WO2025045557A1

WO2025045557A1 - Apparatus and method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles

Info

Publication number: WO2025045557A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/072565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sabatino FORTUNATO; Cristian VALLUZZI; José Miguel GONÇALVES LEDO BELO DA COSTA; Carlo GIANNETTA
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2023-08-29
Filing date: 2024-08-09
Publication date: 2025-03-06

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles comprises: a conveyor configured to support and convey a plurality of induction heatable plugs (4), a wrapping device (26) configured to wrap a wrapper band (33) around the induction heatable plugs (4) to form a continuous rod (42), a sealing device (38) configured to join to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) to form a longitudinal seal. Each induction heatable plug (4) comprises a magnetic or magnetisable element (12) located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate (10). The apparatus comprises a magnet (45) configured to generate a magnetic field (47) acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element (12). The magnetic field (47) is configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) and the respective induction heatable plug (4) about the respective longitudinal axis (X-X) so that a width (W) of a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) is aligned to a pressing direction (P) of the sealing device (38) when the induction heatable plug (4) is located at the sealing device (38).

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INDUCTION HEATABLE AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLES

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to wrapping a wrapper band around a plurality of aligned induction heatable plugs to form a continuous rod.

An aerosol-generating article, or heat-not-burn consumable, comprises an aerosolgenerating substrate that is heated rather than combusted. The aerosol-generating substrate is, for instance, a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet or a biodegradable fiber-based material. Typically in such heated aerosol-generating articles an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate or material. 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.

Known systems include electronic devices generating an alternative magnetic field creating Eddy currents on a susceptor band inserted inside an induction heatable plug part of the aerosol-generating article, so that these Eddy currents heat the susceptor by Joule’s effect and that the susceptor is in the proximity of the aerosol generating substrate contained in the induction heatable plug.

Regarding the manufacture of the induction heatable plugs, it is known to couple a continuous planar susceptor band to a continuous sheet or foil of aerosol-generating substrate. The continuous sheet or foil is then gathered and shaped into a continuous rod including the continuous planar susceptor band. The continuous rod is then cut into a plurality of induction heatable plugs. The induction heatable plugs are afterwards aligned and combined with other segments and wrapped in a sheet material or wrapper band to form a continuous rod that is then cut to form aerosol-generating semi-finished products employed to manufacture the induction heatable aerosol-generating articles or to form directly the induction heatable aerosol-generating articles.

Document EP3193642B1 discloses a method and an apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating semi-finished products, wherein the following steps are performed along a motion path: feeding a stream of at least three different segments along the motion path, thereby arranging the at least three segments in alternating order, wrapping the stream of at least three segments in a sheet material, thereby forming an endless rod of segments, and cutting the endless rod of segments, thereby separating the endless rod of segments into wrapped segment rods.

Document EP3461352B1 discloses a device for processing articles of the tobacco processing industry of the type comprising a body made of a magnetic or magnetisable material. The device comprises a holding device for holding the article and a magnetising device provided to bring the article held by the holding device into a defined position. The holding device is configured in such a way that it allows the position of the article to be changed, while the article is being held, by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the article into a defined rotational angle position.

In this technical field, it would be desirable to have an apparatus and a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, wherein said apparatus and method improve the quality of the induction heatable plugs and of the resulting aerosolgenerating articles.

It would be desirable to improve the quality of the continuous rod made of the induction heatable plugs aligned and combined with the other segments.

It would be desirable to ensure a proper sealing of the wrapper band around the aligned induction heatable plugs.

It would be desirable to prevent breakage of the wrapper band when this latter is wrapped and sealed along a longitudinal seal of the continuous rod.

It would be desirable to avoid deforming, in particular to avoid squeezing, the continuous rod and the induction heatable plugs during manufacturing of said continuous rod

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles.

The apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor configured to support and convey a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; a wrapping device configured to wrap a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs to form a continuous rod; a sealing device configured to join to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal; the sealing device acting along a pressing direction and being configured to press the two longitudinal edges one on the other; a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element; the magnetic field being configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug supported by the at least one conveyor about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is located at the sealing device.

The apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles may perform a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, wherein the method comprises: conveying the plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; wrapping the wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs and joining to each other the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form the longitudinal seal and the continuous rod; pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along the pressing direction; wherein, before or during wrapping, the magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element is generated, to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is pressed along the pressing direction.

The inventor found that the alignment of the larger dimension to the pressing direction, operated through the magnetic field, allows to exert a proper squeezing pressure on the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band while not squeezing too much the continuous rod, i.e. while not decreasing too much the diameter of the continuous rod.

Indeed, the magnetic or magnetisable element is stiff enough to withstand said proper squeezing pressure without deforming. The “resistance to compression” reaction force of the induction heatable plugs is dramatically improved, because of the somehow high resistance to compression of the magnetic or magnetisable element inserted in the plug content.

The inventor found that the proper squeezing pressure assures a strong attachment of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band which are sandwiched between the magnetic or magnetisable element and the sealing device.

The inventor found that this strong attachment along the induction heatable plugs provided with the magnetic or magnetisable elements is then sufficient to prevent wrapper band breakage all along the continuous rod, i.e. also along the other kinds of segments. The inventor found that the “resistance to compression” reaction force of the induction heatable plugs together with the proper squeezing pressure allow not to use a wrapper band provided with a high paper grammage, for instance 60 gsm (grams per square meter), instead of the standard paper grammage of 40 gsm, with the aim of increasing the resistance of the wrapper band and avoiding breakage issues, and to prevent all the drawbacks related to the use of this high paper grammage. Indeed, when using a high paper grammage, some processes should be adjusted along the assembly line to cope with this high grammage paper. For instance, the squeezing pressure should be higher than the proper pressure, compromising the ovality of the plugs and reducing the speed of the continuous rod (higher pressure, and so higher frictions are exerted on the rod and slow down the rod’s running speed), which also impact the speed of the rotating knife cutting the continuous rod into smaller rods and the whole downstream assembly line using these smaller rods as input.

The inventor found that the magnetic field is capable of aligning the magnetic or magnetisable element whatever its initial position.

The magnet may be placed close to the at least one conveyor and/or may be part of the at least one conveyor. The conveyor may have a support surface supporting the induction heatable plugs. The magnet may face the support surface and/or may be placed under the support surface.

The magnet is placed and configured to generate magnetic field lines and, in a zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs, said magnetic field lines cross the induction heatable plugs.

Preferably, in the zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs, said magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the support surface or delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

A location and orientation of the magnet with respect to the support surface of the at least one conveyor is such that the magnetic field lines which cross the induction heatable plugs are arranged in such a way to align the larger dimension of the magnetic or magnetisable element to the pressing direction once the induction heatable plug is located at the sealing device.

In some embodiments, the magnet is stationary and the support surface moves relative to the magnet. In some embodiments, the magnet moves together with the support surface.

Preferably, the conveyor comprises retaining devices operating on the support surface and configured to retain the induction heatable plugs on the support surface while advancing along the conveying direction. The retaining devices are configured to allow said induction heatable plugs to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, the retaining devices comprises suction devices configured to hold the induction heatable plugs on the support surface through a suction force.

The conveyor may be or may comprise a belt conveyor and the support surface is part of a branch of the belt conveyor. The magnet may be placed above and/or below said branch.

The conveyor may comprise a rotating wheel. The support surface may be part of a radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel. The magnet may face the radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel and/or may be located in the rotating wheel.

In some embodiments, the magnet comprises a plurality of magnetic elements arranged along a path parallel to the conveying direction.

In some embodiments, the magnet comprises a single magnetic element of elongated shape that extends along a path parallel to the conveying direction.

In some embodiments, the conveying direction is a straight line and the path is straight.

In some embodiments, the conveying direction is a curved line, optionally an arch of circumference, and the path is curved.

The magnet may be an electro-magnet or a permanent magnet, optionally a neodymium magnet. The inventor found that the permanent magnets are strong enough for the intended task and easy to install, since no electrical connection is needed.

Preferably, the wrapping device comprises a wrapping conveyor. Preferably, the wrapping conveyor is a belt conveyor. The at least one conveyor provided with the magnet may be located upstream of the wrapping conveyor or may be the wrapping conveyor. The magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field just before being wrapped in the wrapper band.

Preferably, the wrapping device comprises a wrapper band feeder configured to feed the wrapper band on the wrapping conveyor, said wrapper band being moved by the wrapping conveyor.

Preferably, at least one transfer conveyor is configured to place the plurality of induction heatable plugs on the wrapper band moved by the wrapping conveyor. The at least one transfer conveyor may be a rotating wheel. The at least one conveyor provided with the magnet may be the at least one transfer conveyor. The magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field just before being wrapped in the wrapper band. The inventor found that coupling the magnet to the at least one transfer conveyor reduces the risk of a further accidental rotation of the induction heatable plugs downstream of the magnet. Indeed, the transfer conveyor is the closest stage to the wrapping device after which a rotation of the induction heatable plugs, even accidental, is difficult that could happen.

According to some embodiments, a plurality of transfer conveyors are employed.

A combiner device may be placed upstream of the wrapping device. The at least one transfer conveyor may be operatively placed between the combiner device and the wrapping device.

According to some embodiments, the combiner device comprises a first feeder, at least one second feeder and a merging feeder. The first feeder may be a rotating wheel. The at least one second feeder may be a rotating wheel. The merging feeder may be a belt conveyor. The at least one conveyor provided with the magnet may be the first feeder and/or the merging feeder.

The first feeder may be configured to carry the plurality of induction heatable plugs and place the plurality of induction heatable plugs on the merging feeder spaced one from the other.

The at least one second feeder may be configured to carry a plurality of auxiliary plugs and to place the auxiliary plugs on the merging feeder between the induction heatable plugs.

The merging feeder may be configured to convey the plurality of induction heatable plugs and the plurality of auxiliary plugs aligned along the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs and to longitudinal axes of the auxiliary plugs towards the wrapping device.

The first feeder may be placed upstream or downstream the at least one second feeder with respect to the conveying direction on the merging feeder.

The magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field before being combined with the auxiliary plugs or once aligned with said auxiliary plugs.

Preferably, the sealing device comprises a glue applicator configured to apply glue along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band.

The sealing device may comprise a pressing device acting along the pressing direction. The pressing device may be placed downstream of the glue applicator.

The pressing device may also comprise a heating element configured to heat and solidify the glue.

In some embodiments, a cutting device is placed downstream of the wrapping device to cut the continuous rod into a plurality of segments. In some embodiments, at least one knife is placed upstream of the first feeder. The at least one knife is configured to cut a continuous induction heatable rod or a plurality of elongated induction heatable rods in the plurality of plurality of induction heatable plugs before feeding said induction heatable plugs to the first feeder.

Preferably, at least one air jet nozzle is located at or downstream of the at least one knife and is configured to clean the induction heatable plugs and remove dust, wherein the magnet is located downstream of the at least one air jet nozzle.

The inventor found that the magnet may be also employed to hold the induction heatable plugs aligned along the conveying direction (straight or curved) and/or to re-align the induction heatable plugs that may have driven out of place, for instance by the air jet cited above.

The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles.

The method comprises: conveying a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; wrapping a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs and joining to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal and a continuous rod; pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along a pressing direction; wherein, before or during wrapping, a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element is generated, to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is pressed along the pressing direction.

Said method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles may be carried out through an apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one conveyor configured to support and convey the plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; a wrapping device configured to wrap the wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs to form the continuous rod; a sealing device configured to join to each other the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form the longitudinal seal; the sealing device acting along the pressing direction and being configured to press the two longitudinal edges one on the other; a magnet configured to generate the magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element.

According to some embodiments, joining comprises: applying glue along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band.

Preferably, joining comprises: heating the glue once applied on the two joined longitudinal edges.

Preferably, heating is performed while pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along the pressing direction.

Preferably, the induction heatable plugs are retained on the conveying direction while said induction heatable plugs are advanced along said conveying direction and the induction heatable plugs are allowed to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the plurality of induction heatable plugs are supported by a support surface while conveyed along the conveying direction.

Preferably, the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug are rotated such that the larger dimension is aligned to a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

Magnetic field lines of the magnetic field located in a zone above the support surface and accommodating the induction heatable plugs crosses said induction heatable plugs. Said magnetic field lines of the magnetic field located in the zone above the support surface and accommodating the induction heatable plugs may be perpendicular to the support surface or may delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or may converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

In some embodiments, the method comprises: arranging the plurality of induction heatable plugs along the conveying direction spaced one from the other and placing a plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs before wrapping the wrapper band around the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs.

The magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plugs may be rotated by the magnetic field before or after placing the plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs. In some embodiments, the method comprises: approaching and abutting once against the other the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs before wrapping the wrapper band around the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs.

Preferably, the magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field before approaching and abutting once against the other the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs.

The inventor found that, if the magnetic field is applied before the step of approaching and abutting, the induction heatable plugs offer less resistence to rotation.

The auxiliary plugs may comprise solid plugs and/or hollow tubes.

The magnetic or magnetisable element may be a susceptor element.

The magnetic or magnetisable element may be made of metal.

The magnetic or magnetisable element may be shaped like a flat bar having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length extends along the longitudinal axis of the induction heatable plug and the larger dimension of the cross section is the width of the flat bar. The cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element may be rectangular.

Preferably, a ratio of the larger dimension of the cross section to a diameter of the induction heatable plug is between 0.7 and 0.9, optionally of 0.75.

Preferably, the aerosol generating substrate comprises a gathered or rolled sheet of aerosol generating material.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise reconstituted tobacco or tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based material or a biodegradable fiber-based material.

In some embodiments, the method comprises: cutting the continuous rod into a plurality of segments. Each segment may be a heatable aerosol-generating article or may be configured to be part of a heatable aerosol-generating article.

In some embodiments, the method comprises: joining a filter plug to each segment to make a heatable aerosol-generating article.

In some embodiments, the method comprises: cutting a continuous induction heatable rod or a plurality of elongated induction heatable rods to obtain the plurality of plurality of induction heatable plugs before conveying said plurality of induction heatable plugs.

Preferably, the method further comprises: cleaning the induction heatable plugs and removing dust, optionally through at least one air jet, after cutting the continuous induction heatable rod or the plurality of elongated induction heatable rods in the plurality of plurality of induction heatable plugs, wherein the magnetic field acts on the magnetic or magnetisable element downstream of the at least one air jet.

The present disclosure also relates to induction heatable aerosol-generating article. The present disclosure also relates to an electronic aerosol generating system comprising said induction heatable aerosol-generating article and an electronic device configured to accommodate the induction heatable aerosol-generating article and to generate an alternative magnetic field.

Said the induction heatable aerosol-generating article is made through a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the method comprising: conveying a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; wrapping a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs and joining to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal and a continuous rod; pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along a pressing direction; wherein, before or during wrapping, a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element is generated, to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is pressed along the pressing direction.

Said the induction heatable aerosol-generating article is made through an apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the apparatus comprising: at least one conveyor configured to support and convey a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; a wrapping device configured to wrap a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs to form a continuous rod; a sealing device configured to join to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal; the sealing device acting along a pressing direction and being configured to press the two longitudinal edges one on the other; a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element; the magnetic field being configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug supported by the at least one conveyor about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is located at the sealing device.

The magnetic or magnetisable element may be a susceptor element, the alternative magnetic field of the an electronic device being configured to create Eddy currents in the magnetic or magnetisable element of the induction heatable plug of the induction heatable aerosol-generating article and to heat said the magnetic or magnetisable element.

The magnetic or magnetisable element may be made of metal.

As used in the present description, a susceptor element is an element made of a material (e.g. metal or ceramic) used for its ability to absorb electromagnetic energy and convert it to heat. Susceptor elements are employed in induction heatable aerosolgenerating articles which are heated by heating the susceptor material through an electronic device comprising an electromagnetic generator. Once a induction heatable aerosolgenerating article with the susceptor element is inserted into the electronic device, the electronic device generates an alternating magnetic field creating Eddy currents on the susceptor element. These Eddy currents heat the susceptor element by Joule effect.

As used in the present description, an auxiliary plug is a plug, other than the induction heatable plug, configured to provide a structural function to the heatable aerosol-generating article and/or to change properties of the aerosol, such as adding further substances or removing substances (filter), diluting aerosol the with air, changing the temperature of the aerosol or others. The auxiliary plug may comprise one or more elements.

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. EX1. An apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the apparatus comprising: at least one conveyor configured to support and convey a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; a wrapping device configured to wrap a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs to form a continuous rod; a sealing device configured to join to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal; the sealing device acting along a pressing direction and being configured to press the two longitudinal edges one on the other; a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element; the magnetic field being configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug supported by the at least one conveyor about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is located at the sealing device.

EX2. The apparatus according to EX1 , wherein the wrapping device comprises a wrapping conveyor.

EX3. The apparatus according to EX2, wherein the wrapping device comprises a wrapper band feeder configured to feed the wrapper band on the wrapping conveyor, said wrapper band being moved by the wrapping conveyor.

EX4. The apparatus according to EX2 or EX3, comprising at least one transfer conveyor, optionally a plurality of transfer conveyors, configured to place the plurality of induction heatable plugs on the wrapper band moved by the wrapping conveyor.

EX5. The apparatus according to any of EX2 to EX4, wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet is located upstream of the wrapping conveyor; optionally the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet is the wrapping conveyor.

EX6. The apparatus according to EX4 or to EX5 when according to EX4, wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet is the at least one transfer conveyor.

EX7. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX6, comprising a combiner device placed upstream of the wrapping device.

EX8. The apparatus according to EX7, wherein the combiner device comprises a first feeder, at least one second feeder and a merging feeder. EX9. The apparatus according to EX8, wherein the first feeder is configured to carry the plurality of induction heatable plugs and place the plurality of induction heatable plugs on the merging feeder spaced one from the other.

EX10. The apparatus according to EX9, wherein the at least one second feeder is configured to carry a plurality of auxiliary plugs and to place the auxiliary plugs on the merging feeder between the induction heatable plugs.

EX11 . The apparatus according to EX10, wherein the merging feeder is configured to convey the plurality of induction heatable plugs and the plurality of auxiliary plugs aligned along the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs and to longitudinal axes of the auxiliary plugs towards the wrapping device.

EX12. The apparatus according to any of EX8 to EX11 , wherein the first feeder is placed upstream or downstream the at least one second feeder with respect to the conveying direction on the merging feeder.

EX13. The apparatus according to any of EX8 to EX11, wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet is the first feeder.

EX14. The apparatus according to any of EX8 to EX13, wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet is the merging feeder.

EX15. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX14, wherein the magnet is placed close to the at least one conveyor or is part of the at least one conveyor.

EX16. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX15, wherein the conveyor has a support surface supporting the induction heatable plugs.

EX17. The apparatus according to EX16, wherein the magnet is placed and configured to generate magnetic field lines and, in a zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs, said magnetic field lines cross the induction heatable plugs; optionally, in the zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs, said magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the support surface or delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

EX18. The apparatus according to EX16 or to EX17, wherein the magnet faces the support surface or is placed under the support surface.

EX19. The apparatus according to any of EX16 to EX18, wherein the magnet is stationary and the support surface moves relative to the magnet.

EX20. The apparatus according to any of EX16 to EX18, wherein the magnet moves together with the support surface.

EX21. The apparatus according to any of EX16 to EX19, wherein the conveyor comprises retaining devices operating on the support surface and configured to retain the induction heatable plugs on the support surface while advancing along the conveying direction.

EX22. The apparatus according to EX21 , wherein the retaining devices are configured to allow said induction heatable plugs to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis.

EX23. The apparatus according to EX21 or EX22, wherein the retaining devices comprises suction devices configured to hold the induction heatable plugs on the support surface through a suction force.

EX24. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX23, wherein the magnet comprises a plurality of magnetic elements arranged along a path parallel to the conveying direction.

EX25. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX23, wherein the magnet comprises a single magnetic element of elongated shape that extends along a path parallel to the conveying direction.

EX26. The apparatus according to EX24 or to EX25, wherein the conveying direction is a straight line and the path is straight.

EX27. The apparatus according to EX24 or to EX25, wherein the conveying direction is a curved line, optionally an arch of circumference, and the path is curved.

EX28. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX27, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

EX29. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX27, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet, optionally a neodymium magnet.

EX30. The apparatus according to any of EX16 to EX23 or to any of EX24 to EX29 when according to any of EX16 to EX23, wherein the conveyor comprises a belt conveyor and the support surface is part of a branch of the belt conveyor.

EX31. The apparatus according to EX30, wherein the magnet is placed above and/or below said branch.

EX32. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX29 EX16 to EX23 or to any of EX24 to EX29 when according to any of EX16 to EX23, wherein the conveyor comprises a rotating wheel and the support surface is part of a radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel.

EX33. The apparatus according to EX32, wherein the magnet faces the radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel and/or is located in the rotating wheel.

EX34. The apparatus according to EX30 or EX31 and according to any of EX2 to EX6, wherein the wrapping conveyor is a belt conveyor. EX35. The apparatus according to EX32 or EX33 and according to EX4 or EX6, wherein the at least one transfer conveyor is a rotating wheel.

EX36. The apparatus according to EX30 or EX31 and according to any of EX8 to EX14, wherein the merging feeder is a belt conveyor

EX37. The apparatus according to EX32 or EX33 and according to any of EX8 to EX14, wherein the first feeder is a rotating wheel.

EX38. The apparatus according to EX32 or EX33 and according to any of EX8 to EX14, wherein the at least one second feeder is a rotating wheel.

EX39. The apparatus according to EX4 and according to any of EX7 to EX14, wherein the at least one transfer conveyor is operatively placed between the combiner device and the wrapping device.

EX40. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX39, wherein the sealing device comprises a glue applicator configured to apply glue along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band.

EX41. The apparatus according to EX40, wherein the sealing device comprises a pressing device acting along the pressing direction; optionally, the pressing device being placed downstream of the glue applicator.

EX42. The apparatus according to EX41 , wherein the pressing device comprises a heating element configured to heat and solidify the glue.

EX43. The apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX42, comprising a cutting device placed downstream of the wrapping device to cut the continuous rod into a plurality of segments.

EX44. The apparatus according to EX9 or to any of EX10 to EX43 when according to EX9, comprising at least one knife placed upstream of the first feeder and configured to cut a continuous induction heatable rod or a plurality of elongated induction heatable rods in the plurality of induction heatable plugs before feeding said induction heatable plugs to the first feeder.

EX45. The apparatus according to EX44, comprising at least one air jet nozzle located at or downstream of the at least one knife and configured to clean the induction heatable plugs and remove dust, wherein the magnet is located downstream of the at least one air jet nozzle.

EX46. A method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the method comprising: conveying a plurality of induction heatable plugs aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the induction heatable plugs; each induction heatable plug comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate; a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; wrapping a wrapper band around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs and joining to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band to form a longitudinal seal and a continuous rod; pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along a pressing direction; wherein, before or during wrapping, a magnetic field acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element is generated, to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug about the respective longitudinal axis so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction when the induction heatable plug is pressed along the pressing direction.

EX47. The method according to EX46, wherein said method is carried out through the apparatus of any of EX1 to EX45.

EX48. The method according to EX46 or EX47, wherein joining comprises: applying glue along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band.

EX49. The method according to EX48, wherein joining comprises: heating the glue once applied on the two joined longitudinal edges.

EX50. The method according to EX49, wherein heating is performed while pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band one on the other along the pressing direction.

EX51. The method according to any of EX46 to EX50, comprising: retaining the induction heatable plugs on the conveying direction while advancing the induction heatable plugs along said conveying direction and allowing said induction heatable plugs to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis.

EX52. The method according to any of EX46 to EX51 , wherein the plurality of induction heatable plugs are supported by a support surface while conveyed along the conveying direction.

EX53. The method according to EX52, wherein the magnetic or magnetisable element and the respective induction heatable plug are rotated such that the larger dimension is aligned to a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

EX54. The method according to EX52 or EX53, wherein magnetic field lines of the magnetic field located in a zone above the support surface and accommodating the induction heatable plugs crosses said induction heatable plugs; optionally, the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field located in the zone above the support surface and accommodating the induction heatable plugs are perpendicular to the support surface or delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

EX55. The method according to any of EX46 to EX54, comprising: arranging the plurality of induction heatable plugs along the conveying direction spaced one from the other and placing a plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs before wrapping the wrapper band around the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs.

EX56. The method according to EX55, wherein the magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field before or after placing the plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs.

EX57. The method according to EX55 or EX56, comprising approaching and abutting once against the other the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs before wrapping the wrapper band around the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs; wherein the magnetic or magnetisable elements and the respective induction heatable plugs are rotated by the magnetic field before approaching and abutting once against the other the induction heatable plugs and the auxiliary plugs.

EX58. The method according to EX55 or EX56 or EX57, wherein the auxiliary plugs comprise solid plugs and/or hollow tubes.

EX59. The method according to any of EX46 to EX58, wherein the magnetic or magnetisable element is a susceptor element, optionally shaped like a flat bar having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length extends along the longitudinal axis of the induction heatable plug and the larger dimension of the cross section is the width of the flat bar.

EX60. The method according to any of EX46 to EX59, wherein the magnetic or magnetisable element is made of metal.

EX61 . The method according to any of EX46 to EX60, wherein the cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element is rectangular.

EX62. The method according to any of EX46 to EX61 , wherein a ratio of the larger dimension of the cross section to a diameter of the induction heatable plug is between 0.7 and 0.9, optionally of 0.75.

EX63. The method according to any of EX46 to EX62, wherein the aerosol generating substrate comprises a gathered or rolled sheet of aerosol generating material.

EX64. The method according to EX63, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises reconstituted tobacco or tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based material or a biodegradable fiber-based material.

EX65. The method according to any of EX46 to EX64, comprising: cutting the continuous rod into a plurality of segments. EX66. The method according to any of EX46 to EX65, wherein each segment is a heatable aerosol-generating article or is configured to be part of a heatable aerosolgenerating article.

EX67. The method according to any of EX46 to EX66, further comprising: joining a filter plug to each segment to make a heatable aerosol-generating article.

EX68. The method according to any of EX46 to EX67, further comprising: cutting a continuous induction heatable rod or a plurality of elongated induction heatable rods to obtain the plurality of plurality of induction heatable plugs before conveying said plurality of induction heatable plugs.

EX69. The method according to EX68, further comprising: cleaning the induction heatable plugs and removing dust through at least one air jet after cutting the continuous induction heatable rod or the plurality of elongated induction heatable rods in the plurality of plurality of induction heatable plugs, wherein the magnetic field acts on the magnetic or magnetisable element downstream of the at least one air jet.

EX70. An induction heatable aerosol-generating article made through the method of EX46 to EX69 or in the apparatus of any of EX1 to EX45.

EX71. An electronic aerosol generating system comprising the induction heatable aerosol-generating article of EX70 and an electronic device configured to accommodate the induction heatable aerosol-generating article and to generate an alternative magnetic field creating Eddy currents in the magnetic or magnetisable element of the induction heatable plug of the induction heatable aerosol-generating article and to heat said the magnetic or magnetisable element.

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

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles;

Figure 2 shows an enlarged part of a variant embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows another enlarged part of a variant embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an induction heatable plug made through the apparatus of the preceding Figures;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of an induction heatable aerosol-generating article comprising the induction heatable plug of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 show a method step carried out in the apparatus of Figures 1 , 2 or 3 on the induction heatable plug of Figure 4; Figures 8A - 8E show a cross section of the induction heatable plug of Figure 4 in a sequence of further steps carried out in the apparatus of Figures 1 , 2 or 3;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of the induction heatable plug of Figure 4 in the step of Figure 8E;

Figure 10 show a comparison between two induction heatable plugs in the step of Figures 8E and 9;

Figures 11 A - 11C show the induction heatable plug of Figure 4 in a sequence of realigning steps carried out in the apparatus of Figures 1 .

Figures 1 shows a portion of an apparatus 1 for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2. The apparatus 1 for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2 as a whole, not depicted in its entirety, is configured to manufacture finished induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2. This apparatus 1 is configured to carry out a method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2.

One example embodiment of induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2 is depicted in the exploded view of Figure 5 and comprises (from left to right in Figure 5): a front plug 3 (solid plug), an induction heatable 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 (not detailed Figure 5) helping to contain properly their content. A tipping paper 8 connects the filer plug 7 to the rest of the plugs, and the front plug 3, induction heatable plug 4, tubular plug 5 and fine tubular plug 6 are wrapped together into a paper 9.

The induction heatable plug 4 is better shown in Figure 4 and comprises an aerosol generating substrate 10 made of a gathered sheet of aerosol generating material. The aerosol-generating material may comprise reconstituted tobacco or tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based material or a biodegradable fiber-based material.

The aerosol generating substrate 10 is wrapped in a wrapping paper 11. A susceptor element 12, made of metal and shaped like a flat bar having a rectangular cross section, is embedded in the aerosol generating substrate 10. The susceptor element 12 is in the middle of the induction heatable plug 4. The susceptor element 12 has a length “L”, a width “W’ (larger dimension of the cross section) and a thickness “T” (smaller dimension of the cross section). The length “L” extends along a longitudinal axis “X-X” of the induction heatable plug 4. In the example embodiment, the length “L” of the susceptor element 12 is equal to a length of the induction heatable plug 4 measured along the longitudinal axis “X-X”. The width “W’ extends along a diameter “D” (Figure 10) of the induction heatable plug 4. Since the susceptor element 12 is made of metal, said susceptor element 12 is a magnetic or magnetisable element. A ratio of the width “W’ (larger dimension of the cross section) to the diameter “D” of the induction heatable plug is between 0.7 and 0.9, optionally of 0.75. For instance, the diameter “D” is 8 mm and the width “W’ is 6 mm.

The induction heatable aerosol-generating article 2 as disclosed is part of an electronic aerosol generating system comprising said induction heatable aerosolgenerating article 2 and an electronic device, not depicted in the appended Figures, which is configured to accommodate the induction heatable aerosol-generating article 2 and to generate an alternative magnetic field creating Eddy currents in the susceptor element 12 of the induction heatable plug 4 and to heat said susceptor element 12, so that the aerosol generating substrate 10 is heated by the susceptor element 12 and generates aerosol.

For the sake of clarity and simplicity, Figure 1 shows the apparatus 1 and a process for manufacturing the induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2 employing the mentioned the induction heatable plugs 4 and only one kind of auxiliary plugs, for instance the tubular plugs 5.

The apparatus 1 comprises a reel-carrier 13 carrying the sheet of aerosol generating material coiled in a reel 14. The sheet of aerosol-generating material unwound from the reel-carrier 13 is fed along a feeding path in a feeding direction “F”. Downstream of the reelcarrier 13, with respect to the feeding direction “F”, the apparatus comprises a feeder 15 of a continuous planar susceptor band 16 which is coupled to the sheet of aerosol generating material along the feeding path.

Downstream of the feeder 15 of the continuous planar susceptor band 16, with respect to the feeding direction “F”, the apparatus 1 comprises a folding device 17 which is configured to move the sheet of aerosol-generating material from a flat configuration (upstream of the folding device 17) to a gathered rod-shaped configuration (downstream of the folding device 17) and to wrap the wrapping paper 11 around the gathered sheet of aerosol generating material in order to obtain a continuous induction heatable rod 18. The folding device 17 may be shaped like a tapered funnel.

The continuous induction heatable rod 18 is cut by a cutter “C” in a plurality of elongated induction heatable rods 18’ which are then transferred to a plurality of knives 19, for instance rotating knives, configured to cut the plurality of elongated induction heatable rods 18’ in the induction heatable plugs 4 detailed above. Air jet nozzles 20 located at or downstream of the knives 19 are configured to clean the induction heatable plugs 4 and remove dust.

The induction heatable plugs 4 are transferred to a first feeder 21. The first feeder 21 is a rotating wheel, i.e. a wheel rotated through a motor not shown, and the induction heatable plugs 4 are placed and retained on a peripheral portion of the rotating wheel with their longitudinal axes “X-X” perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotating wheel, i.e. the longitudinal axes “X-X” are tangent to a circumference centred in said rotation axis of the first feeder 21. The peripheral portion of the first feeder 21 is or comprises a support surface supporting and retaining the induction heatable plugs 4.

The induction heatable plugs 4 are placed one after the other along an arch of said circumference, are retained on the peripheral portion through suction devices of the first feeder 21 , not shown, and are conveyed along a curved line to a merging feeder 22, in particular to an upper branch 23 of a belt conveyor merging feeder 22 (comprising two pulleys with a closed loop belt that rotates about them rotated by a respective motor) which is placed below the first feeder 21. A peripheral speed of the first feeder 21 and a speed of the upper branch 23 of the belt conveyor merging feeder 22 are such that the induction heatable plugs 4 are put on said upper branch 23 with a small spacing between them and along their longitudinal axes “X-X” (which is the direction of the upper branch 23).

A second feeder 24 is positioned above the merging feeder 21 and is located downstream of the first feeder 21 with respect to a direction of movement of the upper branch 23 of the belt conveyor merging feeder 22. In other embodiments, the first feeder 21 is placed downstream the second feeder 22. In other embodiments, a third, a fourth feeders etc. may be present to feed other auxiliary plugs.

The second feeder 24 is configured to carry the plurality of tubular plugs 5 coming from a respective production line 100 and to place said tubular plugs 5 on the upper branch 23 of the belt conveyor merging feeder 22 between the induction heatable plugs 4. Each tubular plug 5 is put between two induction heatable plugs 4 with a small space between them. Longitudinal axes of the tubular plugs 5 and the longitudinal axes “X-X” induction heatable plugs 4 match once on the merging feeder 22.

The second feeder 24 is a rotating wheel, i.e. a wheel rotated through a motor not shown, and the tubular plugs 5 are placed and retained on a peripheral portion of the rotating wheel with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotating wheel, i.e. the longitudinal axes are tangent to a circumference centred in said rotation axis of the second feeder 24.

The tubular plugs 5 are placed one after the other along an arch of said circumference, are retained on the peripheral portion through suction devices of the second feeder 24, not shown, and are conveyed along a curved line to the upper branch 23 of the belt conveyor merging feeder 22.

The first feeder 21 , the second feeder 24 and the merging feeder 22 make up a combiner device 25 which is configured to combine different plugs (in this example embodiment: the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5). The upper branch 23 of the merging feeder 22 conveys the plurality of induction heatable plugs 4 and the plurality of tubular plugs 5 aligned along a conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes “X-X” of the induction heatable plugs 4 and to the longitudinal axes of the tubular plugs 5 towards a wrapping device 26. The conveying direction is a straight line. The upper branch 23 is a support surface supporting the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5.

A transfer assembly 27 is operatively placed between the merging feeder 22 and the wrapping device 26. The transfer assembly 27 comprises a plurality of transfer conveyors, for instance rotating wheels. In the example embodiment of Figure 1 , the transfer assembly 27 comprises a first rotating wheel 28 followed by a second rotating wheel 29. A third rotating wheel 30 is located between the second rotating wheel 29 and the wrapping device 26.

Peripheral portions of the first and second rotating wheels 28, 29 face each other and peripheral portions of the second and third rotating wheels 29, 30 face each other. The first, second and third rotating wheels 28, 29, 30 are provided with suction devices, not shown, configured to retain the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 on the respective peripheral portions through a suction force and configured also to release them. The peripheral portions of the first, second and third rotating wheels 28, 29, 30 are or comprise respective support surfaces supporting and retaining the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5.

The induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 are placed and retained on the peripheral portion of the first, second and third rotating wheels 28, 29, 30 with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to a rotation axis of the respective rotating wheel, i.e. the longitudinal axes are tangent to a circumference centred in said rotation axis of the rotating wheel.

The induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 are transferred from the first rotating wheel 28 to the second rotating wheel 29 and to the third rotating wheel 30 keeping their longitudinal alignment. The third rotating wheel 30 puts the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 on the wrapping device 26.

The wrapping device 26 comprises a wrapping conveyor 31. The wrapping conveyor 31 is a belt conveyor comprising two pulleys with a closed loop belt that rotates about them rotated by a respective motor. The wrapping device 26 further comprises a wrapper band feeder 32 configured to feed a wrapper band 33 on an upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31. The wrapper band feeder 32 of Figure 1 comprises a reel-carrier 35 carrying the wrapper band 33 coiled in a reel 36. The wrapper band 33, uncoiled from the reel 36, is laid on the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 and moved together with said upper branch 34 along a conveying direction. The upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 is a support surface supporting the wrapper band 33, the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5.

The third rotating wheel 30 is placed above a first end of the wrapping conveyor 31 and is configured to release the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 on the wrapper band 33 supported and moved by the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31.

A peripheral speed of the third rotating wheel 30 and a speed of the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 are such that the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5, once on the wrapper band 33 placed on the upper branch 34, are approached and abutted once against the other.

The upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 is first flat and then, moving forward along the conveying direction, takes a U-shape, like in Figures 8A - 8E and 10.

The wrapping device 26 further comprises an initial pressure station 37 and a sealing device 38 placed above the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 .

In the initial pressure station 37, which is only schematically depicted in Figure 1 , a pressure is generated (Figure 8A) on the induction heatable plugs 4 and on the tubular plugs 5, for instance by a series of wheels, not shown, pressing on the top part of the plugs (top-down vertical pressures). A purpose of the pressure is to compress the plugs (close) to the final diameter of the induction heatable aerosol-generating articles 2 and to help normalize the plugs’ heights. Furthermore, the pressure may also be used to ensure that the plugs get attached to lines of glue that could have been put on an inside part of the wrapper band 33 to attach the different plugs to the wrapper band 33 and helping them to remain in their position.

Through the U-shape of the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 and possible further tools, not shown, a first of two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band 33 is folded on the induction heatable plugs 4 and on the tubular plugs 5 (Figure 8B). Then a glue applicator 39, part of the sealing device 38, applies glue 40 along the inside of a second of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band 33 (Figure 8C). Then said second longitudinal edge is folded on the first longitudinal edge (Figure 8D).

A pressing device 41 , part of the sealing device 38 and placed downstream of the glue applicator 39, acts along a pressing direction “P” and presses the two longitudinal edges one on the other while heating and solidifying the glue (Figure 8E), thus forming a continuous rod 42 with longitudinal seal. In the example embodiment, the pressing direction “P” is vertical. The pressing device 41 spreads the glue and gives to the continuous rod 42 a final diameter.

In the disclosed embodiment, the pressing device 41 comprises one or more heating bars provided with heating elements, for instance resistive heating elements.

Downstream of the wrapping device 26, a cutting device 43, for instance a rotating knife, cuts the continuous rod 42 into a plurality of segments 44, wherein each segment 44 may be the final heatable aerosol-generating article 2 or may be a part of the heatable aerosol-generating article 2. For instance, the segment 44 comprises one induction heatable plug 4 and one tubular plug 5 wrapped in wrapping paper 11 , which a portion of the wrapper band 33, as manufactured through the example apparatus 1 of Figure 1. For instance, the segment 44 comprises the front plug 3, the induction heatable plug 4, the tubular plug 5 and the fine tubular plug 6 wrapped in the wrapping paper 11 of Figure 5. Each segment 44 is then joined to the filter plug 7 to obtain the final heatable aerosolgenerating article 2.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a magnet 45 mounted close to the second rotating wheel 29 of the transfer assembly 27, facing the peripheral portion of said second rotating wheel 29 and facing the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 retained and conveyed by said peripheral portion. In this non limiting embodiment, the magnet 45 is fixed and the induction heatable plugs 4 and tubular plugs 5 pass by in front of said magnet 45. The magnet 45 may be an electro-magnet or a permanent magnet, for instance of neodymium.

The magnet 45 comprises a plurality of magnetic elements 46 mounted on a frame 47. The magnetic elements 46 are arranged as an array along a curved path which partly surrounds the second rotating wheel 29 and is parallel to the conveying direction.

The magnet 45 generates a magnetic field 47 acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element 12. The magnetic field is configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable elements 12 and the respective induction heatable plugs 4 about the respective longitudinal axes “X-X” while they are supported by the second rotating wheel 29.

The magnet 45 is placed and configured to generate magnetic field lines which, in a zone located close to the peripheral portion of the second rotating wheel 29 and accommodating the induction heatable plugs 4, cross the induction heatable plugs 4 and are perpendicular to the support surface or delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface (Figures 6 and 7).

Figure 6 shows on the left a perspective view of one induction heatable plug 4 embedding the susceptor element 12. Going from left to right on the second rotating wheel 29 (not shown here), the induction heatable plug 4 enters the magnetic field 47 of one of the fixed magnetic elements 46. The magnetic field lines of the magnetic field 47, in the plug’s area, are aligned (somehow) along a radius “R” of the second rotating wheel 29. The magnetic field lines push the susceptor element 12 of the induction heatable plug 4 to align to them, making the induction heatable plug 4 to rotate along its longitudinal axis “X-X” to do so. In particular, the magnetic field lines of the magnetic field 47 make the width “W’ of the susceptor element 12 to align to the radius “R” of the second rotating wheel 29, as shown in the induction heatable plug 4 the on the right of Figure 6. Figure 7 provides the same view, but (almost) from the front, with the same magnetic element 46 and the magnetic field lines 47 showing how the susceptor element 12 aligns along the magnetic field lines.

In order to allow the induction heatable plug 4 to rotate about its longitudinal axis “X- X”, a level of the suction force exerted by the suction devices is adjusted (lowered or stopped for a short time).

The induction heatable plugs 4 (and the tubular plugs 5) are transferred from the second rotating wheel 29 to the third rotating wheel 30 such that the width “W’ of the susceptor elements 12 is aligned with a radius of the third rotating wheel 30. The induction heatable plugs 4 (and the tubular plugs 5) are then transferred from the third rotating wheel

30 to the upper branch 34 of the wrapping conveyor 31 such that the width “W’ of the susceptor elements 12 is perpendicular to the support surface on this upper branch 34.

It follows that, when each induction heatable plug 4 reaches the pressing device 41 , the width “W’ of the susceptor element 12 is aligned with the pressing direction “P” (Figure 8E and 10) and improves the “resistance to compression” reaction force of the induction heatable plug 4. Figure 10 shows a comparison between the induction heatable plug 4 with the width “W’ of the susceptor element 12 aligned with the pressing direction “P” (on the right) and one induction heatable plug 4 in which the susceptor element 12 is not aligned (i.e. is skew with respect to the pressing direction “P”).

The improved “resistance to compression” reaction force of the induction heatable plug 4 on the right allows to reach the wished proper squeezing pressure of the pressing device 41 on the overlapping longitudinal edges of the of the wrapper band 33 without ovalizing the plug 4. By contrast, the induction heatable plug 4 on the left is squeezed and ovalized. The differences in height (H) and ovality of the left and right illustrations of Figure 10 are indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 9 shows a longitudinal cut view of a portion of the continuous rod 42 passing under the pressing device 41 , the continuous rod 42 containing the front plug 3, the induction heatable plug 4, the tubular plug 5 and the fine tubular plug 6. The portion “HP” of the continuous rod 42 where the squeezing force is the highest is the one indicated by dotted lines corresponding to the presence of the susceptor element 12 aligned toward the pressure force “P”. This area securing the wrapping band 33 is sufficient to secure the wrapping band 33 on other parts of the continuous rod 42 (without susceptor element 12) where the squeezing pressure is lesser.

Figure 3 shows a variant embodiment comprising also a magnet 45 mounted close to the first rotating wheel 28 of the transfer assembly 27, facing the peripheral portion of said first rotating wheel 29 and facing the induction heatable plugs 4 and the tubular plugs 5 retained and conveyed by said peripheral portion. The magnet 45 mounted close to the first rotating wheel 28 is close also to the third rotating wheel 30 and acts also on the induction heatable plugs 4 carried on said third rotating wheel 30.

Figure 2 shows a variant embodiment in which the magnet 45 is mounted close to the peripheral portion of the first feeder 21. The susceptor elements 12 and the respective induction heatable plugs 4 are rotated by the magnetic field before placing the plurality of tubular plugs 5 between the induction heatable plugs 4. This variant embodiment further comprises a magnet 45 comprising a single magnetic element of elongated shape located under the upper branch 23 of the merging feeder 22. The susceptor elements 12 and the respective induction heatable plugs 4 are also rotated by the magnetic field after placing the plurality of tubular plugs 5 between the induction heatable plugs 4. In Figure 4, the magnet 45 is shaped like an elongated bar and extends along a straight path parallel to the conveying direction. The magnet 45 shaped like an elongated has a top part being the North pole and a bottom part being the South pole. Even if not shown in the appended Figures, the magnet 45 may also be placed above the upper branch 23.

The magnet 45, as shown in Figure 1 , may also be coupled to a conveying path downstream of the jet nozzles 20 to re-align the induction heatable plugs 4 along the conveying direction, as shown in Figures 11 A - 11 C, if the air jets of the jet nozzles 20 are so strong to drive the induction heatable plugs 4 out of plane.

In other embodiments, not shown in the appended Figures, the magnet 45 may be coupled to the wrapping conveyor 31 , for instance just upstream of the initial pressure station 37.

In other embodiments, not shown in the appended Figures, the magnet 45 may be part of the conveyor, for instance located in a rotating wheel, and moves together with the support surface.

In other embodiments, not shown in the appended Figures, the susceptor element 12 of the induction heatable plug 4 may have other shapes and locations. For instance, the susceptor element 12 is located in proximity of the aerosol generating substrate and not embedded therein.

For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 5 percent of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the apparatus (1) comprising: at least one conveyor configured to support and convey a plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes (X-X) of the induction heatable plugs (4); each induction heatable plug (4) comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element (12) located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate (10); a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X) having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; a wrapping device (26) configured to wrap a wrapper band (33) around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) to form a continuous rod (42); a sealing device (38) configured to join to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) to form a longitudinal seal; the sealing device (38) acting along a pressing direction (P) and being configured to press the two longitudinal edges one on the other; a magnet (45) configured to generate a magnetic field (47) acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element (12); the magnetic field (47) being configured to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) and the respective induction heatable plug (4) supported by the at least one conveyor about the respective longitudinal axis (X-X) so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction (P) when the induction heatable plug (4) is located at the sealing device (38).

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wrapping device (26) comprises a wrapping conveyor (31), a wrapper band feeder (32) configured to feed the wrapper band (33) on the wrapping conveyor (31), said wrapper band (33) being moved by the wrapping conveyor (31); at least one transfer conveyor being configured to place the plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) on the wrapper band (33) moved by the wrapping conveyor (31); wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet (45) is located upstream of the wrapping conveyor and/or is the wrapping conveyor (31) and/or the at least one transfer conveyor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a combiner device (25) placed upstream of the wrapping device (26); the combiner device (25) comprising a first feeder (21), at least one second feeder (24) and a merging feeder (22); the first feeder (21) being configured to carry the plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) and placing the plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) on the merging feeder (22) spaced one from the other; the at least one second feeder (24) being configured to carry a plurality of auxiliary plugs and to place the auxiliary plugs on the merging feeder (22) between the induction heatable plugs (4); the merging feeder (22) being configured to convey the plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) and the plurality of auxiliary plugs aligned along the conveying direction parallel to the longitudinal axes (X-X) of the induction heatable plugs (4) and to longitudinal axes of the auxiliary plugs towards the wrapping device (26); wherein the at least one conveyor provided with the magnet (45) is the first feeder (21) and/or the merging feeder (22).

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the magnet (45) is placed close to the at least one conveyor or is part of the at least one conveyor.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one conveyor has a support surface supporting the induction heatable plugs (4); wherein the magnet (45) is placed and configured to generate magnetic field lines and, in a zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs (4), said magnetic field lines cross the induction heatable plugs (4); optionally, in the zone located above the support surface and configured to accommodate the induction heatable plugs (4), said magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the support surface or delimit with the support surface an angle between 60° and 90° or converge towards a direction perpendicular to the support surface.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the magnet (45) comprises a plurality of magnetic elements (46) arranged along a path parallel to the conveying direction or the magnet (45) comprises a single magnetic element of elongated shape that extends along the path parallel to the conveying direction.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the magnet (45) is an electromagnet or the magnet is a permanent magnet, optionally a neodymium magnet.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one conveyor comprises a belt conveyor and the support surface is part of a branch of the belt conveyor; wherein the magnet (45) is placed above or below said branch.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conveyor comprises a rotating wheel and the support surface is part of a radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel; wherein the magnet (45) faces the radially peripheral portion of the rotating wheel () or is located in the rotating wheel.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sealing device (38) comprises a glue applicator (39) configured to apply glue (40) along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) and a pressing device (41) acting along the pressing direction (P).

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressing device (41) comprises a heating element configured to heat and solidify the glue (40).

12. A method for manufacturing induction heatable aerosol-generating articles, the method comprising: conveying a plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) aligned along a conveying direction parallel to longitudinal axes (X-X) of the induction heatable plugs (4); each induction heatable plug (4) comprising a magnetic or magnetisable element (12) located in proximity of or embedded in an aerosol generating substrate (10); a cross section of the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X) having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension; wrapping a wrapper band (33) around the aligned plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) and joining to each other two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) to form a longitudinal seal and a continuous rod (42); pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) one on the other along a pressing direction (P); wherein, before or during wrapping, a magnetic field (47) acting on the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) is generated, to rotate the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) and the respective induction heatable plug (4) about the respective longitudinal axis (X-X) so that the larger dimension is aligned to the pressing direction (P) when the induction heatable plug (4) is pressed along the pressing direction (P).

13. The method of claim 12, comprising: arranging the plurality of induction heatable plugs (4) along the conveying direction spaced one from the other and placing a plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs (4) before wrapping the wrapper band (33) around the induction heatable plugs (4) and the auxiliary plugs; wherein the magnetic or magnetisable element (12) and the respective induction heatable plugs (4) are rotated by the magnetic field (47) before or after placing the plurality of auxiliary plugs between the induction heatable plugs (4).

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein joining comprises: applying glue (40) along at least one of the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) and heating the glue (40) once applied on the two joined longitudinal edges; wherein heating is performed while pressing the two longitudinal edges of the wrapper band (33) one on the other along the pressing direction (P).

15. The method of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein a ratio of the larger dimension of the cross section to a diameter (D) of the induction heatable plug is between 0.7 and 0.9.