# US 2009/0260643 A1 · Filter making apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260643 A1 - Document ID: US20090260643A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/426,565 - Filed: 2009-04-20 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-18 - Assignees: Philip Morris USA Inc. - Inventors: ROBERTO LIBBRA; Fabio Cantieri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260643A1 ## CPC - A24D 3/0212: {Applying additives to filter materials} - A24D 3/022: {with liquid additives, e.g. application of plasticisers} - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES ## Abstract The invention concerns a filter making apparatus comprising: a filter material converging device, a flavor element positioning device comprising a passage element, the passage element comprising a passageway, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet and second inlet being in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein the first inlet is adapted to pass a continuous strand of material into the passage element, wherein the second inlet is adapted to pass fluid into the passage element, and wherein the outlet is positioned at a point downstream from at least a portion of the filter material converging device, wherein the passage element is adapted to pass through the second inlet and into the filter material either the continuous strand of material from the first inlet, or fluid from the second inlet, or the continuous strand of material from the first inlet together with fluid from the second inlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter making apparatus comprising: a filter material converging device; a flavor element positioning device including a passage element, the passage element having a passageway, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet and second inlet being in fluid communication with the passageway, wherein the first inlet is adapted to pass a continuous strand of material into the passage element, wherein the second inlet is adapted to pass fluid into the passage element, and wherein the outlet is positioned at a point downstream from at least a portion of the filter material converging device; and wherein the passage element is adapted to pass through the second inlet and into the filter material either the continuous strand of material from the first inlet, or fluid from the second inlet, or the continuous strand of material from the first inlet together with fluid from the second inlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flavor element positioning device further comprises a needle, wherein the needle is attached to the outlet of the passage element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The filter making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a longitudinal positioning apparatus adapted to move the passage element in a longitudinal direction, such that the needle of the passage element is movable in and out of the filter material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a vertical positioning apparatus adapted to move the passage element in a vertical direction into and out of the vicinity of the filter material converging device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid flavorant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a heating device adapted to heat the fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The filter making apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating device is adapted to heat the fluid in the passage element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a valve remote from the flavor element positioning device to control the fluid entering the passage element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The filter making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the needle includes a tip and the position of the tip of the needle is closely adjacent to the end of the filter converging device, close to the region in which the filter material reaches its final shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The filter making apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the position of the tip of the needle is in the region of the filter converging device, in which the diameter of the filter material is less than double the diameter of the final shape of the filter material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The filter making apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the position of the tip of the needle is in the region of the filter converging device, in which the diameter of the filter material is between about 150 percent and about 110 percent of the diameter of the final diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The filter making apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the position of the tip of the needle is in the region of the filter converging device, in which the diameter of the filter material is between about 140 percent and about 120 percent of the diameter of the final diameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The filter making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter making apparatus includes two to four flavor element positioning devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The filter making apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the two to four flavor element positioning devices are arranged such that two to four parallel, spaced apart, continuous strands of material may be applied to the filter material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A filter element, wherein the filter element is made by an apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A smoking article with a filter element according to claim 15.