Patent ID: 7435208

Claim:
A process for producing cigarette filters with slits therein to accelerate degradation of the cigarette filter after being used and discarded, the process comprising the steps of: providing a supply of elongate filter rods, each filter rod having a length and a longitudinal axis; transporting the elongate filter rods along a path of travel past at least one slitter mechanism comprising spaced apart parallel cutter blades having a common axis of rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filler rods so that the parallel cutter blades simultaneously partially enter the filter rods in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rods; simultaneously partially slitting the filter rods with the parallel cutter blades of the slitter mechanism to thereby form parallel slits along the length of the filter rod to accelerate degradation of the cigarette filter after being used and discarded; and cutting the slitted filter rod into smaller lengths.