Apparatus for forming smoking products

A machine assembly for forming a smoking product, the machine assembly comprising:

• a base plate carrying a die block assembly that includes
• a die block including a plurality of cavities extending therethrough, and
• a needle punch,
• a bottom punch assembly having a plurality of punches, the bottom punch assembly positioned below the die block;
• a top punch assembly having a plurality of punches and positionable above the die block;
• a hopper assembly including a hopper configured to carry a material to form a smoking product, the hopper positionable above the die block;
• wherein when the hopper is positioned over the die block, the material therein flows into and fills the plurality of cavities of the die block,
• wherein the top punch assembly is movable to a position above the die block,
• wherein at least a portion of the bottom punch assembly and a portion of the top punch assembly move toward the die block to compress the material in the plurality of cavities of the die block,
• wherein during compression of the material, the needle punch extends through a portion of the material at one end of each of the plurality of cavities to form an opening defined by an inner perimeter, the opening extending axially from one end of the material a distance toward an opposite end of the material, and
• wherein after compression of the material in the cavities is withdrawn, a smoking product is formed from each cavity, and each smoking product is ejected from each cavity of the die block.