Abstract: An apparatus and method for filling bulk materials into open-mouth bags is provided, which includes the following steps: a) an open-mouth bag is placed beneath a filling spout of a filling station; b) the filling spout is lowered and the open-mouth bag is appended to the filling spout; c) the filling spout with the appended open-mouth bag travels upwardly so that the bottom end of the open-mouth bag is freely suspended; and d) the filling process is started and bulk material is introduced into the open-mouth bag so that the freely suspended bottom end of the open-mouth bag unfolds.

Abstract: A foldable device may include a foldable layer and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include a plurality of hinge segments, arranged in a plurality of rows, and with adjacent hinge segments being movably coupled so as to guide a folding and an unfolding motion of the foldable layer.

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 and a device for detecting plastic foreign objects with low chromaticity difference in shredded tobacco through online pulse spectral imaging are provided. The method includes three steps: negative pressure thin-layer loading of shredded tobacco, pulse line-scanning identification of shredded tobacco, and positive pressure online elimination of foreign objects. Loose shredded tobacco is formed into a fixed and continuous thin layer on a surface of a conveying cylinder under the effect of a negative pressure adsorption force. The surface of the conveying cylinder is coded by areas. An LED linear array light source containing characteristic wavelengths of plastics with low chromaticity difference emits optical pulses, and a line-scanning camera is used to obtain characteristic signals of the plastic foreign objects with low chromaticity difference efficiently in real time.

Abstract: A device for automated loading and forming smoking articles has a pre-rolled cone holder holding a plurality of pre-rolled cones. A loading mechanism loads individual pre-rolled cones in the pre-rolled cone holder with a predefined amount of material. A filling mechanism deposits the predefined amount of material in the loading mechanism, the filling mechanism monitoring an amount of material loaded in the filling mechanism and sending a signal to stop loading the filling mechanism with the material when a predefined amount has been loaded. A dispensing mechanism sends the material to the filling mechanism. A hopper is in communication with the dispensing mechanism storing the material. A shaker is coupled to the hopper shaking the material in the hopper preventing the material from sticking together.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.

Abstract: Grinding apparatus for grinding substances, such as tobacco. In certain embodiments, grinding apparatus with a plurality of receptacles which can be selectively filled with a ground product, such as tobacco. In still other embodiments, a grinding apparatus with a cone lifting mechanism, vibration inducing mechanism and/or with a selector capability or mechanism for selecting one or more of a plurality of receptacles, or storage area(s), for delivery of a ground product.

Abstract: An apparatus including a grinder lid section; a grinder section configured to be attached to and detached from the grinder lid section, so that when the grinder section is attached to the grinder lid section the grinder lid section rotates with respect to the grinder section; a funnel section configured to be attached to and detached from the grinder section, so that when the funnel section is attached to the grinder section the funnel section does not rotate with respect to the grinder section; and a storage section configured to be attached and detached from the funnel section, so that when the storage section is attached to the funnel section the storage section does not rotate with respect to the funnel section. Each of the grinder lid section and the grinder section has a plurality of pointed teeth which face towards each other.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.

Abstract: Device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes and method for the application thereof The subject of the invention is a device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes, the device comprising a grinding chamber (2) for holding and grinding the herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, wherein the grinding chamber (2) has a plurality of tubes (9) for holding pre-rolled cigarette papers (17) and receiving ground herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, a carousel (10), which is rotatable around a central axis (16).

Abstract: A cone filling apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a cone pallet including a plurality of cavities, each cavity for holding a respective cone; (b) a delivery chute having a load end for receiving a smokeable product from a source and an unload end downstream of the load end for unloading the smokeable product from the chute; and (c) a dosing tray disposed above the pallet. The dosing tray includes a plurality of transfer sleeves. Each sleeve has an upper sleeve end for receiving smokeable product unloaded from the unload end of the chute, and a lower sleeve end for dispensing the smokeable product into a cone held in a respective cavity aligned beneath the lower sleeve end.

Abstract: A rolling paper structure and method for making a hand rolled smoking article wherein said rolling paper structure is filled with a filler material and rolled to form a smoking structure such as a cigarette. The rolling paper structure comprises detachable sections and it is configured to create smoking structure with an integrated mouthpiece.

Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a first communication interface receiving broadcast content, a second communication interface which receives a user input, a display, and a processor electrically connected with the display, the first communication interface, and the second communication. The processor controls the display to display a first user interface (UI) including a scroll bar including a plurality of points corresponding to a plurality of channels, a cursor moving on the scroll bar depending on the user input, and information on a channel corresponding to a point at which the cursor is displayed, if the second communication interface receives a preset user input. The processor is controls the display to additionally display a second UI including information on one or more channels adjacent to the channel corresponding to the point at which the cursor is displayed, if the preset user input is stopped.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for the customization of tobacco and cannabis smoking products including formulations for onserts, precision rods and precision pods for harm reduction products particularly for those who simultaneously smoke or vape tobacco and marijuana, as well as methods and apparatuses for blending a salt of nicotine in crystalline form and one or more cannabinoids in crystalline form for a precision pod for use in a vaporizer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).

Abstract: A tobacco grinding and packing device that allows users to pack their own cigarette papers with an herb. The device comprises of grinder that has a feeding tube and a spout. The spout feeds into a cigarette paper loader that is pivotally attached to the grinder.

Abstract: A method of estimating the mass of crop entering into a grain tank on a harvesting machine, comprising the steps of mounting a load sensor on the upper bearing of a conveyor belt moving crop through the clean grain elevator into the grain tank, connecting the load sensor to a processor, using the load sensor to measure a load on the conveyor belt when no crop is present in the clean grain elevator, and also when crop is moving through the clean grain elevator, and comparing the load with no crop present to the load when crop is present to estimate the mass of crop moving through the clean grain elevator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing whole tobacco plants. The method includes cutting the whole tobacco plants into segments in a segmenter assembly, classifying the segments by leaf characteristics, separating leaf material from a waste material stream of undesirable stalk and shatter material for each class of leaf characteristics and reclaiming portions of leaf material trapped in the waste material and recycling the reclaimed portions of leaf material to the segmenter assembly. The apparatus includes a stalk segmenter assembly, a processor assembly, a plurality of cleaning conveyor modules and a cyclonic separator system to reclaim small bits of leaf from the waste stream and return them through a rotary airlock to the segmenter assembly for reprocessing.

Abstract: A textile run with a slide surface (1, 51) consisting of looped fabric, the looped fabric comprising loops (4, 54) which are formed of warp threads by weaving or of pile threads by tufting and have a height (3, 53) of between at least 3 mm and at most 10 mm, 100 to 950 loops being disposed over an area of 1 dm 2. The invention further concerns the use of the textile run.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: a printing unit including an inkjet head and configured to eject an ink from the inkjet head while conveying a sheet in a conveying direction along a printing route to perform printing on the sheet; and a downstream side conveyor arranged downstream of the printing unit in the conveying direction and including a guide defining a downstream conveyance route being a space for the sheet to be conveyed. The downstream side conveyor is configured to convey the sheet along the downstream conveyance route. The downstream side conveyor includes an adjustment member narrowing a flow passage of air in the downstream conveyance route. The guide includes communication holes communicating the downstream conveyance route with a space outside the printing route and outside the downstream conveyance route.

Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material inside respective containment bags carried by the second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for controlling a material blending process for blending a plurality of raw material feeds using model predictive control in order to produce a blended product conforming to one or more quality standards. The quality standards may be based upon control variables derived from relationships and/or ratios of certain materials in the composition of the raw material feeds (e.g., moduli). The determined control variables are compared to desired set points and, if a deviation from the desired set points is detected, the proportions of the raw material feeds are adjusted to align the control variables with the desired set points. The technique may further take material cost factors into account, wherein the prediction model determines a proper proportioning of the raw material feeds such that the blended product conforms to the desired specifications and is produced for the lowest cost.

Abstract: Laundry transfer apparatus, and a method of transferring laundry items. The laundry apparatus comprises a rotatable disk carousel for receiving laundry items on a laundry receiving surface thereof, and a suction nozzle located relative to said laundry receiving surface for drawing laundry items from said laundry receiving surface into a laundry delivery conduit. The suction nozzle is vertically movable relative to the laundry receiving surface of the rotatable disk carousel and is rotatable about a vertical axis. The method of transferring laundry items, comprises the steps of: delivering laundry items onto the laundry receiving surface of a rotating disk carousel, and suctioning laundry items from the laundry receiving surface of the rotating disk carousel into a laundry delivery conduit. The transferred laundry items may be wet or dry laundry items.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging. The apparatus includes a feeding element for the tobacco and a device for forming and discharging at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging. The device comprises a wiping element for wiping tobacco into a portioning chamber. The portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing the compressed tobacco portion. The portioning chamber is also displaceable relative to the wiping element for displacing from a filling position into a dispensing position and vice versa. An element for discharging the compressed tobacco portion is disposed in the area of the dispensing position.

Abstract: A finished tobacco product is formed by a pre-rolled smokable sheet having opposed edges with one of the edges having a plurality of openings for effecting a seal without additional adhesive or glue, pulling apart the opposed edges, filling the exposed bore or volume with a user's selected tobacco filler, allowing the rolling memory to close the bore or volume and contain the tobacco filler, bringing together the opposed edges such that the plurality of openings on one edge extends over the opposed edge, pushing together the two edges causing a seal, where the plurality of openings on one of the opposing edges of the pre-rolled sheet is used to effect the seal without additional glue or adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smoking article (8) comprising a smokeable material and a mouthpiece (1), the mouthpiece comprising at least three segments (2, 3, 5) in axial alignment. One segment defining a cavity (5) is disposed between two other segments (2, 3) and a fluid-containing breakable capsule (6) is arranged in the cavity. A first wrapper (4) circumscribes at least the cavity, wherein the first wrapper comprises a substantially smooth transparent section overlaying at least a part of the cavity, such that the capsule is at least partially visible through the first wrapper. The first wrapper has one or more layers of transparent varnish applied thereto. The invention further relates to a mouthpiece for a smoking article and a method of producing a smoking article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for grinding and depositing ground material, the apparatus comprising a grinder configured to grind material and a chamber communicatively connected to the grinder, the chamber configured to receive the ground material. In use, the material is ground in the grinder then deposited in the chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber is configured to receive at least one pre-formed tube wherein, in use, the material is deposited in the at least one pre-formed tube in the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a multi-segmented cylindrical product is described. The apparatus can include a feeder adapted to supply segments of a pliable material; and a rotating drum having an outer periphery and a plurality of fixtures distributed around the outer periphery, each fixture adapted to support a substantially cylindrical object, and wrap a segment of the pliable material around the substantially cylindrical object and a portion of the fixture to form a fill tube defining a pocket in the pliable material. Other features and related methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of transferring a portion (12) of smokable material from a casing (11) into a smokable tube (202), the method comprising advancing at least one of the casing and the portion of smokable material toward the other to advance the casing and the portion into the tube by a first distance less than the length of the space within the tube, at least partially withdrawing the casing from the tube, while holding the portion in the tube, and further driving the tobacco portion into the tube, as well as a corresponding device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing cut tobacco material, whereby a tobacco initial material is heated and placed under pressure and once heated and placed under pressure, the material is fed through a shearing gap and expanded and defibrated. It further relates to a device for producing cut tobacco material with a pressure chamber, which has a tobacco material inlet at the low-pressure end and a tobacco material outlet at the pressure end and a conveyor system for conveying the tobacco material from the inlet to the outlet, and the tobacco material outlet has a gap through which the material passes and expands, and the gap has walls which can be moved towards one another. It further relates to a smoking article containing such a cut, defibrated tobacco material product and the use of a plug screw feeder-extruder with a shearing gap outlet for defibrating tobacco material.

Abstract: A cigarette tobacco filler device includes a cigarette tobacco loader for loading tobacco leaves into a tobacco receiving cavity, wherein the cigarette tobacco loader includes a loader body and a loader arrangement. The loader body has a loading cavity and a loading opening aligned with the tobacco receiving cavity. The loader arrangement includes a loading pusher movably supported by the loader body to move between first and second positions, and a loader handle pivotally coupled at the loader body to move the loading pusher between said first and second positions. At the first position, a loading gap is formed between the pusher end of the loading pusher and the loading opening for receiving the tobacco leaves within the loading gap. At the second position, the pusher end of the loading pusher is driven for pushing the tobacco leaves within the loading gap into the tobacco receiving cavity.

Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to the manufacture of tobacco products, and more specifically to a common device and method to manufacture cylindrical tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and therapeutic medical products with varying diameters and geometries.

Abstract: A modular apparatus is configured to cause received rods of smokeable material to undergo a first sequence of operations. The modular apparatus can be reconfigured so as to cause received rods of smokeable material to undergo a second sequence of operations, different to the first sequence of operations. The first and second sequences of operations respectively form at least part of first and second processes for assembling smoking articles, each smoking article comprising one of said rods of smokeable material, which is smoked in use.

Abstract: A tobacco dosing system (1) for providing doses of tobacco (4) includes a tobacco supply (3) constructed and arranged to supply tobacco (4), a dosing device (5) including at least one dosing cup (11, 12) for receiving the tobacco (4) to be dosed, a gas flow device (6) constructed and arranged to in use provide a gas flow (10) through the tobacco received by the at least one dosing cup (11, 12), a gas flow measuring (7) device constructed and arranged to measure a property of the gas flow (10), and a controlling device (8) operably connected to the dosing device (5) and the gas flow measuring device (7) to control the operation of the tobacco dosing system (1) on basis of the measured property.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing charges of high OV moist smokeless tobacco (MST) includes a rotary metering device. The rotary metering device includes a lower disk, a metering disk, a plurality of cavities in the metering disk; and at least one vacuum housing located around the periphery of the lower disk and in communication with the plurality of cavities. A vacuum is applied to the cavities to aid in the filling of the cavities and an air discharge mechanism ejects a charge of the MST from each cavity at a discharge station.

Abstract: An electrical cigarette filling machine includes an inlet storage container and an internal device. The electrical cigarette filling machine supports additional accessories. The inlet storage container stores bulk tobacco and provides continual and smooth feeding of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. The internal device is located in the container. An example of an internal device is a rotating mixer. The internal device prevents tobacco from sticking inside the container and controls the fluent continual supply of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. The electrical cigarette filling machine may contain one or more feeding systems for simultaneous filling of a plurality of empty cigarettes tubes with tobacco. The machine can include a tip cleaner system for removing excess tobacco from the cigarette tip.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper, a storage device for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.

Abstract: A cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type including a housing with an aperture and a compacting chamber in communication with the aperture for receiving loose tobacco, a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion from an initial position adjacent the top of the compacting chamber toward the bottom of the compacting chamber, an injection spoon mounted for reciprocal lateral movement from a rest position within the compacting chamber across the compacting chamber to transport rod-like compacted tobacco shapes past the ejection side of the compacting chamber, through the nipple and into a hollow cigarette tube, an electrically powered motor, and a dual purpose control disk adapted to be rotated about its axis by the motor to initially move the compacting member up and down in the compacting chamber and then to move the injection spoon across the compacting chamber as the control disk is rotated by the motor.

Abstract: An extendable smocking tube having a first elongated tubular body, a second elongated tubular body and a stopper. The second elongated tubular body is inserted into the first elongated tubular body such that the second elongated tubular body is coaxial and movable with respect to the first elongated tubular body between a closed position and an extended position. Density of the second elongated tubular body is greater than density of the first elongated tubular body. The stopper is positioned at the first end of the second elongated tubular body. The lengths of the first and second elongated tubular bodies are selected such that a protrusion is formed at the second end of the second elongated tubular body with respect to the second end of the first elongated tubular body when the second elongated tubular body is in the closed position.

Abstract: A self-service cigarette rolling apparatus is described herein. The machine may be modular and can roll a carton of cigarettes in 8 to 10 minutes. To use, an operator loads tobacco into a hopper, whereby the tobacco is filled into tubes. Once filled, completed cigarettes roll down and out of the machine. The modular components are easily secured to and removed from the machine, which provides easy serviceability. Neither the operator nor the owner of the machine ever needs to open or get into any of the modules. Each module is easily serviced or replaced within a 24 hour period. The machine owner pays a monthly maintenance fee to permit the owner to use the machine in their store. This fee includes costs associated with replacing modules. If the owner does not pay their monthly maintenance fee, the manufacturer can shut down the machine so it will not operate.

Abstract: A system (1) for portioning and packaging a tobamel smoking mixture (2) comprises a unit (3) internally of which the mixture (2) is prepared by blending tobacco en masse with agglutinants such as honey or molasses, and an extruder unit (17) by which the mixture (2) is shaped into a continuous rod (20).

Abstract: In a process for preparing a tobacco blend, at least two different types of tobacco are thermally treated and blended so as to form the tobacco blend. Thermal treatment as well as blending of the different types of tobacco is performed by introducing the different types of tobacco into a combined thermal treating and blending unit, where thermally treating as well as blending of the at least two different types of tobacco is performed.

Abstract: A crank type cigarette tube injector, for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of wrapping smoking article rods with a wrapper. A bobbin comprising a wound web (8) and individual spaced wrappers (2) is provided. The wrappers (2) each have a longitudinal axis (Lw) and are arranged side by side on the web (8). The bobbin is unwound, and an unwound section of the web (8) is guided across a support, preferably a support plate, wherein the wrappers (2) on that section of the web (8) are exposed. Individual smoking article rods (1), which have their longitudinal axes (Lr) generally arranged in parallel, are fed towards the support under an oblique angle (?) between the longitudinal axes (Lr, Lw) of the smoking article rods (1) and of the wrappers (2). Each smoking article rod (1) is rolled over one of the wrappers (2), wherein that wrapper (2) is taken up by that smoking article rod (1) and helically wound about that smoking article rod (1).

Abstract: A cigarette making machine tobacco cleanout mechanism comprising a slide support, a slideable compacting plate disposed on the slide support, a slideable cleanout plate located adjacent the slideable compacting plate, and an engaging mechanism for removeably engaging the slideable compacting plate to the slideable cleanout plate, wherein the slideable cleanout plate is slid by the slideable compacting plate when the slideable compacting plate is slid while removeably engaged to the slideable cleanout plate. Also disclosed is a drum for holding at least one cigarette filling tube and a cleanout container for a cigarette making machine.

Abstract: A blank cigarette tube holding apparatus comprising a ring having an outer edge, a flange having an outer side and an inner side, whereas the inner side of the flange is affixed to the outer edge of the ring, and a flexible blank cigarette tube locator having a base and a flap, whereas the base is attached to the outer edge of the ring. Also disclosed is a method for locating and holding a blank cigarette tube comprising loading a blank cigarette tube over a filling tube, locating the blank cigarette tube on the filling tube with a flexible blank cigarette tube locator, and holding the blank cigarette tube on the filling tube by way of friction between the blank cigarette tube and a flexible blank cigarette tube holder.

Abstract: A pin holding mechanism for a cigarette making machine comprising a pin carrier support structure, a slideable pin carrier slideably mounted to the pin carrier support structure, a pin having an acting end and a connecting end, and a connector having a mounting end and a connecting end. The mounting end is affixed to the slideable pin carrier, the connecting end is connected to the connecting end of the pin, and the connector allows the pin to pivot and have at least two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine comprising a base, a tobacco compaction mechanism disposed on the base, the tobacco compaction mechanism having a slideable plate with a compacting end and a linkage end, a force multiplying linkage connected to the linkage end of the slideable plate, and a force input member connected to the force multiplying linkage for driving the force multiplying linkage, a second compacting plate located opposite the slideable plate, a pin carrier support structure affixed to the base, and a slideable pin carrier slideably mounted to the pin carrier support structure, the slideable pin carrier having a pin with an acting end and a connecting end.

Abstract: A tobacco smoking mixture and/or a cigarette wrapper with high-temperature ammonia-release agents therein are provided, wherein the high-temperature ammonia-release agents are present in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter formed during smoking of the cigarette. The high-temperature ammonia-release agents are capable of reducing the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter by evolving ammonia at temperatures greater than about 200° C., wherein the ammonia can interact with the particulate matter. Additionally, the high-temperature ammonia-release agents can be formed by heating an aqueous mixture of an iron precursor compound, an ammonia source compound and an acid.