EP3468810A1

EP3468810A1 - Method for applying register marks to wrapping paper for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP3468810A1
Application number: EP18739534.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erfindernennung liegt noch nicht vor Die
Original assignee: Delfortgroup AG
Current assignee: Delfortgroup AG
Priority date: 2017-08-29
Filing date: 2018-07-10
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-10
Also published as: WO2019042639A1; CN111051070B; PL3468810T3; CN111051070A; JP7301812B2; EP3468810B1; KR20200045521A; ES2809976T3; US11241033B2; PH12020500378A1; JP2020531708A; US20200187553A1; BR112020001810A2; DE102017119819A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for marking a wrapping paper for smoking articles, comprising the following steps: (A) providing a wrapping paper for smoking articles, the wrapping paper comprising pulp fibers, and (B) producing markings on the wrapping paper by means of at least one of the following steps: (B.1) removing material from the wrapping paper, (B.2) mechanically changing the wrapping paper, (B.3) treating the surface of the wrapping paper with laser radiation having an energy density y in J-m-2, to which the following applies: y = k - x. x is the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper in J-m-2μm-1, and k is at least -8 μm, preferably at least -7 μm and especially preferably at least -6. μm, and at most -1 μm, preferably at most -2 μm and especially preferably at most -2.5 μm. Either repeating structures are produced on the wrapping paper in a step (C) such that each structure is at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to at least one marking, or in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which has repeating structures in the machine direction, and the markings are produced on the wrapping paper in step (B) in such a way that each marking is at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to at least one structure.

Description

METHOD OF APPLYING REGISTERING MARKS TO PACKING PAPER

FOR SMOKE PRODUCTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for applying registration marks on wrapping paper for smoking articles, so that the influence of the register marks on the taste of a manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article is minimized as possible by no or almost no substances are introduced into the wrapping paper, not even when smoking of the smoking article arise.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART A smoking article comprises a smokable material and a wrapping paper which wraps the smokable material to form a typically cylindrical strand. Typically, the smokable material is tobacco or other material that can generate an aerosol when exposed to heat and the wrapping paper is a cigarette paper. The smoking article may be a conventional cigarette that burns tobacco, but also a smoking article where the smokable material is merely heated to release an aerosol. In many cases, the smoking article also includes a filter that can filter aerosol components and that is wrapped in a filter wrap paper, and a tipping paper that bonds the filter and the strand together. In some smoking articles, the wrapping paper has structures which repeat in the longitudinal direction of the strand. These structures may be purely optical features, such as imprints, watermarks, or even functional features, such as smoking article inflammation control ("LIP") bands, a variable length wrapper composition, especially with respect to the burn salts, or any other features that may be visible or invisible.

With such smoking articles, there is a need for the structures to be in a defined position on the smoking article. In conventional smoking article manufacturing processes, an endless strand of smokable material is wrapped in the wrapping paper and later cut into short pieces of nominally equal length. The position of the cut results randomly from the specification that the pieces should all be as long as possible. len. The position of structures on the wrapping paper does not matter, so these structures are then in a random position on the smoking article.

Some smoke article manufacturing machines are equipped with sensors that can detect structures on the wrapping paper and synchronize the cut of the endless strand with the structures so that the structures are at a nominally fixed position on the smoking article. For this, however, the structures must be able to be detected by means of a sensor at the usual processing speeds of such machines. If this is not the case, if it is not possible to detect the structures with reasonable economic outlay or not sufficiently quickly, it is possible to print markings, so-called register marks, on the wrapping paper, which are in a fixed position relative to the structures and simple and reliably detected with a sensor. The intersection of the endless strand is then synchronized with these printed register marks.

It is known in the art to print register marks on paper. This happens especially in multi-color printing machines, where the imprints in the different colors must be properly positioned to each other. However, the imprint of such register marks on wrapping paper for smoking articles is problematic because the substances used in printing inks are often not allowed in wrapping papers for smoking articles. In addition, the printing inks and solvents used in printing may affect the taste of the smoking article, especially at the first draw. Such an influence may also be present if the printing ink is not burned or heated at all when using the smoking article.

In some cases, lasers are also used to apply register marks to paper by having a laser beam burn the paper in a small area and darken it at a defined location. Such methods are described, for example, in WO 98/35096, WO 2007/122284 or WO 2011/026693. There, however, certain pigments in the paper or coatings are provided on the paper to achieve a good mark by a controlled color change, which is not possible with wrapping papers for smoking articles usually because of the legal requirements regarding the ingredients. Even with no such pigments or coatings, the objective of the prior art methods is generally to produce a label that is as visible or detectable as possible without perforating the paper. In contrast to printing, no new substances are applied to the wrapping paper by means of a laser, but nevertheless incineration or pyrolysis products are produced which remain on the wrapping paper. When applying a laser for applying register marks on wrapping papers for smoking articles, in turn, new substances are present in the wrapping paper, which can affect the taste of a manufactured from this wrapping paper smoking article. In addition, the application of register marks to wrapping papers is a particular problem because these papers are comparatively thin, can be easily accidentally perforated, and often contain branding salts that affect the thermal degradation of the wrapping paper.

An impairment of the taste of a smoking article by treatment with a laser is known, for example, in filter cigarettes, in which a perforation track in the circumferential direction in the region of the filter is generated by means of a laser. Although the laser perforates the tipping paper and the filter wrapper paper as intended, it also penetrates into the filter material so that vaporization and combustion products of the filter material remain in the filter and are perceived as irritating by the smoker on first draft.

Thus, there is a need for methods to generate register marks on the wrapping paper of a smoking article so that the influence on the taste of a smoking article made from this wrapping paper remains as low as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method which makes it possible to generate register marks on the wrapping paper for a smoking article, so that the influence of these markings on the taste of a manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article remains as low as possible.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim l. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The inventors have found that, deviating from the prior art in which the visibility of the markers is paramount, the influence on the taste of the smoking article can be minimized by removing material from the wrapping paper, mechanically changing the wrapping paper, or if material is added, these are only substances that arise when smoking the smoking article and thus not adversely affect the taste. The method according to the invention for marking a wrapping paper for smoking articles thus comprises the steps

(A) providing a wrapping paper for smoking articles, wherein the wrapping paper comprises pulp fibers,

(B) generating marks on the wrapping paper by at least one of the following steps

(B.i) removing material from the wrapping paper,

(B.2) mechanical modification of the wrapping paper,

(B.3) treating the surface of the wrapping paper with laser radiation having an energy density y in J nr ² , for which: y = kx, where x is the enthalpy of combustion per volume of wrapping paper in J-nr ^ nr ¹ , and k is at least -8 μπι, preferably at least -7 μπι and very particularly preferably at least - 6.5 μπι is, and at most -1 μπι, preferably at most -2 μιη and very particularly preferably at most -2.5 μπι, and wherein either in one step (C) repeating structures are formed on the wrapping paper such that each structure is at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to at least one of the stalls, or in step (A), providing a wrapping paper having machine direction repeating structures; Marks in step (B) are produced on the wrapping paper so that any marldering at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to min is a structure.

Specifically, in the present disclosure, a "fixed" distance is a predetermined distance that allows the position of a mark to be closed to the position of the structure.

The inventive method in step (Bi) is based on the consideration that by removing material from the wrapping paper, in particular by removing material over the entire thickness of the wrapping paper, preferably by punching, perforating or cutting, changes in the wrapping paper are generated Register marks can be detected by suitable sensors. Particularly preferably, the change is at least one opening in the wrapping paper. In this case, only material is removed from the wrapping paper and thus avoided any influence on the taste of manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article. In the design of the openings in the wrapping paper but is to pay particular attention to strength requirements of the subsequent processing steps. The inventive method in step (B.2) is based on the consideration that by mechanical treatment of the wrapping paper, in particular by embossing or compressing, markings are produced on the wrapping paper which can be detected by suitable sensors. In general, the wrapping paper becomes more transparent by embossing or compressing at the points thus treated, and becomes darker with a suitable substrate, so that detection is possible. Again, no substances are added to the wrapping paper, and any influence on the taste of the smoking article made from the wrapping paper is avoided. It is also in the design of the markers to take into account the strength properties of the wrapping paper, but less than in the production of openings.

The inventive method in step (B.3) is based on the consideration that by treating the surface of the wrapping paper with laser radiation, components of the wrapping paper are changed in color by pyrolysis or combustion so that this change can be easily detected with suitable sensors. In general, the thus treated areas of the wrapping paper will appear darker than the wrapping paper.

When treated with laser radiation, however, there is a change in the composition of the wrapping paper, ie the entry of new substances. In the context of the invention, it is therefore ensured that these new substances are not appreciably different in type and quantity from those produced when smoking a smoking article made from the wrapping paper. This further inventive step is based on the consideration that smoking or heating of the smoking article in the wrapping paper produces pyrolysis or combustion products which the smoker absorbs when smoking and which adds to the flavor of the smoking article. During the pyrolysis or combustion of the wrapping paper, enthalpy of combustion is released, which is released to the environment in part, for example by heat radiation, heat conduction or convection, but partly also maintains the glow process by being conducted in the wrapping paper. However, when smoking the smoking article, the wrapping paper is incompletely burned so that it does not release all of the enthalpy of combustion, such as may be measured in a calorimeter. On the other hand, energy can also be introduced into the wrapping paper by the smokable material.

With regard to the energy introduced by the laser, it has to be taken into consideration that during treatment with the laser only the surface is thermally stressed while smoking the smoke article, the entire mass of the wrapping paper is thermally degraded. Furthermore, the duration of thermal exposure to the laser is much shorter than when smoking the smoking article. Also, not all the laser radiation is absorbed by the wrapping paper, but a part is reflected and a part penetrates the wrapping paper.

Taking all of these complex aspects into account, one can now choose the energy density of the laser to provide the wrapping paper with a similar amount of energy to the surface to be marbled to a certain depth of the wrapping paper as it does when smoking the smoking article from the vicinity of that surface would be supplied to the same volume. Then one can assume that similar substances arise in similar proportions to each other, as is the case when smoking the smoking article, and thus an undesirable influence on the taste of the smoking article is largely avoided. Investigations by the inventors have shown that this goal can be achieved if an energy density y (in J-nr ² ) is chosen for the laser radiation, for which: y = kx, where x is the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper in J-nr ^ unr ¹ , and wherein k is at least -8 μπι and preferably at least -7 μπι and very particularly preferably at least -6.5 μιη, and at most -1 μηι, preferably at most -2 μπι and most preferably at most -2.5 μηι amounts. In particularly preferred embodiments of the method is -5.0 μπι iks -4.0 μπι.

Note that this inventive concept is in contrast to the prior art teachings that a person skilled in the art would be inclined to introduce little energy through the laser in materials that release a great deal of energy under thermal stress, such as ignition or perforation of the material. In contrast, a higher energy density of the laser radiation is to be selected according to the teachings of this invention at higher energy released, which is reflected in the constant of proportionality k, so as possible as the same substances as in a pyrolysis or combustion of the wrapping paper on the smoking article.

In preferred embodiments, for each of the steps (Bi), (B.2) and (B.3), only substances which are already contained in the wrapping paper in step (A) or when smoking are added to the wrapping paper, if any a manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article arise.

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the invention. On the wrapping paper 1 with the machine direction indicated by arrow 3 and the direction indicated by arrow 4 are structures 7 which are either on the wrapping paper 1 provided in step (A) already present, or applied according to step (C). To synchronize the paper run marks 2 are generated on the wrapping paper, so that each mark 2 is located in the machine direction at a fixed distance 8 relative to each of the structures 7.

The wrapping paper for smoking articles provided in step (A) of the method of the invention comprises pulp fibers. The pulp fibers are required because they give the wrapping paper the necessary strength. The pulp fibers are preferably wood pulp fibers, more preferably long fiber pulp, such as spruce, pine or larch, or short fiber pulp, such as birch, beech or eucalyptus and mixtures thereof. In other preferred embodiments, the pulp fibers are partially or wholly other than plants such as flax, hemp, sisal, jute, abaca, cotton, esparto grass, or mixtures thereof. In principle, there are no restrictions on the selection of the pulp fibers, so that the wrapping paper can also contain pulp fibers of regenerated cellulose, such as lyocell fibers, viscose fibers or modal fibers, for example. Of course, legal requirements concerning the ingredients of a wrapping paper for smoking articles must be observed.

The wrapping paper preferably contains at least 50% by weight, particularly preferably at least 60% by weight, very particularly preferably at least 70% by weight of cellulose fibers and preferably at most 100% by weight, particularly preferably at most 80% by weight of pulp fibers. The percentages are based on the total mass of the wrapping paper.

The wrapping paper may contain filler. The filler is preferably an oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate or silicate or a mixture thereof. Particularly preferred is calcium carbonate, in particular precipitated calcium carbonate. Other fillers which may find preference in smoking article wrapping papers are magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, titanium dioxide, talc and kaolin, or mixtures thereof. However, special fillers can also be used which irreversibly change their color when exposed to laser radiation and thus contribute to the visibility of the marking, for example iron oxides. Here too, however, the legal provisions regarding the ingredients of the wrapping paper for smoking articles must be observed. The wrapping paper provided in step (A) of the process preferably contains at least 10% by weight, in particular at least 20% by weight and preferably at most 50% by weight, more preferably at most 40% by weight and most preferably at most 35% by weight .- of the filler. The percentages refer to the total mass of the wrapper. development papiers. In an alternative embodiment, the wrapping paper for smoking articles contains no filler. This alternative embodiment is particularly preferred when the roll-your-own wrapping paper is to be used.

Particularly with regard to the use of smoking articles in which the smokable material is burned, for example for conventional cigarettes, the wrapping paper may also contain at least one fire salt, which increase or reduce the smoldering speed of the smoking article or the appearance of the ashes of the burnt tobacco together with the burnt wrapping paper. Since Brandsalze often influence the thermal degradation of the wrapping paper and thus the enthalpy of combustion, they also play a role in the choice of the energy density of the laser radiation in step (B.3). The wrapping paper therefore preferably comprises one or more brand salts selected from the group consisting of citrates, malates, tartrates, acetates, nitrates, succinates, fumarates, gluconates, glycolates, lactates, oxalates, salicylates, α-hydroxycaprylates, phosphates, chlorides and bicarbonates, preferably selected from the group consisting of trisodium citrate, tripotassium citrate and mixtures thereof. As a flame retardant agent, the wrapping paper may also contain substances selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, boric acid and mixtures thereof.

The content of brominating salts in the wrapping paper is preferably at least 0.5% by weight, particularly preferably at least 0.7% by weight, very particularly preferably at least 1.0% by weight and / or at most 7.0% by weight, more preferably at most 5.0% by weight and most preferably at most 3.0% by weight. In an alternative embodiment, the wrapping paper for smoking articles contains no burn salts. This embodiment is particularly preferred when the wrapping paper is to be used for manually-made smoking articles ("roll-your-own").

The wrapping paper may contain other components known in the art. These include, for example, dyes, pigments, flavorings or inorganic fibers, such as glass fibers. However, the use of such substances is restricted in many countries by legal regulations.

The basis weight of the wrapping paper is important to the process of the invention because it substantially determines the mechanical strength of the wrapping paper and affects the design of step (B). The wrapping paper for the process according to the invention in preferred embodiments has a basis weight between 10 g / m ² and loo g / m ² , preferably between 20 g / m ² and 50 g / m ² and more preferably between 25 g / m ² and 35 g / m ² . The basis weight of the wrapping paper can be determined according to ISO 536: 2012.

For the same reasons, the thickness of the wrapping paper also plays a role in the process according to the invention. The thickness of the wrapping paper is in preferred embodiments between 15 μιη and 100 μηι, preferably between 30 μιη and 60 μπι and most preferably between 40 μηι and 50 μηι. The thickness of the wrapping paper can be determined on a single layer according to ISO 534: 2011.

For the method of the invention, it is important that the wrapping paper have regularly repeating structures in the machine direction, so that it is necessary to apply marks in a fixed relative position to any structure used in later processing steps to synchronize processing steps with the travel of the wrapping paper can.

These structures can be added to the wrapping paper as in step (C) according to a variant of the method according to the invention after the application of the markers, or according to an alternative variant of the inventive method already be present on the wrapping paper provided in step (A).

The invention is not limited to any particular type of structures. These may be, for example, printed, embossed or stamped features on the wrapping paper which are to appear in a fixed position on the smoking article made from this wrapping paper. Likewise, it may be watermarks, sieve marks or limescale. The type of structures is not limited to optically perceptible features, but may also include functional features. These include, for example, tapes printed on the wrapping paper and used to self-extinguish a smoking article made therefrom, or perforations serving to dilute the aerosol flowing through the smoking article, as described in WO 2011/120687. Likewise, the structures may be that the composition of the wrapping paper varies in the machine direction in a regular manner, in particular with respect to the content of brand salts, as described in WO 2014/202319. Preferably, the inventive method can be used when the structures for sensors can not be detected or only with great effort. The production of the structures on the wrapping paper in step (C) or in a step upstream of step (A) may thus preferably include printing, embossing, perforating, stamping, impregnating, impregnating, coating or spraying. The structures are repeating regularly in the machine direction, whereby the machine direction is to be understood as meaning the direction in which the wrapping paper moves in that further processing step which requires synchronization with the structures on the wrapping paper. In most cases, this is the same direction in which the wrapping paper can be produced on a prior art paper machine, ie the "machine direction" of the wrapping paper In preferred embodiments, the wrapping paper is in the form of an elongate web. and the "machine direction" corresponds to the longitudinal direction of this web.

The step (B.i) of the method according to the invention can preferably be designed so that material is removed over the entire thickness of the wrapping paper and therefore at least one opening in the wrapping paper is produced. Particularly preferably, the at least one opening is produced by punching, perforating or cutting. Less preferred, but also in the sense of the method according to the invention, is the superficial removal of material from the wrapping paper, for example by grinding or scratching, so that although the transparency of the wrapping paper is increased in this area, but no opening is formed.

If the step (Bi) is realized by perforation or cutting, preferably mechanical perforation or cutting tools or a laser can be used, more preferably this step is performed by a C0 ₂ laser.

In the form of the marking produced according to step (Bi), care is taken in preferred embodiments that the transversely outermost boundaries of the marking do not have excessively small radii of curvature. In the present disclosure, the "transverse direction" refers to the direction orthogonal to the machine direction Preferably, the radius of curvature of the transversely outermost boundary is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm and more preferably at least 0.5 mm Machine direction tensile stresses can be effectively reduced at these extreme limits, since such stress peaks can easily lead to the wrapping paper being torn off during further processing and can reduce productivity, Since the transversely extreme outermost boundaries of the marking can also be straight lines, the radius of curvature can be arbitrarily high his. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 2 for an exemplary explanation. FIG. 2 shows a wrapping paper 1 with markings 2, which are designed, for example, as elliptical openings in the wrapping paper. The machine direction of the wrapping paper is indicated by arrow 3, while the transverse direction indicated by arrow 4 is substantially orthogonal thereto. In the enlarged view 6 of the marking 2, the transversely outermost boundary 5 of the lining 2 is shown enlarged, and the radius of curvature of the transversely outermost boundary 5 designated R is shown.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the marking is a circular opening with a diameter of at least 0.3 mm and at most 2.0 mm, preferably of at least 0.5 mm and at most 1.5 mm.

The step (B.2) of the method according to the invention can preferably be designed so that the mechanical treatment involves embossing or compressing the wrapping paper. In the process, the wrapping paper is compressed in one area, so that the transparency increases locally. Against a dark background, the mark is then detectable over the untreated wrapping paper as a dark area for sensors. In the preferred embodiment, embossing or compression of the wrapping paper may be accomplished by applying mechanical pressure between two patterned rollers which create a mark in the wrapping paper.

The line force for embossing the wrapping paper is important to the process of the invention. Preferably, the line force for embossing the wrapping paper for smoking articles is 70 N / mm to 130 N / mm, more preferably 80 N / mm to 120 N / mm, and most preferably 90 N / mm to 115 N / mm. With this line force, one achieves embossing that can be easily detected by optical sensors, but does not appreciably reduce the tensile strength of the wrapping paper.

The moisture content of the paper is also important for the embossing result in the process according to the invention. The embossing is preferably carried out at an increased moisture content of the paper from 5% by weight to 10% by weight and more preferably from 7% by weight to 9% by weight, the percentages being based on the mass of the wrapper paper. With this increased humidity, the embossing provides a clear visible marking, which can then also be detected automatically more easily.

A further preferred embodiment of this method step is the production of markings in the region of the press section of the paper machine during the production of the wrapping paper, that is to say on the wrapping paper which has not yet been "completely finished" For example, an embossing process may be used which is very similar to the previously described embossing process on the finished wrapping paper, except that the moisture content of the wrapping paper in the press section is higher than in the fully finished wrapping paper. In particular, a cylinder provided with a corresponding pattern can also be used here. An alternative embodiment of this method step comprises creating markings by corresponding devices on the screen of the paper machine in the production of the wrapping paper in the same way that watermarks on papers can be made. The step (B.3) of the method according to the invention can preferably be designed such that it comprises the following substeps:

(B3.1) Selection of the energy density of the laser radiation based on the combustion enthalpy per volume of the wrapping paper,

(B3.2) marking the wrapping paper using laser radiation of the energy density selected in step (B3.1) so that regularly repeating machine direction markings are produced on the wrapping paper.

For the selection of the energy density of the laser radiation in step (B3.1) of the method according to the invention based on the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper, it is advantageous, but not necessary, if the combustion enthalpy of the wrapping paper is known.

The combustion enthalpy of the wrapping paper can be determined, for example, by measurement with a calorimeter, in particular with a reaction calorimeter. In many cases, however, the components of the wrapping paper are substances whose combustion enthalpies are known with sufficient accuracy, so that the combustion enthalpy can also be calculated from the known composition of the wrapping paper. Such exemplary calculations will be described below. In a preferred embodiment of step (B3.1) according to the invention, it is then no longer necessary to determine the combustion enthalpy itself numerically, but one will be able to derive directly from the composition of the wrapping paper and from other properties, in particular the thickness and the basis weight, to set a suitable energy density for the laser radiation. In this sense, knowledge of the enthalpy of combustion as an intermediate quantity is advantageous, but not necessary. In any case, from step (B3.1) of the preferred method according to the invention, methods should also be included in which the enthalpy of combustion is not determined explicitly, but quantities for selecting the energy density are used, which are the combustion enthalpy significantly influence. These quantities are in particular the substances used in the wrapping paper, their quantity, the basis weight or the thickness of the wrapping paper.

The selection of the energy density using the combustion enthalpy in step (B3.1) of the preferred method according to the invention may preferably include the use of a mathematical function y = f (x) whose input x is the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the envelope paper and the output y is the energy density of the Laser radiation is. In preferred embodiments, the function in the relevant range xe [x ₀ , Xi] is a monotonically decreasing function, ie df (x) / dx <o for all xe [x ₀ , Xi], particularly preferably a strictly monotonically decreasing function, df (x) / dx <o xe for all [x _0, x j, and most preferably a linear function y = kx + d k <o, in particular a proportionality of the form y = kx where k <o. the interval [ x ₀ , xj is so large that it contains that interval as a subset, which is spanned by the highest combustion enthalpy and the highest combustion enthalpy, in each case per volume of the wrapping paper, of those wrapping papers to which the method according to the invention is to be applied.

In preferred methods, the energy density is selected using the combustion enthalpy per volume of wrapping paper by using the above-mentioned function y = f (x) where y = kx, k <o, where k is at least -8 μπι and preferably at least -7 around and very particularly preferably at least -6.5 μηι amounts and at most -1 μπι, preferably at most -2 μη and very particularly preferably at most -2.5 μηι. Particularly preferred for k is an interval of -5.0 μπι to -4.0 μη. In the function f (x), the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper in J-nr ^ nr ^{1 is} to be used, and the energy density of the laser radiation is obtained in J-nr ² .

The laser radiation used in step (B.3) of the inventive method for marking the wrapping paper has one or more wavelengths which are of importance for the energy density required for the marking. In particular, the wrapping paper should absorb the one or more wavelengths of the laser radiation substantially well. A wavelength of at least 8 μπι and at most 12 microns is preferred, and very particularly preferred is laser radiation having a wavelength of about 10.6 μπι, which is generated by a C0 ₂ laser. However, the use of other sources for the laser radiation is likewise possible in the method according to the invention.

The power of the laser radiation can vary within a wide range and, in addition to the required energy density, depends above all on the area which, per unit of time, depends on the laser beam. Radiation should be treated. The skilled person will be able to determine a suitable power of the laser. An example for calculating the relationship between energy density and the required power of the laser radiation is given below.

Other parameters that are important in the selection of a laser, for example, whether a continuous or pulsed laser beam is to be used, the expert can choose based on experience or simply determine by experiments. The markings produced on the wrapping paper in step (B) of the method according to the invention should be designed such that they can be reliably detected by simple optical sensors, in particular those which detect brightness differences. For this it is helpful if the markers differ sufficiently clearly in their color or whiteness from the rest of the wrapping paper, and if the wrapping paper itself otherwise has no structures that could confound the sensor with the markings. If the marking is an opening in the wrapping paper, the substrate must be colored differently from the wrapping paper in the area of the sensor, or a transmittance sensor (photocell) must be used. Markings produced on conventional white wrapping papers for smoking articles according to one of the method steps (B.2), or (B.3) are preferably continuous or broken lines in the transverse direction, that is to say in an at least approximately right angle to the machine direction as defined above. However, other marker patterns, such as circles, triangles, squares, or other geometric shapes may also be used.

Regardless of how it is generated, the extent of the machine direction mark is relevant to the method of the invention because its extent is important for reliable detection. In the manufacture of smoking articles, the wrapping paper reaches speeds of up to 10 m / s. The mark should be at least 1 μβ under the sensor to ensure reliable detection so that the mark should have a machine direction extension at least at least 0.01 mm. However, the extension in the machine direction at at least one point of the marking is preferably at least 0.10 mm and very particularly preferably at least 0.20 mm. The marking itself should be as little as possible visible on the smoking article. The extension of the mark in the machine direction should therefore be at most 5.00 mm, preferably at most 3.00 mm and very particularly preferably at most 1.00 mm. These preferred dimensions also take into account that the Tensile strength of the wrapping paper in the machine direction is so little reduced that further processing of the wrapping paper is possible.

For markings which do not or only insignificantly reduce the mechanical strength of the wrapping paper, such as those marks produced by the process steps (B.2) or (B.3), the marking may extend transversely across the entire width of the wrapping paper , The minimum extension of the mark in the transverse direction is determined by the ability of the sensor used to reliably detect the mark, and also depends on how accurately and how stably the wrapper paper can be guided under the detection surface of the sensor. The extent of the marking in the transverse direction is therefore preferably at least 0.20 mm, particularly preferably at least 0.50 mm and very particularly preferably at least 1.00 mm.

If the markings have been produced on a wide roll of wrapping paper which is later to be cut into narrower rolls, it is expedient to arrange the markings on the wrapping paper in such a way that there is at least one marking in the width direction on each of the narrow rolls. As a result, the markings can also be detected on subsequent individual processing steps on the individual narrow rollers.

For markings which appreciably reduce the mechanical strength of the wrapping paper, such as those markings produced after step (Bi), and in particular those markings formed by openings in the wrapping paper, the transverse dimension should be as small as possible. The expansion of the marking in the transverse direction is therefore preferably at least 0.20 mm, particularly preferably at least 0.50 mm and very particularly preferably at least 1.00 mm, and preferably at most 5.00 mm, particularly preferably at most 4.00 mm and most preferably at most 3.00 mm. If such markings are produced on a wide roll of wrapping paper which is later cut into narrower rolls, it is expedient to arrange the markings on the wrapping paper such that at least one mark is present on each of the narrow rolls in the transverse direction. As a result, the markings can also be detected on subsequent individual processing steps on the individual narrow rollers. The extent of the markings in the transverse direction is then preferably at most one third, more preferably at most one fifth, and most preferably at most one tenth of the width of the narrow roll. For cutting such a marked, wide roll into narrow rolls, it makes sense to mount the markings and to control the cutting process so that the markings are not cut and thus do not come to rest on the edge of the narrow rolls.

The mark may be on the wrapping paper on any side of the wrapping paper. When the stain is produced on the wrapping paper, one will create the stain on that side of the wrapping paper where it can be more easily detected in the subsequent processing step. For wrapping papers for smoking articles, this is preferably that side of the wrapping paper that is on the smoking article outside. This side of the wrapping paper is preferably the side facing away from the strainer in the manufacture of the wrapping paper on the paper machine and referred to as the top, while the strainer side is the side facing the strainer and typically faces the smokable material on the smoking article ,

If the mark is an opening in the wrapping paper, the opening can be made from either side or from both sides.

The position of each mark is basically arbitrary, as long as it is ensured that it is in a uniform and fixed distance for all marks in the machine direction to at least one structure on the wrapping paper. This distance must be known, so that in the subsequent processing step from the position of the mark on the position of the structure on the wrapping paper can be closed. More preferably, the position of the markers relative to the structures on the wrapping paper is selected so that the markings are not visible during normal use of the smoking article made from the wrapping paper. This may mean for filter cigarettes that the marks are positioned on the wrapping paper so that they are on the filter cigarette in the area where the tipping paper overlaps the strand of smokable material to cover the marks on the wrapping paper.

The individual steps (A), (B) and (C) of the method according to the invention can be carried out jointly on one device or separately on a plurality of devices. For example, in step (A), the wrapping paper may first be manufactured and rolled up on a conventional paper machine. On a separate device, the wrapping paper is unrolled again, the markings are produced on the wrapping paper in step (B), and the wrapping paper thus marked is rolled up again. On a further device, for example a printing press or a coating machine, the structures are then applied to the marked wrapping paper in step (Ci). It is also conceivable and preferred in certain applications to carry out steps (B) and (C) on the same device. For example, the device may be a printing press or coating machine in which the markings are first produced, step (B), and then the structures are applied in the same device, step (C). In this case, it is advantageous to provide between the marking unit performing step (B) and the device for applying the structures according to step (C) a register control known from the prior art which uses the markings detected by a sensor Positions of the marks and the structures to be applied synchronized with each other. This synchronization may mean compensating for the change in length of the wrapping paper during the paper pass through the device. In addition to known from the prior art printing machines, embossing machines, punching machines or perforating a device for applying structures on wrapping papers for smoking articles is also described in WO 2010/124879.

In the automated manufacture of smoking articles, the markings may then be detected by suitable sensors, and the usually continuous strand of smokable material encased in the wrapping paper may be cut at a location synchronized with the markings such that the structures have a fixed position on the body Take a smoking article.

For wrapping papers for the manual production of smoking articles, the roll of wrapping paper is cut into small leaflets so that they are suitable for the manual production of smoking articles ("roll-your-own") .The markings are detected on this machine and the cutting in leaflets synchronized with the markers, so that the structures are at a fixed position on the sheet and therefore also at a fixed position on the smoking article made from the leaflet.

In a variant of the method in which a wrapping paper is already provided in step (A) which already has the structures repeating in the machine direction, steps (A) and (B) are preferably carried out on the same apparatus. This variant of the method therefore provides that the wrapping paper already has structures and the markings are subsequently produced. In order for the markers to be in a fixed position relative to the structures, it is necessary to align the structures detect. For such a method it would therefore be obvious to carry out the detection of the structures in the later processing step itself, instead of first producing markings and detecting these markings in the later processing step. In other words, producing the markings at first glance appears superfluous if the structures have to be detected anyway.

However, there are cases in which the sensors for detecting the structures are complex and the detection is possible only at low speeds, for example if the structures are poorly visible or exist in a variable composition of the wrapping paper. In these cases, the method can be used advantageously.

In many applications for wrapping papers for smoking articles, the wrapping paper initially has a broad role and is later cut into a plurality of narrower rolls, so-called bobbins, for making the smoking articles. In the method according to the invention, the elaborate detection of the structures and the corresponding marking of the wrapping paper take place on a wide roll at low speed, whereas on the machines for producing smoking articles only a comparatively simple sensor system is needed to detect the markings instead of the structures high processing speeds can be achieved and costly sensor technology is saved. More preferably, the method can be used when the smoking article making machine is a cigarette machine and the later processing step is cutting an endless strand of smokable material wrapped in the wrapping paper.

Of course, between the individual steps, any intermediate steps may be carried out, as required for the production of the wrapping paper for smoking articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a wrapping paper on which structures and markings are applied.

Figure 2 shows a wrapping paper on which markings in the form of openings are formed. FIG. 3 illustrates the production of a wrapping paper by means of a paper machine, as well as a possible formation of markings in its wire section or press section. FIG. 4 illustrates a process in which markings and in the same device

Structures are formed on a wrapping paper.

Figure 5 illustrates a process in which a provided wrapping paper already

Having structures and markings are generated on the wrapping paper that they are at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to the associated structures.

FIG. 6 illustrates a similar process to FIG. 5 that lends itself when

Markers can be formed regardless of the running of the wrapping paper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method according to the invention will be explained in more detail below using the example of preferred embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows the production of the wrapping paper 150 according to the invention by means of a paper machine running in the machine direction 151. According to exemplary FIG. 3, the paper machine comprises a headbox area 100, a wire section 110, a press section 120, a dryer section 130 and a reel 140. From a headbox 101, an aqueous fiber suspension or fiber / filler suspension flows onto a rotating screen 111 on which by dewatering a wrapping paper 150 is formed. The wrapping paper 150 then passes through a press section 120 in which pressure is applied to the wrapping paper 150 through roller pairs 121 typically provided with a felt, thereby further dewatering the wrapping paper 150. Subsequently, the wrapping paper 150 passes through the dryer section 130 where it is contacted with at least one, but preferably a plurality of heated drying cylinders 131 and the water is removed by evaporation so that the wrapping paper 150 reaches a moisture content of 3% to 10%. Finally, the wrapping paper 150 is rolled up on a roll 141.

For producing markings after step (B.2) of the method according to the invention, for example, a patterned cylinder 112 in the wire section 110 of FIG Paper machine can be provided which exerts pressure on the still moist wrapping paper 150 and so displaces the material in the wrapping paper 150 and generates a pattern with higher transparency. Alternatively, for producing markings after step (B.2), it is also possible, for example, to provide a roller pair 122 in the press section 120 which transfers a pattern existing on one of the rollers 122 onto the wrapping paper 150 by mechanical pressure. Preferably, the roller pair is the last pair of rollers in the machine direction in the press section.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary production process of the wrapping paper according to the invention, in which, in the inventive step (A), a wrapping paper 200 which does not yet have any structures is provided on a roll 201 and runs in the machine direction 208. By means of a marking unit 202, markings are produced on the wrapping paper 200 in step (B). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the marking unit 202 is formed by a laser, with whose laser radiation the wrapping paper 200 is treated in a step (B.3). A detection unit 205, for example an optical sensor, detects the markings generated by the marking unit 202 and influences register control so that the structures produced by a device 206 on the wrapping paper 200 are at a fixed distance from the markings. For example, in the embodiment shown, the device 206 may be a printing device that is used to print self-extinguishing tapes on the wrapping paper 200. The register control can take place by a deflecting roller 203 which can be moved in the direction of the arrow 204 and which lengthens or shortens the length of the web between the marking unit 202 and the apparatus 206 and thus positions the markings and the structures relative to one another. Preferably, the detection unit 205 may also be provided behind the device 206, as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 4, because then the relative position of marks and structures on the wrapping paper 200 to each other can be determined directly and a regulation of the relative position is possible. In a final step, the wrapping paper 200 is rolled up on a roll 207.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary production process according to the invention in which the wrapping paper provided in step (A) already has structures. The wrapping paper 300 is thereby provided on a roll 301 and first passes in the machine direction 308 a register control, in which, for example by means of a movable in the direction of arrow 304 deflection roller 303, the length of the paper web between the roller 301 and a marking unit 302 (in the embodiment shown again Laser) can be lengthened or shortened so that the markings produced by the marking unit 302 mark exactly at a fixed distance relative to those on the wrapping paper 300th existing structures are located. A detection unit 305, which may be arranged in front of or behind the marking unit, detects at least the structures and influences the position of the deflection roller 303 in such a way that a fixed distance between markings and structures is produced on the wrapping paper 300. Preferably, the detection unit 305 is arranged behind the marking unit 302, because at this position both the markings and the structures can be detected and their relative position to each other can be directly determined and thus regulated. If the detection unit 305 is arranged in front of the marking unit 302, the distance between the detection unit 305 and the marking unit 302 is preferably as small as possible. Finally, the wrapping paper 300 is rolled up on a roll 307.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the production process according to the invention. In a step (A), a wrapping paper 400, which already has structures, is provided in the form of a roll 401 and traverses the process in the machine direction 408. A detection device 405, which is arranged in front of or behind the marking unit 402, detects the structures and controls them directly the marking unit 402 (laser) so that the marks produced by the marking unit 402 are at a fixed distance relative to the structures on the wrapping paper 400. This exemplary embodiment is preferably used when the generation of markings by the marking unit 402 can be triggered independently of the course of the wrapping paper. This will preferably be possible with a marking by means of laser according to step (B.3). The detection unit 405 can preferably also be arranged behind the marking unit 402, so that the relative position of markings and structures can be determined directly relative to each other and thus a regulation of this position is possible. Finally, the wrapping paper 400 is rolled up on a roll 407.

In a first step (A) of the process according to the invention, four different wrapping papers were provided with the data from Table 1 using calcium carbonate precipitated in addition to pulp fibers as filler and tripotassium citrate or mixtures of trisodium citrate and tripotassium citrate as firing salt. The papers were produced on a conventional long-sifting paper machine, as shown schematically and greatly simplified in FIG. Table 1 - Data of wrapping papers

PaFlächenDick cell filler crepe weight jηη substance content content

As an example of the process step (B.i), a roll having a width of 106 mm was cut from each wrapping paper, and marks were made on a punching device. The markings were circular openings with a diameter of 0.5 mm. Several such apertures were juxtaposed transversely, with the midpoint of the first aperture seen transversely from the edge at a distance of 13.25 mm from the edge and the midpoint of each further aperture away from the transverse aperture, 26.5 mm. The roll was then cut into bobbins 26.5 mm wide, as is customary for the production of cigarettes with a diameter of about 8 mm. As a result, the openings were positioned centrally on each bobbin in the transverse direction. The repetition rate of the machine direction openings was adapted to the specific manufacturing process of cigarettes. In this specific embodiment filter cigarettes were subsequently manufactured with a tobacco rod with a length of 54 mm. For this purpose, the tobacco rod was first cut into pieces with a length of 54 mm. The pieces were separated in the longitudinal direction and inserted between each two such pieces a double-length cigarette filter. A double wide tipping paper was glued around the filter and a portion of each of the two tobacco rod pieces to form a double cigarette connected at the mouth end. In the last step, the double cigarette was cut in the middle. From this manufacturing process results in an arrangement of the openings in the machine direction, starting from the center of the first opening in the machine direction, the next center of an opening 5 mm distance and again starting from the first opening, the next center has a distance of 108 mm , corresponding to twice the length of the tobacco rod on the cigarette.

By this arrangement, the openings come to lie under the tipping paper and are therefore not visible. In addition, it is avoided that the openings are cut in the manufacture of cigarettes. The openings could be detected reliably by means of a light barrier and the further processing of the wrapping paper into cigarettes was problem-free, which shows that the reduction of the tensile strength was sufficiently low. As an example of process step (B.2), each of the wrapping papers was given a 0.25 mm wide continuous line. Because of the higher thickness of the wrapping paper P2, a higher force of about 115 N / mm could be set than with the papers Ρι, P3 and P4, in which the line force for embossing was about 90 N / mm to 100 N / mm. For embossing, a higher moisture content of the wrapping paper of 5% by weight to 10% by weight, based on the mass of the wrapping paper, was chosen, because then the embossing was more clearly visible and easier to detect. As an alternative to the line pattern, a dot pattern was also marked on similar line forces.

The embossed markings, both the line pattern and the dot pattern, were clearly visible on all wrapper papers with the naked eye, so there was no doubt that they could be detected by sensors even at higher speeds.

An example of the method step (B.3) in the preferred embodiment comprising the steps (B3.1) and (B3.2) is described below. To determine the energy density of the laser radiation, the combustion enthalpies of the papers were first estimated. For this, the enthalpies of combustion of cellulose and citric acid according to Table 2 are known and for calcium carbonate in Table 2, the enthalpy for the reaction CaC0 ₃ - CaO + C0 _{2 is} given.

Table 2 - Enthalpies for the determination of the heat of combustion

From these data, the enthalpy of complete combustion of the wrapping papers can be estimated by multiplying and summing up the mass per unit area in the wrapping paper with the enthalpy per mass for all components, the citrate content of Table 1 being converted into the content of citric acid , The enthalpy per area thus obtained was divided by the thickness. The results are shown in Table 3. Table 3 - Estimated combustion enthalpies of wrapping papers

The marking of the papers was carried out with a C0 ₂ laser with a nominal power of 25 W, which can produce a continuous laser beam with a wavelength of 9.2 μπι to 10.9 μιη. The laser was operated at 70% of its rated power, ie 17.5 W. The marking pattern was a continuous line in the transverse direction of the wrapping paper having a width of 0.25 mm, which was produced at different speeds of 1 m / s to 7 m / s on the papers Pi, P2, P3 and P4. From these technical data, the theoretical energy densities given in Table 4 arithmetically obtained by dividing the laser power (17.5 W) by the speed and the line width. If the relation between combustion enthalpy per volume of the wrapping paper x in kJ-m- ² ^ mi and the energy density of the laser beam y in kJ no ^{2 is based on} a function y = f (x) = kx, then the proportionality factor k can be used for each of the Wrap wrapping papers Pi to P4 at different speeds. The values for k are also shown in Table 4.

- Proportional factor k

The wrapping papers were examined for their suitability for the manufacture of smoking products and their influence on the taste of a smoking article. Although the mark was sufficiently strong in all experiments to reliably detect the mark on the machine-direction wrapping paper with a simple sensor, they were no longer so strong at marking speeds of 6 m / s and 7 m / s that the mark was reliably detectable even at a wrapping paper running at high speed in the machine direction. Therefore, k should not exceed the value -l μιη and preferably be less than -2 μπι.

On the other hand, the energy density was still low enough that none of the wrapping papers was perforated, so that solely due to the marking result, the values for k can also be significantly smaller than -12 μπι.

In order to examine the flow of the flow, several continuous lines in the transverse direction were produced close to each other in the form of a 6 mm wide band on the wrapping paper and filter cigarettes were produced therefrom. The closely spaced lines formed a 6 mm wide band in the circumferential direction of the cigarette. It was ascertained whether there was a discernible difference in taste when smoking the gluten cone migrated from the untreated wrapper paper to the area of the tape when pulling on the cigarette. In all smoking articles with wrapping papers, which were manufactured at a speed of 1 m / s, ie values of k by about -11 μπι, a negative taste influence was noticeable, while the other smoking articles were unremarkable.

It follows that the value of k should preferably not be less than -8 μm, preferably it should not fall below -7 μm and very particularly preferably it should not fall below -6.5 μm. For reasons of detectability of the markers, the value for k should preferably not be higher than -1 μπι, particularly preferably not higher than -2 μπι, most preferably not higher than -2.5 μηι. The best results in terms of visibility of the marking and taste of the smoking article resulted in marking speeds of 2 m / s to 3 m / s, ie a value of k from -5.0 μη to -4.0 μπι. Of course one can further refine the function y = f (x) by including further paper parameters, such as air permeability, transparency or whiteness.

On a printing machine with corresponding sensors and registration control, a logo was printed on the wrapping paper to confirm that it is possible to make structures on the wrapping paper which are positioned at a fixed distance in the machine direction to the register marks, as in step (C) of FIG provided inventive method. As expected, this was easily possible, because the wrapping papers by the marking with the laser was not significantly changed in their mechanical properties, in particular in their tensile strength.

Claims

A method of marking a wrapping paper for smoking articles, comprising the following steps:

(B.l) removing material from the wrapping paper,

(B.2) mechanical modification of the wrapping paper,

(B.3) treating the surface of the wrapping paper with laser radiation having an energy density y in J nr ² , for which: y = kx,

where x is the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper in J-nr ^ m- ¹ ,

where k is at least -8 μπι and preferably at least -7 μηι and very particularly preferably at least -6.5 μπι, and wherein k is at most -1 μιη, preferably at most -2 μηιωκί very particularly preferably at most -2.5 μπι, either in a step (C), repeating structures are formed on the wrapping paper such that each structure is at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to at least one marking, or in step (A) providing a wrapping paper having machine direction repeating structures and the markers in step (B) are formed on the wrapping paper so that each mark is at a fixed distance in the machine direction relative to at least one structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: -5.0 μιη <k s-4.0 μηι.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, for each of the steps (Bl), (B.2) and (B.3), only substances which are already present in the wrapping paper in step (if any) are added to the wrapping paper ( A) are contained or arise during smoking of a manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pulp fibers are wholly or partly formed by wood pulp fibers, preferably from long fiber pulp, in particular from spruce, pine or larch, or from short fiber pulp, in particular from birch, beech or eucalyptus, or mixtures thereof.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pulp fibers are partially or wholly of flax, hemp, sisal, jute, Abacä, cotton, Esparto grass or mixtures thereof, and / or wherein the wrapping paper pulp fibers of regenerated cellulose, in particular Lyocell fibers, viscose fibers or modal fibers.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided, which at least 50 wt .-%, preferably at least 60 wt .-%, particularly preferably at least 70 wt .-% pulp fibers and at most 100 wt .-%, preferably at most 80 wt .-% pulp fibers, in each case based on the total mass of the wrapping paper.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which contains a filler, wherein the filler is preferably an oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate or silicate or a mixture thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the filler is wholly or partly formed by calcium carbonate, in particular precipitated calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, titanium dioxide, talc, kaolin or mixtures thereof, and / or in which at least a part of the filler so procure is that it irreversibly changes color when exposed to laser radiation.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which at least 10 parts by weight, preferably at least 20 Wt .-% and at most 50 wt .-%, preferably at most 40 wt .-% and particularly preferably at most 35 wt .-% of the filler contains, in each case based on the total mass of the wrapping paper.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which contains at least one Brandsalz, preferably selected from the group consisting of citrates, malates, tartrates, acetates, nitrates, succinates, fumarates, gluconates, Glycolates, lactates, oxalates, salicylates, α-hydroxycaprylates, phosphates, chlorides and bicarbonates and mixtures thereof, more preferably selected from the group consisting of trisodium citrate, tripotassium citrate and mixtures thereof.

A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which comprises fire retardants selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, mono-ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, boric acid and mixtures thereof.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the content of Brandsalzen in the wrapping paper, which is provided in step (A), at least 0.5 wt .-%, preferably at least 0.7 wt .-%, more preferably at least 1.0 wt .-% and / or at most 7.0 wt .-%, preferably at most 5.0 wt .-% and particularly preferably at most 3.0 wt .-% is, in each case based on the mass of the entire wrapping paper.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided which has a basis weight between 10 g / m ² and 100 g / m ² , preferably between 20 g / m ² and 50 g / m ² and more preferably between 25 g / m ² and 35 g / m ² .

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A) a wrapping paper is provided whose thickness is between 15 μπι and 100 μηι, preferably between 30 μπι and 60 μπι and very particularly preferably between 40 μηι and 50 μηι.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the repetitive structures are formed by one or more of the following structures:

printed, embossed or stamped features on the wrapping paper which are to appear in a fixed position on the smoking article made from this wrapping paper,

- watermarks, sieve marks or limescale,

- tapes printed on the wrapping paper and used to extinguish a smoking article made from them,

Perforations serving to dilute an aerosol flowing through the smoking article,

- regular, local changes in the composition of the wrapping paper in the machine direction, in particular local changes in the content of branding salts.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein prior to step (A) or step (C), said repeating structures are formed in a process comprising one or more printing, embossing, perforating, stamping, soaking steps , Impregnation, coating or spraying, or combinations thereof.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (B.i) at least one opening in the wrapping paper is produced, in particular by punching, perforating or cutting.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the case of perforating or cutting mechanical perforation or cutting tools or a laser, preferably a C0 ₂ laser are used.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (Bi) material is removed superficially from the wrapping paper, in particular by grinding or scratching, so that the transparency of the wrapping paper in this area is increased, but no opening is formed.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (bi) marks are generated, the transversely extreme limits have a radius of curvature of at least o, i mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm and more preferably at least 0.5 mm is.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapping paper in step (B.2) is embossed or compressed in such a way that increases the transparency of the wrapping paper locally.

The method of claim 21, wherein embossing or compressing the wrapping paper comprises applying mechanical pressure between two patterned rollers which produce a mark in the wrapping paper.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the wrapping paper for forming the markings is embossed with a line force which is 70 N / mm to 130 N / mm, preferably 80 N / mm to 120 N / mm and particularly preferably 90 N / mm to 115 N / mm.

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the embossing at an increased moisture content of the paper from 5 wt .-% to 10 wt .-%, preferably from 7 wt .-% to 9 wt .-% based on the Mass of the wrapping paper is carried out.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the markers are formed in step (B.2) during the production of the wrapping paper by locally compressing the not yet completely finished wrapping paper in a press section or on a wire of a paper machine, in particular using one with a corresponding pattern provided cylinder.

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step (B.3) comprises the following substeps:

(B3.1) selecting the energy density of the laser radiation based on the enthalpy of combustion per volume of the wrapping paper, and

(B3.2) marking the wrapping paper using laser radiation of the energy density selected in step (B3.1), so that on the wrapping paper Regularly repeating markings are generated in the machine direction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the enthalpy of combustion of the wrapping paper is determined by measurement with a calorimeter, in particular with a reaction calorimeter or in which the enthalpy of combustion of the wrapping paper based on information regarding the nature and amount of the constituents of the wrapping paper and information regarding the enthalpies of combustion the individual components are calculated or estimated.

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the laser radiation used in step (B.3) has a wavelength of at least 8 μπι and at most 12 μπι, preferably a wavelength of about 10.6 μπι, wherein the laser radiation preferably from a C0 ₂ laser is generated.

29. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in one of the method steps (B.2) or (B.3) marks in the form of continuous or broken lines are formed, which extend at least approximately at right angles to the machine direction.

30. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the markings have at least one location in the machine direction of at least 0.01 mm, preferably of at least 0.10 mm, and particularly preferably at least 0.20 mm, and wherein the expansion the markers in the machine direction is not more than 5.00 mm, preferably not more than 3.00 mm and very particularly preferably not more than 1.00 mm.

31. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension of the markings produced in one of the steps (B.2) or (B.3), orthogonal to the machine direction at least 0.20 mm, more preferably at least 0.50 mm and most preferably at least 1.00 mm.

32. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension of the markings produced in step (Bi), and in particular of the markings formed by openings in the wrapping paper, at least 0.20 mm, preferably at least 0.50 mm and more preferably at least 1.00 mm, and at most 5.00 mm, preferably at most 4.00 mm, and particularly preferably at most 3.00 mm.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the marks are formed on a wide roll of wrapping paper which is subsequently cut into narrower rolls and in which the marks are placed on the wrapping paper in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction considered at least one mark on each of the narrow rollers, wherein the extension of the markings in the direction orthogonal to the machine direction is preferably at most one third, more preferably at most one fifth, and most preferably at most one tenth of the width of the narrow roll, and / or wherein the markers are arranged and the cutting operation is controlled so that the markings are not cut and thus do not come to rest on the edge of the narrow rollers.

34. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the markers are formed on the side of the wrapping paper, which is located on the smoking article to be produced therefrom on the outside, this side of the wrapping paper is preferably the side which in the production of the wrapping paper on the Paper machine is facing away from the screen.

35. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of the markers relative to the structures on the wrapping paper is selected so that the markings are not visible during normal use of the manufactured from the wrapping paper smoking article.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the smoking article is formed by a filter cigarette, and wherein the markers are positioned on the wrapping paper so that they are located on the filter cigarette in a region in which the mouthpiece lag paper overlaps the strand of smokable material and thus covers the markings on the wrapping paper.

A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (A), the wrapping paper is first manufactured and rolled on a conventional paper machine, the wrapping paper is rewound on a separate device, the markings are produced in step (B) on the wrapping paper , the thus marked wrapping paper is rolled up again and then in step (C) on a further device, in particular a printing press or a coating machine, the structures are applied to the marked wrapping paper.

38. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the steps (B) and (C) are performed on the same device, in particular the same printing machine or coating machine, wherein the device comprises a marking unit, which performs the step (B), and a device for applying the structures according to step (C), and in which the positions of the markings and the structures to be applied are synchronized with one another by means of register control on the basis of the markings detected by a sensor.