An aerosol generating device includes a rod of aerosol generating material and a filter rod, and tipping paper. The filter rod includes a first filter portion and a second filter portion. The first filter portion includes acetate tow and is positioned at a mouth end of the aerosol generating device. The second filter portion is biodegradable and extends from the first filter portion to the rod of aerosol generating material. The tipping paper surrounds the filter rod and a part of the rod of aerosol generating material. The second filter portion encloses a volume which is more than 50% of a combined volume enclosed by the first and second filter portions. The tipping paper includes a line of weakening extending from the mouth end towards the rod of aerosol generating material so that at least a portion of the tipping paper can be opened, and preferably removed, by a user.

An enclosed cannabis cigarette preparation system that includes an indexing module configured to accept a plurality of pre-rolled cones, each having a sealed end and an open end, and to move the pre-rolled cones through a plurality of stations. The system further includes a filling module configured to dispense, at a first station, a portion of cannabis shake material into the open end of each of the pre-rolled cones to form loosely filled cones; a tamping module configured to compress, at a second station, the cannabis shake material in each of the loosely filled cones to form tamped cones; a de-clogging module; and a pinching module configured to pinch-twist, at a third station, the open end of each of the pre-rolled cones to form rolled cigarettes.

A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.

An embossed tipping paper includes a relief pattern region having a patterned embossing structure formed in the depth of the material of the tipping paper. The embossed tipping paper further includes at least one plain region adjacent to the relief pattern region, the at least one plain region not having an embossing structure formed in the depth of the material of the tipping paper. A sequence of ventilation holes is formed in the at least one plain region. The embossed tipping paper has a substantially rectangular shape and the at least one plain region forms a band of fixed width running between two parallel edges of the substantially rectangular shape.

A smoking device comprised of a rectangular middle panel comprising a central rectangular subpanel hingably joined to a lower rectangular subpanel, and hingably joined to an upper rectangular subpanel; a left panel hingably joined to a left edge of the rectangular middle panel and comprising a plurality of left panel facets hingably joined to each other; and a right panel hingably joined to a right edge of the rectangular middle panel and comprising a plurality of right panel facets hingably joined to each other. The lower rectangular subpanel and upper rectangular subpanel are pivotable with respect to the central subpanel to an opposed position forming an enclosed cavity. The left panel facets and right panel facets are pivotable so as to collapse and be contained within the enclosed cavity. Alternative embodiments with additional multifunctional capabilities are also described.

A smoking device comprised of a rectangular middle panel comprising a central rectangular subpanel hingably joined to a lower rectangular subpanel, and hingably joined to an upper rectangular subpanel; a left panel hingably joined to a left edge of the rectangular middle panel and comprising a plurality of left panel facets hingably joined to each other; and a right panel hingably joined to a right edge of the rectangular middle panel and comprising a plurality of right panel facets hingably joined to each other. The lower rectangular subpanel and upper rectangular subpanel are pivotable with respect to the central subpanel to an opposed position forming an enclosed cavity. The left panel facets and right panel facets are pivotable so as to collapse and be contained within the enclosed cavity. Alternative embodiments with additional multifunctional capabilities are also described.

A set of thin foil surfaces configured to achieve a joint among the foil surfaces, the joint being arranged to be without discontinuity, comprising at least a first portion of surface dedicated to achieve the joint; pixelized type embossings on the first portion of surface; and at least a second portion of surface dedicated to achieve the joint. The second portion of surface is shaped to correspond to the first portion of surface for making the joint between the first portion of surface and the second portion of surface through contact.

A method of producing smoking articles, the method comprising a first step of providing a continuous array of first filter members (42), second filter segments (20) and tubular members (40). A tubular member (40) is provided between each pair of consecutive first filter members (42) and a second filter segment (20) is provided between each first filter member (42) and each tubular member (40). Each second filter segment (20) contains one or more breakable capsules, wherein each breakable capsule comprises an outer shell and an inner core containing an additive. The continuous array of first filter members (42), second filter segments (20) and tubular members (40) is then wrapped with a continuous sheet of plug wrap (44) to form a wrapped filter array, wherein the plug wrap (44) has a basis weight of less than 90 grams per square metre. The wrapped filter array is cut at an intermediate position along each first filter member (42) to provide multiple filter rods, each filter rod comprising two first filter segments (18), a tubular member (40) positioned between the first filter segments (18) and a second filter segment (20) provided between each first filter segment (18) and the tubular member (40). Next, a tobacco rod (12) is provided in axial alignment with and adjacent to each first filter segment (18) of one of the filter rods, and the filter rod and a portion of each tobacco rod (12) are wrapped in a tipping wrapper (50). Finally, the tipping wrapper (50) and the filter rod are cut at an intermediate position along the length of the tubular member (40) to form multiple smoking articles (10), each smoking article (10) comprising a tobacco rod (12) connected to a filter (14), wherein each filter (14) comprises a first filter segment (18) downstream of the tobacco rod (12), a second filter segment (20) downstream of the first filter segment (18), and a hollow tube segment (22) positioned between the second filter segment (20) and the mouth end of the filter (14). The hollow tube segment (22) defines a cavity (24) at the mouth end of the filter (14).

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article (10) for use with an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element, or with an integral heat source, the aerosol-generating article (10) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate (20), a substantially incombustible wrapper (3) circumscribing the aerosol-forming substrate (20) and comprising inner and outer surfaces, wherein the inner surface of the wrapper (3) has an at least partially textured surface (5) configured to overlap a portion of the outer surface (4) of the wrapper (3) when the wrapper (3) is wrapped around the aerosol-forming substrate (20). The invention further relates to an apparatus and a method for forming an aerosol-generating article (10).

The apparatus (10) for processing a continuous band of wrapping material (40) comprises a roller pair (20, 30) defining a roller gap (12) there between, wherein the rollers (20, 30) have matching convex and concave shapes, respectively. The invention is also directed to a corresponding method for treatment of wrapping material (40).