The present disclosure describes a grinding apparatus preferably comprised of upper, central and lower bodies that are magnetically connected to one another. The central body is further comprised of cutting edges positioned on a center portion to cut and evacuate herbs. The upper body is comprised of outer grinding teeth that can cut and grind herbs trapped proximate an outer rim of the central body. Inner grinding teeth positioned on the upper body and having curved inner faces abut against a correspondingly cylindrical member of the central body to limit the radial play between the upper and central bodies during operation. A teeth or gear system is also disclosed to provide torque transfer and facilitate the connection between the central and lower bodies.

The present disclosure relates to cellulose nanomaterials made or derived from tobacco and methods for the production thereof. The tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials can be employed in various industrial applications such as film forming applications and solution thickening technologies. In particular, the disclosure is directed to methods for preparing tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials using less fibrillation cycles than in the production of wood pulp. The invention includes a method for preparing tobacco derived nanocellulose material comprising receiving a tobacco pulp in a dilute form such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension with a consistency of less than about 5%; and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to generate a tobacco derived nanocellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.

A leaf removal assembly including a frame comprising a front plate having a feed opening, a leaf stripping assembly mounted on said front plate in front of said feed opening and an upper sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of upper socket grippers extending radially outward of the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. The leaf removal assembly further includes a lower sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly of the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. At least one of the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel may be adjustably attached to the frame. A process for separating a leaf from a stalk comprising at least one leaf is also included.

A leaf removal assembly including a frame comprising a front plate having a feed opening, a leaf stripping assembly mounted on said front plate in front of said feed opening and an upper sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of upper socket grippers extending radially outward of the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. The leaf removal assembly further includes a lower sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly of the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. At least one of the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel may be adjustably attached to the frame. A process for separating a leaf from a stalk comprising at least one leaf is also included.

A leaf removal assembly including a frame comprising a front plate having a feed opening, a leaf stripping assembly mounted on said front plate in front of said feed opening and an upper sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of upper socket grippers extending radially outward of the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. The leaf removal assembly further includes a lower sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly of the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. At least one of the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel may be adjustably attached to the frame. A process for separating a leaf from a stalk comprising at least one leaf is also included.

A leaf removal assembly including a frame comprising a front plate having a feed opening, a leaf stripping assembly mounted on said front plate in front of said feed opening and an upper sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of upper socket grippers extending radially outward of the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. The leaf removal assembly further includes a lower sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly of the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate. At least one of the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel may be adjustably attached to the frame. A process for separating a leaf from a stalk comprising at least one leaf is also included.

This invention relates to a method for preparing expanded tobacco stems, characterized in that the method contains steps as follows: purification, stem expansion, hypoxia heat retention (hypoxia heat retention refers to heating the expanded stems at hypoxia environment and maintaining the temperature), natural stacking, sorting, and packaging. An expanded tobacco stem product prepared according to this method has uniform size and color. Taste is modest and plain when it is combusted, which does not affect the original taste flavour. Expansion volume, the ratio of the expanded stems to the total stems, and quality are stable, which can be used as adsorption material. More important, expanded tobacco stems made from stems of different origin, texture and year according to this method have uniform odor component, which can not be acquired by other expansion technologies. This technology has met the requirement for product fabrication.

Method of manufacturing a cut stem with increased filling capacity comprises tearing a rod-like stem material having a water content of 20 to 50% by weight, shredding the torn rod-like stem material, and subjecting the rod-like cut stem material to expansion treatment.

Method of manufacturing a cut stem with increased filling capacity comprises tearing a rod-like stem material having a water content of 20 to 50% by weight, shredding the torn rod-like stem material, and subjecting the rod-like cut stem material to expansion treatment.

The present disclosure relates to cellulose nanomaterials made or derived from tobacco and methods for the production thereof. The tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials can be employed in various industrial applications such as film forming applications and solution thickening technologies. In particular, the disclosure is directed to methods for preparing tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials using less fibrillation cycles than in the production of wood pulp. The invention includes a method for preparing tobacco derived nanocellulose material comprising receiving a tobacco pulp in a dilute form such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension with a consistency of less than about 5%; and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to generate a tobacco derived nanocellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.