| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 369 047 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
21.03.2007 Bulletin 2007/12 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
10.12.2003 Bulletin 2003/50 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 23.05.2003 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK |
| (30) |
Priority: |
04.06.2002 US 161793
|
| (71) |
Applicant: Lorillard Licensing Company, Llc |
|
Greensboro,
North Carolina 27404 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Douglas, Joseph Casrell
Julian,
North Carolina 27283 (US)
- Halverstadt, Dale Alan
Kernersville,
North Carolina 27284 (US)
- Smart, Dave Robertson
Greensboro,
North Carolina 27407 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Bankes, Stephen Charles Digby et al |
|
BARON & WARREN
19 South End
Kensington
London W8 5BU
London W8 5BU (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Process and apparatus for reordering expanded tabacco |
(57) A process reorders tobacco that has been expanded by impregnating the tobacco under
pressure with liquid carbon dioxide, forming a solid mass of the tobacco and solid
carbon dioxide, and heating the solid mass in an expansion zone to sublimate the carbon
dioxide and thereby expand the tobacco. The expanded tobacco is discharged from the
expansion zone and before the temperature of the expanded tobacco is below about 27°C,
the tobacco is contacted with humidifying air having a temperature of about 27°C to
about 33°C and a relative humidity of about 58% to about 88%.