Abstract: Machines manufacturing pouches of a smokeless tobacco product or other cohesionless material, and systems for portioning and packaging tobamel type smoking mixtures, can be fitted with a flushing device that uses a number of spray nozzles (12, 31) positioned in close proximity to units (6, 30) by which the smokeless and smoking tobacco products are conveyed and processed; with the machine or system in operation, a cleansing fluid held in a tank (14, 33) is supplied under pressure to the nozzles (12, 31) by a pump (15, 34) and directed onto internal parts of the units (6, 30) in order to remove deposits of the product that tend to accumulate in the course of the processing steps, and thus avoid the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance stoppages.

Abstract: Cigarette rods are manufactured at high rates of speed using a cigarette making machine having a tongue which is equipped such that water is continuously fed therethrough in order to exit the surface of the tongue which contacts a tobacco filter stream passing through the garniture region of the cigarette making machine. The process of introducing water through the tongue during a cigarette making operation allows the manufacturer to produce a continuous cigarette rod of controlled integrity. For example, cigarettes of controlled density and firmness, and having very low amounts of hard spots, soft spots and loose ends, can be manufactured. The process provides for the manufacture of cigarettes at high speeds, and for the manufacture of cigarettes having high filling capacity tobacco blends. For example, cigarettes having blends comprising relatively high levels of volume expanded tobacco can be manufactured efficiently and effectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying particulate matter to tobacco during the cigarette making process is disclosed. The amount of particulate matter that is lost during the cigarette making process is minimized by applying the particulate matter to the tobacco as it passes through tongue (30), one of the last steps prior to enclosing the tobacco rod in the cigarette paper at folding unit (42).