Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a device for forming a multi-flavor composite structure filter rod in one step, including the following components: a tow transmission belt, a tow guiding horn-shaped mouth, a tow assembly paper collection groove, a cigarette lap adhesive applying device and multi-flavor adding devices. According to shapes and types of flavors, the multi-flavor adding devices are arranged in different sections to obtain one-step formation of the multi-flavor composite structure filter rods. The present disclosure also discloses a one-step method of forming the multi-flavor composite structure filter rod using the one-step forming device.

Abstract: A tow band for heated tobacco product tip is a tow band of cellulose acetate provided by uniting and crimping a plurality of filaments into a bundle, in which a total denier is set to a value in a range of 10000 to 40000 (inclusive) and a filament denier is set to a value in a range of 6.0 to 20.0 (inclusive), and where the total denier is denoted by TD and a breaking strength of the tow band is denoted by F, a ratio F/TD is set to a value of 0.0015N/denier or more.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for forming a smoke filter including a forming nozzle through which a fibrous bundle material passes. The forming nozzle includes a converging passage, at least one first internal cavity in fluid connection with a first working fluid source, and a plurality of first holes fluidly connecting the at least one first internal cavity with a working surface of the forming nozzle. The plurality of first holes are further positioned and directed such that in passing through the plurality of first holes, the first working fluid conveys the fibrous bundle material through the forming nozzle in a transport direction. A guide pin is disposed along a central axis of the converging passage, the guide pin including an elongated body which tapers in the transport direction. A bobbin disposed downstream of the forming nozzle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pleating or otherwise shaping a web are described herein. The method and apparatus may have numerous applications. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus are used in the formation, filling, and sealing of unit dose packages for consumer products. A method and apparatus for forming sealing two moving webs together, which webs have portions that are non-planar are also described herein.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods employing ultrasonic bonding to form filter elements for smoking articles are provided. Ultrasonic bonding can be employed to bond the fibers of filter material defining bloomed tow. Use of a plasticizer may not be necessary. Further, filter materials such as polylactic acid, which may not be bonded via a plasticizer, may be employed. However, triacetin or other additional components may be employed to provide the filter element with a desirable sensory attribute in some embodiments. Ultrasonic bonding may be conducted by an ultrasonic bonder that includes an anvil defining a pattern thereon that is selected to define a desired degree of bonding, and thereby a resulting desired firmness and/or pressure drop associated with the filter element.

Abstract: A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a a plurality of threads extending though at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

Abstract: The filter using technology for reducing the smell of tobacco smoke on hands, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a filter unit for filtering tobacco smoke, the filter unit being coupled to a tobacco shred; and filter-wrapping paper for wrapping the filter unit. The filter unit or the filter-wrapping paper may contain a material for reducing the smell of tobacco smoke. According to the embodiment of the present invention, green tea extracts containing catechin or other materials for reducing the smell of tobacco smoke, e.g. citric acids, glycerols, tannic acids and the like can be added to a tobacco filter to remove the smell from tobacco smoke generated during smoking, thus significantly lowering the strength of the smell of tobacco smoke on the hands of a smoker as compared to conventional tobacco filters.

Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.

Abstract: A cigarette filter manufacturing apparatus, includes, a stuffer jet which sends a tow together with air, a tongue which molds the tow into a bar, a convergence guide which is provided in a position between the stuffer jet and the tongue, and converges the tow while guiding the tow toward the tongue, and a plurality of thread introducing tubes, intervals between which are reduced toward downstream in a position between an outlet of the stuffer jet and an introducing part of the tongue, the thread introducing tubes supplying respective threads into the tow from respective downstream distal ends.

Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for forming a rod for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A continuous supply of a filter material is formed into a continuous filter rod by a rod-forming unit. An object insertion unit is configured to insert a plurality of first objects and a plurality of second objects into the continuous filter rod. A rod-dividing unit is configured to subdivide the continuous filter rod, at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions such that each filter rod portion includes at least one first object and at least one second object disposed therein, with the first objects being different from the second objects.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing paperless filter rods for smoking articles, according to which a tow band of hardening-material-impregnated filtering material is fed along a forming beam having a first portion along which the tow band is injected with steam to cause the hardening material to react, and a second portion along which the tow band is dried with air, coming out from the forming beam, a continuous paperless rigid rod filter, which is fed to a cutting device; the steam blowing being performed at a plurality of stations arranged in series along the first portion; and the steam being fed, at each station, into an accumulation chamber surrounding the forming channel and communicating with the forming channel through an annular nozzle arranged on a transverse plane to the forming channel and having a constant width, measured along an axis of the forming channel, of 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembly of multi-segment rod-like objects, such as, for example, components of a composite cigarette filter, is disclosed. The apparatus may include an intercalating unit and an assembly unit, linked by a transfer unit. Intercalating unit may include at least one rod supply unit and a conveyor. In one embodiment, intercalating unit may include a plurality of independent rod supply units. Each rod supply unit may include a hopper and a rod delivery mechanism comprising a rotary drum, a cutting device, a transfer wheel and a delivery wheel.

Abstract: Fibrous material suitable for incorporation into filter elements of smoking articles such as cigarettes are impregnated with additives and agents such as flavorants, flavorant-enhancers and/or free radical scavengers. The fibrous material is contacted with the additive dispersed in a high pressure gas or supercritical fluid (SCF) held at elevated pressures. The high pressure gas or SCF swells the fibrous matrix and enables the additive to be incorporated within the matrix. When pressure is reduced, the gas or SCF vaporizes and leaves the additive embedded in the fiber interstices. As a result, the additive is slowly released over a finite period of time. When incorporated into a cigarette filter, the additive is released at a desired rate from the interior of the fibrous filter into the cigarette smoke.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tobacco smoke filter production wherein a train of tobacco smoke filtering material, while being continuously advanced longitudinally, is gathered towards rod shape and then shaped to and secured in rod form, and wherein there is discontinuous pneumatic injection of particulate additive through an injector conduit laterally into the advancing gathering material to form separate additive pockets embedded in and spaced along the continuously produced rod.

Abstract: Composite filters are assembled initially by an upstream unit as groups of at least two plugs having different filtration properties. A single flow of the groups is directed from the assembling unit onto a pair of drums and divided into two flows, whereupon these are taken up by two pitch-adapting drums rotating substantially tangential one to another about parallel axes, and released to a rotating member turning on an axis normal to the axes of the drums and equipped with a plurality of carriers by which pairs of the groups are transferred from the drums to the twin channels of a garniture tongue along which two continuous rods of composite filters are formed. The carriers are equipped with an arm presenting a portion angled relative to the axis of the rotating member, so that two groups can be picked up at a time from the drums and deposited simultaneously in the channels.

Abstract: A processing unit for processing at least one filter tow strip to produce filters for rod-shaped smoking articles includes at least one tow guidance section along which the filter tow strip is moved in a direction of a longitudinal extension of the filter tow strip. The tow guidance section includes processing devices used for processing the filter tow strip. The processing devices are arranged in a sequence essentially one above the other, so that at least a segment of the tow guidance section that is located in a region of the processing devices is oriented at an angle to a horizontal line.

Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.

Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.

Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tobacco smoke filter production wherein a train of tobacco smoke filtering material, whilst continuously advanced longitudinally, is gathered towards rod shape and then shaped to and secured in rod form, and wherein there is discontinuous pneumatic injection of particulate additive through an injector conduit laterally into the gathering material to form separate additive pockets embedded in and spaced along the continuously produced rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nonwoven fiber composite for the manufacture of filters in the tobacco industry, wherein the method feeds separated fiber materials to a fluidized bed and the separated filter material inside the fluidized bed are transported to a rod-forming device, essentially by a transport air flow flowing in the direction of the rod-forming device and the filter material is compiled on the rod-forming device prior to forming the compacted fiber filter elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying an additive to a moving web of filter material of the tobacco-processing industry are provided. An adjustable window defines an opening, and additive is applied through the window opening onto the web.

Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.

Abstract: A filter-manufacturing machine comprises spray nozzles located on both sides of a feeding path of sheet material made of filter fibers, respectively, and the spray nozzles each have a line of spray holes of a liquid binder with high viscosity and a plurality of air jetting openings for jetting compressed air. The liquid binder sprayed from the lines of the spray holes is subdivided into particles by the compressed air, thereby spraying the particles of the liquid binder evenly on both surfaces of the sheet material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering predetermined amounts of particulate material and/or plasticizer to a location remote from the particulate material, and a cigarette filter and a cigarette made according to the method and apparatus.

Abstract: A tow of filamentary filter material for tobacco smoke which is to be converted into a rod-like filler of a filter rod is conveyed along an elongated path first through a stretching or tensioning zone where the filaments are stretched and the tow is converted into a relatively wide flat web, thereupon along a relaxing portion of the path wherein the tensioning action upon the filaments is reduced, thereupon along a third portion wherein at least one side of the running web is contacted by droplets of an atomized plasticizer, and thereafter along a fourth portion of the path wherein the web is gathered by reducing its width so that it more closely resembles a rod which is thereupon draped into a web of cigarette paper or other suitable wrapping material. A wind tunnel surrounds at least one portion of the path to confine at least one stream of air which is caused to flow in the direction of advancement of the tow. A tunnel can surround the stretching zone, the relaxing and/or the fourth portion of the path.

Abstract: A tow of fibrous filter material for tobacco smoke is transported lengthwise through a so-called finger which is an elongated channel wherein the cross-sectional area of the tow is gradually reduced to that of the rod-like filler in the wrapper of a filter rod. The homogeneity of the tow is enhanced by introducing a compressed gas into longitudinally spaced apart gas admitting portions of the channel and by providing the channel with sets of openings for the evacuation of gas downstream of each gas admitting portion. The channel discharges a continuous homogenized tow into a wrapping mechanism wherein the tow is draped into a web of cigarette paper or the like, and the thus obtained filter rod is severed to yield a file of filter rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length.

Abstract: The treatment of a tow of filamentary filter material for tobacco smoke prior to draping of the resulting filler into a web of wrapping material is followed by advancement of the filler in a plane and single or multiple deflection of successive increments of the filler from and transversely of the plane. The deflected increments are returned into the plane and are advanced into the draping unit. Deflection of successive increments of the filler reduces the likelihood of the so-called towsplit which denotes the separation of partially bonded and gathered filaments from each other.

Abstract: A fluid injection device and method of injecting and distributing a fluid, such as a gas, liquid or combination thereof, to a continuous, multifilament filter tow used in the manufacture of filters for smokable tobacco products. The injection device includes a converging tongue portion from which a nozzle block is suspended and rigidly supported. A nozzle conduit with a plurality of feed holes is formed in the nozzle block for delivering the fluid to a precise location in the advancing filter tow during its formation and consolidation into a filter rod. Additives, such as flavorants, may be injected into the tow or the tow may be further bloomed by a gas, such as air, to decrease tow usage.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for supplying cellulose acetate tow for the manufacture of cigarette filters from the transport jet of a tow opener to a cigarette filter rodmaking garniture. The apparatus is a frustoconical member having a multiplicity of apertures in the wall thereof and is attached directly to the transport jet. The apparatus has an internal diameter the same size as the exit opening of the transport jet. The opposite end of the adapter is inserted into the tow intake of the garniture. Transport gas that is introduced by the transport jet escapes through apertures in the adapter wall as the tow enters the garniture intake. A closely fitting rotatable sleeve having apertures in the wall thereof can be used to reduce the escape of transport gas through the adapter wall for optimizing performance of the adapter with tows of various processing characteristics. Tow yield is improved and pressure drop variability is reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The method entails rapidly feeding a free flowing material such as charcoal into partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The free flowing material is dispensed to a first conveyance means and is subsequently transferred to a second conveyance means that is positioned parallel and above the first conveyance means. Vacuum is used to hold the free flowing particulate material onto the first conveyance means and is used to transfer the free flowing material to the second conveyance means and to hold it there. The free flowing material is next transferred into receiving spaces formed between articles such as cigarette filter plugs that are disposed on a third conveyance means. The transfer of the free flowing material to the receiving spaces may also be accomplished by use of vacuum or gravity.

Abstract: An air jet for producing a filter plug for cigarette comprising an imparting portion for propelling force to a tow-like fiber bundle and a beak portion, wherein said imparting portion is constructed by a trumpet (21) having a converged tip end region, a trumpet holder (23) coaxially and encirclingly assembled on the trumpet (21) so that a primary air chamber (26a) is formed between the bodies of the trumpet and the trumpet holder, and an annular slit (29) communicated with the primary air chamber (26a) is also formed between the tip end regions of the trumpet (21) and the trumpet holder (23). An inner tube (22) is disposed coaxially in front of the assembly of the trumpet (21) and the trumpet holder (23), whereby a fiber path through which the tow-like fiber bundle is fed to a tongue of a filter plug machine is formed through the air jet along the axis thereof; the fiber bundle being accelerated by a propelling force imparted by compressed air ejected from the annular slit (29) to the fiber path.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The device has a metering drum for dispensing free-flowing material onto an air permeable transport tape. A vacuum source beneath the transport tape retains the free-flowing material on the transport tape which conveys the free-flowing material beneath a set of pockets mounted on or within a moving belt. Each pocket is divided by a screen permeable to air but not to the free-flowing material. As the transport tape moves beneath the pockets, vacuum applied beneath the tape ceases, and vacuum applied to the pockets draws the free-flowing material up into the pockets, and retains the free-flowing material in the pockets. When the belt transfers the pockets out from under the vacuum hood, and the vacuum is no longer applied, the free-flowing material is released from the pockets.

Abstract: Filter tow comprising crimped spun fibers and/or filaments is prepared in a preparation zone and fed to a processing zone where it is gathered, in an intake zone, then wrapped and cut into tobacco smoke filter rods. In the region of the intake zone, a gas or vapor under elevated pressure acts on the filter tow at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the filter tow in the direction of movement of the filter tow. The relevant apparatus includes a preparation unit and a processing unit, the latter unit for feeding a gas or vapor under elevated pressure to the filter tow in the direction of movement thereof including:an intake finger (14) having holes (17) in the wall thereof on the filter tow intake side, ora pipe (22), whose gas or vapor exit end 23 terminates in the region of the filter tow outlet side of the intake funnel (23) or the filter tow intake side of the intake finger (14), ora blowing device (27) immediately upstream of the filter tow intake side of the intake finger (14).

Abstract: A cigarette filter having a core of synthetic fibrous filter material and an outer plug wrap is provided with a group of longitudinal bores and a group of peripheral channels in the core to improve the filtration efficiency and to balance the distribution of smoke flow over the cross-sectional area of the filter.

Abstract: Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod-making apparatus. The apparatus includes (a) an unwind unit for continuously supplying a material having a continuous integrity; (b) a rod-forming unit for forming a rod-like composite of the supplied material; (c) a constriction member for constricting the rod-like composite, the constriction member including (i) a material-contacting surface and (ii) a reservoir for supplying an amount of liquid to at least a portion of the material-contacting surface; and (d) a rod-making unit for receiving the rod-like composite and for circumscribing the rod-like composite with wrapping material thereby forming a continuous rod.

Abstract: Filter tow comprising crimped spun fibers and/or filaments is prepared in a preparation zone and fed to a processing zone where it is gathered, in an intake zone, then wrapped and cut into tobacco smoke filter rods. In the region of the intake zone, a gas or vapor under elevated pressure acts on the filter tow at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the filter tow in the direction of movement of the filter tow. The relevant apparatus includes a preparation unit and a processing unit, the latter unit for feeding a gas or vapor under elevated pressure to the filter tow in the direction of movement thereof including:an intake finger (14) having holes (17) in the wall thereof on the filter tow intake side, ora pipe (22), whose gas or vapor exit end 23 terminates in the region of the filter tow outlet side of the intake funnel (23) or the filter tow intake side of the intake finger (14), ora blowing device (27) immediately upstream of the filter tow intake side of the intake finger (14).

Abstract: A tube is held or guided parallel to its length by providing a channel-like structure aligned with the tube and having sides which are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the tube. Circumferentially spaced longitudinal portions of the outer surface of the tube bear respectively on the two sides of the channel. The channel is open to the outer surface of the tube between those longitudinal portions, and the bottom of the tube is spaced from the outer surface of the tube between those longitudinal portions. The tube is held against the channel-like structure by directing a stream of gas (e.g., air) along the channel.

Abstract: A filter-manufacturing apparatus comprises a cutting drum, which has transporting grooves and adapted to receive filter rods having a prescribed length. An annular slit is formed in the circumference of the cutting drum. A circular cutting blade extends into the annular slit in a rotatable manner. A rod-shaped stopper is movably arranged in each transporting groove, and the distance between each stopper and the annular slit is adjustable such that it corresponds to the length of a filter plug to be cut from a filter rod. The cutting drum comprises a pushing mechanism for moving the filter rod along the transporting groove against the stopper by jetting air, whereby the filter rod is cut by the cutting blade, with its one and abutting against the stopper. A receiving drum with receiving grooves is in rolling contact with the cutting drum. The receiving drum rotates such that the receiving grooves come into alignment with the transporting grooves of the cutting drum.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing fiber rods useful as cigarette filter tips comprises feeding a synthetic fiber tow through an air jet bulker directly into the garniture of a conventional cigarette filter making apparatus. The process allows production of filters with lower denier tow than has heretofore been possible while affording to the manufacturer greater versatility to change filter characteristics more readily.

Abstract: A method and means for making an improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by the production of longitudinally continuous grooves running from end-to-end in the peripheral surface of a smoke-impervious filter plug wrap with the grooves having a transverse cross-sectional area that varies as a function of longitudinal displacement. Smoke-impervious tipping surrounds the plug wrap to seal the grooves except for small ventilation holes in the tipping which permit communication between the grooves and the ambient air. In the preferred embodiment, the grooves are restricted toward the mouth end of the filter and the degree of restriction determines the direction of air and smoke flow in the grooves. The grooves are each preferably formed as two longitudinal sections of different cross-section.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in the manufacture of rod like elements, for example cigarette filters formed of filamentary tow, for dissipating conveying gas from a conduit through which the tow is conveyed pneumatically through a series of processing stations. To effectively dissipate the gas from the conduit, the invention provides axially spaced rings of gas dissipation ports in the conduit. The ports in the upstream rings are inclined rearwardly to provide gas dissipation in a direction which is counter-current the direction of travel of the tow through the conduit. The ports in adjacent rings are offset circumferentially so as to improve the distribution of ports around the circumference of the conduit in the section used for gas dissipation.

Abstract: The pressure of compressed air in one or more nozzles which convert successive increments of a running tow of filamentary filter material into a rodlike filler in a filter rod making machine is regulated in response to variations in the speed of the filler. This ensures that the resistance which the filter rod sections offer the flow of tobacco smoke does not deviate from an optimum value when the speed of the filler is reduced below the nominal speed. The pressure of air which is admitted to the nozzle or nozzles is regulated by a variable-speed blower which compresses air preparatory to admission into the nozzle or nozzles, or by installing in the conduit or conduits for one or more nozzles a pressure regulating valve which is adjusted by a servomotor in response to signals denoting the speed of the filler.

Abstract: In the production of cigarette filter rod from filter tow the conveyance of tow into a tow shaping unit (12, 32, 56, 76) is aided by controlling tow tension so that excessive stretch (and hence possible loss of crimp) is avoided. The tension is controlled by two conveying arrangements upstream of the tow shaping unit and which may include air extracting devices and entraining devices (20-28), opposed tow engaging wheels (34, 36), a tow reservoir (64), a tow engaging refuser roller (70), or a tow spinning unit (74). In the tow spinning unit (74) the tow is gathered ad twisted in a converging conical guide which is rotated at high speed, and which may also impart an axial thrust to the tow to aid conveyance into the tow shaping unit (76).

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a pre-filter for the filteration of harmful substances in cigarettes by using pine needles which have been steamed to eliminate the odor of the pine resin. The steamed pine needles then are dried in a shaded lot and formed into powder. A dough is made by mixing up fine powder crushed from the dried pine needles with water. The dough is then crushed into granular form and the pre-filter is obtained by forming the granules into a rod shape.

Abstract: A filter for separating constituent components of fluids includes a plural-layer sheet-like member which is multiply pleated to provide layers of the same or different porosity or to provide structural support layers for pleating a soft or membrane-like filter layer. The multiple layers may be pre-joined or delivered from individual locations to a pneumatic conveyor passage of predetermined cross-section through which the adjacent layers are conveyed by a conveyor gas. The layers are crimped to form pleats by withdrawing the material at a lower linear speed than that at which it is supplied to the passage. Pleating is facilitated by venting the conveyor gas at a passage section of enlarged cross-section. The pleating material is subjected to a hot gas, such as steam, and then cooled by a cooling gas to effect bonding of the layers in the pleated state.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for manufacturing a filter rod from a continuous multifilament filter tow which is treated with a smoke-modifying agent during the filter rod manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high speed process and apparatus suitable for the preparation of cigarette filter rods having high tow utilization in terms of pressure drop per unit rod weight without producing substantial tow density variations. In accordance with this invention, it has been discovered that in a process for manufacturing filter elements from opened and deregistered crimped continuous filament tow, wherein said tow is conducted from a mechanical forwarding means through an aspirating jet positioned adjacent a compacting means and wherein means are provided for dissipating aspirating fluid, that filter rod pressure drop and weight variations are reduced by aspirating at low pressures and more specifically, at fluid pressures of not more than about 3 pounds per square inch gauge and by causing the aspirating fluid, at its point of contact with the continuous filament tow, to flow substantially in a direction axial to that of the tow.