EP3242569B1

EP3242569B1 - Variable pressure drop smoking article

Info

Publication number: EP3242569B1
Application number: EP15817287.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshihiro Matsuura; Franz-Josef TRITZ
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2015-01-07
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2020-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-18
Also published as: JP2018500916A; TW201637578A; EP3242569A1; EA033341B1; PL3242569T3; WO2016110404A1; JP6554544B2; KR20170102955A; TWI681725B; EA201791335A1

Description

The present invention relates to a smoking article and a method for manufacturing said smoking article. In particular, the present invention relates to a smoking article comprising a filter component 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 components for smoking articles are, of course, well known. It is also well known to provide filter components 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. An example of this configuration is shown in US4570649 . 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 minimum and a maximum tar delivery / flavour state. The filter component is typically adjusted from the minimum state to the maximum state by rotating a section of the filter relative to the remainder of the smoking article either to the left or to the right by about 45 degrees. Correspondingly, a 'MIN' label is typically shown on the outside of the wrapping paper, surrounded by 'MAX' labels on either side. EP 2777409 A1 provides one such example however the labels are provided in the form of shapes which can be longitudinally aligned by rotation of the filter relative to the remainder of the smoking article.
Smoking articles incorporating such filter components are often referred to as variable pressure drop (VPD) cigarettes. Consumer researches have shown that the provision of a second maximum state gives rise to an element of uncertainty over how to use VPD cigarettes. It would therefore be desirable to remove the second maximum state so that the filter is simply adjustable between a single maximum state and a single minimum state. This requires a new type of smoking article to be produced however, as herein described.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:

providing a filter component having a plug of filter material having first and second segments, wherein said segments are aligned along a common longitudinal axis and wherein the first segment is rotatable relative to the second segment about said longitudinal axis between two extreme positions,
attaching an end of the filter component to a rod of smoking material with a wrapping material comprising first and second sections that are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter component, wherein the first section covers the first segment and wherein the first section partially covers the second segment within an overlap region, the second section covering the remainder of the second segment, wherein the first and second sections are adhered to the first and second segments respectively, and wherein the first section is not adhered to the plug at the overlap region;
rotating the first segment and first section relative to the second segment and second section to the first extreme position; and
perforating the first section and the filter material at the overlap region, when the first segment is rotated to the first extreme position so as to form a ventilation orifice configured to provide maximum ventilation at the first extreme position and minimum ventilation at the second extreme position.

A method for producing a smoking article having a filter component that enables control of the smoke intensity between a single maximum and minimum flavour state is thus provided. A more convenient VPD cigarette may thus be produced. The current manufacturing process is effectively adjusted so that an initial twist is applied to the filter plug, to a first extreme position (beyond which it will not safely rotate), before a ventilation orifice is formed, rather than forming the ventilation orifice at the neutral position between the two extremes. This method adds an additional step to the manufacturing process but can nonetheless be implemented for minimal additional cost. In one example, the first and second extreme positions are typically defined by a significant and/or sudden increase in the resistance to twist, as the first section and segment are twisted (rotated) relative to each other about the common longitudinal axis. The increase in resistance may be due to a common, uncut part of the filter component which joins the first and second segments reaching its material limits, i.e. the point beyond which the filter component starts to break up.
The method preferably further comprises marking the outside of the wrapping material with a strength indicator. The strength indicator provides a means for a user to see how open or closed the ventilation orifice is and, correspondingly, the strength of the smoke that will be delivered through the filter (either in terms of 'flavour' or tar). The strength indicator preferably indicates minimum taste intensity when the first and second segments are orientated at the first extreme position and a maximum taste intensity when the first and second segments are orientated at the second extreme position. Preferably still, the strength indicator comprises a scale and a corresponding pointer formed on opposing sections of wrapping paper, wherein rotation of the first segment relative to the second segment between the two extreme positions moves the pointer across the entire length of the scale. The scale may be provided using any kind of indicia including, for example, colour coding and numbering.
The method preferably further comprises rotating the first segment and first section relative to the second segment and second section to the second extreme position after forming the ventilation orifice. This step completes the manufacturing process for the smoking article, ensuring that it is in its maximum tar delivery state when packaged and sold to end users. The angle of rotation between the two extreme positions is preferably between 40 and 100 degrees, more preferably between 50 and 80 degrees.
The ventilation orifice is preferably a slit. Preferably still, said slit has a length of 2 to 6 mm. The plug of filter material may comprise an outer layer of plug wrap, wherein the ventilation orifice comprises a perforation of said plug wrap. Said plug wrap may be either a porous or a non-porous plug wrap. Furthermore, the plug of filter material preferably comprises cellulose acetate and/or paper.
At least two, preferably three, ventilation orifices are formed, each ventilation orifice being configured to provide maximum ventilation at the first extreme position and minimum ventilation at the second extreme position. Most preferably no more than three ventilation orifices are formed however.
Providing a filter component advantageously comprises partially cutting a cylindrical plug of filter material transversally to a longitudinal axis thereof so as to form first and second segments that are rotatable relative to one another about a common core extending along the longitudinal axis between the first and second segments. Attaching the filter component then preferably comprises covering the plug in wrapping material and cutting said wrapping material circumferentially so as to form first and second sections of wrapping material.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoking article as defined in claim 14.
The smoking article preferably comprises a strength indicator formed on the outside of the wrapping material, wherein the strength indicator indicates a minimum taste intensity state when the first and second segments are orientated at the first extreme position and a maximum taste intensity state when the first and second segments are orientated at the second extreme position.
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 are schematic illustrations of a smoking article according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a central portion of a filter component for a smoking article according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to the invention; and
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a prior art variable pressure drop cigarette.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a filter cigarette 1 comprises a tobacco rod 2 which is aligned with a filter component 3 about a common longitudinal axis. 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 cylindrical plug of filter material such as cellulose acetate tow, having plug wrap 4 extending over its outer surface, which is substantially impermeable to air (or 'non-porous').
The filter component 3 is divided into a first segment 5 (or 'mouth end filter segment') and a second segment 6 (or 'tobacco end filter segment') by a circumferential transverse cut 7, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 1. The cut 7 is applied only partially through the diameter of the filter plug 4 so as to leave a central connecting member, or 'core' 15, of filter material between the two segments 5, 6, as shown by Figure 3. This connecting member 15 advantageously acts as an axis of rotation for the segments 5, 6 relative to each other to allow variation of the filter ventilation. The first segment 5 may be rotated relative to the second segment 6 and about the longitudinal axis from a neutral position (at which the plug is not twisted) either clockwise, until a first extreme position is reached, or anticlockwise, until a second extreme position is reached. The first segment 5 cannot be rotated beyond either extreme position without applying excessive force that will damage or break the plug (typically at the core 15).
A wrapping material (or 'tipping paper') 9 is wrapped over the filter segments 5, 6. The wrapping material 9 is comprised of two sections / tipping bands 10, 11 which are separable at a cut line 12. The wrapping paper, and indeed the cut line 12 are shown by the dashed lines in Figure 3 which overlay the plug of filter material. In some embodiments, pre-perforated wrapping paper 9 may be used. Alternatively, the wrapping paper 9 may be perforated and cut or preferably precut to define the cut line 12 between the two sections 10, 11 of the tipping paper 9. A first section 10 is attached, usually by gluing, to the first segment 5 of the cigarette 1. The first section 10 extends around the entire circumference of the first segment 5, the core 15 and the second segment 6. The first section 10 extends the whole length of the first segment 5 and the core 6 along the longitudinal axis, and partially along the second segment 6 in the longitudinal axis (at an 'overlap region' 19) without being attached to either the core 15 or the second segment 6. The segment 5 is rotated, relative to the second segment 6, to a first extreme position and a laser (or alternatively a blade) is used to simultaneously perforate the first section and the plug wrap of the second segment 6 beneath (into the core of the filter component 3). A transverse slot 13 is thus formed at the overlap region 19 of the first section 10, which in combination with the perforation 8, forms an adjustable ventilation orifice 8, 13 to allow control over the ratio of tobacco smoke to air drawn through the mouth end of the filter cigarette 1. Alternatively, the slot 13 and the perforation 8 may be formed separately and then later aligned at the first extreme position when wrapping and adhering the wrapping paper 9 to the plug. A second section 11 of the wrapping paper 9 is attached by glue around the remaining part of the second segment 6 not covered by the first section 10 and partially over the tobacco rod 2 to attach the filter component 3 to the tobacco rod 2.
In use, a user can rotate the first segment 5 relative to the second segment 6 to vary the relative locations of the slot 13 and perforation 8 and vary the ventilation for the filter component 3 by varying the air mixture received by a user from the mouth end of the filter component 3 when the tobacco rod 2 is lit. A strength indicator 19 is inscribed onto on the outside of the wrapping paper 9 for a user to view how open or closed the ventilation orifice 8, 13 is and, correspondingly, the strength of smoke that will be delivered (either in terms of 'flavour' or tar). An example of this is shown in Figure 2. A pointer / arrow is provided on the first section 10, besides the cut line 12, whilst corresponding 'MAX-MIN labels are provided on the adjacent edge of the second section 11, next to the cut line 12. The wrapping paper 9 is wrapped such that the arrow aligns with the MIN label when the first segment 5 is rotated to the first extreme position (wherein the slot 13 and perforation 8 fully align). The arrow aligns with the MAX label at the second extreme position (wherein the slot 13 does not overlap the perforation 8). The arrow can hence move across the length of the scale formed by the MIN and MAX labels, but not beyond this scale without damaging being caused to the filter component 3.
Finally, the first segment 5 is twisted relative to the second segment 6 to misalign the perforation 8 and slot 13 and thereby set the cigarette 1 at the lowest level of ventilation, as often by law. The angle of rotation between the two extreme positions is between 40 and 100 degrees, preferably between 50 and 80 degrees. The finished cigarette products are then gathered to form a bundle which is then packed for sale.
Figure 4 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 first segment 5 with respect to the second 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 the left hand image filter component 3 is shown at the first extreme position wherein maximum air intake through the walls of the filter component 3 is allowed. In the central image the first segment 5 is rotated relative to the second segment 6 the neutral position, where the core 15 is not twisted and the perforation 8 is partially blocked by the first section 10. In the right hand image, the first segment 5 is rotated relative to the second segment 6 to the second extreme position, where the perforation 8 is fully blocked by the first section 10 and the ventilation orifice 8, 13 is therefore closed.
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 6 mm, for example. In a preferred embodiment, there are three perforations 8 formed into the plug wrap, situated on the same plane and located at an angle of approximately 120 degrees from each other.
In alternative examples of the invention, the plug wrap may be porous such that airflow always passes through the filter component 3, resulting in a relatively weak but permanent airflow to dilute the smoke inhaled.
Figure 5 is an illustration of a prior art variable pressure drop cigarette 21 provided for comparison with the present invention. The cigarette 21 is similar to that of the example previously discussed and incorporates a similar variable flow filter. In the prior art however, the perforation 8 and the slot 13 are aligned at the neutral position, between the two extreme positions (and not at the first extreme position). Correspondingly, the strength indicator has a central MIN label at the neutral position, and MAX labels at the first and second extreme positions (either side of the MIN label). The method of the invention instead requires that an initial twist is applied to rotate the first segment 5 relative to the second segment 6 to a first extreme position. This additional step may marginally slow down the manufacturing process so is not obvious to make however it allows for a more intuitive, user-friendly strength indicator to be provided.

Claims

A method for manufacturing a smoking article (1) comprising:
providing a filter component (3) having a plug of filter material having first and second segments (5, 6), wherein said segments are aligned along a common longitudinal axis and wherein the first segment is rotatable relative to the second segment about said longitudinal axis between two extreme positions,

attaching an end of the filter component (3) to a rod of smoking material (2) with a wrapping material (9) comprising first and second sections (10, 11) that are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter component, wherein the first section covers the first segment (5) and wherein the first section partially covers the second segment (6) within an overlap region (19), the second section covering the remainder of the second segment (6), wherein the first and second sections are adhered to the first and second segments respectively, and wherein the first section is not adhered to the plug at the overlap region; and

rotating the first segment (5) and first section (10) relative to the second segment (6) and second section (11) to the first extreme position;

characterised by perforating the first section (10) and the filter material at the overlap region (19), when the first segment (5) is rotated to the first extreme position so as to form a ventilation orifice (8, 13) configured to provide maximum ventilation at the first extreme position and minimum ventilation at the second extreme position.
A method according to claim 1, further comprising marking the outside of the wrapping material (9) with a strength indicator (19).
A method according to claim 2, wherein the strength indicator (19) indicates minimum taste intensity when the first and second segments (5, 6) are orientated at the first extreme position and a maximum taste intensity when the first and second segments are orientated at the second extreme position.
A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the strength indicator (19) comprises a scale and a corresponding pointer formed on opposing sections of wrapping paper (9), wherein rotation of the first segment (5) relative to the second segment (6) between the two extreme positions moves the pointer across the entire length of the scale.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising rotating the first segment (5) and first section (10) relative to the second segment (6) and second section (11) to the second extreme position after forming the ventilation orifice (8, 13).
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of rotation between the two extreme positions is between 40 and 100 degrees, preferably between 50 and 80 degrees.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation orifice (8, 13) is a slit.
A method according to claim 7, wherein said slit (8, 13) has a length of 2 to 6 mm.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plug of filter material comprises an outer layer of plug wrap (4) and wherein the ventilation orifice (8, 13) comprises a perforation (8) of said plug wrap.
A method according to claim 9, wherein the plug wrap (4) is either a porous or a non-porous plug wrap.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plug of filter material comprises cellulose acetate and/or paper.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two, preferably three, ventilation orifices (8, 13) are formed, each ventilation orifice being configured to provide maximum ventilation at the first extreme position and minimum ventilation at the second extreme position.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein providing a filter component comprises:
partially cutting a cylindrical plug of filter material transversally to a longitudinal axis thereof so as to form first and second segments (5, 6) that are rotatable relative to one another about a common core extending along the longitudinal axis between the first and second segments;

and wherein attaching the filter component (3) comprises covering the plug in wrapping material (9) and cutting said wrapping material circumferentially so as to form first and second sections (10, 11) of wrapping material.
A smoking article (1) comprising:
a rod of smoking material (2) attached to a filter component (3) by wrapping material (9);

the filter component (3) having a plug of filter material having first and second segments (5, 6), wherein said segments are aligned along a common longitudinal axis and wherein the filter component further comprising wrapping material (9) comprising first and second sections (10, 11) that are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the filter component, wherein the first section covers the first segment and wherein the first section partially covers the second segment within an overlap region (19), the second section covering the remainder of the second segment, wherein the first and second sections are adhered to the first and second segments respectively, and wherein the first section is not adhered to the plug at the overlap region;

characterised in that

the first segment (5) is rotatable relative to the second segment (6) about said longitudinal axis between two extreme positions, wherein the first segment (5) cannot be rotated beyond either extreme position without applying excessive force that will damage or break the plug; and wherein the filter component (3) further comprises a ventilation orifice (8, 13) configured to provide maximum ventilation at the first extreme position and minimum ventilation at the second extreme position.
A smoking article (1) according to claim 14, further comprising a strength indicator (19) formed on the outside of the wrapping material (9), wherein the strength indicator indicates a minimum taste intensity state when the first and second segments (5, 6) are orientated at the first extreme position and a maximum taste intensity state when the first and second segments are orientated at the second extreme position.