Cigarette filter test apparatus and associated method for measuring filter hot collapse and tobacco consumption

A test apparatus for a cigarette during simulated smoking of the cigarette, the test apparatus comprising:

• a cigarette holder;
• smoking means for drawing air through a burning cigarette positioned in said cigarette holder to thereby simulate smoking of the cigarette;
• and
• tobacco consumption sensing means positioned adjacent said cigarette holder for sensing relative movement of a charline along a tobacco rod of the burning cigarette during simulated smoking and for generating a tobacco consumption signal based upon the sensed relative movement of the charline, said tobacco consumption sensing means comprising laser transmitter means for generating a laser beam, scanning means for scanning the laser beam along a length of the cigarette, and receiver means for detecting a reflected portion of the scanned laser beam from the cigarette.

A method for testing hot collapse of a cigarette filter during simulated smoking of a cigarette, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a cigarette in a holder and drawing air through the burning cigarette positioned in the holder to thereby simulate smoking of the cigarette;
• sensing deformation of the cigarette filter responsive to a predetermined load applied transverse to the filter during simulated smoking of the cigarette and generating a hot collapse signal based upon the sensed deformation;
• and
• sensing relative movement of a charline along a tobacco rod of the burning cigarette during simulated smoking by generating a laser beam, scanning the laser beam along a length of the cigarette, and detecting a reflected portion of the scanned laser beam from the cigarette to thereby generate a tobacco consumption signal based upon the sensed relative movement of the charline.