Abstract: A tobacco plant comprising at least one mutation in a HMA gene, wherein the non-mutated HMA gene comprises the nucleotide sequence. of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homolog sequence, wherein the mutation causes a substitution or a deletion or an insertion of at least one amino acid in the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence and wherein the mutation reduces the heavy metal uptake by the leaves of the plant by at least 30% in relation to the heavy metal uptake of plants comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or the homolog.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the individual distribution of small stick-shaped objects (7), this device (1) making use of: a conveyor (2) comprising an endless conveyor belt (3) circulating around at least two pulleys or rollers (4, 4?), the outer side of this belt (3) being provided with transversal separators (5) which delimit a succession of compartments (6); a hopper (9) wherein the small stick-shaped objects (7) contained in compartments (6) are successively dumped; an individual distributor (10) arranged in the base of hopper (9) and wherein the small stick-shaped objects (7) become engaged via gravity, and comprising: a support and guide casing (8) comprising a semi-cylindrical form, substantially coaxial to the downstream pulley (4?), this casing (8) being oriented in such a way that it maintains the small stick-shaped objects (7) inside their respective compartments (6) during the passing of the belt (3) on said pulley (4?); a flexible vertical partition (11) separating the internal s

Abstract: A method for analyzing the filling of a cigarette by using a sinusoidal mathematical model representing the density of tobacco along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette and by conducting experimental measurements of density and of moisture at a plurality of points along this longitudinal axis, calculating a regression determination coefficient from the measured values, calculating the position of the strengthened tip from the phase ? and the parameters of the model and from experimentally determined constants, calculating the shift of the strengthened tip relatively to the cut and calculating the strengthening index from the values of these constants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the individual distribution of small stick-shaped objects (7), this device (1) making use of: a conveyor (2) comprising an endless conveyor belt (3) circulating around at least two pulleys or rollers (4, 4?), the outer side of this belt (3) being provided with transversal separators (5) which delimit a succession of compartments (6); a hopper (9) wherein the small stick-shaped objects (7) contained in compartments (6) are successively dumped; an individual distributor (10) arranged in the base of hopper (9) and wherein the small stick-shaped objects (7) become engaged via gravity, and comprising: a support and guide casing (8) comprising a semi-cylindrical form, substantially coaxial to the downstream pulley (4?), this casing (8) being oriented in such a way that it maintains the small stick-shaped objects (7) inside their respective compartments (6) during the passing of the belt (3) on said pulley (4?); a flexible vertical partition (11) separating the internal spac

Abstract: A method and device for using a permeameter comprising a measuring head (2) opposite which the sheet or strip (1) is displaced step by step. The method and device can comprise a registration including the determination of the permeability profile of the strip (1) over a period T including two different successive permeability ranges, determination of a sinusoid from said profile, the of two extremes of said sinusoid, centering the measuring head (2) on the second extreme, and moving the strip step by step by T/2 and, at each step, performing a permeability measurement.

Abstract: The method according to the invention comprises elaborating a sinusoidal mathematical model representing the density y versus the axial position x, conducting experimental measurements of density and of moisture at a plurality of points along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette, calculating a regression determination coefficient from the measured values, calculating the position of the strengthened tip from the phase ? and the parameters of the model and from experimentally determined constants, calculating the shift of the strengthened tip relatively to the cut and calculating the strengthening index from the values of said constants.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sample-holder (1) for measuring parameters of porous objects, comprising a draft cell including a microwave frequency (C), through which the object passes so as to be able to measure moisture content before and/or after measuring draft.

Abstract: The permeameter embodying the invention comprises, on the one hand, a measuring head comprising two chambers opening onto two sides of the test piece, one of these chambers being connected to a measuring circuit successively comprising at least one flow meter and a pumping means capable of generating pressure or a partial vacuum in the circuit, an adjusting means being provided to maintain the circuit at a given pressure, and, on the other hand, an electronic circuit comprising plural calibrated amplifiers of which the inputs are connected to the output of the flow meter and of which the outputs are connected to the inputs of a multiplexer whose output is connected to a processor via an analog-to-digital converter. The invention applies notably to the measurement of air permeability of cigarette paper.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for modifying or aromatizing the primary or secondary smoke of smoking products such as cigarettes, cigars and similar products, as well as the mixture intended to be smoked, for instance in a pipe or in the form of a cigarette, by applying to the wrapper of these products at least one solution of the aromatizing or modifying substances which are transferred onto the product in vapor phase in the confined atmosphere of the packing of these products. According to the invention, there is used as solvent a product which is non-volatile at ambient temperature and has a vapor tension less than that of the aromatic substance to be deposited.

Abstract: A process and sheet material made therefrom, for preparation of a sheet material intended for the manufacture of smoking products such as cigars, cigarettes, or similar products, in which aromatic substances or preparations intended not to be released until the moment of combustion of the smoking product and which are included by molecular encapsulation or complexing in cyclodextrins are introduced into the paste used to make the sheet, wherein measures are taken so that the said aromatic substances are all included in cyclodextrins.

Abstract: The device embodying the invention uses a filter element encapsulating me acting like a sphincter, a means enabling an air flow to be generated through the filter element once the filter element has been encapsulated, and a means enabling measurement of at least one parameter relating to the fluid flow through the filter. The encapsulating means comprises a succession of encapsulation modules arranged coaxially end to end and each acting like a sphincter, independently of the others, by means of a control means separate from that of the others. The invention applies notably to the measurement of draw through the filter sticks used in filter-tipped cigarettes.

Abstract: A smoking machine includes, for controlling the conditions in which each article to be smoked is smoked, only a servo-control device for controlling, to a reference value, the pressure difference between the suction end and the rest of the body of the cigarette. The support of each article is mounted for rotating so as to allow, for example, more accurate detection of the position of the incandescent zone by optical sensors and a processing circuit.

Abstract: A process and device are provided for supplying an operation station with a uccession of articles guided along a given path from a feeding station, whereby an acceleration is imparted to each article by a pushing lug for example, and then the article is braked by a retainer lug for example.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the flow-pressure characteristics of gas passing through a product sample with two faces, for example for measuring the permeability of a sample of air permeable material such as cigarette paper. A sample holder allows the external face of the paper to be exposed to atmospheric pressure and the internal face to a sub-atmospheric pressure created by a pump, whereas the value of this pressure difference and of the air flow passing through the sample is measured. A control system comprising a continuously controlled control valve and an electronic circuit controlled by a reference signal and a signal representative of the real pressure difference or of the real flow rate allows measurement conditions to be obtained rapidly in conformity with the requirements of certain standards and recommendations.