Kevin M Korte

US Patent:

6807969, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Aug 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/217509

Inventors:

Eric W. Wessinger - Macon GA
Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Robin Schlinger - Macon GA

Assignee:

Brown Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 704

US Classification:

131374, 131117, 131370

Abstract:

A method of processing reconstituted tobacco which reduces the attrition of reconstituted tobacco and increases the capacity of a primary processing facility by bypassing several conventional primary processing steps. This improved process allows reconstituted tobacco to bypass the primary processing steps up through final cut tobacco drying by separately cutting conventional reconstituted tobacco using a tobacco cutting machine. The method also includes the steps of drying reconstituted tobacco in a pre-dryer, forming sheets of reconstituted tobacco, cutting the sheets to a pre-selected width, transferring the sheets of pre-selected width to a primary processing facility, feeding the sheets of pre-selected width to a tobacco cutting machine, the sheets being cut to a pre-selected size, and blending the pre-selected size cut reconstituted tobacco with conventional cut tobacco.

US Patent:

45179921, May 21, 1985

Filed:

May 10, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/608842

Inventors:

Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Daniel D. Snyder - Louisville KY

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 304
A24B 900

US Classification:

131304

Abstract:

A tobacco treating apparatus including an outer, rotatable, hollow drum having a tobacco inlet at one end and a tobacco outlet at the opposite end with an inner, hollow drum extending through the tobacco inlet end, generally coaxial with the outer drum and extending a distance longitudinally into the outer drum a distance less than the entire length of the outer drum. The outer and inner drums cooperate to define an annular gas flow-through passageway which is open to an exhaust chamber. Tobacco to be treated is introduced into the inner drum and flows therefrom into the outer drum while a stream of tobacco treating gas is introduced into the tobacco outlet end to flow in counter-current direction to the flow of tobacco through the outer drum so that virtually all of the tobacco is contacted and treated by the gas. The treating gas leaves the outer drum through the annular flow-through passageway and into the exhaust air chamber from which it is exhausted from the apparatus. Baffles are located in the annular flow-through passageway to define a sinuous path to be followed by the gas in traversing the annular passageway in order to separate entrained particulate material from the treating gas before the treating gas enters the exhaust chamber.

US Patent:

45289956, Jul 16, 1985

Filed:

Oct 13, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/541752

Inventors:

Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Richard D. Falter - Macon GA

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 318
F26B 308

US Classification:

131304

Abstract:

An apparatus for treating a tobacco as it is conveyed through the apparatus includes a heater for heating the treating and conveying gas, a tobacco-gas separator device for separating the treated tobacco from the treating and conveying gas, a duct fluidity interconnecting the heater with the tobacco-gas separator device, a venturi located in the duct, and a tobacco feed device for introducing tobacco to be treated into the throat of the venturi to be entrained by the treating gas stream between the heater device and tobacco-gas separator device. The separated treating gas is returned to the heater device for reuse in treating more tobacco. The apparatus further includes a venturi which maintains a substantially zero internal atmospheric pressure at the tobacco feed device to prevent the escape of treating gas from the apparatus or entry of ambient air into the apparatus.

US Patent:

47007222, Oct 20, 1987

Filed:

May 12, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/861897

Inventors:

Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Elmer Litzinger - Louisville KY
Dan T. Wu - Surabaya, ID

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 1520
A24B 1528

US Classification:

131309

Abstract:

A method of treating tobacco with a strong acid to inhibit alkaloid loss during drying. The tobacco is then treated with weak base to neutralize the acid. The preferred strong acid is phosphoric. The preferred weak base is ammonium hydroxide. An added benefit of this treatment is burn retardation by ammonium phosphates resulting in cigarette puff number increase.

US Patent:

46306196, Dec 23, 1986

Filed:

Dec 16, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/566750

Inventors:

Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Dan T. Wu - Surabaya, ID

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 318

US Classification:

131296

Abstract:

An improved tobacco treating process comprising cooling tobacco in a liquid nitrogen bath, impregnating the mixture with carbon dioxide gas under preselected pressure conditions, releasing the pressure and subjecting the so treated tobacco to drying gases with temperatures at least above about 250. degree. F. with wet bulb temperatures in the range of at least about 150. degree. F. with a maximum of 212. degree. F.

US Patent:

47608544, Aug 2, 1988

Filed:

Dec 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/803450

Inventors:

John N. Jewell - Louisville KY
Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 318

US Classification:

131291

Abstract:

An improved tobacco treating expansion process involving controlling the moisture content of tobacco and the pre-separator residence time thereof in a treatment of the moisture controlled tobacco under preselected pressures and temperatures so that the tobacco at exit from the drying step of the process has a moisture content in the range of approximately 9% to approximately 15% oven volatiles by weight and fill values at least equivalent to fill values of tobaccos dried to a lower moisture content not exceeding 6% oven volatiles.

US Patent:

45664684, Jan 28, 1986

Filed:

May 25, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/498000

Inventors:

Leroy R. Sachleben - Louisville KY
Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Daniel D. Snyder - Louisville KY
Terry L. Allen - North Augusta SC

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 1524
A24B 1526

US Classification:

131297

Abstract:

A process and apparatus for producing a smoking tobacco having a low nitrate content includes at least one stage through which a tobacco having a relatively high nitrate content, for example burley tobacco, continuously passes for continuous nitrate removal by dissolution. In the nitrate removal stage, a solvent is added to, for example, the burley tobacco to form a slurry. The free solvent, including dissolved nitrates, is decanted from the slurry leaving saturated burley tobacco. The saturated burley tobacco is subjected to an expression pressure to remove a further amount of solvent and dissolved nitrates therefrom. After the burley tobacco leaves the nitrate removing stage, it is mixed with another tobacco, such as, for example, a flue-cured tobacco. The tobacco mixture is then expanded and dried to a moisture content suitable for use in a smoking article. In order to provide a continuous uniform quantity of the tobacco mixture to the expanding-drying step, the mixture is bulked upon leaving the mixing step.

US Patent:

45289948, Jul 16, 1985

Filed:

Dec 16, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/562254

Inventors:

Kevin R. Korte - Louisville KY
Dan T. Wu - Surabaya, ID

Assignee:

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation - Louisville KY

International Classification:

A24B 318

US Classification:

131296

Abstract:

An improved tobacco treating process wherein fill value improvement can be obtained with less energy and less carbon dioxide requirements comprising mixing tobacco with finely divided solid CO. sub. 2 at controlled preselected parts by weight, impregnating the mixture with carbon dioxide gas under preselected pressure conditions, releasing the pressure and subjecting the so treated tobacco to drying gases with temperatures at least above 250. degree. F. with wet bulb temperatures in the range of at least about 150. degree. F. to a maximum of 212. degree. F.