Abstract: An electrical smoking system comprising a cigarette and an electric lighter, wherein the cigarette comprises a tubular tobacco mat partially filled with material tobacco so as to define a filled tobacco rod portion and an unfilled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the electrical heater element of the lighter at least partially superposes at least a portion of the filled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are also mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the free end of the cigarette is occluded. The cigarette includes a zone of perforations at a location along the filled tobacco rod portion, with the cigarette being free of perforations along the unfilled tobacco rod portion. An apparatus for perforating a cigarette which can be smoked in an electrical smoking device includes a drum link-up assembly and a laser perforating apparatus.

Abstract: A cigarette inspection device includes four sensors, two for sensing the ends and one for sensing the middle portion of a cigarette to detect loose tobacco and filter presence at the ends, and the presence of a foil band at the middle portion. The fourth sensor provides machine timing information to determine the three conditions of detection. Binary information is then input to a PLC for data reduction and rejection, if the conditions are not present. The program in the PLC allows the end of the cigarette to be scanned multiple times for loose tobacco. Also, foil sensing and filter sensing are done along with the loose tobacco sensing. A shift register is loaded with the resultant detection data, and a reject valve or similar device is operated to remove faulty cigarettes from the product stream.

Abstract: An electrical smoking system comprising a cigarette and an electric lighter, wherein the cigarette comprises a tubular tobacco mat partially filled with material tobacco so as to define a filled tobacco rod portion and an unfilled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the electrical heater element of the lighter at least partially superposes at least a portion of the filled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are also mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the free end of the cigarette is occluded. The cigarette includes a zone of perforations at a location along the filled tobacco rod portion, with the cigarette being free of perforations along the unfilled tobacco rod portion. An apparatus for perforating a cigarette which can be smoked in an electrical smoking device includes a drum link-up assembly and a laser perforating apparatus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing cigarettes including the steps of establishing a succession of 2-up hollow plugs in alternating relation to 2-up tobacco plugs and wrapping same in a tobacco web and overwrap, severing the resultant continuous rod at mid points of preselected 2-up tobacco plugs and severing again to establish associated pairs of singular tobacco rod plugs, separating the members of associated pairs of tobacco rod plugs and placing 2-up filter tipping plugs therebetween, and subsequently wrapping the interposed 2-up filter tipping plug together with adjacent portions of the singular tobacco rod plugs and severing the resultant tipped structure into individual cigarettes. Also provided are cigarettes constructed in accordance with the novel method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively removing articles, such as cigarettes, from a transfer conveyor system in which the transfer of the selected articles to a receiver conveyor from a transfer conveyor is rejected within a transfer zone. Vacuum suction retaining articles on the transfer conveyor is blocked in the transfer zone as articles pass to the receiver conveyor. Transfer of selected articles is rejected by application of an air pulse responsive to a reject signal. The selected articles are returned to the transfer conveyor, from which they are removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cutting a disk of material from a continuously advancing strip of material, forming the disk into a cup, and inserting the cup into the end of a tube. The apparatus comprises a first rotating member having a plurality of workstations positioned around its periphery, a second rotating member into which tubes without cups are loaded and from which tubes containing cups are unloaded, and a set of stationary cams which control the operation of the workstations. The strip of material passes around a section of the periphery of the first member, advances at the same rate as the circumferential velocity of the first member, and comes into relative stationary contact with a number of the workstations. The rotation of the first member relative to the stationary cams provides motion to a cutting mandrel, a forming mandrel, a cutting and forming die, and an insertion mandrel associated with each workstation to perform the tasks of cutting, forming, and inserting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high response inexpensive microprocessor based control system. The system uses only one detector that detects only one motion characteristic of the object controlled by the system. In the preferred embodiment, the system controls the position and velocity of the movable member of the motor by creating commands that represent the desired position of the movable member 1024 times per second. The system also provides methods for improving the accuracy and precision of the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high response inexpensive microprocessor based control system. The system uses only one detector that detects only one motion characteristic of the object controlled by the system. In the preferred embodiment, the system controls the position and velocity of the movable member of the motor by creating commands that represent the desired position of the movable member 1024 times per second. The system also provides methods for improving the accuracy and precision of the system.

Abstract: The motor control system for an electric motor having no mechanical means integral therewith for commutating current provides the ability to control position, velocity and torque of such a motor to the degree achievable with DC motors having mechanical commutators. Such a result is achieved by maintaining a desired spatial relationship between the resultant magnetic field created by the stationary member and the movable member of the electric motor. The control system includes detecting apparatus for detecting parameters of the motor that dictate, in part, the desired spatial relationship within the motor and command apparatus for creating a motor command signal which, when generated in the motor, causes the desired spatial relationship to be established. The present invention also permits maintenance of an optimal spatial relation--a spatial relationship that causes the motor to produce desired torque with a minimum excitation.

Abstract: Methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer impact modifiers are improved by mixing them with about 0.01 to 5 percent by weight of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, or 4'-hydroxy-2'-R.sub.2 -5'-R.sub.1 -phenyl. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is mixed with the improved impact modifiers and has improved dispersion and resistance to discoloration.

Abstract: A power controller having a plurality of power output modules which can be added or removed as desired to change the power output rating. The electrical output of the individual power modules are removably attached to an output combining structure. The electrical connections to the output combining structure also provide mechanical support for the power output modules. The servo controller is constructed so that as additional power modules are added, each provides a predetermined proportion of the output power. That is, each module will add in a linear fashion to the total output capability of the amplifier. Load sharing among the modules is provided. An etched copper resistor having a positive resistance versus temperature characteristic is provided to aid load sharing among the output semiconductors. A feedback signal is derived from the power output modules to protect the servo controller.

Abstract: A speed detector, particularly useful on a permanent magnet DC motor, for providing a pulse indication from movement of the rotor teeth. During one revolution of the motor, a pulse is provided for each motor tooth. In a preferred embodiment, the pulse pickup probe is formed from a ferromagnetic stud which is anchored to the stator housing and extends through an opening formed in the center of the fixed permanent magnet to a position in close proximity to the rotor. The magnet through which the probe extends provides magnetic flux having a path through the stud and the rotor. The reluctance of the flux path through the rotor varies as a function of the alignment of a rotor tooth with respect to the ferromagnetic stud. The stud is formed to have a pickup end facing the rotor. The diameter of the pickup end is slightly greater than the rotor tooth width. A pickup coil is wound around a reduced diameter portion formed on the ferromagnetic stud, and generally lies within the opening through the permanent magnet.

Abstract: A two-speed resolver system wherein the rotor of a fine brushless resolver which is directly connected to the shaft to be instrumented is connected to the rotor of a coarse resolver so that the rotor ofthe coarse brushless resolver rotates at a proportional but different rate than the fine resolver and the electrical output of the fine resolver which represents the position of the input shaft is fed to the electrical input on the coarse resolver and combined with the mechanical input to the coarse resolver to provide a signal out of the coarse resolver which indicates a predetermined fraction of angular rotation for each revolution of the rotor of the fine resolver. The disclosed two-speed resolver system utilizes brushless resolvers wherein the electrical connections to the rotors are through brushless rotary transformers. Two gears having a different number of teeth can be used to couple the rotor of the fine resolver to the rotor of the coarse resolver.

Abstract: An absolute positioning servo for positioning a shaft in response to a digital command input which utilizes a resolver, for providing an analog position indication of the shaft, an analog to digital converter, which provides a digital indication of the shaft position, a comparator for comparing the digital command input signal with the digital indication signal and providing a differential digital error signal which is converted to an analog signal and fed back to position the shaft so that the differential digital error is 0. An analog fine control positioning means is provided which positions and maintains the shaft near the center point of the position represented by the digital command input signal when the digital differential error is 0. A signal representing the difference between the exact analog position of the shaft and the digital approximate position of the shaft is provided at the output of the translator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing the digitized position output of a multispeed system having overlapping position indications. The output of the multispeed position indicating system is a digital output word which is a combination of the individual outputs of the various transducers. For a two speed system a digital fine position having a high degree of accuracy is provided, and a digital coarse position indication of a lesser precision is also provided wherein the least significant coarse position digit overlaps the most significant fine position digit. An adjustment is provided for adjusting the coarse digital output as a function of the most significant digit of the fine transducer output so that nonambiguous synchronized position information is provided at all times.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of acrylic core/shell polymers with a high percentage of a rubbery phase by spraydrying in the presence of inert particulate material such as fumed silica in the gaseous drying medium.

Abstract: Multi-stage impact modifier having a high rubber content prepared by a process which includes isolation by spray drying in the presence of fumed silica or another inert particulate material in the gaseous drying medium.