Abstract: A tobacco filler is formed in a machine which turns out two trough-shaped tobacco streams whose concave sides face each other. The two streams are thereupon caused to merge and to form a single stream whose central portion is less dense than the outer layer. The single stream is then compacted in the wrapping mechanism of the machine so that its cross section matches that of a cigarette, and the resulting filler is draped into cigarette paper prior to subdivision into discrete cigarettes of desired length. The density of the central portion of the filler in each cigarette is less than the density of the layer which is immediately adjacent to the wrapper. This improves the burning characteristics of the cigarettes and allows for a reduction of the quantity of tobacco which is needed to make a cigarette exhibiting a desired firmness.

Abstract: A cigarette having a plurality of thin flat discs aligned along the central axis of the cigarette wherein the surfaces of the disc condense the tobacco smoke therein.

Abstract: The invention is an improved wrapper construction for smoking articles such as cigarettes resulting in a reduced tendency to ignite combustible materials accidentally or carelessly coming into contact with the lit cigarette. The wrapper constructions and smoking articles of the invention have a specially designed structure which causes a cigarette to go out quickly when in contact with a substrate, including many commonly-encountered substrates made of combustible materials. This structure is characterized by a Burn Mode Index ("BMI") as defined for the wrapper of between about 1.5 cm.sup.-1 and 5.0 cm.sup.-1 for a single wrap embodiment. For an alternative double wrapped embodiment, the outer wrap will have a BMI in the range of from about 2.0 cm.sup.-1 to about 40 cm.sup.-1 depending on the BMI of the inner wrap which may vary between about 0.1 cm.sup.-1 to 4.0 cm.sup.-1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying foamed material to tobacco, particularly in connection with the making of cigarettes. The foamed material may be added to the tobacco, for example, in the paper guide section of a cigarette maker at the garniture mouth (21) or through the short tongue (30) or through both, or at the chimney (10). Addition of a foamed material to the tobacco, during the cigarette making process, results in a cigarette in which the material added is more uniformly distributed.

Abstract: The invention is an improved specially designed wrapper construction for smoking articles producing controlled burn properties of smoking articles such as cigarettes so that the cigarette will self-extinguish after free burning in air for a designed time period. In addition, the wrapper construction results in cigarettes with reduced tendency to ignite combustible substrates, such as upholstered furniture, when in contact with them. Therefore, smoking articles with this wrapper construction reduce the likelihood of accidental fires, yet they free-burn rapidly for a designed period of time without puffing. However, during a normal puffing sequence the behavior of cigarettes with these wrappers is indistinguishable from commercial cigarettes. On the other hand, other self-extinguishing cigarettes go out without puffing and therefore have to be relighted frequently.

Abstract: A cigarette, having a tobacco rod consisting of at least two segments. The segment toward the filter end of the tobacco rod has a density at least 20% greater than the fire-end segment. The density differential may be combined with a nicotine differential, such that the fire-end segment has a higher nicotine content than does the filter-end segment. This configuration alters the nicotine delivery of the invention, providing a nicotine delivery either uniform during the last half of the cigarette or at levels reduced from those seen during the first few puffs.

Abstract: A substantially cylindrical foamed, extruded, tobacco-containing smoking article is provided which has properties substantially equivalent to those of a conventional cigarette and which contains from about 5 to about 98 wt. % of tobacco particles having a particle size of up to about 5 mesh, from 0 to about 60 wt. % of a filler having a particle size of up to about 350 .mu.m mesh, from about 2 to about 40 wt. % of a cellulosic binder selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof, and from about 5 to about 20 wt. % water. The article has a density within the range of from about 0.05 to about 1.5 g/cc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method according to which a cellulose rod, at least 11 mm in diameter and formed from cellulosic paper made by the wet paper-making process, that has been treated with a binding agent, repeatedly folded along its longitudinal axis and passed through a heated forming die to provide a coherent rod, is treated with an additive and then pyrolyzed by being advanced through a die maintained at a temperature within the range of from about 500.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. in an oxygen-free atmosphere for a total retention time in the die of from about 3 seconds to about 1 minute. The pyrolyzed cellulose rod is then cooled to less than about 250.degree. C. before being removed from the oxygen-free atmosphere. The resulting combustible carbonized rod may be cut to suitable lengths and employed as a filter in tobacco-containing cigarettes or may be used to form a tobacco-free cigarette.

Abstract: Cigarettes are made by forming a basic filler stream comprising particles of tobacco or artificial tobacco or a combination of both, folding around the basic filler stream a web of reconstituted tobacco, and enclosing the resulting combination in a continuous paper wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod which is then cut into predetermined lengths.The web may be continuous or may be in an expanded form as described in British Patent Specification No. 1531463.

Abstract: A processed expandable tobacco paste as an additive to a cigarette, and a cigarette having the tobacco paste is disclosed. The tobacco paste provides a cigarette with the physical properties of firmness of tobacco, even tobacco burning, draw resistance, cigarette end stability and coal retention of conventional cigarettes, but at a lower tobacco density than conventional cigarettes. The cigarette includes a cylindrical tobacco rod, at least one longitudinally extending line of expanded tobacco paste, and wrapping material circumferentially surrounding the tobacco rod which compresses the relatively low density tobacco rod. The tobacco paste can also contain a flavoring ingredient.

Abstract: Smoking articles, e.g. cigarettes, are disclosed into the fuel rod of which particulate smoke-modifying agent has been introduced in such a manner that the concentration of the agent is greater at one or each end of the fuel rod than that at the middle region of the fuel rod. The result of this variation in concentration of the smoke-modifying agent is that the amount of agent released into the smoke varies as the article is smoked. Various forms of smoking article are disclosed together with methods of production.

Abstract: A rod of smoking material, for use as a smoking article or a part thereof is formed by a multiplicity of laminiform self-sustaining smoking-material elements, for example discs, extending transversely of the rod and located in face-to-face contact with one another. The thickness of the elements, which may be up to 2.5 mm, is suitably within a range of 0.1 to 0.8 mm. It may vary within the rod or from element to element along the rod. The material of the elements may have inherent smoke-permeability sufficient to afford an acceptable pressure drop through the rod or the elements may be formed or provided with smoke passages therethrough, with either the same relative distribution of passages from one element to the next or with adjacent elements so oriented in relation to each other as to provide smoke passages of predetermined form through the rod. The smoking material of the elements preferably extends over an area less than the cross-sectional area of the rod, suitably over 10 to 40% of that area.

Abstract: Smoking articles comprising a high density, relatively low porosity coherent mass of combustible tobacco-containing material having at least one passage extending therethrough are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the smoking article is a cylinder having at least one passage axially therethrough. The smoking article may further comprise a plug of ignitable material in passage blocking position at one end of the passage, said plug being such as to permit puff induced air flow therethrough. At least one additional plug may be similarly disposed at the opposite end of the passage or at an intermediate point in the passage. By adjusting the density, the surface area and/or the porosity of the mass available for combustion, the per puff delivery of tar by the smoking article upon combustion may be controlled.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a rod of smoking material, wrapped in a wrapper, in which rod the packing density of the smoking material varies continuously along at least a major portion of the overall length of the rod, but is constant across any section, within said portion, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The smoking material may be of homogeneous constitution throughout the rod. Preferably the density decreases continuously along the said portion of the rod in the direction away from the end of the rod to be lit, from which end the said portion may extend to substantially the other end of the rod. There may be between a 5% and a 40% weight difference between the more dense half of the length of the rod and the less dense half thereof. The density at the less dense end of the rod may be in the range of 170 to 240 mg cm.sup.-3 and that at the denser end in the range of 290 to 350 mg cm.sup.-3.