CN102802452A - Aligned striped cigarette paper, cigarette, and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

An alignable banded wrapper paper (23) for a smoking article (20) is disclosed. The banded regions (32) are spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to the length of the tobacco rod of the smoking article divided by an integer. This results in a banded region that begins at substantially the same location on each cigarette. Thus, each banded region is positioned at a preferred predetermined distance from the end of the cigarette; cigarettes made from such paper exhibit consistent and improved ignition proclivity properties as compared to randomly or similarly randomly located banded regions. A cigarette manufactured from alignable banded wrapper and a method of manufacturing a cigarette using alignable banded paper are disclosed.

Description

Aligned striped cigarette paper, cigarette, and method of manufacture

technical field

Broadly, the present disclosure relates to cigarettes and cigarette wrappers having one or more ignition propensity modulating structures, such as circumferential bands. In addition, the present disclosure relates to methods of making striped cigarette wrappers such that the strips of each cigarette are positioned substantially uniformly relative to structural features of the cigarettes. In other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a cigarette in which the strip is consistently positioned relative to features of the finished cigarette.

Background technique

To date, striped wrappers for cigarettes have presented strips of preferred width spaced longitudinally at preferred nominal distances along the length of the paper. Using the paper, the finished cigarette has bands that are randomly or similarly randomly positioned relative to structural features of the cigarette (eg, the ignitable end, or the filter end, or the mouth end, or the filter itself).

In the case of cigarettes incorporating stripped wrappers to control self-extinguishing, flammability, etc., random or quasi-random strip positioning may produce inconsistent results for characteristics such as self-extinguishing, flammability, and the like. Currently, regulatory agencies have begun to impose requirements on characteristics such as self-extinguishing of cigarettes sold in special jurisdictions. Randomness or the like in the structural features of cigarettes can complicate compliance with such regulations.

Contents of the invention

According to one method of the present disclosure, a nominal finished length of a cigarette rod may be selected. The pitch of the predetermined positions of the strips is determined relative to the nominal length. From this pitch, the relationship of the position of the strip to the structural features of the finished cigarette can be selected or determined. The number of strips per finished cigarette can be selected or selected. The predetermined width of the ribbon(s) measured along the longitudinal length of the tobacco rod may be selected from a preferred range of ribbon widths. The predetermined strip width and predetermined position are then associated with the nominal finished length of the tobacco rod by adjusting the spacing between the strips on the cigarette paper such that the strips are positioned in substantially the same position on each finished cigarette.

A cigarette paper according to the present disclosure has transverse strips spaced apart from each other such that the relationship between one or more strip widths and the inter-strip spacing corresponds to a fraction of the nominal length of the tobacco rod ( fraction). Preferably, the cigarette paper has strips positioned according to the features described above.

A finished cigarette according to the present disclosure has a tobacco rod of nominal length, may include a filter, and is preferably manufactured using the cigarette paper described above. Cigarettes, especially tobacco rods, have a lightable end. The tobacco rod also has a mouth end and a filter end. Where a filter is used, it is attached to the filter end of the tobacco rod in a conventional manner. The wrapper for cigarettes preferably includes at least one strip located at a first predetermined distance from the ignitable or filter end, wherein the predetermined distance is substantially constant for each cigarette. If desired, another strip may be positioned at a second predetermined distance from the other of the ignitable end and the filter end. Furthermore, more than two strips may be provided on each cigarette if desired.

Preferably, the first predetermined distance is selected such that the first strip is spaced apart from the ignitable end by a distance corresponding to approximately 1/2 the pitch between adjacent strips.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a smoking article according to the present disclosure;

Figure 2 depicts a plan view of an embodiment of a wrapper according to the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a graph showing a comparison of percent full length burn for two cigarettes: a cigarette with a banded region starting at 12mm to 18mm from the lit end of the cigarette; and a cigarette with a randomly positioned banded region cigarettes; and

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing various parts of the cigarette manufacturing process.

Detailed ways

As used herein, "aligned" or "aligned" or "alignable" means brought into or adjusted to substantially exact correspondence. The "ignitable end" or "lighting end" of a cigarette or cigarette rod refers to the end of the cigarette or cigarette rod that will be ignited when smoking is initiated. Aligning the banded area with the starting position of the lit end of the cigarette can further serve to minimize the number of times the cigarette self-extinguishes. Where the terms "about", "substantially", or "generally" are used, such terms are intended to include equivalents to the modified characteristics. When any of these terms are applied to a number, it means that the number has a tolerance of plus or minus 5%.

tobacco

For cigarettes made in accordance with the present disclosure, suitable types of tobacco material that may be employed include, but are not limited to, flue-cured, burley, Maryland, Oriental tobaccos, exotic tobaccos, specialty tobaccos, blends thereof, and the like. Tobacco material may be provided in any suitable form, including but not limited to: (i) cut filler tobacco, (ii) tobacco leaf, (iii) treated tobacco material such as volume-expanded or puffed tobacco, ( iv) Treated tobacco stems, such as cut stems or puffed cuts, (v) reconstituted tobacco material, (v) mixtures thereof; etc. Tobacco alternatives are also available. Recipe shredded tobacco is preferred.

In conventional cigarette manufacture, tobacco is typically used in the form of cut filler, that is, cut to widths ranging from about 2.5 mm to about 1.2 mm (1/10 inch to about 1/20 inch) or even about 0.6 mm (1/40 inch) in the form of filaments or strands. Individual tobacco strands range in length from about 6 mm to about 75 mm (0.25 inches to about 3.0 inches). Tobacco materials for cigarettes may also include one or more flavorants, or other suitable additives (eg, combustion additives, combustion modifiers, colorants, binders, etc.).

cigarette structure

Referring to FIG. 1 , a cigarette 20 according to the present disclosure typically includes a tobacco rod 22 having a ignitable end 26 and a second end 34 . The second end 34 may be the mouth end or may be provided with the filter 24 having the end 28 . Typically, the filter 24 is attached to the tobacco rod 22 by tipping paper 25 . The tobacco rod 22 includes a quantity of the tobacco material discussed above and is surrounded by a wrapper 23 .

Certain jurisdictions now require that cigarettes sold must comply with ignition propensity requirements that statistically define how, under specified conditions, a cigarette will travel from the lit end 26 to the filter when placed on a predetermined substrate. End 34 is the burning part. For example, ASTM standard E2187-04 is the test procedure upon which to meet this ignition propensity requirement. One method of meeting these requirements involves providing one or more striped regions 30, 32 spaced along the tobacco rod 22. These strips 30 , 32 are part of the wrapper 23 and may extend circumferentially around the tobacco rod 22 . Typically, the ribbon has a width measured along the longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod in the range of about 5mm to about 7mm.

In conventional cigarette manufacture, the tobacco rod is formed as the wrapper is moved along its longitudinal axis. The tobacco material is placed on the moving wrapper, which is then wrapped around the tobacco material, sealed and cut to form tobacco rods 22 . Heretofore, such conventional cigarette manufacturing processes have resulted in random or quasi-random positioning of the strip 30 relative to the ignitable or lit end 26 of the cigarette.

According to the present disclosure, it is preferred that the first strip 30 is located at a first predetermined distance from the lit or ignitable end 26 of the cigarette. Strip 30 includes ignition propensity regulating structures and may consist of (i) added layers of material making up the base web, (ii) one or more printed layers of aqueous or non-aqueous film-forming solutions, or ( iii) Manufactured from other materials to regulate, control, manage or adjust the ignition propensity of the tobacco rod 22.

Preferably, said first predetermined distance corresponds to approximately 50% of the pitch between adjacent striped regions, and more particularly where the smoking article has two striped regions, the Said first predetermined distance corresponds to approximately 25% of the length of the rod in the finished smoking article. Also, the predetermined distance is also preferably in the range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm. The preferred predetermined distance may be adjusted by selecting the number of banded regions on the cigarette or tobacco rod such that 50% of the pitch is within the preferred range. Furthermore, it is preferred that said predetermined distance is substantially constant for all smoking articles in a conventional pack of smoking articles. When the predetermined distance is maintained substantially uniformly throughout the cigarette manufacturing process, the resulting cigarette 20 not only exhibits improved ignition propensity properties when tested, but also has lower ignition propensity properties compared to previous findings. Performance was more consistent across smoking articles.

cigarette paper with strips

The presently disclosed banded cigarette paper 23 can be manufactured by methods such as disclosed in commonly owned US 6596125 and using equipment such as disclosed in commonly owned US 6596125, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. Herein, US 6596125 relates to a method and apparatus for applying a predetermined arrangement of additional size, preferably in the form of transversely extending stripes, to a base web. More particularly, said patent relates to a method and apparatus for producing cigarette paper with striped regions made of additional material. As disclosed therein, the striped regions may exhibit a slower burn rate than those regions of the base web located between the striped regions. Other publications relating to banded cigarette papers include commonly owned US 5417228, US 5474095, and US 5534114, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The striped areas can also be formed by other techniques, such as printing, in particular gravure printing. See commonly owned US 5417228 and US 5144964, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The width of the striped region is preferably in the range of about 5mm to about 7mm, and more preferably about 6mm.

The resulting striped cigarette wrapper 23 is typically wound on a spool. For example, each reel may, for example, hold a strip of paper approximately 6000 meters long. The width of the tape on the spool is related to the circumference of the cigarette to be formed. Typically, the width sufficiently exceeds the circumference of the cigarette to include the strip region.

cigarette manufacturing

Referring to FIG. 4 , when making cigarettes, filler tobacco 101 is placed continuously along a traveling strip of cigarette wrapping paper 23 fed from a reel 104 at a tobacco rod manufacturing apparatus 103 . The paper 23 is wrapped around the cut filler so as to create a substantially continuous long column 106 . The column 106 is cut into a double tobacco rod 108 suitable for making two single cigarettes 20, 20'. For example (see Fig. 2), the column may be cut transversely at positions 40, 44 of the rod making device 103 in order to make a rod 108 having a nominal length 21. Subsequently, the twin tobacco rod 108 is fed into a tipping machine 110, such as a Hauni MAX, wherein the twin tobacco rod 108 is cut into two tobacco rods 22, 22' at position 42, the two tobacco rods 22, 22' are moved apart to receive the duplex filter segment 112 therebetween. Duplex filter segments 112 are attached to longitudinally spaced pairs of cigarette rods 22 , 22 ′ using tipping paper 114 . The double length cigarette assembly 116 is then cut in half to produce two finished cigarettes 20, 21 (see Figure 1). Multiple rods may be double, quadruple, hexagonal, etc., and other tipping operations can be used.

The striped region 30 may include additional additional materials and/or burn rate modifiers to reduce ignition propensity as desired. Additionally or alternatively, the striped region 30 may be used to impart a subjective quality to the cigarette. For example, the striped area may include spices. The burn rate of the banded region comprising flavorant may be equal to the burn rate of the non-banded region of the cigarette paper, or the burn rate of the banded region comprising flavorant may be faster than that of the adjacent non-banded region of the cigarette paper. Burn rate is slower.

Each strip 30 , 32 (see FIG. 1 ) is configured to have a leading edge 31 and a trailing edge 33 (the leading edge 31 is first approached by smoldering coal traveling from the firing end 26 ).

The positioning or position of the strip in the finished cigarette depends on the nominal length l of the cigarette rod cut from a tobacco rod manufactured using the stripped cigarette paper. As noted, the strips typically have a constant width. All strips in cigarette wrapping tape have a consistent spacing (i.e., the distance from the end of one striped area (trailing edge 33) to the beginning of the next striped area (leading edge 33) is a constant value), the striped areas will be randomly or similarly randomly placed on the finished cigarette.

align

The presently disclosed cigarette paper 23 (see FIG. 1 ) is preferably designed such that the banded region of the finished cigarette is positioned or aligned relative to the structure of the finished cigarette 20 (e.g., the ignitable end 26 or the mouth end 34, or both) (register). The disclosed cigarette paper 23 may be designed such that each tobacco rod 22 manufactured from the cigarette paper 23 has at least two striped regions 30, 32, one aligned relative to the lit end 26, A striped region is aligned relative to the filter end 34 or 28 . Typically, each strip 30, 32 burns at a slower rate than the strip-free region of the adjacent cigarette paper 23, and thus modulates the ignition propensity of the associated tobacco rod.

The center of the first striped region 30 is preferably positioned at a predetermined distance d from the first end (ie, the lit end 26 ). Thus, the leading edge 31 of the striped area is spaced from the ignition end 26 by a distance corresponding to this predetermined distance d minus half the width of the striped area 30 . The cigarette rod preferably includes a second striped region 32 centered at a predetermined distance d from the second end (i.e., the mouth or filter end) of the cigarette rod 22. Spaced out. As illustrated in Figure 2, a portion of a continuous cigarette paper strip having four striped regions for forming two cigarettes is shown, each cigarette may have two striped regions 30,32. The pitch P or spacing between adjacent striped regions can be measured from the leading edge 31 of one striped region 30 to the leading edge 31 of the adjacent striped region 32, or can be measured between adjacent striped regions 30. Measured between the trailing edge 33 of the area of the belt.

The striped regions such as 30 , 32 are preferably spaced substantially evenly along the length of the base web 23 . Furthermore, each striped region 30 , 32 extends transversely across substantially the entire width of the base web 23 , running from longitudinal edge to longitudinal edge of said base web 23 . Each striped region 30, 32 also has a common width measured along the machine direction of the base web. Typically, the width is in the range of about 4mm to about 10mm, and more preferably in the range of about 5mm to about 7mm.

Preferably, the distance d from the lit end to the center of the adjacent striped area 30 corresponds to half the pitch P between adjacent areas. Also, the predetermined distance from the firing end to the leading edge 31 of the adjacent striped region is in the range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm. Typical rod lengths used in the cigarette manufacturing process are in the range of about 50 mm to about 100 mm, and preferably in the range of about 55 mm to about 90 mm. Recognizing that the predetermined distance from the lit end to the leading edge 31 corresponds to P/2 minus the width of the banded region 30 (measured along the longitudinal dimension of the base web or along the axis of the smoking article ), by selecting the strip width and the number of strips for each tobacco rod length, the predetermined distance is allowed to be selected within a preferred range between about 12mm and about 18mm. Typically there will be 1 to 10 banded areas on the tobacco rod, and preferably 2 to 4 banded areas.

For an 84 mm filtered oversize cigarette, the distance d from the center of the second banded region 32 to the second end (mouth end) of the cigarette rod is also preferably in the range of about 10 mm to about 20 mm Within, more preferably about 15mm. Furthermore, the banded region is preferably arranged symmetrically along the pitch of the tobacco rod with respect to the lighting end and the mouth end of the tobacco rod.

Thus, the cigarette paper with aligned bands includes a band spacing that begins at a first aligned position 40 on the banded cigarette paper 23 and ends at a second aligned position 44 on the cigarette paper with aligned bands 23 . The aligned positions 40, 44 are where the cutting means of the tobacco rod making apparatus (see Fig. 4) repeatedly cut the substantially continuous tobacco rods to form the duplex tobacco rods 22, 22'. The aligned position 42 is where the cutting device on the tipping machine cuts the double tobacco rod 22 , 22 ′ to form the two cigarettes 20 .

The paper (wrapping paper) 23 is provided with an arrangement plan repeated every length 2l:

K ₁ , K ₂ , K ₁ ;

where l is the nominal tobacco rod length and _K corresponds to the spacing (or first predetermined distance) between the first alignment position 40 on the cigarette paper 23 with the aligned strip and the middle or center of the first strip 30 d). _K2 corresponds to the center-to-center spacing between the first strip 30 and the last strip 32 of the wrapper (the second strip of FIGS. 1 and 2 ) within the length l. The spacing between the first alignment position 40 and the second alignment position 42 is preferably chosen to correspond to an integer multiple of the length 1 of the tobacco rod to be used.

Preferably, the arrangement is repeated several times along the length of the wrapper 23 , and more preferably the arrangement is repeated along the entire length of the wrapper 23 . For the lighting end and the mouth end of the tobacco rod, with the same preferred spacing of the rods, K ₂ may be equal to 2K ₁ , so that the arrangement would be equivalent to:

K ₁ , 2K ₁ , K ₁

In general, a tobacco rod 22 of predetermined length 1 made from cigarette paper with aligned strips may have n strips, where n is greater than or equal to 2, and wherein the strip-to-strip spacing is p. Preferably, n is less than or equal to 10. Most preferably, n may be equal to 2 or 3. P can be measured from the center of a swath to the center of an adjacent swath, leading edge of a swath to leading edge of an adjacent swath, or from trailing edge of a swath to adjoining trailing swath edge. For a tobacco rod with length l and n strips,

2[(n-1)+1]k ₁ =2[(n-1)+1]d=nP=l

Therefore, through the aforementioned relationship, knowing the nominal length l and the number n of strips per cigarette, the required spacing P between adjacent strips and the center of the lit end and the first striped area can be determined The predetermined distance d between.

In order to avoid a random or quasi-random placement of the striped areas on the cigarette, at (or, as close as reasonably practicable to) exactly in the middle of the center-to-center distance between two adjacent striped areas The continuous tobacco rod 106 (see FIG. 4 ) is severed. The positions for cutting are indicated in FIG. 2 by 40 , 42 , 44 , for example. Because of the uniformity of the banded areas and their corresponding spacing on the paper web, at the same relative position between adjacent banded areas after the first cut to a continuous tobacco rod has been performed All subsequent cuts are made to form double-linked tobacco rods. Thus, the predetermined distance d between the lit end and the first strip is substantially the same for all smoking articles produced from tobacco rods produced from a reel of stripped wrapper.

From the foregoing description and Figures 2 and 4, it will be seen that the wrapper 23 exhibits a repeating arrangement along its longitudinal length. Said arrangement has a predetermined length which preferably corresponds to twice the nominal length 1 of a tobacco rod for a cigarette. The predetermined length is measured from the first alignment location 40 to the second alignment location 44 . Furthermore, within said predetermined length, said arrangement is symmetrical about a transverse axis corresponding to alignment position 42 . During the manufacture of smoking articles, the tobacco rod making apparatus 103 (see FIG. 4 ) cuts or otherwise severes a continuous tobacco rod 106 at first and second aligned positions 40, 44 to form, for example, a tobacco rod of predetermined length. Double tobacco rod. The tipping machine 110 cuts or otherwise severes the duplex tobacco rod at the axis of symmetry of the arrangement such that the banded region of the resulting smoking article is relative to that of the ignitable or lit end of the smoking article. The spatial positioning is basically the same.

example

A series of prototype cigarettes were prepared using different levels of chalk loading (all below 12%). The prototype series are identified as A, B, C, D in the table below. The following table summarizes the test results of these prototype cigarettes tested according to ASTM standard E2187-04.

The test results are listed in the table below, based on the prototype and according to the distance from the lit end to the first striped area. The first column of data summarizes the results for cigarettes in which the first banded region 30 begins at a distance of 12 mm to 18 mm (ie, d or K ₁ ) from the lit end of the cigarette. The second column of data summarizes the results for cigarettes in which the first banded region begins outside the range of 12 mm to 18 mm from the lit end of the cigarette. For each prototype, the number of full length burns (FLB) and extinguishments (EXT) at the time of the test was recorded, as well as the total number of cigarettes tested for that prototype that also fell within the range of distance from the lit end of the cigarette. As used herein, extinguishing refers to non-full length burning. Briefly, the data show that cigarettes with a first banded region within the range of 12 mm to 18 mm from the lit or ignitable end are different from cigarettes with a first banded region outside said range. Cigarettes produced a significantly lower percentage of free-length burns than cigarettes.

surface

At the bottom, the table summarizes the results obtained using all prototypes. For the cigarettes with the first band in the preferred range, free length burns occurred in only about 4.6% of the cigarettes tested. In contrast, free length burns occurred in about 31.2% of the cigarettes tested for the cigarettes with the first strip outside the preferred range. Since the percentage of free length burn is related to ignition propensity, these tests show that the ignition propensity of cigarettes outside the preferred range is greater than that of cigarettes with the first band within the preferred range. Roughly 7 times the tendency.

Figure 3 compares the percent full length burn of the four prototype cigarettes listed in the table and four additional prototype cigarettes (all having a banded area starting at a distance of 12 mm to 18 mm from the lit end of the cigarette) and the percent full length burn of the four prototype cigarettes listed in the table and four additional prototype cigarettes (all with randomly placed banded regions). The randomly placed banded region may start less than 12 mm from the lit end of the cigarette, 12 mm to 18 mm from the lit end of the cigarette, or greater than 18 mm from the lit end of the cigarette. Dashed lines are best fits to data points. Figure 3 shows that cigarettes with banded regions starting at a distance of 12 mm to 18 mm from the lit end of the cigarette are less likely to experience full-length burn than cigarettes with randomly placed banded regions, In particular the odds are likely to be as low as as high as roughly 3 times.

In order to use the data efficiently in the manufacture of cigarettes, the wrapper was prepared with striped regions repeated along the longitudinal length of the wrapper according to the _K1 , _K2 , _K1 arrangement discussed above. During cigarette manufacture, the wrapper with said predetermined arrangement of strips is fed into a garage machine at a predetermined distance from the first striped area 30 (see Figure 2). The first cut to the tobacco column is made at a position of a predetermined distance preferably in the range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm. Thus, each successive cut of the tobacco column produces a double-length tobacco rod which is subsequently cut to make two cigarettes. Filters may be applied as described above. Referring now to FIG. 4 , at the tobacco making apparatus 103, the desired cutting operation is achieved using a sensor 120 and a processor 122 adapted to generate a signal when banded regions 30 and/or 32 are detected, so The processor 122 is adapted to cause the cutting device 124 to operate in response to signals generated by the sensor 120.

With this treatment, each cigarette 20 (see FIG. 1 ) will have a first banded region positioned at a predetermined distance from the lit or ignitable end of the cigarette. Also, in a pack of 20 such cigarettes, each cigarette will also have a first striped region positioned at said predetermined distance from said cigarette end. With this alignment method and wrapper construction treatment, selected strips can also be treated differently from other strips, depending on the desired properties. For example, flavor can be added to the first striped region to enhance the enjoyment of smoking. It is also possible to alter the striped area at the end of the cigarette so that it statistically causes the cigarette to go out more often when it is left unnoticed on the substrate. For example, the striped area at the end may include additional additional material or have a greater width.

While various embodiments have been described, it should be understood that various modifications, variations and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications, variations, and equivalents are intended to be covered within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS 1. An alignable wrapper for smoking articles having a nominal length, said alignable wrapper comprising: a base trim having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; and a plurality of ignition propensity modulating structures , the ignition tendency adjustment structures are substantially evenly spaced along the longitudinal direction of the basic auxiliary material, extend along the transverse direction of the basic auxiliary material, and have direction, wherein the pitch between adjacent ignition propensity regulating structures along the longitudinal direction of the base material is selected as the nominal length divided by an integer . 2. The alignable packaging material of claim 1, wherein the ignition propensity adjusting structure is a substantially continuous strip extending across the width of the base trim. 3. The alignable packaging material of claim 2, wherein the integer is 1, 2, 3 or 4. 4. A smoking article comprising: a tobacco rod comprising an amount of tobacco, the tobacco rod having a longitudinal direction and a rod length; and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco and comprising a plurality of ignition propensity regulating structures substantially evenly spaced along the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod substantially surrounding the said tobacco rod extends and has a nominal width measured along said longitudinal direction of said tobacco rod, Wherein, the pitch between adjacent ignition propensity regulating structures along the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod is selected as the rod length divided by an integer greater than 1. 5. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the ignition propensity modulating structure comprises at least one strip printed from an aqueous starch material. 6. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the tobacco rod has an end, and the center of the ignition propensity adjusting structure closest to the end is separated from the center of the ignition propensity adjusting structure adjacent to the end. 1/2 of the pitch is spaced from the ends. 7. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the ignition propensity regulating structure has a width in the range of about 5mm to about 7mm. 8. The smoking article of claim 4, further comprising a filter attached to one end of the tobacco rod. 9. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the nominal length is in the range of about 50mm to about 100mm. 10. The smoking article according to claim 4, wherein the integer is 2, 3 or 4. 11. A method of enhancing the ignition propensity properties of a smoking article for which a tobacco rod has a nominal length, the method comprising: determining a predetermined pitch for a striped region as said nominal length divided by an integer x; positioning said banded region along a tobacco rod at said predetermined pitch; In a tobacco rod making apparatus, said tobacco rod is cut at a midpoint between two adjacent said banded regions in order to produce x banded regions for each nominal length of tobacco rod tobacco rods; and Said tobacco rod is cut to suitable length, so that establish such tobacco rod part, in said tobacco rod part, the center of first one of said banded areas is arranged to correspond to the A distance of 1/2 of said predetermined pitch is spaced from the lit end of said tobacco rod portion.

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