EP0100215A2 - Cigarettes and methods of manufacture - Google Patents
Cigarettes and methods of manufacture Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0100215A2 EP0100215A2 EP83304257A EP83304257A EP0100215A2 EP 0100215 A2 EP0100215 A2 EP 0100215A2 EP 83304257 A EP83304257 A EP 83304257A EP 83304257 A EP83304257 A EP 83304257A EP 0100215 A2 EP0100215 A2 EP 0100215A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- band
- tipping paper
- filter plug
- wrapping
- opening
- 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
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 10
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 title abstract description 88
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 4
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 claims abstract description 52
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 52
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 24
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010790 dilution Methods 0.000 abstract description 21
- 239000012895 dilution Substances 0.000 abstract description 21
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229920002301 cellulose acetate Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000007865 diluting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- A24D3/041—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure with adjustable means for modifying the degree of filtration of the filter
Definitions
- the present invention relates to cigarettes. More particularly, the present invention relates to cigarettes which are adjustable to provide a wide range of air dilution values.
- the sleeve or filter plug may be removed from the cigarette by the smoker and not readily replaced, and that when dilution is desired, thus requiring some degree of registry between the two sets of openings, this registry may be inadvertently destroyed by a slight axial movement of the sleeve or plug. Accordingly, the dilution, once set by the smoker, is not ensured of any degree of consistency.
- Yet another problem associated with a number of these prior devices is that they have not been readily adaptable to a high rate of production on cigarette making machinery of conventional design.
- a smoking article comprising a column of combustible smoking material, and a mouth end region open to permit the passage of air and smoke, characterised in that the mouth end region is circumscribed by substantially air impermeable wrapping having an opening therein, and an outer substantially air impermeable tipping paper having an opening therein, means being provided for rotating one opening relative to the other so that the openings may be in varying degrees of registry to admit varying amounts of air to the mouth end region to dilute the smoke therein and means being provided for retaining the tipping paper against axial movement.
- a method of making such a smoking article which is characterised in that it ' comprises making two parallel rows of closely spaced perforations in tipping paper to define first, second and third bands axially aligning a tobacco rod and a filter plug in abutting relationship, applying an adhesive to the first and third bands on the same side of the tipping paper, wrapping the adhesive coated side of the tipping paper around the tobacco rod and filter plug, forming an opening through the second band and the underlying wrapping, and then breaking the perforations so that the second band is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug and retained against axial movement.
- a smoking article comprising a column of combustible smoking material and a mouth end region open to permit the passage of air and smoke, characterised in that the mouth end region has a peripheral area thereof adapted for the passage of air therethrough, and is circumscribed by a substantially air impermeable sheet material comprising a first band fixed to the mouth end of the smoking article and a second band movable relative to the said peripheral area to admit varying amounts of air to the mouth end region to dilute the smoke therein.
- the assembly comprises tipping paper and a wrapped cylindrical filter plug.
- the tipping paper is divided into three bands, the first of which circumscribes a portion of one end of the filter and the adjoining end of the tobacco rod and is attached both to the rod and to the filter plug adjacent the rod end.
- the middle band contains the opening in the tipping paper and the opening in the plug wrap is positioned beneath this band so that the openings may, through rotation of the middle, band, be moved into registry.
- the third band is attached to the filter plug adjacent the mouth end thereof. Of the three bands, only the middle band is not attached to the filter plug or the tobacco rod and thus may be rotated about the filter plug, but is secured against axial movement by the fixed first and third bands.
- the assembly comprises tipping paper, an inner contiguous wrapping and a wrapped cylindrical filter plug.
- the tipping paper is continuous and the inner layer is divided into three bands.
- the first band is located at the tobacco rod end of the filter plug and is fixed to the plug wrap. This band contains an opening in registry with an opening in the plug wrap.
- the second or middle band is not fixed to the plug wrap but is attached to the tipping paper..
- the third band is located adjacent the mouth end of the filter plug and is fixed to the plug wrap. An opening in the tipping paper is located above the first band.
- the filter plug may be rotated about its longitudinal axis within the cylinder formed by the tipping paper and is retained against axial movement.
- the openings are positioned such that rotation of the filter plug will rotate the opening in the first band into registry with the opening in the tippin paper. It is preferred to have the mouth end of the filter plug extend a slight distance beyond the tipping paper so that it may be readily manipulated by the smoker to rotate the openings relative to each other to select the desired degree of dilution.
- the assembly comprises at least two layers of a wrapping such as tipping paper.
- the outer wrapping is preferably tipping paper and is constructed as described in connection with the description of the outer wrapping of the first preferred embodiment.
- the innermost wrappings are either attached to or from the wrapping for the tobacco rod and have an opening positioned beneath the middle band of the outermost wrapping such that the opening therein can be rotated into registry with the opening through the inner wrappings.
- there is a single inner wrapping which comprises the cigarette paper of the tobacco rod and the outer wrapping is tipping paper which is wrapped around the tobacco rod adjacent the mouth end.
- the assembly comprises a tobacco rod, an integral-axially aligned substantially cylindrical wrapped filter plug at the mouth end of the tobacco rod, and tipping paper surrounding the filter plug.
- the plug wrap is divided into a mouth-end band, a central band, and a rod-end band having an opening therethrough.
- the first and third bands are attached to the filter.
- the tipping paper circumscribes the filter plug and extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent to the rod end of the filter plug.
- the tipping paper is divided into first and second bands, the first band extending from the mouth end to a position adjacent the tobacco rod overlying the third band of the plug wrap.
- the second band of the tipping paper abuts the first band of the tipping paper and overlaps and attaches the rod end of the filter to the abutting end of the tobacco rod.
- the first band of the tipping paper has an opening which is positioned in registry with an opening in the third band of the plug wrap.
- the first band of the tipping paper is attached to the plug wrap only at the central band for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis of the filter, whereby the opening in the tipping paper is rotated into varying degrees of registry with the opening in the underlying plug wrap to permit varying amounts of air to combine with the smoke, thereby varying the air dilution value of the cigarette.
- the air dilution value is the ratio of the volume of air to the volume of smoke exiting the mouth end of the filter and is expressed as a percentage.
- the assembly comprises a tobacco rod, an integral, axially aligned, wrapped filter plug and two circumscribing layers of tipping paper.
- the filter is wrapped in an air permeable plug wrap.
- the tobacco rod and filter plug are joined together by a first circumscribing layer of air permeable tipping paper which extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent the rod end of the filter plug.
- the second layer of tipping paper is air impermeable, circumscribes the first layer of tipping paper, and extends from the mouth end of the filter to the rod end of the first layer of tipping paper.
- the second layer has a circumferentially extending row of closely spaced perforations intermediate its two ends.
- the mouth end portion of the second layer is attached to the underlying first layer of tipping paper.
- the rod end portion of the second layer is freed by rotating this portion about the axis of the cigarette to break the perforations, thus forming a sleeve which can move axially between the mouth end portion of the second layer and positions along the tobacco rod.
- the mouth end portion of the second layer prevents the sleeve from being removed from the mouth end of the cigarette.
- the cigarette of the present invention is provided either with an axially retained rotatable sleeve or an axially retained rotatable filter plug with adjustably occludable openings for inter-mixing air with the smoke.
- the degree of dilution is controlled by the size of the openings, that is, the degree to which the two sets of openings are in registry.
- the method of the present invention is such that the cigarette may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and the tipping apparatus with a minimum of modification. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and forming and cutting the filter plug, when included, to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and the overwrapping with tipping paper are accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes.
- a means for permitting the smoker to select the specific smoke to air dilution ration desired may be provided through indicia (72 and 73 in Fig. 18, for example) which are printed on the tipping paper during the passage of the cigarette through the tipping apparatus. Such indicia are made readily visible and are designed to show the degree of registry of the openings.
- Figs. 1, 2, and 3 One preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and comprises a tobacco rod 1 which is aligned with and joined to a conventional, substantially cylindrical filter plug 8, which may be cellulose acetate filter or the like.
- the filter plug is wrapped by a substantially air impermeable plug wrap 7 which has openings 9 therein.
- the filter plug 8 is joined to the tobacco rod 1 by tipping paper 2 which comprises a first band 5, a second band 4, and a third band 3.
- the second band 4 contains openings 6 which are aligned with the openings 9 in the plug wrap.
- Band 3 and band 5 are attached to the plug wrap and band 4 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug.
- band 4 As band 4 is rotated, the openings 6 are brought into varying degrees of registry with the openings 9 in the underlying plug wrap. Thus the amount of air entering the filter, which it is mixed with the smoke produced by the burning tobacco 10, can be selected by adjusting the degree to which the openings 6 and 9 are in registry. Band 4 is retained against axial movement by bands 3 and 5 and this, in conjunection with the frictional resistance to rotation, insures that the degree of dilution, once selected, is maintained.
- This rotatable sleeve embodiment may be readily manufactured employing conventional equipment. As shown in Fig. 4, a length of tipping paper is divided into banks 11, 12 and 13 by the two parallel rows of closely spaced perforations 14 and 15. These perforations may be made by any conventional means such as laser perforation, electrostatic perforation, or mechanical perforation using points or knives. It is preferred to employ a laser perforation device in order to make the perforations extremely small and minimize the possibility of even a slight axial slip in the assembled cigarette.
- the tipping paper is fed through a perforating zone where it is exposed to at least a pair of laser light beams focused laterally of the width of the travelling tipping paper so as to define the desired width of the rotatable sleeve.
- the power settings and focusing of the laser and the rate of feed of the tipping paper are selected so as to all but part the paper along the "break away" lines shown in Fig. 4.
- the attachment which remains is selected to retain only enough strength to hold the bands together during assembly.
- a laser system is employed to make about 100 perforations per inch in the paper.
- the perforated tipping paper is applied to the cigarette in a conventional cigarette making machine in which a filter is positioned between two tobacco rods, as in Fig. 8.
- the modification required in order to make the embodiments of the present invention using this conventional equipment is minor in that the adhesive applicator is adapted to provide a ribbon or the like of adhesive which, with reference to Fig. 8, is provided only along strips 3, 5, 19, and 21.
- This tipping paper is wrapped around the two cigarette rods and intermediate filter, then the openings are made in the tipping paper and the underlying plug wrap using conventional equipment and then the tipping paper and filter are severed through the center of the filter to form two filter cigarettes.
- a laser perforation system which uses a laser 23 to generate a laser beam that is passed through an initial focusing lens 24, then divided by beam splitter 25 with one half of the beam passing through lens 27 and being focused on the tipping paper to form opening 6 while the second half of the beam is reflected by mirror 26 through lens 28 which focuses the second beam onto the tipping paper to form opening 22.
- the laser beam is focused to traverse the rotating cigarette and is set to remain on for a time period sufficient to make a slit of a desired length through the tipping paper and the underlying plug wrap. Slits one millimeter wide are preferred. If it is desired to establish a line of perforations instead of slits, the laser beam may be pulsed a given number of times to provide a line of separate holes.
- the filter is severed at line 29 to form two cigarettes.
- the cigarettes may then be passed to a drag breakdown device, such as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which employs rotating conveyor belts or rollers 16 and 17 and a skid plate 18.
- a drag breakdown device such as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which employs rotating conveyor belts or rollers 16 and 17 and a skid plate 18.
- an assembled cigarette is passed between rollers 16 and 17 and is aligned such that the middle band 4 of the tipping paper contacts a skid plate 18 which breaks the perforations in the tipping paper and frees band 4 for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug.
- the rates of rotation of conveyors 16 and 17 may be adjusted such that a preselected degree of rotation of band 4 occurs during breakage of the perforations and so that the cigarettes exiting the breakdown device are set at a uniform diluting value.
- Another view of this breakdown device is shown in Fig. 7.
- the openings in the tipping paper and the underlying plug wrap may also be made by mechanical means as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 13.
- cigarettes 37 are passed between rotating drums 35 and 36 which feed the cigarettes beneath a fixed plate 30 and into contact with a rotating perforation device comprising rotating wheels 31 and 33, which, as shown in greater detail in Fig. 13, are rotatably mounted on shaft 48, and have pin-like projections 32 and 34 which penetrate the tipping paper and plug wrap and also penetrate a short distance within the filter.
- a device equivalent in function to that shown in Fig. 9 which employs a fixed plate 38, a rotating drum 41, and sets of teeth-like. projections 39 and 40 which are employed to perforate the tipping paper and plug wrap of cigarettes 42.
- Fig. 11 which also employs a fixed plate 43 and a rotating drum 46 and has knife-like projections 44 and 45 which make slits through the tipping paper and plug wrap of cigarettes 47.
- Very thin blades or finely pointed elements are used so that the vents are made to appear virtually invisible to the naked eye when observed by the smoker.
- One millimeter wide slits are preferred.
- Fig. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view taken through the openings in the tipping paper and the plug wrap.
- opening 6 in the tipping paper 2 may be rotated into varying degrees of registry with opening 9 in the plug wrap 7 to permit varying amounts of air to enter through the two openings and into the filter mateial 8.
- Rotation of band 4 in Fig. 2 will move opening 6 relative to opening 9 thus varying the degree of registry and the amount of dilution.
- the tipping paper 2 and the plug wrap 7 are in close contact thus providing a frictional resistance to rotation which ensures that the degree of registry, once selected, S will be.maintained.
- a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16 and again comprises a tobacco rod 49 which is axially aligned with and joined to a filter 58 by tipping paper 50.
- the filter 58 is wrapped with a plug wrap 57 which has openings 59 therein.
- the plug wrap is wrapped with a tipping- like paper 56 comprising three bands 52, 53 and 54 and having openings 55 therein.
- This twice wrapped filter 58 is then joined to the tobacco rod 49 by tipping paper 50 having an opening 51 therein.
- the filter extends beyond the tipping paper 50 to provide a stub which may be manipulated by the smoker to adjust the degree of dilution.
- the intermediate layer 56 is preferably the same paper as layer 50 in order to present a uniform appearance to the smoker.
- paper 56 may be eliminated and the plug wrap 57 may comprise three abutting bands corresponding to 52, 53 and 54 in Fig. 14. The following description will be understood to include this embodiment in whcih the intermediate wrapping is eliminated.
- the paper 56 is attached to the plug wrap 57 such that openings 55 and 59 are in registry.
- Band 53 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the plug member while bands 52 and 54 are attached to the plug member.
- the filter plug with its wrapping 56 is then joined to the tobacco rod 49 by tipping paper 50 by attaching band 53 to the inner surface of the tipping paper.
- Openings 51 are positioned above the underlying openings 55 and 59 such that as the filter 58 is rotated, the openings 55 and 59 are brought into varying degrees of registry with the openings 51 thus selecting the amount of air which can enter the filter and combine with the smoke for the burning tobacco 60 to produce a specific air dilution value.
- band 53 is attached to the inner surface of the tipping paper and since bands 52 and 54 are attached to the plug wrap, the filter plus is freely rotatable within the cylinder formed by the tipping paper and yet is retained against axial movement. This, in conjunction with the frictional interaction of the paper 56 with the tipping paper 50, ensures that once a particular dilution value is selected it will be maintained.
- the cigarettes of this rotatable plug embodiment are manufactured substantially as set for above for the rotatable sleeve embodiment.
- an intermediate tipping paper layer is desired to be added, it is perforated, preferably using a laser system as set for above, and is then attached to the plug wrap, preferably with glue.
- Conventional equipment is again employed and modified such that the glue applicator will apply glue only to the plug wrap side of bands 52 and 54.
- a glue applicator is also modified such that the glue is applied to the plug side of the tipping paper 50 only on those portions which will contact the tobacco rod 49 and the sleeve 53. Otherwise, the manufacture of this second embodiment is substantially the same as the first.
- the openings through the outer tipping paper, the inner tipping paper or other such intermediate wrapping, and the plug wrap at the same time using the laser perforation system as shown in Fig. 8 although one of the mechanical systems shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 may also be employed.
- the assembled cigarettes are then passed through a drag breakdown devivce as described with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but alignment of the cigarettes within the device is altered as shown in Fig. 17 such that the protruding end of the filter plug contacts the drag plate thereby breaking the perforations in the inner layer of tipping paper; thus permitting the filter plug to freely rotate within the outer cylinder of tipping paper while being axially retained therein.
- a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 18 and comprises a tobacco rod 64 comprising a column of tobacco 68 circumscribed by a substantially air impermeable wrapping 65, which is preferably cigarette paper, which is circumscribed adjacent the mouth end by an outer cylindrical layer 70 of substantially air impermeable tipping paper extending from the mouth end to a point between the • mouth end and the middle of the tobacco column.
- the tobacco rod is open at both the coal end and the mouth end to permit the passage of air and smoke.
- the outermost layer comprises three bands, 66, 67 and 68 which are formed and positioned as described in connection with the first preferred embodiment.
- This embodiment may be made according to the method described for making the first preferred embodiment with the step of inserting a double length filter plug, between two tobacco rods being omitted.
- a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22, comprises a tobacco rod 101 which comprises a substantially cylindrical charge of tobacco 102 wrapped in cigarette paper 103 that is aligned with and joined to a conventional, substantially cylindrical, filter plug 104, which may be a cellulose acetate filter or the like.
- the filter plug is wrapped by a substantially air impermeable plug wrap 105 which comprises a mouth-end band 106, a central band 107, and a rod-end band 108, defined by circumferentially extending parallel rows 109 and 110 of spaced perforations.
- the filter plug 104 is joined to the tobacco rod 101 by tipping paper 111.
- the rod--end band 108 has an opening 116 therein. Mouth-end band 106 and rod-end band 108 are attached to the filter; central 107 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.
- Tipping paper 111 is divided into a first band 112 and a second band 113 by a circumferentially extending row of closely spaced perforations 114.
- the inner surface of the first band 112 is attached to the outer surface of central band 107, preferably by a ribbon of adhesive material 117,- for rotation with central band 107 about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette when the rows of perforations 109, 110 and 114 are broken.
- the inner surface of the second band 113 is attached to the outer surfaces of tobacco rod 101 and the rod-end band, preferably by a ribbon of adhesive material 118.
- An opening 115 is formed in the first band 112 at a position which overlies the rod-end band 108.
- the rows of perforations 109, 110 and 114 are broken and the opening 115 is rotated into varying degrees of registry with the opening 116 in the underlying plug wrap.
- the amount of air entering the filter, where it is mixed with the smoke produced by the burning tobacco 102 can be selected by adjusting the degree to which the openings 115 and 116 are in registry.
- Central band 107 and thus the first band 112 are retained against axial movement by bands 106 and 108 and this, in conjunction with the frictional resistance to rotation, ensures that the degree of dilution, once selected, is maintained.
- the method of the present invention is such that the cigarette may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and tipping apparatus with a minimum of modification, as described earlier. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and forming and cutting the filter plug to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and overwrapping with tipping paper are accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes.
- a means for permitting the smoker to select the specific smoke to air dilution ratio desired may be provided through indicia which are printed in the tipping paper during the passage of the cigarette through the tipping apparatus. Such indicia are made readily visible and are designed to show the degree of registry of the openings.
- a cigarette comprises a tobacco rod 201 which is axially aligned with and joined in end-to-end abutting relation to a conventional, substantially cylindrical filter plug 202, which may be a cellulose acetate filter or the like.
- the filter plug is wrapped in an air permeable plug wrap 203.
- the wrapped filter plug is joined to the tobacco rod 201 by a circumscribing first layer of tipping paper 204 which extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent the rod end of the filter plug.
- Tipping paper 204 is air permeable and is attached, preferably by a circumferentially extending band of adhesive on its inner surface, to the outer surfaces of the tobacco rod and the filter plug wrap with the band centered on either side of their line of abutment 205.
- a second layer of tipping paper 206 circumscribes the first layer of tipping paper and extends from the mouth end of the filter substantially to the rod end of the filter.
- This second layer is divided into a mouth end sleeve 207 and a rod end sleeve 208 by a circumferentially extending row of closely spaed perforations 210.
- the mouth end sleeve 207 is attached to the tipping paper 204 adjacent the mouth end, preferably by a band of adhesive 209 on its inner surface.
- the rod end sleeve 208 is not attached to the underlying layer of tipping paper 204.
- the second layer of tipping paper 206 is substantially air impermeable and the rod end sleeve 208 is detachable along the line of perforations 210.
- the cigarette has a set air dilution value which, if the smoker prefers, can be varied by rotating the rod end sleeve 208 to detach it from the mouth end sleeve 207 and. then axially moving sleeve 208 towards the coal end of the tobacco rod, thereby exposing the underlying air permeable tipping paper 204.
- This axial movement permits varying degrees of air to enter the filter, thereby diluting the smoke and changing the air dilution value of the cigarette.
- This axially slidable sleeve 208 is retained against removal from the mouth end of the cigarette by the attached mouth end sleeve 207.
- the plug wrap and the first layer of tipping paper may also be substantially air impermeable and may contain a plurality of openings therethrough which are exposed when the sleeve 208 is detached and moved axially towards the coal end of the cigarette.
- the filter cigarette of the present invention may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and apparatus with a minimum of modifications. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and the filter plug to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and the overwrapping with the first layer of tipping paper is accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes except that the adhesive applicator is adapted to provide only a band of adhesive on the portion of the first layer of tipping paper which overlaps and joins the plug wrap to the tobacco rod. The same machine for applying the first layer of tipping paper with the glue applicator adapted to provide a band of glue corresponding to the mouth end sleeve portion of the second layer of tipping paper.
- the row of perforations in the second layer of tipping paper may be made, preferably prior to application, by any conventional means such as laser perforation, electrostatic perforation, or mechanical perforation using points or knives. It is preferred to employ a laser perforation device in order to make the perforations extremely small.
- the tipping paper is fed through a perforating zone where it is exposed to a laser light beam focused laterally of the width of the travelling tipping paper so as to define the desired width of the detachable sleeve portion of the second layer of tipping paper.
- the power settings and focusing of the laser beam and the rate of feed of the tipping paper are selected so as to all but part the p: 3 per along the "break away" line 210 shown in Figs.
- the attachment which remains is selected to retain enough strength to hold the sleeves together during assembly but permits the detachable sleeve to be readily detached by the smoker without tearing the tipping paper other than between the perforations.
- a laser system is employed to make about 40 perforations per centimetre (about 100 perforations per inch in the paper along the line 210.
- the first preferred embodiment could be modified by omitting the filter plug thus resulting in an integral mouthpiece;
- the second preferred embodiment could be constructed with the first and third bands glued or otherwise fixed to the tipping paper and the second band attached or fixed to the plug wrap; and, in the second preferred embodiment, the opening in the inner wrap could be made in the second band instead of or as well as in the first with corresponding openings being made in the outer layer of tipping paper.
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- Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
- Adornments (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
- Processes Of Treating Macromolecular Substances (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to cigarettes. More particularly, the present invention relates to cigarettes which are adjustable to provide a wide range of air dilution values.
- Various mechanisms have been disclosed in heretofore issued patents which provide for adjustment of the air dilution value of a filter cigarette, but these mechanisms are not without certain disadvantages. While many complicated mechanisms have been disclosed, the simpler mechanisms generally involve making one or more openings through a substantially air impermeable filter plug wrap and the overlying, substantially air impermeable, tipping paper and one or more corresponding openings in a sleeve which is placed over the tipping paper and which is then either rotated or moved axially to select the degree to which the two sets of openings are in registry. In another embodiment found in the art, the filter is not glued to the tipping paper and thus may be moved axially within the cylinder formed by the tipping paper. Openings are made in the filter plug wrap and corresponding openings are made in the tipping paper. The air dilution value is adjusted by axially moving the filter plug within the tipping paper to adjust the degree to which the two sets of openings are in registry.
- Among the problems associated with such mechanisms are that the sleeve or filter plug may be removed from the cigarette by the smoker and not readily replaced, and that when dilution is desired, thus requiring some degree of registry between the two sets of openings, this registry may be inadvertently destroyed by a slight axial movement of the sleeve or plug. Accordingly, the dilution, once set by the smoker, is not ensured of any degree of consistency. Yet another problem associated with a number of these prior devices is that they have not been readily adaptable to a high rate of production on cigarette making machinery of conventional design.
- According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a smoking article comprising a column of combustible smoking material, and a mouth end region open to permit the passage of air and smoke, characterised in that the mouth end region is circumscribed by substantially air impermeable wrapping having an opening therein, and an outer substantially air impermeable tipping paper having an opening therein, means being provided for rotating one opening relative to the other so that the openings may be in varying degrees of registry to admit varying amounts of air to the mouth end region to dilute the smoke therein and means being provided for retaining the tipping paper against axial movement.
- There is further provided a method of making such a smoking article, which is characterised in that it 'comprises making two parallel rows of closely spaced perforations in tipping paper to define first, second and third bands axially aligning a tobacco rod and a filter plug in abutting relationship, applying an adhesive to the first and third bands on the same side of the tipping paper, wrapping the adhesive coated side of the tipping paper around the tobacco rod and filter plug, forming an opening through the second band and the underlying wrapping, and then breaking the perforations so that the second band is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug and retained against axial movement.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a smoking article comprising a column of combustible smoking material and a mouth end region open to permit the passage of air and smoke, characterised in that the mouth end region has a peripheral area thereof adapted for the passage of air therethrough, and is circumscribed by a substantially air impermeable sheet material comprising a first band fixed to the mouth end of the smoking article and a second band movable relative to the said peripheral area to admit varying amounts of air to the mouth end region to dilute the smoke therein.
- In one preferred-embodiment, the assembly comprises tipping paper and a wrapped cylindrical filter plug. The tipping paper is divided into three bands, the first of which circumscribes a portion of one end of the filter and the adjoining end of the tobacco rod and is attached both to the rod and to the filter plug adjacent the rod end. The middle band contains the opening in the tipping paper and the opening in the plug wrap is positioned beneath this band so that the openings may, through rotation of the middle, band, be moved into registry. The third band is attached to the filter plug adjacent the mouth end thereof. Of the three bands, only the middle band is not attached to the filter plug or the tobacco rod and thus may be rotated about the filter plug, but is secured against axial movement by the fixed first and third bands.
- In a second preferred embodiment, the assembly comprises tipping paper, an inner contiguous wrapping and a wrapped cylindrical filter plug. The tipping paper is continuous and the inner layer is divided into three bands. The first band is located at the tobacco rod end of the filter plug and is fixed to the plug wrap. This band contains an opening in registry with an opening in the plug wrap. The second or middle band is not fixed to the plug wrap but is attached to the tipping paper.. The third band is located adjacent the mouth end of the filter plug and is fixed to the plug wrap. An opening in the tipping paper is located above the first band. Since the first and third bands are fixed only to the plug wrap and the middle band is fixed only to the tipping paper,'the filter plug may be rotated about its longitudinal axis within the cylinder formed by the tipping paper and is retained against axial movement. The openings are positioned such that rotation of the filter plug will rotate the opening in the first band into registry with the opening in the tippin paper. It is preferred to have the mouth end of the filter plug extend a slight distance beyond the tipping paper so that it may be readily manipulated by the smoker to rotate the openings relative to each other to select the desired degree of dilution.
- In a third preferred embodiment, which is an unfiltered cigarette, the assembly comprises at least two layers of a wrapping such as tipping paper. The outer wrapping is preferably tipping paper and is constructed as described in connection with the description of the outer wrapping of the first preferred embodiment. The innermost wrappings are either attached to or from the wrapping for the tobacco rod and have an opening positioned beneath the middle band of the outermost wrapping such that the opening therein can be rotated into registry with the opening through the inner wrappings. Preferably, there is a single inner wrapping which comprises the cigarette paper of the tobacco rod and the outer wrapping is tipping paper which is wrapped around the tobacco rod adjacent the mouth end.
- In a fourth preferred embodiment, the assembly comprises a tobacco rod, an integral-axially aligned substantially cylindrical wrapped filter plug at the mouth end of the tobacco rod, and tipping paper surrounding the filter plug. The plug wrap is divided into a mouth-end band, a central band, and a rod-end band having an opening therethrough. The first and third bands are attached to the filter. The tipping paper circumscribes the filter plug and extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent to the rod end of the filter plug. The tipping paper is divided into first and second bands, the first band extending from the mouth end to a position adjacent the tobacco rod overlying the third band of the plug wrap. The second band of the tipping paper abuts the first band of the tipping paper and overlaps and attaches the rod end of the filter to the abutting end of the tobacco rod. The first band of the tipping paper has an opening which is positioned in registry with an opening in the third band of the plug wrap. The first band of the tipping paper is attached to the plug wrap only at the central band for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis of the filter, whereby the opening in the tipping paper is rotated into varying degrees of registry with the opening in the underlying plug wrap to permit varying amounts of air to combine with the smoke, thereby varying the air dilution value of the cigarette. The air dilution value is the ratio of the volume of air to the volume of smoke exiting the mouth end of the filter and is expressed as a percentage.
- In another preferred aspect of the invention, the assembly comprises a tobacco rod, an integral, axially aligned, wrapped filter plug and two circumscribing layers of tipping paper. The filter is wrapped in an air permeable plug wrap. The tobacco rod and filter plug are joined together by a first circumscribing layer of air permeable tipping paper which extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent the rod end of the filter plug. The second layer of tipping paper is air impermeable, circumscribes the first layer of tipping paper, and extends from the mouth end of the filter to the rod end of the first layer of tipping paper. The second layer has a circumferentially extending row of closely spaced perforations intermediate its two ends. The mouth end portion of the second layer is attached to the underlying first layer of tipping paper. The rod end portion of the second layer is freed by rotating this portion about the axis of the cigarette to break the perforations, thus forming a sleeve which can move axially between the mouth end portion of the second layer and positions along the tobacco rod. The mouth end portion of the second layer prevents the sleeve from being removed from the mouth end of the cigarette.
- The cigarettes of the present invention may be manufactured employing conventional equipment with only minor modificiations and a method of manufacturing such cigarettes forms another aspect of the present invention. The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:
- t
- Fig. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the elements of a cigarette according to a first embodiment of the present invention taken from the mouth end;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cigarette of Fig. 1 taken from the mouth end;
- Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette of Figs. 1 and 2 taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 3;
- Fig. 4 is a length of laser perforated tipping paper;
- Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the drag breakdown unit for use in the manufacture of the cigarettes of the present invention and showing a rotatable sleeve cigarette of the present invention;
- Fig. 6 is an end view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
- Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of one end of the drag breakdown unit of Fig. 5;
- Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a laser system for use in making the openings in the tipping paper and inner wrappings of the cigarettes of the present invention;
- Fig. 9 is a partial elevational view of an apparatus for use in making perforations in the tipping paper and inner wrappings of the cigarettes of the present invention;
- Fig. 10 shows an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 9 for use in making a plurality of openings in the tipping paper and inner wrappings of the cigarettes of the present invention;
- Fig. 11 shows yet another embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 9 for use in making the openings in the tipping paper and inner wrappings of the cigarettes of the present invention;
- Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 2 showing the relationship between the opening in the rotable sleeve portion of the tipping paper and the opening in the plug wrap.
- Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of the mechanical perforation apparatus of Fig. 9 taken on-the line 13-13 of Fig. 9;
- Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the elements of a cigarette according to a second embodiment of the present invention taken from the fitler end;
- Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the assembled cigarette of Fig. 14 taken from the filter end;
- Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette of Figs. 14 and 15 taken along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;
- Fig. 17 is an end view of the drag breakdown unit of Fig. 5, as shown in Fig. 6, but showing a rotatable filter plug cigarette of the present invention;
- Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an assembled, unfiltered cigarette according to a third embodiment of the present invention taken from the mouth end and showing indicia printed on the tipping paper;
- Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, taken from the mouth end, of the wrapped filter plug and the tobacco rod of a cigarette according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, taken from the mouth end, of the elements of the cigarette of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 21 is a perspective view, taken from the mouth end, of the assembled cigarette of Fig. 20;
- Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette of Fig. 3 taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 21;
- Fig. 23 is an enlarged partially fragmentary perspective view, taken from the mouth end, of a filter cigarette according to another aspect of the present invention;
- Fig. 24 is an enlarged perspective view, taken from the mouth end, of the assembled cigarette of Fig. 23; and
- Fig. 25 is a perspective view, also taken from the mouth end, of a filter cigarette of Figs. 23 and 24 showing the axially movable band detached from the mouth end band.
- In two preferred embodiments, the cigarette of the present invention is provided either with an axially retained rotatable sleeve or an axially retained rotatable filter plug with adjustably occludable openings for inter-mixing air with the smoke. The degree of dilution is controlled by the size of the openings, that is, the degree to which the two sets of openings are in registry.
- The method of the present invention is such that the cigarette may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and the tipping apparatus with a minimum of modification. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and forming and cutting the filter plug, when included, to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and the overwrapping with tipping paper are accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes.
- Furthermore, additional simplicity in manufacturing is made possible in the present invention by simultaneously forming the openings in the tipping paper and the inner wrappings. This is accomplished, in one manner, simply by slitting or perforating the tipping paper and underlying wrapping on each cigarette as it passes through the conventional cigarette making machinery at or near a rolling shoe station.
- A means for permitting the smoker to select the specific smoke to air dilution ration desired may be provided through indicia (72 and 73 in Fig. 18, for example) which are printed on the tipping paper during the passage of the cigarette through the tipping apparatus. Such indicia are made readily visible and are designed to show the degree of registry of the openings.
- One preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and comprises a
tobacco rod 1 which is aligned with and joined to a conventional, substantiallycylindrical filter plug 8, which may be cellulose acetate filter or the like. The filter plug is wrapped by a substantially airimpermeable plug wrap 7 which hasopenings 9 therein. Thefilter plug 8 is joined to thetobacco rod 1 by tippingpaper 2 which comprises afirst band 5, asecond band 4, and athird band 3. Thesecond band 4 containsopenings 6 which are aligned with theopenings 9 in the plug wrap.Band 3 andband 5 are attached to the plug wrap andband 4 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug. Asband 4 is rotated, theopenings 6 are brought into varying degrees of registry with theopenings 9 in the underlying plug wrap. Thus the amount of air entering the filter, which it is mixed with the smoke produced by the burningtobacco 10, can be selected by adjusting the degree to which theopenings Band 4 is retained against axial movement bybands - This rotatable sleeve embodiment may be readily manufactured employing conventional equipment. As shown in Fig. 4, a length of tipping paper is divided into
banks perforations 14 and 15. These perforations may be made by any conventional means such as laser perforation, electrostatic perforation, or mechanical perforation using points or knives. It is preferred to employ a laser perforation device in order to make the perforations extremely small and minimize the possibility of even a slight axial slip in the assembled cigarette. In practice, the tipping paper is fed through a perforating zone where it is exposed to at least a pair of laser light beams focused laterally of the width of the travelling tipping paper so as to define the desired width of the rotatable sleeve. The power settings and focusing of the laser and the rate of feed of the tipping paper are selected so as to all but part the paper along the "break away" lines shown in Fig. 4. The attachment which remains is selected to retain only enough strength to hold the bands together during assembly. Preferably, a laser system is employed to make about 100 perforations per inch in the paper. - The perforated tipping paper is applied to the cigarette in a conventional cigarette making machine in which a filter is positioned between two tobacco rods, as in Fig. 8. The modification required in order to make the embodiments of the present invention using this conventional equipment is minor in that the adhesive applicator is adapted to provide a ribbon or the like of adhesive which, with reference to Fig. 8, is provided only along
strips - Preferably, as shown in Fig. 8, a laser perforation system is employed which uses a
laser 23 to generate a laser beam that is passed through an initial focusinglens 24, then divided bybeam splitter 25 with one half of the beam passing throughlens 27 and being focused on the tipping paper to form opening 6 while the second half of the beam is reflected bymirror 26 throughlens 28 which focuses the second beam onto the tipping paper to formopening 22. The laser beam is focused to traverse the rotating cigarette and is set to remain on for a time period sufficient to make a slit of a desired length through the tipping paper and the underlying plug wrap. Slits one millimeter wide are preferred. If it is desired to establish a line of perforations instead of slits, the laser beam may be pulsed a given number of times to provide a line of separate holes. - Once the openings are formed, the filter is severed at
line 29 to form two cigarettes. The cigarettes may then be passed to a drag breakdown device, such as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which employs rotating conveyor belts orrollers skid plate 18. As shown in Fig. 6, an assembled cigarette is passed betweenrollers middle band 4 of the tipping paper contacts askid plate 18 which breaks the perforations in the tipping paper and freesband 4 for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the filter plug. The rates of rotation ofconveyors band 4 occurs during breakage of the perforations and so that the cigarettes exiting the breakdown device are set at a uniform diluting value. Another view of this breakdown device is shown in Fig. 7. - The openings in the tipping paper and the underlying plug wrap may also be made by mechanical means as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 13. As shown in Fig. 9,
cigarettes 37 are passed betweenrotating drums plate 30 and into contact with a rotating perforation device comprisingrotating wheels shaft 48, and have pin-like projections - As shown in Fig. 10, a device equivalent in function to that shown in Fig. 9 is disclosed which employs a fixed
plate 38, arotating drum 41, and sets of teeth-like.projections cigarettes 42. Yet another such device is disclosed in Fig. 11 which also employs a fixedplate 43 and arotating drum 46 and has knife-like projections 44 and 45 which make slits through the tipping paper and plug wrap ofcigarettes 47. - Very thin blades or finely pointed elements are used so that the vents are made to appear virtually invisible to the naked eye when observed by the smoker. One millimeter wide slits are preferred.
- The dilution value of the cigarette of the present may be readily adjusted as shown in Fig. 12 which is a partial cross-sectional view taken through the openings in the tipping paper and the plug wrap. As shown, opening 6 in the
tipping paper 2 may be rotated into varying degrees of registry withopening 9 in theplug wrap 7 to permit varying amounts of air to enter through the two openings and into thefilter mateial 8. Rotation ofband 4 in Fig. 2 will moveopening 6 relative toopening 9 thus varying the degree of registry and the amount of dilution. The tippingpaper 2 and theplug wrap 7 are in close contact thus providing a frictional resistance to rotation which ensures that the degree of registry, once selected, S will be.maintained. - A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16 and again comprises a
tobacco rod 49 which is axially aligned with and joined to afilter 58 by tippingpaper 50. Thefilter 58 is wrapped with aplug wrap 57 which hasopenings 59 therein. As shown in this particular embodiment, the plug wrap is wrapped with a tipping-like paper 56 comprising threebands openings 55 therein. This twice wrappedfilter 58 is then joined to thetobacco rod 49 by tippingpaper 50 having anopening 51 therein. In this particular embodiment, the filter extends beyond the tippingpaper 50 to provide a stub which may be manipulated by the smoker to adjust the degree of dilution. Theintermediate layer 56 is preferably the same paper aslayer 50 in order to present a uniform appearance to the smoker. - If desired,
paper 56 may be eliminated and theplug wrap 57 may comprise three abutting bands corresponding to 52, 53 and 54 in Fig. 14. The following description will be understood to include this embodiment in whcih the intermediate wrapping is eliminated. - In the embodiment shown in Fig. 16, the
paper 56 is attached to the plug wrap 57 such thatopenings Band 53 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the plug member whilebands tobacco rod 49 by tippingpaper 50 by attachingband 53 to the inner surface of the tipping paper.Openings 51 are positioned above theunderlying openings filter 58 is rotated, theopenings openings 51 thus selecting the amount of air which can enter the filter and combine with the smoke for the burningtobacco 60 to produce a specific air dilution value. Sinceband 53 is attached to the inner surface of the tipping paper and sincebands paper 56 with the tippingpaper 50, ensures that once a particular dilution value is selected it will be maintained. - The cigarettes of this rotatable plug embodiment are manufactured substantially as set for above for the rotatable sleeve embodiment. When an intermediate tipping paper layer is desired to be added, it is perforated, preferably using a laser system as set for above, and is then attached to the plug wrap, preferably with glue. Conventional equipment is again employed and modified such that the glue applicator will apply glue only to the plug wrap side of
bands paper 50 only on those portions which will contact thetobacco rod 49 and thesleeve 53. Otherwise, the manufacture of this second embodiment is substantially the same as the first. - It is preferred to make the openings through the outer tipping paper, the inner tipping paper or other such intermediate wrapping, and the plug wrap at the same time using the laser perforation system as shown in Fig. 8 although one of the mechanical systems shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 may also be employed. The assembled cigarettes are then passed through a drag breakdown devivce as described with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but alignment of the cigarettes within the device is altered as shown in Fig. 17 such that the protruding end of the filter plug contacts the drag plate thereby breaking the perforations in the inner layer of tipping paper; thus permitting the filter plug to freely rotate within the outer cylinder of tipping paper while being axially retained therein.
- A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 18 and comprises a
tobacco rod 64 comprising a column oftobacco 68 circumscribed by a substantially air impermeable wrapping 65, which is preferably cigarette paper, which is circumscribed adjacent the mouth end by an outercylindrical layer 70 of substantially air impermeable tipping paper extending from the mouth end to a point between the • mouth end and the middle of the tobacco column. The tobacco rod is open at both the coal end and the mouth end to permit the passage of air and smoke. The outermost layer comprises three bands, 66, 67 and 68 which are formed and positioned as described in connection with the first preferred embodiment. There is an opening through theinner layer 65, and anopening 71 inband 67 positioned so that it can be rotated into varying degrees of registry with the opening in the inner layer by rotatingband 67. This embodiment may be made according to the method described for making the first preferred embodiment with the step of inserting a double length filter plug, between two tobacco rods being omitted. - A fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22, comprises a
tobacco rod 101 which comprises a substantially cylindrical charge oftobacco 102 wrapped incigarette paper 103 that is aligned with and joined to a conventional, substantially cylindrical,filter plug 104, which may be a cellulose acetate filter or the like. The filter plug is wrapped by a substantially air impermeable plug wrap 105 which comprises a mouth-end band 106, acentral band 107, and a rod-end band 108, defined by circumferentially extendingparallel rows filter plug 104 is joined to thetobacco rod 101 by tippingpaper 111. The rod--end band 108 has anopening 116 therein. Mouth-end band 106 and rod-end band 108 are attached to the filter; central 107 is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. - Tipping
paper 111 is divided into afirst band 112 and asecond band 113 by a circumferentially extending row of closely spacedperforations 114. The inner surface of thefirst band 112 is attached to the outer surface ofcentral band 107, preferably by a ribbon ofadhesive material 117,- for rotation withcentral band 107 about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette when the rows ofperforations second band 113 is attached to the outer surfaces oftobacco rod 101 and the rod-end band, preferably by a ribbon ofadhesive material 118. Anopening 115 is formed in thefirst band 112 at a position which overlies the rod-end band 108. - As the
first band 112 is rotated by the smoker, the rows ofperforations opening 115 is rotated into varying degrees of registry with theopening 116 in the underlying plug wrap. Thus the amount of air entering the filter, where it is mixed with the smoke produced by the burningtobacco 102, can be selected by adjusting the degree to which theopenings Central band 107 and thus thefirst band 112 are retained against axial movement bybands - The method of the present invention is such that the cigarette may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and tipping apparatus with a minimum of modification, as described earlier. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and forming and cutting the filter plug to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and overwrapping with tipping paper are accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes.
- Furthermore, additional simplicity in manufacturing is made possible in the present invention by simulaneously forming the openings in the tipping paper and inner wrappings. This is accomplished, in one manner, simply by slitting or perforating the tipping paper and underlying wrappings on each cigarette as it passes through the conventional cigarette making machinery at or near a rolling shoe station. A means for permitting the smoker to select the specific smoke to air dilution ratio desired may be provided through indicia which are printed in the tipping paper during the passage of the cigarette through the tipping apparatus. Such indicia are made readily visible and are designed to show the degree of registry of the openings.
- As shown in Figs. 23, 24 and 25, according to another aspect of the invention a cigarette comprises a
tobacco rod 201 which is axially aligned with and joined in end-to-end abutting relation to a conventional, substantiallycylindrical filter plug 202, which may be a cellulose acetate filter or the like. The filter plug is wrapped in an airpermeable plug wrap 203. The wrapped filter plug is joined to thetobacco rod 201 by a circumscribing first layer of tippingpaper 204 which extends from the mouth end of the filter plug to a position on the tobacco rod adjacent the rod end of the filter plug. Tippingpaper 204 is air permeable and is attached, preferably by a circumferentially extending band of adhesive on its inner surface, to the outer surfaces of the tobacco rod and the filter plug wrap with the band centered on either side of their line ofabutment 205. - A second layer of tipping
paper 206 circumscribes the first layer of tipping paper and extends from the mouth end of the filter substantially to the rod end of the filter. This second layer is divided into amouth end sleeve 207 and arod end sleeve 208 by a circumferentially extending row of closelyspaed perforations 210. Themouth end sleeve 207 is attached to thetipping paper 204 adjacent the mouth end, preferably by a band of adhesive 209 on its inner surface. Therod end sleeve 208 is not attached to the underlying layer of tippingpaper 204. - The second layer of tipping
paper 206 is substantially air impermeable and therod end sleeve 208 is detachable along the line ofperforations 210. In its attached form, the cigarette has a set air dilution value which, if the smoker prefers, can be varied by rotating therod end sleeve 208 to detach it from themouth end sleeve 207 and. then axially movingsleeve 208 towards the coal end of the tobacco rod, thereby exposing the underlying airpermeable tipping paper 204. This axial movement permits varying degrees of air to enter the filter, thereby diluting the smoke and changing the air dilution value of the cigarette. This axiallyslidable sleeve 208 is retained against removal from the mouth end of the cigarette by the attachedmouth end sleeve 207. - In an alternative embodiment, the plug wrap and the first layer of tipping paper may also be substantially air impermeable and may contain a plurality of openings therethrough which are exposed when the
sleeve 208 is detached and moved axially towards the coal end of the cigarette. - 'The filter cigarette of the present invention may be readily produced on conventional cigarette making equipment and apparatus with a minimum of modifications. Forming and cutting the cigarette rod and the filter plug to length are done conventionally. Also, bringing the filter plug into axial alignment with the cigarette rod and the overwrapping with the first layer of tipping paper is accomplished in the same manner as in conventional cigarettes except that the adhesive applicator is adapted to provide only a band of adhesive on the portion of the first layer of tipping paper which overlaps and joins the plug wrap to the tobacco rod. The same machine for applying the first layer of tipping paper with the glue applicator adapted to provide a band of glue corresponding to the mouth end sleeve portion of the second layer of tipping paper.
- The row of perforations in the second layer of tipping paper may be made, preferably prior to application, by any conventional means such as laser perforation, electrostatic perforation, or mechanical perforation using points or knives. It is preferred to employ a laser perforation device in order to make the perforations extremely small. In practice, the tipping paper is fed through a perforating zone where it is exposed to a laser light beam focused laterally of the width of the travelling tipping paper so as to define the desired width of the detachable sleeve portion of the second layer of tipping paper. The power settings and focusing of the laser beam and the rate of feed of the tipping paper are selected so as to all but part the p:3per along the "break away"
line 210 shown in Figs. 23 and 24. The attachment which remains is selected to retain enough strength to hold the sleeves together during assembly but permits the detachable sleeve to be readily detached by the smoker without tearing the tipping paper other than between the perforations. Preferably, a laser system is employed to make about 40 perforations per centimetre (about 100 perforations per inch in the paper along theline 210. - Various modifications to the foregoing embodiments are possible for example, the first preferred embodiment could be modified by omitting the filter plug thus resulting in an integral mouthpiece; the second preferred embodiment could be constructed with the first and third bands glued or otherwise fixed to the tipping paper and the second band attached or fixed to the plug wrap; and, in the second preferred embodiment, the opening in the inner wrap could be made in the second band instead of or as well as in the first with corresponding openings being made in the outer layer of tipping paper.
Claims (13)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT83304257T ATE38465T1 (en) | 1982-07-23 | 1983-07-22 | CIGARETTES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE. |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US40138082A | 1982-07-23 | 1982-07-23 | |
US401380 | 1982-07-23 | ||
US42935482A | 1982-09-30 | 1982-09-30 | |
US42939382A | 1982-09-30 | 1982-09-30 | |
US429354 | 1982-09-30 | ||
US429393 | 1982-09-30 |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP87201198.6 Division-Into | 1983-07-22 |
Publications (3)
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EP0100215A2 true EP0100215A2 (en) | 1984-02-08 |
EP0100215A3 EP0100215A3 (en) | 1985-10-09 |
EP0100215B1 EP0100215B1 (en) | 1988-11-09 |
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EP83304257A Expired EP0100215B1 (en) | 1982-07-23 | 1983-07-22 | Cigarettes and methods of manufacture |
EP87201198A Expired - Lifetime EP0247702B1 (en) | 1982-07-23 | 1983-07-22 | Cigarettes |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP87201198A Expired - Lifetime EP0247702B1 (en) | 1982-07-23 | 1983-07-22 | Cigarettes |
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JP (2) | JPS59501443A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE38465T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU559188B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1210297A (en) |
DE (2) | DE3378400D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1984000478A1 (en) |
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EP0158080A1 (en) * | 1984-03-07 | 1985-10-16 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Adjustable-delivery cigarette |
EP0182055A1 (en) * | 1984-10-22 | 1986-05-28 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Variable air dilution cigarette filter |
EP0212879A1 (en) * | 1985-08-01 | 1987-03-04 | Philip Morris Products Inc. | Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having variable smoking characteristics |
US9565874B2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2017-02-14 | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article |
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GB8531659D0 (en) * | 1985-12-23 | 1986-02-05 | British American Tobacco Co | Smoking articles |
GB9400985D0 (en) * | 1994-01-19 | 1994-03-16 | Rothmans International Ltd | Filtered smoking article |
EP1754419A1 (en) * | 2005-08-15 | 2007-02-21 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Liquid release device for a smoking article |
US7789089B2 (en) | 2006-08-04 | 2010-09-07 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Filtered cigarette possessing tipping material |
CN101016709B (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2010-05-19 | 云南瑞升烟草技术(集团)有限公司 | Fast adjusting tipping paper |
GB0724408D0 (en) * | 2007-12-14 | 2008-01-30 | British American Tobacco Co | Recessed ventilation for smoking articles |
EP2368448A1 (en) * | 2010-03-26 | 2011-09-28 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Smoking article with variable ventilation |
GB201116629D0 (en) * | 2011-09-27 | 2011-11-09 | British American Tobacco Co | Smoking articles and methods of manufacturing smoking articles |
GB201217894D0 (en) * | 2012-10-05 | 2012-11-21 | British American Tobacco Co | A smoking article |
ITBO20120584A1 (en) * | 2012-10-26 | 2014-04-27 | Gd Spa | MACHINE FOR REALIZING CIGARETTES WITH ADJUSTABLE VENTILATION. |
ITBO20120585A1 (en) * | 2012-10-26 | 2014-04-27 | Gd Spa | MACHINE FOR REALIZING CIGARETTES WITH ADJUSTABLE VENTILATION. |
EP2967132B1 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2017-05-03 | JT International SA | Filter cigarette with variable ventilation |
RU2622802C1 (en) * | 2013-07-03 | 2017-06-20 | Джапан Тобакко Инк. | Cigarette filter and filtered cigarette |
EP3027071B1 (en) * | 2013-07-29 | 2020-09-02 | JT International SA | Filter element for a smoking article |
JP6103676B2 (en) * | 2014-03-28 | 2017-03-29 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | Filter cigarette manufacturing machine, manufacturing method thereof, and filter cigarette |
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EP0105683A1 (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1984-04-18 | Philip Morris Incorporated | Adjustable filter cigarette and a method of manufacture thereof |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB706624A (en) * | 1949-12-06 | 1954-03-31 | Elie Prodromos Aghnides | Improvements in or relating to cigarettes |
US3428050A (en) * | 1967-02-21 | 1969-02-18 | Walter R Kandel | Filter cigarette of adjustable filter capacity |
CA913486A (en) * | 1970-05-25 | 1972-10-31 | Plourde Jacques | Selective air dosing means for cigarettes |
GB1400278A (en) * | 1972-06-06 | 1975-07-16 | British American Tobacco Co | Smoking articles |
US4232574A (en) * | 1977-08-19 | 1980-11-11 | Liggett Group Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing a cigarette filter with an aeration groove |
-
1983
- 1983-07-21 JP JP58502642A patent/JPS59501443A/en active Granted
- 1983-07-21 WO PCT/US1983/001117 patent/WO1984000478A1/en unknown
- 1983-07-22 EP EP83304257A patent/EP0100215B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-22 DE DE8383304257T patent/DE3378400D1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-22 AT AT83304257T patent/ATE38465T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1983-07-22 EP EP87201198A patent/EP0247702B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1983-07-22 DE DE198383304257T patent/DE100215T1/en active Pending
- 1983-07-25 CA CA000433150A patent/CA1210297A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-07-25 AU AU17259/83A patent/AU559188B2/en not_active Ceased
-
1989
- 1989-03-06 JP JP1053584A patent/JPH01273575A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3359988A (en) * | 1965-04-21 | 1967-12-26 | Osborne M Thomson | Filter cigarette |
US3503406A (en) * | 1968-10-28 | 1970-03-31 | Lawrence Murry Riegel | Cigarettes |
US3512537A (en) * | 1968-11-27 | 1970-05-19 | U S Remedy Corp | Adjustable aerated cigarette |
US3695274A (en) * | 1970-11-30 | 1972-10-03 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco | Piston type cigarette filter |
US4340074A (en) * | 1979-11-07 | 1982-07-20 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation | Cigarette material having non-lipsticking properties |
EP0105683A1 (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1984-04-18 | Philip Morris Incorporated | Adjustable filter cigarette and a method of manufacture thereof |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0158080A1 (en) * | 1984-03-07 | 1985-10-16 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Adjustable-delivery cigarette |
US4648413A (en) * | 1984-03-07 | 1987-03-10 | Saintsing Barry L | Adjustable-delivery cigarette |
EP0182055A1 (en) * | 1984-10-22 | 1986-05-28 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Variable air dilution cigarette filter |
EP0212879A1 (en) * | 1985-08-01 | 1987-03-04 | Philip Morris Products Inc. | Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having variable smoking characteristics |
US4817638A (en) * | 1985-08-01 | 1989-04-04 | Philip Morris Incorporated | Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having variable smoking characteristics |
US9565874B2 (en) | 2011-03-14 | 2017-02-14 | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH0262228B2 (en) | 1990-12-25 |
ATE38465T1 (en) | 1988-11-15 |
EP0100215B1 (en) | 1988-11-09 |
EP0247702A3 (en) | 1988-12-21 |
EP0100215A3 (en) | 1985-10-09 |
JPH0228318B2 (en) | 1990-06-22 |
AU559188B2 (en) | 1987-02-26 |
DE100215T1 (en) | 1984-09-27 |
WO1984000478A1 (en) | 1984-02-16 |
AU1725983A (en) | 1984-02-16 |
JPH01273575A (en) | 1989-11-01 |
EP0247702A2 (en) | 1987-12-02 |
EP0247702B1 (en) | 1993-03-24 |
JPS59501443A (en) | 1984-08-16 |
CA1210297A (en) | 1986-08-26 |
DE3378400D1 (en) | 1988-12-15 |
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