Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling energy flow into a heating load array of a smoking article are provided. In response to a pressure drop in the mouthpiece of the smoking article, a selected load in the heating load array is switchably connected to a power supply. Energy delivered to the load is measured and the load is disconnected when a predetermined amount of energy has been delivered.

Abstract: A tobacco flavor unit is provided for use in a smoking article for delivering to a smoker a tobacco flavor substance, the smoking article having electrical heating means disposed in a cavity. The tobacco flavor unit includes a carbon fibrous mat and tobacco flavor medium disposed on the mat for providing for the efficient generation of tobacco flavor substance. The carbon mat includes carbon fibers that are made from a precursor selected from the group consisting of rayon, pitch and polyacrylonitrile. A smoking article incorporating the tobacco flavor unit is also provided.

Abstract: A pack has a retention member formed in the walls of the innerframe and the lid. The retention member can be tab-like extension members extending from a top edge of the innerframe and the bottom edge of the lid. When the tab-like extension member is folded into operational position, it functions to help keep the lid closed by providing additional interference between the lid and the innerframe. The retention member can also be segments of inner wall panels of the lid itself. When folded into operational position, the folded segment of the inner wall panel functions to help keep the lid closed by providing additional interference between the lid and the innerframe. Any of these retention members can be folded into operational position by the manufacturer. Alternatively, the pack can be provided to the consumer with the extension member in non-operational position, leaving to the individual consumer's discretion the decision to fold the retention member into operational position.

Abstract: A concentric smoking filter in which the peripheral filter medium is a fibrous tow, such as fibrous cellulose acetate tow, and the core filter medium is a web material, such as paper, loaded with carbon particles, is provided. The filter improves the taste, particularly, of "ultra-light" cigarettes.

Abstract: A hinged lid cigarette pack includes a bottom portion defining a receptacle for the cigarettes and a hingably connected lid which closes over the cigarette. A tab is foldably connected to the front wall of the lid at a mating edge between the lid front wall and the bottom portion front wall. The tab comprises a front tab panel foldably connected to the lid front wall at the mating edge and a top tab panel foldably connected to the front tab panel via a first tab fold line. A back tab panel is foldably connected to the top panel via a second tab fold line which is located opposite to the first tab fold line. When the lid is closed, the respective tab panels lie in a face-to-face contact with corresponding front, top and back walls of the lid. When the lid is open, the tab does not interfere with access to the cigarettes. At the desired time, the tab is extended such that the panels lie in substantially the same plane to read messages printed thereon.

Abstract: The acceptability of images is determined by comparing each image to a template image which may be an average of several images which are known to be acceptable. The amount by which the image deviates from the template image is used as a measure of the acceptability of the image. Portions of the image at or near edges in the images may be automatically excluded from this test. Another test which includes the edge portions excluded from the first test may be performed to ensure that all portions of the image are inspected. For example, this other test may include ensuring that the correct number of edge pixels are present in the image as a whole.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of substrates with fluidized material in repetitive patterns during application cycles. The treatment patterns made with this invention can be altered by changing machine operating parameters. The patterns of fluidized material are applied to substrates using intermittent charges of compressed air. The intermittent charges of compressed air pass through a venturi slot which creates a region of low pressure in the charges adjacent to a region where the fluidized material accumulates between application cycles. This region of low pressure helps to entrain the fluidized material in the charge of compressed air. After the fluidized material is entrained in the charge of compressed air, the charge deposits the fluidized material on the substrate.

Abstract: A bladed tubular array for use as a heating element in an electrical smoking article, and a tobacco flavor element for such an article based thereon, are provided. The integral carbon heater preferably provides eight thermally and electrically discrete heating zones to provide an optimized heating zone when each blade is individually powered. Each blade has a desired resistance, to provide temperature preferably in the range of from about 300.degree. C. to about 900.degree. C., or higher. The relatively brittle carbon composite conductive blades are supported by a reinforcing tube of spiral-wound paperboard. A common ring of the same conductive material serves as a common electrical terminal for the blades, while the free end of each blade serves as the other electrical terminal of that blade.

Abstract: Substantially circular objects such as the ends of the filters of filter tipped cigarettes are inspected to make sure they have an acceptable appearance. The object surface to be inspected is preferably cantilevered out from the object supporting structure, and any surface of the supporting structure which faces in the same direction as the object surface is preferably made visually contrasting with the object surface. The object surface is preferably illuminated obliquely and at an angle to the axis along which an image of the object is formed. The image is subjected to "blob" analysis to determine whether it has an acceptable appearance. Objects which do not have an acceptable appearance are rejected. A sophisticated user interface provides substantial information to an operator of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.

Abstract: A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed from the combustion of a heat source is provided. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source to the flavor bed is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.

Abstract: An improved endless conveyer belt is provided which can carry minute particles of conveyed product such as are found in packed bed applications, without limiting the ability of the conveyor belt to articulate into a spiraling conveyor stack. The perforations in the foraminous bottom member of the conveyor belt can be dimensioned according to the size of conveyed products. The number and placement of the perforations can be chosen to alter gas flow characteristics of the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying a fluid to a moving continuous web whereby fluid is collected and stored in a multichamber cylinder when application of fluid to the web is ceased, and substantially all of the fluid collected and stored is promptly and directly retrieved from the multichamber cylinder after application of fluid to the moving continuous web has recommenced. A storage chamber of the multichamber is sized to receive an amount of fluid such that the fluid level is below the bristles of an applicator brush.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making banded smoking article wrappers is provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical rotating applicator that has alternating regions of mesh material and regions of solid material on its outside surface. The applicator allows repetitive patterns of additional slurry to be applied to a continuous web of paper so that the basis weight of the paper is repetitively increased. Such paper, when incorporated into a smoking article, modifies the burn rate characteristics of the article.

Abstract: A strip of paper (42) in which the rod of tobacco (31) is to be wrapped runs parallel for a certain distance to a porous band (21) carrying the rod. By applying a certain degree of compression to the rod before it enters a guide groove disposed under a guide finger (45), a round shape can be imparted to the rod of tobacco while reducing the friction of the tobacco against the walls of the groove, thus lessening heating of the tobacco and wear and tear on the groove.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transferring a metered charge of granular material from a bulk source to an individual receptacle at high speed. The apparatus comprises a nozzle having suction and positive ports, a screen disposed within the nozzle, and suction and positive pressure sources that selectively communicate with the suction and pressure ports to sequentially engage a charge of granular material from a bulk source and then expel the charge of granular material into a receptacle. The apparatus includes a controller for selectively actuating valves connecting the suction and positive pressure ports to the suction and positive pressure sources. Methods of transferring a discrete charge of the granular material from a bulk reservoir to an individual receptacle are also provided.

Abstract: A half-carton container for cigarette packs, formed from a unitary blank, having windows formed in a first wall to display and facilitate the removal of the contained goods and having partitions hingedly attached to the first wall and secured to a second wall to support the half-carton structure and to partition and hold in place the contained goods. The half-carton container can be paired with another half-carton by attachment or by placing in a full-carton container such that they can be tax-stamped as a pair and later easily separated for sale as independent units.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a self-stacking spiral conveyor that traverses through a circulating atmosphere. The atmosphere is manipulated by one or more chambers having an open side adjacent to the perforated sides of the spiral conveyor. Additional control over the circulating atmosphere may be achieved by injection or ejection of gas into one or more chambers.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of substrates with fluidized material in repetitive patterns during application cycles. The treatment patterns made with this invention can be altered by changing machine operating parameters. The patterns of fluidized material are applied to substrates using an applicator drum. Machined in the outer surface of the applicator drum are a plurality of slots filled with deformable material. The deformable material extends to a position in each slot just short of the outside diameter of the applicator drum, leaving a cavity in each slot. These cavities are filled with slurry in a slurry applicator unit. A compression drum mounted within the hollow interior of the applicator drum uses compression tips to displace the deformable material in each slot in succession beyond the periphery of applicator drum at a position adjacent to the substrate, causing the slurry in the cavity to be applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orienting elongated components, where the components are initially oriented in a random manner with respect to the ends of the components. Improperly oriented components are separated from properly oriented ones and are transferred to a turnaround device; this device rotates the improperly oriented components 180.degree. about a transverse axis running from one end of the component to the other end of the component. The stream of rotated elongated components is then reintegrated with the stream of elongated components which were initially properly oriented. All of the elongated components are then removed from the orienting apparatus. The output stream of properly oriented elongated components coincides with the input stream of randomly oriented elongated components.