Equipment for insertion of objects into smoking articles

An apparatus for providing rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, each rod having individual objects placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:

• a first hopper configured to provide a reservoir for objects;
• a second hopper positioned to receive objects from the first hopper;
• and
• an object insertion unit in operable communication with the second hopper and configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the continuous supply of filter material,
• wherein the object insertion unit comprises a rotatable insertion wheel having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein;
• and a vacuum system disposed in operable communication with the insertion wheel and configured to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the insertion wheel,
• wherein the upper hopper has an upper region that is adapted to contain and permit passage of objects and has a relatively high cross-sectional area relative to a lower region of the upper hopper, and
• wherein the lower hopper is adapted to contain objects so that those objects are arranged in a vertical plane.