Abstract: A cigarette-making method is provided, comprising forming an elongate tobacco rod having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and opposed ends, by circumscribing a tobacco charge with a wrapping material. A filter element is formed having opposed ends and a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod, by circumscribing a filter material with a plug wrap material. One end of the tobacco rod is axially aligned and abutted with one end of the filter element, and a tipping material is applied about the tobacco rod and the filter element, wherein the tipping material extends across the abutting ends thereof, so as to join the tobacco rod with the filter element and form a cigarette having a non-circular cross-sectional shape along a length thereof. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.

Abstract: In a cigarette manufacturing machine, a device for compressing and molding a filler stream includes a tongue, which defines a part of a compression-molding passage. The filler stream passes the compression-molding passage. The device further includes an ultrasonic vibration system for vibrating the tongue. The tongue functions as a horn of the ultrasonic vibration system.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a smokeable cigarette from a preformed inherently unsmokeable rod of tobacco and a separate sheet of cigarette paper provided with a strip of contact adhesive comprises an open-ended smooth bore resilient tube provided with a longitudinal slit defined by a pair of lips one of which is radially further spaced from the axis of the tube than is the other lip and is tangential to the circumference of the tube. In operation, the rod is inserted axially into the tube, the paper is then inserted into the slit and the rod rotated so as to wind the paper onto the rod. The user squeezes the tube so as to control the friction between the rod and the sheet. The sheet finally adheres to itself by means of the strip of adhesive. The invention also includes a booklet of cigarette papers which are mounted on the backing card by strips of contact adhesive. On removing a sheet from the card the strip of adhesive remains attached to the sheet.

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.