Abstract: A cigarette vending machine that dispenses a single cigarette at a time. The cigarette vending machine includes a touchscreen that allows a user to select a particular brand of cigarettes. In addition, the vending machine includes a camera and an identification reader so that the user's age can be verified, and so that the user can be verified to be the same person as the identification holder.

Abstract: Strip material is fed to a reduction rolling mill by a steering device in the form of a pinch roll stand comprising pinch rolls to which strip gripping forces are applied by hydraulic cylinder units located at the ends of the pinch rolls. A reduction mill is similarly provided with a pair of hydraulic cylinder units which are independently operable to vary the pressure applied by the reduction rolls across the strip. Sensors sense the position of the strip at a first location in advance of the pinch rolls and a second location in advance of the rolling mill. This output of sensors is fed to a controller which controls operation of both sets of hydraulic cylinder units to steer the strip.

Abstract: Twin roll casting of metal strip (20) by rotation of parallel casting rolls (16) supplied with molten metal through distributor (19a) and delivery nozzle (19b). X-ray scanner (44) continuously scans the thickness of strip (20) to produce a signal which is a continuous measure of thickness variation along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting rolls (16). This signal controls operation of roll drive motors (53) to impose a pattern of speed variation on the rolls so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.

Abstract: Strip material (12) is fed to a reduction rolling mill (16) by a steering device (14) in the form of a pinch roll stand comprising pinch rolls (50) to which strip gripping forces are applied by hydraulic cylinder units (52) located at the ends of the pinch rolls. Reduction mill (16) is similarly provided with a pair of hydraulic cylinder units (62) which are independently operable to vary the pressure applied by the reduction rolls (16A) across the strip. Sensors (51) and (61) sense the position of the strip at a first location in advance of the pinch rolls (50) and a second location in advance of the rolling mill. This output of sensors (51) and (62) is fed to a controller (63) which controls operation of both sets of hydraulic cylinder units (52) and (62) to steer the strip.

Abstract: Twin roll casting of metal strip (20) by rotation of parallel casting rolls (16) supplied with molten metal through distributor (19a) and delivery nozzle (19b). X-ray scanner (44) continuously scans the thickness of strip (20) to produce a signal which is a continuous measure of thickness variation along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting rolls (16). This signal controls operation of roll drive motors (53) to impose a pattern of speed variation on the rolls so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.

Abstract: Twin roll casting of metal strip (20) by rotation of parallel casting rolls (16) supplied with molten metal through distributor (19a) and delivery nozzle (19b). X-ray scanner (44) continuously scans the thickness of strip (20) to produce a signal which is a continuous measure of thickness variation along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting rolls (16). This signal controls operation of roll drive motors (53) to impose a pattern of speed variation on the rolls so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.