Abstract: Bales of compressed tobacco ribs and/or tobacco leaf laminae having a moisture content of 8-11 percent are advanced past a battery of microwave generators or through one or more electric high frequency fields to raise the temperature of particles in the bales to between 30.degree. and 90.degree. C. The bales or portions of the bales are thereupon loosened, prior to complete cooling back to starting temperature, by the pins of a conveyor which delivers the particles of loosened bales or portions of bales into the magazine of a shredding machine wherein the particles are cut. The moisture content of shreds is raised to 12-13.5 percent at which the shreds are ready for processing into smokers' products, or above 13.5 percent, for example, to between 21 and 30 percent. Such moisturizing to above the processing moisture content is or can be followed by drying of the shreds.

Abstract: Low sidestream cigarettes comprise at least 20% expanded tobacco and a cigarette paper comprising a burn retardant.

Abstract: Low sidestream cigarettes comprise at least 20% expanded tobacco and cigarette paper of an air permeability of not more than 20 Coresta units, the tobacco density being between 100 and 260 mg cm.sup.-3.

Abstract: A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter element of porous filtration material having an air permeable surface and equiangularly spaced lengthwise extending peripheral ventilation grooves. The element and the rod are interattached by a first air-impermeable wrapper which can extend into and line the grooves. A second wrapper is wrapped about the element and extends from the downstream end thereof for a distance short of the upstream ends of the grooves. The second wrapper does not line the grooves where it extends thereover. Ventilation air is then able to enter the upstream ends of the grooves not covered by the second wrapper and flow therealong. Ventilation is thereby achieved without the necessity for tipping wrapper perforations. A method of making such cigarettes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod and a filter element interattached by an air-impermeable tipping wrapper, the rod and the element abutting each other along a flat, continuous plane inclined at 45.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The tipping wrapper does not reach to the maximum upstream extent of the element, therefore air is able to enter the exposed air-permeable periphery of the element without the need for perforations in the air-impermeable tipping wrapper.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating on a cigarette, which comprises a tobacco rod and a filter element interattached by a thermoplastic tipping wrapper, to allow for the ingress of ventilation air. The filter element also comprises ventilation duct(s) extending therewithin. A heated former is brought into contact with the tipping wrapper in such a way as to form indentations which intersect with a ventilation duct(s) of the filter element and to seal upstream end portions thereof.

Abstract: A cigarette comprises a filter element having an air-permeable surface and a tobacco rod, the filter element and the tobacco rod being interattached by an air-impermeable tipping wrapper. The tipping wrapper is attached to, but spaced from, the underlying peripheral surfaces of the tobacco rod and the filter element at first zones extending from the upstream edge of the wrapper across the rod/element juncture and is unattached and spaced from the peripheral surfaces at second zones circumferentially intermediate the first zones. There are thus provided ventilation air inlet ducts through which air is able to enter the filter element without the necessity for tipping wrapper perforations.

Abstract: A smoking article mouthpiece comprises a smoke passage and a ventilation air duct, both of which extend from end-to-end of the mouthpiece. The duct is of a depth of 25% or more of the diameter of the mouthpiece. When the mouthpiece is incorporated in a smoking article such that air may enter the duct, the ratio of the velocities of air and smoke is in excess of ten. The mouthpiece may also comprise a ventilation-air collection groove which extends about the element and opens into the ventilation air duct.