EP0047621A2 - Filtres - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0047621A2
EP0047621A2 EP81303979A EP81303979A EP0047621A2 EP 0047621 A2 EP0047621 A2 EP 0047621A2 EP 81303979 A EP81303979 A EP 81303979A EP 81303979 A EP81303979 A EP 81303979A EP 0047621 A2 EP0047621 A2 EP 0047621A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filter
plug
fibres
fins
axial reinforcement
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81303979A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Trevor Ward
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.)
Plasticisers Ltd
Original Assignee
Plasticisers Ltd
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 Plasticisers Ltd filed Critical Plasticisers Ltd
Publication of EP0047621A2 publication Critical patent/EP0047621A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/04—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filter for use in a cigarette or the like, and an apparatus and process for use in the manufacture of such filters.
  • the present invention relates to a filter made from a thermoplastic polymer fibre by means of the apparatus and process described in our copending British Patent Application No. 46096/78.
  • filters basically comprise a number of polymer fibres folded transversely to the longitudinal axis of the filter at random orientations about the axis, the fibres being compressed and heat set in this position.
  • Integral tows of such filter material are produced and cut into individual filter plugs.
  • integral tows of filter material require careful handling as they are not sufficiently integral in themselves to maintain their form and a relatively small axial or transverse force can at least slightly separate some of the fibres to produce a slackened and flexible region which cannot be reconstituted.
  • Such slackened and flexible regions are clearly undesirable as they cannot be used to form filter plugs and thus are waste.
  • the filter plugs are used to form completed cigarettes.
  • the filter plugs are not sufficiently integral in themselves to be merely wrapped in the normal outer visible cigarette wrapping and as with known paper filters, a first strengthening wrapping has to be provided on the filter before the outer wrapping so that the completed cigarette will be sufficiently rugged to withstand the forces which can be applied during smoking.
  • An aim of the present invention is to provide a filter material which is sufficiently strong in itself to withstand mechanical handling during manufacture and to obviate the necessity for a first wrapping in a completed cigarette.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to provide apparatus for use in producing the filter of the present invention.
  • a filter for use in a cigarette comprising a number of thermoplastic polymer fibres compressed and heat set into a cylindrical filter plug with an axial reinforcement provided in the outer surface of the plug.
  • the axial reinforcement may be in the form of at least one strip region of the outer surface of the plug, which extends generally axially of the plug e.g.. axially or spirally, and is formed by the majority of the fibres in the strip region being welded together.
  • a number of such generally axially extending welded strip regions are provided on a plug at circumferentially spaced locations.
  • one or more elongated strips of plastic may be welded to the cylindrical plug, generally axially thereof i.e. axially or spirally of the plug.
  • the axial reinforcement may alternatively be in the form of an outer skin on the cylindrical plug, which outer skin encapsulates the cylindrical wall of the plug and is formed by welding the fibres forming the cylindrical surface of the plug, together.
  • outer skin is integrally formed with the plug.
  • the tow of filter and the filters produced therefrom have an inherent strength capable of maintaining the filter constitution during cigarette manufacture and without the said first wrapping.
  • an apparatus for strengthening a filter for use in a cigarette which filter comprises a number of thermoplastic polymer fibres compressed and heat set into a cylindrical filter plug, said apparatus comprising heating means through which the filter can be passed to form welds which constitute axial reinforcement of the filter.
  • the heating means comprises an annular member from which radially inwardly directed fins project.
  • the fins are tapered to a point leaving a central space through which the filter tow can be passed.
  • the annular member and fins may be heated by conduction from a surrounding heating band which is heated electrically, or the annular member and/or fins may incorporate heating elements.
  • the tow of filter material contacts the tips of the fins so that the fibre of the filter tow surface is melted by the conduction of heat from each tip and smeared axially of the tow to provide axially extending reinforcement strips at circumferentially spaced apart locations.
  • the tow may be supported and not contact the tips, the actual strips being formed by the heat radiated from the tips of the fins. No smearing however occurs in this latter arrangement, the limited flow of molten plastic being relied upon to join the fibres.
  • actual electric heating wires may be located around an annulus, to contact the fibre tow and directly apply heat, or to just radiate heat thereon, to form the axially extending reinforcement strips.
  • the heating means is in the form of an electrically heated ceramic ring, the tow of filter material being passed through the ceramic ring which is at a sufficient temperature to melt the outer surface of the tow.
  • the ceramic ring is the required diameter for the finished filter, the tow being forced therethrough by two formed rollers or any other suitable drive means.
  • a single coil of electrical heating wire or a spiral heater may be provided, the coil and/or spiral heater providing direct or radiant heat to the tow.
  • a process for strengthening a filter for a cigarette which filter comprises a number of thermoplastic polymer fibres compressed and heat set into a cylindrical filter plug said process comprising the step of applying heat along the length of the filter to form welds between adjacent fibres, which constitute axian reinforcement of the filter.
  • the process may apply heat to all parts of the cylindrical surface or only at localised generally axially extending strips i.e. axially or spirally extending strips.
  • the filterd 1, 2 and 4 shown respectively in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 are basically formed as described in our copending British Patent Application No. 46096/78, from a number of thermoplastic fibres which are folded transversely to the longitudinal axis of the filter at random orientations about the axis, the fibres being compressed and heat set in position.
  • the cylindrical filter plug 1 has a number of axially extending grooves 3 provided in its cylindrical surface at circumferentially spaced apart locations, these grooves 3 constituting axial reinforcement of the filter, the fibres having been welded together by the apparatus of Fig. 4 or Fig. 5.
  • These grooves 3 which are formed by the fibres melting and flowing, may be filled in in the-completed filter or left as grooves, as desired. If left open, grooves 3 may allow a direct draught to be drawn from the cigarette, though in view of the high efficiency of polymer fibre as a tobacco filter, this direct draught may be considered desirable in order to provide-the necessary taste for the smoker.
  • the filter tow constructed as described in our copending British Patent Application No. 46096/78 is passed through the heating means of Fig. 4 said heating means comprising an annular ring 5-from which-fins 7 project radially inwardly, and an electrically heated heating band 9 which encompasses ring 5.
  • Fins 7 are tapered to pointed tips 13 so that heat conducted to the fins 7 is applied to the tow as it passes through central space 11 between the tips 13 of fins 7.
  • the tips 13 of fins 7 actually contact the surface of the tow and thus smear the melted fibre along the filter ensuring a good weld. .However, alternatively the tips 13 need not contact the tow,the welds being formed by radiation heat. No advantageous smearing however occurs in this latter arrangement.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates specifically axial grooves 3 i.e. welds
  • the grooves 3 can be spirally formed on the filter tow by using an annular ring 5 which has tips (not illustrated) which provide a point contact with the tow, the ring 5 being rotated as the tow is passed therethruugh.
  • any number of grooves can be formed. In fact provision for only one groove is feasible, provided one weld is sufficient axial reinforcement.
  • electrical heating wires 15 can be substituted and again these can contact the fibre tow to apply direct heat or be spaced from the tow, radiation heat then being relied upon to produce the required weld or welds constituting the axial reinforcement of the filter.
  • the wires 15 project inwardly from annular support member 5a.
  • the cylindrical filter plug 2 shown in Fig. 2 is basically the same as the filter plug of Fig. 1 the sole difference being that plastic strips 3a are welded to the outer surface of the plug 2 to form the required axial reinforcement.
  • the cylindrical filter plug 4 shown in Fig. 3 is basically the same as the filter plugs of Figs. 1 and 2, the sole difference being that the filter is encapsulated in an outer cylindrical skin 17 which provides the axial reinforcement in place of the grooves 3 and strips 3a.
  • This outer skin 17 is formed by applying heat to the surface of the plug so that the surface parts of the respective fibres melt and become welded together.
  • the apparatus of Fig. 6 comprises a heated ceramic ring 19 which contacts the surface of the fibre tow as it is passed therethrough, melting the outer surface of the tow to allow the fibres to weld together to form outer skin 17.
  • the ceramic ring can be dimensioned to the required filter cross-section, formed drive-rollers 21 being required to drive the tow through the ring 19.
  • the ring 19 is arranged with its axis vertical, the selected upward or downward movement of the filter tow enhancing the limited flow of the molten plastic over the filter tow to produce a uniform outer skin 17.
  • the ring 19 may be arranged as desired to allow the filter tow to move in the desired direction.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 Equivalent forms of apparatus are shown schematically in Figs. 7 and 8.
  • the apparatus of Fig. 6 comprises a spiral heating coil 23 and the apparatus of Fig. 7 is a single annular heating coil 25.
  • the main criterion in all of the above apparatus embodiments is that temperature and heating time are selected so that there is not a substantial degradation of the polymer.
  • the present invention thus provides a reinforced filter for cigarettes wherein the filter tow can withstand handling in cigarette manufacture and the filter does not require a first wrapping for strengthening purposes before the application of the usual outer wrapping. Also, suitable apparatus are provided by the present inventions for the production of the filter of the present invention.
EP81303979A 1980-09-04 1981-09-01 Filtres Withdrawn EP0047621A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8028503 1980-09-04
GB8028503A GB2085276A (en) 1980-09-04 1980-09-04 Improvements relating to filters

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0047621A2 true EP0047621A2 (fr) 1982-03-17

Family

ID=10515828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81303979A Withdrawn EP0047621A2 (fr) 1980-09-04 1981-09-01 Filtres

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0047621A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB2085276A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019170454A1 (fr) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Articles de génération d'aérosol

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019170454A1 (fr) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Articles de génération d'aérosol
US11896048B2 (en) 2018-03-08 2024-02-13 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol generating articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2085276A (en) 1982-04-28

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Legal Events

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR IT LU NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19840331

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: WARD, TREVOR