JP2016178934A - Additive discharge assembly, filter for smoking article, smoking article and production method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an additive discharge material for a smoking article capable of discharging selectively each different amount of additive, by applying a pressure to the outside of a filter, and by destructing an inside capsule by a user.SOLUTION: A constitution is adopted, for discharging a plurality of individual amount of additives, corresponding to a plurality of individual pressurization, connected to an additive discharge assembly 20, a filter 18 for a smoking article, the smoking article, a web 22 containing a first sheet material and the first sheet material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments of the invention relate to an additive release assembly, a filter for a smoking article including the additive release assembly, a smoking article including the additive release assembly, and a method of manufacturing the additive release assembly.

  It is known to provide an additive release member in the smoking article and filter member that releases a flavoring agent such as water or menthol into the gas stream by the consumer. One well known form of additive release member is a fragile capsule containing the additive. By applying pressure to the outside of the filter, the user can break the capsule therein and release the flavoring agent in the capsule. Therefore, a user who wants to give a flavor to the gas flow to be sucked can give the flavor simply by crushing the filter.

  A single breakable capsule having a flavoring agent and a method for its production are known from US Pat.

  In some examples, embodiments of the present invention provide, as a first aspect, an additive release assembly for a smoking article that is bonded to a web that includes a first sheet material and the first sheet material. One or more separate amounts of additives, and the assembly is configured to selectively release these separate amounts of additives.

  In one embodiment of the invention, there is further provided an additive release assembly for smoking articles, comprising a web comprising a first sheet material and a second sheet material, wherein the first and second sheet materials are in between Including one or more additive release members containing the additive, wherein the additive release member is fixed between the first and second sheet materials, and the first sheet material is attached to the second sheet material. It is pasted together.

  In some examples, as one embodiment of the present invention, yet another smoking article additive release assembly is provided, which includes a web including a first sheet material and a second sheet material, The one sheet material and the second sheet material form one or more compartments configured to hold the additive.

  In some examples, as one embodiment of the present invention, in a second aspect, there is provided a smoking article filter comprising an additive release assembly, the additive release assembly comprising a first sheet material. A web and one or more separate amounts of additives attached to the first sheet material, the assembly being configured to selectively release these separate amounts of additives. Yes.

  In yet another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising an additive release assembly, wherein the additive release assembly comprises a web comprising a first sheet material, and a first sheet material. One or more attached separate amounts of additives, and the assembly is configured to selectively release these separate amounts of additives.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, as a third aspect, a method for producing an additive release assembly for smoking articles is provided, which provides at least one amount of additive and provides a first sheet material. Binding the at least one amount of additive to the first sheet material.

  In yet another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing an additive release assembly for a smoking article is provided, the method comprising receiving at least one amount of additive, and a first sheet material. Receiving and fixing at least one amount of additive to the first sheet material.

  In yet another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a method for producing an additive release assembly for a smoking article is provided, the method comprising receiving a first sheet material and one for the first sheet material. The step of forming the above pockets, the step of supplying an additive to at least one of the pockets, the step of receiving the second sheet material, the additive is retained in the pocket, and a web extending beyond the pocket is formed. To secure the first sheet material to the second sheet material.

  Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a side view of the smoking article by this invention. It is the perspective view which notched and showed the smoking article by this invention partially. 1 is a perspective view of an additive release assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an additive release assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention formed to some extent. FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for forming a smoking article according to a first embodiment of the invention. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of filters according to a first embodiment of the present invention formed to some extent. FIG. 1 is a side view of a plurality of filters according to a first embodiment of the present invention formed to some extent. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an additive release assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing an additive release assembly and additive release unit according to yet another embodiment of the invention during manufacture. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an additive release assembly.

  As used herein, the term “smoking article” refers to smokeables such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos regardless of whether they are based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, recycled tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Products and products that generate heat but do not burn (ie, products that, when heated, produce a flavor from the smoking material without burning it).

  1 and 2 illustrate a smoking article according to an embodiment of the present invention. The smoking article 10 includes a smoking material source made of tobacco in the form of a cylindrical tobacco rod 11. A filter 18 is coaxially attached to the tobacco rod 11. The filter 18 includes a filter material 12 that is optionally surrounded by a porous sheet material, eg, porous paper such as a plug wrapper.

  The filter 18 includes one or more additive release members, and in some examples includes a plurality of additive release members. The plurality of additive releasing members are located in the filter material 12. The additive release member is a fragile capsule and is simply described as a capsule in embodiments of the present invention. Any reference to a capsule should be understood to mean any type of additive release member. In other embodiments, the additive release member may have any shape configured to release the additive.

  The additive release members 15 each contain a liquid fluid. Apart from this, a fluid is a powder that can flow substantially as a fluid. The additive release member ruptures or breaks due to inward pressure by the user and releases the fluid. The fluid in the additive release member 15 may be a flavoring agent, such as a menthol solution, or water. Each additive release member 15 includes a fragile outer wall and an inner space filled with fluid. The outer wall is made of gelatin. Apart from this, the outer wall is made of any shell material with suitable physical and shielding properties.

  The fluid can be released into the adjacent filter material by the user of the smoking article pushing the outside of the filter to rupture the outer wall of the additive release member.

  The filter material 12 includes a homogeneous filter material such as cellulose acetate tow that is already known. The term “homogeneous” means substantially uniform throughout the filter, in particular radially uniform through the filter material.

  The filter 18 is covered with the cover layer 16. The cover layer is a sheet material wound around the filter material and forms the exterior of the filter 18. The cover layer 16 is formed of a paper material that connects the filter 18 to the tobacco rod 11, for example, chipping paper.

  Optionally, the cover layer 16 is at least partially transparent in that region. The additive release member 15 can be seen by the transparent area of the cover layer. The cover layer 16 forms a transparent window 17 through which the additive release member 15 can be seen. The window 17 includes a transparent material attached to the cover layer 16. The filter material 12 is configured such that the filter material is not positioned between the additive release member 15 and the window 17. Around the window 17, the cover layer 16 is opaque and in some instances is patterned or colored.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smoking article 10 with a part of the filter 18 cut away. The filter includes an additive release member assembly 20 that includes one or more additive release members 15 within the web 22. The additive release member assembly 20 includes one or more additive release members, and in the illustrated example includes a plurality of additive release members 15 connected by a web 22. The additive release member assembly 20 is more commonly referred to as an additive release assembly. The additive release member 15 is located at the center of the filter 18. The filter 18 includes 2 to 4 additive release members 15, for example, includes 4 additive release members 15. The additive release member assembly 20 extends in the longitudinal direction within the filter material 12 such that the web 22 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter 18. The additive release member assembly 20 is surrounded radially and longitudinally by the filter material 12, which is surrounded by the porous wrapper 28 and the cover layer 16.

  The initial unbroken additive release member 15 containing fluid has a first color, which can be seen through the window 17. Fluid from the additive release member can be released and enter the filter media. The ruptured additive release member has a second color, which is different from the first color of the unruptured additive release member. Transparent window 17 visually indicates to the user the number and location of ruptured and unruptured additive release members.

  FIG. 3 shows the additive release member assembly 20 independently. The additive release member 15 is in an initial state, and in this state, no additive release member 15 is ruptured. The additive release member 15 is a sphere. The illustrated additive release member assembly 20 is configured for one smoking article filter. The releasable fluid is distributed among the plurality of additive release members 15 so that each additive release member 15 has a smaller diameter than an equivalent single additive release member containing the same amount of fluid. it can. Accordingly, the additive release member assembly 20 can be placed on a smaller diameter filter than an equivalent single additive release member, or the filter 12 can be more of an additive release member 15 than an equivalent single additive release member. Deeper filter material can be included in the surrounding radial direction. Further, the number of additive releasing members 15 of the additive releasing member assembly 20 to be ruptured can be selected. The user can select the amount of additive by rupturing only a selected number of additive release members 15. Thus, the released additive can be continuously increased or selected.

  FIG. 4 shows an additive release member assembly 20 for one or more filters being manufactured. The web 22 includes a first layer 24 and a second layer 26. The first layer 24 is an elongated thin layer strip sheet material that extends around the first side of the additive release member 15. The second layer 26 is a long thin strip sheet material that extends around the second side of the additive release member 15. One or both of the first and second layers 24, 26 are formed of a porous material, so that the fluid released by the ruptured additive release member 15 is the first and second layers 24. , 26 can pass through one or both holes. The first and second layers 24 and 26 are made of paper or cellulose acetate. The first and second layers 24, 26 do not retain fluid and do not form part of the additive release member 15 that retains fluid. The first and second layers 24 and 26 fix the additive release member in a long chain shape.

  The additive release member 15 includes a fragile outer shell. The shell includes an additive-containing material such as a liquid of the additive release member 15. The shell typically holds the fluid until it is broken by compression.

  The first and second layers 24, 26 are separate pieces of sheet material that are not bonded before being applied to the additive release member 15. The first and second layers 24, 26 are bonded together. The first sheet material is affixed to another second sheet material, and the additive is fixed to the sheet material forming the web. In this example, these sheet materials are joined by bonding. The laminate includes a main surface of the first layer 24 attached to the main surface of the second layer 26 by, for example, an adhesive. Alternatively, the first and second layers are combined in any suitable manner, such as heat sealing.

  The first and second layers 24, 26 are all around the additive release member so that the additive release member is secured in place within the pocket formed by the first and second layers 24, 26. Around each other. In particular, the first and second layers 24, 26 are secured to each other in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the additive release member and in the lateral direction between each additive release member 15. A plurality of compartments are formed by joining the first and second layers, and one of the plurality of additive release members is located in each compartment. Optionally, the first and second layers 24, 26 are also affixed to the additive release member 15 and further fix the additive release member 15 in place. Alternatively, the first and second layers are formed of a non-porous material (eg, plastic or a polymer material such as cellulose acetate). The compartment includes an additive release member that breaks and opens in addition to breaking the additive release member to release the additive. For example, the material of the layers and / or the seal between these layers is ruptured to release the additive.

  The material of the first and second layers 24, 26 is substantially inelastic. In some examples, the web material is initially deformed to accommodate the additive release member. For example, a hemispherical (or part of a hemispherical) trace or depression is formed in the web. The recess is configured to receive an additive release member. In some embodiments, these indentations are formed prior to placing the additive release member therein. In some examples, the recess is formed by vacuum forming a flat sheet material. Thus, the additive release member can be easily placed in the recess so that the recess is accurately positioned and the position of the additive release member is also accurately determined. Alternatively, the web material is not deformed around the additive release member. Nevertheless, the lamination of the first and second sheet materials improves the production of the assembly, for example by accurately positioning the additive or additive release member.

  In some embodiments, one or both of the first and second layers 24, 26 are transparent or translucent. The transparent first or second layer 24, 26 faces the transparent window. Alternatively, one or both of the first and second layers 24, 26 are opaque.

  The connecting web of any embodiment facilitates handling of the additive release member, and in particular facilitates insertion of the additive release member into the filter. The connecting web facilitates the insertion of a plurality of additive release members into a single filter, and the interval between the longitudinal directions of the additive release members can be made constant. Laminating two separate layers around the additive release member provides an efficient way to make an additive release member assembly. The web is withdrawn from the spool to handle or insert additives instead of inserting individual additive release members or encapsulated additives into individual compartments. The web can be cut into several sections prior to insertion into a single filter, which facilitates handling of the additive at least during part of the manufacturing process.

  FIG. 5 shows an apparatus 30 for manufacturing the additive release member assembly 20 according to the first method of the present invention. The apparatus 30 includes a first bobbin 34 that contains an elongated strip of the first layer 24 as described above. The first layer 24 is taken up on a rotary conveyor 38 via a tension roller 39. The conveyor 38 has an outer surface including a plurality of receiving openings 38a. The first layer 24 is located in the receiving port 38a.

  The device 30 further includes a hopper 35 that houses the plurality of additive release members 15. The hopper 35 is configured to dispense the individual additive release members 15 into the receiving ports 38 a of the conveyor 38. Each additive release member 15 is disposed on the first layer 24 in the receptacle 38a.

  The device 30 further includes a second bobbin 36 containing an elongated strip of the second layer 26 as described above. The second layer 26 is taken up on a rotary conveyor 38 via a tension roller 37. The second layer 26 extends over the receptacle 38a and thus overlaps the additive release member 15 and the first layer 24 in the receptacle 38a.

  The first layer 24, the additive release member 15, and the second layer 26 are provided in this order in the respective receiving openings 38a. For example, the conveyor 38 rotates adjacent to the stationary first and second bobbins 34, 36 and the hopper 35 (clockwise as shown) to receive the additive release member assembly members in the correct order. The first and second layers 24, 26 and optionally the additive release member 15 are supplied with adhesive by one or more adhesive applicators (not shown). The first and second layers 24, 26 and optionally the additive release member 15 are glued together on a conveyor.

  The formed additive release member assembly 20 is withdrawn from the conveyor 38 as a plurality of additive release member assemblies 20 secured by successive first and second layers 24, 26 forming a web 22. Each additive release member assembly 20 for a filter includes a plurality of additive release members 15, for example, four additive release members 15 as shown. The longitudinal space between the last additive release member 15 and the first additive release member 15 of a continuous additive release member assembly 20 is between the additive release members 15 of the same additive release member assembly 20. Equal to or greater than the longitudinal space of In particular, the web 22 has an extended length without the additive release member 15 between the additive release member assemblies 20. This configuration of the additive release member 15 is provided by a hopper 35 that dispenses the additive release member 15 at a first interval, particularly in a continuous receptacle 38a, for the additive release member assembly. After dispensing additive release member 15 for one additive release member assembly, hopper 35 is configured to dispense the next additive release member after a second interval greater than the first interval. Has been. For example, the second spacing is twice the first spacing, so that one receptacle 38a remains empty between the additive release member assemblies.

  The rotary conveyor and the receptacle can accurately leave the first spacing between the additive release members. The conveyor also provides a continuous web that combines the first and second layers and the additive release member to join the additive release member.

  FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view of a plurality of filter rods according to the present invention. A plurality of joined additive release assemblies 20 of any embodiment are located on a long rod of filter material for forming a plurality of filters when the filter material is formed into a cylindrical rod. .

  The filter material is surrounded by a wrapper 28 which is a sheet material, for example, a plug wrapper. The long filter material rod is cut to the length of the filter between the additive release member assemblies with a cutting means, such as a knife (not shown). The sheet wrapper 28 is wrapped with a cover layer as described above before or after the rod is cut into individual filters.

  FIG. 7 shows a first method for forming a filter according to the invention. A plurality of joined additive release member assemblies 20 are introduced into the filter material tow 12 in the garnish 50. The additive release member assembly 20 is dispensed from the hopper 52 through the nozzle 54 to the center of the flow of the moving filter material tow. A wrapper 28 surrounds the tow and is wrapped around the tow and additive release member 15 by the garnish. The garniture 50 includes an endless garniture tape, which forms the filter wrapper tow and additive through the garniture while forming the plug wrapper wrapper 28 so that the tow and additive release member assembly is wrapped in a cylindrical shape. The agent releasing member assembly 20 is pulled. The additive release member assembly is united by the web 22 such that the additive release member assembly 20 moved with the tow pulls the joined additive release member assembly 20 from the hopper 52. One or more adhesive applicators (not shown) apply adhesive to adjacent longitudinal edges of the wrapper 28 to secure the wrapper 28 in a cylindrical shape. The details of this production method are described in the following Patent Document 2, which is incorporated herein by reference.

  FIG. 8 shows a plurality of additive assemblies 40 according to the second aspect of the present invention. The assembly 40 includes a plurality of individual compartments containing various amounts of additive 45. The first and second layers made of the sheet material do not have the additive releasing member having the outer shell, and directly contain the additive. In practice, the outer shell containing the additive 45 is integrally formed with the web connecting the compartments 45 to each other. The compartment is formed of a material that is impermeable to the additive in particular and is configured to hold the additive itself by being sealed around the additive. The compartments are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the web as described above. Each compartment 45 is formed by a recess. The recess is in the shape of a hemispherical shell (or part thereof) to contain the additive. The additive is a fluid, for example a flavoring agent or water.

  The web includes a first layer 44 made of a thin layer material. The first layer 44 forms at least a part of the connecting web and forms a recess for containing the additive. The first layer 44 connects the compartments and is formed integrally with the compartment 45, in particular formed integrally with the hemispherical shell. The first layer 44 is in the form of a long strip made of a material that is impermeable to the contained additive. The web further includes a second layer 46. The second layer 46 is in the form of an elongated strip made of a material that is impermeable to the contained fluid. The second layer 46 provides an outer shell that includes a portion of the web and additives.

  The first and second layers 44, 46 are separate sheets of material that have been joined before being applied to form a compartment (ie, an integrally connected additive release member). Absent. The first sheet material is affixed to another second sheet material and the additive is incorporated into these sheet materials forming the web. In this example, the sheet material is joined by bonding. The first and second layers 44, 46 are bonded together. This laminating includes pasting the major surface of the first layer 44 to the major surface of the second layer 46 around the compartment, for example with an adhesive.

  The first and second layers 44, 46 are mutually connected all around the periphery of the compartment so that the member containing the additive forms an edge as a pocket formed by the first and second layers 44, 46. It is pasted together. In particular, the first and second layers 44, 46 are joined together longitudinally on both sides of the compartment and in the lateral direction between each compartment.

  The first and second layers 44, 46 of the connecting web themselves form a shell that holds the additive and contains a fluid or additive content. In this embodiment, there is no separate additive release member shell secured within the web. The first and second layers 44, 46 are preferably formed of cellulose acetate. The additive is free or fluidized in one or more compartments, i.e. encapsulated only by the first and second layers 44, 46 forming the compartment. The first and second layers are formed of any suitable non-porous material such as a plastic or polymer material such as cellulose acetate or non-porous treated paper. The first and second layers are bonded around the compartment by any suitable means such as adhesive, heat and / or pressure sealing. The first or second layer or the seal therebetween is configured to rupture by external pressure by the user.

  The additive release assembly 40 is manufactured by forming a plurality of, for example, hemispherical recesses in the first layer 44 which is a thin layer. Apart from this, the recess may have any shape, for example, any part of a rectangular parallelepiped or a sphere. The fluid contents are dispensed into each recess that forms part of the compartment 45. The second layer 46 is joined to the first layer 44 from above the open side of the recess. The second layer 46 completes the compartment 45 and seals the fluid in the additive release member. Preferably, the second layer 46 is affixed to the first layer by affixing over the entire surface with which they are in contact. In some examples, the recess is formed by vacuum forming a flat sheet material. The second layer is substantially planar.

  FIG. 9 shows an apparatus 50 for forming an additive-releasing compartment 55 similar to the additive-releasing compartment 45 described with reference to FIG. The compartment 55 from which the additive is released is substantially rectangular in the plane. Compartment 55 contains additives and is connected by a web, both compartment and web being formed by two separate pieces of material. The additive release assembly including compartment 55 is the same as assembly 40 unless stated otherwise. The steps described here are also applicable to the hemispherical additive compartment 45 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a first layer which is a thin layer substantially composed of a sheet material 54 as described above. The first layer 54 has a recess 52 formed by the forming unit 51. The forming unit 51 forms the recess 52 by thermoforming. The recess 52 is filled with an additive 57. A second layer made of a thin and flat sheet material 56 is disposed on the first layer 54 and covers the recess 52. The second layer 56 is attached to the first layer 54 to form a stacked body. Preferably, the second layer 56 is secured by a sealing unit 53 that forms a heat seal between the first and second layers. Each successive assembly having a compartment 55 containing an amount of additive is withdrawn from the output of the device. Successive assemblies are cut into individual assemblies.

  In a further embodiment (not shown), the additive release member assembly comprises a single sheet material. One or more additive release members are attached to the single sheet material. Preferably one or more additive release members are adhered to the sheet by an adhesive. A single sheet material is an elongate thin-layer strip of sheet material that extends only to the first side or periphery of any kind of additive release member. The sheet material is formed of a porous material, which allows fluid released by rupturing the additive release member to pass through the porous layer. Alternatively, the sheet material may be impermeable to the additive. The sheet material is formed of paper or cellulose acetate. The sheet material does not retain fluid and does not form part of the additive release member that retains fluid.

  The sheet material is substantially planar and the additive release member is attached to the surface of this single sheet material. Apart from this, the sheet material has one or more recesses formed in it. Optionally, the additive release member is fixed in the recess. In particular, one additive release member is fixed (adhered) to each recess. The recess is substantially hemispherical (or a part thereof), and the additive release member is substantially spherical.

  In a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the additive release member assembly includes a first sheet material 64, a second sheet material 66, and a third sheet material 68. One or more first additive release members 15a are mounted between the first and second sheets 64, 66, and one or more second additive release members 15b are the first and third sheets 64, 68. It is attached between. The sheet materials 64, 66, and 68 are formed of a porous material, so that the fluid released by rupturing the additive release member can pass through the porous layer. The sheet is formed of paper. The sheet material does not retain the additive and does not form part of the additive release member that retains the additive.

  The first, second and third layers 64, 66, 68 are separate sheets of material that are not joined prior to attaching the additive release member. The first and second layers are bonded together, and the first and third layers are bonded together. This bonding includes, for example, bonding the main surface of the first layer to the main surface of the second layer with an adhesive, and the other bonding is performed on the main surface of the third layer with, for example, an adhesive. Including affixing a major surface of the first layer.

  The first and second layers 64, 66 are arranged such that the first additive release member is secured in place within the first pocket 67 formed by the first and second layers 64, 66. The one additive releasing member 15a is pasted around the entire circumference. Further, the first and third layers 64 and 68 are such that the second additive release member 15b is fixed in place within the second pocket 69 formed by the first and third layers 64 and 68. To each other around the entire circumference of the second additive release member 15b. In particular, the first and second layers are attached to each other longitudinally on each side of the first pocket 67 and laterally between each first pocket 67. Further, the first and third layers are affixed to each other longitudinally on each side of the second pocket 69 and laterally between each second pocket 69.

  The joining of the first and second layers and the joining of the first and third layers form a plurality of compartments 67, 69, in which one of the plurality of additive release members is disposed. Optionally, one or more of the first, second and third layers are attached to the additive release member and further fix the additive release member in place. The web material is shaped by deformation to accommodate the additive release member.

  The first additive release member between the first layer and the second layer has the same or different additive as the additive in the second additive release member between the first layer and the third layer. Including.

  The first, second and third layers have been described as connecting the additive release member. Alternatively, the first, second and third layers contain additives directly as in the embodiment of FIGS. For example, the first and second layers form a compartment 67 between which the additive is directly encapsulated. Furthermore, the second and third layers form a compartment 69 that encapsulates the additive directly. The first layer is flat and is affixed to both the second and third layers to close the recess containing the additive. The second and third layers form recesses that form compartments when these layers are bonded to the flat first layer. This structure is shown in FIG. 10 with a compartment that releases the additive instead of the additive. When the compartment is broken directly, the additive is released.

  In a further embodiment (not shown), the additive release member assembly includes a web formed of a single sheet material. The sheet material is wound so as to have a substantially cylindrical or tubular shape. Opposing longitudinal edges of the sheet material are joined by a longitudinally extending seal to maintain a tubular shape. In one example, the seal is a fin seal. The fin seal is formed by joining the inner surfaces of the adjacent side portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet material to each other. One or more additive release members are located within the tubular web. Optionally, the one or more additive release members are adhered to the sheet by an adhesive. The single sheet material is a long thin layer strip made of a sheet material before being wound into a tubular shape. The sheet material is formed of a porous material, and a fluid released by rupturing the additive releasing member by the rubbing can pass through the porous layer. Alternatively, the sheet material may be impermeable to the additive. The sheet material is formed of paper or cellulose acetate.

  The diameter of the filter 18 is in the range of 4-10 mm. In some examples, the diameter of the additive release member is in the range of 0.5 to 4.5 mm or 2 mm to 4 mm. In some examples, the additive release member has a diameter between 1.5 and 3 mm, and the additive release member has a diameter between 2.2 and 2.6 mm. For example, the additive release member has a diameter of about 2.5 mm. Alternatively, the diameter of the additive release member is less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, or less than 1 mm, particularly in combination with some of the embodiments described below. The compartment containing the additive may be the same size as described above.

  These ranges are not limiting and one skilled in the art should understand that larger or smaller diameter filters or additive release members may be employed.

  In some embodiments, the filter is formed to have two or more flavors. For example, the additive release member is formed such that one or more additive release members in the filter include a first flavorant and one or more additive release members in the filter include a different second flavorant. Is done.

  By applying pressure to the outside of the portion of the filter 18 that surrounds the additive release member, the user can destroy one or more additive release members and / or compartments to release the additive therein. it can.

  The web has been described as being formed from two thin sheet materials. Alternatively, the web is formed of one or more lengths of yarn or ribbon. The additive release member can be coextruded with the yarn or ribbon. Thus, the additive release member is formed by a coextrusion method with a thread or ribbon extending therethrough and thereby attached to the thread or ribbon. Apart from this, the additive release members are connected by a net-shaped web.

  The web of either embodiment can be subjected to the orientation defined for the attached additive release member. In particular, the additive release member has a distinct axis oriented by the web. For example, the additive release member can be shaped to release the additive only in a particular direction. The web ensures that the additive release member is positioned and secured in the correct orientation within the filter.

  The filter 12 has been described as having a cover layer with a transparent window 17. Apart from this, the cover layer 16 does not have a transparent window and is opaque over the entire outer surface.

  The additive release member has been described as a sphere. Alternatively, the additive release member may have any shape, such as a hemispherical or elongated tube shape.

  As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavoring agent” refer to materials that may be used in products to comply with national regulations and produce the desired taste or flavor.

  In some examples, the additive release member is a capsule having an outer shell that contains an additive fluid (liquid or powder) in an internal cavity. The outer shell of each additive release member is fragile so as to apply pressure to release all the additive.

  In some examples, the filter may include a reactive surface that can press the additive release member to facilitate the release of the additive. In particular, the additive release member may be disposed on the outer surface of the filter. A radially adjacent filter medium may provide a reaction surface that can press the additive release member. Preferably, the filter media may be relatively hard to form a reaction surface (eg, by being rich in plasticizers) and may have a hardness that is greater than 90% of the Filtrona scale. The additive release member may be disposed within the filter media or may be disposed in a cavity adjacent to the filter media. The cavity may be formed by an elongate inner rod of filter media, which is surrounded by one or two filter media annular outer sections. The cover layer that forms the outer surface of the filter is attached to one or both of the outer sections of filter media and is spaced from the inner rod that forms the cavity. The inner rod is preferably stiffer than the annular outer section by optionally containing more plasticizer.

  Alternatively, each additive release member may be actuated to release a plurality of individual amounts of additive content, preferably by a plurality of individual pressurizations. This type of additive release member may include an elastically or plastically deformable outer shell and is preferably configured to release the additive through a slit formed in a predetermined area. Alternatively, this type of additive releasing member may include a porous absorbent base material (for example, an open cell foam) having an open cell structure containing the additive. The substrate may be at least partially elastically deformable. The substrate is surrounded by an outer shell to hold the additive and may be brittle, elastically deformable, plastically deformable or a thin coating. This substrate may form a separate additive release member or may be in the form of an annulus provided in the first filter section. Alternatively, this type of additive release member includes a porous matrix having a closed cell structure (eg, closed cell foam) that includes the additive in individual cavities and is plastically deformable to release the additive. May be included.

  The additive release member and compartment have been described as being manually operated to release the additive. Alternatively, the movable part may be configured to release the additive from the at least one additive release member by moving the movable part around the smoking article. This movement is preferably slid or rotated on the outer surface of the filter by a ring or C-shaped clip. The filter may provide a reaction surface against which the additive release member is pressed by the movable part. The additive release member may be located in one or more grooves that extend circumferentially, longitudinally, or spirally. Alternatively, the movable part may include a cover layer that forms two adjacent surfaces, and the additive release member is located between the adjacent surfaces, thereby allowing movement of the adjacent surfaces of the cover layer. The additive is released from at least one additive release member.

  The additive release member has been described as a sphere. Alternatively, the additive release member may be a long one extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter. This elongated additive release member preferably has an annular or elliptical cross-section and contains more additive than an additive release member of the same diameter. This elongated additive release member preferably has a maximum lateral width of less than 3.5 mm or less than 3 mm, or 2 mm to 3 mm. Alternatively or additionally, the elongated additive release member has a radial cross-sectional area of less than 50% and optionally less than 40% or 30% of the radial cross-sectional area of the smoking article. Such additive release members are optimized for use with small diameter smoking articles, such as smoking articles having a diameter of 5 mm to 6 mm, or 6 mm to 7 mm.

  The additive release member has been described as being located on the web within the smoking article. Alternatively, the plurality of additive release members may be surrounded by an outer wall or an outer capsule. The outer capsule may be porous or configured to rupture or deform to release the additive upon compression. The outer capsule may further encapsulate itself. In some examples, the additive may be contained in a plurality of individual cavities in an open cell substrate or a closed cell substrate. Open cell substrates and optionally closed cell substrates have outer capsules. One or more additive release members are attached to the outer surface of the substantially larger additive release member. A plurality of additive release members of the same or different sizes may be attached together. Any of these embodiments may be considered as multiple members associated with a single structure.

  The additive released from the additive release member has been described as being entrained by ventilation air and / or gas flow from the tobacco rod. Separately, a gas stream containing the additive is selectively released from the filter. The filter includes a selection element, for example a movable element that is rotatable at the mouthpiece end of the filter. The selection means that is at least partially movable with respect to the first and second flow paths selects the first flow path, the second flow path, or optionally an adjustable ratio of the first and second flow paths. It is configured. The first flow path corresponds to an annular radially outer flow path, and the second flow path corresponds to a radially inner flow path in the first flow path. Separately, the first and second semi-cylindrical filter portions form first and second flow paths, respectively, and the first and second filter portions together form a cylindrical filter portion. Is done. The additive is initially encapsulated in one or more additive release members (ie, capsules) before being selectively released.

  As described above, the additive release member is disposed in the filter material of the filter. Alternatively, the additive release member is located in the tobacco rod. The additive release member is also located in a separate section of the smoking article that is not surrounded by the filter material. For example, the additive release member is disposed in a separate section located between the tobacco rod and the filter.

  The additive for the smoking article is of one or more different types. In particular, the additive release member or the separately contained additive includes the same or different types of additives as the respective separate additive release member or separately contained additive.

  In some examples, the additive is an adsorbent, such as carbon. The carbon may be in the form of activated charcoal. When released, the additive improves the filtration efficiency of certain smoke components. Optionally, the carbon is in the form of spherical beads surrounded by capsules. When the outer wall is destroyed and the carbon is exposed to the surrounding ambient air, the carbon then modifies the properties of the smoke, for example by adsorption.

  The term “release” is intended to include exposing the additive to the atmosphere in addition to physical release and exiting the capsule. The term “release” refers to the additive being active and acting on the smoking article. While encapsulated, the additive is inert and has no effect.

  Although the additive release member has been described as being formed from gelatin, other types of additive release members may be used in combination with the filter of the present invention.

  In some examples, the additive release member is fabricated into an additive release member having a size of 500 μm to 10 mm using conventional coextrusion methods. In the co-extrusion method, two types of fluids are extruded together, and the additive release member is created by surface tension.

  The shell fluid may be warm liquid gelatin, and the fluid and liquid contents, such as menthol, are each sent under pressure from separate tanks into a two-fluid nozzle. A flow of shell fluid and liquid inclusions flows from the nozzles, where these fluids form droplets in the carrier fluid, the droplets comprising an outer shell consisting of shell fluid and an inner core consisting of liquid inclusions. Have A cooling mechanism is provided to cool and solidify the shell fluid. Apart from this, the shell material is, for example, alginate, agar, gum arabic, latex or wax.

  Alternatively, the additive release member is formed by any suitable method for encapsulating a liquid. For example, the additive release member is formed by interfacial polymerization, and this method produces an additive release member with a size of 0.2 μm to a few millimeters. The shell can be made of polymers such as polyesters, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethanes or biodegradable polymers such as proteins, polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.

  Alternatively, the additive release member is formed by composite coacervation, which produces a size between 10 [mu] m and a few millimeters. The additive release member is made from gelatin and gum arabic.

  Apart from this, the additive release member is formed by single extrusion to produce a size of 200 μm to 2 or 3 millimeters. The shell of the additive release member is made from alginate, chitosan, carrageenan, cellulose derivatives or wax.

  Separately from this, the additive release member is formed by melt extrusion, and a product having a size of 300 μm to 2 or 3 millimeters is produced. The shell of the additive release member is made, for example, from gelatin, sugars, maltodextrins, corn syrup, food polymer or modified starch.

  Separately from this, the additive release member is formed by melt injection, and is produced with a particle size of 200 μm to 2 or 3 millimeters. The shell of the additive release member is made from a carbohydrate material such as sucrose, glucose syrup and modified starch.

  Apart from this, the additive release member is formed by a spray-drying microencapsulation method and is produced with a particle size of 10 μm to 2, 3 millimeters. The shell of the additive-releasing member is, for example, a polysaccharide (starch, alginate, agar, pectin, carrageenan, gum), protein (gelatin, casein), fat and fatty acids, cellulose derivatives, lipids (wax, shellac, carnauba). Or beeswax).

  The additive release member or filter material complies with and is subject to applicable regulatory requirements / licenses. Embodiments of the present invention comply with applicable laws and / or regulatory laws, such as but not limited to flavors, additives, releases, ingredients, and / or regulations related to such Is configured to do. For example, the present invention is configured to comply with applicable regulatory laws before and after the smoking article embodying the present invention releases the smoke modifying agent from the capsule.

  All features described in any embodiment can be used in combination with any other feature of any other embodiment.

  As used herein, “flavorant” and “flavoring agent” refer to materials that may be used in products to comply with national regulations and produce the desired taste or flavor. These include extracts such as: licorice, hydrangea, cypress, chamomile, fenugreek, cloves, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, yew, cherry, berry, peach, apple, dramboi, bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey extract, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang ylang, Sage, fennel, pimento, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or some sort of mint oil), flavor enhancer, bitter receptor site blocker, receptor site activator or promoter, sweetener And / or sweetener substitutes (e.g., sucralose, potassium acesulfame, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as chlorophyll, minerals, plants, Or a breath freshener. These may be counterfeits, composites or natural materials, or mixtures thereof. These may be in any suitable form such as, for example, oil, liquid or powder.

  In order to address various issues and improve the present technology, the entire disclosure has shown various embodiments by way of explanation. Among these embodiments, the invention as defined in the claims is practiced to provide superior additive sealing. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are only representative examples of embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive or limited thereto. They are presented merely to aid understanding and to teach the features defined in the claims. It will be appreciated that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the disclosure are limited to or limited by the disclosure as defined by the claims. Rather than being considered limited to equivalents, other embodiments may be utilized or modified without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. Various embodiments may comprise, consist of, or basically consist of various combinations, elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. of the present disclosure. . The disclosure also includes other inventions that are not currently claimed but that may be claimed in the future.

International Application Publication No. 2007/010407 Pamphlet International Application Publication No. 2010/03899 Pamphlet

Claims (10)

An additive releasing member for a smoking article containing an additive,
An additive release member for a smoking article configured to release a plurality of individual amounts of additive in response to a plurality of individual pressurizations on the additive release member.   The additive release member according to claim 1, further comprising an outer shell. 3. The additive release member according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell is elastically deformable.   4. The additive release member according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell is configured to release the additive through a slit formed in a predetermined region.   The additive-releasing member according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outer shell is made from carrageenan.   6. The additive release member according to claim 1, wherein the additive release member is long. Filter material,
A filter for smoking articles comprising the additive release member according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   7. A filter comprising an additive release member according to claim 6, wherein the additive release member includes a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter. The filter according to claim 7.   A smoking article comprising the additive release member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or the filter according to claim 7 or 8. A method of releasing a plurality of individual amounts of additive from an additive release member for a smoking article,
A method of providing an additive release member according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and applying pressure individually to the additive release member a plurality of times.

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