A compacting unit for the tobacco industry includes a conveyor drum configured to convey groups of segments disposed perpendicularly to the feed direction. A first compactor and a second compactor have a first contact portion and a second contact portion, respectively. The first contact portion and the second contact portion are respectively adapted to be placed in contact with a first axial end and a second axial end of a group of segments in transit in the compacting station. The first contact portion is compliant, preferably elastically compliant, along a longitudinal direction of extension of the groups of segments upon interaction with the first axial end. The second contact portion defines a rigid abutment along the longitudinal direction of extension of the groups of segments suitable for setting a predetermined position for the second axial end.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a rolling drum for use in a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus. The rolling drum has a peripheral surface configured to carry a collation of rod-shaped articles. The rolling drum comprises a plurality of ridges on the peripheral surface, each ridge comprising a trailing face and a leading face. The rolling drum comprises a plurality of suction holes for retaining the collation of rod-shaped articles. The plurality of suction holes are disposed at the trailing face and the leading face of each of the ridges. Also disclosed is a rolling apparatus comprising such a rolling drum, and a machine for assembling tobacco industry products comprising such an apparatus. Also disclosed is a method of assembling tobacco industry products using such a rolling apparatus or machine.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine. The apparatus comprises a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods. Each double-length rod has respective remote ends. A positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other. Also disclosed is a method of cutting and arranging rods for tobacco industry product assembly, and a method of tobacco industry product assembly.

An aerosol-generating article (10) comprising a rod (20) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate (22); a filter (30) in axial alignment with the rod (20); a bridging element (40) comprising a first wrapper (42), the first wrapper circumscribing the rod (20) and the filter and securing the filter to the rod; and a cavity (44) located between the rod and the filter, the cavity (44) being partially delimited by the inner surface of the first wrapper (42) in a first portion of the bridging element (40), wherein the first portion of the bridging element has a reflectance factor of 85 percent or higher.

An apparatus and associated methods for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine, the apparatus including a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods where each double-length rod has respective remote ends, a positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other.

A smoking product and method of making thereof for the consumption of a smokable substance. The product has a hollow conical shape that allows for the easy insertion of smokable substances. Additionally, the conical or frustoconical shape of the product provides for larger amounts of smokable substances in the end of the product the consumer lights, resulting in an initial slower prolonged burn. Additionally, the product includes a supporting filter tip with a frangible capsule contained therein and is packaged for sale in packaging in an unfilled state allowing a user to remove the product from the packaging, fill it with the user's selected custom smokable filler and form a custom smoking product.

An aerosol-generating article and a method of manufacturing the same capable of simultaneously improving satisfaction with a tobacco smoke taste and allowing the aerosol-generating article to be manufactured at low cost are provided. The aerosol-generating article according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include an aerosol-forming substrate portion which includes shredded tobacco leaves and is configured to form an aerosol when electrically heated by an aerosol generation device and a mouthpiece portion which is disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate portion to form a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article. Since the shredded tobacco leaves are cheaper than a reconstituted tobacco sheet, manufacturing costs of the aerosol-generating article may be reduced. Also, unlike the reconstituted tobacco sheet, since the amount of supplementary materials added to the shredded tobacco leaves is small, an off-taste may be reduced, and thus user satisfaction with a tobacco smoke taste may be improved.

An aerosol-generating article and a method of manufacturing the same capable of simultaneously improving satisfaction with a tobacco smoke taste and allowing the aerosol-generating article to be manufactured at low cost are provided. The aerosol-generating article according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include an aerosol-forming substrate portion which includes shredded tobacco leaves and is configured to form an aerosol when electrically heated by an aerosol generation device and a mouthpiece portion which is disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate portion to form a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article. Since the shredded tobacco leaves are cheaper than a reconstituted tobacco sheet, manufacturing costs of the aerosol-generating article may be reduced. Also, unlike the reconstituted tobacco sheet, since the amount of supplementary materials added to the shredded tobacco leaves is small, an off-taste may be reduced, and thus user satisfaction with a tobacco smoke taste may be improved.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.