A filter manufacturing machine includes a feed path (7) configured to continuously feed a sheet material containing filter fibers and provided with a first plasticizer addition unit (9); a forming device (3) connected to a terminating end of the feed path (7) and configured to form the sheet material (6) into a hollow rod-shaped continuous filter body (11), the forming device including a tubular forming path for forming the sheet material (6) into the continuous filter body (11), a heat treating section for heating the sheet material, and a second plasticizer addition unit (14) arranged near the inlet of the tubular forming path; and a wrapping device (4) configured to receive the continuous filter body (11) delivered from the forming device (3) and wrap the continuous filter body in a wrapper to form a filter rod (19).

The invention relates to a filter manufacturing apparatus (1) comprising:a feed path (3) adapted to continuously feed a filter material along a longitudinal transport direction;a forming device (4) connected to a terminating end of the feed path and adapted to form the filter material into a rod-shaped continuous filter body and deliver the formed continuous filter body, the forming device including: a tubular element (8) adapted to allow the filter material to pass therethrough to form the filter material into the continuous filter body; a heat source (6) adapted to heat the filter material passing in the tubular element;a diameter measuring device (10) positioned at the outlet of the forming device and adapted to measure a diameter of the continuous filter body.

A garniture device for a machine used in tobacco industry for manufacturing a continuous rod comprising a loose material wrapped with a wrapper. The garniture device has an upper garniture part having forming parts for forming the wrapper around the loose material; a lower garniture part; a garniture duct extending along at least a portion of the lower garniture part; a garniture belt movable in the garniture duct for transporting the wrapper along the garniture duct. The garniture duct further has an inlet part for transforming the garniture belt from a flat configuration into a U-shaped configuration; an outlet part for transforming the garniture belt from the U-shaped configuration into the flat configuration; and a U-shaped part disposed between the inlet part and the outlet part for guiding the garniture belt in the U-shaped configuration.

The present invention relates to a filter manufacturing apparatus comprising: a feed path adapted to continuously feed a filter material along a longitudinal transport direction; a forming device connected to a terminating end of the feed path and adapted to form the filter material into a continuous filter body and to deliver the formed continuous filter body, the forming device including: a tubular element (8) adapted to allow the filter material to pass therethrough to form the filter tow material into the continuous filter body; and a steam generator (9) adapted to produce steam, the steam generator being in fluid communication with the tubular element to supply steam to the filter material; a drain channel (10) in fluid communication with the tubular element adapted to drain fluid from the tubular element; a valve adapted to open and close the drain channel so as to allow or block discharge of fluid from the tubular element.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the diameter of an elongated rod, said method comprising: providing an elongated rod having a preliminary diameter; selecting a desired final diameter of the elongated rod; providing a diameter adjusting device including a first tubular element having an inlet and an outlet and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet; adjusting the diameter of the outlet as a function of the desired final diameter of the elongated rod, wherein the diameter of the inlet is bigger than the diameter of the outlet when adjusted; and inserting the elongated rod in the diameter adjusting device from the inlet and outputting it from the outlet so that said elongated rod is compressed to the desired final diameter when outputted from the outlet of the first tubular element.

A component for an article for use in an aerosol provision system includes a body of material, wherein the body has a longitudinal axis and includes one or more sheets extending through the body, said one or more sheets having an aerosol modifying additive and having a total width of between about 100 mm and about 350 mm. An article and a method of manufacture are also provided.

This filler element is used in a flavor inhaler, and comprises: a folded part in which one sheet composed of a nonwoven fabric has been folded in the width direction Z intersecting the longitudinal direction X thereof, and the diameter thereof has been reduced to a size not greater than the diameter of the filler element; and wrapping paper that is wrapped on the folded part. A section of the folded part in the circumferential direction thereof has an opening that is open along the axial direction X of the folded part, and an additive is placed on the interior of the folded part via the opening.

A method of manufacturing a compressed rod of web material for the filter rod of an aerosol-generating article, comprising: supplying a feed of web material from a supply apparatus; drawing the web material through a filter rod manufacturing apparatus; introducing a curved ridge into the central portion of the width wise cross-section of the web material as it approaches contact with the interior of a folding funnel, by drawing the web material across a forming surface of a former that contacts a central portion of the web material, in which the forming surface deflects the central portion of the web material from a line extending between where the web material leaves the supply apparatus and the center of an outlet of the folding funnel; and folding the web material in the folding funnel to form a compressed rod of web material.

The method for drying filter rods comprises the steps of providing a filter rod, providing a support surface (2) for receiving the filter rod (4) and guiding the filter rod on the support surface by a guide element (1) arranged above the support surface. The method further comprises the step of supplying a gas stream of compressed gas having a pressure between 0 and 6 bar to the filter rod through the guide element when the filter rod is transported along the support surface, before wrapping the filter rod with a wrapping material (5).

A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.