Patent ID: 9340367
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: A24C,B65G

Claim Text:
1. A method for feeding rod components of a tobacco product, said method comprising: receiving a plurality of rod components in a hopper; receiving one of the plurality of rod components at a time, from the hopper, with a separator device operably engaged therewith, the separator device being substantially cylindrical and rotatable about a longitudinal axis defined thereby, and comprising a separator member defining at least one groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, the separator member further defining at least one channel extending circumferentially thereabout so as to intersect the at least one groove, wherein the separator device further comprises a removal member, and wherein receiving the one of the plurality of rod components at a time further comprises: receiving the one of the plurality of rod components in a first orientation, from the separator device, with the orienting device, and directing the one of the plurality of rod components into a second orientation, different from the first orientation, with the orienting device, before directing the one of the plurality of rod components toward a subsequent process.