Abstract: In order, when a cigarette is being smoked, to reduce, or even reverse, the tendency of the condensate-content to increase, a cigarette filter unit is proposed in which at least one partition having at least two areas of different porosities and made of a material which allows smoke to pass through it, is arranged between each two filter elements aligned axially with one another in the flow cross section of the filter unit. In this connection, a first partition area is designed in such a manner that its permeability decreases as the portion of tobacco associated with the cigarette filter unit is smoked, the tobacco smoke, passing through the said cigarette filter unit, flowing increasingly through the second partition area.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filtration element having a first smoke-flow passage of filtration efficiency less than that of a second smoke-flow passage, the first smoke-flow passage being provided with a heat deformable material which, upon smoking of a smoking article incorporating such a filtration element, deforms and thereby obturates the first smoke-flow passage causing smoke to pass along the second smoke-flow passage and thereby to be subjected to a higher degree of smoke filtration after the first stages of the smoking cycle.

Abstract: Tobacco filter using a smoke filter comprising a processed product of fruiting body of Bacidiomycetes of bracket fungus or its analogue or mycelium or processed product of the Bacidiomycetes. This filter is remarkably effective in adsorbing tar and nicotine, harmful materials of the particle phase component of tobacco smoke and can remove harmful materials of gas phase, making the smoke taste light and mild, and also remove carcinogens such as 3,4-benzopyrene.

Abstract: A smoking article mouthpiece element comprises a first portion within which a smoke-passage and a ventilation-duct extends from end-to-end of the portion, a downstream end of the duct being spaced from the periphery of the first portion and the wall and the walls of the duct being gas impervious and a second portion disposed at the end of the first portion being in smoke-flow communication with the smoke passage of the first portion, and gas-impervious wall at the end of said second portion closer to the first portion extending inwardly from a first location at the periphery of the element to a second location at the side of the upstream end of the duct further from the first location, the wall bounding a cavity in communication with the duct and segregated from the interior of the second portion. The first and second portions may form respective parts of an integral unit or may be discrete components disposed in end-to-end abutment. The aforesaid wall is suitably part of the second portion.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes exhibiting a low amount of visible staining have a tobacco rod, an axially aligned filter element having a barrier region positioned on the back face thereof such that air and smoke traveling through the filter element exits the filter element towards the periphery thereof, and an axially aligned tubular mouthpiece element positioned in a spaced apart relationship with the filter element such that air and smoke exiting the filter element travels through the path of least resistance provided by the spaced apart region and the hollow region of the tube.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke mouthpiece including a smoke impervious plug member having an upstream smoke inlet end and a downstream smoke outlet or mouth end with groove(s) in the periphery of the plug member extending from the inlet end to the mouth end, the plug member being blocked adjacent the inlet end so that the groove(s) forms the path for smoke flow from inlet end to mouth end of the plug member.

Abstract: A cigarette filter element comprising at least one duct extending from one end to the other of the element, which element is operated on by a heated former moving relatively to it in a rotary fashion. The heated former serves to provide a cavity or annular groove through filtration material of the element. The cavity or groove also extends through a section of the duct to provide a ventilation channel. The duct at least one may be of a smoke-impermeable nature and may be provided by one or more bores or thermoplastic tubes.

Abstract: Cigarette filters comprises a filter element, open for smoke flow at the mouth end, and smoke passage of flow impedance less than that of the filter element. The passage is closed at the downstream end so that smoke is constrained to pass into the element at the downstream end of the passage. The passage may be an annular cross-section duct or grooves at the periphery of the element or may be a bore within the element. The filters provide an increasing degree of filtration as smoking proceeds.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tobacco smoke filter of filamentous material with at least one end thereof having a preselected fused area embedded in and over at least a portion of the cross-sectional area thereof having a preselected fused area extending over at least a portion of the cross-sectional area thereof to provide a flow directing baffle to direct smoke through the unfused end portion. The method includes forming a longitudinally extending porous rod of fusible material, cutting the rod into filter unit lengths and conveying the filter units in a longitudinal path normal to the longitudinal axis of the filter units past a fusing station located to one side of the conveying path. The fusing station forms an indented and fused area in one end of each filter unit as the filter units are conveyed there past. The fusing station can be a rotating wheel with conical teeth corresponding to the configuration of the indented area which teeth are embedded into the filter units.

Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes, in one advantageous embodiment, a generally cylindrical, hollow tubular mouth section located in coaxial abutment to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. The wall of the mouth section is fabricated of an impermeable material. A plurality of grooves are formed in the periphery of the mouth section extending generally longitudinally thereof and being open to at least the mouth end of the mouth section. Air permeable tipping material circumferentially surrounds the mouth section and overlaps a portion of the tobacco column adjacent the mouth section. In a further embodiment of the present invention as discussed above, the tobacco column is two coaxially located tobacco sections with the tobacco section interfacing with the mouth section being of a different density than the other tobacco section.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod having a capillary smoke passageway extending coaxially therethrough. The filter rod is circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper and the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with at least one groove extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. The groove preferably extends from the mouth end of the filter rod. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the groove. In one embodiment, the filter rod includes a cylindrical collar coaxially located at the mouth end defining a recess, the thickness of the wall of the collar being less than the depth of the groove. In a further embodiment, the filter collar includes a concentric open core member coaxial with and open to the capillary flow passageway with the area between the core member and collar wall being open to the groove.

Abstract: An improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by longitudinally continuous grooves running from end-to-end in the peripheral surface of a smoke-impervious filter plug wrap. Smoke-impervious tipping surrounds the plug wrap to seal the grooves except for small ventilation holes in the tipping which permit communication between the grooves and the ambient air. In a preferred embodiment, the grooves are restricted toward the mouth end of the filter and the degree of restriction determines the direction of air and smoke flow in the grooves. The grooves are each preferably formed as two longitudinal sections of different cross-section. Apparatus and method for manufacturing the filter are disclosed.

Abstract: A filter tip for a smoking product comprised of a filter rod attached at one end to the smoking product. The filter rod is surrounded by a tip wrapping layer which terminates at a distance from the mouth end of the filter rod. The projecting end of the rod is tapered toward the mouth end. The taper causes smoke drawn through the filter tip to flow out obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the smoking product.

Abstract: A tobacco product such as a cigarette having a tobacco column within a combustible wrap and a filter plug located at one end of the tobacco column to filter constituents of the mainstream smoke. The filter plug is disposed within a layer of plug wrap which preferably is nonporous and an outer tipping wrap surrounds the plug wrap. A plurality of grooves or depressions formed along the filter plug provide for a secondary flow of air to the mouth of the smoker. An access opening communicating secondary air to each groove is defined by a plurality of perforations located in one or more rows or bands around the outer tipping paper. Depressions located along axes parallel to the axis of the filter member or disposed in a helical pattern may be used. In a second form of the invention, the access opening communicating secondary air to each groove is defined by an annular opening between individual portions of the outer tipping paper.

Abstract: A filter composition is formed from a foamed gypsum combined with fine particulate carbonaceous material such as activated carbon, dried blood and comminuted vegetable matter. The combination of activated carbon with dried blood provides a particularly effective human user filter system. A broad range of filter uses are contemplated such as face masks and cigarette filters.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper and a tipping material having selected openings therein for allowing ventilating air to pass therethrough. Spacing members are disposed between the non-porous wrapper and tipping material to form ventilating air channels therebetween.

Abstract: A tip for a smokable article comprises a tubularly arranged covering material with an air-pervious ventilation zone, and also a tubular core which is within the covering material and which contains no filter material. The air-impervious tube wall of this core has a tubular outlet region directed towards the smoker and also a conically tapering inlet region provided with a small inlet aperture and directed towards the tobacco. Between the core and the covering material, through-flow ducts are formed by appropriate shaping of the surface of the core and these in conjunction with the remaining shape of the core define the draw resistance of this tip, and at the same time dilute the smoke through the air aspirated through the ventilation zone.This core can be manufactured from an extruded tubular blank of synthetic plastic material, in which the ducts are formed sectionwise by means of eccentrics.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod having a capillary smoke passageway extending coaxially therethrough. The filter rod is circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper and the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with at least one groove extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. The groove preferably extends from the mouth end of the filter rod. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the groove. In one embodiment, the filter rod includes a cylindrical collar coaxially located at the mouth end defining a recess, the thickness of the wall of the collar being less than the depth of the groove. In a further embodiment, the filter collar includes a concentric open core member coaxial with and open to the capillary flow passageway with the area between the core member and collar wall being open to the groove.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a smoke impermeable core of generally cylindrical shape and a smoke permeable material overlaying at least a portion of the periphery of the core. The core with the overlaying permeable material is circumscribed by an air pervious tipping material to form a cigarette filter.

Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, has a mouth section which includes a generally cylindrical, impermeable, plug member located in coaxial abutment to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. A plurality of smoke flow capillaries are formed through the plug member. A generally hollow cylindrical tubular mouthpiece having a plurality of grooves are formed in the periphery of the mouth section extending generally longitudinally thereof is located in coaxial abutment to the end of the plug member. Air permeable tipping material circumferentially surrounds the mouth section and overlaps a portion of the tobacco column adjacent the mouth section to fasten the mouth section to the tobacco column.

Abstract: A filter for a smoking article such as a cigarette, comprising several grooves of varying depth between a shallow inlet end and a deep outlet end thereof, the outlet end face being air permeable to an extent greater than are the floor or the sides of each groove. A tipping enwrapping the filter plug has ventilation perforations in the region of the inlet end of each groove.Alternatively, the grooves may have their median axes in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the filter plug, whereby the grooves extend circumferentially of the filter plug between the shallow inlet ends and the deep outlet ends.

Abstract: A resin-modified fiber filter formulation, fiber filter element, and method for improving dimensional stability, firmness and resiliency of a polyolefin fiber filter element comprised of crimped polyolefin fiber tow, by contacting filaments thereof with a formulation comprising a blend of resin and base polymer emulsions as precursors forming the active formulation "in situ", at a convenient station by removing water, the solid resin component of which must have a low molecular weight and approved softening temperature range to obtain the desired characteristics.Typical resins are polyterpenes and hydrogenated rosin esters; typical base polymers are polyvinyl acetate and copolymers thereof with, e.g., ethylene or acrylates.

Abstract: A ventilated mouthpiece adapted to be attached to a smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a generally cylindrical core member of smoke and air impermeable material having a smoke inlet end and a mouth end. The smoke inlet end is to be placed in juxtaposition to one end of the tobacco column of the cigarette. The core member is formed with a plurality of smoke flow capillaries therethrough for delivering unfiltered smoke from the tobacco column to the mouth end of the core member, and at least one ventilation air flow channel which receives ambient ventilation air and delivers the ventilation air to the mouth end of the core member. The smoke outlets from the smoke flow capillaries at the mouth end of the core member are located at a further radial distance from the center of the core member than is the outlet from the at least one ventilation air flow channel.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette which includes a protrusion of smoke permeable material integral with and coaxially projecting from the mouth end of the filter rod. The mouth end of the filter rod surrounding the protrusion is smoke impermeable so that as the cigarette to which the filter is attached is smoked, the smoke will exit the filter rod in generally radially outward direction through the smoke permeable protrusion.

Abstract: A filter plug having a dual structure comprising filter element A made from a crimped long filter tow in a form of a plug, filter element B, joined to said A, prepared by wrapping a core material consisting of a long fiber tow in a sheet-formed product having grooves which is formed from a material having an air permeability of 8 liters/minute or less and an air permeable wrapping paper and/or a wrapping paper with perforated openings on its periphery which is wrapping therein said filter elements A and B so that the outer grooves parts of the sheet-formed product pass through in the longer direction of the filter plug.

Abstract: Conventional porous labyrinth type filtering is combined with ambient air and conduction of smoke past the filter element in a cigarette holder wherein a selected portion of the tar and nicotine products are to be removed from the cigarette smoke. In its preferred form, a generally cylindrical porous filter element formed with an axial recess opening at one end of the filter is provided with an outwardly extending flange which serves to prevent passage of smoke past the filter when the filter element is fitted into the cylindrical interior of a cigarette holder. The addition of flutes on the exterior surface of the filter element, and of bypass passages formed in the flange, and air inlet openings of the holder itself, provide a unit which can serve as an element of a smoker's withdrawal kit or as a disposable holder for a smoker whose objective is to minimize tar and nicotine intake rather than to withdraw from the smoking habit.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound cigarette filter, the filter having the ability to deliver substantially constant tar and nicotine as the cigarette is smoked. The compound filter comprises a barrier positioned upstream and in abutting relationship with at least one filter segment, the barrier containing passageways permitting the passage of smoke from a tobacco column to the filter segment, the total cross-sectional passageway area being from 0.5 to 3 square millimeters, the compound filter having an initial totally encapsulated pressure drop of at least 90 mm. H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette which includes a centrally disposed generally conical baffle at the mouth end thereof with its conically shaped wall diverging in the general direction of the flow of smoke through the filter to divert the smoke exiting from the center of the filter when in use. The baffle is substantially impervious to smoke and forces the smoke leaving the filter in a direction generally angularly outward from the periphery of the filter. Ventilating air grooves can also be provided in the filter to direct ventilating air at the mouth end of the filter to provide mixing of the exiting smoke and ventilating air at the mouth end of the filter.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a generally cylindrical permeable filter rod circumscribed by an air permeable tipping material with a plurality of blind-end channels formed in the filter rod, each of the channels being open at one end to the upstream end of the filter rod and extending therefrom, generally in the longitudinal direction of the filter rod, a predetermined distance less than the length of the filter rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a tobacco smoke filter having a double structure composed of one inner core phase in a special fibrous arrangement and an outer skin layer in a different fibrous arrangement surrounding the core phase. The tobacco smoke filters made according to the present invention possess high collapse strength and physical and chemical characteristics in which the tastable components are filtered with low efficiency, while the tar and other particulate harmful matter are filtered with high efficiency.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous or air impermeable wrapper, and ventilating air grooves embedded in the wrapped filter rod which extend from one end of the filter rod a preselected distance generally longitudinally of the filter rod. An air permeable tipping material circumscribes the wrapped filter rod which provides a path therethrough for ventilating air flow only into the grooves. The walls of each of the grooves defined by the wrapper, in one form of the invention, is permeable to air over virtually its entire length, and in another form of the invention is permeable to air flow only adjacent the mouth end of the filter. Under certain smoking conditions most, if not all of the ventilating air will flow from the grooves into the smoker's mouth through the open end of the grooves at the mouth end of the filter rod.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a porous or air permeable wrapper, and ventilating air grooves embedded in the wrapped filter rod which extend from one end of the filter rod a preselected distance generally longitudinally thereof. The wall of each of the grooves defined by the wrapper is impermeable to air and smoke while at least a portion of the remaining area of the wrapper is air permeable. An air permeable tipping material circumscribes the wrapped filter rod which provides a path for ventilating air flow into the filter rod and a path for air flow into the grooves. Due to the air impermeable wall of the grooves, the air flowing in the grooves is segregated from the air and smoke flowing through the filter rod so that ventilating air is the only substance flowing in the grooves. The air flowing through the tipping material into the filter rod co-mingles with and dilutes the smoke flowing through the filter rod before it reaches the smoker's mouth.

Abstract: Self-sustaining, dimensionally stable, axially elongated fibrous bodies of suitable cross-sectional size and shape for use as cigarette filters are produced from a bondable continuous filamentary tow of substantially continuous thermoplastic fibers. The fibers within the filter body are oriented in an adjacent and overlapping relation to one another in generally successive layers extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the filter. During fabrication the filter is passed through a cooling station of reduced cross-section so that the radially peripheral edges of the fibers are bent backward and overlap to form a smooth peripheral surface to which tip-wrap material can readily adhere without the need for a plug wrap or for coating the filter.

Abstract: The filter comprises a tobacco smoke filtration tube ensheathed in a layer of smoke pervious thermoplastic material. The layer is encased in a plugwrap. The layer has a transverse cross-section rendered impervious to smoke tobacco by use of an annular sealing groove. The tube is closed at a location spaced longitudinally from the groove by a V-shaped annular groove.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a smoking material rod and, to one end thereof, a flow-impedance device comprising a rod-like element of foam or fibrous material which is or has been rendered impervious to the flow of smoke therethrough and one or more open-ended smoke-flow passages extending from one end to the other of the element, the pressure drop of the passage or passages being in the range from 40 to 200 mm, preferably 50 to 100 mm, water gauge and said device being enclosed in a wrapping permitting inward flow of ambient air into the device, which has air-conducting means whereby air flowing inwardly through the wrapping is conducted to the mouth end of the device, the device being effective to remove not more than 25%, preferably 20%, of the total particulate matter of the smoke. The passage or passages may be formed by a bore or bores in the material or by a capillary tube or tubes.

Abstract: A cigarette filter includes a porous filter element attached to a cigarette, the element circumscribed by ventilating air ducts with an impermeable barrier therebetween so that smoke travels down the filter element and ventilating air travels down the ducts during use. The size of the ducts, the number of ducts, and the flow rate of ventilating air is so defined that substantially all of the smoke is dispersed immediately upon exiting the filter element.

Abstract: A rod-form body of smoke filtration material, preferably fibrous or filamentary, is wrapped in a fibrous or filamentary plugwrap comprising at least 50% by weight of fibres or filaments of thermoplastics material. The plugwrap may have premeability for air of not less than 10,000 Coresta units. The majority, suitably at least 80% by weight, of the material of the rod-form body is a material other than the said themoplastics material of the plugwrap. Thus the smoke-filtration material may comprise crimped polypropylene tow and the plugwrap be composed substantially wholly of fibrous cellulose acetate or conversely. Portions of such filter rod may be subjected to a hot-shaping process to provide grooved filter elements.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter having an improved tar/carbon monoxide ratio is disclosed. The filter is obtained by sealing off the center portion of the filter with an inner member which is impermeable to the passage of smoke, thus directing all of the smoke to the periphery of the filter. In one embodiment, the inner member is formed as a thin walled tube of a material such as polypropylene, with the tube being crimped to seal one end of the tube. The crimped tube is then overwrapped with a smoke permeable material.

Abstract: An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument is disclosed, which combines good ink holding capacity and good ink release properties with a wide variety of inks. The ink reservoir element is formed from a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material, such as a spunbonded polyester fabric or a foam-attenuated extruded polyester fabric, which has been uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves. The embossed sheet is compacted and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the embossed grooves. A method and apparatus is disclosed for continuous production of the ink reservoir elements from a continuous web of the fibrous sheet material.

Abstract: A filter assembly for cigarettes and the like comprising an elongated tube with an axial bore, having a plurality of fan folded interior cross partitions each of oval outline, and extending in a plane oblique to the axis of the bore to form a succession of sealed chambers. The oval, obliqued, cross partitions have staggered perforations to allow the filtered substance to travel to the downstream end of the tube in an undulated path. At the upstream end of the tube the exterior wall of the first sealed chamber has a pattern of intake pin holes to allow fresh air to cool the smoke. At the downstream end of the tube the sealed chamber contains aromatic unburned tobacco for restoring and enriching the flavor of the smoke. The remaining chambers contain cotton batting to filter out undesirable substances such as tar.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod having a hollow tube therein extending from one end a preselected distance, the filter rod being circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper wherein the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with at least one groove extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. The groove and the tube may extend from the same one end or may extend from opposite ends. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-throgh openings therein in flow communication with the groove. The groove may be oriented to extend to the mouth end of the filter or the tobacco end when connected to a cigarette.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod circumscribed by a smoke impervious wrapper wherein the filter rod with the smoke impervious wrapper therearound is provided with grooves embedded therein and extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. Tipping material circumscribes the smoke impervious wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the grooves. Support means are provided for the tipping material at the mouth end of the filter to maintain the tipping material in circumferential equalization.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter plug comprises fiber tow fillings in the form of cylinder, composed of an inner core phase and an outer skin layer different from each other in fibrous arrangement structure thereof, the inner core phase consisting of fillings in a folded arrangement structure having a folding axis forming an angle of .alpha. with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the filter plug in cross section, and the outer skin layer consisting of fillings in a folded structure substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the filter plug in cross section and surrounding said inner core phase.

Abstract: A cigarette filter composed of a bundle of cellulose acetate filaments having at least two different filament denier sizes randomly distributed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said filter.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter is disclosed, which provides tobacco flavor enrichment of smoke passing therethrough. The filter comprises a reconstituted tobacco member formed from a coherent sheet of reconstituted tobacco which has been uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves, and then compacted and bonded into a self-sustaining dimensionally stable axially elongated body whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the embossed grooves. The embossed grooves provide the reconstituted tobacco member with flow passages having a high surface area for contact with smoke passing therethrough, so as to enable the smoke to become tobacco flavor-enriched by extracing tobacco flavor from the reconstituted tobacco.

Abstract: An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument is disclosed, which combines good ink holding capacity and good ink release properties with a wide variety of inks. The ink reservoir element is formed from a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material, such as a spunbonded polyester fabric or a foam-attenuated extruded polyester fabric, which has been uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves. The embossed sheet is compacted and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the embossed grooves. A method and apparatus is disclosed for continuous production of the ink reservoir elements from a continuous web of the fibrous sheet material.

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 tobacco smoke filter having at least one directly ventilated cavity which provides for the formation, over a region of the filter extending inwardly of its peripheral region, of a mixture of at least the major proportion of the smoke and at least a major proportion of the ventilating air entering the said cavity or cavities. The extensive and uniform mixing of smoke and ventilation air gives a satisfying smoke with a low tar count and high nicotine/tar ratio, and can be obtained with the invention due to appropriate shaping of the cavity, or asymmetric positioning of the air ventilating vents, or by means of a flow-disturbing insert mounted in the filter, or a combination of two or more of these factors. Preferably a major part of the smoke is constrained to enter the cavity at an upstream peripheral extremity thereof and air vents are also concentrated at this extremity.

Abstract: Molding tobacco filters having a variety of cross-sections which are practically useful in providing various preferable effects such as improvement in pressure drop, balanced adsorption of smoke component or the like, are provided according to a method which is characterized in forming fiber bundles of composite fibers consisting of a first and a second component by themselves, or a mixture of at least 20% by weight (based upon the total fiber mixture) of said composite fibers and another kind of fibers so as to give a variety of cross-sections to said fiber bundles, and subjecting said fiber bundles to heat-treatment at a temperature lower than the melting point of the first component but higher than the melting point of the second component to stabilize the structure by the self-adhesion of the second component; the first component of a fiber forming polymer and the second component consisting of one or more kinds of polymer having a melting point lower than that of the first component by 10.degree. C.