Abstract: A tobacco enhancement apparatus and a method of enhancing tobacco using the apparatus comprising a tunnel (12) having a vibratory conveyor floor (18), and an inlet (14) for receiving unexpanded tobacco shreds. A steaming and swirling station (32) is located downstream of the inlet and comprises an array of overhead steam nozzles arranged above the floor for steaming and expanding the shreds. The steam nozzles are positioned and angled to create vortices amongst the shreds. A conditioning venturi station (50) is located downstream of the steaming station for prolonging the exposure of the expanded tobacco shreds to conditions of increased vapor pressure. A set point controller (198) is provided for automatically monitoring and adjusting the downward angle of the steam nozzles, the steam pressure, the height of the nozzles, the height of the venturi station and the temperature of the expanded tobacco.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blank arranged to be folded into an inner wrapper for wrapping a bundle of articles such as cigarettes within a pack. The blank comprises a fixed portion which is anchored relative to the pack and a displaceable portion which is arranged to lift at least one of the cigarettes clear of the bundle of cigarettes while facilitating subsequent removal thereof from the pack. The displaceable portion comprises a cover flap for covering the accessible ends of the article which are exposed on opening of the pack, and a lifting strip joined to the cover flap. The cover flap is arranged to tear away from the lifting strip only once at least one of the cigarettes has been lifted clear of the bundle of cigarettes under influence of the lifting strip.

Abstract: A carton (11) with parallel flat front and rear surfaces joined by curved sides and a flip-top lid (10) hinged to the carton. The carton is composed of two superimposed layers adhesively secured at a joint line at lapped edges. The outer layer is slit along its front surface parallel to the carton ends and along upwardly extending curves around the sides to a fold line parallel to and raised above the front slit and the inner layer (12) has a cutout in its front surface above the front slit of the outer layer. The cutout curves upwardly short of the sides where tags (13) are cut out of the sides of the inner layer and the outer layer overlaps the inner layer at the carton ends. Top and bottom closures are adhesively secured to the outer layer at the ends of the carton.

Abstract: A carton (11) with parallel flat front and rear surfaces joined by curved sides and a flip-top lid (10) hinged to the carton. The carton is composed of two superimposed layers adhesively secured at a joint line at lapped edges. The outer layer is slit along its front surface parallel to the carton ends and along upwardly extending curves around the sides to a fold line parallel to and raised above the front slit and the inner layer (12) has a cutout in its front surface above the front slit of the outer layer. The cutout curves upwardly short of the sides where tags (13) are cut out of the sides of the inner layer and the outer layer overlaps the inner layer at the carton ends. Top and bottom closures are adhesively secured to the outer layer at the ends of the carton.

Abstract: A method of making cigarettes in which a continuous strip of air-impervious material is formed into a tube which is then nipped at spaced intervals to form a string of chubs. This string of chubs is then introduced into the chimney of a conventional high speed cigarette making machine wherein a continuous cigarette rod of tobacco will be formed about the hollow chubs. The continuous rod is then severed at the nips between adjoining chubs. Thereafter as desired the sections are joined to filters with the filter tip sections being cut into individual cigarettes having the closed end of a chub adjacent each filter.

Abstract: An insert is interposed between the tobacco containing portion and the filter tip of a cigarette. The insert is formed with a passage connecting the two sections. The passage is surrounded by an annulus with two diametrally opposed orifices between the passage and the orifices. Rings surround the insert over the area of each orifice. The rings fit loosely around the insert. The annulus is covered with perforated paper. In use a smoker who wants a mild taste puffs weakly while if he wants a strong taste he puffs heftily so that the rings close the orifices.

Abstract: Weighbelt apparatus of the kind described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,609 is improved by having the planar support cantilevered to both sides of a central transverse crossbeam which rests on six cantilever arms carrying strain gauges in cutouts. Two calibrating weights can be hung independently off the bottom of the beam when the belt is lifted off the planar support. This configuration avoids spurious reading when the load on the belt is unevenly distributed.

Abstract: A weighbelt is conventionally placed in or associated with a production line for weighing material supplied during production. The weighbelt of the invention has a belt 10 which can be lifted by rollers 18 out of contact with a planar support plate 16 without stopping the belt 10. A known mass 24 is then lowered into a cradle 26 to provide a downward force on the plate 16 to calibrate output signals of a strain gauge 22. The strain gauge 22 provides output signals when the belt is supported by the plate 16 indicative of the material loading on the belt 10. The weighbelt can be calibrated without stopping the belt 10 and disrupting production.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a first batch or mass of tobacco which comprises fermenting another tobacco batch or sample in an aqueous medium to which has been added a suitable carbohydrate with an alcohol producing yeast, is characterized by utilizing material from the resultant liquid medium to upgrade the first batch of tobacco. The resultant liquid itself or an extract thereof may be utilized.

Abstract: The hardness of a cigarette rod is determined while it is being made on a cigarette making machine by measuring the strain imposed on a member in the rod closure region. The member is usually a segment of the tongue piece, but could be a segment of the base. The segment in question is mounted to fixed structure by means of a support arm. A strain gauge is positioned on the support arm and the output of the strain gauge is a measure of the hardness of the rod.

Abstract: Apparatus for the non-destructive hardness testing of an article such as a cigarette. The article is placed in an elastic sleeve and surrounded by a liquid, the level of which may be determined through a gauge tube. The interior of the article is then subjected to two different reduced pressures and the resulting volumetric change of the article is determined from the gauge tube at each reduced pressure. The hardness of the article is then calculated by means of a suitable formula.