Abstract: A method of manufacturing a compressed rod of web material for the filter rod of an aerosol-generating article, comprising: supplying a feed of web material from a supply apparatus; drawing the web material through a filter rod manufacturing apparatus; introducing a curved ridge into the central portion of the width wise cross-section of the web material as it approaches contact with the interior of a folding funnel, by drawing the web material across a forming surface of a former that contacts a central portion of the web material, in which the forming surface deflects the central portion of the web material from a line extending between where the web material leaves the supply apparatus and the center of an outlet of the folding funnel; and folding the web material in the folding funnel to form a compressed rod of web material.

Abstract: The method for shaping a continuous web material (1) into a rod comprises providing a continuous web material (1) having a glass transition temperature below 150 degree Celsius and gathering the continuous web material (1) from a flat shape into a rod-shape by means of a shaping device (2). The method further comprises providing a cooling means (34) providing a temperature below four degree Celsius, cooling a material contact surface of the shaping device (2) to a surface temperature below four degree Celsius, and cooling the continuous gathered web material by the cooled material contact surface in contact with the continuous gathered web material. Also provided is an apparatus for shaping a continuous web material (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for crimping a sheet of material (6), the apparatus comprising: a first (9) and a second (10) facing crimping rollers defining a first (1) and a second (22) rotational axis, respectively, the first and second axis being parallel to each other, wherein at least one of the first and second crimping roller includes a plurality of corrugations; an angle changing device, the angle changing device being adapted to change a crimping angle (11) formed between a fixed reference plane (12) and a movable plane (13) containing the first and the second rotational axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to remove an adhesive label (22) from a bobbin (28), the bobbin including an end portion (24) and an outer surface (25), the method including: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet closed by an adhesive label positioned on top of the end portion of the coiled sheet (26) to attach the same to the outer surface of the bobbin; locating the adhesive label; applying a sucking force to the location of the adhesive label so as to detach the adhesive label and the end portion of the coiled sheet from the bobbin; and cutting a part of the detached end portion including the adhesive label from the bobbin. The present invention also relates to an apparatus to detach an adhesive label from an end portion of a coiled sheet in a bobbin, the adhesive label being located between the end portion and an outer surface of the bobbin.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a compressed rod of web material for the filter rod of a aerosol-generating article, comprising: supplying a feed of web material (140) from a supply apparatus (110); drawing the web material (140) through a filter rod manufacturing apparatus; introducing a curved ridge (146B) into the central portion of the width wise cross-section of the web material (140) as it approaches contact with the interior of a folding funnel (120), by drawing the web material (140) across a forming surface (130 A) of a former (130) that contacts a central portion of the web material (140), in which the forming surface (130A) deflects the central portion of the web material (140) from a line extending between where the web material (140) leaves the supply apparatus (110) and the centre of an outlet (120B) of the folding funnel; and folding the web material (140) in the folding funnel (120) to form a compressed rod of web material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to remove an adhesive label (22) from a bobbin (28), the bobbin including an end portion (24) and an outer surface (25), the method including: providing a bobbin of a coiled sheet closed by an adhesive label positioned on top of the end portion of the coiled sheet (26) to attach the same to the outer surface of the bobbin; locating the adhesive label; applying a sucking force to the location of the adhesive label so as to detach the adhesive label and the end portion of the coiled sheet from the bobbin; and cutting a part of the detached end portion including the adhesive label from the bobbin. The present invention also relates to an apparatus to detach an adhesive label from an end portion of a coiled sheet in a bobbin, the adhesive label being located between the end portion and an outer surface of the bobbin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for crimping a sheet of material (6), the apparatus comprising: a first (9) and a second (10) facing crimping rollers defining a first (1) and a second (22) rotational axis, respectively, the first and second axis being parallel to each other, wherein at least one of the first and second crimping roller includes a plurality of corrugations; an angle changing device, the angle changing device being adapted to change a crimping angle (11) formed between a fixed reference plane (12) and a movable plane (13) containing the first and the second rotational axis.

Abstract: In a method of producing wrappings for smoking articles, the wrappings advance intermittently along a forming path with several stations, including a sealing station sealing the wrapping. Each wrapping continuously alternates a period of stop in a station with a period of movement between stations. A first predetermined stop time is associated with a first station, and a second predetermined stop time, greater than the first stop time, is associated with a second station, which is a sealing station. The second station has multiple positions for operating simultaneously on wrappings lots. Between stops in the first station, wrappings advance with a single step, with displacement that brings a wrapping to replace the immediately preceding wrapping. Between stops in the second station, wrappings advance with a multiple step, with a displacement that brings a wrappings lot to replace the immediately preceding lot in the positions of the second station.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous production of a filter rod for smoking articles includes a belt conveyor system for advancing a rod of filter material. The belt conveyor system has separate conveyor belts, having respective upper conveying runs arranged one downstream of the other. Speeds of the conveyor belts are controlled according to a predetermined ratio, which controls an axial stretching or compacting effect of the material of the filter rod from the transition between conveyor belts, to influence the characteristics of the produced filter rod. Additional operations can be performed in the area between the upper runs of the conveyor belts, which modify the configuration and/or structure of the filter rod, including shaping, marking or embossing of the filter rod; or filter material may form a filter rod outer layer. The apparatus can produce a filter rod having a coaxial configuration.

Abstract: A device for discharging particulate material, for example powder material, granules or capsules, or in general free-flowing material, such as adhesive material, on a substrate moving along a conveying direction, includes at least one drum rotor having at least one helical track carrying the material to be discharged. The drum rotor is arranged adjacent to the moving substrate, with its axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction so that the portion of the at least one helical track which is closest to the substrate moves in the conveying direction during rotation of the drum rotor and discharges the material carried thereby on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and a device for supplying filter material to a filter rod forming machine, according to which a flat band of filter material, obtained working a single “tow”, is longitudinally cut in at least two strips, each of which is fed to a respective pneumatic device adapted to transform the respective strip in a respective cord. The cords are then fed to an inlet of the forming machine at positions evenly distributed about a central axial portion for forming a peripheral axial portion.

Abstract: A device for discharging particulate material, for example powder material, granules or capsules, or in general free-flowing material, such as adhesive material, on a substrate moving along a conveying direction, includes at least one drum rotor having at least one helical track carrying the material to be discharged. The drum rotor is arranged adjacent to the moving substrate, with its axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction so that the portion of the at least one helical track which is closest to the substrate moves in the conveying direction during rotation of the drum rotor and discharges the material carried thereby on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing paperless filter rods for smoking articles, according to which a tow band of hardening-material-impregnated filtering material is fed along a forming beam having a first portion along which the tow band is injected with steam to cause the hardening material to react, and a second portion along which the tow band is dried with air, coming out from the forming beam, a continuous paperless rigid rod filter, which is fed to a cutting device; the steam blowing being performed at a plurality of stations arranged in series along the first portion; and the steam being fed, at each station, into an accumulation chamber surrounding the forming channel and communicating with the forming channel through an annular nozzle arranged on a transverse plane to the forming channel and having a constant width, measured along an axis of the forming channel, of 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

Abstract: A method and a device for supplying filter material to a filter rod forming machine having a peripheral axial portion and a central axial portion, according to which a flat band of filter material, obtained working a single “tow”, is longitudinally cut in at least two strips, each of which is fed to a respective pneumatic device adapted to transform the respective strip in a respective cord. The cords are then fed to an inlet of the forming machine at positions evenly distributed about the central axial portion for forming the peripheral axial portion.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing paperless filter rods for smoking articles, according to which a tow band of hardening-material-impregnated filtering material is fed along a forming beam having a first portion along which the tow band is injected with steam to cause the hardening material to react, and a second portion along which the tow band is dried with air, coming out from the forming beam, a continuous paperless rigid rod filter, which is fed to a cutting device; the steam blowing being performed at a plurality of stations arranged in series along the first portion; and the steam being fed, at each station, into an accumulation chamber surrounding the forming channel and communicating with the forming channel through an annular nozzle arranged on a transverse plane to the forming channel and having a constant width, measured along an axis of the forming channel, of 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

Abstract: A rigid carton of packets of cigarettes, having a first container, which houses a group of packets of cigarettes and is in turn housed inside a second container so as to slide, with respect to the second container, between a closed position wherein the first container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open position wherein part of the first container is extracted from the second container.

Abstract: A rigid package for tobacco articles, having a container with an open end, and a lid hinged to the container to rotate between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the open end; when the lid is in the closed position, the container is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and has two, respectively top and bottom, end walls, and a lateral surface bounded by the end walls and having two, respectively front and rear, major lateral walls, and two minor lateral walls; four longitudinal edges are defined between the major lateral walls and the minor lateral walls, and eight transverse edges are defined between the lateral walls and the end walls; the lid is hinged along a hinge formed in the rear major lateral wall and parallel to the longitudinal edges; and the lid includes part of the end walls, part of the major lateral walls, and a minor lateral wall. The articles are retained in an inner container slidingly received within the outer container.

Abstract: A rigid carton of packets of cigarettes, having a first container, which houses a group of packets of cigarettes and is in turn housed inside a second container so as to slide, with respect to the second container, between a closed position wherein the first container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open position wherein part of the first container is extracted from the second container.