EP3116333A1 - Filter element for a smoking article - Google Patents

Filter element for a smoking article

Info

Publication number
EP3116333A1
EP3116333A1 EP15704818.2A EP15704818A EP3116333A1 EP 3116333 A1 EP3116333 A1 EP 3116333A1 EP 15704818 A EP15704818 A EP 15704818A EP 3116333 A1 EP3116333 A1 EP 3116333A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filter
plug
perforation
filter element
segments
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
EP15704818.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3116333B1 (en
Inventor
Nobuo Nagai
Hiroshi Okuno
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.)
JT International SA
Original Assignee
JT International SA
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 JT International SA filed Critical JT International SA
Priority to PL15704818T priority Critical patent/PL3116333T3/en
Publication of EP3116333A1 publication Critical patent/EP3116333A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3116333B1 publication Critical patent/EP3116333B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/02—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
    • A24D1/027—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers with ventilating means, e.g. perforations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/16—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of inorganic materials
    • A24D3/163—Carbon

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filter element for a smoking article.
  • the present invention relates to a filter element which enables a user to vary the ratio of tobacco smoke to air inhaled by providing a mechanism by varying the pressure drop across the filter.
  • Filter elements for smoking articles are, of course, well known. It is also well known to provide filter elements that have means for varying the ratio of tobacco smoke to air inhaled by a user by providing a mechanism to the user to vary the pressure drop across the filter. Examples of such configurations are shown in US4570649 or WO 2013/079645, for example. Such configurations allow for variations of the ventilation level of the filter, therefore of the smoke intensity and tar delivery of the smoking articles, between a maximum tar delivery in a first state and a second tar delivery in a second state.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a filter element which improves control of the smoke intensity by a user, enabling the user to vary the pressure drop across the filter between reduced tar delivery states whilst still ensuring that a cost effective filter element is provided.
  • the present invention provides a filter element for a smoking article, the filter comprising:
  • the plug of filter material comprises at least two segments being longitudinally aligned and rotatably mounted about a common longitudinal axis, at least one of the segments comprising at least one perforation formed in the substantially air permeable plug wrap; and a wrapping material surrounding at least one portion of the substantially air permeable plug wrap, the wrapping material comprising a first part attached to a first of the two segments of the plug of filter material and a second part attached to the second segment of the plug of filter material, and comprising at least one aperture formed therein,
  • the first and second parts of the wrapping material and first and second segments of the plug of filter material being arranged such that the respective at least one perforation of the substantially air permeable plug wrap and the at least one aperture of the wrapping material can be superimposed upon rotation of one of the segments of the plug of filter material about the common longitudinal axis to vary the filter ventilation.
  • the filter element according to the present invention therefore includes a combination of aligning slots, respectively referred to as perforations and apertures, and a substantially air permeable or porous plug wrap for allowing air flow into the filter.
  • aligning slots and porous plug wrap allows for a relatively small variation of air dilution, which results in an improved stability and fine tuning of the variable filter product.
  • this enables the manufacture of cigarettes having variable taste strength and tar deliveries, by providing a filter element adjustable between two ventilated cigarette configurations.
  • the at least one perforation may be formed in the second segment of the filter material and the at least one aperture may be formed in the second part of the wrapping material.
  • each of the at least one perforation has a first length and each of the at least one aperture has a second length.
  • each of the perforations have the same length, while each of the apertures also have the same length (which may be different from the length of the apertures), which facilitates manufacturing of the filter element.
  • Each of the at least one perforation and each of the at least one aperture may be located in a first plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis.
  • At least one of the segments of the filter material comprises at least three perforations spaced equidistally from each other.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a smoking article comprising a filter element as previously described.
  • Such a smoking article would typically include a tobacco rod connected to an end of the filter by the wrapping material which overlaps said end of the filter element and one end of the tobacco rod.
  • the second part of the wrapping material comprising the aperture surrounds a segment of the plug of filter material including the perforation and at least part of a segment of the plug of filter material free from the at least one perforation.
  • the first and second parts of the wrapping material may be separated by a circumferential slit around the filter plug, while the first and second segments of the plug of filter material may be separated by a circumferential cut in a second plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis, and wherein the circumferential slit is located in the second plane.
  • the circumferential slit in the wrapping material corresponds to a circumferential cut in the plug of filter material, both being located in the same plane.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a conventional variable flow filter for a smoking article
  • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article comprising a conventional variable flow filter for a smoking article
  • Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of smoking articles comprising a filter element according to the present invention.
  • Figures 6A and 6B show sequences of alignment corresponding to relative positions of perforations in the porous plug wrap and slots in the tipping paper to control the amount of air that can be drawn through the combination of aligning slots and perforations;
  • Figure 7 shows another filter element according to the present invention
  • Figure 8 is a table reproducing minimum and maximum tar deliveries obtained for five different smoking articles according to the invention.
  • a filter cigarette 1 comprises a tobacco rod 2 and a filter component 3.
  • the filter component 3 is configured to allow adjustment of the filter ventilation by a user to adjust the taste strength of the cigarette 1.
  • the filter component 3 is configured to allow adjustment of the filter ventilation by a user to adjust the taste strength of the cigarette 1.
  • the plug wrap 4 is substantially air impermeable.
  • the filter component 3 is divided into a mouth end filter segment 5 and a tobacco end filter segment 6, by a circumferential transverse cut 7, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 1.
  • the cut 7 is only partial throughout the diameter of the filter plug 4 so as to leave a central connecting member of filter material between the two segments 5, 6.
  • This connecting member (not shown) advantageously acts as an axis of rotation for the segments 5, 6 relative to each other to allow variation of the filter ventilation as explained below.
  • At least one slit also referred to as a perforation 8, is formed into the plug wrap
  • a suitable wrapping material such as tipping paper 9 is provided and wrapped over the plug wrap 4 and filter segments 5, 6.
  • the tipping paper 9 is comprised of two bands 10, 1 1 separable at a pre-cut or cut line 12.
  • a first band 10 of the tipping paper 9 is attached, usually by gluing, to the mouth end filter segment 5 of the cigarette 1 and extends over the cut 7 between the two filter segments 5, 6 and partially over the second filter segment 6 and the perforation 8 without being attached to the second segment 6.
  • This first tipping band 10 comprises at least one transverse slot 13 which is positioned so that it can be aligned over the perforation 8 in the second filter segment 6.
  • a second tipping band 1 1 of the tipping paper 9 is attached, usually by gluing, on the remaining part of the tobacco end segment 6 not covered by band 10 and the tobacco rod 2 to attach the filter component 3 to the tobacco rod 2.
  • Figure 2 shows Figure 1 when assembled with the slot 13 of first band 10 of tipping paper 9 aligned over the perforation 8.
  • Such configuration of the filter component 3 and tipping paper 9 makes the mouth end filter segment 5 capable of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 1 relative to the tobacco end filter segment 6 connected to the tobacco rod 2. This varies the respective positions of the perforation 8 in the tobacco end filter segment 6 and the slot 13 in the first tipping band 10 as shown in Figure 3 in order to adjust the ventilation of the filter component 3, and hence the strength of the cigarette 1.
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter component 3 through the location of the perforation 8 and slot 13. From this it can be seen that relative rotation of the mouth end filter segment 5 with respect to tobacco end filter segment 6 in either direction can adjust the relative positions of the slot 13 and perforation 8 to control the amount of air that can be drawn through the combination of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and into the filter component 3 when the cigarette 1 is being smoked.
  • the user can rotate the mouth end filter segment 5 to vary the relative locations of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and vary the ventilation for the filter component 3 varying air mixture received by a user when the tobacco rod 2 is lit.
  • airflow can only be drawn through the combination of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and into the filter component 3, since the plug wrap 4 in the known configurations is substantially air impermeable.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a smoking article comprising a filter element according to the present invention, through the location of the perforation 8 and slot 13.
  • the smoking article according to the present invention is substantially similar in structure to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, with the exception that the plug wrap provided is substantially air permeable or porous.
  • plug wrap papers having porosities ranging from about 1300 CU to 24000 CU can be used in the smoking article of the present invention.
  • the user can rotate the mouth end filter segment 5 to vary the relative locations of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and vary the ventilation for the filter component 3 varying air mixture received by a user when the tobacco rod 2 is lit.
  • the plug wrap 40 is porous, therefore allowing at least some airflow through the filter at all times, irrespective of the alignment of the slot 13 and perforation 8. Since airflow always passes through the filter element 3, the variation of air dilution obtained by the relative positions of the slot 13 and perforation 8 is smaller than in the case of Figure 3.
  • this improves control of the user who is able to steadily vary the smoke intensity, i.e. the tar delivery of the smoking article between two ventilated states.
  • the filter of the invention provides pressure drops of below 130 mmH20 and preferably below 120 mmH20 in any respective position of the slot 13 and perforation 8. This particularly reduces resistance to drawing smoke through the filter element 3 whilst a user tuned the filter to obtain high tar delivery states.
  • any plurality of perforations 8 and/or slots 13 could be provided to achieve the same function of varying the ventilation level in the filter component 3, the common principle of ventilation variation remaining identical and based on alignment/misalignment of said perforations 8 and slot 13 upon rotation of the mouth end segment 5 of the filter with respect to the tobacco end segment 6.
  • the perforations 8 are of equal length and can vary from 2.00 mm to 4.5 mm, for example.
  • Figures 6A and 6B shows the variation of the airflow through the filter component 3 represented in Figure 7, using relatively small perforations 8, e.g. 2.5 mm and matching slots 13 ( Figure 6A) and relatively large perforations 8, e.g. 4.0 mm and matching slots 13 ( Figure 6B). Since the plug wrap 40 is porous, airflow always passes through the filter component 3, resulting in a relatively weak but permanent airflow in the case of relatively small perforations 8 and matching slots 13 ( Figure 6A), and a relatively strong, permanent airflow in the case of relatively large perforations 8 and matching slots 13 ( Figure 6B).
  • Figure 8 is a table reproducing minimum and maximum tar deliveries obtained for five different smoking articles according to the invention, with different filter structures (dual charcoal acetate or mono-acetate filters), different plug wrap porosities and different perforations sizes.
  • the tar deliveries reproduced in that table were obtained under standard ISO smoking regime, following ISO standards for testing smoking articles (ISO 3308, ISO 4387).
  • filter plug-forming material that may be a material such as cellulose acetate tow in a conventional and well-known manner in the industry of cigarette filter making.
  • a continuous filter rod is hereby obtained. This continuous rod is then surrounded with a porous plug wrap 40 to hold the acetate tow in shape and segmented to produce individual filter components 3.
  • filter components 3 are then loaded into a conventional smoking article maker which is equipped with a processing module to assemble filter components 3 and tobacco rods 2 to form cigarettes 1.
  • the filter components 3 are then cut transversally to form two rotatable interconnected segments 5, 6.
  • Perforations 8 are formed in the filter components 3 by laser or blade cutting.
  • the pre-perforated tipping paper 9 may be used.
  • the tipping paper 9 may be perforated and cut or preferably pre-cut to define separation line 12 between bands 10, 1 1 of the tipping paper 9 and then supplied and wrapped around the filter component 3 to connect it with the tobacco rod 2 to form a cigarette product.
  • the filter components 3 are submitted to a laser or blade cut to form simultaneously perforations 8 in the tobacco end filter segment 6 and corresponding slots 13 in the tipping paper 9.
  • the mouth end filter segment 5 is then twisted to misalign perforations 8 and slots 13 of the filters and thereby set the cigarette products 1 at the lowest level of ventilation of the filter components 3.
  • the finished cigarette products are then gathered to form a bundle which is then packed for sale.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Abstract

A filter element (3) for a smoking article, the filter element (3)comprising :at least one plug of filter material surrounded by a substantially air permeable plug wrap(40), wherein the plug of filter material comprises at least two segments (5, 6) being longitudinally aligned and rotatably mounted about a common longitudinal axis, at least one of the segments (5, 6) comprising at least one perforation(8) formed in the substantially air permeable plug wrap(40); and a wrapping material (9) surrounding at least one portion of the substantially air permeable plug wrap (40), the wrapping material (9) comprising a first part (10) attached to a first (5) of the two segments of the plug of filter material and a second part (11) attached to the second segment (6) of the plug of filter material,and comprising at least one aperture (13) formed therein, the first and second parts (10, 11) of the wrapping material (9) and first and second segments (5, 6)of the plug of filter material being arranged such that the respective at least one perforation (8) of the substantially air permeable plug wrap (40) and the at least one aperture(13) of the wrapping material (9) can be superimposed upon rotation of one of the segments (5, 6) of the plug of filter material about the common longitudinal axis to vary the filter ventilation.

Description

FILTER ELEMENT FOR A SMOKING ARTICLE
The present invention relates to a filter element for a smoking article. In particular, the present invention relates to a filter element which enables a user to vary the ratio of tobacco smoke to air inhaled by providing a mechanism by varying the pressure drop across the filter.
Filter elements for smoking articles are, of course, well known. It is also well known to provide filter elements that have means for varying the ratio of tobacco smoke to air inhaled by a user by providing a mechanism to the user to vary the pressure drop across the filter. Examples of such configurations are shown in US4570649 or WO 2013/079645, for example. Such configurations allow for variations of the ventilation level of the filter, therefore of the smoke intensity and tar delivery of the smoking articles, between a maximum tar delivery in a first state and a second tar delivery in a second state.
Whilst such known filter elements have some benefits in that they allow a user control over the smoke intensity, they also have a number of disadvantages. In particular, the level of control of the user is restricted because the variation of air dilution is relatively limited. The level of control is particularly restricted if a user wants to vary the filter between two ventilated states of the smoking articles, i.e. two reduced tar delivery states.
The present invention seeks to provide a filter element which improves control of the smoke intensity by a user, enabling the user to vary the pressure drop across the filter between reduced tar delivery states whilst still ensuring that a cost effective filter element is provided.
To that aim, the present invention provides a filter element for a smoking article, the filter comprising:
at least one plug of filter material surrounded by a substantially air permeable plug wrap, wherein the plug of filter material comprises at least two segments being longitudinally aligned and rotatably mounted about a common longitudinal axis, at least one of the segments comprising at least one perforation formed in the substantially air permeable plug wrap; and a wrapping material surrounding at least one portion of the substantially air permeable plug wrap, the wrapping material comprising a first part attached to a first of the two segments of the plug of filter material and a second part attached to the second segment of the plug of filter material, and comprising at least one aperture formed therein,
the first and second parts of the wrapping material and first and second segments of the plug of filter material being arranged such that the respective at least one perforation of the substantially air permeable plug wrap and the at least one aperture of the wrapping material can be superimposed upon rotation of one of the segments of the plug of filter material about the common longitudinal axis to vary the filter ventilation.
The filter element according to the present invention therefore includes a combination of aligning slots, respectively referred to as perforations and apertures, and a substantially air permeable or porous plug wrap for allowing air flow into the filter. Importantly, using this combination of aligning slots and porous plug wrap allows for a relatively small variation of air dilution, which results in an improved stability and fine tuning of the variable filter product. Advantageously, this enables the manufacture of cigarettes having variable taste strength and tar deliveries, by providing a filter element adjustable between two ventilated cigarette configurations.
The at least one perforation may be formed in the second segment of the filter material and the at least one aperture may be formed in the second part of the wrapping material.
Preferably, each of the at least one perforation has a first length and each of the at least one aperture has a second length. In other words, each of the perforations have the same length, while each of the apertures also have the same length (which may be different from the length of the apertures), which facilitates manufacturing of the filter element.
Each of the at least one perforation and each of the at least one aperture may be located in a first plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis.
Preferably, at least one of the segments of the filter material comprises at least three perforations spaced equidistally from each other. For example, there may be three perforations of equal length located in the same plane around a circumference of the plug wrap, at approximately 120 degrees from each other. A further aspect of the invention relates to a smoking article comprising a filter element as previously described. Such a smoking article would typically include a tobacco rod connected to an end of the filter by the wrapping material which overlaps said end of the filter element and one end of the tobacco rod.
Preferably, the second part of the wrapping material comprising the aperture surrounds a segment of the plug of filter material including the perforation and at least part of a segment of the plug of filter material free from the at least one perforation.
The first and second parts of the wrapping material may be separated by a circumferential slit around the filter plug, while the first and second segments of the plug of filter material may be separated by a circumferential cut in a second plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis, and wherein the circumferential slit is located in the second plane. As such, the circumferential slit in the wrapping material corresponds to a circumferential cut in the plug of filter material, both being located in the same plane. It will be appreciated that the terms "slit" and "cut" convey the same meaning, however the different terms, referring to the wrapping and filter materials, are respectively used for the sake of clarity.
An example of the present invention, together with a method of manufacture thereof, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 show a conventional variable flow filter for a smoking article;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article comprising a conventional variable flow filter for a smoking article;
Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of smoking articles comprising a filter element according to the present invention;
Figures 6A and 6B show sequences of alignment corresponding to relative positions of perforations in the porous plug wrap and slots in the tipping paper to control the amount of air that can be drawn through the combination of aligning slots and perforations;
Figure 7 shows another filter element according to the present invention; and Figure 8 is a table reproducing minimum and maximum tar deliveries obtained for five different smoking articles according to the invention.
Referring to Figure 1 , a filter cigarette 1 comprises a tobacco rod 2 and a filter component 3. The filter component 3 is configured to allow adjustment of the filter ventilation by a user to adjust the taste strength of the cigarette 1. The filter component
3 comprises a plug of filter material such as cellulose acetate having a plug wrap 4 extending over its outer surface. In the known prior art filter components 3, the plug wrap 4 is substantially air impermeable.
The filter component 3 is divided into a mouth end filter segment 5 and a tobacco end filter segment 6, by a circumferential transverse cut 7, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 1. The cut 7 is only partial throughout the diameter of the filter plug 4 so as to leave a central connecting member of filter material between the two segments 5, 6. This connecting member (not shown) advantageously acts as an axis of rotation for the segments 5, 6 relative to each other to allow variation of the filter ventilation as explained below.
At least one slit, also referred to as a perforation 8, is formed into the plug wrap
4 in the tobacco end filter segment 6. This perforation 8 allows air to be drawn in through the plug wrap 4 and into the core of the filter component 3.
To assemble the filter component 3 to the tobacco rod 2, a suitable wrapping material such as tipping paper 9 is provided and wrapped over the plug wrap 4 and filter segments 5, 6. The tipping paper 9 is comprised of two bands 10, 1 1 separable at a pre-cut or cut line 12. A first band 10 of the tipping paper 9 is attached, usually by gluing, to the mouth end filter segment 5 of the cigarette 1 and extends over the cut 7 between the two filter segments 5, 6 and partially over the second filter segment 6 and the perforation 8 without being attached to the second segment 6. This first tipping band 10 comprises at least one transverse slot 13 which is positioned so that it can be aligned over the perforation 8 in the second filter segment 6. A second tipping band 1 1 of the tipping paper 9 is attached, usually by gluing, on the remaining part of the tobacco end segment 6 not covered by band 10 and the tobacco rod 2 to attach the filter component 3 to the tobacco rod 2.
Figure 2 shows Figure 1 when assembled with the slot 13 of first band 10 of tipping paper 9 aligned over the perforation 8.
Such configuration of the filter component 3 and tipping paper 9 makes the mouth end filter segment 5 capable of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 1 relative to the tobacco end filter segment 6 connected to the tobacco rod 2. This varies the respective positions of the perforation 8 in the tobacco end filter segment 6 and the slot 13 in the first tipping band 10 as shown in Figure 3 in order to adjust the ventilation of the filter component 3, and hence the strength of the cigarette 1.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter component 3 through the location of the perforation 8 and slot 13. From this it can be seen that relative rotation of the mouth end filter segment 5 with respect to tobacco end filter segment 6 in either direction can adjust the relative positions of the slot 13 and perforation 8 to control the amount of air that can be drawn through the combination of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and into the filter component 3 when the cigarette 1 is being smoked.
In use, the user can rotate the mouth end filter segment 5 to vary the relative locations of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and vary the ventilation for the filter component 3 varying air mixture received by a user when the tobacco rod 2 is lit. Importantly, with the conventional filter component 3, airflow can only be drawn through the combination of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and into the filter component 3, since the plug wrap 4 in the known configurations is substantially air impermeable.
Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a smoking article comprising a filter element according to the present invention, through the location of the perforation 8 and slot 13. The smoking article according to the present invention is substantially similar in structure to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, with the exception that the plug wrap provided is substantially air permeable or porous. For example, plug wrap papers having porosities ranging from about 1300 CU to 24000 CU can be used in the smoking article of the present invention. As in Figure 3, it can be seen that relative rotation of the mouth end filter segment 5 with respect to tobacco end filter segment 6 in either direction can adjust the relative positions of the slot 13 and perforation 8 to control the amount of air that can be drawn through the combination of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and into the filter component 3 when the cigarette 1 is being smoked.
In use, the user can rotate the mouth end filter segment 5 to vary the relative locations of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and vary the ventilation for the filter component 3 varying air mixture received by a user when the tobacco rod 2 is lit. Unlike in the known case of Figure 3, however, the plug wrap 40 is porous, therefore allowing at least some airflow through the filter at all times, irrespective of the alignment of the slot 13 and perforation 8. Since airflow always passes through the filter element 3, the variation of air dilution obtained by the relative positions of the slot 13 and perforation 8 is smaller than in the case of Figure 3. Advantageously, this improves control of the user who is able to steadily vary the smoke intensity, i.e. the tar delivery of the smoking article between two ventilated states. It is thereby possible to vary for example the tar delivery between 0.1 mg and 8.0 mg for example. Another advantage provided by the filter of the invention is that it is possible to obtain relatively high tar delivery states (in particular above 7 mg of tar) without the need to have high pressure drop values of the smoking article 1 , in particular pressure drop values of 130 mmH20 and above. The filter and smoking article of the invention provide pressure drops of below 130 mmH20 and preferably below 120 mmH20 in any respective position of the slot 13 and perforation 8. This particularly reduces resistance to drawing smoke through the filter element 3 whilst a user tuned the filter to obtain high tar delivery states.
It will be understood that any plurality of perforations 8 and/or slots 13 could be provided to achieve the same function of varying the ventilation level in the filter component 3, the common principle of ventilation variation remaining identical and based on alignment/misalignment of said perforations 8 and slot 13 upon rotation of the mouth end segment 5 of the filter with respect to the tobacco end segment 6.
Preferably, the perforations 8 are of equal length and can vary from 2.00 mm to 4.5 mm, for example. In a preferred embodiment, there are three perforations 8 formed into the plug wrap 40, situated on the same plane and located at an angle Θ of approximately 120 degrees from each other, as shown in Figure 5.
Figures 6A and 6B shows the variation of the airflow through the filter component 3 represented in Figure 7, using relatively small perforations 8, e.g. 2.5 mm and matching slots 13 (Figure 6A) and relatively large perforations 8, e.g. 4.0 mm and matching slots 13 (Figure 6B). Since the plug wrap 40 is porous, airflow always passes through the filter component 3, resulting in a relatively weak but permanent airflow in the case of relatively small perforations 8 and matching slots 13 (Figure 6A), and a relatively strong, permanent airflow in the case of relatively large perforations 8 and matching slots 13 (Figure 6B).
Figure 8 is a table reproducing minimum and maximum tar deliveries obtained for five different smoking articles according to the invention, with different filter structures (dual charcoal acetate or mono-acetate filters), different plug wrap porosities and different perforations sizes. The tar deliveries reproduced in that table were obtained under standard ISO smoking regime, following ISO standards for testing smoking articles (ISO 3308, ISO 4387).
An example method of manufacturing the filter according to the present invention will now be described.
In a first stage there is provided filter plug-forming material that may be a material such as cellulose acetate tow in a conventional and well-known manner in the industry of cigarette filter making. A continuous filter rod is hereby obtained. This continuous rod is then surrounded with a porous plug wrap 40 to hold the acetate tow in shape and segmented to produce individual filter components 3.
Individual filter components 3 are then loaded into a conventional smoking article maker which is equipped with a processing module to assemble filter components 3 and tobacco rods 2 to form cigarettes 1. The filter components 3 are then cut transversally to form two rotatable interconnected segments 5, 6. Perforations 8 are formed in the filter components 3 by laser or blade cutting.
In some embodiments, the pre-perforated tipping paper 9 may be used.
Alternatively, the tipping paper 9 may be perforated and cut or preferably pre-cut to define separation line 12 between bands 10, 1 1 of the tipping paper 9 and then supplied and wrapped around the filter component 3 to connect it with the tobacco rod 2 to form a cigarette product. The filter components 3 are submitted to a laser or blade cut to form simultaneously perforations 8 in the tobacco end filter segment 6 and corresponding slots 13 in the tipping paper 9. Finally, the mouth end filter segment 5 is then twisted to misalign perforations 8 and slots 13 of the filters and thereby set the cigarette products 1 at the lowest level of ventilation of the filter components 3. The finished cigarette products are then gathered to form a bundle which is then packed for sale.

Claims

1. A filter element (3) for a smoking article, the filter element (3) comprising:
at least one plug of filter material surrounded by a substantially air permeable plug wrap (40), wherein the plug of filter material comprises at least two segments (5, 6) being longitudinally aligned and rotatably mounted about a common longitudinal axis, at least one of the segments (5, 6) comprising at least one perforation (8) formed in the substantially air permeable plug wrap (40); and
a wrapping material (9) surrounding at least one portion of the substantially air permeable plug wrap (40), the wrapping material (9) comprising a first part (10) attached to a first (5) of the two segments of the plug of filter material and a second part (1 1 ) attached to the second segment (6) of the plug of filter material, and comprising at least one aperture (13) formed therein,
the first and second parts (10, 1 1 ) of the wrapping material (9) and first and second segments (5, 6) of the plug of filter material being arranged such that the respective at least one perforation (8) of the substantially air permeable plug wrap (40) and the at least one aperture (13) of the wrapping material (9) can be superimposed upon rotation of one of the segments (5, 6) of the plug of filter material about the common longitudinal axis to vary the filter ventilation.
2. A filter element (3) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforation (8) is formed in the second segment (6) of the filter material and the at least one aperture (13) is formed in the second part (1 1 ) of the wrapping material (9).
3. A filter element (3) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the at least one perforation (8) has a first length and each of the at least one aperture (18) has a second length.
4. A filter element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the at least one perforation (8) and each of the at least one aperture (18) is located in a first plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis.
5. A filter element according to claim 4, wherein the at least one of the segments (5, 6) of the filter material comprises at least three perforations (8) spaced equidistally from each other.
6. A filter element according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one second plug of filter material comprising an adsorbent material, preferably activated charcoal.
7. A filter element according to any preceding claim, wherein the plug wrap porosity is comprised between about 1300 CU and about 24000 CU.
8. A smoking article (1 ) comprising a filter element (3) according to any of claims 1 to 7 and a tobacco rod (2) connected to an end of the filter element (3) by the wrapping material (9) overlapping said end of the filter element (3) and one end of the tobacco rod (2).
9. A smoking article according to claim 8, having a maximum pressure drop of below 130 mmH20.
10. A smoking article (1 ) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second part of the wrapping material (1 1 ) comprising the aperture (13) surrounds a segment (6) of the plug of filter material including the perforation (8) and at least part of a segment (6) of the plug of filter material free from the at least one perforation (8).
1 1. A smoking article (1 ) according to any of claims 9 to 10, wherein the first and second parts (10, 1 1 ) of the wrapping material (9) are separated by a circumferential slit (12) around the filter plug.
12. A smoking article according to claim 1 1 , wherein the first and second segments (5, 6) of the plug of filter material are separated by a circumferential cut (7) in a second plane perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis, and wherein the circumferential slit (12) is located in the second plane.
EP15704818.2A 2014-03-11 2015-02-18 Filter element for a smoking article Active EP3116333B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL15704818T PL3116333T3 (en) 2014-03-11 2015-02-18 Filter element for a smoking article

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14158737 2014-03-11
PCT/EP2015/053418 WO2015135723A1 (en) 2014-03-11 2015-02-18 Filter element for a smoking article

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3116333A1 true EP3116333A1 (en) 2017-01-18
EP3116333B1 EP3116333B1 (en) 2018-12-19

Family

ID=50239489

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15704818.2A Active EP3116333B1 (en) 2014-03-11 2015-02-18 Filter element for a smoking article

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3116333B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2017507660A (en)
KR (1) KR20160134732A (en)
EA (1) EA032253B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2706491T3 (en)
PL (1) PL3116333T3 (en)
TR (1) TR201900291T4 (en)
WO (1) WO2015135723A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110392533B (en) 2017-04-03 2022-04-08 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 Smoking article mouthpiece configured to receive an insertion unit
WO2020220507A1 (en) * 2019-04-29 2020-11-05 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 Low-retention heat-not-burn rolled cigarette
CN113197341B (en) * 2021-05-31 2025-05-02 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 Heated cigarette capable of adjusting tube wall air permeability and air permeability position and adjustment method
WO2025126308A1 (en) * 2023-12-12 2025-06-19 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Flavor-generating article

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4649944A (en) * 1982-09-30 1987-03-17 Philip Morris Incorporated Filter cigarette
US4570649A (en) * 1982-09-30 1986-02-18 Philip Morris Incorporated Filter cigarette
US4646763A (en) * 1985-11-19 1987-03-03 Philip Morris Incorporated Adjustable filter cigarette
US4687009A (en) * 1986-02-24 1987-08-18 Philip Morris Incorporated Adjustable filter cigarette and method of manufacture thereof
JP3181248B2 (en) * 1997-10-06 2001-07-03 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Cigarette with filter and filter for cigarette
EP2368448A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-28 Philip Morris Products S.A. Smoking article with variable ventilation
GB201116866D0 (en) * 2011-09-29 2011-11-09 British American Tobacco Co Smoking articles
AR089183A1 (en) * 2011-11-30 2014-08-06 Philip Morris Products Sa ARTICLE TO SMOKE WITH A VENTILATED NOZZLE THAT INCLUDES FIRST AND SECOND ROADS OF AIR FLOW

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EA032253B1 (en) 2019-04-30
PL3116333T3 (en) 2019-06-28
KR20160134732A (en) 2016-11-23
ES2706491T3 (en) 2019-03-29
WO2015135723A1 (en) 2015-09-17
EP3116333B1 (en) 2018-12-19
JP2017507660A (en) 2017-03-23
TR201900291T4 (en) 2019-02-21
EA201691601A1 (en) 2017-03-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2785207B1 (en) Smoking article with a ventilated mouthpiece comprising first and second airflow pathways
EP3229616B1 (en) A smoking article, a filter and a method of manufacturing a smoking article
EP0908110B1 (en) Filter-tipped cigarette and filter for a cigarette
EP3027071B1 (en) Filter element for a smoking article
EP2661184B1 (en) Smoking article
EP3102055B1 (en) Multi-segment filter tube
EP2352398B1 (en) Filter for a smoking article
WO2009031038A2 (en) Smoking article with variable ventilation
EP3116333B1 (en) Filter element for a smoking article
EP2352397B1 (en) Filter for a smoking article
EP3242569B1 (en) Variable pressure drop smoking article
HK1228209A1 (en) Multi-segment filter tube
HK1228209B (en) Multi-segment filter tube
HK1157150A (en) Filter for a smoking article

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

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

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20160907

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: OKUNO, HIROSHI

Inventor name: NAGAI, NOBUO

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20171124

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20180713

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: VALIPAT S.A. GEVERS SA, CH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602015021818

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1077733

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20190115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: RO

Ref legal event code: EPE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: FP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2706491

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20190329

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PCAR

Free format text: NEW ADDRESS: RUE DES NOYERS 11, 2000 NEUCHATEL (CH)

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref document number: 20190400203

Country of ref document: GR

Effective date: 20190422

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190319

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190319

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1077733

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20181219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190419

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190419

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602015021818

Country of ref document: DE

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190218

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20190228

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20190920

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190228

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190218

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20150218

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20220216

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20220216

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20220216

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: RO

Payment date: 20220210

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: PL

Payment date: 20220210

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20220216

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: GR

Payment date: 20220221

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181219

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20220426

Year of fee payment: 8

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230522

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20230301

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230218

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230228

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230228

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230301

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230906

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20240405

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230218

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20230218

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20260219

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20260218

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20260224

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20260218

Year of fee payment: 12