Abstract: A process is presented, with the help of which well-balanced mineral substance and trace element preparations with a very high biological value can be prepared. The core of the process is the combination of a special grinding process and a treatment of acids which conform to food. In particular, multi element solutions of nanocluster, as well as general supersaturated solutions of hardly to dissolve species can be prepared by use of the process, which have a high health use. The corresponding mineral substance concentrates are described and specified in detail in this paper as are the multi-component mineral substance preparations and solutions presented for the first time.

Abstract: Process for producing mineral substance preparations with multiple components that contain a low level of or no contaminants wherein material of plant or animal origin is used and at least two different thermo-oxidative treatment steps in separate locations are carried out. Mineral substance preparations produced according to the invention are characterized in that they basically contain the mineral substances that the respective plant absorbs from the ground in a highly bio-available form, at the same time have a very low content of thermally-modified organic compounds. Not easily dissolvable a priori trace elements are therefore preferably in colloidal form, which is why biologic absorption is especially high.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining the mass and/or the moisture content of successive increments of a running rod containing tobacco and/or filter material for tobacco smoke has a resonator housing with a cylindrical internal chamber which is disposed between an inlet and an outlet and wherein the rod is exposed to microwaves. The housing is made of a metallic material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, and its internal surface is lined with gold or another corrosion resistant substance. A protective plastic tube establishes a path for the rod from the inlet, across the chamber and into the outlet of the resonator housing.

Abstract: A method and regulating device for regulating the retaining height of tobacco in a retaining duct. The method includes determining the retaining height with at least one sensor, and controlling tobacco throughput of a conveyor organ connected to the retaining duct in the conveyor direction of the tobacco depending on the determined retaining height. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing flexible and porous adsorbents based on oxidic and/or non-oxidic ceramic material containing carbon. The inventive method is characterized by the following steps: (a) producing a flat base matrix whose constituents are held together essentially by hydrogen bridge bonds, on a machine suited for producing paper; (b) applying and/or impregnating the surface of the base matrix, on one or both sides, with polymeric addition agents; (c) treating the base matrix under pyrolysis conditions at an increased temperature in an atmosphere containing essentially no oxygen. The invention also relates to membranes that can be produced according to the aforementioned method, to flexible material that can be produced by using these membranes, and to their use for separating and purifying fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing flexible and porous adsorbents based on oxidic and/or non-oxidic ceramic material containing carbon. The inventive method is characterized by the following steps: (a) producing a flat base matrix whose constituents are held together essentially by hydrogen bridge bonds, on a machine suited for producing paper; (b) applying and/or impregnating the surface of the base matrix, on one or both sides, with polymeric addition agents; (c) treating the base matrix under pyrolysis conditions at an increased temperature in an atmosphere containing essentially no oxygen. The invention also relates to membranes that can be produced according to the aforementioned method, to flexible material that can be produced by using these membranes, and to their use for separating and purifying fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus which embodies an optical measuring assembly serving to ascertain the transverse dimensions (such as diameters) of at least substantially cylindrical rod-shaped articles, preferably cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, and includes a radiation source employing at least one first preferably circular array of light emitting diodes or the like, an evaluating unit employing at least one preferably circular array of signal generating charge coupled devices or the like, and a control unit which regulates the operation of batches of neighboring diodes and receives preferably short-lasting signals from the charge coupled devices located in the shadow produced by the article which is coaxial with and is spacedly surrounded by the two arrays. The article can be stationary or it can move (such as axially) relative to the coaxial arrays.

Abstract: Described is a device and a method for separation of fluid mixtures, the device comprising a porous and sorptively-acting body being at least at one of its external surfaces in direct contact with a separating layer, provisions for asymmetrical heating for targeted introduction of thermal desorption energy into the porous body, as well as provisions for removing substances permeating through the separating layer, the separating layer consisting of polymers, carbon fibers, and carbon-like and/or metallic materials and/or oxidic and non-oxidic ceramic materials and/or glasses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating a fluid mixture consisting of at least two components. The inventive method comprises the following steps: contacting the fluid mixture at a first, lower temperature in a first operating zone with a carbon membrane which is arranged adjacent to a surface of a porous transport matrix or which is applied on a surface of the matrix, whereby at least one fluid component is adsorbed and at least one component of the fluid mixture preferably permeates the membrane; heating a surface spatially distant from the membrane and/or a part of the porous transport matrix to a second, higher temperature which facilitates the thermal desorption of adsorbed components in a second operating zone; separately removing the fluid mixture depleted by the at least one permeated component from the first operating zone and the fluid mixture enriched with the at least one permeated component from the second operating zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining the mass and/or the moisture content of successive increments of a running rod containing tobacco and/or filter material for tobacco smoke has a resonator housing with a cylindrical internal chamber which is disposed between an inlet and an outlet and wherein the rod is exposed to microwaves. The housing is made of a metallic material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, and its internal surface is lined with gold or another corrosion resistant substance. A protective plastic tube establishes a path for the rod from the inlet, across the chamber and into the outlet of the resonator housing.

Abstract: At least one characteristic, such as the mass/density and/or moisture content and/or dielectric constant, of a substance (such as the rod-like tobacco filler of a continuously advancing cigarette rod or a continuously advancing rod-like filler of filter material for tobacco smoke) is ascertained by an evaluating circuit receiving high-frequency signals from a resonator arrangement which receives microwave signals at least at two different frequencies from one or more microwave generators. The substance is caused to advance through a dielectric resonator of the resonator arrangement, and the high-frequency signals are influenced by the substance. For example, the circuit can compare first and second curves of high-frequency signals which respectively are and are not influenced by a selected substance; the curves can have sloping flanks and each of the two frequencies can be allocated to a sloping flank of a curve.

Abstract: Apparatus for ascertaining the mass and/or the moisture of succesive increments of a running rod containing tobacco and/or filter material for tobacco smoke having a resonator housing with a cylindrical internal chamber which is disposed between and inlet an outlet and wherein the rod is exposed to microwaves. The horsing is made of a metallic material having a low thermal expansion coefficient, and its internal surface is lined with gold or another corrosion resistant substance. A protective plastic tube establishes a path for the rod from the inlet, across the chamber and into the oulet of the resonator housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating a fluid mixture consisting of at least two components. The inventive method comprises the following steps: contacting the fluid mixture at a first, lower temperature in a first operating zone with a carbon membrane which is arranged adjacent to a surface of a porous transport matrix or which is applied on a surface of the matrix, whereby at least one fluid component is adsorbed and at least one component of the fluid mixture preferably permeates the membrane; heating a surface spatially distant from the membrane and/or a part of the porous transport matrix to a second, higher temperature which facilitates the thermal desorption of adsorbed components in a second operating zone; separately removing the fluid mixture depleted by the at least one permeated component from the first operating zone and the fluid mixture enriched with the at least one permeated component from the second operating zone.

Abstract: At least one characteristic, such as the mass/density and/or moisture content and/or dielectric constant, of a substance (such as the rod-like tobacco filler of a continuously advancing cigarette rod or a continuously advancing rod-like filler of filter material for tobacco smoke) is ascertained by an evaluating circuit receiving high-frequency signals from a resonator arrangement which receives microwave signals at least at two different frequencies from one or more microwave generators. The substance is caused to advance through a dielectric resonator of the resonator arrangement, and the high-frequency signals are influenced by the substance. For example, the circuit can compare first and second curves of high-frequency signals which respectively are and are n ot influenced by a selected substance; the curves can have sloping flanks and each of the two frequencies can be allocated to a sloping flank of a curve.

Abstract: At least one characteristic, such as the mass/density and/or moisture content and/or dielectric constant, of a substance (such as the rod-like tobacco filler of a continuously advancing cigarette rod or a continuously advancing rod-like filler of filter material for tobacco smoke) is ascertained by an evaluating circuit receiving high-frequency signals from a resonator arrangement which receives microwave signals at least at two different frequencies from one or more microwave generators. The substance is caused to advance through a dielectric resonator of the resonator arrangement, and the high-frequency signals are influenced by the substance. For example, the circuit can compare first and second curves of high-frequency signals which respectively are and are not influenced by a selected substance; the curves can have sloping flanks and each of the two frequencies can be allocated to a sloping flank of a curve.

Abstract: The density of a wrapped rod-like filler of tobacco or filter material for tobacco smoke is ascertained by causing successive increments of the filler to traverse beams of X-rays which, after having penetrated through small portions of the filler, impinge upon detectors forming a linear array and serving to generate (first) signals denoting the intensities of the respective beams. Such intensities are affected by the densities of the respective portions of the filler. The first signals are processed in a circuit together with one or more additional signals denoting the intensity or intensities of one or more beams which bypass the filler, and with one or more further signals furnished by one or more detectors which are shielded from the source of X-rays. The thus obtained (second) signal denotes the densities of successive increments of the filler and is used to correct the density of the filler, if and when necessary.