Abstract: Provided is an oral pouch product including a pouch having a plurality of pores. At least one portion of soluble dietary fibers is contained in the pores of the pouch and/or coated thereon. The oral pouch product is filled with a botanical material. The oral pouch product is placed in the mouth to release the soluble dietary fibers directly into the user's mouth.

Abstract: A solid oral sensorial product includes at least one botanical material and at least one phosphate containing stain inhibitor. The botanical material is selected from the group consisting of tobacco, tea, coffee, cocoa, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The tobacco products incorporate binder systems. The binder systems exhibit thermoplastic properties, characteristics, or behaviors. The binder system can incorporate at least one type of binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic properties. Additionally, the binder system can incorporate materials to provide a binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic characteristics, for example at least one thermoplastic binding material in combination with a plasticizer. Also, tobacco products can incorporate a plasticizer blend. Tobacco products are produced by contacting tobacco, with other desired ingredients, in the presence of a binder system, and forming the resulting mixture into a shape. Of particular interest are processing conditions that involve exposing a tobacco formulation to less than about 100° C.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: The tobacco products incorporate binder systems. The binder systems possess or exhibit thermoplastic properties, characteristics or behaviors. The binder system can incorporate at least one type of binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic properties (e.g., the binding agent can be composed of at least one thermoplastic polymeric material). Additionally, the binder system can incorporate ingredients or materials so as to provide a binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic characteristics (e.g., the binding agent can be composed of at least one thermoplastic binding material in combination with a plasticizer). Tobacco products are produced by contacting tobacco, together with other desired ingredients, in the presence of a binder system, and forming (e.g., by extrusion) the resulting mixture into a shape. Of particular interest are processing conditions that most preferably involve exposing a tobacco formulation to a temperature of less than about 100° C.

Abstract: An oral chewable tobacco product includes a gum composition in an amount of about 30% to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the oral chewable tobacco product and tobacco powder in an amount of about 30% to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the oral chewable tobacco product. The gum composition includes at least one environmentally biodegradable polymer in an amount of about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the gum composition and at least one softener in an amount of about 5% to about 80% by weight based on the weight of the gum composition.

Abstract: Oral tobacco products having a gel-coating and methods for making are provided. The method includes (a) molding a portion of tobacco material to form a pre-portioned piece of tobacco material, the tobacco material comprising moist smokeless tobacco; (b) contacting the pre-portioned piece of tobacco material with a gel-coating solution to form a gel-coating comprising at least one polymer on an outer surface of the pre-portioned piece of tobacco material to form a gel-coated oral tobacco product, said gel-coating comprising an inner surface disposed around the pre-portioned piece of tobacco material and an outer surface; and (c) forming one or more of perforations, uncoated areas and holes in the gel-coating of the oral tobacco product to form a gel-coated oral tobacco product.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use with a cigarette including tobacco, including compression of tobacco to provide a passageway of lower density tobacco or a void of tobacco, the method or apparatus configured to adjust along a longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Method and apparatus configured to reversibly utilize a plurality of physical dimensions.

Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.

Abstract: The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for portioning and depositing processed tobacco into a container. The method may include compressing the processed tobacco into a column, wherein a portion is disposed in a shuttle pocket, moving the shuttle pocket to a second position and placing the sliced compressed tobacco into a container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing cut tobacco material, whereby a tobacco initial material is heated and placed under pressure and once heated and placed under pressure, the material is fed through a shearing gap and expanded and defibrated. It further relates to a device for producing cut tobacco material with a pressure chamber, which has a tobacco material inlet at the low-pressure end and a tobacco material outlet at the pressure end and a conveyor system for conveying the tobacco material from the inlet to the outlet, and the tobacco material outlet has a gap through which the material passes and expands, and the gap has walls which can be moved towards one another. It further relates to a smoking article containing such a cut, defibrated tobacco material product and the use of a plug screw feeder-extruder with a shearing gap outlet for defibrating tobacco material.

Abstract: A cigarette filter assembly comprises a hollow paper tube with a spaced apart solid fiber plugs inside the tube together with granular filter material in the spaces between the plugs. Energy activated adhesive is only between the solid filter plugs and interior surface portions of the tube. After the spaced apart solid fiber plugs are within the tube the adhesive is activated to secure the plugs to the tube. The energy activated adhesive is only on selected portions of the hollow tube where the solid fiber plugs are located or alternatively the adhesive is only on the exterior surface portions of the solid fiber plugs.

Abstract: A roller for a device for processing a filter material ribbon in the tobacco-processing industry. The roller comprises a roller core and a covering for the roller core. The roller has at least one wear indicator operatively arranged for indicating wear of the covering.

Abstract: A flat base anchored to any hard, smooth surface by two suction cups. Upon this flat base, two shafts rise perpendicular. The base supports a housing which fits over the base shafts. The housing has an opening which accommodates a standard pack of cigarettes, which are placed in the opening top or filter first. Two springs are located above the housing on the base shafts to create tension. Rubber caps at the top of the base shafts, aided with epoxy, contains the springs and housing to the base of the invention so that once the housing is pulled upward by one's hand the housing then is forced down toward the base from the tension of the springs and consequently "packing" the cigarettes.

Abstract: The invention relates to tobacco-containing foil filaments comprising tobacco particles, water, binding agents and moisturizing agents and having a substantially partially circular or closed circular cross-section, and to a method and apparatus for producing said foil filaments.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco leaf pellet is composed of tobacco leaf shreds bound together with a nicotine-non-absorptive thermoplastic binder while retaining air permeability. The pellet is produced by mixing tobacco leaf shreds and a nicotine-non-absorptive thermoplastic binder, forming the resultant mixture into a desired shape while retaining air permeability, and then subjecting the thus-formed mixture to a heat treatment. A cigarette-like snuff is composed of at least one shredded tobacco leaf pellet of the above-described type and an outer envelope surrounding the pellet therein.

Abstract: A snuff holding and dispensing apparatus including a body member having a hollow interior divided into a holding area for holding a quantity of snuff and a dispensing area for receiving a plug of snuff from the quantity of snuff in the holding area, and a plunger movable between a load position for allowing the plug of snuff to pass from the holding area to the dispensing area and a discharge position for dispensing the plug of snuff through a discharge opening in the body member. The plunger coacts with passage structure between the holding and dispensing areas of the interior of the body member to form a sharp slicing mechanism to slice the plug of snuff from the quantity of snuff as the plunger moves from the load position to the discharge position.

Abstract: Each tobacco compacting chain of a tobacco shredding machine has several rows of block-shaped synthetic plastic links which are articulately connected to each other by transversely extending metallic pins receiving motion directly from the teeth of several coaxial sprocket wheels. The links form several endless rows, one for each sprocket wheel, and the links of neighboring rows are staggered relative to each other. Each pin extends through a pair of coaxial annular bearing elements at the inner side of one link in each of the rows and the end portions of the pins carry caps which are held thereon by screws and serve to hold the links against movement in the longitudinal direction of the respective pins.

Abstract: A blend of dark-fired and one-sucker tobacco and a cased cigar type tobacco are cut to obtain a shredded product. After the addition of water and a binder, the resultant mixture is heated, dried and then pelletized into individual discrete pellets. Various additives can be added prior to or during pelletizing. The pellets are sized to give the user the desired taste and flavor of a conventional smokeless tobacco.

Abstract: A machine for shredding tobacco wherein the rear portion of the upper reach of the lower chain conveyor of the conveyor system which converts a continuous stream of tobacco particles into a continuous cake is located below the open lower end of an upright duct serving to deliver tobacco to the conveyor system. The rear wall of the duct is oscillated by an orbiting eccentric pin through the medium of a rod, a lever and a link, the latter being rigidly connected with the upper portion of the rear wall and being pivotable about the axis of a horizontal shaft disposed substantially centrally and transversely of the upper end of the duct so that a vertical plane which includes such axis intersects the upper reach of the lower chain conveyor in front of the forwardly curved spade-like lower portion of the rear wall.

Abstract: The channel between the convergent tobacco compacting upper and lower chain conveyors of a tobacco shredding machine receives particles of tobacco from one or more vibrating troughs which define paths extending in parallelism with the direction of travel of particles between the chain conveyors toward the cutting station. The troughs have stepped bottom walls to effect preliminary homogenization and compacting of particles on their way toward the rear portion of the lower chain conveyor which extends rearwardly beyond the upper chain conveyor. The quantity of tobacco particles in one or more troughs is monitored by one or more photocells whose signals are utilized to vary the speed of the motor for the chain conveyors, the frequency and/or amplitude of vibratory movements of the trough or troughs and/or the rate of feed of tobacco particles to the trough or troughs when the monitored quantity deviates from a desirable range of quantities.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading tobacco into containers and for loading containers of tobacco into barns having a guide for facilitating evenly distributed loading of tobacco in containers and structure for rotating the container from a first loading position to a second curing position. The container can be rotated 90 degrees and positioned on wheeled tracks within a loading fixture and which align with corresponding wheeled tracks within a tobacco barn adapted to receive filled containers of tobacco for curing.

Abstract: A new form of chewing tobacco in cake form but with a low tensile strength such that it may be easily torn, broken, or bittin into smaller pieces.