A low-sulfur granulated metallic unit having a mass fraction of sulfur between 0.0001 wt. % and 0.08 wt. % is disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the granulated metallic unit can comprise a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %, a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %, a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %, a mass fraction of carbon of at least 0.8 wt. %, and/or a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %.

A hopper attachment structure is provided that allows a hopper to be removably attached to a driving unit. The hopper has an outlet in a body thereof and a gate driven to open and close by the driving unit. The outlet of the hopper is allowed to open and close with the gate. The driving unit has an engaging protrusion and a support protrusion. The hopper further has an attachment bracket extending from the body. The attachment bracket has a hook portion engageable with the engaging protrusion and also has a contact portion allowed to contact the support protrusion. The hopper is attachable to the driving unit by having the hook portion of the attachment bracket engaged with the engaging protrusion of the driving unit and by further having the contact portion of the attachment bracket supportably contact the support protrusion of the driving unit.

Systems for continuous granulated metallic unit (GMU) production, and associated devices and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a continuous GMU production system includes a furnace unit, a desulfurization unit, a plurality of granulator units, and a cooling system. The furnace unit can receive input materials such as iron ore and output molten metal. The desulfurization unit can reduce a sulfur content of the molten metallics received from the furnace unit. Each of the plurality of granulator units can include a tundish that can control the flow of molten metallics and a reactor that can granulate the molten metallics to form GMUs. The cooling system can provide cooled water to the reactor. Continuous GMU production systems configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can produce GMUs under continuous operations cycles for, e.g., at least 6 hours.

A cigarette rolling machine includes paper pick and place subassembly wherein bulk paper strip is provided by a roll resting upon spool hooks. The frame plates are held spaced apart by a plurality of struts. A paper drive motor drives a roller which may preferably be made of polyurethane or another material that paper may adhere to effectively. A fluid reservoir contains adhesive fluid which is delivered into a wick held in a wick retainer A pick arm mounted on vertical displacement struts raises and lowers a hollow pick manifold connected to a vacuum line so that it may pick up a cigarette paper and retain it on its underside surface for placement onto a section cigarette forming belt. A transfer pad swings from a pair of swing arms which each have a stud slidable within a serpentine groove of a guide plate affixed to the pick manifold.

A low-carbon granulated metallic unit having a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. % is disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the granulated metallic unit can comprise a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %, a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %, a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %, a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %, and/or a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %.

An apparatus for weighing containers comprises a stage configured to support a receptacle for securing one or more containers and a singulation post comprising a vertical element positioned below the stage. The singulation post is aligned with and configured to displace a single one of the containers within the receptacle in an upward vertical direction as the stage is translated in a downward vertical direction towards the singulation post. The singulation post is coupled to a load cell configured to measure a weight of the single displaced container while the vertical element of the singulation post contacts the container. The apparatus further comprises a controller for actuating the stage in the vertical directions and for recording a weight of the container measured by the load cell.

Systems and methods for using a liquid hot metal processing unit to produce granulated metallic units (GMUs) are disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the present technology, a liquid hot metal processing system for producing GMUs comprises a liquid hot metal processing unit including a granulator unit. The granulator unit can include a tilter positioned to receive and tilt a ladle, a controller operably coupled to the tilter to control tilting of the ladle, a tundish positioned to receive the molten metallics from the ladle, and a reactor positioned to receive the molten metallics from the tundish. The reactor can be configured to cool the molten metallics to form granulated metallic units (GMUs).

Reduced-waste systems and methods for granulated metallic units (GMUs) production are disclosed herein. A representative method can include receiving a first supply of molten iron and producing GMUs by granulating the molten iron poured onto a target material of a reactor. The method can include removing residual fines of the GMUs via a classifier based on a threshold particle size and mixing the residual fines with a second supply of molten iron to produce additional GMUs.

A cigarette filter insertion apparatus and method are provided for automated cigarette production. The apparatus comprises at least one filter delivery tube, a filter positioner with a passage terminating at a stop face, and a detainer yoke movable between obstructing and permitting filter movement. The detainer yoke includes a gate and a compliant detainer, such as a spring-biased pogo pin, to frictionally engage filters and prevent multiple filters from advancing. An actuator, such as a solenoid, controls the detainer yoke, and an air assist port delivers a puff of air to advance a single filter. Photodetectors may monitor filter position and synchronize filter release and air assist. The passage may include slots to vent excess air and minimize filter disturbance. The apparatus deposits filters into a trough formed in a belt for subsequent encapsulation. The method includes conveying, detaining, actuating, air-assisted advancement, and controlled release of cigarette filters.

Systems for continuous granulated metallic unit (GMU) production, and associated devices and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a continuous GMU production system includes a furnace unit, a desulfurization unit, a plurality of granulator units, and a cooling system. The furnace unit can receive input materials such as iron ore and output molten metal. The desulfurization unit can reduce a sulfur content of the molten metallics received from the furnace unit. Each of the plurality of granulator units can include a tundish that can control the flow of molten metallics and a reactor that can granulate the molten metallics to form GMUs. The cooling system can provide cooled water to the reactor. Continuous GMU production systems configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can produce GMUs under continuous operations cycles for, e.g., at least 6 hours.