Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining sheet material edges on a surface including a sensor configured to detect an outer edge and a usable edge of the sheet material and a controller in communication with the sensor. The sensor comprises a first color optical sensor producing a first signal representing a first physical attribute of the sheet material and a second color optical sensor producing a second signal representing a second physical attribute of the sheet material. The controller comprises a processor, a memory, and a communications adapter, controls dispensing and spreading of the sheet material for detection by the sensor, and signals to a user a presence of the usable edge in the sheet material upon detection by the sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.

Abstract: A reclosable package for containing smoking papers to be dispensed therefrom, the package comprising: a body for holding the smoking papers; the body having a cover which overlays a surface of the body of the package for closure; wherein the cover opens to form a tray; and wherein the cover and/or body include a closure positioned to form a clasp when the cover is folded over the body.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a housing, a mandrel extending from the housing, and a movable member operably coupled to the housing and adapted to carry a first cigarette tube. The movable member is movable, relative to each of the housing and the mandrel, in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing cigarettes includes loading a first cigarette tube on a mandrel, holding the first cigarette tube on the mandrel, and inserting a push rod and a carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves into the first cigarette tube, the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves having a generally cylindrical shape. An offset distance is defined between the first cigarette tube and the mandrel after the push rod and the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves are inserted into the first cigarette tube.

Abstract: A recloseable package for containing smoking papers to be dispensed therefrom, the package comprising: a body for holding the smoking papers, the body having a cover which overlays the body of the package for closure, wherein the cover has a first magnet, and wherein the body has a second magnet, the first and second magnets being positionally mounted to contact one another when the cover is folded downwardly over the body of the package for closure.

Abstract: A reclosable package for containing smoking papers to be dispensed therefrom, the package comprising: a body for holding the smoking papers; the body having a cover which overlays a surface of the body of the package for closure; wherein the cover opens to form a tray; and wherein the cover and/or body include a closure positioned to form a clasp when the cover is folded over the body.

Abstract: A device for producing cigarettes in the tobacco processing industry that has a tobacco processing unit and a paper feeding unit, which feeds a paper having LIP strips to the tobacco processing unit, wherein the paper feeding unit has a measurement device, which continuously detects the LIP strips, wherein the measurement device has a microwave resonator, through whose measurement region the paper having the LIP strip is passing, and which detects a shift of the resonance curve and/or a broadening of the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A method for making cigarettes comprising feeding tubing piece-by-piece to a vertical duct by opening and closing-timing gate operated by cam, accelerating tubing down to the vertical duct, with the help of vertical accelerator belts until the tubing becomes captured into the hopper holder, picking the tubing with an articulate tubing holder located on a transferring drum, lowering to the garniture, and releasing the tubing under the registration lagged-belt.

Abstract: A method for applying adhesive to highly transparent cellulose rolling paper for a smoking article is provided, comprising the steps of holding the cellulose sheet under tension, applying a cellulose-based adhesive to a selected edge of the cellulose sheet, and drying the cellulose-based adhesive onto the cellulose sheet. The cellulose adhesive is comprised of water, cellulose gum and optionally, flavoring. The step of drying can be performed by air drying or drying with a shielded heat source. In one embodiment, a plurality of the cellulose sheets are assembled into an interleaved stack and enclosed in a suitable package. Optionally, the package containing the papers includes a magnetic closure and a tamper-resistant seal.

Abstract: Self-made cigarettes, i.e. tobacco products that are supplied in unsmokable condition in the form of a tobacco-bearing component (12) comprising a tobacco rod (14) attached to a porous filter (16) at least part of the surface of which is highly permeable, and an impervious tubular band (10) carried on the component and slidable along it to cover the permeable region. The tubular band can be applied by compressing the tobacco-bearing component to enable the preformed tubular band to be slid onto it. Tubular bands (10) are automatically assembled onto tobacco bearing components by an apparatus that includes a rotary drum (30) around the periphery of which are distributed sets of assembly tools (62) each of which sets comprises a pair of opposed rods (90, 106) which are employed to Introduce the tubular band and the tobacco bearing component into opposite ends of an assembly cylinder (44) wherein the band is slid onto the tobacco component, the assembled product subsequently being ejected.

Abstract: For the continuous production of the cigarette rod (10), the strip-like outer wrapper (12) and a tobacco strand (11) are provided on a forming belt (15) and conveyed, with the latter, through a rod-forming unit (13). Located within the latter is a forming bed (19) which, during transportation, deforms the forming belt (15) along with the outer wrapper (12) and the tobacco rod (11) so as to produce a cigarette rod (10). A compensating belt (21) is provided in order to avoid or reduce the friction of the forming belt on the forming bed (19), and said compensating belt circulates at reduced speed between the forming belt (15) and forming bed (19) The compensating belt (21) reduces the friction and dissipates (frictional) heat.

Abstract: Discrete cigarettes or layers of parallel cigarettes which are being propelled by a reciprocable pusher from the magazine into successive receptacles of an indexible conveyor in a cigarette packing machine are prevented from moving away from a stationary stop at the station where the receptacles receive discrete cigarettes or layers of cigarettes. This is accomplished by the provision of a stationary or mobile blocking device which does not (or does not appreciably) interfere with the propulsion of cigarettes into a receptacle but invariably prevents a rebounding of cigarettes as a result of impingement upon the stationary stop. The blocking device can be provide with a stationary or a mobile shoulder at the path of cigarettes, or with a lever which can be rocked behind the cigarette or cigarettes in a recepacle and from the path of oncoming fresh cigarette or cigarettes.

Abstract: A method of wrapping products, whereby gripping assemblies, each for receiving a respective product and a respective sheet of wrapping material, are fed successively in steps and in a given traveling direction along a path extending through a loading station where each assembly is supplied with a respective sheet of wrapping material; and whereby, at each step, two assemblies, located one behind the other along the path, are brought into the loading station and arrested in respective loading positions to simultaneously receive respective sheets of wrapping material, which are fed to the respective loading positions along respective supply paths located side by side.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding wrapping material and a tear strip to a user machine, whereby a strip of wrapping material and a tear strip are fed continuously along respective paths to a joining station where they are joined integral with each other to form a wrapping strip complete with a tear strip; a compensating store for compensating the wrapping strip being located between the joining station and a cutting station at which the wrapping strip is cut into a succession of portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides prepared materials for making a hand rolled smoking article and a sleeve section for such an article. The materials include a sleeve section having a tube-shaped sleeve and a filler made from finely cut tobacco. The sleeve section is manufactured from tobacco leaf or foil and includes a substantially rectangular base part which receives the filler and a wrapper part connected to one long side of the rectangular base part. The wrapper part is defined by a substantially straight line continuation of a short side of the rectangle and a line projecting at an angle to the above-referenced long side from an opposite corner of the rectangle to make the straight line continuation.

Abstract: A device for rolling wrappers onto cigar bodies, includes a lower roll unit (10) with a first pair of parallel rolls (14, 16) lying in a horizontal plane and rotatable in the same direction about their own axes for supporting contact with a lower half of a cigar body when a wrapper is rolled thereon. The rolls are mounted in a holder (22) at either end of the rolls. An upper roll unit (12) has two parallel rolls (46, 48) rotatable in the same direction about their own axes, and which, when the wrapper is rolled on, are disposed in a horizontal plane above and parallel to the rolls in the lower roll unit (10) in counteracting contact against an upper half of a cigar body. The lower roll unit (10) includes at least two additional rolls (18, 20), which are mounted in the same holders (22) as the first pair of rolls (14, 16) in the lower roll unit, and rotatable about their own axes in the same direction as the first pair. The holders (22) are rotatable about their central axis in 90.degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a starch-based adhesive composition for use in cigarette manufacture. The adhesive composition includes at least about 2 percent of a dispersible starch that thickens on heating to a temperature greater than about 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A device for detacking leaf material (T), such as tobacco leaf, from bobbin (B), provided with a frame (1), a table (2) with co-acting detacking member connected to the frame, a winding-off reel (3) for the filled belt-shaped carrier, a winding-up reel (20) for the emptied belt-shaped carrier connected to the frame and guide rollers (17, 18, 19) such that the belt is guided stretched over the table, wherein a straight guide edge (8) is placed at a short distance to the front edge (26) of the table in order to form a gap-like space, the winding-off reel is held in or close to a plane which extends perpendicularly of the table and through the guide edge, and one of the guide rollers (17) is arranged on the side of the guide edge remote from the winding-off reel, so that the belt is bent sharply, the tobacco leaf is drawn loose of the belt part and still deposited on the same side of the belt part, whereby any adhesion that may occur is eliminated.

Abstract: The use of adhesive mixtures containing--per 100 parts by weight water--40 to 120 parts gum arabic, 3 to 80 parts by weight water soluble starch degradation products and/or carboxymethyl starch and/or gelatinized starch and, optionally, typical preservatives in aqueous solution and having a Brookfield (RVT) viscosity at 20.degree. C. in the range from 1,000 to 15,000 and more especially in the range from 1,700 to 5,000 for glueing the longitudinal seam of cigarette tubes by machine, produces excellent glueing strength.

Abstract: The trailing end (5) of a strip of paper (8) which was wound on a first reel (3) is immobilized by means of suction devices (16, 17, 18) relative to a counterplate (19). The trailing end is severed by means of a cutter (29), the rear portion being discarded by blowing. The leading end of the new strip of paper (11) is then positioned between a punch (20) and the counterplate, immobilized by means of a suction device (18), and joined to the trailing end by interpenetration, brought about by the punch, of the material of two superposed joining areas.

Abstract: A carriage (6) is moved so that the periphery of a roller (4) rests against the reel (3). The blade (14) of a knife (5) cuts the closing belt of the reel and a few of the outer turns of the strip. The roller is started up so that the scraps are drawn into a device (8) by suction, the free end of the strip also entering this device. The suction device pivots downward so that the free portion of the strip comes to rest upon a presentation block (54) which has meanwhile been advanced.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for wrapping cigarette packages in transparent film, in which the transparent film is expanded as a result of heating before being wound around the cigarette package and bonded to itself. A tear-open strip is mated with and subsequently bonded to the film during the heating thereof.

Abstract: The sizing part of the wrapping mechanism in a cigarette rod making machine has a channel-shaped member with a guide surface extending between a straight edge and a U-shaped edge and composed of an infinite number of straight lines each of which connects a point on one of the edges with a point of the other edge. The channel-shaped member cooperates with a tongue whose sides define with the adjacent mutually inclined sections of the guide surface two gaps of constant width for the passage of the marginal portions of garniture tape which is used to drape the web of cigarette paper or other wrapping material around a filler of tobacco or filter material.

Abstract: A reservoir for a bobbin changer for cigarette paper or a similar paper web includes, adjacent to an inlet (15) at which the paper (10) enters the reservoir, a movable deflector (20) arranged to engage and deflect the paper as it enters the reservoir (at least while paper is being accumulated in the reservoir) and to promote folding of the paper into loops in which the paper can safely be stored in the reservoir. The deflector is preferably pivoted and is arranged to be pushed away from the inlet by the accumulating loops of paper until the deflector reaches a nearly vertical position whereupon the bunched up loops of paper drop into the reservoir.

Abstract: A reel attaching and detaching device which is to be employed in a cigarette rolling machine is disclosed.

Abstract: In the production of wrappers or binders of different sizes from tobacco leaves, these leaves are at first divided into strip pieces that are transferred to a conveyor section and by means of a scanner are scanned to ascertain usable areas with preference from the largest to the smallest size. The strip pieces cut out of the same halves of tobacco leaves (right and left sides) are advanced on a further conveyor section consisting of separate, parallel belts, from which strip pieces of equally large, usable areas are collected in the same bobbin, in which they are oriented parallel to the axis of the bobbin and with their usable areas aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bobbin web. The cutting of nondefective final wrappers or binders is subsequently carried out in a separate operation and without further sorting. This provides for obtaining an optimum output from the tobacco leaves by using an apparatus of non-complicated design.

Abstract: A method and a device for dividing a whole or half a tobacco leaf into usable portions, for example, binders or wrappers, in which the tobacco leaf is spread on two or more contour knives, the cutting edges of which are pressed across the material of the tobacco leaf, wherein the punched-out tobacco leaf portions are lifted out of the contour knives, and deposited on a carrier by means of a suction box conveyor; the leaf portions are subsequently scanned by a scanning apparatus having an electronic processing and control circuitry, controlling pick-up means to pick-up the approved leaf portions from said carrier and to carry them into a bobbin.

Abstract: A device for storing tobacco leaves or parts thereof in a winding belt or a bobbin, mainly comprising a frame having at least one deposition table formed like a suction box (1) having separate sections and a run-on and a run-off rim, a reel (4) for the winding belt adapted to reciprocate with respect to the run-off rim of the table and a rotatable driving element formed like a roller and associated with each table and having its rotary axis arranged parallel to that of the reel freely rotatable in the frame, which roller presses against the bobbin circumference and is adapted to advance the belt across the table and to wind it on the reel whereas the tightening force experienced by the tape during the winding operation is determined by belt-engaging braking means (11, 19) in front of the run-on rim of the table.

Abstract: There is provided a method, system and apparatus for cutting a profile, such as a cigar wrapper, from a natural leaf, such as a tobacco leaf, wherein the leaf is spread and supported on a support surface in a random position. Thereafter, a leaf facsimile or image, including the leaf outline and surface imperfections, is developed and at least one cut position for the wrapper is located in an area excluding the leaf outline and surface imperfections. This cut position is recorded and converted to digital data. The wrapper is then cut from the leaf at an actual cut position corresponding to the located cut position determined by the digital data. Also, the facsimile is created by a back lighting arrangement which illuminates color variations and surface imperfections, as well as the leaf outline, so that leaf color variations can be included in the facsimile or image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing cigar wrappers for a cigar wrapping machine. The cigar wrappers are stored in a bobbin which is a continuous web of porous sheet material which is wound into a roll with the cigar wrappers positioned upon one surface of the roll and compressed between the adjacent surfaces of the respective layers or turns in the roll. The web is drawn from the bobbin to a transfer zone in the wrapping machine along a continuous path. The web is diverted from the path around a knife edge which forms the upstream edge of a gap between two plates. The web passes from the knife edge around a roller and then back through the gap. The cigar wrappers are peeled from the web by the sharp turn of the web around the knife edge and they pass over the narrow gap directly onto the web which is moving back through the gap from the roller. This overcomes a serious difficulty which was encountered in removing the cigar wrappers from the web.

Abstract: A method and a device for the manufacture of cigars in which each bunch or filler is enveloped in a tobacco leaf portion, wherein the bunches or fillers are advanced one after the other along a given length, whilst a tobacco leaf portion is applied along at least part of said length of path in a stretched form to each advancing filler and wrapped around the same, due to the fact that the bunches or fillers are not stationary during the wrapping operation, but advanced the capacity of an overrolling unit is significantly raised.

Abstract: There is provided a device for converting a succession of analog voltage signals representative of light intensity of light from and controlled by a corresponding succession of finite surface locations of a natural leaf into high or white, low or black and intermediate or gray digital signals. This device includes an arrangement for creating a white digital signal when the analog voltage of a given location exceeds the threshold voltage. The digital signals are continuously averaged and updated to provide a datum voltage against which the analog voltage is compared after the datum voltage is decreased by a preselected amount. If the analog voltage is less than the reduced datum voltage, a black digital signal is created. If there is neither a black nor a white digital signal, a gray digital signal is created. In this manner, the general light intensity characteristics of each successive location on the leaf can be recorded as either white, black or gray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a longitudinally creped paper web for use in the manufacture of filter rods. In order to improve the filtering capacity and resistance to flow therethrough without weakening filter plugs formed from the web in respect of resistance to radial crushing the longitudinally creped web is provided with linear indentations transversely thereof which are sufficiently closely spaced one from the other longitudinally of the web to provide consistency in draw of short length sections cut from filter plugs made from the web. The invention also relates to the process and apparatus for forming such a filter web using co-operating spaced rollers for forming controlled linear compression zones extending transversely of the web, at least one of these two rollers being provided with ribs extending at least approximately axially of the roll.

Abstract: A wrapper distributing support band for the manufacture of cigars or similar products, wherein the "right" wrappers present a face of the tobacco leaf which is the reverse to that presented by the "left" wrappers.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in an apparatus for cutting a profile of a selected shape from a natural sheet material at a given location, which apparatus comprises a cutting platen having an upper generally flat cutting surface and a lower generally flat support surface. The platen is movable to the desired position relative to a cutter which moves along an axis downwardly against the cutting surface to cut the preselected shape from the natural material. In accordance with the improvement, there is provided a fixed anvil having a flat force reaction surface parallel to and facing the supporting surface of the platen so that the cutting action is against the anvil. The anvil can also form the structure for supporting the platen as it is moved into the cutting position.

Abstract: The specification discloses structure where by applying modulated selectivity constituents are separated from tobacco smoke by stimulated coagulation and adsorption. An ultrasonic generating disc (30) is disposed in the flowstream of the tobacco smoke for generating an ultrasonic field having frequencies up to about 1 MHz to cause coagulation and adsorption of constituents in the flow. The disc (30) includes a ring of semicircular cavities (56), having sharp edges (54) defined on the boundary thereof, which form essentially a ring of vibrojet whistles facing into the flow. The vibrojet whistles are driven by the flow to produce high frequency vortices in the cavities (56). The cavities (56) resonate in phase to create disturbances downstream of the disc (30) which constructively interfere to create a high energy ultrasonic field in the flow. The cavities (56) are arranged so that the energy of the sonic field is directed into a relatively small region thereby inducing coagulation and adsorption.

Abstract: A device for transferring a leaf-like material, such as tobacco leaves, and for cutting out pieces, such as wrappers for cigars, from said material. A drum is employed to remove the leaf-like material from a conveyor and to support the same during the cutting operation. The cutting device comprises a support with cutting members secured thereto, and the drum and support are moved relative to each other in such a manner that the drum presses the leaves into contact with the cutting members.

Abstract: A method for wrapping cigars or like articles in an outer envelope, or wrapper, made of natural tobacco, which comprises the steps of: at least partially spreading out a non-stripped tobacco leaf, cutting out a first batch of wrappers from one of the half-leaves on one side of the midrib, turning the leaf over onto its other face, spreading out the half-leaf which has not yet been cut out, cutting out a second batch of wrappers from this half-leaf, then rolling cigars or like articles in these two batches of wrappers, reversing the direction of rolling when passing from the wrappers of the first batch to those of the second batch.

Abstract: A method and a device for cutting up a tobacco leaf into portions suitable for use as binders or wrappers, in which cutting members are employed, which have a cutting edge matching uninterruptedly the desired circumference of a wrapper or binder wherein a plurality of cutting members are arranged on a carrier in an arbitrary configuration, the tobacco leaf is spread across said number of cutting members, the tobacco leaf is divided up by the corresponding number of cutting edges and the leaf portions located within the cutting edges are removed from the cutting members, whereby the tobacco leaf is completely divided up in one run into usable and waste portions which considerably enhance the production of binders and wrappers.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting cigar wrappers with a selected profile from a natural tobacco leaf, the apparatus comprises a vacuum supporting structure on a leaf receiving member. An arrangement is provided for selecting a cut position on the leaf and oriented with respect to the leaf receiving member and a cutting platen is provided including a leaf supporting surface and an arrangement for creating a vacuum on the surface to support a leaf. The platen is positioned in a known leaf receiving location and a transfer means is provided for transferring the leaf from the leaf receiving member to the leaf supporting surface of the cutting platen. The cutter having the desired profile is provided for cutting the profile from the leaf. The platen is then shifted from its leaf receiving position to a leaf cutting position with the support surface of the platen spaced from the wrapper cutter.

Abstract: A smoking product comprising a porous self-supporting central core of carbonized matter circumscribed by tobacco shreds is disclosed. The preferred method for making the core of the smoking product involves the forming of a precursor rod of loosely twisted or substantially non-woven cellulosic material containing additives for ash control, and pyrolyzing said rod by heating in an inert atmosphere to produce a carbonized integral rod consisting of at least about 80 percent carbon. Tobacco shreds and a wrap are applied to the pyrolyzed core to complete the preparation of the smoking product.

Abstract: A filter element for a smoking article, such as a cigarette, comprises a generally cylindrical body having at least one helical groove in its peripheral surface and closely wrapped in a material pervious to vapor-phase constituents of the smoke, whereby such constituents are removed by diffusion thereof through said material during passage of the smoke along the groove. The body may be wholly or in part of a filter material capable of removing particulate-phase constituents from the smoke during its passage through the element. Suitably the groove extends from the upstream end face of the body to a point short of the downstream end face, where it opens into a space separated from the downstream end by an ungrooved portion of smoke-filter material. One or more faces of the groove and/or said upstream end face may be partially or wholly sealed against penetration of smoke into the body.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters and methods and means for making same wherein the products have a composite substantially cylindrical inner member formed from two semi-cylindrical inner elements and overwrapped with a common plug wrap. The composite inner member has a discrete inner cavity formed in each semi-cylindrical element and a composite cavity formed by a depressed portion in each semi-cylindrical element. A substantially smooth outer surface is provided on the composite inner member for attaching a conventional plug wrap without the need for an internal glue line. Separate cylindrical elements are reformed into semi-cylindrical elements and crimped to provide depressed pockets, following which the semi-cylindrical elements are mated and overwrapped to produce the final product.

Abstract: The machine produces a filter rod made up of a cylinder of tow and spaced apart hollow plastic tubes within the tow. The machine includes a means for supplying a continuous tow stream to an injection station below a rotatable wheel which delivers the plastic tubes in spaced apart fashion. Plungers on the wheel eject the tubes from the wheel and positively push the ejected tubes into the cylinder of tow at the injection station. The tubes are cut from a continuous tubing by means of a cutter which is timed with respect to the operation of the machine. The cut tubes are initially pushed forward on the wheel by a pushing roll and thereafter slid backwardly by a cover so as to be properly positioned for injection into the tow.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cigarette filter composed of two concentric cylindrical layers of fibrous filter materials, in which the inner cylindrical layer has a lower draw resistance than the outer cylindrical layer.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters and methods and means for making same wherein the products have an elongated annular intermediate member overwrapped with a conventional plug wrap, with discrete inner plugs of a length shorter than the intermediate member and offering at least as much resistance to passage of smoke as the intermediate member, being secured within the intermediate member against axial displacement. The inner member may be formed of a filtration material, as is the intermediate member, or the inner member may be formed of a material which is non-permeable to smoke. Portions of the intermediate member may be crimped to embed them into the inner member thereby improving the engagement between these members. The inner member may be centrally positioned within the intermediate member to form cavities at each end of the filter or, alternatively, the inner member may be secured at one end of the intermediate member to provide only a single inner cavity.

Abstract: The cigarette mouthpiece is made of one-piece construction in which two semi-cylindrical shells are hinged together along one edge and are releaseably secured together at the free edges. The mouthpiece has an internal cylindrical smoke chamber which is separated from a tobacco column at one end by a baffle means while the opposite end of the smoke chamber is defined by a pair of abutting walls which are each slotted to define an orifice. The orifice is of a predetermined diameter less than the diameter of the smoke passage to control the amount of smoke flowing out of the smoke passage for a given draw. The exterior surface of the mouthpiece is provided with longitudinal grooves which cooperate with an overlying perforated tipping paper to define flow paths for ventilation air. For a given draw, an amount of undiluted unfiltered smoke is drawn from the tobacco column into the smoke chamber and through the outlet orifice.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters wherein the products have an elongated hollow inner member overwrapped with a conventional plug wrap, with an intermediate member interposed therebetween. The intermediate member is comprised preferably of a filtering material different from that which forms the inner member so as to provide selective filtration through the two layers of filtering material, the intermediate member functioning to remove larger particles of undesirable material so that the interstitial spaces of the inner member are not clogged thereby. Moreover, the presence of the intermediate member provides a smooth outer surface for attaching a conventional plug wrap without the need for an internal glue line.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters wherein the products have both internal and external cavities, with the external cavities being of a limited nature so as to provide a substantially smooth outer surface for attaching conventional plug wrap without the need for an internal glue line. The external cavities comprise from about 5 to no more than 50 percent of the total outer surface of the inner filter member, preferably between about 20 to 30 percent. This enables the inner filter member to provide substantially uniform support to the overwrap. The outer cavities may be in the form of elongated, discrete, grooves, a knurled-like pattern or a continuous helical groove. The resultant filter has high filtration and correspondingly low pressure drop characteristics, with the technique of manufacture being such as to permit higher production speeds than with the prior art, resulting in lower manufacturing costs.

Abstract: Cigarette filters are made by passing a continuous rod of filter material continuously through a moving die to form a continuous filter element having a repeated pattern of staggered grooves so arranged that the continuous filter element can be cut at regular intervals to form individual filter elements each having in its peripheral surface a number of grooves extending substantially axially alternately from opposite ends of the element.