Abstract: A wrapper for use in smoking articles such as cigarettes, and in particular, to a wrapper for smoking articles having a heat source, a physically separate aerosol generating means, and a mouthend piece. More specifically the invention relates to smoking articles which employ a substantially non-burnable paper used as an innerwrap and/or outerwrap which encircles at least a portion of the fuel element of such smoking articles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for expanding tobacco wherein tobacco is impregnated with gaseous 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and thereafter heated in an expansion zone to liberate the 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and cause expansion of the tobacco. The process of the invention can provide substantial expansion of tobacco cut filler lamina without substantial generation of tobacco fines and employing substantially mild pressures of, for example, less than about 3,000 psi and with minimal effect on tobacco flavor.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for inserting a component comprising an elongate cartridge containing an aerosol forming material, at one end of which there is a fuel element, within a jacket component comprising a rod, a sleeve of insulating material, or a combination thereof, the apparatus preferably providing for forming a passage in the jacket component and inserting the elongate cartridge therein. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of movably mounted stations for high speed manufacture of smoking articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoking article which produces an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke, but contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products.The smoking article of the present invention provides an aerosol "smoke" which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of oxides of carbon, air, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavorants or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials. The aerosol "smoke" has no significant mutagenic activity as measured by the Ames Test. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.One embodiment of the present smoking article comprises a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element; a short heat stable, preferably carbonaceous substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, and a relatively long mouthend piece.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for producing carbon containing fuel elements especially suited for use in cigarette--like smoking articles. One method of the present invention makes use of two separate pyrolysis steps to ensure that the carbon used to form the fuel elements for smoking articles is substantially free of materials which could adversely affect the aerosol delivered by such articles. Also disclosed is a method in which a fuel element formed from carbon and a binder is pyrolyzed after formation to convert the binder to carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel elements useful in smoking articles which produce an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke, but contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products.Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel elements, usually less than about 20 mm in length, preferably from about 5 to 15 mm in length, and most preferably about 10 mm in length. The diameter of the fuel elements of the present invention generally is less than about 8 mm, preferably from about 3 to 7 mm, and most preferably from about 4 to 6 mm.Smoking articles utilizing the fuel elements of the present invention are capable of providing an aerosol "smoke" which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of air, oxides of carbon, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavorants or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials.

Abstract: Disclosed are smoking articles, such as cigarettes, which include a short, i.e., about 9 mm long carbonaceous fuel element positioned in a heat exchange relationship with a physically separate aerosol generating means. Surrounding the fuel element is a tobacco/glass insulating wrapper, preferably comprising at least four layers, defined from the periphery of the fuel element as: (1) a first layer of glass fibers; (2) a first tobacco-containing sheet; (3) a second layer of glass fibers, and (4) a second tobacco-containing sheet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for increasing the filling capacity of tobacco under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure. Tobacco is impregnanted with a low boiling impregnant and thereafter subjected to a pre-expansion treatment. The pre-expansion treatment includes a pre-expansion temperature which is above the atmospheric boiling point of the impregnant and which is at least ten degrees below the critical temperature of the impregnant; and a pressure which is at least five atmospheres above the boiling point pressure of the impregnant at the pre-expansion temperature. Under these conditions, the impregnant is maintained primarily in the liquid phase throughout the pre-expansion treatment. Following the pre-expansion treatment, the pressure of the treated tobacco is rapidly reduced to a pressure below the boiling point pressure of the impregnant to thereby effect tobacco expansion without the need for a separate heating step.

Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol.Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means including an aerosol forming substance, a physically separate tobacco jacket around at least the aerosol generating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece.The articles of the present invention provide the user with taste, feel and aroma, associated with the smoking of conventional cigarettes. Tobacco in many embodiments of this invention is burned to provide a sidestream aroma and smoke. In other embodiments, tobacco does not burn, but still provides tobacco flavors to the aerosol delivered to the user.

Abstract: A method for making a smoking article is described wherein an aerosol generating cartridge is inserted into a sleeve, preferably having a tobacco insulating material.Also described are articles of manufacture having an elongate jacket module with a rod segment and an annular segment. The rod segment has a length of rod of fibrous material. Disposed logitudinally on either side of the rod segment is an annular segment of insulating material.Additionally, articles of manufacture useful for making smoking articles are described having an elongate structure with two or more repeating sections wherein each section preferably has a tobacco-containing spacer segment and mouthend segment.

Abstract: Making an aerosol generating cartridge useful for a smoking article is described. The method comprises filling a non-combustible elongated capsule, open at one end, with a substrate bearing an aersol forming material, and applying a fuel element to the open end of the capsule to enclose the substrate within the capsule.

Abstract: The flavor substances of the present invention are prepared by toasting (heating) natural tobacco in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C., fractionating the volatiles and collecting at least a portion of the fractionated materials as the flavor substances. This fractionating and/or collecting can be conducted by condensation, liquid-liquid extraction, sorption (adsorption and/or absorption) and the like, with either a solid or liquid sorbent medium. Either the sorbent medium containing the trapped volatiles or the volatiles themselves may be used as the flavor substances of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol.Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a physically separate aerosol generating means including an aerosol forming substance, a tobacco jacket around at least a portion of the fuel element and the aerosol generating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece.The articles of the present invention provide the user with taste, feel and aroma, associated with the smoking of conventional cigarettes. Tobacco in many embodiments of this invention is burned to provide a sidestream aroma and smoke.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for expanding tobacco wherein tobacco is impregnated with sulfur hexafluoride and thereafter heated in an expansion zone to liberate the sulfur hexafluoride and cause expansion of the tobacco. The process of the invention can provide substantial expansion of tobacco cut filler lamina without substantial generation of tobacco fines and employing substantially mild pressure of, for example, less than about 2,000 psi and with minimal effect on tobacco taste. The invention additionally provides an intermediate tobacco product comprising tobacco cut filler lamina impregnated with sulfur hexafluoride in a substantially pliable and unextracted condition.

Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to an insulated smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of smoke, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream smoke. Thus, the article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without burning tobacco. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short i.e.

Abstract: The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products of sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.

Abstract: A heat conductive capsule which carries or contains an aerosol forming material for use in smoking articles which upon heating ruptures or otherwise undergoes a change in structure to release at least a portion of the aerosol forming material, which aerosol resembles tobacco smoke, but preferably contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products.The preferred smoking article of the present invention provides an aerosol "smoke" which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of air, oxides of carbon, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavor or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials.One especially preferred embodiment of the present smoking article comprises a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, encapsulated aerosol forming substance, and a relatively long mouthend piece. The capsule is preferably formed from a heat conductive metal such as aluminum foil.

Abstract: The flavor substances of the present invention are prepared by toasting (heating) natural tobacco in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C., condensing at least a portion of the volatiles driven-off during the toasting, and collecting the a portion of the uncondensed volatiles by sorption (adsorption and/or absorption) on a solid or liquid sorbent medium. Either the sorbent medium containing the trapped volatiles or the volatiles themselves may be used as the flavor substances of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for increasing the filling capacity of tobacco wherein tobacco is contacted with a mixture of an inert, normally gaseous expansion agent and about 15-35 weight percent of carbon dioxide at a pressure above the critical pressure of the mixture and a temperature above the critical temperature of the mixture, followed by rapid release of pressure to provide expanded tobacco without a subsequent heating step. Advantageously, the expansion agent is propane.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an inspection method, apparatus and system for identifying cigarettes having insufficient tobacco at their lighting end in which cigarettes are conveyed serially through a beam of infrared radiation. The amount of infrared radiation passing perpendicularly through the end portion of each cigarette is compared to a predetermined value to determine whether or not the cigarette is defective. The method, apparatus and inspection system of the invention is both accurate and reliable and can be employed in combination with cigarette manufacturing systems operating at speeds in excess of 7,000-8,000 cigarettes per minute.