Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus (1) for use in the manufacture of tobacco industry products. The apparatus (1) comprises a rolling unit (9) comprising: •a rotatable drum (14) having a plurality of flutes (18) formed in a curved outer surface (17) of the drum (14) to receive axially-aligned components (5,6) of a tobacco industry product; •a roll hand (15) having a contact surface (34) facing and spaced from the outer surface (17) of the drum (14) to define a space, between the contact surface (34) and the outer surface (17), within which space components of a tobacco industry product are rollable upon rotation of the drum (14); and •a kicker bar (16) disposed adjacent to the roll hand (15) and having a contact edge (36) facing and spaced from the outer surface (17) of the drum (17). At least one of the roll hand contact surface (34), kicker bar contact edge (36) and drum outer surface (17) includes a groove (31, 32, 33) extending in a substantially circumferential direction of the drum (14) and configured to least partially receive one or more of the tobacco industry product components as the drum (14) rotates.

An apparatus for use in the manufacture of tobacco industry products. The apparatus including a rotatable drum having a plurality of flutes formed in a curved outer surface of the drum to receive axially-aligned components of a tobacco industry product, a roll hand having a contact surface facing and spaced from the outer surface of the drum to define a space, between the contact surface and the outer surface, within which space components of a tobacco industry product are rollable upon rotation of the drum, and a kicker bar disposed adjacent to the roll hand and having a contact edge facing and spaced from the outer surface of the drum, where at least one of the roll hand contact surface, kicker bar contact edge and drum outer surface includes a groove extending in a substantially circumferential direction of the drum and configured to least partially receive one or more of the tobacco industry product components as the drum rotates.

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.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus (1) for manufacture of tobacco industry products (21). The apparatus (1) comprising a rolling unit (9) comprising: • a rotatable drum (14) having a plurality of recesses formed in an outer surface of the drum (14) to receive tobacco industry product components (5/6); • a roll hand (15) spaced from the outer surface of the drum (14) to define a space between the outer surface of the drum (14) and the roll hand (15), within which space tobacco industry product components (5/6) are rollable upon rotation of the drum (14); and • a kicker bar (16) disposed adjacent to the roll hand (15). • The kicker bar (16) is moveable relative to the roll hand (15) and in a direction towards and away from the drum (14) during operation of the apparatus (1), and the kicker bar (16) is biased towards the drum (14).

An adhesive transfer system for applying a pattern of adhesive to a web of tipping paper as it is being fed through a smoking article filter assembly unit is disclosed. It comprises a transfer roller and an applicator roller. The transfer roller has an engraved pattern on its surface that corresponds to the pattern of adhesive to be applied to the tipping paper web. The applicator roller is nipped with the transfer roller so that adhesive received on its surface is transferred from said engraved region onto the applicator roller as the transfer roller and applicator roller rotate to form an adhesive pattern on the applicator roller for subsequent transfer onto a moving web of tipping paper in contact with said applicator roller. The engraved pattern comprises individual adhesive containing cells to break up adhesive that coats the engraved region of the transfer roller.

A device for combining filter segments with cigarette rod segments includes a first feed device for feeding a succession of gummed connecting strips and a second feed device for feeding a succession of groups, each including at least one cigarette rod segment and one filter segment, abutted end to end. A combining conveyor receives the groups in a first receiving station and the succession of strips in a second receiving station downstream of the first receiving station so that each gummed connecting strip is applied in flag-like manner on a respective group to connect the cigarette rod segment to the filter segment. A rolling drum receives the group with strip and rolls the strip round the group. A compression device downstream of the second receiving station and upstream of the release station produces compression between each group and the respective strip.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine. The apparatus comprises a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods. Each double-length rod has respective remote ends. A positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other. Also disclosed is a method of cutting and arranging rods for tobacco industry product assembly, and a method of tobacco industry product assembly.

An apparatus and associated methods for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine, the apparatus including a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods where each double-length rod has respective remote ends, a positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.