Application of controlled strand length cutting technology to slim cigarette manufacturing

In order to improve the consistency of physical indexes and chemical components in mainstream smoke of slim cigarette, controlled strand length cutting was adopted to reduce the characteristic size of cut tobacco and promote the uniformity of cut tobacco structure. The effects of different cutting modes on the cut tobacco structure, physical indexes of cigarettes and chemical components in mainstream cigarette smoke were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that:1) The 40 mm strand length cutting mode did not obviously affect the width, short strand proportion and filling value of cut strips, it increased the medium and short strand proportions in cut tobacco and reduced its characteristic size by 40.19%. The uniformity of cut tobacco structure was promoted apparently. 2) The breakage of cut tobacco increased slightly during primary processing, cut tobacco yield decreased by 0.18%, total rejecting rate and loose end cigarette rejecting rate reduced obviously, and the efficiency of cigarette maker improved remarkably. 3) The uniformity of cigarette density in middle of slim cigarette and the consistency of physical indexes of cigarette and chemical components in mainstream cigarette smoke were promoted distinctly, and the average values of standard deviations of individual cigarette weight and draw resistance decreased by 13.2% and 12.0%, respectively; the inter batch range of tar, nicotine and CO decreased by 54.0%, 65.5% and 21.1%, their standard deviations reduced by 53.0%, 44.4% and 56.8%, respectively. 4) The sensory difference between puffs diminished with the promotion of quality consistency.