Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090194118 | SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING A FILTER ELEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status. | 08-06-2009 |
20110169942 | FILTERED SMOKING ARTICLE INSPECTION SYSTEM, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An inspection system and associated method are provided for inspecting a smoking article having a smokable rod and a filter element serially secured together by a tipping material circumscribing a longitudinal periphery of the filter element and a portion of a longitudinal periphery of the smokable rod adjacent to the filter element. A transport device is configured to transport individual as-formed smoking articles from a first to a second position such that the tipping material associated with each smoking article is accessible at least about the portion of the longitudinal periphery of the smoking article. An inspection device is configured to optically inspect each smoking article, at least about the portion of the longitudinal periphery of the smoking article having the tipping material, as the smoking article is transported between the first and second positions, and to automatically determine from the optical inspection whether the inspected smoking article is defective. | 07-14-2011 |
20120285271 | SIMULATION ARRANGEMENT FOR A SMOKING ARTICLE - An apparatus is provided for simulating smoking of a smokable rod member. A receiver is configured to receive one end of the smokable rod member. An analyzer is in communication with the receiver and is configured to receive smoke from the smokable rod member upon combustion of the other end thereof. An air source is in communication with the receiver and is configured to mix air with the smoke from the smokable rod member. A container device is in communication with the receiver and the air source, and is configured to receive a smoke and air mixture. The container device is further configured to have an adjustable volume to vary an amount of the smoke and air mixture received thereby, and to be in communication with the analyzer, with the container device also being configured to expel the smoke and air mixture therefrom to the analyzer for the smoke and air mixture to be analyzed thereby. | 11-15-2012 |
20130037041 | SMOKING ARTICLES AND USE THEREOF FOR YIELDING INHALATION MATERIALS - The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components. | 02-14-2013 |
20130167849 | METHOD OF TIPPING FOR SMOKING ARTICLE - A method is provided for manufacturing a smoking article from a wrapped tobacco rod and a filter material wrapped to form a filter plug. The method utilizes nozzle-applied cold glue adhesive rather than roller-applied adhesive applied to tipping material, which connects the tobacco rod to the filter plug. In other aspects, mechanisms for using the method are provided. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167851 | METHOD OF FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR SMOKING ARTICLE - A method is provided for manufacturing a filter of a filtered smoking article, where the filter material includes a fluid-releasing body. The method provides a fluid-resistant barrier between the filter material and plug wrap encompassing the filter material, where the barrier is applied as a hot melt adhesive. In other aspects, mechanisms for using the method are provided. | 07-04-2013 |
20130213421 | APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR FORMING A FILTER COMPONENT OF A SMOKING ARTICLE - Apparatuses, systems, and methods employing ultrasonic bonding to form filter elements for smoking articles are provided. Ultrasonic bonding can be employed to bond the fibers of filter material defining bloomed tow. Use of a plasticizer may not be necessary. Further, filter materials such as polylactic acid, which may not be bonded via a plasticizer, may be employed. However, triacetin or other additional components may be employed to provide the filter element with a desirable sensory attribute in some embodiments. Ultrasonic bonding may be conducted by an ultrasonic bonder that includes an anvil defining a pattern thereon that is selected to define a desired degree of bonding, and thereby a resulting desired firmness and/or pressure drop associated with the filter element. | 08-22-2013 |
20130255702 | SMOKING ARTICLE INCORPORATING A CONDUCTIVE SUBSTRATE - The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component. | 10-03-2013 |
20140000638 | RESERVOIR AND HEATER SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLABLE DELIVERY OF MULTIPLE AEROSOLIZABLE MATERIALS IN AN ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE | 01-02-2014 |
20140131579 | System for Analyzing a Smoking Article Filter Associated with a Smoking Article, and Associated Method - A system and associated method for analyzing a smoking article filter is provided. An emitter emits an initial signal toward a smoking article filter. The initial signal may have a frequency between about 0.1 teraHertz and about 10 teraHertz. A sensor may detect a resultant signal resulting from interaction of the initial signal with the smoking article filter. An analysis unit may receive the resultant signal from the sensor, determine a filter status based on the resultant signal, and output an indicium indicative of the filter status. The filter status may include a capsule presence within the smoking article filter, a capsule absence from the smoking article filter, a proper insertion of a capsule into the smoking article filter, a defective insertion of a capsule into the smoking article filter, a proper capsule within the smoking article filter, and a defective capsule within the smoking article filter. | 05-15-2014 |
20140247339 | Filtered Smoking Article Inspection System, and Associated Method - An inspection system and associated method are provided for inspecting a smoking article having a smokable rod and a filter element serially secured together by a tipping material circumscribing a longitudinal periphery of the filter element and a portion of a longitudinal periphery of the smokable rod adjacent to the filter element. A transport device is configured to transport individual as-formed smoking articles from a first to a second position such that the tipping material associated with each smoking article is accessible at least about the portion of the longitudinal periphery of the smoking article. An inspection device is configured to optically inspect each smoking article, at least about the portion of the longitudinal periphery of the smoking article having the tipping material, as the smoking article is transported between the first and second positions, and to automatically determine from the optical inspection whether the inspected smoking article is defective. | 09-04-2014 |
20150059780 | CARBON CONDUCTIVE SUBSTRATE FOR ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE - The present disclosure provides components useful in heating, particularly heating of an aerosol precursor solution so as to vaporize the solution and form an aerosol. The disclosure particularly provides an electrically conductive, porous carbon heater. The heater may be combined with an aerosol precursor transport element that also is formed of carbon. The heater and transport element may form an atomizer that can be useful in an electronic smoking article, such as in a cartridge that is adapted for attachment to a control body. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a cartridge of an electronic smoking article, the cartridge being formed substantially completely of carbon. | 03-05-2015 |