US 11,744,278 B2
Apparatus and method for applying an additive to a tobacco rod of a smoking article
Balager Ademe, Winston Salem, NC (US); and Richard L. Sizemore, Clemmons, NC (US)
Assigned to R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Feb. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/175,015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0256911 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. A24B 15/30 (2006.01); A24C 5/18 (2006.01)
CPC A24C 5/1892 (2013.01) [A24B 15/302 (2013.01); A24C 5/1807 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus arranged to form a continuous tobacco rod of a smoking article, comprising:
a conveyor arranged to convey a tobacco material stream in a conveyance direction;
a wrapping material supply arrangement arranged to advance a web of wrapping material in the conveyance direction adjacent to the tobacco material stream;
a constriction member arranged to receive the tobacco material stream at an inlet end and to reduce a cross-sectional area of the tobacco material stream, the reduced-area tobacco material stream exiting the constriction member at an exit end, and the wrapping material web being arranged to wrap about the reduced-area tobacco material stream exiting the exit end;
a first heating element arranged with respect to the constriction member to communicate heat to the exit end of the constriction member; and
an additive source arranged to supply an additive material to the reduced-area tobacco material stream through a dispensing port disposed about the exit end of the constriction member prior to the reduced-area tobacco material stream being wrapped by the wrapping material web to form the continuous tobacco rod.