Patent ID: 8512213
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: A24D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each rod having spherical objects individually spaced at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the method comprising: supplying a continuous web of filter material from a source of filter material; providing a supply of a plurality of spherical objects into a hopper; rotating a vertically oriented wheel having a plurality of pockets within a peripheral face, wherein a portion of the peripheral face moves past a first location proximate to the hopper, said wheel including an air pressure in communication with each pocket and an annular face in a center opening of the wheel; introducing an individual spherical object from the hopper into a pocket along the peripheral face of the rotating wheel; maintaining the individual spherical object in the pocket by applying a vacuum to the pocket when the pocket moves past the first position, the vacuum being applied from a vacuum channel in a peripheral face of a bearing housing supporting the rotating wheel, the peripheral face of the bearing housing being in contact with the annular face of the wheel such that the vacuum channel aligns with the air passage during a portion of the rotation of the wheel to apply said vacuum during a portion of the rotation of the wheel; inserting at predetermined intervals the individual spherical objects from within each pocket to within the web of filter material by applying a supply of positive pressurized gas to the pocket; receiving the web of filter material having the individual spherical objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein into a rod making means and making a continuous rod therefrom; and subdividing the continuous rod at predetermined intervals into the desired length thereby forming filter rods such that the desired number of individual spherical objects are positioned at the desired positions within the filter rods.