Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/08—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent
  • A24D3/10—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent of cellulose or cellulose derivatives
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
  • A24D1/02—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/0204—Preliminary operations before the filter rod forming process, e.g. crimping, blooming
  • A24D3/0212—Applying additives to filter materials
  • A24D3/022—Applying additives to filter materials with liquid additives, e.g. application of plasticisers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/04—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/062—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters characterised by structural features
  • A24D3/063—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters characterised by structural features of the fibers
  • A24D3/064—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters characterised by structural features of the fibers having non-circular cross-section
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/14—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as additive
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/17—Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to a filter element for mouthpieces for use with tobacco products or HNB products and to the use of such a filter element in mouthpieces for tobacco products or in cigarette filters or in mouthpieces for HNB products.
• Smoking products within the meaning of the present invention relate to classic tobacco products, in particular cigarettes, but also pipes and marijuana products as well as so-called Heat-Not-Burn (HNB) products, vaping products and so-called hybrid products.
• HNB Heat-Not-Burn
• mouthpieces for smoking products have different functions.
• mouthpieces can serve as a filter device, for example, to extract harmful components from a stream of tobacco smoke, such as condensed substances, especially tar, as well as particulate matter entrained by the smoke stream.
• This filter function is particularly useful in traditional tobacco applications.
• a corresponding mouthpiece can be designed as an integral part of a cigarette or cigarillo, thus forming a "tip" on the cigarette or cigarillo.
• mouthpiece is a replaceable device, such as a replaceable filter element, which can be removed after use.
• a replaceable device such as a replaceable filter element
• Such mouthpieces are housed in appropriate holders, such as a cigarette holder or a pipe mouthpiece.
• the cigarette filter is an integral part of a cigarette's mouthpiece.
• the filter is designed to reduce the amount of harmful substances such as condensate and gas in the cigarette smoke. Furthermore, the filter makes the smoke somewhat milder or more pleasant for a large proportion of smokers.
• the filter In a classic filter cigarette, the filter is wrapped in a filter wrapping paper and is attached to the tobacco rod with the so-called tipping paper, although most industrially manufactured cigarettes are equipped with a filter.
• filter materials are already in use, primarily to reduce the content of tobacco smoke constituents before they reach the smoker's respiratory system. In addition to removing large quantities of harmful components, a satisfactory filter must also be effective without unduly obstructing the passage of air or smoke through the filter, necessitating excessively strong drafts. When using tobacco smoke filters, the filter material must also not alter the taste of the tobacco smoke by imparting its own flavor.
• JPH05276920 A discloses a cigarette filter containing cellulose acetate fibers whose surface area is 0.1 m /g.
• the present invention relates not only to filter materials for the classic tobacco applications described above, but in particular to filter materials or filter elements for mouthpieces for use in smoking articles, wherein these filter elements in particular have functions other than merely a filtering function.
• the filtering function of the mouthpiece is by no means the primary focus.
• HNB products heat-not-burn products
• a portion of processed tobacco is heated by a heat source during use, but not burned.
• Volatile tobacco components such as flavorings, nicotine, glycerin, and water, evaporate and are entrained by the air drawn through the HNB product by the user. As the released substances cool, an aerosol forms, which is inhaled by the user.
• HNB products usually comprise a device consisting of a power supply that supplies a heating element and a separate consumable consisting of a portion of processed tobacco, a support element, such as a tubular cellulose acetate segment, a so-called cooling element downstream in the direction of flow, for example in the form of a crimped polylactide film that forms a cylinder with multiple axial channels, as well as a mouth-side filter.
• a support element such as a tubular cellulose acetate segment
• a so-called cooling element downstream in the direction of flow for example in the form of a crimped polylactide film that forms a cylinder with multiple axial channels, as well as a mouth-side filter.
• the consumables are inserted into the device before use so that the heating element heats the portion of tobacco when the HNB product is used.
• IQOS/HEETS product For example, in a so-called IQOS/HEETS product from Philip Morris, the tobacco portion is skewered onto a heating element inside the device.
• An IQOS/HEETS product is an IQOS device marketed by Philip Morris with the associated HEETS consumable.
• the HEETS consumable is a heat-not-burn product that simply heats tobacco instead of burning it.
• a competitor product from BAT heats the tobacco externally, replacing the so-called cooling element with a tube.
• a portion of processed tobacco is also heated by a heat source during use, but not burned.
• Volatile tobacco components such as flavorings, nicotine, glycerin, and water, vaporize and are entrained by the air drawn through the HNB product by the user. As the released substances cool, an aerosol forms, which is inhaled by the user.
• an aerosol-forming agent (propylene glycol, glycerin) is first vaporized, and then cooled to form an aerosol. This aerosol is then passed through a portion of processed tobacco and inhaled by the consumer.
• the mouthpiece also serves the primary function of protecting the end facing the user from unpleasant heating.
• HNB products In contrast to conventional tobacco products, where tobacco is burned, it may be desirable for consumables of HNB products that the elements downstream of the heated tobacco portion in the flow direction, such as the cooling element and mouth-side filter, have only a low filtering effect in terms of have condensed components such as tar, as these smoke components can be produced in much smaller quantities.
• the invention is based on the object of providing a filter element for mouthpieces for use with tobacco products or HNB products, wherein the filter element is suitable for a wide range of applications in tobacco products.
• a filter element with low draw resistance and low filtration performance is to be provided, which has a sufficiently high Filtrona hardness that is as constant as possible when used in tobacco products, and wherein the filter element can nevertheless be manufactured particularly economically.
• the filter element should in particular exhibit a selective filtration effect on phenols and be suitable for reliably cooling a heated, particle-laden gas so that the temperature of the gas, aerosol or vapor ingested by the user of a smoking article can be reduced.
• the invention relates in particular to a filter element for mouthpieces for use with smoking articles or HNB products, wherein the filter element has a filter body made of a tow material, wherein the tow material is formed by a plurality of individual threads of cross-linked and crimped cellulose acetate filaments, and wherein the cellulose acetate filaments have in particular a polygonal and preferably Y-shaped cross-sectional geometry.
• the tow material of the filter element according to the invention should have a mass-related specific surface area of less than 0.15 m 2 /g, and greater than 0.025 m 2 /g.
• mass-related specific surface area value which lies between 0.15 m 2 /g and 0.025 m 2 /g, the performance achievable with the filter element and the range of applications can be significantly increased.
• the cellulose acetate filter elements of the tow material have, at least in part, a trilobal, i.e., three-armed, star-shaped cross-sectional shape.
• a trilobal shape is suitable when the cellulose acetate filaments are to have the largest possible specific surface area in order to enable—if desired, as is the case with classic cigarettes, for example—high filtration capacity while simultaneously using raw materials economically.
• other cross-sectional shapes for the cellulose acetate filaments are also conceivable, such as a polygonal or quadrangular cross-sectional shape.
• the tow material of the filter element according to the invention is formed from continuous stuffer-box-crimped cellulose acetate filaments.
• a solution of approximately 30% cellulose 2,5-acetate in acetone is forced through spinnerets, the acetone is evaporated in a spinning shaft, a plurality of cellulose acetate filaments are gathered into a ribbon, and this ribbon is then stuffer-box-crimped.
• the product is then dried and typically pressed into bales.
• the tow material (“filter tow”) is removed from the bale and processed into filter rods on a filter rod machine.
• the tow material is stretched in a stretching device, provided with an additive for bonding the cellulose acetate filaments, compacted transversely and axially after forming a so-called sliver, optionally wrapped with paper, and cut to the final length of the filter element.
• a filter element By selecting a mass-related specific surface area for the tow material of the filter element, in particular in a range of less than 0.15 m 2 /g and greater than 0.025 m 2 /g, according to the invention, a filter element can be realized which achieves a desired reduced filtration performance with respect to condensable components but nevertheless a sufficient filter hardness while maintaining the total titre.
• the cellulose acetate filaments of the individual threads of the tow material are formed at least in regions as hollow and/or tubular cellulose acetate filaments.
• Hollow or tubular cellulose acetate filaments are to be understood as meaning, in particular, preferably cylindrical filaments which, viewed in cross-section, have one or more continuous cavities.
• Such hollow fibers can be designed, at least partially, as multi-lumen hollow fibers. Compared to "solid" cellulose acetate filaments, single- or multi-lumen tubular cellulose acetate filaments are significantly more kink-resistant, allowing particularly high Filtrona hardnesses to be achieved without increased material densification.
• the filter element according to the invention has a filter body which can be based at least partially on cellulose acetate filaments which are at least partially formed as hollow cellulose acetate filaments, a low tensile resistance and a low filtration performance can be realized, since the filaments of the filter element which are at least partially formed as hollow cellulose acetate filaments have a small outer surface relative to the total fiber volume.
• filter elements that are at least partially formed from hollow cellulose acetate filaments (hollow fibers) achieve the desired minimum Filtrona hardness with a lower fiber weight per unit volume.
• filter rods can be produced, particularly for cigarettes, which, with regard to the discussion on smoking and health, have proven to have outstanding properties regarding specific retention phenomena.
• a cellulose acetate filter filters harmful nitrosamines and phenols far more effectively than condensate and nicotine. Furthermore, smokers find the smoky taste of today's common tobacco blends, such as "American Blend,” “German Blend,” and “Virginia,” most pleasant when combined with a cellulose acetate filter rod. Another not to be underestimated advantage of a cellulose acetate filter rod is the optical homogeneity of the filter's cut surfaces.
• the filter element according to the invention is formed at least partially from hollow cellulose acetate filaments which serve as filling material, the tensile resistance and the filtration performance of filter rods made from the material according to the invention can be varied over a wide range.
• a filter material which consists at least partially of hollow cellulose acetate filaments has an improved thermal cooling effect. It was found that the use of hollow cellulose acetate filaments as a filler material still a very low filter effect, i.e. retention effect, for the suspended matter and gases to be removed can be achieved.
• the filter element according to the invention further has the advantage that it enables, in particular, adjustable cooling of a heated, particle-laden gas (in particular an aerosol), so that the temperature of the gas, aerosol, or vapor ingested by the user of a smoking article or HNB product can be specifically reduced.
• a heated, particle-laden gas in particular an aerosol
• the desired cooling effect can be adapted to the specific application.
• the filtration-effective surface is by no means maximized, since the hollow cellulose acetate filaments in the tow material are not flowed through.
• the hollow cellulose acetate filaments can thus have kinks that close the lumen of the hollow cellulose acetate filaments without this having an influence on the performance of the filter and/or filling material according to the invention with regard to the set target parameters.
• hollow-shaped cellulose acetate filaments designed as hollow fibers do not necessarily have to be completely hollow, but can also be partially closed by kinks. They can also deviate from an ideal circular shape.
• the hollow cellulose acetate filaments of the tow material serve both as a carrier material and as a cooling material.
• the hollow cellulose acetate filaments allow for particularly compact filter elements that do not require an increase in the dimensions of the smoking article.
• Filtrona hardness refers to the filter hardness determined according to the Filtrona principle. According to this principle, filter hardness is determined by pressing a 12 mm diameter cylindrical rod with its flat end vertically onto a horizontally positioned filter rod with a load of 300 g. The ratio of the compressed diameter to the initial diameter previously determined by the first contact yields the percentage of Filtrona hardness.
• the hardness of the filter element or filter rod is an important target criterion, especially for cigarette filters. It is usually specified as the so-called Filtrona hardness. It should be noted that the Filtrona hardness is only measured on a filter element, not on the underlying filter (raw) material, i.e., the tow material.
• the Filtrona hardness of a filter element is influenced in particular by the amount of triacetin that is/can be sprayed onto the filter element.
• the minimum Filtrona hardness limit is approximately 88% and is based on market requirements.
• the Filtrona hardness of the filter element can preferably be set to approximately 88% to 95%, in particular approximately 90% to 93%.
• the filter body is designed in particular as a filter rod and preferably has a diameter between approximately 8 mm and approximately 5 mm and in particular has a diameter of approximately 7.8 mm or approximately 5.35 mm, wherein the filter body is at least partially covered with a paper material or a paper-like material.
• the Filtrona hardness of the filter element should preferably be greater than 85% and in particular greater than 90%.
• the Filtrona hardness is determined in particular by the fiber weight per volume, whereby the filament titer of the cellulose acetate filaments of the tow material has only a minor influence on the Filtrona hardness.
• the filter body has a fiber weight which is a maximum of 10 mg/mm filter element length.
• the Filtrona hardness of the filter element can also be achieved by using a stronger filter wrapping paper or a stronger tipping paper.
• Tipping paper is a paper used to either connect multiple filter elements together or to connect a filter element to a tobacco rod.
• increasing the Filtrona hardness of the filter element by using a thicker filter wrapping paper or a thicker tipping paper has economic disadvantages, as this approach is expected to result in higher costs.
• the degree of decrease in Filtrona hardness due to the "hot collapse” phenomenon can be significantly reduced if the starting material of the filter element according to the invention is a Tow material with the stated mass-related specific surface area of less than 0.15 m 2 /g is used.
• the draw resistance and filtration performance of the filter element according to the invention can be reduced without reducing the length of the filter element.
• relatively long filter elements can be realized, allowing a correspondingly long cooling section, which is advantageous for heat management, especially when using the filter element with HNB products.
• the inventive method allows the draw resistance and filtration performance of the filter element to be reduced without reducing the fiber weight in the filter element per volume fraction and/or without reducing the total titer of the tow material.
• This has the advantage that no decrease in the Filtrona hardness of the filter element occurs due to a reduction in the fiber weight in the filter element material per volume fraction and/or due to a reduction in the total titer.
• the filter body has a fiber weight of max. 10 mg/mm filter element length.
• the tow material, which forms the starting product for the production of the filter element according to the invention should have a total titer of 10,000 denier to 40,000 denier.
• the cellulose acetate filaments of the tow material serving as the starting material for producing the filter element according to the invention are, in particular, cellulose 2,5-acetate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetobutyrate, cellulose acetopropionate, and/or cellulose propionate filaments.
• the cellulose acetate filaments preferably have a degree of substitution of approximately 1.5 to 3.0, more preferably approximately 2.2 to 2.6.
• the plasticizers preferably used for plasticizing and in particular thermoplasticizing the cellulose acetate fibers and applied to the fibers can, for example, be selected from the following groups: glycerol esters (especially glycerol triacetate), ethylene and propylene carbonate, citric acid esters (especially acetyl, triethyl citrate), glucose esters or diethylene glycol dibenzoate.
• water-soluble adhesives which are preferably present on the surface of the cellulose acetate filaments
• high-boiling solvents such as polyalkylene oxide, water-soluble esters or ethers, starch, starch derivatives, P-polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl ethers, P-polyvinyl acetates and/or polysaccharides, water-soluble polyamides and polyacrylates, which are applied to the individual threads of the tow material or to the tow material.
• the residual crimp (RS) of the tow material of the filter body should not exceed the value of 1.7 and in particular the value of 1.45, wherein the residual crimp (RS) of the tow material is preferably between about 1.05 and about 1.4 and in particular between 1.1 and 1.3.
• the coefficient of variation of the uniform filament titer which can also be referred to as the deviation coefficient, is a statistical parameter and describes - in contrast to the variance - a relative measure of dispersion, i.e. it does not depend on the unit of measurement of the statistical variable or random variable.
• this can be achieved by assigning each spinneret its own spinning pump, in particular a frequency-controlled spinning pump, to ensure that the spinning liquid (solution of approximately 30% cellulose-2,5-acetate in acetone) is supplied to each spinneret of the spinning machine in such a way that a uniform nozzle pressure and a uniform amount of spinning liquid delivered per unit of time by each spinneret can be achieved.
• a frequency-controlled spinning pump to ensure that the spinning liquid (solution of approximately 30% cellulose-2,5-acetate in acetone) is supplied to each spinneret of the spinning machine in such a way that a uniform nozzle pressure and a uniform amount of spinning liquid delivered per unit of time by each spinneret can be achieved.
• the individual threads of the tow material formed from the cellulose acetate filaments have a predetermined or definable and preferably uniform thread titer of at least 200 denier and a maximum of 4,000 denier and preferably of at least 250 denier and a maximum of 2,500 denier, wherein a variation coefficient of the uniform thread titer is preferably at most 0.1 and in particular at most 0.05 to a maximum of 0.01.

Landscapes

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

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=83598698

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2021
  • 2021-09-30 DE DE102021125415.9A patent/DE102021125415A1/de active Pending
• 2022
  • 2022-09-21 EP EP22786028.5A patent/EP4408205B1/de active Active
  • 2022-09-21 US US18/697,202 patent/US20250040593A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-09-21 PL PL22786028.5T patent/PL4408205T3/pl unknown
  • 2022-09-21 KR KR1020247013987A patent/KR20240074821A/ko active Pending
  • 2022-09-21 ES ES22786028T patent/ES3041653T3/es active Active
  • 2022-09-21 CN CN202280066036.2A patent/CN118368996A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-09-21 JP JP2024519631A patent/JP7704970B2/ja active Active
  • 2022-09-21 WO PCT/EP2022/076174 patent/WO2023052214A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-30 AR ARP220102647A patent/AR127204A1/es unknown

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events