Transfer wheel (1) for transferring objects (40, 41) comprises at least a seat module (3). The seat module comprises a seat (2) located at the peripheral face of the transfer wheel and adapted for accommodating an object on the seat. The at least one seat module is a resilient seat module, wherein a position of the seat of the seat module is adaptable in radial direction of the transfer wheel. Also provided is a method for transferring objects.

A feeding device for feeding spherical objects (3) for tobacco industry applications, comprising: a mass chamber (2, 2) for storing a plurality of the spherical objects (3); at least one single layer chamber (10, 10) located below the mass chamber (2, 2) and connected with the mass chamber (2, 2) such that the spherical objects (3) may flow from the mass chamber (2, 2) to the single layer chamber (10, 10), wherein the single layer chamber (10, 10) comprises an outlet (15) having multiple outlet ducts (16) for outputting the spherical objects (3) to a receiving device; at least one roller (17, 18) located next to the outlet duct (16), wherein a circumferential surface (17A, 18A) of the roller (17, 18) constitutes a wall of the outlet duct (16). The feeding device further comprises a cylindrical rotary element (9, 9) located below the mass chamber (2, 2) in an area of connection of the mass chamber (2, 2) and the single layer chamber (10, 10), wherein a side surface (9A) of the cylindrical rotary element (9, 9) constitutes a wall for guiding the flow of the spherical objects (3) from the mass chamber (2, 2) to the single layer chamber (10, 10).

Cigarettes are provided which contain a filtering system and flavorants encapsulated with polyvinyl acetate, wherein deactivation of a sorbent by the flavorant is reduced through the encapsulation of the flavorant within the polyvinyl acetate. A preferred flavorant is menthol. The encapsulated flavorants are prepared by mixing at least one flavorant with polyvinyl acetate and a solvent, such as ethanol, and forming the encapsulated flavorants. Methods of making cigarettes and smoking the articles are also provided.

An apparatus is provided for forming a cigarette filter rod member defining a longitudinal axis. A rod-forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit configured to insert a carrier carrying a plurality of frangible microcapsule objects into the rod member. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.

A non-combustible smoking article and method of use thereof may be provided. The non-combustible smoking article may include a composite filter forming an elongated, cylindrical rod. The composite filter may further include a cavity having a nicotine source; an aerosol-forming substrate proximate the nicotine source; and at least one capsule filled with an additive for modifying a characteristic of inhalable vapor. An internal heater may be inserted into at least the nicotine-containing cavity of the composite filter. A peripheral heating source may also be disposed along an exterior length of the composite filter. The internal heater and the peripheral heating source may be activated to heat at least a portion of the composite filter, wherein the heat generates inhalable vapor to be drawn and inhaled by a consumer.

A bead feeder serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel connected to rotate about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially and outwardly extending bead passageway connected to rotate with the bowl and dimensioned to receive a single line of beads. A plurality of openings in the bead supply bowl is spaced around a lower portion thereof with the openings in alignment with the radially and outwardly extending passageways each of which has an outer exit end. A metering plate is connected to rotate about the same vertical axis as the bead supply wheel, and metering plate has a plurality of equally spaced apart openings directly below the outer ends of the passageways for receiving the lowermost beads in the passageways. The metering plate rotates at a slightly slower or slightly faster speed than the bead supply wheel so that vertical alignment of an outer exit end of a particular passageway and an opening in the metering plate only occurs once for each revolution of the bead supply wheel. A drop off is provided for the removal of beads away from the metering plate.

A bead feeder serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel connected to rotate about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially and outwardly extending bead passageway connected to rotate with the bowl and dimensioned to receive a single line of beads. A plurality of openings in the bead supply bowl is spaced around a lower portion thereof with the openings in alignment with the radially and outwardly extending passageways each of which has an outer exit end. A metering plate is connected to rotate about the same vertical axis as the bead supply wheel, and metering plate has a plurality of equally spaced apart openings directly below the outer ends of the passageways for receiving the lowermost beads in the passageways. The metering plate rotates at a slightly slower or slightly faster speed than the bead supply wheel so that vertical alignment of an outer exit end of a particular passageway and an opening in the metering plate only occurs once for each revolution of the bead supply wheel. A drop off is provided for the removal of beads away from the metering plate.

Apparatuses are provided for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated methods are also provided.

The object of the application is an apparatus for the manufacturing of rods of a continuous material strand comprising a feeding unit for feeding the material strand, a guiding unit for guiding the material strand, a compressing unit for compressing the strand and forming a continuous rod of the material strand, and an object feeding unit for feeding an object to the compressing unit, the apparatus being adapted to feed three partial strands of the material strand, whereas the partial strands are fed through the guiding unit to the compressing unit characterised in that the object feeding unit is adapted to insert the object in the radial direction of the formed continuous rod into the compressing unit between the partial strands. The object of the application is also a method for the manufacturing of rods of the continuous material strand.

There is disclosed a method for making a filter element comprising the steps of: advancing two or more sheets of filtering material in a longitudinal direction; separating the two or more sheets of longitudinally advancing filtering material; gathering the separated sheets of longitudinally advancing filtering material to form a partially gathered rod of filtering material having a longitudinally extending recess; inserting an additive release vessel into the longitudinally extending recess; gathering the filtering material around the additive release vessel to close the recess and thereby form a rod comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material and one or more additive release vessels.