Abstract: A system and method for a motorized mobile chair use a plurality of sensors having a plurality of sensor types to detect a plurality of objects and generate sensor data about the detected objects, each of the detected objects being a person, the sensor data about the objects comprising a plurality of range measurements to the people and a plurality of bearing measurements to the people. The system has at least one processor to receive the sensor data about the people, group the detected people into a plurality of zones, determine a closest person in each zone, and generate one or more control signals to cause the motorized mobile chair to match a speed and a direction of the closest person in the zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair while at least approximately maintaining a selected space to the closest person in the zone corresponding to the direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair.

Abstract: An optical connector is provided which comprises a housing part having a fiber bore therethrough and having a housing connecting face for abutment or adjacence with a housing connecting face of a mating optical connector. An optical fiber is located in the fiber bore and fixed to the housing part, the optical fiber having a fiber connecting face. The optical fiber protrudes from the housing part at the housing connecting face, such that the fiber connecting face is displaced by a protrusion distance from the housing connecting face, the protrusion distance being between 5 um and 100 um. This approach is particularly useful for MT connectors, especially for connectorised devices comprising an optical connector as indicated above and an optical device, wherein the optical device is adapted to send or receive light through the optical fiber of the optical connector.

Abstract: A light fixture includes down lighting for directing light downwardly from the light fixture and includes an auxiliary side light to direct light onto wall surfaces having blackboards, bulletin boards and the like. The side light includes a refraction lens to wash the wall in light. Separate controls for the down light and side light are provided.

Abstract: A cigarette filter attachment machine with a wrapper testing facility includes means for feeding pieces of tipping paper each of which is wrapped around associated tobacco and filter portions to join those portions to one another; means for testing the wrappers of the cigarettes for leaks; an upsetting device for momentarily upsetting the filter tipping operation to produce at least one cigarette with a deliberate leak in the joint between the tobacco and filter portions; and an ejection device arranged automatically to eject the deliberately faulty cigarette or cigarettes regardless of whether or not the wrapper tester detects the deliberately faulty cigarettes.

Abstract: A cigarette filter attachment machine comprises means for joining filter portions to cigarette portions by rolling adhesive-coated paper around adjacent parts of corresponding filter and cigarette portions, a conveyor for conveying the completed assemblies at regular intervals, a stationary pressure chamber adjacent to the conveyor and arranged to communicate successively with ports in the conveyor which are closed by the completed assemblies, a source of pressure connected to the pressure chamber, and a detector for monitoring the pressure in the chamber to detect the absence of any assembly.

Abstract: A filter-attachment machine comprises a drum and a cooperating rolling plate between which assemblies of cigarette and filter portions are rolled in order to wrap connecting sheets around them to join the cigarette portions to the associated filter portions, including means for monitoring the regular passage of assemblies through the rolling area between the drum and the plate and for producing a fault signal when assemblies stop passing a given point in the rolling area at regular predetermined intervals.

Abstract: In apparatus for causing rod-like articles to roll through a channel defined by opposed surfaces in which rolling is caused by relative movement of the surfaces, the channel is provided with a region of reduced width at the point of entry of the articles into the channel so that there is a positive start to rolling. A particular application is in a filter cigarette assembly machine in which axially aligned filter and tobacco portions are joined by wrapping them in a "cork" section while they are rolled through a channel between a rolling drum and a rolling plate.

Abstract: A ledger for a rod-making machine, especially a cigarette or filter making machine, comprises two rotary members arranged to rotate at the same speed about parallel axes and a connecting member which is pivotally connected to both of the rotary members and carries a rod support which supports the rod during each cutting stroke.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine for making cigarettes containing a core of material different from that of a surrounding annulus of tobacco comprises a conveyor, a conveyor band for forming a continuous substantially flat initial layer of tobacco on the conveyor, a further conveyor band for feeding a core onto the initial layer of tobacco, side walls for at least partially confining the sides of the core along a predetermined distance after the core has been fed onto the initial layer of tobacco, and a shower for feeding tobacco onto side portions of the initial layer, on opposite sides of the core, while the core is being confined by the side walls.