Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods employing ultrasonic bonding to form filter elements for smoking articles are provided. Ultrasonic bonding can be employed to bond the fibers of filter material defining bloomed tow. Use of a plasticizer may not be necessary. Further, filter materials such as polylactic acid, which may not be bonded via a plasticizer, may be employed. However, triacetin or other additional components may be employed to provide the filter element with a desirable sensory attribute in some embodiments. Ultrasonic bonding may be conducted by an ultrasonic bonder that includes an anvil defining a pattern thereon that is selected to define a desired degree of bonding, and thereby a resulting desired firmness and/or pressure drop associated with the filter element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods employing ultrasonic bonding to form filter elements for smoking articles are provided. Ultrasonic bonding can be employed to bond the fibers of filter material defining bloomed tow. Use of a plasticizer may not be necessary. Further, filter materials such as polylactic acid, which may not be bonded via a plasticizer, may be employed. However, triacetin or other additional components may be employed to provide the filter element with a desirable sensory attribute in some embodiments. Ultrasonic bonding may be conducted by an ultrasonic bonder that includes an anvil defining a pattern thereon that is selected to define a desired degree of bonding, and thereby a resulting desired firmness and/or pressure drop associated with the filter element.

Abstract: A cigarette density profile measurement system which utilizes a hopper system for storing a large number of cigarette rods whose density is to be measured which hopper system is used to feed one cigarette rod at a time to a fixed cigarette holder which incorporates a beta gauge system which sequentially irradiates a slice of the cigarette rod with beta particles for measurement of the mass of tobacco contained in that slice of the cigarette rod. By measuring the number of beta particles which pass through each slice of the cigarette rod, the cigarette density profile measurement system is able to determine the density of the tobacco contained in the cigarette rod being measured. A programmed microcomputer is utilized to control the cigarette density profile measurement system and is also provided with additional software for analyzing the density data.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically inspecting cigarette rods for spots and stains are disclosed in which a hopper assembly apparatus is utilized to present cigarette samples one at a time to a CCD camera which takes an image of a 36 degree slice of the surface of the outer wrapper of the cigarette. The image is digitized, analyzed and stored. The cigarette is then rotated through 360 degrees and an image of each 36 degree segment of its outer surface is obtained, analyzed and the data stored. The system then selects another cigarette and repeats the inspection and evaluation process.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a product moving apparatus for moving a tobacco product, a vertical feeder tube for metering the tobacco product onto the product moving apparatus at a predetermined rate, a system for maintaining a predetermined height of the tobacco product in the feeder tube, and an infrared detection apparatus connected to the feeder tube to detect the concentration of menthol in the tobacco product.

Abstract: The invention provides package inspection systems which are capable of high speed sensing and evaluation of package integrity as packages are continuously conveyed in the manufacturing process. The systems are capable of measuring predetermined parameters of packages, e.g. cigarette packages, comparing the measured parameters with predetermined values, evaluating from the measured parameters the integrity of the packages and determining whether such packages are acceptable or, alternatively, should be rejected. The system can additionally obtain and store data on sensed package parameters for evaluating long-term and short-term manufacturing trends. In various embodiments of the invention, the system can inspect a single or plural package side(s), employing a single or plural line scan or area array camera(s) and may employ special optics to enable plural package side images to be obtained using a single camera.

Abstract: A tobacco particles separator utilizes turbulent air flow, flow vortices, and a random spread matrix in an air circulation path to separate and singularize tobacco particles. A moving porous web is used to receive and to hold the separated particles which may be retained on the porous web for subsequent analysis.