Methods and machines for pouching smokeless tobacco and tobacco substitute products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812776-B2
Application number	US-202217693607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making an oral product comprising:
providing a product portion between a first nonwoven fabric and a second nonwoven fabric;
sealing the first nonwoven fabric to the second nonwoven fabric using a seal cutter roller, the seal cutter roller defining a recess configured to align with the product portion; and
concurrently with the sealing, cutting the first nonwoven fabric and the second nonwoven fabric around a periphery of the product portion to form the oral product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing is performed using ultrasonic energy.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing comprises:
applying the first nonwoven fabric to a surface,
depositing the product portion on the first nonwoven fabric, and
applying the second nonwoven fabric over the product portion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the providing further includes conforming the first nonwoven fabric to the surface prior to the depositing.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the conforming includes applying vacuum to the first nonwoven fabric.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the providing further includes moving the surface.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the moving is performed during the applying the first nonwoven fabric, the depositing, and the applying the second nonwoven fabric.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the surface is a surface of a conveyor.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the surface is a surface of a rotating drum.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the applying the first nonwoven fabric includes supplying the first nonwoven fabric with a supply roller.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the depositing includes aligning the product portion with a recess in the surface, the recess in the surface configured to be aligned with the recess of the seal cutter roller.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the applying the second nonwoven fabric includes supplying the second nonwoven fabric with a supply roller.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nonwoven fabric and the second nonwoven fabric each have a basis weight of less than or equal to 30 grams per square meter.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nonwoven fabric and the second nonwoven fabric each include elastomeric materials.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nonwoven fabric and the second nonwoven fabric each include polyurethane.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product portion is a molded product portion.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product portion is a loose product portion.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oral product includes nicotine.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the nicotine is a tobacco extract.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Carroll Andrew Nathan
• Black Shannon Maxwell
• Sun Yan Helen
• Burke William J
• Dinovi Christopher Joseph
• Phillips David
• Macko Jason Andrew
• Smith Robert

Classifications

• A24B15/186 Primary

  by coating with a coating composition, encapsulation of tobacco particles (encapsulation of additives other than tobacco : A24B15/283) · CPC title

• A24B13/00 Primary

  Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff (reconstituted tobacco products A24B3/14) · CPC title

• A24B15/283

  by encapsulation of the chemical substances · CPC title

• D04H13/00

  Other non-woven fabrics · CPC title