Component (2) for a non-combustible aerosol provision article (1), and a method of forming the component. The component comprises: a body (7) formed from a sheet of aerosol-generating material, the body comprising a void (8); and the at least one tube (11) located in the void within the body. The sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises an internal edge at least partially defining a closed end of the void. The void comprises an open end in the plane of an end of the body. The application also discloses an apparatus for manufacturing the component.

A method and an apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) for axial centering of a rod-like article (3) or a group of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (4) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (5), moreover, the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles in the successive flutes (4) have the same or varying length, with the apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) being provided with pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) of a shifting mechanism axially acting on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles so as to change the position of the rod-like article (3) or the groups of articles in the flute (4), characterized in that the coupled pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) make swinging movements having opposite senses, moreover, the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) have contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) adapted to axially act on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles, the contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) of the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being convergently positioned in the direction of movement (T) of the rod-like articles, at least one pusher element (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being connected with a dynamic element (6, 26, 37, 47) placing the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles (3, 3L, 3R) or the groups of rod-like articles conveyed on the drum conveyor (5) so that the centers of the rod-like articles (3) or the groups of rod-like articles are positioned principally in a common plane (S, SL, SR).

A method and an apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) for axial centering of a rod-like article (3) or a group of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (4) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (5), moreover, the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles in the successive flutes (4) have the same or varying length, with the apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) being provided with pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) of a shifting mechanism axially acting on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles so as to change the position of the rod-like article (3) or the groups of articles in the flute (4), characterized in that the coupled pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) make swinging movements having opposite senses, moreover, the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) have contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) adapted to axially act on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles, the contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) of the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being convergently positioned in the direction of movement (T) of the rod-like articles, at least one pusher element (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being connected with a dynamic element (6, 26, 37, 47) placing the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles (3, 3L, 3R) or the groups of rod-like articles conveyed on the drum conveyor (5) so that the centers of the rod-like articles (3) or the groups of rod-like articles are positioned principally in a common plane (S, SL, SR).

This filler element 6 is used in a flavor inhaler 1, and comprises: a folded part 36 in which one sheet 34 composed of a nonwoven fabric has been folded in the width direction Z intersecting the longitudinal direction X thereof, and the diameter thereof has been reduced to a size not greater than the diameter of the filler element 6; and wrapping paper 18 that is wrapped on the folded part 36. The sheet 34 is subjected to a compression process in which at least a portion thereof in the width direction Z is compressed, such that if the total of the widths D1 of the compressed sections of the sheet 34 in the width direction Z is defined as the total compressed width Dt1 of the sheet 34, the ratio of the total compressed width Dt1 relative to the sheet width Ds of the sheet in the width direction Z is a prescribed ratio.

This filler element 6 is used in a flavor inhaler 1, and comprises: a folded part 36 in which one sheet 34 composed of a nonwoven fabric has been folded in the width direction Z intersecting the longitudinal direction X thereof, and the diameter thereof has been reduced to a size not greater than the diameter of the filler element 6; and wrapping paper 18 that is wrapped on the folded part 36. The sheet 34 is subjected to a compression process in which at least a portion thereof in the width direction Z is compressed, such that if the total of the widths D1 of the compressed sections of the sheet 34 in the width direction Z is defined as the total compressed width Dt1 of the sheet 34, the ratio of the total compressed width Dt1 relative to the sheet width Ds of the sheet in the width direction Z is a prescribed ratio.

A cannabis joints manufacturing machine includes a plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices positioned in a line. The first of these cannabis joints manufacturing devices is configured to receive a cannabis cone including cannabis therein, and each of the other stations are adapted to perform on it a step among a sequence of steps towards manufacturing a cannabis joint. The last one of the plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices transforms the cannabis cone resulting from the processing by the previous stations into a cannabis joint. The cannabis joints manufacturing machine further includes a cannabis cone moving device for simultaneously moving the cannabis cones in the plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices to a next cannabis joints manufacturing device in the line.

A cannabis joints manufacturing machine includes a plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices positioned in a line. The first of these cannabis joints manufacturing devices is configured to receive a cannabis cone including cannabis therein, and each of the other stations are adapted to perform on it a step among a sequence of steps towards manufacturing a cannabis joint. The last one of the plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices transforms the cannabis cone resulting from the processing by the previous stations into a cannabis joint. The cannabis joints manufacturing machine further includes a cannabis cone moving device for simultaneously moving the cannabis cones in the plurality of cannabis joints manufacturing devices to a next cannabis joints manufacturing device in the line.

A cigarette rolling machine includes paper pick and place subassembly wherein bulk paper strip is provided by a roll resting upon spool hooks. The frame plates are held spaced apart by a plurality of struts. A paper drive motor drives a roller which may preferably be made of polyurethane or another material that paper may adhere to effectively. A fluid reservoir contains adhesive fluid which is delivered into a wick held in a wick retainer A pick arm mounted on vertical displacement struts raises and lowers a hollow pick manifold connected to a vacuum line so that it may pick up a cigarette paper and retain it on its underside surface for placement onto a section cigarette forming belt. A transfer pad swings from a pair of swing arms which each have a stud slidable within a serpentine groove of a guide plate affixed to the pick manifold.

A cigarette rolling machine includes paper pick and place subassembly wherein bulk paper strip is provided by a roll resting upon spool hooks. The frame plates are held spaced apart by a plurality of struts. A paper drive motor drives a roller which may preferably be made of polyurethane or another material that paper may adhere to effectively. A fluid reservoir contains adhesive fluid which is delivered into a wick held in a wick retainer A pick arm mounted on vertical displacement struts raises and lowers a hollow pick manifold connected to a vacuum line so that it may pick up a cigarette paper and retain it on its underside surface for placement onto a section cigarette forming belt. A transfer pad swings from a pair of swing arms which each have a stud slidable within a serpentine groove of a guide plate affixed to the pick manifold.

A closing machine including a cone loading/unloading station, at least one pick and place gripper, a holder assembly, a closing station, and a collection station. The cone loading/unloading station is configured to receive a lower tube assembly and a tray including a plurality of cones. The at least one pick and place gripper is configured to grab at least one cone of the plurality of cones. The holder assembly is configured to receive the at least one cone and move the at least one cone through the closing machine. The closing station is configured to receive the at least one cone from the holder assembly and configured to close an end of the at least one cone. The holder assembly is further configured to release the at least one cone into the collection station.