Process of manufacturing smokeless tobacco articles and smokeless tobacco article for oral consumption

Abstract

In a process of manufacturing smokeless tobacco articles on a rod-making device, an endless tobacco web ( 1 a ), the filler web, is shaped into an endless rod ( 1 b ), preferably by use of a funnel-like formatting device ( 4 ). Another endless web ( 5 a ), the wrapper web, is provided as a wrapper and wrapped around the endless rod ( 1 b ). The endless wrapped rod is cut into individual cylindrical portions ( 11 ).

1 . Process of manufacturing smokeless tobacco articles on a rod-making device, comprising the steps of:
 shaping an endless tobacco web, the filler web, into an endless rod, preferably by use of a funnel-like formatting device,   providing another endless web, the wrapper web, as a wrapper and wrapping the endless rod with that wrapper,   cutting the endless wrapped rod into single cylindrical portions.   
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the filler web is provided in one of the following basic forms: paper-type reconstituted tobacco web, slurry-type reconstituted tobacco web, cellulosic web coated with a tobacco material. 
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the seam of the wrapper wrapped around the endless rod is glued before performing the cutting step. 
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that additives are applied to the filler web before performing the shaping step. 
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the additives are applied as an aqueous solution or emulsion by sizing or spraying. 
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the additives comprise at least one substance selected from the substances included in the following list:
 water, polyols, humectants, sugars, sweeteners, preservatives, salts, acids, taste enhancers, cocoa and cocoa products, liquorice and liquorice products, thickeners, starches, emulsifiers, fibres, artificial and natural flavours, colouring agents and dyes, whiteners, glues.   
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the filler web has a thickness in the range of from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm and a width in the range of from 100 mm to 1000 mm. 
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wrapper web has a thickness in the range of from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm and a width in the range of from 15 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a second wrapper web is provided which is applied before performing the cutting step, the second wrapper web preferably being wrapped simultaneously with the wrapper web. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the second wrapper web has a larger width than the wrapper web. 
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, after performing the cutting step, the respective cylindrical portions are provided with an outer wrapper. 
     
     
         12 . Process according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the outer wrapper is supplied from an endless hose that is cut to length after accommodating respective cylindrical portion, the outer wrapper preferably having a larger length than the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         13 . Process according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the outer wrapper is supplied from a web that is wrapped around a respective cylindrical portion and cut to length, the outer wrapper preferably having a larger length than the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         14 . Process according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the outer wrapper contains a glue, preferably a hot-melt glue. 
     
     
         15 . Process according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the outer wrapper containing a respective cylindrical portion is sealed to form a single portion, preferably the outer wrapper having a larger length than the cylindrical portion and being sealed at both ends. 
     
     
         16 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, after performing the cutting step, the tobacco in the respective cylindrical portions is pressed in axial direction from both ends to form void spaces inside the wrapper in both end regions of a respective cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         17 . Process according to  claim 16 , characterized in that, after formation of the void spaces, the wrapper in both end regions of a respective cylindrical portion is pressed and sealed to form an article that is closed on both axial ends. 
     
     
         18 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a respective generally cylindrical article formed so far is pressed into an elliptic cylindrical shape or a cushion-like shape. 
     
     
         19 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a respective tobacco article has a length in the range of from 5 mm to 40 mm, preferably in the range of from 8 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         20 . Use of a tobacco article manufactured according to  claim 1  as a smokeless tobacco article. 
     
     
         21 . Use according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the tobacco article is a chewing tobacco article. 
     
     
         22 . Use according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the chewing tobacco article is a single chewing tobacco portion. 
     
     
         23 . Smokeless tobacco article for oral consumption, preferably chewing, manufactured by the process defined in  claim 1 , comprising:
 an inner portion comprising a multiple-folded tobacco web material as filler material and   one or more wrapping layers.   
     
     
         24 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the filler material comprises one of the following materials: paper-type reconstituted tobacco, slurry-type reconstituted tobacco, cellulosic web material coated with a tobacco material. 
     
     
         25 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the filler material contains additives comprising at least one substance selected from the substances included in the following list: water, polyols, humectants, sugars, sweeteners, preservatives, salts, acids, taste enhancers, cocoa and cocoa products, liquorice and liquorice products, thickeners, starches, emulsifiers, fibres, artificial and natural flavours, colouring agents and dyes, whiteners and glues. 
     
     
         26 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized in that at least one of the wrapping layers is made of one of the materials selected from the following list: paper-type reconstituted tobacco, slurry-type reconstituted tobacco, cellulosic web material coated with a tobacco material, water-permeable fleece material made of cellulose or modified cellulose, water-dissolvable film. 
     
     
         27 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized by a generally cylindrical shape with both axial ends being left unwrapped. 
     
     
         28 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 27 , characterized by a diameter in the range of from 4 mm to 20 mm, preferentially of from 5 mm to 12 mm. 
     
     
         29 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized by a cushion-like shape and being completely enclosed by at least one of the wrapping layers. 
     
     
         30 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 29 , characterized by a width and a height in the range of from 3 mm to 25 mm, preferentially of from 5 mm to 15 mm. 
     
     
         31 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized by a length in the range of from 5 mm to 40 mm, preferably in the range of from 8 mm to 20 mm. 
     
     
         32 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the tobacco content is higher than 50%, preferably higher than 75%, related to dry weight. 
     
     
         33 . Smokeless tobacco article according to  claim 23 , characterized by a nicotine content of from 0.3% to 3.5%, preferably of from 0.5% to 2.0%, related to dry weight.