Abstract: A method for enhancing hardness of a filter for a smoking article includes disposing a plug wrap about filter material; and applying a hardness-enhancing coating composition to the plug wrap after the plug wrap has been disposed about the filter material to enhance the hardness of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the method comprising the steps of: ?providing a slurry including a material containing alkaloids, an aerosol former and water; ?extruding the slurry; ?collecting the extruded slurry in a tank having a plurality of outlets; ?providing more than one substrate sheet including fibres; ?supplying slurry from the plurality of outlets so as to form a plurality of strips of slurry on the more than one substrate sheet including fibres, to form more than one sheet of material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layered sheet of a material containing alkaloids comprising:—a first layer comprising a substrate sheet including fibres having a mean fibre length comprised between about 1 millimetres and about 5 millimetres, the first layer defining a first surface and a second surface;—a second layer comprising a mixture of: # a powder of the material containing alkaloids, the powder having a size comprised between about 8 micrometers and about 200 micrometers; # water; # a binder; # an aerosol former; the second layer being applied to the first surface of the substrate sheet, and wherein the binder is comprised in an amount comprised between about 0 percent and about 1 percent of the total weight of the multi-layered sheet of material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bobbin and a bobbin. The bobbin includes a plurality of windings of a continuous laminated sheet having at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material. The at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and the at least one layer of a first protective material define an adhesion surface between them. The first protective material is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester, or paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, said method comprising: grinding a material containing alkaloids to a powder; combining the powder with a binder, an aerosol former and water, so as to form a slurry, wherein the slurry comprises: the powder of the material containing alkaloids in an amount comprised between about 40 percent and about 70 percent of the total weight of the slurry; the water in an amount comprised between about 30 percent and about 55 percent of the total weight of the slurry; the binder in an amount comprised between about 0 percent and about 1 percent of the total weight of the slurry; the aerosol former in an amount comprised between 1 percent and about 5 percent of the total weight of the slurry; applying the slurry to a substrate sheet including fibres so as to form a sheet of a material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a laminated sheet, the method comprising the steps of: •providing a continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material having a free surface; •providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material having a free surface; •adhering the free surface of the continuous sheet of the first protective material to the free surface of the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material to form a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material, wherein said at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and said at least one layer of a first protective material define an adhesion surface between them; •feeding said laminated sheet to a rotatable center core; •rotating the center core so as to wind said continuous laminated sheet around it in such a way to form said bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a continuous la

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for casting a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the method comprising: —forming a slurry of the material containing alkaloids, the slurry having a viscosity value; —storing the slurry in a first tank; —providing a first flow-path and a second flow-path for fluid communication between the first tank and a casting box, the first flow-path comprising a first pump and the second flow-path comprising a second pump; —directing the slurry either along the first flow-path or along the second flow-path from the first tank to the casting box, defining a flow of slurry through the first flow-path or through the second flow-path, on the basis of the viscosity value of the slurry; and—casting the slurry to obtain a sheet of material containing alkaloids. The invention further relates to a casting apparatus for the production of a sheet of material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the method comprising: —mixing a material containing alkaloids with water (6) to form a slurry (11); —forming a sheet (10) from the slurry (11); —compressing the sheet (10) between a first (307) roller and a second (308) roller, said rollers (307, 308) forming a gap (311) therebetween where the sheet (10) is inserted, to form a compressed sheet (10) having a desired thickness (t); and —changing the diameter (17) of the first roller (307) in order to change the desired thickness (t) of the compressed sheet (10). The invention also relates to an apparatus for producing a sheet (10) of a material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a plurality of sheets of a material containing alkaloids, the method including the steps of: ? (100) providing a slurry including a material containing alkaloids and water in a tank; ? (101) providing the tank with a plurality of outlets; ? (102) supplying slurry from the outlets on a movable support so as to form a plurality of parallel sheets of material containing alkaloids; and ? keeping the parallel sheets of material containing alkaloids separated on the movable support while moving the movable support. The invention also relates to an apparatus (1) for the production of a plurality of sheets of a material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the method comprising: • Mixing (105) a material containing alkaloids with water to form a slurry; • Forming (108) a sheet from the slurry; • Compressing (109) the sheet between a first pair of rollers, wherein at the beginning of the step of compressing the sheet, a water content of the sheet is comprised between about 50 percent and about 80 percent of the total weight of the sheet; and • Further compressing (110) the sheet compressed by the first pair of rollers between a second pair of rollers. The invention further relates to an apparatus (200) for producing a sheet of a material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: A transmission shaft and a roller comprising a pair of connectable portions (M, F) for connecting a transmission shaft (5, 8) and a roller (4, 7) to be driven by torque exerted through the transmission shaft (5, 8). The pair of connectable portions (M, F) comprise a male portion (M) provided on one of the transmission shaft (5, 8) and roller (4, 7) and a complementary female portion (F) provided on the other of the roller (4, 7) and transmission shaft (5, 8). The male portion (M) has a longitudinal axis of rotation (X) and tapers inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end. The male portion (M) has a non-circular cross section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a laminated sheet, the method comprising the steps of: •providing a continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material having a free surface; •providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material having a free surface; •adhering the free surface of the continuous sheet of the first protective material to the free surface of the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material to form a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material, wherein said at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and said at least one layer of a first protective material define an adhesion surface between them; •feeding said laminated sheet to a rotatable center core; •rotating the center core so as to wind said continuous laminated sheet around it in such a way to form said bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a continuous la

Abstract: A method for enhancing hardness of a filter (30) for a smoking article (10) includes disposing a plug wrap (60) about filter material; and applying a hardness-enhancing coating composition to the plug wrap after the plug wrap has been disposed about the filter material to enhance the hardness of the filter.