Abstract: Method of producing a smoking article from an endless web of reconstituted tobacco having a mass per unit length substantially equal to that of the smoking article to be made. The method includes longitudinally grooving the web while preventing any substantial transverse contraction so as to form a plurality of closely spaced narrow longitudinal corrugations. The grooved web is then laterally stretched to form closely laterally spaced narrow zones of lesser thickness extending longitudinally of the web wherein the fibers of the web material are loosened and exposed to provide projecting fiber ends and a plurality of discontinuous longitudinal tears without substantially impairing the longitudinal continuity of the web.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for grading and sorting of tobacco wherein the tobacco is dropped onto a continuously moving conveyor from which it is passed over an end plate and is scanned by one or more detectors suitably located in a housing mounted above the end plate, the detectors producing a signal indicative of the reflectivity of the desired tobacco leaf which signal controls an ejection system for separating the desired from the undesired leaf. The invention includes new structure for the end plate, detector housing and light source housing.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for grading and sorting of tobacco wherein the tobacco is dropped onto a continuously moving conveyor from which it is passed over an end plate and is scanned by one or more detectors suitably located in a housing mounted above the end plate, the detectors producing a signal indicative of the reflectivity of the desired tobacco leaf which signal controls an ejection system for separating the desired from the undesired leaf. The invention includes new structure for the end plate, detector housing and light source housing.