Patent ID: 9055768
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: A24D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for inserting one or more objects into a filter component of a tobacco rod, the apparatus comprising: at least one storage apparatus that stores a plurality of the objects, each object having a predetermined volume; at least one inserter wheel that receives the objects stored in the storage apparatus, and inserts the objects into at least one band of filter material, each of the at least one inserter wheels having an outer periphery with a plurality of pockets defined in the outer periphery and distributed about the outer periphery; wherein each pocket has a shape configured to support one of the objects with between about one quarter and about one half of the volume of the object received in the pocket, and the remainder of the volume of the object protruding from the pocket above the outer periphery of the inserter wheel; a first tongue that compresses a first band of filter material into a substantially cylindrical shape; a second tongue that compresses a second band of filter material into a substantially cylindrical shape, the first tongue and the second tongue adapted to guide the first and second bands of filter material along substantially parallel paths; wherein the at least one inserter wheel comprises a first inserter wheel that receives the objects stored in the at least one storage apparatus and inserts the objects into the first band of filter material, and a second inserter wheel that receives the objects stored in the at least one storage apparatus and inserts the objects into the second band of filter material; further wherein the first tongue and the second tongue each define a diameter in a region where the first and second inserter wheels deposit the objects, and the first and second inserter wheels are each adapted to deposit the objects into the respective first and second bands of filter material to a depth equal to about one half of each tongue's diameter.