Method for judging suitable stem extraction water content of cigar tobacco leaves and application

Abstract

The invention provides a method for judging suitable stem extraction water content of cigar tobacco leaves and application. According to the method, a texture analyzer is mainly used for detecting the leaf-stem separating force and the tobacco leaf tensile strength of different water contents under the constant-temperature condition, the leaf-stem binding force and the tensile strength under different water contents are compared, and the cigar tobacco leaf water content interval corresponding to the minimum value of the cigar tobacco leaf-stem binding force and the maximum value of the tensile strength is the water content range suitable for stem extraction; therefore, the moisture content condition suitable for stem extraction of the fermented tobacco leaves is objectively judged; the determination method has the characteristics of good accuracy, sensitivity, objectivity and the like of a detection result. The tobacco leaf fermentation time node can be accurately controlled by monitoring the water content of the fermented tobacco leaves by further utilizing the suitable stem extraction water content of the cigar tobacco leaves, and the raw material utilization rate is increased.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of cigar production, and in particular to a method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for smoking stems and an application thereof. Background Art

[0002] Domestic handmade cigar consumption continues to improve, and the cigar manufacturing industry is experiencing rapid growth. Cigar raw materials have become a significant constraint on the growth of domestic cigars. Cigars are made primarily from cigar tobacco leaves as the filler, and cigar tobacco or reconstituted tobacco leaves as the wrapper. Through a specific processing process, they are produced to create a tobacco product with the characteristic cigar flavor. During the raw material processing process, the wrapper tobacco leaves undergo stemming. This involves manually removing the main veins from the fermented tobacco leaves, separating the main veins and ribs from the leaves. Determining the timing of stemming the wrapper is crucial for ensuring the quality of handmade cigar wrappers and is an essential technical research area in the cigar manufacturing industry. Currently, stemming the wrapper of handmade cigars is still a matter of empirical control, influenced by both human factors and the moisture content of the fermented tobacco leaves. Due to the varying origins and grades of the raw materials, uniformly controlling the fermentation time is difficult. Low fermentation levels and low moisture content can easily cause wrapper leaves to tear during the stemming process, failing to meet integrity requirements. High fermentation levels and high moisture content weaken the wrapper leaves, leading to defects such as breakage during wrapping and failing to meet quality requirements. Furthermore, with increasing production, the shortage of wrapper raw materials is becoming increasingly prominent, prompting industrial companies to improve the control precision of the wrapper fermentation process to increase economic value. In particular, determining the optimal moisture content for stemming relies primarily on fermentation time, which is detrimental to controlling wrapper strength requirements during stemming and rolling.

[0003] Texture Profile Analysis (TPA), also known as the TwoBite Test or physical property analyzer, is a mechanical testing instrument developed to simulate human touch to test samples and conduct sensory evaluation of texture. It is an instrument that can perform quantitative testing accurately, quickly, and effectively, is easy to operate, and is not affected by human factors. Therefore, it is widely used in the study of mechanical properties.

[0004] Invention patent application CN 117517070 A "A method for measuring the softness of tobacco leaves using a texture analyzer" uses a texture analyzer to measure the softness of tobacco leaves, but does not measure the processing strength and cannot be directly applied to the production process.

[0005] Therefore, the existing technology has problems such as being unable to determine the fermentation moisture content of the wrapper tobacco leaves, being unable to quantify some process indicators, and having low raw material utilization rate. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention proposes a method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for smoking and its application to solve the above problems.

[0007] Vein cohesion indicates the ease of stem extraction, specifically the ease with which the leaf separates from the main vein. As moisture content increases, vein cohesion decreases before stabilizing. Leaf tensile strength indicates the wrapper's resilience to the upper layer. Generally, the greater the tensile strength, the better the wrapper binds the inner tobacco. Tensile strength increases with moisture content, initially increasing and then decreasing. Low moisture content results in greater leaf brittleness (low tensile strength), while increasing strength increases. However, after reaching a certain point, the leaf fibers become damaged, and tensile strength decreases. Based on this, the present invention mainly uses a texture analyzer to detect the leaf stem separation force and tobacco leaf tensile strength at different moisture contents, compares the leaf stem bonding force and tensile strength at different moisture contents, and the cigar tobacco leaf moisture content range corresponding to the minimum leaf stem bonding force and the maximum tensile strength is the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction; the present invention further uses the cigar tobacco leaf moisture content suitable for stem extraction to monitor the moisture content of fermented tobacco leaves, thereby achieving precise control of the tobacco leaf fermentation time node and improving raw material utilization.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the technical solution of the present invention is: A method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for stem extraction comprises measuring the stem cohesion and tensile strength of cigar tobacco leaves at different moisture contents under constant temperature conditions, wherein the moisture content range of the cigar tobacco leaves corresponding to the minimum stem cohesion and the maximum tensile strength is the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction.

[0009] Furthermore, the determination method comprises the steps of: Preparation of leaf stem separation samples: Using cigar tobacco leaves as the object, preparing leaf stem separation test samples of cigar tobacco leaves with a certain moisture content at the preset temperature, wherein the number of the leaf stem separation test samples is not less than 30; Measuring the leaf stem binding strength: measuring the leaf stem binding strength of the leaf stem separation test sample to obtain the leaf stem binding strength at the certain moisture content; Preparation of tensile strength samples: Using the same cigar tobacco leaf from which the stem separation test sample has been prepared, prepare tensile strength test samples, wherein the number of tensile strength test samples is not less than 30; Tensile strength measurement: measuring the tensile strength of the tensile strength test sample to obtain the tensile strength at the certain moisture content; Repeated measurement: Repeat the steps of preparing the leaf stem separation sample to measuring the tensile strength, and measure the leaf stem bonding force and tensile strength of cigar tobacco leaves at different moisture contents at the preset temperature; Moisture content determination: Compare the stem cohesion and tensile strength of cigar tobacco leaves with different moisture contents. The moisture content range of the cigar tobacco leaves corresponding to the minimum stem cohesion and maximum tensile strength is the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction.

[0010] The steps of preparing the leaf stem separation sample include: selecting a plurality of cigar leaves to be stemmed from the same batch of cigar leaves, placing the cigar leaves to be stemmed in a constant temperature and humidity chamber for moisture balance treatment to obtain cigar leaves with a certain moisture content, wherein the constant temperature environment temperature is 18°C ​​to 22°C, and the certain moisture content is 25% to 36%; and then preparing the leaf stem separation test sample from the middle part of the cigar leaves with a certain moisture content. The cigar leaves to be stemmed are preferably cigar leaves of the same grade, origin, variety and year. Based on the fact that the moisture content of cigar leaves at the same temperature and humidity is the same, the temperature and relative humidity are controlled to achieve the purpose of controlling the different moisture contents of cigar leaves.

[0011] The step of measuring the leaf stem binding force includes: measuring the leaf stem binding force of each leaf stem separation test sample using a texture analyzer, and obtaining at least 30 leaf stem binding force data at the certain moisture content. Preferably, in this step, the detection parameters of the texture analyzer include: the test mode is tension, the measurement speed is 2-4 mm / s, and the post-measurement speed is 7-13 mm / s; the target mode is displacement, and the displacement is 17-23 mm.

[0012] The tensile strength measurement step includes: measuring the tensile strength of each tensile strength test sample using the texture analyzer, and obtaining at least 30 tensile strength data at the certain moisture content. Preferably, in this step, the detection parameters of the texture analyzer include: the test mode is tension, the pre-measurement speed is 0.3-0.7 mm / s, the measurement speed is 0.3-0.7 mm / s, and the post-measurement speed is 7-13 mm / s; the target mode is displacement, the displacement is 7-13 mm, the trigger force is 3-7 g, and the trigger mode is automatic.

[0013] The present invention provides an application of a method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for stem extraction in monitoring the fermentation degree of cigar tobacco leaves.

[0014] Specifically, because the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for stem extraction is closely related to the grade, origin, variety, and year of the cigar tobacco leaves, different cigar tobacco leaves also have different moisture contents suitable for stem extraction. Therefore, the moisture content suitable for stem extraction of cigar tobacco leaves from the same batch is first sampled and measured, and then the moisture content of the same batch of cigar tobacco leaves during fermentation is monitored. When the moisture content of the fermented cigar tobacco leaves falls within the range of the suitable moisture content for stem extraction, the fermentation of the cigar tobacco leaves is terminated, and fermented cigar tobacco leaves suitable for stem extraction are obtained. This allows for precise control of the fermentation time of the cigar tobacco leaves and improves the utilization rate of raw materials.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) The stem cohesion and tensile strength of fermented tobacco leaves at a specific moisture content are quantitatively measured using a texture analyzer. The average stem cohesion and tensile strength of the tested tobacco leaves, measured 30 times at the same moisture content, are used as data for evaluating the moisture content of the tested tobacco leaves suitable for stem extraction. By this method, the test results of the stem cohesion and tensile strength of the fermented tobacco leaves are quantitatively expressed, and the specific data are used as a basis for comparison to objectively determine the moisture content conditions suitable for stem extraction of the fermented tobacco leaves.

[0016] 2) The test results have good accuracy, sensitivity and objectivity, and are highly consistent with the test results of cigar tobacco fermentation operators, thus elevating the determination of suitable stem moisture content from a traditional vague concept to a standard for objectively evaluating the degree of tobacco fermentation based on specific data.

[0017] 3) By using a texture analyzer to simulate human touch, the samples are analyzed and tested, overcoming the problem that traditional sensory evaluation methods such as visual inspection and hand touch are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also unable to quantify the suitability of tobacco leaves for smoking. This method is simple to operate, is not subject to human interference, has high detection sensitivity, and good reproducibility. It uses quantitative indicators to objectively and comprehensively evaluate the suitability of cigar tobacco leaves for smoking, which can better serve cigarette companies.

[0018] Therefore, the above-mentioned technical solution provided by the present invention uses a texture analyzer to detect the leaf stem separation force and tobacco leaf tensile strength at different moisture contents, and obtains a cigar tobacco leaf suitable for stem drawing moisture content range. This determination method is scientific and accurate, and can accurately control the tobacco leaf fermentation time node and improve the raw material utilization rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 The present invention is a flow chart of a method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for smoking stems; Figure 2 This is a diagram of the sample preparation and testing process for leaf stem binding strength; Figure 3 This is a diagram of the tensile strength sample preparation and testing process; Figure 4This is the curve diagram of the sample's leaf stem bonding force, tensile strength and moisture content; Figure 5 This is a photo of a cigar tobacco leaf with a moisture content of 26.10% after stemming and a photo of the stem and leaf obtained through image recognition; Figure 6 This is a photo of a cigar tobacco leaf with a moisture content of 29.30% after stemming and a photo of the stem and leaf obtained through image recognition; Figure 7 This is a photo of a cigar tobacco leaf with a moisture content of 32.70% after stemming and a photo of the stem and leaf obtained through image recognition; Figure 8 This is a photo of a cigar tobacco leaf with a moisture content of 35.80% after stemming and a photo of the stem and leaf obtained through image recognition; Figure 9 This is a graph showing the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves and the number of stem-leaf pixels / number of stems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below through specific implementation methods.

[0021] Unless otherwise specified, the terms used in the present invention are commonly used terms in the relevant field. The technical means used in the examples, such as preparation processes, testing methods, etc., are all conventional means well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the examples of the present invention refer to the current industry standard "Determination of Physical Properties of Tobacco Leaves" (YQ-GY / T 7.3-2023 and YQ-GY / T 7.5-2023) to determine the tensile strength and stem cohesion of cigar tobacco leaves, and the reagents and products used are also commercially available.

[0022] Example 1 See also Figure 1 This embodiment provides a method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for smoking, which includes: S1: Equilibrating the moisture content of the cigar leaves to be stemmed, specifically: placing the cigar leaves to be stemmed in a constant temperature environment of 20°C for at least 48 hours to equilibrate the moisture content of the cigar leaves to be tested. The cigar leaves are Dominican Capa 18-ECE-Connecticut 2020.

[0023] S2: The moisture content of the cigar tobacco leaves after equilibrium was tested using the oven method and recorded. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0024] S3: Prepare Figure 2The leaf stem separation test sample shown in the left image is prepared as follows: After moisture equilibration, the sample is prepared with a main vein length of 25mm ± 0.5mm and a leaf length perpendicular to the main vein of at least 15mm. The sample should be located in the middle of the tobacco leaf and contain only one side vein, which should be located in the middle of the sample. Only one sample is prepared per leaf. A 5.0mm ± 0.5mm leaf stem separation cut is manually made near the tip of the leaf, where the leaf meets the main vein.

[0025] S4: Setting the detection parameters of the texture analyzer, including the test mode is tension, the speed during the test is 3.0 mm / s, the speed after the test is 10.0 mm / s, the target mode is displacement, and the displacement is 20.0 mm.

[0026] S5: Please refer to Figure 2 (Right picture), the leaf stem separation test sample to be tested is clamped on the special fixture for testing the leaf stem separation force of the texture analyzer; the leaf stem separation force of the tobacco leaf is measured using the texture analyzer, and the maximum force during the leaf stem separation force measurement process is recorded.

[0027] S6: Repeat step S5 for different samples to be tested from the same batch of tobacco leaves, repeat the measurement for no less than 30 times, and record the data for each time. Calculate the average value, which is the stem binding strength of the cigar tobacco leaves at that moisture content (the measured value is in g).

[0028] S7: prepare the following under a certain moisture content: Figure 3 The tensile strength test specimen shown in the left image is prepared after moisture equilibration, with a width of 15 mm ± 0.1 mm and a length of at least 50 mm. The two long sides of the test specimen are parallel, with a parallelism within ± 0.1 mm. The test specimen excludes the main and side veins of the tobacco leaf, and only one test specimen is prepared for each tobacco leaf or sheet.

[0029] S8: Setting the detection parameters of the texture analyzer, including the test mode is tensile, the pre-measurement speed is 0.5 mm / s, the measurement speed is 0.5 mm / s, the post-measurement speed is 10.0 mm / s, the target mode is displacement, the displacement is 10.0 mm, the trigger force is 5.0 g, and the trigger mode is automatic.

[0030] S9: Please refer to Figure 3 (Right picture) The tensile strength test sample to be tested is clamped on a special fixture for tensile strength testing of a texture analyzer. The tensile strength of the tobacco leaf is measured using the texture analyzer, and the maximum force during the tensile strength measurement process is recorded.

[0031] S10: Repeat step S9 for different samples to be tested from the same batch of tobacco leaves for no less than 30 times, and record the data for each time. Calculate the average value, which is the tensile strength of the cigar tobacco leaves at that moisture content (measured value in g); S11: Repeat S3-S10 to measure the leaf stem binding force and tensile strength at different moisture contents. The results are shown in Table 1 and Figure 4 shown.

[0032] Table 1 Results of leaf stem bonding strength and tensile strength at different moisture contents Moisture content 26.10% 29.30% 32.70% 35.80% Tensile strength (g) 129 149 139 108 Branch binding force (g) 190 184 151 152 S12: Compare the leaf stem binding force and tensile strength under different moisture contents. Under the premise of meeting the moisture content requirements of cigar wrapper rolling, the moisture content range of cigar tobacco leaves corresponding to the minimum leaf stem binding force and the maximum tensile strength is the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction. Figure 4 As can be seen from the graph, as the wrapper's moisture content increases from 29.3% to 32.7%, the branch vein cohesion decreases, with little change as the moisture content increases. The tensile strength reaches its maximum value, then gradually decreases as the moisture content increases. Since the moisture content of cigar wrappers ranges from 26% to 34%, based on comprehensive considerations, the cigar tobacco leaf moisture content of 29.3% to 32.7% in this example is considered to be the ideal range for wrapper stemming.

[0033] Method validation test The smaller the leaf-stem binding force, the easier it is to completely destem the tobacco leaves. At the same time, the tensile strength of the tobacco leaves must be high, ensuring the toughness of the wrapper during the rolling process. The number of stem-leaf pixels per stem represents the amount of leaf remaining on the stem after destemming, reflecting the integrity of the destemmed tobacco leaves. After manually stemming the cigar tobacco leaves described in Example 1 of the present invention, the number of leaf pixels remaining on the stems was calculated using an image method based on the number of stems after destemming. The average number of leaf pixels remaining per stem was calculated, verifying the scientific and theoretical validity of the determination method provided in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0034] Specifically, photos of the remaining cigar stems after stemming according to Example 1 of the present invention were collected, such as Figures 5 to 8 As shown in Figure 2, the image method was used to process the photos. Based on the grayscale difference between the main vein and the leaf, a threshold of 200 was set to segment the leaf and the main vein. The number of pixels of the leaf remaining on the tobacco stem was calculated. The number of pixels of the leaf remaining on the tobacco stem was divided by the number of leaf stems to represent the effect of stem removal. The number of pixels of the leaf containing stems and the number of stems at different moisture contents were counted, and the average number of pixels of the leaf containing stems per stem was calculated. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0035] Table 2 Statistical data of cigar stems after stemming Moisture content Number of pixels including stem and leaves Number of terriers Average number of pixels per stem containing leaves 26.10% 43602 19 2295 29.30% 37624 18 2090 32.70% 51547 29 1777 35.80% 47385 24 1974 According to the data in Table 2, a curve of the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves and the number of stem-leaf pixels / stem number is drawn, as shown in Figure 9 shown. Figure 9 It shows that as the moisture content increases (26.1%→32.7%), the ratio of the number of stem-leaf pixels to the number of stems decreases, because as the moisture content increases, it is easier to extract the stems, which is consistent with Table 1 and Figure 4 The test data for the branch vein cohesion shown in the figure is consistent. Although the branch vein cohesion does not change much, the significant decrease in the tensile strength of the leaf can easily damage the main leaf during the stem separation process, affecting the use of the wrapper (the wrapper of handmade cigars must be a complete leaf after destemming). Therefore, the image method determines that the moisture content range of 29.3%-32.7% is the ideal range for wrapper stem extraction, which is consistent with the determination results provided by the embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] Example 2 This embodiment provides an application of the determination method provided in Example 1 in monitoring the moisture content of cigar tobacco fermentation. Specifically, it can be seen from the determination result given in Example 1 that the moisture content suitable for stem drawing of a certain type of cigar tobacco is 29.3%-32.7%. During the fermentation process of cigar tobacco, the moisture content of the fermented tobacco is detected with a rapid moisture meter. When the moisture content of the cigar tobacco is within the range of 29.3%-32.7%, the fermentation of the cigar tobacco is stopped and the fermentation process of the cigar tobacco is completed. In this way, the determination method for the moisture content suitable for stem drawing of cigar tobacco provided in the embodiment of the present invention can realize the monitoring of the moisture content of fermented tobacco, accurately control the fermentation time node of tobacco leaves, and improve the utilization rate of raw materials.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in the field should understand that the specific implementation methods of the present invention can still be modified or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present invention. They should all be included in the scope of the technical solutions claimed for protection by the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for determining the moisture content of cigar tobacco leaves suitable for smoking stems, comprising: The stem cohesion and tensile strength of cigar tobacco leaves with different moisture contents were measured under constant temperature conditions. The moisture content range of cigar tobacco leaves corresponding to the minimum stem cohesion and the maximum tensile strength was the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction.

2. The determination method according to claim 1, wherein: Including steps: Preparation of leaf stem separation samples: Using cigar tobacco leaves as the object, preparing leaf stem separation test samples of cigar tobacco leaves with a certain moisture content at the preset temperature, wherein the number of the leaf stem separation test samples is not less than 30; Measuring the leaf stem binding strength: measuring the leaf stem binding strength of the leaf stem separation test sample to obtain the leaf stem binding strength at the certain moisture content; Preparation of tensile strength samples: Using the same cigar tobacco leaf from which the stem separation test sample has been prepared, prepare tensile strength test samples, wherein the number of tensile strength test samples is not less than 30; Tensile strength measurement: measuring the tensile strength of the tensile strength test sample to obtain the tensile strength at the certain moisture content; Repeated measurement: Repeat the steps of preparing the leaf stem separation sample to measuring the tensile strength, and measure the leaf stem bonding force and tensile strength of cigar tobacco leaves at different moisture contents at the preset temperature; Moisture content determination: Compare the stem cohesion and tensile strength corresponding to the cigar tobacco leaves with different moisture contents. The moisture content range of the cigar tobacco leaves corresponding to the minimum stem cohesion and the maximum tensile strength is the moisture content range suitable for stem extraction.

3. The determination method according to claim 2, wherein: The steps of preparing the leaf stem separation sample include: selecting a plurality of cigar leaves to be stemmed from the same batch of cigar leaves, placing the cigar leaves to be stemmed in a constant temperature environment for moisture balance treatment to obtain cigar leaves with a certain moisture content, wherein the constant temperature environment temperature is 18° C. to 22° C., and the certain moisture content is 25% to 36%; and then preparing the leaf stem separation test sample from the middle part of the cigar leaves with the certain moisture content.

4. The determination method according to claim 3, wherein: The cigar tobacco leaves to be stemmed are of the same grade, origin, variety and year.

5. The determination method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The step of measuring the leaf stem binding force includes: using a texture analyzer to measure the leaf stem binding force of each leaf stem separation test sample, and obtaining no less than 30 leaf stem binding force data under the certain moisture content.

6. The determination method according to claim 5, wherein: During the leaf stem binding force measurement process, the detection parameters of the texture analyzer include: the test mode is tension, the measurement speed is 2 to 4 mm / s, and the post-measurement speed is 7 to 13 mm / s; the target mode is displacement, and the displacement is 17 to 23 mm.

7. The determination method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step of measuring the tensile strength includes: using the texture analyzer to measure the tensile strength of each tensile strength test sample, and obtaining no less than 30 tensile strength data under the certain moisture content.

8. The determination method according to claim 7, wherein: During the tensile strength measurement process, the detection parameters of the texture analyzer include: the test mode is tension, the pre-measurement speed is 0.3-0.7 mm / s, the measurement speed is 0.3-0.7 mm / s, and the post-measurement speed is 7-13 mm / s; the target mode is displacement, and the displacement is 7-13 mm, the trigger force is 3-7 g, and the trigger mode is automatic.

9. Use of the determination method according to claims 1 to 8 in monitoring the fermentation degree of cigar tobacco leaves.

10. The use according to claim 9, characterized in that include: First, the moisture content suitable for stem drawing of cigar tobacco leaves from the same batch is sampled and determined, and then the moisture content of the same batch of cigar tobacco leaves during the fermentation process is monitored. When the moisture content of the fermented cigar tobacco leaves falls within the moisture content range suitable for stem drawing, the fermentation of the cigar tobacco leaves is terminated, and fermented cigar tobacco leaves suitable for stem drawing are obtained.

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