A smoking article comprises a rod of smokeable material such as tobacco and a tubular support in which the rod is slidably received. The tubular support is formed from a blank of sheet material that is wound in a spiral. Machinery for making the spiral blank is described.

A smoking article comprises a rod of smokeable material such as tobacco and a tubular support in which the rod is slidably received. The tubular support is formed from a blank of sheet material that is wound in a spiral. Machinery for making the spiral blank is described.

Herein described is a cigarette filling apparatus for loading substrate into blank cigarette tubes and adapted for use with conventional cigarette filling machines. The invention furthermore relates to methods of filling blank cigarette tubes using the apparatus described herein. The apparatus described herein reduces human error and increases filling speeds of conventional personal use cigarette filling machines. The apparatus generally comprises a tube dispensing member, a filler dispensing member, a tube loading arm, packing foot, filler hopper, and a tube hopper.

Herein described is a cigarette filling apparatus for loading substrate into blank cigarette tubes and adapted for use with conventional cigarette filling machines. The invention furthermore relates to methods of filling blank cigarette tubes using the apparatus described herein. The apparatus described herein reduces human error and increases filling speeds of conventional personal use cigarette filling machines. The apparatus generally comprises a tube dispensing member, a filler dispensing member, a tube loading arm, packing foot, filler hopper, and a tube hopper.

Systems and methods for an automated paper cone closing machine are disclosed. A paper cone closing machine may comprise a plurality of tamping rods, a pair of plates, and a plurality of ejection rods arranged above a tray shuttle. The plurality of tamping rods for compacting a material contained in a plurality of paper rolls removeably received in the tray shuttle in a row. The pair of plates for pressing on the top of each paper roll to flatten the top of each paper roll into a flap. The plurality of ejection rods configured to press on the flap of each paper roll to press the flap into a top of each paper roll into a dimple thereby closing each paper roll.

A feed apparatus for automatically feeding casings for smoking articles toward a transport member includes a feed unit disposed in a position above the transport member and configured to temporarily support the casings before they are fed to the transport member below, and a conveyor unit interposed between the feed unit and the transport member to selectively pick up the casings from the feed unit and send them to the transport member.

A feed apparatus for automatically feeding casings for smoking articles toward a transport member includes a feed unit disposed in a position above the transport member and configured to temporarily support the casings before they are fed to the transport member below, and a conveyor unit interposed between the feed unit and the transport member to selectively pick up the casings from the feed unit and send them to the transport member.

Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.

Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.

An apparatus for preparing a smokeable product is provided. The apparatus includes an upper chamber configured to receive feed material, a feed material cutting mechanism comprising a size reducer configured to rotate in two directions, a motor configured to rotate the feed material cutting mechanism, a controller configured to selectively reverse direction of rotation of the feed material cutting mechanism, a power source configured to drive the motor, a switch for turning the power source off and on, and a fan in the uppermost chamber configured to move feed material within the uppermost chamber to a lowermost chamber.