An Improvement in the Manufacture of Cigarettes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Manufacture of Cigarettes.
I ALFRED GEORGE GOODES of 21 High Street, Lewisham, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of cigarettes having
for its object to provide a substitute for or an addition to the ordinary paper
wrapper whereby the objectionable qualities inherent to the paper are removed or
masked and neutralized as the case may be, and whereby a pleasant aromatic flavor
is imparted to the cigarette which blends with but does not overpower or impair
the natural aroma and flavor of the tobacco.
The invention consists in the application as a wrapper proper or as an outer
wrapper in conjunction with the ordinary paper wrapper of the material known as
roffia or ruffia being the leaf of a plant grown in Madagascar and elsewhere. As
imported this material is in a dried shrivelled condition and in order to apply it to
the above mentioned purpose it is necessary to prepare it in a special manner in
order that it may be rendered sufficiently flexible to be spread out to its full width
so as to remove all creases and prevent its natural tendency to shrink, curl and
cockle when dry. With this object the material is first moistened with water and
spread out flat on a smooth surface, it is then pressed flat preferably by being
passed between a pair of laminating rollers, whereby the tendency of the material
to curl up at the edges is to a great extent overcome. The material if not required
for immediate use is to be rolled up whilst moist to dry so as to prevent it curling
and ensure drying in a smooth flat condition. Before being used the material is to
be moistened with a weak solution of glycerine and water whereby its texture is
mollified and it is rendered sufficiently supple to be rolled smoothly around the
cigarette, the glycerine imparting a permanent softness to the material and pre-
venting subsequent cockling and shrinking and ensuring the even burning of the
material when the cigarette is smoked. An outer covering of tobacco leaf may be
applied around the above described wrapper if desired.
.
The same material may be applied as a mouthpiece to the end only of a paper
covered cigarette, the outer surface of the material which presents a smooth and
slightly lustrous appearance having no tendency to adhere to the lips of the
smoker.
The invention also comprises the application of the same material in its dried
unprepared condition for the filling of the cigarette for curative purposes, the
wrapper being of the same material prepared as above described.
Dated this 25th day of Anril 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Manufacture of Oigarettes.
I, ALFRED GEORGE GOODES of 21, High Street, Lewisham, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
5 in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improvement in the wrappers of cigarettes whereby
the objectionable qualities inherent to the ordinary paper wrapper are obviated or

page_text: masked and neutralized as the case may be, and whereby a pleasant aromatic flavor
is imparted to the cigarette which blends with but does not overpower or impair
the natural aroma and flavor of the tobacco.
The invention consists in the application as a wrapper or mouthpiece for cigarettes
in conjunction with the ordinary paper wrapper, of the material variously known as
raphea, raffia, roffia, or ruffia, being the leaf of a plant grown in Madagascar
and elsewhere and imported into Europe for tying up plants and other purposes.
now
As imported, this material is in a dried and shrivelled condition and in order to
apply it to the purpose of my invention, it is necessary to prepare and apply it in a
special manner in order that it may be rendered sufficiently supple to admit of being
spread out to its full width without cracking, to remove creases, and prevent its
natural tendency to shrink curl and cockle when dry. With this object the material
is first moistened by steeping in water and is then spread out smooth and flat on a
plate of glass or other smooth surface and is then cut into suitable lengths which
whilst still moist are laid smooth-face downwards side by side at narrow intervals
upon a plate of glass and pasted over with an adhesive material preferably one
such as gum tragacanth which will not mar the appearance of the material.
Upon the gummed strips is then laid a sheet of ordinary cigarette wrapper
paper which is pressed into smooth and adherent contact with the gummed strips.
Whilst still wet the sheet with the strips adhering thereto is peeled off the
glass and laid back downwards upon a smooth surface such as a plate of painted
wood moistened with weak soap and water. The raffia strips which are
uppermost are covered over with a sheet of ordinary paper also moistened with
weak soap and water which is pressed into smooth and close contact with the
raffia strips, the covering sheet being rather larger than the sheet of cigarette
paper on which the raffia strips are mounted so that its edges extend beyond
the undermost sheet and may either be gummed or not to the mounting plate
to which the whole adheres by atmospheric pressure consequent on the evaporation
of the moisture when allowed to slowly dry, the whole being thus "damp
stretched so that it will dry in a perfectly flat condition and without any
tendency of the raffia to curl or shrivel. When thoroughly dry the whole is
carefully peeled off the mounting board and the covering sheet detached and
the sheet with the raffia strips mounted thereon is then cut into strips of the
proper size for cigarette wrappers. For this purpose a sufficient margin of
cigarette paper is left projecting along one edge of the raffia strip to form a
gummed and lapped joint when the cigarette is made, it being desirable to avoid as
far as possible overlapping the raffia upon itself at the joint more than is necessary
(although it must be overlapped to a certain extent) as the double thickness of
raffia does not consume so easily as the single thickness and consequently the
cigarette would be liable to burn unequally. In order to make the raffia burn still
better and with greater uniformity and a white ash I prefer to add to the gum
tragacanth or other mounting solution a little (say 21 per cent. of the solution of
bicarbonate of magnesia or equivalent material producing the above described effect.
An outer covering of tobacco leaf may be applied around the above described
wrapper after the cigarette is made, if desired."
"
The raffia stretched and mounted on cigarette paper as above described, may be
applied as a mouthpiece to the end only of a paper-covered cigarette in which case
it would preferably be applied after the cigarette is made but it might be applied
to the paper wrapper before the cigarette is made although in that case the opera-
tion of rolling would be impeded by the greater stiffness of the mouthpiece portion.
Whether the raffia be used for the whole wrapper or for the mouthpiece only, the
outer surface of the material which has a smooth and lustrous appearance imparted
to it in preparing it as above described is presented outwards and has no tendency
to adhere to the lips of the smoker.
My invention is not limited to cigarettes of tobacco but may with equal advantage
be applied to cigarettes filled with other materials such as those generally used for
medicinal nummages

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The application and use either as a wrapper or mouthpiece for cigarettes, of the
material herein specified, prepared and applied substantially in the manner herein
set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1893.
A. G. GOODES,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.