Abstract: A method for enhancing hardness of a filter for a smoking article includes disposing a plug wrap about filter material; and applying a hardness-enhancing coating composition to the plug wrap after the plug wrap has been disposed about the filter material to enhance the hardness of the filter.

Abstract: A knife is provided for a cutting device for cutting continuous rods in a manufacturing process, the knife including: a knife body having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the knife body configured to be attached to a cutting device; and a cutting edge located at the distal end of the knife body, the cutting edge including at least two cutting edge segments, each cutting edge segment including a profile, the profile including one maximum protrusion from the knife body, and at least a portion of a second cutting edge segment of the at least two cutting edge segments protruding, from the knife body, to a greater extent than the maximum protrusion of a first cutting edge segment of the at least two cutting edge segments, from the knife body. A cutting device, and a method of manufacturing a cutting device, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for enhancing hardness of a filter for a smoking article includes disposing a plug wrap about filter material; and applying a hardness-enhancing coating composition to the plug wrap after the plug wrap has been disposed about the filter material to enhance the hardness of the filter.

Abstract: A method for enhancing hardness of a filter (30) for a smoking article (10) includes disposing a plug wrap (60) about filter material; and applying a hardness-enhancing coating composition to the plug wrap after the plug wrap has been disposed about the filter material to enhance the hardness of the filter.