Abstract: Equipment for forming a tubular rod of fibrous material comprises: a gathering station constructed to receive a continuous supply of fibres and to gather the fibres into a bundle as the fibres advance through the equipment; a divider arranged in the path of the fibres through the equipment and constructed to from a cleft along the length of the bundle as it advances through the equipment; a mandrel positioned in the path of the bundle of fibres in alignment with the divider and constructed to form the cleft into a passage through the bundle of fibres as the bundle of fibres advances over the mandrel; and a die constructed and arranged to cooperate with the mandrel to form the fibres in a tubular configuration around the mandrel.

Abstract: A filter for a smoking article or an aerosol generating product comprising filter material and three capsules comprising additive, the capsules being disposed in sequence in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the filter.

Abstract: A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube comprises a body (84) defining a passage 86) for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction (91) in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits (92) through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methods for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine, the apparatus including a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods where each double-length rod has respective remote ends, a positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other.

Abstract: There is provided a method of extracting one or more volatile compounds of interest from tobacco material, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing tobacco material; ii) subjecting the tobacco material to steam distillation; and iii) extracting one or more volatile compounds of interest from the tobacco material with a solvent; wherein distillation step (ii) and extraction step (iii) are carried out simultaneously and at a pH of no greater than 2, and wherein the period during which both the distillation step (ii) and the extraction step (iii) are carried out is from about 8 to about 20 hours.

Abstract: There is provided a filter unit for a smoking article having a tube formed from filter material and the tube having a first portion and a second portion, wherein an inner diameter of the first portion is different from an inner diameter of the second portion. There is also provided a tube having a longitudinal axis, wherein a straight line following at least a portion of an internal or external surface of the tube intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle other than 90°. Also described is a body or tube of filter material having a longitudinal axis, a first end surface and a second end surface, said body or tube formed from a plurality of continuous fibres extending between said first and second end surfaces, wherein the density of said filter material is greater at said first end surface than at said second end surface.

Abstract: There is described an aerosol provision article for use with an aerosol provision device for generating an inhalable medium including an aerosol. The aerosol provision article includes a first chamber for containing a first substance that is heatable to generate an aerosol; a conduit that extends through the first chamber, the conduit having an inlet through which aerosol generated from the first substance can enter the conduit and an outlet through which the aerosol can exit the conduit and a second chamber for receiving a second substance, wherein the second chamber is downstream of the outlet of the conduit. The article is arranged such that in use aerosol exiting the outlet of the conduit passes through the second substance received in the second chamber, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the conduit increases at or towards the outlet.

Abstract: There is provided a flavour system for use in a tobacco industry product. The flavour system comprises lyophilised botanical material, an activator capable of releasing flavourant from the lyophilised botanical material through contact of the activator with the lyophilised botanical material, and a removable barrier preventing contact between the lyophilised botanical material and the activator. The barrier is removable to permit the activator to contact the lyophilised botanical material, thereby to cause release of the flavourant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular tobacco industry product (6). The modular tobacco industry product comprises a first rod (9) comprising a first smokeable material and a hollow channel (8), and a second rod (7) comprising a second smokeable material. The hollow channel is configured to receive the second rod, the second rod being insertable into the hollow channel by a consumer. The present invention also relates to a kit for assembling a modular tobacco industry product, a rod of smokeable material configured to be inserted into a hollow channel of a first rod, and a package.

Abstract: Packaging for tobacco industry products is disclosed. The packaging comprises a pack (2) for holding tobacco industry products, and an outer wrapper (3) enveloping the pack. The outer wrapper comprises a removable portion (17) arranged to prevent opening of the pack until the removable portion has been removed. One of the pack and the removable portion comprises a tamper evident feature that remains attached to the other of the pack or the removable portion after the removable portion is removed from the pack. A method of packaging tobacco industry products is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus (1) for use in the manufacture of tobacco industry products. The apparatus (1) comprises a rolling unit (9) comprising: •a rotatable drum (14) having a plurality of flutes (18) formed in a curved outer surface (17) of the drum (14) to receive axially-aligned components (5,6) of a tobacco industry product; •a roll hand (15) having a contact surface (34) facing and spaced from the outer surface (17) of the drum (14) to define a space, between the contact surface (34) and the outer surface (17), within which space components of a tobacco industry product are rollable upon rotation of the drum (14); and •a kicker bar (16) disposed adjacent to the roll hand (15) and having a contact edge (36) facing and spaced from the outer surface (17) of the drum (17).

Abstract: An inner frame blank for a pack of tobacco industry products, where the inner frame blank is foldable to form an inner frame for holding a group of tobacco industry products, and the inner frame blank has a first major panel and a second major panel joined to opposing edges of a central panel such that the first and second major panels are foldable relative to the central panel to form opposing sides of the inner frame, and where the inner frame blank also has an aperture in at least the central panel that defines an extraction opening for removing tobacco industry products from within the inner frame when the inner frame blank is folded to form the inner frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cured hybrid tobacco plant or a part thereof made between a parent flue-cured tobacco plant and a parent non-flue-cured tobacco plant; which cured hybrid tobacco plant or a part thereof comprises one or more flavour compounds which are a breakdown product of cis-abienol at a concentration which is about equal to or greater than the concentration in the cured parent non-flue-cured tobacco plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smoking article comprising a smoking article rod portion having a recess and a mouthpiece attachable to the smoking article rod portion. The mouthpiece includes an elongate cylindrical element arranged to be inserted into the recess by a user. The cylindrical element comprises an outer surface having at least one circumferentially extending raised area, and the at least one circumferentially extending raised area is configured to engage with an inner surface of the recess to prevent or restrict air flow between the inner surface of the recess and an outer surface of the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A method of determining the density of an elongate rod of material as it travels in a longitudinal direction through an inspection zone of apparatus for determining the density of an elongate rod of material is disclosed. The method comprises: positioning an X-ray generator of said apparatus to transmit X-rays in a direction across the elongate rod and towards a detector of said apparatus, as the elongate rod travels in a longitudinal direction through said inspection zone of said apparatus; supplying a voltage to the X-ray generator of between 20 to 80 kV to transmit the X-rays at a predetermined intensity; detecting the intensity of the X-rays transmitted through the elongate rod using the detector, and determining a density of the elongate rod based on a comparison of the predetermined and detected intensities. A method of manufacturing tobacco industry products that includes the above inspection method is also disclosed, together with apparatus for determining the density of an elongate rod of material.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Packaging for an attachable unit for a smoking article The invention relates to packaging (300) for an attachable unit (3) for a smoking article (2) comprising a receiver (301) to receive an attachable unit and a guide (306) for aligning the smoking article with the attachable unit when the attachable unit is received by the receiver such that the attachable unit can be attached to the smoking article. The invention also relates to packaging for an attachable unit for a smoking article comprising a receptacle or receiver in which the attachable unit is receivable and a gripping mechanism (307) to releasably hold the attachable unit within the receptacle or receiver when the attachable unit is received in the receptacle or receiver.

Abstract: A smokeable material for inclusion in a smoking article, comprising tobacco coated with acacia gum, wherein the amount of acacia gum is at least 10% by weight of the tobacco.

Abstract: A container is disclosed which has a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a wall. The separating wall is configured so that at least one substance emitted by a donor product received in the second chamber is conveyed from the second chamber into the first chamber through said separating wall. In this way, a characteristic of the donor product is imparted to a recipient product in said first chamber.

Abstract: A pack comprising: a base, the base containing a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a barrier layer to form a bundle; a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions; a section in the barrier layer to define an extraction opening for the extraction of tobacco industry products when the lid is in an open position; and a label having first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the label. The first surface is formed by a first region of the label attached to the section of the barrier layer and the second surface is formed by a second region of the label attached to the lid. An intermediate portion extends between said first and second regions and is configured to be weaker than each of the first and second regions.