Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate material having a decreased retentive capacity for use as a carrier for aerosol forming materials in smoking articles which smoking articles are 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. Thus, the substrate material of the present invention when used with preferred smoking articles 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.

Abstract: The Computer Integrated Manufacturing System includes a plurality of levels of computer control which organize and disseminate the information for controlling shop floor level systems. Both scheduling data and data relating to process, product, and material specifications as well as bills of material are generated in an upper level computer system and refined and down loaded as needed to lower level computers controlling the shop floor processes. The computers on the upper levels are capable of communication with the computers on the lower levels and computers on the same level are capable of communication with each other as needed to pass information back and forth.

Abstract: Apparatus to expand shredded material, the latter is impregnated with an inert organic liquid which is evaporated subsequently. The substantial portion of the impregnant is separated. To eliminate the residual amount of impregnate still contained in the material, the material is fed in heaps on a conveyor belt (36) to a microwave chamber (39). Upstream and downstream of the microwave chamber, one sluice each (38,40) is provided. The gates (43,44;49,51) of the sluice are synchronized with the drive of the conveyor belt (36). Microwave energy is supplied under continuous control to the microwave chamber (39). The vapors are removed by suction lines (47,55) and fed to a regenerator for recovery of the impregnant.

Abstract: Extruded tobacco has its chemical composition changed during the extrusion process. Divided tobacco and ammonia are introduced into an extruder. The combination of temperatures and pressures within the extruder provides for liberation of nicotine from the tobacco. The ammonia and liberated nicotine are removed from the extruder. In addition, the ammonia and sugars within the tobacco can react to further modify the chemical composition of the tobacco. Extrudate is collected separately from the liberated materials. In such a manner, tobacco can be reformed into an extruded shape while having its chemical composition altered.

Abstract: Rare or specialty cigar-type and pipe tobaccos can be uniformly applied within a blend of smokable material for use as cigarette cut filler. The rare or specialty tobacco is divided into a finely divided powder, suspended in liquid, and applied as a casing to one or more relatively major components of the blend. This invention provides for cigarette cut filler having low (e.g., less than about 5 weight percent) amounts of unique tobaccos contained uniformly throughout.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery article is capable of producing substantial quantities of smoke, both initially and over the useful lifetime 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. The article also delivers very low levels of carbon monoxide. The article is able of providing the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without burning tobacco. The article includes a carbonaceous fuel element, an aerosol forming substance within a heat conductive container, an outer member surrounding the heat conductive container, and a mouthend piece. Upon draw on the mouthend piece air enters the peripheral region of the outer member and enters the heat conductive container. As the heat conductive container is in a heat exchange relationship with the fuel element, aerosol is thereby formed within the container and passed to the mouth of the user.

Abstract: A variable air dilution cigarette filter is disclosed. The air dilution filter comprises a thin, generally rigid cylindrical sleeve assembly comprising two sleeves frangibly or separably connected together and an overwrapped filter rod received in the sleeves so as to be rotatable with respect to one sleeve and fixed against rotation with respect to the other sleeve. Air dilution openings or perforations are provided in the one sleeve and the underlying filter rod overwrap so that relative rotation between the one sleeve and the filter rod varies the amount of diluting air which is allowed to pass through the sleeve and overwrap and into the filter rod and tobacco smoke.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a packaging composite for barrier sealed cigarette or other smoking article packages. The composite includes a foil layer, exterior and interior skin layers of heat-sealable thermoplastic polymer, first and second biaxially oriented polypropylene homopolymer layers located between the exterior skin layers and the foil layers, and first and second adhesive layers coupling the polypropylene layers to the foil layer on each side thereof. The package laminate has a thickness of between 1.5 and 2.5 mils.

Abstract: Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod making apparatus equipped with a web preforming unit. A web of sheet-like material is passed through the web preforming unit and is pleated to form a rod-like composite. The rod-like composite then is circumscribed with wrapping material to provide a rod. The web preforming unit includes an outer frustoconical tube and an inner frustoconical member. The frustoconical member is concentric to the tube, and is positioned coaxially with respect to the tube such that an annular region is formed between the outer surface of the member and the inner surface of the tube.

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 process is carried out using an apparatus including two pressurized roller systems, each roller system having two rollers in roll contact. A series of generally "V" shaped grooves extends about the periphery of one roller of the first roller system, while the other roller thereof has a smooth surface. The two rollers of the second roller system are spaced apart by a distance of about 0.002 inch to about 0.020 inch.

Abstract: A briefcase contains components capable of sampling air for analysis. For example, air can be introduced into the briefcase through inlet ports and that air can be monitored for components of environmental tobacco smoke. A chemical collection device such as a sorbent tube can collect nicotine, a filter can collect respirable suspended particulate matter, and a chemical detector can monitor carbon monoxide levels. The environmental temperature and barometric pressure of the environment can be monitored also. Data is stored on a microcomputer within the briefcase, and can be transferred to a computer at a later time for data analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging laminate which is heat sealable to polypropylene, high density polyethylene or linear low density polyethylene to provide a strong seal which is cleanly peelable at the heat seal interface under hand pressure. The laminate has at least two layers. A heat sealable surface layer is composed of a melt blend comprising between about 55 and 95 wt. % of a substantially linear polyolefin and between about 5 and about 45 wt. % of a polyolefin rubber. The second layer is a heat stable layer which is structurally stable at temperatures in excess of 350.degree. F. or greater and which has sufficient thickness to provide structural stability during heat sealing.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a simple, readily manufacturable, low tar cigarette with individual puff deliveries similar to those obtained from conventional cigarettes which have a higher total smoke delivery such as a full flavor cigarette. The low tar cigarette includes a tobacco rod segment having a length of 53 mm. or less abutting a filter segment having an overall length of at least 31 mm. wherein the filter segment includes a synthetic fiber filter plug and provides a smoke delivery reduction of at least 55% and wherein the cigarette has an average puff count of 6.5 or less. In another aspect, the invention provides nonconventional smoking articles which have an elongated nonsmokable mouthend portion, 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 or sidestream aerosol. The article employes a dual burn rate fuel element, which utilizes a fast burning segment and a slow burning segment.The use of such a dual burn rate fuel element has several advantages over conventional homogeneous fuels. For example, the fast burning component assists in the ease of lighting the fuel element, and provides rapid heat transfer to the aerosol generating means. This in turn, provides early aerosol delivery.The slow burning component provides for even heat distribution throughout the burn period.

Abstract: A smoke filter and a method for manufacturing the filter from a continuous multifilament filter tow are described in which a portion of the filter tow is treated with a dye to impart color to a discrete elongated zone of dye-treated filaments that is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the smoke filter.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting sensory evaluation of a smoking product wherein selected smoking parameters are monitored precisely while a smoking product is being smoked ad libitum by a sensory evaluation panelist. The monitored smoking parameters are used to coordinate a sequence of instructions and prompts that is communicated to the sensory evaluation panelist and is designed to elicit sensory ratings from the panelist for the product being smoked. This allows the smoking product to be evaluated with the least possible disruption to the panelist's normal smoking patterns and leads to a better understanding of the smoking characteristics of the product being evaluated.

Abstract: Co-extruded smokable material in sheet-like form has a multi-layered structure. The layers are generally parallel to the major surface of the material. The material is provided by subjecting at least two filler materials to high shear agitation and co-extruding the materials while in a semi-soft state. The multi-layered material can be sized by roll treatment in order to provide a sheet-like material having a thickness of less than about 0.008 inch. In particular, the co-extruded multi-layered smokable material is subjected to compressive treatment applied perpendicularly to the major surface of the co-extruded marterial to provide a co-extruded smokable material of reduced thickness. The material so provided can be cut into small sheets (e.g., about 4 inches by 4 inches square) or into strands and employed as cut filler in the manufacture of cigarettes.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters are disclosed which are useful for manufacturing filter cigarettes and which are formed from a continuous multifilament filter tow that is treated with a smoke-modifying agent during the filter manufacturing process to give a discrete elongated zone of filaments treated with the smoke-modifying agent.

Abstract: Cigarettes can be coded and identified at a later time by perforating the tipping paper to provide air dilution characteristics to the cigarette. The perforation pattern employed has a unique, predetermined configuration which is recorded and used at a later time for identifying particular set of cigarettes. A different perforation pattern can be applied to different sets of cigarettes at various times, locations, etc. Thus, the manufacturer of air dilution cigarettes can trace coded cigarettes in order to improve quality control.