Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a rolling drum for use in a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus. The rolling drum has a peripheral surface configured to carry a collation of rod-shaped articles. The rolling drum comprises a plurality of ridges on the peripheral surface, each ridge comprising a trailing face and a leading face. The rolling drum comprises a plurality of suction holes for retaining the collation of rod-shaped articles. The plurality of suction holes are disposed at the trailing face and the leading face of each of the ridges. Also disclosed is a rolling apparatus comprising such a rolling drum, and a machine for assembling tobacco industry products comprising such an apparatus. Also disclosed is a method of assembling tobacco industry products using such a rolling apparatus or machine.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a closure to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, in which the container comprises a plurality of stakes protruding from the container, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a device configured to deform the plurality of stakes to secure the closure to the container. A method of securing a closure to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, in which the method comprises deforming the plurality of stakes to secure the closure to the container, is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring pods, each of which form part of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, from a storage tray in which each pod is supported in a pod receiving pocket, to corresponding pod receiving pockets of a machine cassette forming part of a consumable unit manufacturing device, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a transfer station to receive the tray and a machine cassette placed over the storage tray and the pods received in the storage tray. The transfer station is configured to rotate the combined tray and machine cassette so that the pods in the pod receiving pockets in the tray are transferred into corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette. A method for transferring pods the pod receiving pockets in the tray to corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hopper for receiving aerosolisable material, the hopper comprising an opening in a lower end of the hopper; and a doser disposed below the hopper, the doser comprising a dosing cavity. The doser is movable between a first position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with the opening such that aerosolisable material is movable from the hopper into the dosing cavity, and a second position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with a container such that the aerosolisable material is movable from the dosing cavity into the container. A method of providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first feed device adapted to supply a first web of aerosol-generating material to a processing unit, a second feed device adapted to supply a second web of aerosol-generating material, and a web changeover unit arranged to change supply of aerosol-generating material to the processing unit from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. The web changeover unit is configured to position a leading edge of the second web of aerosol-generating material adjacent to a trailing edge of the first web of aerosol-generating material upstream of the processing unit during changeover from the first web of aerosol-generating material to the second web of aerosol-generating material. A method of producing a rod of aerosol-generating material is also disclosed.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: A conveyor for conveying strands of aerosol-generating material is disclosed. The conveyor comprises a conveying surface, comprising a plurality of openings, on which the strands of aerosol-generating material are conveyed, and an air flow generator for generating a flow of air through the plurality of openings in the conveying surface to provide an air cushion between the conveying surface and the strands of aerosol-generating material. Apparatus for producing a rod of aerosol-generating material comprising a slitting unit arranged to slit a web of aerosol-generating material into a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material that are received by the conveyor is also disclosed, as well as a method of conveying strands of aerosol-generating material.

Abstract: Described herein is a consumable for use with apparatus for heating aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the consumable comprising a hollow tube comprising a wound structure comprising aerosolizable material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining if a pressure differential exists between the interior and exterior of a wrapped and sealed bundle of tobacco industry products. The wrapped and sealed bundle has a barrier layer that deflects when a pressure differential is applied and the apparatus comprises a sensor operable to detect that deflection.

Abstract: A pack having a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a laminate to form a bundle is disclosed. The pack has a base containing the bundle, and a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions. The laminate has an outer layer having a first cut that defines an outer layer region bounded by said first cut and, an inner layer having a second cut that defines an inner layer region bounded by said second cut. The inner layer region lies within the outer layer region. A part of the outer layer region is attached to an inside surface of the lid such that, as the lid is rotated into its open position, the inner and outer layer regions are lifted causing the inner and outer layers to delaminate in a peripheral region between the first and second cuts and an opening to be created in the laminate.

Abstract: A pack having a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a laminate to form a bundle is disclosed. The pack has a base containing the bundle, and a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions. The laminate has an outer layer having a first cut that defines an outer layer region bounded by said first cut and, an inner layer having a second cut that defines an inner layer region bounded by said second cut. The inner layer region lies within the outer layer region. A part of the outer layer region is attached to an inside surface of the lid such that, as the lid is rotated into its open position, the inner and outer layer regions are lifted causing the inner and outer layers to delaminate in a peripheral region between the first and second cuts and an opening to be created in the laminate.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for smoking article assembly comprises a plurality of modules and a plurality of respective interface units, and a controller to control said plurality of modules via said interface units. The modular apparatus is configured to cause received rods of smokable material to undergo a first sequence of operations. The modular apparatus can be reconfigured so as to cause received rods of smokable material to undergo a second sequence of operations, different to the first sequence of operations. The first and second sequences of operations respectively form at least part of first and second processes for assembling smoking articles, each smoking article comprising one of said rods of smokable material, which is smoked in use.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for detecting a substance in a rod shaped article of the tobacco industry (2), the apparatus (1) including one or more sources (10,11) of electromagnetic radiation, one or more detectors (26, 27) and a processor (32). The one or more sources (10, 11) are configured to generate electromagnetic radiation at first and second wavelengths (?1, ?2). The one or more detectors (26, 27) are configured to detect the first and second wavelengths (?1, ?2) after propagation in the rod shaped article (2), lo and to generate signals (A, B) based on the amount of radiation received at each wavelength (?1, ?2). The processor (32) is configured to process the signals (A, B) to determine information relating to the presence of the substance, based on the relative amount of radiation received at the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: A wrapper for a group of tobacco industry products is disclosed. The wrapper has a barrier material arranged to extend over an edge of a bundle after the barrier material is wrapped around a group of tobacco industry products to form the bundle. A tab is arranged such that pulling the tab forms an extraction opening that extends over the edge of the bundle. Wherein, prior to pulling the tab for the first time, at least a part of the barrier material is unbroken across the edge.

Abstract: A wrapper for a group of tobacco industry products is disclosed. The wrapper has a barrier material and a tab arranged such that pulling the tab separates a section of the barrier material from the remainder of the barrier material to form an extraction opening. The barrier material has a cut arranged such that when the tab is pulled the barrier material is torn along a path extending from the cut to form the extraction opening in the barrier material.

Abstract: A pack having a group of tobacco industry products wrapped in a laminate to form a bundle is disclosed. The pack has a base containing the bundle, and a lid mounted to the base for rotation between open and closed positions. The laminate has an outer layer having a first cut that defines an outer layer region bounded by said first cut and, an inner layer having a second cut that defines an inner layer region bounded by said second cut. The inner layer region lies within the outer layer region. A part of the outer layer region is attached to an inside surface of the lid such that, as the lid is rotated into its open position, the inner and outer layer regions are lifted causing the inner and outer layers to delaminate in a peripheral region between the first and second cuts and an opening to be created in the laminate.