Field

The present disclosure relates to curing facilities. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a basket for receiving, transporting and curing loose leaf tobacco, arrangements of said baskets in a curing barn and a method for receiving, transporting and curing tobacco leaves using said baskets.

Background

Tobacco leaves are usually harvested and cured manually by workers cutting and gathering the tobacco leaves in the field, and then transporting the harvested tobacco leaves to a tobacco curing barn for curing. This is a long process and results in significant exposure of the harvesting workers to the tobacco leaves. This is not ideal because it increases the risk of the workers to green tobacco sickness (GTS). GTS is a type of nicotine poisoning caused by dermal absorption of nicotine from the surface of wet tobacco plants. As tobacco harvesters' clothing often becomes saturated from tobacco wet with rain or morning dew, they are at high risk of developing GTS and any means to reduce their exposure is advantageous.

There are a number of different ways of curing tobacco leaves, such as air-curing, fire- curing, flue-curing and sun-curing, for example. The tobacco curing barn is typically provided with wooden racks, and the tobacco leaves are manually loaded onto the racks by placing bundles of leaves onto the wooden frames. Therefore, the process of loading the tobacco leaves into the curing barns also exposes the workers to the tobacco leaves and hence puts them at risk of GTS.

Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address at least some of these issues.

Summary

According to a first aspect of certain embodiments described herein, there is provided a basket for receiving, transporting and curing tobacco leaves, the basket having a

substantially cuboidal shape, comprising a base, opposing side walls rigidly attached to the base, and a back wall rigidly attached to the base and to the side walls, the basket being open to the front and to the top.

According to a second aspect of certain embodiments described herein, there is provided a curing barn for curing tobacco leaves comprising a plurality of baskets according to the first aspect. l According to a third aspect of certain embodiments described herein, there is provided a method for receiving, transporting and curing tobacco leaves using a basket having a substantially cuboidal shape, comprising a base, opposing side walls rigidly attached to the base, and a back wall rigidly attached to the base and to the side walls, the basket being open to the front, opposite the back wall, and to the top, opposite the base, the method comprising: orientating the basket to a loading position; loading the tobacco leaves into the basket from the open top and front; securing the open front side of the basket; orientating the basket to a curing position; transporting the basket to a curing barn; and curing the tobacco leaves loaded into the basket in the curing barn.

It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the first and other aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as

appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a basket orientated for loading, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the basket of Figure 1 orientated for curing, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 3 is an image of the basket, orientated according to Figure 1 , during loading of the loose leaf tobacco, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 4 is an image of the basket, orientated according to Figure 2, fully loaded with loose leaf tobacco ready for transport, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 5 is an image of a curing barn including multiple rails for positioning loaded baskets, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 6 is an image of a curing barn loaded with baskets, positioned on the rails of Figure 5, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

Figure 7 is an image of the loose leaf tobacco, positioned within the multiple baskets of Figure 6, with L-shaped rods driven through the side walls such that the L-shaped metal rods are configured to maintain the tobacco leaves received in the basket in position, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; Figures 8A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example arrangement of baskets in a curing barn, and Figure 8B is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement of the basket in a curing barn in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and

Figure 9 is an image of a curing barn loaded with two layers of baskets.

Detailed Description

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to the receiving, transporting and curing of loose tobacco leaves, in a single basket.

Figures 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of a basket 10 in a tobacco leaves loading position and in a curing position respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention. The basket (or container) 10 has a generally cuboidal shape comprising a base 1 10, opposing side walls 120, 130 rigidly attached to the base 1 10, and a back wall 140 rigidly attached to the base 1 10 and to the side walls 120,130. The basket 10 is therefore open on two adjacent sides; the top side, opposite the base 1 10, and the front side, opposite the back wall 140. The basket 10 consists of a frame 100, wherein the frame forms rectangles outlining each of the walls 1 10, 120, 130, and 140. As such, the frame forms the edges of the cuboid except for the edge joining the two adjacent open sides. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the corners may be rounded, so that each wall is only substantially rectangular.

In one embodiment the frame is formed of pipe with a diameter of about 15 mm. The skilled person would understand, however, that the invention is not limited to this pipe diameter.

In one embodiment, the basket is formed of metal, such as steel. The basket may alternatively be formed of a noble metal (such as copper) to provide resistance to corrosion.

Each wall 1 10, 120, 130, 140 of the basket 10 comprises a mesh 1 15, 125, 135, 145, respectively. The base 1 10 is oriented to be at the bottom of the basket when in the curing position, as can be seen in Figure 2. The base 1 10 shown in Figure 2 is rectangular and has length A from the back wall 140 to the opposite front side, which is longer than length B, which is the distance between the opposing side wall 130 and side wall 120. In Figure 2 walls 120,130 and 140 then have a height, in the direction perpendicular to base 1 10, of length C. Length C may be approximately the same as length B. As a result, the side walls 120, 130 have the same area, while back wall 140 has a smaller area. These lengths A, B and C are also shown in both Figures 1 and 2, wherein the dashed lines are imaginary lines to illustrate that the lengths A, B and C more clearly in relation to the basket 10. In one embodiment length A, length B and length C have dimensions of about 835 mm, about 455 mm and about 495 mm, respectively.

In the embodiments disclosed in the Figures, wire meshes are formed across the surface of each rectangle using one set of wires running parallel to the first dimension of the rectangle and a second set of wires running parallel to the second dimension of the rectangle. Rectangular gaps form between the first and second sets of wires. It will be appreciated that other techniques could also be used to form a mesh. Other means could also be used to retain the tobacco leaves in the basket.

In Figures 1 and 2, mesh 1 15 is denser than meshes 125, 135 and 145; which may be achieved by reducing the spacing between parallel wires. In this embodiment, mesh 125 and mesh 135 form rectangular gaps with approximate dimensions of 100mm x 200mm, mesh 145 forms rectangular gaps with approximate dimensions of 100mm x 150mm, and mesh 1 15 forms rectangular gaps with approximate dimensions of 50mm x 50mm. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the rectangular gaps of a mesh may not be equivalent in size.

Whilst specific dimensions have been described, it will also be appreciated by the skilled person that the different dimensions may be used.

Figure 3 is an image illustrating the basket 10 during a loading process, wherein the basket 10 is orientated as illustrated in Figure 1 . The basket 10 is being loaded with loose leaf tobacco 300, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the tobacco leaves are loaded into the basket 10 from the open top and front. Due to the orientation of the basket 10 during the loading process, the open top side which is opposite the base 1 10 faces the worker during the loading process. The front side opposite the back wall 140 faces the top. Compared to loading a box-shaped container comprising only an open top side (rather than also comprising an open front side), it is possible to reduce the time required for the loading process. This is because it is easier to load the tobacco leaves with a reduced barrier (open top and front sides). It is not necessary for the worker to lift the tobacco leaves over one of the walls of the basket 10. Therefore, the overall loading process time can be reduced as well as the worker's contact time with the tobacco leaves. As described hereinabove, this is a significant advantage of the present invention.

The loose leaf tobacco 300 may be loaded so that the base of the stems of the loose leaf tobacco 300 are pointed toward, and generally in contact with, base 1 10. The leaves are piled in this manner against side 140 (not shown) which forms the bottom of the basket in the loading phase. Walls 130 (shown) and 120 (not shown) and base 1 10 contain the leaves. Once fully loaded, an attachable barrier for securing the tobacco leaves received in the flue curing basket 10 may be connected to the open front side, opposite back wall 140.

In this embodiment the attachable barrier is a string, wherein the string is tied around the side walls to secure the loose leaf tobacco in the basket 10. In other embodiments, the attachable barrier may be an L-shaped metal rod which is driven through the side walls.

It is noted that after the tobacco leaves 300 are loaded into the basket 10, the workers can handle the basket 10 rather than directly handle the tobacco leaves 300. Thereby, the contact of the workers with the tobacco leaves is reduced

Figure 4 is an image of the basket 10 after the loading process ready for transporting to a curing barn. As can be seen, the basket 10 is already orientated to its curing position as shown in Figure 2. After fully loading the loose leaf tobacco into the basket 10 and securing the front side (opposite back wall 140), the basket is rotated so that the basket rests on base 1 10. That is to say, the basket 10 is rotated from the loading orientation shown in Figure 1 to the curing orientation shown in Figure 2.

In the curing orientation, the loose leaf tobacco 300 may be arranged vertically with the base of the stem of each leaf pointing towards the ground and base 1 10. Walls 120, 130, 140 and the recently secured front side form four walls holding the loose leaf tobacco 300 in its vertical alignment. In one embodiment, the mesh 1 15 is denser than meshes 125, 135 and 145 to prevent the base of the stems from protruding through. Here, a mesh being "denser" means the wires forming the mesh being more closely woven or interlaced together. After the baskets are full, they are transported from the field to the curing barns and placed in the barn. With the proposed system the workers are not required to be in direct contact with the tobacco leaves during the stages of transporting and loading of the curing barns. Figure 5 illustrates the inside of a flue curing barn 500 including multiple rails 510 onto which the flue curing baskets 10 can be mounted onto. In this figure, each rail 510 comprises a guide 520 which protrudes from the rail surface onto which the baskets 10 are mounted onto, so as to guide the baskets 10 into position. Although not illustrated in the figures for clarity, the flue curing barn 500 may comprise an air inlet, an air outlet and a heater for heating the air.

After transportation, the baskets 10 may therefore be positioned inside the flue curing barn 500 by sliding the baskets 10 along the rails 510, the guide 520 providing regular spacing between the baskets. Each basket is orientated as in Figure 2; therefore the base 1 10 is in contact with the rails 510. In some embodiments the rail system 510 also acts to guide the baskets into the correct position. The rail 510 is distanced from a floor of the flue curing barn 500, such that there is space for air to circulate through the baskets 10 via the base 1 10. The arrangements of the rails 510 and the baskets 10 are described in further detail below with reference to Figure 6 and Figures 8A and 8B. Figure 5 illustrates one possible arrangement of the rails; however it will be appreciated by the skilled reader that other arrangements for the rail system may be implemented. For example, the rails may be provided so that there are two floors of flue curing baskets 10.

The baskets 10 in a single curing barn 500 all have the same dimensions. As such, a standardized condition is provided for the loading/extraction process, making it possible to partially mechanize the operation.

Figure 6 is an image illustrating the flue curing barn 500 fully loaded with baskets 10, positioned on the rails 510 shown in Figure 5 in accordance with this embodiment of the invention. The baskets 10 are placed in parallel rows until they cover an entire plane of the curing chamber 500. The baskets 10 are placed in close proximity to the walls and each other. More specifically, the baskets 10 are spaced apart from each other by the guides 520 of the rails 510.

Considering that the flue curing barn 500 has a depth, wherein the rail runs along the direction of the depth, a width, and a height, the baskets 10 may be arranged in the flue curing barn so that the side walls 120, 130 are extend in the direction of the width of the barn 500 and the back wall 140 extends in the direction of the depth. The baskets 10 are arranged such that the guide 520 is provided between two adjacent baskets 10 in the width direction. The flue curing barn 500 and the baskets 10 have dimensions such that the baskets 10 can be packed into the flue curing barn 500 to tightly fit together, wherein the bases 1 10 of the baskets 10 are parallel to the floor of the flue curing barn 500. Considering the floor of the flue curing barn 500 as a rectangle having sides with lengths corresponding to the depth and width, the depth may be approximately a whole number multiple of length B. Accordingly, the width can be considered as a sum of a whole number multiple of length A and the widths of the guides 520. Said arrangements and dimensions of the flue curing barn 500 and the baskets 10 enable tight fitting of the baskets 10 in the flue curing barn 500, which in turn reduces any air gaps between the baskets 10 or between the baskets 10 and the barn 500 thereby constricting any potential spacing through which air may flow without passing through the loose leaf tobacco 300. Thus, air leakage around the baskets 10 can be reduced and more air flow through tobacco leaves 300 can be achieved.

Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 6, the baskets 10 are advantageously provided such that the back wall 140 of one basket 10 is adjacent to the open front side of an adjacent basket 10. In other words, only a single back wall 140 is provided between two adjacent baskets 10. The technical advantages of the arrangement of the baskets in this manner are discussed in further detail below with reference to Figures 8A and 8B.

In some embodiments, the guide 520 may be shaped to further induce more effective airflow in curing tobacco leaves 300. For example, the guide 520 may be tapered from base to tip to reduce the distance between the containers, or have an hour glass shape to direct air flow toward the tobacco leaves.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of one of the baskets 10 in Figure 6, illustrating the loose leaf tobacco 300 supported by L-shaped metal rods 710 so that the tobacco leaves are maintained in position, wherein the L-shaped rods 710 are driven through the side walls 120, 130 between the wire mesh 125, 135 and supported by the wire mesh 125, 135 of the walls 120, 130. Once the baskets 10 are arranged into their predetermined positions within the flue curing barn 500, a number of L-shaped rods 710 may be inserted through the wire mesh of the side walls 120,130 of the baskets 10 which are configured to support the L-shaped rods 710 so as to keep the leaves in their upright position and preventing them from dislodging during curing. In one embodiment the L-shaped rods are formed of metal. During insertion of the L-shaped rods 710 through the side walls 120,130, their positioning can be guided by the wires of the respective meshes 125,135. The meshes 125,135 therefore need to be sufficiently dense to both prevent the dislodging of leaves 300 during curing, whilst also supporting the L-shaped rods 710 in their predetermined positions.

Whilst the L-shaped rods 710 are driven through the side walls 120, 130 after each row of the baskets 10 is arranged in the flue curing barn 500 in this embodiment, it will be appreciated by the skilled reader that it is possible to provide these L-shaped rods 710 prior to loading into the flue curing barn 500, for example prior to transportation process. It is noted that as the tobacco leaves 300 are already in the baskets 10 ready for curing, it is possible to use mechanized techniques to considerably lower the effort and operation time in loading or extracting the baskets 10 into or from the flue curing barn 500.

Figure 8A shows an example arrangement of the baskets 10 in which the baskets 10 are arranged such that side walls 120, 130 of adjacent baskets 10 are provided on either side of each guide 520. When the baskets are provided in this manner, a gap which corresponds to a width of the guide 520 is formed between the side walls 120, 130 of the adjacent flue curing baskets 10. Such gaps are prone to air leak, as there is likely to be less resistance for the air to flow through these gaps due to the lack of tobacco leaves 300. The arrows illustrate the airflow in such an air leak.

Figure 8B illustrates an arrangement of the baskets 10 in which the baskets 10 are arranged such that the back wall 140 of one basket 10 and the open front side of an adjacent basket 10 are provided on either side of each guide 520. In other words, only a single back wall 140 is provided between two adjacent baskets 10 where there is a guide between the adjacent baskets.

As can be seen, the open front side enables the tobacco leaves 300 to take up the space even above the guide 520. Thus, any air leak is reduced and more air flows through tobacco leaves 300 instead. Thereby, a more efficient airflow management in which more hot air flows through tobacco leaves is achieved, whilst maintaining structural stability of the basket 10.

In some embodiments, the back wall 140 may comprise a connector for connecting the back wall 140 of the basket 10 to a frame of the open front side of an adjacent basket 10. The connector may be provided on the frame of the open front side of the basket 10, for connecting the frame of the open front side of the basket to a back wall 140 of an adjacent basket.

Figure 9 is an image illustrating the flue curing barn 500 in which the baskets 10 are stacked on top of one another such that there are two layers of baskets 10. As can be seen, the baskets 10 are stacked on top of one another so that a base 1 10 of one basket 10 is supported by the frame portions of the side walls 120, 130 and the back wall 140 on the open top of another basket 10. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that further baskets 10 may be stacked to form three layers of baskets in the curing barn 500. The stacking of the baskets 10 to provide multiple layers of the baskets improves the yield of cure by optimising the internal space of the barn 500.

In other embodiments, a downward flow of forced air may be utilised. Regardless, the arrangement of the baskets enable air leak to be minimised. According to the present invention, the exposure time of the workers to the tobacco leaves 300 is reduced by using the baskets 10 during the harvest and curing of the tobacco. These baskets 10 can be positioned in the curing barn 500 in parallel rows according to the rails 510 until they fill the whole area of the curing barn 500. The baskets 10 are arranged such that the back wall 140 of one basket 10 and the open front side of an adjacent basket 10 are provided on either side of each guide 520. Thus, the structure of the baskets 10 and the arrangement in the curing barn 500 enable both reduction of exposure time of the worker to tobacco leaves 300 and a more efficient airflow management in which more hot air flows through tobacco leaves.

While the above described embodiments have in some respects focussed on the loading and curing of loose leaf tobacco, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied to cure or dry other agricultural products. That is to say, the specific manner in which various aspects of the loose leaf tobacco system function are not directly relevant to the principles underlying the examples described herein.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.