Abstract: A container configured to hold one or more units of a product is provided. The container may comprise a lid and a base. The lid may comprise a top wall and one or more lid sidewalls extending to a lower lip. A sealing member may be provided at the top wall in a channel defined therein. The base may comprise a bottom wall and one or more base sidewalls extending to an upper lip. Protrusions may extend from the base sidewalls. The lid may be moveable with respect to the base between a decoupled configuration and a coupled configuration. In the coupled configuration, the upper lip of the base may contact the sealing member of the lid to seal shut a storage compartment defined in the base. Further, the lower lip may engage the protrusions to retain the lid in the coupled configuration. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and machines are provided for forming a five-sided carton of packages of smoking articles. A piece of film material is applied to a plurality of packages of smoking articles such that five sides of the plurality of packages are at least partially covered by the film material, but the sixth side remains uncovered. The film material is applied such that the group of packages is sufficiently tightly bound so that none of the packages may slip free from the carton. The sixth side of the plurality of packages in the carton remains exposed so that tax stamps may be easily applied. The film of material may be applied so that a gap is formed relative to the sixth side.

Abstract: Methods and machines are provided for forming a five-sided carton of packages of smoking articles. A piece of film material is applied to a plurality of packages of smoking articles such that five sides of the plurality of packages are at least partially covered by the film material, but the sixth side remains uncovered. The film material is applied such that the group of packages is sufficiently tightly bound so that none of the packages may slip free from the carton. The sixth side of the plurality of packages in the carton remains exposed so that tax stamps may be easily applied. The film of material may be applied so that a gap is formed relative to the sixth side.

Abstract: A feeder system and associated method are provided for feeding rod components of a tobacco product, particularly a rod-shaped, cylindrical, or stick-type tobacco product, wherein such a tobacco product may be intended to be used in a smokeless manner. A hopper is configured to receive a plurality of rod components therein. A separator device is operably engaged with the hopper and is configured to receive one of the plurality of rod components at a time therefrom. An orienting device is operably engaged with the separator device. The orienting device is configured to receive the one of the plurality of rod components in a first orientation and to direct the one of the plurality of rod components into a second orientation, different from the first orientation, and toward a subsequent process.

Abstract: A feeder system and associated method are provided for feeding rod components of a tobacco product, particularly a rod-shaped, cylindrical, or stick-type tobacco product, wherein such a tobacco product may be intended to be used in a smokeless manner. A hopper is configured to receive a plurality of rod components therein. A separator device is operably engaged with the hopper and is configured to receive one of the plurality of rod components at a time therefrom. An orienting device is operably engaged with the separator device. The orienting device is configured to receive the one of the plurality of rod components in a first orientation and to direct the one of the plurality of rod components into a second orientation, different from the first orientation, and toward a subsequent process.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a cigarette filter rod member defining a longitudinal axis. A rod-forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit configured to insert a carrier carrying a plurality of frangible microcapsule objects into the rod member. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of sleeving two or more packages of smoking articles is provided. The method can include feeding successive packages of smoking articles to a plurality of bundling pocket guides each configured to receive two or more packages. A first package can be placed into one of the plurality of bundling pocket guides. A second package can be placed into the one of the plurality of bundling pocket guides containing the first package such that the first and second packages are adjacent to one another within the bundling pocket guide to form a bundle of packages. Successive bundles of packages can be fed to a sleeve folding station. The bundle of packages can be moved against a blank of sleeve material into a folding pocket. The blank of sleeve material can be folded around the bundle of packages to form a sleeve around the bundle of packages.