Abstract: Relatively fragile components for cigarette-like smoking articles are wrapped with an overwrap by bringing an exposed axial surface portion of the component into resilient contact with the overwrap, and by then rolling the component about its longidudinal axis, again by resiliently contacting the component. Smoking articles including the foregoing components as the distal component and at least one other proximal component are made by supplying a pair of distal components with their distal ends facing one another and pushed up against an interposed stop. The overwrap is slit parallel to the stop just prior to application to the distal components. After overwrapping, the distal components are reoriented so that their distal ends face away from one another. A pair of proximal components is then placed between the distal components, and each proximal component is joined to the adjacent distal component by a tipping overwrap.

Abstract: Carbon black pelletizer comprising a pug-mill and rotor with at least one helix of pins attached to the rotor, the improvement which consists essentially inproviding a double wall cylindrical housing with an annulus therebetween. The inner wall being fabricated of a rigid metal grating, to the inside of which is bonded rubber or a similar resilient material, the annulus being supplied with a means to increase and/or decrease the volume therewithin thereby causing the resilient inner wall to flex removing from the inner wall the build up of black which forms during operation of the pelletizer. The improvement negates the need for alloy metals in the pelletizer housing, eliminates the carbon black build-up on the inner surface of the mill, and lessens the power requirements of the mill, the wear on the mill pins, and the tendency of the mill to discharge irregular, off-specification product.