Abstract: A blow molding apparatus including a clamp for clamping two molds in back-to-back relationship, the clamp having first and second movable, inner platens supporting interior sections of two molds; first and second movable outer platens supporting exterior mold sections facing the interior sections; a positioner to move the inner and outer platens between opened and closed positions; an extrusion means to extrude parisons between mold sections, injectors to inject air into the interior of the parisons; and a platen retainer to resiliently position the inner platens between the outer platens to equalize pressure in the two molds.

Abstract: Fiberglass filament hulls are cut to form fiberglass staple fibers with an apparatus comprising a cutting roller with a plurality of equally spaced, circular, diamond coated cutting blades separated by circular spacers having a diameter less than the diameter of the cutting blades; a circumferentially grooved pressure roller positioned parallel to the cutting roller and forming a nip therewith, with the periphery of the blades extending in non-engaging relation into the grooves; and a conveyor for flattening and conveying the hulls into the nip of the cutting and pressure rollers with the hull filaments being oriented substantially transverse to the blades while the cutting roller is rotated at a significantly greater speed than the pressure roller, whereby the hull filaments are held against the cutting roller by the pressure roller, and cut into staple fiber lengths by the blades.

Abstract: A mixture of botanical fines and sand is separated by a porous separating medium horizontally disposed within an enclosed chamber in which an upflowing stream of gas carries out the separation. The porous separating medium is comprised of a pair of opposed rotatively movable juxtaposed porous members with means for rotatively adjusting the porous members so as to change the flow through area in the porous separating medium. As a gas flows up through the porous separating medium, only the sand passes down through the porous medium and the gas entrains the botanical fines portion of the mixture above the porous members removing the botanical fines with the gas stream. Control of the velocity of gas up through the porous medium as well as the prevention of botanical fines from flowing with the sand down through the porous medium is determined by the adjustments of the rotatively mounted porous members.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of fibre, particularly for making rods of bonded, fibrillated polyolefin fibre which can be used for example as or in tobacco smoke filters. The fibres may be crimped or straight and are bonded with a polymeric or copolymeric bonding agent which is applied to the fibres without the application of heat, the bonding agent being in the form of a cold setting emulsion, applied for example by means of a shear cone rotating at high speed or by brush means, the treated fibres then being formed to shape and allowed to cure in normal conditions and in the absence of heating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the firmness of cigarettes utilizing high energy gas waves for reorienting tobacco in a cigarette rod during manufacture. The apparatus includes a housing having means therein directing a cigarette rod therethrough and an opening therein in flow communication with high energy gas means.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing reconstituted tobacco by a papermaking process. Tobacco material is mixed with aqueous tobacco extract or water to wet the tobacco, the resulting slurry is fed to a deflaker in which the bundles of tobacco fibers are reduced to small fiber bundles. The slurry is then directed to an extraction stage after which the water soluble and fibrous components of the slurry are separated. The fibrous material in the form of a slurry is preferably passed through a second deflaker to further separate the fiber bundles and through refiners to prepare the material for web formation. The fibrous material is diluted and passed to a papermaking machine in which it is processed to form a base sheet of reconstituted tobacco and the sheet is impregnated with a concentrate of the water soluble component separated at the extraction stage. The latter component may be subjected to a high shearing force to lessen its viscosity and facilitate the impregnation process.

Abstract: The disclosure is of compositions useful for chemisorption of undesirable chemical compounds found in tobacco smoke. The compositions comprise a base of alumina (aluminum oxide) impregnated with various proportions of zinc acetate, acetic acid and polyethyleneimine. The compositions are usefully employed as chemical filter components and are particularly advantageous in that they have a capacity to remove large quantities of hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide from tobacco smoke while simultaneously removing acetaldehyde. Unexpectedly the smoking quality of cigarettes, to which the compositions may be associated, is not adversely affected. To the contrary, smoking quality of such cigarettes is improved.

Abstract: A process for improving the fill power of reconstituted tobacco including the steps of wrinkling the tobacco and then shattering the wrinkled tobacco material. The wrinkling is accomplished by simultaneously steaming and tumbling the tobacco, and the shattering is accomplished by a selective milling of the wrinkled tobacco material.

Abstract: A filter for a cigarette includes a porour filter rod circumscribed by a non-porous or smoke impervious wrapper wherein the filter rod with the non-porous wrapper therearound is provided with grooves extending from one end thereof a preselected distance longitudinally therealong. Tipping material circumscribes the non-porous wrapper and is provided with flow-through openings therein in flow communication with the grooves. The grooves may be oriented to extend to the mouth end of the filter when connected to a cigarette, to the tobacco end of the filter when connected to the cigarette, or non-connecting grooves which extend from each end of the filter element a preselected distance therealong.

Abstract: A system and process for removing the veins from bulk strip tobacco utilizing an attrition mill having a pair of spaced discs therein wherein one of the discs is rotatable and the other is stationary. The attrition mill is utilized to mill the bulk strip tobacco prior to the separation of the veins from the lamina.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a method and apparatus for stripping leaf lamina from tobacco leaf stems. The apparatus comprises two pairs of opposed rollers in tandem relationship. The first set of rollers is driven at a fixed speed and serves to engage and feed tobacco leaf to the second set of rollers which are driven at a relatively higher speed. When the second pair of rollers engages the stem of the tobacco leaf, the stem is yanked away from the leaf lamina, which is held back by its engagement with the first pair of feed rollers. In this way stripping of the leaf lamina occurs. The disclosure is also of a method of destemming tobacco leaf, employing the apparatus of the invention. The method simulates the desirable results of hand stripping without an expenditure of hand stripping labor. The method is also advantageous in that it permits one to destem tobacco leaves having relatively low moisture content and at ambient temperatures, thereby effecting a considerable savings in energy expenditure.

Abstract: Whole tobacco stems are converted to expanded tobacco particles by opening the cellular structure of the stems and moisturizing the stems by the simultaneous application of water and steam. The stems, at a first induced moisture content of from 20 to 40% are then subjected to an equilibration step where the moisture content of the stem is uniformly distributed within the stems. The equilibrated stems are thereafter moisturized to a second induced moisture content by first an application of water and thereafter the simultaneous application of water and steam. At the second induced moisture content of from 30 to 60% the stems are cut into a plurality of particles that are thereafter expanded and dried to a final moisture content of from 13 to 25%.

Abstract: A meter for measuring the dielectric constant of a predetermined amount of tobacco to determine the moisture content. The meter includes a sample holder with a capacitor to retain a predetermined amount of tobacco between the plates of the capacitor. A stable reference frequency, a phase comparator, and a voltage controlled oscillator are interconnected to form a phase-locked loop frequency controller. The voltage controlled oscillator is connected to the capacitor to detect a change in capacitance causing the oscillator to attempt to change frequency which in turn causes the output of the phase comparator to change and hold the circuit to the reference frequency. The phase comparator output is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco. An indicator is responsive to the electrical output of the phase comparator to indicate the moisture content.

Abstract: A mixture of botanical fines and sand is separated by a porous separating medium horizontally disposed within an enclosed chamber in which an upflowing stream of gas carries out the separation. The porous separating medium is comprised of a plurality of particles constrained in a close-packed array between two opposed retaining members. While the gas flows up through the array of particles they are subjected to vibration, the separation being primarily determined by the flow of gas through the array and mobility of the particles. The separation is primarily controlled by altering the volume constraining the particles in the array which affects both the velocity of gas flow and the mobility of the particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smokable tobacco product comprised of a tobacco portion consisting essentially of tobacco particles having a mean ratio of area to perimeter squared of at least about 0.049 and a short dimension not in excess of 0.5 inch wherein the particles are of a substantially normal particle size distribution. By forming a smokable tobacco product of such particles, the lattice structure is highly resilient, enabling product formation at lower than normal weights while retaining similar firmness, end stability and burn properties as conventional cigarettes.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes is described in which cigarettes are first treated with hot water to saturate the paper wrapper and soften the glue holding together the edges of the cigarette wrapper. Saturation of the paper wrapper is followed by impacting the moistened cigarettes with steam. At sufficiently high temperatures, this will open the glue seam adjacent to the tobacco bearing section of the cigarette. At lower temperatures, the tobacco rod is expelled through the open end or ends of the cigarettes. The tobacco is thereafter dried and separated from the remainder of the cigarette material. The advantage of the process of the invention resides in its capacity to separate and reclaim the tobacco with minimal reduction of particle sizes. Long strands of tobacco are reclaimed intact. In addition, if the rejected cigarette includes a filter component, the filter structure may be separated intact from the remainder of the cigarette.

Abstract: A method and preferred apparatus for conditioning materials such as tobacco using an airflow distributor means. A conveyor transports the material along a path, and means to control the conditioning of the material are located at selected locations. A source of gas produces a gas stream, and means are operatively associated with the source of gas to selectively condition the gas stream. Flow straightening means having a structure such as a honeycomb panel are positioned upstream of the material being transported on the conveyor. The gas stream source is positioned to direct the gas stream through the flow straightening means to spread the gas stream evenly across the conveyor surface for uniform conditioning of the transported material. The conditioning may include heating and/or cooling the material, introducing moisture into the gas stream, adding chemicals into the gas stream, or selected combinations of these.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a process for reducing the moisture content of expanded tobacco while minimizing yield losses and reducing particle lamination while maintaining filling power. The process comprises drying the expanded tobacco at a temperature within the range of from about 250.degree. F. to about 650.degree. F. in the presence of an absolute humidity at a level above that which will provide a wet-bulb temperature of at least about 150.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of the nicotine content of tobacco by microbial treatment is disclosed. Tobacco is subjected, under controlled conditions, to the action of a microorganism effective to degrade nicotine through a biochemical reaction in which, inter alia, 3-succinoylpyridine is formed. Prior to subjecting the tobacco to the action of the microorganism, the tobacco is steamed to increase its moisture content. Tobaccos with lowered nicotine content but no mass loss result from this process following short treatment periods. Also, tobacco treated in accordance with this process, when incorporated into a tobacco smoking product, produces a mild smoke, having a reduced nicotine content. However, there is no loss of desirable flavor, taste and smoking properties.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a process for hot smoking fish to high cooking temperature without significant degradation of the fish product. The process comprises converting the fish skin to a moisture impervious state under non-cooking conditions and then cooking the fish in the presence of smoke while maintaining the moisture impervious nature of the fish skin. Cooking is carried out by raising the ambient temperature incrementally at a specific rate. The fish is subjected to ambient cooking temperatures higher than generally used in prior art processes, enabling one to achieve internal fish temperatures of circa 140.degree. F.-160.degree. F. and higher.