Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying an adhesive or flavoring solution to the coal end of a cigarette by means of a precisely controlled liquid jet spray to bond shreds of tobacco in the cigarette end and to thereby reduce the amount of tobacco which falls out of the cigarette when shaken. Electronic controls are employed to synchronize the formation and charging of a series of droplets which are deflected in prescribed paths to contact the coal end of the cigarette in a predetermined pattern. Circuits are provided to adjust the timing and phase of the charging mechanism to compensate for variations in the speed at which the cigarette is conveyed to a target area and for variations in the timing of droplet formation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing vane jams in cigarette hoppers. The apparatus and method of the invention are characterized by a plurality of curved elements or guides extending from the back to the front of the hopper. The guides help straighten cigarettes that have become slightly skewed in relation to cigarettes that are correctly positioned in the hopper. The guides also prevent cigarettes that have become skewed to a greater extent or turned perpendicular to correctly positioned cigarettes in a hopper from reaching the vanes of the hopper and causing jam or blockages of the vanes. The guides stop the descent through the hopper of mispositioned cigarettes and cause such cigarettes to slide toward either the front or back wall of the hopper for removal.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a hinged top cigarette box having a cross-section with one or more arcuate surfaces from a one piece blank, the apparatus comprising a mandrel that engages the one piece blank along an edge, and which mandrel rotates to wrap the blank around the mandrel to form a hinged top cigarette box having inner and outer walls. Alternative embodiments of the apparatus may include either an ultrasonic device or wet adhesives to secure the inner and outer walls of the box in proper relation. A method is provided for forming a dual layer hinged top cigarette box having a cross-section with one or more arcuate surfaces wherein a box blank is engaged along one end and then rotated and secured so that the resulting box has its inner and outer layers fixed in proper relation.

Abstract: An outer wrapper for a container which includes an integral tear tape. The tear tape is formed by cutting two sets of score lines extending partially through the thickness of the wrapper material. The tear tape can be patterned to conform to the parting line along which the container opens, including oblique segments, thus allowing the container to be opened without interference from the parts of the wrapper which remain in contact with the container subsequent to removal of the tear tape.

Abstract: A system is provided for processing spot trades in selected commodities among a group of trading stations in a communication network through a series of structured stages. Each trading station is capable of initiating a transaction with any other trading station in the network by transmitting a request for a quotation on a selected commodity. The receiving, or counterparty, trading station responds by transmitting a quotation back to the initiating trader, and the trader transmits a proposal based on this quotation. The counterparty then transmits an acceptance of the proposal and upon receipt of this acceptance by the initiating trader, a confirmation signal is automatically transmitted back to the counterparty and the deal is automatically logged at both sites. Alterations of transmitted quotations and proposals and extensive negotiation are also possible.

Abstract: A scintillation tube dynamic calibration monitor that regulates the high voltage power supply to a detector. In a preferred embodiment, a voltage boost current source provides an input voltage for a power out voltage regulator and for a +14.75 volt board regulator. The board regulator provides a voltage reference for various circuitry, and provides a voltage reference for coarse calibration and display calibration adjustment circuitry. The power voltage regulator provides the high voltage power supply drive signal. An error amplifier drives an integrator, which, in turn, drives a bargraph display. An optically-isolated output circuit drives an external alarm or relay. In an alternative embodiment, the pulse width of a detected circuit is linearized and converted to an analog control signal. The analog control signal drives conventional power supply control circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conditioning tobacco or other similar materials. In the preferred embodiment, a conditioning cylinder 200 comprises a plurality of flights 240, backmixing baffles 260, and ejection baffles 280, all mounted to the interior wall 220 of cylinder 200. Rotation of the cylinder 200 mixes and conveys the material. Spray nozzle assembly 400 is positioned adjacent to the entrance of the cylinder 200 and comprises spray nozzles 410-450. The spray nozzles are aimed at a plurality of predetermined target areas within the cylinder 200 for directing a conditioning spray onto the material in the target areas. Recirculation conduit 500 recirculates air exiting the cylinder 200 and, before reentering the cylinder, combines the recirculated air with ambient air from fresh air make-up ports 520.

Abstract: An article is provided in which a flavor generating medium is electrically heated to combustion to evolve inhalable flavors or other components in vapor and/or aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of the flavor generating medium which are heated to combustion sequentially to provide individual puffs.

Abstract: A heating element for use within a smoking device which is intended to be held in the lips of a consumer, and which without burning, heats a flavor-generating medium within the device to produce an aerosol, vapor, or flavor, which the consumer may inhale. More particularly, an electrically-powered heating element having a plurality of discrete resistive heating segments, only one of which is active at any given time. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is contained within the device so that the individual heating segments of the element are adjacent to a flavor-generating medium. As each segment of the heating element is provided with power, the flavor-generating medium adjacent to that segment is heated, but is not burned. This heating causes the flavor-generating medium to produce a flavor, aerosol, or vapor, which the consumer of the device may inhale.

Abstract: A system is provided for packing, shipping and automated unloading of stacks of box blanks so as to minimize damage to the box blanks and facilitate the insertion of the box blanks into an automated packaging machine. A fitted shipping case, filled with stacks of box blanks and upper and lower inserts, has a plurality of holes in its upper and lower flaps for cooperating with an automated unloading machine. The inserts enclosed in the shipping case minimize damage due to shifting of the box blank stacks, provide added resistance against case failure during transit, and cooperate with the automated unloading machine to faciltiate removal of the box blank stacks from the shipping case.

Abstract: A cigarette pack display container is disclosed. The container includes a cover member and a base member which are connected about a rim. The cover member has outwardly extending pockets. Between the pockets is a corner wall including a polygonal panel portion and a trapezoidal panel portion. The base member includes pockets and triangular facets spaced between the pockets. Between the rim below the triangular facet and the rim below the trapezoidal panel portion is an engaging element for reinforcing the cover member to the base member. The reinforcement means includes a lip of the cover member that overlaps and inserts beneath the bead of the base member. A receiving element also may be provided for holding complementary articles. In addition, the cover member may have a slightly recessed top wall for receiving a label for identifying the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically inspecting printer die motifs, with the inspection including measuring the length, width, and depth of motifs, and measuring the circumferential separation of two motifs when more than one motif is disposed on the same printer die, the apparatus includes microscope optics supported by a stand, a table for supporting a precision divider head upon which the printer die carrying the motif is mounted, with the table being movable in an "X" and "Y" direction in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the optical path issuing from the optics, the precision divider head for rotating the printer die motif through the optical path of the optics, a first digital micrometer to measure length of a motif, a second digital micrometer to measure the width of a motif, a dial indicator to measure the depth of a motif, and the rotational indicator to measure the circumferential separation of two motifs on the same printer die.

Abstract: A smoking composition comprising an admixture of (1) combustible filler selected from natural tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, non-tobacco substitutes, and mixtures thereof, and (2) between about 0.00001 and 2 percent, by weight of the composition of a flavorant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formulae ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.6, and R.sup.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen; C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl; C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy-C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl; C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 cycloalkyl; phenyl; benzyl; substituted phenyl and substituted benzyl, wherein the substituted phenyl and substituted benzyl are substituted with one or more substituents, each of said substituents being independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, methoxy and hydroxy.

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.