A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.

A molding apparatus, a cigarette filter rod and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The molding apparatus comprises a single-screw extrusion system and a cooling setting system. The single-screw extrusion system comprises a feeder and an extruder. The feeder is arranged on the extruder. The extruder comprises a cylinder. A heater is arranged outside the cylinder. A screw is arranged inside the cylinder, and a mouth mold is arranged at one end of the cylinder. The cooling setting system comprises a round tube and a cooler. The cooler (6) is arranged outside the round tube. One end of the round tube is butted with the mouth mold of the extruder; and multiple groups of grooves are formed on threads of the head of the screw.

A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

Apparatuses and methods for producing an endless filter rod of the tobacco processing industry. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a transport nozzle loadable with compressed air, a guide tube, an elongated rod, which is arranged in the guide tube, having a rod projection, and an infeed roller, which is non-driven and freely rotatable, positioned immediately at an end of the transport nozzle and at a distance to the rod, and has a bearing surface that defines in sections a conveying path of a filter material web. The apparatus also includes a guide element positioned between the infeed roller and the rod by which a cross-section of the filter material web is reduced between the rod and the guide element in a region of the rod projection.

A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

A cigarette filter rod comprising a filter substrate with a single-structured body having a multi-orientation distribution of fibers, the filter substrate including a fiber blend of at least one of abaca, sisal, and wood pulp, and 0-50% hemp, 0-50% flax, 0-95% abaca, 0-95% sisal, 0-50% wood pulp, 0-50% cotton, 0-50% regenerated cellulose, 0-30% natural binder, wherein the multi-orientation distribution of fibers inhibits laminar airflow and the creation of adverse linear axial channels.

A cellulose acetate tow band for use in a cigarette filter, in which a filament denier is not less than 5.0 denier, a Feret area of a filament is not less than 0.5, and/or a ratio S/L of a cross-sectional area S of the filament to a cross-sectional peripheral length L of the filament is not less than 5. The filament denier may be not more than 10 denier. The Feret area may be not more than 0.9. The ratio S/L may be not more than 9. In an apparatus for or a method of manufacturing a tow band, round-shaped spinning holes (10) each with a diameter of not less than 50 m are used. The diameter of each round-shaped spinning hole (10) may be not more than 100 m.

A filter part (1, 1) for use in an aerosol generating article and a method of manufacturing the filter part (1, 1). The filter part (1, 1) includes an aerosol permeable core (2) within a sleeve (3) formed integrally therearound. The core (2) is shorter than the integrally formed sleeve (3). The method includes conveying a plurality of aerosol permeable cores (2) along a conveying path at a first speed (S1) and forming a sleeve (3) around each core (2) at a second speed (S2). The second speed (S2) is greater than the first speed (S1) to generate a space between consecutive cores (2) within the sleeve (3).

A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube includes a body defining a passage for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.