Abstract: A continuous rod of a product such as cigarette filter material is coated with a treating liquid by being passed axially through a cylindrical applicator zone comprising a permeable cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall being concentrically enclosed within a reservoir and manifold zone connected to a source of liquid. The feed supply for the liquid additive can be pressurized and/or heated, so that application of the additive can be in either liquid or vapor form. The process and apparatus of this invention may be used alone or in conjunction with prior art homogeneous applicators and processes.When used to apply a plasticizer to a rod of continuous filament tow, e.g. for use in producing cigarette filters, annular regions of varying concentrations of the plasticizer are produced in the rod. A relatively dense region of plasticized fiber can be produced on the outside of the filter. Filter rods having wrapping paper uniformly adhered about the periphery of the rod can be produced.

Abstract: A treadmill assembly of the type including a frame, an endless generally horizontally disposed belt positioned generally at the base of the frame, a motor for driving the belt at varying speeds and a handle at the front end of and spaced above the belt so that a user running on the motorized belt may grasp the handle with his hands. A safety harness is provided for use with the treadmill assembly and includes a pair of straps adapted to be supported from support structure over the treadmill and each including a loop portion at its lower end adapted to pass through the groin of the user. The safety harness further includes a catch band extending transversely between the rear sections of the loop portions of the straps at a vertical location such as to position the band behind the user generally in the central region of the user's back.

Abstract: A method for producing two continuous streams of cigarettes in which a continuous paper web is cut longitudinally to form two strips which are fed through a tobacco loading device and along respective guides for forming respective continuous rods and then to a transverse cutting device by respective conveyor belts, the drive rollers of which are driven by a single motor by way of a differential unit controlled by devices for sensing the positions which graphical signs reproduced on the paper strips have reached on each operation of the transverse cutting device.

Abstract: The distributor of a cigarette maker has an upwardly travelling conveyor which transports particles of tobacco past a rotating paddle wheel serving to remove the surplus of particles and to return the removed surplus into the magazine of the distributor. The paddle wheel is connected with a tachometer generator or is designed to actuate a switch in response to a reduction of its rotational speed and/or in response to deflection by one or more foreign objects in the mass of tobacco particles on the conveyor. The signal which is generated by the tachometer generator or in response to actuation of the switch entails a stoppage of the motor for the conveyor and/or of the motor for the paddle wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasing cut tobacco from cigarettes are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing dispersing fans at its periphery in a radial manner within a releasing barrel, scattering the cigarettes by the dispersing fans, circulating the scattered cigarettes along several releasing plates adjacently arranged to form a circle around the outer periphery of the dispersing disc, and releasing part of cut tobacco from the cigarettes by colliding it against knobs which are arranged at the inner peripheral surface of each of the releasing plates during circulation. Such rotary dispersing discs as mentioned above are formed in several steps in the vertical direction within the releasing barrel. The partly released cigarettes are dropped on to the lower step of the rotary dispersing disc through openings defined between adjacent releasing plates.

Abstract: A smoking article such as a filter cigarette can have an adjustable delivery air dilution while exhibiting a reduced pressure drop decrease during air dilution thereof. The pressure drop decrease is controlled during various stages of air dilution by positioning the structure for greatest air dilution on the cigarette a greater distance from the extreme mouthend of the cigarette relative to the structure for least air dilution. Filter cigarettes of this invention are capable of exhibiting a somewhat constant smoking character at various air dilution levels.

Abstract: A smoking article such as a filter cigarette can have an adjustable delivery air dilution while exhibiting a reduced pressure drop decrease during air dilution thereof. The pressure drop decrease is controlled during various stages of air dilution by providing a mouthpiece which exhibits greater effective length at a low or non-air dilution setting than at a high air dilution setting. Filter cigarettes of this invention are capable of exhibiting a somewhat constant smoking character at various air dilution levels.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating the wrappers of filter cigarettes or a continuous web of wrapping material for filter cigarettes has a continuous-wave laser and one or more rotary disc-shaped shutters extending across the path of propagation of the laser beam toward the wrappers or web of wrapping material. The dimensions of perforations in the wrappers or web of wrapping material can be regulated by changing the position of the shutter or shutters relative to the laser beam and/or relative to each other.

Abstract: In a cigarette production machine, a device for feeding at least one paper web along one or other of two paths, the first of which extends through a station for loading a continuous stream of shredded tobacco onto said web, and the second of which is a discard path; that portion of the web extending along said second path being cut and removed by a selectively operable removal device.

Abstract: A variable dilution cigarette, of the type having a filter with two relatively rotatable segments having slits in the plug wrapping and the tipping paper which rotate in and out of rotational registry to vary the dilution level, is provided which is insensitive to slight longitudinal misalignment of the slits. An array of longitudinal depressions is formed in one segment of the filter plug centered on the slit in the plug wrapping and ending short of both ends of the filter segment containing the slit. The depressions act as a plenum allowing the longitudinal flow of air between the slit in the tipping paper and the slit in the plug wrapping in case of longitudinal misalignment arising during use, but do not allow circumferential air flow when the slits are intentionally deregistered by relative rotation of the filter segments. Because the depressions do not reach the ends of the filter segment containing the slit, they do not allow any unwanted air into the filter.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a filter-tipped cigarette, in which paste coupling paper is wound around a unit comprising two cigarettes laid coaxially with each other and a filter tip interposed between the cigarettes, while the unit is being rotated in a rolling passage defined between a cylindrical drum and a rolling mechanism facing the drum, so that a cigarette having the filter tip and being twice as long as a normal cigarette is made. The rolling mechanism comprises groups of rollers, an endless belt rotatable around the rollers, and a rolling block for supporting the belt to move it near the drum. The mechanism and the drum are in such relative positions that the belt can be moved without being in contact with the drum, when the unit is not supplied onto the drum.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porous filter rod having a capillary smoke passageway extending coaxially therethrough. The filter rod is circumscribed by a non-porous wrapper and the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with at least one groove extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. The groove preferably extends from the mouth end of the filter rod. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the groove. In one embodiment, the filter rod includes a cylindrical collar coaxially located at the mouth end defining a recess, the thickness of the wall of the collar being less than the depth of the groove. In a further embodiment, the filter collar includes a concentric open core member coaxial with and open to the capillary flow passageway with the area between the core member and collar wall being open to the groove.

Abstract: A joint endoprosthesis and an instrument for knocking it in or out, which are provided for mutual connection with collaborating ribs and grooves, on the one hand, in a fork arranged on the end of the instrument shaft and, on the other hand, on the neck of the prosthesis, the direction of the instrument shaft being transverse to the plane of the fork. To obtain a positive, play-free and sensitive connection between the instrument and the prosthesis, the end of the instrument shaft is taken as a locking pin through a threaded bore in the fork and the prosthesis contains a locking recess for receiving the locking pin.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying and conditioning tobacco leaves, including a heater for heating conditioning air for conditioning tobacco leaves after drying, a temperature controller for controlling the heater so that the temperature of the conditioning air becomes a preset temperature, an atomized water sprayer for cooling the conditioning air fed to the heater, a humidifier for humidifying the conditioning air, and a humidity controller for detecting the moisture content of the tobacco leaves after drying and conditioning and controlling the humidifier so that the moisture content of the tobacco leaves becomes a target moisture content. The humidity controller is so constructed as to control the humidifier on the basis of a wet-bulb temperature. Saving of heat energy can be attained, and because a cooling chamber is not needed, the apparatus can be made compact and it becomes easier to stabilize a target moisture content.

Abstract: An improved water pipe for a cigarette is proposed which has a bowl, a stem and a smoke tube extending through the bowl so as to reach into water contained in the bottom of the bowl. A ball retained at bottom of the smoke tube prevents water from entering the hole and cigarette and serves to bring nicotine up and out of the smoke tube.

Abstract: A cigarette comprises a tobacco rod of tobacco filler wrapped in a paper wrapper, the circumference of the rod being within a range of 10 mm to 19 mm and the free burn rate of the rod being within a range of 25 to 45 mg min.sup.-1. The cigarette may comprise considerably less tobacco than a cigarette of orthodox circumference yet yield an equal or greater number of puffs.

Abstract: An ankle and lower leg exerciser for use in the strengthening and proprioceptive training of an ankle and lower leg. The exerciser having an oval-shaped table adjustable in height and specifically designed to enhance and limit specific ranges of motion of the ankle thereby promoting and preventing normal and abnormal stresses.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco feeding apparatus for a cigarette making machine is disclosed. It includes a storage reservoir for temporarily storing shredded tobacco, a device for feeding a constant quantity of shredded tobacco from the reservoir continuously, a device for classifying the shredded tobacco based on a required grain length, and a device for cutting such classified shredded tobacco with a long grain length, such cut shredded tobacco being joined again with the other classified short shredded tobacco for feeding to a shredded tobacco dispersing device.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrically operated self-cleaning ashtray comprising a moving web which has a flat area adapted to receive ash and any unburned residue and a discharge area overlying a collecting bin.A drive enables quick replacement or cleaning of the flat area, and a spray device is provided to deodorize the ashtray.

Abstract: A bone cement system and related methods useful in flowing liquid bone cement into a prepared long bone medullary canal prior to implanting a prothesis stem in the canal.