CN103222684A

CN103222684A - Apparatus and associated method for forming a filter component of a smoking article and smoking articles made therefrom

Info

Publication number: CN103222684A
Application number: CN2013101658930A
Authority: CN
Inventors: N·P·安德烈森; M·F·杜贝; B·W·阿索尼科; R·K·赫琴斯
Original assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
Current assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
Priority date: 2008-05-21
Filing date: 2009-05-21
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-21
Also published as: EP2323506B1; JP2014036659A; JP5905432B2; EP2537427B1; EP2537427A1; CN102046033B; EP2323506A2; JP2011520469A; EP2323506B2; WO2009143338A3; ES2420685T3; CN102046033A; CN103222684B; WO2009143338A2; ES2603646T3; JP5438760B2; ES2420685T5

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method for forming a filter rod member of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit is configured to insert an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member. The method comprises forming a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member, and inserting an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member such that the adsorbent material is disposed within the rod member. Also provided are cigarette filters including at least one filter segment (32) having one or more composite fiber structures (60) or degradable fibers imbedded therein, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and an adsorbent fiber, the adsorbent fiber including an adsorbent material.

Description

Be used to form the equipment of filter assemblies of smoking product and correlation technique and by the smoking product of its manufacturing

The explanation of dividing an application

Dividing an application of the application for a patent for invention that the application is is that May 21, international application no in 2009 are PCT/US2009/044829, to enter the national applications of China national after the stage number be 2009801187807 applying date, be entitled as " be used to form the equipment of filter assemblies of smoking product and correlation technique and by the smoking product of its manufacturing ".

Invention field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the formation of tobacco product such as smoking product (as cigarette), more specifically relate to the equipment and the correlation technique that are used for sorbing material is inserted cigaratte filter.

The association area explanation

Common smoking article such as cigarette have the structure of substantially cylindrical, comprise that of centering on wrapping paper (volume or) can aspirate (smokable) material, Qie Sui tobacco (for example for cutting filler form) for example, thus form so-called " but suction wand " or " tobacco rod ".Cigarette has the cylindrical filter element usually, and this element aligns with the relation that head and the tail are connected with tobacco rod.Filter element generally includes the cellulose acetate tow of the plasticizing that is limited by the paper material that is called " tipping paper (plug wrap) ".Some filter element can be in conjunction with polyalcohol.Usually use the qualification packaging material that are called " yew paper (tipping paper) " filter element to be connected an end of tobacco rod.At " tobacco production, chemistry and technology (Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology) ", the explanation about cigarette and each assembly thereof has been proposed among the Davis etc. (compiling) (1999).The smoker enjoys cigarette by an end of lighting cigarette and the tobacco rod of burning.The smoker is by sucking (drawing) in the opposite end of cigarette (as filter end) then, and (mainstream smoke) sucks in his/her mouth with mainstream smoke.

Some cigarettes combine the filter element that wherein is dispersed with sorbing material, and described sorbing material is the active carbon or the charcoal material (being referred to as " carbonaceous material (carbonaceous material) ") of for example particulate or fine-grained form (being powder).For example, a kind of exemplary cigaratte filter can have a plurality of sections, the particle of at least one the comprised high-carbon content material in these sections.The various filter tips that are combined with charcoal particle or active carbon class material have been proposed: the United States Patent (USP) 2881770 of Touey in following document; The United States Patent (USP) 3101723 of Seligman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3236244 of Irby etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3311519 of Touey etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3347247 of Lloyd; The United States Patent (USP) 3349780 of Sublett etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3370595 of Davis etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3413982 of Sublett etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3602231 of Dock; The United States Patent (USP) 3972335 of Tigglebeck etc.;

The United States Patent (USP) 5360023 of Blakley etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6537186 of Veluz; Coleman, the U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0056600 of III etc.; The PCT WO2006/064371 of Banerjea etc.; The PCTWO 2006/051422 of Jupe etc.; These documents all are incorporated into this by reference.

As mentioned above, these carbonaceous material types are generally the form of particle or particulate in being attached to filter element.For example, the technology that is used for the manufacturing of conventional dalmation filter tip that can use general classes is attached to " dalmation " type filter region with the particulate of carbonaceous material.The technology that is used to produce the dalmation filter tip is known, and Filtrona Greensboro Inc. commerce provides representational dalmation filter tip.Perhaps, the technology that is used for routine " cavity (cavity) " filter tip manufacturing that can use general classes is attached to " cavity " type filter region with the particulate of carbonaceous material.Perhaps, can carry out appropriate change to the technology and equipment of other known kinds of being used to make the filter segment that combines fine material, thereby carbonaceous material is introduced in the filter segment.But these technology often are original, because the particulate of carbonaceous material or particulate insert in the filter element roughly as bulky powder or slurries, this process can be described as for example inharmonic, wasting and " mixed and disorderly ".

Therefore, need so that the mode of cleaning and more efficient process more of obtaining is inserted sorbing material equipment and the method in the filter segment/element of smoking product.These equipment and method should advantageously be inserted various forms of sorbing materials in the filter element.

Summary of the invention

Satisfied above demand with other by embodiments of the present invention, these embodiments provide equipment and the method that is used for the sorbing material of carrier material carrying is inserted the filter rod element of smoking product according to each side.Therefore, an aspect relates to the equipment of making the used filter rod of smoking product that is used to form, wherein each rod has sorbing material, described sorbing material is carried by carrier material, length direction along filter rod inserts in the filter rod, when described rod vertically was divided into rod part (rod portion) again, each rod part comprised at least a portion sorbing material.This equipment combines the device that is used for filtering material without interruption (for example assembling filter tow is fed to the filter tow machining cell that continuous clavate becomes the unit).A kind of representational equipment also can comprise for example hopper and rotary wheel device, described in the U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2007/0068540A1 of Thomas etc. (and by with reference to being incorporated into this), but this device engages with mode of operation with the filter tip feeding mechanism, is used for the carrier material of carrying sorbing material is fed to filtering material.Disclosed other devices that are used for object is inserted filtering material in following document, for example: Green, the United States Patent (USP) 4862905(of Jr etc. promptly insert independent strand part); The U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2007/0068540A1(of Thomas etc. promptly inserts capsule); The U.S. Patent application 11/461941(of Nelson etc. promptly inserts continuous strand); The U.S. Patent application 11/760983(of Stokes etc. promptly inserts continuous strand); Lanier, the United States Patent (USP) 7074170(of Jr etc. are incorporated into this by reference).

For example become the unit that filtering material without interruption is formed continuous cylindrical bar element by clavate.Insert in the excellent element by inserting the carrier material that will carry sorbing material in the unit.In certain aspects, continuous rod is divided with excellent division unit with predetermined interval then again, form a plurality of filter rods or rod part or filter element, make each rod part comprise at least a portion sorbing material.

In certain aspects, a kind of method that forms the cigarette filter rod element has been proposed, this method comprises that the continuous feeding with filtering material forms continuous cylindrical bar element, and the sorbing material that carrier material is carried inserts in the excellent element, thereby sorbing material is arranged within the excellent element.This method also can comprise along the longitudinal axis of excellent element excellent element is divided into a plurality of excellent parts, makes each rod part comprise at least a portion sorbing material.

In one aspect, the invention provides a kind of cigaratte filter, this filter tip comprises at least one filter segment, be embedded with one or more composite fibre structures in this filter segment, described composite fibre structure comprises carrier fibre and adsorbing fiber (for example carbon fibre), and described adsorbing fiber comprises sorbing material.Exemplary carbon fibre can be by precursor fiber the carbonization preparation, described precursor fiber is for example phenols fiber, cellulose fibre, rayon fiber, acrylic fiber and pitch fibers.In some embodiments, filter tip comprises one or more fibre bundle materials (as cellulose acetate tow) section.

The composite fibre structure can comprise variety carrier fiber or multiple adsorbing fiber.In carrier fibre and the adsorbing fiber one or both can be the forms of yarn.Whole composite fibre structure also can be the form of yarn.Carrier fibre for example plays a role by wrap up adsorbing fiber around carrier fibre as the carrier of adsorbing fiber.

In one aspect of the method, the invention provides the cigaratte filter that comprises at least one filter segment, be embedded with at least a biodegradable fiber, for example Biodegradable fibers in this filter segment.Fiber can be to have any various cross section any strand, line or the yarn of (comprising circle or flattened cross-section).Fiber can provide vision difference or texture/sense of touch difference for filter element.Fiber itself can change characteristic or the character of smog by filter tip, perhaps randomly carries the additive (for example one or more sorbing materials, spices, deodorant or its combination) of the characteristic or the character that can change smog.Can adopt various technology to carry additive with biodegradable fiber, additive is combined with biodegradable fiber, described technology for example is: additive is absorbed in the fibre structure, additive is coated on the fibre structure, solid additive is adhered on the fiber surface, perhaps around biodegradable fiber, wrap up the additive (as carbon fibre) of fibers form.

Exemplary Biodegradable fibers comprises cellulose fibre, polyvinyl alcohol, aliphatic polyester, aliphatic urethane, suitable-polyisoprene, suitable-polybutadiene, polyalkane acid hydroxyl ester, polyanhydride and copolymer and blend.In one embodiment, Biodegradable fibers is bamboo fibre or acid fiber by polylactic.

The present invention also comprises the smoking article that combines filter element as described herein, for example comprises the smoking article of the lighted sucked material rod that packaged material limits, and the described sucked material rod of lighting links to each other with cigaratte filter according to the present invention.

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide the obvious advantage that is described in more detail herein.

Accompanying drawing is briefly described

In order to help to understand embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the following drawings, these accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn in proportion.Accompanying drawing only is an example, not should be understood to limit the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a kind of decomposition diagram with smoking article of cigarette form, has shown lighted sucked material, packaging material assembly and the filter element of cigarette among the figure;

Fig. 2 is the sectional view according to the filter element of one embodiment of the present invention, is combined with sorbing material in this filter element;

Fig. 3 A-3D is a kind of sectional view with smoking article of cigarette form, has shown lighted sucked material, the packaging material assembly of cigarette among the figure and has comprised the filter element of sorbing material;

Fig. 4 is the schematic diagram according to the excellent manufacturing equipment of one embodiment of the present invention, and this equipment comprises that the part of filter tow machining cell, sorbing material source, insertion unit and the filter rod that is carried by carrier material form the unit;

Fig. 5 is a kind of sectional view of filter element, and this filter element is combined with the carbon fibre by the carrier fibre carrying; With

Fig. 6 is a kind of perspective view of the carbon fibre by carrier fibre carrying.

Preferred implementation describes in detail

Below with reference to accompanying drawing the present invention is described more fully.The present invention can implement by multiple different form, not should be understood to be limited to the embodiment that this paper proposes; But the content that provides these embodiments to make announcement can satisfy applicable legal requiremnt.In each accompanying drawing, similar key element like the Reference numeral representation class.As used in this specification and claims, " " of singulative, " a kind of " and " being somebody's turn to do " comprise that plural number refers to the situation of thing, unless visibly different pointing out arranged in the context.

Referring to Fig. 1, show the smoking article 10 of cigarette form among the figure, have some representative moduls by the smoking article of production of the present invention or formation.Cigarette 10 comprise be included in the limited packaging material 16 be generally columniform one or one the volume can light the filler material bar 12 of suction.Rod 12 is commonly referred to " tobacco rod ".The open-ended of tobacco rod 12 exposes the filler material that can light suction.Cigarette 10 shown in the figure have one optional be applied on the packaging material 16 marker tape 22(for example, comprise the printed coating of the film forming agent of starch, ethyl cellulose or mosanom and so on), this marker tape limits cigarette rods in the direction vertical with the cigarette longitudinal axis.That is, marker tape 22 provides one to be horizontal zone with respect to the cigarette longitudinal axis.Marker tape 22 can be printed on the inner surface of packaging material (that is, towards the filler material that can light suction), and perhaps marker tape 22 can be printed on the outer surface of packaging material, less preferred latter event.Though cigarette can have the packaging material that comprise an optional marker tape, also can have the packaging material that comprise two, three or more optional interval marker tapes.

Have at an end of tobacco rod 12 and to light end 18, have filter element 26 at mouth end 20.Filter element 26 is arranged on the end adjacent position with tobacco rod 12, makes filter element axially align with the relation that head and the tail are connected with tobacco rod, and is preferably adjacent to each other.Filter element 26 generally can be for cylindrical, and its diameter equals the diameter of tobacco rod substantially.The end of filter element 26 allows air and smog therefrom to pass through.

In some cases, filter element 26 can design as shown in Figure 2, and wherein filter tip comprises first filter segment 32 with the adjacent setting of an end of tobacco rod 12.First filter segment 32 comprises the cellulose acetate tow that filtering material 40(for example is impregnated with plasticizer such as glyceryl triacetate (triacetin)).In other cases, filter element 26 is the section of being divided into not, as shown in Figure 3.Continuation can be inserted sorbing material/particulate 50 referring to Fig. 2 within first section filtering material 40.This before sorbing material 50 is inserted in the filtering material 40 roughly.That is, inserted sorbing material 50, but be to insert with loose particulate form (for example powder or slurries).And what can be dispersed with randomly also within first section filtering material 40 that a plurality of particles 52 or other comprise flavor enhancement can cracked or rupturable capsule.Using in the embodiment of carbonaceous materials as sorbing material 50 at some, at least a portion carbonaceous material, in fact is that whole carbonaceous materials contact closely with the polyol ester (as glyceryl triacetate) of effective dose and the mixture of polyalcohol (as propane diols) usually.When needing, but filter element also binding energy change other assemblies of the character of the mainstream smoke that passes through from filter element.Referring to for example: the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0237984 of Figlar etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0268925 of Schluter etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0130861 of Luan etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0174899 of Luan etc., these documents all are incorporated into this by reference.

Filter element 26 also can have second filter segment 36 with respect to first section 32 mouth end end that is positioned at cigarette 10 that vertically is provided with.Second filter segment 36 comprises the cellulose acetate tow that filtering material 48(for example is impregnated with plasticizer such as glyceryl triacetate), this filtering material is surperficial with limited tipping paper material 28 outsourcings along its longitudinal extension.Second filter segment 36 can not contain adsorbent and can cracked or rupturable capsule substantially, this means to can't see these additives when the mouth end end of filter element 26 observed.

Filter element 26 is limited by the outside tipping paper material 28 of one deck along its periphery or vertical periphery.Outside tipping paper material 28 covers first filter segment 32 and second filter segment 36, thereby the two-part filter element of combination is provided.

Use for example air-locked substantially yew paper of yew paper material 46() filter element 26 is linked to each other with tobacco rod 12, the yew paper material limits the overall length of filter element 26 and tobacco rod 12 adjacent areas.Use suitable bonding the inner surface of yew paper material 46 to be fixed in the outer surface of the packaging material 16 of the outer surface of tipping paper material 28 of tobacco rod and tobacco rod; Thereby filter element and tobacco rod are connected to each other.Also can be referring to the yew paper material and the structure that propose in the U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0029111 of Dube etc., the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.

Can be for smoking article that ventilate or the air dilution provide optional air dilution mechanism, for example a series of perforation 30, they extend through yew paper material and tipping paper material separately.As shown in fig. 1, Ren Xuan perforation 30 can be passed through the known various technology manufacturings of those of ordinary skills, for example laser beam perforation technology.Perhaps, can adopt so-called off-line air dilution technology (for example, the tipping paper material by using porous paper and the yew paper of pre-punching).For the cigarette air dilution or that ventilate, air dilution or the amount or the degree of ventilating can change.For the cigarette of air dilution, the air amount of dilution is usually greater than about 10%, generally greater than about 20%, often greater than about 30%, sometimes greater than about 40%.For the cigarette of air dilution, the upper limit of air dilution is usually less than about 80%, often less than about 70%.As used herein, term " air dilution " is by the ratio (with percentage represent) of air dilution mechanism inhaled air volume with respect to the cumulative volume of the air of the mouth end parts end that sucks and leave cigarette by cigarette and smog.

In use, the smoker lights lighting of cigarette 10 with match or lighter and holds 18.Like this, the material 12 that can light suction takes fire.The mouth end 20 of cigarette 10 is placed between smoker's lip.The thermal decomposition product (as the component of tobacco smoke) that can light sucked material 12 generations by burning is inhaled into by cigarette 10, by filter element 26, enters in smoker's mouth.In suction process, by the sorbing material within the filter element 26 50 from mainstream smoke wherein a certain amount of gaseous components of removing or neutralize.Be combined with for example carbonaceous filter assemblies (as activated carbon granule) of these sorbing materials 50() filter tip can capture the mainstream tobacco smoke gaseous component of broad range.When needing, before carrying out smoking, in the process or afterwards, the smoker can randomly push filter element.The result is, it is not cracked optional can cracked capsule chipping that at least a portion keeps, thereby discharge the flavor enhancement particle 52 that wherein comprises.

Can make or form other filter element structures, and not depart from embodiments of the present invention.For example, filter element 26 can comprise above two sections as shown in Figure 2.Though seldom preferred, filter element 26 also can be included in the cavity that forms between two filtering material sections, wherein be mixed with sorbing material 50 and optional flavor enhancement 52.Though preferably avoid mouth end end setting at filter tip to comprise the filter segment of sorbing material 50 and optional flavor enhancement 52, not necessarily the requirement filter segment that will comprise these additives is arranged on the tobacco end of filter tip.On the contrary, the filter segment that comprises the additive of dispersion can more be centrally located within the filter element 26, makes one or more filter segment towards each end that does not contain additive.

The size of each cigarette 10 can change.Preferred cigarette is clavate, about 7.5 millimeters of diameter (for example Zhou Changyue 20-27 millimeter, often about 22.5-25 millimeter); The about 70-120 millimeter of total length, often about 80-100 millimeter.The length of filter element 20 can change.The about usually 15-40 millimeter of the total length of filter element, often about 20-35 millimeter.For typical two section type filter element, the often about 10-20 millimeter of length of downstream or mouthful end filter segment; Upstream or the often about 10-20 millimeter of tobacco rod end filter segment length.

When needing, can for example be used for carbon monoxide is changed into carbon dioxide in conjunction with suitable catalytic cpd in one or more sections of filter element 26.Exemplary catalyst comprise noble metal (as silver, gold, platinum), metal oxide, pottery, and composition thereof.

As shown in Figure 2, a kind of filter element 26 that can be formed according to the present invention comprises the section of a plurality of longitudinal extensions.Each section can have different character, and can comprise can be from the different materials of mainstream smoke filtration or adsorbent particles material and/or gas phase compound.The filter element of each side of the present invention generally includes 2-6 section, usually 2-4 section.In some cases, filter element 26 can comprise mouthful an end section and a tobacco end section, and the tobacco end section comprises the sorbing material 50 and the flavor enhancement 52 of dispersion.

As shown in Figure 2, filter element can be in conjunction with sorbing material/particulate 50.These sorbing materials 50 can be to have high surface area, can adsorb the smog composition but highly narrow spectrum material not, or can adsorb the material of some compounds, for example ion exchange resin with higher selectivity.The sorbing material of Exemplary types can comprise aluminium oxide, silica gel, sepiolite and the combination thereof of active carbon, molecular sieve (as zeolite and carbon molecular sieve), clay, ion exchange resin, activation.Can use the characteristic that can change the mainstream smoke that passes through from filter element or any sorbing material or the material blends of character.

Exemplary ion exchange resin comprises main polymer chain, for example styrene-divinylbenzene (DVB) copolymer, acrylate, methacrylate, phenolic condensation compound, epichlorohydrin amine condensation product, and the multiple charged functional group that is connected with main polymer chain, can be weak-base anion-exchange resin or strong-base anion-exchange resin.The commercially available example of these resins comprises the DIAION that obtains from Mitsubishi Chemical Ind (Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.)

Ion exchange resin (as WA30 and DCA11) is from the DUOLITE of Rhom and Hass (Rohm and Haas) acquisition

Ion exchange resin is (as DUOLITE

A7) and from the Dalian collection of China block the XORBEX resin that chemical company (Dalian Trico Chemical Co.of China) obtains.

Preferred adsorbent is a carbonaceous material, and this is a kind of material of mainly being made up of carbon, and preferred carbonaceous material in fact all is made up of carbon.The phosphorus content of carbonaceous material is usually greater than about 85 weight %, generally greater than about 90 weight %, often greater than about 95 weight %, often greater than about 98 weight %.Carbonaceous material can be the charcoal form, but more preferably absorbent charcoal material.Absorbent charcoal material is a high surface area material.The surface area of exemplary absorbent charcoal material is greater than about 200 meters squared per gram, often greater than about 1000 meters squared per gram, often greater than about 1500 meters squared per gram, adopt Brunaver, Emmet and Teller(BET) method mensuration, as J.Amer.Chem.Soc., the 60th the 2nd phase of volume is described in the 309-319 page or leaf (1938).For example in following document, disclosed the WO 2007/104908 of the suitable example of these carbonaceous materials: White etc.; The WO 2007/093757 of Awty etc.; The WO 2007/010249 of Fiebelkorn; The WO 2007/028957 of Lee; The WO 2006/136950 of Nunziata etc.; The WO 2006/103404 of Cashmore etc.; The WO2005/118133 of Branton etc.; The WO 2005/112670 of Bhattacharyya etc.; The WO2005/082180 of Sampson etc.; The WO2005/023026 of Branton etc.; The WO2004/095957 of Bray etc.; The WO2004/014161 of Grzonka; The WO2003/092416 of Dittrich etc.; The WO 2003/034847 of Abhulimen etc.; The WO 2003/051144 of Schl ü ter etc.; The WO 2003/034848 of Abhulimen etc.; The WO 2001/041590 of Bushby etc.; United States Patent (USP) 7370657 with Zhuang etc.

Filter element 26 can be in conjunction with the sorbing material 50 of effective dose, for example active carbon of effective dose.Effective dose is can provide the required amount that to a certain degree changes to the mainstream smoke of the cigarette that is combined with filter element 26 when being attached in the filter element 26.For example, the cigaratte filter element that is combined with activated carbon granule or particulate can be brought into play the effect of the output of some gaseous components that reduce the mainstream smoke that passes through from this filter element.By dry weight reference, the carbonaceous material within the filter element or the amount of other adsorbents are usually at least about 20 milligrams, often at least about 30 milligrams, often at least about 40 milligrams.By dry weight reference, the amount of the carbonaceous material within the filter element or other sorbing materials 50 is no more than about 500 milligrams usually, generally is no more than about 400 milligrams, often is no more than about 300 milligrams, often is no more than about 200 milligrams.

Carbonaceous material can obtain from synthetic or natural origin.The material of artificial silk or nylon and so on can carbonization, handles with oxygen then, and the carbonaceous material of activation is provided.The material of timber and coconut husk and so on can carbonization, handles with oxygen then, and the carbonaceous material of activation is provided.The level of carbon activity can change.Carbon has the activity of about 60-150 carbon tetrachloride activity (that is, carbon tetrachloride absorbs percetage by weight) usually.Preferred carbonaceous material provides by carbonization or the following material of pyrolysis: bituminous coal, tobacco-containing material, soft wood pulp, hard wood pulp, coconut husk, Pericarppium Armeniacae Amarum, grape pip, walnut shell, macadamia (macadamia) shell, bombax cotton, cotton fiber, velveteen etc.The example of suitable carbonaceous material is the carbon based on coconut husk of activation, for example PCB that obtains from Ka Er worker company (Calgon Corp.) and GRC-11 or the G277 that obtains from PICA; Based on the carbon of coal, S-Sorb, Sorbite, BPL, CRC-11F, FCA and the SGL that obtains from Ka Er worker company for example; Based on the carbon of timber, WV-B, SA-20 and the BSA-20 that obtains from western Veka Inc. (Westvaco) for example; Carbonaceous material, HMC, ASC/GR-1 and the SC II that obtains from Ka Er worker company for example, Witco Carbon No.637, the AMBERSORB572 or the AMBERSORB563 resin that obtain from Rhom and Hass; And from remarkable System Co., Ltd (Prominent Systems, Inc.) the various absorbent charcoal materials of Huo Deing.The United States Patent (USP) 4771795 of other carbonaceous materials: White etc. has been described in following document;

The United States Patent (USP) 5027837 of Clearman etc.; European patent application 236922,419733 and 419981.

Preferred carbonaceous material is the coconut husk class active carbon that for example obtains from following source: Ka Er worker's carbon company (Calgon Carbon Corporation), GC company (Gowrishankar Chemicals), activated carbon company (Carbon Activated Corp.), general carbon company (General Carbon Corp.).Also can be referring to for example " active carbon outline (Activated Carbon Compendium) ", Marsh(compiles) (2001), the document is incorporated into this by reference.

Some carbonaceous materials can be impregnated with for example following material: transition metal (as silver, gold, copper, platinum and palladium), nano particle, saleratus, tobacco extract, poly-ethylene imine, manganese dioxide, eugenol and 4-ketone group n-nonanoic acid.Carbon complex also can comprise one or more fillers, for example semolina (semolina).Grape seed extract also can be combined in the filter element 20 as free radical scavenger.Material with carbon element sintering or foaming (referring to the United States Patent (USP) 7049382 of for example Haftka etc.) or the net of assembling are (referring to the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/0092912 of for example Robinson etc., and Coleman, the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0056600 of III etc.) can be other options that are used for sorbing material 50 is combined in filter element 20.

Various charcoals and absorbent charcoal material in the cigaratte filter in following document, have been proposed to be suitable for being attached to, various other filter element component materials, various cigaratte filter component structures and form, and the United States Patent (USP) 3217715 of the variety of way and the method that are used for carbonaceous material is attached to the cigaratte filter element: Berger etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3648711 of Berger etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3957563 of Sexstone; The United States Patent (USP) 4174720 of Hall; The United States Patent (USP) 4201234 of Neukomm; The United States Patent (USP) 4223597 of Lebert; The United States Patent (USP) 5137034 of Perfetti etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5360023 of Blakley etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5568819 of Gentry etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5622190 of Arterbery etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6537186 of Veluz; The United States Patent (USP) 6584979 of Xue etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6761174 of Jupe etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6789547 of Paine III; The United States Patent (USP) 6789548 of Bereman; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0166563 of Jupe etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0020420 of Xue etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0200973 of Xue etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0154993 of Paine etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0168070 of Xue etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0194792 of Zhuang etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0226569 of Yang etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0237984 of Figlar etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0133051 of Luan etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0049128 of Buhl etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0066984 of Crooks etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0144410 of Luan etc.; Paine, the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0180164 of III etc.; Coleman, the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0056600 of III etc.; The european patent application 579410 of White; The PCT WO2006/064371 of Banerjea etc.; These documents all are incorporated into this by reference.Can obtain to have the cigarette of the representative classes of the filter element that combines carbonaceous material from following source: obtain " Benson﹠Hedges Multifilter " from the Fei Lipu Maurice Co., Ltd (Philip Morris Inc.) of Florida State, trial sale brand as Fei Lipu Maurice Co., Ltd during 2005 is called " Marlboro Ultra Smooth ", from " the Mild Seven " of Japan Tobacco Inc (JTI) (Japan Tobacco Inc.) acquisition.

According to above-mentioned with carbonaceous material loose particles or particulate as bulky powder or slurries insert taken place in the filter element may be inconsistent, cause the problem of waste, inefficiency and/or " in a jumble "; one aspect of the present invention is as shown in Fig. 3 A-3D; be included in will obtain sub-assembly insert filter element 26(and it vertically cut off to be continuous filter rod before forming a plurality of filter element 26) in before, sorbing material 50 is engaged with carrier material 55.Select suitable carriers material 55 so as for example by more effective and efficiently with " cavity " thus sorbing material 50 inserts improvement production in the filter element 26.That is, in being inserted into filter element 26 in, sorbing material 50 is by carrier material 55 carrying.In some embodiments, carrier material 55 can be for example following form: pill (Fig. 3 A), capsule (Fig. 3 B), pipe (Fig. 3 C), continuous elongated structure, (Fig. 3 D) such as the continuous strip of energy acceptance and " maintenance is captured " sorbing material 50, strands, thus be convenient to so that more cleaning, more effective mode are inserted in the filter element 26.In some embodiments, the carrier material 55 of single or multiple forms can be inserted in the filter element 26.For example, single or multiple capsules, pipe, pill etc. or its combination can be inserted in the filter element 26 according to each side.

In some cases, carrier material 55 can comprise host material, polymeric material for example, host material can be with sorbing material 50 dippings (promptly, sorbing material 50 can be suspended in the host material, perhaps fixed by host material), therefore, host material can carry sorbing material 50 and enter in the filter element 26.For example, in some embodiments, host material can comprise high density or low-density polymeric materials, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, host material floods with sorbing material 50, perhaps host material has sorbing material 50, for example, is dispersed with carbonaceous material (as active carbon, charcoal) in the host material.Preferred sorbing material 50 disperses more equably, but this even dispersion may not be the sin qua non.In the embodiment that carrier material 55 forms as tubulose or capsule element, sorbing material 50 can be inserted in tubuloses or the capsule element, wherein include sorbing material when making in being inserted into filter element 26.Carrier material 55 is being configured as in the embodiment of continuous elongated structure, sorbing material 50 can engage, contact or otherwise interact with this continuous elongated structure, thereby sorbing material 50 can be carried in the filter element 26.Carrier material 55 is being configured as in the embodiment of continuous strip, this continuous strip can length direction be wrapped in sorbing material 50 around, thereby sorbing material 50 being included in wherein (that is, being similar to " pipe "), be used for inserting filter element 26.

Therefore; carrier material 55 can have the form that can generally be characterized by the container of sorbing material 50 or capture carrier; compare with the sorbing material 50 of bulky powder shape, particulate or the particulate form inserted within the filter element 26 of smoking product in some art methods; in the present invention; carrier material is with the fixing sorbing material of more firm mode, thereby can in the mode of capturing sorbing material 50 be delivered in filter element/rod 26 via carrier material 55.Therefore, with will loose powdered adsorption material 50 or its slurries form introduce in the filter element 26 and compare, can be with " more cleaning " and more coordinate and mode will carried sorbing material 50 efficiently carrier material 55 inserts or is attached in the filter element 26, because sorbing material 50 is to keep " capturing ", reduced the generation of following situation: dust, leak, overflow, pollution, cross pollution etc.And these benefits can change into and for example reduce maintaining, process faster, and higher efficient and/or send sorbing material 50 more in phase, and improve security.And, can easily be provided with carrier material 55 in any mode that is suitable for promoting to be inserted in the independent filter element 26.Other advantages comprise that the size up of the sorbing material that carries out following operation and/or amount are consistent: in the filtering material of the filter element that introduce, part is provided with, is deposited on smoking product, closely place with this filtering material, placed in the middle in this filtering material, be arranged within this filtering material, substantially extend through this filtering material, or otherwise engage with this filtering material.In some cases, the host material of gel-type material or other suitable substances and so on can comprise (but not necessarily will pass through dipping) sorbing material 50, and the form of this sorbing material can be attached within the independent filter element 26.In other cases, the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 can comprise strand, band or other elongated structures, is used to form the unitary part that can insert in filter rod and/or the filter element 26.

In some cases, carrier material 55 can be the form of pill.In this case; can use for example following device to produce pill: from the FL-M series granulator (as FL-M-3) of Wei Keduo company (Vector Corporation); and from A Like Sang Dunweike Co., Ltd (Alexanderverk, WP 120V Inc.) and WP 200VN.Exemplary compression set such as compressor comprise: from the Colton2216 and the Colton2247 of Wei Keduo company, and mould the 1200i of company (Fette Compacting), 2200i, 3200,2090,3090 and 4090 from extreme pressure not.Be used to compression granulation preparation to provide the device of external coating to comprise CompuLab24, CompuLab36, Accela-Cota48 and Accela-Cota60 from Tom Si engineering company (Thomas Engineering).

Can adopt multiple extruding technology to make pill.For example, can adopt coextrusion technology (for example using double screw extruder) to make these pills.In this case, continuous one or more dried or wet components or component mixture can be placed on extruding within the hopper of separating.Each do is being mixed thing advances, when plasticizing and boiling, can in extruder barrel, inject steam, gas (as ammonia, air, carbon dioxide etc.) and NMF (as glycerine or propane diols).Like this, each component is processed, fully mix, thereby make its contact fully mutually.For example, the contact of component makes independent component (as sorbing material or flavor enhancement) to embed well to extrude in matrix or the extrudate.Referring to the United States Patent (USP) 4821749 of for example Toft etc., the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.

The carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 can be combined within the section of cavity filters (for example, as the pill within the central cavity zone of syllogic filter element).Perhaps, the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 can be dispersed in a section (for example two-part filter element) of the filter element of the vertical multisection type of (for example, as the pill that disperses) conduct within the fibrous filtering material in the nonwoven webs material of whole filter tow or gathering.

According to another aspect of the present invention, carrier material 55/ sorbing material 50 sub-assemblies are inserted filter element 26(or continuous filter rod) in after, sorbing material 50 can discharge from carrier material 55, enters in the filtering material.For example, carrier material 55 can dissolve, decomposes, degrade, or it is otherwise destroyed in position, thereby sorbing material 50 is discharged and/or be distributed in the filter element 26, or otherwise effective exposed suction enclosure material 50 makes sorbing material 50 to produce required effect to the mainstream smoke that sucks by filter element 26 in filter element 26.Therefore, representational cigaratte filter element 26 can comprise sorbing material 50 at least one assembly of this filter element or section, and this mode is enough to influence the effect of removing the mainstream smoke gas phase within filter element 26.

For example, when sorbing material 50 comprised carbonaceous material, the moisture content of this carbonaceous material (or other suitable adsorbents) arbitrarily can change.Being combined with in use before the cigarette of filter element, is benchmark in the combined wt of carbonaceous material and moisture, and the moisture content of carbonaceous material or other adsorbents is less than about 30%, often less than about 25%, often less than about 20% within this filter element.Being combined with in use before the cigarette of filter element, is benchmark in the combined wt of carbonaceous material and moisture, and the moisture content of carbonaceous material or other adsorbents is greater than about 3%, often greater than about 5%, often greater than about 8% within this filter element.

In some cases, except sorbing material 50, can also flood within carrier material 55 or on it or suspend or comprise optional flavor enhancement.That is, carrier material 55 can be carried to sorbing material 50 and optional flavor enhancement in the filter element 26.Can reduce the complexity of the process that is used to form filter element 26 and/or smoking product thus.For example, in some embodiments, carrier material 55 can comprise the matrix material that is impregnated with sorbing material 50 and optional flavor enhancement, and described sorbing material is a carbonaceous material for example.Therefore, only need independent insertion device/step just can insert sorbing material 50 and optional flavor enhancement, and do not need to use a plurality of insertion device/steps that sorbing material 50 and optional the flavor enhancement form of rupturable capsule (that is, with) are inserted in the filter element 26.

In other embodiments of the present invention, have or do not have under the situation of carrier material 55, sorbing material 50 can be used as spheroid, pill, capsule, pipe or other structurized objects and forms.For example, can adopt multiple extruding technology to make pill.For example, these pills can adopt coextrusion technology (for example using double screw extruder) manufacturing.For example, can form spherical carbon object, thereby can more easily insert in the filtering material (as cellulose acetate tow).In some cases, can provide the carrier material 55 of " shell " form for the sorbing material 50 that just forms by use the material that food-grade shellac for example, ethyl cellulose, any suitable hydrophobic coating or static are used to the sorbing material object.The object that obtains like this can adopt object as known in the art to insert device and insert, and for example is used to insert the rupturable device that contains the capsule of flavor enhancement.Therefore one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that and to insert spheroid, capsule or other forms of sorbing material 50(and the embodiment of carrier material 55 carrying sorbing materials 50 wherein by similar mode).In these embodiments, for example one or more spherical carbon objects can be arranged within the filtering material of smoking product.These objects can provide the sorbing material 50 of conc forms as formation such as spheroid, pill, pipes in filtering material.Like this, the particle that comprises this object may must discharge and/or be distributed in the filter element 26, perhaps otherwise is exposed to filter element 26, so that required effect to be provided.For example, when being arranged on this object original position in the filter element 26, can adopt that a kind of active force (physics, sound wave or other) makes that the sorbing material 50 and/or the carrier material 55 that comprise this object break, fracture, cracked, degraded or decompose, thereby sorbing material 50 disperseed or be discharged in the filter element 26.This step can take place at any time point after inserting this object in the filtering material.That is, can adopt this step, for example make after the whole smoking product in the later stage of manufacture process.In other cases, this step can directly take place after inserting this object in the filter rod.

The size of capsule and weight can change.The capsule of some kinds is normally spherical.But examples of suitable can have the shape of other kinds, for example is generally linear, rectangle, ellipse or avette.The diameter that is generally spherical capsule of example is generally less than about 1.5 millimeters, often less than about 1 millimeter, often less than about 0.5 millimeter less than about 3.5 millimeters.For example, can adopt several capsules, the diameter of these capsules can be about the 0.25-2 millimeter.Can also be in conjunction with multiple very little capsule within filter element; be commonly referred to " microcapsules " (referring to the multiple microencapsulation option that for example can obtain from Euracli; microcapsules protections active component to avoid oxidation, it is wet etc. to become; make film rupture or produce delay effect by applying accurate mechanical action by the saturating film diffusion that postpones; make active component discharge in the required moment), wherein these micro-capsules keep together by the mode of suitable binder material with adhesion in some cases.The gross weight of the capsule that comprises within the filter tip can change, but usually greater than about 10 milligrams, often greater than about 20 milligrams, can be greater than about 30 milligrams.The gross weight of capsule is usually less than about 200 milligrams, often less than about 100 milligrams, and can be less than 50 milligrams.

The quantity of the capsule of combination can change in filter element, and this depends on for example following factor: the size of capsule, payload characteristics or character (that is, sorbing material and/or optional flavor enhancement), the position of capsule within filter element etc.The quantity of the capsule of combination can be greater than about 5 within the relevant range of filter element, can be greater than about 10, can be greater than about 20, can be greater than about 40, can in addition greater than about 100.In some embodiments, the quantity of capsule can be greater than about 500, even greater than about 1000.In some embodiments, the quantity of capsule is more to be favourable, because can provide the higher control that the smoking of payload is influenced character for the smoker like this.

Filter element of the present invention can be incorporated within the various cigarettes that propose in the following document: the United States Patent (USP) 4756318 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4714082 of Banerjea etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4771795 of White etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4793365 of Sensabaugh etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4989619 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4917128 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4961438 of Korte; The United States Patent (USP) 4966171 of Serrano etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4969476 of Bale etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4991606 of Serrano etc.;

The United States Patent (USP) 5020548 of Farrier etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5027836 of Shannon etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5033483 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5040551 of Schlatter etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5050621 of Creighton etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5052413 of Baker etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5065776 of Lawson; The United States Patent (USP) 5076296 of Nystrom etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5076297 of Farrier etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5099861 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5105835 of Drewett etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5105837 of Barnes etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5115820 of Hauser etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5148821 of Best etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5159940 of Hayward etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5178167 of Riggs etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5183062 of Clearman etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5211684 of Shannon etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5240014 of Deevi etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5240016 of Nichols etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5345955 of Clearman etc.; Casey, the United States Patent (USP) 5396911 of III etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5551451 of Riggs etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5595577 of Bensalem etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5727571 of Meiring etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5819751 of Barnes etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6089857 of Matsuura etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6095152 of Beven etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6578584 of Beven; The U.S. Patent application 2007/0215167 of Crooks etc.; The U.S. Patent application 2008/00092912 of Robinson etc.; These documents all are incorporated into this by reference.For example, filter element of the present invention can be combined within the cigarette of following kind, and for example the brand of R.J.R. tobacco company (R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company) sale is the cigarette of " Premier " and " Eclipse ".Cigarette referring to those kinds of describing in the following document for example: to adding warm type but not the chemistry and biology of the new cigarette prototype of burning type cigarette research (Chemical and Biological Studieson New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco), R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph(1988) and Inhalation Toxicology, 12:5,1-58 page or leaf (2000); The document is incorporated into this by reference.

Usually use cigarette machine to make cigarette rods, for example conventional automatic cigarette rod maker.Exemplary cigarette rods maker is those types of buying from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber﹠Co.KG.For example can adopt MkX(to buy from Molins PLC) or PROTOS(buy from Hauni-Werke Korber﹠Co.KG) the cigarette rods maker of type.Provide explanation about the PROTOS cigarette machine in the 8th hurdle the 3rd row at the 5th hurdle of the United States Patent (USP) 4474190 of Brand the 48th row, the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.Also in following document, proposed to be suitable for making the device type of cigarette: the United States Patent (USP) 4781203 of La Hue; The United States Patent (USP) 4844100 of Holznagel; The United States Patent (USP) 5131416 of Gentry; The United States Patent (USP) 5156169 of Holmes etc.; Myracle, the United States Patent (USP) 5191906 of Jr. etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6647870 of Blau etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6848449 of Kitao etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6904917 of Kitao etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0145866 of Hartman; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0129281 of Hancock etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0039764 of Barnes etc.; The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0076929 of Fitzgerald etc.; These documents are incorporated into this by reference separately.

The parts of conventional automatic cigarette machine and operation are that the those of ordinary skill of cigarette machine design and field operation is understood easily.For example in following document, proposed about the parts of several chimneys and the explanation of operation, tobacco filler supply equipment, vacuum conveying system and annex (garniture) system: the United States Patent (USP) 3288147 of Molins etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3915176 of Heitmann etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4291713 of Frank; The United States Patent (USP) 4574816 of Rudszinat; The United States Patent (USP) 4736754 of Heitmann etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4878506 of Pinck etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5060665 of Heitmann; The United States Patent (USP) 5012823 of Keritsis etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 6360751 of Fagg etc.; The U.S. Patent Publication 2003/0136419 of Muller; These documents are incorporated into this by reference separately.The automatic cigarette machine type that this paper proposes provides the continuous cigarette rods that forms maybe can light suction wand, continuous cigarette rods maybe can be able to be lighted the lighted suction wand that suction wand is divided into Len req again.

Can adopt various cigarette component (comprising tobacco varieties), tobacco blend, surface treatment and packaging material, blend packed density, and the various wrapping paper materials that are used for tobacco rod.Cigarette component referring to the various representative classes that propose in the following document for example, and various design of cigarettes, form, structure and characteristic: Johnson, the cigarette component that meets industry needs is developed (Development of Cigarette Components to Meet Industry Needs), 52nd T.S.R.C.(1998 September); The United States Patent (USP) 5101839 of Jakob etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5159944 of Arzonico etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5220930 of Gentry; The United States Patent (USP) 6779530 of Kraker; The U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0016556 of Ashcraft etc.; The U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0066986 of Nestor etc.; The U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0076929 of Fitzgerald etc.; Coleman, the U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0056600 of III etc.; The U.S. Patent application 11/375700 that submit to the 14 days March in 2006 of Thomas etc.; The U.S. Patent application 11/408625 that submit to the 21 days April in 2006 of Oglesby; These documents are incorporated into this by reference separately.But most preferably whole suction wand is made up of smokeable material (as tobacco cutting filler) and the limited housing material of one deck.

Therefore, another aspect of the present invention comprise through suitably be designed for sorbing material 50 and carrier material 55(also comprised in some cases combine optional flavor enhancement 52) equipment of combination, by forming the filter element of smoking products in conjunction with the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50, and/or be used to form and itself have this smoking product that combines the filter element of carrier material 55/ sorbing material 50.Therefore, develop some equipment and be used to provide filter rod, use for making smoking product, wherein each rod has for example pill, capsule, strand or its combination of the carrier material 55(that is carrying sorbing material 50 of one or more forms), carrier material is along the length setting of rod, make that when rod is divided into excellent part again each rod part comprises the carrier material that is carrying sorbing material 50 55 of at least a form.Referring to the United States Patent (USP) 7115085 of for example Deal, the document is incorporated into this by reference in its entirety.This equipment can be in conjunction with the device that is used for filtering material without interruption (for example, being fed to the filter tow machining cell that continuous clavate becomes the unit through adaptive with filter tow).Representational equipment also can comprise for example object delivery apparatus of hopper and rotary wheel device and so on, these devices have carried out disclosing (and by with reference to being incorporated into this) in the U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0068540A1 of Thomas etc., be used for the carrier material that is carrying sorbing material 50 55 of a definite form is fed to filtering material.In other cases, can insert the unit promptly by object, pill and/or strand, perhaps at least a and at least a other pills in pill and the strand or the combination of strand with the carrier material 55(of various ways) insert in the filtering material.For example in following document, disclosed the device that is used for these strands/object is inserted filtering material: the U.S. Patent application 11/461941(US 2008/0029118A1 of Nelson etc.), the U.S. Patent application 11/760983 of Stokes etc., these documents all are incorporated into this by reference.

The excellent equipment 210 of a kind of system as shown in Figure 4, in some cases, this equipment can comprise and form unit 450 that this unit engages with carrier material 55 sorbing material 50 through design with online or offline mode, formation insertion object.For example, forming unit 450 can be constructed to be permeable to sorbing material 50 insertions are comprised in the tubulose or capsule element of carrier material 55, sorbing material 50 is suspended in the host material that comprises carrier material 55, sorbing material 50 is engaged with the continuous elongate member that comprises carrier material 55, and/or around sorbing material 50, comprise the continuous strip element of carrier material 55.In case formed the insertion object, just can at once this insertion object be delivered to insertion unit/device 214 from forming unit 450, this inserts unit/device through design, and the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 is inserted in the filtering material.In some cases, forming the unit can cooperate with inserting unit/device 214, and (that is, online or off-line) perhaps otherwise links to each other.In other embodiments, forming unit 450 and insert unit/device 214 can be independent unit, this unit carries out following function simultaneously through design: form the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50, the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 is inserted in the filtering material.

In manufacture process, filtering material can be formed continuous rod, be provided with the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 in this continuous rod, and extend along the longitudinal axis of continuous rod.With predetermined interval continuous rod is divided then again, form a plurality of filter rods or excellent part, make the sorbing material 50 that comprises at least a portion in each rod part.Comprise in the situation of for example pill and strand at carrier material 55, pill can be by the precalculated position and along filter rod or filter element setting, and strand (if present) extends through filter rod or filter element.

As shown in Figure 4, a kind of exemplary system rod equipment 210 can comprise that clavate becomes unit 212(for example from KDF-2 unit that Hauni-Werke Korber﹠Co.KG obtains) and object insertion unit 214, these unit are used for placing the insertion object along the continuous length of filtering material 40 through suitably adaptive.The filtering material of continuous length or net form can be from the source (not shown) supply of deposit bag, bobbin, reel etc. and so on.Generally can adopt 218 pairs of filtering materials 40 of filtering material machining cell to process.Insert unit 214 by object, in the continuous length of filtering material,, become unit 212 by clavate then, thereby form rod 220 continuously in conjunction with the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50.Can use excellent cutting assemblies 222 excellent 220 to be divided into a plurality of excellent parts 205 continuously, be provided with at least a portion sorbing material 50 in each rod part.Can collect continuous or a plurality of excellent parts 205, be used for gathering-device 226, this gathering-device can be tray, rotation collection cylinder, transfer system etc.These rod parts can be delivered directly to cigarette machine when needing.

Filtering material 40 can change, and can be to be used to cigarette that the material of any kind of of tobacco smoke filtration is provided.Preferred use conventional cigarette filter material, for example the strand of the paper of the cellulose acetate net of the cellulose acetate net of cellulose acetate tow, gathering, polypropylene tows, gathering, gathering, the tobacco that reconsolidates etc.Preferred especially filament tow, for example cellulose acetate, polyolefin such as polypropylene etc.It is a kind of that the highly preferred filtering material of suitable filter rod can be provided is the cellulose acetate tow of 3 Denier per filament and 40000 total daniers.Again for example, the cellulose acetate tow of 3 Denier per filament and 35000 total daniers can provide suitable filter rod.Again for example, the cellulose acetate tow of 8 Denier per filament and 40000 total daniers can provide suitable filter rod.Again for example, referring to the United States Patent (USP) 3424172 of the filtering material kind that proposes in the following document: Neurath; The United States Patent (USP) 4811745 of Cohen etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4925602 of Hill etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5225277 of Takegawa etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5271419 of Arzonico etc.

Can use for example Arjay Equipment Corp. of conventional filter tow machining cell,

Winston-Salem, the E-60 that N.C. sells processes filament tow such as cellulose acetate.Can use the commercially available tow process equipment of other known kinds of those of ordinary skills similarly.Usually adopt known technology to apply plasticizer to the filament tow, as glyceryl triacetate or polyethylene glycol (carbowax) with convention amount.In one embodiment, the plasticizer components of filtering material comprises glyceryl triacetate and the polyethylene glycol that weight ratio is 1:1.The total amount of plasticizer generally is about 4-20 weight %, preferably is about 6-12 weight %.Other suitable materials that use when constituting filter element or additive are that the those of ordinary skill in the cigaratte filter design and the field of manufacturing is understood easily.Referring to the United States Patent (USP) 5387285 of for example Rivers, the document is incorporated into this by reference.

The operation that can become unit 212 by clavate is pulled through block (block) 230 with the filtering material 40 of continuous length, can insert within the net of filtering materials along the carrier material 55 that the length of filtering material will carried sorbing material 50.But the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 also can be introduced in the filtering material in other sites in this process, and this exemplary embodiment is not intended limiting aspect this.Can further guide filtering material to enter in the aggregation zone 232 that clavate becomes unit 212.This aggregation zone can have tongue and horn structure, converges funnel structure, plugger or transmission injection structure, the perhaps aggregation apparatus of other adequate types.Tongue 232 provides further gathering, compression, conversion or formation from the cylindrical composite thing of block 230, become substantially cylindrical (promptly bar-shaped) shape, make the continuous extension strand of filtering material or filament extend along the columniform longitudinal axis of formation like this substantially thus.In some cases, can also suitably the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 be placed in the filtering material in the aggregation zone 232.

The filtering material 40 that is pressed into the cylindrical composite thing is further received clavate to be become in the unit 212.With cylindrical composite thing input packing parts 234, these parts comprise attached conveyer belt 236 or other accessories apparatus of annular.The parts 238 that advance by belt wheel or cooperation cylinder and so on vertically advance attached conveyer belt 236 continuously, thereby packing parts 234 are passed through in the transmission of cylindrical composite thing.The band 28(that these packing parts provide packaging material to the outer surface of cylindrical composite thing is the tipping paper of atresia for example), thus make the continuous rod of having packed 220.In some cases, can also be suitably engage with filtering material in packing or the subzone 232 carrying the carrier material 55 of sorbing material 50.For example, aforesaid elongate member can be a kind of form of packaging material 28, makes the carrier material 55 coupled or joints that carrying sorbing material 50.

The band or the net of packaging material 28 generally can be provided from rotation bobbin 242.These packaging material can be pulled out from bobbin, are pulled through a series of guide reels, pass through below block 230, enter the packing parts 234 that clavate becomes the unit.The attached conveyer belt 236 of annular will be hinged with material bands in the mode of longitudinal extension and the cylindrical composite thing transmits together by packing parts 234, simultaneously around the covering of cylindrical composite thing or seal packaging material.

At 244 places, applicator zone, applied adhesives (as hotmelt) on the seam that the overlapping edge of packaging material partly forms makes packaging material can form the tubular container that holds filtering material.Perhaps, can be as the case may be, hotmelt is directly used in the upstream that enters the associate member of packing parts 234 or block 230 at packaging material.Can use cooling rod (chill bar) 246 cooling adhesives, make adhesive rapid solidification (setting).Be appreciated that and adopt the adhesive of various other sealing devices and other kinds that the continuous rod of packing is provided.

The continuous rod of packing 220 passes through from sealing device, use cutting assemblies 222 to divide (as cutting off) by required predetermined length at interval again with rule, this cutting assemblies comprises rotary cutter, very sharp cutter or the cutting of other suitable rods or divides device again.Special expectation cutting assemblies can not make the shape of rod flatten, or otherwise the shape of rod is had a negative impact.Cutting assemblies cuts off continuously the speed of rod and controls by adjustable mechanical gear group (not shown) or other suitable devices in required site.The carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 is inserted in the continuous net-shaped thing of filtering materials speed can with the service speed direct correlation of bar-producing machine.Insert the unit and make between the driving sub-assembly of excellent equipment and can produce direct driving relationship by gear.Perhaps, insert unit 214 and can have the synchronous direct CD-ROM drive motor of driving sub-assembly that becomes the unit with clavate.In some cases, inserting unit 214 can be configured to, carry out communication with inspection/detection system 247, for example carry out communication, eliminate inspection/detection system 247 more detected defectives by the insertion unit 214 of regulating the upstream thus with the form of backfeed loop.According to the insertion speed of object and the relation between the bar-producing machine, embodiments of the present invention also relate to the throughput rate that keeps or improve bar-producing machine, but the operation that carrier material 55 that will carry sorbing material 50 is not placed within the filtering material simultaneously has a negative impact.

Insert the rotation insertion element 248 that unit 214 can comprise wheel shape, this element can position, thereby rotates in vertical plane.Insert that unit 214 can comprise also that hopper sub-assembly 252 and/or other are used for charging or by other modes with various forms of carrier material 55(pill for example) be transported to the transmitting device of insertion element 248.When insertion element 248 rotations, the carrier material 55 on the wheel peripheral surface contacts with the filtering material 40 within the block 230, and carrier material 55 is ejected into the filtering material 40 of gathering from satchel.This object inserts in the document of detail below for example that is provided with and further specifies: the United States Patent (USP) 7115085 of Deal; Green, the United States Patent (USP) 4862905(of Jr. etc. promptly insert independent strand part); The U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0068540A1(of Thomas etc. promptly inserts capsule); The U.S. Patent application 11/461941(of Nelson etc. promptly inserts continuous strand); The U.S. Patent application 11/760983(of Stokes etc. promptly inserts continuous strand).

Some objects insert equipment can comprise for example tongue or tongue part, and its structure can be gathered into continuous rod with the filtering material of supply, and/or comprises the insertion unit, and the tube element that is used for wherein having sorbing material 50 inserts filtering material.In some cases, various forms of carrier materials 55 can be connected continuously, perhaps take other modes to engage one another continuously, thereby form continuous chain, wherein inserting the structure that unit 214 is designed to can be placed into continuous chain in the filtering material.The carrier material 55 of some forms can also be linked to each other with elongate member, perhaps this carrier material is engaged with elongate member, wherein this elongate member can comprise for example strand, thereby by strand carrier material 55 is chained together.Can be pill and/or strand with the carrier material 55(of various ways by inserting unit 214) or at least a and at least a other the pill or the pill or strand insertion filtering material of strand combination in.For example disclosed a kind of setting that is used for strand is inserted filtering material in the U.S. Patent application 11/461941 of Nelson etc., the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.In another example, elongate member can also be designed to can horizontal expansion (that is, as two-dimensional sheet).Thus, clavate forming apparatus 210 can comprise the decoration device that is designed to following structure, can around filtering material, wrap up the elongate member that is attached with sorbing material 50 on it, make this elongate member form the packing that comprises filtering material and sorbing material 50, described in the U.S. Patent application 11/760983 of Stokes etc., the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.

After the carrier material 55 that is carrying sorbing material 50 being inserted in the continuous rod of filtering materials, sorbing material can discharge and enter the filtering material from carrier material.For example, carrier material 55 can dissolve, decomposes, degrade, and is perhaps otherwise destroyed, discharges and/or is distributed in the filtering material thereby fall sorbing material 50, makes 50 pairs of mainstream smokes that suck by filter element of sorbing material apply required influence.Can before or after rod cuts off formation filter segment (as filter element 26) continuously, sorbing material be discharged in the filtering material.This release can take place in manufacture process, perhaps in some cases, is carried out before this smoking article of suction by the smoker.In some embodiments, can in production line, provide sorbing material releasing unit 400 in the downstream of inserting unit 214, wherein sorbing material releasing unit 400 is designed, make it within filter element, original positions take place and interact, thereby for example utilize thermal process, ultrasonic procedure or any other to be used for sorbing material 50 being discharged into filtering material from the suitable mechanism that carrier material 55 discharges sorbing materials 50 with carrier material 55.

More particularly, sorbing material 50 can for example carry out plasticising (that is, becoming wet to form " paste "), and therefore the object that makes is resilient, flexible and/or can handles (referring to for example Green, the United States Patent (USP) 4862905 of Jr. etc.).In case object is inserted in the filtering material, at once sorbing material 50 is processed into releasable form, for example by the filter element execution heating and/or the drying program that wherein have this object are processed.That is, this heating/drying program can be removed plasticizer from this object, and become fragile or become can be cracked for this object then.Then filter element is carried out machining, for example by relative roller, (promptly by " impact " process, sound shakes, heating etc.), and/or by irradiation process (that is, the microwave energy that causes the liquid/gas relevant with this object to expand makes that the structure of this object is cracked).

In some cases, can be promptly with various forms of sorbing material 50(, strand, bead, pill, capsule or its combination) be arranged in the closed-cell foam material as carrier material 55, wherein, in case be inserted in the filter element 20, just can carry out irradiation or heating at once, make foamed material cracked and from wherein discharging sorbing material.Perhaps, carrier material 55 can comprise open-cell foam materials, wherein for example can adopt air and/or physical force to discharge sorbing material 50 at once after object being inserted in the filter element 20.

In other cases, can provide for example carrier material 55 of following form: capsule that can be cracked, intussusception capsule (capsule-in-capsule) or strand, these forms are formed by water soluble or other polymer that dissolves in liquid, can carry sorbing material 50 through design.This soluble polymer can comprise for example PLA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), starch and/or starch-based polymer, carrageenan, polyvinyl acetate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, amylopectin, carboxymethyl cellulose and salt thereof are (promptly, alkali metal salt), alginate esters and salt thereof, gelatin, and/or any other suitable polymers or its combination.Because but the releasing pattern of carrier material 55 causes the dispersion of sorbing material, make mainstream smoke can pass through filter element, and interact with sorbing material, this object can be greater than " solid-state " object (that is, greater than about 2-3.5 millimeter) that inserts before in the filter element.

In the control of this process, control system can comprise suitable control hardware and/or software.A kind of exemplary control system 290 can be in conjunction with for example Siemens315-2DP processor, Siemens FM352-5Boolean processor and/16 output modules of 16 inputs.This system can adopt system display 293, for example Siemens MP370 display.A kind of exemplary system rod unit 212 can comprise the controller through the rod that is designed for Len req, thus with respect to the formation speed of continuous rod according to the tool speed of regulating cutting unit opportunity.In this case, the first encoder 296(by with the driving-belt ways of connecting of the excellent unit of system) and the control module 299 that inserts the unit reference of tool position can the position cutting assemblies be provided with respect to the wheel location of inserting the unit.Therefore, first encoder 296 can provide a kind of mode of inserting the wheel speed of unit with respect to the continuous net-shaped thing of filter tow by the speed control of the excellent unit of system.A kind of first exemplary encoder 296 can be used as Heidenhain Absolute2048 encoder and obtains.

In one embodiment of the invention, sorbing material 50 and carrier material 55 all are the form of fiber, and the sorbing material fiber comprises or is combined with as defined herein sorbing material.Fiber can comprise conventional short fiber and continuous substantially structure, for example continuous filament.Fiber of the present invention can be a hollow or solid, the cross section that can have primary circle ring shape, perhaps non-circular cross section (as avette, square, rectangle, divide shape etc.) more.Fiber can be the form of independent line or filament, or the form of multiple line or filament structure, for example is that wherein multiple filament is in conjunction with, distortion or the yarn of mat or the form of other structures.When torsion of fibers, combination or mat, this fiber is disassembled after can being adapted at inserting in the filter tip, thereby increases the useable surface area of adsorbing fiber.Can form fiber by any fiber forming method as known in the art, comprise extrude, melt spinning, solution spinning etc.The color of each fiber can change, but when adsorbing fiber is as described herein when being carbon fibre, adsorbing fiber often looks it is black.

The fiber that is used for sorbing material 50 or carrier material 55 can be made of natural or synthetic material.Exemplary natural fiber comprises cotton, flax, jute, hemp, cotton, wool and wood pulp.The exemplary synthetic polymer that can be used for forming fiber comprises: polyamide, polyamine, polyimides, polyacrylic, Merlon, polydiene, polyepoxide, polyester, polyethers, poly-fluorohydrocarbon, polyolefin, polyphenylene, silicon-containing polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene base class, polyacetals, polyacrylate, modified cellulose fibre (as cellulose acetate), its copolymer, its terpolymer, and composition thereof.The non-limitative example that is suitable as according to the particular polymers material of fibrous material of the present invention comprises following: nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 12, poly-aspartate, polyglutamic acid, polyacrylamide, polyacrylonitrile, methacrylic acid and acrylic acid ester, the poly bisphenol carbonic ester, poly-propylene carbonate, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polynorbornene, PET, polybutylene terephthalate, poly terephthalic acid Sanya methyl esters, polycaprolactone, poly-glycolide, polylactide, poly butyric ester, poly-hydroxyl valerate, poly-adipic acid second diester, poly-adipic acid fourth diester, poly-butanedioic acid propylene diester, polyethylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, PPOX, polyformaldehyde, polytetramethylene ether, PolyTHF, Polyglycol 166-450, urea-aldehyde, carbamide, phenol formaldehyde, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene (polybutylene), polybutene (polybutene), poly-octene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether sulfone, Poly-s 179, dimethyl silicone polymer, poly-carboxymethyl silane, the polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol, the ester of polyvinyl alcohol and ether, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, polymethylstyrene, polyvinyl chloride, PVP, polymethyl vinyl ether, poly-ethyl vinyl ether, polyvinyl methyl ketone, polyethylene copolymerization vinyl acetate, the acid of polyethylene co-polypropylene, the polybutylene terephthalate co-polyethylene terephthalate, with polylauryllactam block copolymerization oxolane.

Sorbing material 50 can be attached in the adsorbing fiber with any way known in the art, comprise in the following manner: adsorption particle is adhered to fiber, adsorption particle is embedded or is suspended within the fiber, thereby perhaps form the chemical property formation sorbing material (for example fiber being carried out carbonization) that fiber changes fiber then.In one embodiment, adsorbing fiber constitutes (as carbon fiber) by carbonaceous material.

Carbon fiber can be described as the fiber by the controlled pyrolysis acquisition of precursor fiber.Because carbon is difficult to be configured as fibers form usually, so the carbon fiber that is purchased is often made by precursor material being extruded the formation filament, carry out carbonization then, carry out at high temperature usually.The common precursor that is used for carbon fiber comprises artificial silk, acrylic fiber (for example polyacrylonitrile or PAN) and pitch (can comprise isotropic pitch and anisotropy mesophase pitch, and the pitch fibers that melts and sprays).Other precursors such as cellulose conversion can also be become carbon fiber.KYNOLTM novoloid fiber (from American Kynol, Inc., Pleasantville, NY obtains) be the high-performance phenols fiber that can change into active carbon by the one-step method that combines carbonization and activation.Generally include stabilisation, carbonization and graphitization from artificial silk or acrylic compounds formation carbon fiber, the higher in succession temperature of each leisure takes place, thereby fully removes non-carbonizable substance, for example oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen.Use the bitumen production fiber also to comprise stabilisation and carbonization usually; But pitch revolves a part of spinning as the carbon fiber forming process usually, and can directly be used by artificial silk or the preformed fiber of acrylic compounds.Activation sometimes can further increase production stage.The source of carbon fiber comprises Dong Li industrial group (Toray Industries), Toho Tenax, Mitsubishi (Mitsubishi), Sumitomo company (Sumitomo Corporation), He Shi company (Hexcel Corp.), Seat gram industrial group (Cytec Industries), Zhuo Er Imtech (Zoltek Companies) and SGL group company (SGL Group).

Carbon fiber is often classified by three kinds of different modes.At first, can classify to carbon fiber according to modulus and intensity.Example comprises ultra high modulus (UHM) fiber (modulus is greater than 450 gpa (Gpa)); High-modulus (HM) fiber (modulus is the 350-450 gpa); Medium modulus (IM) fiber (modulus is the 200-350 gpa); Low modulus, high (HT) fiber that stretches (modulus less than 100 gpa and hot strength greater than 3.0 gpa); With superelevation stretching (SHT) fiber (hot strength is greater than 4.5 gpa).Secondly, can classify to carbon fiber according to the precursor material that is used to prepare fiber (as the fiber of PAN, artificial silk, pitch, mesophase pitch, isotropic pitch or vapor phase growth).The 3rd, can classify to carbon fiber according to final heat treatment temperature.Example comprises the high heat treatment of I class (HTT) fiber (final heat treatment temperature is greater than 2000 ℃), II class moderate fever is handled (IHT) fiber (final heat treatment temperature is about 1500 ℃) and low heat treatment (LHT) fiber of III class (final heat treatment is no more than 1000 ℃).Any above carbon fiber classification all can be used among the present invention.

The example of the kind of parent material, the method for preparing carbon fiber-containing and carbon fiber-containing discloses in following document: the United States Patent (USP) 3319629 of Chamberlain; The United States Patent (USP) 3413982 of Sublett etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 3904577 of Buisson; The United States Patent (USP) 4281671 of Bynre etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4876078 of Arakawa etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 4947874 of Brooks etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5230960 of Iizuka; Paul, the United States Patent (USP) 5268158 of Jr.; The United States Patent (USP) 5338605 of Noland etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5446005 of Endo; The United States Patent (USP) 5482773 of Bair; The United States Patent (USP) 5536486 of Nagata etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 5622190 of Arterbery etc.; The United States Patent (USP) 7223376 of Panter etc.; The U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0201524 of Zhang etc.; The U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0231113 of Newbery etc.; These documents all are incorporated into this by reference.Content (comprising its manufacturing) about the PAN base carbon fibre is provided in the report of submitting Congress to specifically, this report is entitled as " polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fiber industry capability evaluation: Industrial Policy OUSD(AT﹠L) industrial policy (Polyacrylonitrile(PAN) Carbon Fibers Industrial Capability Assessment:OUSD(AT﹠L)) ", can be from the online acquisition of http://www.acq.osd.mil/ip/docs/pan_carbon_fiber_report_to_congr ess_10-2005.pdf, the document is incorporated into this by reference.

The size of carrier fibre and adsorbing fiber (as carbon fiber) can change in not departing from scope of the present invention.The excursion of fiber size is about the 0.5-20 danier usually.The size of adsorbing fiber often depends on the amount of the adsorbent that needs in the filter element at least in part.For example, can be according to the weight of adsorbent required in the filter tip, the weight range of the carbonaceous material listed of this paper is for example determined the size of adsorbing fiber.

Carrier fibre and adsorbing fiber (as carbon fiber) can be interconnected or combination, thereby adopt any method to insert in the cigarette filter material, these methods comprise twines these two kinds of fibers, intervolve or be woven together, use adhesive or binding agent that these two kinds of fibers are combined, with the fiber coextrusion, perhaps use independently Connection Element (for example independently line or anchor clamps) that these two kinds of fibers are combined.Each composite fibre structure (that is, the combination of carrier fibre and adsorbing fiber) can comprise the various fibers of a rod or many rods, this means, each fibre structure for example can comprise 1 to about 20 rod carrier fibres and 1 to about 20 rod adsorbing fibers.

In another embodiment of the invention, filtering material combines degradable fibrous material, this means that this fiber can degrade or decompose, for example under the environmental condition relevant, this fiber is resolved into catabolite by chemical reaction with the disposal of fibrous material.A kind of degraded of Exemplary types is biodegradation.As used herein, the term " biodegradable " fiber " be illustrated under the condition of aerobic and/or anaerobism and in the presence of bacterium, fungi, algae and other microorganisms, be degraded into carbon dioxide/methane, water and living beings; also can produce other products but contain heteroatomic material, as ammonia or sulfur dioxide.The part of the metabolic material of process of the humus fraction that can not distinguish with the biogenetic derivation material is generally represented to exist in the eucaryotic cell structure of organism or changed into to " living beings ".Exemplary Biodegradable fibers includes, but are not limited to the fiber (as cotton, wool, cdear, hemp, bamboo, kapok or flax) that cellulose or other organic plants are derived, polyvinyl alcohol, aliphatic polyester, aliphatic urethane, suitable-polyisoprene, suitable-polybutadiene, poly-alkane carboxylic acid hydroxyl ester, polyanhydride and copolymer thereof and blend.Term " aliphatic polyester " expression has structure-[C(O)-R-O] _n-polymer, wherein n is the integer of monomeric unit quantity in the representation polymer chain, R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon, preferred C1-C10 alkylidene, more preferably C1-C6 alkylidene (as methylene, ethylidene, propylidene, isopropylidene, butylidene, isobutylidene etc.), wherein alkylidene can be a straight or branched.Exemplary aliphatic polyester comprises polyglycolic acid (PGA), PLA (PLA) (for example poly-(L-lactic acid) or poly-(DL-lactic acid)), poly-butyric acid hydroxyl ester (PHB), poly-valeric acid hydroxyl ester (PHV), polycaprolactone (PCL) and copolymer thereof.

In some embodiments, biodegradable fiber is bamboo fibre or PLA fiber.Suitable bamboo fibre for example is described in the United States Patent (USP) 7313906 of Zhou etc., and the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.Bamboo fibre can be from China Bambro Textile Co., and Ltd buys.The PLA fiber can obtain from corn, perhaps synthetic making.Suitable PLA fiber is described in the United States Patent (USP) 7445841 of Kaijiyama etc., and the document can be buied from NatureWorks LLC by with reference to being incorporated into this.

Degradable fiber can use with independent strand form, perhaps uses as the part in the multiply yarn line structure.In some embodiments, fibrous material can use with the form of sheet material.Degradable fiber can use with multiple fiber combinations, for example different types of biodegradable fiber material is woven together, perhaps adopt other modes to be combined into independent structure, perhaps biodegradable fiber and non-degradable fiber and/or adsorbing fiber are woven together and make up, perhaps adopt other modes to be combined into independent structure (for example, bamboo fibre, cotton fiber and carbon fibers being become independent fibre structure such as single thread line structure).Perhaps, can or be mixed within the independent fiber strand multiple fiber combinations.

When fiber is described as the fibrous material that comprises particular types, this fiber can mainly be formed (for example the gross weight in fiber is that benchmark is greater than about 50 weight %) by given fibrous material, perhaps form (for example greater than about 90 weight %) by this fibrous material substantially, perhaps in fact form (for example greater than about 98 weight % or be about 100 weight %) by this fibrous material fully.For example, the fiber that is described as " bamboo fibre " can be in conjunction with more a spot of bamboo fiber material (for example with the combination of the fibrous material of other kinds, perhaps with additive combination), perhaps can mainly comprise bamboo fiber material, perhaps form by bamboo fiber material substantially, perhaps in fact form by bamboo fiber material fully.

Biodegradable fiber can be used as the carrier fibre (as carbon fiber) of sorbing material as described herein, perhaps is fit to change the taste of smoking article or the additive carrier of fragrance as other, perhaps is used as the carrier of sorbing material and taste/odor additive simultaneously.Perhaps, the intrinsic property of biodegradable fiber itself can change characteristic or the character by the smog of filter tip.Exemplary flavor enhancement or flavouring agent comprise can by for example within filamentary structure, absorb, the method for bonding or physical entanglement and so on is attached to any solid or fluid composition in the fibre structure.Described additive can be any can be for example effect by flavor enhancement or deodorant change the characteristic of the smog that passes through from filtering material or the composition of character.Exemplary additive comprises the taste that can change mainstream smoke and/or the natural or synthetic flavor enhancement of fragrance, is not limited to pure and fresh, sweet taste, herbal medicine, candy, fragrance, fruity or pungent taste characteristic thereby give.The flavor enhancement or the flavouring agent of concrete kind include, but are not limited to: vanilla, coffee, chocolate/cocoa, cream, peppermint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, Chinese ilex, eucalyptus, lavender, cardamom, nutmeg, Chinese cassia tree, cloves, bitter fragrant tree, santal, honey, jasmine, ginger, fennel, Salvia japonica, hay, lemon, oranges and tangerines, apple, peach, bitter orange, cherry, strawberry, and combination arbitrarily.Also referring to Leffingwell etc., be used for the tobacco seasoning (Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products) of smoking product, R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company(1972), the document is by with reference to being incorporated into this.Flavor enhancement also can comprise the component that is considered to wetting agent, freshener or mild agent, for example eucalyptus component.These flavor enhancements can (that is, provide separately), perhaps provide with complex method (for example spearmint and menthol, perhaps oranges and tangerines and Chinese cassia tree) in clean mode.Exemplary deodorant comprises any composition that is fit to shelter or remove tobacco smoke fragrance.A kind of exemplary compositions comprises inorganic salts and stink adsorbent, and described in the United States Patent (USP) 7407922 of Leskowitz, the document is incorporated into this by reference.Another kind of deodorant compositions comprises orange essential oil cut, and described in United States Patent (USP)s such as Higashi 7434586, the document is incorporated into this by reference.

Can adopt with mode that carrier fibre described herein/the sorbing material embodiment is identical biodegradable fiber is attached in the filtering material.For example, biodegradable fiber can be used as the carrier fibre in the composite fibre structure shown in Fig. 5 and 6.Perhaps, biodegradable fiber can embed in the filtering material, does not have second fibre structure.For example, the biodegradable fiber that comprises flavor enhancement can be added on the filtering material.In another embodiment, the biodegradable fiber that contains or do not contain additive described herein can be incorporated in any packaging material that use in the smoking article filter tip, for example in tipping paper material or the yew paper material.

In another embodiment, can use nondegradable fiber, any composite fibre materials (as PET or polypropylene) with degradable character that is not counted as usually for example as herein described replaces biodegradable fiber.Can in any application as herein described, use nondegradable fiber to replace biodegradable fiber.Biodegradable fiber and nondegradable fiber can obtain from the natural origin material of natural material, synthetic material or process chemical modification.

The biodegradable fiber within the embedding filter element or the quantity of non-degradable fiber can change.The typical amounts scope of inserting the fiber within the filter element section is 1 to about 500 fibers, more generally is 1 to about 100 fibers, often is 1 to about 50 fibers.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example that embeds the composite fibre structure 60 within the filter tip section 32.Though MULTIPLE COMPOSITE fibre structure 60 has been shown among Fig. 5,, the quantity of composite fibre structure can change.The exemplary amounts scope of the composite fibre structure 60 of combination in the filter tip 26 is 1 to about 500, more generally is 1 to about 100, often is 1 to about 50.Composite fibre structure 60 can be included in the single section 32 of multistage filter tip 26 shown in Figure 5, and perhaps the composite fibre structure can embed within the filter element that only comprises single section, perhaps extensible a plurality of sections by the multisection type filter tip.Composite fibre structure 60 can be extended in the vertical linear of cigaratte filter as shown in Figure 5, perhaps can extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of filter element, perhaps can be by different angles random dispersion in whole filter tip section.As shown in Figure 6, composite fibre structure 60 can comprise at least a carrier fibre 62 and at least a adsorbing fiber 64.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the method for two types of fibers of a kind of connection is to wrap up adsorbing fiber 64 around carrier fibre 62.Adsorbing fiber 64 package quantity can change on unit length carrier fibre 62, depend on some factors, comprising sorbing material amount required in the filter element.The exemplary parcel scope of adsorbing fiber 64 is that per inch carrier fibre parcel 1 is to about 50 circle adsorbing fibers around the carrier fibre 62.

Those of ordinary skills will be understood that many improvement of the present invention and other embodiments by above description; Can under the condition that does not depart from the scope of the invention or spirit, the present invention be changed and revise it will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that.Therefore, should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment that disclosed, described improvement and other embodiments comprise within the scope of the appended claims.Though this paper has used concrete term, these terms only use with general and illustrative implication, are not construed as limiting.

Claims

1. cigaratte filter, it comprises that at least one wherein is embedded with the filter segment of one or more composite fibre structures, and this composite fibre structure comprises the carrier fibre that links to each other with adsorbing fiber, and this adsorbing fiber comprises sorbing material.

2. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described adsorbing fiber is a carbon fibre.

3. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described carbon fibre is by the carbonization preparation of precursor fiber.

4. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described precursor fiber is selected from down group: phenols fiber, cellulose fibre, rayon fiber, acrylic fiber and pitch fibers.

5. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, at least a in described carrier fibre and the adsorbing fiber is the form of yarn.

6. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, adsorbing fiber is wrapped in around the carrier fibre.

7. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described composite fibre has the adsorbing fiber of the about 1-50 circle of restriction parcel on the per inch carrier fibre.

8. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described filter segment comprises fibrous strand material, and one or more composite fibre structures are embedded in this fibrous strand material.

9. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, described fibrous strand material is a cellulose acetate tow.

10. cigaratte filter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, by adsorbing fiber and carrier fibre are twined, intervolve or be woven together, these two kinds of fibers is linked to each other; Use adhesive or binding agent that these two kinds of fibers are combined; With two kinds of fiber coextrusion; Perhaps use independently Connection Element with these two kinds of fiber combinations.

11. a smoking article, it comprises the material bar of the lighted suction that is limited by packaging material, and this can be lighted the sucked material rod and link to each other as each described cigaratte filter among the claim 1-10.