Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous determination of two physical properties of the constituents of a smokable article from the mechanical properties of a rod of tobacco or filter fibres during the production of said rod employs a format finger for compacting the rod of tobacco or filter fibres to a predetermined diameter; the format finger made from hard metal comprises at a first point, at which the diameter of the rod corresponds substantially to the diameter of the finished rod, at least one opening for subjecting the rod to a gas stream; the one or each opening is connected via a critically traversed nozzle in a supply conduit to a gas source; a measuring-value transducer determines the pressure drop of the gas stream with constant volume occurring at the rod and thus the draw resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous measurement of the draw resistance of a cigarette, comprising transducer which detects the pressure drop of a gas stream with constant volume, said gas stream being introduced at a format finger of a rod-producing machine into a rod of tobacco fibres. The measured value depending on the flow resistance of said rod is continuously determined and correlates very well with the usual static measurement of the draw resistance of cigarettes, i.e. of the tobacco rod of a cigarette, so that this continous draw resistance measurement during the cigarette production replaces not only the conventional random check but can also be used for controlling the production operation.

Abstract: For the production of crimped fibre pieces from reconstituted tobacco a mixture of tobacco dust and/or tobacco waste, binders and possibly additives is extruded by a special die or nozzle head to filiform intermediate products with preferably rectangular to slightly lenticular cross-section which immediately after leaving the die head can be cut to give crimped fibre pieces. For forming this crimping no further operation is necessary.

Abstract: Increases in filling capacity of 30 to 100% are achieved when tobacco material with a moisture content of 18 to 80% by weight and a temperature of -80.degree. to 100.degree. C. is accelerated to a velocity of at least 20 meters per second by means of a gaseous medium, is subsequently decelerated and is dried in a conventional way. The tobacco material can be accelerated, together with the gaseous medium, in a nozzle of the Venturi type or can be introduced into the fast-flowing gaseous medium.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of tobacco stems which comprises providing the tobacco stems in the uncut condition with a moisture content ranging from 15 to 70% relative to the dry weight of the tobacco stems, performing at least one first cut of said tobacco stems in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, conditioning the resultingly cut tobacco stems, and performing more than one second cut of said tobacco stems in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein the respective longitudinal planes containing said first and said second cuts reside in substantially perpendicular relation to each other. The resulting tobacco stem sections exhibit improved uniformity of length and thickness, and minimal fiber destruction, and have improved expansion capacity.