Abstract: A filter cigarette comprising a tobacco rod and filter portion comprising a fluted tubular extrusion. The flutes are blocked intermediate the rod end and mouth end of the extrusion. The tobacco rod is circumferentially wrapped with a porous wrapper comprising a longitudinal band of perforations. The fluted tubular extrusion is attached with tipping paper to the tobacco rod. A mouthband and a rodband of perforations circumscribes the tipping paper. A rod of charcoal-impregnated filter material may abut the tubular extrusion.

Abstract: The calcium carbonate filler level or the basis weight of a paper wrapper for a smoking article is varied to enable the designing of smoking articles with specific characteristics including a specific puff count, tar delivery and carbon monoxide delivery.

Abstract: In the perforation of sheet material by light energy, a continuous focused laser beam is reflected from different locations along the beam axis to provide separate pulsed beams and the beams are issued onto the sheet material with the same beam cross-sectional area. In one aspect, the lengths of respective different light paths for conveyance of light from the point of focus of the laser to final image locations are made equal. In another aspect, different focusing elements may be included in light paths to provide for sameness of beam cross-sectional area at the final image locations. The light paths are preferably provided in part by light conducting apparatus having light-reflective elements mounted for movement, such that different perforation matrices may be readily attained.

Abstract: In providing perforation uniformity both in the spacing between multiple rows of perforations in sheet material and in the spacings among perforations within each row, a common laser beam is shared among the rows, being directed to the sheet material through a common focusing element for each adjacent pair of rows. In conducting the laser beam to each such common focusing element, a pair of modified beams is derived from the laser beam, each modified beam having light ray content divergent about an axis of symmetry thereof which is parallel to the optical axis of the focusing element.

Abstract: Smoking articles comprising a high density, relatively low porosity coherent mass of combustible tobacco-containing material having at least one passage extending therethrough are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the smoking article is a cylinder having at least one passage axially therethrough. The smoking article may further comprise a plug of ignitable material in passage blocking position at one end of the passage, said plug being such as to permit puff induced air flow therethrough. At least one additional plug may be similarly disposed at the opposite end of the passage or at an intermediate point in the passage. By adjusting the density, the surface area and/or the porosity of the mass available for combustion, the per puff delivery of tar by the smoking article upon combustion may be controlled.

Abstract: Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.

Abstract: A method of making smoking articles wherein a combustible tobacco material is mixed with one or more other ingredients including a liquid, the mixture being subjected to further processing to produce a shaped coherent mass having a through passage. Shaping is effected by application of pressure to the mixture to form the coherent mass, and is followed by drying of same, the mixture composition being selected and the shaping pressure and drying being controlled to impart to the shaped mass a porosity and density such as to substantially occlude gas flow therethrough and a porosity sufficient to support combustion of the shaped mass when ignited.

Abstract: A web is electrically perforated at high hole density by applying alternating-current voltage across an electrode pair facing the web while pressurized gas is supplied to the electrode gap. Voltage amplitude level and gas flow and direction thereof are selected to provide for the striking of multiple arcs per half-cycle, thereby enabling reduction in spacing between adjacent perforations in the web. Perforation practice involving preselection of cigarette filter tipping paper based on chemical composition of the paper is also disclosed as is apparatus for use in implementing the described practices, wherein electrode support members have gas flow conduits formed integrally therewith and wherein webs are taken up by a capstan drive unit resiliently biased into engagement with a web take-up roll.

Abstract: Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.

Abstract: Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.

Abstract: A web is electrically perforated at high hole density by applying alternating-current voltage across an electrode pair facing the web while pressurized gas is supplied to the electrode gap. Voltage amplitude level and gas flow level are selected to provide for the striking of multiple arcs per half-cycle, thereby enabling reduction in spacing between adjacent perforations in the web. Perforation practice involving preselection of cigarette filter tipping paper based on chemical composition of the paper is also disclosed as is apparatus for use in implementing the described practices, wherein electrode support members have gas flow conduits formed integrally therewith and wherein webs are taken up by a capstan drive unit resiliently biased into engagement with a web take-up roll.

Abstract: A variable parameter smoking machine for smoking one or more cigarettes that allows adjustment of the puff flow, duration, and interval for the cigarettes being smoked. Cigarette holders are placed in fluid circuit parallel with dummy air-flow resistance valves, and either the holder or dummy load is placed in operative communication with a continuous vacuum source by a solenoid-operated valve associated with each holder and dummy load. A flow-adjustable valve is also associated with each holder and dummy load. Each holder-dummy-valve system is connected to a pressure manifold, which in turn is connected through a circuit having a flowmeter and flowmeter bypass line arranged in parallel to the continuous vacuum source.