Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus and a method of cutting tobacco sheet into cut filler are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fixed ledger blade and a rotatable cutter blade coacting with the ledger blade to simultaneously cut the tobacco sheet transversely and longitudinally into cut pieces useful as cut filler in a cigarette making process. The cut pieces may have a rectangular, zigzag or scalloped shape according to different embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A high barrier sealable packaging material and a high barrier heat sealed package for smoking articles, such as cigarettes and the like, are disclosed. The packaging material comprises a base layer of a polymeric film, such as a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film which has been metallized on one surface thereof with a layer of metal, such as aluminum. The metallized film is then imprinted with ink with a design and/or printed matter on either the metallized or unmetallized surface. Subsequently to or concurrently with the printing, a heat seal layer is applied to the printed and/or unprinted surface for forming a heat seal about which the material is wrapped. In one embodiment, the high barrier packaging material is used as an overwrap for a cigarette package having a tear tape for removing one end of the overwrap.

Abstract: A cigarette smoking article includes a tobacco rod and a dual filter comprising a tobacco rod end segment made of cellulose acetate tow and a mouth end segment made of a gathered, perforated polymeric film blended with a whitener to produce a substantially non-staining mouth end surface. The polymeric film may also comprise a coextruded flavor film with a flavor carrier layer disposed between a pair of barrier layers for releasing a flavorant into the mainstream smoke during smoking of the cigarette. Transparent wraps may be used to construct the cigarette from the component parts so that the filtration surfaces of the filter rod are visible through the wraps.

Abstract: A cigarette filter connected to a tobacco rod is provided with air dilution holes which extend radially into the fibrous material of the filter to a depth of about 1.0 to about 4.0 millimeters. When a smoker draws on the cigarette, air admitted into the air dilution holes flows to a central or core region of the filter and thence to the smoker's mouth. Mainstream smoke from the tobacco rod flows into the filter and is diverted to an annular region surrounding the core region.

Abstract: A cigarette includes a rod of smoking material, such as tobacco, to which is attached a mouthpiece that is substantially impervious to air and smoke except for an unfiltered axial bore or flow passage which extends through the mouthpiece. Unfiltered smoke flows from the rod to the interface between the rod and mouthpiece where it is substantially diluted with air and passes through the flow passage for delivery as unfiltered, air diluted smoke. The air dilution reduces the gas phase components of the unfiltered smoke thereby providing a smoother, better tasting cigarette.

Abstract: A fluid injection device and method of injecting and distributing a fluid, such as a gas, liquid or combination thereof, to a continuous, multifilament filter tow used in the manufacture of filters for smokable tobacco products. The injection device includes a converging tongue portion from which a nozzle block is suspended and rigidly supported. A nozzle conduit with a plurality of feed holes is formed in the nozzle block for delivering the fluid to a precise location in the advancing filter tow during its formation and consolidation into a filter rod. Additives, such as flavorants, may be injected into the tow or the tow may be further bloomed by a gas, such as air, to decrease tow usage.

Abstract: A cigarette packaging machine is provided with a mechanism for rejecting defective cigarette packs of a two pack stack of cigarette packs. A defective top pack of the stack is rejected at a first rejection station by a blast of pressurized air or a pusher bar and a defective bottom pack of the stack is rejected at a second rejection station downstream of the first rejection station by a movable arm which pivots away from a position supporting the stack and then pivots toward the stack to strike the bottom pack and eject it from the stack. A magazine filled with acceptable packs is located downstream of the second rejection station for replacing defective packs ejected from the stack.

Abstract: An electrical overhead transmission conductor cable having a steel reinforcing core which exhibits improved characteristics and unexpected conductivity above about 64% IACS is manufactured of a steel core covered by at least one stranding layer which is formed of round or trapezoidal shaped wire strands subjected to annealing before heat treatment and drawn and stress-relieved/annealed after stranding is completed, to provide a finished cable which includes an aluminum conductive portion which is dead soft, or "O" temper. The steel core of the cable carries substantially the entire tension load of both the core and conductors when suspended between vertical towers. The overhead transmission cable may be formed of trapezoidal cross section conductors wires for improved vibration performance characteristics.

Abstract: An extruder device having improved flow distribution, reduced shear and reduced surface area on which material can accumulate, including a breaker plate having a plurality of symmetrically arranged tapered holes provided therein. The holes are disposed on a series of V-shaped concentric centering grooves the diameters of which progressively increase, albeit by diminishing increments, over the adjacent inner circles. Each of the holes disposed on a particular centering groove is of equal diameter; however, the diameters of the holes become progressively smaller as the diameters of the centering grooves on which they are disposed increase. The holes nearest the center of the plate have the largest diameters, while those nearest the periphery of the plate have the smallest diameters.

Abstract: Multiple pairs of pinch rolls are used to advance a rod product along a pathway following a continuously casting and rolling system. Each pinch roll pair exerts a force normal to the rod of less than the amount necessary to substantially degrade the yield strength characteristics of the finished rod. Multiple driven pinch roll pairs cooperate to advance the rod by compressive engagement and accomplish the work of one or two pairs of pinch rolls to minimize work hardening and/or plastic deformation, which can result in an increase in yield strength. Yield strength characteristics are thus improved while the continuous rod product is still advanced and guided at very high speed along a pathway from a horizontal to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A cable take-up and payoff apparatus for the controlled payout of a continuous cable from a reel comprises a pair of laterally movable housings which support a reel on a pair of pintles and are horizontally spaced from one another by a telescoping member. A power mechanism is provided for operating the telescoping member to laterally move the housings toward and away from one another. The housings are also supported for vertical movement along a pair of upstanding masts and a power mechanism is provided for simultaneously moving the housings up and down. The pintles are independently supported for both vertical and horizontal movement relative to the housings and are thereby independently adjustable by power mechanisms into alignment with openings on the axis of the reel of cable.

Abstract: A wire tensioning device having a guide for taking up an advancing wire having slack and a brake for applying a braking force to the guides. In a wire insulating system, a wire from a supply reel or spool is passed to a take-up reel or spool, through intervening components, which accumulate, tension and apply insulation to the advancing wire. The wire is first passed from the supply reel to an accumulating device in the form of a vertical accumulator or a flipper payout. From there it is passed through the device of the present invention having a plurality of rotatable sheaves or pulleys about which the advancing wire is trained. A braking force is applied to one of the sheaves by an air brake to apply a tensioning force. From the tensioning device, the wire is fed through an insulation-applying crosshead device and then on to a take-up reel or spool.

Abstract: An expert system having a computer which can receive input data and from stored data to produce an optimized die draft schedule for a given wire drawing machine. The system is adaptable to store data for a plurality of die drawing machines, producing an optimized die draft schedule for a range of input and output rod/wire sizes on each drawing machine for which the system has stored operating parameters. Alternatively, operating parameters for additional drawing machines can be entered, enabling generation of optimum die draft schedules for most wire drawing machines. An enhanced mode may be made available to enable comparison of computed values and operator estimated values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting coolant flow rates in casting machines forming a continuous casting and rolling apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously extruding powdered, comminuted, or particulated feed material which includes a Conform extrusion machine or the like in cooperation with a forming wheel rotatably disposed within a portion of the Conform wheel to compress the feed material into a compacted feedstock. Compressing the feed material into a compacted feedstock enables uniform and reliable conveyance of the feed material into the extrusion machine. An auxiliary shoe member conforming to the outer periphery of the forming wheel and to the Conform shoe is included to separate the compacted feedstock from the forming wheel. The auxiliary shoe directs the compacted feedstock into a passageway formed by the Conform machine extrusion wheel and extrusion shoe. As the respective wheels are rotated the forces on the compacted feedstock heat it and cause it to yield and flow through an extrusion chamber adjacent the Conform machine abutment; it is then extruded from a die in the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for balancing a multi-bay cabler system when less than all of the cabler frame bays are supplied with a supply bobbin are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a mechanical counterweight system which compensates for a depleting strand supply during operation of the cabler system, thereby equalizing centrifugal loading within the rotating strander frame and maintaining its dynamic balance at full design speed during the cable assembly operation. The counterweight system is installed in a bobbin-carrying cradle of an unused cabler frame bay. According to a first embodiment, the counterweight is driven in a linear path relative to the cradle in a direction normal to the rotational axis of the cabler frame. According to a second embodiment, the counterweight is driven in an arc relative to its supporting cradle.

Abstract: A cable payoff apparatus for the controlled payout of a continuous cable from a reel comprises a pair of laterally movable housings which support a reel on a pair of pintles. A power mechanism is provided for laterally moving the housings toward and away from one another. The housings are also supported for vertical movement along a pair of upstanding masts and a power mechanism is provided for simultaneously moving the housings up and down. The pintles are independently supported for both vertical and horizontal movement relative to the housings and are thereby independently adjustable by power mechanisms into alignment with openings on the axis of the reel of cable.

Abstract: An electrical overhead transmission conductor cable having a steel reinforcing core which exhibits improved characteristics and unexpected conductivity above about 64% IACS is manufactured of a steel core covered by at least one stranding layer which is formed of round or trapezoidal shaped wire strands subjected to annealing before heat treatment and drawn and stress-relieved/annealed after stranding is completed, to provide a finished cable which includes an aluminum conductive portion which is dead soft, or "O" temper. The steel core of the cable carries substantially the entire tension load of both the core and conductors when suspended between vertical towers. The overhead transmission cable may be formed of trapezoidal cross section conductors wires for improved vibration performance characteristics.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for holding the ends of two metal rods which are to be joined, cutting a face on each of the two metal rods, maintaining alignment of the two cut faces, and providing proper compressive force on the two rods while they are joined by a brazing operation.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for applying a moisture block compound to a stranded electrical conductor using a double twist buncher apparatus are disclosed. An oil, such as drawing oil, is applied to the outer layer of wires to prevent "rolling" of the moisture block compound to the exterior of the stranded conductor. An improved applicator is also disclosed for applying the moisture block compound to the core of the stranded conductor in a coating having a precisely controlled thickness.