Abstract: A paper wrapper for a cigarette is prepared using fine particle size calcium carbonate as the mineral filler for the purpose of burn rate, puff count and tar delivery control.

Abstract: This invention relates to the control of the burn rate of a cigarette. The burn rate is controlled by the use of a paper wrapper to which regions of cellulosic material is applied and bonded. The cellulosic material is applied during a manufacturing step for the base paper wrapper, either off or on-line of the paper wrapper-forming machine.

Abstract: A control device for electrically heated flavor generators. Sensors detect user lip activity associated with taking a draw and trigger heating of flavor-generating materials.

Abstract: A cigarette includes a charge or roll of smokable material (e.g., tobacco cut filler) circumscribed by two layers of paper wrapping materials. The first or inner wrapping material includes an inorganic filler material and tobacco material within the web. The inner wrapping material also can include a water soluble salt burn chemical and a carbonaceous material within the web. The second or outer wrapping material circumscribes and overwraps the first wrapping material, has a cellulosic base web and inorganic filler material, and exhibits a low inherent air permeability. The outer wrapping material can include a magnesium hydroxide filler, and exhibits an inherent air permeability of below about 15 CORESTA units and a net air permeability above about 40 CORESTA units. The cigarette is capable of sustaining smolder under FTC smoking conditions while yielding very low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Abstract: A running web or discrete tubular wrappers of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are perforated with a variable-intensity high-energy pulsed laser beam which is controlled in such a way that the intensity of radiation and/or the length of pulses is altered in response to variations in the speed of advancement of the web or discrete wrappers past the perforating station. This ensures that the permeability of the thus obtained ventilation zones is not influenced by the speed of advancement of the material to be perforated past the perforating station. The intensity of radiation and/or the length of pulses can also be influenced by one or more monitored characteristics of the articles, such as the permeability of their wrappers.

Abstract: Low sidestream cigarettes having cigarette rods comprising paper wrappers including compounds of a type which effect a sidestream reduction of at least 30% when used on rods not exceeding 20 mm in circumference.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing vane jams in cigarette hoppers. The apparatus and method of the invention are characterized by a plurality of curved elements or guides extending from the back to the front of the hopper. The guides help straighten cigarettes that have become slightly skewed in relation to cigarettes that are correctly positioned in the hopper. The guides also prevent cigarettes that have become skewed to a greater extent or turned perpendicular to correctly positioned cigarettes in a hopper from reaching the vanes of the hopper and causing jam or blockages of the vanes. The guides stop the descent through the hopper of mispositioned cigarettes and cause such cigarettes to slide toward either the front or back wall of the hopper for removal.

Abstract: A solution or gel for use in etching the surfaces of teeth in preparation for the application of dental restoratives. This etchant contains phosphoric acid in an amount not to exceed approximately 5% by weight.

Abstract: A cigarette or cigar wrapper is disclosed wherein the paper filler consists of two homogeneously intermixed minerals, viz huntite and hydromagnesite, alone, or admixed with calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide and carbon.

Abstract: A process for expanding tobacco is provided which employs carbon dioxide gas. Tobacco temperature and OV content are adjusted prior to contacting the tobacco with carbon dioxide gas. A thermodynamic path is followed during impregnation which allows a controlled amount of the carbon dioxide gas to condense on the tobacco. This liquid carbon dioxide evaporates during depressurization helping to cool the tobacco bed uniformly. After impregnation, the tobacco may be expanded immediately or kept at or below its post-vent temperature in a dry atmosphere for subsequent expansion.

Abstract: A method of plumping cut tobacco includes impregnating the cut tobacco with an adjuvant plumping agent and forcing the adjuvant plumping agent to expand in order to inflate the tissues of cut tobacco (plumping step), idly storing the plumped tobacco with a low moisture content level (idle storage step) and remoisturizing the cut tobacco after the idle storage step by adding moisture to achieve a predetermined final moisture content level (moisture content regulating step). With such a method, cut tobacco can be remarkably plumped before it is used for cigarette production.

Abstract: A smoking article which comprises tobacco treated with a high loading level of humectant and which has been expanded by a high level expansion process to produce expanded tobacco having a humectant loading level in the range of 4% to 15%. The particulate matter, water, nicotine and humectant free (PMWNHF) to nicotine delivery ratio of smoking articles according to the invention and smoked under standard machine smoking conditions is not more than 8 to 1.

Abstract: A filter assembly machine wherein one laser source emits a beam through a dividing device which divides the beam into two secondary beams directed respectively towards a cutting head for cutting a continuous strip into bands connecting double filters to cigarette portions, and towards a piercing device for forming ventilating holes in the bands.

Abstract: A cigarette including a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element is disclosed. The substrate is a gathered paper-type material, and is positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the fuel element. One preferred smoking article of the present invention is a cigarette which comprises (i) a symmetrical and longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element; (ii) a physically separate aerosol generating means including at least one aerosol forming material; and (iii) means for securing, maintaining or retaining the fuel element within the smoking article.

Abstract: This invention relates to a heat source comprising metal carbide and a method for preparing the same using a reducing/carbidizing atmosphere. The metal carbide heat sources of this invention have ignition temperatures that are substantially lower than conventional carbon particles normally used in carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time provide sufficient heat to release a flavored aerosol from a flavor bed for inhalation by the smoker. Upon combustion, the heat sources produce substantially no carbon monoxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for making a composite heat source comprising carbon and metal species. The composite heat source made by the methods of this invention have ignition temperatures that are substantially lower than carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time provide sufficient heat to release a flavored aerosol from a flavor bed for inhalation by the smoker. Upon combustion, the heat source produces substantially no carbon monoxide. The metal species may be prepared by mixing a metal oxide, metal and a carbon source, pre-forming the metal oxide/metal/carbon source mixture into a shape and converting the mixture to metal species in situ, without substantially altering the original shape of the mixture.

Abstract: A cigarette comprises a blend of tobacco materials and a filter element provided from a non-woven thermoplastic material. The non-woven material comprises polyester or polypropylene fibers. The non-woven material is in intimate contact with an acidic material (e.g., phosphoric acid) or a basic material (e.g., sodium hydroxide).

Abstract: Tobacco material is extracted with an extraction solvent to provide a aqueous extract and a tobacco portion insoluble in the solvent. The extract is separated from the insoluble portion and is provided within the water at a concentration at least about 30 percent, based on the weight of the extract and solvent. The extract and solvent are subjected to temperature treatment including reducing the temperature of the extract and solvent from a first temperature to a second temperature. Potassium nitrate crystals form as a precipitate and are separated from the extract and solvent. Then, the extract and solvent are contacted with activated carbon particles and separated therefrom.

Abstract: This invention is devised to be a free standing wetted impact barrier for dispensing onto a cigarette. Only when applied on the top mouthpiece of cigarette filter types does it become a part of the filter. More particularly, this invention relates to a wetted impact barrier kit which includes a free standing wetted barrier placed in a container with a dispenser and an instruction sheet on how to use the kit. The wetted impact barrier is dispensed on the top end surface of cigarette filter type mouthpiece, to reduce tar and nicotine of cigarettes (total particular matter), when smoked. This invention is designed only to dispense the wetted impact barrier on the top end surface of a mouthpiece of a cigarette filter The wetted impact barrier helps to eliminate or remove the primary tars and nicotine and certain other volatiles from cigarette smoke.

Abstract: An improved carbonaceous heat source suitable for use in a smoking article is provided. The heat source is formed by mixing a carbon component, a catalytic precursor and a binder, forming the mixture into a shape, and supplying heat to the mixture. Upon combustion of the heat source, the catalytic precursor forms a catalyst that converts carbon monoxide produced during combustion of the heat source into a benign substance.