Loews Theatres, Inc.

Lorillard--A Division of Loew's Theatres, Inc.

Werner P Kirschstein

John R Wagner

James R Knighton

Floyd S Cowan

Tobacco is graded by size by separating a sample into size fractions using a rotary drum screen. The sample is characterized by two distribution curves, one for a finer portion and the other for a coarser portion. The crossing point of logarithmic plots of the percentage by weight vs. particle size distributions of the two portions provides a precise and sensitive descriptor, which can be termed as a 'percent desirable fraction,' for grading the size characteristics of threshed or cut tobacco.

Method and apparatus for determining the size distribution of tobacco

An apparatus for measuring an object comprises a rotatable fixture that holds the object to be measured with one end positioned at a fixed location spaced from the axis of rotation of the fixture and the other end projecting freely from the fixture. A scanner that generates a planar unidirectional scanning beam is positioned with respect to the fixture and object such that at one point of rotation of the object the free end of the object intersects the plane of the scanning beam, and along a subsequent portion of the arc of rotation, the entire object, in cross section, projects through the beam. A sensor located at the terminal end of beam travel and coupled to the scanner detects the interruption by the object of the scanning beam as the object rotates, and produces signals indicative of (a) the distance between the point where the object first intersects the scanning beam and a reference line in the plane of the beam, which signal is a function of the length of the object and (b) the width of the beam blocked by the object when it projects through the beam, which signal is a function of the dimension of the object along an axis lying in the beam and perpendicular to the beam direction. Several widthwise measurements can be made as the object rotates through the beam.

Apparatus and method for measuring an object

The pressure drop through and the circumference of filter rods for cigarette filters or the like are determined by a completely automated rod test station that consists of a measuring unit and a computer. The measuring unit has a transport system for rapidly moving a filter rod first into a pressure drop gauge and next into a pneumatic circumference gauge and then ejecting it. A single pressure transducer in the measuring unit detects the pressure drops across the standard, through the filter rod in the pressure drop gauge and through the annular passage between the rod and die in the circumference gauge. The analog electrical signals produced by the transducer are converted to digital signals which are input to a computer. The computer corrects the measured signals indicative of pressure drop in accordance with any error detected between the measured drop across the calibration standard and a stored internal constant representing the calibrated pressure drop for the standard during each test sequence. The computer also stores the calibration information for the circumference gauge and computes the circumference. The computer outputs are available for digital display or any other desired use. The computer also controls the operating cycle of the measuring unit.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

Werner P Kirschstein