An adjustable capacity reservoir for processing rod-like elements for tobacco industry, having partitioned multiple chambers.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a first subunit of an HNB smoking article that comprises a rod-shaped body and a cavity arranged thereon, wherein a tubular body is arranged on and attached to one of the end faces of the rod-shaped body, such as via a cover strip attaching the tubular body to the rod-shaped body.

An apparatus for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including a susceptor band, the apparatus including: a conveyor configured to accommodate and transport an aerosol-generating article including a susceptor band; a holder configured to hold the aerosol-generating article in the conveyor and to allow temporary rotation of the aerosol-generating article; a magnetic positioner configured to rotate the aerosol-generating article held by the holder around a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article to a defined position; and a cutting device configured to cut the aerosol-generating article in the defined position, the magnetic positioner including at least one rotatable magnetic shaft. A method for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including the susceptor band is also provided.

An apparatus for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including a susceptor band, the apparatus including: a conveyor configured to accommodate and transport an aerosol-generating article including a susceptor band; a holder configured to hold the aerosol-generating article in the conveyor and to allow temporary rotation of the aerosol-generating article; a magnetic positioner configured to rotate the aerosol-generating article held by the holder around a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article to a defined position; and a cutting device configured to cut the aerosol-generating article in the defined position, the magnetic positioner including at least one rotatable magnetic shaft. A method for aligning rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles including the susceptor band is also provided.

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.

An apparatus (10, 20, 30, 40) for shifting of rod-shaped articles (4, 4) of different lengths or rod-shaped article groups (6) of different total lengths on a drum conveyor (2), comprising a pushing unit (5, 25, 35) mounted angularly to the axis of rotation of the drum conveyor (2), forcing the movement of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4), whereas the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) comprises rotational pushing elements (11, 21, 31) for shifting of the rod-shaped articles (4, 4), characterised in that the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) is movably mounted in a direction being substantially transverse to the axis of the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) so as to shift the rod-shaped-articles (4, 4) or the rod-shaped article groups (6) inside the flute (3) of the drum conveyor (2) by the pressure of surfaces (11A, 21A, 31A) of the pushing unit (5, 25, 35) directly on the ends of the rod-shaped article (4, 4).

Apparatus (1, 1) for axial centring of a rod-like article (4, 4) or a group (30) of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (3) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (2), whereas the length of the article (4, 4) or the total length of articles in the group (30) may vary, provided with pusher elements (5) acting on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles, characterized in that the pusher elements (5) of a shifting mechanism (13) are driven by a common driving unit (24, 24) and are connected in such a way that the force exerted by the driving unit (24, 24) is distributed to the pusher elements (5) acting axially on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles. The object of the application is also a method of axial centring of the rod-like article (4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles is conveyed in the flute (3) situated on the circumference of the drum conveyor (2), by means of the pusher elements (5), whereas the length of the article (4, 4) or the total length of articles in the group (30) may vary, characterized in that the force exerted by the driving unit (24) is distributed to the pusher elements (5) of the shifting mechanism (13) acting axially on the rod-like article (4, 4) or the group (30) of rod-like articles.

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.

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 device for moving tubular bodies, includes a conveyor belt for feeding a plurality of tubular pieces, each extending along a respective axis of extension, in such a way as to provide a succession of groups of tubular pieces where each group is defined by a predetermined number of tubular pieces positioned in succession along the respective axis of extension and transversely offset therefrom. The device includes at least one housing for containing at least one tubular piece inside of which an air cushion is produced by which the tubular piece is transferred translationally outside the housing along its respective axis of extension.