The object of the application is an apparatus for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles, comprising a unit (4) for feeding a continuous strand of the filling material and a crimping unit (5) for crimping the filling material. The apparatus is characterised in that between the unit (4) for feeding the continuous strand of the filling material and the crimping unit (5) there is a cutting unit (23) for cutting the continuous strand of the filling material (20) into sections (22), and in that the crimping unit (5) is adapted to crimp the cut-off section (22) of the filling material transversely to the direction of movement of the material section (22). The apparatus is further characterised in that the forming unit (16, 46, 51, 61) is adapted to form a roll (22X, 22Y) from the cut-off crimped section (22) of the filling material in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod. The object of the application is also a method for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles.

The apparatus for shaping substantially flat continuous material comprises a shaping device (500) for gathering substantially flat continuous material transverse to a longitudinal direction of the continuous material to form a gathered continuous material. The apparatus further comprises a cooling device (75) for cooling the gathered continuous material. The shaping device and the cooling device are combined such as to immediately cool the gathered continuous material.

The method includes forming a filter material sheet, containing the filter material sheet to form a contained filter material, the containing including, folding the filter material sheet to create a plurality of folds along a width of the filter material sheet, gathering the filter material sheet to form the contained filter material, the plurality of folds in the filter material sheet forming interstices running through a longitudinal length of the contained filter material, the interstices being configured to allow an airflow to pass through the longitudinal length of the contained filter material, and infusing the filter material sheet with at least one first consumable substance, the at least one first consumable substance being one of nicotine, at least one first flavorant, a pre-vapor formulation, a combination thereof, or a sub-combination thereof.

A cellulose acetate particle aggregate, a preparation method therefor and an application thereof, which relate to the field of harm reduction additives in cigarettes. The cellulose acetate particle aggregate includes 49-99.5 wt % of cellulose acetate particles, 0-50 wt % of a second kind of particles, and 0.5-20 wt % of a binder. The preparation method involves selecting cellulose acetate particles and a second kind of particles in a certain ratio, or cellulose acetate particles alone, preparing particle aggregates by using an air fluidized granulation method while adding a binder thereto, and sieving the particle aggregates to obtain a cellulose acetate particle aggregate having a required particle size. The cellulose acetate particle aggregate has a porous structure, an irregular shape, and a rough and uneven surface, which help to improve the efficiency of filtering out particulate matters or one or more harmful ingredients in cigarette smoke.

Packing tools and systems and methods for using a packing tool to hand-make smoking products are disclosed. In some embodiments, the packing tool may include an elongate body having a first tamping end and a second tamping end opposite the first tamping end, and a handle attached to, or formed with, the elongate body. The handle may be disposed between the first and second tamping ends. The first tamping end may have a first width sized to fit within a filter end of a smoking product. The second tamping end may have a second width sized to fit within an ignition end of a smoking product. The packing tool may additionally include a single row of troughs configured to distribute material of a smoking product, a set of ruler markings proximate the first tamping end, and a paper curling portion disposed between the handle portion and second tamping end.

A filter (11) for a smoking article (10) comprises a first flow path (13) through the filter, a second flow path (14) through the filter, the second flow path being disposed around the first flow path, and a selector (16) for allowing flow selectively through the first and second flow paths.

The invention provides a method of producing a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising: • heat treating a continuously advancing longitudinally extending strand of material; • cooling the heat treated continuously advancing strand; and • forming a longitudinally extending outer layer of tobacco smoke filtering material around the continuously advancing strand, to form a continuously advancing rod comprising a longitudinally extending strand (1a) of material and a longitudinally extending outer layer (2a) of tobacco smoke filtering material engaged around the longitudinally extending strand (1a). An apparatus for carrying out the method, and products of the method, are also provided.

A filter rod for a cigarette or other smoking article comprising a filter plug having a a plurality of threads extending though at least part of the filter plug, and an apparatus and method for manufacturing such a filter rod.

A biodegradable cigarette filter tow includes a mixture of at least two or more natural materials selected from the group consisting of hemp fiber, flax fiber, abaca fiber or pulp, sisal fiber or pulp, wood pulp, and cotton fiber or cotton flock. The mixture may also include regenerated cellulose fibers. The mixture may include a natural binder or may be hydroentangled.

The filter includes a contained filter material with one or more portions of a filter material. The one or more portions define interstices running through a longitudinal length of the contained filter material. The interstices allow an airflow to pass through the longitudinal length of the contained filter material. A consumable substance is infused within the filter material. The consumable substance includes nicotine, a flavorant, a pre-vapor formulation, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof.