Abstract: An apparatus for conditioning whole dried cloves, including a trough, for inputting a quantity of whole dried cloves into the trough, the trough having a top and a bottom, and a fully flighted screw conveyor for transporting a quantity of whole cloves therethrough. The trough further includes a plurality of steam inputs oriented at the bottom of the trough and a plurality of water inputs located at the top of the trough. The trough further includes an output to which the quantity of whole cloves is passed. The combination further includes a cutting apparatus having an input coupled to the output of the trough, a hopper, a first and second converging slotted conveyor belt, and a rotating knife drum which includes a plurality of cutting knives arranged thereon. Additionally, the combination includes a conveyor dryer having a plurality of independently controlled drying chambers and a conveyor belt for providing said cloves through said plurality of drying chambers.

Abstract: A frame for securely retaining a bundle of elongated members, as for example cigarettes, within a container is provided. The container includes a bottom box panel, a top lid box panel, opposing right and left side box panels, and opposing front and back box panels. The frame is inserted into the container and comprises: a front frame panel portion defined by a left side and a right side, and a top and bottom margin; a left side frame panel connected to the front panel along the left side of said front panel, said left side panel including a left side biasing portion formed therein; and a right side frame panel connected to the front frame panel along the right side of said front panel, said right side panel including a right side biasing portion formed thereupon.

Abstract: A continuous method for processing dry whole cloves into particles suitable for inclusion in cigarettes comprising steps of: a) raising the moisture content of the whole dried cloves by (i) providing said cloves in a heat conducting receptacle, and (ii) simultaneously providing steam and water into said receptacle; b) continuously slicing said moisturized whole cloves into finely chopped particles; and c) drying said clove particles at a variety of different convective air drying rates and temperatures. Apparatuses includes means for conditioning whole dried cloves, including a trough, means for inputting a quantity of whole dried cloves into the trough, the trough having a top and a bottom, and a fully flighted screw conveyor for transporting a quantity of whole cloves therethrough. The trough further includes a plurality of steam inputs oriented at the bottom of the trough and a plurality of water inputs located at the top of the trough.

Abstract: A frame for securely retaining a bundle of elongated members, as for example cigarettes, within a container is provided. The container includes a bottom box panel, a top lid box panel, opposing right and left side box panels, and opposing front and back box panels. The frame is inserted into the container and comprises: a front frame panel portion defined by a left side and a right side, and a top and bottom margin; a left side frame panel connected to the front panel along the left side of the front panel, the left side panel including a left side biasing portion formed therein; and a right side frame panel connected to the front frame panel along the right side of the front panel, the right side panel including a right side biasing portion formed thereupon. The frame is erected and inserted into the box so that the front frame panel is contiguous with the front box panel, the left frame panel is contiguous with the left side box panel, and the right frame panel is contiguous with the right side box panel.