Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting foreign material within a product stream in real-time, involve illuminating a portion of the agricultural product stream with light spanning a wavelength range including or within near-infrared and/or shortwave infrared wavelengths; scanning a line of the illuminated agricultural product stream to acquire a hyperspectral image of the line, the hyperspectral image of the line having a width of a single pixel; processing the hyperspectral image of the scanned line to obtain spectrum data for one or more pixels of the hyperspectral image of the scanned line; comparing the obtained spectrum data of the one or more pixels to predetermined spectrum data to determine whether the obtained spectrum data is indicative of foreign material within the scanned line of the agricultural product stream.

Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within a agricultural product stream is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.

Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within a agricultural product stream is also provided.

Abstract: A system for grading an agricultural product employing hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. The system includes at least one light source for providing a beam of light, an interferometer or a prism array for dispersing electromagnetic radiation emitted from said agricultural product into a corresponding spectral image, a light measuring device for detecting component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image and a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths to a database of previously graded agricultural products to identify and select a grade for the agricultural product. A method for grading an agricultural product via hyper-spectral imaging and analysis is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.

Abstract: A system for grading an agricultural product employing hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. The system includes at least one light source for providing a beam of light, an interferometer or a prism array for dispersing electromagnetic radiation emitted from said agricultural product into a corresponding spectral image, a light measuring device for detecting component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image and a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths to a database of previously graded agricultural products to identify and select a grade for the agricultural product. A method for grading an agricultural product via hyper-spectral imaging and analysis is also provided.

Abstract: A process for the on line production of cigarette filters comprises the steps of conveying a continuous thin flexible substrate past a source of smoke altering particulate material, such as adsorbents, catalysts and flavorants. An electrostatic charge is applied onto the substrate upstream of the source of particulate material. A layer of particulate material from the source is deposited onto the substrate with the thickness of the layer depending upon the strength of the electrostatic charge. The coated substrate is then cut into pieces, and the pieces are placed into the cavities between spaced apart filter components. In an alternative process, filter paper is coated with smoke altering particulate material by electrostatic deposition techniques, and spaced apart filter components are placed onto the particulate coated filter paper which is then folded around the filter components.

Abstract: A smoking article includes a cylinder of smoking material, a filter attached to the cylinder of smoking material, and a tube of preferably porous and/or perforated material adapted to collapse at an open end upon exposure to thermal energy and preferably extending from one end portion of the smoking material to the junction of the filter and the cylinder of smoking material. Thermal energy generated by a burning portion of the tobacco filler material within the cylinder of smoking material is transferred by convection through the open portion of the tube after the end portion of the tube has collapsed closed by the heat from the burning portion of the tobacco.

Abstract: A piezoelectrically driven fluid pump includes a chamber having two opposite sidewalls formed by flexible membranes, and an inlet and an outlet each regulated by a valve. Separate piezo elements are fixed to each of the membranes, to flex the membranes and increase or reduce the chamber volume and thereby draw fluid into the chamber or expel fluid from the chamber. The valves are each formed by two adjacent piezo elements that are supported or flexibly joined together at two opposite ends. When actuated, the valve piezo elements flex outward between the two opposite ends, opening the valve to form an aperture between the two piezo elements. In another embodiment, a fluid pump includes a chamber having one flexible membrane sidewall. A valve-regulated inlet or outlet aperture through the membrane communicates with the pump chamber. A ring-shaped piezo centered around the aperture, on the membrane, flexes the membrane.

Abstract: A process for the on line production of cigarette filters comprises the steps of conveying a continuous thin flexible substrate past a source of smoke altering particulate material, such as adsorbents, catalysts and flavorants. An electrostatic charge is applied onto the substrate upstream of the source of particulate material. A layer of particulate material from the source is deposited onto the substrate with the thickness of the layer depending upon the strength of the electrostatic charge. The coated substrate is then cut into pieces, and the pieces are placed into the cavities between spaced apart filter components. In an alternative process, filter paper is coated with smoke altering particulate material by electrostatic deposition techniques, and spaced apart filter components are placed onto the particulate coated filter paper which is then folded around the filter components.

Abstract: A smoking article includes a cylinder of smoking material, a filter attached to the cylinder of smoking material, and a tube of preferably porous and/or perforated material adapted to collapse at an open end upon exposure to thermal energy and preferably extending from one end portion of the smoking material to the junction of the filter and the cylinder of smoking material. Thermal energy generated by a burning portion of the tobacco filler material within the cylinder of smoking material is transferred by convection through the open portion of the tube after the end portion of the tube has collapsed closed by the heat from the burning portion of the tobacco.

Abstract: An ink composition suitable for use in ink-jet printers comprising an ethanol-water vehicle, a dispersant resin solublized by ammonium hydroxide, pigment, a translucent acrylate emulsion, and a defoamer has been developed. The ink is stable in storage, water fast after printing, scratch resistant with high gloss, has a neutral pH, has a low viscosity and is enviornmentally friendly.

Abstract: An on-demand inkjet printhead includes an ink chamber provided with a plurality of nozzles and a single piezoelectric actuator for increasing pressure of ink within the chamber. Each nozzle is equipped with a heater element. Ink is ejected from selected nozzles of the printhead by energizing the heater elements of the selected nozzles to reduce surface tension and viscosity of ink at the selected nozzles, and applying an actuation voltage to the piezoelectric actuator to generate a pressure pulse in the ink within the ink chamber that ejects ink droplets from the selected nozzles but not from the non-selected nozzles. The ink chamber can also be provided with a plurality of piezoelectric actuators, each of which can be actuated independently.

Abstract: A printhead includes a common ink chamber or reservoir bounded on one side by a membrane having nozzle apertures. The membrane forms a print face of the printhead. Piezoelectric elements (piezos) are located on the membrane near the nozzles. The piezos flex segments of the membrane surrounding the nozzles to eject ink droplets from the nozzle apertures. Ribs are also provided on the membrane and define boundaries of the membrane segments corresponding to the nozzles. The ribs can isolate each nozzle from the other nozzles, in two ways. First, the ribs act as stiffeners so that when piezos attached to one membrane segment flex that membrane segment, the other membrane segments are not significantly flexed. Second, when the ribs are provided on an interior surface of the membrane, they deflect the pressure pulse in the ink fluid from a flexing membrane segment, upwards, away from adjacent membrane segments/nozzles.

Abstract: A piezoelectrically driven fluid pump includes a chamber having two opposite sidewalls formed by flexible membranes, and an inlet and an outlet each regulated by a valve. Separate piezo elements are fixed to each of the membranes, to flex the membranes and increase or reduce the chamber volume and thereby draw fluid into the chamber or expel fluid from the chamber. The valves are each formed by two adjacent piezo elements that are supported or flexibly joined together at two opposite ends. When actuated, the valve piezo elements flex outward between the two opposite ends, opening the valve to form an aperture between the two piezo elements. In another embodiment, a fluid pump includes a chamber having one flexible membrane sidewall. A valve-regulated inlet or outlet aperture through the membrane communicates with the pump chamber. A ring-shaped piezo centered around the aperture, on the membrane, flexes the membrane.