U.S. patent application number 14/005079 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for method and apparatus for impregnating tobacco industry products with sensate constituents of botanicals.
This patent application is currently assigned to BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Louis Barber, Aaron Brookbank, Mark Cassell, Richard Hepworth, Andrew Mclellan, Robert Whiffen. Invention is credited to Louis Barber, Aaron Brookbank, Mark Cassell, Richard Hepworth, Andrew Mclellan, Robert Whiffen.
Application Number | 20140099442 14/005079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43980975 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140099442 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barber; Louis ; et
al. |
April 10, 2014 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING TOBACCO INDUSTRY PRODUCTS
WITH SENSATE CONSTITUENTS OF BOTANICALS
Abstract
A method and apparatus for impregnating tobacco industry
products with sensate constituents of botanicals by storing the
tobacco industry products and the botanicals separately and
applying heat and/or pressure to the apparatus to obtain a modified
taste and aroma profile, are disclosed.
Inventors: |
Barber; Louis; (London,
GB) ; Mclellan; Andrew; (London, GB) ;
Hepworth; Richard; (London, GB) ; Cassell; Mark;
(London, GB) ; Whiffen; Robert; (London, GB)
; Brookbank; Aaron; (London, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Barber; Louis
Mclellan; Andrew
Hepworth; Richard
Cassell; Mark
Whiffen; Robert
Brookbank; Aaron |
London
London
London
London
London
London |
|
GB
GB
GB
GB
GB
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
(INVESTMENTS) LIMITED
London
GB
|
Family ID: |
43980975 |
Appl. No.: |
14/005079 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
March 6, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/053799 |
371 Date: |
December 23, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
427/248.1 ;
118/50; 493/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 13/00 20130101;
A24B 3/12 20130101; A24B 15/303 20130101; A24D 3/048 20130101; A24B
15/186 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
427/248.1 ;
118/50; 493/39 |
International
Class: |
A24B 15/18 20060101
A24B015/18; A24D 3/04 20060101 A24D003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2011 |
GB |
1104311.4 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for impregnating a tobacco industry product with a
sensate constituent of a botanical, the apparatus comprising a
first portion for receiving the tobacco industry product and a
second portion for receiving the botanical, wherein the tobacco
industry product becomes impregnated by the sensate constituent of
the botanical when the first portion is pressurised and the sensate
constituent is released into the first portion.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second portion
is located within the first portion.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second portion
is located along a central axis of the first position.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second portion
comprises at least one mesh container.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mesh container
has a mesh size of between 200 and 250 microns.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second portion
is external to and connected to the first portion.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second portion
is configured to store the botanical in gaseous form.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is
pressurised to a pressure in a range between approximately 18 and
25 pounds per square inch.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heat
source to supply heat to the first portion and optionally to the
second portion.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first portion
and optionally the second portion are heated to a temperature in a
range between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius.
11. An apparatus for impregnating a tobacco industry product with a
sensate constituent of a botanical, the apparatus comprising: a
botanical storage chamber; a vapour source; and a tobacco storage
chamber, wherein the vapour source is disposed relative to the
botanical storage chamber so that, in use, vapour passes through
botanicals stored in the botanical storage chamber and impregnates
tobacco stored in the tobacco storage chamber with sensate
constituents of the botanical.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the vapour source
comprises a water receptacle containing water and a heat source
applied thereto.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the botanical
storage chamber is heated to 90.degree. C.
14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the tobacco is
stored in a rotary drum.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the botanical is
one of: coffee, juniper, menthol, and anise.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the tobacco
industry product is one of the following: cut tobacco, snus, filter
paper, filtration material, smoking articles, smoking article
containers or blanks for forming smoking article containers.
17. A method for impregnating a tobacco industry product with a
sensate constituent of a botanical, the method comprising: storing
the tobacco industry product in a first portion of an apparatus and
storing the botanical in a second portion of an apparatus;
pressurizing the first portion so that the tobacco industry product
becomes susceptible to impregnation by the sensate constituent of
the botanical; and releasing the sensate constituent into the first
portion so that the tobacco industry product and the sensate
constituent come into contact.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second portion is
located within the first portion.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second portion is
located along a central axis of the first portion.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second portion
comprises at least one mesh container.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the mesh container
has a mesh size of between 200 and 250 microns.
22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second portion is
external to and connected to the first portion.
23. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second portion is
a container for storing the botanical in gaseous form.
24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first portion is
pressurised to a pressure in a range between approximately 18 and
25 pounds per square inch.
25. The method according to claim 17, further comprising supplying
heat to the first portion and optionally to the second portion.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the first portion and
optionally the second portion are heated to a temperature in a
range between 20 and 45 degrees Celsius.
27. A method of impregnating a tobacco industry product with a
sensate constituent of a botanical, the method comprising: passing
vapour through a botanical product and subsequently mixing the
vapour with the tobacco industry product so that it becomes
impregnated with the sensate constituent of the botanical.
28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising heating
the botanical product to 90.degree. C.
29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising rotating
the tobacco industry product in a rotary drum.
30. The method according to claim 17, wherein the botanical
includes coffee, juniper, menthol or anise.
31. The method according to claim 17, wherein the tobacco industry
product is one of cut tobacco, snus, filter paper, filtration
material, smoking articles, smoking article containers and blanks
for forming smoking article containers.
32. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The invention relates to the field of tobacco industry
products.
[0002] It is known in the art, where permitted by local
regulations, to provide tobacco products, such as cigarettes,
cigars, snus, chewing tobacco and the like that include additives
in order to provide a modified taste and aroma profile compared
with tobacco products that lack additives. Examples of suitable
additives include menthol, coffee, juniper, elderflower, star anise
as well as many others.
[0003] Hitherto, such flavour additives have been applied to
tobacco industry products in ways such as mixing the additives with
tobacco prior to the formation of tobacco rods during the
manufacture of smoking articles. Alternatively, additives may be
applied to a wrapper circumscribing a tobacco rod. In this case the
additive may be provided in the form of an adhesive. In both of
these approaches a certain amount of contact between tobacco
product and additive is required.
[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method and apparatus for impregnating a tobacco industry
product with a sensate constituent of an botanical, the apparatus
comprising a first portion for receiving the tobacco industry
product and a second portion for receiving the botanical, wherein
the tobacco industry product becomes impregnated by the sensate
constituent of the botanical when the first portion is pressurised
and the sensate constituent is released into the first portion.
[0005] According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided an apparatus and method for impregnating a tobacco
industry product with a sensate constituent of a botanical, the
apparatus comprising a botanical storage chamber, a vapour source
and a tobacco storage chamber, wherein the vapour source is
disposed relative to the botanical storage chamber so that, in use,
vapour passes through botanicals stored in the botanical storage
chamber and impregnates tobacco stored in the tobacco storage
chamber with sensate constituents of the botanical.
[0006] So that the present invention may be more fully understood
embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of a pressure vessel
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a three dimensional view of a container for use in
conjunction with the pressure vessel of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a part exploded three dimensional view of a
pressure vessel according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of apparatus according to another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of a storage vessel used with the
apparatus of FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a cylindrical vessel 1 suitable for storing
tobacco industry product 5 and botanicals 10 at high pressure. In
FIG. 1 the tobacco industry product 5 is cut or shredded tobacco
however other tobacco industry products could equally be employed.
The term tobacco industry product should be understood to include
products used in the tobacco industry, such as snus, smoking
article filters, filtration material, entire smoking articles,
fully or partially assembled smoking article containers, blanks for
forming smoking article containers and so forth. Using blanks
rather than fully formed smoking article containers has the
advantage of conserving space.
[0013] In this embodiment of the invention the botanicals 10 are
stored in cylindrical containers 15 which may be stacked on top of
each other and placed inside, and along the central axis of, the
cylindrical vessel 1. When the containers 15 are placed inside the
vessel 1 that part of the vessel 1 surrounding the central stack of
containers 15 forms an annular chamber 20 in which the tobacco
industry product 5 may be stored.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows the containers 15 in more detail. The
containers 15 may have side walls 16 formed from wire mesh
stainless steel or aluminium although other materials that can
provide gaps in the surface may also be used as will be obvious to
the person skilled in the art. For example, perforated metal might
be employed to form the side walls 16. The containers 15 shown in
FIG. 2 have a solid base 17 although containers 15 with a mesh or
perforated metal base may also be used.
[0015] The containers 15 shown in FIG. 2 have side walls with a
mesh size of between 200 and 250 microns although different mesh
sizes may be used depending on factors such as the type of tobacco
industry product 5 or botanical 10 in order to allow the release,
from the containers 15 into the annular chamber 20, of those
constituents within the botanical 10 responsible for imparting
taste and aroma characteristics.
[0016] The botanical 10, being in a central position within the
vessel 1, may impart flavour to the surrounding tobacco industry
product 5 within the annular chamber 20. The botanical 10 may be
formed from botanicals such as menthol, juniper, coffee, anise or
any other botanical whose characteristics can be exploited in the
production and treatment of tobacco industry products. By storing
the botanical 10 in the containers 15 the botanical 10 may be kept
separate from the tobacco industry product 5.
[0017] An advantage of the arrangement of the containers 15 in the
cylindrical vessel 1 shown in FIG. 1 is that it allows effective
circulation within the annular chamber 20 of those constituents
contained in the botanical 10 that are responsible for imparting
flavour and aroma.
[0018] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, where
the vessel 1 is of a different shape to that shown in FIG. 1, the
stack of containers 15 may be placed in a non-central position
within the vessel 1. Alternatively, more than one stack of
containers 15 may be employed. In any case, the position of the
containers 15 containing the botanical 10 may be varied to ensure
an effective circulation of flavour and aroma imparting
constituents in the vessel 1.
[0019] After loading the annular chamber 20 of the vessel 1 with
tobacco industry product 5 and the central stack of mesh containers
15 with botanical 10, a lid 21 of the vessel 1 is closed. The
vessel 1 may then be pressurised via an air inlet 22. The pressure
inside the vessel 1 may be monitored using a pressure gauge 25. A
safety valve 30 may be used to release air from the vessel 1 in the
event that the internal air pressure exceeds a predetermined, safe
value. In use, the vessel 1 has been pressurised to between 18 and
25 pounds per square inch, hereinafter denoted as psi, resulting in
tobacco industry product 5 with a modified taste and aroma
profile.
[0020] A heat mat 35 may be placed beneath the vessel 1 to heat the
contents thereof. The increase in temperature obtained by applying
heat to the vessel 1 leads to an increase in the pressure inside
the vessel 1 assuming that the amount of air held inside the vessel
1 is kept substantially constant. Alternative heat sources that may
be employed to supply heat to the vessel 1 will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. In use, the vessel 1 has been heated to
temperatures of approximately 45 degrees Celsius (.degree. C.). In
the case where the vessel 1 is heated the tobacco industry product
5 may be treated with water prior to loading into the annular
chamber 20 so that the tobacco industry product 5 does not dry out
excessively.
[0021] After the contents of the vessel 1 have been stored under
high pressure for a predetermined period of time the pressure may
be released and the tobacco industry product 5 removed.
[0022] In embodiments of the present invention where the tobacco
industry product 5 is tobacco, tobacco rods may be formed for use
in smoking articles in a manner well known in the art. The tobacco
thus treated provides a different taste and aroma profile compared
with tobacco that has not undergone this process.
[0023] In addition to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is
also possible to store the tobacco industry product 5 in a tobacco
storage vessel 40 and store the botanical 10 in a botanical storage
vessel 50 separate from, and connected to, the chamber 40, as shown
in FIG. 3. Sensate constituents of the botanical 10 may then be
released into the chamber 40 and alter the flavour and aroma
characteristics of the tobacco industry product 5.
[0024] The tobacco storage vessel 40 shown in FIG. 3 comprises an
chamber 41 wherein the tobacco industry product 5 may be stored. A
mesh shelf 42 may be located inside the vessel 40 to support the
tobacco industry product 5 thereon. The storage vessel 40 may
comprise a lid 21 and pressure gauge 25 and a safety valve such as
the safety valve shown in FIG. 1 may also be provided.
[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the botanical 10 is stored
in the botanical storage vessel 50. The botanical 10 can be stored
in the botanical storage vessel 50 as a solid, for example in leaf
or berry form. Alternatively, the botanical 10 may be stored in the
form of a gaseous extract or as a pressurised liquid which may be
accompanied by a suitable propellant. In the latter case where the
botanical 10 is in gaseous or pressurised liquid form the botanical
storage vessel 50 may be modified to accommodate gaseous or liquid
contents in a way that would be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
[0026] Air may be pumped between the tobacco storage vessel 40 and
the botanical storage vessel 50 through tubing 51 using a pump 52.
The tubing 51 may be considered to comprise three portions and may
be constructed from any material suitable for conveying air that
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The first portion 51a
extends between the pump 52 and the botanical storage vessel 50.
The second portion 51b extends between the botanical storage vessel
50 and the tobacco storage vessel 40. The third portion extends
from the tobacco storage vessel 40 to the pump 52. Air may be
pumped by the pump 52 in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG.
3.
[0027] In use, air is pumped through the first portion 51a of the
tubing 51 into the botanical storage chamber 50. Sensate components
of the botanical 10 are conveyed in the air stream through the
second portion of tubing 51b into the tobacco storage vessel 40.
Inside the tobacco storage vessel 40 the air conveying sensate
constituents of the botanical 10 travels through the tobacco
industry product 5 stored in the chamber 41. In this part of the
process the tobacco industry product 5 becomes impregnated with
sensate constituents of the botanical 10. Air can exit the tobacco
storage vessel 40 through the third portion of tubing 51c. Air may
then be recirculated by the tubing 51 for a given amount of
time.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement comprising a
botanical storage vessel 60, a tobacco mixing drum 70 and a
peristaltic pump 80. Air is pumped through an air pipe 90a into the
botanical storage vessel 60 by the peristaltic pump 80. A pipe 90b
extends between the storage vessel 60 and the mixing drum 70 and a
further pipe 90c extends between the mixing drum 70 and the
peristaltic pump 80. The apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is operated at
atmospheric pressure.
[0029] The storage vessel 60 has an internal chamber 100 to hold
botanical products 10 such as juniper, coffee, star anise or any
other suitable botanical product. The botanical product 10 is
supported on a wire mesh 110 located in the lower portion 115 of
the chamber 100. Water is stored in the portion of the chamber 100
below the wire mesh 110. The sides of the vessel 60 are wrapped by
a heat jacket 120 and a heat mat 130 is placed under the vessel 60.
The heat jacket 120 and heat mat 130 are configured to apply heat
to the contents of the chamber 100. The pipe 90a which connects the
peristaltic pump 80 to the storage vessel 60 enters the vessel 60
from above. Air pumped into the vessel 60 then passes through an
internal pipe 140 located inside the vessel 60.
[0030] The tobacco mixing drum 70 is arranged to hold a quantity of
tobacco industry product 5 to be infused or impregnated with
sensate constituents from the botanical products 10 stored in the
storage vessel 60. The mixing drum 70 may be configured such that
it can be rotated about its central axis 145. Rotating the mixing
drum 70 facilitates the infusion of the tobacco industry product 5
with sensate constituents of the botanical products 10.
[0031] In use, air is pumped by the peristaltic pump 80 into the
storage vessel 60. The air is fed to the lower portion of the
internal chamber 100 through the internal pipe 140 and passes
through the water stored in the part of the chamber 100 below the
wire mesh 110 which supports the botanical product 10. Preferably,
the heat jacket 120 and heat mat 130 heat the storage vessel to
approximately 90.degree. C. The applied heat and the air flow act
to evaporate a substantial proportion of the water stored in the
storage vessel 60 creating water vapour. The air and water vapour
are forced upwards through the wire mesh 110 and through the
botanical product 10. The air is then forced out of the vessel 60
through the pipe 90b that connects the vessel 60 with the mixing
drum 70 which contains a quantity of tobacco industry product 5 to
be infused with the botanical product 10.
[0032] The mixing drum 70 is at a lower temperature than the
storage chamber 60 therefore water vapour conveyed into the drum 70
from the storage chamber 60 through the pipe 90b condenses in the
drum 70.
[0033] The drum 70 may be rotated about a cylindrical axis 145.
This allows a thorough circulation of the tobacco industry product
5 and condensed water within the drum 70. In this way the tobacco
industry product 5 becomes infused with sensate constituents from
the botanical product 10. The process described above is continued
until all the water stored in the storage chamber 60 has been
evaporated.
[0034] An alternative storage vessel 60 is shown in FIG. 5. The
vessel 60 is elongate with air from the peristaltic pump 80
entering the vessel from an inlet 150 located in the lower portion
of the vessel 60. Water is stored in a water storage chamber 150
and fed into the vessel 60 through a water inlet controlled by a
valve 180. As in the vessel 60 shown in FIG. 4 the vessel 60 shown
in FIG. 5 is heated by a heat jacket 120. Water is evaporated by
the air flow and applied heat. Water vapour is conveyed upwards
through the botanical product 10 stored in the chamber 100 and
supported on the wire mesh 110. The air containing water vapour
leaves the vessel 60 via an air outlet 190 and is conveyed towards
a mixing drum 70 as shown in FIG. 4, where the condensation of the
water vapour and infusion of the tobacco industry product 5 stored
therein take place.
[0035] In addition to the embodiments hereinbefore described
various modifications may be made to the apparatus and method of
impregnating tobacco industry products with botanicals without
departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the
following claims.
Experimental Data
[0036] Experiments were performed to analyse the effects of
different infusion conditions when infusing tobacco with juniper
using the apparatus described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and
5. Five samples were investigated using Solid Phase
Microextraction-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS)
analysis of aromatic constituents deposited onto the tobacco during
the infusion process.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sample Description of sample Juniper 1 2 kg
juniper berry milled from frozen, heated to 90.degree. C. using the
apparatus shown in FIG. 4 with 10 kg tobacco Juniper 2 2 kg juniper
berry milled from frozen heated to 90.degree. C. using the
apparatus shown in FIG. 3 with 10 kg tobacco Juniper 3 The tobacco
which had been impregnated in Juniper 1 was impregnated by an
additional 2 kg juniper berry milled from frozen heated to
90.degree. C. using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4. Juniper 4 The
tobacco which had been impregnated in Juniper 2 was impregnated by
an additional 2 kg juniper berry milled from frozen heated to
90.degree. C. using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4. Juniper control
sample Ground juniper berry - no tobacco. Tobacco control sample
Tobacco only - no juniper.
[0037] The results of the analysis are shown in Table 2. The amount
of a particular constituent present in each sample is expressed as
a mean of two replicates of the sample except for the juniper
control sample where only one replicate was analysed.
TABLE-US-00002 Tobacco Juniper control Juniper 1 Juniper 2 Juniper
3 Juniper 4 control Sample (.mu.g) (.mu.g) (.mu.g) (.mu.g) (.mu.g)
(.mu.g) Camphene 0.00 0.07 0.09 0.11 0.38 3.42 Phellandrene 0.00
0.20 0.21 0.30 0.91 8.42 Terpinene 0.00 0.55 0.56 0.75 1.59 7.25
Terpinolene 0.00 0.80 0.88 1.06 3.52 13.02 Linalool 0.00 0.02 0.02
0.04 0.06 0.14 Sabinene 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.07 0.08 0.33 hydrate
Carvomenthol 0.01 0.33 0.32 0.67 0.68 1.35 Terpineol 0.00 0.04 0.03
0.08 0.09 0.65 Citronellol 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 Bornyl
0.00 0.17 0.16 0.30 0.43 2.86 acetate Citronellyl 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.17 butyrate Cubebene 0.01 0.13 0.12 0.25 0.59 2.29
Longipinene 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.05 0.27 Ylangene 0.00 0.01 0.01
0.02 0.05 0.49 Elemene 0.01 0.11 0.11 0.19 0.35 2.47 Cubebene 0.00
0.02 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.96 Isoledene 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.23 2.77
Amorphene 0.00 0.15 0.13 0.25 0.48 6.28 Cadinene 0.00 0.16 0.12
0.26 0.47 7.44 Selinadiene 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.03 1.03
Longifolene 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.20
[0038] As can be seen from Table 2 constituents present in the
juniper control sample and absent from the tobacco control sample
are present in the samples Juniper 1-4 prepared in accordance with
the present invention.
* * * * *