CN114650739A - Tipping paper for smoking articles coated with functional material and method for coating the same - Google Patents

Tipping paper for smoking articles coated with functional material and method for coating the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN114650739A
CN114650739A CN202180006252.3A CN202180006252A CN114650739A CN 114650739 A CN114650739 A CN 114650739A CN 202180006252 A CN202180006252 A CN 202180006252A CN 114650739 A CN114650739 A CN 114650739A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
overprint
weight
functional material
tipping paper
malic acid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CN202180006252.3A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN114650739B (en
Inventor
辛海槿
高东均
吴演根
李承焕
宋寅范
宋虎林
张幸炫
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KT&G Corp
Original Assignee
KT&G Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KT&G Corp filed Critical KT&G Corp
Publication of CN114650739A publication Critical patent/CN114650739A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN114650739B publication Critical patent/CN114650739B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24DCIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/02Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24CMACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/005Treatment of cigarette paper
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24CMACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/56Making tipping materials, e.g. sheet cork for mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes, by mechanical means
    • A24C5/565Making tipping materials, e.g. sheet cork for mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes, by mechanical means by treating the tipping material with a liquid or viscous solution, e.g. paraffine
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24CMACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/60Final treatment of cigarettes, e.g. marking, printing, branding, decorating
    • A24C5/601Marking, printing or decorating cigarettes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24DCIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/002Cigars; Cigarettes with additives, e.g. for flavouring
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24DCIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/004Cigars; Cigarettes with a filter located between tobacco rods
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24DCIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/04Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising: a smoking material section wrapped by a smoking material wrapper, a filter plug section, the upstream end being joined to the smoking material section and wrapped by a filter wrapper, and a tipping wrapper wrapping at least a portion of the smoking material section and the filter plug section such that the smoking material section and the filter plug section are joined; the tipping paper is coated with an overprint coating solution, which is formed by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material to the overprint ink.

Description

Tipping paper for smoking articles coated with functional material and method for coating the same
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a tipping paper for smoking articles and a coating method thereof, and more particularly, to a tipping paper coated with functional materials for imparting various tastes, reducing an offensive odor, reducing the action of harmful bacteria, reducing the action of halitosis, and the like upon smoking, and a coating method thereof.
Background
In general, in order to produce cigarettes, various tobacco materials such as tobacco leaves and reconstituted tobacco leaves are mixed and processed, wrapped with cigarette paper, and then attached with a filter. The filter is attached to the smoking material portion filled with the tobacco material by tipping paper (tip paper), and the surface of the tipping paper is generally subjected to a printing process and an Over Print (OP) coating or Over Print Varnish (OPV) process to prevent peeling of the ink printed in the printing process.
On the other hand, the tipping paper is a portion which comes into contact with the mouth of the user during smoking, and there is a possibility that peculiar smell may be generated during smoking due to a specific component in a solution used in a printing process or overprint coating, and various studies have been made to solve this problem.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical problem
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tipping paper and a coating method thereof, which can minimize the odor during smoking, prevent the peeling phenomenon of ink printed on the tipping paper, and impart various tastes and functions.
The technical problem of the present invention is not limited to the above-described technical problem, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
Means for solving the problems
To address the above issues, according to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising: a smoking material section wrapped with a smoking material wrapping paper, a filter section having an upstream end bonded to the smoking material section and wrapped with a filter wrapping paper, and a tipping paper wrapping at least a partial region of the smoking material section and the filter section so that the smoking material section is bonded to the filter section; and applying an overprint coating solution to the tipping paper, wherein the overprint coating solution is prepared by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material to overprint ink.
In some embodiments, the ratio of the weight of the overprint ink added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint adjuvant added to the tipping paper may be 1: 2 to 2: 1, the ratio of the weight of the at least one functional material added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint ink, or the ratio of the weight of the at least one functional material added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint assistant may be 1: 1.5 to 1: 600.
in another aspect, the at least one functional material may include at least one of a sweetener substance and a substance for reducing harmful bacteria and bad breath. For example, the sweetener material may include at least one of sucralose, citric acid, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and malic acid, and the material for reducing harmful bacteria and halitosis may include at least one of rosemary oil, grapefruit seed extract, the sucralose, and the malic acid.
Preferably, the at least one functional material may be formed of one of the malic acid, the sucralose, the rosemary oil, the grapefruit seed extract, or a mixture of the malic acid and the sucralose.
Specifically, the at least one functional material may be formed of the malic acid, and a ratio of a weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint ink, or a ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint auxiliary may be 1: 2 to 1: 25. preferably, the ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint ink, or the ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint adjuvant may be 1: 7 to 1: 12.
alternatively, the at least one functional material may be formed of one of the sucralose, rosemary oil, and grapefruit seed extract, and a ratio of a weight of the functional material added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint ink, or a ratio of a weight of the functional material added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint auxiliary may be 1: 2 to 1: 25. preferably, the ratio of the weight of the functional material to the weight of the overprint ink or the ratio of the weight of the functional material to the weight of the overprint auxiliary may be 1: 3 to 1: 10.
further, the at least one functional material may be formed of a mixed substance of the malic acid and the sucralose, and a ratio of a weight of the mixed substance of the malic acid and the sucralose added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint ink, or a ratio of a weight of the mixed substance of the malic acid and the sucralose added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint assistant may be 1: 2 to 1: 12, the ratio of the weight of the malic acid to the weight of the sucralose added to the tipping paper may be 1: 0.006 to 1: 1.25. preferably, the ratio of the weight of the malic acid to the weight of the sucralose added to the tipping paper may be 1: 0.1 to 1: 0.3.
according to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a wrapping paper for a smoking article, which is coated with an overprint coating solution by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing solubility of the at least one functional material to an overprint ink. Preferably, the wrapping paper for a smoking article may be a wrapping paper for a smoking article wrapping at least a partial region of the smoking material section and the filter section for a smoking article so that the smoking material section and the filter section for a smoking article are joined to each other.
Further, according to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of coating a tipping paper, comprising the steps of: preparing an overprint coating solution, wherein the overprint coating solution is prepared by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material into overprint ink; and a coating step of coating the overprint coating solution on the surface of the tipping paper.
In some embodiments, the at least one functional material may include a first functional material in a powder state and a second functional material in an oil state, and the first functional material in the powder state and the second functional material in the oil state may be sequentially dissolved in the overprint coating solution, respectively, in the step of preparing the overprint coating solution.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
According to the tipping paper of the embodiment of the present invention, while preventing the peeling of the printing ink, the generation of the off-flavor at the time of smoking can be minimized by the functional material contained in the coating solution, and the smoking sensory characteristics can be improved by imparting various flavors.
In addition, the above-mentioned functional harmful bacteria and halitosis reducing material may be contained, and when the mouth of the user comes into contact with the above-mentioned tipping paper, an effect of reducing microorganisms in the mouth of the user may also be exhibited.
In addition, when at least one of malic acid and sucralose is contained in the functional material, the effects of reducing the unpleasant taste, improving the taste satisfaction and reducing harmful bacteria are achieved, and the effect of reducing the bad breath of a smoker can be ensured.
Drawings
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic construction of a smoking article comprising tipping paper coated with a functional material according to some embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method of coating tipping paper according to some embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 3 is a photograph showing the effect of reducing harmful bacteria in comparative example 1, example 2, and example 4, which can be visually confirmed.
Fig. 4 to 7 show the test results of examples 2, 4, 5, 14 and 15.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the invention and the methods of accomplishing the same may be understood by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be realized in various forms different from each other, and the embodiments are only for making the present invention fully disclosed so that those having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains can fully understand the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used with the meaning commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Furthermore, terms commonly used in dictionaries have a definition and are not interpreted abnormally or excessively without explicit special definition.
Also, in this specification, singular terms also include plural terms unless otherwise specified. The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated components, steps, operations, and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and/or elements.
It should be understood that, although the terms "first", "second", etc. including ordinal numbers, used in this specification may be used to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.
Throughout the specification, "smoking article" may refer to articles capable of generating aerosols, such as cigarettes (cigarettes), cigars, and the like. The smoking article may comprise an aerosol generating material or an aerosol-forming substrate. Additionally, the smoking article may comprise solid materials based on tobacco raw materials, such as reconstituted tobacco, cut filler, reconstituted tobacco, and the like. The smoking material may comprise a volatile compound.
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic construction of a smoking article comprising tipping paper coated with a functional material according to some embodiments of the present invention.
Although the present specification describes the smoking article 100 as a combustion type cigarette, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the smoking article 100 may be a heated cigarette or the like used with an aerosol generating device (not shown) such as an electronic cigarette device or the like.
Referring to fig. 1, a smoking article 100 may comprise: a filter mouth 110, surrounded by a filter wrapper 110 a; a smoking material part 120 wrapped by a smoking material wrapper 120 a; and a tipping paper 130 for joining the filter portion 110 and the smoking material portion 120.
The filter portion 110 is disposed downstream of the smoking material portion 120 and is the region through which aerosol material generated in the smoking material portion 120 passes immediately before being drawn by a user.
The filter mouth 110 may be formed of various materials, for example, the filter mouth 110 may be a cellulose acetate filter. The filter unit 110 may be a cellulose acetate filter which is not flavored with a flavoring substance, or may be a Trans Jet Nozzle System (TJNS) filter which is flavored with a flavoring substance.
In some embodiments, the filter mouth 110 may be a tubular structure that includes a cavity therein. In addition, the filter mouthpiece section 110 may be made by inserting a structure of a membrane, a tube, or the like having the same or different materials into the inside (e.g., a cavity).
Although the filter portion 110 of the present embodiment is illustrated as a single filter composed of a single filter, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the filter unit 110 may be provided as a double filter or a triple filter having two acetate filters, to improve the filtering efficiency.
Further, although not shown in the drawings, a crushable capsule (not shown in the drawings) having a structure in which a content solution containing a flavor is surrounded by a film may be contained inside the filter mouthpiece portion 110.
The filter portion 110 is disposed downstream of the smoking material portion 120 and functions as a filter to pass aerosol material generated in the smoking material portion 120 immediately prior to being drawn by a user.
The filter mouth 110 may be wrapped by a filter wrapper 110 a. The filter wrapping paper 110a may be made of a roll paper having oil resistance, and the inner side of the filter wrapping paper 110a may further include aluminum foil.
The smoking material portion 120 may be filled with raw tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco leaves, or a mixture of tobacco leaves and reconstituted tobacco leaves. The mixture may be filled in the smoking material part 120 in a sheet form or a pipe form. The smoking material portion 120 may have a long rod shape, and the length, the circumference, and the diameter thereof may be various. The smoking material portion 120 may include at least one aerosol-generating material selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. Also, the smoking material portion 120 may contain other added substances such as flavorants, humectants, and/or acetate compounds.
The smoking material portion 120 can be wrapped by a smoking material wrapper 120 a. The smoking material wrapper 120a may have a double wrap structure, and further, the smoking material wrapper 120a may be a Low Ignition Propensity wrapper formed with one or more Low Ignition Propensity (LIP) bands (not shown).
The filter portion 110 wrapped by the filter wrapper 110a and the smoking material portion 120 wrapped by the smoking material wrapper 120a may be jointly wrapped by tipping paper 130. That is, the tipping wrapper 130 may surround at least a portion (e.g., a downstream region) of the smoking material wrapper 120a and the periphery of the filter wrapper 110 a. In other words, at least a portion of the smoking material portion 120 and the filter mouth portion 110 may be further wrapped by the tipping paper 130 to be physically bonded.
The tipping paper 130 may also prevent the phenomenon of combustion of the filter plug 110 by including non-combustible substances.
In some embodiments, tipping paper 130 may be made from non-porous wrapping paper that has not been subjected to oil-resistant treatments, although the invention is not limited in this regard.
On the other hand, an overprint coating for preventing ink printed in the printing process from peeling may be provided on the surface of the tipping paper 130, and according to circumstances, an offensive odor may occur at the time of smoking due to a specific component in the printing ink or the overprint coating.
Therefore, in order to impart various tastes and functions to the user by minimizing the above-mentioned problem of off-flavors, at least one functional material consisting of a sweetener substance and/or harmful bacteria and a bad breath reducing substance may be contained in the overprint coating formed on the surface of the tipping paper 130 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Specifically, an overprint coating solution may be applied to a surface of the tipping paper 130 (i.e., an outer surface that contacts the mouth of the user) by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent that increases the solubility of the at least one functional material to an oil-based overprint ink.
On the other hand, the overprint ink may be composed of a combination of Nitrocellulose (Nitrocellulose), Polyamide (Polyamide), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), Ethyl acetate (Ethyl acetate), and the like, and the overprint auxiliary may be composed of a combination of isopropyl alcohol, Ethyl acetate, Propyl acetate (Propyl acetate), and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
In some embodiments, the functional material coated on the tipping paper 130 may include a sweetener substance and at least one of a harmful bacterium and a bad breath reducing substance. The above sweetener substance may be coated on the tipping paper 130 to play a role of giving various tastes such as sweet taste, bitter taste, salty taste, sour taste, etc. to the user when the user's mouth is in contact with the tipping paper 130, and the above harmful bacteria and halitosis reducing substance may play a role of reducing microorganisms in the user's mouth.
Preferably, the sweetener material may include at least one of sucralose, citric acid, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and malic acid, and the harmful bacteria and halitosis reducing material may include at least one of rosemary oil, grapefruit seed extract, sucralose, and malic acid. More preferably, the functional material may be formed of one of malic acid, sucralose, rosemary oil, grapefruit seed extract, or a mixture of malic acid and sucralose.
In particular, among the listed above functional materials, ingredients such as sucralose and malic acid may have an effect of reducing halitosis and an effect of reducing harmful bacteria while functioning as a sweetener, as explained in smoking sensory evaluation, halitosis evaluation, and harmful bacteria reduction test evaluation, which will be described below.
Figure 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method of coating tipping paper according to some embodiments of the invention.
Referring to fig. 2, the coating method of the tipping paper may include: step S10 of preparing an overprint coating solution, the overprint coating solution being formed by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent that increases solubility of the at least one functional material to overprint ink; and step S20, coating the overprint coating solution on the surface of the tipping paper.
In the step S10 of preparing the overprint coating solution, the overprint ink and the overprint auxiliary may be mixed in a ratio of about 1: 2 to 2: 1 by weight ratio. For example, the above-described overprint inks and overprint adjuvants may be added in a ratio of about 1: 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
In the overprint coating solution, about 0.1 wt% to 20 wt% of the functional material may be added. In addition, the weight ratio of functional material to overprint ink (or overprint adjuvant) added to the overprint coating solution may be about 1: 1.5 to 1: 600, preferably, may be about 1: 2 to 1: 500.
on the other hand, in order to solve problems of clogging of a printing cylinder, curling of a tipping paper, smearing of an ink back surface, or peeling of printing ink, which may occur during the process of applying an overprint coating solution to which the above-mentioned functional materials are added to a tipping paper, and at the same time, to secure the effects of the above-mentioned functional materials, the addition amount of the above-mentioned functional materials in the overprint coating solution may be different depending on the type thereof, and table 1 shows an appropriate composition ratio of the overprint coating solution for each functional material.
TABLE 1
Figure BDA0003627248630000081
Figure BDA0003627248630000091
More specifically, when malic acid is added as a functional material, the weight ratio of malic acid to overprint ink (or overprint adjuvant) added in an overprint coating solution used to coat tipping paper may be about 1: 2 to 1: 25, preferably, may be about 1: 7 to 1: 12 (e.g., about 1: 9.5). That is, for example, when the ratio of 1: when the overprint ink and the overprint assistant are added at a ratio of 1, about 0.1% to 20% of malic acid may be added to the overprint coating solution, preferably, about 2% to 8% of malic acid may be added, and more preferably, about 4% to 7% (e.g., 5%) of malic acid may be added. When grapefruit seed extract is added as the functional material, the weight ratio of grapefruit seed extract and overprint ink (or overprint auxiliary) added in the overprint coating solution for coating the tipping paper may be about 1: 2 to 1: 25, preferably, may be about 1: 3 to 1: 10 (e.g., about 1: 6.6). That is, for example, when the ratio of 1: 1 ratio of overprint ink and overprint auxiliary, about 0.1% to 20% of grapefruit seed extract, preferably about 3% to 11% of grapefruit seed extract, more preferably about 5% to 14% (e.g., 7%) of grapefruit seed extract may be added to the overprint coating solution.
On the other hand, when grapefruit seed extract is added as the functional material as described above, at least one of ascorbic acid (ascorbyl acid), tocopherol (tocophenol), palmitic acid (palmitic acid), amino acid (amino acid), glucose (glucose), naringin (naringin), and citral (citral) may be contained as an effective ingredient in the tipping paper 130 coated with the functional material.
In order to maximize the effect of reducing harmful bacteria, it is preferable to add a mixed substance of malic acid and sucralose as a functional material. In this case, the weight ratio of the above-described mixture of malic acid and sucralose to the overprint ink (or overprint auxiliary) added to the overprint coating solution for coating the tipping paper may be about 1: 2 to 1: 25, preferably, may be about 1: 5 to 1: 10 (e.g., about 1: 7.8). That is, for example, when the ratio of 1: 1 ratio of the above-mentioned malic acid and sucralose mixture may be added to the overprint coating solution in an amount of about 0.1% to 20%, preferably about 4% to 9% (e.g., 6%).
More specifically, the weight ratio of malic acid to sucralose in the above mixture of malic acid and sucralose may be about 1: 0.006 to 1: 1.25, preferably, may be about 1: 0.1 to 1: 0.3. that is, the malic acid content in the overprint coating solution can be about 4% to 15%, and the sucralose content can be about 0.1% to about 5% (e.g., about 5% malic acid and about 1% sucralose).
When the coating step S20 is performed using the overprint coating solution to which the above functional materials are added in the above composition ratio, effects peculiar to the overprint coating, such as prevention of ink peeling on the surface of the tipping paper, prevention of a phenomenon in which the tipping paper adheres to the lips of the user, and the like, can be sufficiently ensured, and at the same time, more favorable sensory properties, reduction of harmful bacteria, and reduction of bad breath can be ensured.
On the other hand, in some embodiments, a first functional material in a powder state and a second functional material in an oil state may be added to the above-described overprint coating solution.
In this case, the first functional material in a powder state and the second functional material in an oil state may be dissolved in the overprint coating solution in this order, respectively.
Preferably, in order to maximize the solubility of each of the first functional material in a powder state and the second functional material in an oil state, the first functional material in a powder state is first added to the overprint coating solution to be sufficiently dissolved, and then the second functional material in an oil state may be added to the overprint coating solution and dissolved.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention and its effect will be described in more detail by examples and comparative examples. However, the present embodiments are merely to more specifically illustrate the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.
Example 1
Tipping paper of a conventional cigarette prepared for the purposes of the examples was coated using an overprint coating solution consisting of about 1.5% malic acid, about 49.25% overprint ink and about 49.25% overprint adjuvant.
Example 2
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 5.0% malic acid, about 47.5% overprint ink, and about 47.5% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 3
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 1.0% of grapefruit seed extract, about 49.5% of overprint ink, and about 49.5% of overprint adjuvants was used.
Example 4
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 7.0% of grapefruit seed extract, about 46.5% of overprint ink, and about 46.5% of overprint adjuvants was used.
Example 5
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 5.0% malic acid, about 0.9% sucralose, about 47.05% overprint ink, and about 47.05% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 6
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 0.5% sucralose, about 49.75% overprint ink, and about 49.75% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 7
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 2.0% sucralose, about 49.0% overprint ink, and about 49.0% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 8
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 0.5% citric acid, about 49.75% overprint ink, and about 49.75% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 9
The same cigarette as example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 2.0% citric acid, about 49.0% overprint ink, and about 49.0% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 10
The same cigarette as example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 0.1% cinnamon oil, about 49.95% overprint ink, and about 49.95% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 11
The same cigarette as example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 0.3% cinnamon oil, about 49.85% overprint ink, and about 49.85% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 12
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 0.1% dark chocolate flavor, about 49.95% overprint ink, and about 49.95% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 13
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 1.5% dark chocolate flavor, about 49.25% overprint ink, and about 49.25% overprint adjuvant was used.
Example 14
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 5.0% rosemary oil, about 47.5% overprint ink and about 47.5% overprint adjuvants was used.
Example 15
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 5.0% sucralose, about 47.5% overprint ink, and about 47.5% overprint adjuvant was used.
Comparative example 1
The same cigarette as in example 1 was prepared except that an overprint coating solution consisting of about 50.0% of overprint ink and about 50.0% of overprint auxiliary was used.
Experimental example 1: sensory evaluation of smoking based on functional material coating
In order to confirm the effect of improving sensory properties according to the application of the functional material, sensory evaluations were made with respect to taste satisfaction, throat smoothness and off-flavor properties in addition to smoke flavor for each of the examples and comparative examples. Each of the cigarettes prepared according to examples and comparative examples was randomly evaluated for sensory properties once a day for 4 days by 30 panelists, and scored on a 7-point full scale.
Table 2 shows smoking sensory evaluation results of the smoking articles prepared according to comparative example 1 and examples 1 to 15.
TABLE 2
Figure BDA0003627248630000121
Figure BDA0003627248630000131
As shown in table 2, all of the cigarettes of examples 1 to 15 exhibited excellent taste satisfaction, throat smoothness and off-flavor characteristics, as compared with the cigarette of comparative example 1. Specifically, in terms of taste satisfaction characteristics occurring when the mouth of the user comes into contact with the tipping paper, in particular, malic acid-coated example 2, malic acid and sucralose-coated example 5, sucralose-coated example 7, cinnamon oil-coated example 11, dark chocolate flavor-coated example 13, and 5% sucralose-coated example 15 exhibited more excellent taste satisfaction, in terms of mainstream smoke throat-smoothing characteristics, malic acid-coated example 2 and cinnamon oil-coated example 10 exhibited excellent throat-smoothing, in terms of odor reduction effect, example 2 coated with malic acid, example 5 coated with malic acid and sucralose, example 7 coated with sucralose, example 9 coated with citric acid, and example 15 coated with 5% sucralose exhibited more excellent off-flavor reducing effects.
On the other hand, in the case of example 2 coated with 5% malic acid and example 5 coated with 5% malic acid and 0.9% sucralose, the most excellent results were shown in all the evaluation characteristics compared with the other examples, so that it could be confirmed that the cigarettes according to examples 2, 5 were most advantageous in smoking sense.
Experimental example 2: evaluation of halitosis-reducing Properties according to functional Material coating
In order to confirm the effect of reducing halitosis according to the functional material coating, the halitosis of smokers who smoked the cigarettes of examples 1 to 4 and comparative example 1 was collected and analyzed, respectively.
For a total of 5 smokers, 4 halitosis traps were performed per example, with 30 minutes intervals. Mouth odor collection was performed after 2 minutes of occlusion after each smoker smoked one cigarette, and the collected smoke was sampled in a 3L Tedlar (Tedlar) sampling bag and then analyzed by thermal desorption/gas chromatography (TD/GC) using a Pulsed Flame Photometric Detector (PFPD).
Against Hydrogen Sulfide (H) as a main component inducing halitosis2S), Methyl Mercaptan (MM), dimethyl Sulfide (Di-Methyl sulfite, DMS), and dimethyl disulfide (Di-Methyl Di-sulfite, DMDS) were analyzed, but in the case of dimethyl disulfide, meaningful results were difficult to obtain (for example, the detected concentration level was below the threshold), and thus excluded from table 3 below.
The median value of each component of each example, the value obtained by dividing the median value by the Threshold Index (TI), and the percentage (%) of increase or decrease of each component calculated therefrom are shown in table 3.
TABLE 3
Figure BDA0003627248630000141
As shown in table 3, the halitosis-inducing ingredients tended to decrease substantially in all the examples. Specifically, in examples 1 and 2 in which malic acid was coated, the effect of reducing the components of hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl sulfide was not substantially exhibited, but a significant effect of reducing the methyl mercaptan component was observed.
Considering that the lower the threshold index, the greater the tendency of contribution to odor generation (TI of methyl mercaptan, hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl sulfide are 0.07ppb, 0.4ppb and 3.0ppb, respectively), it is expected that a malic acid coating layer having substantially only methyl mercaptan reducing properties will have an effect of actually reducing bad breath.
On the other hand, in the case of examples 3 and 4 in which the grapefruit seed extract was applied, all the components inducing halitosis tended to be substantially reduced, and in particular, hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol components showed a very large reduction rate, whereby it was confirmed that the application of sucralose or grapefruit seed extract to tipping paper was the most excellent in terms of reduction of halitosis.
Experimental example 3: reduction of harmful bacteria according to the functional Material coating test results
In order to evaluate the effect of reducing harmful bacteria in each example, korean standard test institute was assigned to perform a reduction rate test of Streptococcus mutans (Streptococcus mutans) existing in the oral cavity for each example, and the results are summarized in table 4 below. Fig. 3 is a photograph showing the effect of reducing harmful bacteria in comparative example 1, example 2 and example 4, which can be visually confirmed, and fig. 4 to 7 are test results of examples 2, 4, 5, 14 and 15, respectively.
On the other hand, in the above test, the tipping papers coated with various functional materials were allowed to absorb Streptococcus mutans for 18 hours, and then recovered and cultured again, and the reduction rate of Streptococcus mutans relative to the control group not coated with the functional materials was measured.
TABLE 4
Figure BDA0003627248630000151
Referring to table 4 and fig. 3 to 7, it was confirmed that examples 2, 4, 5, 14, and 15 all exhibited an excellent streptococcus mutans reduction rate. Specifically, example 2 coated with 5% malic acid exhibited an effect of reducing streptococcus mutans of 80% or more, example 4 coated with 7% grapefruit seed extract exhibited a reduction rate of about 50%, example 14 coated with 5% rosemary oil exhibited a reduction rate of about 44%, and example 15 coated with 5% sucralose exhibited a reduction rate of about 65%. In particular, in case of example 5 coated with 5% malic acid and 0.9% sucralose, a reduction rate of streptococcus mutans of about 98% was exhibited, so that it was confirmed that very excellent performance in reducing harmful bacteria was exhibited.
From the above results, when the tipping paper coated with the above functional material comes into contact with the lips of the user, a harmful bacteria reducing effect on bacteria present in the oral cavity can be expected.
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, but rather in an illustrative sense. The scope of the invention is defined not in the above description but in the claims, and it should be construed that all differences within the equivalent scope thereof are included in the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. A smoking article characterized in that it comprises, in combination,
the method comprises the following steps:
a smoking material part wrapped by a smoking material wrapping paper,
a filter portion having an upstream end joined to the smoking material portion and wrapped by a filter wrapper, an
A tipping paper for wrapping at least a partial region of the smoking material portion and the filter portion so that the smoking material portion and the filter portion are joined;
and applying an overprint coating solution to the tipping paper, wherein the overprint coating solution is prepared by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material to overprint ink.
2. A smoking article according to claim 1,
the ratio of the weight of the overprint ink added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint auxiliary added to the tipping paper is 1: 2 to 2: 1,
the ratio of the weight of the at least one functional material added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint ink, or the ratio of the weight of the at least one functional material added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint assistant, is 1: 1.5 to 1: 600.
3. a smoking article according to claim 1,
the at least one functional material includes at least one of a sweetener substance and a substance for reducing harmful bacteria and bad breath.
4. A smoking article according to claim 3,
the sweetener comprises at least one of sucralose, citric acid, cinnamon, dark chocolate and malic acid,
the substance for reducing harmful bacteria and halitosis comprises at least one of rosemary oil, grapefruit seed extract, the sucralose and the malic acid.
5. A smoking article according to claim 4,
the at least one functional material is formed from one of the malic acid, the sucralose, the rosemary oil, the grapefruit seed extract, or a mixture of the malic acid and the sucralose.
6. A smoking article according to claim 5,
the at least one functional material is formed of the malic acid, and a ratio of a weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint ink, or a ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint auxiliary is 1: 2 to 1: 25.
7. a smoking article according to claim 6,
the ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint ink, or the ratio of the weight of the malic acid added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint adjuvant is 1: 7 to 1: 12.
8. a smoking article according to claim 5,
the at least one functional material is formed of one of the sucralose, rosemary oil and grapefruit seed extract, and a ratio of a weight of the functional material added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint ink, or a ratio of a weight of the functional material added to the tipping paper to a weight of the overprint auxiliary is 1: 2 to 1: 25.
9. a smoking article according to claim 8,
the ratio of the weight of the functional material to the weight of the overprinting ink or the ratio of the weight of the grapefruit seed extract to the weight of the overprinting auxiliary is 1: 3 to 1: 10.
10. a smoking article according to claim 5,
the at least one functional material is formed by a mixed substance of the malic acid and the sucralose,
the ratio of the weight of the mixture of malic acid and sucralose added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint ink, or the ratio of the weight of the mixture of malic acid and sucralose added to the tipping paper to the weight of the overprint assistant is 1: 2 to 1: 12,
the ratio of the weight of the malic acid to the weight of the sucralose added to the tipping paper is 1: 0.006 to 1: 1.25.
11. a smoking article according to claim 10,
the ratio of the weight of the malic acid to the weight of the sucralose added to the tipping paper is 1: 0.1 to 1: 0.3.
12. a wrapping paper for a smoking article, characterized in that,
an overprint coating solution is applied, which is obtained by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material to an overprint ink.
13. A wrapping paper for smoking articles according to claim 12,
the wrapping paper for a smoking article is a tipping paper for a smoking article that wraps at least a partial region of a smoking material section and a filter section for a smoking article so as to join the smoking material section and the filter section for a smoking article.
14. A method for coating tipping paper, characterized in that,
the method comprises the following steps:
preparing an overprint coating solution, wherein the overprint coating solution is prepared by adding at least one functional material and an overprint auxiliary agent for increasing the solubility of the at least one functional material into overprint ink; and
and a coating step of coating the overprint coating solution on the surface of the tipping paper.
15. The method of coating tipping paper according to claim 14,
the at least one functional material includes a first functional material in a powder state and a second functional material in an oil state,
in the step of preparing the overprint coating solution, the first functional material in a powder state and the second functional material in an oil state are dissolved in the overprint coating solution in this order.
CN202180006252.3A 2020-05-29 2021-02-19 Smoking article, wrapping paper for smoking article, and method for coating tipping paper Active CN114650739B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR10-2020-0064712 2020-05-29
KR1020200064712A KR102436227B1 (en) 2020-05-29 2020-05-29 Functional material coated tip paper for smoking articles and method for coating the tip pape
PCT/KR2021/002106 WO2021241850A1 (en) 2020-05-29 2021-02-19 Functional material-coated tipping paper for smoking article, and method for coating tipping paper

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN114650739A true CN114650739A (en) 2022-06-21
CN114650739B CN114650739B (en) 2024-03-22

Family

ID=77774857

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN202180006252.3A Active CN114650739B (en) 2020-05-29 2021-02-19 Smoking article, wrapping paper for smoking article, and method for coating tipping paper

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20230157351A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3939441A4 (en)
JP (1) JP7388640B2 (en)
KR (1) KR102436227B1 (en)
CN (1) CN114650739B (en)
WO (1) WO2021241850A1 (en)

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009027331A2 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-03-05 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Tipping paper
US20090150231A1 (en) * 2005-05-23 2009-06-11 Cadbury Adams Usa Llc Package assembly for multi-modality functional ingredients in chewing gum compositions
JP2010138125A (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-24 Kyukyu Yakuhin Kogyo Kk Quickly soluble nicotine-containing film preparation
US20110189348A1 (en) * 1998-10-28 2011-08-04 San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc. Compositions containing sucralose and application thereof
CN103174064A (en) * 2013-03-14 2013-06-26 牡丹江恒丰纸业股份有限公司 Preparation method of flame-retardant cigarette paper with functions of reducing CO and maintaining moisture
KR20130112431A (en) * 2012-04-04 2013-10-14 주식회사 케이티앤지 Method to coat tip paper of cigarette
AU2013248218A1 (en) * 2005-05-25 2013-11-14 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Llc Tobacco compositions
CN103708109A (en) * 2013-12-04 2014-04-09 红塔烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Mouth-holding smokeless tobacco product packing bag
CN104244745A (en) * 2012-04-25 2014-12-24 英美烟草(投资)有限公司 Smoking articles
CN104284606A (en) * 2012-01-31 2015-01-14 奥驰亚客户服务公司 Electronic cigarette
US20180057229A1 (en) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-01 Pro-Dip, Llc Oral and/or Buccal Delivery Pouch and Method of Making Same
WO2019031823A1 (en) * 2017-08-10 2019-02-14 주식회사 케이티앤지 Coating composition for low ignition propensity cigarette paper, tobacco using same, and method for manufacturing low ignition propensity cigarette paper
CN109527636A (en) * 2018-11-27 2019-03-29 江苏泰格油墨有限公司 Sour-sweet taste water-based gloss oil and preparation method thereof
KR102062207B1 (en) * 2019-08-23 2020-01-03 주식회사 케이티앤지 A smoking article with triple care technology reducing smoking smell

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2772561B1 (en) * 1997-12-24 2000-12-29 Aromes Et Parfums Franc USE OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS OR DERIVATIVES THEREOF AS SENSORS OF FREE RADICALS IN CIGARETTE FILTERS
JP2008179580A (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-08-07 Gc Corp Oral cavity cleansing agent
JP2009005675A (en) * 2007-04-13 2009-01-15 Coca Cola Co:The Sweetener composition having improved taste
JP2009148233A (en) * 2007-12-21 2009-07-09 Japan Tobacco Inc Smoking article
CN102227174A (en) * 2008-10-31 2011-10-26 R.J.雷诺兹烟草公司 Tipping materials for filtered cigarettes
ES2393460B1 (en) * 2011-06-09 2013-10-18 Miquel Y Costas & Miquel, S.A. COMPOSITION FOR COVERING A PAPER WRAPPING OF SMOKING ITEMS
KR101362494B1 (en) * 2012-03-07 2014-02-14 주식회사 케이티앤지 Cigarette filter with technology reducing cigarette smell on hands, and cigarette having the same
WO2014087529A1 (en) * 2012-12-06 2014-06-12 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Double-wrapped cigarette
US10588341B2 (en) * 2013-12-11 2020-03-17 Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Wrappers for smoking articles
US20160108293A1 (en) * 2014-10-16 2016-04-21 Altria Client Services Inc. Inks, coatings and adhesives as carriers for taggants for tobacco product authentication and component detection
JP6755942B2 (en) * 2016-04-28 2020-09-16 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Cigarette with filter
KR102022909B1 (en) * 2019-06-19 2019-09-19 주식회사 케이티앤지 A smoking article with technology modifying sidestream and a smoking article case including the same
KR102022908B1 (en) * 2019-06-19 2019-09-19 주식회사 케이티앤지 Filter for a smoking article with technology reducing smoking smell on hands and mouth, and a smoking article including the same
KR102313637B1 (en) * 2019-10-30 2021-10-15 주식회사 케이티앤지 A tipping paper with technology reducing smoking smell on fingers and a smoking article including the same, manufacturing method of the tipping paper

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110189348A1 (en) * 1998-10-28 2011-08-04 San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc. Compositions containing sucralose and application thereof
US20090150231A1 (en) * 2005-05-23 2009-06-11 Cadbury Adams Usa Llc Package assembly for multi-modality functional ingredients in chewing gum compositions
AU2013248218A1 (en) * 2005-05-25 2013-11-14 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Llc Tobacco compositions
WO2009027331A2 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-03-05 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Tipping paper
JP2010138125A (en) * 2008-12-12 2010-06-24 Kyukyu Yakuhin Kogyo Kk Quickly soluble nicotine-containing film preparation
CN104284606A (en) * 2012-01-31 2015-01-14 奥驰亚客户服务公司 Electronic cigarette
KR20130112431A (en) * 2012-04-04 2013-10-14 주식회사 케이티앤지 Method to coat tip paper of cigarette
CN104244745A (en) * 2012-04-25 2014-12-24 英美烟草(投资)有限公司 Smoking articles
CN103174064A (en) * 2013-03-14 2013-06-26 牡丹江恒丰纸业股份有限公司 Preparation method of flame-retardant cigarette paper with functions of reducing CO and maintaining moisture
CN103708109A (en) * 2013-12-04 2014-04-09 红塔烟草(集团)有限责任公司 Mouth-holding smokeless tobacco product packing bag
US20180057229A1 (en) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-01 Pro-Dip, Llc Oral and/or Buccal Delivery Pouch and Method of Making Same
WO2019031823A1 (en) * 2017-08-10 2019-02-14 주식회사 케이티앤지 Coating composition for low ignition propensity cigarette paper, tobacco using same, and method for manufacturing low ignition propensity cigarette paper
CN109527636A (en) * 2018-11-27 2019-03-29 江苏泰格油墨有限公司 Sour-sweet taste water-based gloss oil and preparation method thereof
KR102062207B1 (en) * 2019-08-23 2020-01-03 주식회사 케이티앤지 A smoking article with triple care technology reducing smoking smell

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3939441A1 (en) 2022-01-19
JP2022539627A (en) 2022-09-13
KR102436227B1 (en) 2022-08-24
CN114650739B (en) 2024-03-22
JP7388640B2 (en) 2023-11-29
US20230157351A1 (en) 2023-05-25
KR20210147460A (en) 2021-12-07
WO2021241850A1 (en) 2021-12-02
EP3939441A4 (en) 2022-04-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4941486A (en) Cigarette having sidestream aroma
CN112399803B (en) Smoking article adapted for sidestream smoke amelioration and smoking article housing comprising same
EP1797780A1 (en) Smoking article
CN112788955B (en) Smoking article adapted for triple care smoke flavor reduction technology
RU2721352C1 (en) Filter for a smoking article, which employs a technique for reducing odor on hands and unpleasant odor from the mouth, as well as a smoking article with such a filter
CN114650739B (en) Smoking article, wrapping paper for smoking article, and method for coating tipping paper
RU2795122C1 (en) Wrapping paper for smoking products coated with functional material and method for coating wrapping paper
EP0514804B1 (en) Improvements relating to smoking articles
JP7436094B2 (en) Method for coating tipping paper for smoking articles and smoking articles produced thereby
RU2799228C1 (en) Method for coating wrapping paper for smoking product and smoking product produced by this method
RU2800509C1 (en) Smoking product containing flavoured homogenized tobacco leaves
CN114727644A (en) Flavoring and curing method for smoking material and smoking product prepared by using method
JP2016015925A (en) Cigarette comprising advantame
US20230157350A1 (en) Delivery systems and methods of making the same
TWI831387B (en) Smoking article including aroma reconstituted tobacco leaves
RU2806390C1 (en) Wrapper of smoking material to which balm based flavorging substance is added and smoking product comprising it
CN114745978B (en) Filter for smoking article and smoking article comprising same
KR20180110504A (en) Cigarette for inhibition of smoking comprising stevia leaves and method for producing the same
RU2772841C2 (en) Smoking product
TW202318984A (en) Smoking article including aroma reconstituted tobacco leaves
KR20230086916A (en) A smoking article to which technology to reduce cigarette odor causing substances is applied
KR20230100309A (en) Smoking material wrapper containing balsam based Flavor and smoking article comprising same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PB01 Publication
PB01 Publication
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
GR01 Patent grant
GR01 Patent grant