A mouthpiece or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending hollow rod of filtering material having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface defining at least one longitudinally extending channel which extends along the full length of the mouthpiece or filter element, wherein the distance between the inner and outer surfaces is 1 mm or less, wherein the filtering material of the mouthpiece or filter element comprises a plasticiser, wherein the amount of plasticiser present in the filtering material is less than 21.5%.

There is described an apparatus for shaping a tobacco industry product, the apparatus comprising a shaping head configured to change the shape of a first end of the tobacco industry product. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product such that the shaping head is brought into contact with the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the first end of the tobacco industry product. The actuator can be configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tobacco industry product. The shaping head can be brought into contact with a first longitudinal end surface and/or an inner surface of the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the tobacco industry product. Also described is a corresponding method of shaping a tobacco industry product and a tobacco industry product formed using the method.

The invention relates to a filter manufacturing apparatus (1) to form a hollow filter body, the filter manufacturing apparatus comprising: a feed path adapted to continuously feed a filter material along a longitudinal transport direction (30); a forming device (4) connected to a terminating end of the feed path and adapted to form the filter material into a hollow rod-shaped filter body and deliver the formed filter body, the forming device including: .square-solid. a tubular forming element (8) adapted to allow the filter material to pass therethrough, .square-solid. a pin (34) extending longitudinally within the tubular forming element, the pin having a pin diameter;a diameter changing device (40), adapted to vary the pin diameter of the pin, so as to obtain a filter body having a through hole of variable diameter.

The present invention relates to a method to fold a sheet (11) of material into a rod for an aerosol generating article, the method comprising: providing a central element and plurality of spaced apart walls (14), the spaced apart walls radially extending outwardly from the central element (12) following one another in a circumferential direction, each spaced apart wall defining an end surface (15) separated from the end surfaces of the adjacent walls; transporting the sheet of material and putting it in contact with the end surfaces of the plurality of spaced apart walls so that the sheet of material can partly fold within spaces defined between the spaced apart walls; and inserting the sheet of material into a funnel (16) to form a rod. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (10) to fold a sheet of material into a rod for an aerosol generating article.

The invention provides a cigarette with a filter element comprising at least one longitudinally extending section of filter material. The section of filter material comprises a smoke-altering material therein that is useful for removing a quantity of vapor phase chemicals from the mainstream smoke. The section of filter material further comprises one or more tubes inserted into and extending through section of filter material. The one or more tubes each define a channel adapted for passage of mainstream smoke through the section of filter material while substantially avoiding contact of the portion of mainstream smoke therein with the smoke-altering material. The provision of a portion of mainstream smoke substantially unaltered by the smoke-altering material can be useful to retain certain desirable taste and other sensory properties of the mainstream smoke.

A filter element for an aerosol-generating article is provided, the filter element including a hollow tubular portion with an inner surface; and a flavourant deposited directly onto the inner surface of the hollow tubular portion. A forming device and a method for manufacturing a filter element for an aerosol-generating article are also provided.

A filling method and process for a flower cartridge for use with a portable electronic heating device for the smokeless delivery of active ingredients and volatile compounds released from heating natural consumables such as plant matter is disclosed. Through grinding, vibration, and tamping, a number of cartridges are filled with natural consumables. Compressive forces applied via tamping, coupled with a constriction or obstruction within the cartridge, form a porous plug to which air flows freely but the consumables remain in place. The filling process minimizes oxidation and preserves the shelf life of the flower cartridge.

A method of manufacturing a filter that includes providing a tube having a cylindrical wall and a hollow interior. The method forms a first indentation within the tube in which a first portion of the of the cylindrical wall concaves into the hollow interior, and forms a second indentation within the tube in which a second portion of the cylindrical wall concaves into the hollow interior. The first and second indentations create 1) a first chamber and a second chamber in the tube that are separated by both indentations and 2) a path within the hollow interior formed between the first and second indentations that fluidly couples both chambers together.

A filling method and process for a flower cartridge for use with a portable electronic heating device for the smokeless delivery of active ingredients and volatile compounds released from heating natural consumables such as plant matter is disclosed. Through grinding, vibration, and tamping, a number of cartridges are filled with natural consumables. Compressive forces applied via tamping, coupled with a constriction or obstruction within the cartridge, form a porous plug to which air flows freely but the consumables remain in place. The filling process minimizes oxidation and preserves the shelf life of the flower cartridge.

The present invention provides a casing for a heat-not-burn ceramic film cigarette, the casing comprising a main body cigarette tube, sealing paper located at one end of the cigarette tube, and a filter tip located at the other end of the cigarette tube. A ceramic film is arranged, in the cigarette tube, on a contact layer that comes into contact with tobacco. A ceramic film is provided on the contact face of the sealing paper that comes into contact with the tobacco. According to the casing for a heat-not-burn cigarette provided in the present invention, the ceramic film of the casing is directly applied to a packaging layer which comes in direct contact with the tobacco, such that the component stability of a heat-not-burn cigarette can be greatly increased, and the moisture retention property of tobacco substances is significantly improved.