Orientating a rod-shaped article

Abstract

An apparatus for orientating a rod-shaped smoking article ( 2 ) containing a metal component ( 4 ) such as a susceptor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means ( 24 ) for producing a magnetic field and means ( 22 ) for presenting a rod-shaped smoking article ( 2 ) to the magnetic field in a manner which allows rotation of the rod-shaped article. This can allow the article to be rotated such that it is in a known orientation for subsequent testing.

1 . Apparatus arranged to orientate a rod-shaped smoking article containing a metal component, the apparatus comprising:
 a magnetic arranged to produce a magnetic field; and   a guide arranged to present the rod-shaped smoking article to the magnetic field in a manner which allows rotation of the rod-shaped smoking article.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal component is a susceptor arranged to heat an aerosol forming substrate. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the rod-shaped smoking article is about a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped smoking article. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field causes the rod-shaped smoking article to acquire a predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to drop the rod-shaped smoking article through the magnetic field. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator which causes the rod-shaped smoking article to pass through the guide. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hold and release mechanism arranged to hold the rod-shaped smoking article and subsequently release the rod-shaped smoking article into the guide. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit arranged to control operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is arranged to apply the magnetic field when a smoking article is to be presented to the magnetic field. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is arranged to control at least one of strength or direction of the magnetic field which is presented to the rod-shaped smoking article. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is arranged to control operation of a hold and release mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is arranged to synchronise application of the magnetic field with release of the rod-shaped smoking article by the hold and release mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a holding device arranged to receive the rod-shaped smoking article after the rod-shaped smoking article has passed through the magnetic field, and to hold the rod-shaped smoking article in an orientation which the rod-shaped smoking article acquired when passing through the magnetic field. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a control unit arranged to control the holding device, wherein the control unit is arranged to synchronise operation of the holding device with that of a hold and release mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the holding device is arranged such that the rod-shaped smoking article is configured to be rotated, the apparatus further comprising a drive unit arranged to rotate the holding device. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . Test apparatus comprising:
 an orientation unit arranged to orientate a rod-shaped smoking article containing a metal component; and   a testing unit arranged to test the rod-shaped smoking article,   wherein the orientation unit comprises:
 a magnetic arranged to produce a magnetic field; and 
 a guide arranged to present the rod-shaped smoking article to the magnetic field in a manner which allows rotation of the rod-shaped smoking article. 
   
     
     
         22 . Test apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a holding device arranged to receive the rod-shaped smoking article after the rod-shaped smoking article has passed through the magnetic field, and to hold the rod-shaped smoking article in an orientation which the rod-shaped smoking article acquired when passing through the magnetic field, wherein the holding device is arranged to hold the rod-shaped smoking article during testing of the rod-shaped smoking article by the testing unit. 
     
     
         23 . Test apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the testing unit is arranged to perform transmission imaging of the rod-shaped smoking article. 
     
     
         24 . Test apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the test apparatus is part of a test stack arranged to drop the rod-shaped smoking article between a plurality of test locations. 
     
     
         25 . A method of orientating a rod-shaped smoking article containing a metal component, the method comprising:
 producing a magnetic field;   presenting the rod-shaped smoking article to the magnetic field; and   rotating the rod-shaped smoking article under influence of the magnetic field.