Reconstituted Plant Material Web With Rapid Enzyme-Deactivating Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing a web of reconstituted material from plant materials other than tobacco are complex and result in unwanted odors and unpleasant aromas due to chemical-physical alterations during processing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving processing plant fibers at ambient temperature, grinding to a specific particle size, mixing with liquids to deactivate enzymes, and controlled drying to prevent oxidative rancidity, followed by further grinding to produce a high-quality reconstituted web.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If plant materials other than tobacco are processed using conventional reconstitution methods, then production cost is reduced, but unwanted odors and unpleasant aromas develop due to chemical-physical alterations during heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by grinding the plant material into fine particles before the mixing and heating stages. This pre-processing step prepares the material in a form that prevents unwanted chemical-physical alterations during subsequent heating, thereby eliminating unwanted odors and unpleasant aromas while maintaining low production cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the particle size parameter by grinding the plant material to extremely fine particles (slurry) before processing. This parameter change prevents chemical-physical alterations during heating, resolving the contradiction between low cost and unwanted odors
2Productivity
If plant materials are processed at temperatures that activate enzymes, then material transformation is enhanced, but oxidative rancidity of oils occurs leading to decay of organoleptic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by grinding the plant material into fine particles before heating. This pre-processing step, combined with controlled heating temperatures, prevents enzyme activation that would lead to oxidative rancidity, thereby maintaining organoleptic properties while ensuring efficient material transformation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by heating at controlled temperatures that do not activate enzymes. This parameter control prevents oxidative rancidity while maintaining productivity through efficient material transformation at lower temperatures
3Device complexity
If conventional reconstitution methods are applied to non-tobacco plant materials, then production simplicity is maintained, but product quality becomes unsuitable for sale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by grinding the plant material into fine particles before processing. This simple pre-processing step, combined with controlled heating and mixing, produces high-quality reconstituted material suitable for sale while maintaining production process simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the particle size parameter by grinding to fine particles, which is a simple operation that significantly improves product quality. This parameter change enables the production of high-quality reconstituted material suitable for sale while keeping the process simple
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method ensures the production of a high-quality reconstituted web with controlled organoleptic properties and simplified plant architecture, suitable for use in smoking articles.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid mixture has a second temperature greater than the first supply temperature, so as to increase the temperature of the mix simultaneously with the increase in the level of the liquid component... the third temperature that is greater than or equal to the enzyme deactivation temperature of the starting material (M1)
Implementation Method 2
activation and development of the enzymes takes place... oxidative rancidity of the oils naturally contained in the starting material (M1)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for making a layer of reconstituted material of plant origin, including the steps of providing a starting material, constituted by solid components at a first temperature, and of dry grinding the solid components of the starting product to obtain a dry powdered product. Then, mixing the dry powdered product with one or more mixing liquids, having a second temperature greater than the first temperature, thereby obtaining a mix having a third temperature that is greater than or equal to an enzyme deactivation temperature of the starting material. The step of mixing is carried out in such a way that the third temperature is reached in a shorter time interval than a predetermined time interval. Then the mix is transferred onto a conveyor belt in the form of a continuous layer and is dried, thus obtaining a dry continuous layer.