Abstract: Equipment for forming a tubular rod of fibrous material comprises: a gathering station constructed to receive a continuous supply of fibres and to gather the fibres into a bundle as the fibres advance through the equipment; a divider arranged in the path of the fibres through the equipment and constructed to from a cleft along the length of the bundle as it advances through the equipment; a mandrel positioned in the path of the bundle of fibres in alignment with the divider and constructed to form the cleft into a passage through the bundle of fibres as the bundle of fibres advances over the mandrel; and a die constructed and arranged to cooperate with the mandrel to form the fibres in a tubular configuration around the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass producing smokable products filled with cannabis, hemp, and/or other smokable materials includes a cone loading station that separates individual paper cones from stacks of cones, a cone weighing and filling station for dispensing precisely weighed amounts of powdered biomass into the cones, and a cone twisting station for twisting ends of the cones to complete the smokable products. A transport mechanism is provided to transfer the cones between stations and hold the cones during filling and twisting. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing smokable products that enables production steps to be performed simultaneously while also providing for capacity expansion within a limited production facility footprint.

Abstract: A bioprinter and methods of using the bioprinter. The bioprinter permits selective three-dimensional movement of multiple nozzle assemblies during operation of the bioprinter. The bioprinter can be used to produce scaffold-free tissue constructs having a plurality of cellular elements interspersed among a semi-permeable vascular network. The bioprinter can also be used to print a tissue construct directly onto a tissue defect of a subject. The bioprinter can be provided as part of a bioprinting system that includes a scanner for imaging the tissue defect.

Abstract: A smoking pipe includes a bowl defining an interior chamber for holding a quantity of combustible substance. The bowl has an upper opening and optional lower opening. A stem extends from the bowl to define an interior airway with an opening proximate a distal end of the stem. The optional lower opening and interior airway are in gaseous communication with the interior chamber of the bowl. An example pipe has its bowl shaped to allow the pipe to be received in a bowl-stem of a waterpipe with the interior chamber of the bowl in gaseous communication with an airway of the bowl-stem via the lower opening of the bowl. Another example pipe has its upper and stem openings sealed to maintain freshness of pre-loaded cannabis. The pipe may be made of corncob and may be disposable. More broadly, a vessel for both storage of cannabis and consumption thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A water pipe that cools down smoke or vapor in a water pipe or other smoking apparatus for the user. The water pipe includes a base having an extended bottom surface, a base insert and a top assembly, whereby the top assembly includes a downstem and a mouthpiece. A cooling solution is poured into the base container and the base insert is bonded or otherwise coupled to the base container such that the cooling solution remains in between the base container and base insert. The water pipe is put in a freezer or cooling source for a specified amount of time, and thereafter the base insert is filled with water. Once filled with water, the top assembly is inserted on top of the base insert. Tobacco, medicinal herbs, and/or oils are placed in a bowl or other apparatus connected to the downstem with one end submerged in water and one end exposed to ambient air. As the smoke or vapor percolates and passes through the water pipe the smoke or vapor is cooled down.

Abstract: A smoking device for aerosol-generation may comprise a device housing, a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer), a supply element, and a control system. The device housing may include a storage portion for an aerosol-forming substrate. The SAW-atomizer may include an atomization region, a first transducer, and/or a second transducer. The first transducer is configured to generate first surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer. The supply element is arranged to supply the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer. The control system is configured to operate the SAW-atomizer to atomize the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to generate an aerosol. A cartridge for such a smoking device and a method for generating an aerosol in a smoking system are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for filling paper tubes with tobacco, comprising an attachment for receiving the paper tube, a pressing tool guided by a guide unit with a pressing die, the device comprising a container for receiving tobacco with a container outlet, the pressing die being movable from a first position, in which first position the bore is released, into a second position for introducing the tobacco into the paper tube, and the attachment, the container outlet and the guide unit being arranged along an axis.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ultrasonic atomization control system and an electronic cigarette. The system includes: a current feedback circuit and/or a voltage feedback circuit, a microcontroller unit, a push-pull circuit, and an oscillator driving circuit; wherein the push-pull circuit is coupled between the microcontroller unit and the oscillator driving circuit, the current feedback circuit and/or the voltage feedback circuit are/is coupled between the oscillator driving circuit and the microcontroller unit; and the oscillator driving circuit is configured to be connected with a load; wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to output a pulse width modulation signal with a predetermined frequency and voltage to the push-pull circuit, judge a current and/or a voltage fluctuation fed back by the current feedback circuit and/or the voltage feedback circuit are/is greater than a threshold, and stop operation of the load if the fluctuation is greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A smoking article (10) incorporates a tobacco rob (12) and a filter attached to the tobacco rod. The filter includes a concentric filter segment (20) having a central core portion (23) with sorbent material and an outer periphery layer (24) circumscribed about the central core portion. At least about 80 weight % of the sorbent in the smoking article is disposed in the central core portion. The central core portion has a lower RTD than the periphery layer. A ventilation zone (30) is disposed adjacent an upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyurethanes by mixing a) polyisocyanate, b) a mixture obtainable by introducing an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt into a compound comprising urethane groups, c) compounds comprising one or more epoxide groups, and, optionally, d) polyol, e) chain extenders, and f) fillers and further additives to form a reaction mixture and fully reacting the mixture to give the polyurethane, where the amount of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ions per equivalent urethane groups in the compound (b) is 0.0001 to 3.5. The present invention further relates to a polyurethane obtainable by such a process, and to the use of such a polyurethane for producing bodywork components for vehicles.

Abstract: A cartridge may include a cartridge housing, a reservoir and a wick housing disposed inside the cartridge housing, a heating element, and a wicking element. The cartridge housing may be configured to extend below an open top of a receptacle in the vaporizer device when the cartridge is coupled with the vaporizer device. The reservoir may be configured to contain a vaporizable material. The heating element may include a heating portion disposed at least partially inside the wick housing and a contact portion disposed at least partially outside the wick housing. The contact portion may include cartridge contacts that form an electric coupling with receptacle contacts in the receptacle. The wicking element may be disposed within the wick housing and proximate to the heating portion of the heating element. The wicking element may be configured to draw the vaporizable material to the wick housing for vaporization by the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to volatilize components of smokable material for inhalation, comprising a smokable material heating chamber and a heating material which is configured to be heated by the presence of a varying magnetic field, wherein the heating material is arranged to transfer heat energy to smokable material in the heating chamber to volatilize said components.

Abstract: A re-useable, easily removable tool pin features a non-stick outer surface with a harder inner core configured to be gripped by a removal tool for extraction of the tool pin, without damage, from a mold and from composite plies that may have cured in contact with the tool pin. The tool pin prevents insertion into the mold such that the extractor tool is not attachable to the tool pin. A system includes the tool pin, a mold for forming a molded part, the mold having holes for insertion of tool pins, and an extractor tool adapted to grip the tool pin for removal from the mold and molded part. The extractor tool can be ergonomically designed for easy removal of the tool pin by hand. Such tool pins are adapted for production of parts from composite materials in many industries, including aerospace, automotive, transportation, agricultural, and energy.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for smoking smokeable material. The device has a housing, a rotatable shaft for driving smokeable material towards the first end of the housing as the smokeable material is smoked, at least one radial hole through the shaft for passage of smokeable material from the burning section of the housing into the longitudinal hole of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A waterproof rolling paper dispensing apparatus which comprises an inner cylinder which is closed at one end and open at an opposite end thereof. The inner cylinder has an elongate slit and supports a cutting edge which facilitates cutting of a length of rolling paper from a continuous roll of rolling paper accommodated within the inner cylinder. An exterior housing is dosed at one end and open at an opposite end thereof. The exterior housing defines an internal storage compartment which stores the inner cylinder. An end cover releasably engages with the open end of the exterior housing and forms a waterproof seal therewith. The end cover also releasably engages with the open end of the inner cylinder so that when the end cover is removed from engagement with the exterior housing, the inner cylinder remains coupled to the end cover and is removed with the end cover.

Abstract: A transfer device with unrolling device, intended for providing a label handling system in an IML machine (In Mould Labelling) with IML labels. The transfer device comprises at least four holders, which are movable between a first and a second position, wherein the first position has a first predetermined relationship between the four or several holders regarding the distance in the X-direction. The holders are intended for retrieval of IML labels from the unrolling device, which comprises a label web, the length of which extends in the Y-direction, with partially stamped out labels, connected to the web with micro connections. The second position has a second predetermined relationship between the four or several holders regarding distance in the X-direction. The holders are intended to deliver the IML labels to the label handling system.

Abstract: A method for making a mold is provided. The method includes the following steps a) to d): a) in which a polymer solution is discharged from a liquid droplet discharger onto a stage, where the polymer solution is capable of solating at a temperature lower than a sol-gel transition temperature and gelating at a temperature higher than the sol-gel transition temperature; b) in which the polymer solution discharged onto the stage is maintained at a temperature higher than the sol-gel transition temperature; c) in which the liquid droplet discharger and the stage are relatively moved to form a gel layer on the stage, where the gel layer has a shape corresponding to a locus of the relative movement; and d) in which the polymer solution is discharged from the liquid droplet discharger onto the gel layer to laminate another gel layer thereon and obtain a laminated object.

Abstract: A plug of vaporisable material for a vapour generating device which generates a vapour by heating at least the base of the plug includes vaporisable material shaped such that it defines a cavity within the vaporisable material, wherein the cavity is frusto-conical in shape, with the apex adjacent to the base of the plug.

Abstract: A method includes disposing fibrous material with a first mandrel, a second mandrel and a first mold section, the first mandrel including a first base, the second mandrel including a second base, and the first mold section including a support surface; arranging the first base on the support surface; arranging the second base on the support surface adjacent a first side of the first base, the arranging including moving the second base along a first trajectory that is substantially coincident with a corner between the first side of the first base and the support surface; arranging a second mold section with the first mold section to provide a mold, where the first mandrel and the second mandrel are between the first and the second mold sections; injecting resin into the mold to engage the fibrous material; and curing the resin to form a composite component.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manufacturing a micro-channel and a method for manufacturing a micro-channel, the apparatus includes a base member and a holding chamber. The base member includes a first base member having a concave portion and a convex portion, and a second base member covering the concave portion to form a channel. The holding chamber holds the base member thereinside, to form a space uniformly applying a pressure on a surface of the base member. Accordingly, the pressure is uniformly applied on an entire surface of the base member and thus the micro-channel may be manufactured.