A method and an apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) for axial centering of a rod-like article (3) or a group of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (4) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (5), moreover, the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles in the successive flutes (4) have the same or varying length, with the apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) being provided with pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) of a shifting mechanism axially acting on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles so as to change the position of the rod-like article (3) or the groups of articles in the flute (4), characterized in that the coupled pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) make swinging movements having opposite senses, moreover, the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) have contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) adapted to axially act on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles, the contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) of the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being convergently positioned in the direction of movement (T) of the rod-like articles, at least one pusher element (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being connected with a dynamic element (6, 26, 37, 47) placing the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles (3, 3L, 3R) or the groups of rod-like articles conveyed on the drum conveyor (5) so that the centers of the rod-like articles (3) or the groups of rod-like articles are positioned principally in a common plane (S, SL, SR).

A method and an apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) for axial centering of a rod-like article (3) or a group of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (4) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (5), moreover, the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles in the successive flutes (4) have the same or varying length, with the apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) being provided with pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) of a shifting mechanism axially acting on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles so as to change the position of the rod-like article (3) or the groups of articles in the flute (4), characterized in that the coupled pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) make swinging movements having opposite senses, moreover, the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) have contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) adapted to axially act on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles, the contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) of the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being convergently positioned in the direction of movement (T) of the rod-like articles, at least one pusher element (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being connected with a dynamic element (6, 26, 37, 47) placing the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles (3, 3L, 3R) or the groups of rod-like articles conveyed on the drum conveyor (5) so that the centers of the rod-like articles (3) or the groups of rod-like articles are positioned principally in a common plane (S, SL, SR).

A device manufactures multi-segment rod-like articles of tobacco industry from a continuous rod. The device has a transporting unit, a first cutting unit, a transferring mechanism, a set of drum conveyors, and a measuring system that measures parameters of a first multi-segment rod-like article. The measuring system has a transport device, at least one illuminating device, a registering device, and a processing unit. A second cutting unit of the device cuts the first multi-segment rod-like article into two second multi-segment rod-like articles.

A device manufactures multi-segment rod-like articles of tobacco industry from a continuous rod. The device has a transporting unit, a first cutting unit, a transferring mechanism, a set of drum conveyors, and a measuring system that measures parameters of a first multi-segment rod-like article. The measuring system has a transport device, at least one illuminating device, a registering device, and a processing unit. A second cutting unit of the device cuts the first multi-segment rod-like article into two second multi-segment rod-like articles.

An installation is arranged for serially forming a plurality of substrates for aerosol generation, and includes: a feeding means arranged for feeding a continuous web of substrate material, and a rotating cutting wheel having multiple cutting dies arranged circumferentially and for cutting out this continuous web to define a plurality of substrates and then for removing each defined substrate from each cutting die at a chosen instant to make it fall at a chosen position.

An installation is arranged for serially forming a plurality of substrates for aerosol generation, and includes: a feeding means arranged for feeding a continuous web of substrate material, and a rotating cutting wheel having multiple cutting dies arranged circumferentially and for cutting out this continuous web to define a plurality of substrates and then for removing each defined substrate from each cutting die at a chosen instant to make it fall at a chosen position.

The present invention relates to an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, an apparatus for manufacturing an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, and a method of manufacturing an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system. The article comprises an aerosol-generating material segment (20) and a susceptor (25) located therein, wherein first and second ends (26, 27) of the susceptor are located within about .sub.5 mm of the first and second ends of the aerosol-generating material segment, respectively. The method of manufacturing the article comprises: feeding an aerosol-generating material along a feed path; inserting a susceptor into the feed path; gathering the aerosol-generating material around a susceptor to create a rod; and cutting the rod into a segment comprising a susceptor. The apparatus comprises: a susceptor inserter; a gatherer to gather aerosol-generating material around a susceptor to form a rod; and a first cutter to cut the rod into segments comprising a susceptor.

The present invention relates to an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, an apparatus for manufacturing an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, and a method of manufacturing an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system. The article comprises an aerosol-generating material segment (20) and a susceptor (25) located therein, wherein first and second ends (26, 27) of the susceptor are located within about .sub.5 mm of the first and second ends of the aerosol-generating material segment, respectively. The method of manufacturing the article comprises: feeding an aerosol-generating material along a feed path; inserting a susceptor into the feed path; gathering the aerosol-generating material around a susceptor to create a rod; and cutting the rod into a segment comprising a susceptor. The apparatus comprises: a susceptor inserter; a gatherer to gather aerosol-generating material around a susceptor to form a rod; and a first cutter to cut the rod into segments comprising a susceptor.

A system for portioning a beaded substrate in a rod. The system includes a suction conveyor belt. The suction conveyor belt includes a belt suction chamber, a first belt end, and a second belt end, the second belt end opposite and downstream of the first belt end. The system also includes a metering device configured to provide the beaded substrate to the suction conveyor belt, and more specifically to the first belt end. The metering device includes a reach and a hopper. The metering device may provide the beaded substrate to the first belt end prior to the suction conveyor belt biasing a filler material onto the first belt end. The system may further includes a cutting mechanism that cooperates with the metering device to position the beaded substrate a first distance away from a first cut end.

A system for portioning a beaded substrate in a rod. The system includes a suction conveyor belt. The suction conveyor belt includes a belt suction chamber, a first belt end, and a second belt end, the second belt end opposite and downstream of the first belt end. The system also includes a metering device configured to provide the beaded substrate to the suction conveyor belt, and more specifically to the first belt end. The metering device includes a reach and a hopper. The metering device may provide the beaded substrate to the first belt end prior to the suction conveyor belt biasing a filler material onto the first belt end. The system may further includes a cutting mechanism that cooperates with the metering device to position the beaded substrate a first distance away from a first cut end.