Apparatus for inserting objects into a filter component of a smoking article

An apparatus for forming a rod member for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, the rod having a length and defining a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:

• a rod-forming unit to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous filter rod;
• an object insertion unit to insert a plurality of first objects and a plurality of second objects into the continuous filter rod in a plurality of serially-disposed groups, each successive one of the serially-disposed groups having the first and second objects alternatingly disposed along the longitudinal axis with respect to the previous group;
• and
• a rod-dividing unit to subdivide the continuous filter rod, at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis, into a plurality of filter rod portions such that each filter rod portion includes at least one first object and at least one second object disposed therein, the first objects being different from the second objects.