An apparatus including a grinder lid section; a grinder section configured to be attached to and detached from the grinder lid section, so that when the grinder section is attached to the grinder lid section the grinder lid section rotates with respect to the grinder section; a funnel section configured to be attached to and detached from the grinder section, so that when the funnel section is attached to the grinder section the funnel section does not rotate with respect to the grinder section; and a storage section configured to be attached and detached from the funnel section, so that when the storage section is attached to the funnel section the storage section does not rotate with respect to the funnel section. Each of the grinder lid section and the grinder section has a plurality of pointed teeth which face towards each other.

The method for shaping a continuous web material (1) into a rod comprises providing a continuous web material (1) having a glass transition temperature below 150 degree Celsius and gathering the continuous web material (1) from a flat shape into a rod-shape by means of a shaping device (2). The method further comprises providing a cooling means (34) providing a temperature below four degree Celsius, cooling a material contact surface of the shaping device (2) to a surface temperature below four degree Celsius, and cooling the continuous gathered web material by the cooled material contact surface in contact with the continuous gathered web material. Also provided is an apparatus for shaping a continuous web material (1).

The method for shaping a continuous web material (1) into a rod comprises providing a continuous web material (1) having a glass transition temperature below 150 degree Celsius and gathering the continuous web material (1) from a flat shape into a rod-shape by means of a shaping device (2). The method further comprises providing a cooling means (34) providing a temperature below four degree Celsius, cooling a material contact surface of the shaping device (2) to a surface temperature below four degree Celsius, and cooling the continuous gathered web material by the cooled material contact surface in contact with the continuous gathered web material. Also provided is an apparatus for shaping a continuous web material (1).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a production machine for producing rod-shaped products from a continuous strand of a continuous strip adhesively bonded to form a tube, comprising a device for applying a glue track to a strip, a format portion, in which the continuous strip into the continuous strand by shaping and adhesive bonding, and a cutting device which cuts the rod-shaped products from the continuous strand at a predetermined length, wherein the device for applying the glue track is formed by a device which applies the glue intermittently to form glue-free portions arranged at regular intervals, and a sensor apparatus is provided, which is directed towards the continuous strip or the continuous strand and generates a signal depending on the passage of a glue-free portion, and the device for applying the glue track is designed to change the length of the glue-free portions in the longitudinal direction of the glue track.

The invention relates to a production machine for producing rod-shaped products from a continuous strand of a continuous strip adhesively bonded to form a tube, comprising a device for applying a glue track to a strip, a format portion, in which the continuous strip into the continuous strand by shaping and adhesive bonding, and a cutting device which cuts the rod-shaped products from the continuous strand at a predetermined length, wherein the device for applying the glue track is formed by a device which applies the glue intermittently to form glue-free portions arranged at regular intervals, and a sensor apparatus is provided, which is directed towards the continuous strip or the continuous strand and generates a signal depending on the passage of a glue-free portion, and the device for applying the glue track is designed to change the length of the glue-free portions in the longitudinal direction of the glue track.

The invention relates to a cylindrical rod (10) for aerosol-generating articles comprising a rod component (12) being circumscribed by a wrapper (14). The wrapper comprises laterally opposed edge portions which overlap so as to form an overlapping zone (16). Glue (24) is applied to the overlapping edge portions of the wrapper, by which the overlapping edge portions are adhered to each other. The glue is applied in such way, so as to form one or more glue zones (22) within the overlapping zone. The wrapper further comprises a plurality of cavities (26), wherein at least a part of the cavities is provided in the one or more glue zones. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a cylindrical rod for aerosol-generating articles.