R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Gas Research Institute

Boston Scientific Corporation

Patsy A Coppola, Iii

Ian W Hunter

Stephen D Fantone

Michael S Banik

Dennis R Boulais

Timothy J Mason

Robert C Sykes

Richard M Wiesman

Daniel J Braunstein

Lucien A Couvillon, Jr

Richard J Clark

Richard M Henderson

Paul R Belkus

W Richard Clendaniel

Edward L Dickinson

Francis T MacNamara

Frank J Anderson

Tonya R Young

Tommy L Hickman

Andrew P Kirouac

Jr Lucien A Couvillon

Neil R Mehta

Anna E R Greaves

Daniel G Orband

Michael Saber

Richard M Wiseman

An apparatus for automatically measuring the basis weight and moisture content of a wet reconstituted tobacco web is disclosed. A specimen of the wet web is placed on a cutting surface of the apparatus and smoothed flat. A cutter is automatically positioned by a joy stick over the specimen and a test sequence is initiated. The cutter cuts out a sample of known area and transports the sample to a scale for weighing the sample in its wet and dry states. After the wet weight of the sample is entered into a computer, a heater dries out the sample while it remains on the scale. When the sample is dried, its dry weight is entered into the computer. Based on the wet and dry sample weights and the known sample area, the basis weight and moisture content of the reconstituted tobacco web is calculated by the computer. A disposal device removes the spent sample from the scale by suction and discards it into a waste receptacle.

Automatic basis sheet weight and moisture content measuring apparatus

A tube joint for annular corrugated tubing includes a body having a sleeve for receiving the end of an annular corrugated tube; at least one circumferential raised lobe on the sleeve for engaging an annular corrugation of the tube; and a collar for engaging the body and including a swaging section having a first camming surface for compressing the lobe radially inwardly to engage a corrugation of the tube.

Tube joint for annular corrugated tubing

Growing community of inventors

Bedford, MA, United States of America

Patsy A Coppola, Iii