Applying an additive from within during shaping of a sheet into a rod

1 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material,

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein a wall thickness of the end section of the pipe varies around a circumference of the end section of the pipe, and wherein the pipe comprises a base section provided within the converging device upstream of the end section and a bent section connecting the base section with the end section.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material comprises cut or ground herbaceous material.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material comprises at least one of cellulose fibers and glycerin.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material has a thickness of less than 0.2 millimeter.

5 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material; and

wherein the additive is dispensed onto the sheet material at a position within the converging device, at which a maximum diameter of the rod-under-formation is at most 400 percent of a maximum diameter of the final rod-shape upon exiting the converging device.

6 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material;

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein the rod-shape is formed around the end section of the pipe in an at least essentially coaxial arrangement between the rod and the end section of the pipe.

7 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material;

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein an outer circumferential shape of the pipe within the converging device and upstream of the end section of the pipe is different from an outer circumferential shape of the end section of the pipe.

8 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material;

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein an outer diameter of the pipe decreases along the conveying direction.

9 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material;

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein the end section of the pipe is coated with a friction reducing coating.

10 . A method for producing a rod containing herbaceous material, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet material containing herbaceous material;

shaping the sheet material into a rod-shape by conveying the sheet material along a conveying direction through a funnel-shaped converging device; and

dispensing an additive onto the sheet material within the converging device;

wherein the sheet material is a cast of a slurry containing herbaceous material or of a paste containing herbaceous material;

wherein the additive is dispensed as a liquid;

wherein the liquid flows on the sheet material;

wherein the additive is dispensed within the converging device through an end section of a pipe; and

wherein an angle between the end section of the pipe and the conveying direction is less than 10 degrees.

11 . A device for producing a rod from sheet material, comprising:

a funnel-shaped converging device;

a conveyor device configured to convey sheet material along a conveying direction through the funnel-shaped converging device; and

a pipe having an end section configured for dispensing an additive from the end section within the converging device,

wherein a wall thickness of the end section of the pipe varies around a circumference of the end section of the pipe; and

wherein the pipe comprises a base section provided within the converging device upstream of the end section and a bent section connecting the base section with the end section.

12 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the end section of the pipe has a non-circular cross-section.

13 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of the end section of the pipe has at least one flat portion.

14 . Device according to claim 13 , wherein an angle between a first flat portion of the end section of the pipe and a second flat portion of the end section of the pipe is between 50 degrees and 70 degrees, or between 55 degrees and 65 degrees, or between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, or between 85 degrees and 95 degrees.

15 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein an outer circumferential shape of the end section of the pipe is different from an outer circumferential shape of the base section of the pipe.

16 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of the bent section of the pipe comprises at least one flat portion.

17 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the pipe decreases along the conveying direction.

18 . The device according to claim 11 , wherein the end section of the pipe is coated, in particular with a friction reducing coating.