Abstract: Peltier-cooled cryogenic laser ablation cells for sample preparation.

Abstract: The filler of a cigarette rod has a tubular portion made of shredded tobacco and surrounding at least one row of spherical inserts made of aromatic material or aerosol. The tubular portion is made by feeding tobacco shreds against the underside of the horizontal lower reach of a foraminous conveyor belt advancing beneath a suction chamber to accumulate a first layer of shreds. The inserts are delivered to the underside of the first layer and are attracted thereto by suction. A second layer of shredded tobacco is assembled by showering shreds against the underside of the first layer where the second layer underlies the spherical inserts. The thus obtained filler is draped into a web of wrapping material to form a cigarette rod ready to be subdivided into sections of unit or multiple unit length. The spherical inserts are expelled from a revolving receptacle under the action of centrifugal force to form a row which is conveyed toward the underside of and advances with the first layer.

Abstract: The filler of a cigarette rod has a tubular portion made of shredded tobacco and surrounding at least one row of spherical inserts made of aromatic material or aerosol. The tubular portion is made by feeding tobacco shreds against the underside of the horizontal lower reach of a foraminous conveyor belt advancing beneath a suction chamber to accumulate a first layer of shreds. The inserts are delivered to the underside of the first layer and are attracted thereto by suction. A second layer of shredded tobacco is assembled by showering shreds against the underside of the first layer where the second layer underlies the spherical inserts. The thus obtained filler is draped into a web of wrapping material to form a cigarette rod ready to be subdivided into sections of unit or multiple unit length. The spherical inserts are expelled from a revolving receptacle under the action of centrifugal force to form a row which is conveyed toward the underside of and advances with the first layer.

Abstract: The filler of a cigarette rod has a tubular portion made of shredded tobacco and surrounding at least one row of spherical inserts made of aromatic material or aerosol. The tubular portion is made by feeding tobacco shreds against the underside of the horizontal lower reach of a foraminous conveyor belt advancing beneath a suction chamber to accumulate a first layer of shreds. The inserts are delivered to the underside of the first layer and are attracted thereto by suction. A second layer of shredded tobacco is assembled by showering shreds against the underside of the first layer where the second layer underlies the spherical inserts. The thus obtained filler is draped into a web of wrapping material to form a cigarette rod ready to be subdivided into sections of unit or multiple unit length. The spherical inserts are expelled from a revolving receptacle under the action of centrifugal force to form a row which is conveyed toward the underside of and advances with the first layer.

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: The invention relates to an apparatus for applying a liquid medium, more particularly, a flavor or menthol, to tobacco in a cigarette maker equipped with a conduit for feeding the liquid medium, and provided at the end of the conduit with a nozzle orifice, disposed under the suction band of a cigarette former of the maker and, through its nozzle orifice, applies the liquid medium to the tobacco in contact with the tobacco carpet. The nozzle orifice sweeps past the surface of the tobacco and applies a fine continuous jet of the non-foamed liquid medium, or an aerosol jet of the liquid medium, onto the tobacco.

Abstract: A process, and product which uses the process, for reducing tar and nicotine in cigarettes, whereby a novel emulsified complex of Sterotex/permanganate is incorporated into a cigarette. The complex displays a synergistic reaction having a dose response relationship permitting linear adjustment to reduce more than 85% of the tar and nicotine in the mainstream smoke of a cigarette. Chemical analysis of the smoke condensate demonstrates the oxidation of nicotine to nicotinic acid, a B6 vitamin.

Abstract: Fragments of plastic fibers, such as cellulose acetate fibers, forming part of mouthpieces of filter cigarettes or like rod-shaped smokers' products tend to become separated from the respective filter mouthpieces at the end faces which develop in response to the making of cuts across filter rod sections of double unit length between pairs of plain cigarettes to obtain filter cigarettes of unit length. The fragments of fibers which tend to become separated and to contaminate the area around the filter cigarette making machine are either bonded (e.g., by heat and/or by a solvent) to the respective mouthpieces, or are removed by suction and/or by resorting to electrostatic precipitation. It is also contemplated to cause smoke-permeable layers of filter material to overlie the end faces of the mouthpieces.

Abstract: Air is blown into filter tow during or immediately after the application of plasticizer; this foams and distributes the plasticizer in the tow. Air may be delivered from a porous plate closely adjacent to the path of the tow or from nozzles in an air injecting unit. Alternatively air may be used to foam plasticizer at a location remote from the tow and foamed plasticizer subsequently conveyed to and into the tow by a roller.

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: A method for producing a tobacco-containing rod from tobacco materials is disclosed. The method comprises shredding tobacco material, mixing a binder with the shredded tobacco material, activating the binder and forming a tobacco-containing rod. The binder may be hydroscopic and the tobacco material may include expanded tobacco.

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: Apparatus for applying adhesive foam or other liquid-based ingredients to the ends of cigarettes includes a source of suction, a device for carrying and moving a series of flexible tubular sealing members 50 each of which is aligned with a respective cigarette in a treatment station, and an arrangement for moving each sealing member into engagement with a respective cigarette and for connecting each sealing member to the source of suction, characterised in that each sealing member is so shaped that an end portion 54 thereof can engage around the end portion of the corresponding cigarette, and that suction transmitted through the sealing member causes the end portion of the sealing member to contract and thus grip the cigarette. A pressure air source may also be included to expand each sealing member as it moves over the end of the corresponding cigarette.

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: 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 foam, results in a cigarette in which the material added is more uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A tobacco product characterized by improved void volume and firmness characteristics and a method of making a tobacco product by applying binder material to tobacco filler, treating the filler to the extent necessary to cause the filler to become substantially non-tacky, forming a rod, activating the binder and treating the rod to the extent necessary to cause the filler shreds to become bonded to one another.

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: 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 or may be "printed" onto the cigarette ends. 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 foam is supplied by a pipe to fill apertures on a disc from which measured quantities of foam are blown by an air jet from a pipe. Suction is applied to the filter ends of the cigarettes via a manifold and flexible seals to help in drawing the foam into the cigarettes.

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: Apparatus is provided for injecting liquids or liquid foams into the stream of tobacco on the suction tape in the chimney of a cigarette maker. An insert is placed in the suction rod channel to reduce its width over an initial section of the channel. The remainder of the channel is of normal width. A nozzle for injecting the liquid or liquid foam projects gradually from the end of the insert into the channel. The restrictive effect of the nozzle on the flow of tobacco is balanced by the tendency of the tobacco to flow more freely as the channel widens.

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: An extruded, coherent, multistrand, tobacco-containing, generally cylindrical smoking article and a process for making it are disclosed. The smoking article contains a plurality of strands that are adhered to one another so as to form passageways between the strands, the passageways extending generally along the longitude of the smoking article. The configuration of the strands and passageways provides sufficient heat transfer area and/or residence time for the smoke drawn by a smoker to cool to an acceptable level.

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 are disclosed for controlling the operation of a cigarette maker to produce a cigarette rod having a predetermined moisture content. The moisture of the rod leaving the maker is sensed and the tobacco being input to the maker is treated as a function of the measured moisture content, in such a manner as to cause the output rod to have the desired moisture content. Preferably, other characteristics of the output rod, such as density and firmness, are also monitored, and are taken into account in controlling the treatment of the tobacco stream being input into the maker.

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 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: 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: 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: 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 method of making smoking articles wherein a combustible tobacco material is mixed with one or more other ingredients including a liquid, the mixture being subjected to further processing to produce a shaped coherent mass having a through passage. Shaping is effected by application of pressure to the mixture to form the coherent mass, and is followed by drying of same, the mixture composition being selected and the shaping pressure and drying being controlled to impart to the shaped mass a porosity and density such as to substantially occlude gas flow therethrough and a porosity sufficient to support combustion of the shaped mass when ignited.

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.