Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank (12) of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt (21) to an opening station (22). The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers (34, 35) which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts (32, 33) to a pair of counter-rotating drums (30, 31). The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former (37), where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part, a second part movable relative to the first part. At least one of the first or second parts comprises a section of sheet material wrapped around one or more rod articles, wherein the section of sheet material comprises a circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge. The circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge is angled to a longitudinal axis of the smoking article. The section of the first part or second part comprising the angled edge is configured to be rotatable relative to the other of the first or second part, the relative rotational position of the first and second parts configured to control a property of the smoking article.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part (111) comprising a source of smokable material and a second part (112) comprising a rod article and configured to be rotatable relative to the first part. A first indexing surface (116) on the first part and a second indexing surface (304) on the second part are configured to engage to index the rotation between the first and second parts. At least one of the first or second parts comprise a control element (250) configured to control a ventilation of the smoking article and a ventilation area (270) in the other of the first or second parts of the smoking article from the control element, the ventilation area configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element, wherein the second part comprises a connecting section connecting the rod article to the first part of the smoking article, and the connecting section is affixed to or supports the second indexing section.

Abstract: A smoking article includes a first and a second engaging surface spaced circumferentially, and a control element movable between the first and second engaging surfaces. A ventilation area is configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element. The control element includes a first limiting edge configured to engage with the first engaging surface and a second limiting edge configured to engage with the second engaging surface to limit rotational movement.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank (12) of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt (21) to an opening station (22). The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers (34, 35) which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts (32, 33) to a pair of counter-rotating drums (30, 31). The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former (37), where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A smoking article, comprises a first and a second engaging surface (233a, 233b) spaced circumferentially, and a control element (250) movable between the first and second engaging surfaces. A ventilation area (270) is configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element. The control element comprises a first limiting edge configured to engage with the first engaging surface and a second limiting edge configured to engage with the second engaging surface to limit rotational movement.

Abstract: Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article A smoking article (10), comprises a first part, and a second part movable relative to the first part. An indexing mechanism comprises a first indexing surface (18) on one of the first part or second part; and a second indexing surface (19) on the other of the first and second parts. The second indexing surface (19) is configured to engage with the first indexing surface (18) to control relative movement between the first part and second part.

Abstract: A smoking article comprising one or more rod articles, an inner layer extending around the rod articles, and an outer layer extending around the inner layer. The inner and outer layers are integrally formed. The outer layer comprises a selection portion configured to move over an underlying part of the inner layer to select a property of the smoking article.

Abstract: A self-supporting flexible film container is disclosed that includes a container base and a flexible film attached to the container base that forms a container wall and defines a packing region within the container. The container wall has at least one support column, such as a tubular support column, integrally formed therein. A method of conforming the container includes providing a web of flexible film, forming tubular support columns in the web of flexible film and forming a container from the web of flexible film containing the support columns. The support columns can be formed by ploughing and forming the web of flexible film.

Abstract: A smoking article, a smoking article assembly, a blank for forming a smoking article, and a method of manufacturing a smoking article. A smoking article comprising one or more rod articles, an inner layer extending around the rod articles, and an outer layer extending around the inner layer. The inner and outer layers are integrally formed. The outer layer comprises a selection portion configured to move over an underlying part of the inner layer to select a property of the smoking article.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for making confectionery products in which the product is formed in a cavity that forms part of the packaging for the product. In one embodiment the product is formed in film cavities (180) vacuum-formed into a carrier film (144) that is secured to a platen (124) from the forming step until the film cavities (180) are sealed. In another embodiment, the carrier film (144) is transported through the process via a continuous web.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part (111) comprising a source of smokable material, a second part (112) comprising a filter section and configured to be rotatable relative to the first part, a first indexing surface (116) on the first part and a second indexing surface (306) on the second part configured to engage to index the rotation between the first and second parts, and wherein the smoking article comprises a first spacing section (310a) and a second spacing section (310b), wherein the second indexing surface is configured to be movable between the first and second spacing sections, wherein the second indexing surface is supported in a radial position relative to the first indexing surface defined at least partially by at least one of the first or second spacing sections, and wherein a leading edge of the first and second spacing sections are connected.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part (111) comprising a source of smokable material and a second part (112) comprising a rod article and configured to be rotatable relative to the first part. A first indexing surface (116) on the first part and a second indexing surface (304) on the second part are configured to engage to index the rotation between the first and second parts. At least one of the first or second parts comprise a control element (250) configured to control a ventilation of the smoking article and a ventilation area (270) in the other of the first or second parts of the smoking article from the control element, the ventilation area configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element, wherein the second part comprises a connecting section connecting the rod article to the first part of the smoking article, and the connecting section is affixed to or supports the second indexing section.

Abstract: A smoking article, comprises a first and a second engaging surface (233a, 233b) spaced circumferentially, and a control element (250) movable between the first and second engaging surfaces. A ventilation area (270) is configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element. The control element comprises a first limiting edge configured to engage with the first engaging surface and a second limiting edge configured to engage with the second engaging surface to limit rotational movement.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part, a second part movable relative to the first part. At least one of the first or second parts comprises a section of sheet material wrapped around one or more rod articles, wherein the section of sheet material comprises a circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge. The circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge is angled to a longitudinal axis of the smoking article. The section of the first part or second part comprising the angled edge is configured to be rotatable relative to the other of the first or second part, the relative rotational position of the first and second parts configured to control a property of the smoking article.

Abstract: Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article A smoking article (10), comprises a first part, and a second part movable relative to the first part. An indexing mechanism comprises a first indexing surface (18) on one of the first part or second part; and a second indexing surface (19) on the other of the first and second parts. The second indexing surface (19) is configured to engage with the first indexing surface (18) to control relative movement between the first part and second part.