Testing of Smoking Articles

Abstract

A smoking machine is disclosed for the automatic smoking of a smoking article. The smoking machine ( 10 ) includes a flexible seal ( 30 ) for occluding holes ( 40 ) in the smoking article ( 28 ) while the smoking article is smoked. This can allow “intensive” smoking tests to be carried out by occluding filter holes ( 40 ) in the smoking article.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A smoking machine for smoking a smoking article, the smoking machine including a flexible seal arranged to occlude at least some ventilation holes in a filter of the smoking article, the smoking machine being arranged to smoke the smoking article while the ventilation holes are occluded by the flexible seal. 
   
   
       36 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35  wherein the seal is made from an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       37 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35  wherein the seal is made from one of synthetic rubber and natural rubber. 
   
   
       38 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal is impermeable to gas. 
   
   
       39 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal can expand and contract. 
   
   
       40 . A smoking machine according to  claim 39  wherein the seal can adopt a first position in which a smoking article can be inserted into the seal, and a second position in which the seal grips the smoking article. 
   
   
       41 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal does not require the use of release agents or lubricants between seal and smoking article. 
   
   
       42 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal is part of an occluding device, and the occluding device comprises a rigid part to which the seal is attached. 
   
   
       43 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , wherein the rigid part is tubular and at least part of the seal is located inside the rigid part. 
   
   
       44 . A smoking machine according to  claim 43  wherein at least one end of the seal has a lip which wraps around an end of the rigid part. 
   
   
       45 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , wherein the occluding device comprises a port to allow a pressure change to be applied to the seal. 
   
   
       46 . A smoking machine according to  claim 45 , wherein the device is arranged such that the seal can expand and contract in response to the change in pressure. 
   
   
       47 . A smoking machine according to  claim 45 , wherein an air gap is provided between the rigid part and at least part of the seal the port being coupled to the air gap. 
   
   
       48 . A smoking machine according to  claim 45 , wherein the device is coupled to one of a pressure sensing device, flow sensing device, and vacuum sensing device to detect leaks or faults in the seal. 
   
   
       49 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35  wherein the seal covers the whole filter. 
   
   
       50 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35  wherein the seal covers at least some ventilation holes but not the whole filter. 
   
   
       51 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35  wherein the ventilation holes are totally occluded or partially occluded. 
   
   
       52 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal is part of a holder for holding the smoking article in the smoking machine. 
   
   
       53 . A smoking machine according to  claim 52  wherein the seal is part of the smoking machine holder seals. 
   
   
       54 . A smoking machine according to  claim 52  wherein the seal substitutes the smoking machine holder seals. 
   
   
       55 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the seal is arranged to be fitted to the smoking article before insertion of the smoking article into the smoking machine. 
   
   
       56 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , further comprising an arrangement which applies a change in pressure to the seal. 
   
   
       57 . A smoking machine according to  claim 35 , further comprising a pressure sensing device to detect leaks or faults in the seal. 
   
   
       58 . A smoking machine according to  claim 57 , further comprising a store which stores a desired value of pressure, a comparator which compares a sensed value of pressure with the stored value, and an indicator which provides an indication of a fault in the seal in dependence on a result of the comparison. 
   
   
       59 . A smoking arrangement comprising:
 a smoking machine;   a smoking article placed in the smoking machine for smoking by the smoking 20 machine; and   a flexible seal attached to the smoking article for occluding ventilation holes in a filter of the smoking article while the smoking article is smoked,   wherein the seal is part of an occluding device, and the occluding device comprises a rigid part to which the seal is attached.   
   
   
       60 . A method of automatically smoking a smoking article in a smoking machine, the smoking machine including a flexible seal, the method comprising occluding ventilation holes in a filter of the smoking article by means of the flexible seal, while the smoking article is being smoked. 
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 60 , further comprising the step of applying a pressure change to the seal thereby causing the seal to expand or to contract. 
   
   
       62 . A method according to  claim 60 , further comprising the step of sensing pressure, flow or vacuum applied to the seal to detect leaks or faults in the seal material.