Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of adhesive onto a moving substrate is provided using a thermal flowmeter. It is particularly designed for the tobacco industry wherein the flow of adhesive onto a continuous ribbon of paper in forming the side seam on tobacco rods requires consistent, controlled flow independent of external factors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing tobacco sheet material comprising the steps of acoustic mixing with ultrasonic vibration a slurry containing tobacco components and forming sheets of tobacco material by casting the slurry after acoustic mixing. Additionally, the slurry is mixed with subsonic vibration and low shear mixing before the slurry is acoustic mixed. The slurry may include sized tobacco stems, sized tobacco dust and extract solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-place cleaning and priming of an in-place nozzle assembly which in normal operation receives from a reservoir and discharges to a work area a fluid material which tends to leave behind an accumulation of undesired residue. The apparatus includes control means for sequentially actuating for a selected cleaning time period first selectively actuatable means thereby to deliver an effective quantity of the cleaning substance to the nozzle and for actuating for a selected rinsing time period second selectively actuatable means thereby to deliver an effective quantity of the rinsing substance to the nozzle. The apparatus also includes third selectively actuatable means for drawing fluid material from the reservoir and delivering the same to the nozzle for a selected priming time period first to flush out any remaining rinsing substance from the nozzle and then to leave the nozzle primed with the fluid material.