Tobacco reconstitution

Abstract

The invention relates to the extrusion of filamentary strands of reconstituted tobacco through a die plate and the downstream handling thereof. The die plate is configured such that each filament is of a square or rectangular cross-section, the downstream handling of which effects draw down of the extruded filament.

1 . An extruded reconstituted tobacco filament, wherein said filament is of a substantially rectangular or square cross-section, said filament comprising a cellular interior and an integral skin extending over at least the four sides of said filament.  
   
   
       2 . An extruded reconstituted tobacco filament according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of said filament has dimensions of about 0.7 mm by 1 mm.  
   
   
       3 . An extruded reconstituted tobacco filament according to  claim 2 , wherein said dimensions are about 0.3 mm by about 0.8 mm.  
   
   
       4 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product consisting essentially of lengths of filaments according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       5 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 4 , wherein said product has a filling value in the range of about 3.8 to about 5.0 mm 3 /mg.  
   
   
       6 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 5 , wherein said filling value is in the range of about 4.0 mm 3 l/mg to about 4.6 mm 3 /mg.  
   
   
       7 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 1  and having a density in the range of about 150 mg/mm 3  to about 600 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       8 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 7 , wherein said density is less than about 400 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       9 . A smoking article comprising a filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 4 .  
   
   
       10 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 2  and having a density in the range of about 150 mg/mm 3  to about 600 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       11 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 3  and having a density in the range of about 150 mg/mm 3  to about 600 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       12 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 4  and having a density in the range of about 150 mg/mm 3  to about 600 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       13 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 5  and having a density in the range of about 150 mg/mm 3  to about 600 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       14 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 10 , wherein said density is less than about 400 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       15 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 11 , wherein said density is less than about 400 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       16 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 12 , wherein said density is less than about 400 mg/mm 3 .  
   
   
       17 . A filamentary reconstituted tobacco product according to  claim 13 , wherein said density is less than about 400 mg/mm 3 .