The tongue includes a shaft, the shaft being hollow. The shaft includes a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first opening with a first radius of curvature, and the second end defining a second opening with a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature. The shaft defines at least one injection port that traverses through an inner surface of the shaft. A first plate is connected to the shaft. The first plate includes an engaging structure configured to mount the tongue onto a lower plate and align the shaft with a groove defined by the lower plate. The rod forming apparatus includes the tongue. The method installs the tongue onto the rod forming apparatus.

An apparatus for manufacturing an aerosol-generating rod (10), comprising an inserter (260) for guiding a continuous band of susceptor (40), the inserter comprising: an entrance-aperture; an exit-aperture; a channel between the entrance-aperture and the exit-aperture; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the exit-aperture around the longitudinal axis of the channel; a gathering mechanism to gather a continuous sheet of aerosol-generating material (20, 120) and the continuous band of susceptor from the inserter; and a wrapper to wrap the gathered material to form a continuous rod. A method using the apparatus to position a continuous band of a susceptor in an aerosol-generating material. A method of using the apparatus to manufacture an aerosol-generating rod.

An apparatus for manufacturing an aerosol-generating rod (10), comprising an inserter (260) for guiding a continuous band of susceptor (40), the inserter comprising: an entrance-aperture; an exit-aperture; a channel between the entrance-aperture and the exit-aperture; and a rotating mechanism to rotate the exit-aperture around the longitudinal axis of the channel; a gathering mechanism to gather a continuous sheet of aerosol-generating material (20, 120) and the continuous band of susceptor from the inserter; and a wrapper to wrap the gathered material to form a continuous rod. A method using the apparatus to position a continuous band of a susceptor in an aerosol-generating material. A method of using the apparatus to manufacture an aerosol-generating rod.

A machine for making a continuous tubular element with filling from web material, including first and second means for feeding respective continuous webs, a forming station configured to perform a folding and/or deformation of a first continuous web in a shaped configuration, and a wrapping station wherein the second continuous web is wound in a tubular shape around the first continuous shaped web to obtain the continuous tubular element. Upstream of the wrapping station there is a first gluing device configured to apply at least one longitudinal line of glue on at least one of the continuous webs in such a way as to define at least one gluing zone, said longitudinal line of glue being positioned in such a way as to coincide with a zone of superposing and contact between the two continuous webs feeding out of the wrapping station.

An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a first tubular aerosol-forming substrate layer defining a cylindrical hollow central core; and a second tubular aerosol-forming substrate layer arranged around the first tubular aerosol-forming substrate layer, the first tubular aerosol-forming substrate layer being a gel layer. A method of manufacturing an aerosol-generating article, a method of generating an aerosol, and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.

A method of manufacturing an aerosol generating article includes: providing a tobacco rod including a susceptor having a form in which a plurality of strands are twisted together; providing a filter rod arranged at one end of the tobacco rod; and wrapping the tobacco rod and the filter rod with a wrapper.

A method of manufacturing an aerosol generating article includes: providing a tobacco rod including a susceptor having a form in which a plurality of strands are twisted together; providing a filter rod arranged at one end of the tobacco rod; and wrapping the tobacco rod and the filter rod with a wrapper.

An orbital plant material feed assembly includes a drum structure and hopper assembly. An external surface of the drum structure has a curved shape and includes a peripheral groove. A width of the peripheral groove varies along the external surface of the drum structure. The hopper assembly may define a compression space between the drum structure and a portion of the hopper assembly that covers a portion of the peripheral groove.

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.

Abnormally-shaped tobacco granules are provided. The tobacco granules comprise a tobacco granule body and a coating attached to the surface of the tobacco granule body. The coating contains an adhesive. The surface of the abnormally-shaped tobacco granule has one or more grooves and/or ridges, and/or, the abnormally-shaped tobacco granule has through holes therein. The surface grooves of the abnormally-shaped tobacco granules can serve as smoke channels after the tobacco granules are bonded, cured and shaped, so that the air permeability inside a total-granule tobacco product is greatly improved. The smoking resistance of cigarettes is reduced. The flammability of cigarettes is improved and the consumption of tobacco raw materials is reduced. A preparation method of the abnormally-shaped tobacco granules, a tobacco product comprising the abnormally-shaped tobacco granules, and a preparation method thereof are also provided.