Rods containing pelletized material

An apparatus for providing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each filter rod having pelletized material spaced therewithin at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:

• (I) means for supplying a continuous web of filter material from a source of filter material;
• (II) means for supplying a continuous strand which is employed to provide the pelletized material;
• (III) pellet insertion means for continuously forming pellets from the strand and inserting the individual pellets at predetermined intervals within the web of filter material;
• wherein
• (a) the pellet insertion means includes (i) a circular rotatable member having a series of pockets positioned at predetermined intervals along the periphery thereof, and (ii) a retaining means including a strand inlet means for allowing introduction of the strand to successive pockets along the periphery of the circular rotatable member;
• and
• (b) the circular rotatable member and retaining means are arranged such that (i) the interaction thereof causes the strand to be subdivided into pelletized form within each individual successive pocket, and (ii) the individual pellets are maintained within the respective pockets until each pellet is deposited within the web of filter material;
• IV. means for controlling the rate of supply of strand, the rate of rotation of the circular rotatable member, and the rate of supply of filter material such that the pellets are positioned at predetermined intervals within the web of filter material;
• V. means for receiving the filter material and positioned pellets into a rod-making means for providing a continuous filter rod;
• and
• VI. means for subdividing the continuous rod at predetermined intervals into the desired length thereby forming filter rods such that the desired number of individual pellets are positioned at the desired positions within the filter rods.

A process for manufacturing rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each rod having solid masses individually spaced at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the process comprising:

• (a) continuously supplying rod filler material;
• (b) continuously forming individual solid masses in pelletized form from a continuous strand of plasticized material by introducing the continuous strand into successive pockets along the periphery of a rotatable member and shearing the strand by the interaction of the rotatable member with a retaining means so as to provide a pellet within each pocket;
• maintaining each pellet in each pocket by the arrangement of the rotatable member with the retaining means;
• and positioning the individual solid masses of pelletized material within the supplied filler material;
• (c) forming a continuous rod having the individual solid masses positioned at predetermined intervals within the rod;
• and
• (d) subdividing the continuous rod at predetermined intervals.

A process for providing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each filter rod having pelletized material spaced therewithin at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the process comprising:

• (I) supplying a continuous web of filter material from a source of filter material;
• (II) supplying a continuous strand which is employed to provide the pelletized material;
• (III) continuously forming pellets from the continuous strand by continuously introducing the strand into successive pockets along the periphery of a rotatable member and shearing the strand so as to provide a pellet within each pocket by the interaction of the rotatable member with a retaining member, which retaining member allows for introduction of the continuous strand into successive pockets along the periphery of the rotatable member;
• (IV) maintaining each pellet in each pocket by the arrangement of the rotatable member with the retaining means;
• (V) inserting at predetermined intervals the individual pellets from within each successive pocket to within the web of filter material;
• (VI) receiving the web of filter material having the individual pellets positioned at predetermined intervals therein into a rod making means and making a continuous rod therefrom;
• and
• (VII) subdividing the continuous rod at predetermined intervals into the desired length thereby forming filter rods such that the desired number of individual pellets are positioned at the desired positions within the filter rods.

An apparatus for providing rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each rod having individual masses spaced at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for providing a continuous supply of rod filler material;
• (b) means for supplying a continuous strand of material,
• (c) means for cutting the continuous strand into individual masses, such means including (i) a rotatable member having a series of pockets positioned at predetermined intervals along the periphery thereof, and (ii) retaining means including a strand inlet means for allowing introduction to successive pockets along the periphery of the rotatable member;
• the rotatable member being secured for rotation within the retaining means, and the rotatable member and retaining means being arranged such that the interaction thereof during rotation of the rotatable member causes the strand to be subdivided into an individual mass within each pocket;
• (d) means for depositing each individual mass at predetermined intervals within the supply of filler material;
• (e) means for forming a continuous rod having the individual masses positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod;
• and
• (f) means for subdividing the continuous rod at predetermined intervals.