The invention relates to a method for winding a sheet (13) of homogenized tobacco material into a bobbin (12), the method comprising: providing a sheet of homogenized tobacco material having a free end (11); connecting the free end to a center core; rotating the center core so as to wind the sheet of homogenized tobacco material around it forming the bobbin; and applying a force per unit length to the sheet of homogenized tobacco material during winding to pull the same having a magnitude comprised between about 42 N/m and about 93 N/m.

Winding equipment continuously wrapping a flavor raw ingredient in rollable paper while molding the flavor raw ingredient into a filler through a process for transporting the flavor raw ingredient with the rollable paper along a transport path is provided. The winding equipment includes a garniture tape and a molding bed having a molding groove in which the garniture tape travels. The rollable paper is supported on the garniture tape and travels in the molding groove with the garniture tape. The filler is supported on the rollable paper and is continuously wrapped in the rollable paper via the garniture tape traveling in the molding groove and is molded into the filling rod. The molding bed has a suction chamber for suctioning a groove space in the molding groove. The garniture tape has a suction hole and applies suction force from the suction chamber to the rollable paper via the suction hole.

Winding equipment continuously wrapping a flavor raw ingredient in rollable paper while molding the flavor raw ingredient into a filler through a process for transporting the flavor raw ingredient with the rollable paper along a transport path is provided. The winding equipment includes a garniture tape and a molding bed having a molding groove in which the garniture tape travels. The rollable paper is supported on the garniture tape and travels in the molding groove with the garniture tape. The filler is supported on the rollable paper and is continuously wrapped in the rollable paper via the garniture tape traveling in the molding groove and is molded into the filling rod. The molding bed has a suction chamber for suctioning a groove space in the molding groove. The garniture tape has a suction hole and applies suction force from the suction chamber to the rollable paper via the suction hole.

The present invention relates to a method for unwinding a bobbin of a coiled sheet, the method comprising: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet, the bobbin comprising a free portion of the sheet unwound from the bobbin; arranging a blade between the free portion of the sheet and the remaining of the sheet coiled in the bobbin in such a way that the blade is in contact to the sheet coiled in the bobbin; and vibrating the blade while unwinding the sheet from the bobbin. The present invention also relates to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding a bobbin.

The present invention relates to a method for unwinding a bobbin of a coiled sheet, the method comprising: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet, the bobbin comprising a free portion of the sheet unwound from the bobbin; arranging a blade between the free portion of the sheet and the remaining of the sheet coiled in the bobbin in such a way that the blade is in contact to the sheet coiled in the bobbin; and vibrating the blade while unwinding the sheet from the bobbin. The present invention also relates to an unwinding apparatus for unwinding a bobbin.

Apparatus for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first feed device adapted to supply a first web of aerosol-generating material to a processing unit, a second feed device adapted to supply a second web of aerosol-generating material, and a web changeover unit arranged to change supply of aerosol-generating material to the processing unit from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. The web changeover unit is configured to position a leading edge of the second web of aerosol-generating material adjacent to a trailing edge of the first web of aerosol-generating material upstream of the processing unit during changeover from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. A method of producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is also disclosed.

Apparatus for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first feed device adapted to supply a first web of aerosol-generating material to a processing unit, a second feed device adapted to supply a second web of aerosol-generating material, and a web changeover unit arranged to change supply of aerosol-generating material to the processing unit from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. The web changeover unit is configured to position a leading edge of the second web of aerosol-generating material adjacent to a trailing edge of the first web of aerosol-generating material upstream of the processing unit during changeover from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. A method of producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is also disclosed.

The present invention is related to a method for producing a bobbin the method comprising the steps of: providing a web (210) of a material containing alkaloids, wherein the web of a material containing alkaloids contains at least about 5 percent in dry weight basis of an aerosol-former; feeding the web (210) of a material containing alkaloids to an embossing device in a transport direction; embossing the web (210) of a material containing alkaloids to form an embossed web (220) of a material containing alkaloids; winding the embossed web (220) of a material containing alkaloids in a bobbin (200).

A method for splicing two sheets of material is provided, including: providing a processing line including a splicing head and a quality sensor located between upstream and downstream ends of the processing line; providing first and second sheets of material; processing the first sheet on the processing line along a processing direction from the upstream end towards the downstream end; detecting, by the quality sensor, a value of a quality parameter at a detected portion of the first sheet; and, when the value falls within a predetermined threshold, transporting the first sheet along the processing line such that the detected portion is located prior to getting into the splicing head from the upstream end, and splicing the first and the second sheets at the splicing head when the detected portion is located prior to getting into the splicing head from the upstream end.