| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080202540 | Cigarette Customization Apparatus and Associated Method - An apparatus for customizing an as-formed cigarette is provided, wherein the as-formed cigarette has a cylindrical rod configuration defining a longitudinal axis, and includes a filter rod portion and a contiguous tobacco rod portion. Such an apparatus comprises a feeder unit configured to feed an as-formed cigarette, from a plurality of as-formed cigarettes, to a register position. An imprinting unit is configured to interact with the as-formed cigarette in the register position so as to imprint at least one of an alphanumeric character and a graphical character thereon. An associated method is also provided. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080302373 | Apparatus for Inserting Objects into a Filter Component of a Smoking Article, and Associated Method - An apparatus for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element, is provided. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated method are also provided. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090114234 | Methods for Sculpting Cigarettes, and Associated Apparatuses - A cigarette-making method is provided, comprising forming an elongate tobacco rod having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and opposed ends, by circumscribing a tobacco charge with a wrapping material. A filter element is formed having opposed ends and a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod, by circumscribing a filter material with a plug wrap material. One end of the tobacco rod is axially aligned and abutted with one end of the filter element, and a tipping material is applied about the tobacco rod and the filter element, wherein the tipping material extends across the abutting ends thereof, so as to join the tobacco rod with the filter element and form a cigarette having a non-circular cross-sectional shape along a length thereof. Associated apparatuses and methods are also provided. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090194118 | SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING A FILTER ELEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20100101589 | APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING A FILTER COMPONENT OF A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An apparatus and method for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element is provided. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material. A rod-forming unit is configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member along the longitudinal axis. A dispensing device is configured to selectively dispense a liquid substance into the filter material, substantially commensurately with the introduction of the plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member, wherein the liquid substance is configured to affect an attribute associated with the objects. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes at least one object and a portion of the liquid substance. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100186351 | Method and apparatus for customizing cigarette packages - An apparatus for customizing a cigarette package is provided, wherein the cigarette package is configured to receive a plurality of as-formed cigarettes therein. Such an apparatus comprises a feeder unit configured to feed one of a plurality of cigarette packages to a register position. An imprinting unit is configured to interact with the cigarette package in the register position so as to imprint at least one of an alphanumeric character and a graphical character thereon. An associated method is also provided. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100192962 | EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR INSERTION OF MATERIAL INTO CIGARETTE FILTERS - Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100236561 | APPARATUS FOR INSERTING OBJECTS INTO A FILTER COMPONENT OF A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An apparatus and associated method is provided for forming a rod for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A continuous supply of a filter material is formed into a continuous filter rod by a rod-forming unit. An object insertion unit is configured to insert a plurality of first objects and a plurality of second objects into the continuous filter rod. A rod-dividing unit is configured to subdivide the continuous filter rod, at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions such that each filter rod portion includes at least one first object and at least one second object disposed therein, with the first objects being different from the second objects. | 09-23-2010 |
