Method of and apparatus for adjusting the moisture content of a fuel component for a smoking article

Apparatus for controlling the moisture content of a carbonaceous fuel component used in the manufacture of smoking articles comprising:

• mass flow accumulator means for receiving and accumulating a plurality of said fuel components;
• first means connected to said accumulator means for flowing unheated air over said fuel components to maintain the moisture content of said fuel, components at a predetermined level;
• dryer means disposed downstream of said accumulator means for receiving said components from said accumulator means;
• means interposed between said accumulator means and said dryer means for cutting said fuel components into a plurality of individual fuel elements and for combining said fuel elements with smoking article components;
• and
• second means connected to said dryer means for flowing heated air over the fuel components in said dryer means to dry the fuel components to a predetermined level of moisture content.