Glossary

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B

Boxer
   The machine used to box cigarette packs into cartons in the Durham factory. Sometimes called a cartoner.

Brightleaf tobacco
   See Flue-cured brightleaf tobacco

Burley tobacco
   A type of tobacco used in tobacco blends for cigarettes, typically dark in color. Burley tobacco is air-cured, a treatment process that distinguishes it from other types of tobacco.

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C

Carton press
   The printing press that prints cigarette cartons.

Carton saw
   The machine that splits open cartons of returned goods so that tobacco can be reclaimed from the cigarettes.

Cartoner unit
   The section of the packing machine that put packs into cartons. Sometimes called a boxer.

Casing
   A mixture of sugar and humectant added to the tobacco blend so that it is better able to retain moisture and flavoring.

Cellulose acetate
   The raw material from which tow is made.

Cheese
   The name given to the block of compressed tobacco that is sent through the cutter.

Cigarette testing station (CTS)
   The station where quality control is performed on the completed cigarette. The CTS tests cigarettes for a variety of physical properties including weight, dilution, circumference, and amount of air drawn through the filter.

Crushproof packer
   Also called a hinge lid packer (HLP). One of several types of packing machines that bundles cigarettes into packs of twenty. The packs produced by this packer had hinge-top lids.

Cut-off saw
   A machinist's tool used in fabricating metal parts in the repair shop.

Cut rag
   The name given to cut tobacco.

Cutting die
   A tool for cutting cartons to shape.

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D

Direct conditioning cylinder (DCC)
   The DCC moistens and heats tobacco, opening its pores so that it more readily accepts casing.

Doffer
   Rollers that assist forward movement to discharge the tobacco from the storage silos. Doffers are used in many types of manufacturing.

Dropper
   The section of the packers where completed cigarettes wait to be sent through the packing process. Click here to see a dropper.

Drying drum
   The section of the packer that dries the label glue used to wrap the packs around the cigarette bundles.

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E

Elutriator
   The machine that sifts the tobacco stem product to eliminate pieces that are too large to use in cigarettes.

Engraved printing cylinder
   The section of the printing press that actually applies the words and images to the packaging.

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F

Feeder
   A large container that distributes tobacco across various devices that process the tobacco.

Flavoring concentrate
   A liquid mixture made of chemicals and extracts used to flavor the cigarettes. Different brands use different flavoring concentrate recipes.

Flue-cured brightleaf tobacco
   Tobacco that has been treated using the flue-cure process. This process involves heating tobacco but not exposing it to smoke by using pipes or flues that that conduct the heat. Brightleaf tobacco, also known as Virginia tobacco, is known for its bright, yellowish color.

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H

Heli-doffer
   Helix-shaped roller or doffer whose spinning action assists with moving or discharging the tobacco from the storage silos.

Hinge lid packer (HLP)
   See Crushproof packer

Hogshead
   Large barrel used to pack tobacco since colonial times.

Humectant
   Any substance that promotes moisture retention. In cigarette manufacturing, humectant is added to casing to keep the tobacco fresh.

HVAC
   Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.

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K

KDF Filter Maker
   The machine that manufactured filters in the Durham factory.

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L

Label press
   The printing press used to print cigarette pack labels.

Lamina
   Another name for tobacco leaf.

Lathe
   A metal- and wood-working machine used to shape material.

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M

Max 80
   The section of the Protus Cigarette Maker where the filters and tobacco rods are attached.

Molins hinge lid packer (HLP)
   See Crushproof packer

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O

Oriental tobacco
   Also called "Turkish tobacco." A type of tobacco typically grown in Turkey or other near eastern countries.

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P

Packer, 379
   One type of packing machine used to pack cigarettes in the Durham factory.

Pin-doffers
   Rotating, pin shaped doffers used to discharge tobacco from storage silos.

Protos Cigarette Maker
   The machine used to make cigarettes in the Durham factory. It is manufactured by a German company called Hauni.

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Q

Quality inspection drum
   The section of the Max 80 that tests the quality of the newly created cigarettes.

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R

Reconstituted tobacco
   Manufactured tobacco product made from parts of tobacco stems and small tobacco particles.

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S

Senzani Case Packer
   The Italian made machine that packs cigarette cartons into cases.

Senzani Elevator
   The section of the case packer that raises packed cases up for transfer to the warehouse.

Shooter lines
   Small pipes that transfer filters from the filter maker to the cigarette maker.

Strip tobacco
   Tobacco stripped of its packaging.

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T

Tipping paper
   The paper used to connect the filter to the tobacco rod.

Tobacco rod
   The rod of tobacco to which the filter is attached. At the beginning of the process, one long tobacco rod is produced, and it is later cut into cigarette-sized rods.

Tow
   Fiber manufactured from cellulose acetate used to create cigarette filters. Tow is used in many products such as fake snow and fake cobwebs.

Turkish tobacco
   See Oriental tobacco

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W

Wrapper
   The section of the packing machine that wraps and seals packs for freshness.

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X

X-1 packer
   The packing machine manufactured by Italian company, G.D., used most predominantly in the Durham factory.

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