Abstract: A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

Abstract: A display tray for displaying a plurality of containers. The display includes a base having a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge; a first tray member comprising a first side extending from the first longitudinal edge of the base and terminating at an upper edge thereof, a second side extending from the upper edge of the first side and terminating at a lower edge thereof adjacent the base, the first tray member forming a substantially triangular cross-section and having a plurality of openings positioned along an apex thereof; and a second tray member comprising a first side extending from the second longitudinal edge of the base and terminating at an upper edge thereof, a second side extending from the upper edge of the first side and terminating at a lower edge thereof adjacent the base, the second tray member forming a substantially triangular cross-section.

Abstract: A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in the production of an article by adding a Stokes-shifting taggant to an oil or lubricant of a machine utilized to produce the article or a component thereof, irradiating the articles produced with a first wavelength of radiation, and monitoring the articles for emission of radiation at a second wavelength. The taggant can be in the form of a composition containing a Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, dissolved or dispersed in an oil or lubricant.

Abstract: A system for detecting oil contaminated product and foreign matter within a product stream is provided. The system includes a first conveying means for delivering a product stream; a first detection apparatus for detecting oil contaminated product, the first detection apparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the first detection apparatus including a high intensity infrared light source directed at the product stream; and a high speed NIR spectrometer sensor tuned to detect a reflected signal from a taggant disposed in the oil of the oil contaminated product; a second detection apparatus for detecting foreign matter within a product stream, the second detection apparatus positioned proximate the product stream, the second detection apparatus including a light source for illuminating the product stream and a detector for detecting light reflected from the product stream; and a controller for determining whether the product stream contains oil contaminated product or foreign matter.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately dosing moist smokeless tobacco includes a dosing assembly and a dosing air source. The dosing assembly defines a loading chamber and a dosing chamber for containing a quantity of moist smokeless tobacco material. The dosing assembly also includes a discharge opening communicating with the dosing chamber. The dosing air source communicates with the dosing chamber and is operable to deliver compressed air to the dosing assembly so as to move moist smokeless tobacco material from the dosing chamber to the discharge opening. A method of pouching moist smokeless tobacco includes placing a predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco in a dosing chamber having a predetermined volume, and ejecting the predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco to pouching apparatus using compressed air.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing moisture and staining the web of a plurality of tobacco sachets. The apparatus includes a turret wheel assembly comprising a rotatable turret wheel having a plurality of cups for receiving containers for tobacco sachets, a sensor for verifying the presence a container within a cup of the rotatable turret wheel, a hydraulic injector for injecting water into a container having a plurality of tobacco sachets, means for tamping tobacco sachets, and means for agitating and stirring the plurality of tobacco sachets to lift and stir tobacco sachets from the bottom of the container. A method of distributing moisture and staining the web of a plurality of tobacco sachets is also provided.

Abstract: This application provides high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics and development of these plants via breeding. This application also provides hybrid seeds that give rise to high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application provides methods of growing and harvesting high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics. This application further provides tobacco products made from high yielding tobacco plants with Oriental tobacco aroma and flavor characteristics, and methods making such tobacco products.

Abstract: A system for differentiating between oil spots and non-oil spots in a wrapped article comprising a web and a wrapped material. The system includes a heat source that applies heat to a wrapped article for a predetermined amount of time when the wrapped article is placed in a sample area on a surface that is arranged at a predetermined distance away from a heating element of the heat source; and a light source that provides backlighting to the web of the wrapped article when the web has been separated from the wrapped material and placed on a viewing surface of the light source. A method for differentiating between oil spots and non-oil spots in wrapped articles and a field test kit are also provided.

Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a fibrous element downstream of the heater.

Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and an aroma carrier on an outer surface of the outer tube. The aroma carrier includes fragrance material and is operable to deliver fragrance during smoking.

Abstract: An electronic smoking article comprising an aerosol generator and a mechanical aerosol converter insert having the capacity to improve characteristics of aerosol produced by the aerosol generator, including sensory attributes.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately dosing moist smokeless tobacco includes a dosing assembly and a dosing air source. The dosing assembly defines a loading chamber and a dosing chamber for containing a quantity of moist smokeless tobacco material. The dosing assembly also includes a discharge opening communicating with the dosing chamber. The dosing air source communicates with the dosing chamber and is operable to deliver compressed air to the dosing assembly so as to move moist smokeless tobacco material from the dosing chamber to the discharge opening. A method of pouching moist smokeless tobacco includes placing a predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco in a dosing chamber having a predetermined volume, and ejecting the predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco to pouching apparatus using compressed air.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a polymeric material in intimate contact with the smokeless tobacco and stabilized in conformance to a surface topography of the tobacco's fibrous structures such that the stabilized polymeric material secures the smokeless tobacco together. The smokeless tobacco product has a moisture-permeable porous surface and an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent.

Abstract: A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in a manufactured product (C), preferably a cigarette (C), the process comprising adding a fluorescent taggant to oils or lubricants contained in processing machinery for said product (C), conveying (131) said product (C) past an infrared detection apparatus (140), irradiating said product (C) with infrared radiation from said detection apparatus (140) as it passes the detection apparatus (140), and detecting infrared radiation emitted from said irradiated product (C). The taggant can be in the form of a composition containing a Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, dissolved or dispersed in an oil or lubricant.