Patent ID: 6701935
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A24B,A24D,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of incorporating a continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element in a smoking material rod, the method, comprising:providing a smoking material rod-making machine; including a suction band in said smoking material rod making machine, said suction band having a travel direction, said suction band forming a smoking material deposition run having a start and an end; applying a suction force to said suction band; depositing particulate smoking material on said suction band along said smoking material deposition run between said start and said end of said smoking material deposition run; providing a continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element having a degree of rigidity at a location remote from said smoking material rod-making machine; providing a longitudinal feed path for said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element to follow from said remote location to said smoking material rod-making machine, and in said smoking material rod-making machine said longitudinal feed path being in said travel direction of said smoking material deposition run of said suction band of said smoking material rod-making machine; feeding said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element to said longitudinal feed path; causing said longitudinal feed path to be followed by said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element to start ascending toward said suction band, under the influence of said suction force, at a distance along said smoking material deposition run intermediate said start and end of said smoking material deposition run, said degree of rigidity of said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element constraining said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element from being immediately displaced upwardly toward said suction band; supporting said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element and maintaining said continuous fibriform smoke-modifying element at a position spaced from said suction band by said particulate smoking material deposited on said suction band before, in said travel direction, said ascending of said longitudinal feed path; and depositing additional particulate smoking material on said suction band along said smoking material deposition run after, in said travel direction, said start of said ascending of said longitudinal feed path.