Did You Know...
...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8151804 | Tobacco curing method A method of curing tobacco comprises drying a harvested tobacco plant in a controlled environment for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of at least one nitrosamine. The tobacco is first subjected to the controlled environment while at least a ... | 04/10/2012 |
| 7404406 | Tobacco processing Tobaccos are cured in a manner so as to provide tobaccos having extremely low tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) contents. Harvested Virginia tobacco is subjected to flue-curing so as to provide flue-cured tobacco. During the curing processing steps, contact of the... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7290485 | Method for re-hydrating dry crop with steam during the baling process A steam generator is controlled for applying steam for re-hydrating dry crop during the baling process so as to raise the temperature of the crop being treated with steam by an amount which is within a desired range known to result in bales of crop of good quality. | 11/06/2007 |
| 7025066 | Method of reducing the sucrose ester concentration of a tobacco mixture The flavor and aroma characteristics of the smoke of a tobacco blend incorporating Oriental tobacco are improved by subjecting that blend to heat treatment. Oriental tobacco having a relatively high sucrose ester content is combined with a second dissimilar Oriental... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7004177 | Method and device for detecting foreign bodies in cigarettes The invention relates to a method for detecting and selecting foreign parts in cigarettes, in which the tobacco is exposed in the vicinity of the cigarette maker to microwave radiation and both a signal SD relating to the tobacco density and a signal S | 02/28/2006 |
| 6931095 | System and method for irradiating large articles An irradiation assembly is effective to irradiate large articles, up to about 48 inches thick in an exemplary embodiment. The assembly provides radiation to an article from all sides in a 360 degree exposure range, and includes at least one irradiating subsystem tha... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6805134 | Tobacco processing Tobaccos are cured in a manner so as to provide tobaccos having extremely low tobacco specific nitrosamine (TSNA) contents. Harvested Virginia tobacco is subjected to flue-curing so as to provide flue-cured tobacco. During the curing processing steps, contact of the... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6637438 | Method for assay and removal of harmful toxins during processing of tobacco products A process and system for continuous assay and removal of toxins from tobacco. Products such as tobacco contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, and benzpyrene and its precursors, are subjected to treatment, generally in a solvent medium, to ... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6564808 | Method for reduction of tobacco specific nitrosamines Tobacco is treated with an effective amount of one or more bactericidal gases before or during curing to reduce or eliminate bacteria, bacterial activity and/or fungal activity from tobacco leaves, and/or to reduce or eliminate the amount of tobacco-speci... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6338348 | Method of treating tobacco to reduce nitrosamine content, and products produced thereby Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave radiation, at appropriate times ... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6311695 | Method of treating tobacco to reduce nitrosamine content, and products produced thereby Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave and/or higher frequency radiatio... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6135121 | Tobacco products having reduced nitrosamine content Methods of reducing the content of and preventing formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in harvested leafy plants such as tobacco and marijuana, are disclosed. The methods are directed to subjecting the plant to microwave radiation, at appropriate times ... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6048404 | Tobacco flavoring components of enhanced aromatic content and method of providing same Improved flavorful and aromatic tobacco materials and processes for producing flavorful and aromatic components from tobacco material are provided. The processes involve subjecting substantially dry liquid free tobacco material directly to heat treatment ... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6012883 | Hybrid lay-up tool A hybrid tool serves as a form on which constituent materials are applied for bonding or curing into a part in a desired configuration. It also serves as a holder for the bonded or cured materials in the originally applied position during subsequent machi... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5803081 | Tobacco and related products Tobacco products improved by the use of uncured, yellow tobacco low in tar and carcinogenic nitrosamines, treated by microwaving, or convection heating, or freeze drying to kill microbes responsible for curing, for use in smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco,... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5318049 | Method of and apparatus for drying a tobacco sample and determining the moisture content thereof A method of and an appratus for automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample and for then automatically determining the stem content of the tobacco sample are disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a dryer, such as a rotary drum dryer wit... | 06/07/1994 |
| 5235992 | Processes for producing flavor substances from tobacco and smoking articles made therewith Processes for producing flavor substances from tobacco are disclosed. The processes involve heating tobacco during a first staged heating to a first toasting temperature to drive off volatile materials; increasing the toasting temperature during a second ... | 08/17/1993 |
| 5139035 | Method of and apparatus for manipulating bales of condensed tobacco particles Bales of compressed tobacco ribs and/or tobacco leaf laminae having a moisture content of 8-11 percent are advanced past a battery of microwave generators or through one or more electric high frequency fields to raise the temperature of particles in the b... | 08/18/1992 |
| 5025813 | Method and apparatus for making tobacco shreds Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are heated microwaves, or in an to a temperature not less than 50° C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding machine without previous cooling and/or breaking up.... | 06/25/1991 |
| 4934385 | Method of and apparatus for treating uncured tobacco Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and conde... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4922933 | Tobacco separation or delamination method The constituents of a compacted tobacco mass can be easily separated by subjecting the mass to electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency range.... | 05/08/1990 |
| 4898189 | Method of and apparatus for treating uncured tobacco Uncured tobacco leaves are heated by microwaves or in an electric high-frequency field prior to subdivision into ribs and strips. The strips are separated from the ribs, preferably with a stream of conditioned air, and are thereupon heated again and conde... | 02/06/1990 |
| 4821747 | Process for treating tobacco and similar organic materials Apparatus to expand shredded material, the latter is impregnated with an inert organic liquid which is evaporated subsequently. The substantial portion of the impregnant is separated. To eliminate the residual amount of impregnate still contained in the m... | 04/18/1989 |
| 4799501 | Method and apparatus for making tobacco shreds Bales or portions of bales of relatively dry compressed tobacco leaf laminae or ribs are dielectrically heated by microwaves, or in an electric high-frequency field, to a temperature not less than 50° C., and are immediately admitted into a shredding mac... | 01/24/1989 |
| 4762137 | Heat transfer system for tobacco curing The heat transfer system is for drying agricultural products, especially tobacco, and comprises a plurality of evaporators associated with a condensor and a compressor in a closed circuit. Air is also circulated in a closed circuit, heat being provided by... | 08/09/1988 |
| 4756317 | Tobacco separation pretreatment system Packed tobacco leaves are pretreated by microwave generators with control sensors preliminary to separation.... | 07/12/1988 |
| 4600024 | Tobacco separation pretreatment system Packed tobacco leaves are pretreated by microwave generators with control sensors preliminary to separation.... | 07/15/1986 |
| 4590954 | Process for packaging leaf tobacco A method of treating leaf tobacco for storage includes removing the stems from the tobacco leaves, tightly packing the leaves in a container that is non-conductive and while the leaves have a relatively high moisture content; subjecting the packed leaves ... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4559956 | Method of and apparatus for curing tobacco In the curing of tobacco leaf in a curer heated air is circulated through the curer and controlled so that a first temperature is maintained in the curer for a given period of time. During this period the relative humidity level is reduced to a desired le... | 12/24/1985 |
| 4359059 | Process for the preparation of aromatic substances Aromatic substances to be applied to tobacco to improve aroma characteristics are prepared by exposing an alcoholic extract, which contains diterpenes and has been isolated from the surface resin of fresh tobacco plants, parts or from gum originating from... | 11/16/1982 |
| 4355648 | Method of curing tobacco Harvested green tobacco is cured by photobleaching followed by thermal browning. Photobleaching is preferably effected after incubation in vapors of an organic liquid or steam.... | 10/26/1982 |
| 4351346 | Process for the preparation of aromatic substances Aromatic substances to be applied to tobacco to improve aroma characteristics are prepared by exposing an alcoholic extract, which contains carotenoids and may additionally contain diterpenes and has been isolated from fresh tobacco plants, to ultraviolet... | 09/28/1982 |
| 4244381 | Upgraded tobacco stem material and its method of preparation A method of upgrading tobacco by-product material, such as stems, into a smokable filler component such that it can beneficially be blended with conventional tobacco filler to impart a mild smoke with low impact and no undesirable "woody taste" is disclos... | 01/13/1981 |
