The invention provides a material which comprises a paper substrate and a nonwoven substrate having a low density which can be used as filter for a smoking or vaping article.

The object of the application is an apparatus for the manufacturing of multi-segment rods, comprising a feeder (2) delivering rod-like elements (S1, S2) in the form of a rod-like elements train (ST1); a wrapping device (6) situated downstream of the feeder (2) in the direction of movement of the elements train (ST1), for wrapping the rod-like elements train (ST1) into the wrapping material (7) thereby forming a continuous rod (CR); a conveying unit (1) disposed between the feeder (2) and the wrapping device (6) for the formation of the train (ST2) of axially positioned rod-like elements (S1, S2) and for transferring rod-like elements (S1, S2) by means of a number of conveying wheels (9, 10, 11) to the wrapping device (6), whereas the rod-like elements are moved along guides (20, 21, 22); as well as cutting means (8) used for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into rods (R), each containing a set of rod-like elements (S1, S2), wherein at least the last of the wheels (11) in the unit (1) conveying the rod-like elements (S1, S2) to the wrapping device (6) is a wheel whose circumferential surface (11A) has no lugs.

A filter rod for a smoking article comprising an extruded hardened tubular element formed from a filter material with entrained cured plasticiser, and a continuous core of filler material provided within the tubular element. Also disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing such a filter rod, the apparatus comprising a duct having an inlet to receive filter tow material and plasticiser, and an outlet. The duct tapers between the inlet and the outlet. A mandrel is disposed at least partially within the duct and is fixed relative to the duct. The mandrel is hollow and includes an internal passage extending though the mandrel through which a filler material may be conveyed. The passage includes an outlet at a distal end of the mandrel though which the filler material may be expelled. A heating zone is configured to heat filter material. The apparatus is configured such that filter tow material and plasticiser conveyed through the duct is compressed around the mandrel into a tubular rod, and filler material fed though the internal passage of the mandrel is expelled out of the passage outlet to fill the bore of the tubular rod. The tubular rod is heated in the heating zone to at least partially cure the plasticiser, to produce a continuous filter rod comprising a tubular rod of hardened filter material with a continuous core of filler material. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture of such a filter rod.

Filters and cigarettes include an activated carbon sorbent capable of selectively removing nitric oxide from mainstream tobacco smoke. Methods for making cigarette filters and cigarettes using the activated carbon sorbent and methods for treating mainstream tobacco smoke produced by smoking a cigarette comprising the sorbent are also provided.

A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a a plurality of threads extending though at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

A method of producing filter tips for cigarettes, each of which comprises two portions of filter material arranged on opposite ends of a portion of granular material; the first portion of filter material is wrapped in a sheet so as to obtain an intermediate element having a substantially tubular shape and an open end; the granular material and the second portion of filter material are then inserted through the open end, while the intermediate element is kept vertical with the open end facing upwards; in this way it is possible to obtain high quality filter tips at high speed.

The object of the application is an apparatus for the manufacturing of rods of a continuous material strand comprising a feeding unit for feeding the material strand, a guiding unit for guiding the material strand, a compressing unit for compressing the strand and forming a continuous rod of the material strand, and an object feeding unit for feeding an object to the compressing unit, the apparatus being adapted to feed three partial strands of the material strand, whereas the partial strands are fed through the guiding unit to the compressing unit characterised in that the object feeding unit is adapted to insert the object in the radial direction of the formed continuous rod into the compressing unit between the partial strands. The object of the application is also a method for the manufacturing of rods of the continuous material strand.

A replenishing device for replenishing a flute of a transporter with a rod-like element, wherein the transporter comprises multiple flutes located transversally with respect to a transporting direction and adapted to transport rod-like elements, the replenishing device comprising: a feeding duct for feeding the rod-like element; a rotary replenishing element having an axis of rotation, comprising at least one transferring seat for receiving the rod-like element from the feeding duct in a receiving zone and for transferring the rod-like element to the flute of the transporter in a transferring zone, wherein the rotary replenishing element is adapted to repeatedly pass the same rod-like element through the transferring zone before transferring that rod-like element to the flute of the transporter; and a transferring mechanism for effecting the transfer of the rod-like element from the transferring seat to the flute of the transporter.

Filters and cigarettes include an activated carbon sorbent capable of selectively removing nitric oxide from mainstream tobacco smoke. Methods for making cigarette filters and cigarettes using the activated carbon sorbent and methods for treating mainstream tobacco smoke produced by smoking a cigarette including the sorbent are also provided.

An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device having a mouth end and a distal end opposite the mouth end, the article including a first section including a first aerosol generating material, the first aerosol generating material including tobacco; and a second section including a second aerosol generating material, the second aerosol generating material including an aerosol former material; wherein the second section is relatively closer to the distal end than the first section.