Process and apparatus for the treatment of material such as tobacco

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(11)

EP 0 404 475 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	03.03.1993 Bulletin 1993/09

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	27.12.1990 Bulletin 1990/52

(21)	Application number: 90306604.1

(22)	Date of filing: 18.06.1990

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁵: A24B 15/18, A24B 15/24

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

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Priority:

19.06.1989 US 367589
10.05.1990 US 519841

(71)	Applicant: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
	Winston-Salem North Carolina 27102 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Kramer, Anatoly Ilich Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 (US)

(74)	Representative: Piesold, Alexander J. et al
	Frank B. Dehn & Co. Imperial House 15-19 Kingsway London WC2B 6UZ London WC2B 6UZ (GB)

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References cited: :

(54)	Process and apparatus for the treatment of material such as tobacco

(57) Process and apparatus for the treatment of tobacco material and other biological materials includes a mechanism comprising a dynamic seal having components (120,122) having cooperating movable surfaces for sealing a treatment chamber (50) that substantially prevents the passage of fluid at the treatment chamber pressure during movement of the components for introducing material into and removing material from the chamber. The seal components preferably comprise advanced structural ceramic components having a hardness of at least 900 kg/mm² and a flatness of at least 70 microinches (1.8 micrometres). The process is preferably conducted at supercritical gaseous conditions.

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