Abstract: A bandcast tobacco sheet for use in a cigarette includes from about 5 to 15% by weight of wood pulp, from about 15 to 40% by weight of binder and from about 15 to 40% by weight of tobacco. A humectant may be included up to 30% by weight and an additive, such as menthol, may be added to up about 30% by weight. A bandcast tobacco sheet is used in elongated strips along the outer surface of a tobacco rod between the tobacco rod and an inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper.

Abstract: Small quantities of cigarettes may be manufactured in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes using the disclosed apparatus and methods. The apparatus and method include features for simultaneously inserting charges of tobacco into pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers. In another aspect, a system enables making cigarettes from pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers and pre-packaged charges of tobacco.

Abstract: A method of producing a multi-component cigarette filter having one more filter component than the number of hoppers on the machine producing the cigarette filter rods. A dual hopper machine can produce two-component filters as well as three-component filters, and a three hopper machine can produce three-component filters as well as four-component filters.

Abstract: A method of flavoring a filter plug wrap of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is disclosed. Furthermore, a method of incorporating flavoring into the plug wrap and using the plug wrap to wrap the filter of the smoking article is disclosed. A smoking article and a filter having a flavored filter plug wrap are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reconstituted tobacco sheet for use in a cigarette includes up to about 80% by weight of wood pulp, up to about 30% by weight of a binder, and up to about 80% by weight of tobacco. A humectant and a flavor may be included.

Abstract: A cigarette handling system comprises a housing in a generally tubular configuration. The housing is formed with a sidewall and an integrally formed circular bottom wall and an open upper end. The housing is fabricated of a rigid moldable plastic material selected from the class of rigid moldable plastics. The housing has an exterior surface with a reduced diameter at the bottom wall and enlarged adjacent to the top. The housing has an interior surface, the interior surface being hollow for forming a chamber adapted to receive a lit cigarette and with the sidewall tapering radially outwardly from adjacent to the bottom toward the upper end with the upper end being end being flared slightly. This is to facilitate the guidance and entry of the lit end of a cigarette into the chamber. A supplemental layer of heat resistant material on the interior surface of the housing.