The invention relates to a suction belt (1) for transporting tobacco and/or filter material during the production of cigarettes, comprising a flat belt material (7), which is shaped to form a ring, and a plurality of openings (11) which are distributed over the surface of the belt material (7). At least 75% of all the openings (11) have a clear width of 0.3 mm or less.

The apparatus for combining tobacco sheets (3, 4) comprises a first shaft for carrying a first bobbin (30) of tobacco sheet (3) and a second shaft for carrying a second bobbin (40) of tobacco sheet (4). The apparatus also comprises a splicing unit (2) for combining an end portion of tobacco sheet from the first bobbin (30) to a head portion of tobacco sheet from the second bobbin. The splicing unit comprises a cutting device (20) for cutting the tobacco sheets such as to provide complementary cuts to the tobacco sheets (3) from the first bobbin and from the second bobbin (4), a dispensing device (23) for dispensing water to at least one of the tobacco sheets (3, 4), and a combining device (24) for applying force onto the tobacco sheets thereby producing a spliced tobacco sheet.

A capsule used for preparing a smokeable product, the capsule comprising a bowl shaped body made from aluminum and having an open top and a rounded bottom creating a cavity configured to hold smokeable material therein, the rounded bottom having a closed, roughly cylindrical neck extending from a center of the rounded bottom, away from the open top; and a circular disc of aluminum foil configured to couple to the open top of the body of the capsule. A machine for preparing a smokeable product, the machine comprising a housing, a vibration plate, at least one vibration motor, a capsule receiving compartment, a support structure slidably coupled to a top surface of the housing, a tamper, a tamper motor, a rolling medium holder, and a waste chamber, the waste chamber located below the rolling medium holder and configured to receive waste.

An orbital plant material feed assembly includes a drum structure and hopper assembly. An external surface of the drum structure has a curved shape and includes a peripheral groove. A width of the peripheral groove varies along the external surface of the drum structure. The hopper assembly may define a compression space between the drum structure and a portion of the hopper assembly that covers a portion of the peripheral groove.

The technology described herein generally relates to particular form of folded package. The package packages loose particles into a conical container and secures the filling with a folded distal end. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied as filling and the package may further be provided with a fluid core.

A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine includes the steps of measuring the moisture level of the plant material, introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, configuring hydration settings for the hydration machine to reach a target range of moisture between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight at the exit of the hydration machine. And misting the plant material with one or more terpenes. The process further includes the steps of re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, and if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, removing the plant material from the hydration machine. But if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, the process further includes the steps of re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, re-configuring the hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.

A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine includes the steps of measuring the moisture level of the plant material, introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, configuring hydration settings for the hydration machine to reach a target range of moisture between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight at the exit of the hydration machine. And misting the plant material with one or more terpenes. The process further includes the steps of re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, and if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, removing the plant material from the hydration machine. But if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, the process further includes the steps of re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, re-configuring the hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.

Apparatus for rolling pieces of a wrappable and smokable or edible material, such as tobacco, herbs, or cannabis, or foodstuffs, within a wrapper such as a sheet of a paper or seaweed, respectively for smoking or eating. The apparatus comprises a tube (which can comprise integrated outer and inner tubes for ease of manufacture) with a rotatable base, an openable or removable top cap, and a hollow tubular interior. The tube has a longitudinal side opening for receiving the wrapper into said interior of the tube. In operation, the base is rotated and the wrapper is inserted and directed toward said interior where the wrapper wraps around said interior. The wrappable material is thereafter inserted into said tubular interior. Turning the base of the tube causes the wrapper to wrap said material within it. When complete, the wrapped material is removed from the top or bottom of the tube.

The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus packs the crumbled leaves into the cones, closes the wide top portion of the cone into a precise shape, and then runs a quality control check to ensure that the final filled cone meets preset specifications.

A material handling machine dispenses uniformly metered charges of smoking material from a bulk supply, by means of a metered material feeder that has a first hopper with an opening disposed over a first horizontal chute. The first chute is mounted on slanted springs and has a dispensing end above a second chute also mounted upon slanted springs. The second chute discharges onto a tippable weighing tray above a set of nested hoppers in which one is fixed and the other is vertically movable. A weight sensor may be attached to the tippable tray or the fixed hopper, or both. The move-able hopper may comprise a forming belt indenter to form a trough in a cigarette rolling apparatus. The first hopper may include an agitator that has at least one vertical rod for stirring the bulk material. The dispensing end of the first chute may also include a rotating rake.