An apparatus and processes for producing compound cigarette filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments onto the horizontally oriented transverse flutes of a continuous belt. Spaced apart hoppers are serially arranged above the belt, and each hopper contains at least one of the multiple segments of the compound filter being assembled. A transfer structure between each hopper and the belt serially delivers the filter segments to the flutes on the belt, and after such assembly the various filter segments are removed as a group from each flute of the continuous belt. The filter segments are then combined as a group with wrapped tobacco rods to thereby produce filtered cigarettes.

A spacing drum comprising: a segment receiving drum section capable of receiving a predetermined number of segments per revolution of the drum from a procession of segments approaching the segment receiving drum section at a segment-feed spacing and a segment-feed speed; a segment releasing drum section capable of releasing the predetermined number of segments at a segment-release spacing and a segment-release speed; and a radial profile flight comprising a continuous arc segment extending across at least portions of the segment receiving drum section and the segment releasing drum section. Associated methods are also provided, including method of changing pitch along a spacing drum progressively with a radial profile flight.

A spacing drum comprising: a segment receiving drum section capable of receiving a predetermined number of segments per revolution of the drum from a procession of segments approaching the segment receiving drum section at a segment-feed spacing and a segment-feed speed; a segment releasing drum section capable of releasing the predetermined number of segments at a segment-release spacing and a segment-release speed; and a radial profile flight comprising a continuous arc segment extending across at least portions of the segment receiving drum section and the segment releasing drum section. Associated methods are also provided, including method of changing pitch along a spacing drum progressively with a radial profile flight.

A method for combining segments of a smoking article, comprises the steps of: providing a group of segments having a heat source (10; 20) and an aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) the aerosol-forming substrate (10; 20) being arranged such that a remote end (112; 212) thereof faces away from the heat source (10; 20) while a near end (112; 211) thereof abuts the heat source (10; 20), feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone (13; 23) having a widest end (131; 231) and a truncated narrowest end (130; 230) such that the truncated narrowest end (130; 230) is arranged to face the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21), and moving the truncated hollow cone (13; 23) towards the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) to abut the remote end (112; 212) thereof or to extend into an indentation (113; 213) in the remote end (112; 212) thereof.

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 filter included in an aerosol-generating article, according to embodiments, includes a first filter segment including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous material particle is contained, a second filter segment including a second filter element, and a wrapper wrapping the first filter segment and the second filter segment, wherein the first filter segment and the second filter segment are aligned in a longitudinal direction of the filter, and the first filter segment and the second filter segment are not physically separated.

An apparatus and processes for producing compound cigarette filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments onto the horizontally oriented transverse flutes of a continuous belt. Spaced apart hoppers are serially arranged above the belt, and each hopper contains at least one of the multiple segments of the compound filter being assembled. A transfer structure between each hopper and the belt serially delivers the filter segments to the flutes on the belt, and after such assembly the various filter segments are removed as a group from each flute of the continuous belt. The filter segments are then combined as a group with wrapped tobacco rods to thereby produce filtered cigarettes.

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