Patent ID: 9282768
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: A24D,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. A system for incorporating objects into a smoking article, comprising: a transfer member having a radially outward peripheral portion, the transfer member capable of rotation about a first axis and comprising a plurality of holes spaced around the radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member, the plurality of holes positioned to receive a supply of a plurality of spherical objects during rotation of the transfer member; an object insertion unit configured to receive the plurality of spherical objects from the transfer member and to insert individual spherical objects within a substantially continuous filter material, the object insertion unit being capable of rotation about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation of the transfer member and comprising a vacuum-assisted vertically oriented wheel having a peripheral face, the peripheral face comprising a plurality of spaced pockets, the plurality of spaced pockets disposed on the peripheral face of the object insertion unit axially aligning with the holes spaced around the radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member during rotation of the transfer member and the object insertion unit so that an individual spherical object is delivered from a respective hole of the transfer member to the corresponding, aligned spaced pocket of the object insertion unit, the wheel also including a port adapted to provide an air pressure in communication with each pocket, the wheel being configured to apply a vacuum through the port to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain a single spherical object in a respective pocket during delivery of the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the substantially continuous filter material; an inspection unit configured to inspect the objects within the substantially continuous filter material; and a cutting assembly configured to divide the substantially continuous filter material into a plurality of portions such that each of the portions includes at least one of the objects.