Abstract: A system for controlling the lamina size in a raw material treatment process for tobacco leaves comprising measuring means for measuring the production rate of the laminae larger than a given size in the raw material treatment process in which the tobacco leaves which have been provided with a water content and temperature by a humidity controller are stripped into laminae and ribs by means of rib removing machines capable of changing a mechanical impact force applied upon the tobacco leaves by changing the rotational number of grid or threshing gear and are then separated by means of separating machines, and operational control means for receiving measurement signals from said measuring means as a feedback signal for searching a water content, temperature and rotational number of grid or threshing gear which minimize the production rate of the laminae not larger than a given size by a hill-climb method using the water content and temperature provided by the humidity controller and the rotational number of gr

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing cigarettes comprises a compression pocket having opposite open ends which comprises a pair of L-shaped compression members which are disposed in an opposite manner. Each member includes short and long segments which extend in an axial direction of a continuously rotatable drum, one of the members being movable in a tangential direction of the outer circumference of the drum, the other member being movable in a direction at an desired angle relative to said tangential direction. The apparatus also includes a device for moving the pair of L-shaped compression members in opposite directions using a rack and pinion combination system.

Abstract: Molding tobacco filters having a variety of cross-sections which are practically useful in providing various preferable effects such as improvement in pressure drop, balanced adsorption of smoke component or the like, are provided according to a method which is characterized in forming fiber bundles of composite fibers consisting of a first and a second component by themselves, or a mixture of at least 20% by weight (based upon the total fiber mixture) of said composite fibers and another kind of fibers so as to give a variety of cross-sections to said fiber bundles, and subjecting said fiber bundles to heat-treatment at a temperature lower than the melting point of the first component but higher than the melting point of the second component to stabilize the structure by the self-adhesion of the second component; the first component of a fiber forming polymer and the second component consisting of one or more kinds of polymer having a melting point lower than that of the first component by 10.degree. C.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter capable of selectively removing irritating materials and unpleasant bitter components from tobacco smoke and containing as a filter element nitrogen-containing activated carbon fibers produced by oxidizing acrylonitrile polymer fibers and then activating the oxidized fibers.