Abstract: A method for introducing objects into a smoking article includes delivering the objects from a reservoir to a transfer chamber and then to a rotatable wheel which inserts objects into the smoking article. The objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer in the transfer chamber and the objects are moved from the single layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing objects into a smoking article comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of objects to be introduced into the smoking article, a rotatable wheel for delivering the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the smoking article, a transfer chamber for transferring the objects to the rotatable wheel, the transfer chamber being arranged between the reservoir and the rotatable wheel and being designed such that the objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer therein, and means for moving the objects from the single layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter making apparatus comprising: a filter material converging device, a flavor element positioning device comprising a passage element, the passage element comprising a passageway, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet and second inlet being in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein the first inlet is adapted to pass a continuous strand of material into the passage element, wherein the second inlet is adapted to pass fluid into the passage element, and wherein the outlet is positioned at a point downstream from at least a portion of the filter material converging device, wherein the passage element is adapted to pass through the second inlet and into the filter material either the continuous strand of material from the first inlet, or fluid from the second inlet, or the continuous strand of material from the first inlet together with fluid from the second inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing objects into a smoking article comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of objects to be introduced into the smoking article, a rotatable wheel for delivering the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the smoking article, a transfer chamber for transferring the objects to the rotatable wheel, the transfer chamber being arranged between the reservoir and the rotatable wheel and being designed such that the objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer therein, and means for moving the objects from the single layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter making apparatus comprising: a filter material converging device, a flavor element positioning device comprising a passage element, the passage element comprising a passageway, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet and second inlet being in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein the first inlet is adapted to pass a continuous strand of material into the passage element, wherein the second inlet is adapted to pass fluid into the passage element, and wherein the outlet is positioned at a point downstream from at least a portion of the filter material converging device, wherein the passage element is adapted to pass through the second inlet and into the filter material either the continuous strand of material from the first inlet, or fluid from the second inlet, or the continuous strand of material from the first inlet together with fluid from the second inlet.