Device and method for weakening a strip of material in making an aerosol-generating article component

Abstract

A device (16) for weakening a strip of material (15) in making an aerosol-generating article component, the device comprising a first roller (17) comprising a plurality of first protrusions (19) delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses (20), a second roller (18) comprising a plurality of second protrusions (22) delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses (23). At a coupling zone of the first roller (17) with the second roller (18), the first protrusions (19) are partially inserted in the second recesses (23) and the second protrusions (22) are partially inserted in the first recesses (20). Spikes (21) are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions (19) and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions (22). The spikes (21) are configured to pierce a strip of material (15) passing between the first roller (17) and the second roller (18).

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WEAKENING A STRIP OF MATERIAL IN MAKING AN AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE COMPONENT

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a device and to a method for weakening a strip of material in making an aerosol-generating article component.

[0003] Aerosol-generating articles or heat-not-burn cigarettes, in which an aerosolgenerating substrate is heated rather than combusted, are known in the art. Typically, in such heated aerosol-generating articles, an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to the physically separate aerosol-generating substrate or material, which may be located in contact with, within, around, or downstream of the heat source. During use of the aerosol-generating article, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-generating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and are entrained in air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol.

[0004] An aerosol-generating article is an assembly of different kinds of components which are rod-shaped elements (small cylinders) enclosed in one or more wrapping materials. For instance, one of the rod-shaped elements is usually made of a gathered sheet of a substrate which generates aerosol when heated (Heat Not Burn consumable). Another rod-shaped element could be made of polylactic acid which helps to cool down the air heated in the substrate before it reaches the consumer. Another rod-shaped element could be made of cellulose acetate that has a filter function (mouthpiece filter).

[0005] In order to manufacture the aerosol-generating article components, a main material of the components (e.g. aerosol-generating substrate with or without tobacco ingredient or polylactic acid or paper or cellulose acetate tow) provided in strip format may be submitted to various pre-treatments, then goes through a “rod forming” stage where the strip of material is guided into a converging device and exits as a rod of material having a desired diameter. The rod of material is then wrapped in a continuous sheet of wrapping paper which is progressively closed on the rod of material. The resulting continuous wrapped rod is then cut by a rotating knife in components which are input to an assembly line. The different kinds of components are afterwards aligned, abutted and wrapped in a further sheet material to form a continuous rod. The continuous wrapped rod made of different components is then cut in smaller rods which are the final consumables or are used to manufacture the final consumables.

[0006] Among the cited various pre-treatments, the strip of material is submitted to a crimping process which is usually applied after the strip of material has been unwound from a bobbin or pulled out from a bale and just before the strip of material is pulled into the converging device, such as a funnel-shaped device, to get shaped into the continuous wrapped rod.

[0007] According to known crimping processes, the strip of material is continuously fed to a pair of interleaved rollers (crimping rollers) able to impress a plurality of longitudinally (or sometime transversally) extending crimp corrugations to the continuous sheets. The corrugations are created by bending as well as stretching the strip of material which is caught between the crimping rollers. The crimping process creates ridges and grooves in the band of material and weakens the strip of material.

[0008] The crimping process is helpful for folding and gathering the strip of material into the rod. Indeed, the corrugations define folding lines and facilitate folding and gathering of the strip of material. The defined folding line by the corrugations ensure regular and homogeneous folding of the material when it gets shaped into a rod. The crimping process also influences, inter alia, the amount of air contact and air exchange, the filtration level, the Resistance to Draw (RTD), and other properties and, hence, is directly experienced by the users of the aerosol-generating articles. It could best ensure the consistency and replicability of the product performance and characteristic of the aerosol-generating article.

[0009] For instance, an apparatus for crimping a flat material for making filter plugs for cigarettes is disclosed in document US2931748A. In this apparatus, a web of material, unwound from a supply roll or drum is pre-perforated by rollers, then is crimped over its entire width by crimping rollers and the uniform crimped grooves in parallel strips are broken by knurling effected with the aid of further rollers.

[0010] Document EP3469922A1 discloses a machine for making rod-shaped smoking articles comprising: unwinding means for unwinding a web of material for the tobacco industry and cutting discs configured to receive and cut the web so as to create a plurality of longitudinal strips making a plurality of longitudinal, broken cutting lines in such a way that two longitudinal strips which are transversely adjacent each other are connected to each other by at least one joining portion.

[0011] It would be desirable to have an apparatus and a method for manufacturing components (rod-shaped elements) for aerosol-generating articles able to further improve the quality of said components and thus of the resulting aerosol-generating articles.

[0012] It would be desirable to have an apparatus and a method capable of manufacturing components for aerosol-generating articles such as to guarantee an optimal experience to the final user.

[0013] It would be desirable to have an apparatus and a method for manufacturing the aerosol-generating article components which is capable of enhancing benefits of the crimping (in particular high exchange surface effect, filtration level, RTD) while eliminating or at least mitigating possible drawbacks of the known crimping methods and devices.

[0014] The present disclosure relates to a device for weakening a strip of material in making an aerosol-generating article component. The device comprises: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce a strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0015] The present disclosure also relates to a method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component. The method comprises: feeding a strip of material between a first roller and a second roller of the device for weakening a strip of material while the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material. The device for weakening a strip of material may comprise: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce the strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0016] The inventor found that the disclosed device and method create pierced holes in the strip of material providing additional air exchange in the aerosol-generating article components. This air exchange is in addition to the one created by the corrugations generated by the simultaneous crimping.

[0017] The inventor found that the increased air exchange is due in part to increased turbulence of air flow generated by the pierced holes and in part to increased material surface in contact with the air flow, i.e. the inner layers of material exposed by the pierced holes.

[0018] The inventor also found that the disclosed device and method allow to properly tune the different properties of the aerosol-generating articles components (like exchange surface effect, filtration level, RTD) by combining crimping and piercing. Indeed, the spikes pierce the strip of material where the protrusions bend the material and the combined action generate weakened zones. Variability of such properties may be therefore limited.

[0019] In particular, the inventor found that the disclosed device and method allow to improve the filtration level of the aerosol-generating articles components (increased filtration efficiency). Indeed, the turbulence may push particles traveling along the aerosolgenerating articles component and carried by the laminar flow against the walls enclosing the air paths and may stop said particles. Moreover, the pierced holes delimit narrow air channels into which the particles could get trapped.

[0020] The inventor also found that the disclosed device and method allow to adjust as required the weakness of the strip of material by controlling the combined crimping and piercing effects. Indeed, the traditional crimping process generates weakened lines by bending the strip of material and thus stretching the substrate. Getting an exact balance between weakening too much or not enough through traditional crimping is not easy and may create drawbacks on the strip of material and in the aerosol-generating articles components. Indeed, if crimping is not enough and an insufficient weakness is achieved, the resulting aerosol-generating articles components may enlarge radially and / or present high-density areas and holes; if crimping is too high and a too much weakness is achieved, the material may break in small parts or shreds and the resulting RTD may be impaired. Conversely, by piercing and crimping simultaneously the strip of material, the required weakness may be tuned more easily.

[0021] The inventor also found that the disclosed device and method allow to increase the yield of the material and reduce the costs.

[0022] The inventor also found that the disclosed device is structurally relatively simple and cost effective.

[0023] Each spike is a pointed projection which may be shaped as a nail or a needle or a pin.

[0024] Each spike may taper towards a distal pointed tip. The inventor found that, thanks to the pointed tips, the pierced holes generate weakened lines in the strip of material without excessively stretching said strip of material.

[0025] The inventor found that, since the weakened lines are partly obtained by piercing, the stretching and bending due to the traditional crimping carried out by the protrusions and recesses may use safer parameter ranges, thus limiting the risk of stretching the strip of material too much. The inventor also found that, when operating with strips of material comprising fibres, this generates less dust than traditional crimping.

[0026] According to some embodiments, each spike has a tapered shape. The tapered shape may be conical or pyramidal.

[0027] The inventor found that the pierced holes made through the conical or pyramidal spikes draws more air and generate more turbulence than the pierced holes made through straight spikes and this help increasing air exchange, mixing of air and filtration level.

[0028] In some embodiments, each spike protrudes from the top along a radial direction.

[0029] In some embodiments, one first protrusion and / or one second protrusion carry / ies a plurality of spikes.

[0030] In some embodiments, each first protrusion and / or each second protrusion carry / ies a plurality of spikes.

[0031] The inventor found that the number of spikes on the protrusions and / or the number of protrusions provided with spikes may change the weakening effect on the strip of material.

[0032] In some embodiments, a length of each spike is greater that a thickness of the strip of material. This assures making through pierced holes.

[0033] In some embodiments, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, tips of the spikes of the first roller remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses of the second roller and / or tips of the spikes of the second roller remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses of the first roller. This way, the rollers do not get damaged.

[0034] In some embodiments, a sum of a radial distance of the tip of the spikes of the first protrusions from the first rotation axis and a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a diametral distance of the first axis from the second axis. In some embodiments, a sum of a radial distance of the tip of the spikes of the second protrusions from the second rotation axis and a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a diametral distance of the first axis from the second axis.

[0035] A difference between said diametral distance and said sum may be between 0.005 mm and 0.05 mm. In some embodiments, a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions devoid of spikes.

[0036] A difference between said diametral distance and said sum may be between 0.005 mm and 0.05 mm.

[0037] In some embodiments, a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions devoid of spikes.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first protrusions and the second protrusions are circumferential ridges and the first recesses and the second recesses are circumferential grooves. The circumferential ridges and the circumferential grooves are arranged alternating along an axial direction of the first roller and the second roller.

[0039] The circumferential ridges may lie in planes orthogonal to the first rotation axis and second rotation axis.

[0040] The circumferential ridges of the first roller may be coaxial to the first rotation axis and the circumferential ridges of the second roller may be coaxial to the second rotation axis.

[0041] In some embodiments, the spikes are distributed circumferentially on at least some of the circumferential ridges.

[0042] In some embodiments, the spikes are circumferentially aligned as an array on the respective circumferential ridge.

[0043] The spikes may lie in planes orthogonal to the first rotation axis and second rotation axis.

[0044] In some embodiments, one circumferential ridge of the first roller with spikes is followed on the same first roller by at least one, optionally two, circumferential ridge / s devoid of spikes.

[0045] In some embodiments, one circumferential ridge of the second roller with spikes is followed on the same second roller by at least one, optionally two, circumferential ridge / s devoid of spikes.

[0046] An axial width of the circumferential ridges may be smaller than an axial width of the circumferential grooves, such that, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the circumferential ridges of the first roller are partially inserted in the circumferential grooves of the second roller and the circumferential ridges of the second roller are partially inserted in the circumferential grooves of the first roller.

[0047] In some embodiments, all the circumferential ridges have the same axial width and all the circumferential grooves have the same axial width. A ratio of a length of the spikes to a radial height of the first and / or second protrusions may be from 0.0125 to 5. The length of the spikes may be from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm, optionally from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The radial height of the first and / or second protrusions may be from 0.2 mm to 4.0 mm, optionally from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. A ratio of a base width of the spikes to an axial width of the first and / or second protrusions may be from 0.025 to 10. The base width of the spikes may be from 0.05 mm to 2.0 mm, optionally from 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm. The axial width of the first and / or second protrusions may be from 0.2 mm to 2 mm, optionally from 0.5 mm to 1 .5 mm.

[0048] In some embodiments, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, tops of the first protrusions devoid of spikes of the first roller remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses of the second roller and / or tops of the second protrusions devoid of spikes of the of the second roller remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses of the first roller.

[0049] The first roller and the second roller may have a same maximum diameter measured at the tops of the first and second protrusions.

[0050] The first roller and the second roller may be made of metal, optionally of steel. The spikes may be made of metal, optionally of steel.

[0051] In a section plane containing the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, the first and / or second protrusions and first and / or second recesses of the first roller and / or of the second roller may have a square or rectangular or triangular shape.

[0052] The strip of material may be made of paper or paperboard or cellulose acetate or porous fibrous substrate incorporating cellulose fibers or tobacco cast leaf.

[0053] The strip of material may be made of botanical substrate or graphite containing.

[0054] The aerosol-generating article component may be an aerosol generating plug or a filter plug or a cooling plug of the aerosol-generating article.

[0055] The inventor found that the disclosed device and method allows to use paper instead of tow for manufacturing filter plugs and this allow to save costs and make the process more sustainable.

[0056] The inventor also found that, in case the disclosed device and method are used for processing tobacco cast leaf, an increased friction / grip is obtained between the aerosolgenerating substrate and any susceptor inserted in the plug to heat through induction heating.

[0057] The present disclosure also relates to a weakened strip of material obtained through a method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component. The method comprises: feeding a strip of material between a first roller and a second roller of the device for weakening a strip of material while the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material. The device for weakening a strip of material may comprise: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce the strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0058] The weakened strip of material comprises a plurality of pleats and a plurality of pierced holes placed at or close to apexes of at least some of the pleats. The pierced holes are through holes.

[0059] The pleats may extend parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip of material.

[0060] The pierced holes may be arranged in lines parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip of material.

[0061] The weakened strip of material may have tapered portions, optionally truncated cone portions, each surrounding a pierced hole.

[0062] The inventor found that these tapered portions keep a minimal distance between the folds when the strip is gathered and compressed into a aerosol-generating articles component, preventing the folds to pile up one on the other and to make airtight areas.

[0063] The inventor found that, if the spikes are on both the first roller and the second roller, some of the tapered portions protrude on one side of the strip of material and other tapered portions protrude on the other side of the strip of material and th is in the aerosol-generating articles components promote scattering of air flows.

[0064] The present disclosure also relates to a process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles. Said process comprises: conveying a strip of material along a conveying path and in a conveying direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said strip of material; wherein the strip of material is weakened through a method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component. The method comprises: feeding a strip of material between a first roller and a second roller of a device for weakening the strip of material while the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material.

[0065] The device for weakening a strip of material may comprise: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce the strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0066] The process may further comprise: gathering the strip of material in a rod-shaped configuration; wrapping the strip of material in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper to form a continuous rod; cutting the continuous rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components.

[0067] The present disclosure also relates to a process for making aerosol-generating articles. Said process comprises: manufacturing aerosol-generating article components of different kinds; combining the aerosol-generating article components of different kinds to make the aerosol-generating articles.

[0068] The aerosol-generating article components of at least one kind are manufactured through a process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosolgenerating articles comprising: conveying a strip of material along a conveying path and in a conveying direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said strip of material; wherein the strip of material is weakened through a method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component. The method comprises: feeding a strip of material between a first roller and a second roller of a device for weakening the strip of material while the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material.

[0069] The kinds of aerosol-generating article components may comprise: filter plugs, aerosol generating plugs, cooling plugs.

[0070] The aerosol-generating article may comprise at least one aerosol generating plug and at least one filter plug. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing aerosolgenerating article components for aerosol-generating articles. Said apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor defining a conveying path and a conveying direction; a device for weakening a strip of material placed along the conveying path. The device for weakening a strip of material may comprise: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce the strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0071] The apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components may also comprise: a gathering device placed downstream of the device for weakening a strip of material; a wrapping device placed downstream of the gathering device; a cutter placed downstream of the wrapping device.

[0072] The apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components may also comprise a control unit configured to control the apparatus to perform the following procedure: conveying continuously the strip of material along the conveying path and in the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of said strip of material through the at least one conveyor; weakening the strip of material through the device for weakening the strip of material.

[0073] The procedure may also comprise: gathering the strip of material in a rod-shaped configuration in the gathering device while the strip of material is conveyed along the conveying path; wrapping the strip of material in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper through the wrapping device to form a continuous rod; cutting the continuous rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components through the cutter.

[0074] The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing aerosolgenerating articles. Said apparatus comprises a plurality of manufacturing lines for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components of different kinds; a combiner placed downstream of the plurality of manufacturing lines and configured to combine the aerosol- generating article components of different kinds in an endless rod and to cut the endless rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating articles.

[0075] At least one of the manufacturing lines comprises a device for weakening a strip of material. Said device for weakening a strip of material comprises: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face. The first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis. At a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses. Spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions. The spikes are configured to pierce the strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0076] As used in the present description, the term “strip” means a sheet of material having a main longitudinal dimension hundreds or thousands of times higher than a width of the sheet of material and the width that is hundreds of times or thousands of times higher than a thickness of the sheet of material. Usually, the width of the strip of material is between 5 cm to 20 cm.

[0077] The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non- exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0078] EX1. A device for weakening a strip of material in making an aerosol-generating article component, the device comprising: a first roller having a first rotation axis and comprising a plurality of first protrusions provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller, the first protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses on the first radial outer face; a second roller having a second rotation axis and comprising a plurality of second protrusions provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller, the second protrusions delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses on the second radial outer face; wherein the first roller and the second roller are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis and second rotation axis; wherein, at a coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the first protrusions are partially inserted in the second recesses and the second protrusions are partially inserted in the first recesses; wherein spikes are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions, the spikes being configured to pierce a strip of material passing between the first roller and the second roller.

[0079] EX2. The device according to EX1 , wherein each spike is a pointed projection shaped as a nail or a needle or a pin.

[0080] EX3. The device according to EX1 or EX2, wherein each spike has a tapered shape, optionally conical or pyramidal shape.

[0081] EX4. The device according to any of EX1 to EX3, wherein each spike tapers towards a distal pointed tip.

[0082] EX5. The device according to any of EX1 to EX4, wherein each spike protrudes from the top along a radial direction.

[0083] EX6. The device according to any of EX1 to EX5, wherein one first protrusion and / or one second protrusion carry / ies a plurality of spikes.

[0084] EX7. The device according to any of EX1 to EX6, wherein each first protrusion and / or each second protrusion carry / ies a plurality of spikes.

[0085] EX8. The device according to any of EX1 to EX7, wherein a length of each spike is greater that a thickness of the strip of material.

[0086] EX9. The device according to any of EX1 to EX8, wherein, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, tips of the spikes of the first roller remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses of the second roller and / or tips of the spikes of the second roller remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses of the first roller.

[0087] EX10. The device according to EX9, wherein a sum of a radial distance of the tip of the spikes of the first protrusions from the first rotation axis and a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a diametral distance of the first axis from the second axis; and / or a sum of a radial distance of the tip of the spikes of the second protrusions from the second rotation axis and a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a diametral distance of the first axis from the second axis.

[0088] EX11 . The device according to EX10, wherein a difference between said diametral distance and said sum is between 0.005 mm and 0.05 mm.

[0089] EX12. The device according to any of EX1 to EX11 , wherein a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the first recesses facing the second protrusions devoid of spikes. EX13. The device according to EX12, wherein a difference between said diametral distance and said sum is between 0.005 mm and 0.05 mm.

[0090] EX14. The device according to any of EX1 to EX13, wherein a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions provided with the spikes is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the second recesses facing the first protrusions devoid of spikes.

[0091] EX15. The device according to any of EX1 to EX14, wherein the first protrusions and the second protrusions are circumferential ridges and the first recesses and the second recesses are circumferential grooves.

[0092] EX16. The device according to EX15, wherein the circumferential ridges and the circumferential grooves are arranged alternating along an axial direction of the first roller and the second roller.

[0093] EX17. The device according to EX15 or EX16, wherein the circumferential ridges lie in planes orthogonal to the first rotation axis and second rotation axis.

[0094] EX18. The device according to any of EX15 to EX17, wherein the circumferential ridges of the first roller are coaxial to the first rotation axis and the circumferential ridges of the second roller are coaxial to the second rotation axis.

[0095] EX19. The device according to any of EX15 to EX18, wherein the spikes are distributed circumferentially on at least some of the circumferential ridges.

[0096] EX20. The device according to any of EX15 to EX19, wherein the spikes are circumferentially aligned as an array on the respective circumferential ridge.

[0097] EX21. The device according to any of EX15 to EX20, wherein the spikes lie in planes orthogonal to the first rotation axis and second rotation axis.

[0098] EX22. The device according to any of EX15 to EX21 , wherein one circumferential ridge of the first roller with spikes is followed on the same first roller by at least one, optionally two, circumferential ridge / s devoid of spikes.

[0099] EX23. The device according to any of EX15 to EX22, wherein one circumferential ridge of the second roller with spikes is followed on the same second roller by at least one, optionally two, circumferential ridge / s devoid of spikes.

[0100] EX24. The device according to any of EX15 to EX23, wherein an axial width of the circumferential ridges is smaller than an axial width of the circumferential grooves, such that, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, the circumferential ridges of the first roller are partially inserted in the circumferential grooves of the second roller and the circumferential ridges of the second roller are partially inserted in the circumferential grooves of the first roller. EX25. The device according to any of EX15 to EX24, wherein all the circumferential ridges have the same axial width and all the circumferential grooves have the same axial width.

[0101] EX26. The device according to any of EX1 to EX25, wherein a ratio of a length of the spikes to a radial height of the first and / or second protrusions is from 0.0125 to 5.

[0102] EX27. The device according to EX26, wherein the length of the spikes is from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm, optionally from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0103] EX28. The device according to EX26 or EX27, wherein the radial height of the first and / or second protrusions is from 0.2 mm to 4.0 mm, optionally from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0104] EX29. The device according to any of EX1 to EX28, wherein a ratio of a base width of the spikes to an axial width of the first and / or second protrusions is from 0.025 to 10.

[0105] EX30. The device according to EX29, wherein the base width of the spikes is from 0.05 mm to 2.0 mm, optionally from 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0106] EX31 . The device according to EX29 or EX30, wherein the axial width of the first and / or second protrusions is from 0.2 mm to 2 mm, optionally from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0107] EX32. The device according to any of EX1 to EX31 , wherein, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, tops of the first protrusions devoid of spikes of the first roller remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses of the second roller and / or tops of the second protrusions devoid of spikes of the of the second roller remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses of the first roller.

[0108] EX33. The device according to any of EX1 to EX32, wherein the first roller and the second roller have a same maximum diameter measured at the tops of the first and second protrusions.

[0109] EX34. The device according to any of EX1 to EX33, wherein the first roller and the second roller are made of metal, optionally of steel.

[0110] EX35. The device according to any of EX1 to EX34, wherein the spikes are made of metal, optionally of steel.

[0111] EX36. The device according to any of EX1 to EX35, wherein, in a section plane containing the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, the first and / or second protrusions and first and / or second recesses of the first roller and / or of the second roller have a square or rectangular or triangular shape.

[0112] EX37. A method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component, the method comprising: feeding a strip of material between the first roller and the second roller of the device for weakening a strip of material according to any of EX1 to EX36 while the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material. EX38. The method according to EX37, wherein the strip of material is made of paper or paperboard or cellulose acetate or porous fibrous substrate incorporating cellulose fibers or tobacco cast leaf or botanical substrate or graphite containing.

[0113] EX39. The method according to EX37 or EX38, wherein the aerosol-generating article component is an aerosol generating plug or a filter plug or a cooling plug of the aerosol-generating article.

[0114] EX40. A weakened strip of material obtained through the method according to any of EX37 to EX39.

[0115] EX41 . The weakened strip of material according to EX40, comprising a plurality of pleats and a plurality of pierced holes placed at or close to apexes of at least some of the pleats; the pierced holes being through holes.

[0116] EX42. The weakened strip of material according to EX41 , wherein the pleats extend parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip of material.

[0117] EX43. The weakened strip of material according to EX41 or EX42, wherein the pierced holes are arranged in lines parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip of material.

[0118] EX44. The weakened strip of material according to any of EX41 to EX43, having tapered portions, optionally truncated cone portions, each surrounding a pierced hole.

[0119] EX45. A process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles, comprising:

[0120] - conveying a strip of material along a conveying path and in a conveying direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of said strip of material; wherein the strip of material is weakened through the method of any of EX37 to EX39 or wherein the strip of material is according to any of EX40 to EX44;

[0121] - gathering the strip of material in a rod-shaped configuration;

[0122] - wrapping the strip of material in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper to form a continuous rod;

[0123] - cutting the continuous rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components.

[0124] EX46. A process for making aerosol-generating articles, comprising:

[0125] - manufacturing aerosol-generating article components of different kinds;

[0126] - combining the aerosol-generating article components of different kinds to make the aerosol-generating articles; wherein the aerosol-generating article components of at least one kind are manufactured through the process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles according to EX45.

[0127] EX47. The process according to EX46, wherein the kinds of aerosol-generating article components comprise: filter plugs, aerosol generating plugs, cooling plugs. EX48. The process according to EX46 or EX47, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one aerosol generating plug and at least one filter plug.

[0128] EX49. An apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles, comprising: at least one conveyor defining a conveying path and a conveying direction; the device for weakening a strip of material according to any of EX1 to EX36 placed along the conveying path; a gathering device placed downstream of the device for weakening a strip of material; a wrapping device placed downstream of the gathering device; a cutter placed downstream of the wrapping device; a control unit configured to control the apparatus to perform the following procedure: conveying continuously the strip of material along the conveying path and in the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of said strip of material through the at least one conveyor;

[0129] - weakening the strip of material through the device for weakening the strip of material; gathering the strip of material in a rod-shaped configuration in the gathering device while the strip of material is conveyed along the conveying path;

[0130] - wrapping the strip of material in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper through the wrapping device to form a continuous rod; cutting the continuous rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components through the cutter.

[0131] EX50. An apparatus for making aerosol-generating articles, comprising: a plurality of manufacturing lines for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components of different kinds; a combiner placed downstream of the plurality of manufacturing lines and configured to combine the aerosol-generating article components of different kinds in an endless rod and to cut the endless rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating articles; wherein at least one of the manufacturing lines comprises a device for weakening a strip of material according to any of EX1 to EX36.

[0132] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0133] Figure 1 shows an apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components;

[0134] Figure 2 is an enlarged portion of an element of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

[0135] Figure 3 is a cross section of an embodiment of the element of Figure 2;

[0136] Figure 3A is an enlarged part of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a cross section of a variant embodiment of the element of Figures 2 and

[0137] 3;

[0138] Figure 5 shows a strip of material processed in the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

[0139] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the strip of material of Figure 5;

[0140] Figures 7 and 8 show respectively a longitudinal section and a cross section of aerosol-generating article component manufactured through the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

[0141] Figure 9 is an exploded view of an aerosol-generating article comprising the aerosolgenerating article component of Figures 7 and 8;

[0142] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the aerosol-generating article components according to the invention.

[0143] The apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles 2 and may be part of a plant, not shown, for manufacturing aerosol-generating articles 2. The apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured to carry out a process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosol-generating articles 2 as shown in figure 10 and as will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure.

[0144] One example embodiment of aerosol-generating article 2 is depicted in the exploded view of Figure 9 and comprises (from left to right in Figure 9): a front plug 3 (solid plug), an aerosol-generating plug 4, a tubular plug 5 (hollow plug, for instance of cellulose acetate), a fine tubular plug 6 (similar to the tubular plug 5 but with a thinner wall) and a filter plug 7 (mouthpiece filter, usually made of tow). Each plug has a wrapping of its own helping to contain properly their content. A tipping paper 8 connects the filter plug 7 to the rest of the plugs, and the front plug 3, aerosol-generating plug 4, tubular plug 5 and fine tubular plug 6 are wrapped together into a wrapping paper 9. The tubular plug 5 and fine tubular plug 6 are cooling plugs configured to cool down the aerosol formed by heating the aerosolgenerating plug 4.

[0145] The aerosol-generating plug 4 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate 10 made of a sheet of material gathered in a continuous rod shape and wrapped in a wrapper 11 . The material of the aerosol-generating substrate 10 may comprise reconstituted tobacco or tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based material or a biodegradable fibre-based material. The filter plug 7 may be made of another sheet of material 12 of paper or polylactic acid or cellulose acetate gathered in a continuous rod shape and wrapped in a wrapper 13.

[0146] The aerosol-generating article components (rod-shaped elements) made by the apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 may be, for instance, the aerosol-generating plugs 4 or the filter plugs 7. Figures 7 and 8 show respectively a longitudinal section and a cross section of the filter plug 7 manufactured through the apparatus 1 . Referring to figure 1 , the apparatus 1 comprises a reel holder 14 and a strip of material 15 is coiled in a bobbin 15A on said reel holder 14. The strip of material 15 is for instance paper material, for instance a non-woven paper material, for making the filter plugs 7. In other embodiments, not shown in the figures, the strip of material 15 is paperboard or tobacco cast leaf or a porous fibrous substrate incorporating cellulose fibers or cellulose acetate or polylactic acid, depending on theaerosol-generating article component to be made. The strip of material 15 may also contain graphite or be made of botanical substrate.

[0147] An extraction device, not shown, is configured to uncoil the strip of material 15 from the bobbin 15A and a conveyor is configured to guide the strip of material 15 along a conveying path and in a conveying direction “F” parallel to a longitudinal direction of said strip of material 15. For instance, the conveyor comprises a plurality of motorized rollers and / or one or more motorized belt conveyors located along the conveying path.

[0148] Downstream of the reel holder 14, with respect to the conveying direction “F”, the apparatus 1 comprises a device 16 for weakening the strip of material 15. This device 16 is configured to carry out a method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component.

[0149] The device 16 comprises a first roller 17 (upper roller) and a second roller 18 (lower roller) having lateral surfaces facing each other and rotating in opposite directions about respective first rotation axis “X” and second rotation axis “Y”, which are parallel axes. A motor, not shown, is operatively connected to the first roller 17 and / or the second roller 18 to rotate said rollers. The first roller 17 and the second roller 18 are for instance made of steel.

[0150] The first roller 17, represented partially in Figure 2, comprises a plurality of first protrusions 19 defined by circumferential ridges spaced from each other by first recesses 20 defined by circumferential grooves. The first protrusions 19 and the first recesses 20 are fashioned on a first radial outer face of said first roller 17 and are arranged alternating along an axial direction of the first roller 17. The circumferential ridges and the circumferential grooves lie in planes orthogonal to the first rotation axis “X” and are coaxial to the first rotation axis “X”. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the circumferential ridges and grooves form peaks and valleys of triangular shape with rounded tops of the peaks and bottoms of the valleys.

[0151] Steel spikes 21 are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions 19. The spikes 21 are pointed projections shaped like nails or a needles or pins with conical shape that tapers towards a distal pointed tip. The spikes may also have a shape different form the one depicted in the figures, for instance pyramidal. Each spike 21 protrudes from the top of the first protrusion 19 along a radial direction (i.e. radial with respect to the first rotation axis “X”). The spikes 21 are circumferentially aligned, as an array, on the respective circumferential ridge and lie in a plane orthogonal to the first rotation axis “X”. In Figure 2, a circumferential ridge provided with the spikes 21 is sided by two circumferential ridges with no spikes.

[0152] The second roller 18, not shown in Figure 2, is similar to the first roller 17. For instance, the second roller 18 comprises a plurality of second protrusions 22 defined by circumferential ridges spaced from each other by second recesses 23 defined by circumferential grooves. A shape of the second protrusions 22 and second recesses 23 may be the same as the shape of the first protrusion 19 and second protrusions 20. The second roller 18 may comprise the spikes 21 placed on some of its protrusions 22 or may not. The first roller 17 and the second roller 18 have a same maximum diameter measured at the tops of the first and second protrusions 19, 22.

[0153] The first roller 17 and the second roller 18 are positioned such that, at a coupling zone, the first protrusions 19 are partially inserted in the second recesses 23 and the second protrusions 22 are partially inserted in the first recesses 20. Therefore, an axial width of the circumferential ridges is smaller than an axial width of the circumferential grooves.

[0154] Figure 3 shows a portion of the coupling zone of a variant embodiment in which the first roller 17 does not comprise any spike while the spikes 21 are on the protrusions 22 of the second roller 18.

[0155] In this variant embodiment, the first and second protrusions 19, 22 and first and second recesses 20, 23 have a rectangular shape with rounded edges.

[0156] In this variant embodiment, a radius of the bottom of the first recesses 20 facing the second protrusions 22 provided with the spikes 21 is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the first recesses 20 facing the second protrusions 22 devoid of spikes. A length of each spike 21 is such that the tips of the spikes 21 of the second roller 18 remain spaced from the bottoms of the first recesses 20 of the first roller 21. In other terms, a sum of a radial distance of the tip of the spikes 21 of the second protrusions 22 from the second rotation axis “Y” and a radius of the bottom of the first recesses 20 facing the second protrusions 22 provided with the spikes 21 is smaller than a diametral distance of the first axis “X” from the second axis “Y”. For instance, a difference “D” (Figure 3) between said diametral distance and said sum is between 0.005 mm and 0.05 mm.

[0157] Figures 3 and 3A show a length “L” of the spikes 21 , a base width “BW” of the spikes 21 , a radial height “H” and an axial width “W’ of the first protrusions 19. The following Table 1 contains some example measures. In Figure 3, all the circumferential ridges have the same axial width “W’ and all the circumferential grooves have the same axial width. Table 1

[0158] Figure 4 shows a portion of the coupling zone of another variant embodiment in which both the first roller 17 and the second roller 18 comprise some protrusions 19, 22 with spikes 21. In this variant embodiment, one circumferential ridge of the first roller 17 with spikes 21 is followed on the same first roller 17 by two circumferential ridges devoid of spikes and one circumferential ridge of the second roller 18 with spikes 21 is followed on the same second roller 18 by two circumferential ridges devoid of spikes.

[0159] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, at the coupling zone of the first roller with the second roller, also tops of the first protrusions 19 devoid of spikes of the first roller 21 remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses 23 of the second roller 18 and tops of the second protrusions 22 devoid of spikes of the of the second roller 18 remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses 20 of the first roller 17.

[0160] The apparatus 1 further comprises a gathering device 24 placed downstream of the device 16 for weakening a strip of material 15, a wrapping device 25 placed downstream of the gathering device 24 and a cutter 26 placed downstream of the wrapping device 25.

[0161] The gathering device 24 comprises a converging tool shaped like a tapered funnel 27 which is configured to move the strip of material 15 from a flat configuration (upstream of the gathering device 24) to a gathered rod-shaped configuration (downstream of the gathering device 24) while the strip of material 15 is conveyed along the conveying path and pulled through the converging tool. For instance, the strip of material 15 is pulled from downstream of the converging tool through devices and / or conveyors not shown in figures.

[0162] The wrapping device 25 is configured to wrap the strip of material 15 in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper 29 to form a continuous rod 30. The wrapping device 25 comprises a guide cooperating with a feeder of the wrapper 29. The guide, not shown in details, may be known per se and may comprise a U-shaped channel with additional folding elements configured to close the wrapper 29 around the gathered strip of material 15. The feeder of the wrapper 29 is represented as an auxiliary reel holder 31 on which the wrapper 29 is wound in an auxiliary bobbin 32. The cutter 26, for instance a rotating blade, is placed downstream of the wrapping device 25 and is configured for cutting the continuous rod 30 in a plurality of rod-shaped elements, such as the aerosol-generating plugs 4.

[0163] A control unit, not shown, is configured to control the apparatus 1 to carry out the process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components.

[0164] The strip of material 15 unrolled from the bobbin 15A is conveyed along the conveying path and in the conveying direction “F” and fed between the first roller 17 and the second roller 18 rotating in opposite directions. The strip of material goes through a gap delimited by the first protrusions 19 and second protrusions 22 together with the first recesses 20 and second recesses 23.

[0165] While moving between the first roller 17 and the second roller 18, the first protrusions 19 and second protrusions 22 together with the first recesses 20 and second recesses 23 bend the strip of material 15 and create (crimping) a plurality of pleats with ridges 33 and grooves 34 in the strip of material 15, as shown in Figure 5. The pleats extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip of material 15.

[0166] Simultaneously, the spikes 21 generate a plurality of pierced holes 35 in the strip of material 15 and these pierced holes 35 are placed at or close to apexes of at least some of the pleats. The length “L” of each spike 21 is greater that a thickness “t” of the strip of material 15, therefore the pierced holes 35 are through holes.

[0167] The pierced holes 35 are arranged in lines parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip of material 15.

[0168] As better shown in Figure 6, each pierced hole 35 is delimited and surrounded by a tapered portion 36 of the strip of material 15 shaped like a truncated cone.

[0169] Figures 5 and 6 show that the pierced holes 35 have seats on the side where the spikes 21 enter and the tapered portion 36 on the side where the spikes 21 come out. Air “A” drawn along the strip of material gathered into a plug is somehow laminar and, when encounters the pierced holes 35, parts of this air flows through the pierced holes 35 from the side with seats to the side with the tapered portions 36, creating turbulences “T” on the exit side.

[0170] Crimping and piercing weaken the strip of material 15 and the weakened strip of material 15 is folded and gathered in a rod-shaped configuration by moving through the tapered funnel 27. Figure 5 shows through arrows “C” the compressing forces acting on the strip of material 15 while it is gathered.

[0171] Then the weakened and gathered strip of material 15 is wrapped in the wrapper 29 in the wrapping device 25 to form the continuous rod 30. The continuous rod 30 is then cut in the plurality of aerosol-generating plugs 4. After manufacturing the aerosol-generating article components of different kinds (front plugs 3, aerosol-generating plugs 4, a tubular plugs 5, fine tubular plugs 6 and filter plugs 7) in respective manufacturing lines, these aerosol-generating article components are transported to a combiner (which may be per se know and is not shown in the drawings) which is operatively placed downstream of the plurality of manufacturing lines and is configured to combine the aerosol-generating article components of different kinds in an endless rod and to cut the endless rod in a plurality of aerosol-generating articles.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for weakening a strip of material in making an aerosol-generating article component, the device comprising: a first roller (17) having a first rotation axis (X) and comprising a plurality of first protrusions (19) provided on a first radial outer face of said first roller (17), the first protrusions (19) delimiting a respective plurality of first recesses (20) on the first radial outer face; a second roller (18) having a second rotation axis (Y) and comprising a plurality of second protrusions (22) provided on a second radial outer face of said second roller (18), the second protrusions (22) delimiting a respective plurality of second recesses (23) on the second radial outer face; wherein the first roller (17) and the second roller (18) are configured to rotate in opposite directions about the respective first rotation axis (X) and second rotation axis (Y); wherein, at a coupling zone of the first roller (17) with the second roller (18), the first protrusions (19) are partially inserted in the second recesses (23) and the second protrusions (22) are partially inserted in the first recesses (20); wherein spikes (21) are positioned on tops of at least some of the first protrusions (19) and / or on tops of at least some of the second protrusions (22), the spikes (21) being configured to pierce a strip of material (15) passing between the first roller (17) and the second roller (18).

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein each spike (21) is a pointed projection shaped as a nail or a needle or a pin.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein each spike (21) has a tapered shape.

4. The device of claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein each spike (21) protrudes from the top along a radial direction.

5. The device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein one first protrusion (19) and / or one second protrusion (22) carry / ies a plurality of spikes.

6. The device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein a length of each spike (21) is greater that a thickness (t) of the strip of material (15).

7. The device of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein, at the coupling zone of the first roller (17) with the second roller (18), tips of the spikes (21) of the first roller (17) remain spaced from bottoms of the second recesses (23) of the second roller (18) and / or tips of the spikes (21) of the second roller (18) remain spaced from bottoms of the first recesses (20) of the first roller (17).

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a radius of the bottom of the first recesses (20) facing the second protrusions (22) provided with the spikes (21) is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the first recesses (20) facing the second protrusions (22) devoid of spikes; and / or wherein a radius of the bottom of the second recesses (23) facing the first protrusions (19) provided with the spikes (21) is smaller than a radius of the bottom of the second recesses (23) facing the first protrusions (19) devoid of spikes.

9. The device of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first protrusions (19) and the second protrusions (22) are circumferential ridges and the first recesses (20) and the second recesses (23) are circumferential grooves; the circumferential ridges and the circumferential grooves being arranged alternating along an axial direction of the first roller (17) and the second roller (18); wherein the spikes (21) are distributed circumferentially on at least some of the circumferential ridges.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the spikes (21) are circumferentially aligned as an array on the respective circumferential ridge.11 . The device of claim 9 or 10, wherein one circumferential ridge of the first roller (17) or of the second roller (18) with spikes (21) is followed on the same first roller (17) or second roller (18) by at least one circumferential ridge devoid of spikes.

12. A method for weakening a strip of material for an aerosol-generating article component, the method comprising: feeding a strip of material (15) between the first roller (17) and the second roller (18) of the device (16) for weakening a strip of material according to any of claims 1 to 11 while the first roller (17) and the second roller (18) rotate in opposite directions, to simultaneously crimp and pierce said strip of material (15).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the strip of material (15) is made of paper or paperboard or cellulose acetate or porous fibrous substrate incorporating cellulose fibers or tobacco cast leaf or botanical substrate or graphite containing.

14. A process for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosolgenerating articles, comprising: conveying a strip of material (15) along a conveying path and in a conveying direction parallel to a longitudinal direction (F) of said strip of material (15);- weakening the strip of material through the method of claim 12 or 13; gathering the strip of material (15) in a rod-shaped configuration;- wrapping the strip of material (15) in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper (29) to form a continuous rod (30); cutting the continuous rod (30) in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components.

15. An apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating article components for aerosolgenerating articles, comprising: at least one conveyor defining a conveying path and a conveying direction (F); the device (16) for weakening a strip of material (15) according to any of claims 1 to 11 placed along the conveying path; a gathering device (24) placed downstream of the device (16) for weakening a strip of material (15); a wrapping device (25) placed downstream of the gathering device (24); a cutter (26) placed downstream of the wrapping device (25); a control unit configured to control the apparatus to perform the following procedure: conveying continuously the strip of material (15) along the conveying path and in the conveying direction (F) parallel to the longitudinal direction of said strip of material (15) through the at least one conveyor;- weakening the strip of material (15) through the device (16) for weakening a strip of material (15); gathering the strip of material (15) in a rod-shaped configuration in the gathering device (24) while the strip of material (15) is conveyed along the conveying path;- wrapping the strip of material (15) in the rod-shaped configuration in a wrapper (29) through the wrapping device (25) to form a continuous rod (30); cutting the continuous rod (30) in a plurality of aerosol-generating article components through the cutter (26).

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