Abstract: A utensil, such as a wok, for stir-frying foodstuffs has a bowl with a substantially oval rim, an elongated handle having a non-circular cross-sectional outline, and joints for connecting the handle to the bowl in such a way that the handle is adjustable relative to the bowl about at least one of two axes one of which extends substantially radially and the other of which extends substantially tangentially of the bowl. A shield is or can be interposed between the handle and the bowl to intercept particles of food splashing from the bowl during stir-frying of foodstuffs above a flame.

Abstract: A catamenial tampon is assembled from a cylindrical pledget of compressible absorbent material, such as rayon or cotton, and a rectangular blank of foraminous sheet material. The central portion of the blank is placed adjacent one end face of the pledget, and the pledget is then pushed axially through a tubular die with its one end face leading so that the annular portion of the blank around the central portion is draped around the entire peripheral surface of the pledget and the converted blank forms a cup with an annular rim extending beyond the other end face of the pledget. The rim is then folded over the other end face of the pledget, and the resulting assembly is provided with a removal cord subsequent to simultaneous reduction of the diameters of the cup and pledget to complete the making of a tampon which is ready for use or for insertion into the tube of an applicator.

Abstract: Plain cigarettes of unit length are fed into successive axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped first conveyor in such a way that each cigarette enters a first end portion of the respective flute. The second end portions of the flutes have suction ports which attract the cigarettes in alternate flutes so that such cigarettes move axially and provide room for introduction of additional cigarettes whereby each second flute contains a pair of coaxial cigarettes which define a gap for a filter rod section of double unit length. Pairs of coaxial cigarettes in alternate flutes are released for transfer into the axially parallel peripheral flutes of a second drum-shaped conveyor by a system of valving elements composed of a stationary valving element in the interior of the first conveyor and a rotary valving element which connects at intervals two axially parallel bores of the stationary valving element with a suction generating device.