Abstract: A method for detecting and measuring regions of a secondary material deposited onto a moving substrate. The method employs an x-ray source for directing an x-ray beam at the moving substrate, and an x-ray detector to detect an amount of x-ray energy transmitted by the moving sheet of material. Areas of bare substrate will allow for different amounts of x-ray transmission than areas of the substrate containing the secondary material. These differences in transmission and/or absorption can be used to detect the location of a region of secondary material and to determine if it falls within an acceptable range. According to one particular embodiment of the present invention, the method can be used to analyze burn characteristic modifying bands of a secondary material intermittently and repeatedly deposited to a moving web of smoking article paper.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for fine tuning the control of a manufacturing process. A material adjusting device is in communication with a PID controller and PID control loop, and is used to alter a flow of material used in the manufacturing process, so as to maintain a target physical property of the material at a setpoint. A measurement device captures measurements of the flow relevant to the physical property of interest. A change is introduced to the material adjusting device while the PID controller and PID control loop are disabled, and appropriate measurements of the flow are continually captured; a process that may be repeated several times. Once sufficient physical property measurement data has been captured, the data is loaded into an optimization program that outputs optimized controlled parameters that may be used by the PID controller and control loop to better control the physical property of the material.

Abstract: The present invention includes a central control system and method for fine tuning a cigarette manufacturing process. A measurement device captures measurements of particular cigarette properties. The measurement data is sent to and stored in a central database. Once sufficient measurement data has been stored, the data is loaded into an optimization program that outputs optimized controlled parameters that may be used by individual control systems to better control the properties of the cigarettes during manufacture. The central control system and method may be used with both off-line and in-line measurement devices, and can communicate and control such devices regardless of the manufacturer thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for frequent and accurate measuring of flat sheet thickness on a process line is disclosed. The results of the monitoring process of the present invention may be used to adjust the production process to better remain within predetermined tolerances. Data collection, data analysis, and process control are accomplished using a plurality of software applications in communication with various devices and equipment that support these functions of the present invention. A source/dectector unit collects data during the production process. The data is transmitted, manipulated, analyzed, and compared for conformance to tolerances and error signal output is transmitted to a process control system used to control the production process. If the sheet product is outside a specified tolerance range, an operator may also be notified so that corrective actions can be taken. Software applications may be used by an operator to perform setup and configuration operations.

Abstract: A pizza docker assembly including a motor driven shaft on which are mounted a plurality of docker wheels each including radially extending spines for perforating dough as it is passed therebeneath. The spines on adjacent docker wheels are offset to avoid forming a continuous line of spines and thereby reduce the tendency to lift the dough after it is perforated. A comb assembly attached to the docker assembly aids in separation of any dough lifted by the spines.

Abstract: An apparatus (110) for dispensing condiments, and the like, has a gun (10) arrangeable for dispensing a measured amount of a condiment preloaded into the gun upon release of a trigger (60) of the gun following a previous dispensing action. Provision is made for keeping the condiment refrigerated throughout the system, which can be periodically cleaned in a simple and efficient manner that results in virtually no waste of the condiment or other substance being dispensed.