Abstract: A tobacco curing process including the steps of advancing the tobacco in strip form within a rotary cylinder, spraying the strips with an atomized mixture of substances able to improve the tobacco characteristics, spraying with a steam jet, during the curing treatment, discrete zones of the inner lateral surface of said cylinder, thus exercising a mechanical scraping action.

Abstract: A tobacco bale slicing machine having a support structure with an inlet opening for the insertion of a bale, and with an outlet portal. A conveyor transfers a bale from the inlet opening to the outlet portal in which there is a guillotine-like cutting device. A thrust device bears against the rear end surface of the bale to urge it towards and through the outlet portal in a controlled manner. The thrust device includes a motor-driven carriage disposed above the conveyor and has a thrust member mounted on an arm which moves between a raised and lowered position. When in a lowered, working position the thrust member can be brought to bear against the rear end surface of a bale carried by the conveyor in order to urge it toward the outlet portal in a controlled manner.

Abstract: The machine comprises a support structure including a vertical upright, a cross member which can move vertically along the upright, two horizontal arms, one end of each being articulated to the cross member and the other end having a rotatable gripping device for gripping a bale, motor means and associated control devices for moving the cross member, for moving the arms apart and towards each other and for rotating their gripping devices, and a cutting device for cutting the wrapper of a bale which is gripped and rotated by the gripping devices of said arms.

Abstract: An elasomeric mix for pneumatic tire treads to enhance driving behavior including road holding ability on wet surfaces, abrasion resistance and low rolling resistance. The inventive elastomeric mix on E"/E' ratio dynamic moduli value equal to or greater than 0.3 at 0.degree. C. and equal to or less than 0.16 at 70.degree. C. The mix is based upon natural rubber and lampblack comprising, for 100 parts of elastomer, from 5 to 20 parts by weight of a synthetic polymer selected from the group consisting polychloroprene, chlorinated butyl rubber and brominated butyl rubber.