Abstract: A cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system having a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a process having the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.

Abstract: A sharpening and cleaning apparatus for sharpening scalloped-edged blades in a carton slitting machine includes at least two rotating cylindrical hones mounted on a pneumatically controlled actuator, and a pair of blade cleaning brushes mounted on a separate actuator. A sharpening operation is initiated by a machine operator as needed to maintain blade sharpness, and is performed automatically by the apparatus controls. The hone actuator positions the rotating hones in contact with opposing sides of a cutting edge of the slitting blade as the blade moves past the hones at reduced speed. A first hone is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the blade and a second hone is rotated in the same direction of the blade. During sharpening, the hones execute several reciprocating axial movements to stroke the blade. Prior to the operation of the hones the actuator positions the brushes in contact with the blade and causes the brushes to rotate to remove debris from the blade.

Abstract: A smoking article and method is provided in which a liquid tobacco flavor generating system is used to deliver a liquid tobacco flavor medium to a heater to generate a predetermined quantity of tobacco flavor substance for delivery to a smoker. The article includes an electrical heating means, a tobacco flavor medium delivery system, a source of electrical energy and a control means to generate the tobacco flavor substance for delivery to a smoker.

Abstract: A cylindrical tube is provided of a mechanically strong and flexible electrical conductor such as a metal and has a plurality of separated regions. An electrically insulating layer such as a ceramic is applied on the outer surface except for one exposed portion. Electrically resistive heaters are then applied to the insulated regions and are electrically connected at one end to the underlying electrical conducting region. The electrical conductor is connected to the negative terminal of a power source. The other end of all the heaters are adapted to be connected to the positive terminal of the source. Accordingly, an electrically resistive heating circuit is formed wherein the tube serves as a common for all of the heating elements. The tubular heater can comprise an exposed end hub with a plurality of blades extending therefrom. Each blade can have an individual heater deposited thereon. Alternatively, every other blade can have a heater deposited thereon.

Abstract: An acidic aqueous medium for contacting and purifying a gas-phase stream by oxidation of a contaminant contained therein. The medium comprises an aqueous medium which contains redox-effective quantities of (1) silver(I) oxidation catalyst, (2) hydrogen peroxide oxidant, (3) silver metal-reoxidation co-catalyst ingredient which forms a cyclic complex with the hydrogen peroxide oxidant, and (4) oxidation-resistant acid. The acidic aqueous medium provides an integrated functionality of components (1) through (4) for the efficient cascade oxidation of a contaminant containing gas stream, and the continuous regeneration of the reduced silver metal catalyst back to the silver(I) oxidation state.

Abstract: A lighter is provided having a tobacco flavor heating system which includes a rotatable tobacco containing disc or spiral. This disc or spiral is registered in thermal proximity to a heating element and heated to generate tobacco flavors in response to a sensor. The disc and spiral are sized to provide a convenient number of puffs before disposal. Housings are provided for the disc and spiral to store, register and dispose the tobacco product efficiently. An induction heating system can be employed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying an adhesive solution to the coal end of a cigarette by means of a precisely controlled liquid jet spray to bond shreds of tobacco in the cigarette end and to thereby reduce the amount of tobacco which falls out of the cigarette when shaken. Electronic controls are employed to synchronize the formation and charging of a series of droplets which are deflected in prescribed paths to contact the coal end of the cigarette in a predetermined pattern. Circuits are provided to adjust the timing and phase of the charging mechanism to compensate for variations in the speed at which the cigarette is conveyed to a target area and for variations in the timing of droplet formation.

Abstract: A pack of cigarettes or of products of the tobacco industry is effectively protected against light, as well as against the loss or the penetration of humidity and the loss of aroma or off flavor of the products it contains, even though it is wrapped in a blank generally comprising only a single layer of material, when particular precautions are taken order to form the corners of the pack. Another advantage of the proposed package resides in the fact that it possesses several opening mechanism at the user's choice, permitting the latter to open his pack either as a conventional soft pack or as a hard pack. A package of this type is particularly ecological since it is preferably made up from a biodegradable material.

Abstract: A concentric smoking filter in which the peripheral filter medium is a fibrous tow, such as fibrous cellulose acetate tow, and the core filter medium is a web material, such as paper, loaded with carbon particles, is provided. The filter improves the taste, particularly, of "ultra-light" cigarettes.

Abstract: An induction heating source is provided for use with an electrical smoking article. The induction heating source provides an alternating electromagnetic field which inductively heats a susceptor in thermal proximity with tobacco flavor medium to generate aerosols. A plurality of induction heaters are employed and/or the tobacco flavor medium is translated with respect to the induction heater or susceptor. The tobacco flavor medium can form an intimate structure with the susceptor and can take the form of a cylindrical cigarette or a web.

Abstract: A carbonaceous heat source comprising metal oxides and methods for making such heat source are provided. The heat source has an ignition temperature substantially lower than conventional carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time produces virtually no carbon monoxide upon combustion. The heat source is prepared by pre-forming the carbon and binder materials into a desired shape, and then treating the shape with a sol containing metal oxide precursors. The metal oxide precursors are deposited in the pre-formed carbon shape. Further treatment converts the deposited metal oxide precursors into metal oxide.

Abstract: A provided heater comprises a supporting hub and a plurality of electrically resistive heater blades defining a receptacle to receive an inserted cigarette. Each blade comprises a first heater blade leg having a first end and a second end and extending at the first end from the supporting hub, a second heater blade leg having a first end and a second end, and a connecting section connecting the second end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg. The second end of the second leg extends toward the supporting hub and is electrically insulated therefrom. A resistive heating circuit is formed to heat the electrically resistive heater blade which in turn heats the inserted cigarette. The first and second legs are separated by a gap to permit entrainment of flavor substances into the heated cigarette upon drawing by a smoker.

Abstract: A cam is provided having one or more end blades, each having a respective support surface to compress a corresponding end region of a tobacco rod, and one or more interposed blades, each having a respective support surface to comprise a corresponding intermediate region(s) between the end region(s) as the cam rotates. The lengths of the blades are varied to proportionately vary the density of the regions and the widths and thicknesses of the support surfaces are varied to proportionately vary the width and length of the regions. A tobacco rod, and ultimately a cigarette, is produced having intermediate compressed regions between compressed end regions.

Abstract: A thin film layer of primarily platinum is deposited onto a ceramic substrate and electrical connections are applied to the platinum layer to form a heater. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connections comprise two electrically conductive posts fixed to the ceramic substrate at a first end and electrically contacting the platinum heater layer near this first end. Preferably, the heater layer forms mounds at each post and a thinner region therebetween, resulting in a resistance profile which concentrates heating in the thinner region and reduces undesired heating of the post area. Such heaters can be employed individually or in conjunction with other similar heaters.

Abstract: Step-shaped innerframes and blanks for forming such innerframes are provided to permit shorter than conventional cigarettes to be packaged in a conventionally sized hinged lid box. A front panel is foldably connected to a substantially perpendicular step bottom panel which in turn is foldably connected to a substantially perpendicular back panel, such that the front and back panels extend in opposite directions and lie in substantially parallel planes to form an integral step configuration. When the inner frame is located within a hinged lid box, a receptacle is formed for a short cigarette bundle. A lower receptacle is defined below the step bottom panel to store discarded cigarettes which are inserted into the lower receptacle via a hole located in one of the box walls and any associated underlying innerframe panel.

Abstract: A filter tipped cigarette making machine and method in which spaced apart generally cylindrical components are supplied to flutes in processing drums. Gaps between the components are partially closed in a motion limiting spreader drum.

Abstract: A filter tipped cigarette making machine and method in which spaced apart generally cylindrical components are supplied to flutes in processing drums. Gaps between the components are partially closed in a motion limiting spreader drum.

Abstract: A cam is provided having one or more end blades, each having a respective support surface to compress a corresponding end region of a tobacco rod, and one or more interposed blades, each having a respective support surface to comprise a corresponding intermediate region(s) between the end region(s) as the cam rotates. The lengths of the blades are varied to proportionately vary the density of the regions and the widths and thicknesses of the support surfaces are varied to proportionately vary the width and length of the regions. A tobacco rod, and ultimately a cigarette, is produced having intermediate compressed regions between compressed end regions.