Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering predetermined amounts of material, the apparatus including a vertical drop chute, a filling chamber, a rotating wheel with pockets, a central stationary drum with at least one vacuum chamber and an air jet, and a vacuum rail for transporting an article underneath the rotating wheel and transferring the particles from pockets in the wheel to cavities in the article. The particles can be carbon or charcoal granules and the article can be a cigarette filter rod.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The device has a metering drum for dispensing free-flowing material onto an air permeable transport tape. A vacuum source beneath the transport tape retains the free-flowing material on the transport tape which conveys the free-flowing material beneath a set of pockets mounted on or within a moving belt. Each pocket is divided by a screen permeable to air but not to the free-flowing material. As the transport tape moves beneath the pockets, vacuum applied beneath the tape ceases, and vacuum applied to the pockets draws the free-flowing material up into the pockets, and retains the free-flowing material in the pockets. When the belt transfers the pockets out from under the vacuum hood, and the vacuum is no longer applied, the free-flowing material is released from the pockets.