A system for debossing a heat generation member of an elongate smoking article includes a dispensing mechanism configured to serially dispense a longitudinally-extending heat generation member along a machine direction, wherein the heat generation member has an outer surface and defines a longitudinal axis. The system further includes a debossing mechanism having a first die and an opposing second die each defining a longitudinally-extending channel, wherein the channels of the opposing first and second dies each include spaced-apart protrusions and are arranged to receive therebetween the longitudinally-extending heat generation member from the dispensing mechanism, and wherein the protrusions in the channels are configured to extend non-parallel to the channels and cooperatively interact with the heat generation member to deboss the outer surface thereof. An associated method and smoking article are also disclosed.

An apparatus for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including a susceptor band, the apparatus including: a conveyor configured to accommodate and transport an aerosol-generating article including a susceptor band; a holder configured to hold the aerosol-generating article in the conveyor and to allow temporary rotation of the aerosol-generating article; a magnetic positioner configured to rotate the aerosol-generating article held by the holder around a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article to a defined position; and a cutting device configured to cut the aerosol-generating article in the defined position, the magnetic positioner including at least one rotatable magnetic shaft. A method for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including the susceptor band is also provided.

An apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40) for shifting of rod-shaped articles (4, 4) of different lengths or rod-shaped article groups (6) of different total lengths on a drum conveyor (2), comprising a pushing unit (5, 25, 35) mounted angularly to the axis of rotation of the drum conveyor (2), forcing the movement of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4), whereas the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) comprises rotational pushing elements (11, 21, 31) for shifting of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4), characterised in that the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) is movably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) so as to shift the rod-shaped-articles (4, 4) or the rod-shaped article groups (6) inside the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) by the pressure of surfaces (11A, 21A, 31A) of the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) directly on the ends of the rod-shaped article (4, 4).

A system for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable drum that is configured to hold a plurality of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a tagging drum that is configured to tag a respective label to a housing of each of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a pressing roller that is configured to press a leading edge of the label against the housing after the tagging. The system may further include a rolling drum that is configured to roll the label around the housing after the pressing.

Apparatus (1, 1) for axial centring of a rod-like article (4, 4) or a group (30) of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (3) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (2), whereas the length of the article (4, 4) or the total length of articles in the group (30) may vary, provided with pusher elements (5) acting on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles, characterized in that the pusher elements (5) of a shifting mechanism (13) are driven by a common driving unit (24, 24) and are connected in such a way that the force exerted by the driving unit (24, 24) is distributed to the pusher elements (5) acting axially on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles. The object of the application is also a method of axial centring of the rod-like article (4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles is conveyed in the flute (3) situated on the circumference of the drum conveyor (2), by means of the pusher elements (5), whereas the length of the article (4, 4) or the total length of articles in the group (30) may vary, characterized in that the force exerted by the driving unit (24) is distributed to the pusher elements (5) of the shifting mechanism (13) acting axially on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles.

An apparatus for manufacturing of multi-element rods of the tobacco industry comprising a feeding apparatus, a transferring apparatus, and a forming apparatus, comprising a first rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the first rotational element, a second rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the second rotational element, a third rotational element provided with lugs immobile relative to the third rotational element, used to convey rod-like elements. The rotational elements having notches between the lugs adapted to receive and convey the rod-like elements, whereas the rotational elements are arranged and adapted to guide the rod-like elements successively through the rotational elements. The apparatus comprises the forming apparatus designed to form a continuous multi-element rod, and a cutting apparatus. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the third lugs have a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first lugs.

An apparatus for manufacturing of multi-element rods of the tobacco industry comprising a feeding apparatus designed to feed rod-like elements, a transferring apparatus designed to transfer the rod-like elements or groups of the rod-like elements from the apparatus feeding the rod-like elements to the forming apparatus, comprising rotational elements provided with lugs and notches between the lugs, used to convey the rod-like elements, whereas the notches are adapted to receive and convey the individual rod-like elements or the groups of the rod-like elements, whereas the rotational elements are arranged and adapted to guide the rod-like elements successively through the rotational elements, the apparatus further comprises a forming apparatus, and a cutting apparatus.

Rotary conveyor drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) for use in tobacco industry machines, for transferring a stream of rod-like elements (S), the drum having a first front base and a second front base and a lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) onto which the rod-like elements (S) are delivered successively one by one, the lateral surface (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 50) being provided with spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52) between which the rod-like elements (S) are conveyed, the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) being equipped with guiding means (21, 51) forcing the rod-like elements (S) to travel from the first front base to the second front base of the drum (19, 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 59) during the rotation of the drum while the rod-like elements (S) are oriented substantially transversally to the spacer projections (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 52). The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising such a drum, to a machine for manufacturing multi-element rods and a method of transferring a stream of rod-like elements.

A device for moving tubular bodies, includes a conveyor belt for feeding a plurality of tubular pieces, each extending along a respective axis of extension, in such a way as to provide a succession of groups of tubular pieces where each group is defined by a predetermined number of tubular pieces positioned in succession along the respective axis of extension and transversely offset therefrom. The device includes at least one housing for containing at least one tubular piece inside of which an air cushion is produced by which the tubular piece is transferred translationally outside the housing along its respective axis of extension.

A conveyor for aligning rod-shaped articles and including a succession of flutes which are movable along a feed path and which are configured to hold respective rod-shaped articles or groups of rod-shaped articles. For each flute, the conveyor has an abutment portion, disposed at least at one end of the flute to define an abutment surface for one end of the rod-shaped article or group of rod-shaped articles housed in the suction flute. The abutment portion is provided with at least one suction zone to hold the end of the rod-shaped article or group of rod-shaped articles by suction against the abutment portion. The suction zone is defined by a plurality of suction perforations, connected or connectable to a negative pressure source and whose transverse size is, for example, smaller than 1 mm, preferably smaller than 0.8 mm and, still more preferably, smaller than 0.6 mm.