Title: Cryogenic threshing of tobacco

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A process of removing tobacco stem and vein structures from tobacco leaves comprising:

a. cooling said leaves to a temperature of between 0.degree.C and about -210.degree.C whereby said tobacco leaves are frozen;

b. flexing said frozen leaves whereby tobacco lamina is broken free from said stem and vein structures; and

c. separating said stem and vein structures from said lamina.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the initial moisture content of said leaves is about 15% to about 25% by weight.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said leaves are cooled by contact with liquid nitrogen.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said leaves are cooled by contact with a dry ice/alcohol slurry.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein said liquid nitrogen is sprayed on said leaves.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said leaves are cooled to a temperature of about -30.degree.C. to about -60.degree.C.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said frozen leaves are flexed with a compression roller.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein said frozen leaves are flexed with a rotating doffer.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein said frozen leaves are flexed by tumbling.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein said frozen leaves are flexed by vibrating.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein said frozen leaves are subjected to a fluid jet.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein said separating is by air classification.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the separating step includes the step of removing unpulverized portions of lamina.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the separating step includes the step of preserving the stem and vein structures substantially intact.

Other info:

Inventors: Banks, Jon F. (Louisville, KY, US)
Livesay, Eugene F. (Louisville, KY, US)
Martin, Reynold W. (Union Beach, NJ, US)

Application Number: 547458
Filing Date: 1975-02-06
Publication_date: 1976-07-20
Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation (Louisville, KY)
Primary Class(es): 131/313
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2344106	Mar, 1944	Reed	131/136.
2661746	Dec, 1953	Schoenbaum et al.	131/127.
3507310	Apr, 1970	Forkner	146/226.
3837481	Sep, 1974	Stungis et al.	131/140.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Michell, Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Millin, V.
Attorney: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow & Garrett