Abstract: A flavor source to be used as a thermally releasable flavorant for smoking articles that do not combust tobacco. The material includes tobacco particles, an aerosol precursor that forms an aerosol upon exposure to heat, and a filler material that absorbs and radiates heat to minimize the likelihood that the flavor material will ignite. The material is mixed in an extruder, extruded through a die, and cut into pellets having a substantially uniform shape. The pellets are loaded into a chamber for inclusion in a smoking article as a flavor generator.

Abstract: An extruded, coherent, multistrand, tobacco-containing, generally cylindrical smoking article and a process for making it are disclosed. The smoking article contains a plurality of strands that are adhered to one another so as to form passageways between the strands, the passageways extending generally along the longitude of the smoking article. The configuration of the strands and passageways provides sufficient heat transfer area and/or residence time for the smoke drawn by a smoker to cool to an acceptable level.

Abstract: A ridge remover for smoothing and shaping rod surfaces where jointure marks occur in fibrous rod manufacture when made using a porous belt garniture device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for ameliorating the effects of an extrudate jam of an entrance sizing aperture into a cooling chamber, the extrudate being provided by an extrusion process apparatus associated with the cooling chamber. More specifically, the cooling chamber includes a plurality of serially disposed, longitudinally spaced sizing discs for successively sizing the extrudate. The sizing discs are removably mounted within a tray and upon a jam or a break of the extrudate, the sizing discs may be readily removed through a door within the cooling chamber, to permit rapid cleaning thereof, thus minimizing the shut down time of the extrusion process apparatus. Further, there is disclosed a pneumatic drive cylinder whereby upon detection of an outsized extrudate, the drive cylinder is actuated to move the assembly of the tray and its plurality of sizing discs in the direction of the movement of the extrudate.