Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and a method to fetch an end portion of a sheet (40) of material wound in a bobbin (152), the apparatus including: a rotatable bobbin holder (150) adapted to be inserted in a bobbin; an articulated arm (180); a suction device (110) having a contact surface (124) including a first portion (130) capable of exerting a first suction power and a second portion (132) capable of exerting a second suction power different from zero, wherein the first suction power is higher than the second suction power, the suction device being attached to the articulated arm; and a control unit (190), adapted to command a movement of the articulated arm so that the first portion of the contact surface of the suction device contacts the bobbin. The invention also relates to a method to fetch an end portion of a sheet of material wound in a bobbin.

Abstract: An anisotropic conductive film has a structure in which high hardness conductive particles having a 20% compression elastic modulus of 8000 to 28000 N/mm2 and low hardness conductive particles having a lower 20% compression elastic modulus than that of the high hardness conductive particles are dispersed as conductive particles in an insulating resin layer. The number density of all the conductive particles is 6000 particles/mm2 or more, and the number density of the low hardness conductive particles is 10% or more of that of all the conductive particles.

Abstract: Provided is a technique to identify a sample substance attached to an inspection target easily and precisely, while improving the rate of operation and reducing the number of persons required for inspection. A trace detecting system includes detection means to detect the size (vertical and horizontal dimensions) of an inspection target, and selects an air nozzle capable of spraying air jet at 15 m/s or more to the surface of the inspection target for air jet spraying.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tobacco shredding device with a heatable pressure chamber (3), which has a tobacco material inlet (5) at the low-pressure end, an expansion gap outlet at the pressure end and a shaft-mounted conveyor screw (1) for conveying the tobacco material from the inlet to the outlet, and the conveyor screw shaft (19) is supported at the inlet end, and the shaft (19) extends on behind the outlet, where it is supported again by a counter bearing (17). It further relates to a method of shredding tobacco, whereby the tobacco material is introduced at the low-pressure end of a pressure chamber and is expanded and discharged at the pressure end of the chamber at a gap outlet, and the tobacco material is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet by means of a conveyor screw shaft-mounted at both end portions, and the conveyor screw is operated in a speed range of up to 600 min?1.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a wrapper for use in the manufacture of cigars in which a wrapper to be used for enclosing fillers is obtained in that a tobacco leaf (1) is cut into a number of parallel strips (5) substantially in longitudinal direction, so in the direction of the mid rib (2), whereupon the ends (9) of the strips obtained are connected to each other to one continuous wrapper ribbon (10). At both ends (9), the strips (5) are cut-off across an acute angle (?) to the longitudinal direction, said angle approximately coinciding with the angle enclosed by the side ribs (3) and the mid rib (2). The continuous wrapper ribbon (10) can be wound around the fillers fed as a strand in longitudinal direction, whereupon both longitudinal edges (12) will be connected to each other The continuous wrapper ribbon (10) is wound onto a roller (11), which is fed to the cigar winding machine.

Abstract: A process for preparing tobacco stem for use as filler for a smoking article includes classifying the green tobacco stem by diameter to provide a plurality of stem grades and rolling each grade separately. Each grade is rolled under rolling conditions optimized for that grade including rolling the grade through the nip between rollers with the nip size being adjusted for each grade so as to achieve a uniform rolled stem thickness and the oven volatiles content of the stem being adjusted before the rolling. The yield of flat rolled stem which may be used directly as filler is increased, and the average stem length and thus the average length of cut filler from stem is increased.

Abstract: Dried tobacco leaves evenly spread by a vibrator, cleaned and sorted out, are directed through the opening of two converging cylinders, and tightly held on between two belts.Now, the belts carrying the leaves, enter into a hot wash basin full of warm water at a temperature of 40 degrees C. They are washed for 4-5 minutes and moved thereafter into a second basin with water heated at 100 degrees C. The bathing of the leaves takes 6-8 seconds and immediately thereafter they are moved into a third, filled with cold water. The three consecutive baths cause the removal by extraction of resins, tars and nicotine. Dissolved by the water and washed away also the are pesticides.The cold water washes away the nitrogenous substances. Hydrolysis removes the textrines. If stronger intervention is desired, the leaves after the first bath may be directed into freezing dry chamber.The wet leaves fall now into another system of reversible conveyors, located in a heated tunnel.

Abstract: A process for converting cigarette tobacco winnowings into usable form for cigarette making, comprises crushing the winnowings, which have a moisture content compatible with cigarette making, effecting a first sieving operation on the resulting crushed winnowings, and effecting a second sieving operation on the smaller fraction resulting from the first sieving operation to remove particles unsuitable for direct use. Any larger fraction resulting from the first sieving operation may be subjected to cutting and thereafter a third sieving operation.Suitable apparatus for converting cigarette tobacco winnowings having a moisture content compatible with cigarette making into usable form for cigarette making, comprises crushing rollers (11, 12) to which the winnowings are fed, a sieve (18) arranged to receive the crushed winnowings from the crusher, and a second sieve (19) provided to separate the tobacco usable for cigarette making from tobacco dust.

Abstract: A process for reclaiming tobacco comprises providing tobacco material including relatively large fibrous forming tobacco leaf stem material, passing the tobacco through a pressurized roller system, and forming a reclaimed tobacco material under pressure. Tobacco stems, fines, dust and waste can be reconstituted in strand form or sheet-like form using a process which utilizes relatively low amounts of moisture.

Abstract: Tobacco feed material suitable for cigarette formation is formed by blending shredded tobacco stem material and shredded tobacco lamina material while in partially-dried form and drying the blend to the final moisture content.

Abstract: A device for spreading tobacco leaves comprises a suction box with a perforated wall and a shield composed of a plurality of sections transversely movable outwards from a closed position in which they cover the perforated wall with the exception of a central area against which the mid rib portion of the tobacco leaf can be clamped by means of a rail. The leaf is held by suction against the shield sections during their opening movement and is so spread and stretched transversely in a direction away from the mid rib. Trailing brushes that are moved outwards together with the shield sections are further provided for this purpose. The perforated wall may comprise knives which, when being run over by a roller, cut out wrappers or binders or blanks therefor from the tobacco leaf while this is still being held firmly against the wall after full opening of the shield.

Abstract: In a device for spreading tobacco leaves which, subsequent to having been moistened, are smoothed by passage in their transverse direction between a base and a sweeping brush or an analogous smoothing tool, said tool may be "broken" from its normal or straight operating position into a position in which its ends are raised higher from the base than its center portion. The operator is thus left more space for his hands that seize the leading edge of the tobacco leaf to be pulled across the base, and the smoothing operation at the largest portion of the tobacco leaf can be started earlier than the smoothing operation closer to the point and stalk ends of the leaf.

Abstract: In the production of cheroots and similar tobacco articles with a wrapper made from natural tobacco relieved of central rib portions but containing portions of side ribs, the said ribs are flattened solely in the end flap of the wrapper.