Apparatus for assembling articles for aerosol supply

Abstract

This application relates to a modular apparatus (1) for assembling articles (2) for aerosol supply and a method for manufacturing articles (2) for aerosol supply. The modular apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of modules (10) each comprising a plurality of functional units (16). The plurality of modules (10) comprises first to third modules (11, 12, 13). The first module (11) comprises a rotating unit (21) and a separation unit (22) and is configured to receive a plurality of consumables (3) formed from a first filter rod (6) and a rod (4) of aerosol generating material (5). The second module (12) is located downstream of the first module (11) and comprises a filter insertion unit (24) and a wrapping unit (25). The third module (13) is located downstream of the second module (12) and comprises a cutting unit (61) and a rotating unit (28).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular device for the assembly of articles for aerosol supply. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an article for aerosol supply.

Background Art

[0002] Products in certain tobacco industries generate an aerosol that is inhaled by the user during use. For example, a tobacco heating device forms an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate such as tobacco, rather than burning the substrate.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a first aspect, a modular device for the assembly of articles for aerosol supply is provided. The modular device includes a plurality of modules, each of the plurality of modules includes a plurality of functional units, and the plurality of modules include a first module including a rotation unit and a separation unit, the first module being configured to receive a plurality of consumables formed from a first filter rod and a rod of aerosol-forming material, a second module disposed downstream of the first module and including a filter insertion unit and a wrapping unit, and a third module disposed downstream of the second module and including a cutting unit and a rotation unit.

[0004] In some embodiments, the rotation unit of the first module may include a rotating drum having a plurality of consumable receiving portions. The rotating drum may be configured to receive the first and second consumables at circumferentially spaced-apart adjacent first and second consumable receiving portions and discharge the first and second consumables at longitudinally aligned first and second consumable receiving portions.

[0005] In some embodiments, the rotating drum may include a rotating mechanism having a swivel arm configured to rotate 180 degrees so as to reverse the direction of one of the first and second consumables, with the first and second consumable receiving sections aligned longitudinally, so as to arrange the first and second consumables in an aerosol-generating rod versus aerosol-generating rod arrangement.

[0006] In some embodiments, the separation unit may be located downstream of the rotating unit and may be configured to separate the aerosol-generating rod end of the first consumable from the aerosol-generating rod end of the second consumable, and to form a filter rod receiving space between the first and second consumables.

[0007] In some embodiments, the filter insertion unit of the second module may be configured to insert double-length filter rods into the filter rod receiving space to form a rod article group.

[0008] In some embodiments, the wrapping unit may be located downstream of the filter insertion unit and may be configured to wrap the wrapping material around a group of rod articles to form a double-length composite rod.

[0009] In some embodiments, the wrapping unit may be configured to wrap the packaging material around the entire length of the double-length filter rods and the rods of aerosol-generating material of the first and second consumables.

[0010] In some embodiments, the wrapping unit may be configured to wrap the packaging material around at least a portion of the length of the filter rods of the first and second consumables.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cutting unit of the third module may be configured to cut the double-length composite rod in half through the midpoint of the double-length filter rod to form a first composite rod and a second composite rod, each of the first and second composite rods comprising a first filter rod, a rod of aerosol-generating material, and a second filter rod.

[0012] In some embodiments, the rotating unit of the third module may include a second rotating drum having a plurality of composite rod receiving sections, the second rotating drum may be configured to receive the first and second composite rods in the longitudinally aligned first and second composite rod receiving sections and to release the first and second composite rods in the adjacent and circumferentially spaced first and second composite rod receiving sections.

[0013] In some embodiments, the rotating drum may be configured to reverse the direction of one of the first and second composite rods so that the first and second composite rods are aligned in the same orientation in adjacent composite rod receiving sections in the circumferential direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, the third module may further include a drilling unit.

[0015] In some embodiments, the third module may further comprise an inspection unit.

[0016] In some embodiments, the modular apparatus may further include a fourth module located downstream of the third module and comprising a dispensing unit.

[0017] In some embodiments, the modular apparatus may further include a consumables feeding module located upstream of the first module and configured to provide consumables to be processed by the first, second, and third modules.

[0018] In some embodiments, the consumable feeding module may include a hopper configured to receive consumables, a transfer drum, a receiving drum, and a dispensing drum.

[0019] In some embodiments, the modular device may include two consumable feeding modules located upstream of a first module, the first consumable feeding module being located upstream of a second consumable feeding module.

[0020] In some embodiments, the transfer drum of the second consumables feeding module may be configured to place consumables in alternate consumable receiving sections on the receiving drum of the second consumables feeding module, and the discharge drum of the first consumables feeding module may be configured to place consumables in alternate consumable receiving sections on the receiving drum of the second consumables feeding module so that the first consumables feeding module fills the empty consumable receiving sections with the transfer drum of the second consumables feeding module.

[0021] According to embodiments of the present invention, a second aspect provides a method for manufacturing an article for aerosol supply, the method is The method includes the steps of: preparing two consumables, one comprising a first filter rod and the other a rod of aerosol generating material; aligning the two consumables such that the aerosol generating rods of each consumable are adjacent to each other longitudinally; separating the multiple consumables to create a double-length filter space; inserting a double-length second filter rod into the double-length filter rod space to form a rod article group; wrapping the rod article group to form a double-length composite rod; and cutting the double-length composite rod in half to provide two composite rods comprising a first filter rod, an aerosol generating rod, and a second filter rod.

[0022] In some embodiments, the step of preparing two consumables includes providing a first consumable from a hopper in a first consumable feeding module to a first consumable receiving portion on a conveyance path, and providing a second consumable from a hopper in a second consumable feeding module to a second consumable receiving portion on the conveyance path such that the first and second consumables are arranged one by one on the conveyance path and are circumferentially adjacent to and aligned with each other.

[0023] In some embodiments, aligning two consumables may include reversing the orientation of one of the first consumable or the second consumable so that the aerosol-generating material rods of each consumable are longitudinally adjacent to each other, and moving it into the other consumable receiving portion of the first and second consumables.

[0024] In some embodiments, separating a plurality of consumables may include causing suction at the filter rod end of the consumable.

[0025] In some embodiments, the step of wrapping a rod article group may include winding a packaging material around the entire lengths of the double-length filter rods and the aerosol-generating material rods of the first and second consumables.

[0026] In some embodiments, wrapping a rod article group may include winding a packaging material around the entire lengths of the double-length filter rods and the aerosol-generating material rods of the first and second consumables and at least a part of the first filter rod.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of perforating the composite rod.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method may further include inspecting the composite rod.

[0029] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] Shows a schematic diagram of a modular device for assembling an article for aerosol supply. [Figure 2] Shows a cross-sectional side view of a consumable. [Figure 3] Shows a schematic side view of a first module. [Figure 4] Shows a schematic diagram of the operation performed by the first module of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] Shows a rotating drum. [Figure 6] Shows a schematic side view of a second module. [Figure 7] Shows a schematic diagram of the operation performed by the second module of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] Shows a schematic side view of a third module. [Figure 9] Shows a schematic diagram of the operation performed by the third module of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] Shows a schematic diagram of a modular device. [Figure 11] Shows a schematic side view of two feeding modules.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to encompass a system that delivers at least one substance to a user, combustion aerosol supply systems such as cigarettes, cigars, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or hand-rolled or handmade cigarettes (regardless of whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes, or other smokable materials), non-combustion aerosol supply systems that release compounds from aerosol-generating materials without burning the aerosol-generating materials, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems that generate aerosols using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.

[0032] According to this disclosure, a “combustion-type” aerosol supply system is a system in which the aerosol-generating material (or its components) that make up the aerosol supply system is burned or incinerated during use in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0033] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustion-type aerosol delivery system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigarillos, and cigars.

[0034] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to components for use in a combustion aerosol supply system, such as filters, filter rods, filter segments, tobacco rods, twists, aerosol modifier release components, such as capsules, threads, or beads, or paper, such as plug wraps, chip paper, or cigarette paper.

[0035] According to this disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply system is a system in which the aerosol-generating materials (or their components) that make up the aerosol supply system are not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0036] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0037] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system.

[0038] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0039] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0040] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials and configured for use with non-combustible aerosol supply devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0041] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a non-combustible aerosol supply device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or a heat-generating power source. In some embodiments, the heat-generating power source includes a carbon substrate to which energy can be supplied in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or heat-transferring material adjacent to the heat-generating power source.

[0042] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system may include a consumable receiving area, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0043] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, aerosol generating material storage area, aerosol generating material transfer component, aerosol generator, aerosol generating area, housing, packaging material, filter, suction nozzle, and / or aerosol modifier.

[0044] Consumables are articles containing or consisting of aerosol-generating material, some or all of which are intended to be consumed during use by the user. Consumables may include one or more other components such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, packaging material, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Consumables may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which generates heat during use to cause the aerosol-generating material to produce an aerosol. The heater may include, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor.

[0045] Aerosol-generating materials are materials that can generate aerosols when energy is supplied, for example, by heating, irradiation, or any other method. Aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of solids, liquids, or gels, which may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be called a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid, or about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0046] The aerosol-generating material may contain one or more active substances and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0047] In some embodiments, the delivered substance may be an aerosol-generating material or a material not intended to be aerosolized. Optionally, any of the materials may include one or more active ingredients, one or more flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0048] Aerosol modifiers are typically substances located downstream of the aerosol generation region and are configured to modify the generated aerosol by altering, for example, the taste, flavor, acidity, or other characteristics of the aerosol. The aerosol modifier may be supplied within an aerosol modifier release component that is operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier.

[0049] The aerosol modifier may be, for example, an additive or an adsorbent. The aerosol modifier may contain, for example, one or more of the following: flavorings, colorings, water, and carbon adsorbents. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol modifier may be in the form of a powder, thread, or granules. The aerosol modifier may not contain any filtration material.

[0050] In some embodiments, the delivered substance includes an active substance.

[0051] The active substances used herein may be physiologically active materials, which are materials intended to achieve or enhance physiological responses. Active substances may be selected from, for example, nutritional supplements, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. Active substances may be naturally derived or obtained synthetically. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. Active substances may also include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or other plant substances.

[0052] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0053] As described herein, the active substance may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes. As described herein, the active substance may include or be derived from one or more plant substances, or their components, derivatives, or extracts. As used herein, the term “plant substance” includes, but is not limited to, any material derived from plants, including extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, shells, peels, etc. Alternatively, the material may include synthetically obtained active compounds that are naturally present in plant substances. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, flakes, strips, or sheets. Examples of plants include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay laurel, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea (such as green or black tea), thyme, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, and lavender. - Lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, shiso, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damian, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, Korean ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof. Mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: American mint, mint cv, Egyptian mint, European mint, eau de cologne mint cv, European mint cv, curly mint, mint cordifolia, horse mint, pineapple mint, pennyroyal mint, green mint cv, and apple mint.

[0054] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substance being tobacco.

[0055] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substances being selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, and hemp.

[0056] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substances being selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0057] In some embodiments, the delivered substance includes flavorings.

[0058] As used herein, the terms “flavoring” and “flavoring agent” refer to materials that may be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatosensory effect in products intended for adult consumers, where permitted by local regulations.These are naturally occurring flavorings, plant substances, extracts of plant substances, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit). Caramel fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, Sage, fennel, wasabi, pimento, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, peppermint oil from any of the Mentha species, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, mate, orange peel, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, majolica It may also contain other additives such as lamb, olives, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), as well as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant matter, or breath fresheners.They may be imitations, synthetic materials, natural materials, or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, such as a liquid like oil, a solid like powder, or a gas.

[0059] In some embodiments, the flavor includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus, and / or red berry flavor components. In some embodiments, the flavor includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor includes flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor includes flavor components extracted from cannabis.

[0060] In some embodiments, the flavor may include a sensory stimulant, which is usually chemically induced and intended to achieve somatosensation perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) in addition to or instead of the aromatic or gustatory nerves, and may include agents that produce a heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effect. A suitable thermal agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol or WS-3.

[0061] Referring here to Figure 1, a schematic diagram of a modular apparatus 1 for assembling article 2 for aerosol supply is shown. Modular apparatus 1 is an article assembly machine. That is, modular apparatus 1 is configured to assemble article 2 as shown in Figure 2. Specifically, modular apparatus 1 is configured to receive consumables 3 having at least a rod 4 of aerosol generating material 5 and assemble article 2. Article 2 is transported along a transport path through modular apparatus 1 and assembled from consumables 3 by undergoing a series of operations.

[0062] Referring specifically to Figure 2, a cross-sectional side view of the consumable 3 is shown. In this embodiment, the consumable 3 is a substantially cylindrical rod shape. The consumable 3 has a longitudinal axis L that extends along its maximum dimension, i.e., its length. The consumable 3 includes a rod 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5. The consumable 3 also includes a first filter rod 6. The first filter rod 6 may be positioned upstream of the rod 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 and configured to be positioned in the user's mouth during use. The first filter rod 6 and the rod 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 may be joined to each other by a first packaging material 7.

[0063] Referring back to Figure 1, the modular device 1 comprises a plurality of modules 10. The plurality of modules 10 include at least a first module 11, a second module 12, and a third module 13.

[0064] Each of the multiple modules 10 to 13 comprises a base unit 15 which can include at least one functional unit 16. At least one module 10 may include multiple functional units 16. Each of the multiple functional units may include at least one drum 17. Therefore, each of the multiple modules 10 to 13 may include multiple drums 17 attached to the base unit 15. The multiple drums 17 may be rotatable drums that rotate around their central axis A. The multiple functional units 16 may form a transport path through the modular device 1. If each of the multiple functional units 16 includes at least one drum 17, the multiple drums 17 may form a transport path through the modular device 1.

[0065] The first module 11 comprises a first rotating unit 21 and a separation unit 22. The first module 11 is configured to receive a plurality of consumables 3 formed from a first filter rod 6 and a rod 4 of aerosol generating material 5. The second module 12 is located downstream of the first module 11. The second module 12 comprises a filter insertion unit 24 and a wrapping unit 25. The third module 13 is located downstream of the second module 12. The third module 13 comprises a cutting unit 27 and a second rotating unit 28.

[0066] Referring to Figure 3, a schematic side view of the first module 11 is shown. The first module 11 is configured to receive a flow of consumables 3. The first module 11 may be configured to receive the first consumable 3a and the second consumable 3b sequentially. The first module 11 may be configured to rotate to perform rotational and separation operations, as schematically shown in Figure 4. The first module 11 may be configured to rotate one of the first or second consumables 3a, 3b to move them from a state aligned laterally with respect to their longitudinal axis A to a state aligned longitudinally. The first module 11 may be configured to align the first and second consumables 3a, 3b such that the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b are adjacent to each other. The first module 11 may also be configured to separate the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b from each other.

[0067] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first module 11 may include a supply drum 31. The supply drum 31 may be configured to receive a flow of consumables 3. The supply drum 31 may include a plurality of consumable receiving sections (not shown) configured to receive consumables 3. The plurality of consumable receiving sections may be formed as channels, also called grooves, on the surface of the supply drum 31. The consumable receiving sections may extend parallel to the rotation axis A of the supply drum 31 and be spaced circumferentially around the supply drum 31. The consumable receiving sections may include at least one hole (not shown) through which an attractive force can be applied to the consumables 3, holding the consumables 3 in their respective consumable receiving sections.

[0068] The first module 11 further comprises a rotating unit 21. The rotating unit 21 may be located downstream of the supply unit 31. The rotating unit 21 may be located immediately downstream of the supply unit 31 so that the rotating unit 21 receives the consumables 3 from the supply drum 31.

[0069] The rotating unit 21 may include a first rotating drum 32, as shown in Figure 5. The first rotating drum 32 may be configured to rotate one of the first or second consumables 3a, 3b, moving them from a state aligned laterally with respect to their longitudinal axis A to a state aligned longitudinally. The rotating drum 32 may include a plurality of consumable receiving sections 33 configured to receive the consumables 3. The plurality of consumable receiving sections 33 may be formed as channels, also called grooves, in or on the circumferential surface 34 of the rotating drum 32. As shown in Figure 5, the rod receiving section 22 may be formed by channels of convex blocks on the circumferential surface 34 of the rotating drum 32. The consumable receiving sections 33 may extend parallel to the rotation axis A of the rotating drum 32 and be spaced circumferentially around the rotating drum 32. The consumable receiving section 33 may be provided with at least one hole 35 through which suction force can be applied to the consumable 3, allowing the consumable 3 to be held in each consumable receiving section 33.

[0070] Each of the drums 17 of each functional unit 16 described herein may be provided with a consumable receiving section on its circumferential surface and the suction holes described above.

[0071] Referring to Figure 5, the rotating drum 32 may be configured to receive first and second consumables 3a, 3b into adjacent consumable receiving sections 33 that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction. That is, the rotating drum 32 may have every other first and second consumable receiving sections 33a, 33b. The rotating drum 32 may be configured to discharge the first and second consumables 3a, 3b into the same consumable receiving section. That is, one of the first and second consumable receiving sections 33a, 33b may be configured to move so as to align longitudinally with the other of the first and second consumable receiving sections 33a, 33b.

[0072] The rotating drum 32 may be equipped with a positioning mechanism in the form of a rotating mechanism 37. The rotating mechanism 37 may be configured to arrange the first and second consumables 3a and 3b adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction such that the ends of the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 are substantially aligned with each other and the axes L of the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 are parallel and coincide with each other.

[0073] In particular, the rotating mechanism 36 is configured to rotate the second consumable receiving section 33b so that it is aligned longitudinally with the first consumable receiving section 33a. That is, the rotating mechanism 36 has first and second consumable receiving sections 33a and 33b that are parallel to each other and spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and is configured to rotate the second consumable receiving section 33b so that it is parallel to the first consumable receiving section 33a and not spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0074] As shown in Figure 5, the rotating mechanism 36 comprises a plurality of swivel arms 37. The plurality of swivel arms 37 are distributed along the circumferential direction of the rotating drum 32. A first consumable receiving section 33a is positioned between each adjacent pair of swivel arms 37. Each of the swivel arms 38 is provided with a second consumable receiving section 33b.

[0075] Each swivel arm 37 may be configured to swivel about a swivel axis X that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the rotating drum 32. Each swivel arm 37 may be configured to rotate about 180 degrees about the swivel axis X. The swivel axis X may extend along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the second consumable 3b that is received in the second consumable receiving section 33b.

[0076] Each swivel arm 37 may be movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the consumable receiving portion 33b of the swivel arm 37 is positioned parallel to but spaced apart from the first consumable receiving portion 33a on the rotating drum 32 in the rotational or circumferential direction of the rotating drum 32. In the second position, the second consumable receiving portion 33b of the swivel arm 37 is longitudinally aligned with the associated first consumable receiving portion 33a on the rotating drum 32.

[0077] Therefore, the rotating drum 32 can receive the first and second consumables 3a and 3b into the first and second consumable receiving sections 33a and 33b, which are spaced apart circumferentially and facing the same direction, that is, the first filter rods 6a and 6b of the consumables 3a and 3b are positioned on the same side of the rotating drum 32, as shown in Figure 4. The slewing arm 37 may then be rotated 180 degrees so that the first and second consumable receiving sections 33a and 33b are aligned longitudinally, and the first and second consumables 3a and 3b on them are aligned longitudinally and facing opposite directions, that is, as shown in Figure 4, the first filter rods 6a and 6b of the first and second consumables 3a and 3b are positioned on opposite sides of the rotating drum 32, such that the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 are adjacent to each other.

[0078] Therefore, the rotating drum 32 is configured to reverse the direction of the second consumable 3b so that the first and second consumables 3a and 3b are arranged in an aerosol-generating rod vs. aerosol-generating rod configuration. Once the consumables 3a and 3b are passed to the next functional unit 16 or drum 17, the slewing arm 37 can return to the first position.

[0079] Referring back to Figure 3, the first module 11 may further comprise a transfer drum 38. The transfer drum 38 may be located downstream of the rotating drum 32. The transfer drum 38 may be located immediately downstream of the rotating drum 32. Thus, the transfer drum 38 may be configured to receive the first and second consumables 3a, 3b in an arrangement where the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 are positioned relative to the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 4.

[0080] The first module 11 further comprises a separation unit 22. The separation unit 22 may comprise a separation drum 39. The separation drum 39 may be located downstream of the transfer drum 38. The separation drum 39 may be located immediately downstream of the transfer drum 38. Thus, the separation drum 39 may be configured to receive the first and second consumables 3a, 3b in an arrangement where the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 are positioned relative to the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 4.

[0081] The separation unit 22 may be configured to perform a separation operation. The separation unit 22 may be configured to separate the rod 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 of the first consumable 3a from the rod 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 of the second consumable 3b, thereby forming a filter rod receiving space 40 between the first consumable 3a and the second consumable 3b as shown in Figure 4.

[0082] The separation unit 22 may be a separation mechanism (not shown). The separation mechanism may include vacuum nozzles (not shown) at both ends of the separation drum 39. The vacuum nozzles may be configured to separate the first and second consumables 3a, 3b to both ends of the consumable receiving section. Alternatively or additionally, the separation unit 22 may include a fixed plow (not shown) or barrel cam (not shown) configured to separate the first and second consumables 3a, 3b to form a filter rod receiving space 40.

[0083] Referring to Figure 6, a schematic side view of the second module 12 is shown. The second module 12 is located downstream of the first module 11. The second module 12 may be located immediately downstream of the first module 11. That is, the second module 12 may be configured such that the spaced-apart aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4 receive the consumables 3a, 3b in an arrangement relative to the aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4. That is, the second module 12 is configured such that the aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4 receive the consumables 3a, 3b in an arrangement relative to the aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4, along with a filter rod receiving space 40 between the aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4 and the first and second consumables 3a, 3b. The second module 12 comprises a filter insertion unit 24 and a wrapping unit 25.

[0084] The second module 12 may include a supply drum 41. That is, the supply drum 41 may be configured to receive a flow of consumables 3 in an arrangement where the spaced-apart aerosol-generating material 5 rods 4 are positioned relative to the aerosol-generating material 4 rods 4, separate from the first module 11. The supply drum 41 may be essentially the same as the supply drum 31 described above, so a detailed description is omitted here. However, it will be understood that the supply drum 41 may have a longer consumable receiving section to accommodate the lengths of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b, which are aligned longitudinally with a filter rod receiving space 40 in between.

[0085] The second module 12 includes a filter insertion unit 24. The filter insertion unit 24 may be located downstream of the supply drum 41. The filter insertion unit 24 may be located immediately downstream of the supply drum 41. That is, the filter insertion unit 24 may be configured to receive the insertion of the first and second consumables 3a and 3b from the supply drum 41.

[0086] The filter insertion unit 24 may be configured to insert the double-length filter rod 42 shown in Figure 7 into the filter rod receiving space 40 between the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 of the first and second consumables 3a and 3b. The filter insertion unit 24 may also be configured to insert the double-length filter rod 42 into the filter rod receiving space 40 to form a rod article group 44.

[0087] The filter insertion unit 24 may include a hopper 45 configured to receive a double-length filter rod 42. The filter insertion unit 24 may further include a filter rod insertion drum 46 and a filter rod receiving drum 47. The filter rod insertion drum 46 and the filter rod receiving drum 47 may be essentially the same as the aforementioned drums such as the supply drum, so a detailed description is omitted here.

[0088] The filter rod insertion drum 46 may be configured to receive the double-length filter rod 42 from the hopper 45 and to position the double-length filter rod 42 within the filter rod receiving space 40 between the consumables 3a and 3b on the filter rod receiving drum 47. The filter rod receiving drum 47 may be configured to receive the double-length filter rod 42 within the filter rod receiving space 40 between the first and second consumables 3a and 3b in the consumable receiving section 43.

[0089] In some examples, the filter rod insertion drum 46 may be omitted, and the hopper 45 may directly supply the double-length filter rod 42 to the filter rod receiving space 40 between the first and second consumables 3a, 3b in the consumable receiving section 43 on the filter rod receiving drum 47.

[0090] The second module 12 comprises a wrapping unit 25. The wrapping unit 25 may be located downstream of the filter insertion unit 24. The wrapping unit 25 may be located immediately downstream of the filter insertion unit 24. The wrapping unit 25 can be configured to wrap packaging material 48 around a rod article group 43 to form a double-length composite rod 49. The double-length composite rod 49 is identical to the article 2 shown in the two Figures 2, connected by double-length articles, i.e., packaging material 48.

[0091] In some embodiments, the wrapping unit 25 may be configured to wrap the packaging material 49 around the entire length of the double-length filter rods 42 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b and the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 4. In some embodiments, the wrapping unit 25 may be configured to further wrap the packaging material 48 around at least a portion of the length of the first filter rods 6 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b.

[0092] The wrapping unit 25 may include a swashplate drum 51. The swashplate drum 51 may be configured to press together the first consumable 3a, the double-length filter rod 42, and the second consumable 3b. The wrapping unit 25 may further include a rolling drum 52. The rolling drum 52 may include a plurality of consumable receiving sections 53 configured to receive the rod article group 44.

[0093] The wrapping unit 25 may further comprise a chipping unit 54 and an adhesive unit 55. The chipping unit 54 may include a cutting knife that presses against a cutting drum to cut the packaging material 48 to the required length. The chipping unit 54 then transfers the cut packaging material 49 onto a rod article group 44. The adhesive unit 55 may include an adhesive roller that runs through the adhesive and a transfer roller that the adhesive roller transfers the adhesive to. The transfer roller may be configured to transfer the adhesive to the packaging material 48. It will be understood that the chipping unit 54 and the adhesive unit 55 may be integrated as shown in the figure.

[0094] The wrapping unit 25 may further comprise a roll hand 57. The roll hand 57 may be a static curved block located below the rolling drum 52. The roll hand 57 may comprise a kicker bar 58. When a rod article group 44 on the rolling drum 52 reaches the entry point of the roll hand 57, the kicker bar 58 pushes the rod article group 44 out of the consumable receiving section 53, and the rod article group 44 is then rolled between the rolling drum 52 and the roll hand 57 until the packaging material 48 is wrapped around the rod article group 44 to form a double-length composite rod 49, and the double-length composite rod 49 falls into the next consumable receiving section 53.

[0095] The second module 12 may further include a transfer drum 59. The transfer drum 59 may be located downstream of the wrapping unit 25. The transfer drum 59 may be located immediately downstream of the wrapping unit 25. That is, the transfer drum 59 may be configured to receive the double-length composite rod 49 or double-length article 2 from the rolling drum 52 of the wrapping unit 25.

[0096] Referring to Figure 8, a schematic side view of the third module 13 is shown. The third module 13 is located downstream of the second module 12. The third module 13 may also be located immediately downstream of the second module 12. That is, the third module 13 may be configured to receive the double-length composite rod 49.

[0097] The cutting unit 27 of the third module 13 may be configured to cut the double-length composite rod 49 in half through the midpoint of the double-length filter rod 49 to form a first composite rod 60a and a second composite rod 60b. The first and second composite rods 60a and 60b may be identical. The composite rod 60 is the same as article 2 shown in Figure 2.

[0098] The third module 13 may include a transfer drum 61. The transfer drum 61 may be configured to receive a double-length composite rod 49 from the second module 12. The third module 13 includes a cutting unit 27. The cutting unit 27 may be located downstream of the transfer drum 61. The cutting unit 27 may be located immediately downstream of the transfer drum 61. That is, the cutting unit 27 is configured to receive a double-length composite rod 49 from the transfer drum 61.

[0099] The cutting unit 27 may include a cutting drum 62. The cutting drum 62 may include a plurality of consumable receiving sections 63 configured to receive the double-length composite rod 49. The cutting drum 62 is configured to receive the double-length composite rod 49 from the transfer drum 61.

[0100] The cutting unit 27 may further include a cutting knife 64. The cutting knife 64 may be a circular knife. The cutting knife 64 may be configured to cut the double-length filter rod 42 to form segments of two second filter rods 8.

[0101] The cutting drum 62 may be configured to rotate the double-length composite rod 49 and move it toward the cutting knife 64. When the double-length composite rod 49 reaches the cutting knife 64, the cutting knife 64 cuts the double-length composite rod 49 in half through its midpoint. Thus, the cutting unit 27 produces two identical composite rods 60a, 60b, or articles 2, each containing a first filter rod 6, a rod 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5, and a second filter rod 8.

[0102] The third module 13 may further comprise a second rotating unit 28. The second rotating unit 28 may be located downstream of the cutting unit 27. The second rotating unit 28 may be located immediately downstream of the cutting unit 27. That is, the second rotating unit 28 may receive the first composite rod 60a and the second composite rod 60b from the cutting unit 27. The second rotating unit 28 can receive the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b, with the second filter rod 8 positioned relative to the second filter rod 8, and the composite rods 60a, 60b are arranged longitudinally.

[0103] The second rotating unit 28 may include a second rotating drum 72. The second rotating drum 72 may include a plurality of composite receiving sections 73 which are essentially the same as the consumable receiving section described above. In fact, the second rotating drum 72 is essentially the same as the rotating drum 32 described above in relation to Figure 5. Therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0104] However, the second rotating drum 72 is configured to perform the opposite operation to that described with respect to the rotating drum 32. That is, the second rotating drum 72 may be configured to receive the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b in the first and second consumable receiving sections 73a, 73b which are aligned in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the second rotating drum 72 may be configured to release the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b in the first and second composite rod receiving sections 73a, 73b which are adjacent to each other and spaced apart in the circumferential direction. This may be achieved by using a slewing arm as described above. Therefore, the rotating drum 72 may be configured to reverse one direction of the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b, so that the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b are aligned with the first and second composite receiving portions 73a, 73b which are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction in the same orientation, that is, the first filter rods 6 of each of the first and second composite rods 60a, 60b are on the same side of the rotating drum 72.

[0105] The third module 13 may further comprise a perforation unit 74. The perforation unit 74 may be configured to perforate the packaging material 48 to improve the air permeability of the composite rods 60. The perforation unit 74 may comprise a conveying drum 75. The conveying drum 75 may be configured to convey the composite rods 60 through the perforation unit 74. The conveying drum 75 may be located downstream of the second rotating unit 28. The conveying drum 75 may be located immediately downstream of the second rotating unit 28. That is, the conveying drum 75 may be configured to receive a flow of laterally aligned composite rods 60 from the second rotating unit 28.

[0106] The perforation unit 74 may further comprise a perforation device 76. The perforation device 76 may be configured to perforate the packaging material 48 of the composite rod 60 to create ventilation holes therein. The perforation device 76 may be a laser. Alternatively, the perforation device 76 may comprise a drum having radially extending pins configured to puncture the packaging material 48 of the composite rod 60 to form ventilation holes.

[0107] In some embodiments, the third module 13 may further comprise an inspection unit 77. The inspection unit 77 may be configured to inspect the quality of the completed composite rod 60 or article 2. The inspection unit 77 may also comprise a transfer drum 78. The transfer drum 78 may be configured to transport the composite rod 60 or article 2 through the inspection unit 77.

[0108] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, the perforation unit 74 and the inspection unit 77 may be combined to form the perforation and inspection units 74, 77. In such embodiments, the transport drum 75 and the transfer drum 78 may be the same drum.

[0109] The inspection unit 77 may further comprise at least one inspection device 79 configured to determine the quality of the composite rod 60. In some embodiments, the inspection unit 77 may comprise a plurality of inspection devices 79. The inspection device 79 may be configured to inspect the composite rod 60 (article 2) for flagged ends, i.e., corners of the packaging material that are not properly sealed. This may be done by an image sensor. The inspection device 79 may be configured to determine whether the density of the rod is outside the acceptable range, i.e., whether there is not enough filtering material or sufficient aerosol-generating material.

[0110] Referring briefly to Figure 10, the modular apparatus 1 may further comprise additional modules. The modular apparatus may further comprise a fourth module 14. The fourth module 14 may be located downstream of the third module 13. The fourth module 14 may be located immediately downstream of the third module 13. The fourth module 14 may comprise a dispensing unit 79. The dispensing unit 79 may be configured to transfer consumables 60 to a packaging machine (not shown).

[0111] The modular apparatus 1 may further include a consumables feeding module 81. The consumables feeding module 81 may be located upstream of the first module 11. The consumables feeding module 81 may be configured to provide consumables 3 to be processed by the first module 11, the second module 12, and the third module 13.

[0112] The consumables feeding module 81 may include a hopper 82 configured to receive consumables 3. The hopper 82 may receive consumables 3 from another device (not shown), or consumables 3 manufactured by another device (not shown) may be manually loaded into it. The consumables feeding module 81 may further include a transfer drum 83, a receiving drum 84, and a dispensing drum 85.

[0113] In some embodiments, the modular device 1 may include a first consumables feeding module 81 and a second consumables feeding module 91. The first consumables feeding module 81 may be located upstream of the second consumables feeding module 91. The first consumables feeding module 81 may be located immediately upstream of the second consumables feeding module 91. The second consumables feeding module 91 may be located immediately upstream of the first module 11.

[0114] The second consumable feeding module 91 may be identical to the first consumable feeding module 81 in that it comprises a hopper 92 configured to receive consumables 3, a transfer drum 93, a receiving drum 94, and a discharge drum 95.

[0115] The transfer drums 83 and 93 may be configured to receive consumables 3 from hoppers 82 and 92 and transfer the consumables 3 to receiving drums 84 and 94. The transfer drum 83 may be configured to place the consumables 3 in alternate consumable receiving sections 86 within the receiving drum 84, and the receiving drum 84 may place the consumables 3 in alternate consumable receiving sections within the discharge drum 85 of the first feeding module 81. The discharge drum 85 of the first feeding module 81 may be configured to place consumables 3a in alternate consumable receiving sections 96 on the receiving drum 94 of the second feeding module 91. The transfer drum 93 of the second feeding module 91 may be configured to place consumables 3b in alternate consumable receiving sections 96 within the receiving drum 94.

[0116] The transfer drum 93 of the second consumables feeding module 91 is configured to place consumables 3b in alternate consumable receiving sections 96b on the receiving drum 94 of the second consumables feeding module 91, and the discharge drum 85 of the first consumables feeding module 81 is configured to place consumables 3a in alternate consumable receiving sections 96a on the receiving drum 94 of the second consumables feeding module 91 so that the first consumables feeding module 81 fills the empty consumable receiving sections 96a with the transfer drum 93 of the second consumables feeding module 91.

[0117] In other words, the discharge drum 85 of the first feeding module 81 and the transfer drum 93 of the second feeding module 91 can be configured to alternately place consumables 3a and 3b on the consumable receiving section 96 in the receiving drum 94 of the second feeding module 91. This configuration allows the number of consumables 3 supplied to the first module 11 to be doubled, thereby improving the efficiency of the modular device 1.

[0118] It will be understood that each of modules 11, 12, 13, 14, 81, and 91 may be configured differently from the embodiments shown and described herein, while retaining the features necessary to perform the main operation of the module. For example, the first module 11 may not require the supply drum 31 and the transfer drum 38, and they may be omitted. Thus, the first module 11 may consist only of the first rotating unit 21 and the separation unit 22, and the rotating drum 32 may also function as a supply drum for receiving consumables 3, and the consumables 3 may be passed directly to the separation drum 39. It will be understood that the number and arrangement of supply drums and transfer drums within a module may differ from those described and illustrated.

[0119] The modular apparatus 1's ability to obtain consumables 3 and perform a series of operations to manufacture composite rods reduces waste and increases efficiency. Specifically, the modular apparatus 1 of the present invention has the ability to obtain consumables 3 that are already specifically pre-fabricated for use with a particular aerosol supply device (not shown) and to add a second filter rod 8. This has several advantages. Firstly, it enables additional filtering of the airflow. Secondly, the second filter rod 8 can hold aerosol-generating material 5 within the rod 4 and absorb any residue from the aerosol-generating material 5 to prevent or at least reduce residue accumulation on the aerosol supply device. Thirdly, the consumables 3 can be lengthened so that the resulting articles 2 can be used with other aerosol supply devices (not shown). This allows for the reuse of unusable consumables 3 and thus reduces waste.

[0120] As described in detail above, for clarity, a method for manufacturing article 2 for aerosol supply will be described here. This method includes the steps of preparing two consumables 3a and 3b, each comprising a first filter rod 6 and a rod 4 of aerosol-generating material 5, and aligning the two consumables 3a and 3b such that the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5 of each consumable 3a and 3b are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0121] The method further includes the steps of separating consumables 3a and 3b to provide a double-length filter space 40, and inserting a double-length second filter rod 42 into the double-length filter rod space 40 to form a rod article group 44. The method further includes the steps of wrapping the rod article group 44 to form a double-length composite rod 49, and cutting the double-length composite rod 49 in half to provide two composite rods 60a and 60b, each containing a first filter rod 6, a rod 4 of aerosol-generating material 5, and a second filter rod 8.

[0122] The steps for preparing the two consumables 3 and 3b may include the steps of providing the first consumable 3a from the hopper 82 in the first consumable feeding module 81 to the first consumable receiving section on the transport path, and providing the second consumable 3b from the hopper 92 in the second consumable feeding module 91 to the second consumable receiving section on the transport path so that the first and second consumables 3a and 3b are arranged alternately on the transport path and aligned adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0123] The step of aligning the two consumables 3a and 3b may include the steps of reversing the orientation of either the first consumable 3a or the second consumable 3b, and moving them into the other consumable receiving section of the first and second consumables so that the rods 4 of the aerosol generating material 5 of each consumable 3a and 3b are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0124] The step of separating the consumables 3a and 3b may include the step of applying suction force to the filter rod 6 ends of the consumables 3a and 3b.

[0125] The step of packaging the rod article group 44 may include wrapping the packaging material 48 around the entire length of the double-length filter rods 42 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b and the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5.

[0126] Alternatively, the step of wrapping the rod article group may include wrapping the packaging material 48 around the entire length of the double-length filter rods 42 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b and the rods 4 of the aerosol-generating material 5, as well as around at least a portion of the first filter rods 6 of the first and second consumables 3a, 3b.

[0127] In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of laser-inspecting the composite rod 60.

[0128] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may preferably include, consist of, or essentially consist of, appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A modular apparatus for assembling articles for aerosol supply, wherein the modular apparatus comprises, It comprises multiple modules, each of which comprises multiple functional units, and the multiple modules comprise, A first module comprising a rotating unit and a separation unit, configured to receive a plurality of consumables formed from a first filter rod and a rod of aerosol generating material, A second module is located downstream of the first module and includes a filter insertion unit and a wrapping unit, A modular apparatus comprising: a third module located downstream of the second module and comprising a cutting unit and a rotating unit.

2. The modular apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating unit of the first module comprises a rotating drum having a plurality of consumable receiving sections, and the rotating drum is configured to receive first and second consumables in first and second consumable receiving sections adjacent to each other at a distance in the circumferential direction, and to discharge the first and second consumables in first and second consumable receiving sections aligned in the longitudinal direction.

3. The modular apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotating drum comprises a rotating mechanism having a swivel arm configured to rotate 180 degrees such that the first and second consumable receiving sections are aligned longitudinally and one of the first and second consumables is reversed, so that the first and second consumables are arranged in an aerosol generating rod to aerosol generating rod configuration.

4. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separation unit is arranged downstream of the rotating unit and is configured to separate the aerosol generating rod end of the first consumable from the aerosol generating rod end of the second consumable, and to form a filter rod receiving space between the first consumable and the second consumable.

5. The modular apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the filter insertion unit of the second module is configured to insert a double-length filter rod into the filter rod receiving space to form a rod article group.

6. The modular apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wrapping unit is positioned downstream of the filter insertion unit and is configured to wrap packaging material around the rod article group to form a double-length composite rod.

7. The modular apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wrapping unit is configured to wrap the packaging material around the entire length of the double-length filter rod and the rod of the aerosol generating material of the first and second consumables.

8. The modular apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the wrapping unit is configured to wrap packaging material around at least a portion of the length of the filter rods of the first and second consumables.

9. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cutting unit of the third module is configured to cut the double-length composite rod in half through the midpoint of the double-length filter rod to form a first composite rod and a second composite rod, and each of the first and second composite rods includes a first filter rod, a rod of aerosol-generating material and a second filter rod.

10. The modular apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotating unit of the third module comprises a second rotating drum having a plurality of composite rod receiving portions, the second rotating drum is configured to receive the first and second composite rods in first and second composite rod receiving portions aligned in the longitudinal direction, and to release the first and second composite rods in first and second composite rod receiving portions adjacent to each other and spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

11. The modular apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rotating drum is configured to reverse the direction of one of the first and second composite rods so that the first and second composite rods are aligned in the same direction in adjacent composite rod receiving portions in the circumferential direction.

12. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the third module further comprises a drilling unit.

13. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the third module further comprises an inspection unit.

14. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a fourth module located downstream of the third module and equipped with a dispensing unit.

15. The modular apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a consumables feeding module located upstream of the first module and configured to provide consumables to be processed by the first, second, and third modules.

16. The modular apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the consumable supply module comprises a hopper configured to receive consumables, a transfer drum, a receiving drum, and a discharge drum.

17. The modular apparatus according to claim 16, comprising two consumable supply modules located upstream of the first module, wherein the first consumable supply module is located upstream of the second consumable supply module.

18. The modular apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the transfer drum of the second consumables feeding module is configured to place consumables in alternate consumables receiving sections on the receiving drum of the second consumables feeding module, and the discharge drum of the first consumables feeding module is configured to place consumables in alternate consumables receiving sections on the receiving drum of the second consumables feeding module such that the first consumables feeding module fills the empty consumables receiving sections with the transfer drum of the second consumables feeding module.

19. A method for manufacturing an article for aerosol supply, wherein the method is The steps include preparing two consumables, including a first filter rod and a rod of aerosol generating material, The steps include aligning the two consumables so that the aerosol generating rods of each consumable are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, The steps include separating the aforementioned number of consumables to create a double-length filter space, and inserting a double-length second filter rod into the double-length filter rod space to form a rod article group, The steps include wrapping the aforementioned rod article group to form a double-length composite rod, A method comprising the steps of cutting the double-length composite rod in half to provide two composite rods comprising the first filter rod, the aerosol generating rod, and the second filter rod.

20. The above step of preparing two consumables, The process of providing the first consumables from the hopper in the first consumables feeding module to the first consumables receiving section on the transport path, The method according to claim 19, comprising the step of providing the second consumables from a hopper in a second consumables feeding module to a second consumables receiving section on the transport path such that the first and second consumables are arranged alternately on the transport path and aligned adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of aligning the two consumables includes reversing the orientation of one of the first or second consumables so that the rods of the aerosol generating material of each consumable are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, and moving it into the consumable receiving section of the other of the first and second consumables.

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the step of separating the plurality of consumables includes the step of applying suction force to the filter rod end of the consumable.

23. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the step of wrapping the rod article group includes wrapping packaging material around the entire length of the double-length filter rods and the rods of the aerosol-generating material of the first and second consumables.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of wrapping the rod article group includes wrapping a packaging material around the entire length of the double-length filter rods and the rods of the aerosol-generating material of the first and second consumables, and around at least a portion of the first filter rod.

25. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, further comprising the step of drilling the composite rod, and optionally further comprising the step of inspecting the composite rod.

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