R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Alan B Norman

Thomas A Perfetti

James L Resce

Glenn E Creamer

Michael D Shannon

Ernest G Farrier

Andries Don Sebastian

Gary R Shelar

Andrew J Sensabaugh, Jr

John H Reynolds, Iv

James L Harris

Michael Francis Dube

Chandra K Banerjee

Henry T Ridings

Huamin Gan

Robert Leslie Oglesby

Barry L Saintsing

Maria T Montoya

Norman C Sanders, Jr

Leigh Ann Joyce

Stephen Benson Sears

Jack F Clearman

David William Griffith, Jr

Thomas L Gentry

Paul Stuart Chapman

Richard L Lehman

Bradley James Ingebrethsen

Jeffery S Gentry

Jerry W Lawson

William C Squires

Barbara W Arzonico

Rhonda F Hayden

Olivia P Furin

Dewey L Holt

Olivia D Furin

William R Cook

Kenneth W Swicegood

Thomas W Brown

John Fitzgerald

Harvey H Gordin

Scott William Foor

A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.

Biodegradable cigarette filter

Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.

Materials, equipment, and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.

Filter element comprising smoke-altering material

A smoking article including a smokable rod manufactured using a paper wrapping material having an additive material applied thereto as a pattern. The additive material is applied as aqueous coating formulation incorporating both an alginate and hydroxypropylcellulose.

Smoking articles and wrapping materials therefor

A cigarette includes a charge or roll of smokable material (e.g., tobacco cut filler) circumscribed by two layers of paper wrapping materials. The first or inner wrapping material includes a cellulosic base web and carbonaceous material within the web. The second or outer wrapping material circumscribes and overwraps the first wrapping material, has a cellulosic base web and inorganic filler material, and exhibits an air permeability of below about 8 CORESTA units. The cigarette is capable of sustaining smolder under FTC smoking conditions while yielding very low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Cigarette

Cigarettes which yield very low levels of sidestream 'tar' during use comprise a paper wrapper having an air permeability of less than about 10 CORESTA units, and a blend of a tobacco filler material and a second smokable material. The second smokable material preferably includes about 60 weight percent calcium carbonate, about 30 weight percent pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose and about 10 weight percent carboxymethyl cellulose. Such cigarettes, when used, generate very low amounts of sidestream 'tar', and hence, very low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Cigarettes include tobacco-containing smokable material wrapped in a low porosity paper wrapper. The smokable material includes an intimate mixture of tobacco extract, pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose, agglomerated calcium carbonate particles, glycerin and carboxymethylcellulose. Such cigarettes yield low levels of incomplete combustion products and generate low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

The present invention relates to fuel elements useful in smoking articles which produce an aerosol that resembles tobacco smoke, but contains no more than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion or pyrolysis products. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel elements, usually less than about 20 mm in length, preferably from about 5 to 15 mm in length, and most preferably about 10 mm in length. The diameter of the fuel elements of the present invention generally is less than about 8 mm, preferably from about 3 to 7 mm, and most preferably from about 4 to 6 mm. Smoking articles utilizing the fuel elements of the present invention are capable of providing an aerosol 'smoke' which is chemically simple, consisting essentially of air, oxides of carbon, water, and the aerosol which carries any desired flavorants or other desired volatile materials, and trace amounts of other materials. The aerosol 'smoke' from the preferred embodiments has no significant mutagenic activity as measured by the Ames Test. In addition, the fuel element may be made to be virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use.

Smoking article

A cigarette comprises a blend of tobacco materials. The blend includes volume expanded flue-cured tobacco cut filler and a reconstituted tobacco material in cut filler form. The reconstituted tobacco material includes calcium carbonate and tobacco parts which are formed into a sheet-like shape using a papermaking process. The cigarette can include a filter element provided from a non-woven polypropylene web, glycerin and a water soluble tobacco extract. Such a cigarette can generate low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products of sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, preferably less than 30 mm in length prior to smoking and less than about 8 mm in diameter a short, heat stable, preferably carbonaceous substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, an efficient insulating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece. The fuel element is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways which act to control the heat transferred from the burning fuel element to the aerosol generating means.

Smoking article with improved fuel element

The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element, a heat stable, preferably particulate alumina, substrate bearing an aerosol forming substance, an efficient insulating means, and a relatively long mouthend piece. The fuel element is provided with a plurality of peripheral passageways i.e., passageways on the outer surface of the fuel element and/or just beneath the surface of the fuel element, which provides heat transfer from the burning fuel element to the aerosol generating means while reducing levels of carbon monoxide in the aerosol generated and delivered to the user.

Cigarettes which yield very low levels of sidestream 'tar' during use comprise a paper wrapper having an air permeability of less than about 10 CORESTA units, and a blend of a tobacco filler material and a second smokable material. The second smokable material preferably includes about 60 weight percent calcium carbonate, about 30 weight percent pyrolyzed alpha-cellulose and about 10 weight percent carboxymethyl cellulose. Such cigarettes, when used, generate very low amounts of sidestream 'tar,' and hence, very low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Cigarettes having low efficiency filters, rods of cut filler having a low packing density, and paper wraps having a high net permeabilities and low inherent permeabilities can yield good taste, low gas phase mainstream deliveries as well as low amounts of visible sidestream smoke. Typical cigarettes have relatively large amounts of volume expanded flue-cured tobacco materials as cut filler, paper wraps containing magnesium oxide and/or magnesium hydroxide, and relatively high levels of air dilution.

A method and apparatus for automated smoking to replicate a predetermined draw profile of a smoking article is disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the smoking apparatus is digitally controlled and includes simulated flexible lips which are closed during puff phases of a recorded draw profile and which are open during smolder phases of a recorded draw profile. The apparatus can also include an automatically acting lighter and an improved control system for a human mimic smoking machine.

Growing community of inventors

Clemmons, NC, United States of America

Alan B Norman