PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR EXPANDING VOLUME OF THE CUT TOBACCO Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: tobacco industry. SUBSTANCE: cut tobacco having moisture content of at least 17% is introduced into chamber 1 and exposed to ultra-high frequency energy concurrently with thermal treatment. In the process the tobacco is held in a fluidized condition. The chamber is divided by resonators 2 into sections for directing microwaves onto tobacco. Each section is overlain by a magnetic tape recorder. The magnetic tape recorders are spaced apart at a distance being a multiple of λ, (l/2 - is a wave length) ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 λ. Received in the chamber is a double table, its interior communicating with ducts 10. The latter are used for supplying heated air to the chamber. The table is provided with a vibratory electric drive. EFFECT: intensified drying process. 1 dwg, 3 tbl