Abstract: A converter includes a converter circuit that converts the AC voltages supplied from the ?-connection and the Y-connection, which are two systems of a 12-phase rectifier transformer, to a DC voltage; a current detector that detects the current in a DC bus output from the converter circuit; and an imbalance detection unit that detects the occurrence of an imbalance between the current output from the ?-connection and the current output from the Y-connection, the currents being detected by the current detector. The converter can detect an imbalance that occurs between the current flowing in the diode bridge on the ?-connection side and the current flowing in the diode bridge on the Y-connection side.

Abstract: A testing system for a ground fault detection system of an electrical system of a machine is disclosed. The testing system has a low voltage power source, the low voltage power source capable of operation that is independent from a high voltage power source of the machine. The testing system also has a variable current source that is permanently connected to a positive voltage bus or to a negative voltage bus of the electrical system of the machine, where the machine operates self-sufficiently. The testing system also has a controller connected to the variable current source. The testing system also has an input device, where the input device is connected to the controller.

Abstract: Stabilization and demobilization of volatile organic and volatile inorganic acids by acid adsorption onto activated carbon, which is then used in the manufacture of wrappers for smoking articles, provides improvements in sidestream smoke aroma, reduction in sidestream smoke irritation and improvements in subjective taste of the mainstream smoke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tobacco and more particularly to a process for preparing a moist snuff product and the stabilization thereof to reduce the level of microflora bacteria and to provide normal tasting products with extended shelf-lives.

Abstract: A method of making an electrochemical heat source is disclosed. The non-combustion heat source includes at least two metallic agents capable of interacting electrochemically with one another, such as magnesium and iron or nickel. The metallic agents may be provided in a variety of forms, including a frozen melt, a bimetallic foil, wire of a first metal wrapped around strands of a different metal, and a mechanical alloy. The metallic agents may be in the form of a powder filling a straw, or small particles extruded with a binder or pressed to form a rod. The powder filled straw or rod may be placed in a heat chamber surrounded by tobacco in a smoking article. An electrolyte solution contacts the metallic agents in the heat chamber to initiate the electrochemical interaction, generating heat which in turn may be used to volatilize nicotine and flavor materials in the tobacco.

Abstract: Aqueous tobacco extracts are provided by subjecting finely ground tobacco laminae to extraction conditions in the presence of an aqueous solvent and an active enzyme. Then, the enzyme is deactivated, and a liquid aqueous tobacco extract is separated from the insoluble tobacco pulp which remains. The liquid extract is collected and used as a form of tobacco for smoking article manufacture.

Abstract: A method of and an appratus for automatically determining the moisture content of a tobacco sample and for then automatically determining the stem content of the tobacco sample are disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a dryer, such as a rotary drum dryer with internal agitating vanes, for applying heat to remove moisture and volatiles from the sample and for reducing the sample to lamina and stem portions. Electronic scales are used to weigh the sample before and after drying to determine and store the "wet" and "dry" weights of the sample. Based on the stored wet and dry weights the moisture content is determined. The stem portions are classified into two categories and weighed to determine the stem content by weight of the sample.

Abstract: An expanding apparatus continuously expands a material, e.g., a tobacco material and supplies gaseous carbon dioxide as an expanding agent to an impregnating vessel by an expanding agent supply to maintain a predetermined impregnating pressure. The material is continuously supplied to the impregnating vessel by a material supply while increasing the pressure of the material. The material is continuously discharged from the impregnating vessel by a material discharge while decreasing the pressure of the material. The expanding agent supply has a heat exchanger to perform heat exchange between carbon dioxide to be supplied to the impregnating vessel and a coolant, thereby cooling carbon dioxide. The state of carbon dioxide to be supplied to the impregnating vessel is controlled in accordance with the temperature or the like of the tobacco material discharged from the impregnating vessel, so that carbon dioxide is effectively impregnated and no dry ice is formed in the material discharge or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a tobacco raw material having at least a part of its surface coated with a silical gel, which comprises adding silica sol to the tobacco raw material and subjecting the silical gel to gelation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved insulating sheet material and to cigarettes and other smoking articles which employ the insulating sheet material as one or more components thereof. The improved insulating material is particularly useful in smoking articles having a fuel element and a physically separate aerosol generating means, e.g. as an insulating member for insulating the fuel element. In general, the sheet material of the present invention is formable without the use of any organic binder and comprises an inorganic fibrous material such as calcium sulfate fibers, calcium sodium phosphate fibers, or mixtures thereof, and a relatively small amount of highly refined cellulose-based fibers such as wood pulp.

Abstract: A device for slowing the burning and smoke output of a resting cigarette between drags thereon by a smoker includes a base with an inclined or sloped open channel therein shaped to closely receive and cradle the burning end of a cigarette around about one-half the circumference of the cigarette. The cigarette is held in a sloped condition with the burning end downwardly. A passage extending along the length of the channel serves to provide air to the cigarette in addition to the air provided by the open side of the channel. The passage is dimensioned to provide a controlled amount of air to the cigarette and the dimensions of the passage may vary along its length to vary the amount of air supplied to the burning end of the cigarette depending upon its position in the channel.

Abstract: A smoking article with an electrochemical heat source is disclosed. The non-combustion heat source includes at least two metallic agents capable of interacting electrochemically with one another, such as magnesium and iron or nickel. The metallic agents may be provided in a variety of forms, including a frozen melt, a bimetallic foil, wire of a first metal wrapped around strands of a different metal, and a mechanical alloy. The metallic agents may be in the form of a powder filling a straw, or small particles extruded with a binder or pressed to form a rod. Preferably, the heat source is self-extinguishing if ignited. The powder filled straw or rod may be placed in a heat chamber surrounded by tobacco. An electrolyte solution contacts the metallic agents in the heat chamber to initiate the electrochemical interaction, generating heat which in turn volatilizes the nicotine and flavor materials in the tobacco.

Abstract: A statistical ventilation control device for ventilated cigarettes, wherein an annular conveyor presents a number of seats, each receiving a respective ventilated cigarette arranged perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor; one of the aforementioned seats being a movable seat supported on a slide fitted to the conveyor so as to move the movable seat axially in relation to the conveyor and to and from an operating position wherein a ventilated portion of the cigarette engages a ventilation control unit fitted to and moving with the conveyor.

Abstract: A cigarette includes a charge or roll of smokable material (e.g., tobacco cut filler) circumscribed by two layers of paper wrapping materials. The first or inner wrapping material includes an inorganic filler material and tobacco material within the web. The inner wrapping material also can include a water soluble salt burn chemical and a carbonaceous material within the web. The second or outer wrapping material circumscribes and overwraps the first wrapping material, has a cellulosic base web and inorganic filler material, and exhibits a low inherent air permeability. The outer wrapping material can include a magnesium hydroxide filler, and exhibits an inherent air permeability of below about 15 CORESTA units and a net air permeability above about 40 CORESTA units. The cigarette is capable of sustaining smolder under FTC smoking conditions while yielding very low levels of visible sidestream smoke.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of adding flavorant to cigarette filters. A cigarette filter is made by forming a filter web using non-woven web comprising thermoplastic meltblown fibers of filaments that are present as fused agglomerates in a number fraction exceeding 33 percent and wherein a majority of fiber crossings of agglomerates are weld points; adding tobacco extracts to the filter web such that the filter web contains between 10% and 110% tobacco extracts by weight of the filter web; adding glycerin or a glycerin-water mixture to the thus treated filter web; and forming the thus treated filter web into a rod.

Abstract: An article is provided in which a tobacco flavor medium is electrically heated to evolve inhalable tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of the tobacco flavor medium which are heated sequentially to provide individual puffs.

Abstract: Fibrous materials are opened from a metered flow thereof using an opening roller and are subjected to a controlled and adjustable further opening operation to input desirable properties to the fibers. The invention is particularly described with respect to cut tobacco fibers and glass fibers.

Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine wherein the flow of loosely intermingled tobacco shreds, tobacco ribs and foreign objects (such as nuts, bolts, pieces of wire and/or particles of plastic material) is classified to segregate the ribs and foreign objects from the shreds. The ribs are thereupon separated from foreign objects in a sifter and are comminuted in a rotary cutter prior to being readmitted into the flow downstream of the classifying location(s). Successive increments of the flow are converted into successive increments of a stream which carries a surplus of shreds and is trimmed for conversion into a filler which is ready to be wrapped into cigarette paper. The comminuted ribs are admitted into the flow at a location such that they are confined in the central portion of the filler.

Abstract: A device for transferring cigarette portions from a dual-rod production machine to a filter assembly machine, wherein a rotary transfer unit presents a number of heads, each having two seats for two respective portions of two continuous cigarette rods, and each rotating in such a manner as to move the respective seats along respective circular paths; the transfer unit being connected to a conveyor having first and second seats traveling along respective paths respectively tangent to the circular paths of the seats on the transfer heads at a loading station, and tangent to each other at a station wherein the cigarette portions are unloaded.

Abstract: A coaxial filter cigarette with a rod portion having an inner core of material glowing substantially free of residue, in particular tobacco material, a sheath or wrapper for the inner core, an outer shell of tobacco and/or non-tobacco material coaxially surrounding the inner core or its sheath, respectively, a sheath or wrapper for the outer shell, and with a filter portion having a filter core, an air-impermeable sheath or wrapper for the filter core, a filter shell and a sheath or wrapper for the filter shell comprises a zone of the main heat source which is located in the inner core of the rod portion and a zone in which the major part of the aerosol reaching the mouth of the smoker is produced and which is located in the outer shell of the rod portion; the filter portion greatly reduces the combustion gases originating from the inner core of the rod portion and substantially reduces the smoke particles originating from the inner core, whereas the aerosol produced in the outer shell of the rod portion is i