Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus and a method of cutting tobacco sheet into cut filler are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fixed ledger blade and a rotatable cutter blade coacting with the ledger blade to simultaneously cut the tobacco sheet transversely and longitudinally into cut pieces useful as cut filler in a cigarette making process. The cut pieces may have a rectangular, zigzag or scalloped shape according to different embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A smoking article having a controlled yield of wet particulate matter and a method of making a smoking article with predetermined total and per puff yields of wet particulate matter. The smoking article has a tobacco rod connected to an air ventilated compound filter having two abutted filter segments, a rod end segment with a passage therethrough and a mouth end segment. The pressure drop of the abutment interface between the segments is selected to be in a range of from about 10 mm to about 100 mm water gauge. The total pressure drop of the filter including the interface and the amount of air dilution can be selected to provide a smoking article with a level per puff yield or a decreasing per puff yield.

Abstract: Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod-making apparatus. The apparatus includes (a) an unwind unit for continuously supplying a material having a continuous integrity; (b) a rod-forming unit for forming a rod-like composite of the supplied material; (c) a constriction member for constricting the rod-like composite, the constriction member including (i) a material-contacting surface and (ii) a reservoir for supplying an amount of liquid to at least a portion of the material-contacting surface; and (d) a rod-making unit for receiving the rod-like composite and for circumscribing the rod-like composite with wrapping material thereby forming a continuous rod.

Abstract: Rods are manufactured by shredding strips of sheet-like reconstituted tobacco material into a plurality of strands of about 1/32 inch width. The strands are gathered into a rod-like shape and circumscribed by paper wrap in order to provide a continuous rod. The continuous rod is severed at regular intervals to provide a plurality of rods of the desired length. The resulting rods have a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending strands provided from shredded sheet-like material. The rods are useful as cigarette rods or in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements.

Abstract: Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod making apparatus equipped with a web preforming unit. A web of sheet-like material is passed through the web preforming unit and is pleated to form a rod-like composite. The rod-like composite then is circumscribed with wrapping material to provide a rod. The web preforming unit includes an outer frustoconical tube and an inner frustoconical member. The frustoconical member is concentric to the tube, and is positioned coaxially with respect to the tube such that an annular region is formed between the outer surface of the member and the inner surface of the tube.

Abstract: A smoke filter and a method for manufacturing the filter from a continuous multifilament filter tow are described in which a portion of the filter tow is treated with a dye to impart color to a discrete elongated zone of dye-treated filaments that is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the smoke filter.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters are disclosed which are useful for manufacturing filter cigarettes and which are formed from a continuous multifilament filter tow that is treated with a smoke-modifying agent during the filter manufacturing process to give a discrete elongated zone of filaments treated with the smoke-modifying agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for manufacturing a filter rod from a continuous multifilament filter tow which is treated with a smoke-modifying agent during the filter rod manufacturing process.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for withdrawing a bloomed, continuous multifilament filter tow from a jet device and conveying the filter tow to filter rod-forming means in such a way that compaction or compression of the filter tow prior to its entry into the rod-forming means is minimized.

Abstract: A filter tow blooming jet device for applying an additive to a continuous, multifilament filter tow is disclosed wherein the jet device is provided with orifice means transversely positioned in an elongated passageway through which the advancing filter tow passes and the additive is applied by nozzle means concentrically positioned with respect to the advancing filter tow at a point downstream of the orifice means. The additive may also be applied to the filter tow by nozzle means positioned adjacent to the wall surface of the elongated passageway or by injecting the additive into a stream of gaseous fluid introduced into the jet device for blooming the filter tow.

Abstract: Porous metal filters are adapted for use as liquid applicators for applying a liquid additive to a continuous, multifilament filter tow in connection with the manufacture of filter rods from the tow.

Abstract: A filter tow blooming jet device for applying an additive to a continuous, multifilament filter tow is disclosed wherein the jet device is provided with orifice means transversely positioned in an elongated passageway through which the advancing filter tow passes and the additive is applied by nozzle means concentrically positioned with respect to the advancing filter tow at a point downstream of the orifice means. The additive may also be applied to the filter tow by nozzle means positioned adjacent to the wall surface of the elongated passageway or by injecting the additive into a stream of gaseous fluid introduced into the jet device for blooming the filter tow.

Abstract: An improved jet device for treating a continuous, multifilament filter tow is disclosed wherein discharge means affixed to the exit end of the jet tube of the device are modified to present a smooth streamlined surface to the moving filter tow and to prevent accumulation therein of liquid addendum dislodged from the filter tow.