EP4585063A1

EP4585063A1 - A manufacturing machine for producing a strand of material for a smoking article and a related method

Info

Publication number: EP4585063A1
Application number: EP24151795.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomas KOTISKA; Maurizio Righi; Ivan Eusepi; Andrea MORINI
Original assignee: MPRD Ltd
Current assignee: MPRD Ltd
Priority date: 2024-01-15
Filing date: 2024-01-15
Publication date: 2025-07-16

Abstract

A manufacturing machine (100) for producing a strand of material for a smoking article; wherein the manufacturing machine (100) comprises a forming unit (103) configured to receive a first web material (M1) from a first processing unit (101); the forming unit (103) comprises a forming device (106) configured to form a continuous material strand by gathering the first material (M1). The first processing unit (101) the first processing unit (101) is configured to process the first web material (M1) and comprises: a first processing device (107) configured to process the first web material (M1) so as to provide it with a plurality of first lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself; and a second processing device (109) configured to process the first web material (M1) so as to provide it with a plurality of second lines of material weakening that extend transversally with respect to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself and preferably a plurality of third lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself.

Description

PRIOR ART

In the tobacco industry, in particular in the field of making machines, different materials are processed (or worked) for producing subunits of a smoking article, like the filters or tobacco rods.
Filter rods are typically made of cellulose acetate. However, in recent times other materials are also used to produce filters, such as paper.
Tobacco rods are instead often made of tobacco or of materials forming aerosol, for example web materials comprising tobacco (like webs of reconstituted or homogenized tobacco) or webs added with nicotine or similar components.
The web material for producing the filter rods or the tobacco rods are typically processed to improve its gathering during the material strand production, which will be subsequently singularized in a plurality of rods.
However, in the known material rod often microchannels between the gathered material occur, due on a not an optimal gathering of the material.
In addition, due on format changers often occurs the need to change the type of web material fed to the manufacturing machine with which the material strand is realized. Two different web materials each made with a respective material, which are different which are different from each other, typically request different processing (treatments).
The known manufacturing machines are however not able to process different web materials without the need to replace (which typically involves a disassembly and a subsequent assembly) of at least one process unit of the manufacturing machine.
This operation requires the intervene of a specialized operator and is very time consuming. In addition, cross contamination between different processed materials can occur.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing machine for producing a strand of material for a smoking article and a related method which are without the drawbacks described above and which are easy and economical to implement.
According to the present invention, a manufacturing machine for producing a strand of material for a smoking article, according to what is claimed in the appended claims is furnished.
According to the present invention, also a method for producing a strand of material for a smoking article is furnished.
The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a manufacturing machine object of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic front view (with some parts removed for clarity) of a possible embodiment of two processing units of the manufacturing machine of figure 1; and
Figures 3 and 4 are two enlarged and schematic views (with some parts removed for clarity) of the processing units of figure 2; and
Figures 5 and 6 are schematic views of a possible material feeding of the manufacturing machine of figures 1-4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, number 100 denotes, as a whole, a manufacturing machine for producing a strand of material for a smoking article, in particular for producing a subunit of the smoking article.
Preferably, the manufacturing machine 100 is a filter making machine configured to produce at least a subunit (rod) of a filter of the smoking article.
According to a possible alternative embodiment, the manufacturing machine 100 is a maker machine configured to produce at least a subunit (rod) comprising tobacco or a substrate forming aerosol.
Preferably the subunit is achieved by cutting, in particular transversally (more in particular orthogonally to its longitudinal extension) a continuous material strand produced by the manufacturing machine 100.
In the attached figures, the web materials M1 and M2 (optional as disclosed below) are schematically illustrated with a line. The web materials M1 and M2 have a longitudinal extension L that extends along an advancing path AP defined between an inlet station IS in which the web material M1 (or optionally M2) respectively enters a processing unit 101 (or optionally 102, as afterwards disclosed in detail) and an outlet station OS in which the continuous material strand exits a forming unit 103.
The manufacturing machine 100 comprises at least the processing unit 101 and the forming unit 103. The forming unit 103 is arranged downstream the processing unit 101. The forming unit 103 is configured to receive the web material M1 from the processing unit 101. The forming unit 103 comprises a forming device 106 configured to form the continuous material strand by gathering the material M1. The forming device 106 is of the known type and comprises a forming beam configured to gather the material M1 which passes into it and preferably to wrap the continuous material strand with a paper strip so as to achieve a wrapped continuous material strand.
The processing unit 101 is configured to process the web material M1 (in particular by its plastic deformation) in order to improve its subsequent gathering in the forming unit 103. The processing unit 101 comprises two processing devices 107 and 109 arranged in succession. The processing device 109 is arranged downstream of the processing device 107 along the advancing path AP.
The processing device 107 is configured to process the web material M1 so as to provide (namely create or achieve) the material M1 with a plurality of first lines of material weakening (not illustrated) that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself.
The processing device 109 is configured to process the web material M1 so as to provide (namely create or achieve) the material M1 with a plurality of second lines of material weakening (not illustrated) that extend transversally with respect to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself an preferably a plurality of third lines of material weakening (optional and not illustrated) that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself. In particular, each third line of weakening (which are optional) is inclined by an angle α with respect to the longitudinal extension L. The second and third lines of weakening define (in particular constitute) a predetermined pattern.
According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the processing device 107 comprises a pair of processing rollers 108; while the processing device 109 comprises a pair of processing rollers 110.
Preferably, the processing rollers 108 are counterrotating crimping rollers configured to crimp the web material M1 so as to provide the first lines of material weakening. The processing rollers 108 are configured to rotate continuously around horizontal rotation axis. In particular, the first lines of material weakening imprinted by the processing rollers 108 promote the subsequent gathering of the material M1 in the forming unit 103 and provide also a volumetric dilation of the same in the direction orthogonal to its longitudinal extension L to reduce the microchannel formation.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, the pair of processing rollers 108 is configured to provide the first lines of material weakening that comprise at least one among a plurality of (preferably pre-weakened) folding lines and/or a plurality of cuts and/or incisions. Preferably, the cuts and/or incisions extend continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal extension L of the first material M1.
In particular, the plurality of fold and/or the plurality of cuts and/or incisions extend parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the material M1 or are arranged according to a predetermined pattern. More in particular, the cuts and/or incisions extend continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal extension of the material M1.
Preferably, the processing rollers 110 are counterrotating embossing rollers configured to emboss the web material M1 so as to provide an embossing pattern comprising (in particular being constituted by) the second and preferably third lines of material weakening. The processing rollers 110 are configured to rotate continuously around horizontal rotation axis. In particular, the second lines of material weakening and preferably the third lines of material weakening imprinted by the processing rollers 110 promote the subsequent gathering of the material M1 in the forming unit 103 and provide also a volumetric dilation of the same in both directions parallel and orthogonal to its longitudinal extension L.
According to a possible embodiment, the processing rollers 110 has embossing tools. In particular, the embossing tools of one of the processing roller 110 are complementary (in terms of shape and size) to the embossing tools of the other processing roller 110 associated to it.
According to a possible embodiment of the processing rollers 110, the embossing tools are arranged in an orderly manner on circumferential rows. The (imaginary) circumferential row extend orthogonally to the rotational axis of the processing roller itself. The embossing tool of a circumferential row is offset with respect to the embossing tool of the adjacent circumferential row. In particular, each embossing tool has a pentagonal shape. The pentagonal shaped embossing tool comprises a rectangular portion (which has two rounded corners (in particular radially arranged with respect to the rotation axis of the processing roller 110), and a triangular portion arranged on the opposite side with respect to the rounded corners. The embossing tools of a row are arranged so that the rectangular portion of a precedent tool is in contact (or houses) at least partially the triangular portion of a subsequent and different tool. The triangular portion comprises two sides which are inclined by the angle with respect to a centreline of the tool itself. The rectangular portion is configured to provide the third lines of material weakening, while the triangular portion is configured to provide the second lines of material weakening.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, the pair of processing rollers 110 is configured to provide the second lines of material weakening and preferably third lines of material weakening that comprise (preferably pre-weakened) folding lines which define (in particular constitute) the embossing pattern.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, the pair of processing rollers 108 is configured to provide the first lines of material weakening obtained by the processing device 107 that extends up to a first depth (in particular thickness) of the web material (namely the dimension measured orthogonally to its longitudinal extension L); while the pair of processing rollers 110 is configured to provide the second lines of material weakening and preferably third lines of material weakening obtained by the processing device 109 extends up to a second depth (in particular thickness) of the web material M1 (measured analogously as previously described). The first depth is bigger than the second depth. In other words, the processing device 107 are configured to act deeper into the web material M1 than the processing device 109.
According to a possible embodiment, the processing unit 101 can comprise a flavouring device (not illustrated) configured to apply a flavour (comprising an aroma or flavour) to the material M1. The flavouring device is arranged downstream the processing devices 107 and 109. In particular, the flavouring device comprises at least one nozzle configured to apply (in particular by spraying) or a roller configured to apply (in particular by transferring) the additive on the material M1. According to an alternative embodiment the flavouring device comprises a reservoir comprising in turn the flavour, in which the processed material M1 is immersed.
Preferably, the manufacturing machine 100 (in particular the processing unit 101) comprises a switching unit 104A configured to selectively switch between the processing devices 107 and 109 of the processing unit 101, in order to alternatively operate the processing devices 107 and 109. In other words, preferably the processing devices 107 and 109 are configured for being alternatively (namely not simultaneously) operated so that the web material processed by the device 107 is not processed by the device 109; and vice versa.
According to a possible embodiment (which is not limitative), in order to achieve the alternate operation of the processing devices 107 and 109 (that is, the material is processed only by one of the processing devices 107 and 109), the manufacturing machine 100 comprises a displacement device 114 (illustrated schematically only in figure 1), which is configured to move the respective processing rollers 108 or 110 between a working configuration, wherein the respective processing rollers 108 or 110 are narrowed one to the other in order to process the web material M1, and a rest configuration, wherein the respective processing rollers 108 or 110 are distanced one to the other in order to not process the web material M1; and vice versa. In other words, if the switching unit 104A selects to operate the processing device 107, its processing rollers 108 are arranged in the working configuration, while the processing rollers 110 are arranged in the rest configuration. In alternative, if the switching unit 104A selects to operate the processing device 109, its processing rollers 110 are arranged in the working configuration, while the processing rollers 108 are arranged in the rest configuration.
According to a possible alternative (which is not limitative), in order to achieve that the web material M1 is processed only by one of the processing devices 107 and 109, the manufacturing machine 100 comprises a deviation device 115 (illustrated schematically only in figure 1) configured to deviate the web material M1 in order to avoid that it is processed by the processing devices 107 or 109 not selected by the switching unit 104A.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, according to a further embodiment illustrated for example in the appended figures, the manufacturing machine 100 comprises in addition a further processing unit 102. The two processing units 101 and 102 are configured for being actuated (namely operated) alternately and not simultaneously.
Advantagiously (but not limitedly), the manufacturing machine 100 comprises also a feeding unit 116 configured to draw the material M1 or M2 from a respective storage and to feed the material M1 or M2 to the respective processing unit 101 or 102 (as will be disclosed in detail below).
According to the attached figures, which are not limitative, the processing unit 102 is arranged on top of the processing unit 101. According to a possible alternative embodiment, which is not illustrated, the processing unit 101 is arranged on top of the processing unit 102.
The processing unit 101 is configured to process the material M1 (as disclosed above). While the processing unit 102 is configured to process a material M2. The material M2 is different with respect to the material M1. The processing units 101 and 102 are thus configured to subject the material M1 or M2 to different treatments in preparation of its gathering for forming the continuous material strand.
Preferably the material M1 comprises at least one between: paper, cellulose, non-woven material, tobacco, aerosol forming substrate, or a combination of them. Preferably the material M2 comprises cellulose acetate.
Preferably, the processing unit 102 is configured to process the material M2 in form of a tow material. In other words, the material M2 fed to the processing unit 102 is in the form of a filament. The tow material M2 comprises (in particular is constituted by) cellulose acetate.
Advantageously, as illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, the processing unit 102 comprises a stretching device 117 configured to stretch the material M2 (which in this case comprises preferably cellulose acetate). Preferably the stretching device 117 comprises at least one pair of stretching rollers 118 (figure 2 and 3), which are configured to stretch the tow material M2 for shuddering the material M2 itself so that it increases its volume. The stretching rollers 118 are configured to rotate continuously around horizontal rotation axis. In addition, the processing unit 102 comprises an applying device 119 configured to apply an additive to the material M2. Preferably the additive comprises triacetin, which acts as plasticizer for the tow material M2.
If both processing units 101 and 102 are present, the forming unit 103 is configured to receive the material M1 from the processing unit 101 or the material M2 from the processing unit 102. As already disclosed, the forming device 106 of the manufacturing machine 100 is of the known type and comprises the forming beam configured to gather the material M1 or M2 which passes into it and preferably to wrap the continuous material strand with a paper strip so as to achieve a wrapped continuous material strand.
A switching unit 104B is configured to selectively switch between the processing unit 101 and the processing unit 102 so as to choose if the material M1 or M2 has to be fed to the forming unit 103; or vice versa.
Preferably, the switching unit 104B is configured for being operated at the format change, in which the manufacturing machine 100 passes from producing the continuous strand made of the material M1 to producing the continuous strand made of the material M2; or vice versa.
According to a possible embodiment, the switching units 104A and 104B are two distinct and separate switching units. According to a possible alternative, the switching unit 104A and 104B are the same. In other words, the manufacturing machine 100 comprises a single switching unit 104 which carries out both functions of the switching unit 104A and 104B disclosed above.
According to a possible embodiment, which is not limitative, the switching unit 104 or 104A is an interface (in particular an input interface or an input-output interface) through which an operator can select which processing devices 107 or 109 activate for processing the web material M1.
According to a possible embodiment, which is not limitative, the switching unit 104 or 104B is an interface (in particular an input interface or an input-output interface) through which an operator can select which processing unit 101 or 102 activate and which material M1 or M2 feed to the forming unit 103.
According to a possible alternative embodiment, the switching unit 104 or 104B comprises a mechanical element, for example a bulkhead, which allows to intercept the feeding of the unselected material, in such a way as to allow the feeding of the only chosen material M1 or M2 to the forming unit 103.
According to a possible embodiment, the manufacturing machine 100 comprises a supplementary unit 105, which is optional. Preferably the supplementary unit 105, if present, is in place of the flavouring device (for example in the case were the processing unit 101 is activated and the material M1 is already provided by a flavour through the flavouring device). In alternative both, namely the supplementary unit 105 and the flavouring device of the processing unit 101, are present (for example for flavouring the material M2 processed by the processing unit 102). The supplementary unit 105 is arranged downstream of the processing units 101 and 102 is arranged upstream of the forming unit 103. The supplementary unit 105 is configured to provide the material M1 or M2 already processed by the respective processing unit 101 or 102 with an adding material. The adding material comprises at least one chosen between: a capsule, a granulate material, a flavour, or a combination of them.
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the material M1 is unwound from a bobbin or bale (of known type and not further described or illustrated) or drawn from a stack 1 (figures 5 and 6). In other words, the feeding unit 116 is configured to feed the material M1 by unwinding it from a bale or a bobbin or by drawn it from a stack 1.
In particular, in this latter case the feeding unit 116 is configured to feed the material M1, which is stacked so that it comprises a plurality of folds defined by folding lines 3 which extends transversally, in particular orthogonally, to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1; wherein, each fold is made in alternating opposite folding directions D (illustrated schematically in figure 5), so that two subsequent layers obtained by folding the web are parallel to each other. In other words, the material M1, is "zig-zag" folded. Two subsequent layers obtained by folding the material M1 are superimposed on top of each other. As illustrated in figure 6, the stacks 1 are arranged on a transport structure 4 configured to be fed to a manufacturing machine 100 of the tobacco industry through a conveying unit 5. The transport structure 4 is configured to feed the material M1 to the manufacturing machine 100, in particular to the feeding unit 116.
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the transport structure 4 being a pallet (also called as skid or storage rack).
The transport structure 4 comprises preferably more than one stack 1 of material M1. In particular, in figure 6 the transport structure 4 is provided with six stacks 1 arranged on it. As disclosed before, the material M1 being continuous between all stacks 1 arranged on the transport structure 4 itself. In other words, a first end, in particular the terminal end (not illustrated in detail), of a stack 1 is connected with another end, in particular the initial end (not illustrated in detail), of an adjacent second stack 1, so that the material M1 of all the stacks 1 being continuous (namely, without interruption).
In addition, or alternatively, the feeding unit 116 unwinds the material M2 from a bale (of known type and not further described or illustrated). In other words, the feeding unit 116 is configured to feed the material M2 by unwinding it from a bale.
In use, preferably the operator chooses through the switching unit 104 or 104B which of the two processing units 101 or 102 selectively activate (facultative step). Afterwards, if the processing unit 101 is selected, the operator chooses through the switching unit 104 or 104A which of the two processing devices 107 or 109 operates (namely processes) the web material M1. The selected devices 107 or 109 processes the web material as previously disclosed, afterwards the supplementary unit 105 (if present) provides the material M1 or M2 (which is already processed by the respective processing unit 101 or 102) with the adding material and at the end the material is fed to the forming unit 103 for forming the continuous material strand.
According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a method for producing a strand of material for a smoking article, is provided.
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the method is carried out by the manufacturing machine 100 previously described.
The method mainly comprises (but not exclusively) the steps of:

a) providing a web material M1;
b) processing the web material M1 by the processing unit 101 comprising the processing devices 107 and 109; wherein the processing step comprises the following sub-steps:
- providing by the processing device 107 the web material M1 with a plurality of first lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself; and /or
- providing by the processing device 109 the web material M1 with a plurality of second lines of material weakening that extend transversally with respect to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself and preferably a plurality of third lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension L of the web material M1 itself; and
c) forming a continuous material strand by gathering the processed material M1.

Preferably, the step of providing the web material M1 with the plurality of first lines of material weakening comprises (in particular is constituted by) a crimping step; while the step of providing the web material M1 with the plurality of second lines of material weakening and, preferably the third lines of material weakening, comprises (in particular is constituted by) an embossing step.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, the method of processing the web material M1 provides that the first lines of material weakening extends up to a first depth of the web material M1; while the second lines of material weakening and, preferably the third lines of material weakening, extends up to a second depth of the web material (M1). The first depth is bigger than the second depth.
Advantagiously, but not limitedly, selectively switching through the switching unit 104 or 104A between the processing device 107 and the processing device 109 of the processing unit 101, in order to alternatively operate the processing device 107 and the processing device 109;
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the method comprises also the further step of selectively switching through the switching unit 104 or 104A between the processing devices 107 and 109 of the processing unit 101, in order to alternatively operate the processing device 107 and the processing device 109. Preferably, but not limitedly, this switching step comprises a sub-step of displacing by the displacement device 114 which the respective processing rollers 108 or 110 between the working configuration and the rest configuration (both disclosed above. According to a possible alternative, the switching step comprises a sub-step of deviating by the deviation device 115 the web material M1 in order to avoid that it is processed by the not selected processing device 107 or 109.
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the method comprises also the further steps of providing a material M2 and switching between the processing unit 101 configured to process the material M1 and the processing unit 102 configured to process the material M2, which is different with respect to the material M1, in order to choose if the material M1 or the material M2 has to be processed by the respective processing unit 101 102. This switching step occurs upstream the switching step in which the switching unit 104 or 104A selectively switches between the processing devices 107 and 109.
Advantageously, but not limitedly, the method comprises the further step of providing through a supplementary unit 105 the material M1 or M2 processed by the respective processing unit 101 or 102 with an adding material. As disclosed before, the adding material comprises: at least a capsule, a granulate material, a flavour, or a combination of them. The adding step occurs downstream of the processing step of the material M1 or M2 and upstream of the forming step. The step of providing the adding material is an optional step.
Preferably, but not limitedly, the above discussed switching step occurs at the format change, when the manufacturing machine 100 passes by forming a material strand made by material M1 to M2; or vice versa. Or otherwise, when the manufacturing machine 100 passes from one type of processing to another type of processing the material 1 before forming the material strand.
The manufacturing machine 100 and the method for producing a strand of material described so far comprise a plurality of advantages.
Firstly, it is possible to switch selectively from one processing device 107 to the other processing device 109, and vice versa (if desired and if the switching device 104 or 104A is present). It is therefore possible to switch to the right process (for example, crimping or embossing) depending on the type of web material M1 to be processed or depending on the characteristics required by the smoking article to be produced (for example in terms of volumetric dilation of the material or of the sensorial experience to be reserved for the user of the smoking article). The switch occurs thus in an easy way, without disassembling any unit of the manufacturing machine 100.
Secondly, it is possible (if two processing units 101 and 102 are present) to switch selectively from producing a material strand of material M1 to a material strand of material M2 in an easy way, without disassembling any unit of the machine 100.
Therefore, the invention permits also to avoid machine stops and long set-up times or calibrations of the manufacturing machine 100 after the format change.
The switch occurs in a simple way merely by actuating the switching unit 104 or 104A or 104B.
The manufacturing machine 100 according to the present invention does not require to remove the entire precedent material, when processing the new one.
Thirdly, the invention can also be easily implemented in pre-existing machines 100 without requiring major adaptation interventions, but simply by adding the further processing device 107 or 109, or else by adding unit 101 or 102, and the switching unit 104 or 104A or 104B.
The invention permits also to feed eventual web material (for example the material M2) fed from stacks of material and not only by unwinding it from bobbins.

LIST OF FIGURE REFERENCE NUMBERS

1: stack
3: folding line
4: transport structure
5: conveying unit
100: manufacturing machine
101: processing unit
102: processing unit
103: forming unit
104: switching unit - A, B
105: supplementary unit
106: forming device
107: processing device
108: processing roller
109: processing device
110: processing roller
114: displacement device
115: deviation unit
116: feeding unit
117: stretching device
118: stretching rollers
119: applying device
AP: advancing path
D: folding direction
IS: inlet station
L: longitudinal extension
OS: outlet station
M1: material
M2: material

Claims

A manufacturing machine (100) for producing a strand of material for a smoking article; wherein the manufacturing machine (100) comprises a forming unit (103) configured to receive a first web material (M1) from a first processing unit (101); the forming unit (103) comprises a forming device (106) configured to form a continuous material strand by gathering the first material (M1);
the first processing unit (101) the first processing unit (101) is configured to process the first web material (M1) and comprises:
- a first processing device (107) configured to process the first web material (M1) so as to provide it with a plurality of first lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself; and

- a second processing device (109) configured to process the first web material (M1) so as to provide it with a plurality of second lines of material weakening that extend transversally with respect to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself and preferably a plurality of third lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein:
the first processing device (107) comprises a pair of first processing rollers (108); the first processing rollers (108) are crimping rollers configured to crimp the first web material (M1) in order to provide the first lines of material weakening; and

the second processing device (109) comprises a pair of second processing rollers (110); the second processing rollers (110) are embossing rollers configured to emboss the first web material (M1) so as to provide an embossing pattern comprising the second lines of material weakening and, preferably the third lines of material weakening.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to claim 2, wherein the pair of first processing rollers (108) is configured to provide the first lines of material weakening that comprise at least one among:
a plurality of folding lines; and/or

a plurality of cuts and/or incisions; wherein preferably the cuts and/or incisions extend continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal extension of the first material (M1).
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any previous claim, wherein the first processing device (107) is configured to provide the first lines of material weakening which extends up to a first depth of the first web material (M1); while the second processing device (109) is configured to provide the second lines of material weakening and, preferably the third lines of material weakening, that extends up to a second depth of the first web material (M1); and
the first depth is bigger than the second depth.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any previous claim, comprising a first switching unit (104; 104A) configured to selectively switch between the first processing device (107) and the second processing device (109) of the first processing unit (101), in order to alternatively operate the first processing device (107) and the second processing device (109).
The manufacturing device according to claims 2 and 5, comprising a displacement device (114) which is configured to move the respective processing rollers (108; 110) between a working configuration, wherein the respective processing rollers (108; 110) are narrowed one to the other in order to process the first web material (M1), and a rest configuration, wherein the respective processing rollers (108; 110) are distanced one to the other in order to not process the first web material (M1); and vice versa.
The manufacturing device according to claim 5, comprising a deviation device (115) configured to deviate the first web material (M1) in order to avoid that the first web material (M1) is processed by the first processing device (107) or the second processing device (109).
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any previous claim, comprising:
a second processing unit (102) configured to process a second material (M2), which is different with respect to the first material (M1); and

the first switching unit (104; 104A) or a second switching unit (104; 104B) configured to selectively switch between the first processing unit (101) and the second processing unit (102) so as to choose if the first material (M1) or the second material (M2) has to be fed to the forming unit (103) for forming the relative material rod.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to claim 8, wherein the second switching unit (104; 104B) is configured for being operated at the format change, in which the manufacturing machine (100) passes from producing the continuous material strand made of the first material (M1) to producing the continuous strand made of the second material (M2); or vice versa.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any previous claim, comprising a feeding unit (116) configured to feed the first material (M1) or second material (M2) to the respective processing unit (101, 102).
The manufacturing machine (100) according to claim 10, wherein the feeding unit (116) is configured to:
feed the first material (M1) by unwinding it from a bale or a bobbin; and/or

feed the second material (M2) by unwinding it from a bale.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any claim from 8 to 11, wherein the second processing unit (102) comprises:
a stretching device (117) configured to stretch the second material (M2); in which preferably the second material (M2) comprises cellulose acetate; and/or

an applying device (119) configured to apply an additive to the second material (M2); the additive comprises preferably triacetin.
The manufacturing machine (100) according to any previous claim, comprising a supplementary unit (105) arranged downstream of the first or second processing unit (101, 102) and upstream of the forming unit (103); the supplementary unit (105) being configured to provide the first material (M1) or second material (M2) processed by the respective processing unit (101, 102) with an adding material; wherein the adding material comprises at least one chosen between: a capsule, a granulate material, a flavour, or a combination of them.
A method for producing a strand of material for a smoking article, in particular using the manufacturing machine (100) according to any claim from 1 to 13; the method comprises the following steps of:
a) providing a first web material (M1);

b) processing the first web material (M1) by a first processing unit (101) comprising a first processing device (107) and a second processing device (109); wherein the processing step comprises the following sub-steps:
- providing by the first processing device (107) the first web material (M1) with a plurality of first lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself; and /or

- providing by the second processing device (109) the first web material (M1) with a plurality of second lines of material weakening that extend transversally with respect to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself and preferably a plurality of third lines of material weakening that extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (L) of the first web material (M1) itself; and

c) forming a continuous material strand by gathering the processed first material (M1).
The method according to claim 14, comprising the further step of:
selectively switching through a switching unit (104; 104A) between the first processing device (107) and the second processing device (109) of the first processing unit (101), in order to alternatively operate the first processing device (107) and the second processing device (109).
The method according to claim 14 or 15, comprising the further step of:
providing a second material (M2); and

switching between the first processing unit (101) configured to process the first material (M1), and a second processing unit (102) configured to process the second material (M2) which is different with respect to the first material (M1), in order to choose if the first material (M1) or the second material (M2) has to be processed by the respective processing unit (101; 102).