Abstract: Process and apparatus for providing digital data indicative of the contour of a leaf-like article, e.g. a tobacco leaf, and the flaws (holes) that it may comprise, from a video signal composed of image lines. The video signal is coded by comparing same with thresholds so as to detect transitions. The number n of points pertaining to a hole is compared with a threshold n.sub.1, firstly within a line X, then in successive lines X, X+1, and the code is converted to "flaw" when n.gtoreq.n.sub.1. Only when they precede a transition, the coded signals are stored in a memory in the order of appearance of the lines. The stored signals are readout in the opposite order, whereby all the codes pertaining to a given flaw can be rendered uniform and the codes pertaining to unsignificant flaws can be suppressed.

Abstract: The process comprises the step of determining the coordinates of each wrapper to be cut out, allocating a cut-out tool to each wrapper, displacing each of the tools individually to bring them all into similar relative starting positions, and simultaneously displacing the tools along identical paths. Each tool is fixed to a lever pivotally mounted on a rotary shaft perpendicular to respective wrappers, a connecting rod being pivotally mounted on the shaft and the lever.

Abstract: A process for laying out a maximum number of cigar wrappers in a leaf or half-leaf of tobacco, the position of each wrapper being located within the leaf or half-leaf by two series of variables which are, on the one hand, the abscissa or ordinate from the center of the wrapper plotted with respect to the main direction of the leaf and to one end of this leaf, and on the other hand the angle that the main direction of the wrapper makes with the main direction of the leaf, said process comprising the step of successively laying out the wrappers so that, for each wrapper, the abscissa, or ordinate, from the center or its angle with respect to the main direction is maximum or minimum.

Abstract: A wrapper distributing support band for the manufacture of cigars or similar products, wherein the "right" wrappers present a face of the tobacco leaf which is the reverse to that presented by the "left" wrappers.

Abstract: A method for spreading out tobacco leaves and for enabling them to be retrieved, flat, after having been spread out, comprising:placing each leaf on a support generally in the form of a deformable dihedron, the central vein of the leaf extending on the edge of said dihedron;causing a flux of fluid to flow on either side of the edge, so that gravity conducts this fluid along the lines of greatest slope of said faces;then deforming said support so as to return the spread out leaf to a flat position.

Abstract: A device for automatically taking off elements drawn or formed on pieces carried by a moving support and for displacing and depositing the taken off elements on a take-up conveyor, wherein said device comprises at least one arm mounted to rotate on a shaft located between the support for the elements to be taken off and the take-up conveyor on which the taken off elements must be deposited, said arm bearing a taking off member, in principle a suction disc, mounted so as to be able to be oriented and displaced with respect to said shaft, means for driving said shaft in rotation, means for orienting and displacing the taking off member with respect to said shaft and means for controlling these latter drive means provided and arranged to ensure, in synchronism with the movements of the piece support and of the conveyor taking up the taken off elements, the taking off of all the elements formed on each piece and the deposit thereof in parallel and regular arrangement on said take-up conveyor.

Abstract: A device for transferring a leaf-like material, such as tobacco leaves, and for cutting out pieces, such as wrappers for cigars, from said material. A drum is employed to remove the leaf-like material from a conveyor and to support the same during the cutting operation. The cutting device comprises a support with cutting members secured thereto, and the drum and support are moved relative to each other in such a manner that the drum presses the leaves into contact with the cutting members.

Abstract: A method for drying a thick wet layer coated on one face of a cardboard sheet, the method being, of the type in which the coated cardboard sheet is fed continuously and a high frequency electric field is applied thereto in such manner that the lines of force of said electric field go only through said thick layer to selectively heat said layer, wherein a further electric field is applied to the coated cardboard sheet in such manner that the lines of force thereof go at least through the cardboard sheet. The method includes starting to apply the further electric field before the first mentioned electric field is applied. Apparatus for performing the method is additionally provided, the apparatus including at least one pair of oppositely polarized electrodes positioned along one face of the cardboard sheet and a second pair of oppositely polarized electrodes positioned along the opposed face of the cardboard sheet.

Abstract: A process for spreading out tobacco leaves for use in particular as cigar wrappers, comprising the steps of putting the leaves in contact with a liquid, preferably water, and bringing about a relative movement of the leaves and the liquid in contact with said leaves, said movement affecting the spreading out of the leaf.

Abstract: A method for mechanically wrapping closed tip cigars of the type in which the bunches are wound in the normal direction of the machine used when wrappers are to be employed which are cut out from a half-leaf corresponding to the "type" of the machine, i.e. "right-hand" or "left-hand", and said bunches are wound in the direction opposite said normal direction when wrappers are to be employed which are cut out from a half-leaf not corresponding to the type of the machine, wherein, in this latter case, a shaper is used for covering the tip of said bunches, which shaper has the characteristics of a shaper belonging to a machine of a type contrary to that of the machine used.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing filter-tipped cigarettes, in which a band is wound on the end of the cylinder of tobacco and on the filter tip so as to encircle them and connect them together, wherein, on the path followed by the paper serving to constitute the band before winding and connection, the paper is slit longitudinally and the two edges of the slit are spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cigarette, as a function of the desired rate of dilution of the smoke.

Abstract: A method for wrapping cigars or like articles in an outer envelope, or wrapper, made of natural tobacco, which comprises the steps of: at least partially spreading out a non-stripped tobacco leaf, cutting out a first batch of wrappers from one of the half-leaves on one side of the midrib, turning the leaf over onto its other face, spreading out the half-leaf which has not yet been cut out, cutting out a second batch of wrappers from this half-leaf, then rolling cigars or like articles in these two batches of wrappers, reversing the direction of rolling when passing from the wrappers of the first batch to those of the second batch.

Abstract: A device for measuring the compactness of cylindrically shaped smoking articles, such as cigarettes and the like, comprising a supply unit for bringing the articles to a positioning and delivering assembly,two units for measuring the compactness mounted on either side of said assembly, which assembly defines a rectilinear path extending substantially from one measuring unit to the other to allow each article to be moved from a central reception position towards an outermost measuring position,means for positioning the articles when in said reception position alternately in two different angular positions andmeans for displacing the articles along said path alternately towards one and the other measuring unit.

Abstract: A process for the repetitive and optimalized layout of shapes having the determined contour of a cigar wrapper within each of the elements of a series of tobacco leaves or half-leaves (having an irregular shape and defects), with a view to cutting out and removing from said elements wrappers having said shapes, in which process at least one sample leaf is determined having dimensional characteristics inferior to those of the whole section of the series of the leaves to be cut out, then, for each of the sample leaves, cut out pattern cards are drawn up, each comprising the outline of a possibility, distinct from the others, of cutting a leaf similar to the sample leaf into said shapes of determined contour, wherein said pattern cards relating to the same sample leaf are graded into groups, as a function of their decreasing yield of wrappers, the pattern cards within the same group are graded as a function of at least one criterion other than that of yield and relative to the interest of use presented by said p

Abstract: Process for treating a flow of tobacco leaves, characterized in that it comprises removing the parenchyma from the ligneous parts at a time when at least said ligneous parts of the leaves have a relative humidity of at least 70%, separating the leaf fragments thereby obtained into two homogeneous flows composed respectively of the parenchyma and the ligneous parts and treating separately the parenchyma and the ligneous parts.

Abstract: A smokable material for the tobacco industry, characterized in that it is formed in its major part with coherent spheroidal aggregates of entangled tobacco fibers having no preferential direction.

Abstract: A process for constituting a large surface of natural tobacco, in particular for making cigar wrappers comprising the steps of:(a) stripping the biggest rib of natural tobacco leaves;(b) dividing each leaf into two half-leaves;(c) arranging the half-leaves in a plane in succession along a continuous row in such a manner that the rectilineal side of each half-leaf corresponding to the removed rib is orientated in a fixed direction, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the large surface of tobacco forming said row, that said half-leaves are adjoining each other, that the remaining ribs are in relief on the same side of the plane and have the same orientation;(d) covering with tobacco fragments the areas between the half-leaves where the tobacco is missing;(e) maintaining all the leaf fragments in their respective arrangement.

Abstract: Glue for articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, filter tips, coupling-sleeves, etc., characterized by the fact that at ambient temperature it is in gel form composed mainly of water and gelatine, the gelatine concentration being in the 25-180% range in relation to the water weight, and a minor quantity of plasticizer for the gelatine in aqueous solution, belonging to the food polymers group comprising natural and modified vegetable gums and cellulose ethers, the plasticizer's concentration being within the 0.25-8% range in relation to the weight of the gelatine alone, and being adjusted so that the temperature at which the liquefied gel viscosity remains superior to 50 centipoises and becomes lower than 1000 centipoises is within the 40-70.degree. C. range.

Abstract: A process for forming a large sheet of natural tobacco for manufacturing particularly cigar wrappers comprising the steps of placing end to end natural tobacco leaves or half-leaves with the main rib of said leaves being in alignment for forming a sheet of at least two continuous rows, displacing said rows in such manner that the leaves or half-leaves of a row overlap the leaves or half-leaves of at least another row via their complementary parts and eventually covering with leaf fragments the areas of the tobacco sheet which are deprived of tobacco.

Abstract: A method of glueing articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes, cigarellos, cigars, filter tips, coupling sleeves, etc., characterized by the use of a glue which at ambient temperature is in gel form composed mainly of water and gelatine, the gelatine concentration being in the 25-180% range in relation to the water weight, and a minor quantity of plasticizer for the gelatine in aqueous solution, belonging to the food polymers group comprising natural and modified vegetable gums and cellulose ethers, the plasticizer's concentration being within the 0.25-8% range in relation to the weight of the gelatine alone, and being adjusted so that the temperature at which the liquefied gel viscosity remains superior to 50 centipoises and becomes lower than 1000 centipoises is within the 40-70.degree. C. range.