Cellulose acetate tow and method of making same

An apparatus and process for making a cigarette tow comprising: means for spinning a dope comprising a solution of cellulose acetate and solvent; means for taking-up the as-spun cellulose acetate filaments; means for lubricating the cellulose acetate filaments; means for forming a tow from the cellulose acetate filaments; means for crimping the tow, the means for crimping comprising a stuffer box crimper comprising a pair of nip rollers adapted to engage the tow, a pair of cheek plates juxtaposed to the pair of nip rollers adapted to keep the tow between the pair of nip rollers, a pair of doctor blades adjacent to an exit end of said pair of nip rollers, and a stuffer box having a stuffer channel adjacent the pair of doctor blades adapted to receive the tow into the channel from the pair of nip rollers, a flapper located at a distal end of the channel adapted to bearingly engage the tow; means for drying the crimped tow; and means for baling the dried crimped tow. The apparatus and process further comprises at least two of the following: A. wherein the means for crimping further comprising one roller of the pair of nip rollers being adapted to induce crimp into the tow; B. wherein the means for crimping further comprising one roller of the pair of nip rollers being made of a solid ceramic material; C. wherein the means for crimping further comprising a pair of tow edge lubricators adapted to lubricate lateral edges of the tow immediately prior to contact with the pair of nip rollers and being ahead of and in contact with the pair of cheek plates; D. wherein the means for crimping further comprising a steam injector being in communication with the channel; E. further comprising a means for plasticizing the tow being located after means for forming the tow and before the means for crimping the tow; F. wherein means for lubricating the filaments further comprises a finish comprising an emulsion of 62.0 to 65.0 weight percent of mineral oil.