The forming apparatus comprises a forming device with a tubular element adapted to form continuous tow material into a continuous tubular rod. The forming device comprises a fluid compressor for generating pressurized fluid, the fluid compressor being in fluid connection with the tubular element to provide pressurized fluid to the continuous tubular rod to heat or cool the continuous tubular rod. The forming device further comprises several fluid conduits to provide pressurized fluid from the fluid compressor to several injection sites arranged along the transport path, wherein at least two fluid conduits of the several fluid conduits comprise a pressure control unit including a pressure sensor and a pressure influencer.

The present disclosure concerns a device for forming a multi-flavor composite structure filter rod in one step, including the following components: a tow transmission belt, a tow guiding horn-shaped mouth, a tow assembly paper collection groove, a cigarette lap adhesive applying device and multi-flavor adding devices. According to shapes and types of flavors, the multi-flavor adding devices are arranged in different sections to obtain one-step formation of the multi-flavor composite structure filter rods. The present disclosure also discloses a one-step method of forming the multi-flavor composite structure filter rod using the one-step forming device.

The present disclosure concerns a device for forming a multi-flavor composite structure filter rod in one step, including the following components: a tow transmission belt, a tow guiding horn-shaped mouth, a tow assembly paper collection groove, a cigarette lap adhesive applying device and multi-flavor adding devices. According to shapes and types of flavors, the multi-flavor adding devices are arranged in different sections to obtain one-step formation of the multi-flavor composite structure filter rods. The present disclosure also discloses a one-step method of forming the multi-flavor composite structure filter rod using the one-step forming device.

A method for manufacturing cigarette filter rods comprises providing a continuous supply of filter material in a direction of travel; forming the filter material into a continuous rod; and rotating a wheel in a vertical plane, in operable communication with the filter material such that a portion of the wheel contacts the filter material at a predetermined location, and such that general direction of travel of the rotating wheel and the filter material, when in contact, are in generally the same direction. The method also comprises providing a lower hopper in operable communication with the rotatable wheel; providing an upper hopper in operable communication with the lower hopper; and wrapping an overwrap material around the filter material. The method further comprises controlling speed of rotation of the wheel relative to feedback from an inspection system; and subdividing the continuous rod at pre-determined intervals.

An automatic machine for the production or the packaging of consumer products, in particular of the tobacco industry has at least one processing line provided with a plurality of operating members and feeds at least one material used to manufacture the consumer products. A control and/or identification method includes carrying out, inside a volume containing at least part of the automatic machine, a three-dimensional detection using at least one hyperspectral detection unit for detecting alterations of the electromagnetic field produced by all the objects inside the volume, the hyperspectral detection unit outputs raw data concerning the dimensions, position, shape, physical structure, and/or the chemical composition of all the objects present inside the volume. The raw data is filtered using an artificial intelligence algorithm to isolate and extract information concerning at least one single object inside the volume; and the information is used to carry out a control and/or identification operation.

Smoking-related article inspection systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the systems include an x-ray imaging device configured to capture at least one image of the smoking-related articles, a smoking-related article transporting device configured to sequentially introduce the smoking-related articles into the imaging zone; and an analysis unit in communication with the x-ray imaging device and configured to analyze the at least one image captured by the x-ray imaging device for each of the smoking-related articles, the analysis unit being configured to execute: an inspection tool to determine values for one or more parameters of each of the smoking-related articles based on the analysis of the at least one image; and a comparison tool to determine an acceptability of the smoking-related articles for further processing based on comparing the determined values for the one or more parameters to ideal values for the one or more parameters.

A flower cartridge for use with a portable electronic heating device for the smokeless delivery of active ingredients and volatile compounds released from heating natural consumables such as plant matter is disclosed. The cartridge contains a quantity of natural consumables and a constriction or obstruction, which together form a porous plug to which air flows freely but the consumables remain in place. The contents of the cartridge are liberated via hot air and active ingredients are delivered to the user via heating and not burning. The cartridge is made of disposable and/or biodegradable materials to reduce ecological impact.

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for recycling cigarette waste, so that the reusable material (e.g., cellulose acetate, CA) in the cigarette waste may be isolated and reused. The cigarette waste is composed of a filter and a non-filter part. The apparatus includes at least, an adjusting unit and a treatment unit, respectively coupled to each other via a conveying member. The adjusting unit is configured to adjust the orientation of each cigarette so that each cigarette is aligned in sequence with the same orientation. The treatment unit is configured to cut out the non-filter part of each cigarette, and physically separating CA from the remaining part of the filter of each cigarette. Also disclosed herein is a method of recycling cigarette waste by use of the present apparatus.

A method for identifying capsule defects in a tobacco filter includes measuring values for density and/or moisture content of the filter using a microwave measurement device. The measured values are compared with a threshold value and a presence of a capsule defect in the filter is determined if the measured valued undershoots the threshold value. A value for a degree of fluctuation of the measured values is determined at a region in front of a measurement location and/or behind the measurement location in which at least one measured value is below the threshold value. The value for the degree of fluctuation is compared with a predetermined capsule threshold value. The capsule defect comprises a broken capsule when the value for the degree of fluctuation exceeds the capsule threshold value, and the capsule defect comprises a missing capsule when the value for the degree of fluctuation undershoots the capsule threshold value.

Smoking-related article inspection systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the systems include an x-ray imaging device configured to capture at least one image of the smoking-related articles, a smoking-related article transporting device configured to sequentially introduce the smoking-related articles into the imaging zone; and an analysis unit in communication with the x-ray imaging device and configured to analyze the at least one image captured by the x-ray imaging device for each of the smoking-related articles, the analysis unit being configured to execute: an inspection tool to determine values for one or more parameters of each of the smoking-related articles based on the analysis of the at least one image; and a comparison tool to determine an acceptability of the smoking-related articles for further processing based on comparing the determined values for the one or more parameters to ideal values for the one or more parameters.