Abstract: A tobacco industry rod assembly apparatus comprising a tobacco industry rod article infeed (2) having an epicyclic drum arrangement (3) is disclosed. The tobacco industry rod article infeed (2) is configured to transfer tobacco industry rod articles towards an assembly stage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a smoking article filter element includes arranging a corrugated laminate web around a portion of filter material having an elongate shape and a longitudinal axis, such that the grooves and ridges of the laminate web run in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the filter material. A method of fabricating a smoking article involves the same method as that of fabricating a smoking article filter element.

Abstract: A smoking article component comprising a viscoelastic material (500).

Abstract: Described herein is a heating device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The heating device comprises a heating element, and smokable material bonded to the heating element. The heating element comprises a layer of electrically-conductive material, a first layer of polyimide, and a second layer of polyimide. The layer of electrically-conductive material is located between the first and second layers of polyimide. Also described are cartridges comprising the heating device, apparatus comprising the heating device, and methods of manufacturing the heating device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic constructs, which can be used in the preparation of transgenic plants. The constructs can have the ability of reducing nitrate concentration in the plant, in particular the plant's leaves. The invention extends to plant cells transformed with such constructs, and to the transgenic plants themselves. The invention also relates to methods of producing transgenic plants, and to methods of reducing nitrate content in plants. The invention also relates to harvested plant leaves, for example tobacco leaves, that have been transformed with the genetic constructs, and to various tobacco articles, such as smoking articles, comprising such harvested plant leaves.

Abstract: Embodiments provides treated tobacco material having a pH of at least 9 and a moisture content of no more than 20% based on the dry weight of the tobacco. Embodiments also provide a process for treating tobacco material to increase its pH to at least 9, the process comprising applying a basic solution to the tobacco material to be treated, and drying the material to produce a treated tobacco material with a moisture content of no more than 20%. Embodiments also provide devices comprising the treated tobacco material, and uses of the treated tobacco material.

Abstract: A tipping paper feed assembly (1) for use in smoking article manufacture. The tipping paper feed assembly (1) comprising a first feed device adapted to supply a first tipping paper web (4) that is fed into apparatus for smoking article manufacture, and a second feed device adapted to supply a second tipping paper web (11). The tipping paper feed assembly (1) also comprises a splice mechanism (12) adapted to attach the first and second tipping paper webs (4, 11) together for changeover between the first and the second feed devices. The tipping paper feed device (1) also comprises a registration system configured to register features of each tipping paper web (4, 11) prior to attaching said first and second tipping paper webs together with said features in register.

Abstract: A smoking article comprising a first part moveable relative to a second part, and an indexing mechanism comprising a first indexing surface on the first part, and a second indexing surface on a support element of the second part. The second indexing surface is configured to engage with the first indexing surface to control relative movement between the first part and second part. One or more spacer elements are arranged to control a radial position of the first indexing surface relative to the second indexing surface. The support element and one or more spacer elements are frangibly connected.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for heating or cooling a material to be heated or to be cooled. The apparatus includes: a first compartment for containing the material to be heated or to be cooled; and a second compartment containing a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is either for generating heat to heat the first compartment or absorbing heat to cool the first compartment when undergoing a phase change. There are further described various different activating arrangements for activating a change of phase of the phase change material.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for detecting a substance in a rod shaped article of the tobacco industry (2), the apparatus (1) including one or more sources (10,11) of electromagnetic radiation, one or more detectors (26, 27) and a processor (32). The one or more sources (10, 11) are configured to generate electromagnetic radiation at first and second wavelengths (?1, ?2). The one or more detectors (26, 27) are configured to detect the first and second wavelengths (?1, ?2) after propagation in the rod shaped article (2), lo and to generate signals (A, B) based on the amount of radiation received at each wavelength (?1, ?2). The processor (32) is configured to process the signals (A, B) to determine information relating to the presence of the substance, based on the relative amount of radiation received at the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: A wrapper for a group of tobacco industry products is disclosed. The wrapper has a barrier material arranged to extend over an edge of a bundle after the barrier material is wrapped around a group of tobacco industry products to form the bundle. A tab is arranged such that pulling the tab forms an extraction opening that extends over the edge of the bundle. Wherein, prior to pulling the tab for the first time, at least a part of the barrier material is unbroken across the edge.

Abstract: An inhalation device to hold an inhalant-generating component to generate an inhalant to be drawn through the device and inhaled by a user. The device has a body (10) having a first open end (11b) configured to receive an inhalant-generating component and, a second open end (11a) in fluid communication with the first end through which a user may draw inhalant from the inhalant-generating component. The body is configured to receive a flavour delivery component (63) having an organoleptic material to selectively allow or prevent addition of an organoleptic additive into an inhalant stream drawn through the device. The device includes a ventilation control mechanism (15) configured to selectively allow different amounts of ambient air into the body to mix with and dilute the inhalant stream as it is drawn through the device in use.

Abstract: A component for an inhalation device having a first end for connection to a body of an inhalation device and a second end. A passage extends through the component from the first end to the second end for the flow of inhalant therethrough. The first end includes a blind cavity, separate to the passage and containing an organoleptic material. Also, an inhalation device comprising a body with a first end connected to such a component of the inhalation device and, a second end configured to receive an inhalant-generating component, is disclosed. A conduit extends through the body between the first and second ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine or a precursor thereof in tobacco comprising modifying the tobacco plant by increasing the activity or expression of a LBD (lateral organ bound domain) nitrogen-responsive transcription factor. The present invention also provides tobacco cells, tobacco plants, tobacco plant propagation materials, harvested leaves, processed tobaccos, or tobacco products obtainable in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: Heat not burn products comprising an encapsulated aerosol generating agent, the encapsulation having the effect of controlling the release of the agent during use of the heat not burn product. The encapsulation will control the timing of the release of the aerosol generating agent during the use of the heat not burn product, to allow greater control of the puff yield. In the case of some aerosol generating agents, the encapsulation may also increase the stability of the agent and/or prevent its migration within the product.

Abstract: A wrapper for a group of tobacco industry products is disclosed. The wrapper has a barrier material and a tab arranged such that pulling the tab separates a section of the barrier material from the remainder of the barrier material to form an extraction opening. The barrier material has a cut arranged such that when the tab is pulled the barrier material is torn along a path extending from the cut to form the extraction opening in the barrier material.