Abstract: An imaging apparatus and process for inspecting polymeric film seals and folds. Incident light is applied to the package to cause either reflected or transmitted light to reflect a pass through the poly wrap. The wrap affects the transmitted or reflected image in a manner which can be analyzed to determine the quality of the poly film application.

Abstract: An interchange apparatus for a pneumatic conveying system including a plurality of branch tubes joined together at an acute angle in an interchange chamber to form a main tube and a flap positioned between at least two branch tubes of the plurality of branch tubes at the end of the interchange chamber, the flap faces the branch tubes and is swivelable between a first position and a second position. The flap is held in each position by a holding device such that when the flap is positioned in the first position there is a connection between a first branch tube and the main tube, and when the flap is positioned in a second position there is a connection between a second branch tube and the main tube. In one embodiment the flap is switched from a first position to a second position by the passage of the cylindrical objects through the interchanges.

Abstract: Packaging, particularly for a carton of cigarette packs, includes opening structure permitting easy access to one or more of the objects or packs of cigarettes which it contains. The opening structure includes a line of pre-weakened resistance, comprising pre-cuts, either passing completely through the material constituting the packaging or incompletely through the thickness of that material. Individual pre-cuts may be separated by interconnected attachment portions. The line of weakened resistance may partially or completely surround a surface disposed on one, two, or three faces of the packaging. Structure for starting the opening may be provided. A process and a device permitting such packaging are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the opening of paper bobbins and other rolls of material is provided. A flat blade is advanced from the side of a wound roll of material such that it intersects the roll over substantially its entire width. A cutting blade or other cutting mechanism then severs the layers of the roll which are outside the flat blade, and the flat blade protects the inside layers from being damaged. In preferred embodiments, a jet of air or other gas may be used to ease the insertion of the flat blade, or a gripping device which pinches the surface of the roll between opposed friction pads creates an arch in the surface of the roll through which the blade is inserted. The device is particularly suitable for use in cigarette making machines which require undamaged paper feeds.

Abstract: A nozzle for the application of a fluid to a passing substrate in a bead form.

Abstract: An improved mandrel for use on a dual bobbin spindle apparatus, the mandrel being an expandable contractible cylindrical sleeve having a plurality of expansion members and at least one interstitial resilient member separating the expansion members, providing positive engagement of a plurality of reels or bobbins containing wound webs of flexible material.

Abstract: A process for selecting a single stacked flat object from a stack of flat objects. The lowermost flat object is downwardly detached from the rest of the stack of flat objects by negative pressure on at least one of its edge areas) running parallel to the take-off direction. In at least one suction area, the flat object is held by negative pressure onto a conveyor that can move back and forth. The flat object is advanced underneath a scraper and then further conveyed. The device for carrying out this process has a hopper for the stack of flat objects, a scraper, at least one suction device to partially detach the lowermost flat object, a conveyor, and a take-off device.

Abstract: A brand flexible, fixed tipping paper guide including guide frame; a guide receivable in the guide frame; a register for aligning a first portion of the fame relative to a paper feed path and an adjustable mount operative to adjust a second portion of said guide frame transversely relative to said feed path.

Abstract: A device for preparing and opening a roll of a strip of supple material. A flat blade is provided and is inserted from one side of the roll to separate the top layer, which is to be cut, from the lower layers. When the top layer is cut, the cutting portion of the cutting blade comes to rest against the flat. A clamp holds the cut layer and a transferring device handle the cut top layer.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for reliably inserting a tab or other marker into a bobbin of material which is undergoing a converting or other processing step. A spindle having a retention device such as a vacuum or magnetic zone which holds the tab or marker with an adhesive side facing outwardly is described. In operation, the spindle is moved into engagement with the surface of the web and the tab or marker is applied precisely and with considerable force. Reduction in unplaced tabs, paper jams, and tearing may be accomplished by the reduction of user error.

Abstract: A novel controller in an electrical smoking system and method, wherein the method includes the steps of: establishing a preferred thermal pathway to be executed with each heater activation responsively to a puff on an electrically heated cigarette; configuring a power cycle in accordance with the desired thermal pathway; dividing the power cycle into at least first and second phases each having a respective, predetermined time period and total energy input for each phase; and adjusting a respective duty cycle (or other power-adjusting factor) in each phase of the power cycle responsively to a voltage reading of the power source such that the established, respective total energy input of each phase is achieved during the time period of each power cycle.

Abstract: A novel cigarette adapted for use in an electrical cigarette system comprising a tobacco rod having filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions and being arranged so that electrical heater elements may overlap the filled and unfilled tobacco rod portions. The tobacco rod includes a tobacco web rolled into tubular form. The tobacco web is constructed in accordance with a novel process comprising the steps of converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or more bobbins of tobacco web suitable for automated manufacture of cigarettes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting, locating, isolating and controlling variations in the manufacturing process by transient thermography. A heat source imparts heat to a surface which is radiated in the infrared region. Infrared sensors are coupled to a processor which tracks the physical characteristics of the sample, and provides feedback to a central process controller to make adjustments to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tobacco rod for cigarette manufacture, fitted with a suction-type rod conveyor equipped with a revolving, continuous, porous belt, to which vacuum is applied from the top and on whose underside tobacco shreds are conveyed along a tobacco channel. The apparatus has a pre-equalizer for purposes of equalizing the height of the tobacco rod being conveyed by removing a part of the tobacco rod. The apparatus further has a device that serves to compact the tobacco rod at regular intervals and further has an equalizer that equalizes the height of the tobacco rod after it that is compacted at regular intervals by removing additional tobacco from the tobacco rod. The pre-equalizer has a revolving blade which is positioned directly below the tobacco channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first arrangement which establishes a sheet of base web from a first slurry and moves the established sheet along a first path; a second arrangement for preparing a second slurry; a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web, the moving orifice applicator comprising: a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path; an endless belt having an orifice, the endless belt received through the chamber box; a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifice along an endless path and repetitively through the chamber box, the orifice when communicated with the reservoir being operative to discharge the second slurry from the reservoir through the orifice; a flow distribution system for introducing the second slurry into the chamber box at spaced-apart feed locations alon

Abstract: Hydromagnesite-magnesium hydroxide compositions which, when used as fillers in smoking article wrappers, significantly reduce the amount of sidestream smoke produced by the burning smoking article while providing the smoking article with good subjective characteristics.

Abstract: A cigarette identifier system comprising an infrared emitter and an infrared detector located across an opening of a cigarette receiver, wherein the sensor registers changes in the transmission of the infrared beam across the opening so as to detect the differences in transmissivity of dense and less dense and portions of an inserted cigarette.

Abstract: A tobacco treatment system comprising a rotatable cylinder and a plurality of axially directed flights, with each flight having a forward side and a back side relative to the rotational motion of the cylinder, with both the forward and back sides being concave-open in a direction toward the interior of the cylinder.

Abstract: A novel electrical smoking system and method of establishing resistance to draw upon a cigarette while smoking a cigarette in an electrical smoking system comprising the step of operatively interposing a frit between a source of ambient air and the cigarette.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing, capturing and disposing of the waste start up web of paper in high-speed manufacturing procedures which involve a converting step, e.g. laser perforation or the like. Specifically, the converting apparatus and the web speed are carefully and precisely controlled by a programmable logic controller to result in a rapid production of converted web with a minimum of waste. The apparatus and method are tuned by sampling the waste and web for conversion quality, and using that information to adjust the converting apparatus and bias that adjustment for maximum reduction in waste.