Abstract: A method of producing a polyurethane foam sheet, and a laminated sheet that uses such a foam sheet, that can be applied to artificial leather, synthetic leather, and cushioning materials used in all manner of applications. A polyurethane foam sheet is produced by applying a liquid mixture, obtained by mixing together a heated and melted hot melt urethane prepolymer (A) containing isocyanate groups at molecular terminals, and a compound (B) containing at least 2 active hydrogen atom-containing groups, onto a substrate in a sheet-like manner, and then water foaming the liquid mixture by bringing the sheet-like liquid mixture into contact with water vapor or moisture (water). A laminated sheet is produced by bonding a third substrate to the polyurethane foam sheet.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes a web roll (8) from which a web W having bands previously formed is drawn, and a suction brake (14) arranged between the web roll (8) and a garniture tape (2) of a wrapping section (6). When a band (B) for a cigarette (C) is out of a proper region (CR), the suction brake increases the tension to be applied to the web W to elongate the web to thereby bring the location of each band (b) back to within the proper region.

Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a lighting end and a mouth end. The lighting end is a longitudinally extending segment comprising smokable material that is intended to be lit and burned, and the resulting smoke generated by the burning of that smokable material is intended to be drawn into the mouth of the smoker through the mouth end of smoking article. A mouth end piece is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generation system that is located between the lighting end segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation system includes (i) a heat generation segment located adjacent to the lighting end segment, and (ii) an aerosol-generation region located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece. The aerosol-generation region incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors).

Abstract: A vacuum valve for use with a blow mold in an I.S. machine. When the blow molds close around a parison, vacuum is applied to the wall of the blow mold. At some time following the application of the vacuum, final blow will occur blowing the parison into a bottle. This vacuum will be applied until the parison has been blown into a bottle. During the period during which vacuum is applied but final blow has not started, vacuum is reduced by operating a needle valve in the vacuum line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the economic production of a blank for a component made from laser-active quartz glass in any form or dimension. The method comprises the following method steps: a) preparation of a dispersion with a solids content of at least 40 wt. %, comprising SiO2 nanopowder and doping agents, including a cation of the rare earth metals and transition metals in a fluid, b) granulation by agitation of the dispersion, with removal of moisture to form a doped SiO2 granulate of spherical porous granular particles with a moisture content of less than 35 wt. % and a density of at least 0.95 g/cm3, c) drying and purification of the SiO2 granulate, by heating to a temperature of at least 1000° C. to form doped porous SiO2 grains with an OH content of less than 10 ppm and d) sintering or fusing the doped SiO2 grains in a reducing atmosphere to give the blank made from doped quartz glass.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A smoking article including a smokable rod manufactured using a paper wrapping material having an additive material applied thereto as a pattern. The additive material is applied as aqueous coating formulation incorporating both an alginate and hydroxypropylcellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The apparatus provides for arranging loose tobacco into tobacco charges and simultaneously inserting the charges into pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers.

Abstract: A method for producing fibers from molten waste includes melting waste in a melter into high-temperature molten fluid, discharging the high-temperature molten fluid from the melter, and fiberizing the high-temperature molten fluid to form solid fibers. The solid fibers possess excellent fire-resistant properties and thus can be used as fire-resistant materials.

Abstract: A tobacco rod having reduced levels of at least one phenolic compound precursor selected from the group consisting of gentisic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, scopoletin, quinic acid, a quinic acid derivative, caffeic acid, inositol and lignin. The concentration in mainstream smoke of phenolic compounds such as phenol, hydroquinones (e.g., hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone and 2,3-dimethyl hydroquinone), catechols (e.g., p-coumaryl quinic acid, feruloyl quinic acid and syringoyl quinic acid) and cresols (e.g., o-cresol, m-cresol and p-cresol) can be reduced by reducing the concentration in uncured (e.g., green) or cured tobacco of the phenolic compound precursors.

Abstract: The devices for manufacturing glass performs comprise multiple gob casting molds, devices for displacing the gob casting molds and an atmosphere regulating mechanism. In one aspect, the atmosphere regulating mechanism independently regulates an atmosphere to which the glass is exposed on the gob casting molds in the casting area, molding area, or removal area relative to an atmosphere of at least one other area. In a second aspect, the atmosphere regulating mechanism divides the molding area into multiple subareas, and independently regulates an atmosphere to which the glass on the gob casting molds is exposed in at least one of the multiple subareas relative to the atmosphere in at least one other subarea and/or at least one other area.

Abstract: A method of a stirring a molten glass which includes an analytical model which may be used to optimize the stirring conditions to minimize refractory metal inclusions which may result from the stirring operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The invention provides an apparatus and method for simultaneously inserting charges of tobacco into pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers.

Abstract: A fiberizing device includes a housing, a receiving seat mounted on the housing, and a drawing device. The receiving seat includes a receiving groove having a discharge port. The receiving groove receives molten fluid formed by heating waste. A heating device is provided for heating the molten fluid in the receiving seat. The drawing device draws the molten fluid from the discharge port to form a solid fiber after the molten fluid comes in contact with cool air. The solid fiber possesses excellent fire-resistant properties and thus can be used as fire-resistant materials.

Abstract: A device and method for loading a cartridge with pre-formed tubular wrappers for cigarette manufacture. The device provides for dispensing pre-formed tubular wrappers from a container to a cartridge without directly touching the wrappers.

Abstract: In the method molten glass emerges from an outlet opening of a melt feed. The molten glass is drawn over a shaping body so as to form a hollow drawing bulb. According to the invention, the drawing bulb is drawn over a profile forming body positioned downstream of the shaping body so that inner circumferential surfaces of the drawing bulb are deformed while abutting against outer surfaces of the profile forming body to form the predetermined inner profile. The distance between the shaping body and the profile forming body can be changed to vary the wall thickness of the glass tube.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass melt including heating a glass feed material in a first melting furnace to form a glass melt, flowing the glass melt into a second melting furnace through a refractory metal connecting tube, and further heating the glass melt in the second melting furnace. The refractory metal connecting tube is heated to prevent the molten glass from excessive cooling, and to ensure that the glass melt entering the second melting furnace is equal to or greater than the temperature of the glass melt in the second melting furnace. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mold open and closed mechanism for an I.S. machine is disclosed which has a mold carrier supported for displacement between mold open and closed positions. The mold carrier has a front mold mounting face vertical and horizontal mold alignment structure and a vertical face for transmitting clamping forces to a supported mold.

Abstract: Bubbles of uniform diameter of 0.5 to 4 cm of gas such as helium are formed and pass into liquid such as molten glass by accumulating a sufficient volume of gas through a flow restriction into a space upstream of the point of injection at a controlled flow rate.