Patent ID: 8622882

Claim:
An apparatus for insertion of capsules into cigarette filter tows, comprising: a tow processing unit coupled to a capsule insertion unit and a filter rod making unit coupled to the capsule insertion unit, the tow processing unit further comprising a tow bale, a plurality of rollers, a plurality of handing jets and a plasticizer chamber; the capsule insertion unit further comprising a hopper, a presorting unit, an inlet pipe, a feeder wheel, the feeder wheel further comprising a circular cavity in communication with the inlet pipe and a distribution disk disposed within the cavity, an insertion wheel in operative communication with the feeder wheel, and a tow gathering funnel configured to receive an edge of the insertion wheel; and the rod making unit further comprising a garniture bed, a sensor, a knife carrier and an ejector wherein said presorting unit further comprises a vibrating mechanism; a plurality of transport threads; a rotating brush having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of said transport threads; at least two aspiration devices configured to provide negative air pressure and coupled to extraction pipes; and a control unit for varying the amount of negative air pressure supplied to at least one of said at least two aspiration devices.