Patent ID: 7770585

Claim:
An apparatus for applying an additive to cigarette filter tow material which is in, or exiting, a filter tow funnel, the apparatus comprising: a filter tow funnel; a flavour inlet; a valve; and a hollow needle positioned downstream of at least a portion of said filter tow funnel, the needle being controlled by said valve and in fluid communication with said flavour inlet, whereby, in use, an additive is delivered by said needle into the path of said filter tow material, characterised in that said needle is selectively moveable along a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to the flow path of filter tow material moving through the filter tow funnel, and this movement occurs between a forward position, in which at least the distal end of the needle is within the path of the filter tow material moving through the filter tow funnel, and a retracted position, in which said needle is not in said path.