CA2133603C - Smoking tobacco for user-prepared cigarettes, and a method of production and packaging for same - Google Patents

Abstract

Smoking tobacco for user-prepared cigarettes, in particular those employing prefabricated cigarette-paper tubes, comprises at least one tobacco portion in the form of a slab which itself comprises at least two subportions each held together by an internal and/or external fixative.
The outer surface of the tobacco portion and/or the subportions is air-pervious so that a directed airstream cannot be drawn through it whereby the respective tobacco portion and subportions are non-smokable as formed. Each subportion comprises a sufficient quantity of tobacco for one cigarette and forms a stick of tobacco with a substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular and preferably square cross section. The length of each subportion corresponds to the length of a tobacco-receiving space of the cigarette to be produced.

Description

z133~0~3 SMOKING TOBACCO FOR USER-PREPARED CIGARETTES, AND
A METHOD OF PRODUCTION AND PACKAGING FOR SAME
The present invention relates to smoking tobacco for user-prepared cigarettes, in particular for those employing prefabricated cigarette-paper tubes, to packaging for such tobacco and to a method for its manufacture.
In DE-C-32 44 906 a smoking tobacco is disclosed that comprises a quantity of tobacco forming a sale unit subdivided into about equally sized subportions, in which the tobacco is fully or at least partly held together by a covering of completely smokable material. So that the user can construct a roll-your-own cigarette each subportion has approximately the shape of a round rod. Each subportion also corresponds approximately to the amount of tobacco needed for one cigarette. The covering of this tobacco comprises a perforated or reticulate material which is air-pervious so that it is impossible to draw a directed airstream. The subportions are formed from the unit by pressing, grooving, stamping, perforating, cutting, insertion of threads or the like. In a preferred embodiment the subportions are arranged in a row like a cartridge belt, such that they can easily be detached from one another without destruction of the individual subportions or loss of their internal cohesion. This tobacco can also contain, at least in predetermined locations, a fixative to increase the internal cohesion of each subportion.
This known tobacco is intended to allow a cigarette to be assembled by the user from the tobacco, which is non-smokable as formed material, and a carrying device with no special aids, such as packaging that assists assembly. In many countries the problem then arises that tobacco of this kind, in which rodlike subportions remain intact after ~3.3~~~3 detachment so that the user can construct cigarettes by enclosing them in cigarette paper, are taxed at just the same rate as cigarettes. The same applies to tobacco portions as described in DE-C-34 07 461 and EP-B-155 514.
Alternatives to this known means of preparing cigarettes include the traditional process of rolling cigarettes, in which sheets of cigarette paper provided with an adhesive edge are used, and the user-production of cigarettes by packing, in which prefabricated cigarette-paper tubes are packed with tobacco by a user-operated machine. Both these conventional methods present the disadvantage that it is impossible to produce cigarettes that are uniform with respect to the amount of tobacco contained, taste, behavior during smoking (smoking duration, drawing characteristics) and/or content of noxious substances. Accordingly, cigarettes produced by these conventional methods are far inferior to factory-made cigarettes.
An intermediate solution, between these alternative conventional methods described above and the system described in DE-C-34 07 461 and EP-B-155 514, is the system described in DE-U 8 326 92I and 8 309 186. This system is characterized by the provision of a prefabricated tobacco element that is not smokable as such, in the form of a factory-made tobacco cartridge having a diameter matched to a cigarette-paper tube of the finished cigarette and a strand casing which is open at one end. The tobacco filling corresponding to a cigarette portion can be transferred from the strand casing into an empty cigarette-paper tube by means of an associated piston, the size of which is matched to the inside diameter of the strand casing. This tobacco product is suitable for use both in combination with conventional user-packed cigarette-paper tubes and with paper tubes made of conventional user-rolled ~y w 213~~~3 sheets of cigarette paper. According to the basic concept of this proposal, the user is provided with a precisely measured amount of tobacco, namely an amount corresponding to the filling of a conventional factory-made cigarette, in the form of a cigarette-tobacco cartridge, the tobacco filling of which can be transferred in a relatively simple manner into a prefabricated cigarette-paper tube of the commercially available kind or into a cigarette-paper tube made by rolling and gluing together a sheet of cigarette paper. It is, therefore, disadvantageous that the tobacco cartridge is enclosed in a cover, namely the strand casing, comprising a non-smokable material. With respect to the end product "cigarette" this strand casing amounts to a superfluous accessory, usable only once.
Starting from the above state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide tobacco for smoking and a method for its manufacture that presents all the advantages of pre-measured tobacco subportions for user-prepared cigarettes plus the advantage of tax privilege even in the countries in which rodlike tobacco portions that are not in themselves smokable, but become smokable after enclosure in cigarette paper, are taxed like cigarettes. In addition, with respect to the end product "cigarette" it is an object to reduce the waste material, i.e, accessories not suitable for smoking, to a minimum.
It is further object of the present invention to create packaging suitable for use with the tobacco in accordance with the invention.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided smoking tobacco for user-prepared cigarettes comprising at least one tobacco portion in the form of a slab which comprises at least two subportions each held together by a fixative; the outer surface of at F,...
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least one of the tobacco portion and the subportions being substantially air-pervious whereby the respective tobacco portion and subportions are non-smokable as formed; and each subportion comprising a stick of tobacco with a substantially polygonal cross section, with a length corresponding to a length of a tobacco-receiving space of the cigarette to be produced, and containing a sufficient quantity of tobacco for one cigarette.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided packaging for smoking tobacco in the form of a slab according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising a panel of packaging material which is wrapped around the tobacco slab like a tube, overlapping long sides of the panel being glued together.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing smoking tobacco in the form of a slab according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein a tobacco ribbon of substantially rectangular cross section is conveyed past a tobacco separating means which comprises a plurality of cutting or stamping elements that are spaced apart side by side; the tobacco ribbon is subdivided by the tobacco separating means into individual ribbon subsections, which remain connected to one another on the side of the ribbon opposite to the cutting or stamping elements; and thereafter the ribbon subsections are cut to subportion length by a cutting means which operates perpendicular to the direction in which the tobacco ribbon is conveyed.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is y provided a method for the user-preparation of cigarettes using smoking tobacco according to the first aspect of the invention wherein a subportion of the tobacco slab is detached, and either placed into a pressing chamber of a ~.°.;, ~~L%':''.
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cigarette-packing device and pushed into a pre-prepared cigarette-paper tube, or positioned in a loosened state on a sheet of cigarette paper, which is then rolled around the subportion in a conventional manner.

Preferably, the tobacco slab is packaged by means of a panel of packaging material which is wrapped around both broad surfaces as well as both narrow end surfaces of the tobacco slab like a tube, overlapping long sides of the panel being glued together, the packaged tobacco slab being placed on an upper feed opening of a pressing chamber of a cigarette-packing device by way of the open end of the packaging, so that the packaging serves as a magazine or feeder shaft to introduce tobacco subportions into the pressing chamber after each use successively until all the subportions in a package have been used.
In the smoking tobacco in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the configuration of the subportions is such that because of their polygonal cross-sectional shape they cannot be transferred without modification into a conventional cigarette-paper tube to produce a smokable, i.e, air-drawing cigarette. Instead, each subportion must be shaped, at least with respect to its cross section, before insertion into a prefabricated cigarette-paper tube. This shaping is preferabllr carried out within the pressing chamber of a conventional cigarette-packing device by means of which the subportion can also be inserted into a prefabricated cigarette-paper tube.
If a cigarette is to be made with a conventional sheet of cigarette paper, the subportion must also be changed from its predetermined form, in particular loosened. For this purpose the subportion is preferably first positioned on a sheet of cigarette paper and then, before the paper is ".
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rolled around it, loosened or crumbled with the fingers.
Alternatively, each subportion can be kneaded with the fingers into the shape of a rod with approximately circular cross section, before a sheet of cigarette paper is rolled around it. In any case, the subportion must be shaped before enclosure in cigarette paper. This necessity ensures that in a plurality of countries it qualifies for the privileged tax status of fine-cut pipe tobacco. The smoking tobacco in accordance with the invention and/or the subportions separated from it amount to a special kind of pre-portioned quantity of fine-cut tobacco.
Preferably, the subportions of the tobacco slab are held together by either narrow tobacco bridges or an external wrapper. Hence, when a tobacco slab is separated into subportions, the subportions are necessarily destroyed or broken up in the region where they were joined to an adjacent subportion, so that the internal cohesion is disrupted in this region. Hence when a subportion is detached, neither this nor the immediately adjacent subportion can be transferred to a prefabricated cigarette-paper tube without taking special measures, regardless of the cross-sectional shape of each subportion. During detachment of a subportion its internal cohesion is largely destroyed, in some cases so thoroughly destroyed that it actually falls apart at a touch. The same applies to the subportion immediately adjacent to the detached subportion.
,Accordingly, when a subportion is detached nothing remains of it but an amount of tobacco pre-portioned to match the length of the tobacco-receiving space of a cigarette-paper tube. The described loss of internal cohesion is unproblematic when a conventional packing machine is used to produce a cigarette, because one must merely take care to transfer the individual subportions into the pressing chamber of the packing machine. This can be done, for example, by means of packaging according to the second aspect of the present invention wherein the panel of packaging material is wrapped around both broad surfaces as well as bath narrow end surfaces of the tobacco slab using the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention.
An advantage of the tobacco in accordance with the invention as compared with the state of the art according to DE-C 34 07 461 ar E1'-B-155 514 is that na "paper", namely no covering material for each subportion of tobacco, needs to be smoked. This feature considerably increases the acceptance of the tobacco according to the present invention by the consumer.
Sa that it is possible to dispense with external and, in some cases, internal fixatives, the tobacco is preferably compressed in such a way that it resists being pulled apart by about the same degree as the tobacco filling of a conventional cigarette. This simultaneously ensures adequate stability of the shape of the tobacco, in particular of each subportion even after detachment from the tobacco slab. It is also possible to compress the tobacco and where appropriate to treat it with internal fixatives such as plum juice or the like, in such a way that after separation the subportions just barely hold together and retain their predetermined form. This measure is intended to ensure that each subportion can be held between two fingers without immediately falling apart.
Hence such a subportion, having been detached from the tobacco slab, can be transferred into the pressing chamber of a conventional packing device or onto a prepared sheet of cigarette paper, i.e. one that has been spread out flat.
The subdivision of the tobacco slab into subportions can be achieved by mechanical cuts, stamping, fluting, imprinting or the like. In this respect conventional methods are employed.

2133~~j s Preferably, partitions strips made of tinfoil, cardboard or similar relatively stiff material that is not consumable by smoking extend into the plane separating two adjacent subportions of the tobacco slab. In this way a clean separation of the individual subportions is maintained. The partition strips also assist detachment.
They are preferably part of an external covering, in particular part of a covering that extends over only one broad surface of the tobacco slab and, where appropriate, also over the two opposite longitudinal narrow sides and/or narrow end surfaces. The partition strips can be made integral with the said covering. It is also possible for the partition strips to be glued to the said covering. A
loose connection between the partition strips and the said covering or partial covering is also possible. The said partial covering is preferably constructed as a shallow shell, in particular a partial shell.
To achieve sufficient transport stability, the tobacco slab can be enclosed in a tubelike covering, in which case the overlapping sides of the covering are laid loosely one over the other. This arrangement facilitates opening of the covering. The tubel3ke covering preferably comprises material not consumable by smoking, in particular aluminum backed paper.
The cohesion of the tobacco slab can also be assisted by positioning over its narrow longitudinal and/or end surfaces a strip of material not consumable by smoking, such as cardboard, plastic or the like. This wrapping around the narrow surfaces of the tobacco slab holds the latter together well without requiring much packaging material.
The sticklike subportions can in addition each be held together by a strand casing made either of material consumable by smoking or of material not consumable by smoking such as aluminum-backed paper or the like, the overlapping long edges of the strand casing or wrapper in the latter case being laid loosely over one another, so that the strand casing can be removed from the subportion with no difficulty before use. These measures are intended to ensure the internal cohesion of each individual subportion. Within the external strand casing the tobacco can be relatively loosely bound, i.e. so loosely that when the strand casing is removed the subportion falls apart.
As a sale unit several tobacco slabs of the kind described can be stacked above one another to form a larger unit or block.
Preferably also, a panel of relatively stiff packaging material, such as cardboard or the like, is wrapped around the tobacco slab to form a tube-like structure, the overlapping long edges of the panel being glued together.
Thus, this is a kind of wrapper that extends across the two broad surfaces as well as the two longitudinal narrow sides or, alternatively, the two narrow end surfaces of the tobacco slab. In the latter case the packaging serves as a kind of magazine or feeder shaft, out of which the tobacco slab can be pushed by pressing on the one open side, so that one subportion emerges at a time. In particular, the package can be set onto the upper feed opening of the pressing chamber of a conventional packing machine, so that tobacco is pushed into the pressing chamber portionwise.
through the package. The packing machine itself can be provided for this purpose with a suitable holder, into which the package containing the tobacco slab can be placed so that it is positioned precisely and securely over the feed opening of the pressing chamber. The package thus amounts to a disposable tobacco magazine. The individual subportions are detached from the tobacco slab by the l~
pressing bar. Thus the package has a multiple function, on the one hand acting to hold together the tobacco in accordance with the invention and on the other hand serving as a magazine or tobacco feeder shaft.

Preferably also, the above-mentioned slab with panel wrapper is enclosed in an additional layer of packaging that serves to retain aroma and moisture. This envelope preferably consists of an air- and water-tight film, in 10 particular cellulose film or the like. This film can bear a printed design as in the case of the packaging of factory-made cigarettes.
The tobacco slabs in accordance with the invention can be manufactured by passing a tobacco ribbon with approximately rectangular cross section either continuously or intermittently past a tobacco-separating device comprising an array of several spaced-apart cutting or stamping elements that subdivide the tobacco ribbon into individual ribbon subsections, which preferably remain connected to one another on the side away from the cutting elements, and subsequently removing sets of ribbon subsections from the tobacco ribbon by a knife or similar cutting device that acts transversely to the direction in which the ribbon is conveyed.
The cutting or stamping elements can act alternatively on the upper or lower or both broad surfaces of the tobacco ribbon. In the last case a tobacco-connecting bridge can be formed between adjacent ribbon subsections halfway through the thickness of the tobacco ribbon.
Partition strips of cardboard or the like can be inserted into the cut-outs separating the adjacent ribbon subsections, these partitions being either pre-cut to the length of the portions or cut together with the ribbon ~133r~3 subsections to the length of the portions.
The various aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figs. ~., 2 and 3 are perspective views of various embodiments of smoking tobacco prepared in accordance with the invention;
Figs. 4.1 to 4.6 are front elevations showing the cross sectional shape of subportions of tobacco slabs in accordance with the invention;
Figs. 5 to 8 are perspective views of further embodiments of smoking tobacco prepared in accordance with the invention; and Figs. 9 and 10 are schematic views of means for the manufacture of tobacco prepared in accordance with the invention.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, smoking tobacco is prepared as a tobacco portion in the form of a tobacco slab 10, each tobacco slab being subdivided into at least two and preferably six to eight subportions 11, such that each of the subportions 11 is stick-shaped with triangular (Figs. 4.1, 4.2), trapezoidal (Fig. 4.5) or in particular rectangular, preferably square (Fig. 4.3, 4.4) cross section. The length of each subportion 11 corresponds to the length of the tobacco-receiving space in the cigarette to be produced. Furthermore, each subportion 11 contains a sufficient amount of tobacco needed for one cigarette. In the illustrated embodiments the subportions 11 each have an outer surface that is air-pervious so that a directed airstream cannot be drawn through them and hence they are ~133~~:~

not smokable in this form. That is, in none of the illustrated embodiments are the individual subportions enclosed in a cover.
Subdivision of the tobacco slab 10 into separate subportions can be done either manually by the consumer or in the factory. In either case individual subportions are detached from the tobacco slab by way of separation cuts 12 oriented in the long direction of the tobacco slab. These separation cuts 12 can extend either through the entire thickness of the tobacco slab Z0, as shown in Fig. 1, Fig.
4.4, in the left halves of Figs. 4.1, 4.2, in the right halves of Figs. 4.5, 4.6, and in the left halves of Figs. 7 and 8, or through only part of its thickness, as in Figs.
2, 3, 4.3, in the right halves of Figs. 4.1, 4.2, in the left halves of Figs. 4.5, 4.6, in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and the right half of Fig. 7. In the last case the individual subportions are joined to one another by tobacco bridges that must be broken when the tobacco slab is separated into subportions, in which process the internal cohesion in these regions is destroyed.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, on the one hand the length of the tobacco slab is twice the length of the tobacco--receiving space of the cigarette to be produced. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3 the length of the tobacco slab can correspond to the length of the tobacco-receiving space of a cigarette in that the slab and hence the individual subportions are divided into at least two parts of shorter length, which makes the tobacco simpler to handle while filling a packing machine or simpler to cover with cigarette paper (by rolling). Accordingly, halfway along the length of the slab a crosswise separating cut 13 is provided, so that the subportions can also be broken to a shorter length.

...

In Figs. 4.1 and 4.2 the separating cuts 12 are arranged so as to produce subportions with triangular cross section. Approximately trapezoidal subportion cross sections are obtained with separating cuts as shown in Fig.
4.5. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4.6 each of the longitudinal narrow sides of the tobacco slab is convex outward, and on one of the broad surfaces of the slab, in Fig. 4.6 the lower surface, there are groove-like depressions associated with the separating cuts 12, to facilitate detachment of the individual subportions 11 from the tobacco slab. The longitudinal groove-like depressions are identified in Fig. 4.6 by the reference numeral 14.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is characterized by a wrapper 15 folded around the tobacco slab 10 to form a tube, the overlapping sides of the wrapper 15 being designed to lie loosely one over the other. This feature ensures a higher security for the tobacco slab during transport. The wrapper 15 consists of a material not consumable during smoking, e.g. aluminum-backed paper.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 three tobacco slabs 10 are stacked above one another to form a larger sale unit 16. In this way, a sale unit comprising a block can be created that fits into a conventional hinge-lid package.
The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is characterized by the presence of longitudinal strips that project into the separation cuts between adjacent subportions and can be made of cardboard or similar material. In any case, the longitudinal strips comprise material not consumable by smoking. Corresponding to the separation cuts 12, the longitudinal strips can extend through the entire thickness of the tobacco slab (left half of Fig. 7) or through only a part thereof (right half of Fig. 7), In the illustrated embodiment the partition strips 17 or 18 are in each case ~2 - ~ ~
21~3~Oa an integral part of a cover 19 or 20, respectively, that extends over the lower broad surface and the two longitudinal narrow sides. However, it is equally conceivable for the partition strips 17, 18 to be formed independently of the bottom cover 19 or 20.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 the tobacco slab 10 is enclosed in a packaging shell 21, which covers the lower broad surface and all the narrow sides of the tobacco slab 10. Furthermore, projecting into the separation cuts between the individual subportions are partition strips 17 or 18 as shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows a first method of manufacturing tobacco slabs of the kind in question here. For this purpose a tobacco ribbon 22 approximately rectangular in cross section is conveyed continuously or intermittently (in the direction shown by arrow 25) past a tobacco separating device 24 comprising several cutting or stamping elements (circular blade 23) spaced apart side by side. In this embodiment the cutting elements are rotationally driven circular blades 23 with a cutting depth T that can be adjusted with respect to the tobacco ribbon 22 by appropriately displacing the axis of rotation 25 (see double arrow 26). During operation each circular blade 23 is continually sharpened by grinding wheels 28 that act on both sides of the cutting edge 27. Opposite the circular blades 23 is a pressing device 29 that acts against the cut .;
made by the circular blade 23. In addition, positioned behind each of the circular blades 23 is a separating device in the form of a splitting wedge or splitting vane 30 that projects into the cut, so that the tobacco remains separated in the region of the separation cuts.
By means of the circular blades 23 the tobacco ribbon is subdivided into ribbon subsections. Subseque~atly sets of ~a-:-- ~~~35~3 ribbon subsections are severed from the tobacco ribbon 22 by a knife not shown in Fig. 9, which makes a cut perpendicular to the conveying direction 25. Then the tobacco slabs so obtained are separated from one another 5 and gackaged.
In the method shown in Fig. 9 the rotationally driven circular knives 23 act on the tobacco ribbon from its lower surface. In a second method shown in Fig. 10 this action is ZO exerted from above. In other respects the method of producing the ribbon subsections corresponds to that according to Fig. 9. In addition, however, after the tobacco ribbon has passed the separating vanes 30 the above-mentioned partition strips 17 or 18 are inserted into 15 the individual separation cuts, the partition strips 17 or 18 already having been cut to the length of the subportions.
It should also be mentioned here that each tobacco slab comprises at least two, preferably six to ten subportions.
The tobacco mixture itself is prepared in such a way that the individual subportions when smoked yield a taste corresponding to that of a conventional factory-made cigarette. Above all, the fact that the tobacco is pre-portioned ensures that every cigarette tastes the same. The same applies with respect to the rate at which the cigarette is consumed, its drawing behavior and to the components contained in the smoke. The tobacco within the slab or the subportions can be more or less firmly compressed and/or have a greater or lesser content of internal fixatives or binders.
Each subportion preferably contains 0.6 to 1.2 g of tobacco.

It is also possible to produce the described tobacco slab from individual ribbon subsections of tobacco, which are assembled to form a tobacco ribbon corresponding to the tobacco ribbon 22 in Figs. 9 and 10 and then cut to subportion length. Tobacco slabs produced in this way can be held together, for example, by a frame enclosing the narrow sides.

Claims (25)

1. ~Smoking tobacco for user-prepared cigarettes comprising at least one tobacco portion (10) in the form of a slab which comprises at least two subportions (11) each held together by a fixative; the outer surface of at least one of the tobacco portion (10) and the subportions (11) being substantially air-pervious whereby the respective tobacco portion and subportions are non-smokable as formed; and each subportion (11) comprising a stick of tobacco with a substantially polygonal cross section, with a length corresponding to a length of a tobacco-receiving space of the cigarette to be produced, and containing a sufficient quantity of tobacco for one cigarette.

2. ~Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the subportions (11) lie loosely side by side and no special aids are required to separate the subportions (11).

3. ~Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the subportions (11) of the tobacco slab (10) are held together by at least one of narrow tobacco bridges and an external wrapper (15, 21).

4. ~Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tobacco is compressed so that it has a resistance to air flow therethrough and a packing density that corresponds substantially to that of the tobacco filling of a conventional cigarette.

5. ~Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tobacco is compressed and treated with an internal fixative in such a way that the subportions (11) after detachment each just barely hold together and retain their predetermined form.

6. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tobacco slab (10) is subdivided into the subportions (11) by at least one of cuts (12), stamped impressions, grooves, and similar mechanical separation devices.

7. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein partition strips (17,18) made of a relatively stiff material not consumable by smoking extend into the plane separating two adjacent subportions (11) of the tobacco slab (10).

8. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the partition strips (17,18) are part of an external wrapper (19,20,21) that extends over only one broad surface of the tobacco slab (10).

9. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the partition strips (17,18) are part of an external wrapper (19,20,21) that extends over said one broad surface of the tobacco slab (10) and over two opposite narrow longitudinal sides of the tobacco slab (10).

10. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tobacco slab (10) is enclosed in a tubelike external wrapper (15) in such a way that overlapping sides of the wrapper (15) lie loosely one over the other.

11. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the tubelike external wrapper (15) is made of a material not capable of being smoked.

12. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the subportions (11) are each held together by a casing, overlapping long edges of the casing being laid loosely one over the other.

13. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tobacco slab (10) is enclosed by a strip of material not capable of being smoked that extends around the narrow longitudinal sides and end surfaces of the slab (10).

14. Smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a plurality of the tobacco slabs (10) are stacked up to form a block (16).

15. Packaging for smoking tobacco in the form of a slab as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a panel of relatively stiff packaging material which is wrapped around the tobacco slab (10) like a tube, overlapping long sides of the panel being glued together.

16. Packaging as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the panel is wrapped around both broad surfaces as well as both longitudinal narrow sides of the tobacco slab (10).

17. Packaging as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the panel is wrapped around both broad surfaces as well as both narrow end surfaces of the tobacco slab (10).

18. Packaging for smoking tobacco in the form of a plurality of slabs as claimed in Claim l, comprising a panel of relatively stiff packaging material which is wrapped around each tobacco slab (10) like a tube, overlapping long sides of the panel being glued together, and wherein an additional packaging envelope is wrapped around the tobacco slabs (10) on all sides to retain aroma and moisture.

19. A method of producing smoking tobacco in the form of a slab as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a tobacco ribbon (22) of substantially rectangular cross section is conveyed past a tobacco separating means (24) which comprises a plurality

20 of cutting or stamping elements (23) that are spaced apart side by side; the tobacco ribbon (22) is subdivided by the tobacco separating means (24) into individual ribbon subsections, which remain connected to one another on the side of the ribbon opposite to the cutting or stamping elements (23); and thereafter the ribbon subsections are cut to subportion length by a cutting means which operates perpendicular to the direction (25) in which the tobacco ribbon (22) is conveyed.
20. A method as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the cutting or stamping elements (23) act on an upper broad surface, a lower broad surface, or both broad surfaces of the tobacco ribbon (22).

21. A method as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, wherein partition strips (17,18) are inserted into the cuts separating adjacent ribbon subsections, which partition strips have been precut to subportion length.

22. A method as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, wherein partition strips (17,18) are inserted into the cuts separating adjacent ribbon subsections, which partition strips are cut to subportion length together with the ribbon subsections.

23. A method for the user-preparation of cigarettes using smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a subportion (11) of the tobacco slab (10) is detached, placed into a pressing chamber of a cigarette-packing device, and pushed into a pre-prepared cigarette-paper tube.

24. A method for the user-preparation of cigarettes using smoking tobacco as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a subportion (11) of the tobacco slab (10) is detached and positioned in a loosened state on a sheet of cigarette paper, which is then rolled around the subportion (11) in a conventional manner.

25. A method as claimed in Claim 23 or Claim 24, wherein the tobacco slab is packaged by means of a panel of a relatively stiff packaging material which is wrapped around both broad surfaces as well as both narrow end surfaces of the tobacco slab (10) like a tube, overlapping long sides of the panel being glued together, the packaged tobacco slab (10) being placed on an upper feed opening of a pressing chamber of a cigarette-packing device by way of the open end of the packaging, so that the packaging serves as a magazine or feeder shaft to introduce tobacco subportions into the pressing chamber after each use successively until all the subportions in a package have been used.