A cone closure apparatus for production of smoking articles includes: (a) a frame; and (b) at least one cone holder supported by the frame and extending along an axis. The cone holder has a lower grip surface for applying a rotational force about the axis to an outer surface of a lower filled portion of a cone received in the cone holder. The cone having an upper empty portion disposed above the lower filled portion and protruding clear of the lower grip surface to receive a counter-rotational force about the axis, in a direction opposite the rotational force. The closure apparatus further includes (c) a drive supported by the frame for applying at least one of the rotational force and the counter-rotational force to twist the upper empty portion closed when the drive is energized.

A cigarette rolling machine deposits uniformly metered charges of smoking material into a trough formed in a belt as dispensed from a bulk supply. A length of smoking paper sufficient for the combined length of two cigarettes is deposited nearby on the belt on a movable platen. As the platen moves, the belt glides over a fixed arbor and at least one other movable arbor, and the belt forms into a bight, rolling the material into a cylindrical volume. Filters are delivered and abutted to the ends of the volume and the smoking paper is entrained into the bight to encircle the smoking material and filters. A pre-moistened adhesive along a leading edge of the paper adheres to its trailing edge as a circular ouroboros and forming a tube. The twinned pair of cigarettes is then drawn across a cutting plane knife and parted into two individual cigarettes.

A cigarette rolling machine deposits uniformly metered charges of smoking material into a trough formed in a belt as dispensed from a bulk supply. A length of smoking paper sufficient for the combined length of two cigarettes is deposited nearby on the belt on a movable platen. As the platen moves, the belt glides over a fixed arbor and at least one other movable arbor, and the belt forms into a bight, rolling the material into a cylindrical volume. Filters are delivered and abutted to the ends of the volume and the smoking paper is entrained into the bight to encircle the smoking material and filters. A pre-moistened adhesive along a leading edge of the paper adheres to its trailing edge as a circular ouroboros and forming a tube. The twinned pair of cigarettes is then drawn across a cutting plane knife and parted into two individual cigarettes.

A feeding apparatus for feeding a tobacco industry segment (C) comprising a hopper (12) for rods (10C) with a length being a multiple length of the segment (C), a cutting a conveying unit (13), situated underneath the hopper (12) for the rods (10C), for cutting the rods (10C) into individual segments (C), whereas from the rod (10C), after cutting the rod (10C), a group (G) of the segments (C) is formed, a transferring unit (15) situated underneath the cutting and conveying unit (13), adapted to receive the groups (G) of the segments (C) and to form of them a stream (SF) of the segments (C), whereas the gaps (U) between the groups (G) of the segments (C) in the stream (SF) are retained, and the transferring unit (15) is adapted to reduce the gaps (U) between the groups (G) so that at the outlet (23) of the transferring unit (15) the segments (C) are conveyed without gaps.

A feeding apparatus for feeding a tobacco industry segment (C) comprising a hopper (12) for rods (10C) with a length being a multiple length of the segment (C), a cutting a conveying unit (13), situated underneath the hopper (12) for the rods (10C), for cutting the rods (10C) into individual segments (C), whereas from the rod (10C), after cutting the rod (10C), a group (G) of the segments (C) is formed, a transferring unit (15) situated underneath the cutting and conveying unit (13), adapted to receive the groups (G) of the segments (C) and to form of them a stream (SF) of the segments (C), whereas the gaps (U) between the groups (G) of the segments (C) in the stream (SF) are retained, and the transferring unit (15) is adapted to reduce the gaps (U) between the groups (G) so that at the outlet (23) of the transferring unit (15) the segments (C) are conveyed without gaps.

The tongue includes a shaft, the shaft being hollow. The shaft includes a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first opening with a first radius of curvature, and the second end defining a second opening with a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature. The shaft defines at least one injection port that traverses through an inner surface of the shaft. A first plate is connected to the shaft. The first plate includes an engaging structure configured to mount the tongue onto a lower plate and align the shaft with a groove defined by the lower plate. The rod forming apparatus includes the tongue. The method installs the tongue onto the rod forming apparatus.

The tongue includes a shaft, the shaft being hollow. The shaft includes a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first opening with a first radius of curvature, and the second end defining a second opening with a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature. The shaft defines at least one injection port that traverses through an inner surface of the shaft. A first plate is connected to the shaft. The first plate includes an engaging structure configured to mount the tongue onto a lower plate and align the shaft with a groove defined by the lower plate. The rod forming apparatus includes the tongue. The method installs the tongue onto the rod forming apparatus.

There is disclosed a separator drum (13) for tobacco industry product assembly apparatus. The separator drum has a plurality of segments (29, 30) arranged to form at least a part of a peripheral surface of the separator drum. Each segment has at least one flute (31) and at most four flutes (31). Each flute (31) is adapted to carry a rod of aerosolisable material (2) as the separator drum rotates during use. Each segment (29, 30) is slidably mounted to the separator drum (13) for axial movement.

There is disclosed a separator drum (13) for tobacco industry product assembly apparatus. The separator drum has a plurality of segments (29, 30) arranged to form at least a part of a peripheral surface of the separator drum. Each segment has at least one flute (31) and at most four flutes (31). Each flute (31) is adapted to carry a rod of aerosolisable material (2) as the separator drum rotates during use. Each segment (29, 30) is slidably mounted to the separator drum (13) for axial movement.

A cigarette rolling machine deposits uniformly metered charges of smoking material into a trough formed in a belt as dispensed from a bulk supply. A length of smoking paper sufficient for the combined length of two cigarettes is deposited nearby on the belt on a movable platen. As the platen moves, the belt glides over a fixed arbor and at least one other movable arbor, and the belt forms into a bight, rolling the material into a cylindrical volume. Filters are delivered and abutted to the ends of the volume and the smoking paper is entrained into the bight to encircle the smoking material and filters. A pre-moistened adhesive along a leading edge of the paper adheres to its trailing edge as a circular ouroboros and forming a tube. The twinned pair of cigarettes is then drawn across a cutting plane knife and parted into two individual cigarettes.