An example embodiment includes a tongue includes a forming surface of a forming channel, the forming channel configured to enable the shaping of shredded material into a desired form as a shredded material is drawn through the forming channel and an arrangement to introduce at least a portion of a web component adjacent a portion of the forming surface such that the introduced web component portion may be operative upon the drawn shredded material as a source of additional drawing action. The tongue may include an arrangement to draw a moving web into the tongue through a channel that converges with the working surface of the tongue, whereby the moving web is interposable between a moving column of shredded material and the first surface portion of the working surface to reduce friction. The tongue may further comprise an arrangement comprising a scalloped surface portion along the working surface of the tongue.

A smoking article and method of manufacture provides a sheet of smokable material having a plurality of edges. One or more score or cuts are made in the sheet that each extend a partial distance from a first said edge toward a second said edge, the score or cut separating large and small sections of the sheet. A hinge is defined by a portion of the sheet of smokable material that is next to a score or cut, said hinge joining the large section to the small section. A conically shaped form is provided for shaping the sheet. The form has an outer surface, a large diameter end, a small diameter end, and a cavity that extends to said small diameter end. Corrugations on the small section of the sheet enable the small section to be fitted into the cavity via the small diameter end. The hinge enables the sheet to fold when the small section occupies the cavity in an assembled position wherein the large section is wrapped around the form outer surface. In the assembled position, the corrugations enable the small section to gather together to define a filter.

A smoking article and method of manufacture provides a sheet of smokable material having a plurality of edges. One or more score or cuts are made in the sheet that each extend a partial distance from a first said edge toward a second said edge, the score or cut separating large and small sections of the sheet. A hinge is defined by a portion of the sheet of smokable material that is next to a score or cut, said hinge joining the large section to the small section. A conically shaped form is provided for shaping the sheet. The form has an outer surface, a large diameter end, a small diameter end, and a cavity that extends to said small diameter end. Corrugations on the small section of the sheet enable the small section to be fitted into the cavity via the small diameter end. The hinge enables the sheet to fold when the small section occupies the cavity in an assembled position wherein the large section is wrapped around the form outer surface. In the assembled position, the corrugations enable the small section to gather together to define a filter.

An example embodiment includes a tongue includes a forming surface of a forming channel, the forming channel configured to enable the shaping of shredded material into a desired form as a shredded material is drawn through the forming channel and an arrangement to introduce at least a portion of a web component adjacent a portion of the forming surface such that the introduced web component portion may be operative upon the drawn shredded material as a source of additional drawing action. The tongue may include an arrangement to draw a moving web into the tongue through a channel that converges with the working surface of the tongue, whereby the moving web is interposable between a moving column of shredded material and the first surface portion of the working surface to reduce friction. The tongue may further comprise an arrangement comprising a scalloped surface portion along the working surface of the tongue.

An example embodiment includes a tongue includes a forming surface of a forming channel, the forming channel configured to enable the shaping of shredded material into a desired form as a shredded material is drawn through the forming channel and an arrangement to introduce at least a portion of a web component adjacent a portion of the forming surface such that the introduced web component portion may be operative upon the drawn shredded material as a source of additional drawing action. The tongue may include an arrangement to draw a moving web into the tongue through a channel that converges with the working surface of the tongue, whereby the moving web is interposable between a moving column of shredded material and the first surface portion of the working surface to reduce friction. The tongue may further comprise an arrangement comprising a scalloped surface portion along the working surface of the tongue.

A tobacco article including at least one flavoring insert, wherein flavor can be released from the at least one insert by applying pressure.

A tobacco article including at least one flavoring insert, wherein flavor can be released from the at least one insert by applying pressure.

A method for concurrently manufacturing two different types of smoking articles using a smoking article manufacturing machine. The machine comprises a filter rod feeder, a rod attachment unit for attaching rods of smokable material to each longitudinal end of a dual length filter rod received from the filter rod feeder, and a cutter to cut the dual length filter rod into two filter rod segments so that each segment, together with the rod of smokable material attached to each segment, forms a smoking article. The method supplies the filter rod feeder with filter rods comprising filter tow. The filter rods being configured so that the two filter rod segments cut from a dual length filter rod by the cutter will each have different characteristics. A pack of smoking article industry products, and an intermediate product made during the concurrent manufacture of two different types of smoking articles, are disclosed.

A method for concurrently manufacturing two different types of smoking articles using a smoking article manufacturing machine. The machine comprises a filter rod feeder, a rod attachment unit for attaching rods of smokable material to each longitudinal end of a dual length filter rod received from the filter rod feeder, and a cutter to cut the dual length filter rod into two filter rod segments so that each segment, together with the rod of smokable material attached to each segment, forms a smoking article. The method supplies the filter rod feeder with filter rods comprising filter tow. The filter rods being configured so that the two filter rod segments cut from a dual length filter rod by the cutter will each have different characteristics. A pack of smoking article industry products, and an intermediate product made during the concurrent manufacture of two different types of smoking articles, are disclosed.

The present invention refers to a feeder for components of an aerosol-forming article, the feeder comprising: a plurality of tubular hoppers, each hopper being adapted to receive and to deliver a plurality of components, each hopper including an inlet and an outlet and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, each channel having an axis and defining an insert dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the insert dimension being constant along the axis of the channel; -a frame to which the tubular hoppers are fastened and arranged so that their axes are substantially parallel to each other and in series along a transport direction; a delivery drum including a plurality of angularly spaced grooves arranged substantially parallel to said transport direction, said drum being located under the outlets of the tubular hoppers so that components going through said channels are delivered into one of said groves; a motor to rotate said delivery drum; a transport device located under said delivery drum and adapted to transport said components delivered by the delivery drum along the transport direction; and a size change element adapted to vary the insert dimension of the channel of at least one of the plurality of hoppers.