A method for making smokers' articles by subdividing a semifinished item which includes least five sticks aligned with each other along a main axis, at least two of the sticks are of a type different from the others; the method includes a step of forming the semifinished item by aligning the five sticks in a predetermined succession along the main axis and a step of subdividing a single rod into at least three sticks, followed by a step of aligning along the main axis each of the three sticks obtained from the rod alternating them with each of the sticks of different type, so as to form the semifinished item.

Device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes and method for the application thereof The subject of the invention is a device for grinding and mixing of herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, preparing and dispensing of cigarettes, the device comprising a grinding chamber (2) for holding and grinding the herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, wherein the grinding chamber (2) has a plurality of tubes (9) for holding pre-rolled cigarette papers (17) and receiving ground herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, a carousel (10), which is rotatable around a central axis (16). The device further comprises a mixing chamber (5) for mixing the herbs and/or tobacco and/or spices, which is located below the grinding chamber (2), a mixing unit (4) located in the mixing chamber (5), at least one door (7) on the carousel cover (8) for dispensing one tube (9) or a plurality of tubes (9) with the filled pre-rolled cigarette paper (17), wherein the carousel (10) comprises a plurality of tube holders (14) for holding the tubes (9). The subject of the invention is also the method for the application of the device.

An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.

Method of emptying a container filled with rod-like articles manufactured in the tobacco industry comprising the following stages: the container to be emptied is delivered to the entrance area of an intermediate store comprising adjacent channels separated from one another by walls; the rod-like articles are transferred by supporting plates from the container to the channels of the intermediate store; the channels of the intermediate store are filled with the rod-like articles; characterised in that during the transfer of the rod-like articles from the container to the channels of the intermediate store the intermediate store makes a reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction, transversely to the axis of the rod-like articles.

A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.

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.

The object of the invention is a forming and transporting apparatus for conveying rod-like articles and for forming groups of the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, comprising transport units, whereas a transport unit comprises a transport carriage adapted to move along a path, and a transport tray provided with a number of transport grooves adapted to hold the rod-like articles, whereas the tray is fastened to the transport carriage, whereas the transport tray is divided into two transport sections which are adapted to change the reciprocal position between an open configuration in which the transport grooves are situated substantially in one plane and a closed configuration in which the transport grooves are situated in two planes being substantially parallel to each other.

An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.

The invention relates to a hopper (10) for rod shaped articles (100) defining a longitudinal axis, the hopper (10) including: a chamber (20) to hold the rod shaped articles (100); a distributor device (30) to align the rod shaped articles (100) with substantially parallel longitudinal axes, the distributor device (30) including a plurality of walls (50) defining adjacent channels (40), at least one of said walls (50) including a stationary part (51) and a movable part (52) connected to the stationary part (51); and a vibrating device (70) adapted to oscillate the movable part (52) with respect to the stationary part (51).

A method for manufacturing rod-like articles for tobacco industry, the rod-like articles comprising longitudinal inserts located in a filling material, the method comprising: feeding a continuous tape-like wrapper; feeding a strand of the filling material onto the moving wrapper; feeding an insert material, in a form of a tape having weakenings, into the strand of the filling material; forming a continuous rod by wrapping the wrapper around the strand of the filling material with the insert material; cutting the moving continuous rod into discrete rod-like articles by a cutting head at a cutting plane that traverses the weakening in the tape of the insert material; the method being characterized by: inspecting ends of the insert in the rod like article cut from the continuous rod and comparing the ends with a predefined model to obtain a measure of similarity; and depending on the similarity, adjusting the action of the cutting head with respect to the movement of the continuous rod such as to increase the similarity between the ends of the insert to the model in a following rod like article.