Abstract: In a system for manufacturing and packaging cigarettes each production unit comprising a cigarette making machine and packaging machines has associated therewith a supply station to which bobbins of raw materials are supplied, that is tipping paper, cigarette paper, carton wrapping paper, inner frame material, box blanks, pack blanks, metallized paper and cellophane or polypropylene, this being done on pallets allocated for each single article. The supply station is spanned by a portal. A portal robot movable longitudinally and transversely of the portal is provided for handling the bobbins of raw materials. Transport means are likewise provided for conveying the raw materials to the individual machines of the system and a bobbin changer is associated with each individual supply station for bobbins. The portal robot comprises an automatic tool changer.

Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes is provided. A receiving drum having holes to receive the rejected cigarettes is provided coaxial with a fluted drum, so that both drums rotate in the same direction. Via a control ring turning in synchronization with the receiving drum, jets of compressed air eject the tobacco from the rejected cigarettes, before the empty cigarette wrapper (tube) is also expelled from the receiving hole. A timing disk controls the work cycle. Suction pressure applied to the receiving holes of the receiving drum sucks the rejected cigarette into a predetermined stop position in the receiving hole prior to the application of compressed air. With the aid of restraining needles, the cigarettes are held firmly while the jet of compressed air is applied to expel the tobacco. On release by the restraining needles, the cigarette wrapper (tube) is ejected from the receiving hole to a discharge chute by a jet of compressed air applied via the control ring.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ashtray and in particular to including a base formed with a cavity at the central portion and internal threads at the upper portion, an upper annular member provided with a center hole, a plurality of recesses extending radially and slantwise towards the center line thereof, and external threads on the lower portion adapted to engage with the internal threads of the base, a support mounted across the diameter of the bottom of the upper annular member, an axle arranged on the center of the support with a ball member on the top end and a flange below the ball member, a permanent magnet mounted on the flange of the axle, a cover having a recess adapted to receive the ball member and a plurality of seats on the inner surface, and a plurality of elements made of ferrous metal embedded into the seats of the cover.

Abstract: A cigarette has a filter and an extensible helically wound mouthpiece extending beyond the filter. The mouthpiece may itself include an additional filter element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing reconstituted tobacco sheet in which a tobacco containing slurry is metered on to the outer surface of a rotating heated cylindrical dryer and then, after sufficient drying, is removed from the cylindrical dryer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of a coaxial tobacco or filter rod, a first production machine processing a strip-like first covering material and a stream of filling material to give a preformed rod which is deposited in a special magazine in order to be removed again therefrom in due course and supplied to a second production machine which brings the preformed rod together with a stream of filter or smoking material and a strip-like second covering material and processes it to form the coaxial tobacco or filter rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a locking sleeve assembly for use in a posterior spinal system including components designed to be affixed to the spinal column of a person to correct for various lateral and sagittal deformities. The locking sleeve assembly is for interconnecting an elongated rod with another structure. The locking sleeve assembly includes an elongated sleeve having a bore therethrough. The sleeve has a tapered first end and a second end having a lock member thereon. The sleeve includes at least one split extending into the sleeve. The bore is sized to slidably receive the rod. The tapered surface of the sleeve is insertable into a tapered passage of the other structure with the rod in the bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces.

Abstract: A method of separating objectionable particles from host tobacco material which includes fluidizing the tobacco material with a fluidizing air stream to allow heavy unwanted particles to fall, to cause light unwanted particles to rise and be air transported away and to leave a carpet of acceptable material.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes a shower channel (10; 46; 59; 75; 90; 102; 113; 121) through which tobacco is arranged to be showered towards two suction bands (11,12; 66,67; 76,77; 103,104; 114,115) arranged to move towards one another so as to form two tobacco substreams (13,14; 78,79) from the showered tobacco and to bring these streams together in a region (15) where the bands are closest.

Abstract: This invention provides smoking compositions which contain a novel tartrate salt flavorant-release additive, such as an acetal derivative corresponding to the formula: ##STR1## Under cigarette smoking conditions, a combustible filler and/or paper wrapper additive as illustrated above pyrolyzes and releases benzaldehyde flavorant as a volatile component of the cigarette smoke.

Abstract: This invention relates to two parallel belts with pockets suspended between them. This pockets device is used in a machine which delivers free flowing material into receiving spaces separating filter plugs, as said plugs travel on a garniture tape. The pockets include channels or funnels through which free flowing material can flow. The belts carry the pockets in part parallel with and adjacent to the garniture tape carrying the filter plugs. The belts and the garniture tape are synchronized so that receiving spaces between the plugs precisely register with the funnels in the pockets. Such precise registry insures that the charcoal chute delivers free flowing material through the funnels into the receiving spaces.

Abstract: A "make-your-own" system for making a cigarette, especially a filter-tipped cigarette, includes a dimensionally stable tobacco portion (10) matched with the tobacco receiving volume (16) of the cigarette located within a cigarette paper wrapper. The paper wrapper is in the form of a cigarette tube (11) for closely enveloping the tobacco portion (10). The tobacco portion (10) is formed like a cigarillo including an outer wrapper (13) of tobacco or a tobacco blend which imparts to the smoker of the made tobacco portion and therefor to the cigarette approximately the taste and flavor of a factory-made cigarette or a conventional cigarillo clothed as a cigarette.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for providing a tobacco extract. A tobacco material and extraction solvent are provided physically separated from each other. The extraction solvent is then volatized. The tobacco material is subjected to extraction conditions by contacting the tobacco material with the volatized extraction solvent to provide a tobacco extract within the volatized extraction solvent. The extraction conditions include (i) maintaining the pressure of the tobacco material and extraction solvent at less than about 10 mm of Hg pressure and (ii) maintaining the tobacco material and extraction solvent at a temperature of greater than about 30.degree. C. and less than the boiling point at atmospheric pressure of the volatized extraction solvent.

Abstract: A cigarette filter having a core of synthetic fibrous filter material and an outer plug wrap is provided with a group of longitudinal bores and a group of peripheral channels in the core to improve the filtration efficiency and to balance the distribution of smoke flow over the cross-sectional area of the filter.

Abstract: A traction seating device 10 includes a base support 11 on which first and second arm assemblies 15 and 16 are mounted. Preferably, the arm assemblies 15 and 16 are pivotally mounted and torso embracing members 29 and 30 are cooperatively connected thereto. A seat 43 depends from the arm assemblies 15 and 16 and as a person using the device 10 sits on the seat 43, the arms assemblies 15 and 16 are brought inward to move the device from an unengaged to an engaged position wherein the stress may be transferred from the lumbar spine to the rib cage of the person using the device.

Abstract: Bales of condensed relatively dry tobacco particles are broken up by subdividing each bale into slabs which are thereupon mechanically fragmentized, heated and moisturized with steam or steam and hot water, shredded while still heated, and thereupon subjected to one or more additional treatments. The bales are subdivided into slabs by cutting them transversely of the layers of compressed tobacco particles therein, and the heating and moisturizing steps can be carried out in a drum or in a closed tunnel of a vibratory conveyor.

Abstract: A trash removal system for separating trash and loose tobacco shreds from cigarettes that are rejected in cigarette manufacturing and packaging operations. A mixture comprising cigarettes, cigarette wrapper, trash and loose tobacco is metered onto a vibrating trash removal conveyor comprising a plurality of vertical plates arranged in a sinusoidally varying pattern.

Abstract: A variable focus camera system for a borescope or endoscope has a camera or imager disposed within an imager sleeve and a braid and bladder assembly attached between the distal end of the imager sleeve and a lens assembly. A controlled pressure is applied through a pressure conduit into a confined volume defined by the imager sleeve, the braid and bladder assembly, and the lens assembly. The braid and bladder assembly expands axially but not radially, when pressure is applied, and changes the relative position of the imager and lens between a far focus and a near focus position.

Abstract: A smokable article having an aerosol generating zone connected to a mouthpiece via a tubular intermediate zone, wherein the aerosol generating zone includes an annular combustion element and a cylindrical carrier for an aerosol precursor coaxially disposed therewithin with a space therebetween forming air flow passages. Heat from the combustion element conducted to the aerosol carrier generates aerosols that may be drawn by air passing through the air flow passages to the mouthpiece by a smoker.

Abstract: A multifocal, especially bifocal, intraocular, artificial ophthalmic lens of transparent material, whose optical lens portion is divided into near range and far range zones and, each of which is disposed on the optical lens portion with approximately equal surface proportions and symmetrically with the lens axis.