REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEW PACKAGING METHOD 



The Department of Agriculture, in developing the new packaging method, established 

 the following requirements: 



(1) The method should require no more labor onthe part of the grower than is con- 

 sistent with the needs of the auction. marketing system and modern processing tech- 

 nology. 



(2) The package should be open to rapid and easy inspection for foreign material 

 at the auction market with a minimum of disarray. 



(3) The package should be square or rectangular to conserve space in transit 

 and storage and to reduce unpacking labor at the processing conveyor. 



(4) The package should be adaptable to mechanized handling at the manufacturing 

 plant and in marketing, 



CONSTRUCTION OF THE PACKING FRAME 



After several types of frames had been developed, two sizes of rectangular, 

 bottomless packing frames of constructional and operational simplicity were adopted. 

 The smaller frame, 30 inches high and with side dimensions of 30 by 38 inches, was 

 designed for packing shorter leaves found in primings and nondescript grades. A 

 larger frame, 38 by 38 inches square and 30 inches high, was made for packing the 

 considerably longer leaves found in lugs and cutter grades. A frame not quite as 

 wide as the combined average length of two leaves, but wide enough to allow the 

 leaves to overlap at the tips, will produce a package that will maintain its form during 

 inspection and movement. The packing frame, shown in figure 1, can be constructed 

 in a few hours. There is no bottomortop and the smooth interior surfaces allow the 

 frame to be easily lifted off the tobacco when the packing is finished. A packing board 

 is used to compress the layers of leaves as they are placed in the packing frame. The 

 board can be readily cut out from three-quarter-inch plywood. So the board can be 

 easily removed after each layer of leaves is packed down, its dimensions should 

 be about 2 inches less than the interior dimensions of a packing frame. The materials 

 used in constructing the experimental frames were one- quarter- inch masonite hard- 

 board and 1 by 2-inch fir reinforcing strips; but plywood, galvanized steel, aluminum, 

 or other suitable material can be substituted. The exterior surface of the construction 

 material is of little concern. It is important only that the frame be strong and its 

 interior smooth. In constructing the frames, tobacco growers can use materials that 

 are least expensive and most readily available, 



PROPER USE OF THE PACKING FRAME 



A sheet is laid on the packhouse floor and a frame is placed diagonally on the 

 sheet. Loading can be done rapidly if the leaves have been previously taken from the 

 curing sticks or bulk curing racks, graded, and piled along a wall of the packhouse with 

 the butts all pointing in the same direction. The two workers are not in each other s 

 way and can pack more efficiently if they work from opposite sides of the frame, facing 

 each other. An armload of leaves can be quickly picked up and placed in the box. 

 The leaves are laid straight in the frame with the butts against only two opposing sides 

 of the frame and with the tips of the leaves overlapping in the center. When the 

 smaller 30 by 38-inch box is used for packing, the leaves should be placed parallel 

 to the 30~inch sides with the butts touching the 38-inch sides. 



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