the tank, for keeping the water at a level required to submerge the heater units. Water is supplied by a pipe M, leading from an appropriate source, and to this pipe is attached a valve m adapted to be opened by the drop of a oat m when the water descends below a determined level in tank G, although under normal conditions the float closes the valve and shuts off the inflow of water.

Dry leaf tobacco in the form of tied bundles or hands are supported by appropriate4 means within products-chamber, B, said bundles being usually spaced apart in individual rows and the rows themselves being spaced horizontally and vertically in a manner-to substantially ll the products chamber throughout the length, width and depth thereof. rifhe bundles are desirably attached to rods or bars N which are supported demountably and lxedly within the products chamber, see Figures 2 and 3. The individual bundles are attached at the tied ends of their stems to the rods or bars, leaving unconfined the leaves of the individual bundles. Each bundle is in a dry condition at the initial stage of the humidifying or conditioning treatment, and said bundle may occupy either of the positions relatively to the supporting rod or bar shown in Figures 2 and 3, i. e., the bundle may hang downwardly from its point of attachment to the rod N, as seen at the left ofligure 2 and also shown in Figure 3, or the bundle may entend upwardly from the point of attachment to the rod N, as shown at the right in Figure 2. ln either position of the bundle, air is circulated at one stage of the conditioning treatment to :dow in a direction to avoid disturbance of the dried unconfined leaves, and at this stage, the dry leaves are conditioned by the assimilation o f moisture so that the leaves become flexible, more or less. When the leaves are in a exible condition, they can. without injury be spread or the bundle opened to fully expose the leaves to the accession of air and moisture, and such spreading is obtained in my invention at a subsequent stage in the treatment of thel leaf tobacco by reversing the direction of flow of the conditioned air the pressure of which reversed air flow acts to open or spread the bundle for Iexposure of the leaves present interiorly of said bundle, as shown at the right of Figure 2.

For reversing the air current, I provide a reversing switch mechanism O positioned on the control panel J or K', the operation of which switch drives the fan motors ll, I in one direction at one stage of the treatment, and in an opposite direction at a subsequent stage of the treatment, whereby the fans I, I', are controllable for directing the flow of conditioned air within the products chamber in the required direction or directions to meet the requirements of the service.

The tobacco under treatment within' the products-chamber is exposed at one stage or another of such treatment to the action of air conditioned both as to temperature and humidity. The cased tobacco is removed from the products chamber following the expiration of the time devoted to the treatment, and such removal from the product-chamber takes place, ordinarily, into a room or part of a factory the air. in which room may or may not be conditioned as to humidity, but which air frequently is at a different temperature from the temperature of the operating air at the rst, second, or other stages of the tobacco treatment.V It is desirable in the interest of keeping the tobacco in an unchanged condition when removed from the products-chamber into the outside air, i. e., the air present in the room or apartment wherein the apparatus is located, and in my invention the tobacco when'cased is further conditioned to bring it to a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the outside air, such further conditioning being obtained by changing the temperature of the tobacco product prior to removing such tobacco product from the products chamber. Such change in the tobacco temperature may require an increase in the temperature of the operating air or it may, and sometimes does, require a decrease in the temperature of the operating air, in order thatI the product may be in a condition or at a temperature corresponding, at least approximately, to the condition (temperature and humidity, either alone or conjunctively) of the outside air prevailing in the room into which the tobacco is stored when removed from the products chamber.

To meet the conditions of service, I provide the apparatus, in addition to the humidifier and the air circulating means, with cooling means -positioned in the path or paths of ow of the humidifed air, and when such cooling means are in service, the same act on the air to reduce the temperature to a determined point whereby the product temperature may be decreased to approximately the temperature of the air prevailing in the room outside the products-chamber. Said cooling means are shown as coils Q positioned within the return flues E, F, and with the coils are associated pipes q for feeding a cooling medium, such as cold water or other cooling agent, to said cooling coils. The iiow of the cooling medium is shut en. or set up by appropriate valves q in the pipes q, and under certain conditions, the flow of the cooling agent is controlled automatically by a thermostat R positioned on one of the panels J or K', and operatively connected with a Valve q. Said ther'- mostat R is exposed to the operating air flowing in the closed circulatory path aiorded by the products-chamber, the humidifying chamber, and the flues or ducts, and such thermostat is influenced by and responsive to the temperature of the operating air for opening and closing valve q2, whereby the flow of the cooling agent is controlled.

Assuming that the product at a certain stage in its treatment is at a temperature less than the temperature of the air in the room or apartment, it is desirable to continue the conditioning operation of the tobacco for a length of time for the operating air, humidied by water Vapor, to impart to such product a temperature corresponding approximately to the room temperature, at the same time the air gives off moisture to be assimilated by the leaf tobacco. It happens, also, that the tobacco undergoing treatment is increased in temperature above the room temperature, and under such conditions, the cooler is brought into service, either automatically by the thermostat R, or by operation of valves q', to set up a flow of the cooling agent within the cooling elements Q. The operating air nowing into contact with the cooler is reduced in temperature, and such air, at the required humidity, ows into -contact with the tobacco present in the products-chamber for reducing the temperature of the tobacco without, however, affecting its moisture content, the operating air being charged with humidity supplied by water vapor from the vapor generator. The water of condensation resulting from the contact of humidied air with the cooler is collected by a tray t below the cooler, and such water is discharged through a pipe or tray t'.

The operation is as follows: Water is supplied to tank G, and current is admitted to the heater units for the vaporization of water, the water vapor rising from the tank into the flue or chamber C. The machine is loaded cr charged with tobacco hands in dry leaf condition, and thereupon the motors are operated to drive the fans in one direction, for setting up the flow of air downwardly upon the suspended bundles at the left of Figure 2, or upwardly against the bundles supported at the right of Figure 2, such air flow being in a direction to avoid disturbance of the dry tobacco at the initial stages of the casing treatment. At such initial stage, the flowing air has a low moisture content and is at the prevailing outside temperature, but the moisture content of the air undergoing circulation and recirculation, is progressively increased or built up by the increment of the water vapor supplied by the vapor generator.

Due to the heat units given oi by the heater submerged in the water tank, the air is conditioned both as to temperature and humidity. The air is recirculated to attain the desired moisture saturation, for the reason that at the initial stage the conditioned air is owing through the products-chamber in one direction and into contact with the tobacco hands present therein, with the result that a certain percentage of moisture is assimilated by the tobacco, resulting in a decrease temporarily of the moisture content, at once restored by the further increment of water vapor from the vapor generator. The generation of water vapor and the assimilation of moisture by the tobacco take place concurrently with the flow of air in one direction under the action of the fans, but at a desirable stage in the casing of the tobacco, the fans are driven in an opposite direction to reverse the now of the conditioned air, the pressure of which on the unconfined flexible leaves of tobacco opens and spreads the bundles, for exposing the bundles interiorly thereof to the accession of moisture.

The operating air is substantially moisture saturated at all stages in the treatment of leaf tobacco, and at one or more of such stages, the operating air is at a determined temperature, which temperature is changed prior to the removal of the tobacco from the products-chamber, and which change in air temperature is desirable for bringing the tobacco to a temperature corresponding approximately to the prevailing temperature in the room into which the tobacco is removed from the products-room and in which room the tobacco is or may be stored for an appreciable time. Should the product temperature be less thany the room temperature, the treatment by humidied air is continued for the time required to condition the tobacco and bring it to the room temperature. If it happens, however, that the tobacco temperature exceeds the room temperature, then it is desirable to decrease the tobacco temperature to bring it to approximately the room temperature. Such" reduction is brought about by the action of the coolers brought into service either by operation of valves q', or thermostat R to set up the flow of the cooling medium in the coolers. Thepperating air flows into contact withl the coolers and the temperature of the airis reduced without eiect on the relative humidity of the operating air remains substantially 100%, andthe humidied air in a cooler condition flows into contact with the tobacco in a humidied condition, with the result that the product is reduced in temperature, also-without appreciable effect on the moisture content of suchhumidified product. I

In my invention tobacco is'cased by the as.-

similation of moisture suppliedfthere'to b'y air.

which is itself conditioned by moisturein theform of water vapor. The tobacco is permeated by moisture filling the pores andthe cellularstruc.-

ture of all its parts, with 'the result that the tobacco is in such a pliable `or exible condition that it is susceptible of marking without the rpossibility of injury to the leaf, thus contributing to the manipulation of the tobacco by hand or machinery in the manufacture of tobacco products.

It has been stated that my invention, in a broad sense, is useful in arts other than tobacco, as in the production of leather gloves, etc.

treatment of such products, the product at one stage of its manufacture is placed in the productschamber and exposed to the action of humidified air for a desirable period of time, to render pliable the leather components of the product and placing the product in a condition favorable for the subsequent manipulations required to complete the article.

It is to be understood that-where the term' saturated or saturation is used, that substantially saturated or substantial saturation is implied.

I claim:

1. In the art of casing tobacco, the process which consists in Aexposing bundled tobacco to the assimilation of moisture from humidifled air owing in one direction with respect to the bundled tobacco, and thereafter opening or spreading the leaf components of the bundle by pressure of air owing in an opposite direction relatively to the bundled tobacco.

2. In the art-of casing tobacco, the process which consists in suspending tobaccovin bundled condition within a substantially closed chamber, generating in a separate chamber water vapor by the action of heat in the presence of water, charging air with such water vapor for condi- For the tioning the air to a desirable moisture content, circulating the conditioned air within the two said chambers for the tobacco to assimilate moisture from the circulated air, rst causing the air in the chamber containing the tobacco to flow downwardly, and. subsequently changing the direction of flow of the circulated air and giving it a sufficient velocity whereby the air pressure opens the bundles for exposure to the access of moisture to the tobacco interiorly of said bundles. 1

3. A humidifying apparatus embodying a products chamber, a water vapor generator including a tank and a heater co-operating with said tank for effecting the vaporization'of water, said heater being out of direct contact with the air to substantially completely saturate the air with water vapor, means for circulating air within said productsv chamber and relatively to said generator whereby the air is conditioned by water vapor and such conditioned air flows within the products chamber, means for indicating the temperature of the flowing air, a temperature responsive controlling-means co-operating with said water vapor generator, and means for changing the direction of flow of the air within said products chamber.

yto open, whereby the assimilation of moisture in all portions of the hand of tobacco will be effected. 5. A process for casing tobacco comprising generating water v'apor by heating a body of liquid, passing a gas at substantially the same temperature as the liquid over the body of liquid to substantially completely saturate the gas with the vapors generated from the liquid body, vcausing the substantially completely moisture saturatedy gas to ow against the butt portion of a hand of tobacco and in a direction substantially parallel to the stems of the tobacco leaves in one stage of treatment, and subsequently causing the substantially, completely moisture saturated gas to flow in the oppositedirection against the tobacco.

6. 'A process for casing tobacco comprising supplying moisture to a conditioning gas by passing the gas over a body of water, heating the water to effect evolution of vapors to substantially completely saturate the gas solely from the water body,

lcontrolling the temperature of the gas solely by controlling the temperature .of the water body, causing the so conditioned gas while substantially completely saturated with moisture to flow against the butt portion of a hand of tobacco and in a direction substantially parallel to the stems of the tobacco leaves and at a subsequent stage of treatmentcausing the so conditioned gas to flow in the opposite direction against the hand of tobacco to insure uniform casing of the leaves of tobacco.

GORDON DON HARRIS;

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