Tobacco slab

Abstract

The invention relates to a continuous tobacco slab ( 10 ) made of shredded tobacco which slab has a substantially uniform composition and a substantially uniform distribution of the shredded tobacco. The invention further relates to a multi-layer structure comprising the tobacco slab and in addition at least one layer, preferably one or two layers, of a smokable material other than shredded tobacco. Furthermore, the invention provides a package comprising the tobacco slab or multi-layer structure.

1 . A continuous tobacco slab made of shredded tobacco obtainable by a process comprising the steps of 
 filling a pre-defined amount of shredded tobacco into a mold,    evenly distributing the shredded tobacco within the mold and    evenly compressing the shredded tobacco by exertion of a pre-defined pressure.    
   
   
       2 . The tobacco slab according to  claim 1  wherein the shredded tobacco is in cut filler form.  
   
   
       3 . The tobacco slab according to  claim 1  which has an average density of between about 150 mg/cm 3  and about 250 mg/cm 3 .  
   
   
       4 . The tobacco slab according to  claim 1  which has a width of between about 65 mm and about 80 mm.  
   
   
       5 . A multi-layer structure comprising a tobacco slab according to  claim 1  and in addition at least one layer, preferably one or two layers, of a smokable material other than shredded tobacco which multi-layer structure is obtainable by the process of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of adding at least one layer of smokable material other than shredded tobacco into the mold before and/or after filling the pre-defined amount of shredded tobacco into the mold.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-layer structure according to  claim 5  which has an average density of between about 150 mg/cm 3  and about 250 mg/cm 3 .  
   
   
       7 . The multi-layer structure according to  claim 5  which has a width of between about 65 mm and about 80 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-layer structure according to  claim 5  which has a three layer structure wherein the base layer and the top layer each consist of reconstituted tobacco sheet, preferably top loaded reconstituted tobacco sheet, and the middle layer essentially consists of cut filler.  
   
   
       9 . The tobacco slab according to  claim 1  or the multi-layer structure according to claim  5  wherein the cut filler density is slightly higher along one or more, preferably two pre-defined edges.  
   
   
       10 . A process for making a tobacco slab made of shredded tobacco characterized in that it is continuous and has a substantially uniform composition and a substantially uniform distribution of the shredded tobacco or a multi-layer structure comprising the tobacco slab and in addition at least one layer, preferably one or two layers, of a smokable material other than shredded tobacco, said process comprising the steps of 
 filling a pre-defined amount of shredded tobacco into a mold,    evenly distributing the shredded tobacco within the mold,    optionally adding at least one layer of smokable material other than shredded tobacco into the mold before and/or after filling a pre-defined amount of shredded tobacco into the mold,    evenly compressing the shredded tobacco and optionally the at least one additional layer by exertion of a pre-defined pressure, and    removing the slab or the multi-layer structure from the mold, and optionally    transferring the slab or the multi-layer structure into a package.    
   
   
       11 . A package comprising the tobacco slab according to  claim 1  or the multi-layer structure according to  claim 5 .  
   
   
       12 . The package according to  claim 11  which comprises an inner sleeve enclosing the tobacco slab or the multi-layer structure and an outer sleeve enclosing the inner sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . A package comprising a tobacco slab made of shredded tobacco which slab is continuous and has a substantially uniform composition and a substantially uniform distribution of the shredded tobacco, said package being characterized in that it has a pre-defined three-dimensional shape.  
   
   
       14 . Use of the tobacco slab according to  claim 1  or the multi-layer structure according to  claim 5  in a cigarette making device for the preparation of make your own cigarettes.  
   
   
       15 . Use of the tobacco slab according to  claim 1  or the multi-layer structure according to  claim 5  wherein the tobacco slab or the multi-layer structure is partially enclosed by a package.