Curling method for curling aerosol-or-smoke-generating articles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for curling an open tubular end of an aerosol- or smoke-generating article. The method comprises providing a curling surface (16,20). The method comprises providing an aerosol- or smoke-generating article (30) comprising an open tubular end (36). The method comprises curling the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article by advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article and, simultaneously, rotating the curling surface. The invention further relates to an aerosol- or smoke-generating article. The invention further relates to a curling head (10) for curling aerosol- or smoke-generating articles. The invention further relates to an apparatus for manufacturing aerosol- or smoke-generating articles.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for curling an open tubular end of an aerosol- or smoke-generating article, comprising steps of
 providing a curling surface, the curling surface being part of a curling head;   providing an aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprising an open tubular end; and   curling the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article by advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article and, simultaneously, rotating the curling surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the curling surface is concavely shaped and is arranged rotationally symmetric around a center axis, and wherein the step of curling the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprises advancing the curling surface along the center axis towards the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article and, simultaneously, rotating the curling surface around the center axis. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprises linearly advancing the curling surface over a distance of between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprises linearly advancing the curling surface at a force of between 1 Newton and 20 Newtons. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising, before the step of curling the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article, inserting a capsule into the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article, wherein the capsule comprises one or more nicotine salts. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , comprising, before the step of curling the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article, a step of pretreating the open tubular distal end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article, wherein the step of pretreating comprises wetting the open tubular end of the aerosol- or smoke-generating article with an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the curling surface is rotated at a speed of between 50 rounds per minute and 2,000 rounds per minute. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprising a curled distal end, wherein the curled distal end comprises a convex curvature, and wherein the aerosol- or smoke-generating article is obtained by the method of any of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol- or smoke-generating article according to  claim 25 , wherein the curled distal end comprises a curled edge circumscribing a central aperture. 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol- or smoke-generating article according to  claim 25 , wherein the curled distal end is made from cardboard or paper. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol- or smoke-generating article according to  claim 25 , comprising a capsule, wherein the capsule comprises one or more nicotine salts. 
     
     
         29 . A curling head for curling an open tubular end of an aerosol- or smoke-generating article, comprising
 a longitudinal center axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and   a circular opening located centrally at the proximal end and defining a recess towards the distal end,   wherein the recess is arranged for insertion of an open hollow tubular element of an aerosol- or smoke-generating article into the recess,   wherein at least a portion of a sidewall of the recess is arranged as a curling surface comprising a concave curvature, and   wherein the curling head further comprises a curling mechanism configured for linearly advancing the curling head along the longitudinal center axis and, simultaneously, rotating the curling head around the longitudinal center axis.   
     
     
         30 . The curling head according to  claim 29 , wherein a basic shape of the recess is bowl-shaped or dome-shaped. 
     
     
         31 . The curling head according to  claim 29 , wherein the curling mechanism is configured for linearly advancing the curling head along the longitudinal center axis and, simultaneously, rotating the curling head around the longitudinal center axis at a speed of between 50 rounds per minute and 2,000 rounds per minute. 
     
     
         32 . The curling head according to  claim 29 , wherein a base of the recess comprises a centrally arranged protrusion extending along the longitudinal center axis towards the proximal end, wherein the centrally arranged protrusion is pin-shaped. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for manufacturing aerosol- or smoke-generating articles, comprising a curling station for curling an open tubular end of an aerosol- or smoke-generating article, the curling station comprising a curling head according to  claim 29 . 
     
     
         34 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprises linearly advancing the curling surface over a distance of between 3 millimeters and 7 millimeters. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to claim  1  wherein advancing the curling surface towards the aerosol- or smoke-generating article comprises linearly advancing the curling surface at a force of between 3 Newtons and 15 Newtons. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to claim  1 , wherein the curling surface is rotated at a speed of between 300 rounds per minute and 1,200 rounds per minute.