Abstract: A method is disclosed for mechanically and electrically bonding metallic materials and semiconductor materials. The method according to the invention may be used, for example, in forming a semiconductor electrical heater, particularly for use in electrical smoking articles. A metallic element, such as a copper alloy power supply tab, is laser welded to a semiconductor element, such as a doped silicon resistive heater element. A laser beam is directed through a hole in the copper alloy tab to melt some silicon material, which flows into the hole in the copper tab, reacts and intermixes with the copper and solidifies to form a slug containing copper silicide. A protective material such as nickel may be applied to protect the copper silicide from oxidation if desired. An ohmic, low resistance contact and high strength bond is provided between the parts.

Abstract: An electrical smoking article is provided in which tobacco flavor medium is carried past a heater by a continuous web. The web, which preferably is substantially non-combustible, may bear continuous tobacco flavor medium or spaced-apart portions of tobacco flavor medium. A flavor cassette for such an electrical smoking article is also provided. The cassette resembles a conventional recording tape microcassette, having the web in place of magnetic tape. The cassette may also include the heater past which the tape is indexed to heat individual portions of tobacco flavor medium.

Abstract: Step-shaped innerframes and blanks for forming such innerframes are provided to permit shorter than conventional cigarettes to be packaged in a conventionally sized hinged lid box. A front panel is foldably connected to a substantially perpendicular step bottom panel which in turn is foldably connected to a substantially perpendicular back panel, such that the front and back panels extend in opposite directions and lie in substantially parallel planes to form an integral step configuration. When the inner frame is located within a hinged lid box, a receptacle is formed for a short cigarette bundle. A lower receptacle is defined below the step bottom panel to store discarded cigarettes which are inserted into the lower receptacle via a hole located in one of the box walls and any associated underlying innerframe panel.

Abstract: This invention refers to a paper having crossdirectional regions having increased basis weight. The paper of this invention is especially useful as a wrapping material for a smoking article. The paper may be produced by depositing additional material onto a moving base web in a papermaking machine. The additional material is deposited by means of a rotating drum containing a plurality of slits through which the additional material passes.

Abstract: A heater having a multiple-layer ceramic substrate and a method for fabricating the heater are provided. The heater consists-of a plurality of ceramic layers which are laminated to form a single ceramic substrate. A plurality of resistive heating elements are deposited onto the multiple-layer ceramic substrate, which are connectable to a power source via conductive elements which extend through the substrate to the resistive heating elements. The heater may also include a terminal that allows for convenient electrical and mechanical interfacing to a smoking article.

Abstract: A carbonaceous heat source comprising metal oxides and methods for making such heat source are provided. The heat source has an ignition temperature substantially lower than conventional carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time produces virtually no carbon monoxide upon combustion. The heat source is prepared by pre-forming the carbon and binder materials into a desired shape, and then treating the shape with a sol containing metal oxide precursors. The metal oxide precursors are deposited in the pre-formed carbon shape. Further treatment converts the deposited metal oxide precursors into metal oxide.

Abstract: A filter plug tray includes a housing having a loading port which cooperates with external loading and unloading stations, a feed conveyor for conveying filter plugs across the loading port, and expandable filter plug constraining means positioned in the housing to contain the filter plugs in a desired orientation and alignment. The constraining means includes a flexible band wound under tension on a reel rotatably mounted the housing. The flexible band unwinds as plugs are loaded into the tray and winds onto the reel to urge plugs to the loading port as plugs are unloaded.

Abstract: The sidestream smoke associated with a cigarette or cigarette-like smoking article is reduced by wrapping the tobacco in a paper wrapper having an additive, such as an organic acid, an acidic or neutral salt or an organic acid in combination with an acidic salt or neutral salt added thereto.

Abstract: A smoking article wrapper comprising a base web material having a first burn rate and one or more regions having a second burn rate is provided. The regions having a second burn rate are comprised of a composite layer structure of: said base web material, a layer is particulate material, and an adhesive layer which adheres to said base web material and to said layer of particular material. The particulate material is subsequently applied to the adhesive layer. An apparatus and method for applying the particulate material onto the base web is also provided.

Abstract: Improved systems for optical inspection are provided. The improved systems use modified camera boxes to provide increased, and more uniform, illumination of the objects being inspected through the use of illuminator windows. The lens arrangement of the improved camera boxes is contained within a self-contained, sealed housing that is separate from the camera to prevent particle contamination of the lens arrangement and provide improved flexibility during installation of the camera boxes on the inspection systems. The self-contained housing also provides for a reduction in the space required for the camera boxes. The light receiver of the housing is provided with the capability for preventing particle contamination of the receiver itself.

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine exit apparatus having a contoured heating surface and a pivoted heater retraction feature. The contoured surface preferably is in the form of diagonally oriented elongated narrow ridges that act as contact surfaces to concentrate heat on the seal of the cigarette packs being conveyed along the surface. The pivoted retraction feature serves to raise and then lower the heater when the packing machine is shut off so that the packs then on the heater surface are raised and are held spatially separated from the heater.

Abstract: A chemical heat source comprising metal nitride, metal oxide and carbon, particularly useful in smoking articles, and methods of making the heat source are provided. The metal nitride of the heat source has an ignition temperature substantially lower than conventional carbonaceous heat sources, while at the same time provides sufficient heat to release a flavored aerosol from a flavor bed for inhalation by the smoker. Upon combustion the heat source produces virtually no carbon monoxide. The metal nitride is prepared by pre-forming the starting materials into a desired shape, and converting them to metal nitride in situ, without substantially altering the shape of the starting materials.

Abstract: The entire cylindrical surface of a cylindrical object such as a cigarette is optically inspected by first inspecting at least 180.degree. of the circumference of a first side of the surface, and then inspecting at least 180.degree. of the circumference of the other side. Each of the inspection stations illuminates more than 180.degree. of the circumference and images the surface from two angularly spaced directions to ensure that at least 180.degree. of the circumference is seen at each station. Any object having a defective image is automatically rejected from the apparatus, and the images and other statistical information regarding the performance of the system are displayed by the system. The images are formed in such a way as to greatly increase the speed at which the inspection system operates so that it can keep up with the very high rates at which objects such as cigarettes are made in modern machinery (e.g., approximately 10,000 cigarettes per minute).

Abstract: A filter tipped cigarette making machine and method in which spaced apart generally cylindrical components are supplied to flutes in processing drums. Gaps between the components are partially closed in a motion limiting spreader drum.

Abstract: A sealed cigarette carton is formed by activating an adhesive pre-applied to a carton blank and then setting the adhesive. Cigarette packaging apparatus and method utilizing packaging stock comprising a pre-applied adhesive forms cigarette cartons that are sealed by heat-activating and then setting the pre-applied adhesive.

Abstract: This invention relates to the control of the burn rate of a cigarette. The burn rate is controlled by the use of a paper wrapper to which regions of cellulosic material is applied and bonded. The cellulosic material is applied during a manufacturing step for the base paper wrapper, either off or on-line of the paper wrapper-forming machine.

Abstract: A plurality of resistive heating elements and conductive elements are screenprinted onto a ceramic substrate to form a heater having multiple resistive heating elements. Slots formed between adjacent resistive heating elements members provide air gaps to thermally insulate each heating element from neighboring elements. Gold-plated leads provide low contact resistance for receiving power from a battery for energizing each of the resistive heating elements.

Abstract: The blanks (1) are withdrawn one after another from a storage part (20) by transfer means (21) and are disposed on the cylindrical support surface of a drum (3) driven rotatingly by portions of a revolution. Various processing operations are performed on the blanks either while the drum is rotating or while it is stopped, e.g., folding a flap (16), gluing this flap to a surface portion (15) of the blank, or printing a code (17) on part of the blank. The presence, correct positioning, and proper alignment of the blank on the drum are checked before the aforementioned operations are carried out. After they have been effected, the blank is withdrawn from the drum to be sent on to a packaging machine. The processing apparatus and method can be utilized on a line for processing boxes or the like, particularly cigarette boxes, just before they are assembled to receive their contents.

Abstract: A process for reordering tobacco wherein tobacco is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near the equilibrium conditions of the tobacco. As the OV content of the tobacco increases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the tobacco is increased to effect reordering of the tobacco. Also provided is a process for drying tobacco, wherein tobacco is contacted with an air stream having a relative humidity near or below the equilibrium conditions of the tobacco. As the OV content of the tobacco decreases, the relative humidity of the air stream contacting the tobacco is decreased to effect drying of the tobacco. Tobacco is reordered or dried according to the processes of the present invention in a continuous manner preferably using a self-stacking spiral conveyor.

Abstract: The packaging box is made from a one-piece blank and comprises a receptacle portion and a lid portion bounded by perforation lines made in the receptacle portion. A closure flap is fixed to the lid portion. The box is opened for the first time by acting upon this flap to separate the perforated lid portion from the rest of the receptacle portion. When the box is reclosed, the lid portion is kept shut by inserting the closure flap into the box. The packaging box is fluid-tight after manufacture so that no additional wrapping sheet is needed. The blank may be made of thin cardboard and may be provided with a self-sealing coating.