OA10628A - Cigarette and heater for use in an electrical smoking system - Google Patents

Abstract

A cigarette (23) comprises a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled portions arranged so that electrical heater elements (31) may overlap both portions. The rod includes a tubular tobacco web. The web is constructed by converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or ore bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes. A heater (25) comprises a supporting hub and electrically resistive heater blades (37) defining a receptacle (27) for an inserted cigarette (23). Each blade comprises first and second heater blade legs each having a first end and a second end, and a connecting section connecting the second end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg. The blades (37) are heated by a resistive heating circuit and heat the inserted cigarette (23). The legs are separated by a gap to permit entrainment of flavour substances upon drawing.

Description

Ο 106

CIGARETTE AND EEATER FOR USE IN AN ELECTRICALSMOKING SYSTEM

The cresent invention relates general!v c.q electricalsmoking Systems, ar.d in particular to cigarettes adaoted tecocperate with eleccrical lighters oi electrical smokingSystems, ar.c to a rester ter use ir. elctrical smokingsvstems. •eu: 10 smok com. as c

·» Π O «. w’’—i B.TOm

Traditional cigarettes celiver ilavor arc aroma to the r as a resuit et combustion, during which a mass oi < stable materiel, prir.cipally tobacco, is combusted atratures which citer, exceeds 800° C durirg a. cuit, dentawr. tbreugh an adjacent mass ci tobacco by drawir.g or.cuti. er.d. ûurir.g heating, ar.ettacaer.t exedation oi thestable materiel releases varions gaseous combustioncts and distillâtes trom the tobacco. As these gaseouscts are drawr. tbreugh the cigarette, thev cocl ar.dnse te iorm ar. aérosol w.ttc.t rrovtdes tr.e testes ar.cs associated with smoking. 15 2 01ü 6 2 8 ίο

Tradicional cigarettes hâve varions Dercsivedcrawbacks asscciated with them. One ci thsse is thecrcducricn of sidestream smoke during smoldsring betweenpûtes which may be objectionable to non-smokers. Once lie,trey musc be fully consumed cr be discarded. R.e-lichting ξtradicional cigarette is possible but is usually anunattraotivs proposition to a dissémine snoksr forsubjective rsasons (tlavcr, Caste, odor).

An alternative to the more tradicional cioarettesinclûtes chose in which the combustible materiel itselt dotnet itselt release the tobacoo aérosol. Such smokingarticles may comprise a combustible, carbonaoeous heatings at or aoout cne end ci the smokinr article and a bec oi tobacoo-laden éléments iccctac 3--3-=-3 the ai crament ioned heatinc elem.ent. T'no b=a~'-OSiemens is icnitec witn a maton or cigarette Itchter, andwhen a smoker craws uper. the cigarette, beat cenerated bvthe heatinc element is communicated to the bec oi tobaooo-iaden éléments so as to cause tne bec to release a tobacooaérosol . While this type oi smoking device produoes littligénérâtes procucts oi.d once its beat source is cr no sidestream smoke, it stilloomrusttcn at the beat source, a tor sutura use tec, it is not reacily snuttci cal sense. -- both the more conventional and carbon heatecîsoribec above, combustion Cakes place durin: naturallv cives rise to rncnv bv-nr: ess 010628 as the combusted maternai breaks down and interacts with -o surr 'ounding atmosphère . art —a Ccpending and commonly assignée, U.S. patent acariens Serial No. 08/380,718, filed -jn η n~~ -----, x - - □ PM 1537 Cent) and Serrai No. 07/943,504, filed Ξ;:3;°η3α>· 11, 1332 (PM 1550) together with US parents 5,053,83^· 5,22 5,433, 5,060,571 and 5,035,921 disclose varions heatinr eierents and flavor generating articles which si **O«*·’ · 10 ---- ce sidestream smoke while permitting the smoker to selectiveiy suspend and reinitiate smckinc. However th“ ciga retre articles disclcsed in these patents are net vsry nie and may eellapse, tear or break from extended or Πβ H V LUC . -21 CS27CS2_ii C î. rCUtUS Σ £.7.C S S , 121SS6 TDX’ic*' i5 rentes may ernsn as tney are even waa.-ter and may tan- *· a n .< 5.S ctZTê X’SruOv’SC 22Γ3ΓΠ tïlS Üch-C« . The aieremer.iior.ee, Ur.iced Smea paner. 2 acclication Sert al No. 08/350,715 (PM 1537 Cent) and US 5,388,554 desc ribe an electrical smoking System inrluding a ncvsl O ~ O — 20 * ns tric-llv powo-od l'ont0- and a novel cioa-Dt" erates wrth the iighter. The preferred embobinent of Iighter inclûtes a plurality of metallio serpentine Γι£ Ξ.Σ. ers disposée in a configuration that slidingly receives a te naooo rod -portion of the cigarette. 25 The preferred embodiment of the cigarette rn Serial Λ7—, 18/330,718 (PM 1657 Cent) and also disclcsed in ΞΡ-Α- 5,411 comorises a tobacco-laden tubular oa^rrier, a cioarette rater cver-vraoted about tne tunurar carrier 4 Ο 1 Ο 028 arraneer.ena of flow-through falter plues at a mouthpiece end ai the carrier and a iilasr plug aa the ires (discal) end oi

The cigarette and the lighaer are configured•ken Cke c. icrarecr e in inssrr.Ad înrn SJCr. wi-tx-i k-üt: ci ta _ a 5 and as individual heaters a; : im_o une iigncer ce acaivaaed for each puff, localités charring occurs ai ; spocs aboui the cigarette in aine localitv where each beat ter was bearing againsa ahe (h-P £ Ϊ.Πα.ί 2 22 cred to as a "heater footariat”) .

CllS 22222272 hc.V£ 20£Γ. âCt 1VS. 220 ChsSC Chj*"’"0^ 10 cocas are closely spaced fr; cm one anoaher and encercle a —ow» - ci cHe cs.m Ler poraion oi ahe cigarette. Znaending on ahe maxia un températures and aoaal n — c—-3- °- q2 — iversc 22 rr.s ni taaers, ahe charred speas nanties a acre ahan mere dis;15 :clocations ci ahe cigare a ae gager. Zn rose applacataon; Ξ, a.ne c.narrang w?_ll croate aa ~ c·. 2 t ~ k **“ Λ 2 K S ^71 l h 2 C cigareaae payer and ahe uncerlvcng carrier matériau, , which breaks tends to mecnanically weaken ahe cig; treaae. For ahe cigareaae to be •.aacdr=-a from ahe lirhasr, 20 leaaa caraially slid casa t; ahe soots musa be at Π2 Ρ122222Ξ . 1Π 2ÇÇ22V222C car cur.se ances , such as when ahe cigareaae is wet cr toyed usas, cr awisaed, ahe cicare: cae may be prone to break cr “ = --'e caeces uccn its withdrawal ircm the lighter. Pièces _ _uo bichaer iixture 25 ·— n 3 inp·3 '— 0 2 0 W " 7^1 CPI*74 C Ό ccecaaiaa. oi the 1 ici.aer an: i/cr deiiver an cii-aasae to ahe :γ:··ϊ ai ahe nexa cicarette. _i ahe c:ç;.c„·"·:· breaks in-•hile reine wiahdrawr, ahe smeker may be iaced noc cnly ;<iah 0 1 0628 ίο 15 20 h?0 ~

No. ess mou' frustration of failed cigarette product, bue also withprospect of clearing débris from a ciogged lighter;rs he cr she car. enjov another cigarette.

The preferred embodiment of the cigarette of US Ser.08/230,"18, ΞΡ-Α-0,SIS,411 and Patent No. 5,388,594 isiriially a hcllow tube betweer. the filter plues at theihpiece end of the cigarette and the plug at the distalUnis construction is believed to elevate celivery tosmoker bv providing sufficient space into which aérosol. evolve eff the carrier with minimal impingement and.densaticr. of the aérosol on anv nearby surfaces.

Paverai oroocsals hâve been advar.ced whichr__ftcantly reçues undesired steestream smoke whiler.-tttinc the smoker to suspend smoking of the article for.astres perioc and Cher. to résumé smoking. For examoie,.mcnlv asstcnec U.S. Patent Nos. 5,053,8 94 ; 5,225,498;55,572 and 5,555,521 disclose varions heating élémentseneratir.g Systems. ΞΡ-Α-0,615,411 and U.S. ,385 554 disclose an electrical smoking Systemon ser.sir.g of a draw bv:trol and loctc edreuitry. The heaters are preferabiy a.atdvelv thir. serpentine structure to transfar adéquaterunes cf beat to the cigarette and is lightweight.

Althouoh these devises and heaters overcome the ihe stated objectives, marylarical weakening and possibleremovino :c heaters wh; rr.s 2Γ6 C-2 Z. 3 SLZTtfiôcSS Lrid — 25 ίο 15 20 0ÎÜ628 the cylincrrcal tobacco medium and also by adjusting ctovir.c with the insertad cigarette.

Further, tmdesired electrical shortsshaoe of a heater asserhly is altered, e.ctcyir.g with the ir.serted cigarette.

Also, the electrical smoking Systems emcloyelectricaliy résistive heaters which hâve nécessitâtesrelative!’/ cor.giex electrical connections which car. bedesterbed by insertion acid rercval et the ciearette.

Wher. we ir.cluded eut ciller with chthe cigarette in FF-.-.-O , C 15 , 411, it wt:h cigarettes wher. cully tel :ed te ooerace acectcateiy et an e_e ~ 5 et Λ ’g o x Ί ~ S . ‘T1 Jg y .-g ~ 7** j can occtr ic. , by adjugez; lollow strcctdcsoovered t; i wcch eut ciller tobc.cc

The sarne ohenomsr.cn wo’eld tend to o: r.al cicarettes wec= srokec lu c..i electrical lighter such as the electrical lient;an FF-A-O,£15,411.

Wher. lett ur.cclled, the hcilow ciearette strtetutes rrecerred erhodir.er.ts oc FF-A-0,£15,411 wers also ;o coli e trot extcetis o; r.andl ing.

The invention, in its varions aspects, iscr.e enderendent clairs aroanoed nereto. g asoects ci the ores; .ne &amp;o va.— ve t ttersitle with ccnsister.cy wc snor.î or disclcsed oc 25 7 ü î Ο 6 2 8 10 15 20 eieotrical smoking System. A cigarette embodying aspects of the invention nas theadvantage of containing eut filler, and being adapted toococerate with an eieotrical ligoter and render satistvina e — J U.. t.-3 levais ci caste and delivery. A cigarette embodying aspects of the présent inventionbas the advantage of including eut filler, yet providingimcroved consistent·/ in delivery from pufi to puii.

Cicarettes embodying aspects of the invention mav bereadtiy manufacturée and packed into attractive packaging.

Cicarettes embodying aspects of the invention mav bechvsacallv rebust and minimize condensation and/'orfiltration cf aérosol within the cigarette anc/or thelichter. Chev mav further be résistive to breakace curincthe '-'ithdrawal cf the cigarette from the ligoter thereof.

Cigarettes embodying aspects of the présent invention=.nd suited for consum.ption with a lighter of an eieotricalsm.ckanc svstem, and mav be less vulnérable to collaose orbreakace during rough handling by the consumer.

Cicarettes embodying aspects of the présent, invention- -, d suitad for consum.ption with a lighter of an eieotricalsm.ckanc svstem may net be prone to collapse or breakaceburine the manufacture or packing of the cigarette.

Cicarettes embodying aspects of the invention andccerative with au eieotrical lighter may be oonducive tocest-effective methods of manufacture, even at production 25 8 Ü10C28

Heaters erbcdying aspects of the invention mavoar.sra;e smoks from a tobacco medium without suscainedcombustion, may reduce the création of undesired sidestreamscoks, may ternit the smoker to susoend and résumé use, and 5 may im.crove aérosol génération wrtnun the smoking svstem. heater structure embccying the invention may provide a desired number et puits and be straigntforwardly modifiedte change the numner ann/or curation ot puits providedw* “bout sacricicinc subjective nuaüties of the tobacco. 10 A heating element embccying the. invention may bem.echanically suitabie fer insertion and removai of a

An electricaliv resisting heater embodying soeots ot -'-e invention mav hâve simoliiied connections to an15 asscciated oower source. A heatinc element enbocytnc aspects oi the inventionma·-· be mechanicailv stable during-heating cycles.

Zmbodiments ci the invention may minimise variation of_ _ ; it -, o o 'rj&amp; — — ri **. η o - — G ° ΓΏ G Π tl cLTiC. t. G C * Ccil.*'*“ *” G 20

9 010628 singuiarly or in concert, to thermally release a credetermined cuantity of cobacco aérosol frora the cicaretle uoon its/their activation. The cigarette comprises a tubular tobacoo web, wherein a zirst portion o£ the tubular5 tobaccc web is filled with a coluran ci tobaccc, prezerablyin the forci of eut filler, and a second portion of thetubular tobaccc web is lezt unzilled or hollow so as todezine a voie in the tobaccc coluran.

More oarticularly, the aiorementioned cioarette 10 oreferably comprises a tooacco rod tormed from a tubulartobaccc web and a plug of tobaccc located within the tabulertobaccc web. The tobaccc rod is adapted to be siidinclyreoeived bv an electrical heater zixzure such that the heater éléments Incite alcngaide the tobaccc rod at a 15 location between the zree end and an opposite end of thetobaccc rcd. Preferably the plug (or colunn) of tobCkCooextends from the free end of the tobacoo rod to a locationthat is spaced from the opposite hnd of the tobaccc rod soas to defme a voie (or hollow cortion) adjacent the 20 opposite end.

The relative dimensions of the cigarette and theheater zixture of the lighter are déterminée such that uponinsertion of -the cigarette ir.to the lighter, each heater will ooate alonoside the tobacoo rcd at a oredetermined 25 location alcng the tobaccc rcd and, preferably, such thatthe lonmitudinal extent of contact between the heater andthe cimarette (hereinafter ’heater zootorint") superposes at 10 10 V ί V u «* ό leasc a oorcion ci ths aiorarnencioned void and ac leasc aoorcion oc che _ ug oc cohaooo. In so doing, oonsiscenc andsaciscaccory delivery is 'occained wrien che cigarecce iseieccricaily smoked, and conoensacion oc Cohaooo aérosol acor ahouc Che heacer elemencs is reduced.

In One alCemaCive, .Ta-· .v£ dimension: cixture oc or cheligneer areChe ciçarecce incochaooo11 ci Che heacer iCermineo sccn cnaC upcn msercion o:te liohcer, eaoh heacer wiil locaCe alongside ch leasc some, ic mr *0 Τ' ΐ 1 T Û - roc. sucn cnac = rod iover che cchaoco plug) . In suoh coudiguracions, chevoid mav scill ce employer co cacilicace aérosol cormacionand ce helo cool cne smoke.

Precerahly, a cigarecce paper is wraçped ahouc checih'ilar cohaooo web so as co provide che apoearanoe and ieeioc che more cradicional cigarecpe during handling by che

The cch aoco wee cri; ;aooo hase web and a lav; aoly comprises ; oc Cohaooo tracer; rorweven 1 ο c a c e d — — w -· ci » .eaSw cr.e sice or or.e t.ooacoo case wcr. rabiv also inoludes end oc che Cohaooo rod, whichoomorises a clow- chrough cilcer plug (also knowr. in che arcas "whiscle-chrough" plugs), a mouchpieoe cilcer plug andciooino oaoer accaohing che plugs co che cohaooo roc.

When a cigarecce emhcdyirg che oresenc mvenCion is > c: Ί *“ Ci r-k 11 nserted into s. iiohcer cf ui electrtcai smoking- System, thec;ï5.r2;;e registers against a stop located within the heaterfixpure of the iightsr (or at soins équivalent registration)so that the eieotrioal heattng éléments of the lichterIrrite oor.sistently alongside the cigarette at generally thesame location ter each cigarette. As a puff is initiated,.s responsively — ' Λ *"* Ÿj « O Ci the tobacco released into of the lighter is gare tte at the af rod. As a puff pro; trosol is driven off r· —\ o heater footp *·ΐ r oc, tobacco aer oso) soace defined .he tobacco suoercoses 10 tn 15 ’tton et tas tooacco roc anc ccawr. eut et 20 ot etcarette. The tobacco weo contrtbute:fractcc.r et the total aérosol deliversd by the cigarette andits imediaoy is believed to favorably affect the nature andextent cf the smoker's draw on the cigarette. Because oc thegreater m.ass cf tobacco at the filled portion of the tobaccored, there is a siight delav in the release of aérosol fromvitre the heater footprint superposes the filled portion ofthe roc. The aérosol whioh is driven off the filled oortionof the tobacco rod contribuées an additional, domir.atingflaver and character to the smoke. A further asoect cf the présent invention is theoapacity to adjust delivery of a cigarette of an electricalsm.ckc.ng svstem, wherein the proportions! arnount of everlap 2: 12 10 1.5 20 •ne-woD·’ the filled and unfiüed portions of the tobacco rodby the heater foctprint eifeots desired adjcstments in-e'ivsry from cne brand of cigarette to another or withi.o-, 4 — c. ensions oc the sains brand. v=t another asoeot oc the présent invention, is a— of imoroving levais and consisoency of delivcry ofaérosol from a cigarette cperated wit'n an electronic heater-®vi-£, wherein the cicarette has a créé end and an oppositeend. The method comprises the steps oi soperposing a heaterfoctorint over both a cobacco-filied portion of thecigarette adjacent the tne oige.r = -_ _ = s ici 11 aneous iy r; foctorint and ira-. electricH.rcd having a

1 o — ·* Ci O ee end and an unfiiled ocrticn cft the oooosite end, while e = cinq a^onc or. the ctgc roucn w?.e otccs: .nvcr.iion i? ntaining cigarette that is ooerative wctnlighter, which cigarette inclûtes a tobaccoree-flow fiiter and a filler-free rod portier. .lier so as to oromote consistent

3W .-nocher asoerem~c~~ced fabulaiceliulosic f cher a acaitccnai s ire- tobacco stem teeesto cf the présent invention is atobacco web having fiax or woodd to its base web so as to provideIn the alternative, celiulosic fiberk may be included in the he base web as a reinforcing agent. 25 13

Rcbustness of the cigarette is improved by the inclusion of eut filler within the confit.es of its tubular tcoetto web so as to provtde a cigarette wnich can bett0·** withstand handlmg, including handling by narufaoturing machines and by consumers. A heater embodying the invention- preferably comprises 15 20 Ο ι ν628 10 = support fr.g hub and a pluraüty of ça "l 0 £ ~ rieelly résistive Ά c. z. ~ 0 p* O _ ades defining a receptac 1 e co re ceive an inserted 3 2 θ’ Ξ.2Γ — — — — £ach blade comprises a firsc heater blade leg Pc.Vùr.5 5. - 3Ξ3 âne and h end and extendir.g at the --om the suooerting hub, a second heater blade leg - îvir.c a 3oc. cL222i a sacoPicd 612 C. and a connecting the secon; me seconc of the t1rst id end 0: :g and the:he second end c: xter.ds toward the sm _ erefrom. A résistive heating circuit is formed at the electricaliv résistive heater blade which in* beats the inserted cigarette. The first and secondarated by a gap to permit entrainmer.t of air to :crting hub and is eieotricaily _ec = are sec .ng "laver substances from the hby a snober. mènes of the invention will now • rt o ** o ” r û :eo c: wav of examole, and with reference todrawir.gs, wherein : ries. 1 and 2 are perscecttve views o~ ~ c h ' " c “*’£*” n a c co r canoë withthe cresent invention; . be desoribed, bythe accompanying p α 1 C‘ C C Ω. 1 c miment of 25 14

Fig. 3 is a brsakaway perspective view of a cigaretteencaged within the heater taxture oi the smoking Systemshown in FiÇ· l<'

Fig. 4A is a sectionai side view oi a cigaretteconstmcted in accordance wtth a preierrec enbodiment oi theoreser.t invention;

Fig- 42 is a detailed perspective view oi the 10 cigarette shown 2. n F i 5 . 4 A, with ce: rtain co mponer.es oi the cizaret: being partially unr avell ed; Figs cLIiC 53 C.2TS ilow di et C Σ" H m s oi steps in a orc ce ss oi making bobbi .ns of ohe tobacco web oi 15 20 the cigarette shown in Figs. 4A and 42, wherein Fig. 5Ashows the steps oi converttng tooacco teenstock into a sheetci tobacco web, ano Fie. 52 snows tne steos oi convertincthe tobacco web sheet into bobbtns oi tobacco web;

Fie. SA is a cross-sectional side view oi a cigaretteconstmcted in accordance with a substantiaily hollowenbodiment oi the présent invention;

Fig. 52 is a graphical représentation ci aérosoloroduction versus time during eaoh puii as generated by acioarette cor.structed in accordance with the substantiailyhollow embobinent oi the présent invention ci Fig. GA;

Fig. SC is a layout oi a smoke measuring device that>,•£.5 ” c »~ 3 sh CcCâ Chi3.£ —Ξ Γ22Γ25£Γ.Ζ5ά ΐ.71 Fi.CTS » 63# 7Ξ S ;

Fin. 7A. is a cross-sectional side view oi a cigaretteconstmcted in accordance with a iuliy-iiiied enbodiment oi 25 15 010628 the présent invention;

Fie. 73 is a graphical représentation oi aérosolproduction versus time durinç each puis as generated by acigarette constructed in accordance with the iully-£illederbodimenc oi Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8 is a graphical comparison of aérosol volume ateach seçuential puis as deiivered by each cagarette oi thosecescribec in reierence to Figs. 4A, SA and 7A;

Fie. 3 is a graohical oresentaticn ci the relasionshiobeeween the delivery oi total particulate natter (T?î4> andthe ameunt oi heater cverlap ever the iilled portier, oi theoartiallv iilled cicarette constructed in accordance withthe oreierred enbediment (Fig 4A) oi the présent invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross-secticnal sics view oi a cigaretteconstructed in accordance with a second preierred erbodamer.tci the présent inventacn;

Fie. 11 is a cross-secticnal side view of a cigarettecor.structed ir. accordance with a third preierred enbedimentoi the présent anventicu; FIG. 12 is a side, cross-secticnal view ci a heatertexture erbedying a iurther aspect oi the présent invention; FIG. 12 is a side view oi a heater assembly embodyinga iurther aspect oi the présent invention; ï'-g ’ c a side, cross-secticnal vtew ci a heatertexture erbcdvir.r a iurther aspect ci the présent inventionemolcvinc ar. electracal ansuaater ooatang; FIG. 1Ξ is a side, cross-secticnal view ci a heater 16 ΟΙ (3628 fixture embodying an aspect of the présent inventionemoloving an electrical insulator coatir.g forming a hub; ttîC 15 is a ςϊόρ. cross - sectinnsl v’au nr = u—, • —----, --------- , w. ucüLCi fixture embodying an aspect of the présent invention havingserpentine shaped heater biade legs; FIG. 17A is iront, cross-sectional view of a heater biade having planar underside iacinc an inserted 10 FIG. 173 is a front, cross-sectional view of a heaterbiade having an ancled underside facing an inserted FIG. 17C is a front, cross-sectional view of a heater oiace navire curved underside tacmc an .nserte: 15 20 FIG. 1= is a top view of a symmetrical arrangement of heater blades in a fia t State prier to rolling; FIG. 15 i s a top view of a non-symmetrical arrangement of heater brades in a fiat State prior to rolling; FIG. 20 i s a radial cross-sectional view of the snowmc 15

System ical smoking svstem embodying the présent invention,an alternative heater embodiment; 'IG. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of thecartridge receivinc cavity of the electrical smokingof FIG. 20, taken from line A--A of FIG. 20; :IG. 22 is a radial cross-sectional view showingr alternative heater embodiment; and rIG. 22 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the 010628 flavot carrridge reoeiving cavity or the eleotrical smoking svster ; of FIG. 22, taker. from lins B--3 of FIG. 22.

Peas·' * ,ed Description of the Preferred Fmbodiments ohe p resent inversion provides a smoking sysaen 21 which indu; ies a paraially-filled, ailier cigarette 22 and a reusa; ;ie laghter 2= . The cigarette 23 as adapsed to be mssr: ;ed inco and removed from a reoeptaoie 27 as a front end p; irtaon 23 of the laghter 25. Once she cigarette 23 is anser; ;ed, the smoking System 21 is used in muer the same ££.££_ L ' an as a more tradicional cigarette, but wiahout as cia inc er smolderirg the cigarette 23 . The cigarette 23 sct’iei aft~r cne or more ouff cvdes. P”»'="-ably, λ 3 ç jn cigarette 22 provides a total oi eicht puffs (puff —X S ; t) or more ;e; smoke ; however it is a matter cesicn exped: sent to adjust to a lasser or greater total number of a va al.; The laghter 25 ircludes a housang 31 havane front and ·— ci 2,·*“ Σ’S Σ’- nousane mortiers 33 and 35. One cr more batteries 35a emovably locaaed within the rear housing portion 35 and suppi· ,· enerev to a duraiity of eleotricallv résistive, nous à: — ο-ο-ο--ς v w-o ’’ p.'-e a^raneed w'tb'-i f'w ne terrien 33 adjacent the reoeptaoie 27. A oontrol - a i' in the front housing portion 33 establisnes Ο 1 Ο ύ ά ό 18 electrical communication between the batteries 3xa and the heaaer éléments 37. Preferably, the rear portion 35 is adaoted to be readily opened and closed, such as with screws cr snac-fit compor.ents, to facilitate replacement o£ the

K ka--o-£es. If desired, an electrical socket cr contacts may·ΏΟ ---,v-q=q fer recharoir.g the batteries with house currentcr the like. 10 15 :o preferably tracePreferred materielspclyneric matériels.dim.ensicr.5 of about ;cmf ortablv natterles

Preferably, the front housing portion 33 is removablyf to the rear housing portion 35, such as with adovetail joint or a socket fit. The housing 31 isfrom a hard,' heat-resistant matériel,include metallic or, more preferably,Preferably, the housing 31 has overail10.7 cm by 3.8 cm by 1.5 cm. so chat itin the hand of a smoker. 35a are sized to provide suffioient eewer fer the heaters 37 to ''function as intended andcreferably comprise a replaceable and rechargeable tyoe.Alternative sources cf power are suitable, such ascaracitcrs. In the preferred embodiment, the pcwer sourcecccr.crises four nickel - cadmium battery cells ccmected inserres with a total, non-loaded voltage of approximately 4.3to 5.5 vclts.- The characteristics reouired of the powerhowever, selected in view of the characteristicsin the smoking System 21, particularlv

C-_ - I cf other compor.entsthe characteristles of the heating éléments 37. T.S. PateniNe.. 5,144,562 (PM 1345) , hereby incorporated by reference iy Ο ί Ο 6 2 8 essorâtes several types os power sources userai inconnection with the smoking System of the présent invention,suer, as rechargeable battery sources and power arrangementsu- ·. oh comprise a capacitor which is recharged by a battery. F-eferring now to Fig 3, the front housing portion 33cf the lighter 25 supports a substantially cylindricalheater fixture 39 which slidingly receives the cigarette 23.True heater fixture 3 9 houses the heater éléments 37 and isadacted to support an inserted cigarette 23 in a fixedrelation to the heater éléments 37 such that the heateréléments 37 are positicned alongside the cigarette atattrcximately the same location alonç each cigarette. Whereeach heater element 37 bears against (or is in thermalcontact with) a fully inserted cigarette 23 is referred to h?-»:- ? s the he=t=r foortr’tr. Te assure consistent placement of the heating éléments 37 rs*ative to each cigarette 23 from cigarette to cigarette, the heater fixture 39 is provided with a stop 182 against which the cigarette is urged during its placement ic.ro the lighter 25 . Other expédients for registering thecigarette 23 relative to the lighter 25 could be used 25 ce front housing portion 33 of the lighter 25 alsos an electrical control circuitry 41 which delivers armined amount of energy from the power source 35a to.ring éléments 37. In the preferred embodiment, the ixture 39 ludes eicht CLirn"" θ

Uy 20 snaced-aoart heating éléments 37 wnrch ars concsntricallyalicned with the réceptacle 27 and o: serpentine fcrm.Details cf the heaters 3 7 are rllustrated and described inccr~.cn.lv assiçned U.S. Serial No. 07/943,504 (PM 1550)ccoending herevith and in commonly assiçned, U.S. Patent No. both of which 10 15 5,353,554 ( ?M 1557) , inccrccratsd rerein by reference in their entireties.Additicnal heater fixtures 37 that are opérable as part oflicrter 25 inclure chose disclosed in commonly assiçned, ccnerdcrc U. S. oatent application Serial No.___ filet January 6, 1555 (Attorney Docks aocuments are commonly assiçned,, tiled Accuse 15,1 which documents 20

No. ?M 17253 CI?copendinç U.S. Serial No.19 54 (.Attorney Dccket No. PMare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties; and in the later portion oftrès description civen with respect to Figures 13 to 23 .Preferably, the heaters 37 are individually enerçiced by thecover source 3 5a under the control of the circuitry 41 tobeat the cigarette 23 preferably eiçht cimes at spacedIccaoacrs abeut the periphery cf the cigarette 23. Theheattno renders eiçht puffs from the cigarette 23, as isùnievec with the smoktnç of a more tradicional ccm.rn.cn_v a:

It may be preferred to fire more than one heater?r more of the puffs. oreferred heater arrangement is set foroh incommonly assignée, U.S. patent application23/224,343, tiled An ril 3, 1954 (PM-172S3) 21 10 15 bereOV incoroorated by rSttrenCe ί,Π, ΧΣ.Ξ sntirety. F.eferring back to Fig. 2, preferably, the circuitry 41 is activated by a puff-actuated sensor 45 that is sensitivete either changes in pressure or changes in race of air flowwnich occur upon initiation of a draw on Che cigarette 23 bya sr.oker. The puff-actuated sensor 45 is preferably locatedwithin the front housing portion 33 of the lighter 25 and isccmunicated with a space rnsi.de the heater fixture 3 9adjacent the cigarette 23 through a passageway extencingtnrouoh a spaoer at the base of the heater fixture 39 and,if desired, a puff sensor tube (not shown) . A puf f-actuatedsensor 45 suitable fer use in the smoking system 21 isdescribed in cor.r.onry assignée U.S. Patent No. 5,050,571 (FM1327), the disoiosure cf which is incorpcrated herein byréférants. The ouff sensor 45 preferably comprises a Model153FC01035 Silicon sensor, manufactured by the MicroSwitchdivision of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Illinois. Flow 20 sens ing devices, suoh as chose using hot-wire anemometry pranoip les, hâve aise been successfully denonstrated to be usefui for activâting an appropriate one of the heater c. r: 'η*, rs —* ·· s 37 uper. détection of a change in air flow. Once activât ed by the sensor 45, the control < circuitry 41 directs elettrio current to an appropriate one of the heater 37

An indicator 51 is provided at a location along theextericr of the lighter 25, preferably on the front housingnortion 33, to ir.dicate the number of puf fs remaining in a 25 22 010628 lô 15 25 smoke of a cigarette 23. The indicator 51 preferablyinciudes a seven-segment liquid crystal display. In thecreferred embodiment, the indicator 51 displays the dicit1S " when a cigarette detector 53 detects the presence of acigarette in the heater fixture 39. The detector 53creferably comprises a light sensor at the base ofdetects when a beam of light tne is reflected off an inserted cigarette 23. Thereupon thecicarette détecter 53 provides a signal to the circuitry 41which, in turn, responsivelv provides a signal to theindicator 51. The displav of the digit "S" on the indicatcr51 reflects chat the eicht puffs provided on each cigarette23 are avaiiable, i.e., tons cf the heater éléments 37 bavebeen accivated to beat the cicarette 23 . Af ter thecicarette 23 is fully smoked, the indicator displays thedigit "C". When the cigarette 23 is removed from thelirhter 25, the cigarette detector 53 no longer detects atressr.es of a cicarette 23 and the indicator 51 is turned-ff. The cicarette detector 53 is modulated so that it :t cens' h.3. t lar.tlv émit a beam of lient, which would otherwise create an unnecessary drain on the power source35a. A preferred cigarette detector 53 suitable for usewrth the smoking System 21 is a Type OPR5005 Light Sensor, ΓΞΧ Technology, , 1215 West Crosby F.cad, larroilton, Texas 75005, USA. 2n the alternative to displaying the remainder of the euff court, the detector display may instead be arrangée to 1' 23 υ ί 0828 10 15 20 indicate whether the System is active or inactive ( "on" or"oit") .

As one of several possible alternatives to using theabcve-noted cigarette detector 53, a mechanical switch (notshcwn) may be provided to cetect the presence or absence ofa cigarette 23 and a reset button (not shown) may faeprovided for rssettir.g the circuitry 41 when a new cigaretteis inserted into the lighter 25, e.g., to cause theindicator 51 to display the digit "8", etc. Power sources,circuitry, puff-actuated sensors, and indicators useful wichthe smoking System 21 of the présent invention are describedin commonly assignée, U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671 (?M 1337)and the commonly assignée U.5. patent application îerial No.07/543,504, (PM 1550) beth of which are incoroorated bv

Referring now to Figs. 4?. and 4b, the cigarette 23 asconstructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe présent invention comprises a·' tobacco rod 60 and afilter tipping 62, which are jcined together with tippingpaper 64 .

The partially-filled, ciller cigarette 23 preferablybas an essentiallv constant diameter along its length and,which like more traditional cigarettes, is preferablyhetween aooroximately 7.5 mm and 8.5 mm in diameter so thatthe smoking System 21 provides a smoker a familiar "mouth

In the preferred embodiment, the cigarette 23 is 62 nu in overall length, thereby facilitating the use 25 24 ÜÎÜ6£â ccnventional packaging machines in the packaging of the23. The combinée length of the mouthpiece filter 134 and the free-flow filter 102 is preferably 30 mm. Thetiooinc oaoer preferably extends approximately 6 mm over thetcbacco rod 60. The total length of the tobacco rod 62 iscreferahly 32 mm. Other proportions, lengths and diametersj-sy we selected instead of those recited above for thenreferred embodiment.

The tobacco rod 60 of the cigarette 23 preferablyir.cludes a tobacco web 65 which has been folded into acubular (cylindrical) corm.

An overwraD 71 intimately enwraps the tobacco web 66and * s helc tocether along a longitudinal seam as is cornnonan construction of more tradicional cigarettes. The7i retains the tobacco web 65 in a wrappedcondition about a free-flow filter 74 and a tobacco plug 80.

Preferably, the cigarette overwrap paper 71 is wrappedântimately about the tobacco web 56 so as fo render external

20 sppesrance and fee 1 cf a mcre traditiona! cigarette. It has '•'ûor· that a beccer tastinc smoke is achieved when the cvecwrac paper 71 is a standard type of cicarett e paper, a f lax paper of approximately 20 to 50 CORSSTA idefined as - the amount of air, measured in cubiccentimeters, that passes through one square centimeter ofmateriel, e.g., a paper sheet, in one minute at a pressuredrop oc 1.0 kilopascal) and more preferably of about 30 to45 CORISTA, a bases weight of approximately 23 to 3 5 crams 25 H 0628 ίο 15 20 per meter souared (g/m2) and more preferably about 23 to 3og/m2, and a faller loading (preferably calcium carbonate) ofapproximately 23 co 35V by weighc and more preferably 28 to32 V by weight.

The overwrap paper 71 preferably contains little or nocitrate cr other bum modifiées, with preferred levels ofcitrate ranging from 0 to approxima'tely 2.5V by weight ofthe overwrap paper 71 and more preferably less than IV.

The tobacco web 65 itself preferably comprises a baseweb 53 and a layer of tobacco fiavor matériel 70 locatedalong the inside surface of the base web 68. At the tiopedend 72 of the tobacco rod 60, the tobacco web 66 togetherwith the overwrap 71 are wrapped about the tubular free-flowfilter plug 74. The free-flow filter 74 provides structuraldéfinition and support at the tipped end 72 cf the tobaccorod 63 and permits aérosol to be withdrawn from the‘interiorof the tobacco rod 6 0 with a minimum pressure drop. Thefree-flow filter 74 also acts as a constriction at thetitrée end 72 of the tobacco rod 60, which is believed to if aérosol duré ,ng a draw on the filter is prêt erably at leas t 7 tate machine handlinc and is other shapes and types of low milLiceters long to facipreferably annular, althotefficienoy filters are suitable, includir.g cyiindricalfilter plugs.

At the free end 78 of the tobacco rod 60, the tobaccoweb £6 tocether with the overwrap 71 are wrapped about a 25 26 ornais 10 15 20 cylincrical tobacco plug 80. Prezerably, the tobacco plug80 is constructed separately from the tobacco web 65 andcomprises a relatively short column of eut filler tobac’cothat has been wrapped within and retained by a plug wrao 84.

Preferably the tobacco plug 80 is constructed on aoonvencional cigarette rod making machine wherein eut filler(creferably blsnded) is air formée into a concinuous rod oftobacco on a traveiing belt and enwrapped with a concinuousribbon of plug wrap 84 which is then glued along itslongitudinal seam and heat sealed. Howsver, in accordancewith the oreferred embodiment of the présent invention, theplug wrap 84 is preferably constructed from a ceilulosic webet iittle or no filler, sizing or burn additives (each atlevers below 0.5¾ weight percent) and preferably Iittle orno sizing. Preferably, the tobacco plug wrap 34 has a lowoasis weight of below 15 grams per meter sçuared and morecreferably about 13 grams per^meter souared. The tobaccoplug wrap 84 preferably has a high permeability in the rangeof about 20,000 to 35,000 CORESTA and mers preferably in therange of about 25,000 to 35,000 COP.ESTA, and. is constructedcreferably from soft wood fiber pulp, abaca-type celluloseor cther long fibered pulp. Such papers are available fromPapierfabrik Schoeller and Koescht Gî<3H, Postfach 1155, D-"6554, Gemsback, GERMANY; another paper suitable for use asthe ciug wrao 84 is the paper TW 2000 from GeMauduit ofEuimoerle FRANCE, with the addition of carbcxv-mechylcellulose at a 2.5 weight percent is vs 1 25 27 l) 1 0 6 2 δ

The tobacco rod making machine is operated so as to provide a tobacco rod density o~ approximately .17 to .30 errants per cubic centimeter (g/cc) , bue more prsferably in £ rar.ee of ai least .20 to .30 g/cc and most ore^erablv5 " * between about .24 to .28 g/cc. The elevated densities araoreferred for the avoidance of loose ends at the free end 78ci the tobacco rod 60. However, it is to be understood thacthe iower rod densities will allow the tobaccc column 82 co contribute a oreater orcoortion cf aérosol and flavor to the 10 ' smcke. ocordingly, a balance must be struck between aérosol delivery (which favors a low rod density in thetobaccc column 82) and the avoidance cf Icose-encs (whichfavors the elevated ranges of rod densities).

The tobacco column 84 preferably comprises eut filler cf a blend of tobaccos typical of u α 2 H c including blenôs com.prising bright, burley and oriental tobaccos together with, optionallv, reconsti tuted ÎLOOctCCOS and ocher blend ecm.oonen.ts, including tradifïonal cigarette flavors.However, in the preferred embodiment, the eut filler of thetobaccc column. 84 comprises a blend of bright, burly andoriental tobaccos at the ratio of approximately 45:30:25 forthe 5. market, without inclusion of reconstituted tobaccosor an.v after eut flavorings. Optionallv, an expandectcbaooo oomoenent micht be included in the blend to adjuserod density, and flavors may be added.

The continuons tobaccc rod formed as cescribed aboveis sliced in accordance with a predetsrmined plug ler.gth for 25 û i 01 2 8 28 the tobacco plug 3°· This length is preferably at least 7rr,n in créer to facilitate machine handling. Ecwever, thelenrth may vary from about 7 mm to 2 5 mm or more deoendingor. rreferences in cigarette design which will becomeaccarent in the description which follows, wich particularretenants to Figs. 4A and 4b. £ a general macter, the length 86 of the tobacco δ G as or eferably set relative to the total length 88 of 10 tccaccc rod 60 suoh that a voie 90 is d efir.ed along te caccc rod 60 between the — ZTS £ — £ ow fi Iter 74 and plug the the the coca £0, The voie 90 corresponds to an unfilledhe tobacco rod 60 and is in immédiate fluidwith the doping 52 throuch the free flow 15 20 fciter 74 cf the tobacco rod 60. F.eierring particniarly to Fic.4A, the length 8S of the tobacco plug 50 ar.c its relative position alor.g the tobaccorod 50 is aiso seiected in relation to factures of theheater éléments 37. When a cigarette is properly positionedagainst the stop 152 of the heater fixture 35, a portion 52of each heater elemer.t 37 will contact the tobacco rod 60alcnm a région cf the tobacco rod 50. Tris région ofcontact is referred to as a heater footorint 54. The heaterfoctcrint 94 (as shown with a double arrow in Fig. 4A) isr.ct rare of the cigarette structure itself, but instend is arecresentaticn of that région of the tobacco rod 60 wherethe heater element 37 would be expected to reach operativeheatmc temeeratures during smoking of the cigarette 23 29 0 i 9 G 2 8 âscauss the heating eiemer.es 37 are a fixed distance 96 fromphe sts? 132 c: the heater fixture 39, the heater fooc criât94 ccnsistentiy locates along the tobacco rod 60 at the samepredetermdned distance 96 from the free end 78 o: thetobacco red 60 for every cigarette 23 that is fully insertedinto the iighter 25. 10 13

Treferabiy, the length of the tobacco plug 80, the ’ O oth of the heater footprint 94 and the de stance between *- «η o , and the stop 182 an selected such 7-c. t the heater footpr int 94 extends beyond t; ’.e tobacco plug 80 and s'eterooses a oc tien of the void 90 by . distance 93. Û distance 58 by whc .ch tr.e heater footprin 94 superposes *- *— Si voie 90 (the vrfil . et portion of the toba co rod 50) is Ξ. ' S o referred to as "heater-void overi o" 98. The te s ---v-’hich the nder of the heate footprint 94 SCC erposes the tobac C J CT 30 3_S 27 S S 27 T t i to as the 20 "heater-faller overlap" '' ? .

The ticoing 62 pre feraoly comprises a fr- e-fiow fiiter122 iocated adjacent t ? · bacco rod 60 and a outhpiecetiitsr plug 134 at the c - end oî the tippi: : . from the tccacco rod 50. Prefr c. r the free-flow ; .. ; 102 is tuhular and transmets ε · ith very little p a : re drop.Cther low efficiency fil s of standard confie t. on couldbe used instead, however 1 e inside diameter ’c the crééflcw fiiter 96 is pr bly at or betwe n 2 to 6 milltmeters and is orefe ic.j greater than that of the crééflcw fiiter 74 of the toc 25 30 10 15 20 010628

The mouthpiece filter plug closes off the free endo£ the tipping 62 for purposes of appearance and, ifdesired, to effect sortie filtration, although it is preferredthat the mouthpiece filter plug 104 comprise a lowefficiency filter of preferably about 15 to 25 percentefficiency.

The free-flow filter 102 and the mouthDÎece filterplug 104 are preferably joined together as a combined plug110 with a plug wrap 112. The plug wrap 112 is preferably aoorous, low weight plug wrap as is conventionally availableto those in the art of cigarette making. The combined plug110 is attached to the tobacco roc 60 by the tipping paper64 of soecifications that ara standard and conventionallyused throughout the cigarette industry. The tipping paper64 mav be either cork, wnite or any other colcr asdécorative oreferences might suggest.

Preferably, a cigarette, 23 constructed in accordancewith the preferred embodiment has an overall length ofaooroximately 62 me., of wnrcn. 30 mm comprises the coroined plug 110 of the tipping 62.Accordingly, the tobacco rod 60 is 32 mm long. Preferably,the free-flow filter 74 of the tobacco rod 60 is at least 7mm long and the void 91 between the free-flow filter 74 andthe tobacco plug 80 is preferably at least 7 mm long. Inthe oreferred embodiment, the heater foot prir.t 94 isaooroximately 12 mm long and located such that it provides a3 mm heater-void overlap 98, leaving 9 mm of the heater foot 25 31 0 1 0628 ίο 15 20 ρχίπχ 34 sunerposing Che cobacoo plug 80. le is co be undersCood chat Che lengch of che void 9i a-d che ier.gch of che cobacoo plug 80 may be adjusced Cofaoiiicace manufaccuring and more importantly, to adjusc Chesmoking characCeriscics of Che cigarecce 23, includingadjustrencs in iCs caste, draw and delivery. The lencch ofche void 51 and che amounc of heacer-filler overlap (andheacer-void overlao) may also be manipulaced Co adjusc cheimmediary ci rescor.se, Co promoce consistency in delivery(on a ouff-cc-puff basis as well as becween cigaretces) andCo ooncrol oondensacion of aérosol ac or abouc che heacars.

In che oreferred embodimenc, Che void 91 (che filler-îree porcion of che cobacoo rod 50) excencs approximacely 7isn co assure adeouace clearance becween che heacer fooccrinc 54 and che free-flow filcer 74 . In chis way, marginis orovaied suoh Chat che heacer fooc print 94 dces noc heacChe free-flow filcer 74 during smoking. Ocher lengChs ares'aicahle, cor inscance, if manufaccuring Colerances permic,Che voie 31 mighc be configured as short as approximacely 4mm or less, cr in che other excreme, exCended well bevond 7as escahlish an elor.gace filler-free porcion along che

Tne orererrea rance oi lenochs che filler-free porcion (che void 91! is from approximacely 4mmto 13mm ar.d more preferably 5 Co 12 mm.

The base web 63 physically séparâtes che heatingelszscts 37 from che cobacoo flavor macerial, transfers heatceneraced by che heacer elemencs 37 co 25 32 10 15 20 the clavcr material 70, and marntains physical cohésion octhe tobacco rod during handiing, insertion into the lighter25 and rénovai of the cigarette after smoking.

In the description which follows, certain percentagelevais and/or relative weights are set forth for the variousoor.por.ents comprising the tobacco web 65. Unless otherwiseexpressed, or otherwise readiiy apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art to be to the contrary, récitations ocweight percentage are on a dry weight basis, that is, therecited oercentage levels and/or relative weichts aread'usted for (do not include) moisture content.

The prooess for manufacturing the tobacco web 65 isprecerabiy without the addition of carbcn-fiber as will bedescrtbed in paragraphs which follow. p.t the conclusion oftes creferred manufacturing process, the base web 63 itselfh.as a creferred total basis weight cf approximately 35 to 45g/m", more precerabiy approximately 40 g/m;. At 40 g/m3, thehase web 6S precerabiy comprises approximately 28 g/m3rohaooo fiber and approximately 12 g/m3 cellulosic fibersuch as crom wood pulp or flax. The cellulosic fiber servesas a cellulosic strengthening agent in the composition ofthe base web 68. It is prefarred to minimize the amount ofcellulosic fiber in the base web for subjective reasons (to avotd estabiishing a papery note to the taste of the cigarette). Generally, the ratio of tobacco fiber to cellulosic fiber in the base web 5 3 en a dry weight ba sis shoulô rance from aooroximatsly 2:1 to 4:1. The creferred 25 10 15 20 23 33 010028 callulosic material is an unbleached, krafo softwoodcellulose, although most wcoc and flax pulps are workaile.

An alternative strengthening agent for the base web 68is cellulosic fiber from produced tobacoo stem. .Although it is not preferred, alginate may be coatedalong cne side of the base web 68 at a levei ofanoroxhmatelv 1 g/m2. Zi alginate is applied, it ispreferred te be applied on a side of base web 63 oooosite ofthe side reoeiving the tobacoo favor matériel 70.

The tobacoo material 70 is preferably applied to thebase web 65 at dry weight levels of ac least twice and morenreferablv about three to four tomes that of the base web65. Zr. the preferred embcdimenc, the tobacoo material bas ahasts weicht of approximately 130 g/m2 so chat preferablythe orand total weight of the tobacoo web 55 isaporoximately 170 g/m2. Cn a dry weight oasis, the tobacoomatertal 70 comprises a portion of ground tobacoo andextracted solids at a ratio in the range of approximately3.5 to 1 ; 3.5 :1 ) to five to one (5:1) by weight, althoughthis ratio may be varied in a range from approximately 3:1te 5:1. Zn the preferred embodiment, the ratio isacproximately 4.1.

Zlvoeriné is added to the tobacoo material 70 as ahumectant and as an aérosol preoursor at levels of about 10-14V, rnost nreferablv approximately 12V by dry weight cf thetobacoo material 70, but this add-on level may be varieda — w ~ ——a from aooroximately 5V to as hier. as 20V or more by 34 010628 weight of the tobacco material 70 . When clyceririe isiced to onlv abouc 5 to 77 dry weight of the composition,web 6 5 may be lewnat s t if fer and more .stive to collapse when rolled into a tubular form.

Pectin is also added to the tobacco matériel 70 at dry we root ;ile levels ranging i.rom aoout -S to 27, .y aocut 1

Pectin is added as a coating agent. 10 := absence, the tobacco matériel 70 may tend to drainipenetrace) the base web 63 excessivelv during ther.g operation, rendering a grainy surface texture on the'e of the tobacco web 66. Too much oeccin hurraers tracion, and weakens the bond betwesn the tobaccorral 70 and the base web 63. ?.t aocroxiamacely 1'., the in promotes adéquate pénétration and bonding between theChat the base web 63 may withstand the rigors of mated cigarette making. 15 20 y.cst praferably, the tobacco material 70 on the baseweb £= comprises approximately 15-207 bv dry· weightextraccec tobacco solids, 65-717 by dry weight groundtobacco particles, 5-147 glycérine and approximately 1.47çectcn. Per U.S. markets, the ground tobacco which istneerperated into the tobacco material 70 preferablyccr.crises a blsnd of bright, burley and oriente.! tobaccoswb.erein alm.ost hait of the blend is bright tobacco,acoroxim.ately 1/3 is burley and the remainder is oriental.The ccmoosition and relative amounts of the blend components 25 35 010628 may be advantageously adjusted to meet consumer prsferencssin d'ne U.S. or other markets.

Referring to Figs. 5A and 53, the preferred method o£manufacturing a stock of tobacco web 65 in a form suitablefer the automated manufacture of the cigarettes 23 comorisesa first serres of stems 120 (shown in Fig. SA) for theconversion of tobacco feedstock, preferablv tobacco strio,into a continuous. sheet of the tobacco web 56s and a second ίο 122 (shown in Fig. 53) of conv erting the of tobacco web 5 5s into one or more wound obacco web that are in condition for use in ufacture of the cica -S - C s 23 . 15 20 oeoerns = = o oi the automated manufacturt

Referring specifically to Fig. 5A, the process 120 ofconverting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet oftobacco web sheet 65s begins with subjecting tobaccofeed.stock to an extraction step 124 (preferably, with water)te aeparate tobacco fiber from ..tobacco solubles of theorieir.al feedstock. The tobacco feedstock preferably courtises tobacco strie, but other forms of tobacco and/ortcbacco laminas are suitable for use in this process.Preferablv the tcbacco strip comprises a blend of bright andburlev tcbaccos, and may optionallv include oriental orothe.r varieties.

The tobacco fiber collecter from the extractionorccess 124 is itself subjected to a paper-making typeorccess 125 to form a continuous sheet 63s cf the base web.

Zn the crocess 125, the tcbacco fiber from the 25 36 010628 ίο 15 20 steo 124 is dispersed in water with the additionz~ a oredetermined arcount of cellulosic fiber which serves= s a st^esicthening agent in tne composition of the base webr3. Preferabiy, the cellulosic fiber comprises oulpedcellulose from wood, fisse and/or tobacco stem. Oncecombinée, the mixed dispersion of tobacco fiber and~ο11·'ίΟ50ο fiber is refined so as to form a web slurry 12ΘS’citabie for casting in the casting step 130, wherein theweb slurry 123 is directed to a casting box arrangement of aweb termine machine and cast upen a fourdrinier wire cr onan endless Steel belt, preferabiy the former. 't is more exoedient to refine the dispersée mixturecf tobacco fiber and the strengthening agent aster mixingthe two components together. Thev may ir.stead be refinedsecarateiy and then combined.

Aster the casting -step 130, the résultant web 132 isdirected through one or more driers at a drying step’i w>ich steo preferabiy comprises passing the web over aYankee crier and one or more can driers, although a hest ofalternative arrangements and deviens are known in thec<=~tinent art and availabie for executing the drving step131 At the conclusion of the web drying ' step 134, a;-~ring steo web. The output 138cent is used to aejustichieve and maintain tne desiredfor ep 136 is execut ed weight of t'ne dri1 rarement of moisture tration 134 to achiev base web S 8s s mai moi moisture level in tne snset 37 ver

L4C 10 010628 ;ses or the subséquent coattng operation 144. The sheets.se web 63s is prererably at or about 15V moisture by-x a- the coating operation 144. 7?ω-£?ng· ba.ck Lq Lxis monicoring 13G, the cutOtit recarding the weight or the sheet or base web 63s isto adjust operation of the casting step 130 so as toeve the prererred basas weight in the base web S3 asdescribed. Such adjustments inciude chances in rate at which the web slurry 128 is introduced into the^-z box or the web foming machine in the casting steo 15 20 actice to proc' conclus ion of t in the rom oi nndergoing the it may be coi

The web foming steo 125 may cptionaiiy further“Ot.trise a ooating steo 142 which coats cr.e side ci the baseweb 53s with alcinate at levais previously described alongme side ci the base web 53s opposite oi the side thatréserves the tobacco flavor matériel 70. However, it is theto proceed without the application or he web foming process 125, thea continuons sheet 53s that iscoating operation 144. In the .lected for subséquent coating:o~s off'-line. It is préférable, however to proceed= telv into the coating operation 144 upor. the —— c' the sheet oi base web 63s. -referably, the base web 63s esters :he coating 25 38 010628 10 173r, ~ors crsfer'ahly 14.5 to 15.5¾ moisture. P.eferring back to the extraction step 124, the tobacco solubles leave the extraction step 124 in the îonn of acnlute solution coraprising approximately 5 to 10 percentcbssolved. tobacco constituants (solubles), more preferably 7te S percent dissolved tobacco constituents. Preferablytne diiute solution is not subjected to any eveporacivetreatosnt, so as to minimize the application of heat to thesolution. The application of beat can hâve an imnact on theflavor concributed by the tobacco solubles when smoked as 15 20 sert of the cigarecte 23.

These solubles ; (also knov,n as "excract ed ligue r") fr om — O extraction step 124 are mixed at a mixi ng step i *1 5 w 1 ch addi clonal, finely ground tobacco, clycer ine and pect i n- * » * 3 cher with water , ail in relative amour.es ; chat ul t imate ïy —Ό * ~ a V '-’-'ΊΟ ’-'l’-'S.i proportional contents as previous ly deso ribed for the criée condition of the tobacco materi ai ~C ln connection with the mixing step 146 , WâeSZ is acc cd ; - b U o * bî ; r-, ameunts sufficient to rendez at t h &amp; coc.c iusicr. of the m.ixing step 124 a disoer s ion of aocr □ximatelv 2 0 to 35 percent solics conter. t, mo re prs Z srably approximately 24 to 26 percent solics conten b .

«> S

The cround tobacco particles cf the mixture are preferablyin the rsr.ee of 60 to 400 mesh, wherein the terni "mesh"refers to a 95¾ passage rate of tobacco particles through am.esh having the çivsn number of openincs per square mon.Xo-e oreferablv, the additions! cround tobacco parctcles are 39 010628 10 15 in nie rance of approximateiy 100 to 200 mesh and mostpreferably approximateiy 120 mesh.

If nie mesh sine ci the ground tobacco particles isesnablisied above 120 mesi, more specifically at or abou-180 to 220 mesh, nie soiids content of the slurried tobaccomaternai at the conclusion of the mixing step 146 may beelevated, such as to Ievels of approximateiy 23 to 31V. l'ocn conclusion of the mixing step 146, nhe résultantslurried tobacco matériel is directed immediately into thecoating operation 144, alnhough the coating operation may beeleotively oerformed at some subséquent time on an cff-liueoasis. At the coating operation 144, the slurried tobaccomateriel shcuid hâve a soiids content of approximateiy 22 to27V by weight, more preferably at or about 24 :o 25V.

At the coating step 144, the slurried tobacco materielbas a tercet weight percent of tobacco solubles of 4 to 3 20 O ·*- β , more preferably 5.5 to 6.5 we ight percent cf tobacco solubles. Preferably, the slurried tobacco matériel SUC S r Ξ the coating operation 144 at a te mperature in the f ao- oroximately 70 to 130° F, more préférable at cr about ;0s F plus or minus 3° F.

The coating step 123 is preferably performed with a standard reverse-roll coater located after a Yankee dryerbeyond the endless belt or fourdrinier wire . The co-.tingsten mav be perfcrmed with other suitable coating devicesthat are kncwn and available to those of ordinary skill in-he art of web fcminç operations. The tobacco materiel 70 25 40 0 1 0628

Irrscsad be case or excruded onco che base web 63 .ively, Che application scep 128 mav be execuced off-

Ihne ssosracs CiOtn che procuci-ioiï or Che sheet oc base webSis. During or afeer che coacing scep 128, flavors thac are 10 oonver.cional in. che cigarecc e induscry are added if Ac Che conclu sion of the coati ng operation <- — - λ — " 2 5 stïse£ ΟΣ Cobacco web 65s is produced. SLsf ezrzrinc now Co Fig. 53, che process now 15 is suicable?referablv,H °· ;s.

Che irions which crt îaee V· *- λ 2 t C Che cobacco web shee c 6 6s r. o Cobacco web is obe ained in 20 procescs chrough che sceps 122 of convercing che sheec of Cobacco web= =s ir.co a wound bobbin 6 6b of Cobacco web whichcor che autoccaesd production of cigarettes 23. che conversion sceps 122 are execuced on-line wichproduccicn of che continuons sheec oc cobacco web 65s.lorir.c che execution of che conversion scecs 12:ooeraccr should avoid con< or ccher imperfécrions ina continuons winding ofbebben 55b wich few or no spiiees. Addicionally, Che sheecof cobacco web 65s is Co be condirioned such chat ac theconclusion of che convercing sceps 122 the Cobacco web willnoc bine upon ieself and raay be rapidly wound and unwoundfroc, che bobbin 65b wichout breakage.

The conversion sceps 122 initiate with a drying step145, wherein orecerably the sheec of tobacco web 66s is fedooncinucusly chrough a gas-cired, hot-air impingsment dryersuch as che type obcainable from Aircech Systems Corp- o-Scrcughron, Maine or wich a sceam heatsd, hcc air dryer. 25 41 01 0 6 28 10 15 20 C-hsr driers chat are known in. the art of web forming ma y beβ_Ό-=-.-ed instead. The drying step 145 should be executedw* th minimal apolication of heat but in amounts sufficient ,~~-y uhe tobacco web 63s frocn its initial condition(-onroximately 15¾ moisture content in the base web and.^-exi-.ately a 75¾ moisture level in the coatinc itself) to~""Ott S. 5 to 12¾ moisture content overall at the conclusioni—-'ino steo 146. More preferably, the dried tobaccow=b «test 66d is t^ie range of approximately 10 to 11¾r^’-ttn» content. This final moisture content is preferredter several ressens : to facilitate slitter operations at a- s--~o ί r che conversion trocess 122; to set a moisture level which aoproximates where the matériel wouldwhen stored anc/or sent to a manufactumnga-r5 to establish a moisture level which avoidsbindinc of the base web matériel upon itself in the bobbin 56b. :;..Uco<-ue’'t to the drying step 126, the dried tobacco= -==- 45d is cooled to an ambient température, -reteraoly t.cat c ; t its likely place of storage anc/or assoc raten manufac turing facility , usually in t :he rance of £5 te 30s ?. The .s cool ing step 14 3 not only facilitâtes = — -ïd 'h'a“l'on - of the tobacco web 6 6 to operational = -crn^ttS , but also avoids the risk of heat being retahr.ee within a bobbin 66b which might otherw. ise initiate S. S S L Z. - h-62.2 Ό2Γ ooess . T r 1. S Ξ t uncheck ed, self-heating o-j.4 -- ®xt-ene temoeratures and decradation of the 25 4 2 01 0628 10 15 20 ;hara_;er or the tobacro web 6S. Prererably, the'.s oerrormed wrth a cnrlled-water cooled, airir.crncement coder available tram Airtech Système Caro. ofPtrcuchrcr, Maine, aithough a host of alternats ccolingsvstems are kaown to those or ordirary skill in the art of sur; ectxvecocling step

Airer the web dryrng ara cooling steps 14.5 .and uj,the dried and cooled tobacco web sheet éôde is passed thougha cecurler apparatus, such as those offered by ThermoIlsetren Web Systems, Inc. of Auburn, Maine or soms othersurrable web cecurler device as woihc ne readilv knowr and avariante to one of ordirary skillweb ferrite. At the conclusion c ,e pertrnent art oriecurling steo 150, the tobacco web £5 is substantrally créé of therr.allv :d warorne along rts mes ana conortron cor a ïeçuent winding and slittrng steps 152 and 154. Kowever,:r to the execution of those steps, it is préférable to.ter remoerature, morsture level and total werght of the e a ve s .oco w-eb sheet 65s as r;lo prcvfde feedback and controll the tobacco web sheet 65s isslittrng and wrll resuit rn ths deourling stsp 1Ξ0 so rrocess to assure n condition for windingresrred target values of .perature and morsture, total werght for the bobbins 65b.In carticular, in monrtoring the tobacco web sheet 66, : reading of its total werght.ion 14 4, su; as in are user to aepust unethe feed rate cf slurrred tobacco materral into the reverse-rorl coa iter or the cao a: 25 43 0 1 0 6 2 8 10 15 20

ν,β "’O of the coater. Readings oi the moisture level a:monitcring step 151 are used to control drvingi achieve the target moiccure levais in.bed oreviously. Likewrse, the coolingalled responsively to readings of the_ .jjjj— o*-- ·-··,’-o c~ the sheet of tobacco web 56 at the monrtoring2 ·* o ·* 2. Ξ X rr.oni- cm ng oper acicr.s so as ens S ΣΙΘ — Z. as des: stec 14 5 is con

Thereafter, the tobacco web sheet 66 is wounc at awindir.g step 152, which is perfcrmed with web windingmachines readily known and availabie to one of ordinaryil in the art of web processing. Subseouent thereto, thend tobacco web sheet 63s is slit into individuel bobbins, wherein the cut-width for each bobbin is respective ofdésirée circumierence of the cigarette 23.

At the conclusion of the conversion steps 122, thecin 55b is in condition for automated manufacturingcesses of the cigarettes 23, such as in the combiningrations disclosed with reference to Fig. 6 of commonlyigned, oopending U.S. Serial No. 07/943,504, filedtember 11, 1552, which application is hereby incorporatedreference in its entirety.

The clvcerin in the tobacco matériel 70 ser/ss as anaercsci orecurscr and facilitâtes formation of a visibleaérosol during smoking of the cigarette 23. Additionally,as the clvcerin is released in the atmosphère, it condensesand orovides an aopearance typicallv expected of cigarette ski wcu: 5 6b pro cpe ass

Sep bv 25 44 01 0628 10 13 20 smoke. Other humectants, suitahle for use in the tobaccoindustry may be usée in its place.

Optionally, after the casting step 123, alginate maybe coated alcng a side of the web 53 before, during or esterthe coating step 126. The alginate coating providesadditional strength and film formation along one side of thebase web 53. Hcwever, the base web 63 has sufficientstrength without alginate, and it is the preferred practiceto construct the base web 68 without it.

The présent invention may be practiced with othertypes of base webs 53 (carriers), including the carbon-fibermats or the metallic or screen mats described in copending,commcnly assignée U.S. patent applications Serial No.07/943,504 (PM 1550); Serial No. 07/943,747 (PM 1555); andcommcnly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,388,594 (PM 1597); andourtransmission o Suropean Patent Application ΞΡ-Α-0,515,411ail of which are incorporated" herein by reference in theirendireties.

With regard to carbon-fiber mats as disclcsed in ΞΡ-Α-0,615,411, and in commonlv assigned U.S. Patent No.5,353,594 (PM 1597), whose continuation is co-pendingherewith as Serial No. 08/380,718, filed September 30, 1995(PM 1697 Cont), a preferred composition of such matscommises a base web 63 comprising tobacco fiber in therange of 20-30 g/mz, more preferably approximately 24 to 28g/m1, most preferably 26 g/m ; carbon fiber in the range of2-9 g/m1, more preferably 2 to 4 g/m , and most oreterably 23 45 010628 approximateiy 3 g/m2; anc pectrn in the range of approximateiy .5 to 1.5 g/cc, and mont oreferablyapproximateiy 1 g/m2 pectin. Preferably, these constituentsare raianoed so as no establish a base web 68 having a Cotai 5 bases weight of approximateiy 30 g/m2. le is also preferredte use carbon fiber of 1/4 inch strar.d length to facilitateles dispersion during the slurry forming portion of thepreoass. Initiation of dispersion of the carbon fiberfeedatook is faciliated when procedures are used such as 10 chose disolosed in U.S. Parent Nos. 4,007,053 and 4,234,379.

In tbe alternats .embediment of tbe tobacoo base web 65 ' i . e . tbe carbon fiber mat) , the total fir.ished dry s’neet weirbt is oreferably about 160 g/m:, of whioh 3 0 ^/m ocm.ori ses the base web 68 and 130 g/m2 comprises the tobacoo 15 ma ce.ri al 70. In concrast, th e mo; re preferred embodimenc of tbe tobacoo base web 66, whicb does r.ot include carbon-fiber, bas a dried sbeet weight of approximateiy 170 g/m2,of wbiob 40 g/m2 comprises the base web 53 and 13 0 2 g/m 20 oomerises tbe tobacoo matériel 70.

Kbiobever type cf base web 63 (or carrier) is used, tbe tobacoo matériel 70 is preferably disposed on the innersurface of tbe base web 63 and libérâtes a tobacoo flavoredaérosol (response) when heated. Such materiels mav alsoinclude continuons sheets, foams, gels, dried slurries ordried scrav-deoosited slurries of tobacoo material. P.efsrring to Fig. 3 and in conjunction with theteaor-inos incorocrated bv reference from commonly assignée 25 46 Ü10628 16 97) , when a cigarette 23 of s inserted into "Τ' eoeptacle 27, X c fixture 39 unti g the free end 78 10 15 20 cf the cigarette 23 abuts a stop 182 fixedly arranged at thebase cf the heater fixture 29. Once the cigarette is inplace, smoking may commence, whereupon any potting action onthe cigarette by a smoker is detected by the puff ser.sor 45,which in coopération with the control circuit 41, causeseleotric carrent to be deliverec to a preselected one ci theheaters 37. Power is deliverec via an electrical circuitwhich inclûtes leads 1S3 at one end of each heater 37, 'acommcn ring 184 at the opposite end of each heater 37 and acommun leac 135 extendinc from the common ring 154 back tothe oroximity of the leads 183. As each heater 37 isaotivated, thermal energy is trtnsferret through theovsrwraD 71 and the tobaoco web 58 in sufficient amount tocause the tobacco flavor material 7 0 of the tobacco web 6 5to release a tobacco aérosol within the confines of thetobacco roc 60, which is drawn tram the cigarette 23restonsivelv to the puffing action of the smoker on the tipped end of the ctgar 23 . A smoker's draw on a cigar apprcximately '1.5 to 2.0 seconds testing procedures assume a 2 . 0 seooi Where the heater f cet print 94 aérosol is released direotlv from the heatec tobacco flavormaterial 70 into the void 51 whereupon it is withdrawn into 25 010C28 ar.d tdrough the tipping £2 witd very iittle pressure drop.q- rds otder hand, wdere rds heater roocprmt 34 ovcrlarsrde tobacco plug 80 (rde deater/filler overlap 9S) , proximalocrricrs of the tobacco plug 80 wrll beoome heated alongwitd. oroximal portions of me tooaooo web 66. Accordingly,tde blended tobacoos cf tde tobacco plug 80 contribute their□wn fraction of me total aérosol so as to contribute their<- = s~s and otder subjective attrrbuces. Tde aérosol reieasedfrorr tde tobacco plug 80 at cr about the heater/filler 10 overlap 59 undergoes some filtrat; Lcn and pressure drop as it is drawr tdrough tde tobao co olug 80 and into tde void O T. _ Tde aérosol pro ÔliC SC from h eat -^3 of tde co dacco plug 15 80 ras a cdaracrer and casse tdac can be alcered by theblerd of tobacoos as well as by acjuscmercs in dow much ofrde deacer footcrinc 34 cveriaps cde tobacco ciuo 80. The 20 comparent of aérosol chat is produoed in tde vicinity of thevoie. 51 is reieased more irscadtaneously from the cigarette,because tdere is less thermal inertie at the void 91 andbecause tde thermally vaperized tobacco substance at thevoie Si is not subject to tde pressure drop of tde tobaccorlug 8 0 and is instead more immediately communicated to thetiooing £2 tdrough tde free-flow filter 74. It dowever hasa oraraoter different from that reieased from tde tobaccoplug 80, because it is reieased predominately from thetobacco flavor maternai 70 on the base web 68. As will beexplained in crreater detail below, it has besr. round thatfor smoker satisfaction, tde aérosol delivered from a 25 40 0 1 0628 oicarette 23 Dreisraily includes both components of aérosoloo assors immédiats delivery to the smoker and to inclues-he flavor noces attributable to blended eut cillertcbaooos. As wül also become apparent in the teachingswhich follow, the presence of the void 91 (and its immediacyot initial delivery) assures a consistent puff-to-puffsmokinc of the cigarette 23 and promûtes consistency betweanoirarettes. This relationthip bears out in the compacaciveruir-tc-ouff attributes of a partially filled cigarette 23 cotstrcctsd in accordance with the oreferreu em-bediment 'having a plug of eut f ill d r- ao and a void SI), in cor.parison with cigarettes 2 3 * of a first alternats design

Sa) having no eut ciller within its rolled tobacco •_sb, and a second alternats design (Fig 7a) having a rolledtobacco web entirely filled with eut ciller. In thedétections of casse alternat® designs, it is to be•understood that the tobacco web 60' and 66" comprise a baseweb 63 and laver oc tobaco matériel 70 as in the prefsrredembediment. The tobacco rocs 60' of these alternats designs also i ncluded on overwrap 71. ί seroentine type heater element at a 15 Joules energyg was used to generate the comparative data asted in Figs . 63 and 73 with the cigarettes shown in6A and 7A, respectively. le. recarence to tio. 6A, a cigarette acapted for smoking in an electrical smoking System of the firstalternat® design comprises a tobacco rod 60' and a tipping 49 01 0628 10 15 20 52', eaoh which include componentis designated with primenumiers having corrssponâsnce with components of thepreferred embodiment shown in Fig. 4A. Kowever, the tobaccoroc 50' of the cigarette 23' does not enclose anv eut fillerwith-in its tobacco web 66' and the free end 78' of thetobacco red 60' is provided with a back flow fiiter 200- .The base web 6-3' of the tobacco web 55' was the tyoeircluding carbon fiber as previouslv described. Theconstruction cf cigarette 23' is also detaiied in thecomm.only assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,385,594 1597), whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entiretv. Forpurcoses of the description which follcws, reference wiil bemate to this cigarette 23' as a filler-free cigarette 23' . F.eferring now to Fig. SC, experiments were conductedusine a smoking machine in coopération with a smoking system 21. The output of the smoking machine was directed duringeaoh puff through a smoke measuring device 5y having atranstarent chamber 6v, where a beam of light 6u from asource 5w passes through the transparent chamber 6v to anhoto ceteccor 6z at the opposite of site of the transparentchsctcer £v. The output cf the photo sensor Sz is processedto résolve the inter.sity of the light beam 6u as its strikes sensor 5z: Any tobacco aérosol that passes through the 25 chamber 5v will hâve a light scattering effect upon the beamcf Light Su, such that any résultant change in detectedLions inter.sity at the photo detector 6z will be inversely indi;v= of total narticulate matter (T?M) in the aérosol. 50 010628 Ση accordance with FTC cigarette testing practices, it ispreferred that the smoking machine draws a standard two-second puff frcm the smoking System 21.

The information graphically presented in Fig. 63 showsthe intensity registered at the smoke measuring devicerelative to time as tne smoking machine progressed throuoh each oz a succession of puf fs on a Ciller - f: 10 15 :e cicnrette 23' . The data indicates the foliowing trends: that with afilier-frse cigarette 23', the first and second puffs areinconsistant with the remaining three puffs, which lactertires ouffs are much. more consistent with each other; andthat aérosol is delivered well before lapse cz the two-sscond time period for each puff. The ciller très cigarette23 ' is less consistent in delivery at the first severalpuffs and consistency prsvails only in the latter puffs.The data related to the first puff is the general observation that machine smoking of aziller-free cigarette 23 ' delivers less aérosol during thefirst puff urless remédiai measures are impiemented suoh asnerforating the tobacco rod 60' or other measures as taughtin U.S. Patent No. 5,338,594 (PM 1597). 20 iairly consistent with

Referring now to Fig. 7A, another design of anelectrically opérative cigarette 23 ' ' comprises a tobaccorod 50' ' and a tipping 62' ' having components and anarranoement similar to chose of the preferred emfsodimentshown in Fig. 4A, with similar components being grovidedv-th double crime desicnations. Howevsr, the cigarette 23" 25 51 10 15 20 CX ri 73 ' ' sziclz* files. 63 * * . compr H Z. £. L· HS β carba: wkick f-llv

Wl.tr· ne rtc: 010628 z. 7A includes a back flow filter 200" at the free endand a column of eut ciller 22 0" extending ai_onc· the= length of the tobaceo rod 60" between the back flow- 200" and the free-flow filter 74'· of the tobacco rod

The tobacco column 220'' of the cigarette 23·'ises the blend of burley, brignt and oriental tobaccosrod density of .275 crans per cubic centimeter. Theweb 68" of the tobacco web 55'' is the tvoe inciudingo fiber as previcuslv described. In the discussionfollows, the cigarette 23' ' will be referred to as a »2ill£Q z1XXs*** 2 3 ,r F.sferring now to Fie. 73, the measurements in lightsity from the smoke measuring device 6y was correiatedthe time lapse progression of each puff for asion of puffs numbered one through seven on the fullv- ., filler cigarette 23". The data présentée in Fie. 73ïpresentative of two recocnizable trencs in the—ance of a cigarette constructed in accordance with^.X^y — fiXXscL/ z X X X s **“ c'crs.^’^^’Z·0 23 1 1 that the :irs; s s ver a deiivs. aeroso one, t af ter 1 puffs provide significant aérosol delivery, but yety thereafter déclinés to such an extern that the • three puffs provide substantially less delivery thanirst several puffs (unless corrective rassures are; and with the fuily-filled, filler cicarette 23 ' ‘ I delivery is delayed and the initial puffs (puffstwo and three) do not aohieve maximum, delivery untila substantiel portion of a cwo-second period has 25 ίο 15 20 25 52 01 0628 elapsed.

Durino the first several puf fs, the fully-filled· σ_ -r-arre 23" tends to celiver a greater total volume of-o-2sol than the filler-free cigarette 23' . A comparison ofthe data nresented in Figs. 75 and 63 substantiates this coria^_T observation in that the rotai areas above the firstseveral purf-lines in Fig 73 for the fully-filled, fillerare creater than the total areas abcve the cicarette 21 tirst seve: -al puff-lines in Fig 63 for the fillsr-free cicarette 23' . Tne area abcve eacn puff-line in Fies. 73and 65 is indicative or total de_tvery durir.g that Duff.

However, it is believec that the delay in deliverv ofthe fully-filled, mler cigarette 23" induces a smoksr toundertake a prolongea, more robust draw in reaction to hisor her not obtainmg an immédiate flavor respense frem thecigarette 22". The more pronour.ced draw in turn car. causethe heated portions of the overwrap 71’1 and the tobacco web55'' to become more fully etnsumed (oxidized) by theadditional air drawr therethrough such that more significant locaiized collapseoccurs during the firstAdditionally, it is believed that once pvrolysis isinitiated in the fully-filled cigarette, it tends to be moreself-sustaining, because cf the presence of a greater massof ccmbustable tobacco anc/or because of its more compactéeState. ïn anv ever.t, because air may be drawr. more readilyinto the tobacco roc througn the breached "burr." situses of breakage and perhaps220 1 1 of the tobaccoseveral ouffs. 53 010628 the first several puffs, these localized breaches arebelieved co short circuit: the desired air flow paths ofsubséquent puf fs. Consecruently, deiivery déclinés dur me the latter ouffs on the fully-filled, filler c^ga^tte 23" 5

The data presented in Fig. 73 and the explanationahove is consistent with a general observation that a fully-filled, filler cigarettes 23' or a traditional cigarette,when thev are smoked with electrical lighters, tend to drooeff in deiivery as puffine thereon orogresses. 10

With its delayed, yet more sels-sustaining pyrolvsis,the fully-filled cigarette 23' tends to generate a greatameunt of aérosol in the latter stages of the puff, and attûmes may continue to produce an amount of aérosol beyonc the neried of time that the smoker is actually drawing on 15 the cigarette. The latter situation can resuit in theproduction of "post-puff" aérosol wnich may linger withinthe housinc 33 of the lighter 25, particularly at or aboutthe rester fixture 39. Scme of "such "post-puff" aérosolwiii orobiematicaily condense on the heater éléments 33 or 20 linger long enough to be drawn into the cigarette 23" duringthe rext puff. Firher conséquence is inimical to thedeiivery of a pleasinc and consistent caste.

Feferring back to Fig. 63, the puff lir.es of the filler-free cigarette 23' évidence that the deiivery of 25 aérosol maximizes (where the puff Unes dip the most) wellhefore the two (2) second curation of a standardized puffF - - ehaosed, and deiivery is minimal at the latter stages of 54 0 î 0628 the puff, so that the production of "pose puff" aérosol· isnon such a problem with the filler-free cigarette 23'.

However as noted previously, the filler-free cigarette 23' 5 delivers less total volume of aérosol chan the fully-filled,ciller cigarette 23", it surfers inconsistency at times indelivery during the first several puffs and it lacks thesurjective attributes and flexibilities that wouid otherwise be enjoyed if blended (or even unblended) eut ciller were 10 .... rncrucec.

Fig. 8 is a présentation of data from comparative smoking on smoking machines using a smoke measuring cevice

Sy as described above for cigarettes constructed in accordance with the filler-free cigarette 23'; the fully-15 filled, ciller cigarette 23''; and the partially-filled,ciller cigarette 23 constructed in accordance with teachingsof the oreferred embodiment (as shown in Fig. 4A) of theprésent invention. Carbon-fiber mat was used as the baseweb in ail these cigarettes. As a discussion of the data of 20

Fie. 8 will reveal, the partrally-filled, filler cigarette23 of the présent invention provides more consistentdeliverv througnout a srnoke. It avoids the drop in deliveryrhat occurs in the latter puffs of the fully-filled, filler cirat~e 231 '' and is more consistent in delivery than the 25 filler-free cigarette 23' during the first several puffs.

The oartially-filled, filler cigarette 23 that wastested to collect data used in Fig. 8 was half-filled withouc filler such that the heater overlap over the void in the 55

-S 010628 cigarette design was relatively large, approximately 5mm.The heater éléments 37 used for gcnerating the datain Fig. 8 was a serpentine type at 15 Joules 10

Dresserai in Fig. 8 er.ergy per heating cyc. P o τ o ring to Fig therein is the amount durerg the first two , of puffs during the ~ 2Γ - » * S . In relati arc. /s, ess ion<pe of

In relation to the data preser.ted in Figs. 63an amounc of aérosol indicated in Fig.vtically correspond to an intégration o: 8 would the area iefâned above) each puff-Iine from 0 to 2 seconds in Figs. rc / rs. 15 20

The présentation of data in Fig. 8 clearly illustrâteste drop in delivery that is experiencec with a fully-illed, filler cigarette 23'' as one progresses from theirst puff to subséquent puf fs. In contrast, theiller-tree cigarette did not suffer the drop in delivery asith the fuliy-filled, filler cigarette 23 1 ' .

The présentation of data in Fig. 8 also clearlylluatrates that the partially-filled, filler cigarette 23rcvcdes consistency in delivery comparable to that of theiiiar-free cigarette 23' throughout the six puffs.'urtnermore, it does so with a contribution of eut-filler to .ts nas ta and subjective impact.

Faferring to Table II, data was collected indicative;f hrw changes in the amount cf heater overlap at the void 25 010628 in a cigarette constructed in accordance with cigarette 23can affect delivery. The data presented in Table II wasproduced from machine smoking of partially filled cigaretteshaving a 32 mm tobacco rod, a 7 mm free-flow filter at thetipped end of the tobacco rod and a 30 mm lonc tiooing,wherein the heater foctprint was 12 cm long and centered atthe midooint of the tobacco rod of each cicrarette

Table II 10 15

Void Length (mm) 4 7 2, 0 ïes-er over"ao alonc the void (mm) 1 7 Feater cverlap aiong the tobacco pire 11 s 5 Average TFM 4.9 5 . 5 7 . 0 A.djusted Average T?M (lowest reading 5 . 2 5 . 9 7 . 3 cmitted) Standard Déviation of A.djusted Average .34 . 53 50 20

Fig. S provices a graphical présentation of totaloarticulate matter (T?M) delivered versus the amount ofheater-filler cverlap (in millimeters). The data shown rein was generated using standar d testing techniques for ermining FTC "tar" levais using Cambridge pads and two- ond ouff innervais on standard smoking machines. The tested cicarettes were partially-filled, filler cigaretteshaving a carbon liber base web and a total length of 53 mm,exceot that the data appearang alcr.g the ordinate in Fig. 9 5Ί tcoa cons the tco a void 010628 vers cbtained from a fiiler-free cigarette having a carbonfiber base web and the same total length. As the heater-co overlap was varied, the heater footprint remained aant length and remained centered upon the mid-point oftobacco rod. Accordingly, any increase in heater-co overlap oreated a proportional decrease in heater-cveriap. The heater was a serpentine type having a 10 r footprint of approximately 10 mm. Ail the data takenïther indicates that a second order relationship existsthese circumstances between total oarticulate matter 15 20 ie — i* :resi

w _C 1er overlap. The data set of data set forth heater-fille r overlap ed (target) 1svs X o £ cigarette 23 • ciller overlap is the tsired "tar" level in for reasons including •ery on a partoaiiy-ciiiec, roi.tsting the amount of heated method of achieving a^_y filled, ciller cigarette: the rinding that changes in heater-filler overlap hâve amore oronounoed and controllable effeot on delivery than dochanges in rod density at the tobacco plug 00. Also, thisaperçach allows one to select rod density in the tobaccomlcg £0 cor ptorposes other than tar level, such as tonontrol loose ends and/or to create a desired degree of•tressera drop and/or filtration at the free end 73 of thetobacco rod 50, or otherwise facilitate manufacturing. It 2_lso orovides the capacity to alter tar delivery amongst ?5 58 0 1 0628 - •'CP' —elated cigarette products wrthout having ta necensarilychance either the tobacco web 66 or the tobacco plug 80.

It is also advantageous to configura the relativedimensions cf the partially-filled, filler cigarette 23 andchose cf the heater fixture 3 9 of. the lighter 21 such that:ion of the cigarette 23 into the lighter 21, each element 37 locates aloncside the tobacco roc. Go such;hat ai least some, if not ail of the heater footorints 10 suüsr^css cr.ly the filled portion of ùhs tobacco rod 60 s CVS* uiis tobacco plug 80) . In such cor.f icu’-ations , the void Si st ill facilitâtes aérosol forma . t ion and helps cocl *he smcke. It is beiieved that the ·**· *- O A . flow filter 74 15 20 helps promcte aérosol formation bv its nresentir.c a fiowccnstricticn to the aérosol constitueras as they are beincdraw-n from the wider voie SI. In this regard, it is to benotée that the free-flow filter 74 of the tobacco rod 50présents edges 73 and 75 at the transitions between it andthe voie SI on one side and between it and the free-flowfilter 102 on the other, respectively. These edees 73 and75 are a conséquence of the free-flow filter 74 having asmaller inside radius than either of the other two, adjacentrégions (the void 91 and space enclosed within the free-flowfilter 102! . It is beiieved that these edges 73 and 75 (andtossiblv other, adjacent portions of the free-flow filter"4; oromote turbulence and other flow conditions favorableto the formation of an aérosol from the cas-phase andoarticulate phase constituants released from the heated 25 59 0 î Ο628 tobacco portions of the tobacco rod 60. F.eferring now to Fig. 10/ a cigarette 23a is ccnstructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of t. TP "ÜZT esent invention having components and arrangements — p sar.e as set forth in the discussion of cigarette 23 in view ci ? ig. 4A, but with the addition of a back-flow filter 2C0a s .ted at the free end 78a of the tobacco rod 60a. Lg. 3Λ fiow filter 200a prevents tobacco trom the tobacco S3a :rom escaping at the free end 78a. The free fiow 10 15 20 filter 200= may as well be coiored so as to indicate thatthe cigarette 23a is one fer use in an eiectrical smokincdevine instead cf one for being ignited wich a match cr aconvar.ticnal cigarette lighter as wich more tradicionalcigarettes. Although the back fiow filter 20Ca is shown asa secarate composent of the wrapped tobacco plug 80a, cnerav for ccnvenience in the manufacture cf the cigarette 23acocotte the tobacco plug 80a wich the back fiow filter 200avith a plug wrap (not shown) . With the back fiow filterclug, the cigarette 23a may be provided wich a tobacco plugîCa havinc a low rod density without risking problème suchas ic'cse ends or tobacco faliing out of the tobacco rod 60a.A_s reveaied in EF-A-0,615,411, and in copending and commonlyassistez, U.S. patent application Serial No. 07/943,504,riled Sectember 11, 1952 (FM 1550) and in commonly assigned C.S. Fa tant No. 5,383,534 (PM 1697) , the backf low filter TOCa is configurée to limât or wholly prevent the rel ease cf s ercsrl fret the free end 78a of the tobacco rod 60a at the 23 6 0 01 0 G 2 3 conclusion of a puff and to create a pressura drop at thefree end 73a so as to favorabiy limit the amount of air tbmais drawn into the cigarette 23a from 'the free end 78a in 5 relation to the proportional amount of air admitted alongth-e sides of the tobacco rod 60a.

With regard to design techniques for the partiallyfilied, filler cigarette 23 of the preferred embodiment,heater energies and the amour." of heater-filler overlap can Λ be used to estabiish ar.d/or adjust delivery to a desired"car" levai. Acoordingly, in the course of desigr.ing a newcartially filied, filler cigarette 23, a sélection of roddensity in the tobacco plue 80 is generally available forachieving a desired degree of pressure drop at the free end“8 ard/or to control backflow, in the same ma.oner as isachieved with a backflow filter 200a of the alternatsembodiment 23a.

Referring now to Fig. -11, another cigarette 23bccr.structed in 'accordants with another preferred embodimentof the oreser.t invention inciudes a tobacco plug 80b whichoemerises a low density portion 310b adjacent the voie 91band a hich density portion 32Cb adjacent the free end 78b ofthe cioarecte rod 60b. The cigarette 23b is cor.figured suchthat the heater footprint 943 overlaps the low densityoertion 310b of the tobacco plug 80b so as to obtainenhanced delivery achievable with the lower rod densities.The hich density région of eut filler 320b is arranged toavoic loose ends and to limit transmission of air axially 61 01 062 8 thrcugh the rod 6 0b in a manner analogous to the backflowfiltar 200a.

Presently prefsrred heater embodiments are show inFIGs. 12-21. These heaters are su.ic.able for any of checicarecce embodiments heretofore described; that is chefuliy filled, partiaily filied and filler free cigarettes ofrictrss 4a, 4b, Sa, 7a, 10 and 11, and modifications of

These he aters provide improved mech anical strength for insertions, adj ustments and rénovais of cigarettes 23 and signifie antly improve the génération of aeroso’s from ja = r^rs'-a’T.e whi 1 e maintaining energy recuirem.ents. It bas been found chat the générâted aérosols tend to flow rad; Lally inward away from a pulsed r*^·; - e

Generaiiy, there are preferably eight heater blades121 to provide eight puffs upon seçruencial firing of theheater blades 121, thereby simulating the puff count of acor.vercicnai cigarette. Specifically, the heater blades 121eoctenr. from hub 110 to form a cylindrical arrangement ofheater blades to receive an inserted cigarette 23 .Preferably, a gap 129 is defined between adjacent heater blades 121. 2t may be cesired to change the number of puf fs, 3-·^ the number of heater blades 121, achieved when acigarette is inserted inco the cylindrical réceptacle CR.Titis desired number is achieved by formant a desired number 62 0îΟ 628 10 15 of heater blades 121. Thas car. be achieved by providinçerually cr uneçually sized blades.

The heacer fixcure is disposed in the orifice 27 inthe lighter 25. The cigarette 23 is ir.serted, optionalback-flow filter 200 first, in the orifice 27 in the lighter2Ξ into a substantially cviindrical spacs of the heatertexture 3 9 defined by a rirg-shaped cap E3 having an openec.d fer receiving the cigarette, a cylindrical air channelsleeve 67, a heater assambly 100 includinç the he-atsr blades121, an eleccrically conductive pin or ccrason lead 104A,which serves as a common lead for the heater eienen.es of theheater assembly, electricallv conductive positifs oins orlèses 1043, and the spacer. The boctom inner surface 61 ofthe spacer stops the cigarette 23 in a desired position inthe heater fixcure 39 such that the heater blades 121 areccspcsec adjacent the cavity 79 in the cigarette, and in a 20 or=ferr=d emboditnent are disposed as descri'bed previously wtth respect to Figures 1 to 11. Substantially ail of the heater fixture 39 .5 disposée and secured in position by a snug fit with the 25 heusing 31 of the front 33 of the lighter 25. A ferwardedge 33 of the cap 63 is preferably disposed at or extendingslighcly outside the first end 29 of the lighter 25 andcreferablv includes an internally beveled or rounded portionte facilitate guiding the cigarette 23 into and out of theheater fixture 39. The pins 104A and 1043 are preferablyreceived in corresponding sockets (not sr.own) , thereby 10 63 0 1 0628 prc-ziding support for the heater fixture 3 9 in the lighter25, and conductors or printed circuits lead from the socketto the various electrical éléments. Other pins can provideadddticnal support to strengthen the pin assembly. The tins104A and 1043 can comprise any suitable material andpreferablv comprise tinned phosph'orous bronze. The passagewav 47 in the spacer and the base 50 communicacesvitr. the puf f-actuated sensor 45 and the lighc sensor 53sentes the presence or absence of a cigarette 23 in the 15 20 25 atgnter z: .

As seen in FIGs. 12 and 13, the heatsr assembly 100 isrreferablv a monolithic structure which ccmorises eiohtheater blades 121 extending from a central hub 1110 in asymimetrical arrangement or, as discussed belcw in referenceto FIG 19, in a non-symmetrical arrangement. As best seenin 723. 13, the heater assembly cefines a generally circulerinsertion cpening 360 having a throat 365 whioh directs theinserted cigarette toward the coaxially defined cylindricalreoeotaole CA having a diameter which is less than insertioncper.ing 350. Insertion cpening 350 is defined bv respectiveend portions 1103 of the connecting sections 118 of theheater blades 121, and the throat section 355 is defined bvthe portion of sections 118 between connecting edge 118A andend 1153. Insertion end 360 preferablv has a diameter whichis oreater than the inserted cigarette 23 to guide thecigarette towards the réceptacle CR, and the réceptacle CRhas a d*’ameter aooroximatelv eoual to cioarette 23 to ensure 64 010G28 ίο a snug fit for a good transfer of thermal energv. Cigarette22 preferably ras a diameter which is approximately eçual tothe range of diameters known in the art. Given acceotahlemanufaoturing tolérances for cigarette 23, the craduallynarrowing area or throat 3 65 in the transition between thedistal end and the reoeptacle CR car- also serve to slightlycor.press the cigarette to increase the thermal contact withthe surrounding blades 121 service as an inner wall of thereoeptacle. 3y way of non-limiting example, insertion end35' preferably has an internai diameter of approximately0.255 in., = 0.02 in. and reoeptacle CR preferably has andiameter of approximately 0.273 in., ± 0.02 in..20 can be bcwed irward to increase thermal ira r_aces .ctinc the diamete; 15 contact with the cigarette bv censthe cvlindrical réceptacle. 3ach U-shaped heater blade 121 comprises a firstsection or leg 115A extending at a first end from hub 111, aconnecting section 118 connectée to an opposite second end 20 of the first section or leg USA, and a second section orleg 1153 extending at a first end from connecting section113 tcward hub 111. First and second legs 116A and 1153 are y a gap 125 which can be relatively constant, are preferably substantially parallel in any ur.rolled Stateas in Fils. 13 and 19 discussed below, are continuons in thedirection of cigarette insertion to reduce undesiredsr.ag-girg cf the cigarette and are orientée to define acvlrndrioal reoeptacle CR for the inserted cigarette 23. 65 10 15 20 25 010628

Connecting section 113 has a curved joining edge 118A tojcin cpposing inner edge s of the blade legs USA and 1163suer chat an elongated ü-shaped résistive path is formedwhich is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axisof the irserted cigarette and extends alongside thecigarette, as discussed in greater detail below. Curvedjciring edge USA preferably has a curvature ofapproxinately 130° ±20° so that a ü-shaped blade is formedand has a curvature which is concave toward the hub lll andccnvex toward the insertion opening 360, The first end offirst blade leg USA at hub 111 car. hâve an increased width,with. the saine approximate thickness, at portion 115relative to the remair.der of first leg 116A to lower thecurrert density and the power density at portion 115 toreducs chr.ic heating of portion 115. Aise, this wideningincreases the mechanical ir.tegrity of the blade 121 at hub * * 1 A second end 122 of second blade leg 1163 isoreferably elevated relative to the main pertion of secondblade section 1163 in a step shape to facilitate electricalccmecticn with a respective positive pin 1043. Moresoecifically, as shown in FZGs . 12 and 13, end 122 comprisesthree sections, namely, a section 122A which is asucs ranci al ly planar continuation of the main section ofsecond blade leg 1163, a transition section 1223 which risesat -- arcle as shown, and a connecting end section 122Cwhich is cenerally parallel with section 122.-.. The sections

I 66 0î0628 10 15 20 ci end 122 can hâve a wider width than second blade leg 1223for increasec. strength, co provide an adéquate contact areaior a positive connection at connecting end section 122C,and to lower the current density and thus the ohmic heatingci end 122. 3nd section 122C is preierably tack welded oreieotricaily and mechanically ·connected by any othertechnique to positive pin 1043.

Another embodiment ior achieving the ocsitiveconnections ior the heater blades 121 is shown in FIGs. 14and 15. The connecting end 122 is preierably not scep-shaped as in FIGs. 12 and 13; rather, it is a substantiallyplanar extension oi second heater leg 11-33, which simpliiiesthe iabrication ciscussed below. To decrease thepossibiiity oi shorts arising irom contact between thepositive end 122 with the hub 111 and/or the section 115 oiiirst leg USA as, e.g., the inserted cigarette is twisted or otherwise adjusced by ,the smoker, an eieotricailyinsulatir.g ceramic coating 300 is applied to end 122, hub111 and section 115, espeoially to the respective iaoingedges oi these éléments.

Freierably, the ceramic coating is applied by anytonventional technique, e.g., plasma spraying, to the hub111, connecting end 122, and section 115 oi first leg USA.The ceramic preierably has a relativeiy high dielectricconstant. Any appropriais electrical insulator can beemoloved suoh as alumine, zirconia, mulite, corderite,soinel, iosterite, combinations thereoi, etc. Preierablv, 25 67 0 î 0628 ancther ceramic is employed h.avina a thermal 10 15 20 zirconia or coefficient of expansion which closely matches that of t’h-eunderlving métal heater structure to avoid différences inexpansion and contraction rates during heating and cooling,thereby avoiding cracks and/or délaminations duringcceraticn. The ceramic layer remains physically andcher.icaiiy stacie as the heater element is heated. Athickness of, e.g., approximately 0.1 to 10 mils, orapcroximately 0.5-6 mils, and more preferably 1-3 mils, iscreferred for the electrical insulator. Preferably, ancrtion of end 122 is not coated. Positive pins 1043 areCher, connectée as ciscussed to this exposed portion. Tosimelify masking, a corresponding portion of section 115 is likewise not coated wi The ceramic can th ceramic. also be applied , e.g., in the stras plasma spraying step, in the gap 127 between the ends 122 and sections 115 of first legs 11SA and in the gap 126 between the ends 122 and hub 110 to form a cer amie hub structure to increase the mechanical integrity of the heaterasserbly, as shown in Pig. 15. The sise of this ceramic hubstructure car he larger than shown. With or without thisaddititnal ceramic application, the ceramic coatingelectrically insulates the positive connecting ends 122, andthe uicth gaps 127 and 125 can be decreased while protectionδgains: shorts is provided. Accordingly, the end section122 and section 215 of first leg USA can hâve an increasedarea, thereby further strengthening the réceptacle, and, in 25 68 010628 chs case of the csramic hub, increasing the skeletalstructure and further screngthening the heater assembly. Inaddition, such a ceramic coating smooths sharp edgesdefinir.c the gaps 125 and 127 to reducs the Dotential ofsnagging and damaging the cigarette, especially during 15 10 --sert-on, rQmoval and any adjustment by the smoker. terrrt'v-1;/, the e ntire blade 121 and particularlv f irst and second legs USA and 2 .163 are completely coated on one surface, e . g. , the outer surface facing awav from the cigarette, both ü ds inner and outer surfaces, and/or the the gaps with a ceramic laver, e • g ·. approxtmately 2 mil. Of Z2 .rconia, to strengeher. the he S Ü 27 blades, maintain .ing caps if desired. The blades 121 car. accordingly be thinner, e.c., approximately 2 to 20 acprcximately 6 mil., thereby increasing the résistance oftes heater path and permitting the blades to be wider forincreased thermal interface with the inserted cigarette 23w'nile naintaining the same overall blade résistance. Thisincreased brade width, along with the ceramic laver, furtherstrsr.ctr.et the heater structure. Also, the ceramic coatinget the outer surface of the blades 121 facing awav from theinssrtst cigarette may prevent thermal losses from a heatedblade to the ambient. The ceramic is prsferably applied vianLasma scraying or anv other method described in the relatedacclications and oreferably is apolied via électron beamnnvsical vaocr deecsition to avoid inducement of residualstresses which may be induced during processinc in plasma 25 69 010628 to spraying from surface treatment and/or particle imcact.

Each blade 121 foras a résistive heater Elément. Mors specifically, the first end 115 of first blade section 116Ais electrically ccnnected to the négative terminal of thepower supply, and more specifically is an intégral extensiono: hub 111 or is mechanically and electrically ccnnected tohui LU, which in turn is in aleccrical and mechanicalconnectée to négative terminal pin 104A via tack welding orancther technique such as brazing or soldering. Preferably,cwc rerminal pins 104A are used to provide a balancedsupport since the négative and positive connections alsoserve to mechanically support the heater. The hub 111 thusfuretions as an electrical common for ail of the heater 15 biades 2 2Ί . 2 n any of the embociments, the n egat ive tonne et icn for enzh î heater can be made individuaily by, e. O . e négative contact ceposited on an end of 20 the heater opposite the respective positive contact areasL22 . A respective positive connection for each heater bladeL21 is made at connecting end section 122C of the secondclade section 1153 as discussed. Connecting end section1222 is electrically isolated or insulated irom common hub112 by a gap 127; from first blade section USA, andparticularly first end 115, of the associated heater blade122 hy a gap 125; and from the adjacent heater blade by gap131 co avoid shorts and to permit thermal expansion. Inaddicion, the discussed ceramic coatings are cptionaily 25 70 010628 applied. Altematively, connecting end sections 122C areresoectivelv connected to ground.

The discussed positive and négative connections5 provide a résistive path, and more specifically a circuit,cor currenc applied from the source of electricai energy,e.g., via the control circuitry, to a particular blade(s)120 upon activation of the smoking system by a smoker'sdnaw. The primary heated area of the blade comorises first 10 blade lac 1I6A, eoge portion 118A and second blaae leg 1163.À-Ccordingly, a portion of the inserted cigarette 23ur-derlving and ccntacting the actuated blade 121 extendingalcngside will be heated in an outer surface patternro-resoondinc to the heated ocrcion ci the blade, i.e., in 15 an elongated U-shape corresponding to the overlying blade,rrimarily via conduction and radiation, with some convectionlikelv cccurring. In addition, the portion of the insertedcioareite between the legs, i,. e. , underlying gap 125, is heated bv overlatroing or intersecting, cumulative radiative >0 * and conductive heat transfer from both leg 115.-. and leg1153. If gap 125 is coo large, desired overlapping willnet coeur and the portion of the inserted cigaretteur.derlyinc gap 125 will not be adequately heated. Also, 5 radiative and conductive heat will heat strip portions of the inserted cigarette slightly beyond the outer edges ofheater blade lecs USA and 1153. The varions heatedportions together constitues a heated région of thecicarette 23 that exter.ds from slightly beyond the outer 71 0 î Ο 6 2 8 ίο 15 20 ed-e of leg USA, beneath leg USA., across gap 125, beneathleg 1153, and sligntly beyor.d leg 1163 cf an actuated blade121 and which correspond co a puer of gencrated tobacccflaver. The size of the heated portion is dépendent uponnhe hlade geometry and heating characteristics as well asnhe and duration of the energy puise. Preferably, ohe heater blade is sized and thermally aesigned toultitcately heat a segment of the inserted cigarette having sutrccren: seze, e.g. 18 ;crua: mm, to generate an acceptable puff to the smoker in response to a puff-actuatedenergy puise.

Relatively larger blade end areas 115 and 122 forxinga part of the current path are not heated te these ooeratinctempératures since their relatively larger volumes lowerthe current density, and thus lower the ohmic heating. Also,a section of connecting end section 113 is net heated tothese cperating températures since the heating path tends tofollcw edge 118A and this section-constitutes a relativelylarger volume and acoordingly has a lower current density,and chus has a lower ohmic heating, than the edge USA andimmédiatelv adjacent sections. To further reduce undesiredheating of the remainder of connecting portion 118, one canil) inorease the thickness of the monolithic material ofportion 118 relative to curved edge 118A in a région 113C tofurther reduce current density and ohmic heating, as shownin FZG. 5, (2) perforate portion 118 to reduce ohmic and/orheat conduction maths, and/or (3) add an additional heat 25 72 0 î Ο 6 2 8 10 15 20

SL m=

SU nk materiel 119 onto portion 118 to reçues thermalansfer to the portion, as shown in FIG, 6. To achieveis beat sink function, a thermaily non-conductiveaterial, i..e., a thermal insulator such as a ceramic, isrpiied. Examples of suitable ceramics inclues alumina,rrconia, a mixture of alumina and ' zirconia, mulite, etc.,s is the case with the heater brade coating. Any of theseédifications should be evaluatsd for any adverse effect onhe mechanical intecrity of connecting portions 118 which:rt the heater assembly 100 and define an insertion and"ithcrawal opening for the cigarette.

After a heater blade 121 is pulsed, thsre is aredetermined minimum time before a subséquent puff isermitted. Prématuré heating of a portion of the cigaretteoulc also resuit in undesired and/or partial aérosoleneration or heat-induced dégradation of the cigaretteorrion orior to the desired hdating. Subséquent reheating.f a previously heated portion can resuit in undesiredmavers and testes being eveived.

If a longer puff is desired tnan is obtained by arulsing of a single heater blade, then the control logic is:onficured to firs another heater or additional heater:lads(s) immediately after the pulsing of the initial heater:lade, or during a final portion ci the initial pulsing, toteat another segment of the cigarette. The additionalteacer blade can be a radially successive heater blade oranother heater blade. The heater blades should be sized to 25 73 0 J Ο 6 2 6 ,he total desired number of tiuff of a desired

In. one embodiment, the number of hentsr blades 121corresponds to the number of desired puf fs, g.g., eight. inamocher embodiment, the number of formed heater blades 121 10 is twice the number of puf fs, e.g., there are sixteen cornions with heaters for an e.ight puff cigarette. Such a configuration permets dit firent f^'r^ng seque.nces than the normal successive fir ing of approximat ely 2 seconds, and 15 20 trecerably the radiallv seçuential firing setusnce for anemb-odiment wherein the number cf heating blades 121corresponds to the puff count. For exemple, the logic circuit car. dictate that two ciroumf erer.ciaily oooositerester blades 121, i.e., heater blades separated by 180° onthe tube, fire simultaneously to jointly beat an adéquateac.cunt cf the cigarette to generate a puff. Alternative!/,a ftrsi firing sequence of everv ocrer heater blade 121 fora ccgarette is followed by a second firing sequence of theintervening heater blades 121 for the r.ext cigarette.Alternative!'/, this first firing sequence car. be repeatedftr a rredetermined lire cycle of numerous cigarettes andcher. the second firir.g sequence iritiated. Any combinationcf heater blades can be employed. The number of heaterblades can be less chan, equal to, or creater than theremuer of ouffs of a single employed cigarette. Forexa.r.ole, a rire blade System can be employed for a six-puffcicarette wherein a different set of six heacers is fired 25 74 Ο 1 0 C 2 8 :tU ;s 1 = rh subséquent cigarette and tue associated set ofing tires heaters is rut rired. ’he heater assembly 100 is electrically andicaliy relativelv fixed at one end via the welding of104A to hub 110 and of pins 1063 to ends 122. Pinsne 1043 are preferably pre-molded into plastic hub, ortse fixedly connected thereto, preferably in a mariner 10 15

ζ-J limite air leakage. Preferably, thite the insertion opening 360. The connecting sectionsr.c specificallv opposite ends 1133 opposite connectingUSA, define the insertion opening 350. End sectionscar. tiare outward to define a throat section 365.Ξ 121 then narrow frorn this throat section to definecernai diameter which is slightly less than the outerter of the inserted cigarette 23 at, tut to provide desired thermalessive forces, between the blades and the cigarette,actions USB are free to expand when heated, i.e., endcr.s 1153 are not fixed. More specificaliy, each endis positioned within a corresponding charnel 210ed in inner fait 201 of lighter end cap 83. Moreficaiiy, the radiallv outward movement of end sectionstf inwardly biased blades 121 are arrested by ends 1183reine radtally outward walls of channels 210, therebylishing a boundary for the biasing and defining ched tias . This inward bias mav supplemented by the inwardration bias as disrussed. As shown, inner wall 201 is ixec end is e . g . , the bladecontact, i.e.

As shown, inner wall 201 Ί5 010628 flared outward to permit insertion of a portion of bladeends 1133. The radially outward wall of channel 200concacting end 1183 is sized and shaped to permit insertion 5 of an adéquats amount of blade end 1183 such that the bladeend wiil net exit channel 210 during, heating or cooling ofthe blade cr insertion or withdrawal of the cigarette. ifdesired, this radially outward channel wall is provided witha rase, e.g., a trapezoid, which contacts the ends 118B. In 10 an alternative embodiment, a portion 118D of blade end 1183is rounded, and more speoifically elliptical, prior to theins-rted end portion 1183. This rounded portion USDpermets the inserted portion to pivot within channel 210 iniesp~r.se to thermally or mechanically incuced moments, 15 therebv maintaining the inserted portion of the blade endwitbàn channel 210. Additonally or alternatively, bladeends 1183 are more rounded.

In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, channel 210 issized such that end 1183 of the heater blade 121 can expand 20 in a translating marner, i.e., toward end face 202 of charnel 210, upon ir.ser tion of the cigarett e 23 and/or blade, so that desired contact between the cigarette and the blaces is achieved. Such an arrangement, wrerstin me end of the blade is f ree relative to the 25 opccsiteiy located hub, permits mechanical displacementand/cr thermal extension and contraction of the heaterfclades 121 in the longitudinal direction upon respectivecicarette insertior./withdrawal and/or blade heating/cooling, 01 0628 thereby reducing stresses. In a second embodiment shown inFIG. 14, an abutment 204, which may be trapézoïdal, islocated within the channel 210 sucn that as heater blade 121 5 expands thermally upon heating or displaced as cicarette 23is inserted, end 1133 contacts abutment 204 and estabüshesa pivot point to allow blade 121 to bias inward toward theinserted cigarette 23, thereby reducing stresses on theblade and incrsasing desired thermal contact, i.e., 10 compressive forces, between the blade and the cigarette. Byrivet ceint, it is meant that the blade 121 is free torotate, bot preferably not translate, at this abutment 204.

The heater assembly 100 is thus preferably ar.crclithic structure which optionally is ccated with a 15 ceraric as discussed. The hub 111 and heater blades 121 arefabricated frem a matériel having desired electricalrésistance and strength. For example, materials havingelectrical résistance in the range of approximately 50 toaccroximately 500 gohm.cm, and more preferably approximately 2® 120 to accroximately 200 piohm.cm are prefsrred, such that t er.ceratures cf accroximately 20-0°C to approximately 1000°C,and creferably approximately 4ÛO°C to approximately=F0‘C,and more preferably approximately 30Q°C toarcrcximstelv S50eC are reached by the activâtes blade 120 25 in accroximately 0.2 to approximately 2.0 sec. with a puise ;f accroximately 10 to approximately 50 Joules, more preferably accroximately 10 to approximately 25 Joules, andever. more preferably approximately 20 Joules. The matériel 77 0 1 0628 should 10 13 20 23 be able to withstand approximately 1800 toapproximately 10,0QQ such puises without suffering failure,significant dégradation, or undesired sagging of the blades121.

The materials of which the heater blades 121 are madeare preisrably chosen to ensure reliable repeated uses of atleast 1500 on/off cycles without fallure. The heaterfixture 39 is preferably disposable separately from thelighter 25 including the power source 37 and the circuitry,which is preferably disposed of after 3500 cycles or more.The heater matériels and other metallic componenrs are alsochosen basée on their oxidation résistance and general lackof reactivities to ensure that they do not cxidi2e orotherwise react with the cigarette 23 at any températurelikely to be encountered. If desired, the heater blades 121and cther metallic components are encapsulated in an inertbeat-connueting matériel such as a^suitable ceramio matérielto further avoid oxidation and reaction. y.cre oreferably, however, the heater blades 121 andother metallic comoonents ara made from a heat-resistantalloy that exhibits a combination of high mechanicalstrettgth and résistance to surface oxidation, corrosion anddégradation at high températures. Preferably, the heaterblades 121 are made from a material that exhibits highstrencth and surface stability at températures up to about50 c-ercent of their melting points. Such alloys include the s; y ’-^fsrmsb to as super-alloys and are generally 0 î Ο 6 2 8 15 basse ce nickel, iron., or cobalt. For examole, allovs ofcrimarily iron or nickel with aluminum and yttrium aresuitable. Preferably, the alloy of the heater blades 121incluses aluminum to further imçrove the performance of theheater slersnt, e.g., by providing oxidation résistance.

Freferred materials incluce iron and nickel aluminidesand mest preferably the allcys disclose.d is conmonlyassignée, copending U.S. patent applications Serial No.03,'355. 952 filed December 29, 1994, and especially Serial

No. ______filed concurrently herewith, entitled "~rcn Aluminide Allcys Useful as Flectrical RésistanceZ-eatinc Eléments" (Attorney Docket No, PM 1755) , wnich areinccrpcrated by reference in their entirecies.

Several éléments can be used as additions to theN1..A.1 allcvs. 3 and Si are the principal additions to thealloy for heater laver 122. 3 is thought to enhance grain 20 boundary strength and is most effective when the Ni3Al isnickel rich, e.g., Al <_ 24 at . 1. Si is not added to theNi.Al alloys in large quantifies since addition of Si bevonda taxirta of 2 weigbt percent will form silicices of nickeland ueen exidstien will lead to SiOx. The addition of Moimproves strength at low and higln températures. Zirconiumassises in imoroving oxide spalling résistance curingthermal evelinc. Also, Hf can be added to improved hightsmeersture strength. Preferred Ni3Al alloy for use as thesuhstrate 300 and résistive heater 122 is desccnatec IC-50and is reccrted to comprise approximately 77.52¾ Ni, 21.73¾ 25 79 ÜÎ 0628 A;. C.34V Zr and 0.01¾ 3 in "Processing oc Intemetallic

Anumrnrces" ,

Processif.: V. Sikka, Γη(-β· 10

Me t a liurcv

Tr.termetall· ic CompounCLS., ed. Stolorf et al., VanNestrar.d Reinhold, N. Y., 1994, Table 4. Varions elemencscan be added to the iron aluminide. Possible additionsinduis Nb, Cu, Ta, Zr, Ti, Mn, Si, Mo and Ni. The heatermatériel can be the Haynes® 214 alloy ( Haynes® kllov No. 214,a nickel-bassd alloy containing 15.0 percent chromium, 3.0cernent iron 4.5 percent aluminum, traces oc yttrium and theremainder (acorcximately 75 percent) , commercially available frem Haynes International oc Kokomc, Indiana) , mconel 702alloy, MTrAlY alloy, FeCrAlY, Nichrome® brand ailoys (54-30¾ 15 20 nickel, 10-20¾ chromium, 7-27¾ iron, 0-11¾ ccooer, 0-5¾manganèse, 0.3-4.5¾ Silicon, and sometimes 1¾ mclybdenum,?-ir 2.25¾ titanium; Nichrome I is staced to contain 60¾nickel, 25¾ iron, 11¾ chromium, and 2¾ manganèse; NichromeII, 75¾ nickel, 22¾ iron, 11¾ chromium, and 2¾ manganèse;and Nichrome III, a heat-resisting alloy containing 35¾nickel and 15¾ chromium), as described in commor.lv assignedcarent ratant application £ar. No. 08/380,718, filée January30, 1995 and U.S. Pacent No. 5,388,594, or matériels having similar properdes.

As shown in FIG. 12, the heater bladss 121 area to extend symmetrically from hub 111.

Aitsmativelv, non-svmmetrio arrangements are employed . Ferexemple, che pluraiity, e.g., six ce eight, of heater blades121 car be subdiviced ir.to, e.g., two eçually numbered 25 80 010628 subçrcups of, e.g., three or four, heater blades. Thehsater blades in each subgroup are separated by gaos 131 asdiscussed previously. The subçroups are separated by awroer gap le 5, as shown in t IG. 19 m the unrolled fiat

State. C-ap 13 5 is defined such that conductive andespeoially radiative beat transter from adjacent blades 121ci adjacent subçrcups is tninimized to the portion of 10 23 underlying the cap 135. Accordingly, gap 135 13 20 provides a wider unheated and robust oorticn of thecigarette which is stronger than unheated portions of thecigarette underlying narrower caps 131, wherebv the columnstrencth of cigarette 23 is improved to aid in removal ofthe cigarette after smoking and conséquent heatinc, andweaker.ing, ci portions. If cesired, the logio can activatemore than cne heater simultaneouslv in the symmetric or non-sçnr.c.etrio arrangement.

The présent invention having two heater legs 116A and115Ξ secarated by a gap 125 résulta in significantincrovements in the amount of aérosol çenerated whenccr.cared to the amount generated by a solid heater element.A solid heater aohieves cood thermal transfer with theotcarette; however, mass transfer of aérosol into the drawnair flcw is compromised by the solid structure blockingcroirai entrainment of air located outside cf the cigarettethe i.r.okinc svstem housing is provided with perforations for-----outside cf the enclosure to the cigarette tspecially if the enclosure o: 81 010628

yfO 15 20 outar surface. A heater acoording to the présent inventionhavinc ths sams volume as a solad heater but having a largernerimeter results in a hacher opportunity for entrainment,e.g., due to cep 125, end accordingly results in an improved of energy to the blade 121. Asddscussed, cap 125 should sized to provide optimal radiationovsrlap for a given blade geometry. Since a higher amountcf aérosols are generated, the recuired mass of the bladesr = n ο-ξ decreased while generating the same desired amount offlavors, resulting in a lighter unit and a decreasa in therecuired to aderustelv beat the heater blades 121 andwhich further reduces the weight of the unit since the power source, e.c., batteries, can cesceller. 3y way of non-limiting example, gep 125 can beaccroximately 0.020 in., ± approximatsly .005 in. wide ;bled; r_av< :r delivery ner uiuî energyinsert.ec cigarette, arc de lecs 11 SA and 1153 can be approximatsly 0.0125 in. to rcxic.at ely 0.017 in., ± approximately .005 in. wide and -rcxinately 0.55 in., ± approximately .005 in. long; and srcxir.ateiy .00 8 in. to approximately .010 in. thick t ± :rcxic.ately .005 in.; and the length from th e hub 110 e dge the tip c f ccnn .ectinc section 113 can be approximat s iy ^7 * - -u ancre ximatelv .0S25 in. Zt has been founc that a primarily transverse or air flow relative to the inserted cigarette resultsmore désirable smcke génération than a primarilyThe caps 125, 127 and 131 provide cathwavs for air te be drawn into contact with the inserted loncd tudinal flow. 25 82 010628 cigarettes. Additional air passages are provided. tocptimite the transverse air flow by perforating sections of

Ar.other embodiment of blade geometry is shown in FIG. 15, wherein both first leg 116Ά and second leg 1163 are serpentine shaped. The serpentine shapes of legs USA and 1153 are parallel such that the legs are even ,ly spaced and 10 cap 125 is also serpentine-shaped. Such a serpentine shaoeincreases the blade perimeter, and thus improves the aérosolerrrsinnent. This serpentine shape is described tors fullyin as described ΞΡ-Α-0,615,411 and in commonly assicnedparent patent application Ser. No, 08/380,713, filed January30 15 = 5 and U.S. Patent No. 5,388,554. 15 20 25 A first preterred method of fabrication will now bedescribed with reference to FÏGs . 18 and 19. Thefabrication steps defined herein may be performed in anydesired créer to achieve manufacturing speeds, matérielssa’.'ings, etc. A sheet or strip of an appropriate material having athackness cf, e.g., approximately 2 to approximately 20 mil,e.g. approximately 10 mil, is formed to define a pluralitycf blades 121 extending generally perpendicularly viarespective first blade sections 116A, and particularly viarespective first end’sections 115, from a generally straightsentier. 111A in a comb-like arrangement. The blades 121 arescicstarrially oarallel to one another with caps 131 locatedcetweer. the ocoosinc edces second blade section 1153 of one 83 010628

blad.e a_nd the first blade section USA or m adj ucesx U' 3 - .ate.

As discussed, 10 15 20 25 the blades 121 are eithersymrretricaily arranced with eçrual caps 131 therebetween asshevn in FIG. 18, or are non-symmetrically arranged, e.g.,with eçual caps 131 between adjacent blades 121 definingsubccrcups 121A and 1213 of blades and a larger distance 133between the two subgroups of width X as shown in FIC-. 19.Nota that straight section 111A has two end portions with aleng-th ci at least half the lengtn of one haïr X to form asecond distance 133 upon rollinc. These end portions shouldbe longer than X to provide an overlap for connection. 3yway of ncn-iimitinc exanple, gap 131 cnn be approximatelyC.240 in., ± .025 in. wide in any of the embodiments and gao125 car. be approximately 0.125 in., ± .005 in. wide in thenon-symétrie al embodiment.

The blades are conficured as discussed previously tofort connecting section 118 and the legs 116A and 11-3.

This formation of the sheet cr strip of material intothe described configuration is performed by any conventionaltechccicue such as stamping or cutting, e.g., with a CG2 orl'ag laser. If a strip format is employed, the number ofheater brades . 121 formed from the strip can exceed thereçunred number for a single cylincrical heater arrangement.The straight strip is then eut, if necessary, to formseettens I11A naving the desired number of heater blades 121«xtemding therefrom. If employed, the step shape or3s::ic.-.3 122A, 1223 and 122C is formed via stamping. ί) 4

If employed, ceramic coadng 300 is then aoplfed bymasking the stamped profile and, e.g., thermally sprayingthe coating onto sections 111A, 115, 122 or the entire bladeor anv portion thereof to form the desired pattern as 10 20 ns il

*· O ussed. Altsmativsly, the ceramic coating is appliedr the rolling step by this procedure or, if desired,r to formation of the blades. As is knoun, approoriateings are applied prior to performing each of the steosheater and ceramic déposition to defir.e areas of

The section 111A is thet rolled to form round hubThe section 111A. can be rolled in either direction. 15

— O rabiv, section 111A is rolled such u Hc._ the pcsit ive cts 122C at end section 122 are on the out er surface of :ormed cylindrical heater, i.e. , the sida opposite the ette, to simplify connection with pins 1043 and to d damage during insertion and removal of the cigarette,rolled section can be rolled to a smaller diameter thanultimate desired diameter and is inserted into thetre. The rolled section then expands and is furtherin shaoe by the electrical connections. Al ternatively,rolled section is joined, e.g., via any weldingnicue such as spot welding or laser welding, to form the 25 -----·

Preferably a bias is impcsed on each blade 121 such nhat legs USA and 1153 and connecting edge 113A will exert a ccmoressive force on the inserted cigarette wnen the 85 0 î ο 6 2 8 10 15 20 25 heater assembly is formed, as shown in FIG 13. This biasingpreferably occurs prior to rolling, bue may be imolementedazter rolling. This biasing increases the thermal contactbetwesn the heater blade and. the inserted cicarette toimprove thermal transfer efziciency.

Itsrtâl transzer eftrcrency is also imoroved byentinizing the amour-t of surface areas oz the blade lecs116A and 1153 which are in an efficient thermal relationshiowith the underlying cigarettes. As seen in FIG. 17A, theundersides 117 oz legs 116A and 1163 (leg USA. is shown bywav cf example) is planar, i.e., fiat in a transversedirection of the blade leg in the discussed embodiments. Toincrcve the thermal transzer relationship, the underside 117is shated in varions non-planar geometries, e.g., an anglecr ctr.-s to maximise the surface area oz the heated legrelative to the cigarette without undesirably increasing theroltte, and hence undesirably lowering the current densityand résultant ohmic heating oz the heater leg, asrsstectively depicted in FIGs. 173 and 17C. The shapedunderside 117 preferably does not pierce anv part of thecicarette 23 to avoid weak.en.ing and possibly ripping thecicarette during insertion, adjustment or removal. Rather,tire midroint or apex of the underside 117 contacts or is inclose thermal oroximity to cigarette 23, and the remainderet undersice 117 is in a radiative thermal relationship withcigarette 23 .

Frezerably, this underside shape is achieved by 86 010628 10 15 starp in·unrcile·

Phe sics a amp in:of legs the legs USA and 1163 of the blades 121 in an

State. This stamping can occur ac the same cime asping to achieve the bias discussed above. Thisto shape the underside also increases the strenoth16A and 1163, thereby avoiding undesired shorts and oetcrmattcns . A second method of fabrication will now be descrifaedA tube cf apprcpriate matériel is provided. The blades 121are then formée via any technique suoh as laser cutainc.Aitematively, the blades are formée by a swaging techniouewherein an internai' mandrel is inserted into the tube tofort:, the discussed blade profiles and then another swaee, discuss : internaiiy or externaily, is empioved to eut the,e. A ceramic coating 300, if cesired, is orovided as 20

to the profiled tube,oresent invention also minimizesthermaliy induoed stresses. Since 1 and hub 111 are monolithic, stresses.estions of discrète portions of a he -C. /Π potentiallythe heaterarising frornsaer élément varions emoocximents oi tne pressent invention areail designed .to allow delivery of an effective amount offlavcred tcbaooo response to the smokar under standardcondrtions cf use. Particularly, it is presently understoodto be désirable to deliver between 5 and 13 mg, preferablybeavaer. 7 and 10 mg, of aérosol to a smokar for 8 puf fs, a 25 ml ouff havinc a two-seoond duration. 87 010628 tas been round that, in orde: 1-u au.ii.Xti V ς; SUCil USilV" ·» 'no ~ tsniz srature dements 121 should be able to COnvey as discussed when inrelationship with the cigarette 23. a thermal transferrurtrier, tne heatsrblades 121 should prefsrably consume -the discussed energy.Lower energy recuirements are enjoyed by heater blades 121chat are bowed inwardly toward the cigarette 23 to imorove che thermal transfer relationship. 10 Cf course, the heater résistance is aiso dictated by the particuiar power source 37 that is usée to provide thececessar* eiectrical energy to heat the heater blades 121. 15 - cr exa~ •.oie, the above heater element resist: to êctoc ciments where towsr is suoolied b cadmium battery oelis corneet ed in serres w: t Q · power source voltage of approximat· volts. T •-η £ Vyg alternative, if six or eig 20 •cornettes batteries are used, the heater blprefsrably hâve a résistance of between abou3 Ω cr between about 5 Ω and about 7 Ω, rest 25

Ar.other erbodiment 450 of the presen=howct in FIG.s. 20 and 21 comprising a pluraelecects 451. Each heating element 451 is .sut elonoated "U", each having both of its etrespective iecs connecced to the side wali tares correspondy four nickel-th a total nen-aly 4.8 to 5.8et such serres- ades 121 shouldt 3 Ω and about:ectively. .t invention is adjacent end wail 4 43 of cavity 430. Each 15 2 is individually connected to the control utitictatslv to the source of eiectrical lity of heat ing in the shape of es 452, 453 of of cavity 430 resoect ive circuitry, and energy, for 8fl 01 0628 individuel aucuac2.cn oc heaccng elemencs 451, while ends 452are connecced in common co ground. While ends 454 adjacencnhe tnouth end of cavicy 430 are not eleccrically connecced,and chus need noc couch the side wall of cavicy 43 0, cheyare ncnecheless cumed coward che -side wall of cavicy 430,as shown in boch FIGS. 20 and 21, co provide a lead-in forche disposahle pcrcion, i.e., che inserced cigarecce,asdiscussed above. IC snould be noced chac m FIG. 21, checreerrsc and lowemosc elemencs 451 are shown eue Chrouçhcheir D-shaped Cips 454.

In anocher embcdimenc 47G showr. in FIGS. 22 and 23, heacing elemencs 471 are spaced somewhac furcher from che wall of cavicy 430, and each is provider wich a somewhac sharper "V" cip 472, as well as wich foid 473 co increase X g Ί *- *- η oidicy. In chis way, he. 2.îi i.ncr Xsrn®v.s £7^ acuually piercs a ud excend inco the dispos able porcion Co provide Che cesrrec mCrm che mal concacc .

The ooen- .1 1 coam scruccure described above is parcicul arlv well-suited corsuch an embediment. In this embocimenc, because heacinc elemencs 471 are soaced zucune: rom side wall of cavicv 430, ends 452, 453 are noc accached co che side wall ofcavicy 430, bue co ics end wall 443. Preferably, checonneccicns of ends 452, 453 Co end wall 443 are madeChrouçh spacers 430 which are noc car.duccive of eicher heaCor eieocricicv. In Chis way, a wipinç accion wipes résiduspas: ends 452, 453 and cnco spacers 430, where Che residuesare net reheaced, as described more fullv in U.S. Pacenc No. 89 010628 10 5,245,585. Perforations 412 are provided in the wall toallow outside air to be drawn through portion 420, asdescribed more fully in U.S. Patent No. 5,249,586, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Many modifications, substitutions and improvements maybe apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from thespirit and scope of the présent invention as described anddefined herein and in the following daims. For example, thedecuriing step may be performed before the cooling step in amodification of the portion of the process described abovewith reference to FIG. 53.

Claims (57)

1. 010628 90 Clalas :-

   1. A cigarette (23) comprising a tobacco rod, said tobacco roi '60) comprising a tubular tobacco web (66) and a plug of tobacco'30) disposed within said tubular tobacco web, said tobacco rod ; having a free end (78) and an opposite end (72), said tubulartobacco web comprising a base web . (68) and a layer (70) oftobacco flavour material supported by said base web, said baseweb adapced to transfer heat from an electrical heating element(37) to said tobacco flavour material, said tobacco rod (60)adapted to operatively receive an electrical heating element (37)alcngside said tobacco rod (60) at a location between said freeend (78) and said opposite end (72), said plug of tobacco (80)located adjacent said free end, said plug of tobacco being spacedapart from said opposite end so as to define an unfilled space(31) between said plug of tobacco and said opposite end.
2. 2. The cigarette as claimed in" claim 1, wherein said locationalcngside said tobacco rod is such that said location overlapsa; least a portion of said unfilled space (91) and overlaps atleast a portion of said plug of tobacco (80) .
3. 3. The cigarette as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein saidtobacco rod includes a free-flow filter (74) adjacent saidopposite end, said free-flow filter being spaced apart from saidplug of tobacco (80) so as to define said unfilled space (91)between said free-flow filter and said plug of tobacco. A cigarette and lighter adapted to cooperate as an 91 01Ü626 electrical smoking System, said cigarette comprising a tube oftobacco web, partially filled with eut filler tobacco so as tocefiite a filled tobacco rod portion and an unfilled tobacco rod nortion (91), said cigarette (23) and said lighter (25) being 5 rcutually arranged so that an electrical .heater element of thelighter at least partially superposes at least one of the filledand unfilled tobacco rod portions when the cigarette is in ancperative position in said lighter.
4. 5. The cigarette as claimed in claim 4, wherein said filled 10 tobacco rod portion includes a plug of tobacco, and saidelectrical heater superposes at lease a portion of said unfilledspace and superposes at least a portion of said plug of tobaccowhen the cigarette is in said operative position in the lighter..
5. 6. The cicarette as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said 15 cigarette has a free end, said tobacco plug being locatedadjacent said free end, said cigarette including a tubularelement spaced apart from said plug of tobacco so as to definesaid unfilled tobacco rod portion between said free-flow filterand said plug of tobacco. 20
6. 7. The cigarette as claimed in any preceding claim, whereinsaid tubular element (74) is a filter.
7. 8. The cigarette as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tubularelement (74) is constructed from a plasticiced tow material. 92 010628
8. 9. The cigarette as claimed in claim 7, wherein said free-flowfilter (74) is constructed from a molded material.
9. 10. The cigarette as claimed in any preceding claim, furthercomprising filter tipping (62) adjacent said opposite end.
10. 11. The cigarette as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tipping (62) comprises a second free-flow filter (102) adjacent saidopposite end, said cigarette further comprising tipping paper(64) attaching said second free-flow filter (102) to saidopposite end.
11. 12. The cigarette as claimed in claim il, wherein said tippingfurther comprises a mouthpiece filter plug (104) adjacent saidsecond free-flow filter (102) .
12. 13. The cigarette as claimed in claim 12, wherein said free-flow filter (74) of said tobacco rod (66) includes a firstpassage (75) and said second free-flow filter (102) of saidtipping includes a second passage, said first and second passagescommunicating said unfilled space (91) of said tobacco rod withsaid mouthpiece filter plug (104), said second passage having asecond inside radius greater than a first inside radius of saidfirst passage (75).
13. 14. The cigarette as claimed in claim 12, wherein said tobaccorod further comprises a backflow filter (200") at said free end. 93
14. 15. The cigarette as claimed in daim 12, whert'in said plue of tobacco ( = 0b) includes a first portion (320b) adjacent said free end (~3b) which has a higher density than a second portion (310b) ÜÎÜ628 C Σ S5.2 _d plug of tobacco distal from said fret end. 5 λ cigarette (23) comprising a tobacco rod (60) havonq ει Σ H C .\ *· 2 ciow résistive free end (78) and an opposite end (72), said — o 3, q 3 ;o rod comprising a tubular tobacco (66) web including a 1 =ver of tobacco material (78) a flow constriction (74) operative et saod opposite end of said tubular web and tobacco (78,80) cively situated adjacent said free end and spaced from said f 1 ow c constriction, the tobacco comprising eut filler partially ~ Ί -i cg said tobacco rod so as to define a filled tobacco rod en and an unfilled tobacco rod portion, said unfilled' 15 porto: en being located adjacent said flow constriction, said tubuic • r web arranged to communicate beat received by said tubular web te said tcbacco, said tobacco rod (60) being arranged sucht.tat d_.rong a puff on said cigarette with an application of beat al eng a région of said tubular web, at least a portion of the tCIÎdCC 20 et os caused to release tobacco aérosol which is drawn r*ciic çn saod flow constriction. 17 . The cigarette as claimed in claim 16, wherein said flow ccr.st: cocticn (74) -s d^fined by a tubular élément. 1 s Tne cogarette as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tubular et ccrrrises a first free-flcw filter (74) , said first free- 94 0 1 0628 flow filter defining a first passage (75) therethrough, saidcigarette further comprising tipping (62) , said tipping includinga second tubular free-flow filter (102) located adjacent said 5 first free-flow filter of said tobacco rod, said second tubular free-flow filter defining a second passage therethrough, saidfirst passage of said first free-flow filter being narrower thansaid unfilled portion (91) of said tobacco rod and narrower thansaid second passage of said second free-flow filter (102) .
15. 19. The cigarette as claimed in claim 18, wherein said eut filler tobacco forms a back-flow résistive plug.
16. 20. The cigarette as claimed in claim 19, wherein said portionof said eut filler tobacco (80) is located at said free end (78)and has a density greater than a remainder of said eut filler tobacco distal from said free end.- 13
17. 21. The cigarette as claimed in claim 20, wherein said tipping(62) further comprises a mouthpiece filter (104) adjacent saidsecond free-flow filter (102) .
18. 22. The cigarette as claimed in claim 20, wherein said tubularweb includes a cigarette wrapper (71) about said tobacco rod(60), said tipping attached to said tobacco rod with a tippingpaper (64).
19. 23. The cigarette as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein s5 0 1 0628 said tobacco or plug of tobacco (80) comprises a eut fillertobacco.
20. 24. The cigarette as claimed in claim 23, wherein said tobacco 5 or plug of tobacco (80) comprises a blend of eut filler tobacco, said blend ccmprising a combination of at least two of bright,burlev and oriental tobaccos.
21. 25. The cigarette as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein saidplug of tobacco includes a plug wrap (84) disposed about said eutciller tcbacco (80). 10

    6 . The cigarette as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein saidtobacco (70) is located along an inside surface of said tubulartobacco web (56) .
22. 27. The cigarette as claimed in claim 26, wherein said tobaccoU roc comprises an overwrap (71) disposed about an outside surface cf said tubular tobacco rod or rod portion. I

    23. A method of improving delivery of smoke from a cigarette (23) cperated with an electronic lighter, said cigarettecomprtsing a tubular web (66) having a free end (78), and anq opposite end (72), smoke being withdrawable from said opposite er.d, said method comprising the steps of : establishing an unfilled portion along said tubular web at a location adjacent said opposite end and a tobacco filled 96 010628 portion along said tubular web at a location adjacent sain ireeend; and superposing an electrical heater element of said electronicIighter at least partially over said filled portion of saidtubular web while activating said electrical heater element soas to cause release of smoke constituents from said tobacco.
23. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said superposing stepincludes superposing said electrical heater element partiallycver both said filled portion of said tubular web and saidunfilled portion of said tubular web while activating saidelectrical heater element.

    2. The method of claim 28 or 29 further comprising the step ofpassing said released tobacco constituents through a constructionIrcated adjacent said opposite end.
24. 31. A tobacco web adapted to be rolled into a tubular tobaccorcd (60) of a cigarette (23) operative with an electricalcigarette Iighter (25), said tobacco web comprising a base web(63) and a tobacco material (70) disposed along a first side ofsaid base web; said base web comprising a combination of tobacco fiber andcellulosic fiber, said tobacco fiber and said cellulosic fiberccciined at a ratio in the range of approximately 2:1 to 4:1,said base web having a basis weight in a range of approximately3 5 to 4 5 g/m2; 97 010628 said tobacco material having at least twice the basasweight of said base web, said tobacco material comprising finelyçround tobacco and extracted tobacco solids at a ratio in a rangeof approximately 3:1 to 9:1, and a humectant at a level ofapprcximately 5% to 20% by weight of said material.
25. 32. The tobacco web as claimed in claim 31, wherein saidtobacco material has a basis weight of approximately three tofour tir.es that of said base web.
26. 33. The tobacco web as claimed in claim 31 or 32, wherein saidtobacco material further comprises pectin at a level of up to.approximately 2% by weight of said tobacco material.
27. 34 . The tobacco web as claimed in claim 33 , wherein said base web comprises approximately 28 -g/m2 tobacco fiber and appr oximately 12 g/m2 cellulosic fiber of : a wood pulp or f lax pulp , or tobacco stem pulp.
28. 35. The tobacco web as claimed in claim 34, wherein saidtobacco material comprises approximately 66 to 71% by weighttobacco particles, approximately 16 to 20% by weight extractedtobacco solids, approximately 10 to 14% by weight glycérine andapproximately 1-2% pectin. 3S. Λ tobacco web adapted to rolled into a tubular tobacco rod(50) cf a cigarette (23) operative with an electrical cigarette 98 01 0628 lighter (25), said tobacco web comprising a base web (68) and atcbacco matériel (70) disposed along a first side of said base web ; said base web comprising a combination of tobacco fiber ata component basis weight of approximately 2 0 to 3 0 g/rr? andcarbon fiber at a component basis weight of approximately 2-9g/r2, and pectin at a component basis weight of approximately 1g/-2 10

    * 'J said tobacco matériel having a basis weight three to fourtires that of said base web, said tobacco material comprisingfinely ground tobacco and extracted tobacco solids at a ratio ina range of approximately 3:1 to 9:1, and a humectant at a levelin the range of approximately 5¾ to 20¾ by weight of said tobaccomateriel. 15
29. 37. A cigarette operative with an'electrical cigarette lighter,said cigarette comprising a tubular tobacco rod (6) constructedfrc~ a tobacco web according to any of daims 31 to 36. 010628
30. 38. The cigarette as claimed in claim 37 further comprising aplug of eut filler (80) adjacent a free end (78) of said tobaccorod (€0), at least one tubular free-flow filter (74) adjacent anopposite end (72) of eaïd tobacco rod and a filler-free void (91)located between said plug of eut filler and said tubular free-flow filter.
31. 39. A method of manufacturing a tobacco web (65) comprising abase web (68) and a layer cf tobacco material (70) , said tobaccoweb bsing foldable into a tubular form as part of a cigarette 10 (22) operative with an electrical cigarette lighter (25) , saidmethod comprising the steps of : separating solubles (124) from fibers of tobacco feedstock,said eolufcles being in solution compriBing 5 to 10% by weightdissolved tobacco constituents; 15 producing (128) said base web by forming a elurry of said separated tobacco fiber, mixing said slurried tobacco-fiber witha slurry strengthening agent to form a slurried mixture andcasting (130) said slurried mixture onto a web forming apparatus; producing (146) said tobacco material by mixing said 5 to 2o 10% solution cf tobacco constituents with additional tobaccoparticles, glycerin and pectin so as to form a dispersion oftobacco material and adjusting water content so as to achieve insaid dispersion a solide content in the range of approximately 2 0to 30%; 25 applyir.g (144) said dispersion of tobacco material along said basa web to form a sheet of said tobacco web; drying (146) said sheet of said tobacco web to a mcisturecontent in the range of approximately 8 .5 to 12%; cooling (148) said sheet cf said tobacco web;decurling (150) said sheet of said tobacco web; 100 010628 winding (152) said sheet of said tobacco web so as to form aroli of tobacco web,· and sliiting (154) said roll of tobacco web so ao to produce abobbin of tobacco web. 3
32. 40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said solution oftobacco solubles comprises approximately 7 to 8% by weightdissclved tobacco constituents.
33. 41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the amount ofwater is adjusted to achieve at the conclusion of the mixing stepa dispersion of approximately 24 to 25% solids content. 42: The nethod as claimed in claim 41, wherein the tobacco particle3 are in the range of approximately 100 to 220 raesh.
34. 43. The method as claimed in claim 42,< wherein the tcbaccoparticles are approximately 120 mesh. 15
35. 44. -The nethod as claimed in any of daims 40 to 43 wherein saidelurry etrengthening agent comprises at least one of wood pulp,flax pulp and tobacco stem pulp.
36. 45. The method as claimed in any of daims 40 to 44, wherein2Φ said applying step include3 applying said dispersion of tobacco material to said base web at dry weight ratio of at least 2:1,
37. 46. The method as claimed in any of daims 40 to 45, whereinsaid applying Btep includes applying said dispersion of tobaccomateria.1 to said base web at dry weight ratio cf at least 3:1. v i J t« 2 δ
38. 47. The tobacco web as claimed in claim 36, wherein said tobaccofibre is at a ccmponent basis weight of approximately 24 to 28g/m3, carbcn fibre is at a component basis weight of approximately 2 to 4 g/m2 and pectin is at a comportent basisweight of 2.5 to 1.5 g/rn2.
39. 48. A heater (39) fer use in a smoking System having a Bource ofelectrical er.ergy for heating a cigarette, the heater comprising: a pluraiity of electrically résistive heater blades (121)defining a réceptacle to receive an inserted cigarette andextending alongside the inserted cigarette, each blade comprisinga first heater blade leg (USA) having a first end and a secondend, a second heater blade leg (116B) having a first end and asecond end (122) , and a connecting section (118) connecting thesecond end of said first heater blade leg and the first end o?said second heater blade leg; wherein said first and second heater blade legs of eachheater blades are separated by a respective gap (125); and wherein the first ends of said first heater blade leg areadapted to be in electrical contact with the source of electricaler.ergy. wherein respective résistive heating paths are formedcomprising said first heater blade leg, said connecting section,and said second heater blade leg to respectively heat each ofsaid electrically résistive heater blades along said first andsecond blades, which in turn heat the inserted cigarette, saidfirst ends of said first blades having a common connection.
40. 49. The heater according to claim 48, wherein the first ends ofsaid first heater blade legs (116A) are grounded. 010028
41. 50. The heater according to daim 4 8 or 49, wherein the ctinmorconnection. of the first ends of said first heater blade legs is ahub. 3
42. 51. The heater according to any of daims 4 8 to 50 wherein thegap (125) separating said first and Becond heater blade legB lesized to permit entrainment of air flow into the heated cigaretteupon dr&amp;wing by a smoker.
43. 52. The heater according to any of daims 4S to 51 further cemprising a supporting hub (110), the first ends of each of saidfirst heater blade legs (USA) extendir.g from said supportinghub ; wherein said supporting hub is adapted to be in electricalcontact with the source of electrical energy to form a commcn for 13 the first ends of said first heater blade legs.
44. 53. The heater according to daim 52, vyherein the second ends ofsaid second, hearer blade legs (116E) are adapted to be inrespective electrical contact with the source of electrical -1° energy, whersin respective résistive heating circuits are formedcemprising said first heater blade leg, said connecting edgesection, and said second heater blade to respectively beat eachof said electrically résistive heater blades (121) , which in turnbeats the imserted cigarette. ent- ends (122) ci said second heater blade legs (116B) extend towardsaid supporting hub (111) and are electrically insulatedtherefrom. = 5. The heater according to claim 52 or 53, whcrein the secondends (122) of said second heater blade legs (H6B) are separatedfrem said hub by a gap.
45. 55. The heater according to claim 52, further comprising anelectrical insulator applied to at least one of said hub and thesecond ends of said second heater blade legs.
46. 57. The heater according to claim -52, further comprising anelectrical insulator applied to at least one of the second endscf said second heater blade legs and the first ends of said firstheater blade legs.

    55. The heater according to claim 52, further comprising anelectrrcal insulator (300) forming a ceramic hub supportstructure arour.d said supporting hub (111) , the second ends (122)of said second heater blade legs (11GB) and the first ends ofsatd first heater blade legs (116B).

    55. Tas heater according to any of daims 52 to 58, wherein 20 010628 104 said supporting hub and said blades are monolithic.
47. 60. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 59, whereinsaid connecting section (118) further comprises a free end (118B)to compensate for thermal expansion when the heater element isheated.
48. 61. The heater according to claim 60, further comprising asupport structure (83) stationarily located within the smokingSystem and defining channels (210) to receive the free ends(1183) of said connecting sections of said blades (121).
49. 62. The heater according to claim 61, wherein said channels(21C) are arranged to permit translational thermal expansion andcontraction of said heater blades.
50. 63. The heater according to claim 61 or 62 further comprisinga pivot point (204) located in each of said channels, said pivotpoint located such that the associated free end (118B) of saidconnecting section pivots about said pivot points to bias saidfirst and second heater blade legs (116A,B) inward toward theinserted cigarette upon heating of the associated heater blade.
51. 64. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 63, whereinportions of at least one of said first heater blade leg (116A)and said second heater blade leg (116B) are coated with a ceramic(310) to strengthen and electrically insulate the at least one 010628 105 of said first heater blade leg and said second heater blade leg.
52. 65. The heater according to claim 64, wherein a portion of saidsecond heater blade leg (116B) adjacent said ceramic is adaptedto be in electrical contact with the source of electrical energy. 5

    65. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 65, whereinsaid blades (121) are arranged to slidingly receive the insertedcigarette.
53. 67. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 66 wherein thesecond end of said second heater blade leg is a step shape, said 10 step shape comprising an end section (122C) adapted to be inelectrical contact with the source of electrical energy.

    63. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 67 wherein saidfcrst and second heater blade legs (116A,B) of a respectiveheater blade (121) are substantially parallel. 15

    65. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 68, whereinsaid connecting edge has a curvature between approximately 160° and 200°. 7C . The heater according to any of daims 48 to 69 wherein anunderside of at least one of said first and second heater bladelegs (116A,3) facing the inserted cigarette is substantially non-planar in a transverse direction of said heater blade leg. 20 010628 106
54. 71. The heater according to claim 70, wherein said underside isCίΙ2Γν*β0..
55. 72. The heater according to claim 70, wherein said underside isang_ ed.
56. 73. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 72, whereinsaid plurality of electrically résistive heater blades (121) arearrangée in groups, wherein gaps (133) between the. groups aresited to provide unheated portions of the inserted cigaretteproviding strength to facilitate removal of the cioarette aftersmoking. "4. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 73, wherein at-least one of said first and second heater blade legs (216A.B) isserpentine shaped. “5. The heater according to daim 74, wherein both said firstand second blade legs are serpentine and mutually parallel suchchat snace between the legs is serpentiginous. ~ 5 . The heater according to daim 48, wherein at least one endc: at least one blade (121, 122) is wider than an adjacent activeportion of said at least one leg, wherein the end of said leg basa lever carrent density and a lower ohmic heating than the activeportion cf said leg. 0 t 0 6 2 8 107 ”7 . The heater according to any of daims 48 to 76, whercinsaid connecting section (119) is perforated. ~g . The heater according to any of daims 48 to 77, whereinsaid first and second heater blade legs (116A,B) are biascdinwardly toward the inserted cigarette. "5. The heater according to any of daims 4 8 to 78, whereinsaid first and said second heater blade legs (H6A,B) and raidconnecting edges hâve a résistance of approximately 100 toapproximately 2 00 gohm.cm. 10 Si. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 79, whereinsaid first and said second heater blade legs (116A,B) and saidconnecting edges hâve a résistance of approximately 50 toanprcximately 500 pohm.cm. Si. The heater according to any of daims 48 to 80, wherein saidfirst and said second heater blade legs (ΙΙυΑ,Β) and saidconnecting edges are capable of reaching températures ofapproximately 200D2 to approximately 1000°C in approximately 0.2te approximately 2.0 sec. with a puise of approximately 10 toapproximately 50 Joules.
57. 82. The heater according to daim 81, wherein said first and second legs (USA, 3) and said connecting edges are capable of bemg tdsed to these températures for approximately 1800 to 20 .1 Ο 8 aprrcximately 10,000 such puises. ΞΞ . The heater according to claim 48, wherein the gap (125)separatinc said first and second heater blade legs (116A,B) is 5 sàcec to maximize cumulative radiative heating from eacli of said first and second heater blade legs of an associated heater bladete a portion of the inserted cigarette underlying the gap. = 4. The heater according to any of daims -18 to 83, whereinsent first and second heater blade legs (ll.6A,R) and said 1Q ccc_neccing edge section comprise an electrically résistive m.aeeraal selected from the group consisting of iron aluminides and racket aluminides. = 5. An electrical smoking System comprising a cigaretteaccording to any of daims 1 to 3 g and a lighter, the lighterhavane a pluraiity of résistive heater blades defining arecepoacle for receiving the heater blades, whereby the bladesac least parcialiy everlap said tobacco plug when said cigaretteas anserted into said receptade. si. An electrical smoking System according to daim 05, wherein20 said heater blades entend along the length of said tobacco plug and cartiailv overlao said unfiiled space. £”. An electrical smoking System according to daim 85 or 86, wnerean che lighter includes a heater according to anv of daims 10'» 48 ;; 84. 010628