A method is provided for accelerating the drying of a cargo box (18) of a refrigerated truck (12), trailer (16), or container following a wash out. In an aspect, the method includes circulating air from the cargo box (18) through an evaporator (30) of the refrigerant unit (20) and back to the cargo box (18); and operating the refrigerant unit (20) in alternating cycles of first heating the circulating air and then cooling the circulating air.

A process is provided for the treatment of tobacco. The process comprises securing the tobacco within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of above 55 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 23%. The treated tobacco may have desirable organoleptic properties.

A process is provided for the treatment of tobacco. The process comprises securing the tobacco within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of above 55 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 23%. The treated tobacco may have desirable organoleptic properties.

The present invention is in the field of tobacco conditioning, which is performed generally after curing and before baling. It has been identified that cured tobacco is very brittle and difficult to handle without damaging the tobacco leaf. In order to address this issue an apparatus for post-curing conditioning of tobacco is provided. The apparatus includes a tobacco chamber for storing cured tobacco leaves for conditioning; and an air processing facility which includes: a ventilation system for creating an airflow through the apparatus, wherein said airflow is drawn into the air processing facility, passes from the air processing facility into the tobacco chamber, and subsequently exits the apparatus; a heater for adding heat to the airflow; and a humidity generator for adding moisture to the airflow.

A tobacco material and a process for the treatment of tobacco are provided. The process comprises securing the tobacco material within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of at least about 45 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m.sup.3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 15.5%. The treated tobacco material has an aerobic plate count of up to about 1000 CFU/g.

A tobacco material and a process for the treatment of tobacco are provided. The process comprises securing the tobacco material within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of at least about 45 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m.sup.3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 15.5%. The treated tobacco material has an aerobic plate count of up to about 1000 CFU/g.

Disclosed are a process and an apparatus for improving tobacco raw material. The process mainly comprises performing an extraction from at least one of tobacco leafs, tobacco flakes, tobacco powder, stalks and cut stems by mixed solvents, conducting a solid-liquid separation for the tobacco raw material, applying the extract liquor of tobacco leaves, flakes and cuts for manufacturing tobacco extract and that of stalks and cut stems for manufacturing fertilizer, diluting and mixing a given amount of tobacco aqueous extract and ethanol extract and removing harmful components so as to get feed liquid, backfilling the feed liquid to the tobacco raw material, and drying the tobacco raw material to a certain dryness to obtain the products. The apparatus is a system composed of a plurality of interconnected independent devices such as extractor, solid-liquid separator, a feed liquid backfiller, etc.

Disclosed are a process and an apparatus for improving tobacco raw material. The process mainly comprises performing an extraction from at least one of tobacco leafs, tobacco flakes, tobacco powder, stalks and cut stems by mixed solvents, conducting a solid-liquid separation for the tobacco raw material, applying the extract liquor of tobacco leaves, flakes and cuts for manufacturing tobacco extract and that of stalks and cut stems for manufacturing fertilizer, diluting and mixing a given amount of tobacco aqueous extract and ethanol extract and removing harmful components so as to get feed liquid, backfilling the feed liquid to the tobacco raw material, and drying the tobacco raw material to a certain dryness to obtain the products. The apparatus is a system composed of a plurality of interconnected independent devices such as extractor, solid-liquid separator, a feed liquid backfiller, etc.

A cigar tobacco strips and a method for rolling and packaging the same is provided. The cigar tobacco strip is rolled into cylindrical shape and placed within an enveloping means. The tobacco strip is wrapped into cylindrical form causing the cigar tobacco paper to form a plurality of layers, wherein said layer comprises a double strip section. The rolled tobacco strip is then placed inside an enveloping means. The encased tobacco strip within the enveloping means allows for the tobacco strip to keep a cylindrical shape until delivered and used by a consumer. The enveloping means may maintain the moisture for longer time due to the rolling method prior to delivery to a consumer.

A cigar tobacco strips and a method for rolling and packaging the same is provided. The cigar tobacco strip is rolled into cylindrical shape and placed within an enveloping means. The tobacco strip is wrapped into cylindrical form causing the cigar tobacco paper to form a plurality of layers, wherein said layer comprises a double strip section. The rolled tobacco strip is then placed inside an enveloping means. The encased tobacco strip within the enveloping means allows for the tobacco strip to keep a cylindrical shape until delivered and used by a consumer. The enveloping means may maintain the moisture for longer time due to the rolling method prior to delivery to a consumer.