Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).

Abstract: This invention relates to a material application system for applying material to a wrapper. The material application system comprises a material applicator means and an electronic application control means. Also provided is a rod making machine comprising a rod making section and the material application system. The invention also provides a method of applying material to a wrapper used in the tobacco industry comprising supplying a wrapper and applying a material to the wrapper using a material applicator and an electronic applicator control means therefore, which electronic applicator control means ensures accurate location of material application in an electronically adjustable variable manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing rod-shaped smoking articles which includes a forming section (10) for forming a material layer (K) made up of particles of smoking material and delivering the formed material layer (K); a wrapping section (20) disposed downstream of the forming section (10), for forming a rod (KR) by wrapping the material layer (K) in a web (W); a pair of guide blocks (54) disposed in the terminal end portion of the forming section (10), for guiding the material layer (K); a web shield (56) disposed downstream of the guide blocks (54) as viewed in the direction of delivering the material layer (K), for separating the material layer (K) and the web (W) from each other; a tongue (40) disposed in the start end portion of the wrapping section (20); and injection openings (64, 70, 76) provided to the guide blocks (54), the web shield (56) and the tongue (40), for injecting a liquid flavor additive into the material layer (K).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a cigarette rod containing an additive material in a cigarette making machine, in which a continuous tobacco rod is fed along a vacuum conveyor and particles of the additive material are fed to and incorporated along the axis of the cigarette rod by a distributor which comprises a conveyor having a hollow drum with a cylindrical side wall on which there is a plurality of seats designed to house the particles; the drum rotating within a ring-shaped structure and the seats, during rotation of the drum, passing through an ejector unit designed to eject the particles from the seats and incorporate them in the tobacco rod through a feed pipe, so as to control the distribution of the particles of the additive material along the tobacco rod, obtaining a preset positioning of the particles in each cigarette length.

Abstract: Smoke constituent reduction is achieved by resolving from puff-to-puff analysis at which location along a tobacco rod production of a particular smoke constituent is maximized, and locally applying an attenuator at said resolved location to reduce production of the constituent. A remainder of the rod is left untreated so as to minimize impact on taste and burn characteristics of the cigarette. Reduction of the first puff formaldehyde formation is achieved by treating the cigarette tip with salts, using Burley tobacco in the tip, increasing the rod density, ventilation at the tip, and thermal treatment of the tip. Other classes of smoke constituents such as TSNAs (tobacco specific nitrosamines), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), etc., in particular the PAHs of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, flouranthene and benzo(a)pyrene may be reduced with placement of a carbon-based and/or metallic disc at the tip and with practices of the invention herein.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, incorporating particulate smoke-modifying agent in a smoking material rod, wherein said agent is introduced into a flow of filamentary smoking material to the suction band of a rod making machine, the location of introduction being in the vicinity of the suction band of said machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying an adhesive or flavoring solution to the coal end of a cigarette by means of a precisely controlled liquid jet spray to bond shreds of tobacco in the cigarette end and to thereby reduce the amount of tobacco which falls out of the cigarette when shaken. Electronic controls are employed to synchronize the formation and charging of a series of droplets which are deflected in prescribed paths to contact the coal end of the cigarette in a predetermined pattern. Circuits are provided to adjust the timing and phase of the charging mechanism to compensate for variations in the speed at which the cigarette is conveyed to a target area and for variations in the timing of droplet formation.

Abstract: In a method of making lengths of smoking-material rod, particularly cigaret lengths, smoking material and wrapper-web material are each continuously fed to a rod maker operable to wrap and seam-seal the wrapper material about the smoking material to provide smoking material rod which is then fed to a cutter for cutting the rod into lengths. Smoke-modifying agent is applied by spray intermittently to one of the materials during their feeding to the rod maker so that, in each of the lengths, the smoke-modifying agent is distributed over one end zone which is accounted for by a few puffs, in the smoking of the length. The smoke modifying agent is of low volatility and low porosity migration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying foamed material to tobacco, and for drying and setting the foamed material, 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 or through the short tongue or through both, or at the chimney. Drying and setting can occur in the chimney, on the vacuum belt, or in the garniture, after the material has been applied to the tobacco filler. Drying can be accomplished, for example, by using heated air or microwave radiation. Addition of material to tobacco filler, during the cigarette making process in the form of a foam, results in a cigarette in which the material added is more uniformly distributed.

Abstract: Aromatized liquid is introduced into the tobacco in the area of the settling path (AS) at a point at which nearly half the final tobacco layer has accumulated. Subsequently, the second half will settle thereon so that the inserted liquid is inside the final tobacco layer (15). Liquid is injected into the tobacco without the use of compressed air, thus excluding crystal formation. The injection rate of liquid is controlled responsive to the operating speed of the cigarette making machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying liquid strands containing additives to cigarette rods. Liquid is extruded to form one or more strands that are applied to loose tobacco filler in the chimney section of a conventional cigarette maker. The liquid has a viscosity that prevents it from soaking through the tobacco and contacting the cigarette maker or the cigarette wrapper. Additives to the liquid strands include flavorants, burn inhibitors, and burn accelerators.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing cigarettes which imposes reduced health risks to the smokers thereof. According to this process redried cut rag tobacco is directly sprayed with one or more pre-selected alcohols which are capable, when the vapors thereof are inhaled by the smoker, of inhibiting or blocking the selective localization of at least one nitrosamine and/or a metabolite thereof in the smoker's tissues such as those of the epithelial lining of his lungs. An example of such an alcohol is cyclohexanol in an ethyl alcohol solution. After the alcohol solution has been sprayed on the tobacco, preferably as it tumbles in the cooler cylinder of the mechanized cigarette making line, and allowed to dry, the tobacco is made or machined in a conventional manner into the final cigarette, either filtered or unfiltered.

Abstract: In order to provide when smoking a cigarette a substantially uniform concentration of the flavoring substance or substances supplied to the tobacco rod (23) in the form of at least one flavoring substance, the flow of flavoring substance is controlled, in accordance with the invention, periodically between a maximum and a minimum flow. The maximum flow is applied to those parts (36) of the tobacco rod which each include the tip-end of a cigarette, whereas the minimum flow is applied to the opposite end part (37) of the cigarette.

Abstract: Loss of tobacco from the ends of cigarettes is reduced or prevented by applying foamed adhesive thereto. The foam may in general be blown onto the cigarette ends [(FIGS. 1, 2 and 4)] or may be "printed" onto the cigarette ends [(FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 and 6)]. The expansion ratio of the foam in preferably at least 10:1, so that very little liquid adhesive is needed to contact a significant area of tobacco. Thus the liquid content of the adhesive may be readily absorbed into the tobacco so as not to create a drying problem. In a preferred example [(FIG. 1)] foam is supplied by a pipe [24] to fill apertures on a disc [20] from which measured quantities of foam are blown by an air jet from a pipe [28.] Suction is applied to the filter ends [108]of the cigarettes via a manifold [18] and flexible seals [12C] to help in drawing the foam into the cigarettes.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying measured quantities of foamed adhesive to the ends of cigarettes comprises a drum 10 arranged to having apertures 14A aligned with the respective cigarettes 12 and arranged to recieve foam from a source 18 adjacent to the plate, characterized by means 24,26 for pneumatically transferring foam progressively from each aperture to the end of the corresponding cigarette, i.e. during a significant arc of rotation of the drum.

Abstract: A cigarette making apparatus for making self-extinguishing cigarettes including an electromagnetically actuated spray nozzle for directing a solution of sodium silicate onto a stream of tobacco at predetermined intervals such that when the stream of tobacco is formed into a continuous cigarette rod and the rod is cut into individual cigarettes, the sodium silicate treated portion of the tobacco stream will fall at the midpoint of each finished cigarette.

Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising an ascending shaft arranged to feed a tobacco mixture into a belt conveyor in such a manner as to form thereon a substantially continuous tobacco layer, a trimmer device arranged to reduce and regularize the thickness of the tobacco layer, a cyclically operating heater device arranged to successively heat determined portions of the tobacco layer, a section for wrapping the tobacco layer in paper to produce a continuous cigarette rod, and a cutter device operating cyclically in determined phase relationship with the heater device to cut the continuous cigarette rod.

Abstract: Cigarettes having reduced loose end propensity and a process for preparing same are disclosed. The cigarettes are prepared from shredded smoking material having been uniformly treated with a free-flowing non-deliquescent, hygroscopic powder and aged prior to introduction into a cigarette-making machine. The powder preferably has a size between about 50 and 200 microns, and becomes tacky upon absorption of moisture.

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: A method and apparatus for producing a tobacco rod of predictable characteristics whereby the tobacco filler is tempered prior to forming into a rod in a cigarette making apparatus. The tobacco filler is tempered prior to entry into the maker region to a temperature of from 32.degree. F. to just below ambient. Heat exchange coils are provided in a feed chamber wherein the tobacco filler is recirculated for tempering to desired temperature prior to being fed to the maker on a continuous basis.

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: 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 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).

Abstract: In the production of cheroots and similar tobacco articles with a wrapper made from natural tobacco relieved of central rib portions but containing portions of side ribs, the said ribs are flattened solely in the end flap of the wrapper.

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: The object of the invention is a wrapping process for cigars with natural tobacco through stamping of a wrapping surface with a pre-manufactured tobacco core and total wrapping of said tobacco core by said surface, a process in which before the stamping operation, the wrapping surface is maintained on its two areas in the vicinity of its longitudinal edges so that they are stretched during the stamping operation.

Abstract: Cigarettes or cigarette filters are made by forming a filler by feeding continuously at least one web of filler material which has lines of spaced slits extending across the width of the web, the slits in each line being offset from those in adjacent lines; stretching the web so as to open up the slits while distorting out of their original plane the interconnected strip-like portions of the web left between the slits; compressing the web laterally to form a filler; enclosing the thus-formed filler in a wrapper to form a continuous rod; and cutting the continuous rod into individual portions.