Abstract: A lighter is provided having a tobacco flavor heating system which includes a rotatable tobacco containing disc or spiral. This disc or spiral is registered in thermal proximity to a heating element and heated to generate tobacco flavors in response to a sensor. The disc and spiral are sized to provide a convenient number of puffs before disposal. Housings are provided for the disc and spiral to store, register and dispose the tobacco product efficiently. An induction heating system can be employed.

Abstract: A system is provided for packing, shipping and automated unloading of stacks of box blanks so as to minimize damage to the box blanks and facilitate the insertion of the box blanks into an automated packaging machine. A fitted shipping case, filled with stacks of box blanks and upper and lower inserts, has a plurality of holes in its upper and lower flaps for cooperating with an automated unloading machine. Inserts enclosed in the shipping case minimize damage due to shifting of the box blank stacks, provide added resistance against case failure during transit, and cooperate with the automated unloading machine to facilitate removal of the box blank stacks from the shipping case.

Abstract: A smoking article that produces no visible sidestream smoke in which at least the carbon heat source and the tobacco flavor producing elements can be ejected from a reusable body of the smoking article.

Abstract: A heating element to provide heat to a tobacco flavor medium, for use in an electrical smoking article, by converting electrical energy to heat through the use of a material with electrically resistive properties is provided. The material is arranged in a radial array of blades with a current density profile such that a maximum area of each blade provides heat to the tobacco flavor medium dispersed thereon. The blade is generally U-shaped to assure dispersion of heat evenly to avoid hot spots along the blade and is tapered to reduce mass toward the mouth end of the heating element so as to maximize the heated area.

Abstract: A system is provided for packing, shipping and automated unloading of stacks of box blanks so as to minimize damage to the box blanks and facilitate the insertion of the box blanks into an automated packaging machine. A fitted shipping case, filled with stacks of box blanks and upper and lower inserts, has a plurality of holes in its upper and lower flaps for cooperating with an automated unloading machine. The inserts enclosed in the shipping case minimize damage due to shifting of the box blank stacks, provide added resistance against case failure during transit, and cooperate with the automated unloading machine to faciltiate removal of the box blank stacks from the shipping case.

Abstract: A composite expanded web for making a cigarette wrapper is provided, the web comprising a laminate of a first web of generally flat sheet material and a second web of expanded sheet material. The expanded web is formed by passing a web of sheet material through rotary shearing and forming dies to impart to the web a configuration having longitudinally disposed rows of generally sinusoidal convolutions extending above and below the original plane of the web, each row of convolutions lying 180.degree. out of phase from its abutting rows. The composite web is formed into a wrapper for a smoking article by curling it about its longitudinal axis, securing the overlapping edges of the first web with a glue seam, and cutting it to the desired length.

Abstract: A robotic hand has two sections disposed 90 degrees apart. One section has a bobbin core-engaging device for the purpose of lifting and handling the bobbin. This section also has a bobbin transfer means for removing the bobbin from the bobbin core engaging device. The second section of the robotic hand has a first fixed finger and a second movable finger. The fingers are used for clamping at least one lamination thickness of paper from the bobbin therebetween and holding it while the robotic hand is indexed to thread a processing machine with the paper from the bobbin. The second section also has a bobbin core removing means formed by the first fixed finger and a movable third finger. The first and third fingers cooperate for engaging the bobbin core and removing it from the machine after all of the paper has been removed therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically stripping sheet material from a bobbin, measuring characteristics of the material and labelling the bobbin. The apparatus includes a delaminator pick-up device for securing a lamination layer of the material and picking-up the secured portion from the bobbin. A threading device threads the secured portion and contiguous portions of the material through a measurement device. The threaded material is engaged by an engaging device and passed through the measurement device. The measurement device measures characteristics of the material.

Abstract: A system and method for handling and delaminating a bobbin of sheet-like material, such as tipping paper, comprising a delaminator apparatus (100), a robotic arm assembly (182) having a robotic hand (185) connected thereto and a control console (212) for controlling the delaminator apparatus (100), the robotic arm assembly (182) and robotic hand (185) connected to the robotic arm assembly (182).

Abstract: Double-sided adhesive tabs are removed from a carrier tape by passing the carrier tape around a convex nose to peel the carrier tape away from each tab. A tab inserter arm contacts the tab prior to peeling away of the carrier tape. The tab inserter arm then moves with and supports the tab during and after peeling away of the carrier tape.

Abstract: Flosser holds two threads side-by-side for insertion between a pair of teeth and draws the threads laterally apart to bend partially around the teeth while flossing them.

Abstract: A ball at one end of a handle has opposite indentations to receive the ends of cusps of opposed teeth of a patient. The other end of the handle is flattened to help position the ball. When the patient bites against the ball, a crack in a tooth near a cusp against the ball will cause pain and thereby indicate the location of a crack.

Abstract: A system and method for handling and delaminating a bobbin of sheet-like material, such as tipping paper, comprising a delaminator apparatus (100), a robotic arm assembly (182) having a robotic hand (185) connected thereto and a control console (212) for controlling the delaminator apparatus (100), the robotic arm assembly (182) and robotic hand (185) connected to the robotic arm assembly (182).

Abstract: Gingival graft cutter has continuous contoured blade carried on skids and directed by pivotally connected handle, to produce graft tissue in strips of uniform cross-section.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for laminating a strip of foil to each edge of a double-width strip of cigarette tipping paper. A double-width strip of foil having a water-activated adhesive on one side is slit into two strips which are separated to the width of the tipping paper, run over a water-applying drum, and laid down on the tipping paper. The apparatus includes a low friction air bearing strip guiding system and a feedback system for controlling strip tension. The water-applying drum has a textured surface to retain sufficient water to activate the adhesive without overwetting the foil strip.

Abstract: A composite expanded web for making a cigarette wrapper is provided, the web comprising a laminate of a first web of generally flat sheet material and a second web of expanded sheet material. The expanded web is formed by passing a web of sheet material through rotary shearing and forming dies to impart to the web a configuration having longitudinally disposed rows of generally sinusoidal convolutions extending above and below the original plane of the web, each row of convolutions lying 180.degree. out of phase from its abutting rows. The composite web is formed into a wrapper for a smoking article by curling it about its longitudinal axis, securing the overlapping edges of the first web with a glue seam, and cutting it to the desired length.

Abstract: An apparatus having rotary shearing and forming dies which expand a web of formable material by imparting to the web a surface configuration having rows of generally sinusoidal convolutions extending longitudinally along the web, each row lying 180.degree. out of phase from abutting rows. The meshing rotary dies include flat portions defining a neutral zone wherein no web deformation occurs, with the result that each convolution in a row is joined to the next longitudinally succeeding convolution by a flat web section lying in the original plane of the formable sheet material. The expanded web is laminated to a flat web of paper-like material and the resulting composite web is converted to expanded cigarette wrappers.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for chopping a beam of radiant energy into three or more pulse trains propagating in different directions. The apparatus includes a disc rotating in a plane normal to the incident beam, having a circular pattern of reflective and transmissive portions. The reflective portions include first and second sets of surfaces inclined respectively at first and second oblique angles to the plane of the disc, for reflecting energy in first and second directions.

Abstract: A high-speed dynamic porosimeter including a device for removing accumulated debris is disclosed. The porosimeter has an apertured surface, preferably curved, across which a web whose porosity is to be measured is drawn while suction is applied to the apertures. A pressure transducer monitors the pressure in a sensor line or chamber, which pressure varies as a function of the porosity of the web. A scraper blade scrapes debris from the apertured surface from time to time. Preferably, vacuum suction is also applied to a slot at the upstream side of the apertured surface to ensure a good seal between the web and the surface.

Abstract: A precisely-adjustable lens mount is disclosed, comprising a lens holder having threads on a portion of its surface and a support for the lens holder, having a threaded portion threadedly engaging the lens holder threads. The threaded portion of either the lens holder or the support includes at least a portion that is resilient in a direction away from the threaded portion of the other, to allow the threads of the support and of the lens holder to engage each other with preloading to prevent the lens from shifting from its desired location.