Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes one or more conveyor bands (12,14,28) or other parts of non-metallic material from which pieces can break off and become entrained in the tobacco, including means (30,42) for detecting such pieces in the tobacco by directing a radiation beam towards the tobacco, and including means 40 for ejecting tobacco or finished cigarettes including such detected pieces, the parts in question being made of a material, or having a material incorporated in then or coated on them, which is either opaque or partially opaque to the detection beam, or which produces a detectable secondary emission detected by the detecting means.

Abstract: Moving cigarettes are inspected, particularly in the passages (10, 30) between the vanes (12, 32) in a cigarette packing machine hopper, by an optical ends inspector (74, 76) which is switched by a position detector (84, 86) responding to passage of individual cigarettes. Faulty cigarettes are arrested by a suction aperture (26) or an arrestor are (122, 222) and subsequently rejected from the passage, either in an axial direction or sideways through an opening (116, 244) in the vane. The position detector (84, 86) may activate the suction or arm for arresting the faulty cigarette.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying adhesive foam or other liquid-based ingredients to the ends of cigarettes includes a source of suction, a device for carrying and moving a series of flexible tubular sealing members 50 each of which is aligned with a respective cigarette in a treatment station, and an arrangement for moving each sealing member into engagement with a respective cigarette and for connecting each sealing member to the source of suction, characterised in that each sealing member is so shaped that an end portion 54 thereof can engage around the end portion of the corresponding cigarette, and that suction transmitted through the sealing member causes the end portion of the sealing member to contract and thus grip the cigarette. A pressure air source may also be included to expand each sealing member as it moves over the end of the corresponding cigarette.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for filtering particulate matter from dielectric fluids, and for maintaining and monitoring of the purity of said fluids. The invention operates by imparting an electrostatic charge, via a pair of convoluted perforated oppositely charged electrodes, to the particulate contaminates contained in the fluid. The positive electrodes and negative electrodes are each unitary and in combination with a filter media form a unitary cartridge which is removable and replaceable within the apparatus. A microcontroller may be provided to monitor, analyze and report certain parameters of the fluid to be filtered.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting open longitudinal seams in the continuous wrapper of cigarette or cigarette filter rod produced by a continuous rod-making machine relies on detection by a microphone (54) of disturbance caused by the defective seam to an air stream. The air stream is generated from a narrow slot (44) and normally follows a fixed, preferably flat, surface (40) closely adjacent to the longitudinal path of a rod (12). The surface (40) is part of a body (22) which contains the microphone (54) and connecting leads (56, 58), together with a passage (36) allowing sound to reach the microphone. Air is bled through a small bore (52) and through a further bore (30) containing a sound-insulating filter (66) to provide a purging air flow in the passage (36).

Abstract: A multi-cell metal/air battery is described having series-connected cells, including a tank for holding a body of liquid electrolyte, and an electrically non-conductive frame carrying a plurality of air cathode assemblies, each cathode assembly having a common air pocket and a pair of cathodes, and a like plurality of anodes respectively juxtaposed to the cathodes outside the air chamber, the air cathode assemblies being removably insertable in the tank and engaging the tank wall, when inserted, so as to divide the tank into a plurality of separate and substantially electrically isolated electrolyte-holding zones each containing one anode-cathode pair. The air cathode assembly may include an air circulation system to keep the air in the pocket fresh. The tank may also include an electrolyte distribution system and a flushing system for flushing the battery without the need to remove the cathodes and anodes from the tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator for rotating a plurality of circumferentially spaced variable vanes each having a spindle extending through a casing about which the vane is rotatable. The actuator includes an arcuate unison member and a plurality of levers each having first and second ends, respective ones of the levers being fixedly attached to a vane spindle at the lever first end and rotatably attached to the unison member at the lever second end. Frangible means are provided for allowing at least one of the vanes to be rotated to an angular position different from the position of adjacent ones of the vanes upon impact of the one vane by a foreign object, and limit means are provided for maintaining the angular position of the one vane within predetermined limits with respect to the angular position of adjacent vanes to prevent 1/REV excitation.

Abstract: A synchronization arrangement for delaying excitation of the field winding (5) of a brushless synchronous motor until the motor rotor has run up approximately to synchronous speed in which the appropriate moment for applying the field excitation is determined by monitoring two signals respectively representative of the currents in two rectifying devices (11, 15) separately connected, oppositely poled, across the motor field winding.

Abstract: A molding apparatus which is provided with a frame including a bar acting as a mold support. The bar is pivoted between two angular limits and carries a gear wheel to be pivoted therewith. Planetary gears are engaged with the gear wheel and are displaced pivotally around the gear wheel to be rotated by the same. Molds are coupled to the planetary gears to be rotated therewith. Heating devices are located below the molds to heat the molds as they are being rotated simultaneously about their axes and about the axis of the gear wheel.

Abstract: A mechanical handling device comprises a carriage reciprocable between a loading station and an unloading station, stationary and movable grip members on the carriage, each including two independent grip faces so arranged that there are two pairs of grip faces with each pair comprising a stationary and a movable face, and an actuator for moving the movable grip member to grip a workpiece by either one of the pairs of faces. The movable grip member may include a rotatable shaft having two arms extending in opposite directions with a jaw at the end of each arm, and the fixed grip member comprise a bar between the jaws so that rotation of the shaft in either direction brings one of the pairs of gripping faces into operation.The device is particularly applicable to the loading and unloading of billets in relation to a circular rotary hearth furnace.