Abstract: The tree harvesting apparatus and method of this invention are particularly useful in congested areas where the range of equipment movement is limited and where unrestrained heavy tree bolts would cause damage to surrounding property if allowed to free fall to the ground. The subject apparatus is adapted to engage and sever large tree limbs, tree tops and tree bolts from free standing trees by means of tree gripping and severing means which is operable to form a kerf without becoming bound within the same. Further, the subject apparatus is adapted to weigh a tree bolt or tree top immediately upon its formation and while in juxtaposition with the free standing tree.

Abstract: The air dilution filter of the cigarette is provided with an annular zone in the plug wrap paper which enables air to pass directly into the fibrous body of the filter material after passing through apertures in the tipping paper.The annular zone can be comprised of a groove which is fabricated by a pair of rotating knives and a rotatable spacer with radial cutting edges which rout out material from each filter plug during conveyance of the plug on an alignment drum of a cigarette making machine. Alternatively, a plurality of closely spaced rotating knives which cut through the plug wrap paper only may be used to form a series of closely spaced annular grooves or slits in the filter periphery.

Abstract: Improved palladium-containing smoking tobacco compositions wherein the palladium in a highly active form is obtained by depositing on the tobacco palladium which has been insolubilized by admixing in an aqueous medium a water-soluble palladium compound and a reducing agent capable of reducing dissolved palladium cations to insoluble palladium. Methods for determining the amount of insoluble or active palladium are described.

Abstract: A filter is formed by placing increments of glue in spaced apart relation on a moving stream of plug wrap paper and thereafter depositing alternating fibrous filter sections on the glue increments. Particulate material is then deposited between the fibrous filter sections and the plug wrap paper wrapped about the filter sections to form an endless rod. Two-filter filter plugs are severed from the rod by cutting through the unglued fibrous filter section and thereafter the charges of particulate filter material are compacted by moving the unglued outer filter sections of each plug inwardly. Each plug is then joined to two tobacco columns and cut in half. The resultant filters each have a fibrous filter section at the exposed end glued to the plug wrap paper, a compacted particulate section and an unglued fibrous filter section at the tobacco end.

Abstract: The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke is reduced by incorporating palladium, either in metallic form or as a salt, and an inorganic nitric oxide generating compound into tobacco.

Abstract: The stability of palladium in tobacco casing systems is improved by the incorporation of a polysaccharide protective colloid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is adapted to provide the filter of a cigarette with an annular perpheral groove to enable air to pass directly into the fibrous body of the filter material after passing through apertures in the tipping paper. Ordinary plug wrap paper instead of a high porosity tea bag paper to wrap the fibrous filter material.The annular groove can be formed by a pair of rotating knives and a rotatable spacer with radial cutting edges which rout out material from each filter plug during conveyance of the plug on an alignment drum of a cigarette making machine. Alternatively, a plurality of closely spaced rotating knives which cut through the plug wrap paper only may be used to form a series of closely spaced annular grooves or slits in the filter periphery.

Abstract: The filter plug of the cigarette is provided with an annular peripheral groove to enable air to pass directly into the fibrous body of the filter material after passing through apertures in the tipping paper. Use is made of ordinary plug wrap paper instead of a high porosity tea bag paper to wrap the fibrous filter material. The groove extends through the layer of plug wrap paper and thus communicates directly with the filter material.

Abstract: The amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke is reduced and a substantially diminished biological activity of the tobacco smoke condensate is achieved by adding to the tobacco palladium, either in metallic or salt form, and an inorganic nitric oxide generating compound.

Abstract: A filter is formed by placing increments of glue in spaced apart relation on a moving stream of plug wrap paper and thereafter depositing alternating fibrous filter sections on the glue increments. Particulate material is then deposited between the fibrous filter sections and the plug wrap paper wrapped about the filter sections to form an endless rod. Two-filter filter plugs are severed from the rod by cutting through the unglued fibrous filter section and thereafter the charges of particulate filter material are compacted by moving the unglued outer filter sections of each plug inwardly. Each plug is then joined to two tobacco columns and cut in half. The resultant filters each have a fibrous filter section at the exposed end glued to the plug wrap paper, a compacted particulate section and an unglued fibrous filter section at the tobacco end.

Abstract: The hand held measuring device measures the circumference of a cylindrical rod by moving the rod through a measured path between two cylinders. An ink marking device is used to place an index mark on the rolling rod and a transparent scale is used at the end of the measured surface of the outer cylinder to indicate the distance the rod has travelled. Coincidence of the index mark with the scale reading is a measure of the circumference of the rod. The device is operated manually via a hand wheel secured to a trunnion of the inner cylinder.

Abstract: The apparatus for making the filter forms a stream of tow into a U-shaped trough so that charges of charcoal can be injected into the trough by a charcoal wheel. The shape of the tow is ensured by feeding the tow into a funnel-shaped passageway from below the level of the passageway, the tow remains U-shaped without the need of any other means.

Abstract: The burn rate of tobacco is decreased without impairment of its quality of smoking by the application thereto of small amounts of certain salts, preferably hydrated magnesium chloride, which upon heating exhibit a plurality of endothermic reactions at successively increasing temperatures in the range from about 100.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. In addition, the presence of small amounts of an alkaline material such as calcium hydroxide is desired to counteract marginal changes in the yields of some smoke components and to increase smoke pH.

Abstract: The apparatus is constructed to produce a hollow filter rod. The apparatus includes a mandrel through which a supplied length of tubing is passed, a nozzle surrounding the mandrel for shaping a stream of fibrous filter material about the mandrel and a forming means for enveloping a web of paper about the fibrous filter material and the tubing to produce the filter rod. The mandrel can be adjusted relative to the forming means to ensure an accurate centering of the tubing within the filter rod.The hollow filter includes a rigid non-deformable tube defining a smoke passage having a draw resistance to control the amount of unfiltered smoke, a concentric layer of filter material and a perforated outer wrap for passage of air into the layer of filter material.

Abstract: A smoking composition comprising tobacco and a catalytic agent for causing a decrease in the yield of polycyclic aromatic compounds arising from pyrolytic reactions of the composition, the agent being selected from the group consisting of finely divided unsupported metallic palladium or palladium salts which are heat decomposable into metallic palladium.

Abstract: A filter is formed by placing increments of glue in spaced apart relation on a moving stream of plug wrap paper and thereafter depositing alternating fibrous filter sections on the glue increments. Particulate marterial is then deposited between the fibrous filter sections and the plug wrap paper wrapped about the filter sections to form an endless rod. Two-filter filter plugs are severed from the rod by cutting through the unglued fibrous filter section and thereafter the charges of particulate filter material are compacted by moving the unglued outer filter sections of each plug inwardly. Each plug is then joined to two tobacco columns and cut in half. The resultant filters each have a fibrous filter section at the exposed end glued to the plug wrap paper, a compacted particulate section and an unglued fibrous filter section at the tobacco end.

Abstract: As a puff generator draws a volume of smoke and air through the vented-filter cigarette air is drawn from a ventilation cylinder to cause a piston to travel to a dead center position. The amount of movement of this piston is a measure of an amount of air drawn through the ventilation path of the filter by the puff generator. The amount of travel can be related to the total possible stroke of the piston so as to produce a digital read out of the degree of ventilation directly.

Abstract: A process for improving, enhancing or modifying the organoleptic properties of tobacco products which comprises adding thereto a compound possessing the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight or branched-chain alkyl, alkenyl or cyclic aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group having less than 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A multi-sectional filter tip assembly is initially made with two charcoal filter sections and alternate sections of cellulose acetate fibrous material with a fibrous section at each end. The filter tip assembly is then compacted by a pin compactor which punches a recess into each fibrous end of the filter tip assembly while at the same time forcing the displaced acetate fibrous material into the charcoal sections to compact the charcoal. Upon removal of the pins of the pin compactor, a recess is formed in each end of the filter tip assembly.

Abstract: Two cigarette making machines are interconnected to a single cigarette packing machine via a transfer system which uses individual conveyors to convey the cigarettes from each making machine to a single chute leading to the packing machine. The flow of cigarettes into the chute from the two conveyors is controlled by a series of switches which are activated in response to the amount of stored cigarettes in the storage of the transfer system as well as a photocell arranged above the mouth of the chute. These switches actuate a control to slow down or speed up the packer in response to the amount of stored cigarettes while the photocell controls the operation of the conveyors of the transfer system in response to the absence or presence of cigarettes at the position of the photocell.