There is disclosed a method of making a filter element or mouthpiece (300) comprising the steps of: advancing filtering material in the longitudinal direction; drawing the advancing filtering material into a shaping element (110), to thereby form a longitudinally extending rod of filtering material comprising a channel extending longitudinally through the rod of filtering material; wherein the shaping element (110) comprises a chamber and a shaping rod (200) which extends longitudinally within the chamber, the inner surface of the chamber shaping the advancing filtering material to form the longitudinally extending rod of filtering material, and the shaping rod (200) shaping the advancing filtering material to form the channel extending longitudinally through the rod of filtering material; and wherein the shaping element (110) applies an additive to the filtering material.

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.

An inductively heatable aerosol-forming rod for an aerosol-generating article is provided, including: at least one cylindrical core portion including at least one of a first aerosol-forming substrate and a first flavoring material; a first elongate susceptor laterally abutting the core portion at a first side along a longitudinal axis of the rod; a second elongate susceptor laterally abutting the core portion at second side along the longitudinal axis opposite to the first side such that the core portion is sandwiched between the first and the second susceptors; and a sleeve portion arranged around the core portion and the first and the second susceptors, the sleeve portion including at least one of a filler material, a second aerosol-forming substrate, and a second flavoring material. A shaping device for manufacturing of the inductively heatable aerosol-forming rods is also provided.

A molding apparatus, a cigarette filter rod and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The molding apparatus comprises a single-screw extrusion system and a cooling setting system. The single-screw extrusion system comprises a feeder and an extruder. The feeder is arranged on the extruder. The extruder comprises a cylinder. A heater is arranged outside the cylinder. A screw is arranged inside the cylinder, and a mouth mold is arranged at one end of the cylinder. The cooling setting system comprises a round tube and a cooler. The cooler (6) is arranged outside the round tube. One end of the round tube is butted with the mouth mold of the extruder; and multiple groups of grooves are formed on threads of the head of the screw.

A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube comprises a body (84) defining a passage 86) for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction (91) in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits (92) through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

The invention discloses a starch-based multi-channel airflow unit and a preparation method and an application thereof. The preparation method of the present invention comprises the following steps: melting a polylactic acid, wherein a temperature of a first temperature control zone is 135° C. to 145° C., a temperature of a second temperature control zone is 175° C. to 185° C., a temperature of a third temperature control zone is 190° C. to 200° C., and a temperature of a fourth temperature control zone is 175° C. to 185° C.; gelatinizing a starch-based material, adding the starch-based material in the third temperature control zone and fully mixing the mixture; adding a polyol in the third temperature control zone, and fully mixing the mixture; and extruding out the mixed material through twin screws, sizing in vacuum, cooling and sizing, and winding and cutting to obtain the starch-based multi-channel airflow unit.

An apparatus for forming filter rods for aerosol-generating articles is provided, including a first source and a second source, the first source being configured to supply filter material in a form of a first tow, and the second source being configured to supply filter material in a form of a second tow; a single driven delivery roller configured to advance the first tow and the second tow; and an extrusion tool configured to process the first tow and the second tow, the delivery roller being arranged such that the first and the second tows are advanced from the first and the second sources toward the extrusion tool only by the delivery roller, and the extrusion tool is further configured to process several sources of filter material simultaneously to create one filter rod. A method for forming filter rods for aerosol-generating articles is also provided.

An apparatus for forming filter rods for aerosol-generating articles is provided, including a first source and a second source, the first source being configured to supply filter material in a form of a first tow, and the second source being configured to supply filter material in a form of a second tow; a single driven delivery roller configured to advance the first tow and the second tow; and an extrusion tool configured to process the first tow and the second tow, the delivery roller being arranged such that the first and the second tows are advanced from the first and the second sources toward the extrusion tool only by the delivery roller, and the extrusion tool is further configured to process several sources of filter material simultaneously to create one filter rod. A method for forming filter rods for aerosol-generating articles is also provided.

A filter part (1, 1′) for use in an aerosol generating article and a method of manufacturing the filter part (1, 1′). The filter part (1, 1′) includes an aerosol permeable core (2) within a sleeve (3) formed integrally therearound. The core (2) is shorter than the integrally formed sleeve (3). The method includes conveying a plurality of aerosol permeable cores (2) along a conveying path at a first speed (S1) and forming a sleeve (3) around each core (2) at a second speed (S2). The second speed (S2) is greater than the first speed (S1) to generate a space between consecutive cores (2) within the sleeve (3).