GB2475856A

GB2475856A - Flavoured plugwrap

Info

Publication number: GB2475856A
Application number: GB0921099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andy Mclellan
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Also published as: GB0921099D0

Abstract

A filter 9 for a smoking article such as a cigarette comprises a filter plug 10 wrapped in plugwrap 13. Flavourant 14 is applied to the inner face of the plugwrap, wherein the flavourant is capable of diffusing within the smoking article. The flavourant may be carried in solvent such as menthol or propylene glycol. The filter may contain longitudinally extending linear grooves 15, the plugwrap being wrapped around the circumferential surface of the filter and in the grooves. The filter may be wrapped with a tipping paper 17 containing ventilation holes 18 and bridging the grooves.The flavourant is entrained within the mainstream smoke that is drawn along the body of the smoking article by the user.

Description

Flavoured Plugwrap

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to flavoured smoking articles and in particular to a filter for a smoking article incorporating a flavouring agent.

The invention can be applied to filters for incorporation in smoking articles, for example, filters comprising a filter plug surrounded by an outer wrapping such as plugwrap. In use, the flavourant is entrained in the smoke that is drawn along the smoking article by the smoker.

Background

Flavour and aroma are important characteristics of smoking articles and a number of methods have been used to incorporate flavourants. These methods include, for example, inserting pellets of encapsulated flavourant into the filter or manufacturing filters containing longitudinal flavour-impregnated threads.

However, many of these methods are not well suited to the high speed automation of smoking article manufacture, as they require, for example, precise positioning of the flavourant pellet within the filter. It is clearly desirable to simplify the filter manufacture as far as possible and a number of methods have been described in which flavourant is simply applied to the wrapping material which contacts the filter material.

For example, US 4,082,098 discloses a cigarette filter in which the filter plugwrap is impregnated with a flavourant. This plugwrap is then used to wrap a standard filter plug such as cellulose acetate. Porous or perforated tipping paper is used and thus when the cigarette is smoked, air is drawn through the ventilated tipping paper and collects the volatile flavouring agent as it passes through the plugwrap. The volatile flavourant is released as the smoking article is smoked.

In a similar fashion, EP 0 797 931 discloses a complex multi-segment filter for a smoking article in which the plugwrap of the mouth-end filter section is impregnated with aromatic substances. In use, ambient air is drawn through perforations in the tipping paper and along the filter close to the internal surface of the plugwtap, thus entraining the aromatic substances.

GB 2 229 078 discloses a process for making cigarette filters in which a flavourant or additive is applied to one or more faces of the wrapping material which contacts the filter plug. Flavourant may be applied by printing or spraying, or in the form of adhered powder or granules. As the cigarette is smoked, the flavourant is drawn into the filter material, thus modifying the flavour of the smoke.

However, such smoking articles have associated disadvantages. For example, the level of flavour provided may be insufficient to satisfy the user. In addition, such smoking articles may require dedicated components or complicated arrangements of component parts. Consequently, existing smoking article manufacturing and assembly processes must be modified. A flavoured smoking article is therefore required which is cheap and easy to manufacture using existing methods, and which provides a satisfactory level of flavourant.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a smoking article which delivers flavoured smoke.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a smoking article in which a flavourant is easily and cheaply incorporated into the smoking article.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flavoured smoking article which is capable of filtering unwanted components from the smoke.

Statements of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention a filter for a smoking article is provided which comprises a filter plug wrapped in plugwrap wherein the face of the plug\vrap which contacts the filter plug carries a flavourant. The flavourant is capable of passively diffusing into the filter plug. When the smoking article is in use, the flavourant is entrained in the smoke that is drawn along the smoking article.

The filter plug may comprise in its cylindrical surface at least one longitudinally extending groove, which may terminate at the mouth end of the filter, The filter plug may be wrapped with a plugwrap around its circumferential surface and in the or each groove. On top of the plugwrap the filter may be further wrapped with a tipping paper around its circumference which bridges the or each groove forming ventilation channels. To allow ventilating air to enter the or each groove, the tipping paper may include ventilation holes situated towards the smoking material end of the grooves.

It may be that the flavourant is not encapsulated or semi-encapsulated. The flavourant may be in the liquid phase, for example, the flavourant may be carried in a solvent which may be menthol or propylene glycol. The choice of solvent may influence the capacity of the flavourant to migrate within the smoking article.

The plugwrap and/or the flavourant may be coloured. The colour may be used to indicate the flavour, and may provide an interesting appearance to the mouth end of the smoking article.

Depending on the level of flavour required, the filter may further comprise a flavour thread disposed longitudinally in the central region of the filter.

In order to optimise the removal of unwanted substances, the filter may comprise a number of different filtration materials. The filter may be a composite filter, comprising multiple sections such as, for example, a dual or triple filter. The filter, or one or more of the segments, may be an annular filter comprising a central core surrounded by an annular portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a smoking article comprising a filter as described above is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of making a filter for a smoking article is provided, wherein the filter comprises a filter plug wrapped in plugwrap. The method comprises applying flavourant to one side of the plugwrap prior to enclosing the filter plug in the plugwrap, wherein the face of the plugwrap which carries the flavourant contacts the filter plug and wherein the flavourant is capable of passively diffusing into the filter material.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising a filter as described above is provided.

As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes.

As used herein, the terms "flavour", "flavouring", and "flavourant" refer to materials which may be used to create a desired taste or aroma. They may include plant-based flavourants, for instance comprising or deriving from basil, mint, bay leaves, cardamom, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, thyme, tea, eucalyptus, lemon, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, cilantro, rose, tobacco and orange blossom. The mint flavourant may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Ment/a c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piper/ta, Mentha pip er/ta citrata c.v., Menthapzerita c.v, Mentha spicata cr/spa, Mentha carc4folia, Men/ha longifolia, IVientha suaveoleiis variegata, Menthci puiegium, Mentha spicata c.v., and IVientha suaveolens.

Other flavourant materials may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, \vintetgreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour masking agents, bitterness receptor site blockers, receptor site enhancers, sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents.

They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof.

Description of the Drawings

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a longitudinal cross-section of an individual filter cigarette comprising a filter according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal cross-section of an individual filter cigarette comprising a filter according to a second embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cigarette shown in Figure 2.

The drawings are not to scale.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a smoking article 1 comprising a filter 2 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The filter 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical filter plug 3 wrapped in a plugwrap 4 around its circumferential surface. The smoking article also comprises a cylindrical rod of smokable material, in this case tobacco, 5 aligned with the filter 2 such that the end of the tobacco rod 5 abuts the end of the filter 2. The tobacco rod is wrapped in a paper wrapper 6, and is joined to the filter 2 by tipping paper 7 in a conventional manner. Flavourant 8 is applied to the inner face of the plugwrap 4.

Figure 2 shows a smoking article comprising a filter 9 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The filter 9 comprises a substantially cylindrical filter plug 10, having a mouth end 11 and a tobacco end 12. The filter plug 10 is wrapped in a plugwrap 13 around its circumferential surface. The plugwrap 13 comprises a sheet material such as paper and a flavourant 14.

Formed in the cylindrical surface of the filter plug 10 is a plurality of longitudinally extending linear grooves 15. These grooves 15 are preferably regularly spaced around the periphery of the filter plug 10. In the example shown, four equally spaced grooves are provided. The plugwrap 13 follows the surface of the filter plug 10, with the effect that the grooves 15 are lined with plugwrap. According to this arrangement, the effective surface area of the plugwrap is increased.

The smoking article also comprises a cylindrical rod of smokable material 16, in this case tobacco, aligned with the filter 9 such that the end of the tobacco rod 16 abuts the end of the filter 9. The tobacco rod is wrapped in a paper wrapper, and is joined to the filter 9 by tipping paper 17 in a conventional manner.

The tipping paper 17 bridges the grooves 15 to form elongate ventilation channels that admit air into the mouth of the smoker. Ventilation holes 18 are formed in the tipping paper in alignment with the grooves 15, so that air can be drawn into the grooves by the user for passage to the user's mouth at the mouth end 11 of the filter.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the grooves 15 extend from mouth end 11 towards the tobacco end 12 of the filter, but do not extend the entire length of the filter. Thus, in use, when the user draws on the cigarette, air is drawn in the direction of arrows X into the grooves 15 for passage out of the mouth end 11 into the user's mouth in the direction of arrows Y. The plugwrap 13 may be impermeable to air to ensure that air drawn into the grooves 15 travels longitudinally along them.

The filter plug may comprise filter material such as fibrous tows of cellulose acetate, cotton, wool, or crimped or folded paper. The filter section(s) may be composed of materials with equal or different pressure drop capacities.

The filter plug may comprise one or a plurality of abutted cylindrical filter sections made of similar or different filter materials, or may comprise a single section comprising a continuous length of filter material as shown in Figure 1.

The plugwrap which is wrapped around the filter plug is composed of a sheet material such as paper and is preferably non-porous. In some embodiments the plugwrap may be air permeable either due to an inherent porosity of the paper or by means of the addition of small perforations. The preferred plug\vrap is standard non-porous plugwrap with a weight of 27gsm.

The plugwrap may be coloured. Such colouring may be advantageously used to indicate to the consumer which particular flavourant is provided by the smoking article. For example, where the flavourant is menthol, the plugwrap is preferably green.

The inner face of the plugwrap which is in contact with the filter plug is coated in a solution of flavourant. The preferred flavourant is a menthol solution. Suitably between I and 1.5 mg of menthol are applied to the plugwrap. However, the amount of flavourant used will obviously vary in accordance with the nature of the particular flavourant and required level of flavourant.

Flavourant may be applied to both inner and outer surfaces of the plugwrap paper, but is preferably only applied to one side. It is preferable that flavourant is capable of migrating from the plugwrap into the filter plug, and therefore the flavourant is preferably added to the surface of the plugwrap which is to be in contact with the filter plug in the assembled filter. A flavourant may be used which is capable of migrating freely across the plugwrap, and in this case the flavourant may be added to either side of the plugwrap during the manufacture of the filter.

Additional flavourant may be added to provide the desired level of flavour to the smoke. In addition to the flavourant on the plugwrap, the smoking article may further comprise additional flavourant at an alternative location. For example, additional flavourant may be applied directly to the filter plug from where it may migrate within the smoking article.

The filter may comprise a flavour thread disposed longitudinally in the central region of the filter.

In addition, or as an alternative, to the use of coloured plugwrap, the flavourant may be coloured. The colour may advantageously be used to indicate to the consumer which particular flavourant is provided by the smoking article. For example, where the flavourant is menthol, the flavourant is preferably green. The use of coloured flavourant may also be used to provide a visible indication of the degree of diffusion of the flavourant throughout the smoking article and into the filter plug in particular. It may also provide an interesting appearance to the filter end of the smoking article. For example, where the flavourant is menthol, the flavourant is preferably green, and as a result, the filter plug visible at the end of the smoking article will also be green. Furthermore, in use, as the level of flavourant remaining in the smoking article diminishes, the loss of colour may be used to provide an indication of the amount of flavourant remaining.

The flavourant may be applied to the plugwrap during the manufacture of the filter.

Flavourant may be applied using a flavour applicator such as an applicator available from C. B. Kaymich & Co. Ltd. Any suitable arrangement may be used, for example, the apparatus may be arranged so that the flavourant is applied to the plugwrap via a nozzle which contacts the plugwrap as it is streamed from one bobbin to another, using a pumping action to release the solution at the correct rate. Such apparatus is generally known in the art.

The flavourant is preferably not encapsulated or semi-encapsulated. The flavourant may be applied to the plugwrap in the form of a solution, wherein the flavourant is carried in a suitable solvent. Various solvents will be known to the person skilled in the art, and may include menthol, water, and propylene glycol. The selection of the most appropriate solvent clearly depends on the chemistry of the flavourant. In the case of a menthol solvent, a second flavourant may be selected in combination with the menthol solvent, and in this case, about 100 parts per million of the second flavourant may be used.

The selection of solvent may influence the ability of the flavourant to migrate within the smoking article. For example, certain solvents may have a greater capacity to diffuse within the smoking article in comparison with other solvents. In addition, the volatility of the solvent may affect the degree of diffusion of the flavourant. The degree of volatility of the solvent may also influence the degree to which the flavourant is entrained in the smoke or ventilating air that is drawn through the filter. For example, solvents with increased volatility may be more readily entrained in the smoke that is drawn through the filter.

The filter may be ventilated, for example, by means of having porous or perforated tipping paper. In this way, ventilating air is allowed to enter the filter when a smoker draws on the smoking article. Thus, flavourant will become entrained in the ventilating air as it passes through the plugwrap and enters the filter plug. This air will mix with the mainstream smoke drawn along the filter from the rod of smokable material. In this way, ventilated smoking articles may provide a lower proportion of combustion products and a higher proportion of flavourant than non-ventilated equivalents.

Generally in the art, ventilated smoking articles are arranged so that ventilating air mixes with mainstream smoke within the body of the smoking article filter.

However, according to the filter arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the mixing of mainstream smoke with ventilating air occurs not in the filter, but in the mouth of the user.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, flavourant in the filter material 10 and on the inner face of the plugwrap 13 will become entrained within the mainstream smoke that is drawn along the body of the smoking article by the user. In addition, flavourant from the outer surface of the plugwrap 13 will become entrained in the ambient air as it is drawn along the ventilation channels 15. Thus the mainstream smoke and ventilating air will both be flavoured prior to mixing in the mouth of the user. As described above, the effective surface area of the plugwrap 13 is increased due to the plugwrap lining the grooves 15. A consequence of this increased surface area is that the entrainment of flavourant from the plugwtap into the ventilating air and mainstream smoke occurs over a larger area, and is therefore enhanced. The delivery of flavourant is further enhanced by the fact that flavourant is entrained from both sides of the plugwrap.

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Above is described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognise that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

-11 -Claims 1. A filter for a smoking article comprising a filter plug wrapped in plugwrap wherein the face of the plugwrap which contacts the filter plug carries a flavourant and the flavourant is capable of passively diffusing into the filter plug.
2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter plug comprises in its cylindrical surface at least one longitudinally extending groove.
3. A filter according to claim 2, wherein the filter plug has a mouth end and a smoking material end, and the or each groove terminates at the mouth end.
4. A filter according to either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the filter plug is wrapped with a plugwrap around its circumferential surface and in the or each groove.
5. A filter according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the filter is wrapped with a tipping paper around its circumference which bridges the or each groove.
6. A filter according to claim 5, wherein the tipping paper includes ventilation holes to allow ventilating air to enter the or each groove.
7. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ftavourant is not encapsulated or semi-encapsulated.
8. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ftavourant is in the liquid phase.
9. A filtet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flavourant is carried in a solvent.
10. A filter according to claim 9, wherein the solvent is menthol.
11. A filter according to claim 9, wherein the solvent is propylene glycol.
12. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plugwrap is coloured.
13. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flavourant is coloured.
14. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a flavour thread disposed longitudinally in the central region of the filter.
15. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is a multi-segment filter wherein the filter segments are disposed longitudinally along the filter.
16. A filter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the filter is an annular filter such that the filter comprises a central portion surrounded by an annular portion.
17. A filter for a smoking article substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
18. A smoking article comprising a filter according to any of the preceding claims.
19. A smoking article substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
20. A method of manufacturing a filter for a smoking article, the filter comprising filter plug wrapped in plugwrap, the method including applying flavourant to one side of the plugwrap prior to enclosing the filter plug in the plugwrap, wherein the face of the plugwrap which carries the flavourant contacts -13 -the filter plug and wherein the flavourant is capable of passively diffusing into the filter plug.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the flavourant is carried in a solvent.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the solvent is menthol.
23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the solvent is propylene glycol.
24. A method according to any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the plugwrap is coloured.
25. A method according to any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the flavoutant is coloured.
26. A method according to any of claims 20 to 21, further comprising disposing a flavour thread longitudinally in the central region of the filter.
27. A method of manufacturing a smoking article comprising a filtet according to any one of claims 1 to 17.