Universal Smoking Machine Adapter: Cigar & Cigarillo Case Study

Currently available smoking machine adapter technologies, designed to form a leak-tight interface between smoking machines and the mouth-end of cigars or cigarillos, are often complex and highly specific to individual product geometries. This product-dependent design presents significant limitations, particularly when testing box pressed cigars or plastic-tipped cigarillos, which frequently require physical modification of the product to achieve a proper seal.

The study presented in this article aims to evaluate the Universal Smoking Machine Adapter (USMA), which is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing linear smoking machines and to accommodate a representative range of cigars and cigarillos. These include products with varying physical characteristics such as size, mouth-end geometry, tip material, and compressibility. The study assessed the adapter’s performance, usability, and reliability, and compared the resulting data with those obtained using currently available adapter technologies.

Evaluation of Emission Testing between the USMA & Cerulean Cigar Adapter (CCA) 

Emissions were generated from a range of cigar products, including large cigars with both homogenized tobacco leaf and natural wrappers (Dutch Masters and Game Leaf), cigarillos with and without plastic tips (Black & Mild and Swisher Sweets, respectively), and three reference products (1C3 & 1R6F cigarillo, 1C4 cigar, and 1RLC cigar).

Using the USMA in combination with the Cerulean Cigar Adapter (CCA), mainstream smoke was collected and analyzed to quantify key emissions carbon monoxide (CO), nicotine, and total particulate matter (TPM). Each product type was tested with a minimum of 10 replicates to ensure reliable and reproducible results.

The table below summarises the Universal Smoking Machine adapter size and ferrule variant selected for each tobacco product type tested. Adapter selection was based on
product format and mouth-end geometry to ensure proper fit during analysis

The table below presents a comparison of mainstream emission data for 1R6F and 1RLC, generated using the Universal Smoking Machine Adapter and the Cerulean cigarette and cigar adapters, respectively, with the certified values. 

The table below summarises the Cerulean Cigar Adapter seal, latex sleeve, bobbin, and buffer variants for each tobacco product type tested.